Phosphorus is highly toxic and flammable, forms compounds that explode on contact with oxygen, is the key ingredient in detergents and nerve gases, and is absolutely essential to life. It’s good fodder for what amounts to a biography of a chemical element, and John Emsley’s The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus
Emsley focuses on four areas of phosphorus’ story: Its early history and manufacture, its valuable commercial uses, its less benevolent uses in explosives and chemical weapons, and its environmental reputation (not entirely deserved). The narrative is a bit clunky, and Emsley tends to veer off into list mode, rattling off a number of famous murder/poisoning cases involving phosphorus in one of the book’s later chapters, and one chapter seldom connects to the next. But most of the book is highly readable, with some of the more technical content siphoned off into sidebars, and it was news to me that phosphorus’s rap for causing eutrophication wasn’t entirely fair, and the history of phosphorus’ use in chemical weapons, including nerve gas, is sadly relevant today.
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I’ve got a 1 pm chat today on ESPN.com, and you can also hear a few minutes with me on today’s Baseball Today podcast.
Keith, your HTML code is showing.
Fixed, thanks. I upgraded to WordPress 2.5 and I didn’t realize that direct HTML entry was no longer the default editing mode.
Hooray for the return of KlawChat!
I, too, approve of the Justin Upton.
I’m assuming from your chat today that you saw the end of the Reds game last night. I’m also assuming your not big on calling guys “clutch”, but didn’t it feel nice to watch the ball leave the park and hear Brantley eat his words. I like Brantley, but he often disregards reality to make his point. There is nothing more annoying in sports than having a color analyst describe what is going on in the replay as if he were watching an entirely different play.
Hey Keith. Saw you talk about a good burger in Boston. Wouldn’t you agree that nearly every joint with the name ‘Burger’ in it almost always has fair to subpar burgers? UBurger is remarkably disappointing for a place that is all about the burger. Burger Heaven in Manhattan is another example of a terrible specialized burger place.
There really isn’t much good food around Kenmore Square since most of it caters to cash-strapped BU students. However, I do like to go to Boston Beer Works on game days, although it can get pretty crowded before people head into the park. Their food is about what you’d expect from a place like that, but I do like that they brew their own beer. My personal favorite is their Haymarket Hefeweizen, but they always have a pretty nice selection of about fifteen or so brewskis. I’m hoping to hit it up this Opening Day before the game, if I can fight my way in.
Keith — when are you taking in your first game at the Fens?
Hey Keith, I was a little late on the chat today and didn’t get a chance to ask this question:
What’s your take on Bonderman? What are the chances he gets it together this year (or ever, for that matter)?
He went 6.1 today and gave up 4 runs, but his peripherals were pretty terrible…8 hits, 2 HR, 2 BB, and only 1 K.
Keith, or for that matter anybody: Can you explain why the rbi is an overrated or meaningless stat? I see runs scored and runs batted in as intertwined, but I know a majority of people disagree with that logic. What am I missing? Thanks
Bob, someone else probably has a more thorough explanation,hell i could be wrong.. but simply, What are the odds David Ortiz would have 100 RBIs if he was batting cleanup for the Pirates? Probably nil, because they’re not that good and probably wouldn’t generate enough men on base for the opportunities. So RBIs, to me at least, are concurrent with having guys on base. If your team sucks and can’t get on base, then that player really has little control over whether or not he has 60 or 100 RBIs.
Mick, thank you.
I’ll echo Malcolm – big fan of Boston Beer Works, which is where we watched the world series as well. (And got maced after Game 4 by some overzealous cops, but that’s neither here nor there).
>Burger Heaven in Manhattan is another example of a terrible specialized burger place.
Beef, yes, “terrible” is the word that comes to mind. But they do turkey burgers OK I think… maybe it depends on the location
Keith, I wanted to see if you’d expand on your thoughts regarding one of your chat questions below. I was the Brian that had the followup question:
Michael (Pittsburgh): Keith, what stadium is your favorite for taking in a game? What stadium is your least favorite?
Keith Law: Favorites: Pittsburgh, Arizona, Baltimore. Least favorites: Minnesota, Shea, Comiskey. I’ve only been to around 20, though, so there are some highly rated ones (like Safeco) that I haven’t hit.
Brian (SB, IND): Comiskey? As in the old one? Or US Cellular? I’m surprised if you mean US Cellular because it has the best food and a thousand different beer options. Plus there isn’t a bad seat in the house. And the concourse that surrounds the seats allows for people to watch from any spot they choose. All things I think you’d like. That’s weird.
Keith Law: It’s ugly, charmless, and in a horrendous neighborhood. And I don’t drink at games because it’s work.
The question was “what stadium is your favorite and least favorite for taking in a game”. Your reasoning for U.S. Cellular Field still surprises me. You said it’s ugly, charmless, and in a horrendous neighborhood. First, it’s no longer ugly as they’ve made quite a few improvements the last 3 years. So if it’s been a while since you’ve been there, I’ll give you a pass. If you still think it’s ugly, I will accept that opinion. However, as far as “taking in a game”, which was the question, your other reasons still don’t fly with me. I don’t see what the neighborhood it’s in has to do with how you take in the game once you’re inside. Then later in your chat, you said that Wrigley is one of the most uncomfortable places you’ve ever sat in. So why wasn’t it in your top 3? I also mentioned that the concessions (and beer, which you shot down) were top notch. Later you said to another chatter that Rogers Center concessions were an embarrassment. So again, why no top 3 for THEM? One final point I saw you make was that you’re a fan of parks that are easily accessible via public transit. Chicago’s red line drops you off right in front of the park.
I apologize for all this, I just wanted to see if after all I just typed for you here, you would care to change your 3 choices for least favorite park to take in a baseball game?
Hey Keith- I couldn’t make the chat yesterday because I was at the San Diego-Houston game. I was reading it today and wanted to note about one of your comments:
Keith Law: Yeah, pretty much. They’ve tried hard with Fenway though. It’s still the only park I know of that serves Guinness, too.
Last year I made it to 7 parks total. I managed to locate Guinness at two of the parks: RFK (which of course is now irrelevant) and the McAfee Coliseum (which is a not a nice baseball park).
Brian: No, I wouldn’t care to change my choices. I think I was pretty clear the first time around. Comiskey’s (they can call it US Cellular or The Dump for all I care, it’s still Comiskey to me) among the worst.
Robert: Yes, several other folks pointed that out. Perhaps I noticed the Fenway one because it is strictly a Guinness stand, whereas other parks just offer it at their regular beer stands? I’m not sure. I was at McAfee last summer and didn’t see it, although I wasn’t looking for beer either.
You’re right, you were pretty clear. You named your 3 choices. I just thought your reasoning was wrong.