Last nite was my first exposure to Parkview Field, the new minor-league baseball field in Fort Wayne. We went there, not to a baseball game, but to a concert with MercyMe and Attaboy. The stage was set up where second base goes. The sound quality was great. And in that setting, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house.

Fort Wayne’s baseball team is called the Tin Caps. That’s a new name, replacing the previous Wizards. New stadium, new name. Now, I liked the previous field. It was fairly new, had unlimited parking, and was very accessible. You could quickly get in and out. It was fun to attend games there.

But then the city decided we needed to spend millions of dollars on a new field near the downtown, like it would rejuvenate Fort Wayne’s glorious center and make nightlife flourish. Or something dazzling like that. So they built a new stadium, and tore down the other perfectly-good Wizards stadium out by the Coliseum. I think it was a waste of money, unnecessary.

But alas, the deed is done, so let’s quit crying over that spilled two percent. A new stadium is in place, so I’ll force myself to deal with that reality.

I LOVE the new stadium. I’ve heard other people rave about it, too. But now, having been there, I must agree with them. The concession area is open to the field, so you never need to miss a play. Very, very nice. Many more great features. In short: they did it right. They did it, even, spectacularly. Kudos and praise be upon our wise city fathers, despite their fiscal irresponsibility.

Just because it’s a great park doesn’t mean it was necessary. Pam and I could buy a Lexus, and you would agree that it’s much nicer than the car we currently own. But that doesn’t mean the Lexus would be the best use of our money. I’m just saying. But Parkview Field is a superb ballpark, no doubt about it. I will enjoy going there in the future.

It’s very easy to get to…but not to get away from. We parked in the new parking garage attached to the field. Got inside nicely. But leaving was a mess. Like going to Wrigley Field. It took a good 20 minutes just to get out of the parking garage, followed by FOREVER to get out of the central city, with the tangle of cars converging on one-way streets. Just a royal mess. 

But hey, we are rejuvenating the downtown. Or that’s the plan, anyway.

The July 20 New Yorker has a great article by Elizabeth Kolbert called “XXXL.” It’s actually a review of books about obesity and over-eating. Here are some interesting tidbits:

• Three National Health studies done in the 1960s and 1970s showed that the number of overweight Americans was around 25%. It nudged up slightly with each survey. But in a study in the 1980s, the figure shot up to 33%. 
• Today, men average 17 pounds heavier than in the 1970s. For women: 19 pounds heavier. The number of overweight children (ages 6-11) has doubled, and the number of overweight teens has tripled. 
• The typical revolving door has increased from 10 feet to 12 feet, to accommodate obese people. 
• The weight gain costs airline companies a quarter-billion dollars in extra fuel costs. 
• Soft drinks account for 7% of all calories consumed by Americans. If the average  American stopped drinking soft drinks and only drank water, he would lost 15 pounds. 
• “Eatertainment” is a term used in the food industry to describe food which mix the big three–fat, sugar, and salt–in ways to produce the most calories. 
• A small order of McDonald’s fries has 230 calories, a large order 500 calories. 
• Supersizing has been a huge hit in selling more junk food. 
• Although Americans were the first to fatten up, we’re not alone. The proportion of overweight adults is higher in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Malta, and Slovakia. And obesity is on the rise in Asia, Africa, and South America. 
• People just above the poverty level seem to be gaining weight the most rapidly. 
• Some ailments linked to excess weight: Type 2 diabetes, coronary disease, hypertension, various cancers, gallstones, osteoarthritis. 
• Overweight Americans cost the medical system $90 billion a year. 
• US corporations spend $55 billion a year building food processing and distribution centers in other countries. So “globescity” is only going to continue rising. 

For the record, I just returned from the gym.

The Sears Tower opened three glass-bottomed balconies on the 103rd floor. They say they can hold five tons. I don’t care. You wouldn’t get me to stand on one.

I went to the Fort Wayne Gun & Knife Show this morning with my nephew, Benjamin. I’ve never seen it so crowded. Lots more guns for sale, especially handguns, than I’ve seen before.

The hysteria continues, about Democrats supposedly plotting to clamp down on, or tax, gun sales.

I remain amazed at the ability to openly by assault rifles. They were everywhere. Plus a few of those huge 50 calibre sniper rifles. I kept my eyes alert for the Mexican Mafia, but didn’t see any. 

I don’t own any guns, but do have a great bayonet collection. Bought one today, a World War I era bayonet for the Ross rifle (model 1905/1910).