So...about today...and tomorrow

To use an empty phrase of rhetoric myself, all I can do is hope today. Yes, hope. I know, odd word coming from me right? But at this point I have no other choice. I've put aside my disagreements with our new president and "hope" that he can lead this nation in the right direction.

We can all sit here and debate whether Obama's proposed programs are good or bad, socialist, liberal, conservative, whatever for days. We can sit here and bitch and moan about it and how the country is now in the pit of hell, blah, blah, blah. Like it wasn't already? Obama supporters can sit here and tell us how Bush is responsible for it all in the end and its all on him. We can see the people watching the inauguration who are so ready to "move on" do nothing but boo Bush and Cheney whenever they were on the screen today and show us how they aren't really ready to do that. We could concentrate on any number of these things, but we shouldn't.

If we really believe in a higher being (I'm assuming that many of you I went to high school or college with do), then its a matter of accepting that God has put the man in charge that he wants there at this time, just like the previous 8 years (for you Bush haters or the last 16 for you die-hard GOP nuts). We can "if, but, or what about that", but we shouldn't. We can continue to point out everything with which we disagree in regards to our new president and we can continue to point out everything that was a supposed fault of the previous one, but we shouldn't. Life is seldom black and white. Republicans ruled congress for the majority of Clinton's 8 years, and for the majority of Bush's as well. Good times, bad times. The economy tends to be a cyclical thing, and one that the president actually doesn't have a whole lot to do with, there are simply too many factors in this country and around the world.

But it's time to forget about that. It is. I did not vote for Bush in either of his elections for for Obama or McCain this time around. I voted for 3rd-party candidates who I felt were more in line with my supposed values or thinking. I feel fine with having voted for them. And in disagreement with many, I did not "waste" my vote by voting for the person I was most in line with. But those elections are over, especially the previous one. Unless I want to actually change the way things so and enter the realm of politics in one way or another (and believe me, after thinking about it way too much, I really don't), it's time to shut up and look elsewhere for a way to make this country and the world a better place. I don't know exactly what that is yet, but I know that it is time. Once again, we can concentrate on all of the negatives, but we shouldn't. Instead its time to embrace the countless positives that we have in this country, regardless of how we feel about who is in office and to forget about the whole country being in hell thing. I hope you will join me in moving forward.

MVP???

So the Colts finished 12-4. It's not as stunning as the 11-5 of the Dolphins or Falcons, to be sure. We could argue -- and you might win -- that Miami without Pennington and Atlanta without Ryan would have been 5-11 or worse. But I simply will not accept that coaches who proved themselves very resourceful (Tony Sparano, Mike Smith) would have been hapless without their quarterbacks. Miami would have played Chad Henne earlier. Atlanta would have ridden Turner to a few wins. Indy? Without Manning, I say a team that ran the ball in quicksand would have been 4-12. - Peter King

Peter King is a blowhard who is more than full of himself (but then I guess that is par for the course for anyone on Sunday Night Football, no?). Tony Dungy is not resourceful? Are you serious? Peyton Manning despite of all this shit with his knee is sacked how many times in 15+ games? 14. 4th least in the league. They only rushed 3.4 yds/c because they often abandoned it. It's obviously not about an offensive line that can protect someone that is about as mobile as 3 day old turd. They had the 3rd fewest carries in the league, while Manning is in the top 5 of pass attempts. Sounds like the Cardinals to me, with a better O-line. Kurt Warner was sacked 26 times.

They should have been 0-4 but were gifted games by the Vikes and Texans at the start of the year. Then there is the 9 game "winning" streak. One good win out 9. That was Pittsburgh, the second victory. The rest of it, a Patriot team that was mediocre at that time of the year, Houston, San Diego (in mid-season downward spiral), Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Jacksonville, and a Titan team that played no one in the last game.

Yes, without a doubt, Peyton is the obvious choice for MVP. Please. Should he be considered? Yes. But to call him the obvious choice over the likes of Chad Pennington, DeAngelo Williams, Michael Turner (how do you think Matt Ryan looks his rookie year without him?) and others is just naive.

They say...

That the new U2 album now has a release date of the Feb. 23...so I'm guessing we should probably see it by July 4th.

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/12/new-u2-album-no-line-on-the-horizon-gets-feb-23-re.html

As the puppies leave...

Puppies are weird. People have different reactions to them. Granted some people are dog people, and some are cat people. Some don’t like animals at all. And if you are male, make sure nobody knows that you are too much of an animal person, cause then that would make you gay or a serial killer. I think I can accept that from other people, lol.

I don’t want to call this a tribute or anything…perhaps a rumination. Erica Anderson-Senter introduced me some 6 weeks ago to the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/shiba-inu-puppy-cam). I’ll just say it’s been a blessing. And for someone whose life is in the shitter and likes to bitch, that’s saying something.

I’m not sure how many people were familiar with the Shiba Inu breed before the web explosion of the puppy cam (I have a feeling not that many). Adult Shiba’s tend to come across as aloof and selfish. Of course it varies, as it does with all dogs. You will never get a Shiba confused with a Golden Retriever or a Lab for personality. However, if they are properly raised, trained and socialized while growing up, chances are they will be a pretty cool dog, loyal to it’s owner. My favorite? The female “runt” of the litter, Ayumi, now minus her yellow collar.

I’m not sure exactly why other people are watching. I get some ideas with the comments that are posted on the cam site. For me, it is probably the simplicity of puppy and/or dog life. That and the love, energy and innocence that they exude on a non-stop basis. Things I see glaringly absent from my own for a long time.

So the time has come for a few of the pups to leave for their new homes. I imagine that quite a few viewers will be sad this weekend. I know I will be. And if you’re watching are honest with yourself, you will be too. Just some thoughts. Thanks again Erica, for helping forget things for a while.

The Big 12 and the BCS Thing

I will not pretend to be a sports expert by any means, though chances are you will be hard pressed to find someone that knows more about tennis than I do. As for college football, and what was supposedly "found out" last night about Texas Tech and Oklahoma, I disagree with the majority of what is being said. Sorry if you are an Oklahoma fan. But the whole Texas Tech is a poseur and Oklahoma is the real deal...sorry I don't buy it. And more ridiculous is the idea that Oklahoma has now proven themselves better than Texas and because Texas is idle, that Oklahoma will jump them in the BCS and the Polls.

Now here is the thing, I am not saying that Oklahoma isn't better, for this week, but not much. I simply ask people to look at the schedules. First Texas was asked to go through Oklahoma on a neutral field, Missouri, Ok St. and Texas Tech in Lubbock in successive games. This argument has been used to discredit TT's win as Texas simply ran out of gas. Texas Tech was asked to go through Kansas @ Kansas, Texas, Ok St. and Oklahoma in Norman in successive games. I tend to think the week off hurt Texas Tech regardless of having to go through that schedule. And then there is Oklahoma. They lost to Texas on a neutral field, beat the then slumping Kansas team by 14 at home, and then had two wins over the clearly lesser teams of Kansas State (5-7) and Nebraska (7-4)...and then had two weeks to prepare for Texas Tech at home. And apparently, it is a forgone conclusion that they will go to Oklahoma St. next week and win easily.

When I look back on all of this...perhaps it is more an indictment of the BCS than anything else. It all depends on when you lose and how your schedule shapes up, etc. And we can look at the ACC where no team apparently is good enough to win more than 2 games in a row and ask how in the hell is any team there going to a BCS game when once again an undefeated Boise St. team will be shut out. I think Bob Stoops can tell you that they are worthy of a BCS game. So what does it all mean? Not much I guess. Politics and computers win out. Oh by the way, one if not two of Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech will not be going to a BCS game. Make sense?

"This is Just the Beginning"...hopefully

“This is just the beginning of the new Libertarian Party,” says Bob Barr, the 2008 Libertarian Party nominee for president. “In these next four years, there will be an even greater need for a political party fully dedicated to lower taxes, smaller government and more individual freedom—a voice for liberty.”

“This year, we set a solid foundation for freedom, on which we will build a strong and united political organization that advances freedom and liberty in the United States,” says Barr. “I, and all Americans who support true liberty, owe a great debt of gratitude to our staff, donors, volunteers and voters who helped support this campaign.”

Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. Congressman Barr was the 2008 Libertarian Party Nominee for President.
The Libertarian Party is America’s third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Find This Odd?

Obama won the election last night. 52-46% of the popular vote. Not exactly what I would call a mandate. But a reasonable difference. A little bigger than Bush's win over Kerry. I have a question though...does anyone find what happened in California a little odd? Barry beat John 61-36% in the vote, and that is a lot of people voting. However, the gay marriage ban that was on the ballot passed. How is that possible? It wasn't an amendment to approve gay marriage, but to ban it. Perhaps I do not understand how so many people that voted for Barack would vote for something like that...progressive thinkers that they are and all. Oh, did I mention that issue 4 did not pass? Abortion is acceptable in all ways (and yes, I know its not a black and white issue, there is plenty of grey area)...but keep those damn queers away from the chapel. Right?

So This Is It...

Election day is here. I won't kid you and say that at this point in my life I am not a pessimist. I am. I've been through too much shit...and am still going through it on a daily/hourly basis not to be. I won't pretend that what I am going to say is some polished, deep argument. If my mind was in a better place, then perhaps it would be.

I can not in good faith pull the lever for Obama or McCain. Rhetoric is nice and makes you feel good, but that really isn't what being president is about. I think. Obama has largely gotten a free pass from the media. Please don't try to make an argument that the media is not left-wing. It is. I know too little about Obama, and no one is going to bother to investigate. They have signed off and thrown any thought of inquiry to the wind. As for the so-called associations, I won't harp or anything to that extent like some right-wing blowhard (cuz I'm not one). I'll say that Barry was either naive knew damn well what these people thought, which is unfortunate, or he is very naive (which is scary). I think he is too smart of a guy to be naive.And on top of that I really don't like or believe the policies. There is simply not a way to pay for all of the programs he states he will enact by simply increasing the tax rate by a small percentage on those making over $250K...or is it $200K...or is it $150K...or well, I guess if the number keeps going down far enough, maybe it will.

I can not vote for McCain either. If McCain was the person I thought he was in 2000...well, probably not then either. But I can't vote for him. He did what he to do...saddle up with the Republicans more so than he had in the last few years. Make amends with Jerry Fallwell (asshole). Be gung ho on going into Iraq. Make like a socialist and approve the bailout and speak of buying up the defaulted mortgages. And choose a VP candidate that...while she makes a nice piece for SNL has done little else. And with that completely shot to shit the argument about Obama not having enough experience. Oh, did I mention that Obama (the true believer in change that he is) went with Joe Biden for his VP? The true fighter for the common man? Right.

So...being more inclined toward smaller government and somewhat of a libertarian in my way of thinking, I will be voting for Bob Barr. Well, that and the fact that I no longer have any idea what Ron Paul is trying to accomplish. I'm not overly thrilled about Barr, who used to be a Republican and originally voted for the war. But I guess changing your position at some point is better than staying with it til' you've driven everything into the ground. I'm sure those who are voting for Obama/Biden can appreciate that in relation to Joe's voting record.

I am a big fan of many, many musicians and actors/actresses. However, I do not need them telling me that I need to vote the Democratic party-line every election. That is simply insulting. It is. Collages for music videos interspersed with "yes we can" and such...no thanks. I understand you think the country is in the toilet and that every word coming out of Barack's mouth is gold. Sorry. Can't buy me. That all being said, I really am not enthused about the thought of waking up Wednesday regardless of which of the big two win. I still believe that 3rd-party voices need to be heard, even though I know that they are also far from perfect. I used to have somewhat of a love for politics, but by the end of this election season, I really don't know if I want to think about it ever again.

I thought I liked Hines Ward...

Being a life-long Bengals fan, one never has a whole lot of love for the Steelers...'cept for when they play the Browns. This year is without a doubt the most difficult to have been a Bengals fan. Yeah, we've sucked bad and started out 0-7 before. But not when there was a decent amount of talent on the roster. I could lament this for paragraph's, but I won't.

I always respected Hines Ward in the past. A WR that could block and block well, and not bitch, cry and moan about calls and hits. But I've noticed an increasing need for him to block and block hard, well away from the action...not "illegal", but questionable. This last Sunday he levelled a hit on Bengals rookie LB Keith Rivers, when Rivers at worst MAY have pushed Big Ben out of bounds, that wound up breaking River's jaw and sidelining him for the rest of the season, and then celebrating after it was over. Steeler's and Bengal's will give you various opinions on the "dirty" or "clean" argument. You can guess which side most will take, depending on their affiliation. I've seen it. At best, its questionable, at worst its helmet to helmet (or helmet to jaw if you'd like to call it that), that was completely unnecessary. I can guarantee you this, Hines. When the second meeting rolls around, Bengals players on defense will not think twice about penalty or suspension when you are rolling by. And as for me being a fan of yours...well, I can still respect your ability, which I do, but a fan I am no more.

I take it back...

...what I had said before about the homeowners. My bad. This obviously wasn't about helping them out. From the looks of things it is about saddling the taxpayer with a bigger burden and helping people that were making a lot of money...to...keep making a lot of money. And of course we are once again "helping" people to get loans for cars, houses, credit cards...loans that some of those people will pay off but a lot of them won't. So...once again, we stare greed right in the face, and it is the person with common intelligence and those who are prudent with their finances that have to blink.