How about those Chisox?

FlyingSock.com is taking due notice of the Chicago (AL) nine's best start in years. See also the photo tribute to the Summer of '77 at the old Comiskey, and the primer on what separates a White Sox from a Cubs fan: The Sox fan, despite long familiarity, does not find losing lovable.

The Red Sox, of course, hadn't won since 1918 when they won the Series last fall. The White Sox haven't won since 1917: Is the year the Pale Hose shake off their curse?

Clips: "Livery Stable Blues" and "Dixie Jazz Band One Step" by the Original Dixieland Jass Band: the sides on the first jazz record, released the year the White Sox last won the Series.

FirstWorldWar.com has more vintage audio from 1917, including such hits as "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France."

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Around the Horn

Continuing your papal celebration through Sunday brunch? Here's just the site.


An explanation is offered for the bear with the suitcase on the new pope's coat of arms, though the historic provenance of the Blackamoors remains unclear. (Via Kathy Shaidle)

A rather nice image of St. Corbinian & bear may be found in the U of Michigan Museum of Art.

If a bear carrying luggage seems far-fetched, a German-beer aficionado notes Corbinian – or Korbinian – was, after all, from Ireland.

The town symbol of Freising is a bear. According to a local legend, a bear ate Brother Korbinian's horse when the monk was about to leave on a pilgrimage to Rome.

Korbinian got his own back by making the bear carry his bags all the way to the Vatican. Irish Blarney is nothing new.

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A belated glad blog årsdag to Random Penseur!

RP notes with sadness the passing of the Rover marque, and with it, the British car names Austin-Healey, MG and Triumph.

These were the great British sports cars of the imagination. My sister once had an Austin Healey Sprite.

As a kid, I thought a Triumph Spitfire would be just the thing. (This was before I knew about oil leaks and mechanic bills.)

In London on Saturday, MG and Rover enthusiasts are planning a convoy in support of laid-off workers.