I never meant to take this blog in such a political direction. I’ve always enjoyed arguing about politics, but that’s probably because I just like to argue anyway. I’m trying to take this back to concentrating on pop culture as well as some personal experiences and thoughts, but it’s a process. So if you’re not interested in my ranting on politics, it won’t offend me if you surf off to another site. But please come back soon.
Okay, so there’s still all these “birthers” out there. These people drive me nuts. They claim that President Obama hasn’t proven that he was born in America, which he has. I don’t want to get into all the proof; instead I think I’ll just make fun of them. If not seeing Obama’s original birth certificate is reason to doubt that he’s a natural born American citizen, here are some beliefs that make complete sense, using the same logic:
You haven’t see Obama’s penis, you’re free to doubt that he’s in fact a man.
You haven’t seen Glenn Beck have sex with his wife, so it’s okay to doubt that he’s straight.
There’s no birth certificate on file for a Jesus Christ, or a Jesus H. Christ. So it makes sense to doubt his existence.
I’ve never seen Donald Trump work, so I doubt he’s earned his money legally.
We didn’t see any signed documents by Osama Bin Laden, signing off on 9/11, so I’m not crazy to doubt he planned it.
**
I’ve been involved in political conversations with conservatives, and from time to time, I’ve referenced something said by Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Stephan Colbert or Lewis Black. Then been teased for listening to comedians. Okay, if that’s a valid dig, what does it say about those who listen to Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity? Let’s go to the tale of the tape:
Maher, Stewart, Colbert and Black have degrees from Cornell, William & Mary, Northwestern and Yale. None of the four have been divorced, and as far as I know, none of them have been addicted to drugs. Take Beck, Limbaugh and Hannity and you have what? Zero degrees, seven marriages and two confirmed drug addictions. So if I’m wrong for listening to some educated guys who make me laugh, while sharing their often on point opinion, that’s fine.
April 19, 2011
April 12, 2011
Swingers 2k11
I simply love the movie, Swingers. Yeah, I really had to say movie there, because just saying “I love Swingers” would be a completely different and false statement, which would get me in loads of trouble at home. That said, I was recently thinking about how different that movie would be if it took place in 2011. A lot has changed since 1996.
Here are a few things that I think would be different:
Mikey wouldn’t just vent to Rob about his ex, he’d blog about the pain.
When the Mike and Trent are closing in on Vegas, rather right after uttering, “Vegas baby, Vegas” Trent would Tweet, “Vegas, Baby, Vegas. #Vegas!”
The guys wouldn’t play blackjack in Vegas, opting for poker instead. “Always raise with aces. Always, baby.”
Each time the guys hit a new bar or party, they’d get out their iPhones and check in on Foursquare.
Mikey would check his ex-girlfriend’s Facebook page for updates, and find out about the lawn jockey from a profile update.
Mikey wouldn’t have left five drawn out messages on that girl Nikki’s answering machine; he would have sent her 15 text messages.
Mike wouldn’t pine over his ex, by looking at a shoebox full of old photos, instead looking at an old Myspace page.
Instead of meeting up at Sue’s pad to play Sega before heading out, they’d play “Call of Duty” online from the comfort of their own homes.
Instead of auditioning for sitcoms, the guys would be trying out for reality television shows. Rob’s big news wouldn’t be a Pluto call back, but a Real World call back.
After leaving the diner, Trent would tweet where they were and, “I would never eat there. #Imthebadguy”
There would be no going home to check messages, since no one would have a home phone, just cell phones. Mikey would constantly be checking his phone for missed calls and reporting how many bar’s he has.
Instead of arguing how long Mikey should wait to call a girl, the debate would center on the proper waiting time before sending a friend request on Facebook.
When Mike meets Lorraine, and she asks for his number, she’d also ask for his email address and someone would say “I’ll Facebook you.” His card would also have his URL, which would contain an image of the duck head from “You Bet Your Life.”
Thankfully, Swingers came out at the perfect time. So money, baby.
Here are a few things that I think would be different:
Mikey wouldn’t just vent to Rob about his ex, he’d blog about the pain.
When the Mike and Trent are closing in on Vegas, rather right after uttering, “Vegas baby, Vegas” Trent would Tweet, “Vegas, Baby, Vegas. #Vegas!”
The guys wouldn’t play blackjack in Vegas, opting for poker instead. “Always raise with aces. Always, baby.”
Each time the guys hit a new bar or party, they’d get out their iPhones and check in on Foursquare.
Mikey would check his ex-girlfriend’s Facebook page for updates, and find out about the lawn jockey from a profile update.
Mikey wouldn’t have left five drawn out messages on that girl Nikki’s answering machine; he would have sent her 15 text messages.
Mike wouldn’t pine over his ex, by looking at a shoebox full of old photos, instead looking at an old Myspace page.
Instead of meeting up at Sue’s pad to play Sega before heading out, they’d play “Call of Duty” online from the comfort of their own homes.
Instead of auditioning for sitcoms, the guys would be trying out for reality television shows. Rob’s big news wouldn’t be a Pluto call back, but a Real World call back.
After leaving the diner, Trent would tweet where they were and, “I would never eat there. #Imthebadguy”
There would be no going home to check messages, since no one would have a home phone, just cell phones. Mikey would constantly be checking his phone for missed calls and reporting how many bar’s he has.
Instead of arguing how long Mikey should wait to call a girl, the debate would center on the proper waiting time before sending a friend request on Facebook.
When Mike meets Lorraine, and she asks for his number, she’d also ask for his email address and someone would say “I’ll Facebook you.” His card would also have his URL, which would contain an image of the duck head from “You Bet Your Life.”
Thankfully, Swingers came out at the perfect time. So money, baby.
April 11, 2011
80's Vs 90's, Round I and II
I love the 80’s, really, what’s not to love. I love hearing 80’s music as much as anyone and so many movies from the 80’s are constantly playing in my mental reel. Surprisingly, even to me, I came to conclusion this weekend: the 90’s is the superior decade. Seriously, the 90’s were made up of better movies, music, television, sports and in fact, a better country.
Exhibit A. Movies. The 80’s gave us so many memorable movies. Characters we’ll always love, and refer to on a first name basis: Ferris, Daniel-son, Maverick, and Axel to name a efw. There were lines that have found their way into our everyday vernacular, “Anyone, anyone, anyone?” or “Phone home.” Mostly though, we remember these movies because they were so much fun, but were they really that good? It was a time of bubble gum pop movies. Cheese was served in excess, with a side of cheese on the side, and we ate it up. But how do the movies of the 80’s matchup with those from the following decade?
Well, they don’t. That’s the short answer. I looked at IMDBs Top 250, here comes the long answer. Of the 250 movies, the 90’s are represented by 48 movies to 28 from the 80’s. The average score of a 90’s movie is 8.59 to 8.45 from the 80’s. Three 90’s movies appear in the top 10, while the highest rated 80’s movie took 11th place. Movies from the 80’s have a nice warm spot in our hearts, and many of them are fun to watch for a walk down memory lane, but as a collection of work, it pales in comparison to the 90’s.
In fact, I could argue that the 90’s was the best decade for movies. Look at these titles: Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Schindler’s List, Fight Club, Goodfellas, Silence of the Lambs, Seven, Gump, American History, Saving Private Ryan, LA Confidential, Fargo, Heat, Big Lebowski, Toy Story, Casino and Good Will Hunting. That’s just some of the best movies from the 90’s, and if you’re collect movies, there’s a good chance you own all of them. Best of all, they’re still watchable and relevant.
90’s: 1 80’s: 0
Exhibit B, Music.
Feels like it should be a runaway victory for the 80’s right? So many great bands made their mark in the 80’s. U2, REM, Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, and Metallica. It was a decade of great pop singers, including some from previous decades: Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Bruce Springsteen. The 80’s gave us Hip-hop and hair bands, Run DMC, NWA, Motley Crue. It was an epic decade. Thriller, Slippery When Wet, Joshua Tree, and Green are all classics.
Again, there was enough cheese for everyone: Wham! New Kids On the Block, Tiffany, and Debbie Gibson, but every decade will have embarrassing and fun trends, especially when it comes to pop music.
If you took the top 15 bands (listed above) from the 80’s against the top 15 from the 90’s in a March Madness style bracket tournament would your #1 seeds be U2, Michael Jackson, Madonna and GnR? Or would you have to give some of those top seeds to: Nirvana, Fugees, Eminem, Green Day, Wu-Tang, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, Chili Peppers, 2 Pac, Dr.Dre, Mariah Carey, or Pearl Jam? I’m not sure how to account for acts like Madonna, who were pretty popular in both decades.
I’m not sure how that bracket plays out, but the point is, the 80’s don’t dominate in this area. Then if you consider other aspects of music, like how we hear it and play it, well the 90’s absolutely win out there. CD’s over cassettes. MTV was huge, changed music forever. Well until we could download music, which could be considered a negative, since now the masses listen to singles rather than entire albums. But you can’t discount the impact the internet had on music. Napster made a CD burner a must have item. That paved the way for the iPod.
Perhaps tomorrow I’ll tackle television and sports of the 80’s versus 90’s. If not, definitely later this week.
Exhibit A. Movies. The 80’s gave us so many memorable movies. Characters we’ll always love, and refer to on a first name basis: Ferris, Daniel-son, Maverick, and Axel to name a efw. There were lines that have found their way into our everyday vernacular, “Anyone, anyone, anyone?” or “Phone home.” Mostly though, we remember these movies because they were so much fun, but were they really that good? It was a time of bubble gum pop movies. Cheese was served in excess, with a side of cheese on the side, and we ate it up. But how do the movies of the 80’s matchup with those from the following decade?
Well, they don’t. That’s the short answer. I looked at IMDBs Top 250, here comes the long answer. Of the 250 movies, the 90’s are represented by 48 movies to 28 from the 80’s. The average score of a 90’s movie is 8.59 to 8.45 from the 80’s. Three 90’s movies appear in the top 10, while the highest rated 80’s movie took 11th place. Movies from the 80’s have a nice warm spot in our hearts, and many of them are fun to watch for a walk down memory lane, but as a collection of work, it pales in comparison to the 90’s.
In fact, I could argue that the 90’s was the best decade for movies. Look at these titles: Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Schindler’s List, Fight Club, Goodfellas, Silence of the Lambs, Seven, Gump, American History, Saving Private Ryan, LA Confidential, Fargo, Heat, Big Lebowski, Toy Story, Casino and Good Will Hunting. That’s just some of the best movies from the 90’s, and if you’re collect movies, there’s a good chance you own all of them. Best of all, they’re still watchable and relevant.
90’s: 1 80’s: 0
Exhibit B, Music.
Feels like it should be a runaway victory for the 80’s right? So many great bands made their mark in the 80’s. U2, REM, Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, and Metallica. It was a decade of great pop singers, including some from previous decades: Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Bruce Springsteen. The 80’s gave us Hip-hop and hair bands, Run DMC, NWA, Motley Crue. It was an epic decade. Thriller, Slippery When Wet, Joshua Tree, and Green are all classics.
Again, there was enough cheese for everyone: Wham! New Kids On the Block, Tiffany, and Debbie Gibson, but every decade will have embarrassing and fun trends, especially when it comes to pop music.
If you took the top 15 bands (listed above) from the 80’s against the top 15 from the 90’s in a March Madness style bracket tournament would your #1 seeds be U2, Michael Jackson, Madonna and GnR? Or would you have to give some of those top seeds to: Nirvana, Fugees, Eminem, Green Day, Wu-Tang, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, Chili Peppers, 2 Pac, Dr.Dre, Mariah Carey, or Pearl Jam? I’m not sure how to account for acts like Madonna, who were pretty popular in both decades.
I’m not sure how that bracket plays out, but the point is, the 80’s don’t dominate in this area. Then if you consider other aspects of music, like how we hear it and play it, well the 90’s absolutely win out there. CD’s over cassettes. MTV was huge, changed music forever. Well until we could download music, which could be considered a negative, since now the masses listen to singles rather than entire albums. But you can’t discount the impact the internet had on music. Napster made a CD burner a must have item. That paved the way for the iPod.
Perhaps tomorrow I’ll tackle television and sports of the 80’s versus 90’s. If not, definitely later this week.
Fore!
First, it’s important to understand that I don’t enjoy golf. My father has long tried to get me hooked, and I mean that in the most addictive sense, as I’m convinced he needs a 12-step program. But the needle never took. I enjoy walking around on a beautiful course, but the game seems too slow to me, and guarantees one thing: frustration. What’s the point of spending all that money just so I end up breaking clubs on trees?
Secondly, I’ve never been a fan of Tiger Woods. I’ve been awed by his accomplishments, that by their nature I really could care less about. Great, he dominated golf, it was still golf. Yet, somehow I was always aware and appreciated just how much he dominated his sport. As a sport fan, I had to notice it, just as I have noticed what Jimmy Johnson has done to NASCAR. Although, I’m not sure either is a sport. But if ESPN covers it, I’ll end up being pretty aware. So thanks for that Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.
I’ve also long thought that Tiger was a first class jerk. My father and I argued years ago about the possibility, or as I put it, probability, that Tiger used steroids or HGH. It’s long been my stance that the majority of athletes are taking something to help, and we want them to. Then when Tiger treated his family with less respect than I’ve ever treated anything that I hated, I was pretty sure he’d be easy to hate for the rest of time.
Something happened though, and I can’t say I cheer for him, but his losing as made me realize something. Had he done all those horrible things to his family, and that’s the only victim, not his fans and not the game of golf. But if he had wrecked his family and gone on winning like he always had, it would have been completely disgusting, and I believe, proof that he was a psychopath and not a sociopath. He would have been the Dexter of golf. But Tiger lost, he lost his game and he seemingly fell apart. The guy, who always found a way to win, was finding new ways to lose. The machine that never missed a cut was no longer a guarantee to make the cut. The immortal, didn’t look mortal, he looked completely flawed. Tiger’s fall of grace was actual evidence that he felt regret, and that made him human.
So when I checked my phone Sunday, and he was making his move, I began to hope that Tiger would win. Not because I care about golf, or even about Tiger, but because it would have been a great story. At this point in my life, the story interests me as much as anything else in sports. Especially when my team isn’t involved, winning and losing is secondary to me. I want the best story, and I prefer that the story be legit and not scripted.
When I got home from taking the Kyd to a movie yesterday afternoon, I actually flipped on the Masters. I wanted to see Tiger win, so I could witness the emotion that was sure to follow. To hear the roar of the crowd, and that’s one thing golf fans do well, they roar like Mufasa. When Tiger practically fell into the arms of his caddie, after winning the British Open in 2006 following the death of his father, he sobbed like… well like a guy who lost his father. Tiger has spent the better part of 20 years now crafting an image and protecting a brand, then he took a driver to both and smashed them to bits on Thanksgiving night in 2009. Had he won, or when he wins, we’ll see some real emotion. And it’s going to be great.
I’m not cheering for Tiger, I just want to get caught up in a great story.
Secondly, I’ve never been a fan of Tiger Woods. I’ve been awed by his accomplishments, that by their nature I really could care less about. Great, he dominated golf, it was still golf. Yet, somehow I was always aware and appreciated just how much he dominated his sport. As a sport fan, I had to notice it, just as I have noticed what Jimmy Johnson has done to NASCAR. Although, I’m not sure either is a sport. But if ESPN covers it, I’ll end up being pretty aware. So thanks for that Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.
I’ve also long thought that Tiger was a first class jerk. My father and I argued years ago about the possibility, or as I put it, probability, that Tiger used steroids or HGH. It’s long been my stance that the majority of athletes are taking something to help, and we want them to. Then when Tiger treated his family with less respect than I’ve ever treated anything that I hated, I was pretty sure he’d be easy to hate for the rest of time.
Something happened though, and I can’t say I cheer for him, but his losing as made me realize something. Had he done all those horrible things to his family, and that’s the only victim, not his fans and not the game of golf. But if he had wrecked his family and gone on winning like he always had, it would have been completely disgusting, and I believe, proof that he was a psychopath and not a sociopath. He would have been the Dexter of golf. But Tiger lost, he lost his game and he seemingly fell apart. The guy, who always found a way to win, was finding new ways to lose. The machine that never missed a cut was no longer a guarantee to make the cut. The immortal, didn’t look mortal, he looked completely flawed. Tiger’s fall of grace was actual evidence that he felt regret, and that made him human.
So when I checked my phone Sunday, and he was making his move, I began to hope that Tiger would win. Not because I care about golf, or even about Tiger, but because it would have been a great story. At this point in my life, the story interests me as much as anything else in sports. Especially when my team isn’t involved, winning and losing is secondary to me. I want the best story, and I prefer that the story be legit and not scripted.
When I got home from taking the Kyd to a movie yesterday afternoon, I actually flipped on the Masters. I wanted to see Tiger win, so I could witness the emotion that was sure to follow. To hear the roar of the crowd, and that’s one thing golf fans do well, they roar like Mufasa. When Tiger practically fell into the arms of his caddie, after winning the British Open in 2006 following the death of his father, he sobbed like… well like a guy who lost his father. Tiger has spent the better part of 20 years now crafting an image and protecting a brand, then he took a driver to both and smashed them to bits on Thanksgiving night in 2009. Had he won, or when he wins, we’ll see some real emotion. And it’s going to be great.
I’m not cheering for Tiger, I just want to get caught up in a great story.
April 08, 2011
Quality Television
It’s like my birthday, only a few months later. While some of my favorite television shows, recently had their seasons come to an end, a new promising show has surfaced and the “Friday Night Lights” season 5 DVD has been released. I know, I’m pretty stupid for not being able to wait till April 15th and watch an episode a week on NBC, but Netflix has spoiled me. Being able to get wrapped up in a series, and watch multiple episodes a night, and even watch entire seasons within a week, it’s like they reinvented how to watch TV.
The shows that came to an end: “Californiacation” “Southland” and “Shameless.” A formidable trio, make no mistake. So now I have my beloved FNL in the mail, and last Sunday AMC launched what looks to be another home run, “The Killing.” While “The Killing” isn’t an easy watch, it’s so well done. Fantastic acting from mostly unfamiliar faces, and a few that you know you’ve seen only you can’t place them, and phenomenal writing in the first two episodes.
The promos centered on the mystery side, “who killed Rosie Laresen?” And I think this is a mistake, we’ve seen that before with “Twin Peaks.” This is everything Law & Order ever wanted to be. Gritty and real, and shows us all sides of a horrendous situation. Best of all, it won’t be resolved in 46 minutes. AMC shows don’t need gimmicks or marketing to sell me, they have something better: quality. “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead” are two of the best shows of the last decade, easy. I have to admit that I haven’t watched “Mad Men” yet. I’m saving it for a long weekend; I can’t imagine so many people I respect could be so wrong.
The shows that came to an end: “Californiacation” “Southland” and “Shameless.” A formidable trio, make no mistake. So now I have my beloved FNL in the mail, and last Sunday AMC launched what looks to be another home run, “The Killing.” While “The Killing” isn’t an easy watch, it’s so well done. Fantastic acting from mostly unfamiliar faces, and a few that you know you’ve seen only you can’t place them, and phenomenal writing in the first two episodes.
The promos centered on the mystery side, “who killed Rosie Laresen?” And I think this is a mistake, we’ve seen that before with “Twin Peaks.” This is everything Law & Order ever wanted to be. Gritty and real, and shows us all sides of a horrendous situation. Best of all, it won’t be resolved in 46 minutes. AMC shows don’t need gimmicks or marketing to sell me, they have something better: quality. “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead” are two of the best shows of the last decade, easy. I have to admit that I haven’t watched “Mad Men” yet. I’m saving it for a long weekend; I can’t imagine so many people I respect could be so wrong.
March 31, 2011
Opening Day
Okay, I'm cheating. I'm re-posting something I wrote in 2006. Why? Because the 2011 Mets are going to be so depressing, I'd rather just think of the '06 season. Why 2006? Well, for starters, I didn't blog in 1986, and '06 was filled with such promise. We were the best team that year, I don't care who won the World Series. Fact is, the best teams don't always win the championships. You know this, man. Without further adu: (what the hell is ado?)
So it's Opening Day 2006. A day that should be a National Holiday. Yet, I came to work anyway. Surprisingly I'm not all that excited about it this year. Mainly cause I have some other things on my head. But I'm still pretty pumped. Got a good feeling about my Mets. Although, to be a Met fan is to always have a good feeling on Opening Day with another feeling deeper in the gut you don't want to face. That, crap it could all fall apart in 30 seconds feeling. And with Pedro, that feeling is always there.
But let me explain why Opening Day, or the first day of any sport season is exciting. In life, we get New Years Day. And everyone makes resolutions for this "new year" when in fact the only change is in the calendar, and taxes. You don't get a fresh start. Work doesn't start over. It just keeps moving along. But in sports, every team has a chance. Every bad year is erased, and everyone starts off with the same stats. The same hopes and goals. Even the Royals are taking the field today with the same goal as the Yankees. And with every new season you know there's gonna be some memorable games, personal seasons, great stories, horrible tragedies and big surprises. And even if your team sucks something awful, or you live 1500 miles away from your team. You go to a ballpark, eat a dog, talk to some friends and have a good time. Argue meaningless stats, compare the new breed to the guys you loved as a kid. And sometimes for a few minutes you actually go back to being a kid.
So there it is. Why I love Opening Day. Some other time I'll let bitter Hirp out to talk about how I'm not the baseball, or sport fan I used to be. As well as my opinion of the proposed roof for the stadiums in KC. But for today, Lets Go Mets!
ps- 20 years since 86?! God damn I'm feeling old.
So it's Opening Day 2006. A day that should be a National Holiday. Yet, I came to work anyway. Surprisingly I'm not all that excited about it this year. Mainly cause I have some other things on my head. But I'm still pretty pumped. Got a good feeling about my Mets. Although, to be a Met fan is to always have a good feeling on Opening Day with another feeling deeper in the gut you don't want to face. That, crap it could all fall apart in 30 seconds feeling. And with Pedro, that feeling is always there.
But let me explain why Opening Day, or the first day of any sport season is exciting. In life, we get New Years Day. And everyone makes resolutions for this "new year" when in fact the only change is in the calendar, and taxes. You don't get a fresh start. Work doesn't start over. It just keeps moving along. But in sports, every team has a chance. Every bad year is erased, and everyone starts off with the same stats. The same hopes and goals. Even the Royals are taking the field today with the same goal as the Yankees. And with every new season you know there's gonna be some memorable games, personal seasons, great stories, horrible tragedies and big surprises. And even if your team sucks something awful, or you live 1500 miles away from your team. You go to a ballpark, eat a dog, talk to some friends and have a good time. Argue meaningless stats, compare the new breed to the guys you loved as a kid. And sometimes for a few minutes you actually go back to being a kid.
So there it is. Why I love Opening Day. Some other time I'll let bitter Hirp out to talk about how I'm not the baseball, or sport fan I used to be. As well as my opinion of the proposed roof for the stadiums in KC. But for today, Lets Go Mets!
ps- 20 years since 86?! God damn I'm feeling old.
March 28, 2011
Hate Me Now
I’m a diehard New York Met fan. I hate the Yankees and over the last few years I’ve grown to hate the Phillies as much as I hate the Braves. I don’t want to see any of them win games, championships or even have more fans on Facebook. I don’t, however, take any pride in seeing them fail. I cheer for my Mets. Just as I cheer for my Jayhawks. I’ve never celebrating a rival’s failure as if it were my team’s success. That kind of thinking just does not compute for me.
Yesterday our Jayhawks lost a tough game to VCU, a real stomach punch loss. A game we should have won, ending a season that seemed to be laid out perfectly for Kansas to win the National Championship. But Kansas fans aren’t able to morn properly, because before the buzzer even sounded, we were under siege from haters. I’ve always hated the term “hater,” but sometimes it’s just accurate.
Kansas State, University of Missouri and even Wichita State fans took our loss as an opportunity to pile on. They had to remind us of Bucknell, Bradley and Northern Iowa, as if we forgot. It’s different than just rooting against us; they actually celebrate it as a victory for their side. It isn’t.
I understand that they may view Kansas fans as arrogant, winning teams get that a lot. It’s probably even true, and totally acceptable that they wouldn’t want to see Kansas win, it’s just sad that they don’t understand the difference in being fans and being haters. Would they express so much joy if their teams had won? I honestly don’t know. They can’t say either, because the truth is, that scenario is such a long shot that it can’t even be seriously considered.
Kansas has the longest active streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with 22. Kansas State has made two in a row and Missouri has made three in a row. They’ve combined for 17 trips to the Elite 8, while Kansas has made the Final Four 13 times. We have three titles, and they’ve combined to make the Final Four just twice, and the last one came 47 years ago.
I root against teams I don’t like, but when they fail, it’s not my success. It’s a relief, sure, but the only fans that should celebrate are of those of the winning team. These fans just reek of jealousy, and their actions distract us from feeling sorry for ourselves and focus our attention on defending Kansas’ record of excellence against their track record rich in meritocracy. Butler and VCU have one less Final Four trip between them than KSU and MU have, yet we’re the punch line?
Losing sucks, and losing the way we just did hurts quite a lot. But all those piling on right now, remember, you’d trade spots with us every single year. Our loss isn’t your win, your win would come from being better, and only then. Until that day, your reaction to our loss says more about you than it does us. Rock Chalk, you can’t beat KU.
Yesterday our Jayhawks lost a tough game to VCU, a real stomach punch loss. A game we should have won, ending a season that seemed to be laid out perfectly for Kansas to win the National Championship. But Kansas fans aren’t able to morn properly, because before the buzzer even sounded, we were under siege from haters. I’ve always hated the term “hater,” but sometimes it’s just accurate.
Kansas State, University of Missouri and even Wichita State fans took our loss as an opportunity to pile on. They had to remind us of Bucknell, Bradley and Northern Iowa, as if we forgot. It’s different than just rooting against us; they actually celebrate it as a victory for their side. It isn’t.
I understand that they may view Kansas fans as arrogant, winning teams get that a lot. It’s probably even true, and totally acceptable that they wouldn’t want to see Kansas win, it’s just sad that they don’t understand the difference in being fans and being haters. Would they express so much joy if their teams had won? I honestly don’t know. They can’t say either, because the truth is, that scenario is such a long shot that it can’t even be seriously considered.
Kansas has the longest active streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with 22. Kansas State has made two in a row and Missouri has made three in a row. They’ve combined for 17 trips to the Elite 8, while Kansas has made the Final Four 13 times. We have three titles, and they’ve combined to make the Final Four just twice, and the last one came 47 years ago.
I root against teams I don’t like, but when they fail, it’s not my success. It’s a relief, sure, but the only fans that should celebrate are of those of the winning team. These fans just reek of jealousy, and their actions distract us from feeling sorry for ourselves and focus our attention on defending Kansas’ record of excellence against their track record rich in meritocracy. Butler and VCU have one less Final Four trip between them than KSU and MU have, yet we’re the punch line?
Losing sucks, and losing the way we just did hurts quite a lot. But all those piling on right now, remember, you’d trade spots with us every single year. Our loss isn’t your win, your win would come from being better, and only then. Until that day, your reaction to our loss says more about you than it does us. Rock Chalk, you can’t beat KU.
March 25, 2011
What If...
This is right in my wheel house, the kind of thing I could spend hours obsessing over. Kentucky coach, John Calipari, was once a head coach in the NBA. This was in 1996, and he recently was quoted as saying he was very impressed with a high school kid he worked out before the draft. A kid named Kobe Bryant. So I get to play one of my favorite games, the “what if” game.
Bryant was picked by the Charolette Hornets in the 1996 draft, and refused to sign with the team, forcing a trade to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Vlade da di, we like to party. So there’s no guarantee that he would have agreed to playing in New Jersey, since Newark is about as appealing as back hair. Then again, maybe he would have loved it. Newark is just 90 miles away from Philadelphia, Bryant’s home town.
The 96-97 Nets were a pretty promising squad. Lead by shooting guard, Kendall Gill. They also had the now insane, Jayson Williams, who was a rebounding machine at the time. The Nets also had a solid point guard in Robert Pack, and giant Shawn Bradley. Bryant would have come off the bench, just like he did in LA. At 17, he would have been brought along slowly by any team. So his first year would have probably been limited to 15 minutes a game, just like it was in LA.
It was Bryant’s second season where his future greatness started to appear on a semi-regular basis. The ’97 Nets brought in point guard Sam Cassell and a draft deal landed them great white hope, Keith Van Horn. All of this could have easily happened with Bryant on board. Van Horn was a star in college, and was the obvious #2 pick in the 1997 draft. He also ended up leading the Nets in scoring his rookie year. The Nets used Kerry Kittles, who was taken in the spot they could have drafted Bryant, as their 6th man. The same role Kobe played for the Lakers that year, so slot him in as the Nets 6th man.
That brings us to 1998, which ended up being a shortened season, and the first season after Michael Jordan’s second retirement. The Lakers went through three coaches, and in the real world, ’98 ended up being Calipari’s last season as an NBA head coach, fired 20 games in after a 3-17 start. 20 year old Kobe Bryant entered the Lakers starting line up, and averaged 20 points a game.
Four games into the season, the Nets traded for 21 year old point guard, Stephon Marbury. So in the What If universe, the Nets would have a starting lineup of Marbury, Gill, Bryant, Van Horn and Williams. Their three leading scorers would have been 20, 21 and 23 years old, respectively. Now, of course, it’s hard to determine how the three would play together. Marbury and Bryant dominate the ball, and Van Horn was never your typical post player, preferring to shoot from the outside.
The situation wouldn’t have compared to what he went to, the Lakers had just brought in Shaq and they would have been a contender with or without him at that point. The Lakers would have been trading Divac no matter what; there was no room for him with Shaq in the middle. So the Lakers trade Divac to a struggling team with no big man, obviously they want to trade him to a team in the Eastern Conference, and they want a high draft pick in return. Perfect fit: Toronto Raptors. That pick, ends up being Tracy McGrady. A year later, but the Lakers end up with a similar player to Bryant. A high school phenom who can score at will. From 2000 till 2004, Bryant and McGrady put up similar numbers. Bryant’s scoring goes up in 2005, but that’s a result of Shaq leaving LA while McGrady is now in Houston after leaving Toronto for Orlando in 2000.
Which raises an interesting question: how would have McGrady and Shaq gotten along? Assuming they still win 2 of the 3 titles Shaq and Kobe won (giving up on the first, as McGrady was a year behind Kobe at that point)
Back tracking for a second here, with McGrady in LA, he never leaves for Orlando. The Magic need a shooting guard, so they trade Ben Wallace to the Nets for Kendall Gill. Wallace’s career plays out the same, a great rebounder and NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The Nets now have Marbury, Bryant, Van Horn, Aaron Williams and Wallace. The Lakers have Harper, McGrady, Fox, Grant and Shaq. The two teams meet in the Finals.
Oh, John Calipari still coaches the Nets instead of taking a job coaching the University of Memphis. Sot hey never get Derrick Rose. They never lose to Kansas in that National Title game. Calipari doesn’t end up coaching at Kentucky in 2010.
Back to the 1996 draft for a second, now who would the Hornets have taken, instead of Bryant? In looking over the players who were taken after Bryant and one name pops out: Steve Nash. So the ripple effect continues, as the Suns are changed as well.
Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Vince Carter never play for the Nets. Steve Nash never wins two MVP’s. The Hornets have a point guard, in Nash, and don’t pick Chris Paul. Paul ends up on the Bobcats, who are now in Charlotte after the Hornets moved to New Orleans with Nash.
Kobe Bryant wins titles in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006, along with MVP’s in all four seasons. His career numbers are closer to 27 points per game than 25. With Bryant, the YankeeNets never sell off the Nets, and the team moves to Brooklyn in 2004. Shaq wins titles in 2001, 2003. The Pistons and Heat never win titles. Since the Heat don’t have a title under Riley, he isn’t around long enough to bring in Lebron James. James stays in Cleveland and Dwayne Wade ends up going to Chicago to play with Rose, who was the #1 pick from Illinois and not Memphis.
The careers of Marbury and Van Horn are forever changed for the better. Marbury loves being the point guard in Brooklyn, and Van Horn gets to sit around and shoot 3’s when teams clog the lane to keep Marbury and Bryant out.
Good, now that I cleared that up, I won’t have to worry about this “what if” any longer.
Bryant was picked by the Charolette Hornets in the 1996 draft, and refused to sign with the team, forcing a trade to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Vlade da di, we like to party. So there’s no guarantee that he would have agreed to playing in New Jersey, since Newark is about as appealing as back hair. Then again, maybe he would have loved it. Newark is just 90 miles away from Philadelphia, Bryant’s home town.
The 96-97 Nets were a pretty promising squad. Lead by shooting guard, Kendall Gill. They also had the now insane, Jayson Williams, who was a rebounding machine at the time. The Nets also had a solid point guard in Robert Pack, and giant Shawn Bradley. Bryant would have come off the bench, just like he did in LA. At 17, he would have been brought along slowly by any team. So his first year would have probably been limited to 15 minutes a game, just like it was in LA.
It was Bryant’s second season where his future greatness started to appear on a semi-regular basis. The ’97 Nets brought in point guard Sam Cassell and a draft deal landed them great white hope, Keith Van Horn. All of this could have easily happened with Bryant on board. Van Horn was a star in college, and was the obvious #2 pick in the 1997 draft. He also ended up leading the Nets in scoring his rookie year. The Nets used Kerry Kittles, who was taken in the spot they could have drafted Bryant, as their 6th man. The same role Kobe played for the Lakers that year, so slot him in as the Nets 6th man.
That brings us to 1998, which ended up being a shortened season, and the first season after Michael Jordan’s second retirement. The Lakers went through three coaches, and in the real world, ’98 ended up being Calipari’s last season as an NBA head coach, fired 20 games in after a 3-17 start. 20 year old Kobe Bryant entered the Lakers starting line up, and averaged 20 points a game.
Four games into the season, the Nets traded for 21 year old point guard, Stephon Marbury. So in the What If universe, the Nets would have a starting lineup of Marbury, Gill, Bryant, Van Horn and Williams. Their three leading scorers would have been 20, 21 and 23 years old, respectively. Now, of course, it’s hard to determine how the three would play together. Marbury and Bryant dominate the ball, and Van Horn was never your typical post player, preferring to shoot from the outside.
The situation wouldn’t have compared to what he went to, the Lakers had just brought in Shaq and they would have been a contender with or without him at that point. The Lakers would have been trading Divac no matter what; there was no room for him with Shaq in the middle. So the Lakers trade Divac to a struggling team with no big man, obviously they want to trade him to a team in the Eastern Conference, and they want a high draft pick in return. Perfect fit: Toronto Raptors. That pick, ends up being Tracy McGrady. A year later, but the Lakers end up with a similar player to Bryant. A high school phenom who can score at will. From 2000 till 2004, Bryant and McGrady put up similar numbers. Bryant’s scoring goes up in 2005, but that’s a result of Shaq leaving LA while McGrady is now in Houston after leaving Toronto for Orlando in 2000.
Which raises an interesting question: how would have McGrady and Shaq gotten along? Assuming they still win 2 of the 3 titles Shaq and Kobe won (giving up on the first, as McGrady was a year behind Kobe at that point)
Back tracking for a second here, with McGrady in LA, he never leaves for Orlando. The Magic need a shooting guard, so they trade Ben Wallace to the Nets for Kendall Gill. Wallace’s career plays out the same, a great rebounder and NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The Nets now have Marbury, Bryant, Van Horn, Aaron Williams and Wallace. The Lakers have Harper, McGrady, Fox, Grant and Shaq. The two teams meet in the Finals.
Oh, John Calipari still coaches the Nets instead of taking a job coaching the University of Memphis. Sot hey never get Derrick Rose. They never lose to Kansas in that National Title game. Calipari doesn’t end up coaching at Kentucky in 2010.
Back to the 1996 draft for a second, now who would the Hornets have taken, instead of Bryant? In looking over the players who were taken after Bryant and one name pops out: Steve Nash. So the ripple effect continues, as the Suns are changed as well.
Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Vince Carter never play for the Nets. Steve Nash never wins two MVP’s. The Hornets have a point guard, in Nash, and don’t pick Chris Paul. Paul ends up on the Bobcats, who are now in Charlotte after the Hornets moved to New Orleans with Nash.
Kobe Bryant wins titles in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006, along with MVP’s in all four seasons. His career numbers are closer to 27 points per game than 25. With Bryant, the YankeeNets never sell off the Nets, and the team moves to Brooklyn in 2004. Shaq wins titles in 2001, 2003. The Pistons and Heat never win titles. Since the Heat don’t have a title under Riley, he isn’t around long enough to bring in Lebron James. James stays in Cleveland and Dwayne Wade ends up going to Chicago to play with Rose, who was the #1 pick from Illinois and not Memphis.
The careers of Marbury and Van Horn are forever changed for the better. Marbury loves being the point guard in Brooklyn, and Van Horn gets to sit around and shoot 3’s when teams clog the lane to keep Marbury and Bryant out.
Good, now that I cleared that up, I won’t have to worry about this “what if” any longer.
March 22, 2011
Hirp vs Nugent
The Washington Times gave Ted Nugent some space to write an op-ed. Below is his text, followed by my own:
Africa isn't called the Dark Continent for no reason. Africa has forever been a politi- cal nightmare full of overt corruption, tribal warfare, genocide, murderous regimes and brutal dictators.
There is no country in Africa that truly respects freedom or the rule of law. The majority of countries in Africa are in economic ruin because of political corruption and a history ugly with cruel despotism. That's why starvation and disease are rampant. AIDS is projected to kill as much as half the populations of some countries. Genocide is a way of life. There is little light in Africa.
Africa is an international scab. Bono of the band U2 advocates that if we forgive debt African nations owe, peace and tranquillity will sprout up mystically. The real problem is murdering, corrupt thugs and punks like Col. Gadhafi. Once we swat one of these African cockroaches or intervene in their civil war, where do we stop?
America can't solve all the world's problems, nor should it try. We have enough of our own problems to address without getting involved in a Libyan civil war.
Spending national treasure by bombing Libya is not wise when we have no strategic interest in Libya and we are bankrupt. It would have been much cheaper for the CIA to arrange for the cockroach colonel's demise than to spend billions and billions of dollars that we don't have in hopes he is toppled. Whatever happened to that wonderful American ingenuity of improvise, adapt and overcome?
Ted Nugent isn't called the “Motor City Madman” for no reason. Nugent has forever been a complete nightmare full of overt racism, class warfare, wearing camouflage and shitty music.
There is no sane person in America that truly respects Nugent or crap he spews. The majority of Nugent’s stances are in-defensible because he’s completely out of touch with reality, and is hell bent on serving himself and not helping society. That’s why greed and anger are rampant. Bullets are projected to kill more than half of the populations in some countries. Ignorance is a way of life. There is little good in Nugent.
Nugent is a pop culture scab. Ted of the Nugent advocates that if we forgive all have guns, peace and tranquility will sprout up mystically. The real problem is selfish, murdering, corporate thugs and punks like Col. Nugent. Once we swat one of these American cockroaches or intervene in his personal war, where do we stop?
I can't solve all the Nugent’s problems, nor should I try. I have enough of my own problems to address without getting involved in a Nugent’s war on decency.
Spending my time by verbally bombing Nugent is not wise when I have no strategic interest in Nugent. It would have been much cheaper for his father wear a condom or to arrange for the cockroach Nugent’s demise than to spend minutes and minutes that we don't have in hopes he is toppled. Whatever happened to that wonderful American ingenuity of improvise, adapt and overcome? Oh, it’s still here, it just shines through when we’re not busy hating everyone who isn’t like us.
Africa isn't called the Dark Continent for no reason. Africa has forever been a politi- cal nightmare full of overt corruption, tribal warfare, genocide, murderous regimes and brutal dictators.
There is no country in Africa that truly respects freedom or the rule of law. The majority of countries in Africa are in economic ruin because of political corruption and a history ugly with cruel despotism. That's why starvation and disease are rampant. AIDS is projected to kill as much as half the populations of some countries. Genocide is a way of life. There is little light in Africa.
Africa is an international scab. Bono of the band U2 advocates that if we forgive debt African nations owe, peace and tranquillity will sprout up mystically. The real problem is murdering, corrupt thugs and punks like Col. Gadhafi. Once we swat one of these African cockroaches or intervene in their civil war, where do we stop?
America can't solve all the world's problems, nor should it try. We have enough of our own problems to address without getting involved in a Libyan civil war.
Spending national treasure by bombing Libya is not wise when we have no strategic interest in Libya and we are bankrupt. It would have been much cheaper for the CIA to arrange for the cockroach colonel's demise than to spend billions and billions of dollars that we don't have in hopes he is toppled. Whatever happened to that wonderful American ingenuity of improvise, adapt and overcome?
Ted Nugent isn't called the “Motor City Madman” for no reason. Nugent has forever been a complete nightmare full of overt racism, class warfare, wearing camouflage and shitty music.
There is no sane person in America that truly respects Nugent or crap he spews. The majority of Nugent’s stances are in-defensible because he’s completely out of touch with reality, and is hell bent on serving himself and not helping society. That’s why greed and anger are rampant. Bullets are projected to kill more than half of the populations in some countries. Ignorance is a way of life. There is little good in Nugent.
Nugent is a pop culture scab. Ted of the Nugent advocates that if we forgive all have guns, peace and tranquility will sprout up mystically. The real problem is selfish, murdering, corporate thugs and punks like Col. Nugent. Once we swat one of these American cockroaches or intervene in his personal war, where do we stop?
I can't solve all the Nugent’s problems, nor should I try. I have enough of my own problems to address without getting involved in a Nugent’s war on decency.
Spending my time by verbally bombing Nugent is not wise when I have no strategic interest in Nugent. It would have been much cheaper for his father wear a condom or to arrange for the cockroach Nugent’s demise than to spend minutes and minutes that we don't have in hopes he is toppled. Whatever happened to that wonderful American ingenuity of improvise, adapt and overcome? Oh, it’s still here, it just shines through when we’re not busy hating everyone who isn’t like us.
March 14, 2011
Earth Shaking
I’ll always remember the day that the Challenger exploded as it sped to space, and as President Regan famously said, “Slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.” My personal beliefs aside that is one of the most beautiful lines I’ve ever heard. I’ll always remember when I first heard about the Oklahoma City bombing, the first attack on the World Trade Center, Columbine and of course, 9/11. The images of Katrina and the tsunami that tore apart Southeast Asia are burned into my head right next to the images from Haiti. Sadly, like pretty much everyone else, there are new images in that mental photo album; those of the complete destruction that took place in Japan this past weekend.
For the Challenger, I remember I was sitting in Mr. Durgy’s class, it was third grade. The Principal came by, had Mr. Durgy step outside for a moment, and then a few moments later made an announcement over the intercom. I remember coming home from school in’93, and seeing the images of smoke coming from the bottom of The World Trade Center. I heard about Oklahoma City when I went into work at Original Pizza. My parents were in Oklahoma City, they were there for a while training to open their own franchise in Kansas City. I didn’t believe it when I was told; no way there’d be a bombing in Oklahoma City. They’re just messing with me because my parents are there. That’s what I thought then, that’s what I wish was the case now.
Columbine hit me hard, as that school looked so much like the high school I attended and I was just four years removed from school. I was glued to the television. That led to my first blog post, before they called it blogging. AOL has since taken down that website, jerks. 9/11 took place as some friends had traveled home to New York for the wedding of his sister, my first babysitter. I was at work when someone came in and told me, I didn’t believe that either. Flipped on the radio and listened in horror, then quickly called my friend and got through. Everyone I knew was okay. The groom to be was actually in one of the towers. To this day, if I see a show about 9/11, I have to watch it. No matter how many times I’ve seen that very show.
Last Friday I came in to work, just happy it was Friday. Then I saw a post on Facebook about an earthquake that hit Japan. It took a moment, and then I realized that earlier in the week my uncle and I had swapped some emails. He casually mentioned, “I’m emailing you from Japan.” At the time I thought that was cool, he traveled there often for business, and still consults even though he retired ten years ago. He doesn’t understand what retire really means.
I panicked, I wasn’t sure when he was coming home, but my gut told me he was there. I tried his cell, no answer. I didn’t want to call my aunt, if she hadn’t heard, I really didn’t want to be the one breaking this news to her. So I called my cousin, even though it was just 6:30 where he was. I hoped I wouldn’t wake him, but that wasn’t my biggest concern. I informed him of the earthquake and tsunami and he didn’t realize his father was in Tokyo. I heard the panic in his voice as he checked with his wife. He called hid mother, who had already spoken with my uncle. He was at the airport when it happened, and he was okay. Between hearing of the earthquake and that he was okay, I had sent Mrs. Hirp a text, informing her of what happened and that my uncle was there. When she told the Kyd, she started to cry, “I don’t want Uncle Jerry to die!”
“Neither do I,” I said to myself, “neither do I.” She was on her way to the bus stop when Mrs. Hirp called out to her and let her know he was ok. She responded with a “Yes!” and a fist pump. Perfect response every time.
I also informed my father that his brother was in Japan, but when I followed that up with letting him know his brother was okay, there was a mix up and he took that to mean he was out of harms way when the earth moved. It wasn’t till later that he realized his older brother was in the scariest place on earth. But the whole thing had just started. This was hours before anyone even mentioned “nuclear” anything. Knowing he was okay was a huge relief, obviously, but I’m a worrier by nature. Until I knew he was in the states, my imagination was going to fuck with me like reality messes with Charlie Sheen. I watched video after video Friday, my heart firmly planted in my throat.
Early Saturday afternoon I received a call from my aunt, that he had boarded a flight a few hours earlier and should be landing in Los Angeles in a little bit. That sound, that was the sound of a giant sigh of relief. Later on he called me and told me about his ordeal. The lack of food, the fear, the cold, the shaking, glass shattering, sleeping on the floor head to foot with strangers in a foreign land and the exhaustion.
He’s home, he’s safe and I’m glad. But so many others aren’t. The first estimate I heard was of 1,000 deaths. There’s simply no way that could be true, I watched cars trying to speed away from the rushing water. Some made it, some didn’t. I firmly believe there will be over 25,000 lives lost. With hundreds of thousand more completely ruined. I find myself stuck obessing over the cleanup process, as if that could even take place. What do you do with all that mud? How do you get clothes? When do you go back to work, when your work was swept out to sea? Will the kids ever get back to school? What about the pets, how many were lost? And how do you tell your child everything will be alright, when things are so far from ever being alright again?
I hate the news. I hate how it sucks me in, and hate how it makes me feel. I fear the next disaster, and they seem to happen more often now. Tell me everything will be alright.
For the Challenger, I remember I was sitting in Mr. Durgy’s class, it was third grade. The Principal came by, had Mr. Durgy step outside for a moment, and then a few moments later made an announcement over the intercom. I remember coming home from school in’93, and seeing the images of smoke coming from the bottom of The World Trade Center. I heard about Oklahoma City when I went into work at Original Pizza. My parents were in Oklahoma City, they were there for a while training to open their own franchise in Kansas City. I didn’t believe it when I was told; no way there’d be a bombing in Oklahoma City. They’re just messing with me because my parents are there. That’s what I thought then, that’s what I wish was the case now.
Columbine hit me hard, as that school looked so much like the high school I attended and I was just four years removed from school. I was glued to the television. That led to my first blog post, before they called it blogging. AOL has since taken down that website, jerks. 9/11 took place as some friends had traveled home to New York for the wedding of his sister, my first babysitter. I was at work when someone came in and told me, I didn’t believe that either. Flipped on the radio and listened in horror, then quickly called my friend and got through. Everyone I knew was okay. The groom to be was actually in one of the towers. To this day, if I see a show about 9/11, I have to watch it. No matter how many times I’ve seen that very show.
Last Friday I came in to work, just happy it was Friday. Then I saw a post on Facebook about an earthquake that hit Japan. It took a moment, and then I realized that earlier in the week my uncle and I had swapped some emails. He casually mentioned, “I’m emailing you from Japan.” At the time I thought that was cool, he traveled there often for business, and still consults even though he retired ten years ago. He doesn’t understand what retire really means.
I panicked, I wasn’t sure when he was coming home, but my gut told me he was there. I tried his cell, no answer. I didn’t want to call my aunt, if she hadn’t heard, I really didn’t want to be the one breaking this news to her. So I called my cousin, even though it was just 6:30 where he was. I hoped I wouldn’t wake him, but that wasn’t my biggest concern. I informed him of the earthquake and tsunami and he didn’t realize his father was in Tokyo. I heard the panic in his voice as he checked with his wife. He called hid mother, who had already spoken with my uncle. He was at the airport when it happened, and he was okay. Between hearing of the earthquake and that he was okay, I had sent Mrs. Hirp a text, informing her of what happened and that my uncle was there. When she told the Kyd, she started to cry, “I don’t want Uncle Jerry to die!”
“Neither do I,” I said to myself, “neither do I.” She was on her way to the bus stop when Mrs. Hirp called out to her and let her know he was ok. She responded with a “Yes!” and a fist pump. Perfect response every time.
I also informed my father that his brother was in Japan, but when I followed that up with letting him know his brother was okay, there was a mix up and he took that to mean he was out of harms way when the earth moved. It wasn’t till later that he realized his older brother was in the scariest place on earth. But the whole thing had just started. This was hours before anyone even mentioned “nuclear” anything. Knowing he was okay was a huge relief, obviously, but I’m a worrier by nature. Until I knew he was in the states, my imagination was going to fuck with me like reality messes with Charlie Sheen. I watched video after video Friday, my heart firmly planted in my throat.
Early Saturday afternoon I received a call from my aunt, that he had boarded a flight a few hours earlier and should be landing in Los Angeles in a little bit. That sound, that was the sound of a giant sigh of relief. Later on he called me and told me about his ordeal. The lack of food, the fear, the cold, the shaking, glass shattering, sleeping on the floor head to foot with strangers in a foreign land and the exhaustion.
He’s home, he’s safe and I’m glad. But so many others aren’t. The first estimate I heard was of 1,000 deaths. There’s simply no way that could be true, I watched cars trying to speed away from the rushing water. Some made it, some didn’t. I firmly believe there will be over 25,000 lives lost. With hundreds of thousand more completely ruined. I find myself stuck obessing over the cleanup process, as if that could even take place. What do you do with all that mud? How do you get clothes? When do you go back to work, when your work was swept out to sea? Will the kids ever get back to school? What about the pets, how many were lost? And how do you tell your child everything will be alright, when things are so far from ever being alright again?
I hate the news. I hate how it sucks me in, and hate how it makes me feel. I fear the next disaster, and they seem to happen more often now. Tell me everything will be alright.
March 03, 2011
Honor
The big talk of the sports world today is what’s going on at BYU. If you haven’t heard, the school suspended one of it’s best basketball players for violating the school honor code. BYU, currently ranked third in the country, suspended 20 year old Brandon Davies for having pre-marital sex. Most, if not all, schools have an honor code. You’d be hard pressed to find a school with a stricter set of rules and stronger punishment for violating those rules.
The honor code at BYU includes a ban on caffeine, tea, alcohol, foul language, students have to be honest, observe the dress and grooming standards of the school and participate regularly in church services. This isn’t your typical college, and I’d be happy to disagree with pretty much every item on their list. Except that everyone who enrolls at BYU, does so voluntarily. Okay, I’m not sure if that’s completely true, those Mormons are a tad bit different.
This suspension has crippled the basketball team, a team that had a real shot at a #1 seed in the tournament as well as a better chance than most schools at making a run to the Final Four. An accomplishment the school has never reached in its 104 year history. The pay off is huge, tons of publicity not to mention money. Undoubtedly, amazing experiences for all those kids and now they pretty much have no chance of realizing that dream.
The chatter I’ve heard has focused on how unrealistic it is to ask college kids to abstain from everything BYU asks, as well as the apparent lack of forgiveness and a second chance. A local sports radio show host stated that he believes a one or two game suspension, with the threat of being kicked off the team for a second violation. Maybe that’s fair and makes more sense. I’m all about second chances and forgiveness, I think that’s what’s required for people to be part of a civilized society.
I just don’t think that this is a debate about forgiveness, or silly rules, or proper punishment. To me this is about honor. I never imagined I’d say this, but I agree with BYU. To bend the rules now, no matter how silly they are, would show a lack of honor. It would be the complete opposite of honor. We’re a society now that not only gives second chances, we celebrate those who crap all over honor. Politicians, who preach to us about family values, yet sleep around as if they’re the 20 year old college sophomores on a top four team. Crack head actors get paid upwards of $40 million for a season, for portraying drunken womanizing idiots.
This is about standing up for something you believe in. Davies knew the punishment for violating the Honor Code, and maybe he thought it was silly. Yet, he violated it, and when asked about his actions, he was honest with the school. Is he being rewarded? No, but he shouldn’t be. He should, however, absolutely be commended and respected, because the kid has shown courage and honor. It sucks for the rest of the team and its fans, and it sucks even more for Davies. Then again, if it were easy, they wouldn’t call it honor.
The honor code at BYU includes a ban on caffeine, tea, alcohol, foul language, students have to be honest, observe the dress and grooming standards of the school and participate regularly in church services. This isn’t your typical college, and I’d be happy to disagree with pretty much every item on their list. Except that everyone who enrolls at BYU, does so voluntarily. Okay, I’m not sure if that’s completely true, those Mormons are a tad bit different.
This suspension has crippled the basketball team, a team that had a real shot at a #1 seed in the tournament as well as a better chance than most schools at making a run to the Final Four. An accomplishment the school has never reached in its 104 year history. The pay off is huge, tons of publicity not to mention money. Undoubtedly, amazing experiences for all those kids and now they pretty much have no chance of realizing that dream.
The chatter I’ve heard has focused on how unrealistic it is to ask college kids to abstain from everything BYU asks, as well as the apparent lack of forgiveness and a second chance. A local sports radio show host stated that he believes a one or two game suspension, with the threat of being kicked off the team for a second violation. Maybe that’s fair and makes more sense. I’m all about second chances and forgiveness, I think that’s what’s required for people to be part of a civilized society.
I just don’t think that this is a debate about forgiveness, or silly rules, or proper punishment. To me this is about honor. I never imagined I’d say this, but I agree with BYU. To bend the rules now, no matter how silly they are, would show a lack of honor. It would be the complete opposite of honor. We’re a society now that not only gives second chances, we celebrate those who crap all over honor. Politicians, who preach to us about family values, yet sleep around as if they’re the 20 year old college sophomores on a top four team. Crack head actors get paid upwards of $40 million for a season, for portraying drunken womanizing idiots.
This is about standing up for something you believe in. Davies knew the punishment for violating the Honor Code, and maybe he thought it was silly. Yet, he violated it, and when asked about his actions, he was honest with the school. Is he being rewarded? No, but he shouldn’t be. He should, however, absolutely be commended and respected, because the kid has shown courage and honor. It sucks for the rest of the team and its fans, and it sucks even more for Davies. Then again, if it were easy, they wouldn’t call it honor.
March 02, 2011
March 01, 2011
JstHelping
I was watching “The Daily Show” and Jon Stewart was showing clips of various Congressmen and political analysts pissing and moaning about how teachers are paid so well, and receive such great benefits for doing such little work. They especially like to compare teachers to “the private sector.” So over my lunch break I did a little research.
Turns out that on average, members of Congress are paid $174,000 a year. Also, on average over the last nine years, Congress meets 140 days a year. While, typically, school is in session 180 days a year. Then teachers also have an absolute ton of “in-service days.” (at least it feels that way)
So in Wisconsin, teachers are paid an average of $51,000 and an additional $25,000 in benefits for a grand total of $76,000. Meanwhile Congress receives over $230,000 when benefits are taken into consideration, for working less than teachers. Too bad they aren’t a part of a Union.
Let’s cut some spending, and pay Congress that inflated salary that we pay teachers.
Turns out that on average, members of Congress are paid $174,000 a year. Also, on average over the last nine years, Congress meets 140 days a year. While, typically, school is in session 180 days a year. Then teachers also have an absolute ton of “in-service days.” (at least it feels that way)
So in Wisconsin, teachers are paid an average of $51,000 and an additional $25,000 in benefits for a grand total of $76,000. Meanwhile Congress receives over $230,000 when benefits are taken into consideration, for working less than teachers. Too bad they aren’t a part of a Union.
Let’s cut some spending, and pay Congress that inflated salary that we pay teachers.
JstWinning
Would you cast Charlie Sheen to play Gaddafi, or Gaddafi to play Sheen?
Is there any chance, any chance at all, that Sheen is pulling off some Jaquin Phoenix type gag? Only we’ve all fallen for it? This is either the most grandiose breakdown or brilliant prank. Vegas can’t take odds, because they’re so obviously in bed with Sheen. Also, that’s why we won’t see his death date in the sports book.
Charlie Sheen is so crazy (how crazy is he?) Joe Jackson is claiming to be his father. He’s so crazy, that Glenn Beck…nah, he’s not that crazy.
Charlie Sheen has put a good spin on being bi-polar, the condition will be renamed “bi-winning.” Or “Sheen” for short.
My advice to CBS, forget “Two and a Half Men” and give Sheen a talk show.
The good news, I’m pretty sure no one will be naming their son “Charlie” for the next three to five years.
List of things Charlie Sheen has done: Shot Kelly Preston, ordered a suitcase full of coke (one that we know of, likely more), purchased 2,615 seats at an Angels game for himself and three friends so he could increase their odds of catching a home run, received an offer for a baseball scholarship to the University of Kansas, admittedly spent $53,000 on prostitutes from Heidi Fleiss, been arrested three times and he once owned the ball Mookie Wilson hit that went under Bill Buckner’s legs. That’s “winning.”
Is there any chance, any chance at all, that Sheen is pulling off some Jaquin Phoenix type gag? Only we’ve all fallen for it? This is either the most grandiose breakdown or brilliant prank. Vegas can’t take odds, because they’re so obviously in bed with Sheen. Also, that’s why we won’t see his death date in the sports book.
Charlie Sheen is so crazy (how crazy is he?) Joe Jackson is claiming to be his father. He’s so crazy, that Glenn Beck…nah, he’s not that crazy.
Charlie Sheen has put a good spin on being bi-polar, the condition will be renamed “bi-winning.” Or “Sheen” for short.
My advice to CBS, forget “Two and a Half Men” and give Sheen a talk show.
The good news, I’m pretty sure no one will be naming their son “Charlie” for the next three to five years.
List of things Charlie Sheen has done: Shot Kelly Preston, ordered a suitcase full of coke (one that we know of, likely more), purchased 2,615 seats at an Angels game for himself and three friends so he could increase their odds of catching a home run, received an offer for a baseball scholarship to the University of Kansas, admittedly spent $53,000 on prostitutes from Heidi Fleiss, been arrested three times and he once owned the ball Mookie Wilson hit that went under Bill Buckner’s legs. That’s “winning.”
February 22, 2011
All Over the Place
So on this here blog; I use a site that tracks visitors. I get an idea of how many, where they are, and how they found their way to the site. It’s just for my own curiosity. This morning I checked it, and I had a visitor whose IP Provider is listed as “Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute.” The KAERA is located in South Korea, for a second I was worried that I’d end up on some CIA list, and maybe I will. They read a post about Adam Sandler movies. This is all very odd to me, and makes me fear for South Korea.
*
I was reading about Moammar Gadhafi last night, just some late night dictator reading. That’s completely normal, right? I realize Wikipedia isn’t the most credible source, but I’ll take it over Fox News. The weirdest thing I read, was about his bodyguards. He has a 40 bodyguard contingent, known as the Amazonian Guard. This “guard” is made up of all women, and to qualify for duty, the women must be virgins. He hand picks them, and they’re trained in firearms and martial arts at a special academy.
What is the deal with virgins, especially with terrorists? Hoping mom doesn’t read this post, but I’ll risk it. If you guys (and if I have a reader in South Korea, maybe the Middle East isn’t too far off) are wanting virgins for sexual purposes, well, you’re looking at this all wrong. You don’t want 40 guarding you,or 72 virgins in death. You need one good slut while you’re on this planet. Luckily, this is one product America has a surplus of. So, Moams (can I call you that?) and all you terrorists in training: Stop, give up your obsession with virgins. Give Charlie Sheen a call, come out to California and party with the guy. I’m trying to save lives here, and Sheen could use the good PR.
*
How is this still an issue? A recent poll shows that 51% of likely GOP primary voters don’t believe that President Obama was born in the United States. This tells me that they’ve realized that he’s doing a good job, that they just don’t like him. It could be that he’s a Democrat, I don’t expect them to be fans of any “leftists.” Or maybe it’s a little deeper than that, and they just can’t handle the idea of a black President.
They’re a funny bunch, those “Conservatives.” I realize there’s a significant difference, but I wonder what percent of them believe George W. Bush is a Texan. Dubya was born in Connecticut, finished high school in Connecticut and went to college where? Oh, Connecticut. I realize he spent most of his “formative” years in Texas. Again, I understand that the Constitution states you must be born in the United States of America to be President, which Obama was, it’s just funny to me that if you’re born here you can adopt a hometown of your choice.
I’m not some political analyst, nor do I play one on TV (Beck, and make no mistake, he’s acting) but, I can’t help myself. If I wanted a Republican candidate who could win, wouldn’t I want someone who’s more to the middle? My wife and I were talking about the nut job extremists on the right, who seem to have taken complete control of the party. Of course, both sides have extremists, and extremists of any kind are a bad thing.
What if there was a Republican that was fiscally conservative and preached the smaller government gospel, yet who was also socially, well, aware to be honest? Someone who was Pro-Choice, supported gay marriage and healthcare reform. I mean, if they really believe the Government shouldn’t be involved in our personal lives, let’s see a Republican tell us how that includes abortion and who the people want to marry. Talk about jobs, then talk about jobs some more. After that, go ahead and mention jobs a few more times. Just seems to me, and I haven’t done any polling here, but if you want to win over the voters who left your party in 2008 and voted for Obama, that you’d want to appeal to their sensibilities.
Forget the party, as if that’s possible, isn’t going to the center better for the country? If you’re going to unite us, the common ground is in the middle. That’s why Obama didn’t push harder for the single payer option. That’s why Obama made the deal and we have the Bush tax cuts still. I get it, if you stay on point and make the so called “base” happy, you’ll get their votes. Call me crazy, I just don’t think either base represents what the majority of the county wants.
*
I was reading about Moammar Gadhafi last night, just some late night dictator reading. That’s completely normal, right? I realize Wikipedia isn’t the most credible source, but I’ll take it over Fox News. The weirdest thing I read, was about his bodyguards. He has a 40 bodyguard contingent, known as the Amazonian Guard. This “guard” is made up of all women, and to qualify for duty, the women must be virgins. He hand picks them, and they’re trained in firearms and martial arts at a special academy.
What is the deal with virgins, especially with terrorists? Hoping mom doesn’t read this post, but I’ll risk it. If you guys (and if I have a reader in South Korea, maybe the Middle East isn’t too far off) are wanting virgins for sexual purposes, well, you’re looking at this all wrong. You don’t want 40 guarding you,or 72 virgins in death. You need one good slut while you’re on this planet. Luckily, this is one product America has a surplus of. So, Moams (can I call you that?) and all you terrorists in training: Stop, give up your obsession with virgins. Give Charlie Sheen a call, come out to California and party with the guy. I’m trying to save lives here, and Sheen could use the good PR.
*
How is this still an issue? A recent poll shows that 51% of likely GOP primary voters don’t believe that President Obama was born in the United States. This tells me that they’ve realized that he’s doing a good job, that they just don’t like him. It could be that he’s a Democrat, I don’t expect them to be fans of any “leftists.” Or maybe it’s a little deeper than that, and they just can’t handle the idea of a black President.
They’re a funny bunch, those “Conservatives.” I realize there’s a significant difference, but I wonder what percent of them believe George W. Bush is a Texan. Dubya was born in Connecticut, finished high school in Connecticut and went to college where? Oh, Connecticut. I realize he spent most of his “formative” years in Texas. Again, I understand that the Constitution states you must be born in the United States of America to be President, which Obama was, it’s just funny to me that if you’re born here you can adopt a hometown of your choice.
I’m not some political analyst, nor do I play one on TV (Beck, and make no mistake, he’s acting) but, I can’t help myself. If I wanted a Republican candidate who could win, wouldn’t I want someone who’s more to the middle? My wife and I were talking about the nut job extremists on the right, who seem to have taken complete control of the party. Of course, both sides have extremists, and extremists of any kind are a bad thing.
What if there was a Republican that was fiscally conservative and preached the smaller government gospel, yet who was also socially, well, aware to be honest? Someone who was Pro-Choice, supported gay marriage and healthcare reform. I mean, if they really believe the Government shouldn’t be involved in our personal lives, let’s see a Republican tell us how that includes abortion and who the people want to marry. Talk about jobs, then talk about jobs some more. After that, go ahead and mention jobs a few more times. Just seems to me, and I haven’t done any polling here, but if you want to win over the voters who left your party in 2008 and voted for Obama, that you’d want to appeal to their sensibilities.
Forget the party, as if that’s possible, isn’t going to the center better for the country? If you’re going to unite us, the common ground is in the middle. That’s why Obama didn’t push harder for the single payer option. That’s why Obama made the deal and we have the Bush tax cuts still. I get it, if you stay on point and make the so called “base” happy, you’ll get their votes. Call me crazy, I just don’t think either base represents what the majority of the county wants.
February 15, 2011
NFL HirParity
The NFL is the biggest show in town, without question. The numbers don’t lie, it is Americas past time now. I’m not going to debate that. But NFL fans love to tell me that it’s because of the salary cap. That the NFL has parity that baseball doesn’t have, because they limit how much a team can spend and they have profit sharing. I call bullshit.
Parity in the NFL is due to one thing and one thing only: the weighted schedule. In the NBA, you play the teams in your conference so many times, and then teams in the other conference less, but it’s still a set number. Baseball is the same, only with a shifting inter-league schedule, that changes on an annual basis so fans in every city eventually get to see every team come to play.
This isn’t how the NFL does things. If you’re a really good team one year, the next year you’ll play your division schedule, and then a tougher schedule of other good teams. And if you’re bad, you’ll get a schedule that is heavy with other bad teams. Look at the Chiefs this season; they had the 5th easiest schedule in the league this past season. This makes turning things around that much easier. Of course, it still takes good front office moves and coaching to turn things around, but the scheduling gives teams a boost. Sounds like charity almost, right? It’s so funny, because it’s often been said that the salary cap is an awful socialist idea, but the weighted schedule is welfare for billionaires.
Now Chiefs fans are feeling pretty good about themselves, but teams that win ten games the season after losing ten, historically have a 40% drop off the following year. Not because they suddenly got worse, but they no longer had a cupcake schedule. Want proof, just look at the Bengals from this past season. They went 4-12 in 2010 after a 10-6 season in 2009, and 4-11-1 in 2008.
(To further explain the weighted schedule, each team plays two intra-conference games based on the prior year’s standings. So if you finish last, you get two games against other last place teams from the previous season)
The best franchises are the best because they know what they’re doing. They scout talent better, they make trades at the right time, and they keep key guys. The revenue sharing and salary cap make that a lot easier to do, this is true. But it doesn’t make it easier for poor teams to turn things around. Just look at the last 20 years, the NFL has seen the Giants, Steelers, Broncos and Packers win two Super Bowls each. The Cowboys and Patriots have won three each. That’s 14 out of the 20 between six teams. They’ve also lost five Super Bowls between them. Don’t tell me parity.
The majority of an NFL team’s schedule is made up from playing the three other teams in their division. If the salary cap is such a great equalizer, why is it the strongest teams still so often come from the major television markets? The AFC East, with teams in New York, Miami and Boston. The NFC East is home to teams from Philadelphia, New York, Dallas and Washington DC.
The NFL is popular because America loves violence, speed and we don’t have the attention span for more games. There’s other reasons, some obvious (a more engaging experience for fans) some aren’t (Race. Yeah, I said it) and because we often don’t see the faces it’s a less personal relationship with the players, and therefore more about the team.
I’m not knocking the NFL, it’s a fantastic product and the league has done a superior job marketing itself over the years. Baseball had horrible labor issues and lost a World Series in the 90’s, and the NBA has image issues that I could spend an entire post on. Just don’t tell me it’s the friggin’ salary cap.
Parity in the NFL is due to one thing and one thing only: the weighted schedule. In the NBA, you play the teams in your conference so many times, and then teams in the other conference less, but it’s still a set number. Baseball is the same, only with a shifting inter-league schedule, that changes on an annual basis so fans in every city eventually get to see every team come to play.
This isn’t how the NFL does things. If you’re a really good team one year, the next year you’ll play your division schedule, and then a tougher schedule of other good teams. And if you’re bad, you’ll get a schedule that is heavy with other bad teams. Look at the Chiefs this season; they had the 5th easiest schedule in the league this past season. This makes turning things around that much easier. Of course, it still takes good front office moves and coaching to turn things around, but the scheduling gives teams a boost. Sounds like charity almost, right? It’s so funny, because it’s often been said that the salary cap is an awful socialist idea, but the weighted schedule is welfare for billionaires.
Now Chiefs fans are feeling pretty good about themselves, but teams that win ten games the season after losing ten, historically have a 40% drop off the following year. Not because they suddenly got worse, but they no longer had a cupcake schedule. Want proof, just look at the Bengals from this past season. They went 4-12 in 2010 after a 10-6 season in 2009, and 4-11-1 in 2008.
(To further explain the weighted schedule, each team plays two intra-conference games based on the prior year’s standings. So if you finish last, you get two games against other last place teams from the previous season)
The best franchises are the best because they know what they’re doing. They scout talent better, they make trades at the right time, and they keep key guys. The revenue sharing and salary cap make that a lot easier to do, this is true. But it doesn’t make it easier for poor teams to turn things around. Just look at the last 20 years, the NFL has seen the Giants, Steelers, Broncos and Packers win two Super Bowls each. The Cowboys and Patriots have won three each. That’s 14 out of the 20 between six teams. They’ve also lost five Super Bowls between them. Don’t tell me parity.
The majority of an NFL team’s schedule is made up from playing the three other teams in their division. If the salary cap is such a great equalizer, why is it the strongest teams still so often come from the major television markets? The AFC East, with teams in New York, Miami and Boston. The NFC East is home to teams from Philadelphia, New York, Dallas and Washington DC.
The NFL is popular because America loves violence, speed and we don’t have the attention span for more games. There’s other reasons, some obvious (a more engaging experience for fans) some aren’t (Race. Yeah, I said it) and because we often don’t see the faces it’s a less personal relationship with the players, and therefore more about the team.
I’m not knocking the NFL, it’s a fantastic product and the league has done a superior job marketing itself over the years. Baseball had horrible labor issues and lost a World Series in the 90’s, and the NBA has image issues that I could spend an entire post on. Just don’t tell me it’s the friggin’ salary cap.
February 14, 2011
Hirp Culture: Flicks and Tunes
Okay, look at this collection of names: Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Minka Kelly (for a minute), Salma Hayek, Leslie Mann, Keri Russell, Emmanuelle Chriqui,, Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale, Paz Vega, Drew Barrymore, Marisa Tomei, Emily Watson, Patricia Arquette, Joey Lauren Adams, Kristy Swanson, Julie Bowen, Fariuza Balk, and Bridgette Wilson. Okay if this was an IQ test, and you were asked to pick out what doesn’t fit the pattern, you’d pick Balk and Watson. Just sayin’.
So you’re wondering why all those names are together, is it Hirp’s “list?” No, those are the women that have played the love interest of one Adam Sandler. I like Sandler, and his movies are usually good fun, but I feel comfortable saying this, he’s no looker. Pretty sure his movies are just his fantasies, only he gets to wake up and play them out. He’s been: a golfer, allowed to go back to school, a lawyer who doesn’t have to work, a singer, a college football player, inherited millions, a marine-life veterinarian, a chef, architect, fireman, Hollywood agent, Israeli counter-terrorist, a big successful movie star, and a world class plastic surgeon.
That all said, I enjoyed Just Go with It. It’s the same Sandler formula we’ve seen, but it’s matured just enough so that it still works. Jennifer Aniston was really funny, and I’d like to see her do more comedy instead of the romantic comedy. Even if this was kind of a romantic comedy, it was a sneaky one at that. Kind of the way Jerry Maguire was a sneaky chick-flick. I went in with pretty low expectations, as you should too.
Later in the evening, it lead to a conversation with Mrs. Hirp regarding the roles women get in movies. This happened as she watched The Holiday again, and I was desperate to ignore the screen. I accept chick flicks, it’s a necessary evil, and occasionally they can be done well. My biggest beef with them isn’t how ridiculous the premise is, but how bad they are for women, especially younger girls. The leading lady is always either with a real ass. He treats her like crap, but she sticks it out. Then some other bumbling idiot comes along, and he’s so quirky that he’s charming. He has his own baggage, like he just might be a bit of a man-whore. Or she’s torn between the guy who just won’t commit and the good guy. There’s always another woman that is involved with one of her men of interest, and someone has to get dumped for the happy ending. It’s almost never a strong, smart and independent woman, whose just looking for the right guy, who finds the right guy. The best character, I could think of, is Uma Thurman’s character in Prime.
*
I understand the difference between Song of the Year and Record of the Year. In case you don’t, SOY is for the song writer, while ROY is for the performer. Either way you cut it, Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” is the biggest turd to win since “My Heart Will Go On” in 1999.
I’m holding out hope, that the best side effect of our current economic climate will be better music. Grunge and hip-hops golden age came from artists who came of age in the 70’s. The decade of: Kent State, Nixon, Jonestown, Iran, the ’72 Olympics, and the oil crisis. They were the grand children of “The Greatest Generation.”
Then we had the era of the Spice Girls, N’Sync, Backstreet Boys and Brittney. Those kids grew up in the 80’s, the age of greed and excess. Now we have kids growing up who have experienced terrorists attacks in the United States, never ending wars, ridiculously high unemployment, tsunami’s, devastating earth quakes, Darfur, Katrina, H1N1, Yes We Can, the revolution in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East and the iPod.
Justin Bieber, Ladies Gaga and Antebellum (yes, I know the latter is a band), Bruno Mars, Ke$ha, and anyone who appears on “American Idol” simply is not evidence of a great generation of musicians.
So you’re wondering why all those names are together, is it Hirp’s “list?” No, those are the women that have played the love interest of one Adam Sandler. I like Sandler, and his movies are usually good fun, but I feel comfortable saying this, he’s no looker. Pretty sure his movies are just his fantasies, only he gets to wake up and play them out. He’s been: a golfer, allowed to go back to school, a lawyer who doesn’t have to work, a singer, a college football player, inherited millions, a marine-life veterinarian, a chef, architect, fireman, Hollywood agent, Israeli counter-terrorist, a big successful movie star, and a world class plastic surgeon.
That all said, I enjoyed Just Go with It. It’s the same Sandler formula we’ve seen, but it’s matured just enough so that it still works. Jennifer Aniston was really funny, and I’d like to see her do more comedy instead of the romantic comedy. Even if this was kind of a romantic comedy, it was a sneaky one at that. Kind of the way Jerry Maguire was a sneaky chick-flick. I went in with pretty low expectations, as you should too.
Later in the evening, it lead to a conversation with Mrs. Hirp regarding the roles women get in movies. This happened as she watched The Holiday again, and I was desperate to ignore the screen. I accept chick flicks, it’s a necessary evil, and occasionally they can be done well. My biggest beef with them isn’t how ridiculous the premise is, but how bad they are for women, especially younger girls. The leading lady is always either with a real ass. He treats her like crap, but she sticks it out. Then some other bumbling idiot comes along, and he’s so quirky that he’s charming. He has his own baggage, like he just might be a bit of a man-whore. Or she’s torn between the guy who just won’t commit and the good guy. There’s always another woman that is involved with one of her men of interest, and someone has to get dumped for the happy ending. It’s almost never a strong, smart and independent woman, whose just looking for the right guy, who finds the right guy. The best character, I could think of, is Uma Thurman’s character in Prime.
*
I understand the difference between Song of the Year and Record of the Year. In case you don’t, SOY is for the song writer, while ROY is for the performer. Either way you cut it, Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” is the biggest turd to win since “My Heart Will Go On” in 1999.
I’m holding out hope, that the best side effect of our current economic climate will be better music. Grunge and hip-hops golden age came from artists who came of age in the 70’s. The decade of: Kent State, Nixon, Jonestown, Iran, the ’72 Olympics, and the oil crisis. They were the grand children of “The Greatest Generation.”
Then we had the era of the Spice Girls, N’Sync, Backstreet Boys and Brittney. Those kids grew up in the 80’s, the age of greed and excess. Now we have kids growing up who have experienced terrorists attacks in the United States, never ending wars, ridiculously high unemployment, tsunami’s, devastating earth quakes, Darfur, Katrina, H1N1, Yes We Can, the revolution in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East and the iPod.
Justin Bieber, Ladies Gaga and Antebellum (yes, I know the latter is a band), Bruno Mars, Ke$ha, and anyone who appears on “American Idol” simply is not evidence of a great generation of musicians.
February 10, 2011
Hirped Off
I was out of work for over a year, and in that time one thing was made crystal clear to me: if you’re looking for a job, you’re going to be treated as a whore. At least a prostitute gets paid for getting bent over. To just get an interview requires busting ones ass. You spend hours on your resume, picking and choosing each word as if your life depends on it, and it kind of does. You read through thousands of positions over dozens of websites just to find one that’s interesting, attainable, relevant, and sounds like it might pay enough. Then you spend sometimes an hour filling out their online application, which requires you to enter pretty much everything that’s on the resume you gave birth to.
After all that, 85 out of 100 go unanswered. Not even a rejection email for your effort. Then you get 14 generic reject emails, and that’s a win. That leaves you with one positive response, if you’re lucky. So now you have an interview to prepare for. You research the company and the person interviewing you. Taking notes like a college freshman on the first day of class. At least that’s how I was, since that was pretty much the only time I remember taking good notes. You move your schedule around, and ask your spouse and kids to adjust as well, so you are available for the interview. I don’t know how many times I was told that the interview would take around an hour, only for it to be over in 15 minutes. Sound familiar? Personally, the night, maybe even two, were sleepless. I stressed to the point that I grew hair just to lose it. Asked my wife which shirt and tie combination would be best, let the Kyd chime in with which tie she thought was my “lucky” tie.
Then finally, you get interviewed. Some go well, some don’t. You spend hours, even days, rehashing every response in your head. NFL coaches don’t spend as much time analyzing every play after a game. You send a thank you note, as everyone suggests you should. Then you wait. Then you wait, and perhaps wait some more. You hear nothing. There’s more chatter out of Bin Laden. Will you get to the next round? Landing this job would change your families’ life, and without a doubt, it will impact future generations. So, yeah, there’s a little pressure here.
What do you hear? Absolutely nothing. A big fat doughnut. There’s no generic email, and there’s no phone call thanking you for applying and putting yourself through hell. So finally you give them a call, just to follow up, and show just how serious you are and how much you want the position. Their response, “oh, we filled that position last week.”
How bout I just lose sleep, drive my family nuts, spend some of my money and instead of interviewing me, you just kick me in the balls and we call it a day.
Seriously, as much as I hate the rejection emails, do me that one favor. Show me that much decency. For the love of God, have a heart.
I have a job now, and that’s great. It’s not the best job in the world, so I’m still looking. This makes going through this hell, a little easier to stomach, but it sure as shit isn’t fun yet. What makes this entire situation even worse is that there seems to be a sentiment out there, that the unemployed don’t want to work. That getting a job is easy if you want one, and the majority of the unemployed are just being lazy. You can say that if you want, just leave $100 on my nightstand in the morning.
After all that, 85 out of 100 go unanswered. Not even a rejection email for your effort. Then you get 14 generic reject emails, and that’s a win. That leaves you with one positive response, if you’re lucky. So now you have an interview to prepare for. You research the company and the person interviewing you. Taking notes like a college freshman on the first day of class. At least that’s how I was, since that was pretty much the only time I remember taking good notes. You move your schedule around, and ask your spouse and kids to adjust as well, so you are available for the interview. I don’t know how many times I was told that the interview would take around an hour, only for it to be over in 15 minutes. Sound familiar? Personally, the night, maybe even two, were sleepless. I stressed to the point that I grew hair just to lose it. Asked my wife which shirt and tie combination would be best, let the Kyd chime in with which tie she thought was my “lucky” tie.
Then finally, you get interviewed. Some go well, some don’t. You spend hours, even days, rehashing every response in your head. NFL coaches don’t spend as much time analyzing every play after a game. You send a thank you note, as everyone suggests you should. Then you wait. Then you wait, and perhaps wait some more. You hear nothing. There’s more chatter out of Bin Laden. Will you get to the next round? Landing this job would change your families’ life, and without a doubt, it will impact future generations. So, yeah, there’s a little pressure here.
What do you hear? Absolutely nothing. A big fat doughnut. There’s no generic email, and there’s no phone call thanking you for applying and putting yourself through hell. So finally you give them a call, just to follow up, and show just how serious you are and how much you want the position. Their response, “oh, we filled that position last week.”
How bout I just lose sleep, drive my family nuts, spend some of my money and instead of interviewing me, you just kick me in the balls and we call it a day.
Seriously, as much as I hate the rejection emails, do me that one favor. Show me that much decency. For the love of God, have a heart.
I have a job now, and that’s great. It’s not the best job in the world, so I’m still looking. This makes going through this hell, a little easier to stomach, but it sure as shit isn’t fun yet. What makes this entire situation even worse is that there seems to be a sentiment out there, that the unemployed don’t want to work. That getting a job is easy if you want one, and the majority of the unemployed are just being lazy. You can say that if you want, just leave $100 on my nightstand in the morning.
February 07, 2011
Hirp Gets Retarded
I’m not a fan of The Black Eyed Peas, but I appreciate what they do. Often, I enjoy their songs. They make some catchy damn tunes, there’s no denying it. In fact, I owned their first CD, this was pre-Fergie, “Joints & Jams” was a great song. They looked to be kind of like The Pharcyde, and maybe even a little Tribe Called Quest. Then they added Fergie, an okay looking girl with a pretty great body and pretty good pipes. Next stop: global phenomena.
They’ve been consistent, yet changed just enough to keep from getting stale, and produced commercial hits almost every other week. Basically, they became the music version of Michael Bay. Fergie became more and more annoying, and a bigger distraction. will.i.am, who was originally signed to Eazy-E’s Ruthless label, the original home of NWA, is a proven lyrists and producer. Seriously, just look at the who’s who list that he’s worked with: Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Nas, The game, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, the Pussycat Dolls and some Michael Jackson fella.
Along the way he did a little something for then candidate Barack Obama, you’ve seen it, the “Yes We Can” video. Amazing stuff and I really believe it helped Obama get elected. What I don’t understand is: why has he stayed with the Peas? He’s their John and Paul. (not that I think he’s either John or Paul) He’s their Axl and Slash. He’s the Justin of their N’Sync. He’s everything, except for the nice legs in a slutty skirt, to that group. After that atrocious Super Bowl halftime show, where Fergie looked stoned or just bored, proved she couldn’t sing and made an argument for why we want backing tracks in those situations.
William, mind if I call you William? Go solo.
Anyway, since I haven’t been impressed with a half time show since, well, ever. Here are my suggestions for future performers:
Jay Z & Beyonce- Both are hugely popular, and Jay is one of two rappers, who can perform live. And Beyonce has the energy to pull it off.
Eminem- He’s the other rapper that can actually perform live. And how great would hearing “Lose Yourself” be heading into the second half? As far as rappers go, a lot of his songs are great anthems. He’s also hilarious, and would be happy to lampoon any pop culture figures. The show could use some humor.
Justin Timberlake- The new King of Pop. Forget about Nipple-Gate.
Dave Matthews Band- A few years past their prime, but they’re epic live. And not ancient (see: Stones, Bon Jovi, The Who, Kiss, and Paul McCartney)
They’ve been consistent, yet changed just enough to keep from getting stale, and produced commercial hits almost every other week. Basically, they became the music version of Michael Bay. Fergie became more and more annoying, and a bigger distraction. will.i.am, who was originally signed to Eazy-E’s Ruthless label, the original home of NWA, is a proven lyrists and producer. Seriously, just look at the who’s who list that he’s worked with: Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Nas, The game, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, the Pussycat Dolls and some Michael Jackson fella.
Along the way he did a little something for then candidate Barack Obama, you’ve seen it, the “Yes We Can” video. Amazing stuff and I really believe it helped Obama get elected. What I don’t understand is: why has he stayed with the Peas? He’s their John and Paul. (not that I think he’s either John or Paul) He’s their Axl and Slash. He’s the Justin of their N’Sync. He’s everything, except for the nice legs in a slutty skirt, to that group. After that atrocious Super Bowl halftime show, where Fergie looked stoned or just bored, proved she couldn’t sing and made an argument for why we want backing tracks in those situations.
William, mind if I call you William? Go solo.
Anyway, since I haven’t been impressed with a half time show since, well, ever. Here are my suggestions for future performers:
Jay Z & Beyonce- Both are hugely popular, and Jay is one of two rappers, who can perform live. And Beyonce has the energy to pull it off.
Eminem- He’s the other rapper that can actually perform live. And how great would hearing “Lose Yourself” be heading into the second half? As far as rappers go, a lot of his songs are great anthems. He’s also hilarious, and would be happy to lampoon any pop culture figures. The show could use some humor.
Justin Timberlake- The new King of Pop. Forget about Nipple-Gate.
Dave Matthews Band- A few years past their prime, but they’re epic live. And not ancient (see: Stones, Bon Jovi, The Who, Kiss, and Paul McCartney)
January 31, 2011
JstParenting
This parenting gig is hard. Always heard that, “parenting is the hardest, most rewarding thing you can do.” I just didn’t fully realize how brutally honest it is. See, all my experience around kids was as an uncle. Even when the kids aren’t actually related to me, I was the uncle. It was all fun, and knowing that by just being a decent guy and around, I was setting a good example that might hopefully have some kind of long term impact.
Now don’t get me wrong, the Kyd is a phenomenal kid. She’s sweet, very funny, creative and wise beyond her years. She also loves to push buttons, insists on having an opinion at every turn, and has lately listened to me about as well as the Egypitans have been listening to their dictator. Yes, I realize that I’m a dictator in this situation. But that’s basically what parenting is, only the Kyd insists on fairness and a vote, in everything. She wants a say in dinner, when she comes in, how we spend our money, what we eat, what jobs I may consider, and even how she’s punished.
I realized a couple weeks ago that she and I were just butting heads way too much, and I know it puts Mrs. Hirp in an uncomfortable position. So I surprised her with a run for some frozen yogurt, and she was thrilled. We had a nice little chat, about how we’d both try harder. Basically meaning that I’d try to have a little more patience, and she’d occasionally do what I ask her to do upon the first request. Maybe I should have asked that she listen within the first two requests and dump her running editorial. I worry about her, and what could be happening at school that might be causing her to act out. Mostly because I think of how I was as a kid. Of course, she doesn’t have any of my DNA, but that’s how I can relate to her. She may not believe it, but I remember being nine. I remember it very well in fact. And at nine, I had more on my plate than most kids my age. So if she’s giving us attitude, I start think she’s internalizing some sort of drama. Maybe it’s the girls in the neighborhood, and there’s always drama with the three of them. Maybe someone’s bullying her, or maybe she’s not being nice to someone and she feels guilty. She’s always been so great at talking with her mother about what’s bothering her, so unlike the nine year old Hirp, so we tend to think that’s probably not the case.
Maybe she just wants to stand up to her step-father, she wouldn’t be the first. And let me tell you this, a bit off subject though. Anytime there’s a step-father in the news, I cringe. I cringe like any law abiding Muslim when there’s an extremist in the news. Lets just be clear, most step-fathers just want to get along with the kids. We love them as if they’re our own. Worry about all the things biological fathers’ worry about: mostly preventing boys from entering the picture. We’re not bad dudes. We’re not molesters or child beaters, just doing the best we can. Like the Sports Guy says, my job is to keep her off the poll and avoid becoming a grandparent for another 30 years. Got it? Good.
Pretty sure most of what is going on is hormone driven, which scares the shit out of me even more so. She’s just nine, and if the hormones are raging now, well then I just have to decide how much damage I want to do to my liver in the next 6 years. But then she flips a switch, or Cybil leaves the house, and she’s laughing and being the sweetest kid on the planet. I don’t expect her to be perfect, but she has spoiled us so. She has the vocabulary of a girl in her twenties, and she’s also the tallest in her class. She hardly ever appears to be a nine year old. Then she acts like a nine year old, and we forget that’s exactly what she is.
Now don’t get me wrong, the Kyd is a phenomenal kid. She’s sweet, very funny, creative and wise beyond her years. She also loves to push buttons, insists on having an opinion at every turn, and has lately listened to me about as well as the Egypitans have been listening to their dictator. Yes, I realize that I’m a dictator in this situation. But that’s basically what parenting is, only the Kyd insists on fairness and a vote, in everything. She wants a say in dinner, when she comes in, how we spend our money, what we eat, what jobs I may consider, and even how she’s punished.
I realized a couple weeks ago that she and I were just butting heads way too much, and I know it puts Mrs. Hirp in an uncomfortable position. So I surprised her with a run for some frozen yogurt, and she was thrilled. We had a nice little chat, about how we’d both try harder. Basically meaning that I’d try to have a little more patience, and she’d occasionally do what I ask her to do upon the first request. Maybe I should have asked that she listen within the first two requests and dump her running editorial. I worry about her, and what could be happening at school that might be causing her to act out. Mostly because I think of how I was as a kid. Of course, she doesn’t have any of my DNA, but that’s how I can relate to her. She may not believe it, but I remember being nine. I remember it very well in fact. And at nine, I had more on my plate than most kids my age. So if she’s giving us attitude, I start think she’s internalizing some sort of drama. Maybe it’s the girls in the neighborhood, and there’s always drama with the three of them. Maybe someone’s bullying her, or maybe she’s not being nice to someone and she feels guilty. She’s always been so great at talking with her mother about what’s bothering her, so unlike the nine year old Hirp, so we tend to think that’s probably not the case.
Maybe she just wants to stand up to her step-father, she wouldn’t be the first. And let me tell you this, a bit off subject though. Anytime there’s a step-father in the news, I cringe. I cringe like any law abiding Muslim when there’s an extremist in the news. Lets just be clear, most step-fathers just want to get along with the kids. We love them as if they’re our own. Worry about all the things biological fathers’ worry about: mostly preventing boys from entering the picture. We’re not bad dudes. We’re not molesters or child beaters, just doing the best we can. Like the Sports Guy says, my job is to keep her off the poll and avoid becoming a grandparent for another 30 years. Got it? Good.
Pretty sure most of what is going on is hormone driven, which scares the shit out of me even more so. She’s just nine, and if the hormones are raging now, well then I just have to decide how much damage I want to do to my liver in the next 6 years. But then she flips a switch, or Cybil leaves the house, and she’s laughing and being the sweetest kid on the planet. I don’t expect her to be perfect, but she has spoiled us so. She has the vocabulary of a girl in her twenties, and she’s also the tallest in her class. She hardly ever appears to be a nine year old. Then she acts like a nine year old, and we forget that’s exactly what she is.
January 24, 2011
Hirplings
This is getting to be a bit ridiculous, and a man in my position can’t be made to feel ridiculous! We’re now at three consecutive Sunday nights with less than desirable sleep. And by desirable, I mean half-way decent. The first was the most understandable, being the night before rejoining the work force after 64 weeks off. That was a bit nerve wracking. The second didn’t make too much sense. I was just anxious because my first week back at work, I didn’t do a thing. So I was worried about what it would it would be like to do some actual work. Now last night was just fucking dumb. What thoughts were keeping me up? I was anxious about “what if I can’t sleep again?” The fear of not sleeping kept me awake. If I could turn that into some sort of “fear of gaining weight” diet, I could retire within a month. Welcome to the Hirp’s mind.
***
So far in 2011 we’ve seen 19 people shot in Tucson with six of them passing away from their injuries, three law enforcement officers shot in St. Petersburg, four officers shot inside a police precinct in Detroit, and two officers killed in Miami. Two deputies were shot outside a Wal-Mart in Washington. Another cop was shot in Indianapolis (he’s in a coma), and one in Oregon is in critical condition. Oh, and by the way, that was just over a 24 hour period. Eleven officers in one day, yeah, let’s stay as far away from gun control as possible. There are definitely not too many guns in America. But there are just way too many bullets. As Chris Rock said:
“Everybody is talking about gun control. Got to control the guns. Fuck, that, I like guns. If you've got a gun, you don't need to work out! Cause, I ain't working out. I ain't jogging. No, I think we need some bullet control. I think every bullet should cost five thousand dollars. Five thousand dollars for a bullet. Know why? Cos if a bullet cost five thousand dollars, there'd be no more innocent by-standers. That'd be it. Some guy'd be shot you'd be all 'Damn, he must've done something, he's got fifty thousand dollars worth of bullets in his ass!' And people'd think before they shot someone 'Man I will blow your fucking head off, if I could afford it. I'm gonna get me a second job, start saving up, and you a dead man. You'd better hope I don't get no bullets on lay-away!' And even if you get shot you wouldn't need to go to the emergency room. Whoever shot you'd take their bullet back. 'I believe you got my property?'”
***
So far in 2011 we’ve seen 19 people shot in Tucson with six of them passing away from their injuries, three law enforcement officers shot in St. Petersburg, four officers shot inside a police precinct in Detroit, and two officers killed in Miami. Two deputies were shot outside a Wal-Mart in Washington. Another cop was shot in Indianapolis (he’s in a coma), and one in Oregon is in critical condition. Oh, and by the way, that was just over a 24 hour period. Eleven officers in one day, yeah, let’s stay as far away from gun control as possible. There are definitely not too many guns in America. But there are just way too many bullets. As Chris Rock said:
“Everybody is talking about gun control. Got to control the guns. Fuck, that, I like guns. If you've got a gun, you don't need to work out! Cause, I ain't working out. I ain't jogging. No, I think we need some bullet control. I think every bullet should cost five thousand dollars. Five thousand dollars for a bullet. Know why? Cos if a bullet cost five thousand dollars, there'd be no more innocent by-standers. That'd be it. Some guy'd be shot you'd be all 'Damn, he must've done something, he's got fifty thousand dollars worth of bullets in his ass!' And people'd think before they shot someone 'Man I will blow your fucking head off, if I could afford it. I'm gonna get me a second job, start saving up, and you a dead man. You'd better hope I don't get no bullets on lay-away!' And even if you get shot you wouldn't need to go to the emergency room. Whoever shot you'd take their bullet back. 'I believe you got my property?'”
January 18, 2011
Top 10 Movies of '10
Now that I FINALLY watched The Social Network, I'm ready to post my top 10 movies of the year.
Top 10 Movies of 2010:
10. The Fighter: Strong, very well done movie, which suffers from too much hype and a story that just felt too familiar, even if this exact story hadn't been told before. I'd like to see Amy Adams get Best Actress. I thought Christian Bale was over the top to the point of annoying…until they showed us the real Dickie. Hey, that sounds like a different Wahlberg flick.
9. Kick-Ass: I went with Porqchop, and I didn't know much about it going in, but it was the funniest movie of the year. The geeks are now owning the screen in Hollywood
8. Toy Story 3: Kept the Pixar streak alive. Sweet, funny and good fun for the entire fam.
7. The Kids Are Alright: Stellar performances all around, but it just wasn't the sweet-quirky movie I was expecting. I blame the previews, because it just may have deserved a higher ranking. But when I'm expecting quirky Juno-esque, it's best to not let me down. Love everything Mark Ruffalo does, Julianne Moore never fails to deliver and Annette Benning delivers one memorable performance per decade, and this was it.
6. Inception: When I walked out of this complete mind raping, I was sure it would end the year atop my list. But then a strange thing happened, after the first few days of obsessing over the genius of the story, I pretty much stopped thinking about it completely. Deserves a second viewing, I just can't bring myself to dedicate so much time and energy again just yet.
5. Social Network: Aaron Sorkin flat out rules. If we spoke the way his characters did, the world would be a far superior place. As I said, I just finally watched this, so perhaps the hype was too much to live up to, I just wasn't blown away. Thoroughly enjoyed it, as I went from despising Zuckerberg to sympathizing for him, an emotion no billionaire deserves.
4. The Town: My favorite movie of the year. Saw it twice in the theatre, purchased the BluRay upon release, and have watched it two more times at home. Ben Affleck has fully entrenched himself as his generations' Clint Eastwood, and Jeremy Renner is phenomenal. Check out the extended version for a one scene in particular.
3. 127 Hours: Might be the most intense, yet physically difficult to watch, movie I've ever seen. Flying solo, Franco owns the screen, which guarantees a nomination like playing a gay or mentally handicapped character.
2. True Grit: Jeff Bridges is outstanding, as is the unrecognizable Matt Damon. But Hailee Steinfeld steals the scenes like Natalie Portman did in The Professional. She's going places.
1. The King's Speech: For a while I was dead set on the idea that Collin Firth deserved Best Actor, but I think that maybe I felt that way because A. he was phenomenal and B. it made me feel smarter to go with the British film. I'm changing my vote to James Franco. His performance stuck with me longer, than any other this year.
Worst Movie of the Year: No contest, and also winner of most disappointing movie was Due Date. I'd like my money, my 90 minutes and my self respect back. Please and thank you.
(I have yet to see: The Black Swan, Winter's Bone, The Ghost Writer, Solitary Man, or I Am Love)
January 13, 2011
One for Christina Taylor Green
The first time I ever "blogged" was years before they called it blogging. I did so in response to a local tragedy, a car accident that took the lives of three local girls. The next time was my reaction to the Columbine shootings, and I'm sad to see that neither site is up any longer. Thanks, AOL. I've also, as you hopefully have noticed, have written numerous times about September 11. So it makes perfect sense for the horrible events in Tucson
Saturday afternoon I was dosing off on the couch, not so much because I was even that tired, it's just my natural reaction to "iCarly" or whichever awful show the Kyd had me watching. Then my bride came out of our room, looking very worried. She explained what had been reported up till then, that a Congresswoman in Tucson Tucson Tucson
A short time later we got them on the phone, so that was a relief. That's when we found out that my mom had volunteered this past year in Congresswoman Giffords' office. Shit got even more real then. From there, it just seemed to get more and more personal. As I'm sure most of us found different bits of news easy to relate to, I felt like it was just one thing after another. When it broke that one of the victims was a sweet, precocious, inquisitive nine year old, well, that rattled my cage. Oh, and she was born on 9/11. And, this sounds completely trivial, I'm sure, but her Grandfather was a former Major League Baseball manager. And he just happened to be a former manager of the Mets.
Then last night I found myself glued to the TV watching President Obama give a truly inspirational speech at a memorial service in Tucson
I believe that's what Christina Taylor Green would think too, and she deserves our good example.
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