Yo, a new Coen Bros.!
Some cast there.

Trying to get back to my positive outlook about the Yanks I've taken to calling Hank and Hal the Righteous Brothers.

The Red Sox? Meh. May their dynasty be short-lived, as in, this one (if that) and done.

The NY backpages blew it with the Curt puns today. Should gone with the Rockies Horror Picture Show route if you ask me.

Today's Wikipedia featured article: Bob Meusel.

Personally, I don't give a rat's ass about the Red Sox if they aren't playing the Yankees. Whether they win, or the Rockies win, or a horde of flying monkeys descends on the stadium and picks up Pedroia and Youkilis and Helton and flies them back to flying monkey land, doesn't matter much to me.

Name a manager today. That's all I ask.

1 there's a band here called the self-righteous brothers. the name is fantastic, and i think it might be applicable in this case.

also, here's an onion article on girardi tanking his interview:
http://tinyurl.com/2cfx48

david ortiz incorporates champagne goggles into his everyday uniform:
http://tinyurl.com/2ar6j9

these guys and/or gals are brilliant.

I'm trying to ignore the Sox. Can't be done. The Nation is out of control today as another team lays down for the Bosox. I realize I took the Yankees "run" for granted.... an awful feeling.

5 the game was pretty close last night. i wouldn't call that laying down just yet. but yes, some people around here are metaphorically wearing their goggles during the game.

3 Do you think if a flying horde of monkeys descends on the stadium they will throw at Youk's head?
I was hoping to discuss the new manager today - if they have not made a decision and are being thoughtful that is wonderful - but I don't give a crap about Bud.

5 Yes - lots of fun here in Boston. I think I am actually hoping the Pats (continue to) and Celts do well so the Nation will move on rather quickly.

Oh - and this is not a dynasty.
And it sounds like there is now more of a possibility Schill may be back next year.

7 "And it sounds like there is now more of a possibility Schill may be back next year."

Great. This time, let them be the ones who hang on to a diminished veteran a year or two too long.

I'm hoping they let us know who the manager will be today through an informal announcment. Then they can have a press conference sometime next week to make it "official". Other than that these are some pretty boring times in Yankeeland.

5 I feel I took it for granted as well :(

8 Agreed - hope they continue to enjoy his annual summer vacation trip to the DL.

5 6 7 You guys are in or very near Boston, right? The feeling out here in the 'burbs is a little different. They are scared of playing in Coors. They still don't think Schilling is coming back - and they can't wait for the Celtics and Pats to win it all too, so they can claim "the trifecta". How the Celts could possibly beat the Spurs/Suns/Mavs is beyond me, but I'm no basketball guy.

I won't even talk about BC. I used to live near there and . . . let's just say I will never cheer for any BC team again.

11 i live in dorchester and work/go to school in cambridge. people sure sounded confident on the red line this morning. here at work, too. "five games, tops."

8 i will keep my fingers crossed. i wish he could get a multi-year deal with a player option. i'm a dreamer.

Seriously, I am tired of people thinking the Sox have done something miraculous. Making the World Series twice in four years is impressive. But nobody will remember that achievement in 20 years.

Thanks for the support everyone. I'm 35 minutes north of "Beantown" - I hate that name -

BC? Their alumni are annoying. Their students are firmly in the Abercrombie and Fitch set. Very annoying to say the least....

Personally, can the Sox lose ? Man, I hope so. Yes, the Rockies gave them a good game but the karma/hitting/fans are really overwhelming.

11 , 12 I live in Roslinade and work/go to school in Dorchester. Yes - I am hearing 5 tops too. The only real concern about Coors, which doesn't seem to be as strong today, is Ortiz at 1B. Pats will probably make it two, but don't see it with the Celts. Who knows about Curt, but the thought seems to be with Wakefield seemingly done and Curt still being "big game" he is back - who knows.

13 Agreed - there is no way they should be thought of as even a "mini dynasty" at this point.

Stoked for "No Country for Old Men." Anybody read the book? Word is they were 100% true to it, which works for me. Cormac McCarthy is one of my favorite authors.

I'm looking forward to watching Ortiz play the role of cheerleader in COL. That team is much more vulnerable without him in the lineup or in the field. I believe COL can hold their home field. Then you have the "Mile High Hangover" which I've seen bite other NL West teams frequently.

I caught an advance screening of 'No Country for Old Men' this week in Georgetown. Absolutely incredible. Easily the best thing they've done since 'Fargo', maybe the best thing they've EVER done. Very, very loyal to the book, beautifully shot. Acting is incredible. I cannot speak highly enough of it.

Also, I vote for Girardi as manager. BASEBALL NEEDS MORE CREWCUTS.

13 the cardinals have been there twice in the same span.

18 As a former backstop, I've always been a fan of "high and tight".

... 17 to think, people thought he was an "MVP" and he'll sit. Also, why don't these pitchers brush these Sox off the plate?

14 Seriously, you should be teaching instead of posting. And as for hating BC, didn't you used to have season basketball tickets? How quickly you've changed. It's easy to be a playah-hatah .....

If they win this year, it certainly is no dynasty, but it's a lot better than what we've seen out of the Bronx in the past four years. How I long for the late 90's.

21 i think they did last night. all it seems to do is give them better pitches to hit when the pitcher throws a strike after wasting one. i think brushing players off the plate is an overrated strategy that just doesn't work anymore. and shouldn't.

Ah, my Yankee Fan/ Coworker has appeared. Shouldn't you be Guiding Conselling ?????

Ortiz won't sit, he'll just have to play 1B. Dice-K in Coors could be ugly, FWIW.

But I too haven't really cared about the series. Not only do I not care about the two teams, but I am much more interested in the Yankees doings. As always, Bud has managed to screw it up totally. Speculation will just continue to build and dominate the biggest market instead of just announcing it and being done. Is there anyone that has less of a grasp on how these things work than Selig?

Finally, you can't call a team a dynasty if they win 2 titles over the arbitrary span of 4 years (why not 5 or 6 years? or two years?) Especially when that team took 3rd place last year and is an almost entirely different team than the one that won before.

I see the Sox as actually a worse team next year no matter what they do. Another year older for Manny and Ortiz and Lowell and Varitek, another year of Lugo and Drew, If Schilling comes back, you can't expect him to be better. Wakefield really wasn't very good this year, and a year of Buccholz is a question mark. Lester has shown himself to be, well, not very good...

Of course, the same can be said for the Yankees...

24 Good guess, but wrong. I don't work or live in Lynnfield.

Ortiz was no MVP, but having to sit him says more about the rest of their team than it says about him.

23 Good point. Brushbacks are just another wasted pitch, and unfortunately the Sox seem to wear down pitchers.

I expect this series will go back to Boston for game #6.

13 I hate to say it because this includes the 70's & 90's Yankees, but 'dynasties' were a lot more impressive when money wasn't as much of a factor.

12 straight years in the playoffs is still impressive, though. Let's see Boston reel that off.

27 The consecutive AL East titles are nothing to scoff at either. But I'm not here to talk about the past.

18 Dang, how did I miss that Georgetown screening?? I'm in DC too.

Glad to hear you thought so highly of it. I couldn't be more excited.

Something tells me the Self-Righteous Brothers (thanks Yankee Fan In Boston!4 ) are at this moment, presenting a 3-year managerial deal to Joe Torre.

I fear that's how they may roll, ya know, like der daddy done.

Better get myself some lunch. I'm lightheaded.

27 ok, Dave, back to work for you

31 Try a parent of a current student. And again, shouldn't you be teaching instead of in here?

29 I picked up the free passes in a bookstore. It was some kind of DC Film Society thing or something. Josh Brolin was there for a Q & A. Turns out he's exactly as big a Hollywood tool as he looks...

26 American League VORP Leaders:
1. A-Rod 96.6
2. Ordonez 87.8
3. Ortiz 86.2
4. Posada 73.4

So no, Ortiz is not an MVP, but only because he plays in the same league as A-Rod. He certainly had an MVP-quality season. In fact, despite his drop in home runs, RBIs and "SportsCenter moments," 2007 may have been Papi's best year, as he posted his best batting average, best OBP and second-best slugging precentge. What's more impressive is that he did all this without the protection of Manny for much of the season.

Not having Ortiz and Youkilis together in the lineup will undoubtedly weaken the Sox.

oh my gosh - it's a good thing I'm in a study hall ....

25 Exactly - a team that changes 67% of its roster in 3 years' time is not a dynasty.

(And yeah, I know the Yanks' roster had changed that much between 1996 and 2001 - but that was 5 years' time. The Yanks' roster for 1998-2000 had at least 16 guys there all 3 years.)

That kind of dynasty works in football, with unguaranteed contracts and the average career of a player being a little less than 3 years - but not in MLB.

35 Try studying and preparing for the kids...

Yikes, called out in the Banter - who are you ? Reveal yourself ?!

I don't know about anyone else, but this "Bronxer"/"joe in boston" thing has got me on the edge of my office chair...

I haven't been in this much suspense since the last episode of the Sopranos.

Will joe get busted by his principal for spending too much time on the Banter?
Will the identity of Bronxer be found out before it is too late for joe?
Will joe develop a lesson plan that includes his students researching the archives of the Bronx Banter?
Is all this an elaborate scam to increase the ratings of the Banter during a slow time?
Will my boss find out that I am spending too much time... uh, gotta go.
;-)

6 That game wasn't as close as the score. Not for one second did I think they might win.

Chyll - if you see this, I am not sure exactly what you were asking about Frank and Jackie Robinson yesterday.
But, I did a little googling and found some stuff on both guys concerning intelligence and being well-rounded ballplayers.

Sample articles:
http://tinyurl.com/2xrvgt
http://tinyurl.com/ypwwvg

These are just two articles, but I read quite a few - two things I found interesting - Jackie's intelligence was often mentioned as part of his being college educated. Frank's "surly" personality was referred to a lot.
Couldn't really find anything about Buck O'Neill and cerebralness, but didn't spend that much time on it.

39 Oh I know.

I hope the cafeteria is not serving onion rings today.
Big brother is watching - we could all be in trouble.
But we don't want those MA brats coming to the Banter - we have a few too many trolls as it is.

40 That game wasn't as close as the score.

when you have helton, holliday and atkins in your lineup and the score can be tied by hitting a solo HR, i think it is a close game.

just my opinion.

42 this will all end in a dream sequence. mark my words.

0 The preview for this movie is fantastic - definitely will see it when it comes out.

38 Think "PTA" ...

42 ... and I also don't want the Yankee brats coming to the Banter, either.

43 Agreed. Especially when they were stretching Okajima.

47 Also, fangraphs isn't updated, but I'm sure it would agree with us.

42 Surely by now, joe has coverted those MA brats over to Yankee fans, right? After all, that's why we have him teaching up there ya' know...

(oh, and I did not mean to call you "Surely"...unless that is your name)

yeah, this bronxer/joe movie is something i need to see in theaters, i can't sit around waiting for the dvd...!

49 ...that would be con-verted... (but of course, it would have to be a covert convert up there in Boston now wouldn't it?)

49 Good point.

44 Oh yes - but who will get to stay at the Plaza?

...

49 Clockwork Pinstripes? Hmmmm

I guess study hall is over ...

16, Yeah, I just read the Cormac McCarthy book last week. I've never read anything by him and it took me a little while to get used to his style, which I found self-consciously minimalist. But as I was reading it I thought, "Of course, the Coen brothers wanted to make a movie of this." It's really up their alley. And, from what I've heard, they are truthful to the book.

55 plot twist?

how do you go about figuring out that someone here is someone you know in real life?

Personally I'd like to assume that joe doesn't let Bronx Banter get in the way of his work and only does it during down time. I don't know where people get off telling him how to do his job.

55 So now we have to wait until the end of the school day, or maybe longer? Stupid cliffhangers.

44 I was much happier when it turned out Bobby wasn't really dead. He was my favorite character.

58 Post an inside joke.

57 Yeah - he got shot by his uncle or beaten up by his brother-in-law - not sure which.

FWIW Buster Olney is reporting that the Yanks will announce the new manager Tuesday and have picked up Abreu's option.

59 But what if it IS getting in the way of his work ...

58 apparently that's unfolding before our eyes?

i met somebody here off the blog on a business trip and i know i have a buddy who reads here regularly but never, ever posts. but this between bronxer/joe is kinda cool. ooh, the suspense...!

58 You don't ...

57 i can wait til tuesday (aimee mann, voices carry!). ooh, i'm psyched about boBBy!!! : )

61 good idea! glad i thought of it ; )

59 what if bronxer is his boss?

60 this is for you:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xt6GDD7K4CU

Listen, my class is working on a review sheet right now ... they are always prepped for any standardized test, book test, future endeavors, college apps, etc !

Hmmm PTA .... I'm wondering.....

67 Bronxer can't be joe's boss, because then he/she would be too busy "principal-ing" to post on an internet blog, right?

68 i teach, too. does your class ever ask what you're doing online? i bet in boston, they wouldn't be too thrilled you're on a yankees blog! ; )

69 Don't "teach to the test". No more worksheets.

71 Get the PTA to get rid of MCAS

69 oh, you delegate the principaling out to the other administrators.

to make time for yankees blogs.

70 Ha Ha - they'd kill me

71 Review sheets prepare for tests

72 I agree, but it's here to stay. Our kids (I've taught sophs for years) do very well on it

74 Impart knowledge, don't hand out worksheets and then post here while the kids work away. You became a teacher for a reason - find that reason.

Records show you once won a teaching award. Become that teacher again.

See the ball, Danny. Be the ball ...

Did anybody else think of this when they read "creepy new movie"?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_xeh6Rmy6vQ

75 is that true?

i'm on the edge of my seat over here...

"Buck to the Future": Might be the greatest video I've ever seen.

http://www.withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=4201

78 Warning, has a clip from the Zapruder film if that weirds you out.

78 that looks like it is gold. i wish i could turn my speakers on.

yankz - i don't know much about movies...but the url "withleather" reaks of Frank Zappa. and then to see the ZAPruder name, was freaky, so in that regard, yeah, it weirds me out!

i'm still more into this bronxer/joe film though!

81 i have a feeling that "with leather" was a reference to chris berman's pick up line.

81 http://tinyurl.com/ghmzc
there's an explanation

(it has its own wikipedia page. wow.)

I always thought that a Boston standardized test would be something like this:

1. Which of the following is a bird?
a. Dove
b. Eagle
c. Larry
d. All of the above

2. Name the greatest athlete of all-time
a. Ted Williams
b. Bobby Orr
c. John Havlicek
d. how could you pick just one of those guys

3. Name the most clutchiest of clutch hitters evahhhh
a. David Ortiz
b. David Ortiz
c. David Ortiz
d. Big Papi

4. If one of Tom Brady's ex-girlfriends is traveling east at 60 mph and another ex-girlfriend is traveling west at 70 mph, how many Superbowl trophies has Tom won?

5. Fill in the blank:
"Yankees ____ !!!!"

Oh god, those WithLeather comments are in such bad taste, but they are hilarious.

84 Kind of like "Ditka vs. a hurricane"?

74 75 Don't leave us hanging like this. Is that a true statement?

86 Yeah, but what if the name of the hurricane is "Hurricane Ditka"?

83 The moment I looked at that page someone in my office started talking about Chris Berman nicknames. haha

87 if this is true, it is either a huge coincidence, or the game was taken to a new, even creepier level.

90 Trust me, it's not "creepier".

What if joe in boston and Bronxer are the same person and they/he is just leading us on? Kind of like Karim garc..., I mean Keyser Soze.

91 i will trust you.

but only because i now fear you.

93 Bronxer > Big Brother

93 Check out 22 and 26 .

I fear Kariam/Keyser too.

From SI.com

New Yankees boss Hank Steinbrenner said that if the Red Sox had a Nation, then the Yankees have a universe.

Soon, "I'm a card-carrying member of Yankee Universe" ...

92 Good guess, but no. But I like 94 !

92 ha!

96 i think the yankees' official website were selling "yankees universe" t-shirts last year. he's already advertising the merchandise. maybe this will all work out after all.

92 I don't know, Ken usually tries to keep people from having more than one name around here...

A while back, I... uh, I mean... this guy I know who was already a member here, tried to register again under the name "Karim Garcia" but Ken caught it and did not let it go through. His comment was that he wanted to keep it "one person, one screen name" around here (at least that's what my friend told me that Ken said). Still, I'm not so sure that we don't have a few people with more than one name around here... Deadhorse, I'm talking to you... ;-)

joe hasn't posted in an hour. i'm assuming school is now out.

how long does it take for him to get home, bronxer? i'm dying over here.

84 Hysterical, if not a little sad.

100 HAHAHA!

58 I recognized someone I know well. It took me quite a while, but some things about his posts and his writing started to sound familiar, and his screen name fit as well.

He'd already recognized me from my screen name, but had decided not to say anything.

I'm glad I'm anon. Being on the West Coast helps. Not many Yanks fans out here. That and the fact that nobody in my office/floor likes sports keeps me pretty much under the radar.

100 I'm sure Joe will respond when he gets home from school.

98 Has anyone ever seen (or own) and "Yankee Universe" merchandise?

105 here you go:
http://www.yankeesuniverse.com/

(it's all for charity!)

i hope that this keeps me in your good graces, sir or madame.

I'm back. Cross Country practice is over. Nice to see I was missed. Bronxer: who are you ???????

107 i was beginning to think that you'd been whacked, joe.

this is like the Office, when Michael worked the second job and called Stanley (who recognized him immediately) ...

actually it's not like that at all now that I thought about it ....

106 Thanks

I am signing off. I'll check back here in an hour to see if Joe is grading homework :) or posting :(

Well, given that school hours are over, welcome to the board, J-O-E.

One of the questions (as a bit of a joke) on a recent Algebra quiz I gave :

True / False:

26 > 6

109 Well, is 75 correct? I'm dying to know.

... heading home ....

joe, is 74 correct? ("Records show you once won a teaching award.")

that looked like a big hint, to me. what records? who has access to those records? this looks like a case for jd drew!

? Where is Joe?

115 Public records, since it was award presented to him at a public school.

113 115 Ugh - No answers. There have been lots of clues. At least Nancy has an off day today to work on this.

112 Nice. Feel free to use a few from 84 (on second thought, you might already be on thin ice...so maybe not)
;-)

yes, - a teacher of the year award.

shhhh

119 Joe on ice?

Bronxer, you're killing me here.

My biggest worry here used to be the Yanks not winning the World Series .....

Do I know you ???? !!!!!!!!!!

117 oh, drat! you've bested me again!

118 up until last week, every day was an off day for jd drew.

gotta go -

123 "used to be" ............

Where are you going?

....home

106 nomaas has had a link to the t-shirt for awhile. i've always wanted it. back in HS, i did some musical events for charity for Sloan-Kettering. it's been a lifelong desire of mine to be in a position where i can be charitable for them. unfortunately, i've ended up in the proverbial "starving artist" end of the spectrum as opposed to getting the gig with, say, Paul McCartney. sigh.

anyway, i'd still love to buy the tee shirt. anyone have one to know the size scheme. i seemed to get burned every single year buying yankee shirts online. (least i won't have to get the division champ shirt for this year...). that said, even if the shirt is of bad quality and bad size, it'll still go to a good cause. so, i guess i should just buy the damn thing already. it'd just be nice to know the sizes run normal...

nice to see you made it home safely, joe! : )

120 i am impressed.

by joe for winning the award, and by bronxer... dang it...

True or False:

Joe in Boston = Bronxer

My biggest question used to be:
"Who is Karim Garcia?"
now it's:
"Who is Bronxer?"

Wait...Bronxer, are you Karim Garcia?

131 Neither in real life NOR the world of Banter ...

126 127 don't go inside alone, joe! don't be a hero!

131 132 that would've blown my mind.

134 ... goodbye, Joe ...

134 whoa! wha happened? i never got to read that comment. was it joe in boston? did he get freaked out???

134 ?!?

137 Seriously - where is 134. I don't know how much more I can take!!!

138 What happened to 134??

134 that must've been the dream sequence! i KNEW it!

141 OMG you are right - Joe is Kevin Finnerty.

137 Don't you get it? Bronxer said "goodbye,joe" and his comment disappeared. Thats the mystical and frightening power of Bronxer!

as long as joe is safe and sound this has been great. this really helped me get through a boring friday.

so, 134 disappears, and so does JOE. Coincidence?

140 What did 134 say?

well, it is Friday the 26th, which is like Friday the 13th x 2. double weird... : ~

Honestly, I have no idea who posted 134 or what it said.

kkkkalling kkkkken to kkkkkomment on who kkkkkkillled 134 !

146 my guess?

"AAaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh.... [gasp] ...rosebud...."

then journey played.

of course.

"Don't Stop Believing" ..........................................................................................................................................................

Um, I used to just read this site every day. Once in awhile I'd post something about my boring life and my total devotion to the Yanks..... and then today happened ...

I don't get it ?

148 Then why did you respond to it? I'm very scared.

153 i was going to mention that, too... but i was scared.

i'll miss you, njyankee41. it's been real.

153 Good question. However, no answer.

152 You're life won't be so boring any more ...

boo!

Ok, I have to ask this. Bronxer, what do you know about me?

157 bronxer told me once that you had some connection to the garden state.

157 You?? Nothing. How would I know YOU??

158 Bronxer IS all-knowing then.

159 I'm very happy to hear that ;)

159 well... how would you know joe?

(will bronxer fall for this? it is worth a shot.)

Seriously, what happend to 134 ?

OK Seriously...what the hell happened with 134?

joe obviously said something to piss off Bronxer. Bronxer says goodbye and poof- comment's gone.

Note to self: Never piss off Bronxer.

162 I see dead people ...

is there any way that we can get a resolution by 5 PM? i don't want to stick around work late on a friday afternoon.

134 had all the answers.

163 Its like the 13th floor for the Banter.

164 i assume that only moderators can delete posts... or just moderators and bronxers...

167 i'm shooting for 4:30ish - then i have to leave for work...

167 This has blown past "Who is Karim Garcia?", "Where is Rob Gee?", and "Where do the Sox fans disappear to every September?" as the greatest Bronx Banter Mystery ever.

164 167 It must have given away Bronxer's identity.

167 I bet 134 even told us who Karim Garcia was... :(

no resolution today. sorry.

hold on. is it a clue that bronxer repeatedly was 1 post off on his/her references?

there was only about a 30 second span between posts 133 and 135 . someone had to act really fast to wipe that away.

169 Did I delete it??

176 Maybe Ken or Bob = Bronxer?

175 do not taunt bronxer.

OK, Bronxer must have meant to type 124 , not 134 . Which takes away his mystical powers. But it doesn't explain where the comment went, and why it was deleted in record time.

Anyone else think this is just too bizarre?

179 http://youtube.com/watch?v=SXoKm39vROo

178 Neither Ken nor Bob.

Gotta go. Have a good weekend all.

Rox / Sox / who cares ....

182 yeah... the series is nothing compared to this.

181 couldn't follow your link ...

150 Well we did lose one person while he was reading Bronx Banter. (RIP JD)

179 & 181 LOL, I loved that SNL parody.

Maybe Bronxer is an "unknown glowing substance which fell to Earth, presumably from outer space."

No offense Bronxer...

http://tinyurl.com/2kq7jv

181 it was an old SNL sketch... happy fun ball... the link worked for me... another mystery?

...i kid...

...or DO i?!?

(i do.)

Someday, I will tell my kids about Mystery 134.

(kidding, I hope)

189 Don't joke about it.

http://i24.tinypic.com/1puujm.jpg

191 Found this on the street...

http://tinyurl.com/384pt4

a minute and 18 seconds transpired between bronxter's posts 132 and 136 . 136 referenced the missing post (134 )with the cryptic "goodbye"... i bookended the missing post and those show a lapsed time of 51 seconds between them.

my question is:
was there a second gunman? a lot seemed to have happened within those 78 seconds.

unless this is the biggest red herring ever.

seriously, somebody get jd drew.

193 ...maybe we need Oliver Stone.

there had to be a hidden poster on the grassy knoll...

or was it: Bronxer...in a chat room...with a delete button? I don't have a clue... ;-)

195 I don't need a delete button ...

195 delete this.

193 194 Eerily enough, we've already been through the JFK assassination on this thread (79 ).

So many clues, yet still no answer.

darn it. quittin' time.

I was hoping when I got home to have gotten some answers.
Who is this the work of?
197 Somehow when they showed Joe Buck in that car I thought there was going to be a re-enactment of sorts.

197 If we just had a Zapruder film of what happened to post 134 ...

Bronxer = Oswald + Ruby + Castro + CIA + Mafia + Russians + DiMaggio's housecat

Whoa. I missed a mystery. Or anyway coming in late.

Interesting fact:
The COMMENTS header (between Alex's posting and the comments) says (right now) that there are 199 comments, but the last number of a comment is 200.

201 See 134

201 If you do see 134 let us know what it said...

I love the fact that this is happening in a post about a Coen movie.

Right, I know. I was just adding my fact into the set of clues.

did i delete bronxer?

i demand resolution!

God bless Jay Mohr: http://tinyurl.com/2szrjb

206 no such luck.

209 please delete this?

210 i'll be locking my doors and hiding under the bed if that happens.

210 I can't. I didn't delete 134

211 no need to run and hide ...

212 aww nuts...

214 I think it just vanished ... I can't even remember what it said or who posted it.

215 51 seconds. up and gone. bizarre.

Damn, I wish I was here earlier. Reading about The Mystery of Post 134 is definitely entertaining. We have to pull together on this one, and figure this puppy out.

Who or what deleted post 134?
Is this all a setup by Bronxer?
What happened with Joe in Boston and is he all right?
What is the real truth to this absorbing mystery?

The answers to these questions and more will be answered in the upcoming hit TV mini-series: The Mystery of Post 134 (brought to you by Geico)

I'm ok...

I'm just trying to figure out what happened today. At least it made me forget about the Yanks (and the Sawx) for awhile !

Bronxer: where/who are you ??????? !!!!!!!!

217 Coming up next on FOX...

218 Did you type 134 ???

219 Nope - I'm totally confused as to this whole day

Anyone remember this:

""There must be a way to cap what a team can spend without hurting player compensation ... without taking away from the players what they have rightfully earned in the past through negotiation and in creating tremendous value. There is a simple mechanism that could right a system woefully out of whack."

"Baseball doesn't have an answer for the Yankees," Henry wrote. "Revenue sharing can only accomplish so much. At some point it becomes confiscation. It has not and it will not solve what is a very obvious problem.""-John Henry, 2/18/04

I bet he's glad nobody took him seriously.

220 C'mon. You can figure this out.

Gimmee some help ...

223 You ever spend time in Newport?

Buck says jub jub:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2JawVqqREZc

FWIW, #134 was not removed by a moderator. The most plausible explanation for the missing #134 is that the web server software was restarted while it was being posted. The connection to the database was dropped, so although the counter was incremented, the database transaction didn't go through.

Um, yeah ..... still confused.....

I'm clinging to our little ghost story.

226 Although, if you prefer to keep the mystery alive, I have no record of the web server restarting around 12:50pm, the time of the missing post. I show a restart at 7:10am and another at 1:58pm.

228 I'll go get the marshmallows!

230 We can cook them over the firewire!

204 Dude.

Favorite Line: "the dude abides"

231 You're talking to yourself.

232 But then, so am I.

Yeah, some mystery about that missing post ...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(\\\\\\\\\)
( \\\\\\\\\)
( --------- )==========================
( /////////)
(/////////)

mmm... Banter-Mallows... (harder to make than you think >;)

233 This is news?

Advance Scouting Picked Off Matt Holliday
http://tinyurl.com/3a4suu

And the Yankees FO is at it again.
http://tinyurl.com/2quf7y

239 we all knew the yankees are penny pinchers. is the last line of this article for real?

239 That url keeps shutting down my browser. It must be tired of the whole issue >;)

I want the Red Sawx to fire Francona and hire Mike Dubose!

ooh, i was hoping to come home to a resolution. oh well. glad joe is home safely in boston! looked like we were maybe getting close there for a second w/ the Newport link. but....nope.

chyll, you get the 'mallows, i'll bring the beer! sierra nevada pale ale okay?

"What we're looking for is a guy that's maybe going to be one of the greatest managers, maybe of all-time, over a period of 10, 20 years," he said. "Who knows? And it could be any of the three. I think all three of them have great capabilities, they really do."

Steinbrenner also took what could be perceived as a jab at Torre.

"It's going to come down to who we think is the absolute best guy for the job, the guy that really can be the best leader," he said. "Joe was a great manager ... he was like a father figure to some of these guys. We want a guy who can do that, but at the same time, it's going to be a younger guy, and we want a guy who's going to be a real leader. This guy's got to take charge and be a real leader. We're not looking so much for a father figure now as a real leader."

Ya know, it's true I'm still sad about Joe, but DARY really scares me. It's like my boy Sherman set the Wayback machine for 1980.

Does anyone see just pure idiocy in those statements? How do you think you lead guys like Andy, Jeter, Giambi, Posada, Mo, Clemens, ARod and Moose. With pom-poms and cheers? Yeah, a lot of those guys are out soon but still.... are they gonna hire Giradi because "We really wanted a guy named Joe"?

I think it's obvious that they want Donnie, but his inexperience compared to also having Girardi as a candidate is making it hard.

What they ready wanted is for Torre to usher out the old guard for a year or 2, and then transition to a more experienced Donnie. I really like(d) having guys like Pena and Bowa around, and they have had an impact.

The truth is losing Joe isn't nearly as scary as gaining DARY. Some of the statements they make are just such a weird mix of infantile and insanity.

Bathwater, meet Baby. Baby, meet bathwater.

226 229 Thanks for the info. As entertaining as the mystery is - I don't think I am the only one wanting a resolution - - 243 yes, we were getting closer.

242 That would be a lot of fun - HA HA, I remember when all that went down.

244 it's like when he said we need to have patience with the new manager because he won't be getting the 96 yankees. it's a petty reference to joe. so i can see the infantile half of it. but insanity? i don't think so. as with the 96 yankees/patience remark, i think there is truth behind this. i agree that we should have a manager who is strict and really pushes the team, who will be willing to sit a veteran as soon as he starts to fade, rather than give him half a season to prove himself. i want a manager who is more of a leader than a father figure. and these statements make me think that maybe they want girardi, but can't figure out a way to get him without upsetting mattingly too much.

246 I agree that their comments are pointing towards Girardi. However, I think Mattingly will be upset if he isn't chosen. Quite a quandry.

In any event, I believe they will time the announcement in an effort to take some of the spotlight off the Sox if they win it all.

aha, Bronxer is up. I'm calling you out - identify yourself !

248 Enjoy the day off, but don't forget that Monday is a WORK day.

Ha Ha - well, just finished 2+ hours of grading and lesson planning.....

247

This quote in Pete's paper is strange though-
Steinbrenner said. "We've got to make the choice for the best manager possible. If it's Donnie, it's Donnie."

251 But they have to say something like that. They would ONLY hire the "best manager possible".

My $$ is on Girardi.

250 To make up for the time you spent on this site yesterday, while at school?

I give up.

You win.

I'm out

254 Too easy, Mr. D

(big smile)

You're really killing me here.

another clue perhaps ?

Clearly, this isn't an easy decision for the Yanks, but the more Hanka'burnin'love speaks, the more he sounds like one of those fools on a TV dating show trying to make up his mind.

"All these ladies are fine, I mean, they're all pretty much at the same level of hotness, but what I'm looking for is a lady who's going to be one of the hottest ladies of all time over a period of 10, 20 years. That's why I'm only considering three ladies, so I don't become even more confused, ya know?"

252 I understand the "best manager" part. I just don't see why he would add the "...if it's Donnie..." part. Maybe he was responding to a question, but it would have been better not to name any names.

244 246 Zzzzzzzz

Clueless Hank: http://tinyurl.com/363qs7

Just heard on the radio:
ESPN says a source inside the Yankees' organization reports that today the team will offer to extend A-Rod's contract for approx. five years at $30M/year.

Article RIYank was talking about: http://tinyurl.com/2tve8l

262 Ah- I just logged in and was about to post the link. What's with the line -
"It is unclear if the Yankees will get the meeting with the All-Star third baseman that they've requested."

261 262 my fingers are crossed.

ah, beat me to it yankz - yeah, just read the Olney article a few minutes ago... manager, a-rod, abreu then i guess posada will get done. mo after that. hopefully molina, too. and, of course, andy <--- crossing all digits (and eyes) that he'll come back!

263 boras has been balking at the in-person meeting. perhaps he feels he can lose leverage if there's anything personal going on - emotions/sentimentality - that sorta thing...

242 Boy, that's a name I never thought I would see posted on this site... ;-)

The Red Sox were actually managed by former Crimson Tide quarterback Butch Hobson back in the early 90's.

266 Oh thanks. Even though I am not really a Boras hater I have kind of stopped paying attention to him the last few weeks.

267 I would love to see it. I can't belive Jeb was even thinking about him.

261 That's good news about A-Rod (I suppose). It's amazing how that ol' $25/year deal sounds like peanuts now... Maybe that was the plan all along: get the Yankees to offer a $30M/year extension and in the process make them think that it was a bargain.

255 256 a little closer. joe is boston sounds like a real live Joe D!

265 Rumor is that the Yanks are offering Posada something in the order of 3 yrs/$40M. He'll probably get them to throw in a little more, but that basic offer should get it done.

271 Yeah slowly getting closer and Bama thought Dimaggio's housecat was involved- but then they both disapear the rest of the day.

272 yeah, and i think there's a very similar offer in the works for Mo...

273 ya mean, they went the way of 134?! ; )

273 Thanks for trying to stir up the roast last night man 243 , but you probably know the hardest thing I drink is root beer >;) now, had you said Yoo-Hoo, I'da been up all night!

276 ehhh, yeah, that was supposed to be for thelarmis 275

275 That's got the makings of a great expression. As in, "The Yankee bats went all 134 in the playoffs."

277 See 233 , 234 .

I'd be totally fine with the Yankees giving A-rod that contract, especially since they keep the $21 million subsidy.

Looks like the FO has made it's decision (on a manager) but isn't ready to release the name.

tinyurl.com/37j8co

Don't you just love that on Game 3 of the WS, the Yankees have the 2 TOP HEADLINES on ESPN?? And yet Bud the genius doesn't want them to upstage the WS by announcing their plans.

As RAB wrote, its the Yankees world and we're all just living in it...

The other thing with A-Rod's contract and the other resignings is that they will all be offset to some degree by Roger coming off this year, and the others next year, not to mention the kids low contracts...

279 a reasonable fellow, a good listener too >;)

Is this happening to anyone else? I go to the Daily Rues site and it crashes my browser. I don't suppose they read all of my bashes on their credibility, huh?

276 yeah, i know, but that's okay - i don't eat marshmallows! : ) that said, i do have like 10 cans of Barq's in the fridge - i can bring those!

278 i thought that right after i typed it! : )

the espn article has more hank quotes than the daily news one linked above. man, this guy is talking a lot of shit. taking jabs at torre being a father figure and not a leader. now, he's taking shots at boston's "baseball people" and how ours are better and the best. jeesh, just shut up and hire a damn manager and stay the hell outta the way. in fact, i think i'm gonna be wishing for hank to go all 134 very very soon...

http://tinyurl.com/2dwkpd

Again, I see nothing wrong with what Hank is saying or has said thus far. Until he actually DOES something bad, I'm liking Hank. A blustery boss is not the same thing as a bad boss.

And besides, as I said, the Yanks ARE the top two headlines on espn...

287 Sounds like he's trying to compensate for something. I wish they'd offer stress and competency tests for ownership of major sports teams. At this rate, Bush will offer him a cabinet job very soon...

288 More often than not, one follows the other. No choice but to keep an open mind though; I hope you're right.

289 290 I just see a guy who has some of his father in him, in that, if there is a mic there, he's gonna speak. He's getting used to it and I expect him to quiet down when things quiet down in Yankee land in general. But so far, to me at least, he's SAID all the right things:
Cashman is in charge
the kids are the future
Joba is a starter
We want to hire the best manager we can, media be damned
We want to win but recognize we are transitioning at the same time

Seems I'm late to the mystery party...
As fun as it was to read through, it seems to me to be a bit inappropriate to expose someone's personal life and details (and criticizing them on top of it) while hiding behind the anonymity of the internet.

At the very least, I can imagine most people would be pretty uncomfortable in joe's position.

292 I agree. As I said earlier, I don't know where Bronxer gets off telling joe how to do his job.

289 Ya mean Big Hank might not really be 'big' Hank?

I don't think $30m will fly with ARod. His current contract calls for $32m in 2009-2010.
So Boras will be 'insulted' at the pay cut and ARod wil turn down $150 million (HA!)

Hicks really screwed up big. Think about it. $30m for a 40 yr old player won't be enough. It's really sick.

"We want to hire the best manager we can, media be damned"

Well... Donnie is certainly not the 'best' they could find. Best because of DARY and Torregate? Best to resign our guys? Maybe. But this ain't just a managerial hiring. This is as much about damage control as anything.

I'd like Pena to manage and Donnie to bench coach. Has the throw-away thing if necessary, and if Pena is good, gives Donnie the next crack at it, whenever that comes.

295 "Well... Donnie is certainly not the 'best' they could find. "

You have no way of knowing that.

294 They can only turn it down if they believe they're very likely to get more from someone else. I have no idea whether they do believe that. But the stuff they say aloud for negotiating purposes is one thing, and what they believe is pretty much uncorrelated with that.

294 Boras got Hicks almost just as much with the 3 straight opt-out years in what Hicks would have to assume is still Alex's prime

295 is "DARY" just something you made up and keep repeating? i still don't know what you mean by it. haven't you been saying all along that they wanted joe gone and the offer was only for him to reject? if so, what damage are they controlling? personally, i hope they don't care what the media has been saying about them and just pick the best candidate, who i think is almost definitely girardi.

292 293 Thanks guys. I don't really get what happened yesterday .....

Anyhow. Let's get the Yanks put back together and go after #27. Go Rockies too!

300 i got the impression that he was just kidding around with you and is probably a friend of yours. but who knows? frankly i was more interested in 134.

299 yes on both accounts - girardi is the best candidate and i hope he gets it though it seems likely it'll go to donnie AND yeah, what in the hell is DARY???

At first I was 100% convinced it would be Donnie, but reading into Hank's comment can push down the path of it being Girardi. On the other hand, it can push you further down the path of Donnie. Oh the mysteries are everywhere! Is it Monday yet?

300 yeah, it was definitely weird and i'd hate to be in that position. i met someone here and he's used my real name a coupla times and i was none too happy about it. at all. thankfully, they weren't major threads, but still. (though i guess in the longrun it's not that big of a deal...) but like 301 states, it sounds like Bronxer knows you and is just having fun til you figure out who he is. no harm, no foul...

and, yeah, where/what/how/why - 134!!! perhaps DARY had something to do with it??? ; )

299 ,302 I had guessed that DARY was D ipshits A re R uining Y ankees, but he came back a few comments later and stated D yslexic A ccountants R unning Y ankees, a shot at Levine I suppose. I will say this, though... the team, no matter who's in charge now, still has the media and fans alike wrapped tightly around their... finger. Bud's nightmare, George's Revenge (kinda like Monty's, only less humid)

yeah 134 sent it to a new frenzy. i wasn't entirely sure, but it seemed like a joke - and i certainly hope it was.

DARY = dipshit accountants running the yankees
(i did not make it up - i am only repeating it because as zack said there are too many mysteries and we might as well solve one - so PLEASE let's not go down that route again)

ah, yeah, DARY is not nearly as much fun as 134 or joe/bronxer, for that matter. and, yes, it most certainly be a friendly joke! hope the punchline comes soon and we can solely concetrate (hat tip to FJM) on 134 !

actually the more i think about it 134 named the new yankee manager and bud had it erased

What's worse than a bunch of Sox fans? A bunch of Sox fans that don't know anything: http://tinyurl.com/2crkcw

"We don't throw $28 million at Roger Clemens."

Yes, douchebag, you throw it at Julio Lugo and J.D. Drew.

305 If it was the latter, then it'd be DRAY.

309 stop torturing yourself, bro! that said, i am really sick and tired of seeing all these new bandwagon fairweather fans rooting on the sux. they're everywhere. i think it's more of a yankee hating ritual than actually liking boston. soooo silly. i met a few of these tools at the bar last nite and they were all ignorant. best thing we can hope for is coors field magic for our mountaineers starting tonite - GO ROX!

310 nice! if we were playing anagrams it would be YARD and remember, these are really football guys at heart we're talking about...

i don't follow/care for college football, but...GO NITTANY LIONS!!! (they probably have as much a chance as the rockies. sigh.)

310 Hey, I didn't make it up, either. But if it were like that, then the decision-making is definitely way too close to Tampa Bay, which would explain everything...

312 Steinbrenner, him no-notta Yardie; himma rude bwoy...

314 that caused some major crickets, chyll!

309 [ 310] great stuff. I respect the old-time Sox fans, the ones who really suffered. "RSN" is really tiresome, really lame in my eyes.

299 Damage Control: Mo, Po, Bowa, Arod, Andy

DARY - Dysfunctional Accountants Ruining the Yankees.

Please... use with care.

No - I didn't coin the phrase. Can't remember who did. Maybe a week ago or so.
I just put the acronym to it to save typing. as it was beautifully telling, accurate and insulting without using any bad words.

315 I'll accept the one-year offer to come back for one more year since I like it here so much. Hopefully Alex will lower the bar a little to accept such bemusement every now and then >;)

314 Ha

316 Yeah I only know a few of the former. But even some of them I find to be a bit much with their hatred. RSN was out in full effect today

317 Sorry OYF - I though I remembered seeing the way I defined it at one time.

316 All teams have old-time fans who appreciate baseball and their teams. However, all successful teams (Yankees and Sox especially) have their wagon jumpers who give the fans a bad name. Hey, RSN wouldn't bother me if the Yankees were winning ...

Joe-ey kid .....

319 Haha, somebody got it. You owe me an apology {8p

320 We complain about the Yankee bandwagoners all the time. (handing you plate of apple-y pie) Cobbler?

321 Chill Will Nill - love that apple-y pie!!!

320 don't do this to me. Dave ?

319 when I lived in the Back Bay (1990-2001) I had no problem wearing my Yankee hat out in public - now ?... No way. (And I'm 40 mins north...

323 I still wear my NY hat in public - what's to fear?

Nope, Mr. D.

324 hi Mike M.

323 i still wear my gear. let 'em start running their mouths, i can handle it. i'm no trash talker, but when one of the less knowledgeable, more vocal sox fans starts in on me about the yankees, i can usually come up with an appropriate response.

this must be the 1st two day thread in about a year.

maybe alex & co. went all 134.

a thought i can't bear to dwell upon.

323 324 i wear mine on occasion - and twice i got some very hostile type comments from guys - which i wasn't expecting as a female

323 All you need is a posse. People who 'got your back when it's about to go down. Either that or blind them with science... you'll have cool theme music to boot. Then they'll leave you alone >;)

326 i'm the same way w/ fans of other teams. of course, it's not quite as bad here in atlanta. i wear yanks shirts/hats almost daily! : )

neh, emma would have posts that became the next days game thread. usually they were good luck and we'd win those games. even though there are no more games, i still miss emma's writing and hope she puts up a post soon!

323 325 i love it - guesses and getting closer! i leave for work w/in an hour, hopefully you'll figure out bronxer by then!!! : ~

267 269 Bama and Ms. October, now all the other Yankee fans know what it's like to be around Auburn Fans when they're better than Bama (Sox Fans = Auburn fans

Ms. October, whereabouts did you live in B'ham? I'm in forest park.

325 Mike M?

331 wrong guess, I guess.

Just when I think I'm out.... he pulls me back in !

Time to put the kids to bed.

328 I hear ya. BTW, my original #23 comes out on special occasions ....

332 Time to put the Sox to bed, Rocks.

330 What's 2004 - when the games were no longer just at Legion field?

I lived right near UAB; then I moved a little further back close to the Vulcan near the Homewood border.

Ya know, I looking up the word 'RUINING' (the R in DARY) bacause it is close to 'Running' (which fits, but is not as good, and is not in the origingal post), and I wondered if I might have spelled it wrong.
And in that process I came across this little gem.

http://tinyurl.com/2wbhsf
WARNING WILL ROBINSON: Foul Language!

319 Are you... the... original author? (I bow to you). Sorry, pick your 'R'.

327 Try wearing Alyssa's stuff.

336 No - I am not the original author - though I do have somewhat of an appreciation for it - but one would have to pick the D of their choice as well.

337 Ha Ha - these guys were such jerks they would have probably been almost menacing to her too.

334 Ms. October, if I'd known there was a female Yankee fan living here who even blogs about the yanks I would have had to propose! LOL.

2004? No, they've been playing every other game at auburn since 1989 and the last legion field iron bowl was 1999.

I work on highland near UAB

Wow hideki....err kaz matsui looks good! I hate dais-suck.

I;m not sure the Rockies understand the concept of a base. If you wander off it like a moron, you can be tagged out. Someone needs to send this memo to the Rockies.

339 ha ha. no i was saying that in the way the red sox/yankee rivarly changed some in 2004, i think auburn/alabama rivalry changed some when the games started being played at auburn too back then.

i'm not watching the game - i'd rather be pleasantly surprised later.

341 Gotcha....Auburn's owned Bama for longer and it's been miserable here.

341 when I was in grad school here, I loved in the fabulous "mountainside apts" (aka dump) near vulcan. Now I'm closer to Silvertron.

Yanks fans sorry to talk off-topic with Miss October, but what the heck, it's the off season, right?

How long before Atkins just walks off first base? I give it a batter.

343 yeah - when i was a kid alabama had the mental edge over auburn and the history and better coaches (even after bear bryant really)and all that stuff and then it has definitely changed. some when auburn got to host games too i think, but also when alabama got put on probation.
oh yes- i liked it in that vicinity (where you are - not near the vulcan).
the sad thing is each of the "mountainside" apartments was worse than the other

hopefully we will have some yanks news to return to on monday or so
but i will leave us with a memorable huntsville, al connection - jimmy key

This is non competitive.

A joke. A total joke of a team.

Game over. World series over.

What's happening to Colorado in the WS is what should have happened last year to St. Louis.

I'm enjoying watching the Red Sox beat up on the Rockies. I love knowing that baseball writers cannot write the Rockies as the plucky underdogs who defeated the big bad Red Sox. Sooner than later, these sports writers will have to start writing those envious mean spirited articles that they used to write about the Yankees and the lack of competitive advantage about the Red Sox and their money machine now. Ha. Time for Lucchino, John Henry, and Rex Sox fans to experience what is like to be ripped on a daily basis just for being better. Hope they can take because they damn sure dished it out for years. Now they will see how pathetic they have been towards the Yankee players and their fans. Of course, they won't be subjected to the homophobic slurs that are characteristic of parochial pathetic Boston.

Fucking Colorado.

I mean for Christ's sake.

350 :)

You know, Simone, you make a great deal of sense and your observation almost (ALMOST) makes this all tolerable.

But yes, it would be nice for Boston to wear the bull's eye for a bit.

Oh my God, what am I saying? What loser talk.

Has it really come to this?

Sigh.

I'm going to look at the bright side. Hopefully after buying two world titles in four years, the Red Sox will start getting the same absurd treatment the Yankees have been getting.

Does anyone think the Sox will have a bullseye on them once the DARY's overypay for A Rod? I hate the Sox but admire what they have achieved. In the end their FO made better choices, got better pitchers, and their bats have delivered at crunch time. I hope our future young pitching studs will lead the way and fast 'cause this Red Sox revival is causing me much grief.

351 fucking BUGS. fucking bugs.

this sox team has to be one of the ugliest teams all time

354 Relax. If you invoke "DARY," then you must consider the postseason a crap shoot. If so, then the regular season is the real measure of a team's success. IF so, then the Yankees have beaten the Sox the last four years overall.

335 I'm going to withhold judgment on who is "ruining" what, until there is actual evidence of ruining.

358 yankees haven't won a championship since the young steinbrenners took over

359 Good point.

359 357 or an eastern division title

361 Touché.

361 358 Worse yet, they haven't resigned any important free agents.

363 they just love to leave people hanging

364 I think more properly "twisting," rather than hanging

365 yeah as soon as i posted that i knew it wasnt the right word.

rockies seem to be continuing their bizarro 96 yankees thing

Fucking Rockies, what a tease.

1 inning, with the bottom of their lineup, till 'Boner.

Hello?

Sorry, just wondering if the comments were still working, or if it was just a problem on my end.

369 Wrong number.

Let The Great Boston Collapse begin!

371 I'm sorry, I was dialing # 134 .

373 well, it's after 5 now (yankz, you got my back?!), but i'm not kidding about this -- i packed up my gear and left my gig, got in the car to drive off, and it was...i shit you not...wait for it...yup -- 1:34am!!! crazy.

373 Ah, the mystery of 134 lives on. Maybe the Sox-07 will pull a Yankees-04 - we can only hope.

i have an idea or perhaps wish that derek jeter would become the player manager of the yanks and save a few million to pay a-rod and the rest of the motley crew

375 Noooo, the mystery of Bronxer continues. I'm not alone on this one:

http://www.zazzle.com/who_is_bronxer_shirt-235144609390042899

377 No, then his defense would slid even further.

Seriously Jeter - What the fuck was that? That was piss poor.