Bowl game are BS

I used to be a pseudo-college football fan, like most blokes who attended a proper university are. However, I have found myself boycotting any watching of ANY college football games, even my own alma mater's games. This is not just because I am older, and am too busy, but it's because of the meaningless, nitwit of a system the football people have been using.

Every single bowl game, other than the national championship game, is a glorified exhibition game that means literally...nothing. You get paid whether you win or lose. Your team wins some notoriety just by being in the bowl, but that doesn't mean you will get blue chip recruits because of it. And I find the coverage on ESPN, which has gotten nauseatingly self-serving in the last 4-5 years, to be a colossal annoyance. So much so, I have temporarily stopped watching the ESPN flagship, the program that made it what it is, SportsCenter.

SportsCenter, in and of itself, has become so commercialized it's downright nauseating in it's own right...the "Budweiser Hot Seat??" how retarded???!!...but, to spend hour upon hours devoting time to meaningless football games, is annoying and pathetic.

Okay, so ESPN is about entertainment! I'll give it a free pass, but I still won't be a watching...

Should have listened

Just saw "No Country For Old Men." The radio show I listen too via Podcast said it was a great Cohen Bros. flick, but the ending was just awful. After seeing it...it's bloody, violent, sad, all the things one would expect from the Cohen's...and then ending was indeed a head-scratcher. All, in all tho, a good flick.

Call me cruel if ye wish, but...

Apparently a tiger escaped its pen and killed 2 people at the SF Zoo on Christmas Day. The police ended up killing the tiger. Shouldn't they have freakin' tranquilizer darts or something at the ready for these types of situations?

Look, they're freaking tigers. They see fresh meat, they are going to eat it. There was no reason to shoot the tiger, just like there is never a reason to shoot a wild animal that escapes a zoo and kills people. It's part of the risk ya'll.

Oh yeah, and Merry farkin' Christmas.

Oy! I now remember...

more reasons as to why I am totally for cutting the number of flights, and raising ticket costs:

1. Parents traveling with small kids, and even worse..yes, babies. Much like there should be baby/kids sections in eating establishments, there should be kid/baby only planes.

2. However, while the babies at least have an excuse, they have no reason to know proper airline flying etiquette...stupid people who for SOME reason do not get the simple things.

For example: WHEN GOING THROUGH SECURITY, YOU NEED TO TAKE OFF YOUR FUCKING SHOES!!!! If you don't know this by now, then you should not be permitted to freaking fly.

Finally, to the people who don't stay at their gate and hold up the EN-TIRE freaking plane, get a clue. I saw this happen 3 times...passenger x please come to gate b42, you plane has done been boarded and your ignorant ass ain't on it. Learn how to read a simple board, and if it's within a half and hour within the time you are supposed to leave, perhaps your fat ass should stick around.

7 minutes of a Resident moron

The Resident in Chief...back in 2001, on the date: September 11th, sat on his fat, dumb, ignorant ass, FOR 7 FREAKING MINUTES!!!!, while the Twin Towers were burning. To this day, I cannot imagine another human being being so stupid, as to sit there "pretending" to read (I say pretending, because we know he can't fucking read) a god damn children's story.

THIS was/is the same man who pretends to 'protect' us from the "evil do-ers."

Too bad, he couldn't protect us from the biggest "evil do-er"...himself.

Air-pane!

Something I've been griping about for years. It has become too cheap to fly, there are too many flights. Airlines have needed to slash the number of flights and raise rates. Make seats bigger, allow more leg room, bring back the sexiness to the flight experience. The airlines consistently tried to go on the cheap, lower perks, raise the number of flights to the same god damn destination.

From Boston, there are like, 8-10 different flights per day to of all places...freakin Baltimore. Cut the 8-10 flights to 4 on bigger planes.

Well, looks like NYC may be stepping up to the plate and officially limiting the number of flights that can take off in an hour. I hope this passes, and is strictly enforced. I hearted flying back in the 90s, when it wasn't pure hell to deal with sitting on the tarmac in a runway line of 50 planes.

Continuing Gross Miscarriage of Justice

Around this time 9 years ago, the House of Representatives voted to impeach the 42nd President of the United States of America because he got a blowjob or two from a damn intern.

Lo these 9 years later, to see a selected Resident in Chief getting a free pass on war he clearly forged his way into, that he KNEW didn't need to be fought, not be at least impeached...is un-fuckin-believable.

It's a travesty, a sham, and a mockery...it's the most serious travishamockery in recent memory. OY!

Roger and the Clemens' factor

Being a BoSox fan since the late 1980's, I grew up being a fan of Clemens. I even rooted for him when he packed his bags, and was essentially kicked out of the clubhouse by former Sox General Manager, Dan Ducette and Roger signed with Toronto. But, from the moment he was traded, not his fault because being traded meant he had no real say-so, to the MF Yankees, I wanted to see him get smoked anytime the Sox faced him. Moreover, I cheered when he got smacked around in many playoff games.

The baseball world is being rocked right now because of the Mitchell Report on steroids/human growth hormone used by baseball players in the past. Roger was named in said report, and only until a few hours ago, had no comment. He has officially denied using any substance via a written statement.

Baseball is going through a rough time, and as a fan of the game, this will be hard to watch. But, there's an old saying that goes something like, you gotta crawl, dig through the shit to reach the light. Baseball has just begun this ugly, ugly, nasty, journey, and I whole-heartedly support it. Baseball will be better for it, and if that causes some of my then favorite players, or even now players to go down with the ship...then so be it.

By denying it, in the face of mounds of circumstantial evidence (including his personal trainer testifying under oath that he injected Roger in the ass with something), Roger risks looking even more like the arrogant, bulldog, ass he has always been loved for. (He once threw the ball at his pregnant wife as they were playing, and when she actually hit the ball he pitched, the guy hit her with the next pitch...this is the bulldog, competitor we've seen these last 20 years.)

But, now he will be hated for it. Perhaps the greatest pitcher we have seen pitcher in my generation, may turn out to have been a total fraud...is tough thing to swallow. And, deep down I still respect Roger, but this will wipe away that respect, and leave total sadness and humiliation in my heart.

Is it possible that Oprah...is a racist?

This is probably the first post that could cause a nuclear explosion on my being.

I'm just pontificating a bit here...but, is it possible that Oprah is showing some racism here? After over a good 14 years? of being on top of the television world (she made her big resurgence around '93), she NOW starts campaigning for a Presidential candidate? She didn't think it was important enough to support John Kerry, didn't feel it necessary to help campaign for Al Gore in 2000? Has no need to support her fellow female, Hillary Clinton?

Hmmm...it's just a postulation, I'm starting to think that if Obama wasn't black, she would not be doing all that she is for him. No matter how much she believed in him, no way would she stick out her neck for a white man who had the same message as Obama. I think Oprah is being a racist here, by only giving Obama help because he happens to be a black man who is incredibly impressive.

The Odd Psysiology of Global Warming

At work last week, during a day after we got a whopping 2 inches of snow (it's the northeast people, grow a pair will ya?!) someone made the snarky comment to me while passing in the hall, "So, much for that global warming." Now this person doesn't know me well enough to know my politics, or have any idea that I'd be one who logically looks at the empirical evidence and says that global warming is clearly, not a fucking myth.

So, with no previous history to go on, I'm guessing this person really felt that way, and I took at such. Which, caused me to stop dead in my tracks and shake my head at the apparent supreme stupidity of the majority of this moron-cracy.

Face it people, even if global warming is in fact the fraud that dumbfucks like Sen. Ted Stevens thinks it is, it's still generally a good fucking idea to cut back on using gas and find better ways to fuel our automobiles.

More, to the point though...this latest ice storm that is sweeping across the country, there's a reason it's ice and not snow. Yeah, it's still fucking cold out there, but I'd be willing to bet the smallest up tick in overall temperatures led that precipitation to be water/ice as opposed to a good, ol' fashion snow storm.

The freakish weather that has been happening recently, tsunami's, hurricanes galore, wicked long droughts, and the large water dumpage on areas like New Orleans, is happening because the weather patterns are slowly changing. Ice shelfs are disappearing, which not only causes the water to get a fraction warmer in the long-term, but also perhaps affects the wind dynamics and how the jet streams and all that shit happens. Despite what your local or national fuckwit weather jackass says, they know shit about the weather in truth. We know very little about how to control, or really how to predict weather changes on a grand scale.

But, then how can I be so vigilant about the global warming? Because if they can't predict a simple weather front, how can we predict global seismic weather changes? Isn't that a bit of a leap to make? Sure it is, but I'd have 2 simple rebuttals: 1. The data is there, go look at the numbers. Numbers when screwed with by lawyers and accountants, can indeed lie like a whore addicted to crack. But, still... 2. If were wrong, fine. But, what is we are right? Then hell will be exactly one place...here, on earth.

On Foundations & Non-Profits

I really admire people who start foundations for research and the like, I really do. However...

I think we have too many. A good chunk of money donated to small foundations are tied-up in administrative costs or costs related to marketing to make more money and get more donations.

In all honesty, I have not looked for the research to see if smaller foundations are more cost-effective than the big giant ones. But, the big one I know of around these parts, which I have given money to, is the Jimmy Fund. They have a massive telethon every year, and they have been the major charity of the local nine (The Boston Red Sox) for decades. I know they now have managed to offset all administrative costs through interest they make, i assume this is how they are doing it. So, i wonder if this is a common thing amongst the bigger non-profits.

All smaller, much-less known foundation around these parts is the Sean McDonough foundation that has only managed to raise $2 million in the roughly 6 years it has been in existence. While $2 million is a good chunk of money, it has to be largely eaten up by administrative costs. Even if it has not, a charity that can only raise about $500k per year seems to be almost a waste of time and energy.

We need less non-profits pooling their funds.

Suck it: J.A. Bank

If I ever find out who the jackass is that records the voice overs for those god damn Joesph A. Bank adverts on tv, I will shove a baseball bat encrusted with barbed wire up his rectum. Fuckin' hate that guy.

Good Night, and Good Luck

Every six months since the movie came out on DVD, I pop in the movie. It reminds me why I love Olbermann, tho the insufferable fuck he is. I'd love to get a newsreel of all Murrow's reports on DVD during this time. Murrow is a god, and he is what one can only hope for.

How bad to the NY Knickerbockers suck?...

The Celtics just STEAMROLLED, HAMMERED, BEOCH-SLAPPED, the Knicks: 104-59. That's so embarrassing there are no words to describe it.

The man they call...Johan

The BoSox are talking with the Twins about acquiring left-handed pitcher/stud Johan Santana. Anyone who knows baseball, knows this 29 year old guy is sick, filthy, dominant good.

I love what I'm hearing about what Theo is willing to give up, and more importantly, what he's NOT willing to give up: Everyone here in New England loves, adores, John Lester, the young, LHP we currently have who battled cancer for a year, only to make a triumphant comeback and get the win in the World Championship clincher. But, at best, he will only be a number 2 starter in my view. So, while I love the kids heart, the kid's cojones, he's expendable.

The other big-name pitcher talked about, Clay Buchholtz, threw a no-hitter and showed how dominant the young right-hander could be in every appearance he made in the majors. His hard 12-6 curveball is the type of pitch that major league hitters can know is coming, and will still get struck out on. In my book, while a young, semi-unproven pitcher, he is not touchable/available.

The young center fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, who came up for a couple cups of coffee during the season (who had his first major league hit at the Fens with me in attendance), and became the starting center-fielder by the time the World Series wrapped up, is a solid player. Perhaps a star in the making. He has such speed/wheels he scored from second base on a passed ball at one point this year. While, he hit and got on base at the level we expected, it's fair to say he to is largely unproven. However, this organization has shown consistently the ability to evaluate their own position players in the minors. For example:

1. Hanley Ramirez, the highly-touted prospect who went to the Marlins in the Josh Beckett deal has become a young, stud, power-hitting, base-stealing shortstop.
2. Kevin Youkilis, played a minor role while getting some cups of coffee during the season and post-season in 2004. Now, he's a solid hitter with good pop, and an on-base machine. Oh yeah, and he's a gold glove first baseman.
3. Dustin Pedroia, the pint-sized second baseman. He won the Rookie of the Year award this year after starting a month hitting just over .100, ending up batting over .300, proving his discipline in the batters box by getting on base as well. Not to mention making some fantastic defensive plays all year. Oh yeah, and knocking in 10 RBI's during the playoffs with a cracked bone in his hand.

-So, Ellsbury is untouchable. The kid is electric.

The other principles (along with Lester) in this reported/proposed deal include: Crisp (the center-fielder who lost his job to Ellsbury). A minor league shortstop prospect who could be good, and another young starting pitcher.

I'm willing to deal one of Buchholtz, or Ellsbury to get the man they call: Johan. But, not both in the same deal. More importantly, however, I FLAT-OUT refuse to give Johan the deal that may be required to extend his contract.

Johan is reportedly asking for $20-$25 million per year and at least 6 years. No WAY. Pitchers can blow thier arm out at the drop of a hat. Johan is young, he'll be 29 starting next season, but you don't sign pitchers to that kind of a deal. EVER! The BoSox have won 2 Championships in 3 seasons. We don't NEED Santana. And if we hold onto Lester and Buchholtz, along with our current starting pitchers, we can still be THE team to beat for a good 5 years.

Theo will hold the line on the contract, as I believe this "deal" will be done or crushed into oblivion. My prediction: The MFY (Mother-Fucking Yankees) will cave into Minnesota and Johans' agent demands, and will sign Johan to a ridiculous deal, while giving up a ton of talent to get him. Which, I am more than okay with.

Today's Sunday Times

In today's NY Times, there's an article on the AIDS epidemic. Apparently, there is research/evidence suggesting that the epidemic has peaked. The numbers are starting to decline, and the massive group that had AIDS in the poorest countries have largely died off, making it harder for the epidemic to travel through human to human sexual contact.

This is seems to be a sure thing assuming all the things are done that should be done, in terms of prevention here. A recent resurgence in some cities in the country have experienced a rebound of AIDS cases due to people thinking the worst was over, and it was safe to go back to not using condoms and other protective methods, only to see a spike.

But, generally, the AIDS epidemic is essentially over. They make a good comparison to the bubonic plaque. How it swept across Europe, finally being subdued, and now while it still exists, and some 2,000 people still get the plaque every year, it is largely curable. We can only hope this is the beginning of the end for AIDS.

The BCS Sucks

Not much of a college fooseball fan. However, the BCS is a complete piece of shit.

There's approx. 20 bowl games in all I believe. And the people who run those whine saying they'll lose their moolah with a playoff system. I argue, they'd actually make more.

Take the top 8 teams in the nation or take the top 10, and give the top 2 a first round bye, and make it into a bowl tournament. With the bowl games actually meaning something other than a freakin moronic glass bowl or something, they will be more competitive and more interesting.

But, what about those other 15 bowls who don't get to play in the tournament?! Make an NIT-type tournament out of those, or you just let them play as is. They will continue to play meaningless games nonetheless. Nothing changes.

But, what about the 4-5 weeks you'd need to play the tournament?! Well, you make colleges start at a standard date, and each teams plays the same number of games. There's already an inequity with that issue anyway, as the Big Ten is the only major conference that doesn't make it's team play a conference championship game. Not to mention the numerous teams that load their schedules with cupcakes. I hate Notre Dame, but they generally play a real schedule, whereas my alma mater, Purdue, plays a good 1/2 their games against total cupcakes.

Not to mention the students already miss an assload of time for the basketball tournament, so blow me. There's no way a football tournament would take anymore time away from a rigorous leisurely studies class than the NCAA Basketball tournament already does.

END THE BCS. Bring on a playoff tournament.

Laughing makes me sick in this case

Watching the movie/documentary "No End In Sight," where they look at the decisions leading to the run-up to war in Iraq and the subsequent botching of the job...I became infuriated at one specific set of clips.

The director found many a clip, of Rumsfeld during press conferences, making jokes about the press coverage, while internally, the country was clearly dismantling into fucking chaos. That's bad, a defense secretary making fucking jokes ABOUT A WAR!

But, what's worst? All the ninny fuckwit reporters who proceeded to LAUGH at the jokes! The fuck was that shit??!! Reminds me of the video where Bush made jokes about the missing WMD, and the press corps laughing. That sickens me and is morally repugnant.

All the more reason the reporters MUST be separated from the President and the White House, and there MUST be a MANDATORY TELEVISED press conference every month for the President, and the networks should be FORCED to carry those in real-time. I'll allow an exemption for the month of the State of the Union airs. I'd also be willing to can the Presidential Radio Address that goes on every week, which no one in their right mind pays attention to as part of the exchange. This shit is RIDICULOUS.

Obama-Hill, Obama-Hill...hmmmm...

Well, the primary season is upon us now, and sooner rather than later we will be in full Presidential campaign year mode.

Obama has suddenly shown a resurgence in Iowa, beating Clinton in the polls of caucus goers.

In this election year (2008), it is imperative as I noted in a previous post that this Presidential election be won by a Democrat, ANY Democrat at this juncture.

A stagnant republican race is starting to show signs of molding into a somewhat serious challenge, meanwhile Obama and Hillary are trading body-blows.

The more I watch Obama, and hear from him, he reminds me of the newly-elected governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick. Even on the edge of the Commonwealth, I saw ads for Patrick that I loved. I adored. he spoke of hope, he spoke of working together, he spoke of doing politics and government differently. Lots of hope-typed messages. His theme, "Together We Can." I loved it, and I loved the guy for the campaign.

But, this is national politics, which as John Kerry and Max Cleland found out the hard way, it is cunning, and deadly...the ultimate bloodsport. The more I see of Obama, I see a John Kerry-like clone.

In a nation that didn't allow Harold Ford, Jr. to win the senate seat in Tennessee, I just don't see a soft African-American man winning a knock-down, drag-out presidential election. Sure, this looks like a gimme, but so didn't 2000, and 2004?

I like Obama, I don't want to see him destroyed. But, I still vote for Clinton to eventually, win this thing. I welcome a good Obama challege, to keep the Hillary machine honest and alert. But, no way does he have the chops to take on a good republican, and I can't help but smell some dead skeletons in the closet. Hillary's skeletons are already known. When given a choice, I prefer to deal with the devil we know as opposed to the devil we don't.

The Supreme Court MUST be won, Ginsberg is going down. Souter is old, and may be thinking of retiring. This MUST BE WON...AND NOW!

Mikey is back

Well, well, well...

After my post on the A-Rod phenomenon...what happens? A-Rod crawls back to the Yanks, giving the proverbial middle finger to Borass. And, Theo plays a bit of hardball, and Mikey Lowell caves a little.

A do say a little because despite the reported offer from Philly, the deal he got with the BoSox gave him a deal, that with some incentives built in (according, to some reports) could damn near reach the same amount as the 4 year deal Philly was offered...maybe about a $5 million difference. Which, while substantial, to normal people in real dollars, it's not a significant percentage when your making over $40 million over 3 years.

Glad to have you back Mikey. Really. I was girding my loins in preparation for the likelihood the Sox would go after A-Rod hard, and I didn't think you'd come back for less $$. Clearly, the Sox determined they've won 2 championships in 4 years WITHOUT A-Rod, why bother to chase the fucker.

Props to Theo again, for reading this market right, now if only JD Drew could live up to half his contract...

And, MAJOR SNARKS to the Yanks. I have ALL the respect for Mariano Rivera, but $45 million for 3 years at his old-ass age with that old arm? I'm floored, that's a heinous deal.

To A-Rod or not to A-Rod...

...that is THE question for this BoSox fan.

If you'd asked me a month or two ago, I would have said "NO WAY!". Even though the Sox hadn't win the World Series this year yet.

But, a bit of rationalization later, I'm reconsidering. There is something strange about A-Rod's personality. There's a story here in Boston from back when the Sox and Theo Epstein were trying to pry him away from Texas. At like 2 in the morning, some executive went up to talk to A-Rod in his hotel room unannounced, and when he knocked on A-Rod's door, he was dressed to the nine's. You'd think he would be chilling out in the hotel room, if not asleep. But, apparently he was dressed in a suit, and had his hair done and everything.

A-Rod seems to have his personal quirks, and at roughly $30 million per year, it'd be a shit load of money to eat. However, with Manny getting older and I think losing interest in baseball, the Sox have no young talent in the minors who have a power bat.

The other solid, long-term option at 3rd base out there, is Miguel Cabrera. However, Miguel would have to be traded for, which means the Sox would have to give up young, hot pitching. Moreover, despite his age being nearly a decade younger than A-Rod, he's gotten as fat as a mule. There seems to be an attitude and a behavior problem with this young 20 year old. Not to mention he's put up his great numbers in the national league, where the pitching is not as good.

With the dearth of power in the majors, and in the Sox minor's system, I am starting to think the Sox are really considering A-Rod, even at his extreme cost. I'm starting to believe they have to bite the bullet and sign him because he's the only available power bat that has a proven track record, and who has done it in the best pitching league.

I'd be okay with staying with World Series MVP and all-around class-guy Mike Lowell at 3rd, but I think A-Rod may just be the play to make here.

Curveball

While this is a baseball term, this post has nothing to do with baseball. Just moments ago, 60 Minutes ran a great story by Bob Simon about the man given the codename "Curveball" by the Germans.

The man known within the highest levels of the administration as "Curveball" was the source for the war as we know it and the source that gave rise to false claims about mobile labs of WMD in Iraq. Turns out the man was a sham, whom top US intelligence officials never interviewed or knew the real name of when they bought his scheme for the war.

"Curveball" was held in Germany captivity as a top secret source during the run-up to the war. After being outed as a complete fraud, and found to have lied to German officials simply to avoid being deported, where is "Curveball" now?

He's a free man within Germany it seems, while given a new name, a new identity. He got what he wanted, to stay in Germany, and he helped give credence to bogus WMD claims. Brilliant.

Belated Championship!!!!!!

THE BOSTON RED SOX - WORLD CHAMPIONS 2 times in the last 4 years!!!!!!!!! SUCK IT YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

War on Drugs my ass

I'll paint a picture for ya: A man commits a "drug-offense" 28 years ago...escapes from a now-closed prison less than 4 months into his term. The man who has escaped prison has led a generally clean life since, and he is busted by law enforcement officials, 28 years later after he admits he is the man in a prison picture from 1979 when approached by several agencies at his home...how stupid is that? True story.

Seriously? The man escaped prison, yeah. For a MINOR drug offense, and then he kept his nose clean for 28 years. 28 years of staying out of trouble, only to be finally busted 28 years later?...give the man a pardon on his term, and close the case.

Our prisons aren't overcrowded enough, and we have all the money in the world to spend. It's not like we're in a war or anything... The money spent by these agencies to track this dude down, could have been spent better elsewhere I imagine.

Common Argument

TV Causes Violence in Kids. Typical argument we have been hearing for year among several politicians, including from some Democrats I really like.

I've always thought that the argument was flawed, despite the research. Well, here's more research that was done over the span of 20 years and 35,000 children. I tend to buy the results and believe there's more to children being violent more than television.

Children don't suddenly become violent by watching tv, it's not an osmosis thing. Children become violent because they are frustrated, angry about something and they lack the skills to express that anger properly with words, pictures, or controlling it in some other way. TV just shows them many ways to express that anger, but I don't think that's enough to call TV executives on the carpet. I have always been, and will always be, a believer in PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY!!! If you don't want to take the time to raise your spawn appropriately, don't bother having them.

MY BOSOX DID IT!!!

After beating the MFY 4 straight in '04 to win the ALCS...we come back to beat Cleveland after going down 1 game to 3 in the best of 7 series. Holy fucking hell.

BRING ON THE ROCKIES!!!!!!!!

Bush Supidocracy (cont'd)

For Dubya to joke, and he did joke in some sense, about WWIII, is so beyond the pale of irresponsibility of a sitting US President, it's amazing. He was smiling when he said it, and I am thoroughly disgusted by him as a human being.

The administration has a history of fanatical claims that never hold up. First, it was the whole "mushroom cloud" quote that was subtle, but clearly dropped into a random discussion. Now, this BLATANT WWIII reference. There is a lot of steps that would need to be taken, to get to WWIII from where we are now, diplomatically speaking and militarily. To not understand that OR to disregard those steps are pathetic and tragic.

Certainly, getting a blow job from an intern is more impeachable than a blatant reference about starting WWIII. What the fuck was I thinking??!!

My Sox are a losin'

3 years ago the Sox went down to the MFY (Mother-Fuckin' Yankees) 0-3 and won 4 straight. This year we are down to Cleveland 1-3. We only need to win 3 in a row. My boy Beckett is back tomorrow, and I predict this series will go 7 games.

They may win, they may lose, but if nothing else, this is going fucking 7 games. Mark it.

The squander hierarchy

"Squander" - in baseball this usually refers to a situation where the team batting has several men on base and has a chance to score some runs with one base hit, so usually there's people on 2nd and 3rd base.

There should be a hierarchy of squanders for each level of game, in my view.

A "squander" - should refer to this happening during the first nine-tenths of the regular season games.

A "big squander" - should refer to this happening during the last tenth of the regular season games.

A "huge squander" - should refer to this happening during the Divisional Series during the post season games.

A "colossal squander" - should refer to this happening during the Championship Series during the post season games.

And, an "epic squander" - should refer to this happening during the World Series.

Right now, my Boston Red Sox have had several colossal squanders in the past 3 games...and boy has it hurt like a mo-fo.

Time Mag needs to get a clue

I was walking in a local mall today, and stopped in the bookstore. As I perused the news stand I see Time magazine has this cover with the question: "Does the Supreme Court Still Matter?"

To which, I was disgusted. Of course the SC matters, even if I hate the right-wing, constructionist view they are turning towards in recent years, they do matter. Even if you believe, as I have argued on one or more occasions, that the Court could still decide a case/issue, it doesn't mean they are RIGHT on the issue. It just means they basically have final say on the matter.

The Court matters, as it shapes public policy and jurisprudence. For Time to even posit the question on it cover sends the wrong message to dumb-ass Americans who don't know any better. To ask the question is to diminish the Court's important and significance.

Look, I love the contrarian argument as much as the next guy, and I encourage all people and publications to take that tact more frequently. But, please do that inside the pages, and pick a different title for the piece, which no doubt, is probably a great piece. I just object to the headline writer in this case, the editor.

Next time choose a better/different headline. May I suggest something like, "What is the role of the Supreme Court today?" Too long to fit on your front cover?...fine, I'll make it shorter. How about, "Supreme Court and it's role."

Sick and Tired of this Shit

Again?!?! Today we have yet another former military commander who is speaking out against the war he helped run before he retired.

Gen. Sanchez, who if you recall some of the scandals, seems to be a bit of whack-job in his own right, has come out swinging saying the war is "a nightmare with no end in sight."

One of the reasons I wouldn't make it in the military is the mentality. Newsflash fuckwits, you don't serve your unit, you don't even serve the President...you serve this fucking country and the citizens therein.

Wanna be a true soldier, how bout being a good soldier for your country and speaking up when your actually in power enough to make a difference. Instead of being a fuckwit, coward-ass pussy and talking smack AFTER you retire, sack up and speak for the country and save some of our men and women.

A TRUE patriot, a TRUE soldier speaks the truth to power, and says the shit stinks when it stinks. A TRUE soldier doesn't sit idly by while people die for a moronic decision. I don't respect people because of their title, this is where me and the military part ways. I am not getting down and sucking you cock just because you out-rank me. If your a fuckwit, your a fuckwit and I'll treat you as such. I just don't give a good, god damn.

So, shut up Sanchez, and join the crowded field of former "soldiers" who have "served" their country by keeping their mouth shut when they had the power, and were too much of a pussy to put it on the line for their troops. While your there, say hello to Colin Powell, that piece of shit panty-waist.

The Bush Idiotcy continues!

The Bush White House, having given a secret advance copy of the next Osama Bin Laden videotape through a private firm who had cracked into the secret, highly insular Al Queda terrorist network, leaked the tape to Fox Snooze. Effectively, eliminating the "in" that this private company had developed through YEARS of hard work. That channel of counter-terrorism is now closed thanks to the need for Dubya to make himself look good.

Yet another secret intelligence official(s) who have been outed in order to make the Resident look good. Pathetic.

Teachers' lack of rights?

It has become something of a national joke, a veritable laundry list of female teachers who have been busted for having consensual sex with their male or female students. It is clear that some of these boys are colossally stupid by allowing evidence to linger of their relationship only for their mothers to find out through spying on their text messages, or e-mail. I have virtually no problem with the majority of these women, and I would have gladly had an illicit affair with a few of my teachers.

However, the lasted scandal of sorts, is concerning a young woman who apparently had some naughty/topless pictures of her taken at some party and she posted them herself on her Myspace page (I do seem to remember another teacher getting in trouble from pictures that were taken of her, and then put on the web without her knowledge or consent as well). The elementary teacher in this case, has taken heat from the public, but thank goodness the administration (so far) has refused to take her out.

As a teacher, I'm tired of this shit. Adults have the right to do what they want. Teachers should not be treated so harshly just for having some pictures of their bosom, vagina, or penis, posted on the web. Parents are insane, whiny bastards. NEWSFLASH: You chose to have the spawn. I only teach your kiddo about reading, writing, and arithmetic, and in some cases, other basic subjects including health.

My teaching ability should not be question because of something so trivial. As a teacher I would never put that shit up, especially if I taught the upper grades where they were online savvy, as I wouldn't want to deal with that crap.

Specifically, in this case, the public clearly has no right to whine. The teacher who is teaching freakin' elementary students, is not likely to have one of her students find her naked breasts on that website, and if they do...guess what...that's your fault as a shitty parent, not her fault.

If you don't want to accept a large portion of parental responsibility, don't have the fucking kids! DUH!

AEP - Wowsers!

MSNBC is reporting that AEP (American Electric Power) has accepted a record $4.6 billion fine for pollution of the Northeast. Ouch! Frankly, these kinds of fines should happen more often, and I hope other companies see this and take notice.

A fantastic, final resolution...

As I creep, ever so slowly, now to my 29th birthday, I have made a decision. A quite simple one really. A decision that perhaps I had already subconsciously made long ago, yet fought a losing battle to not give into. But now, the white towel, is now being tossed into the ring.

This fearless blogger has a disorder, not a life-threatening disorder, but a disorder nontheless. I have a physical look about me because of the disorder, that isn't awful, it's stark. However, it is slightly off kilter that I have always gotten "looks." I remember starting to see it and really feel the effects of it during middle school and high school, which was perhaps why I still think of those years as absolute fucking hell (despite meeting the few friends I still have during the later years of hs).

At the time, I attributed it to bullshit teenage crap, but as I got older, I realized it was actually BS people crap. Thus, I have always been a loner-type; partly because I despise small talk in general, and partly because of the social isolation that was effectively imposed upon me. I was never physically off-putting enough to get those sympathy chicks, nor did I have the personality to be fucking fawned upon. I have the look the says, something is wrong with him, but I'm not sure what. And we know from sociological studies that people fear what they don't know. Women to this date give me "the look." I now as a teacher have noticed that when I'm walking around a store shopping, a woman alone with her spawn will reach toward her kid as I come strolling by, as if I were going to steal the little shit. AS IF, I want a freakin' kid to care for, oy!

Ergo, I have never dated much. I didn't do bars, don't do bars. I don't do clubs, because I can't drink. "But, you don't have to drink," you say. Yeah, well what if I wanted to. That's like saying to a crack addict in rehab, go party with Lindsay Lohan, but don't do any crack. Not possible. I never have been an alcoholic, but my disorder doesn't allow me to drink without murdering my already fragile liver.

The past 2-3 years, with a move to a new part of the country, I thought I could attempt a fresh start. Well, not so much. I have invested some hefty cash (a solid grand) on numerous ventures to try and meet someone to spend time with. All that has led to...zilch.

The last lady I met with, I had been speaking with on the phone and via e-mail messages for a month, and when we met Monday night, we had a great 2 hour dinner, with some great conversation. Which, for me, is a fuckin' rarity, to find someone who has some of the same interests in the world as I. So, I finally hear back after 2 days, and she is going in another direction. This is fine. Sucks for me, but 'tis fine.

Perhaps it's me projecting, but there comes a point when one can no longer ignore what he sees with his own eyes. I am convinced that despite seeing several current pictures of me, the person-to-person appearance proved too much.

Therefore, as of today, Wednesday, October 3, 2007...I am ending all activities in relation to meeting/finding a woman to spend time with. I have been alone here for...29 years, I will move on. The search, has officially fucking ended...so, blow me world. Blow me hardcore.

Justice Thomas

The interview with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas last night on 60 Minutes with Steve Croft, was an interesting, and insightful look on the pathology of a man who has written some opinions on behalf of the Court that one could argue, defy logic. I have no doubts about how he was portrayed, as an affable gent, one of the most well liked Court members. But, to hear about the man and hear him tell the history of his life, it's easy to see that he's one who cannot see the forest to save the trees. He doesn't see, refuses to acknowledge, the silent, powerful hands that have played a role in his fast acsention to this place of power. Moreover, he doesn't grasp the lack of opportunity of people of his ilk in today's inner-city America, and the despair of hopelessness that grips the system. And he fails to recognize the remedies that could provide some glimmer of hope for those people. I respect a good stand on principle, but not when that principle is so short-sighted as to a strict interpretation of a Constitution that was written in a time when things we deal with today couldn't even be imagined, even by the great (but, flawed) men that wrote that fine document.

Home Field Throughout

With last night's late rally win, and the Indians loss to the Royals, the Red Sox have clinched home field advantage through all playoff rounds they are in. Here's hoping to seeing the world series come to the Fens.

First AL East Championship

Congrats to the BoSox for winning the AL East for the first time in 12 years. Anything less than a World Series birth, will make this moot, however. WORLD SERIES or BUST!!!!

I heart Bonnie

FINALLY! Someone is giving Bonnie Hunt her own daytime talk show. I abhor daytime tv. However, I love the funny Bonnie Hunt, she's a total cougar just for her humor. I hope her show doesn't turn fugly, and I hope she does reasonable stuff. I'm sure she'll be "directed" to do some of the typical bullshit things, and frankly while I'm glad for Bonnie, she strikes me more as a morning show. So, I hope they give her a great slot like just after that wretched show "Today."

In any case, you go girl! Kick some ass, Bonnie! Good Luck!

Women - get with the program will ya?

I ask this question for what is, currently, 3 reasons (I'm sure there will be infinite more):

1. If you are blessed with some assets, and even if your not as blessed with some assets, and you wear a shirt that is cut so a dude can see half your cleavage...don't get bitchy, or don't give me a dirty look. You're the one putting it out there. Same goes for your lovely ass and lower back. If you don't want me checking out your lower back, wear something that covers it when your bending down to tie your freakin' shoes.

2. I speak to the big people with love, I really do. I've got no problem with you choosing (because most of you, I realize, don't really "chose") to be big, despite the amount of money I am shelling out for health care. HOWEVER, wear something reasonable. Seriously. There is nothing more heinous than a big ol' woman who clearly squeezes herself into a pair of pants. And when I say 'clearly,' I'm talking about pants that not only hug your butt crack so tight I could probably see your next bowel movement, but it's even worse when you see the front end, and it's as if that butt crack continues on the other side. 'Nough said...*shudders*

3. My slow ass has recently been aware to the fact of colors. Just like the color of your kitchen floor can make your kitchen look bigger, so can wearing a lighter colored top when you usually wear dark. Love seeing new perspectives on women I find attractive. So, just be aware, k?

Gammons, oy.

Peter says some of the most moronic things at times, trying to be all things to all people on ESPN (read: trying to kiss as much ass as possible).

Bonds

Barry Bonds played his last game in San Francisco tonight. If only it was his last game in MLB. The fraud, the asshole needs to go and he needs to go now. It's not because he's black, it's not because he's truculent with the media...we and you should hate him because the preponderance of evidence shows that Barry treated every single person he came across in his life, like shit. He's a colossal jackass, who was coddled for too long, and protected by his father's shadow. He grew to believe he was bigger than the game, which is our fault for letting him make that mistake. But, we are not at fault for him being a jerk, and ass.

Face it Barry: You told the grand jury that you did do the cream and the clear, and you took what you believed was flax-seed oil, which is such a sham it's not even funny. You were a great baseball player, who couldn't stand not being the big shit, so you took a Hall of Fame career and tainted it with massive amounts of steroids. When you turn 60 and they wheel your fat ass out in a wheelchair because all the HGH you took turned your legs to shit, and you can walk...look for me in the stands. I'll be the asshole standing up applauding you not because of your "accomplishments," but because you deserve to not be able to walk. In fact, you deserve to die within 5 years after you retire. Go fuck yourself, you useless, fuckwit.

Bertrand

"The trouble with the world is the stupid are cock-sure, and the intelligent full of doubt." -Bertrand Russell

One of many quotes I have seen/read that can tell a bit about me, considering I like it. Despite my big mouth, I do have tremendous doubt. Mostly, those doubts are in myself, my ability to be a Special Educator who is actually helping his students, but there are large other doubts as well. However, the teaching one is the only one that I spend a great deal of time overly concerned about.

This quote is about the absolutely moronic Xtians who believe as if it's impossible "He" does not exist. More on why i think their beliefs are faulty as we move along the gravy train. I don't believe there is a "He" or a "She." But, if there is, I will bitch-slap that mo-fo if I get the chance, for a plethora of reasons.

Rex, Rex, Rex

As a Bears fan, I was willing to cut you some slack. But, you have not shown enough growth for me, you're out for good. Griese blows chunkage, ask the Broncos, but he will be serviceable. How, I wish the Bears had made a play for David Carr or Matt Schaub.

If you know anything, Carr looked horrible every year he was QB-ing for the Texans, but he had virtually no offensive line. The line of scrimmage the most overlooked part of football that has the most important correlation with winning. A great Hall of Fame QB with no offensive line, he looks like he sucks hardcore. Carr had no offensive line, and I think he could have been good if he was in the right system and had an o-line.

No matter what, as a Bears fan, despite getting to the Superbowl last season, I was flabbergasted that the Bears didn't get someone beyond Rex, Griese, and Orton. Neither one of those are sexy. The other two have been covered, but as a Purdue Alum, Orton had a lot to work with at Purdue and he didn't show the ability to play well in big games. He will never be an NFL QB, as he showed in his several regular season stints last year for the Bears.

To be a quality QB in the NFL, you have to have great intangibles, and one other thing: No, not a rocket for an arm as some would have you believe, you must have height. Height allows one to throw over the line of scrimmage, not look for lanes to throw through. Good luck Rex, but get out!

Fundamentals-squared

Another thing about me with the whole "devil's argument" complex of sorts...if you knew my medical history/situation you would see that if I wasn't in such a mode to go against what the "norm" is, I wouldn't have made it this far. In my young life, my body and soul battled with health concerns like a mo-fo. I would not be here without that attitude that challenges virtually everything, and says "F-it" more than one should quite possibly admit.

For the record, I got like 2 winks, if I'm lucky. I don't recall falling asleep though, so I'm being generous with the 2 winks.

The mental machinations that made me do this...

This thought at 1am in the freakin' morning, when I am getting up for work @ 5:30am, made me get up and do this, just to shut my mind the fuck up:

I just realized a fundamental thing about myself and my childhood which explains why I am such a loner/introvert, and have virtually always been. Beyond the fact that I was often left to play alone, keep myself entertained, this may be yet another reason why I have never had many friends. A explanation that goes beyond the idea that I abhor people whining about their crap in general, or talking about their great aunt sally who is doing yadda, yadda, yadda. Bores me to freaking tears (kudos: Mike Felger). I have always been told that not only AM I different, but that it's NORMAL and OKAY to be different. Thus, I have always taken the different path, chosen to be myself rather than follow the crowd kind of guy. I never thought things that kids my age thought were "cool," actually were "cool." I behave differently than most people because I was told it was okay to do so. And as much as Americans/parents tell their children in rough times that it's "okay" to be different, the real, unvarnished truth is that American's, by and large, LOATHE to be different. I am starting to see this in my position as a Special Educator. Parents have openly complained, and some teachers have commented to me, that they don't want my students to appear to be doing/getting different homework than their general education students. All the while treating kids as if they are clueless morons. Clearly, they are not brilliant creatures, but they are usually not so blindly stupid as to not know that they are struggling. Here's the rub: What they often don't know is the most important aspect, the how and/or why. Moreover, what steps could they take, to self-empower themselves (yes, even in the first grade) to improve the effectiveness of their education. Others may indeed be so clueless that they don't get they are behind the curve, and thus think everything is hunky-dory until they hit middle school and are suddenly smacked in the face with not only adolescent hormones, but the sudden realization they are not as smart as they thought they were.

I think parents need to move on to acceptance sooner, and we as a school system need to foster this change. For the research shows that the sooner the intervention, the greater the likelihood of long-term success. I'd rather bruise the ego of a freaking 2nd grader by showing them exactly how they are struggling and telling them that they are indeed different, than protecting that bullshit bubble of comfort their parents would love to keep around them, only to have it burst at the worst possible time. My hands are tied until administrators come on board, as I would most assuredly get sued by some parent when their child came home and dare declared that they are different and are struggling.

But, it's not my place you say? Fuck you! I'm the professional here (the curse notwithstanding), and I know what is best for your child in this realm, and it's not pretending there is nothing wrong. Moreover, you expect me to teach your snot-nosed kid, while reinforcing bad behavior at home. So, who's really the problem here? I don't have a bad attitude towards your kid, I love your kid, I just don't like you.

Let me be clear: I personally don't remember the names or faces of any students who were more than likely taken to the resource room during my elementary education years. Heck there was even a grade between kindergarten and first grade they called "Reading Readiness" at my school, and I remember there were kids held back to getting to first grade for the year, but if my life depended on it, I couldn't name a single one.

So, could we please go back to celebrating individualism for real again: Not this phony individualism, so long as you fit within 2-3 cookie-cutter molds our society wants to put us in?

Well, if you were reading and paying attention this gave you some clues as to who/what/where I am/be. Take notes, the test will come later, and per my prerogative, my preference, it will not be multiple choice, it will be short essay, consisting of at least 10 questions. Yes, a 10 hour test...deal with it sucker.

Why?

Easy: I have a big mouth, lots to say. Thought about re-trying this for a while. The signs were there (eg: ridiculously long IM away messages). Will post more later on who/what I am and who/what this blog will be about.

Try Numero Doce

Here goes. My second faulty attempt at a blog. Shit, forgot to be upbeat on the first post. We're all doomed.