America Now.

One More Year!

2007-10-30T22:19:00.000-04:00

This time next year we will be getting ready to vote a new president into office. And it can't happen soon enough. Just think about what has happened in the last 7 years. It has gone from great to awful. From care free to borderline depressed. Healthcare, Oil, College Tuition to name a few are spiraling out of control. Cost of living is exploding while wages are stagnate. Secrecy and corruption rule in DC where it is all about who do you know and how many millions are you sitting on. Meanwhile the world hates us. Russia is gearing up for another Cold War. China appears to be getting ready for something. While Washington is getting ready to go to war with Iran. Hopefully Bush doesn't have enough time to start another war. I could sit here and go on and on. But i will not because it is depressing. I remember how hopeless I felt when Bush was re-elected in 2004. Right now I sit here and I can't believe that the people of this great country could have voted that moroon into office. Remember he actualy lost in 2000 but that is water under the bridge.
The bottom line here is that Bush will be a lame duck this time next year and we can start to hope for a better future once again.

2007 METS -- Choke-Artist

2007-10-03T15:58:00.000-04:00

It wasn't pretty. But it sure was fun watching the Mets blow a 7.5 game lead with 17 games left. Even better was the fact that Jimmy Rollins the Phillies shortstop called it in the beginning of the year. Saying that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East. I wonder how the METS and there second rate New York fans feel right now. Anyway they are home watching the playoffs and the Fightin Phils are still playing. The beauty of things.

The So-Called Race Card

2005-10-26T22:55:00.000-04:00

It seems that every time somebody gives there opinion. Somebody has there feelings hurt. Somebody is always getting upset. Somebody thinks it is racial. Yes the race card is always brought up. I thought we were beyond that type of garbage. I am beginning to think that if the President said BOO during one of his press conferences there would be people out there who would be up in arms. He said BOO. He scared me. And of course you would have the perfect citizens out there who would say BOO is a negative word that is demeaning to Afro-Americans. Bull Shit. Lets get with it America. Fireman, Fire-person same thing who cares.
Yesterday Fisher DeBerry head Coach at The Air Force Academy said that Black Athletes can run, that his team needs to get some more color because it is too white. "… Afro-American kids can run very, very well," DeBerry said. "That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to me they run extremely well." He has received a lot of criticism for that comment. Why. Blacks can run and in most cases they can run faster than whites. And if you want your team to get faster why not recruit more Blacks for your team. Seems logical to me. If anything it is praising the black athlete for being fast and putting down the white athlete as being slow. So what. This proves my point that people are too sensitive. These people out there who are calling for his job should be happy that he is calling for his team to take on more Afro-Americans. He is not a racist and his comments are not racist. He is telling you how he feels about his team. People need to relax.
Last summer Dusty Baker made similar comments. But he was referring to his own ethnic group. So he did not receive much criticism. His were in reference to playing baseball in the heat of summer. "Most Latin people and minority people do. You don't find too many brothers from New Hampshire or Maine, right? We were brought over here because we could work in the heat. Isn't that history? Your skin color is more conducive to heat than it is to the lighter-skinned people. I don't see brothers running around burnt. That's a fact. I'm not making this up. I'm not seeing some brothers walking around with some white stuff on their ears and noses.'' Now there is a lot of people who did get extremely upset about that comment. Why? It is not racist. Read it again if you thought it was. He is giving his opinion. I know both Black and White Athletes, and guess what blacks do like the heat more than whites on a whole. I am not saying that whites don't like it hot but most don't. Although it is not completely fact it is not false either. The guy had something on his mind and he said it. So why do people get so upset?
This past summer Mexican President Vicente Fox made a comment, that of course people thought was, you guessed it, Racist. He was discussing the role that many Mexican immigrants occupy in the U.S. economy. Speaking in Spanish, he said, "There is no doubt that Mexicans, filled with dignity, willingness and ability to work, are doing jobs that not even blacks want to do there in the United States." Well guess what? It is mostly true. I say mostly because there are some whites who work some of those jobs too. But on the whole, Fast Food is a minority based job market. All you have to do is watch a McDonald's Commercial. McDonald's targets hiring minorities here in America. Now that being said. Why are people getting mad? He is right Blacks don't want to work in McDonald's anymore. Wouldn't that be considered a positive. They are not settling for jobs at McD's. They want better jobs. they are attaining higher paying jobs. So when that happens, Mexicans fill their spot. Everybody wins. Yet everybody wants to get made at the truth. Mexicans are taking the jobs Blacks don't want. Yes they are. Accept it. It is reality. Not racist.
The Truth Hurts. People want you to put a smile on your face and say what is politically correct. Whatever. Not me. Not this American. I say what is on my mind all the time. So what if you get upset. Wussy. It is your fault that you don't understand the big picture. The three examples above are about three guys who spoke there mind. When people don't understand they immediately say you can't say that. Why? Because you did not understand what they were saying in the first place. These cry babies out there, hear Black, White, Brown, Yellow and they want your job. Or more importantly they want you to apologize for your comment. Fuck You Girly Man. And like I said before BULL--SHIT. So, You Can Stick That Race Card Up Your Politically Correct ASS.

The Bird Flu

2005-10-13T23:01:00.000-04:00

If you watch the news you hear it everyday. The next pandemic, and we are not prepared. Worst case scenario here in the US, 2 million people will die. 18-40 year olds are most vulnerable. Etc. Etc. I am sick and tired of hearing about it. The news always hits you with the worst and never the best. They want us to keep watching. They need us to keep watching. The best possible scenario will not attract viewers. They want us all to think the Avion Flu(bird flu) will hit this winter and hit hard. But lets get one thing straight first. The Avion Flu has to mutate for it to be spread from human to human. This has not happened yet, they say it could happen this winter. They say. All the same it has not happened yet. It may never happen.
Lets say for a minute that they are right. The avion Flu mutates and spreads from human to human this winter. And that we get hit as hard as all the doomsayers out there are predicting. Ok 2 million Americans will lose there lives. When you do the math, its only 0.6% of the US population. During a normal winter around 45,000 people die from influenza. In a bad year 150,000 could die from the Flu. So yes in terms of the regular flu the number of deceased would be exponentially higher. But when you look at the numbers your chances of dying from the Avion Flu are still not that good. For instance 2.1 million people are seriously injured from a car accident each year. I don't know about you but I might know one person my whole life who was seriously injured in a car wreck. How does that translate? It doesn't but it gives you an idea of your chances. Now, that is all considering that we get hit with, for the lack of a better word, a 'Perfect Storm' of the Avion Flu. Because the most likely scenario will have the death toll somewhere around 300,000 deaths in the US. Only double the rate of a bad year for the regular flu.
So look at the brighter side of things. Wash your hands. Eat right. Exercise. Take your vitamins. Sneeze into your elbow. And stop shaking hands with everybody. Remember to also be positive. Always be positive. Good Mental health always equals a good immune system. Because things are never as bad as you think they are. Well the flip side of that is that they are never as good as you think either. It is normally somewhere in the middle. Well anyway. Don't count on the serious Bird Flu Pandemic to hit as hard as they say this winter after all.

Food For Thought

2005-10-10T00:17:00.000-04:00

No fear can stand up to Hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in the breeze.

LOST

2005-10-01T00:23:00.000-04:00

I don't really think the people on the show are lost at all. Call me crazy but there is more people on that dammed pacific island than in most small towns in the Continental U.S. Every time I turn on that darn show there is somebody else looking more confused than I am. They all have the same reaction, "Who are you? What are you doing here? Are you Him? Yes sure, I am him. Whatever. My question is what the hell are all these people doing here and where do they keep coming from? Three or four more seasons down the road the whole city of LA will be on this supposed remote island. At this point I am waiting to see the Beatles show up and start playing Yellow Submarine. Drugs maybe we should abuse them while we watch. All the symbolism, all the back story, come on, get with it. The first two episodes this season ended completely the same. Perplexing isn't it. After next weeks show the tenets of the island will have to conduct a consensus. I love the boatload of white trash turned special forces riding a Boston whaler and out looking for kids to steal. At first i thought they were excommunicated priest from the US. The shark, with the octagonal darmatistic wheel of Buddhism complete with its own serpent protector tattooed on its torso. Come on you didn't see it. Snap out of it. You have to watch this show. You have to kind of read between the actual speaking lines, if that is at all possible. Now if you have no attention span you are in luck. Because there is a timely 2 mins worth of commercials every 7 min. 14 seconds. Why can't they just show us what is going to happen next before another intermission. Oh I forgot nothing happens, ever. Then about the time you start to get into the 108 different paths of life this show is spitting out to you the network will air two months of, you guessed it commercials. Then when you started to really believe that they were Lost they are back on your TV. And now since you completely forgot who the main characters are ABC will help you out by showing this horrible summary show that will have your brain hemmoraging just in time for the new episode. Now forget all that mumbo jumbo and fast forward to lets say 2013, the apparent last season of LOST. The teasers will be telling you the Show you have waited nine years for...all questions will be answered. So after watching the newest and latest Sopranos you decide you want to actually get those answers that the show promised. And at the end you find out that they really are not Lost at all, it is all just some big fucked up sadistic wet dream that Jack was having after seeing that hot number Evangeline Lilly walk onto the plane just before he passed out. Then after the disappointing end you get previews for next seasons spin-off FOUND. Even better news it will air immediately after Survivor part 108 (The Phlx Floor). So... Lost.. Found... And Lost again. Well, unfortunately that is the way TV wants it. So save yourself now before you really get LOST.

Spanish MP Out-Ranks Americans in New Orleans During Time of Need.

2005-09-07T21:31:00.000-04:00

Imagine being stranded in the New Orleans Convention Center. All around you is death violence and human waste. Then when hope for a rescue is fading. The National Guard comes in and escorts a Spanish MP(Member of parliament) and her family out, right in front of your eyes. Meanwhile you just sit there wondering what the hell is going on here? Is this happening?
Imagine that scene. Once again I can not. Since when did American citizens become second class to foreigners in there own country. I am sick of hearing about shit like this. Since when did Spain do anything to deserve special treatment from us. This goes to show you how messed up our system is right now. If you are rich and powerful, you can get rescued in front of tens of thousands in broad daylight at the New Orleans convention Center, in what is supposed to be, a hard to reach location in New Orleans. Absolutely amazing.
Those people should have been evacuated with everybody else. When it was their turn. I mean really, What was that supposed to be? The modern version of Saving Private Ryan. I am positive, there were people who desperately needed help and may not have received it.. Because some high and almighty piece of garbage Spaniard and her snob family needed to get home to their borderline third world country in time for dinner.
Our governments priorities are so screwed up. That in the middle of all this devastion our government cuts a deal with Spain to bring their MP home. The hell with the Spain and every other country, and the hell with what they all think. Right now we need to worry about #1------The United States Of America.

New Orleans: --The Horror--

2005-09-06T23:08:00.000-04:00

I saw a picture of one of the police headquarters in New Orleans, it had a sign hanging on the front. It read Fort Apache. That is insane. Considering the circumstances, I liked it. But Could you imagine walking through your neiborhood and seeing that same sign hanging in front of your police station. I can't. Life or Death? The police were forced to turn into the people that they were defending themselves from. People do things they would not normally do when they are under stress. The cops made their decision they were going to live. They were not going to fall victim to the criminals who were trying to reek havoc on the drowning city.

When bad things like this happen I always try to think about how I would act. I don't think anybody knows for sure how they would act during a crisis. I know one thing for sure. I would choice Life over Death every time. In a way, I think I would find it acceptable to hang a sign out front of my house that states ,Fort Apache, beware. The reason. I think I could be as evil as the most evil person in order to survive. When bad things happen like this, it brings the worst out in people before it can bring out the best. Because in order to survive you have to be prepared to do what ever it takes. Sometimes that may mean doing something that you never thought you could do.

Last week New Orleans reminded me of something that I never thought I would see in our country. It reminded me of a book I once read. The book was Heart of Darkness. For those of you who familiar with it will agree with me. For those who are not. I recommend you read it. All I could think of everything I watched CNN last week was Kurtz, at the end of the book, splashing water on his face, saying "The Horror, The Horror, The Horror."

Don't Worry New Orleans, Halliburton and KBR, Are Here To Save The Day.

2005-09-06T13:53:00.000-04:00

Don't worry the Vice Presidents company Halliburton will fix New Orleans. Also Kellogg Brown & Root(KBR)a Halliburton subsidiary has also picked up a significant contract to help restore New Orleans. Why get anybody else to do it? Some people might say that they are the only company who can do it. How do we know that? How can we take there word for it. When it appears to me that nobody else was even considered. I just love how slow it took the government to act following the Hurricane on trying to save peoples lives. But I find it equally astonishing how fast it took the government to award two major contracts in New Orleans to VP Cheney's companies. I am curious on how this makes people feel? I will tell you one thing it doesn't sit well with me. In the W years Big Business and Big Oil equals multiple Big Contracts. I am sick of it. Tell me, How does this make you feel?

Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-05T00:21:00.000-04:00

On Sunday when I woke up and put on the Weather Channel I knew the Gulf Coast was in for something very bad. On Monday from watching the news it did not appear to be that bad. Then on Tuesday I started to see how bad it really was. Then came the frustration of watching people who were pretty much helpless. From Tuesday on I could not get enough of CNN. I was absorbed with the human drama unfolding. It has been very tough to watch and at times down right depressing. But I could not change the channel. On Wednesday I kind of became a little surpised to find that other than the News channels(CNN,FNC,etc), programming was continuing as normal. I was telling people all week that when this is over it could be more devastating than 9/11 was for our country. Yet on regular TV Kelly and Regis are laughing it up about some moron reality show, or on Extra Extra they are talking about how bad the box office is suffering this summer. Any time I turned the channel I felt guilty I was watching something artificial. I mean there is this mass tragedy going on literally right in front of our eyes and the TV world is going on as usual. Now I am no angel because when the weekend rolled around I needed a outlet, so I watched College Football, but I was constantly flipping back and forth with CNN.

I remember how during the weeks following 9/11 TV wasn't the same for a while. And rightfully so. It just seems to me that for TV it is business as usual. As if nothing is going on down there. I may be wrong, but I just feel awful right now. I can't stand knowing that fellow Americans are starving to death while the Big Networks are promoting there shows for the coming fall season. I don't want every channel to put all there time into covering the aftermath of the hurricane. I guess I just want some of these shows to show a little more Compassion.

If anybody agrees or disagrees feel free to comment please?

FEMA

2005-09-04T22:40:00.000-04:00

Lets get it right, FEMA. Lets stop contradicted ourselves. I watched a piece on CNN today, it focused on FEMA (Federal Emergency management Agency.) Every instance was documented since it was broadcasted on CNN. The first was of the Dir. Of FEMA on Friday before the storm was to hit,3 days before landfall. He was talking about how severe Hurricane Katrina will be, he even said that it will hit the New Orleans area at a minimum Catorgory 3 and probably a Cat. 4. He then went on to say that it could produce a devasting effect to the whole area. --------The same guy appeared on CNN again on Wedsnday, 2 days after lanfall. And this time he was saying that they did not think this storm would be that bad before it hit. Amazing. Don't you think that somebody would have told him what he said so the Government would not look stupid. He also said how FEMA did not think the storm would be bad enough for the Levees to break. Ok. EVERYBODY knows that the New Orleans levee system was not built to withstand more than a Cat 3 hurricane(Katrina Cat.4). This is the same guy who told us days before that this storm could hit as a Cat 4. I don't think I have anything more to say about this other than we have moroons running FEMA.

I don't know about you but I don't feel that safe right now. What if something even more horrible were to happen. Like say, a terrorist detonates a dirty bomb in one of our cities. Man it could get ugly. Real ugly. If there is any lessons to be learned from this whole debacle, catastrophe is that you can't rely on anybody helping you but yourself. So My Advice, go out get a gun, lots of ammo and enough food so as to buy yourself some extra time. Because if you want help from the Government, you will be waiting a long time, while FEMA tries to figure out how bad things are first, then they will act, and only, after they know how terrible things are getting. And by that time it is to late.

Meanwhile the President is telling us everything will be alright instead of being the president and sending help immediantly. But that is another Blog for another day.

AMERICA OR THIRD WORLD?

2005-09-02T18:52:00.000-04:00

Well which is it? I am sick in my stomach right now. I can not put in words how bad things are right now. I don't live in the affected areas, but I feel there pain. I have so many questions that need to be answered, but I don't know where to start. One would think that living in this country would guarantee you help no matter what the circumstances. I am now questioning that sense of security I grew up knowing. When I watch the TV I can not help but think, When did our country start looking like The Third World. Now, I know that may be a little extreme, and this was a serious natural catastrophe, but where is the help. Or better yet, what taking them so long. We need to get those people out. Every last one of them.

This isn't the third world. Our government needs to get with it. I thought 9/11 was our ultimate wake up call. We were told then, we would be better prepared to handle any type of crises. Doesn't look like that to me. I thought The Department of Homeland Security was created to tackle a situation of this magnitude. I guess not.

People are dying right now. Children, Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers. Worst of all they are dying without dignity. The ones that are still there are have no hope. I don't care what the cost is or how impossible it seems somehow we must find a way to save these people. All of them.

I saw the President and the First Lady shaking hands and smiling and shedding tears today on TV. What does that accomplish? Nothing. Talk is cheap. And Guess what? The situation is still getting worse by the moment. The President wants to say "We will build a Greater New Orleans" Excuse me Mr. President, But the hell with that right now. I want to hear you say that we are going to get everybody out today, tonight. Get the job done Mr. President. Don't talk just do. Actions speak louder than words.

It sounds like an impossible feat. To fix things in the Bayou, But as far as I am concerned nothing is impossible. Because, THIS IS NOT THE THIRD WORLD THIS IS AMERICA AND WE DO NOT LEAVE PEOPLE BEHIND. We are the best for a reason, no matter who our President is...

Temple finds a new home ?

2005-04-28T15:42:00.000-04:00

While nothing is "official" it appears that your Temple Owls have quickly found a new nest. Slated to play as one of four independent division 1-A teams this year. It's becoming more likely that the Owls will set up shop in the MAC conference this year. Reportedly, the MAC informed Temple that if they could switch their schedule to play 4 Mac opponents that Temple would be granted membership for the 2005 season. It looks like that is do-able and if you look @ some of Temple's opponents websites there are several discrepancies w/ each of their schedules. In fact One Mac members athletic directors has already said "it's a done deal"! Basically it appears something up! Although Temple & the Mac are yet to confirm these reports. Some of the delay may be caused by Temple having to negotiate buy-out(s) with teams they'll have to nix from their original schedule. (N.C. State & Middle Tennessee st.)

Temple QB Senior- Mike McGann

This schedule juggling will include Temple going on the road on Sept. 10th to take on the Big 10 power-house Wisconsin. (originally 9/10 had Temple playing a home game vs. NC State) While Temple's schedule will be even tougher than seasons past (which is saying A LOT) the Big East gives them a fresh start & new life! They start anew After years of being the Big East Doormat before being evicted this past year.

Temple hopes Winning ways await them in the MAC

Confirmation of this move seems likely to come in the next few weeks. Let's hope it goes through and Lets go Owls!

Nice Guys Finish Last

2005-04-03T16:04:00.000-04:00

Junior year in high school my football team had a new head coach. His name was Mr. D. He was a great coach and would lead us to a division title during my senior year. And after I graduated he became the best to ever coach at my High School winning 4 state titles. But before any of that happened, we have to talk about his first year as head coach.
We started the '91 season 0-2. Coach D's motto from day one was to be good people. No Problem I understood that. But he wanted us to be nice people on the field as well. This angered me greatly. Our team always played football the right way, and never acted inappropriately. I would go to him all the time and ask him what all this nice people on the field stuff was about. He would tell me that it is always important to be a good person. Yes I know that, But... He would never let me finish. Playing like nice guys wasn't working for us. We looked awful. After losing the first 2 games I had it. I could not take the nice stuff anymore, and neither could anybody on the team. Something had to be done. But what??
The Sunday after our second loss I was in my garage looking something when I found the answer to our problem. I came across a box of my fathers old books. And right there on the top, was a sports Classic. "Nice Guys Finish Last." By Leo Durocher. (It is quiet simply the best baseball book I ever read, but that did not happen until after the 1991 season.) I picked up the book and smiled. This is what I have been saying for the last month and a half. Nice guys finish last, no shit. I smiled knowing now that I wasn't the only one. So I skimmed thru the book and put it in my school bag. I had a plan for this book.
Early Monday morning I went into the locker room and took out my book with it's old fashioned yellow cover and I placed it on the ledge of the window looking into the coaches room so that all can see.
After Monday practice I went in to get my book when Mr D stopped me. He gave me the book and told me Ok I get you point. We will try playing a little nasty from here on out. Thank God. Finally. No more of that lets play like a school girl shit. Thank You Coach. We are all good people but the guys we play against just don't play like nice guys. We have to be just as mean as them or worse to beat them. Coach also confided in me that he read the book a few years ago and agreed with Leo. He told me that we needed to play with a little bit of an edge. I told all my buddies. And they were all instantly relieved that the chain around our necks would be loosened a little. We were all playing like we were on probation and we needed the green light. Thanks Coach.
The next morning I was watching the News before I left for school and I couldn't believe what I saw. Leo Durocher author of Nice Guys Finish Last, passed away last night. Unbelievable. I guess he had one last thing to accomplish before he moved on. The remarkable thing about this whole story is that we won our game that week, and it was the end of losing for our team. Off the field we continued to be Nice Guys while on the field we started to play with, lets say some nastiness. Thanks Coach for listening. Thanks Leo for helping me drive your motto home, "NICE GUYS FINISH LAST.-----ALL THE TIME."

Super Stan Spalding Living Legend

2005-03-30T23:03:00.000-05:00

Stan Spalding. Who? Super Stan Spalding. What? Yes. You heard me right. This is about the guy I remember as Super Stan Spalding. Everybody knows one, a Super Stan that is.

Stan's Promise Land.

It was the spring of 93, it was the week before Easter break. I was sitting in physics class. I turned around in my seat and I asked Crazy Eduardo Simone what he was doing for break. "Beats me," he said. So I suggested he crash at my place, My place being a huge house that a few friends of mine rented for the week down in Cape Hatteras NC. He thought about it for a second and said "sounds good to me, I will be there." Cool.
About three carloads full of us arrived in Buxton Cape Hatteras around 5pm on April 9,1993. A week full of boozing and doing whatever we wanted to do. For a lot of us it was the first time being somewhere without any adult supervision. So we started partying almost immediantly. I can't lie the first night was kinda lame. At around 4 am everybody was either passed out or on the verge of passing out, when, Crazy Eddie showed up. Nice, But he had this gigantic dude with him. A motor head named Dan Spalding. I barely knew the guy, I might have said two words to him all four years in high school. But hey I don't care, I get along with almost everybody.
Right from the start at 4 in the morning you could tell this guy was about to be uncorked. The guy was a caged animal for the last six years of his life and all of a sudden he had all the keys in his hand. I only knew the guy for an hour and we had the whole house up. The party took off. Early morning turned into mid-day and mid-day turned into night again. The guy was so unknown Crazy Eddie and I had to reintroduce him to people like thirty times each. Finally this goofy drunk kid named Steve Minerals called him across the room, "Hey Stan" "Hey Stan" "Yo Stan" And instantly Dan Spalding became Stan Spalding and all of a sudden everybody knows his name now. At this point Stan was busting at the seams. He was oozing with confidence. The guy was doing keg stands for an unheard of 17 min. He was funneling beers one after another. He was easily the victim of peer pressure, but hey could you blame him and guess what he didn't care. He was Stan Spalding.

Super Stan did not resemble Sly at all but the BAW(BIG ASSHOLE WINDBAG)is a spitting image of Sly's opponent.

Somewhere during the next day I talked him into arm wrestling this Big Asshole Windbag(BAW)who was at our party, some local guy who thought he was tough. At this point Stan still had some doubts, but after a couple of minutes of hearing his name chanted. STAN called the BAW out. Honestly I thought the guy was going to kill him, boy was I wrong. Stan beat the guy so bad the first time the BAW said he wasn't ready. The second time was worse. By the time he smoked the BAW the third time, the word was out, He was now Super Stan Spalding. Now for the first time in his life women were fighting for his attention. This only made his head bigger he was now reaching a legendary status.

Super Stan standing up for the first time.

On the third day a bunch of us talked him into going surfing. Super Stan was in the water for 5 min and he almost drowned. The funny thing was that he kept going out. By the end of the session Super Stan was surfing. Now girls on the beach knew who he was. When we got back to the house that afternoon the place looked like media day at the Super Bowl. Broads were everywhere, and they were there to see this guy named Super Stan. By the end of that day I think Super Stan hooked up with at least 4 different girls. He told me in confidence that until that very day he had only hooked up with 2 girls in his whole life. Wow. He really is Super Stan. Before we knew it every hot girl in Hatteras was at our house. And they only cared about one guy, Super Stan Spalding.

Super Stan opted for the cannonball instead of the swan dive.

Later that night while we were on the back deck of our Bay front house somebody asked if anybody could reach the water below if they jumped. I said there is no way it would be suicide. It was at least a 30 foot drop and about 6 feet out to reach the water. Impossible. Before I knew it the house was once again chanting, Super Stan clap clap clap clap clap, Super Stan clap clap clap clap clap. Before I could tell him he was going to die if he jumped. He jumped. Guess What? He made it by about a 1/2 foot. And even more incredibly he was unscathed. Not even a scratch. And with one jump the guy had reached Greek God Status. I started to feel like I was in a movie. Super Stan was making out with every girl in the joint. I think I remember him telling me that he French kissed about 26 girls that night. Amazing, and who cares if he was exaggerating. Because I can tell you it was more than 22. Super Stan Spalding Living Legend.

This is how women saw Super Stan during those 4 extraordinary days in '93'.

Early on the 4th day I was awoken from a deep sleep. Standing there was Crazy Eddie and Super Stan. What? I asked. Super Stan and Crazy Ed had enough. It was time to go. What!!! You can't leave now. Super Stan extended his hand for me to shake and said Thx Bro it was the time of my life. Later Dan. See you in school next week.

This is how women remember Stan today.

Like most legends Super Stan Spalding was gone before any body even had a chance to ask him where he lived or if he had a phone number. When we all went back to school after Easter Super Stan was the center of every story told every day until we graduated. Stan on the other hand kept a low profile. He was never seen outside of school again. That only added to the legend of Super Stan Spalding. People still talk about him, every once in a while I will hear a story about that guy Super Stan who hooked up with over hundred girls in one night, the guy who jumped 63 feet into 40 degree water, the guy who surfed the humunga from down under, the guy who beat Sly Stallone in arm wrestling 6 times in a row. Amazing.
I ran into Super Stan about a year ago. He was exactly the way I thought he be. He is married and has 2 kids. He says he loves his life. He says most of all he has no regrets. The reason he has No Regrets, was because of those 4 days in Cape Hatteras. I told him he will always be Super Stan Spalding Living Legend. He said Thx. But I prefer Dan Spalding.

No problem Dan take care, and Thanks for the memories.

Raider Nation will Rule in '05

2005-02-23T19:17:00.000-05:00

2004 did not bring much cheer for Oakland fans. With the addition of Randy Moss, 2005 will be a different story entirely. Collins has had time to get used to the offense and with Moss and Porter as targets, Oakland will be a dangerous team.

Enough said.

Osama In China? Maybe?

2005-02-15T13:21:00.000-05:00

You don't hear to many stories about Osama anymore. Why? One of Two possible scenarios. 1. We have no idea were he is. I doubt it. 2. He is in the only place, where he knows right now, we can not get him. That place is CHINA.

China possesses a boat load of problems for our country right now. Many of which I will talk about at a later time. For the time being the US will not risk an all out war with the Chi-Coms. The main reason is, That I believe China is not even aware that the coward osama is operating in their country. How could that be possible? Another simple answer. China is very big and very vast. And since we can not prove convincingly he is within their border we do not have any leg to stand on. Even if we did, China would never buy it.

Ok so now you are wondering where in China, and how did he get there.

Before the trail ran cold. Osama was last seen in the Peshawar area just over the Afghan border in Pakistan. Peshawar unknown to most was one of the many pit stops on the Chinese Silk Road. And for those who don't know, it was the ancient route connecting China all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. Although it is not a paved 5 lane highway and in fact is nothing more than a yard wide path in some areas. It is still traveled today by some.

The Silk Road from Peshawar follows the Afghan-Pakistani border all the way up an into China (about 250 Kilometers). Once into china osama would probably want to go somewhere remote where he could run his gang of killers. That spot would likely be about 600 Klicks(from the China Border) up and along the Silk Road to an area on the outskirts of the Taklimakan Desert. The name Taklamakan literally translated means, if you go in, you won't come out. The Taklimakan is a bleak and uninhabited region, rimmed by many oases linked together by the old silk routes. In one of these very secluded yet very terrorist friendly oases may be the most sought after criminal in the world. The problem is the area is so remote the Chinese would never know if he was or wasn't out there. Which leads to a bigger problem how are we ever going to get proof that he is actually operating in Western China. In the mean time like every Dog he is collecting sand fleas in the middle of a Chinese Desert.

So I ask you, what do you Think? Is Osama in CHINA? Or do you have any better Ideas?

Sideways

2005-02-13T03:26:00.000-05:00

I am so sorry. Sorry first of all because I am the first to write after the Eagles’ loss. Sorry ACE. The second reason I am sorry is because the majority of people out there will not like what I have to say. They will say it’s un-American. That it’s not patriotic. And I believe deep down in my heart that the people who say that are the “Un”Americans we have to be on the lookout for.
What we forget is that our country is based on revolution. Our country is BASED on ideas that are different. Unique. UNPOPULAR!
Here is more with "patriotic" thinking;

“People do not want to go to war but, after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine policy and it’s always a simple matter to drag people along whether it’s a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a parliament or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leadership. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them you are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to great danger. It works the same in any country.”
-Hermann Goering, Nuemburg Trials

Have we become that which we loathe?!!!!!
When have ideas been our enemy?
When has a voice been beaten down with the uneducated, “If you don’t like it leave?”
That is the most unpatriotic phrase ever emitted by a man. For anyone with knowledge would know that our country, with its systems of checks and balances, it’s systems of popular voting was designed to be changed, in fact made to be. Our cry should not be, if you don’t like it leave, rather, if you don’t like it CHANGE IT!

Ideas cannot bring our country down!!!! It would be a sad day that the ideas of a professor in Colorado would rip the fabric of society. Rather I would ask, what of his speech makes you scared? What would make YOU say such things as

“F-----g Anti-American scum.” , “Imperialist Pig”, American hating, piece of slime, Motherf----r
You son of a bitch, I hope you rot in hell where you f----n belong! , You sick f-----g racist and anti American. F---k you sand n----r lover and parasite of USA. You suck c--k. DIE."-Responses to Churchhill's statements

Ideas have never threatened America!! We make America what it is and the people who try to quell speech only weakens America themselves. So be fearful not of the professors but the one’s who have authority over our rights. And at the end of the day, do not be sheep! Always ask why!!!!!

And remember, why did no one stop them? How could no one have stopped them?

America is Back on Top - King of the Crappers

2005-01-28T22:52:00.000-05:00

Back in the day when I was riding my bike around the Arizona desert, my Dad would bitch about the American car industry. "So-and-so can't make cars like they used to" or "Mother F'ers in Detroit can't even weld steel any more." He never bought a foreign car, but 15 years later he stopped complaining. Why? The American car industry regained the reputation it had lost during the 1970s. Well-engineered quality machines were once again rolling off American assembly lines.

Although I am too young to fully appreciate Detroit's rebirth, I have experienced another return to glory - The American toilet. In the good 'ole days our toilets were among the most powerful on earth. Then, in 1992, Congress decided to cripple our toilets by passing a law that limited new toilets to 1.6 gallons of water per flush, less than half what the old toilets used.

The new toilets were supposed to save water and they do if you're a girl or you just have to take a piss. But if you've got to drop the kids off at school, they often must be flushed repeatedly, which actually wastes water. Check out the video link on this page to see what I go through at least once a week.

Now, thanks to the American Standard "Champion" line, we can be proud of our toilets again. The Champion features the industry's largest siphon outlet at 2 3/8". It's also fully glazed with no choke points so everthing leaves the bowl. What does that mean? It means the Champion can handle 29 golf balls in a single flush. If that's not enough for you, I suggest a visit to your doctor.

Now that this problem has been solved, I will wait for the return of the American stapler. If you have any news of its rebirth, please leave a link in the comment section.

Giving it a shot...

2005-01-28T22:17:00.000-05:00

So this blog is being submitted from an Apple Macintosh. No, I'm not visiting the local elementary school, but typing from my own home. I've been on the IBM PC platform since it was first invented. Intel and Microsoft have always served me well, but last weekend I did something I never thought I would do: I bought a Mac. Thinking that only zealot graphic artists buy Apple's overpriced and underpowered machines, I've stayed away...until now.

This is Apple's new entry level model, the Mac Mini.

I'm going to give it a shot and report back in a couple of weeks on how I like it. If it sucks, I'm sure there are still plenty of rabid Apple fans who will take it off my hands via Ebay.

One City One Dream

2005-01-18T01:46:00.000-05:00

Yes that seems to be the story line here in Philadelphia. Yes I am talking about the Eagles. Yes it has been 22 years since the last time we had a parade down Broad St. Yes we will be upset if we get let down again. Four years in a row in the NFC Championship Game, third straight at home. 0 for the last 3 years. Is this it. I hope so. I hope. I hope. I hope. The last time the Eagles won the NFC Title game was January 1981. It has been too long. Too many frustrating seasons ago. The Swamp Fox. The Fog Bowl. The passing of Jerome Brown. Randles' season ending injuries. Rich Kotite. Ray Rhodes. Mike Mamula. Jon Harris. Antoine Davis. Bobby Hoyne. Charles Shackleford "The Real Shack" OH sorry wrong sport, but this frustration does seep into our other sports teams. John Gruden. Warren Sapp. Troy Aikmen. Emmit Smith. The Flyers. Mike Irvin. The HOGS. LT. Bill Parcels. Eric Lindros. Jimmy Johnson. The Braves. Joe Gibbs. Barry Shitzer. The Devils. Neon Dion. Joe Morris. OJ Anderson. The Lakers. Phil Simms. Dave Megget. The Posse. Dexter Manly. The Phillies. Mike Strahan. Jon Fox. Even Mike Martz. Kurt Warner. Trent Dilfer arghhhh. Jake Del??? Something. The Cowboys, Giants and Redskins winning a combined -7- Super Bowls since 1980. Amending The Billy Penn Law. The Rams. The Bucs. The Panthers.-------------The FALCONS????-------NO WAY.......NOT THIS TIME. The Nitemare will end Sunday at about 7:00 pm EST. Then The DREAM will start. Two weeks of Super Bowl Hype. Two weeks until the sports moment all Philadelphians have longed for, even Concrete Charlie will smile. We will get our chance to win it all. Because in the land of Football any team can beat any team on any given Sunday. Now that statement may make your stomach queasy this weekend but don't worry the Hay is in the Barn. We are going to the Bowl. It is time to squelch all the Negadelphians out there. The only thing keeping us from winning it all is 60 minutes on Sunday and another 60 minutes on February 6. Sure we will be under dogs to either the mighty Patriots or the in your face Steelers, BUT, BUT, BUT,-----------NOW IS THE TIME------------

ONE CITY ONE DREAM.

Randy Is the Greatest

2005-01-15T08:29:00.000-05:00

I thought that would get your attention. After Randy Moss' most recent bone head manuevers I thought someone should take him off the cross before he starts to smell. I know it was dumb and selfish to leave his team with 2:00 left on the clock. I know it was classless to depict a mooning (or defacation which ever story you believe), and the coup de grace? Saying, "Whats $10,000 to me. Maybe next week I'll shake my @#&**##."
Classless? sure. Dirtbag? hell yeah! A breath of fresh air? Absolutely.
When we realize that a large portion of proffesional athletes are dirtbags and have no class but get by on rehersed, "We played a good team today" bullcrap, someone like randy moss is great. He speaks his mind and gives you a glimpse into what a large percentage of players think and feel. Don't you and haven't you always known that some millionare players have a disdain for and feel superior to the "fans"?
I know it sucks, which one of us wouldn't want to have his talent? But we don't, and we should hold those people who do to lofty standards. But when all is said and done isn't it nice to know, really know what an elite athlete thinks? I love it. I'm sick of the pat answers, the softball questions, the "We're going out and play our best against a worthy opponent."
Besides, isn't it great to have a villain. Do you want a buch of Tom Brady's running around?

The most obnoxious team in sports

2005-01-07T10:31:00.000-05:00

^Walking into the Yankees training room, Joe Torre and Mel Stottlemyre are concerned about an arm in a cast. This arm doesn't belong to their ace pitcher, however-it's George Steinbrenner's, whose injury was a result of signing too many checks.

When I think of the New York Yankees one word comes to mind. Obnoxious! How else could you describe a team that year in & year out continues to out do themselves in the way of gluttony & greed. The team payroll has gone from a lofty $75 million in 1998 to the current $225 Million.(& counting)
They had a higher payroll than BOTH of the teams they faced in the 2004 playoffs.....Combined! What's more outrageous is that the Yank's will pay more in LUXURY tax this year(25.1 Mil) than the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will pay in total player salary. (24.4 Mil)

Jason Giambi, A-Rod, Kevin Brown, Gary Sheffied Roger Clemens & now Randy Johnson.....Some of the BIGGEST names in the sport have all donned the pin stripes in the last few years. Now the talk is of super-star center fielder Carlos Beltran, who is looking for a long term contract @ about 17 million a year.

How can their be any competitive balance when you have one team that's payroll is 223% higher than the league average? If baseball doesn't recognize this as a serious problem than they are kidding themselves. How can baseball survive long term in places like Pittsburgh, Oakland, Cincinnati or Florida? (all teams that have a championship history)

There is only one saving grace in all of this. That is teams like the A's, Angels, D-Backs & Marlins have all recently beaten the Yankees and done so w/ MUCH lower payrolls.

Still nowhere else in sports do you see such a have & have not situation No other sport where "team A" spends 10 times more than "team B"....No where. Whatever happened to an even playing field? Isn't that phrase derived from sports? Well wherever it came from one thing is for sure it didn't come from the Bronx.

A Positive Mind Set.

2005-01-06T14:12:00.000-05:00

During the course of the day a lot of things could go wrong. Every thing good that occurs during a day is always countered by a bad thing. Every day is like a rollercoaster with peaks and valleys. Unless of course, you refuse to let the bad bother you. I am not saying to totally dismiss all the bad shit that happens. No. When something terrible happens, take a moment, learn from it, then on to the next. Life is to short to be bothered by bad in life. Most of the time it is bad because you are still thinking about it, let it go, move on to the next moment. My solution does not require you to take medication. It is simple. Think Positive. Think Positive. Yes, Think Positive. A positive mind set is the key to living a better life. For example, Every Winter when all the weak minded people are getting sick, all I keep hearing is "oh you going to get sick next" My response is always the same, "There is no way I am going to get sick, I will not allow it". Then they would tell me that I was crazy. Crazy. You want to know what is crazy? It is crazy that you would give in so fast and easy. I hate when people say I going to get sick next. No shit. With that attitude you are doomed, you will be as sick as a bird in no time at all. Think Positive.

The next time something bad happens, don't let it turn into a waterfall of dread. Wise up. Think Positive. It is so much more healthier, and it feels a lot better too. Take the good with the bad or more importantly the good with the good and the hell with the bad. You want to know what bad is, try living in China.

FEEL GOOD. LIVE STRONG. BE POSITIVE.

BOOM!

2005-01-05T08:57:00.000-05:00

Watch closely as George W will go after our rights and access to the courts as he aims to curtail "frivolous" lawsuits. Lets not be naive about this. I know that there are silly and ridiculous lawsuits that make the front page, have Leno and Letterman guffawing and lead us all to believe that the system is in tatters. The truth of the matter is the courts are a great equalizer when a citizen has been wronged by a corporation. How else to penalize a company that was negligent?
And whenever new laws are introduced ask whom these new laws will benefit? These same corporations. Are these giants of capitalism going to pass these savings on to the consumer? Yeah right. Right after that CEO gets his 500 million (Sanford Weill, Citigroup, last five years) and the Chairman gets his new jet and new apartment in NY.
The kicker is who files frivolous lawsuits. Large corporations are responsible for four times the amount of lawsuits than individuals even though there are 40 times the amount of people. These lawsuits are often against customers, suppliers, workers, and competitors. Everyone knows how they intentionally drag their feet and prolong already lost litigation to make the litigant suffer. And remember that an attorney representing you and I doesn't get paid unless they win while corporations keep large amounts of attorney soldiers in their ranks or on retainer. The worst part is that these very same corporations are looking to be kept exempt from these new "reforms" thereby limiting our access to the courts but not theirs, in the name of protecting them.
I find it funny that GW gives us tax breaks, wants to privatize social security in the name of giving us more power in our lives. Why would he limit our right to sue corporations that harm or cheat us?
Sources: "Businesses file 4 times more lawsuits than citizens." Public Citizen press release, October 4, 2004. “Your Right to Sue” Jim Hightower, January 5, 2005.

A Ticking Bomb.

2005-01-04T22:31:00.000-05:00

What makes an American tick? It is Simple. Being the Best. And the scary part is being the best isn't good enough anymore. We are a society that is constantly striding for perfection. We have adopted 2nd place is the 1st loser philosophy. We don't sit back and watch the paint dry. We keep going and going.

Just your average European lazy ass.

I had this guy complain to me about only having 15 paid vacation days a year. Why do you need more I asked? He told me that in Europe they get 6 weeks off a year. I told him to wipe the snot off his nose and suck it up. Why do you think we are the best I asked? He had no answer. Must I state the obvious. We don't go and lay on the beach in our speedos and work on our tans for a month and a half while the rest of the world gets stronger and more powerful by the second. We drag our asses out of bed every morning and go to work. Sure I would love to vacation more, but I am a realist, going to work is what makes us what we are. We don't live in snobby little France where they are required to take 2 months off from work a year. So they could sit their sorry butts in some posh cafe somewhere and talk about how cultured they are. I told that punk that if he wants 6 or 7 weeks off to go over to Europe and to have fun living in a country that is below us on the dept chart.

Typical American Hard Work.

A lot of people I have talked to lately have a lot on their mind. A lot of people are working extremely hard and are constantly striding to make things better not only for themselves but for all Americans. I know the world seems pretty unbalanced right now, but when I see some of my fellow Americans I feel good. I get the feeling sometimes that we are all Time Bombs set to go off at the same time. Something happens and boom. Lets fix this and lets go conquer the next obstacle. Every American has a Ticking Bomb inside them. When will you realize it? When are you going to do something about it? When are you going to learn something new? When are you going to put yourself out on a limb and take a chance? These are all an Americans options. The rest of the world either doesn't have the same choice or they refuse to respond to them. Remember we live in America. Home of the Brave and Land of the Free.

When is your Bomb, going to go off?

Alive in '05'

2005-01-03T22:28:00.000-05:00

The New Year always brings new beginnings. At least that is how everybody in the US looks at it. I hope things continue to get better rather than worse. When I step back and look at the big picture I often wonder. What did people think about the world in January 1942? It probably looked pretty bleak. How about January 1968, things were already bad, then weeks later the TET Offensive in Vietnam, Before you know it sometimes you are knee deep in shit without even knowing it. January 1980, once again we were going in reverse. The Iranians had our Embassy held hostage. The economy was in the gutter, The Soviet Bear was waiting for us to stick our head between our legs and kiss our ass goodbye. Guess what not this country. It will be a cold day in hell before we cash in. Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do. We are a tough country right now. Things may seem like they are falling apart, but they are not. I have said it before so I am saying it again. We are the best in the world. You want to fuck with us. Bring it on. We will beat you with body shots. Yes I am talking to you China. You want to play with the big boys now. Bring it. We will bury you and your Yen right into the the ground. The United Nations wants to say we are not giving enough to the tsunami relief effort, when we already gave more than the whole world combined. They can go pound sand. We already proved we don't need those bunch of whinny little girls. Al Qaida wants to continue to take us on. Keep it coming towel heads. Because we are going to wipe all of you clean off the face of the planet when it is all said and done. Osama, you pussy, you are going to die this year, and if for some reason you continue to hide in one of your rat holes we will kill you next year. Remember it is never as bad as you think it is. Things will get better not because they have to but because we, you and I will make things better. So remember you are either with us or you are against us.

2005-------The year when the USA reasserts itself yet again.

Week 15 in the NFL

2004-12-17T13:14:00.000-05:00

My biggest concern for week 15 is Andy Reid's handling of his team. Now this is a BIG RIVALRY game for the birds...the HATED Cowboys coming in to Philly for a game is usually a big deal. This time though, it's really an inconsequential match for the home team. I mean let's face it they will be the NFC's # 1 seed yet again and secure home field for this years championship game.(not sure if that's such a great thing)

My hope is that Coach Reid has some sort of script he plans to follow. I hope I'm watching Jeff Bake to Freddie "maybe the most over-rated player to ever play in this town" Mitchell. Not Mcnabb to T.O. trying to cash in on some STUPID cat-suit bet. Dorsey Levens should be the ONLY back to get the ball after half-time. If #36 gets the ball late in the game I'll be cringing w/ every carry.
Jevon "always 1 play away from the IR" Kearse should have his @ss firmly planted on the bench in the 4th quarter.

C'mon Andy be smart! The only game that's worth a damn is the one that you've failed to win the last 3 years. Your players aren't gonna volunteer to come out so you've got to make that decision for them. That's part of your job.
I'll be down there Sunday and I expect to see an Eagles win. How convincingly a win is of little consequence. After that I'm O.K. w/ the last 2 games of the year equating to nothing more than pre-season games. Let's go Eagles!

Now for my 4 star picks of the week in the NFL (last week 2 & 2)
1/ I like the Skins minus 5 over the 9ers
2/ I'll take Jacksonville plus the 3.5 against Green Bay
3/ Gimme the Bears minus the 1 over the Texans
And in what might be the "Game of the week"
4/ I like Cincinnati to win outright over the bills (& I'll take the point)

Carolina is Football Friday Pick of the Week

2004-12-17T11:51:00.000-05:00

I know I took it on the chin last week with the Jets allowing the Steelers to score two late scores. But last week is last week. This week the game I like is Carolina at Atlanta. Atlanta is the home Favorite Giving 3.5. Atlanta needs a victory to secure that wanted first round bye. Carolina on the other hand needs this one and guess what they feel no pressure. Why? Because their season was over, dead in the water when they started 1-7. They were also devastated with injuries. They are currently a team that is on a mission from god right now. I expect this one to be close but I see Carolina pulling it out with a Field Goal in OT. 23-20 final.
For those of you who are interested. In the last nine games the money has gone to the under. My number is going to be just over for this one. One last note. THIS GAME IS A SATURDAY NIGHT GAME. So after you win with the Panthers you will have some money left to play with on Sunday.

Saturday
8:30 PM W/L ATS O/U
Carolina 6-7 8-5-0 5-7-1
Atlanta 10-3 6-7-0 3-10-0

Recent Meetings Carolina Atlanta
Date Away/Home Line ATS
10/3/2004 ATL 27 - CAR 10 -3.5/38 ATL/U
12/7/2003 CAR 14 - ATL 20 1/42 ATL/U
9/28/2003 ATL 3 - CAR 23 -6.5/36 CAR/U
11/24/2002 ATL 41 - CAR 0 3/37 ATL/O
10/20/2002 CAR 0 - ATL 30 -4/36 ATL/U
11/25/2001 ATL 10 - CAR 7 3/40 ATL/U
9/23/2001 CAR 16 - ATL 24 -3.5/40 ATL/P
10/29/2000 CAR 12 - ATL 13 3/44.5 ATL/U
9/17/2000 ATL 15 - CAR 10 -5.5/48.5 ATL/U
11/28/1999 ATL 28 - CAR 34 -4.5/41.5 CAR/O

BIG ANT RECENT TRENDS FOR CAR. @ ATL.
Under is 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings.
CAR is 6-1 ATS in their last seven overall.
Over is 3-0 in CAR last three road games.
Under is 17-5 in ATL last 22 overall.
Under is 6-1 in ATL last seven games in Dec.
ATL is 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.

PANTHERS RB NICK GOINGS IS ROCK SOLID. HE COULD PLAY ON BIG ANT'S TEAM ANYTIME.

and the people of Riyadh dance in the streets

2004-12-15T13:23:00.000-05:00

today the FCC gave an ok to wireless internet on planes. great idea to make it easier for terrorists to communicate with people on the ground. why dont we just give them security passes and make it easier? if you are flying, bring a magazine or a walkman. no need to allow terrorist to talk via email about executing a plot.

way to go mets, you morons.

2004-12-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

i am a lifelong mets fan and this pedro martinez signing is retarded. i might root for the twins this year or the pirates. they blew it last year with vlad, letting him go for undervalue, and now they are trying to make up for it with a moronic signing. if it is your policy not to sign injury risks like vlad then stick to it and dont change your philosiphy because the media gets on you for one bad decision.
pedro is a dumb signing because:
1. 4 years is too long for a pitcher in his mid-thirties.
2. 14 million a year is way over market price for pitchers of his calibur (radke 9 million and had a better era, wright 7 million per and had a better era, odalis perez and matt clement expected to make 9 million per and #s are better)
3. he has a 90% tear in the labrum in his shoulder and refuses to get an MRI for the Mets.
4. they are a young team and need to be patient.
5. they now have a hole at first base and they already had glavine, benson, zambrano, and traschel.
6. they still have no bullpen.
bottom line is that this is a team that had too many needs to sign one star player. they needed to spread out there money and not go for the publicity stunt. omar minaya got scared that he would leave the winter meetings empty handed so just overpaid for whoever. the good news is that pedro will be reunited with his buddy mo vaughn in a long list of stupid mets moves.

Week 14 in the NFL

2004-12-10T13:48:00.000-05:00

In what is the meteoric, talent-depleted league known as the NFL, something truly amazing happened this week. The 4 & 8 Arizona Cardinals sent out Playoff ticket invoices. The NFL okayed the move under reasons of mathematical possibility. As a BIG hockey fan I've had to listen for years that " everybody makes the playoffs in hockey!" Well this case ...Involving the Cards is an absolute Joke! What team in ANY league that's playing .333 ball ships playoff invoices? Someone needs to send one of those invoices to the Smithsonian for their upcoming "fleecing of the American public" display.
Now could the Cards maybe squeeze into the playoffs?...Sure if they win out their last 4 games & the PITIFUL Seahwaks & Rams continue to falter.
Well for sake of everything right in the world I hope they make it. I'd hate to see those invoices shipped in vain.

Which brings me to my picks for this week: (For amusement only)
1/ Cardinals minus 7 over the abysmal 49ers
2/ Jacksonville minus 7 over Da Bears
3/ Cincinnati plus the 11 against the Pats
4/ N.Y. Jets plus the 6 over the Stillers
^ In fact I like the jets strait up...Me & A.C. already have the usual Bala surf & turf lunch on it!

My Fantasy players for week 14 are: (SLEEPERS/2nd options)
QB - Daunte Culpepper Min. (Leftwich)
RB - Willis Mcgahee Buf. (Portis)
RB - Shawn Alexander Sea. (J.Jones)
WR - Reggie Wayne Ind. (T. Holt)
WR - M. Muhammed Car. (J. Smith)
TE - T. Gonzalez K.C. (Crumpler)
Def/ST - Buffalo Bills (Jaguars)
Kicker - (Who the hell knows but lets say) Steve Christie (NYG)

Week of the Underdog

2004-12-10T13:46:00.000-05:00

This week I like the dogs. Jets Seattle Texans Cleveland Oakland New Orleans Washington Cinncy.

I don't think they will win but I think most will cover. I think Vegas is jacking up the lines based on teams "must win" situations. Take the dogs get the points.

Football Friday Pick of the Week

2004-12-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

The game that I picked this week is the NY Jets (9-3) @ the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1) 4:05 pm. This game could be a preview of a second round playoff game. The game also features two former MAC conference QB's in Pennington vs Big Ben. Both teams need the win but I think the win would be more important for the Steelers who are trying to hold onto home field advantage. The Jets and Steelers are both 7-4-1 ATS this season, with the Steelers 6-0 at home vs. the number. In their last nine meetings against each other Pitt is 7-2 ATS. The weather looks like it won't be a factor on Sunday with a high around 40 and Partly Sunny Skies.

The line opened with Pitt -4 and has moved to -6. So it looks like the betting public loved the steelers early, and it now seems that the money has settled down with a slight advantage towards the Jets side.

The Steelers last game was by far the most physical game of the year agianst the Jags while the Jets coasted to a easy win vs Houston. Both teams run the ball well and also are good at stopping the run. The QB's are both good and have great O-Lines to protect them. I will look for this game to be a close one with the Steelers pulling it out once again at the end. The Steelers win 20-17. But the money goes to the JETS. So if you want to eat well Sunday night go with the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS.

Chad Pennington's Jets are looking to upset Pittsburgh, But Big Ant doesn't think so. (AP)

Baseball's Black Eye(s)

2004-12-09T13:46:00.000-05:00

I think I speak for just about everyone when I say I'm completely outraged with this steroid issue in Baseball. How has this dirty "LITTLE" secret been allowed to continue for as long as it has? While baseball may have benefited by the excitement generated in the last several years, what toll has it taken on baseballs history?

If you look over the past ten years players like Brady Anderson, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield & of course Barry Bonds have cheated this once GREAT GAME.

Without the juice is it conceivable that a "decent" player like Brady Anderson ever hits 50 homers? Or how about 2 players both hitting more than 61* in the same season, when that record stood for almost 40 years and no one else even got close. It make me sick to see Mark McGwire's name ahead of players like Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle & Mike Schmidt on the all-time homerun list. And then you have Bonds who is destroying records of the greatest players of all time. I think what's so disturbing about Bonds' usage is the feeling by many that it was unnecessary. He would have hit 500 home runs and would've been considered by most to be the best player of this generation. Why did he need to taint his own legacy? If only his father the great Bobby Bonds juiced up maybe he'd be in the "500 club". (Bonds senior hit 332 dingers)

With this cheating in the game not only do legitimate records fall but perhaps the course of games (regular season & post season) are altered.

Some may feel that's a stetch but consider this.... Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Jason Giambi hit his second home run of the game about 4 inches over the outstretched glove of Red Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon. Without that second homer the Sox most likely win 5-4 and go on to face the Florida Marlins in the 2003 World Series. Did the human growth hormone in Giambi's system add just enough bat speed to propel the ball that extra few inches over Damon's glove?
Just imagine if everybody else stooped to Giambi's level. What if Bernie Williams hadn't been so concerned with playing strait up? Maybe his fly ball to the wall in Game 5 of the '03 World Series would have climbed over and lifted New York to a 3-2 series lead. What if Jorge Posada popped a little HGH this season? Maybe then that BOMB he hit towards the short porch off Schilling in Game 6 of this year's ALCS would have reached the seats instead of dying @ the warning track. While steroids can't help you hit the ball it can turn a "deep fly" into a homer.

Baseball NEEDS to act swiftly & judiciously in their investigation into what has transpired here. The guilty players need to be delt with harshly. The baseball fans & youth of America need to know that taking short cuts & cheating is WRONG. Not only in athletics but in life itself.

Security???

2004-12-08T08:45:00.000-05:00

Just recently I was visiting some people who live in a apartment building in downtown Philadelphia. When the security people (4 total) at the front door would not allow me to enter because my friend was not answering his intercom, (party) I turned to plan B. I figured that I will find another way in. Due to past experiences I know that there is always another way in and there is never security guarding the B entrance. So I simply walked around the building until I found a service entrance which is only accessible by truck. Well I fooled them, I walked right up the service ramp, in through the service doors and onto the service elevator. Sometimes it is that easy.

I know since 9/11 the big thing everywhere is Security and rightfully so. The problem is most of it is a giant facade. Sure it looks good to see 4 guys sitting at the front desk with walkie talkies taking their jobs seriously. But is it any safer than before. My answer is NO. What is scary is the things we don't see. The unguarded back/side doors and how easy it is to enter a building through any service entrance. I know If I am going somewhere and I can't get in through the front door I will get in somehow, someway with little or no effort.

The building I used to work at in Philly implemented a new security system after 9/11. But it did not take me long to notice the flaws in the system. For example, We had two main entrances. If on a particular day I forgot my ID card instead of going thru the trouble of finding somebody to sign me in. I would try the other entrance and most of the time get in. Another tactic I used was to give the guards the old hold my hand up and briefly show them whatever I have in my pocket at the time, and believe it or not that almost always worked. And finally the last trick that always worked was to go around into the alley and knock on the service entrance door. Guess what? Somebody always answered and never, not once questioned me. Now I know that I am a charming person but come on now. Security looks good and sounds good but in reality it is no different.

How do you feel about the security where you work or live?

Coming Soon to a War Near You...

2004-12-07T04:04:00.000-05:00

Driving past Walter Reed Hospital earlier this evening reminded me of the human toll that Iraq has taken. Hopefully some day soon these badboys will be able to shoulder some of the load.

Next, hook them up to the internet with a Playstation controller and I'm sure that my nephews could take care of Al Qaeda all by themselves.

Settle a Bet

2004-12-07T02:56:00.000-05:00

I picked up the Star Wars DVDs a couple of weeks ago and my girlfriend and I just got around to watching them. Aside from all the stupid animated shit that Lucas added, they look and sound very good.

So here's the argument that needs settling: I say that the R2D2 and C3PO that originally appeared in Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi are the same droids that also appeared in the earlier prequels - Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.

My better-half thinks that the droids that appeared in Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones were really just generic models of R2D2 and C3PO rather than the "real" R2D2 and C3PO which were introduced beginning in Star Wars. Her argument is that they can't be the same droids because they would have known (and told someone) that Anakin Skywalker was really Darth Vader. Alternatively, the "old" Obi-Wan would have recognized them in Star Wars given that he had spent so much time with them when he was young, i.e., Ewan McGregor.

I don't really have a counter argument, other than it just seems more reasonable to assume that there's only one R2D2 and C3PO throughout the entire story.

The big loser has to pay for this year's Frazier Fir, so let me know what you think.

For What It's Worth

2004-12-06T23:33:00.000-05:00

For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Keeping my Fingers Crossed

2004-12-03T13:39:00.000-05:00

I have a friend who has been placed in a difficult situation. He is a member of the Army Reserve…completed his training, served his allotted time and had returned back home in time to spend this past summer at the Jersey Shore. He began working for his dad who had a successful family business. He was working full time and learning a valuable trade, knowing one day he would inherit the family business.
In August, during his monthly "Army Weekend" he learned he would be sent to either Afghanistan or Iraq sometime within the next six months. This was no surprise to him and he proudly let us all know that he would be leaving. He was assigned this duty, and he would have to go. He never dwelled on the "what-ifs".
His deployment date was set for Monday November 27, 2004. He would be leaving behind a new girlfriend, all his buddies, but most importantly, his father who was quickly losing his battle with cancer. The cancer had only been recently discovered, so along with preparing for his deployment, my friend had been busy taking care of the business.
Unfortunately his father passed away on November 28th, 2004. He is waiting to hear about the status of his tour of duty. If they can assign another soldier, it may be delayed a few months, leaving him enough time to handle all the family business issues. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they find someone. He has not only inherited a business, but all the responsibility as well. He knows there is a great chance he will be sent ASAP, and he accepts this…but this is my question:
At what point, if any, should the U.S. Military change a soldier's orders, due to extenuating circumstances?

Business is Business

2004-12-03T10:48:00.000-05:00

One day at kindergarten a teacher said to the class
of 5-year-olds, `"I'll give $2 to the child who can tell me who was the most famous man who ever lived."

An Irish boy put his hand up and said, "It was St.Patrick."

The Teacher said, "Sorry Sean, that's not correct. By the way, St.Pat was Italian."

Then a Scottish boy put his hand up and said, "It was St. Andrew."

The teacher replied, "I'm sorry, Hamish, that's not right either."

Finally, a Jewish boy raised his hand and said, "It was Jesus Christ."

The teacher said, "That's absolutely right, Marvin, come up here and I'll give you the $2."

As the teacher was giving Marvin his money, she said, "You know Marvin, since you're Jewish, I was very surprised you said " Jesus Christ."

Marvin replied: "Yeah. In my heart I knew it was Moses, but business is business."

A Hard Goodbye

2004-12-03T01:01:00.000-05:00

Jason Gross holds his daughter Zaida, 1, as he says his goodbyes during a troop sendoff at Fort Hood, Texas. Hundreds of soldiers from the 725 MP Battalion and the 555 Forward Surgical team deployed from Fort Hood to Iraq. (AP Photo/Killeen Daily Herald, David Morris) (December 01, 2004)

The Top 100 Pop Singles of 1984

2004-12-02T23:38:00.000-05:00

*1 WHEN DOVES CRY, Prince and the Revolution (Warner Brothers) (#1, July)
*2 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, Tina Turner (Capitol) (#1, Sept)
*3 SAY, SAY, SAY, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (#1, Dec 1983)
*4 FOOTLOOSE, Kenny Loggins (Columbia) (#1, March)
*5 AGAINST ALL ODDS (Take a Look at Me Now), Phil Collins (Atlantic)
*6 JUMP, Van Halen (Warner Brothers) (#1, Feb)
*7 HELLO, Lionel Richie (#1, May)
*8 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART, Yes (Atco) (#1, Jan)
*9 GHOSTBUSTERS, Ray Parker Jr. (Arista) (#1, Aug)
*10 KARMA CHAMELEON, Culture Club (Virgin) (#1, Feb)
*11 MISSING YOU, John Waite (EMI-America) (#1, Sept)
*12 ALL NIGHT LONG (All Night), Lionel Richie (Motown) (#1, Nov 1983)
*13 LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY, Denise Williams (Columbia) (#1, May)
14 DANCING IN THE DARK, Bruce Springsteen (Columbia) (#2, June)
15 GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN, Cyndi Lauper (Portrait) (#2, March)
*16 THE REFLEX, Duran Duran (Capitol) (#1, June)
*17 TIME AFTER TIME, Cyndi Lauper (Portrait) (#1, June)
18 JUMP (For My Love), The Pointer Sisters (Planet) (#3, July)
19 TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP, The Romantics (Nemporer) (#3, Jan)
20 SELF CONTROL, Laura Branigan (Atlantic) (#4, June)
*21 LET'S GO CRAZY, Prince and the Revolution (Warner Brothers) (#1, Sept)
22 SAY IT ISN'T SO, Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA) (#2, Dec 1983)
23 HOLD ME NOW, The Thompson Twins (Arista) (#3, May)
24 JOANNA, Kool and the Gang (De-Lite) (#2, Feb)
*25 I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU, Stevie Wonder (Tamla) (#1, Oct)
26 SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME, Rockwell (Motown) (#2, March)
27 BREAK MY STRIDE, Matthew Wilder (Private I) (#5, Jan)
28 99 LUFTBALLONS, Nena (Epic) (#2, March)
29 I CAN DREAM ABOUT YOU, Dan Hartman (MCA) (#6, Aug)
30 THE GLAMOROUS LIFE, Sheila E. (Warner Brothers) (#7, Oct)
31 OH SHERRY, Steve Perry (Columbia) (#3, June)
32 STUCK ON YOU, Lionel Richie (Motown) (#3, Aug)
33 I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES, Elton John (Geffen) (#4, Jan)
34 SHE BOP, Cyndi Lauper (Portrait) (#3, Sept)
35 BORDERLINE, Madonna (Sire) (#10, June)
36 SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT, Corey Hart (EMI-America) (#7, Sept)
37 EYES WITHOUT A FACE, Billy Idol (Chrysalis) (#4, July)
38 HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN, The Eurythmics (RCA) (#4, March)
39 UPTOWN GIRL, Billy Joel (Columbia) (#3, Nov 1983)
40 SISTER CHRISTIAN, Night Ranger (Camel) (#5, June)
41 DRIVE, The Cars (Elektra) (#3, Sept)
42 TWIST OF FATE/TAKE A CHANCE, Olivia Newton-John (MCA) (#5, Jan)
43 UNION OF THE SNAKE, Duran Duran (Capitol) (#3, Dec 1983)
44 THE HEART OF ROCK & ROLL, Huey Lewis and the News (Chrysalis) (#6, June)
45 HARD HABIT TO BREAK, Chicago (Full Moon) (#3, Oct)
46 THE WARRIOR, Scandal Featuring Patty Smyth (Columbia) (#7, Sept)
47 IF EVER YOU'RE IN MY ARMS AGAIN, Peabo Bryson (Elektra) (#10, Aug)
48 AUTOMATIC, The Pointer Sisters (Planet) (#5, April)
49 LET THE MUSIC PLAY, Shannon (Emergency/Mirage) (#8, Feb)
50 TO ALL THE GIRLS I'VE LOVED BEFORE, Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
*51 CARIBBEAN QUEEN (No More Love On the Run)
Billy Ocean (Jive) (#1, Nov)

* Song went #1

'Rant Poll of the Week

2004-12-01T03:00:00.000-05:00

Pact with the Devil

2004-12-01T01:53:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, the DC City Counsel moved one step closer to bringing baseball back to the District when it voted to approve a publicly financed stadium. I can only take comfort in the fact that DC wasn't the first community to make a mistake like this and it certainly won't be the last.

When making an investment you expect a return. Whether you're buying stock, or a new piece of machinery for your business, or luring a baseball team, the analysis is the same - do the benefits outweight the costs?

Currently, the consultants hired by Major League Baseball have been able to convince six city council members that building a new stadium on the Anacostia River will result in an economic boon to the District. This is a total load of shit and here's why:

1. This will be the most expensive stadium ever built after its costs overrun the estimated $450M budget (on average public construction projects exceed their budget by 25%).

2. The District of Columbia Metropolitan area will see no economic benefit. Studies have consistently shown that spending does not increase with the addition of a stadium, it only shifts. That is, $100 spent going to a baseball game is merely reallocated from a fan's local community where it would have been spent at a restaurant, the movies, or on some other form of entertainment.

3. The Anacostia neighborhood will not get any better with the addition of a stadium. Anacostia is not just a shithole, it's a war zone. I would feel safer in Fallujah. Proponants should take another look at the area surrounding RFK stadium and ask whether the Redskins were able to affect an economic renaissance. Browndog is a tough doberman, but I would not get off at the RFK metro stop after dark.

The District of Columbia faces huge economic and social problems. Building a new stadium is not the answer. If Major League Baseball wants to come to the District, then they should be happy playing in a face-lifted RFK stadium. If not, I hope they find some other community of sucker sports fans who are willing to bend over.

Another example of why the UN is a joke

2004-11-30T11:30:00.000-05:00

John Kerry bitched and moaned that Bush didn't form a "coalition" with the UN to go into Iraq. How did Kerry expect Bush to find a coalition in a corrupt organization? It was recently found that Kofi Annan's son was receiving payments as part of the food for oil program with the UN up until last year. Do you think this affected Annan's decision not to support the U.S. in an attack on Iraq? I don't know if it did or didn't. However, it is clear that both France and the Annan family benefited financially from us not attacking Iraq. The fact that Annan denies that he knew of his son's relationship is a joke. Annan was receiving money for a "non-compete" agreement, which generally means he had to do nothing to receive the money. My guess is his only contribution to the company was at the dinner table saying, "Dad, pass the salt, and don't vote to invade Iraq". I don't know how much Annan can influence things in the U.N., but I certainly can't see this helping him be objective in a major world issue.

IRAN

2004-11-29T13:37:00.000-05:00

If the current war is not enough for you well guess what? Iran may be next. During the last five years these smelly dust heads have been flying under the worlds radar. They have been extremely intent on developing nukes. And working in Iran's favor, were three huge distractions during the last three years. 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq. Thus supplying the smoke that Iran needed and wanted to develop weapons of mass destruction. In the mean time our government has never discounted the fact that Iran wants a piece of us. After all we have fueled their need to be a nuke nation. Like in the 2002 State of The Union Address the President labeled Iran a member of the axis of evil, along with Iraq and North Korea, we were warning them to fall in line or get ready for war. Guess what, this asshole Islamic republic will never give in to a free country like ours. And they think the only way we will respect them is if they posses nukes. Here is a News Flash Iran. You will be dealt with before you are a full blown nuclear power. Not to mention all of the other juicy reasons we have to wipe your Persian ass of the face of the planet. Like the fact that you are a breeding ground for terrorist(many believe Osama Bin Laden is holed up somewhere in Iran).

The premise for war in Iran will be no different than Iraq. Go in wipe out some terrorist and destroy everything else. Their is a couple of negatives though. Iran is almost triple the size of Iraq with almost 70 million morons. The Iranian military will also be a little more fit for a war than the once defeated Iraqis were. I think the strategy for war in Iran will be very different that the one for Iraq. Since there is no personal vendettas with Iran, I foresee a war with Iran being very surgical like the first Persian gulf war. It will mostly be an air war with little or no casualties. A major plus for the Persian campaign is the fact that we could strategically open a two front war with them. Since Iraq borders Iran on the west and Afghanistan on the east. Not to mention US friendly countries like Turkey, Turkmenistan and Pakistan.

Ultimently for us to go to war with Iran the Iraq war would have to be over, but don't discount our president. He feels we need to get them before they get us. There is one wildcard for a war with Iran and that is the possibility of us giving Israel the greenlight,and that could be very dangerous.

All that said the handwriting is on the wall. And I don't think there will be any avoiding a confrontation with Iran. The President has a plan. Iran will be Phase Two of Three in teaching the Axis of Evil a lesson.

Why Are We The Best In The World?

2004-11-24T01:24:00.000-05:00

I think the pictures below are self-explanatory.

FYI World. The B-2 Bomber is already old news in the US Air Force. I can't wait to see what is next.

Sunday at 1pm; Piano Lessons

2004-11-23T14:35:00.000-05:00

I think I’m done watching sports the rest of this year…maybe even next year too. It’s not that I don’t enjoy athletic competition, it is just that I’ve become increasingly disgusted in the behavior of players and fans at every level. In its purest form, I hold athletic competition as the crowning jewel of our advancing society. Yet, in the United States, I’m seeing a slow regression and tarnishing image of our athletes and fans that can only be comparable to urban gangs and third world soccer matches.
Just in the past month I’ve seen a scorn former collegiate athlete admit of economic compensation and lavish luxuries he and his teammates illegally received while in college. I’ve seen several pre and post game fist fights at both the collegiate and professional football level. I’ve seen professional basketball players mixing it up with obnoxious drunk fans in the stands. I’ve seen New York newspaper referring to their rival as the ‘Boston Idiots’ and their fan base as the ‘Idiot Fans’. I’ve seen a skit where a the best WR in football was seduced by a naked woman jumping into his arms in the locker room moments before the game and him saying, ‘Awwww hell, it looks like they are going to have to win this one without me!’. I’ve seen a football player get hit so hard he lost consciousness for 10 minutes, and ESPN announcers laughing in unison say, ‘He got JACKED UP!!’ I even had a personal incident a couple weeks ago while my girlfriend and I went to the Steelers/Eagles game in Pittsburgh. Against my better judgment, I let my Eagles faithful girlfriend wear her #93 Eagles jersey to the game. Even with my Steelers hat on, I felt like I was going to get in a fist fight around every corner. It was constant, viscous, obscene comments and jesters…and I thought to myself, ‘You know what, these people are real losers.’ Never in a million years would I ever say anything derogatory towards somebody because they supported an opposing team. It is just dumb. I went to an Eagles/Redskins game also, and I continued to see this behavior in reverse. It is just embarrassing. As a nation we celebrate the touchdown dance instead on the efforts of 10 other people on the field, and I even heard a college band this weekend play ‘Another one bites the dust’ as an opposing play laid injured on the field. We have lost something very fundamental and special in this country and I’m afraid we will never get it back. Sports, in its purest form, is the physical and mental competition between two teams opposing wills to win, and the spectators cheer there own teams efforts and equally respects the others. And I’m not seeing it.
So I guess I let the losers do their thing, sports served me well but I no longer need it, I’m going to learn how to play the piano instead.

FORTUNATE SON

2004-11-22T22:50:00.000-05:00

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they’re red, white and blue.
And when the band plays hail to the chief,
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,

It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son, son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don’t they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no millionaire’s son, no.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give?
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh,

It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no military son, son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, one.

It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate son, no no no,

The Pacers Pistons Brawl.

2004-11-22T13:24:00.000-05:00

All I can say is Wow. What is going on in our society? Our social norms are out of control. Now, I am all for a little blood and guts, but come on now. Fans and athletes should never ever mix it up. I don't want to hear an argument for either side. Both sides were wrong. You can not act like that. It is uncalled for. We are not animals. I understand we are a country at war, and people are a little peeped up. But we have to learn to control ourselves. There is no excuses for what happened the other night in Detroit.

The bottom line is cooler heads need to prevail. We need to be in more control. Not sometimes but all of the time. It is easy to act like a jerkoff. It takes a little self-control to act like a Man. Somebody once told me that, Character is what you do when nobody is watching. Guess what, that is true. And those who were involved in that melee in Detroit, in some form or another displayed bad character.

Wake up America and ask yourself one question. When is enough of this behavior enough? These things happen in scumbag countries like Russia, not here in the USA. Lets stop behaving like animals and start acting like the best country in the world. We set the standards for everything in the world. So if we start acting like assholes, the rest of the world will think it is ok for them to act like assholes. Then we will really be in trouble.

A True American Hero.

2004-11-18T23:34:00.000-05:00

Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Lance Corporal Roy Mitchell Wheat, USMC

Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 11 August 1967. Entered service a*: Jackson, Miss. Born: 24 July 1947, Moselle, Miss. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. L/Cpl. Wheat and 2 other marines were assigned the mission of providing security for a Navy construction battalion crane and crew operating along Liberty Road in the vicinity of the Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province. After the marines had set up security positions in a tree line adjacent to the work site, L/Cpl. Wheat reconnoitered the area to the rear of their location for the possible presence of guerrillas. He then returned to within 10 feet of the friendly position, and here unintentionally triggered a well concealed, bounding type, antipersonnel mine. Immediately, a hissing sound was heard which was identified by the 3 marines as that of a burning time fuse. Shouting a warning to his comrades, L/Cpl. Wheat in a valiant act of heroism hurled himself upon the mine, absorbing the tremendous impact of the explosion with his body. The inspirational personal heroism and extraordinary valor of his unselfish action saved his fellow marines from certain injury and possible death, reflected great credit upon himself, and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

JUST ONE OF THE MANY WHO MAKE THIS COUNTRY GREAT.

September 10, 2001

2004-11-16T23:01:00.000-05:00

It was only three years ago. But it feels like 15 years ago. I remember the day vividly. The only thing I was worried about was the fact that the Eagles lost to the Rams the day before in OT. There was no war in Iraq. We were not hunting down terrorist in Afghanistan. We were not on the verge of any war. There was no long lines at the airport. Hell it was normal everyday life here in America. Nobody fucks with us. What possibly could happen to us. Nothing. We are the best. The best at everything. We still are.

On the night of the 9/10 I watched Monday night football and did some wash. I remember at the end of the Football game WR Ed Mcaffrety had a season ending injury. I thought to myself that sucks to be him. Not really. He only had a bad leg. He would be back.

The reason I am writing about this and telling all of you what was on my mind that night, is because it was all nonsense. Complete utter nonsense. In reality who cares if the Eagles lose or the wash is not done or Ed Mcaferty has a severely messed up leg. None of that shit matters.

I sit here tonight and I have so much stuff on my mind. Of course It will still bother me a little if the Eagles stink it up, but I will tell you all something. Only the Big Picture matters to me anymore. I don't fret over the stupid shit that I used to think was so important. I sit here tonight thinking about what is going on out there. News Flash. There is some serious shit going on out there. I think about what if there is another attack on America, and what if it is worse. I think about my friends and fellow Americans fighting for me and you in Iraq and Afghanistan. I think about their family's and what they are going through right now. I think about how close I was to signing up for the military in 2001. I think about were I would be now if I did. As I sit here I feel myself getting all worked up. I think about our boys out there hunting that asshole Osama. I can't tell you how bad I want that fucker dead. I think about how emotional I may get the day we kill him. I can't wait for that day. I think about our children living very different lives than we did. Deep inside me I know that if something else happens to our country, like another attack or a sudden war with China North Korea or Iran. I won't be able to watch from the sidelines. I am joining up. You know why? Because I am American. I am a friggan red blooded American who loves his freedom. I will do whatever it takes for my country. I love America. And if you don't, than Fuck You. I will hunt you down and put you out of your misery. Nobody will ever defeat the American spirit. The American Way will always prevail.

On September 10, 2001 I was living a care free American life doing what I wanted when and where I wanted. And I am pissed off that I can't live that way anymore. I can't watch the news with a clear head anymore. Everyday I think about what is going on in the world. It all bothers me. I want the world to be the way it was on the night of 9/10/01. Unfortunately for all of us Americans that may never happen again. But since I am a stubborn American. I still have hope that those times of innocence will return in my lifetime.

Of course I will never forget 9/11. But I don't want to ever forget how I felt on September 10, 2001.

Hanging with my Iraqi Friend.

2004-11-15T15:27:00.000-05:00

Through the years, I have had the luck of meeting and talking to interesting people. Obviously, some people or more interesting than others…and the more interesting a person is, the more I try to pry into their lives. A week before the Presidential Election, I had the privilege of meeting an Iraq-American living in Bucks County. The conversation was fascinating. To set the stage, we were at a loud club. He is a friend of my girlfriend’s mother. The conversation started slowly, but after buying each other a couple beers, it became great. It is a conversation I will never forget and I wish every America citizen could have heard. M= Mike and B=Baad.
(….on our first beer)
M: I’m Mike, nice to meet you.
B: Hello, I’m Baad…it is very nice to meet you too.
M: Where are you from Baad?
B: The Middle East…How do you know Sarah?
M: She is my girlfriend’s mother….Where exactly in the Middle East?
B: …..uuuhhhhhhh…..Iraq.
M: No shit, how long ago since you’ve been there.
B: A very long time…but I’m planning to go back soon though.
M: How ‘long’ is a long time?
B: I left my family in Iraq in February 1980.
M: So you were eight months away from the “real” fighting of the Iran-Iraq conflict?
B: Yes, all my brothers fought though. You certainly know your history Mike.
M: Consider me a jewel of the American public education system. How did ‘you’ get out of that mess?
B: Well, at the time, I had a choice, stay and fight or go to France to study Engineering. And since my parents could afford it…I went to France.
M: How did you end up in the U.S.
B: Well, when things started going poorly in the war, Saddam cut all money leaving Iraq. I had choice, go back home and fight or stay with my cousin in America…I chose America and finished my Engineering degree at Penn State.
M: Do you still talk to your family in Iraq?
B: Almost every Sunday since 1981.
M: Wow!! So you’re pretty informed.
B: Yes, very much!
(…..on our second beer)
M: Baad, who are you voting for next week?
B: Why do you ask me such a dumb question?
M: Baad, I have no idea, who are you voting for?
B: BUSH HAS LIBERATED MY HOME!!!(some of his spit hit my face)
M: ok, I hear you…so Bush.
B: YES, I respect him very very much!
M: …and your family in Iraq?
B: All 49 of them support Bush, and 95% of the country they say has a deep respect for him.
M: I didn’t realize he was ‘liked’ so much over there…
B: NO!!...I never said we LIKED him…I said we RESPECT him. There is a big difference in our culture…in the United States see being liked and respected has being hand and hand….it is much different in the Middle East.
M: Really…I don’t get that!
B: Yes it would be hard to explain, but that is the way it works. Iraq is a country that wants to be free. But how could we. After the first Gulf War, Bush Senior encouraged the people to over throw Saddam…but what help did he give. One of my brothers rose to fight Saddam, and my other brother turned him in. He was tortured for a year and put to death…My own brother turned on my own brother.
M: ….that’s fucked up!
B: Bush Senior is a coward in the Arab world, he did not finish the job. He was liked for standing up to Saddam but not respected.
M: You know what I find ironic…after the first Gulf War, 83% of the American public and 71% of the world believed the coalition forces should march into Baghdad and finish the job….13 years go by, and the world, and almost half the United States forgives Saddam and he gets a clean slate….and it’s now mistake that we invaded!
B: Yes…it shows how soft the World and American public has become…and that is what scares the people in Iraq…Iraq needs the United States, we don’t want to be occupied, but we have to except it….and we need Bush in the White House…There is one word Bush keeps saying, it is ‘patience’….In this American culture, you want things done so quickly…but stability in Iraq will take time…I just hope the voting public doesn’t lose its ‘patience’ because if they do Iraq is doomed.
(….on our third beer)
M: Baad…let me tell you what really fuckin’ pisses me off about the Iraqi people. We are handing you freedom…but they’re letting thugs in your country blow up shit and kill people. Why isn’t there a movement of Iraqi people going after these terrorists. Because I’ll tell you what, if this shit was happening in Philly, I’d buy a gun and go put a fucking bullet in the head of the guys doing this stuff.
B: I hear what you are saying…and believe me, for every bomb that goes off, they’re 500 more people signing up for the policing force…but this takes time…but a lot of the blame of ‘security’ is Bush’s fault.
M: Explain.
B: After the forces rolled into Baghdad, the first thing that was done was the disassembling of the Iraqi Army. They were 400,000 strong. The United States underestimated the Iraqi Army hatred towards Saddam. That would have been the optimal policing agency.
M: Yeah, but image if a fraction of them split and wiped out United State military division. There would be serious questions in our country about keeping the Iraqi Army together.
B: Yes, but there are only 125,000 in the police force now…they are undermanned and that is why there are bombs going off…so now America will have to wait and except the situation until the police force is stronger.
M: Well, hopefully it will be sooner than later.
B: Patience! As it is said, ‘Rome wasn’t built overnight’
(….on our fourth beer)
M: You’re speaking pretty highly of Iraq, Baad, it's pretty refreshing.
B: Yes, what people don’t realize is Iraq is a beautiful country. It has more water than any other Middle Eastern country, and it has a remarkable landscape…it even has snow covered mountains.
M: When do you think Americans would be able to take a skiing vacation to Iraq?
B: (laughing)…hopefully in our life time…but remember ‘patience’. 5 years, 10 years, 15 years…who knows….but Iraq will be free!
(….on our fifth beer)
M: Have you had any losses in your family in this war?
B: Yes, just recently my youngest brother died in a car explosion.
M: I’m sorry for your loss.
B: Yes, thank you, I never personally knew him though, just conversations on the phone.
M: Well Baad, let me ask you something, you had one brother die under Saddam and one by terrorists….which is worse?
B: The brother killed by Saddam.
M: Why?
B: My brother killed by the car bomb died free, and his death was the action of desperate people. And they will die soon. When my other brother died by Saddam, there was nothing anybody could do…it was complete helplessness.
(…after our sixth beer)
B: I’m planning to go back to Iraq and work there only if Bush wins next week.
M: Why only if Bush wins?
B: Because he will not pull out, he is there and intends to finish the job. And he doesn’t care what the world thinks. Especially that asshole Chirac. When I was in France, guess what Chirac referred when speaking about the Iraqi leader?
M: What?
B: ‘My Good Friend Saddam!’...what the American public doesn’t know is that Saddam gave 10 million dollars to Chirac for his election….the man is a coward.
M: I didn’t know that.
B: They are all COWARDS!!! Even Clinton. Because Saddam wasn’t following UN sanctions, Clinton took a public opinion poll to decide whether to send 14 cruse missle into Iraq. And what good did that do. A FUCKING PUBLIC OPINION POLL!!! BUSH IS THE ONLY LEADER IN THE WORLD THAT HAS BALLS!!!
M: Alright Baad, take it ease. Hey, I got to get going, but I want to wish you the best. Let’s getting together again before you go back over.
B: ok, very good. It was very pleasing to talk with you my good friend mike.
M: I learned a lot…take it easy buddy.

American Made: Porter-Cable

2004-11-14T14:05:00.000-05:00

This is the first in what is intended to be a weekly series on American companies and American products. I'll profile those that excel and those that don't. First, let me say that it is not always easy to categorize a company or product as "American". Is an American company one that is headquartered in the U.S.? What if it's employees are located abroad? What if its shareholders are foreign? Likewise, should we categorize a product as "made in the U.S.A." if it was engineered in Germany and assembled in the U.S.? What if the parts are from China? These are difficult questions. Since no bright line exists, I'll focus on companies and products that for one reason or another I consider to be American.

About once a month, my girlfriend bugs me to go on a bike ride. It's not really a problem, since we have bikes and live two blocks from a great place to ride them -- Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. However, what gets on my nerves is putting air in the tires every time. Walking the bikes up to the gas station for air is an option, but a futile one. The air compressor is always broken courtesy of D.C.'s thugs. The second and most obvious option is to just buy a hand pump. However, I opted for option number three: Porter Cable's combination 6 gallon pancake compressor with brad and finishing nailer.

Porter-Cable is predominately an American company, and an excellent one at that. The company began in Syracuse, NY, circa 1906 and today most of its products and employees hail from the Volunteer state. Recently, Porter-Cable was acquired by Black and Decker -- a company much more difficult to classify as American given it's comtempt for paying U.S. taxes. Notwithstanding their recent ownership change, Porter-Cable should continue to be a great producer of American power tools.

The company is great because its products work like they're supposed to and they last. I've purchased a few power tools made in China before, and I definitely got what I paid for -- plastic parts and poor performace. I highly recommend the Porter-Cable combo kit. It is built like a tank and very easy to use. It has all the power you need for driving nails, small sandblasting jobs, painting, and of course, pumping up bike tires. It's a great investment that you won't regret.

Slipping backwards

2004-11-14T01:09:00.000-05:00

American you have spoken recently on the events of our great nation and our relationship with the world. I just hope that there are more people out there that share my vision of what America is and what America should be.

We have evoloved from the very basic form of human need, survival. We took what the British gave us and broke away and in doing so created a substansial standard that countries have tried to emulate with little success.

We are on top of the mountain as well we should be. The only question I have is, "How long?"

We had a clear choice. One path led us to clear discussion and action. The other led us to renew a president that will never be confused with Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Reagan. A man was elected (this year) who admittedly never made a mistake. How can any human being say they've never made a mistake in four years. Take any four years of your life, would you do anything different? I sure as hell know I would.

We had an opportuntiy to make positive change for our country and unfortunately we did not get the job done.

Mission Not Accomplished

The Portrait Of An American Soldier

2004-11-14T01:01:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a picture says a thousand words.

Eve Of Destruction

2004-11-13T23:44:00.000-05:00

Barry McGuire

1965 Billboard hit

The Eastern World
It is explodin'
Violence flarin'
Bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill
But not for votin'
You don't believe in war
But what's that gun you're totin'
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'

But you tell me over, and over, and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

Don't you understand what I'm tryin' to say
And can't you feel the fears I'm feelin' today
If the button is pushed, there's no runnin' away
There'll be no one to save
With the whole world in a grave
Take a look around you boy,
It's bound to scare you boy

And you tell me over, and over, and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

Yeah, my blood's so mad
Feels like coagulatin'
I'm sittin' here, just contemplatin'
I can't twist the truth
It knows no regulation
Handful of senators don't pass legislation
And marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin'
This whole crazy world
Is just too frustratin'

And you tell me over, and over, and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

And think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
Ah you may leave here for four days in space
But when you return it's the same old place
The poundin' of the drums
The pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace
Hate your next door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace

But you tell me over, and over, and over, and over again my friend
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
No, no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

America Then and America Now

2004-11-11T01:46:00.000-05:00

This is pretty much self-explanatory:

College Football Terrorists

2004-11-10T23:50:00.000-05:00

Irving and Terry were charged with possession of chemical or other dangerous explosives with intent to harm, according to a report in The Lansing State Journal. The 19-year-olds were arrested early Tuesday after police discovered the devices at their apartment. Police were called to the scene just after midnight Monday on a report of shots fired outside. One of the devices discovered by police -- a plastic bottle filled with a chemical -- had already exploded, according to the police report. Police reportedly detonated a second device outside the apartment. A third device exploded while officers were at the scene. No injuries were reported. The boys were released on bond. MSU's assistant athletic director said their coach will not take disciplinary action until the legal process is complete. Both freshman players will remain on the team.

While I'm a big proponent of our American legal system, I'll be the first to admit that it shouldn't be the sole source of punishment and exoneration in our society. During my teenage years, if I came home with the smell of alcohol on my breath my parents didn't need to conduct a breathalizer test or trial. I was punished on the basis of circumstantial evidence. The same treatment should be applied to Irving and Terry. I seriously doubt they were working on their chemistry homework during this little incident. I don't care how good these guys are on the football field -- their spineless coach should have suspended them immediatley.

Joe Paterno

2004-11-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

I am talking about the greatest College coach of all time. Should he retire or should he be fired. What are you kidding me! JoePa the living legend. If somebody said something like this 15 years ago they would have been deemed insane. I know the team has come under hard times just recently, like this year and last, but come on now. If it was not for him there would not be no Penn State Tradition to uphold. If he wants to keep coaching let him keep coaching. It should be up to him and on his terms when he wants to step down. So what if he is old so what if he is a little crazy. You can't tell a football coaching god to quit. Coach Paterno means so much to Penn State. Think about it. You are one of PSU's brass and you are having a meeting and you start talking about firing Joe, OK who wants to do it. Not Me. Are you crazy. You can not fire JOE. He is the grandaddy of college football. Leave the man alone. Let him figure out what he wants to do. That is his team and his school. When he thinks it is time he will step down. Until then just be thankful that he is still coaching.

Ron Moretti Jr.

2004-11-09T11:08:00.000-05:00

I want to let you know about an old friend of mine Ron Moretti Jr.
He was killed by a drunk driver on November 9, 1991. As you can tell today is the 13 year anniversary. He was 16 when he passed and day doesn't go by where I don't think of him. I know some of you probably don't want to hear this, but guess what you need too.

Ron was a great guy. He was a great student who also excelled in sports. Ron was planning on going to the Air Force Academy after High School. He knew every thing there was to know about any paticular plan that might be flying overhead. He was also a good QB for our football team. He was the backup during his final season but would have been the starter for our Senior season. Ron was a mans man, even at the age of 16. His best quality was his Character. He was as good a person as you could find. He did not drink or do anything that was wrong. He was always a happy guy who was willing to give you a hand if you needed one. A month before Ron was killed I hurt my knee playing Football, and Ron filled in for me while I was out. He played great. I don't think I could have played as good as he did during those 3 games. He was awesome. I was his biggest fan, how could you not be, he left everything he had on the field. What I remember the most about those last 3 weeks of Ron's life was how modest he was after each of those games. He was the defensive star of each of those games and he refused to accept any praise for his effort. He would make a point to come up to me and tell me that he was just keeping my spot warm for me when I came back. Honestly the way Ron was playing nobody was taking his spot. After his last game and the last game that I was going to miss we were talking on the way back to the locker room. I was excited about the possibility of playing in the next weeks game and so was Ron. He was happy because of the possibility of the two of us playing at the same time. Unfortunately that never happened. That was the last conversation we ever had together. From that point on I never played a game or watched one where I did not think of Ron.

RON MORRETTI he was my friend.

A Drunk Driver killed him. I personally know 4 people including Ron who were killed as a result of drunk driving. People have to learn to exhibit self-control. I don't want to lose any other friends to this again. Help save one of your friends.

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.

and save a friend like my buddy RON MORRETTI Jr.

T.O.

2004-11-04T13:21:00.000-05:00

Yes I am talking about Terrell Owens. You are probably wondering why I am talking about TO. I want to educate you on him. He is a football player who loves the game. TO plays the game with a lot of passion and emotion. He works extremely hard to be the best Wideout in the league. Now I know their is a lot of you out there who are going to say he plays on your team and that is why you like him so much. Wrong. When TO first came to Philly I hated him and the main reason. I misunderstood him. I think a lot of people misunderstand Him all the time. People in general always judge the book by what the cover looks like. TO is a model citizen. He does not do drugs or have a drinking problem. He does not party around town with a posse. He is not at home slapping his wife around because he can. NO. TO has never been in trouble and probably never will. He is good person that way. Now a lot of us may not agree with the whole Sharpie incident, but hey the guy was having fun. After all, the last time I checked Football is a game. A game played by guys with big egos and of course any man in competition is going to get excited. What do you want him to do, go sit on the sidelines like a robot. This is not Communist Russia, we are free to express ourselves in celebration. My coach in college used to tell me that if I can't get excited about making a play then you should be running cross-country.

Now I know TO has an opinion that puts him in some of these situations. Big deal. At least he wasn't trying to tell us who to vote for ie. Curt Schilling. Everybody has an opinion. If you can't say what is on your mind then you have no balls. I like people with opinions, that is what our country is about. There is millions of TO's out there, each unique to there cities, teams, families etc. I have an opinion all the time. I sometimes can be viewed as a pain in the ass. Guess what I don't care. At least I let everybody know where I stand. TO is a mans man and he backs up everything he says. Good for you TO. The hell with Ray Lewis and anybody else who does not like you because you speak your mind or celebrate TD's. Keep doin your thing and if anybody else has the stones to put up another TO is a rat sign, tear that friggin thing down again and the hell with the NFL if they want to fine you.

TO the best damm wide receiver in the NFL.
TO Model Citizen.
TO Misunderstood.

Re-Elected

2004-11-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

For all intensive purposes the race is over. It will probably drag on for a couple of days but it is over. Now, for the tough task of uniting the country. We must all pull together. Republican and Democrat united. There is a lot of things that need to be repaired and or revamped. We must all move into the future. We must get to the bottom of the Iraq situation. We must also beef up on our War on terror and catch that asshole Osama. We also have to address the problems here in our own country, healthcare, education, debt, jobs etc. It is not an easy task but also not an impossible one. Our country has spoken. When the smoke clears from the election, our current president will be Re-elected. Hopefully these 4 years he will make better decisions for our country. Not that he did an awful job, but their is room for improvement. The next 4 years will be this presidents measuring stick. How will he be remembered? Time will tell. It is his turn to try and make this bi-partisan country whole again. The campaign is over. The next four years has started.

Don't let the country down Mr. President.
No Excuses.
Just Get The Job Done.

Election Day

2004-11-02T14:21:00.000-05:00

Finally it is here. I can not take anymore of this nonsense. I was watching TV last night and at one point there was 5 political commercials on in a row. Come on now. What is going on. Are people that stupid. Do they really believe everything they hear or is it that they believe everything that they want to. These commercials are all bullshit. I am sick and tired of seeing them. The only commercials that should be on the tube are the ones telling you to get out and VOTE.

My name is AC and I approve this message.

1104 Another Vietnam.

2004-10-28T10:06:00.000-04:00

On my way home from work last night I was stopped at a long light. On the corner a women in her 40's got out of a car driven by what appeared to be her daughter. The women waved goodbye to her daughter, who appeared emotional. The women then held up the large wooden sign above her head.

It said, 1104 Another Vietnam.

The Women had a Yellow Sleeve tied to her left arm and a Black one tied to her right arm.

The women was not yelling screaming or making gestures she was simply holding up the sign. Her face showed an extraordinary amount of emotion, good and bad.

She held the sign up high.

Momentarily she would rest the sign on her head, then hold it up high again.

I sat at the light for what felt like an eternity. I noticed that the numbers on her sign have been changed too many times, probaly as recent as walking out her door.

I started to feel a tremendous amount of emotion. The lady looked over towards me and we briefly made eye contact. We both nodded our heads to each other. I suppose at that moment I understood her pain. I felt goose bumps. It felt like somebody stabbed me in the heart. I almost could not take it. I wanted the light to change but deep inside I didn't want it too. I wanted to stay there and talk to this lady. I wanted to know her story. I wanted to know what the yellow and black stashes were for. I was getting more and more upset the longer I sat there. Then the light changed and I was moving. I beeped my horn. The lady waved. Then I heard about 4 or 5 more horns beep as I drove away.

I have not been able to stop thinking about that moment. It was very powerful experience for me. I support our troops. I always have and always will. I know about 7 friends who at one time or another were in Iraq. I also supported going to war with Iraq. I thought it was the right thing to do. After finding out how mislead we all were on the war in Iraq I feel very guilty. Every time I watch the news and they say we had another casualty in Iraq I feel awful. So when I saw that lady everything rushed to the surface for me.

After I drove away. I started to wonder about the women with the sign. The meaning of the sign, 1104 another Vietnam. Maybe she had a son fighting in Iraq, and maybe she lost a brother in Vietnam. Maybe she was just letting everybody know that WAR is hell no matter how you spin it. Regardless of what scenarios I can come up with. There was a reason the women was out there. And I will tell you she was NOT campaigning. It was a women who had some kind of personal connection to this, Iraq war and possibly the Vietnam War. No matter what your views, anytime you lose a young soldier, somebody's son I should point out, in battle, it is sad.

I will never forget that sign and the fact that If I see that women today the sign might be UPDATED.

1104 Another Vietnam

What Curse?

2004-10-28T09:27:00.000-04:00

That's right what curse. It is over. All Sox fans you can rest easy. I am sure the party will last into the weekend. I like to say everything was right for the Sox this year. And I called it. Yes it all started with that weird dream back in July. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Rest Easy Sox Fans.

Now I have one question for the Red Sox Nation. What now?

VOTE

2004-10-27T13:08:00.000-04:00

Here is an idea for you. Vote next Tuesday. I can not figure out why people will not vote. It is your right. It is your freedom to choose. Just look at all the other countries out there where the citizens have no choice in the matter. 100 years ago women could not even vote. Think about it. We fought wars for our freedom. Go out and vote and express your freedom. If you don't vote, don't complain because if the guy you wanted loses. Tough shit. You did not vote. So next Tuesday get off your lazy ass and get out there and vote. If you are unsure about who to vote for, make a decision. There is harder choices in life that you will have to make. There is no excuse. Vote. Prove your existence and make a decision. VOTE...

Lunar Eclipse

2004-10-27T08:21:00.000-04:00

All of you who are aware that the Red Sox are on the verge of ending the Curse. Beware. Or get excited. Tonight for the first time since 1986 there will be a lunar eclipse during the world series. If you don't know, the '86' series was the last time the Sox were in the Fall Classic. In that series they blew a 2-0 games lead and a 3-2 games lead. It is also remebered for the most shocking moment in New England History, with the Sox only needing 1 out to clinch there first Title since 1918 Billy Buckner messed it up, ERROR , on a routine ground ball. So you want some Irony. The last eclipse cost the Sox there covenated rings. The Curse, The Stars, Bucky Dent and The Yankees have kept New Englanders hungry for years. Well this time everything is working in their favor. Rest easily Sox fans nothing will lunar eclipse the joy of your SOX finally pulling it out for you.

Moving

2004-10-27T08:02:00.000-04:00

For all of you out there who have moved before you know that it is a pain in the ass. That is what I was doing for the past couple of days. Boxing this up, Boxing that up, carry this over there, carry that over there. And all the fun that comes with moving, like carrying your 36 inch TV out the front door, it is not fun. I know a lot of you are going to say why didn't you get movers to do it. Well because I like to do things on my own, I am just like that. This way if something breaks it is my fault. Now I wasn't by myself when I moved. I had some help, like my Brother who thinks he Joe Professional Mover. After only 15 min. I was already going to kill him. I know he means well but I am the type of person who likes to just work and not talk, he likes to talk really loud and work. Now don't get me wrong he is a hell of a worker, he is just my younger brother and that is all I have to say. All those with little bro's out there know what I mean. It was a long day filled with many glitches. But I think it went pretty smoothly. Everybody knows moving a couch is not fun. Moving the whole house is with out a dobt a pain. But, The bottom line is after all the aggravation that comes with moving we got the job done.

My conclusion. The next time I move I am hiring movers.

A New Era

2004-10-21T09:19:00.000-04:00

Early this morning The Red Sox overcame 86 years of Dominating Yankee rule. In what may have been the longest 4 days in Baseball history the Yanks Faded into the night. On a team filled with baseball legends like Godzilla, Jorge, Bernie, Shef, A-Rod, Mo, Moose and Jeter the facade of the house that Ruth built came crumbling down. The victorious Red Sox nation finally had their moment in the enemies house. By the time the final Yankee batter came to the plate the arrogant crowd was gone and only the true Sox believers were left. Why wouldn't your typical new Englander still have hope after falling behind 3-0. The 19-8 game 3 loss was the Sox Bunker Hill, it awoke them, it stirred their burning desire to do what ever it takes to get the job done. When the world gave up on them the sox saw the light. They kept attacking then their fearless leadoff man who came up small all series saw the whites in the eyes of the Yankees and smashed a Grand Slam into the belly of George Herman. 4 straight for the wild bunch from Boston. All that remains is 4 more to write the final chapter of the 86 year curse. And don't worry, no Roger Clemens or Bob Gibson will have any say in the Karma of the inevitable. Remember in 1980 when the US hockey team beat the Russians they still had to go out and win the Gold medal the next day. It is in the Bag Boston.

So sit back and enjoy the New Era of Red Sox Baseball

Game 7

2004-10-20T13:58:00.000-04:00

Tonight in New York the Red Sox will end part 1 of the 86 year old Curse of the Bambino. If you are a Yankee fan I am sorry the run is over. If you are a Sox fan I am also sorry because you will never be able to enjoy the misery that comes with heartbreak. Game 7 it just does not get any better than this. In the sports world this is what you live for. Are the Red Sox 5 outs better? Yes, and they may be 7 runs better also. Tonight may come down to the last out but no matter this time the great Yanks will be extinguished. The Evil Empire like the Roman Empire will be overrun by a band of misfit Barbarians. The Sox see blood right now and will go for the throat. The empire is down and not even their dark lord, Derek Jeter, can save them from the inevitable. Even the Sox manager who once thought to be in a deep coma will make all the right calls. Because tonight, Game 7, everything is right for David to Slay the biggest giant Baseball has ever seen. Tonight the step son from Beantown will show his Daddy who's the Man now.

Tonight Game 7.

Good will finally overcome Evil.

Army Football

2004-10-20T08:10:00.000-04:00

I just want everybody out there to know what the Army Football team has accomplished in the last 2 weeks. After losing 19 straight games and looking like they might never win again. Yes it was that bad. Three weeks ago they looked poised to break the streak when they were beating Texas Christian 17-0 in the second half, only to give up the winning touchdown in the last minutes of the game, extending the losing streak to 19. Then instead of feeling sorry about themselves they regrouped behind there great coach Bobby Ross. So they ended the streak against Cincinnati and there All-American wanna be QB Guido Gidulli (spelled something like that). Army earned a hard fought victory that day and rid themselves of the dreaded streak. After the game Cinnci's QB was quoted "I can't believe we lost this game we must be the laughing stock of the nation." I can translate what he was trying to say. His team has nowhere near the Heart and Character that the Army team displays every Saturday and instead playing like underachievers the way Cinnci does stride to over-achieve the way Army is doing right now. To top it all off the Army team traveled to Florida this past Saturday and came from behind to win, YES 2 in a row. And that fast, a new streak is born. Those of you who do not follow college football and who are unfamiliar with Army Football should take note. These are a special group of guys who are sacrificing a lot by not only playing Football, but to eventually serve their country when their playing days are over. So to all of you who don't know, Hard work pays off. GO ARMY.

Democrat or Republican

2004-10-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

Today people are either Democrat or Republican. There appears to be no middle. Now some would say that you can not be in the middle and that you would be a flip-flopper if you were. That is hardly the case. I think what is wrong with politics is that most elected officials are Hard-line Right or Hard-line Left. I think the minuses will outweigh the pluses if you think this way. What we need is for more people in politics to be down the middle. To hear both sides of the story then figure out what is best. It's about being Open-Minded. We all know tons of people who are one sided with there political views. Every person who falls into one of these categories will never want to listen to what the other side has to say. That my friends is no good. We all need to be able to discuss what is wrong and collectively try and fix it. A perfect example of not cooperating with each other is the main reason our intelligence agencies are not operating at a high level, by sharing information and working together there would be no intelligence breakdowns like the one that caused 9-11. Wow. My example may be off the subject, but I am sure most of you see the logic. Currently are country is as bi-partisan as it ever has been. We can not continue to have two major groups of people who disagree most of the time, run our country. What we need is for everybody to make an effort to be more open-minded and stride to see each other eye to eye. Remember what one of the first things you learned in kindegarden was? ---Cooperation--- We have to be able to work together so we can get the job done the right way, this way everybody will benefit.

Storm Clouds Brewing

2004-10-15T09:14:00.000-04:00

After watching the three presidential debates and the VP debate I was left with the same bothering thought. War. Forget that we are in Iraq, for right or wrong we are going to be there for a long time. That probaly was a mistake, That I supported, but we can not leave until the job is done. But that is another story. I am not talking about Afghanistan either. We have to be there until Osama is killed. There is no arguing that. What I am talking about is the world all of a sudden seems a lot scarier than it did just 5 years ago. Both presidential canidates talked very seriously about putting and end to nuke threats in Iran and North Korea, while also slapping around Syria and anybody else who fits the terrorist profile. I won't even bring up China that is also another story. None of these countries are going to just give in to us. All you have to do is look at there track record. I fear that any attempt to disarm these nuclear threats is going to resort to War. Now I know we have to defend our best interest against these evil countries, and evil they are. None of the countries I named have ever done a lick of good in the last 50 years. These countries are extremist in every way. They all share the same idea, which is produce Nukes and sucker punch the USA. They hate us and everything we stand for. Our President and the Presidential canidate know this, and that is why the continuously address it. Of course neither is going to say that any of this will resort to all out war. That just won't get you re-elected or elected. But by them simply introducing the concept of possible hostilities with these countries will give them some rope. So Down the road if it were to happen they could say that they told us so in 2004.

We have the best country in the world. Freedom Liberty and Capitalism are some of the things that make us great. I know nobody wants to hear or talk about possible complications in the future. But our country is going to be strong and endure this coming darkness of War. After all good always conquers evil. Each one of us Americans will make sure of that each and every day. God Bless America.

The Moon

2004-10-13T13:39:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year President Bush said he wants our country to have a full time presence on the moon. He said this only a couple of weeks after China had said they also wanted to go to the moon. Now I can understand the reasoning behind keeping the Chi-Coms off the moon. But why does China want to spend billions that they don't have to get to the moon. The answer is simple. Energy. China uses 4.57 million barrels of Oil a day, while only producing 3.3 million barrels a day. Oil prices are going up daily as a result of China's growing demand for it. In 20 years China use a day is estimated to be a staggering 18.6 million barrels a day. Insane isn't it. So what are 1.2 Billion Chi-coms to do. Go to the Moon. Why? It has an abundant form of energy hidden in its soil. Called Helium-3. Since there is only a couple of pounds of it here on Earth you have to go to the Moon, were it is everywhere. It is blown there by solar winds, and is collected in it's powdery soil. China who has not been on the friendliest terms with us since WWII wants to get there first and try to control This cash crop, Helium-3. Just 1 ton of this stuff will probbaly go for around 4 billion dollars on the open market, now I don't know how many yuan that is but it has to be a boat load. It is estimated that 25 tons would power our country for a whole year. Not only is this stuff potent but it also will be a clean and safe form of energy. There is enough Helium-3 on the Moon to power the Earth for Thousands of years. This stuff is going to send OPEC to the graveyard, in the plot next to it's evil cousin The Warsaw Pact. The moon is going to be the key to keeping some of these dirtbag countries on Earth in check.

The future is here my friends. I know this sounds far fetched. But it is the main reason China has interest in going there, and why we won't let those skinny bastards set one foot on the MOON.

The Boston Red Sox and the Curse

2004-10-12T13:26:00.000-04:00

The curse has been around since 1918. Frustrating season after season. This is finally the Year. The Sox will overcome the Evil Empire and anybody else who wants to play them. The reason. The curse has been broken. Yes it has been Broken. It was broken by a man that nobody ever heard of from the most unlikely of places. His name, Gallihue T Blevins from Plainfield CT. Gallihue christened Mo Vaughn in 1994 for other reasons, broke the curse this summer without even knowing it.

July 23 2004. The Red Sox just lost a heartbreaker to the dreaded Yanks. I was at home watching the game. Now I can care less about the Sox and there Curse, but on this night that would all change. I had a dream that I was at Fenway park and it was game 7 of the World Series. I don't know who the Sox had just played but they won. And boy was it a party. Then out of the Blue. Gallihue Trustworthy Blevins shows up and he is with none other than the Babe himself. Talk about weird. So I start having this conversation with Gallihue. Who I have not seen in 6 years, and The Babe who has been dead since 1948. Mo then leans forward and tells me that the Babe told him that enough was enough. On October 31, All Souls Day, the curse would end, and the Babe could finally rest. The Red Sox and all of there fans will get there wish.

Then I woke up and what was on the TV but the conclusion of the Sox Yanks replay. The announcer was heard saying I don't know if the Red Sox can ever rebound from a loss like this, the curse may never be broken. It is a shame he didn't know. The Curse was just broken.

The Mexican Border

2004-10-11T13:34:00.000-04:00

Currently we have troops on the ground in over 100 countries worldwide. Meanwhile our border with Mexico is left virtually unguarded. Thousand of illeagals enter our country each day. About 85% are Mexican. That means that anybody who wants to get in can. Alarming isn't it. Forget about all the problems with the Mexicans getting in. I am worried about the 15% that are from other parts of the world, like say the Middle East. Why try flying in. When with the right amount of money you could cross into the southern US undetected. Thousands every day. People who could inflict harm on our country can simply walk right in, eat lunch then set off a bomb.

Here is an idea I have. Bring some of our boys home from one of the many countries we are in. And have them patrol our border. And when I say patrol I mean stop them all from entering. I know we can't stop them all. Realistically I know we can not stop them all. But I know we can put forth a greater effort to stop these scumbags from entering our country. The Mexican Border is a free for all it needs to be addressed.

Our borders must be tightened up. Like our President has said repeatedly, "The terrorist only have to be right once, we have to be right all the time." Well lets take some action and get it right.

Cruise Control

2004-10-08T09:04:00.000-04:00

If you haven't noticed. People have no idea how to drive. When I am driving on the highway. I use this device my car has, it is called Cruise Control. It allows your car to go the same speed as long as you don't have to brake. I explain this, because I don't think people know that it exist. For example. Last night on my ride home I set the cruise control. While I was driving I noticed a guy going about 10 mph faster zips right by me. No big deal. Until a few minutes later when I go zipping by him. This process occurred approximately 6 times. Keep in mind I was going the same speed the whole time. Driving like this is not only annoying but it takes a toll on your car. So, Read the rest and wise up.

Those of you who drive like this I want you to know a couple of things.

1) You are wasting GAS. And if you didn't know gas isn't cheap.
2) It is not good for your brakes.
3) You are adding useless wear and tear on your car.
4) The 3 points made above mean one thing. More money will come out of you pocket.

In Conclusion, if you drive like a 5 year old with no attention span it will cost you. So before you go on your next ride. Take out your cars owner manual and learn how the cruise control works. It will not only save you money it will save me the aggravation of watching you drive like a dope.

Project Grizzly

2004-10-06T13:18:00.000-04:00

For all of you who are ignorant to Project Grizzly I will quickly sum it up. This wacko Troy from Boon Dock Canada was attacked by a Grizzly Bear who he named after his Pop. Then he goes on this insane Vision Quest for answers on why this wild bear who was probaly hungy attacked him. Hmmm. So one night after watching Robocop he brainstorms this idea about building this suit that is supposed to be impervious to Grizzly Bears. I will leave the rest to you to watch.

About Project Grizzly.
I have never been disturbed more than after I saw this piece. WoW. It is scary to know that we have people walking around like this out there. What is even more scarier is that somebody funded this yahoo's project. Thank god this guy lives in Canada. It would be a good idea to not let this guy into our country. He should be put on a watch list. But then again if he walked thru customs with his Mark VII Robocop suit on nobody would be able to stop him. One hint on how you can stop him. Let loose a Grizzly bear named PoPs. This will scare Troy out of the suit. Then we can watch Troy talk about how disappointed he was that he only had one chance to take over America and he blew it.

The message this movie passes to us is, never move to the middle of nowhere. Because there is guys like Troy walking around out there. And he has twin Rambo knives constantly strapped to him.

So if you ever have a encounter with Troy please try not to laugh at him.

Baseball

2004-10-06T08:01:00.000-04:00

It is our pastime. Whether you like it or not. There has always been baseball. Depression, War, Crisis there has always been Baseball. Sure the salaries have become out of control, and the Yankees have all the money. But Baseball is a Game. A child's game. It was the first team that I ever participated on, And most likely your first team also. It blows in with the spring breeze in April and ends with the crack of a bat in October. Baseball is how things are remembered and compared. What year where you born? 1986. Oh that was Billy Buckner and the Mets. 1980. The Philles only World Series. 1961. The year Maris hit 61. Etc. Baseball it is as American as Burgers and Hot Dogs on the grille for the 4 of July.

Baseball and America two peas in a pod since 1876.

Barry Bonds The Juicehead

2004-10-04T13:49:00.000-04:00

He is the best Baseball player of our time. I will not argue that, but since he used Steroids it is all tainted. How do I know he used roids you might ask? Come on now. It is obvious. All you have to do is watch Classic Sports and see Barry when he was with Pittsburgh. He was a bean pole. Now I know what lifting weights can do to a person who never did it before. Because you can put on some weight, but lets be realistic. Bonds can barely move know. He looks like the Mark VI from Project Grizzly. Thank god he swings an 8 oz bat that is baked in a oven somewhere in Louisville. He is one hell of a hitter. I just can not overlook the fact that he is a roid head. He is also a Major league Prick, but that is another story. I tried to root for him but I just can not do it. All his records are bogus and they should be taken down. He should be thrown out of Baseball maybe for life. Then he could have baseball signings with the banned Pete Rose.

I also feel that Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa fall into the same category. I am sure that there is more guys that are abusing steroids in MLB and they should all be punished the same. Banish all of them and let the game be free of the Dark cloud of Steroids once and for all.

How could anybody look at these guys and say. Nope they never used steroids. No way. If you are one of those people you must be close minded. Because I do not know how anybody with an open mind would think that way. Baseball is played with a Bat and Ball not with a Syringe.

Fast Food Slow Service

2004-10-02T22:49:00.000-04:00

When I want McDonald's, I want it now. I hardly ever hit the drive thru because it normally takes forever. So I go inside of course. I'd rather go inside. This way I can see who is making the food. Because nobody, I mean nobody, wants to eat at a place where Jeff Trash is in charge of the Fries and his long hair is hanging out over the top of the deep frier. Sounds awful doesn't it. Any way I want to go in, order, eat and be on my way in 20 min. I don't want to wait in line for 20 min at a fast food place. Now I am not saying that all the places have bad service, because they don't. For example Jose the manager of the McD's in Danbury CT. Where I went to school was the best. He hired competent people who cared about what they were doing. Which is the key. You should care. No matter what you are doing. If you are going to take a job. What ever it is, show some pride. Look presentable. Be courteous. Do your job and don't look like you do not want to be there. If I walk into a place, fast food or not. If I don't like the body language I am outta there. I am a simple guy to please. All I need is good service with a smile. I don't think it takes that much effort to be fast and efficient. And also nice. I try to be nice to everybody when I go out to eat no matter where that is. All I ask for is to get it in return. Maybe it is a deeper issue (A growing lack of Respect), but that is for a different Blog.

So if you see me in line at a McDonald's, look alive, be nice, smile and as fast as you can have my food in front of me. Oh and by the way make sure you ask "Do you want fries with that".

Changing Times.

2004-10-01T14:09:00.000-04:00

A man came home from work one day to find his wife sitting on the front porch with her bags packed.
He asked her where she was going and she replied, "I'm going to Las Vegas."

He asked her why she was going.

She told him, "I just found out that as a woman I can make $400 a night doing what I give you for free."

He went into the house, packed his bags and returned to the porch.

His wife said, "And just where do you think you are going?"

"I''m going too!" he replied.

"Why?" she asked.

"I want to see how you are going to live on $800 a year!"

11 o'clock news

2004-10-01T13:24:00.000-04:00

Who needs it anymore. Everything I turn it on I get aggravated. Know why? They start the news by giving you a brief intro about everything. Then they give you the first sports and the first weather. What is up with that. They then tell you have to wait another 25 min. To get the full gist of it. Come on. If I want sports I will put on ESPN. If I want the Weather I will put on the Weather Channel. If I want the news I will put on CNN. Anything else I want, I can get from the internet. So why do we watch? I do not know. Maybe because it is what's on at 11 every night since the TV became mainstream. So why am I complaing. Because that is what I do. No really, I just want the news. Give it to me in whatever order you want but give me the full story every time. Don't give me a tibit here and a tibet there. What was wrong with how the 11o'clock news was 15 years ago. They did it the same every night. Not this Hocus Pocus shit. Here is how I would set it up. The way it used to be.

Local news
National News
miscellaneous
Sports
Weather

Give me the same schedule every night. So if I want to watch just the sports, I will put channel 6 on at 11:25 every night to get my fill. This way you are giving it to the audience the same every night.

I don't think it is that hard. If I turn on Channel 6 Action News at 11. I want the news. Not gimmicks. I want the news, and I want it complete and thorough each time. If I can't get it the way I want it. I will stop watching it completely.

Washington DC EXPOS.

2004-10-01T08:27:00.000-04:00

Baseball is back in DC for the first time 34 years. I am already hearing about there opening day game for next year. The first pitch will be thrown out by Marion Barry Jr. I am sure he will be wired for the occasion.

Bathroom Etiquette

2004-09-30T13:47:00.000-04:00

Everybody knows that the urinal is for when you take a piss and that the Stall is where you do you dumping. What irks me is when a guy wants to go into a stall and piss all over the seats. Then after doing that they won't even flush. What is wrong with people. We do not live in caves anymore. But maybe some people do. I can not figure it out. Then you always have the people who don't wash there hands. Those people are priceless. I once saw a guy go into the bathroom eating a bagel, then he placed the bagel on top of the urinal while he took a leak. Then after he finished he continued to eat his bagel. Awesome. And then there is the guy who wants to look all over the place when he is pissing. You know, the guy who makes you feel very uneasy. That is the guy who needs a punch in the face. The best one is, I saw this guy bring into the bathroom 4 bottles of water, apparently for some of his co-workers, use the facilities did not wash and walk right out the door.

The Classifications of a Bathroom Dirtbag.

A) Piss all over the seat in the stall: Simply you are a piece of shit.
B) Doesn't flush: Means either you have ADD or you are a moron.
C) Brings food into the bathroom at work: A fat slob.
D) Brings other peoples food into the john before giving it to them: You are a inconsiderate piece of Trash. Bad friend.
E) Looks all over while pissing: Normally means he switch hits. -Stay Away-
F) Does not wash hands after urinating: This means you are a Scumbag. Don't shake.

If you fall under any or all of these categories you may still have a chance to change. There is a hope that you could wash-up after doing your business. Maybe keep your eyes straight ahead. Eat in the kitchen. Flush when you are done, and never bring somebody else's food in there. Most of all you could just use the Urinal when you are pissing like all other Males in the civilized world.

USC Cheerleaders Uniform

2004-09-30T11:16:00.000-04:00

For all you sports buffs out there I am sure you heard what happened to Cleveland Indians pitcher Kyle Denney. If you don't know, he was struck in the right calf Wednesday night by a bullet fired at the Indians team bus on the way to the Kansas City airport following there game. A freak thing that could have been tragic turned out to be nothing more than a minor injury. The reason. Kyle Denney was dressed for the occasion. He was wearing his brand new USC Cheerleading uniform that includes a pair of high white stripper style boots. The Indians trainer said that the boot probaly saved him from a more severe injury. They will tell the victim anything to make him feel better.

The thing I don't get is the whole rookie hazing thing. I was the member of many teams and at no point did I ever give in to any sort of hazing. Here is an idea stand up for yourself, don't give in. You gain more respect that way. Or you could dress up like a girl with nice boots so everybody can laugh at you. What do you think the chances are that when Roger Clemens was a rookie that he would have dressed like a female, slim to none. Do you know why because the rocket is a man. It kind of makes me wonder. What kind of future does Kyle Denney have in the Majors? I would say it looks pretty bleak, unless of course MLB lets him wear those nice white knee high boots out to the mound.

So if you want to pitch for the Cleveland Indians go out and get yourself a nice USC Cheerleaders Uniform.

John Street Will Be Indicted.

2004-09-30T08:22:00.000-04:00

It is only a matter of time now. The Criminal Mayor of Philadelphia will be going to prison. The stench that is coming from the cess-pool we call City Hall is ridiculous. John Street will be making Pennsylvania license plates instead of shaking people down for money, thats a shame. We have to rid our political system of thieves like Street. A dirty politician is the lowest kind of scum out there.

Have Fun In Prison John Street.

PS. I will make sure to send you a Tastycake care package.

Why John Street Was Reelected.

2004-09-29T11:54:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you can handle the Truth behind this story. But this is pretty disturbing. On a whole the average Philadelphian is not that smart anymore and that is not because I don't live there anymore. A majority of the people who voted for Street voted for him because of the color of his skin. What year is this? 1860. No it is 2004 Voting for somebody because they are Black or White is unintelligent. For example, there is a guy I know his name is Earl. Earl his in his thirties and is a hard working person. I asked Earl who he was voting for during the last election. Earl's response was mind boggling. He said,"Umh he did a great job cleaning up the streets by towing abandoned cars." When I pushed for more of a response he said,” He just did a great job, that’s all” So I turned the tables on him a little, and asked him if he would vote for Street if he accidentally towed his car? He stated flat out,” No way". So I asked him again one last time why did you vote for him? "Umh because he cleaned up the streets and umh he is Black." One last question. If two non-black candidates were running for Mayor would you vote for either one? His response was fascinating. "No way". He is not the only person I know who has told me something like that and it is a damm shame.

It is Brilliant. Absolutely Brilliant. You would think the whole race card thing would be a thing of the past.

Wake up Philadelphia. The city is crumbling before your eyes. If you are going to keep electing your Mayor solely based on race then your city is in trouble. There is one true classification in this country and believe it or not inside Philadelphia. It is that we all are Americans. Nothing else. Just plain Americans.

Vote but please wise up. Don't vote for the wrong reasons.
Vote for the best candidate.
Vote because you are an American.

When the next Mayor election is in Philly please vote with common sense. This way you won't put a Crook in office again, because he is the same color as you.

75 Miles From Work.

2004-09-28T16:42:00.000-04:00

I currently drive 150 miles a day to and from work. It is about 3 hours total in the car each day. 5 days a week for roughly 10.89 months a year (vacation and holidays). That is 33,000 miles a year at $1.85 a gallon of gas. I pay $7 dollars a day in tolls. It is 3 dollars alone to cross the great Delaware River and $2 dollars each way on the Gamblers Express. But the most disturbing thing is that I spend and ALARMING 660 estimated hours a year in the car just on the commute (that does not include a regular trip to WaWa 5min each way). For all you mathematicians out there that amounts to 27.5 days in my car a year. just commuting. That is like getting in my Saturn Vue on Feb 1 and driving until noon on Feb 28. Yes that means I spent the last 2 black history months in my car. I did not think it was that big a deal until I did the numbers.

Guess what in 4 weeks I am moving. My new commute means I will only be spending 6.1 days in my car. Thank God or Allah, Yaweh or anybody who cares.