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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 22, 2005 Since you asked Catbird’s mew-like call gave its name A story on Thursday said a man was in the "catbird seat." What’s that? — Stella G., White City It’s a position of power, Stella. Baseball announcer Red Barber used to say a ballplayer was in the catbird seat when he had a count of, say, three balls and no strikes. Writer and humorist James Thurber claimed Barber got it from a poker buddy down South. We don’t have catbirds here, but they are common back East and parts of the South. The catbird is a gray thrush of shrubs and thickets that got its name from its mew-like call. Catbirds often perch on high and sound the alarm at the first sign of intruders — cats, crows, people, whatever. From the human (groundling) perspective, the catbird appears to be sitting pretty. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to Since you asked ">[email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s