Pencil lead is on a scale from 6B on the softest side to 6H on the hardest side. The middle ground is known as HB (or BH). Typical pencils use a 2B softness, thus the Number 2 pencil we’re all accustomed to. If you were to move up the scale to 4B or even 6B, you’d get much darker lines. If you move down the scale, say to 1B, HB, 1H, 3H, 5H… You’d get harder graphite, producing a much lighter line each time.
I appreciated Matthew’s mention of comparing reading about politics to reading about baseball. It’s a comparison I wanted to mention the other day in response to Jeff’s Overwhelmed post, but wasn’t sure if it would fall into the “No politics” realm or not.
It was said above, but I also liked the Scrubs reference. Man that show was good. I need to go back and watch those DVDs again.
Do you really think Yuniesky Betancourt puts in more work than any given human who has a job that involves a salary? Especially if you factor in all the every-day things that you and I have to take care of, that Yuniesky probably pays someone to do? I would still contend that the guy is lazy.
I just read yesterday about the 300 yard shuttle the players do in spring training. I guess they have to do it in less than 60 seconds or they have to do it again the next day. The article said a few years ago (or was it last year) Yuni had to repeat this three days in a row. Is this evidence of laziness or just being out of shape?
Sorry, no link. I was link chasing all day and can’t find it now. Speaking of links… wasn’t that article about the M’s rigorous health check cool?! 2 hours for a physical! that’s great.
Listened to it on the ride home, made traffic much less sucky!
As a writer myself, I found a lot of that pretty interesting. When I do my weekly post for VEB, I imagine it’s similar process to some of Jeff’s longer posts. Not too much research, but trying to make the piece flow and say something interesting. I probably knock those off in 4-5 hours.
When I do my articles for THT, it’s a much, much longer process, because I hold myself to a much higher standard there. I probably spend 2 weeks and close to 15 hours researching and writing for each post. I have to start over all the time (because I write as I research, and if I get weird or uninteresting results, I have to redo it), and have eaten a ton of pieces. The good thing is that THT has editors, so I don’t have to spend so much time proofreading.
Much clearer audio than the previous ones
Great job as usual
aussie_chop - February 18, 2010
I do love the # 3 pencil
use it everyday.
garett1210 - February 18, 2010
Is anyone else having an issue downloading this off of iTunes?
It keeps coming up with an error message for me.
wyte_lightning - February 18, 2010
Yeah, I'm getting a "File could not be found"
If it means anything, this one is also named To Hell with the NL.
Goose - February 18, 2010
That might be the problem.
I’ve changed it and re-submitted. I’d suggest giving it a few minutes and then trying again. If it still doesn’t work, then I don’t know.
Matthew - February 18, 2010
It's still not working for me
Maybe you and Jeff could just call me and I’ll listen to you talk for an hour.
speedomike - February 18, 2010 via mobile
I'll check tomorrow when I get back to a computer with insidious Apple software on it.
Matthew - February 18, 2010
Okay, it's fixed now
Matthew - February 19, 2010
Nope, still giving me an error when I try to download it from the iPod.
When I go into the Itunes program on the computer, it doesn’t even show up as being available.
Goose - February 18, 2010
And yet another head of oxen to the "It Just Works!" wagon train.
Aaron Campeau - February 18, 2010
Did this just cut Jeff off mid-sentence?
the last part of the podcast was fantastic
seattlebruin - February 18, 2010
We sort of petered out without a good ending point
and there were some audio issues so I just axed it at certain point. There wasn’t anything else after that.
Matthew - February 18, 2010
Just listening to the last one
and you have a smooth radio voice Matthew.
marinerdan - February 18, 2010
It's like clover honey in my ears
Jeff Sullivan - February 18, 2010
That's not honey.
Matthew - February 18, 2010
The split channel audio just seems incredibly bizarre to me.
SethGrandpa - February 18, 2010
Listening in mono is as easy as doing this,
Janic - February 18, 2010
I have no idea what that is.
I’m just streaming it from the page while working on my computer and that’s not the interface that shows up.
SethGrandpa - February 18, 2010
Save the MP3 file to your hard disk and open it with VLC.
BrianL - February 18, 2010
Damn steps.
SethGrandpa - February 19, 2010
Stereo thing drives me nuts
Only cause I usually have one headphone on.
Scruffy Lefty - February 18, 2010
Intro Music!
http://home.swipnet.se/~w-22134/nmm/
Scruffy Lefty - February 18, 2010
I prefer tennis.
Scruffy Lefty - February 18, 2010
MIDI is definitely the way to go with this
OlSalty - February 18, 2010
Love the Scrubs reference.
It’s so true.
niceguysfinishlast - February 18, 2010
One time I tried to write a game recap and it took forever
Ever since then I’ve marveled at how you’re able to consistently do it
Dewey N - February 18, 2010
Post is dammit
Poochie - February 18, 2010
Post it dammit
Poochie - February 18, 2010
Post in damnit
Robert - February 18, 2010
My mother loves Josh Groban
Poochie - February 18, 2010
By stating this you have opened up your mother to a barrage of insults
Dewey N - February 18, 2010
Your mother is a gay
Dewey N - February 18, 2010
BTW, different numbers of pencils indicate how darkly they write.
Lower # means darker.
ARock - February 18, 2010
Or, the higher the number, the softer the lead.
katal - February 18, 2010
The number indicates the hardness.
seattle_since_81 - February 18, 2010
The Range
Pencil lead is on a scale from 6B on the softest side to 6H on the hardest side. The middle ground is known as HB (or BH). Typical pencils use a 2B softness, thus the Number 2 pencil we’re all accustomed to. If you were to move up the scale to 4B or even 6B, you’d get much darker lines. If you move down the scale, say to 1B, HB, 1H, 3H, 5H… You’d get harder graphite, producing a much lighter line each time.
A Steamy Day in Cleveland - February 19, 2010
Must finish reading...
Oops, looks like this was only partially correct. I didn’t read the rest of the posts before making my comment on the pencil graphite. Mea Culpa
Can you imagine? a 10B? Wow, that’s soft.
A Steamy Day in Cleveland - February 19, 2010
Since you guys briefly discussed some Cleveland pitchers
I always wondered why Sowers has pitched as much as he had. I don’t get why people give him the option to pitch.
Edgar for Pres - February 18, 2010
'Enjoyed the podcast.
I appreciated Matthew’s mention of comparing reading about politics to reading about baseball. It’s a comparison I wanted to mention the other day in response to Jeff’s Overwhelmed post, but wasn’t sure if it would fall into the “No politics” realm or not.
It was said above, but I also liked the Scrubs reference. Man that show was good. I need to go back and watch those DVDs again.
Do you really think Yuniesky Betancourt puts in more work than any given human who has a job that involves a salary? Especially if you factor in all the every-day things that you and I have to take care of, that Yuniesky probably pays someone to do? I would still contend that the guy is lazy.
katal - February 18, 2010
Yuni
I just read yesterday about the 300 yard shuttle the players do in spring training. I guess they have to do it in less than 60 seconds or they have to do it again the next day. The article said a few years ago (or was it last year) Yuni had to repeat this three days in a row. Is this evidence of laziness or just being out of shape?
Sorry, no link. I was link chasing all day and can’t find it now. Speaking of links… wasn’t that article about the M’s rigorous health check cool?! 2 hours for a physical! that’s great.
A Steamy Day in Cleveland - February 19, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed this one
Listened to it on the ride home, made traffic much less sucky!
As a writer myself, I found a lot of that pretty interesting. When I do my weekly post for VEB, I imagine it’s similar process to some of Jeff’s longer posts. Not too much research, but trying to make the piece flow and say something interesting. I probably knock those off in 4-5 hours.
When I do my articles for THT, it’s a much, much longer process, because I hold myself to a much higher standard there. I probably spend 2 weeks and close to 15 hours researching and writing for each post. I have to start over all the time (because I write as I research, and if I get weird or uninteresting results, I have to redo it), and have eaten a ton of pieces. The good thing is that THT has editors, so I don’t have to spend so much time proofreading.
vivaelpujols - February 18, 2010
On pencil grading, Wikipedia has this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil_lead#Grading_and_classification
It was excellent.
harkening - February 18, 2010
"Self-fulfilling internet meme."
Excellent.
Sky Kalkman - February 19, 2010
Also, "well-rounded vs. great"
Sky Kalkman - February 19, 2010
Also, "writing isn't fun -- coming up with the ideas and the following discussion are the fun parts"
Sky Kalkman - February 19, 2010
My favorite part
Was how the podcast suddenly cut off when Jeff started talking about children dying.
Only thing better would have been if Matthew inserted some “We’ll be right back” music at the end.
JordanB - February 19, 2010
Since I listen to podcasts while doing my walk/jog, I liked that will shot out to the fatties part.
mark sobba - February 19, 2010
Here is a simple intro you can use until you become more comfortable.
Hello this Jeff, and this is Mathew and this is our Lookout Landing Pod Cast. Today we’ll be discussing…
InSpokane - February 19, 2010
It's funnier this way
seattlebruin - February 19, 2010
It's kind of painful.
InSpokane - February 19, 2010
The stereo sound makes it feel like my ears are popping when I listen to it while exercising.
Robert - February 19, 2010
Note to self: stop laughing into your microphone
Jeff Sullivan - February 19, 2010
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