Just a few thoughts on game 1, inning 1.....go sox.
Why is there a cop in the Rockies dugout? Will someone try to steal Clint's dubble bubble? Based on the cops demeanor he is not real happy and would not be much help.
Have you noticed how much spit these guys have? Every time they go to a closeup of someone, out comes the spittle. At least there isn't much chaw.
And how did Timmy know that the home run was 3" above the wall, who measured it?
Were off to Shytown in the AM, be back Monday.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Double D
Listen up now, I’m only going to say this one time. This for everyone out there that has a problem distinguishing between reality and fiction. I do not give one rats ass if Dumbledore is gay. He does not exist so do not fill the airwaves with anything about this in the future. Do you hear that CNN, LA Times? I don’t care if Fawkes is "flaming". Do you hear that JK? Are you just trying to keep your name in the news now that you have completed the HP series?
It has been enough that that we had to hear about the asshole from Idaho playing footsie in Minneapolis, at least he has blood running to his dick. Don’t even think about trying to get a debate going about some character being gay in a novel. It doesn’t matter, we have more important things to discuss, there are worse things happening in this world. Give me a break and let it go.
It has been enough that that we had to hear about the asshole from Idaho playing footsie in Minneapolis, at least he has blood running to his dick. Don’t even think about trying to get a debate going about some character being gay in a novel. It doesn’t matter, we have more important things to discuss, there are worse things happening in this world. Give me a break and let it go.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Answer and More
DW has asked what is available to us today that was not there before, thus improving our life. He specifically wanted to know about a particular object, but I have been thinking beyond any material possession that has led to a more comfortable, less stressful lifestyle. One thing that immediately comes to mind in my case is, what else, retirement.
I can't begin to express how my life has changed since 7/1/06. While I enjoyed my job right up until the day I retired, I must admit that my desire to continue with the day to day drudgery had diminished significantly. There were tangible and some intangible reasons for this change in attitude. With both dismissed, life has become casual like I am drifting with the ocean current. I know the current will take me somewhere, I just don't have to worry anymore about where that might be.
To placate DW however I will say that the one material thing that has made my life easier and much more enjoyable is a device that places a solid line (oh shit, my life just got complicated. Someone else in this house is making pomegranate jelly and has disovered that there are not enough jelly jars so an emergency trip to the store has precluded me from completing this. I apologize for the delay). around my golf balls. This device aligns the sweetspot on the ball which in turn provides a true roll. Thank God for modern technology.
I can't begin to express how my life has changed since 7/1/06. While I enjoyed my job right up until the day I retired, I must admit that my desire to continue with the day to day drudgery had diminished significantly. There were tangible and some intangible reasons for this change in attitude. With both dismissed, life has become casual like I am drifting with the ocean current. I know the current will take me somewhere, I just don't have to worry anymore about where that might be.
To placate DW however I will say that the one material thing that has made my life easier and much more enjoyable is a device that places a solid line (oh shit, my life just got complicated. Someone else in this house is making pomegranate jelly and has disovered that there are not enough jelly jars so an emergency trip to the store has precluded me from completing this. I apologize for the delay). around my golf balls. This device aligns the sweetspot on the ball which in turn provides a true roll. Thank God for modern technology.
Monday, October 22, 2007
What's Up?
Does anyone know where we are headed? I don't and at this point in time I don't even know if I want to. A quick look at the headlines should be enough to make just about anyone want to run and hide. Maybe become like the family in Blast from the Past, take your kid to a shelter and don't come up for awhile.
Wildfires rage, Turkey amasses more troops on the border, Bush asks for another $46 billion for wars, Bin Laden urges insurgents to unite, Blackwater, Spears, Copperfield and oh yeah, Oral Roberts says that the devil will not steal his university!
Wildfires rage, Turkey amasses more troops on the border, Bush asks for another $46 billion for wars, Bin Laden urges insurgents to unite, Blackwater, Spears, Copperfield and oh yeah, Oral Roberts says that the devil will not steal his university!
Meanwhile, my brother thinks (tongue in cheek) my lack of respect is commie drivel. But that's not what concerns me.
Continued Congressional inaction does. It will lead to a higher tax bite for a large portion of the population for tax year 2007. That's what I wanted to warn you about, the alternative minimum tax. It was created in 1969 because 155 high-income taxpayers dodged all federal taxes with creative tax breaks and deductions. Because of 155 tax cheats and a number of do nothing idiots in Washington, it is now estimated that by 2010 more than 35 million taxpayers will be subject to the tax, that's right, that is an additional 34, 999, 845 taxpayers subject to an alternative way to determine how much tax they owe. With this method, deductions are pretty much out the door. So unless Congress gets off it's dead ass, expect the worse, it could impact any family earning more than $75,000.00 this year.
Continued Congressional inaction does. It will lead to a higher tax bite for a large portion of the population for tax year 2007. That's what I wanted to warn you about, the alternative minimum tax. It was created in 1969 because 155 high-income taxpayers dodged all federal taxes with creative tax breaks and deductions. Because of 155 tax cheats and a number of do nothing idiots in Washington, it is now estimated that by 2010 more than 35 million taxpayers will be subject to the tax, that's right, that is an additional 34, 999, 845 taxpayers subject to an alternative way to determine how much tax they owe. With this method, deductions are pretty much out the door. So unless Congress gets off it's dead ass, expect the worse, it could impact any family earning more than $75,000.00 this year.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Middle Town USA
We’ve lived and worked in major metropolitan areas, large cities, middle size cities, middle size towns and small towns. For the time being we are living in what I consider to somewhere in between small and medium (population of around 60K) with a fairly large city just to our west (about 425K). Once you establish yourself in one or the other over time you seem to forget the positive and negative things about the others and sometimes even what is positive about the present.
Then a reminder comes along. Something out of the ordinary happens, a complete surprise.
While we don’t really know many people here (we are loners remember), every once in a while we see someone we know in the grocery store or at a restaurant and we will stop and chat with all of the how are you’s and have you seen so and so. Oh, and in the grocery stores here it is important to understand that what many would consider common items elsewhere appear in the gourmet food section here. Both of the above are reminders that we don’t live in a big city.
Or maybe someone you least expect will do something unexpected, maybe someone you don’t even know. This reminds us that we are not only living in the mid-west but in a not so large city, not to mention that it only takes about 10 minutes to go just about anywhere within the place.
Yesterday, another reminder came in the mail. When we moved into our house, I had to give the local Water Company a deposit of $40.00 to get the water turned on, had to drive down an unpaved gravel road in what I thought was the middle of nowhere to give them their fee. I figured that eventually it would come back to us so I pretty much forgot about it. Yet, in the mail, there it was, a check from them, a deposit refund it said. On the stub were the dates the deposit was made, 5/2/1997 and the date they no longer felt that it would be necessary for them to believe we might run out on them and not pay our bill, 10/12/2007.
So for ten years, five months an ten days, they held on to our deposit. It might be someone’s job at the Water Company to watch the calendar each day and check their receipt book to see who has satisfied their ten-year hitch. Maybe it is someone with a green eyeshade and garter belts around each sleeve. Someone with thick glasses combing through multiple sets of books all day, every day to track down those now deemed trustworthy and then they send out a check. But not for $40.00 mind you. Not in middle town USA. Here you get interest and that was a surprise.
Then a reminder comes along. Something out of the ordinary happens, a complete surprise.
While we don’t really know many people here (we are loners remember), every once in a while we see someone we know in the grocery store or at a restaurant and we will stop and chat with all of the how are you’s and have you seen so and so. Oh, and in the grocery stores here it is important to understand that what many would consider common items elsewhere appear in the gourmet food section here. Both of the above are reminders that we don’t live in a big city.
Or maybe someone you least expect will do something unexpected, maybe someone you don’t even know. This reminds us that we are not only living in the mid-west but in a not so large city, not to mention that it only takes about 10 minutes to go just about anywhere within the place.
Yesterday, another reminder came in the mail. When we moved into our house, I had to give the local Water Company a deposit of $40.00 to get the water turned on, had to drive down an unpaved gravel road in what I thought was the middle of nowhere to give them their fee. I figured that eventually it would come back to us so I pretty much forgot about it. Yet, in the mail, there it was, a check from them, a deposit refund it said. On the stub were the dates the deposit was made, 5/2/1997 and the date they no longer felt that it would be necessary for them to believe we might run out on them and not pay our bill, 10/12/2007.
So for ten years, five months an ten days, they held on to our deposit. It might be someone’s job at the Water Company to watch the calendar each day and check their receipt book to see who has satisfied their ten-year hitch. Maybe it is someone with a green eyeshade and garter belts around each sleeve. Someone with thick glasses combing through multiple sets of books all day, every day to track down those now deemed trustworthy and then they send out a check. But not for $40.00 mind you. Not in middle town USA. Here you get interest and that was a surprise.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Word of the day
Respect
According to dictionary.com, respect can be defined as esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person. Let’s examine that definition in relation to the leaders of our fine country. First, let us start with the current president, then we will move on to the top candidates for president in 2008.
I believe that it is not possible to respect a liar and that in itself eliminates our president. But he has done more than lie that causes me to disrespect the man. We all would like to respect the office but so many of our latest efforts to find someone worthy of any modicum of respect have resulted in complete failure.
George W. Bush
The presidential lie. I’m not really sure where to start here but I guess it will be with his acceptance of the office in January 2001. He did not win the election and taking the oath of office was not only a direct insult to the voters, it was the ultimate lie to the American public and to himself.
Presidential disrespect: It is obvious that he has never respected the American people (I won’t even comment on his treatment of foreign leaders). Since his theft in 2001, he has ignored the wishes of the public to aggrandize his own failed agenda. From no child left behind to the situation in the Middle East, he has continued to ignore the proper course not to mention the wishes of the voting public. Only the stupidity of the American voter allowed him to continue with his arrogant approach to the world stage. His selection of individuals like Cheney and Ashcroft and the Gonzales only re-stated his contempt for the public.
The prior president did nothing to cause the public to respect the office so there is not much more to say there. In my mind, the last president we had that deserved any respect was Carter.
Current Democratic Candidates:
Hillary Clinton
Respect is hard to come by here, she has already claimed the nomination and did not have the sense to get rid of Bill and only because of presidential ambitions did she not leave when the going got good.
John Edwards
While I would like to think he deserves some respect he tries to make us believe he is just a simple man of the people when in fact he lives the life of someone most of us could not hope to achieve. Admire maybe, respect, nope, he is just another politician trying to sell us a bridge or some ocean front property that he does not own.
Barack Obama
This is probably the candidate that most closely resembles someone worthy of trust. His demeanor is homespun and he appears to have many of the qualities that could lead some to respect his abilities. Deep down, he is probably 1 or 2 terms away from the experience one should have (this could also become a positive in his favor since he will not be labeled as one of the established theocrats).
The Others
Not one iota for respect for the rest, they only want the power and will do and say anything to get it.
Republicans:
I can’t respect any of them. I used to think that McCain might be someone to consider but he has become a sad representation of all of the others that have run for the office and failed.
The only individual I have less respect for than all of the above is Ralph Nader.
Let’s look at how the primaries are shaping up. All of the democratic and republican leaders within the states are trying to move their caucuses/primaries ahead of the rest of them and they may be separate from each other. It will be complete chaos if this continues, not to mention what it will cost to complete the electoral circus.
So, what do we do? My suggestion is that the entire American voting public boycott the 2008 primaries. Don’t vote in any primary, don’t participate in any caucus. Let's take it straight to the convention to see who survives. Kind of like kill em all and let God sort it out. It's either that or a vote for Colbert
So, respect; it is hard to respect a political process that only exists to pursue the political process.
According to dictionary.com, respect can be defined as esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person. Let’s examine that definition in relation to the leaders of our fine country. First, let us start with the current president, then we will move on to the top candidates for president in 2008.
I believe that it is not possible to respect a liar and that in itself eliminates our president. But he has done more than lie that causes me to disrespect the man. We all would like to respect the office but so many of our latest efforts to find someone worthy of any modicum of respect have resulted in complete failure.
George W. Bush
The presidential lie. I’m not really sure where to start here but I guess it will be with his acceptance of the office in January 2001. He did not win the election and taking the oath of office was not only a direct insult to the voters, it was the ultimate lie to the American public and to himself.
Presidential disrespect: It is obvious that he has never respected the American people (I won’t even comment on his treatment of foreign leaders). Since his theft in 2001, he has ignored the wishes of the public to aggrandize his own failed agenda. From no child left behind to the situation in the Middle East, he has continued to ignore the proper course not to mention the wishes of the voting public. Only the stupidity of the American voter allowed him to continue with his arrogant approach to the world stage. His selection of individuals like Cheney and Ashcroft and the Gonzales only re-stated his contempt for the public.
The prior president did nothing to cause the public to respect the office so there is not much more to say there. In my mind, the last president we had that deserved any respect was Carter.
Current Democratic Candidates:
Hillary Clinton
Respect is hard to come by here, she has already claimed the nomination and did not have the sense to get rid of Bill and only because of presidential ambitions did she not leave when the going got good.
John Edwards
While I would like to think he deserves some respect he tries to make us believe he is just a simple man of the people when in fact he lives the life of someone most of us could not hope to achieve. Admire maybe, respect, nope, he is just another politician trying to sell us a bridge or some ocean front property that he does not own.
Barack Obama
This is probably the candidate that most closely resembles someone worthy of trust. His demeanor is homespun and he appears to have many of the qualities that could lead some to respect his abilities. Deep down, he is probably 1 or 2 terms away from the experience one should have (this could also become a positive in his favor since he will not be labeled as one of the established theocrats).
The Others
Not one iota for respect for the rest, they only want the power and will do and say anything to get it.
Republicans:
I can’t respect any of them. I used to think that McCain might be someone to consider but he has become a sad representation of all of the others that have run for the office and failed.
The only individual I have less respect for than all of the above is Ralph Nader.
Let’s look at how the primaries are shaping up. All of the democratic and republican leaders within the states are trying to move their caucuses/primaries ahead of the rest of them and they may be separate from each other. It will be complete chaos if this continues, not to mention what it will cost to complete the electoral circus.
So, what do we do? My suggestion is that the entire American voting public boycott the 2008 primaries. Don’t vote in any primary, don’t participate in any caucus. Let's take it straight to the convention to see who survives. Kind of like kill em all and let God sort it out. It's either that or a vote for Colbert
So, respect; it is hard to respect a political process that only exists to pursue the political process.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Presidential Babble
Our beloved leader just finished his babble and the talking heads are apparently done telling us what he said. I know this because I just turned the TV on because, guess what, it's raining again. So we get babble from the prez and a drenching from Mother Nature. While both of them rain things down on their victims, at least MN provides something productive.
So what did the prez do for us today? Let's see, he fired many shots across the bow of Congress. Evidently they have been sitting on their nuts (or other parts if not of the male persuasion) and this has pissed "w" off (actually he was just taking the opportunity to deflect our thoughts away from his sterile, ineffective day to day administration.
In all fairness, Congress does deserve to be bashed. The men and women we send to represent us have done exactly what for us lately? Here is a list of some of the important issues from yesterday in Congress:
Voted on a bill that would prevent Federal employees from purchasing unnecessary first-class or premium-class airline tickets at taxpayers expense.
Why only the unnecessary tickets?
Expressed support support for the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week.
Originated in the House in April with 27 co-sponsors. Latest action passed by the House and sent to the Senate. So are you aware yet?
Recognized all hunters across the United States for their continued commitment to safety.
Could not get much detail, first introduced in July and has 91 co-sponsors. This important piece of legislation was passed on 10/16 and agreed to by the Senate. Perhaps they should present an award to Harry Whittington. They could call it the Dick Cheney Hunters Safety award and present it annually to someone that survived a hunting accident.
Finally, Rep. David Dreier, California introduced a bill to Recognize the close relationship between the United States and the Republic of San Marino.
Actually it is the Most Serene Republic of San Marino and they must be feeling neglected, thus the need for some recognition.
So what did the prez do for us today? Let's see, he fired many shots across the bow of Congress. Evidently they have been sitting on their nuts (or other parts if not of the male persuasion) and this has pissed "w" off (actually he was just taking the opportunity to deflect our thoughts away from his sterile, ineffective day to day administration.
In all fairness, Congress does deserve to be bashed. The men and women we send to represent us have done exactly what for us lately? Here is a list of some of the important issues from yesterday in Congress:
Voted on a bill that would prevent Federal employees from purchasing unnecessary first-class or premium-class airline tickets at taxpayers expense.
Why only the unnecessary tickets?
Expressed support support for the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week.
Originated in the House in April with 27 co-sponsors. Latest action passed by the House and sent to the Senate. So are you aware yet?
Recognized all hunters across the United States for their continued commitment to safety.
Could not get much detail, first introduced in July and has 91 co-sponsors. This important piece of legislation was passed on 10/16 and agreed to by the Senate. Perhaps they should present an award to Harry Whittington. They could call it the Dick Cheney Hunters Safety award and present it annually to someone that survived a hunting accident.
Finally, Rep. David Dreier, California introduced a bill to Recognize the close relationship between the United States and the Republic of San Marino.
Actually it is the Most Serene Republic of San Marino and they must be feeling neglected, thus the need for some recognition.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Blue Monday Post Script
For those of you that enjoy the Daily Show, you should check out the replay if you missed tonight. John Oliver stands in front of a statue of a horse but is actually behind the horse and all you see is the horse's ass. The whole time he was talking about Gore's peace prize all I could see was the ass of the horse.
Blue Monday
Lets see what's happening today, Monday, October 15, 2007. It rained and it rained and it rained. Yesterday almost 3 inches, today probably close to that. You know what that means? It means I'm not in a good mood because.......no golf. I try to play or practice Monday through Friday and let the work a day folks have the weekend. By tomorrow I will need my fix, straight to the vein, unless it's still raining.
What else, Nebraska fired it's AD today. The big guy at the U says it has nothing to do with the loss on Saturday. I say bullshit, big chief speak with forked tongue. Not that it matters to me, they can fire everyone there and cancel the rest of the season as far as I'm concerned. Of course if that happened red would probably be dropped as a primary color, corn would never again be yellow and this fellow would probably move to Oklahoma.
Next, the good Senator from I da Ho was inducted in the the states hall of fame over the weekend. This tells us all we need to know about Idaho I guess. The steers and queers used to be in Texas, guess they moved north. And bush (that's W), he still thinks that we should continue to allow our jobs to be outsourced overseas by declaring that protectionism will cost the US jobs, even though estimates indicate that we lost from 300,000 to 995,000 jobs from 2001 to 2004 (lets see, when did he take office?).
Which one is the president?
And finally, news from the world of condoms, experts from 21 nations are meeting in S. Korea this week (question, what does it take to become a condom expert, what do they do and how much do they make?). They apparently are there to update international condom standards (we can all have alot of fun with this one). Seriously though, they are concerned with the quality of the rubber but enough of that. The big issue (pardon the pun) seems to be size and apparently it does matter. The things are just to long.
According to Michael Reece, director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University "typically, when a man complains about condom fit, we have assumed that he means that condoms are too small and we have often just ignored this complaint because we think that men are bragging about the size of their penis," He said men also have problems with condoms being too large.
Another comment comes from Frank Sadlo, founder of TheyFit. Sadlo offers a "fit kit," a sheet of paper printed from a computer for sizing - and advising the user to watch out for paper cuts. That's the best advice I've heard in a long time. Sadlo is also pushing (again with the puns) for a standards change which could be a problem.
The standard for testing condom strength is to fill it with air (a viable penis substitute no doubt), a technique pioneered by the Swedes (it's in the blood line) in the 1950s. Condoms of the standard length and width must hold at least 4.76 gallons of air - far more than they would ever be expected to contain under normal use. I know the body is mostly water but is the penis most air? If true, that would explain alot wouldn't it.
What else, Nebraska fired it's AD today. The big guy at the U says it has nothing to do with the loss on Saturday. I say bullshit, big chief speak with forked tongue. Not that it matters to me, they can fire everyone there and cancel the rest of the season as far as I'm concerned. Of course if that happened red would probably be dropped as a primary color, corn would never again be yellow and this fellow would probably move to Oklahoma.
Next, the good Senator from I da Ho was inducted in the the states hall of fame over the weekend. This tells us all we need to know about Idaho I guess. The steers and queers used to be in Texas, guess they moved north. And bush (that's W), he still thinks that we should continue to allow our jobs to be outsourced overseas by declaring that protectionism will cost the US jobs, even though estimates indicate that we lost from 300,000 to 995,000 jobs from 2001 to 2004 (lets see, when did he take office?).
Which one is the president?
And finally, news from the world of condoms, experts from 21 nations are meeting in S. Korea this week (question, what does it take to become a condom expert, what do they do and how much do they make?). They apparently are there to update international condom standards (we can all have alot of fun with this one). Seriously though, they are concerned with the quality of the rubber but enough of that. The big issue (pardon the pun) seems to be size and apparently it does matter. The things are just to long.
According to Michael Reece, director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University "typically, when a man complains about condom fit, we have assumed that he means that condoms are too small and we have often just ignored this complaint because we think that men are bragging about the size of their penis," He said men also have problems with condoms being too large.
Another comment comes from Frank Sadlo, founder of TheyFit. Sadlo offers a "fit kit," a sheet of paper printed from a computer for sizing - and advising the user to watch out for paper cuts. That's the best advice I've heard in a long time. Sadlo is also pushing (again with the puns) for a standards change which could be a problem.
The standard for testing condom strength is to fill it with air (a viable penis substitute no doubt), a technique pioneered by the Swedes (it's in the blood line) in the 1950s. Condoms of the standard length and width must hold at least 4.76 gallons of air - far more than they would ever be expected to contain under normal use. I know the body is mostly water but is the penis most air? If true, that would explain alot wouldn't it.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Happiness
I was going to talk about the number of jobs that have left this country in the past few years but something happened in Lincoln today that made me reconsider what I wanted to pen. I don't know how to say it and still be polite, Corn got shucked, Cowboys cream Corn, Nebraska got corn holed.
There was an article in the Weird Herald (Omaha World Herald) sports sections this morning about red N fans deserting the sinking ship. It seems it has never happened here before. NK and I get to witness history and we love it. According to the paper, we may soon see a stadium in Lincoln that is not full on a Saturday afternoon. People are trying to sell tickets and talking about cleaning out their rain gutters instead of going to "The Game".
This is historic in Nebraska. Fans have not been fickle here, they have faithfully supported their team. Then the ex Oakland Raiders coach showed up. People started mowing their lawns. Pay per view lost money and those corn guys are losing games, big time, like 38 - 0 to begin the 4th quarter. My only problem is that the other team allowed them to score. The whining has already started, people were leaving before halftime. I can't wait to see the Sunday paper. I don't normally read anything about Nebraska football (I hate the color red now except for my Fresno State hat) but tomorrow I will savor every word.
Maybe I'll be ready to talk about what W has done to jobs in this country tomorrow but I have to celebrate corn pone today.
There was an article in the Weird Herald (Omaha World Herald) sports sections this morning about red N fans deserting the sinking ship. It seems it has never happened here before. NK and I get to witness history and we love it. According to the paper, we may soon see a stadium in Lincoln that is not full on a Saturday afternoon. People are trying to sell tickets and talking about cleaning out their rain gutters instead of going to "The Game".
This is historic in Nebraska. Fans have not been fickle here, they have faithfully supported their team. Then the ex Oakland Raiders coach showed up. People started mowing their lawns. Pay per view lost money and those corn guys are losing games, big time, like 38 - 0 to begin the 4th quarter. My only problem is that the other team allowed them to score. The whining has already started, people were leaving before halftime. I can't wait to see the Sunday paper. I don't normally read anything about Nebraska football (I hate the color red now except for my Fresno State hat) but tomorrow I will savor every word.
Maybe I'll be ready to talk about what W has done to jobs in this country tomorrow but I have to celebrate corn pone today.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Digging Up Bones
Recently, the Gipper was unearthed. The Gipper was immortalized by double R when he portrayed George Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American in 1940. The Knute, the coach at Notre Dame, wanted his team to win one for the Gipper, an all time great in college football.
So, why did the Gipp come up 6 feet? It seems there are a couple of people out there that want a piece of Gipp pie. So, he was exhumed, DNA tested and planted back where he was resting. Why is this news? Because the family wanted this to be a private thang. Rick Frueh, whose grandmother was one of Gipp's sisters, and who authorized the exhumation said Thursday in a statement, "The disinterment of the body of George Gipp is of personal and private interest to our family. Please respect our wishes to keep this matter private."
So everyone bent over backward to respect the families wishes right? Wrong again kemosabe.
" ESPN cameras were present at the exhumation, and E:60, the network's new magazine show, will chronicle the story in the coming weeks."
Why?
Come on, we are not talking about Barry Bonds or Kobe Bryant. The man has been dead for 87 years. There is no picture of him kicking a dog, nothing. I know the Enquirer feels it has to delve into any private matter it thinks might stir up a little stink, but ESPN covering this like an OJ trial is going a little to far. Back off Boomer, leave the Gipp alone.
So, why did the Gipp come up 6 feet? It seems there are a couple of people out there that want a piece of Gipp pie. So, he was exhumed, DNA tested and planted back where he was resting. Why is this news? Because the family wanted this to be a private thang. Rick Frueh, whose grandmother was one of Gipp's sisters, and who authorized the exhumation said Thursday in a statement, "The disinterment of the body of George Gipp is of personal and private interest to our family. Please respect our wishes to keep this matter private."
So everyone bent over backward to respect the families wishes right? Wrong again kemosabe.
" ESPN cameras were present at the exhumation, and E:60, the network's new magazine show, will chronicle the story in the coming weeks."
Why?
Come on, we are not talking about Barry Bonds or Kobe Bryant. The man has been dead for 87 years. There is no picture of him kicking a dog, nothing. I know the Enquirer feels it has to delve into any private matter it thinks might stir up a little stink, but ESPN covering this like an OJ trial is going a little to far. Back off Boomer, leave the Gipp alone.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Nostalgia
In 1965 I graduated from high school. We never had to worry about someone coming to school with a gun, never even thought about it. Our biggest concern was what we were going to do on the weekend and whether or not we would be able to get some beer, maybe even cop a feel during a slow dance after the game, at one of the Melco dances in Lemoore or at the Rainbow Ballroom in Fresno. You know, teenage stuff, a fist fight or two during the year was not abnormal.
When we moved to the midwest 10 years ago from gang ridden Northern California it felt like we moved onto the Happy Days set. Richie, Ralph, Potsie and Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham were everywhere. Even Joannie and the Fonz were here. No one attempted to cross 6 lanes of I-80 during the morning rush hour to gain membership in whatever gang was in favor. Everyone left their windows open. Garage doors were open all the time and nothing was ever taken but everything is different now.
Doors and windows are shut tight, break-ins are rampant and just across the river there is at least one shooting every night, even during the day. Six year old chidren are dying, guns go to more schools than to a duck pond and every one but me here seems to go duck hunting. The only thing that has not happened here yet is a school shooting. There have been lockdowns but nothing has left the chamber. Sadly, there will be a time when it will happen here also.
The question is, what has changed? Why has our gentle nature become filled with rage? What can we expect 42 years from now? Every school here has a police presence now, will there be armed soldiers escorting those willing to risk attending? What about the teachers, will anyone want the job? It seems that turn the other cheek has been left behind and now we can only hope that someone doesn't turn the gun in our direction. Don't leave home without it has become don't leave home at all.
When we moved to the midwest 10 years ago from gang ridden Northern California it felt like we moved onto the Happy Days set. Richie, Ralph, Potsie and Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham were everywhere. Even Joannie and the Fonz were here. No one attempted to cross 6 lanes of I-80 during the morning rush hour to gain membership in whatever gang was in favor. Everyone left their windows open. Garage doors were open all the time and nothing was ever taken but everything is different now.
Doors and windows are shut tight, break-ins are rampant and just across the river there is at least one shooting every night, even during the day. Six year old chidren are dying, guns go to more schools than to a duck pond and every one but me here seems to go duck hunting. The only thing that has not happened here yet is a school shooting. There have been lockdowns but nothing has left the chamber. Sadly, there will be a time when it will happen here also.
The question is, what has changed? Why has our gentle nature become filled with rage? What can we expect 42 years from now? Every school here has a police presence now, will there be armed soldiers escorting those willing to risk attending? What about the teachers, will anyone want the job? It seems that turn the other cheek has been left behind and now we can only hope that someone doesn't turn the gun in our direction. Don't leave home without it has become don't leave home at all.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Updates
I would like to update a few items from the past couple days:
1. The election in CB was a success, there are now only 6 candidates for the election next month.
2. It seems the City Council in Belmont California in there entirety are about as dumb as I thought they might be since they did pass the smoking ban for anyone living in an apartment or condo. Next will be single family homes.
3. Although I did not mention it earlier, the Columbus Day holiday interrupted the delivery of a very important package (little K was expecting one from NK and declared Monday a stupid holiday).
4. At least one sports figure has some common sense. Yesterday Mack Strong of the Seattle Seahawks decided to retire after suffering a neck injury. Good move Mack, don't sacrifice the rest of your life for a few moments of fame.
1. The election in CB was a success, there are now only 6 candidates for the election next month.
2. It seems the City Council in Belmont California in there entirety are about as dumb as I thought they might be since they did pass the smoking ban for anyone living in an apartment or condo. Next will be single family homes.
3. Although I did not mention it earlier, the Columbus Day holiday interrupted the delivery of a very important package (little K was expecting one from NK and declared Monday a stupid holiday).
4. At least one sports figure has some common sense. Yesterday Mack Strong of the Seattle Seahawks decided to retire after suffering a neck injury. Good move Mack, don't sacrifice the rest of your life for a few moments of fame.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Elections
What's pissing me off today? Elections, especially when they hold one as a precursor to another election 30 days later. I don't know that it costs to hold an election but it can't be inexpensive. Today, CB held an election for City Council, actually voters were expected to reduce the number of candidates from 7 to 6 before the final election next month to pick 3.
I would hate to think that my taxes to city and county government were wasted on frivolous matters so it must have been critical to winnow out that 1 person before we get to chose the other 3. I wonder if only 6 had decided to run for office if we would have had an election to reduce the number to 5.
I would hate to think that my taxes to city and county government were wasted on frivolous matters so it must have been critical to winnow out that 1 person before we get to chose the other 3. I wonder if only 6 had decided to run for office if we would have had an election to reduce the number to 5.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Heroes
Do you have any real life heroes? Not like the heroes on the TV show but real people that have had a positive impact on your life. More importantly, if you have children, do they have real live heroes? Someone to look up to, someone to emulate and think that they would like to be just like that when they grow up, someone, hopefully out of the sports world because many athletes (not all but just enough to taint them) are spoiled, greedy self absorbed individuals not worthy of recognition. All children should be encouraged to find someone they admire. Making sure a child reads is a good way to help them find a hero or heroine.
When I was a child I lived across the street from a small county library and I think I spent as much time there as I did at home. I read everything I could find, I even worked there for a few years. It’s where I found my heroes, Capt. Ted Lawson from Fresno, Ca. and Mickey Mantle. I know I said no sports figures but it was different then, they were mainly just self absorbed drunks not out to see how many women they could lay or how many children they could father and the drug of choice was legal.
Ted Lawson was the main character in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, a book about the first air raid on Tokyo by US forces during WWII, a long range raid in which the bombers took off from an aircraft carrier, not from land. Capt. Lawson’s plane, the Ruptured Duck ran out of fuel short of the planned landing area in China that was not occupied by the Japanese. They had to ditch the B-25 on a small island off the coast and as a result of the crash, he suffered a severe leg laceration and his left leg was crudely removed due to infection. It was a story of strength and survival that a child’s mind could run with.
When I was a child I lived across the street from a small county library and I think I spent as much time there as I did at home. I read everything I could find, I even worked there for a few years. It’s where I found my heroes, Capt. Ted Lawson from Fresno, Ca. and Mickey Mantle. I know I said no sports figures but it was different then, they were mainly just self absorbed drunks not out to see how many women they could lay or how many children they could father and the drug of choice was legal.
Ted Lawson was the main character in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, a book about the first air raid on Tokyo by US forces during WWII, a long range raid in which the bombers took off from an aircraft carrier, not from land. Capt. Lawson’s plane, the Ruptured Duck ran out of fuel short of the planned landing area in China that was not occupied by the Japanese. They had to ditch the B-25 on a small island off the coast and as a result of the crash, he suffered a severe leg laceration and his left leg was crudely removed due to infection. It was a story of strength and survival that a child’s mind could run with.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Sunday Funnies
Since the editorial cartoons are sometimes better than the Sunday comics here are some of the best from last week.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Travels with DK
We are going to take a little trip today to a small town just outside of San Francisco. For those of you that have been to SF you know that there is an abundance of liberalism in the city and the surrounding area. One little village (apparently with more than one idiot) has decided to change that. They must think that they live in that bastion of conservatism of Orange County. Or maybe they think they rule like the military in Myanmar.
Our little visit will be to Belmont, Ca. It is mainly a bedroom community of around 25,000 people about halfway down the SF Peninsula in San Mateo County. According to the city's official web page, Belmont is "known for its wooded hills, views of the San Francisco Bay and stretches of open space, Belmont is a quiet residential community in the midst of the culturally (my emphasis) and technologically rich Bay Area.
If you look through their web site it appears to be a normal caring community with an average amount of restrictions, but the City Council has recently decided that they want to get the city some press. They have decided, now get this, to ban smoking inside private residences. Thats right, if you rent or lease an apartment within the confines of the city limits of Belmont, you will not be able to smoke in your own residence if the City Council passes the edict. While this will apply to new rentals or leases, if a current lease expires and is renewed it will also go into effect and the resident will have 14 months to quit smoking.
Ever since 9/11 every federal, state and local government agency seems to think that they need to severly reduce, restrict or eliminate the rights of the citizens of this country. I'm not going to go into the list of rights we all have lost but I think this one is right up there with the most offensive and ludicrous. Once they get this one in, will they restrict the type of liquid refreshment Belmont residents can enjoy?
Maybe they will pass an ordinance requiring residents to purchase only Weight Watchers frozen meals so they can attempt to dictate how much each resident should weigh. If they alternate months they could probaby hold a weigh in for 2100 people each month. If they don't reach their target weight within 2 or 3 scheduled weight checks they could evict them and escort them to the limits of the city.
If you would like to provide a comment to the Belmont City Council you can email them at CityCouncil@belmont.gov
Our little visit will be to Belmont, Ca. It is mainly a bedroom community of around 25,000 people about halfway down the SF Peninsula in San Mateo County. According to the city's official web page, Belmont is "known for its wooded hills, views of the San Francisco Bay and stretches of open space, Belmont is a quiet residential community in the midst of the culturally (my emphasis) and technologically rich Bay Area.
If you look through their web site it appears to be a normal caring community with an average amount of restrictions, but the City Council has recently decided that they want to get the city some press. They have decided, now get this, to ban smoking inside private residences. Thats right, if you rent or lease an apartment within the confines of the city limits of Belmont, you will not be able to smoke in your own residence if the City Council passes the edict. While this will apply to new rentals or leases, if a current lease expires and is renewed it will also go into effect and the resident will have 14 months to quit smoking.
Ever since 9/11 every federal, state and local government agency seems to think that they need to severly reduce, restrict or eliminate the rights of the citizens of this country. I'm not going to go into the list of rights we all have lost but I think this one is right up there with the most offensive and ludicrous. Once they get this one in, will they restrict the type of liquid refreshment Belmont residents can enjoy?
Maybe they will pass an ordinance requiring residents to purchase only Weight Watchers frozen meals so they can attempt to dictate how much each resident should weigh. If they alternate months they could probaby hold a weigh in for 2100 people each month. If they don't reach their target weight within 2 or 3 scheduled weight checks they could evict them and escort them to the limits of the city.
If you would like to provide a comment to the Belmont City Council you can email them at CityCouncil@belmont.gov
Friday, October 5, 2007
If it ain't broke, don't fix it (if it is it may be too late)!
Whenever you answer a question you reveal something about yourself and sometimes it becomes something you may not have realized or just something you have never expressed. This falls into the latter category.
Something that I broke became a thought provoking, soul-searching question. Like mielikki, my hands have shattered many tangible items and they don’t matter at all and many things I had responsibility for somehow broke (probably poor design) that did matter at the time but became insignificant in the long run (my M-16 in Vietnam for example). Sometimes you can break something that will mend over time, sometimes it does not. In thinking about it, I believe I accomplished both.
I think when I told my dad that I was getting married it broke his heart. He was dead set on my going to college after I got out of the service and he did not think I would do that if I was married. His response to me that Sunday afternoon was "that’s your problem". No other conversation, he just waked away, did not want to try and talk me out of it, give me a reason why I should wait, nothing. It took awhile but he got over that one. I don’t know if it was because I did go to college and became the first in our family to get a degree or if it was just the passing of time and I never will because we never discussed it (and that breaks my heart now).
In all my wisdom I probably broke his heart a 2nd time in 1974 when our firstborn and only son (his only grandson) was not named the third. I don’t think it ever fully mended and while he did not overtly show any sign of disappointment, it was there and again it was not discussed. We knew what he would like the name to be and we never really considered it as an option. I don’t remember if we told him in advance or after the Droid Whisperer was born. I do remember not caring what dad thought and that was wrong. We had a number of reasons we chose not to play the same name game and we did not share any of them with him. While we would have stuck with our decision, we should have shared our feelings with him. Maybe that would have kept something from breaking.
Something that I broke became a thought provoking, soul-searching question. Like mielikki, my hands have shattered many tangible items and they don’t matter at all and many things I had responsibility for somehow broke (probably poor design) that did matter at the time but became insignificant in the long run (my M-16 in Vietnam for example). Sometimes you can break something that will mend over time, sometimes it does not. In thinking about it, I believe I accomplished both.
I think when I told my dad that I was getting married it broke his heart. He was dead set on my going to college after I got out of the service and he did not think I would do that if I was married. His response to me that Sunday afternoon was "that’s your problem". No other conversation, he just waked away, did not want to try and talk me out of it, give me a reason why I should wait, nothing. It took awhile but he got over that one. I don’t know if it was because I did go to college and became the first in our family to get a degree or if it was just the passing of time and I never will because we never discussed it (and that breaks my heart now).
In all my wisdom I probably broke his heart a 2nd time in 1974 when our firstborn and only son (his only grandson) was not named the third. I don’t think it ever fully mended and while he did not overtly show any sign of disappointment, it was there and again it was not discussed. We knew what he would like the name to be and we never really considered it as an option. I don’t remember if we told him in advance or after the Droid Whisperer was born. I do remember not caring what dad thought and that was wrong. We had a number of reasons we chose not to play the same name game and we did not share any of them with him. While we would have stuck with our decision, we should have shared our feelings with him. Maybe that would have kept something from breaking.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Stupid Sports Commentators
I don’t watch much baseball during the regular season. I watch a little less during the playoffs and I may watch some during the world series (it’s kind of presumptuous of us to call it a world series when the only teams in contention come from north america don’t you think?). Today I discovered one of the reasons why I don’t watch all that much anymore.
While watching the Cubs/D’backs game there was a flash to a picture of what used to be Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali to all you purists and I can’t get past Lew Alcindor who is actually Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.). The man was trying to stand up/sit down, I could not tell which it was but he eventually kind of plopped down after some kind of recognition at the ball field. It was obvious he was oblivious to his surroundings and that is what prompts this missive.
Earth to Dick Stockton, hello in there. Even if the man does live in Phoenix and even though he was in a seat at the ballpark, he could not have been watching the game. Mr. Clay (Ali) may have known that there were a number of people out in some sort of field but let’s get real Dick, he did not have any idea what was really going on and he probably doesn’t even know he lives in Phoenix let alone that the D’backs were playing the Cubs in the NLDS. Let’s stop immortalizing the poor guy, just leave him be. He was once great but is now no longer the same person. If you must show that he is there, at least give him some dignity and don’t show him attempting to stand or sit.
While watching the Cubs/D’backs game there was a flash to a picture of what used to be Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali to all you purists and I can’t get past Lew Alcindor who is actually Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.). The man was trying to stand up/sit down, I could not tell which it was but he eventually kind of plopped down after some kind of recognition at the ball field. It was obvious he was oblivious to his surroundings and that is what prompts this missive.
Earth to Dick Stockton, hello in there. Even if the man does live in Phoenix and even though he was in a seat at the ballpark, he could not have been watching the game. Mr. Clay (Ali) may have known that there were a number of people out in some sort of field but let’s get real Dick, he did not have any idea what was really going on and he probably doesn’t even know he lives in Phoenix let alone that the D’backs were playing the Cubs in the NLDS. Let’s stop immortalizing the poor guy, just leave him be. He was once great but is now no longer the same person. If you must show that he is there, at least give him some dignity and don’t show him attempting to stand or sit.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Smoking Benefits Children
Not being able to take a child to see a doctor has to be one of the worst feelings for a parent and yesterday dubya vetoed a bill passed by Congress that would have enabled an additional 4 million children to possibly avoid that circumstance. Even though he believes that "childrens can learn", evidently he doesn't care if childrens can't stay healthy. Contrary to what a president would normally do with such an important action, to avoid any coverage dubya hid behind the walls of the White House for this veto of the bipartisan bill. Evidently he is more concerned for the image of the party with the upcoming election than he is for the welfare of the countries less fortunate citizens.
"The State Children's Health Insurance Program is a joint state-federal effort that subsidizes health coverage for 6.6 million people, mostly children, from families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford their own private coverage" according to the AP.
The plan gives the states flexible control over eligibility within limits based on percentages of income above the poverty level (currently $20,650.00 per year for a family of four). Children must be under the age of 19 to be eligible.
The only portion of the bill that I strongly disagree with is how it would be funded with a sin tax increase. Like many health care related measures in the past few decades, this would have been funded by an increase in the federal tax rate on cigarettes from .61 cents to $1.00. Even as an ex-smoker I do not believe that a selected group should bear the burden of federal/state mandated programs.
Iowa increased the state tax on cigarettes by $1.00 earlier this year and smokers in this state would have faced an additional 49 cent tax if this bill had not be vetoed.
A few people may give up the weed and reduce the $$ coming in to support bills like this but most will not. Our health care industry and to a limited extent our government would like to reduce the number of smokers in this country while at the same time they both dwell in the house of profits from tobacco. When will the mixed messages cease?
"The State Children's Health Insurance Program is a joint state-federal effort that subsidizes health coverage for 6.6 million people, mostly children, from families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford their own private coverage" according to the AP.
The plan gives the states flexible control over eligibility within limits based on percentages of income above the poverty level (currently $20,650.00 per year for a family of four). Children must be under the age of 19 to be eligible.
The only portion of the bill that I strongly disagree with is how it would be funded with a sin tax increase. Like many health care related measures in the past few decades, this would have been funded by an increase in the federal tax rate on cigarettes from .61 cents to $1.00. Even as an ex-smoker I do not believe that a selected group should bear the burden of federal/state mandated programs.
Iowa increased the state tax on cigarettes by $1.00 earlier this year and smokers in this state would have faced an additional 49 cent tax if this bill had not be vetoed.
A few people may give up the weed and reduce the $$ coming in to support bills like this but most will not. Our health care industry and to a limited extent our government would like to reduce the number of smokers in this country while at the same time they both dwell in the house of profits from tobacco. When will the mixed messages cease?
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