Friday, July 30, 2004
New Way to start the update....
Song of the Day:
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An' it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin' anyway
So don't think twice, it's all right
Bonus song of the Day:
Go 'way from my window,
Leave at your own chosen speed.
I'm not the one you want, babe,
I'm not the one you need.
You say you're lookin' for someone
Never weak but always strong,
To protect you an' defend you
Whether you are right or wrong,
Someone to open each and every door,
But it ain't me, babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.
This Day in History:
In 1729, the city of Baltimore was founded. The following year, gang crime was invented. OK, maybe not.
In 1792, the French national anthem "La Marseillaise," by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, was first sung in Paris. The words to the national anthem are the following:
"We surrender! We roll over, we give up!"
Repeat 10 times. Always played at border crossings. For anyone. A donkey could wonder across the Italian border, and a band would strike up.
In 1864, during the Civil War, Union forces tried to take Petersburg, Va., by exploding a mine under Confederate defense lines — the attack failed.
In 1942, President Roosevelt signed a bill creating a women's auxiliary agency in the Navy known as "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" — WAVES for short. Chlamydia was invented shortly after. Ok, not really.
In 1965, President Johnson signed into law the Medicare bill, which went into effect the following year.
In 1975, former Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in suburban Detroit — although presumed dead, his remains have never been found.
In 1980, the Israeli Knesset passed a law reaffirming all of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.
Today's Birthdays:
Actor Dick Wilson ("Mr. Whipple") is 88.
HIs biggest claim to fame is soft tissue that you use to clean your butt. But we love him for it.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is 57.
What is YOUR favorite Arnold movie and/or character. And no BS answer about how he's always playing some version of himself, because we already know that. Predator? Terminator? Total Recall? Twins? Junior?
Actor Laurence Fishburne (and Daily Update favorite) is 43.
Now, Lawrence is a fantastic actor, but when I first saw him, I hated him. Hte first memorable movie I saw him in was What's Love Got To Do With It?, the Tina Turner story. He played Ike. And I hated Ike. But after I took some time to think, it takes a really great actor to create a character that you hate that much. And after seeing him in Othello...well it's pretty obvious he's good at what he does.
Actress Lisa Kudrow is 41.
Actress Vivica A. Fox is 40.
All I need now is a glass of milk to dunk her in...yum.
Actress Hilary Swank is 30. (Is it just me or does her name just SOUND dirty?)
Actress Jaime Pressly is 27.
I'm not a proponent of smoking. Normally it's a HUGE turnoff. But that top picture of Jaime....dang.
Word of the Day:
ensorcell , transitive verb:
To enchant; to bewitch.
Shakespeare Quote of the Day:
"They do not love that do not show their love"
Two G of V, Act i, Sc.2
Forget Kris, let's trade for Anna Benson!
Kris Benson is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has a wife named Anna Benson. She has a website. She also has some unique viewpoints on the concept of abstinence prior to competition. These thoughts are shared here.
Pictures of another hot baseball wife, Shaune Bagwell, who has been in the daily Upate before, can be found here.
New Showtime show, The Ranch:
In their efforts to find the next mini-series that can do battle with HBO, and become the next "Sex and the City" or Sopranos, Showtime has produced a show called "the Ranch", which centers around a brothel in Nevada. High on above-average looking women simulating sex acts, the show has promise, and allows you to see them as people, and not just sex objects, even if thats what the job description requires. the only problem is that it's hard to feel any empathy for them because, well, they are prostitutes. There's one who is getting married, and hiding the fact that she is/was a prostitute (he thinks she is an airline stewardess). There's another who is fighting with her ex-husband over how to raise their daughter, and how much influence her career has on the little girls upbringing. There is a widowed mother who runs the place and watches over the hired help, while raising a teenage son. Or the bartender who has romantic feelings towards one of the working girls.
Some interesting story lines, even if you don't really care about the outcome of their lives. There are hidden costs and consequenes that you pay when you enter into career fields like these. And you have to be strong enough to pay them if this is what you want to do with your life. So I'll watch,and hopefully some of you will to, so that we can have some discussion about it.
You'll get to see her if you watch. That's enough incentive isn't it?
Nadine Velazquez for no reason at all:
Are you accusing me of padding a weak Daily Update with a bunch of pictures to throw you off the scent? Yes. Yes I am.
Find it in yourselves to forgive me.
Song of the Day:
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An' it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin' anyway
So don't think twice, it's all right
Bonus song of the Day:
Go 'way from my window,
Leave at your own chosen speed.
I'm not the one you want, babe,
I'm not the one you need.
You say you're lookin' for someone
Never weak but always strong,
To protect you an' defend you
Whether you are right or wrong,
Someone to open each and every door,
But it ain't me, babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.
This Day in History:
In 1729, the city of Baltimore was founded. The following year, gang crime was invented. OK, maybe not.
In 1792, the French national anthem "La Marseillaise," by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, was first sung in Paris. The words to the national anthem are the following:
"We surrender! We roll over, we give up!"
Repeat 10 times. Always played at border crossings. For anyone. A donkey could wonder across the Italian border, and a band would strike up.
In 1864, during the Civil War, Union forces tried to take Petersburg, Va., by exploding a mine under Confederate defense lines — the attack failed.
In 1942, President Roosevelt signed a bill creating a women's auxiliary agency in the Navy known as "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" — WAVES for short. Chlamydia was invented shortly after. Ok, not really.
In 1965, President Johnson signed into law the Medicare bill, which went into effect the following year.
In 1975, former Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in suburban Detroit — although presumed dead, his remains have never been found.
In 1980, the Israeli Knesset passed a law reaffirming all of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.
Today's Birthdays:
Actor Dick Wilson ("Mr. Whipple") is 88.
HIs biggest claim to fame is soft tissue that you use to clean your butt. But we love him for it.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is 57.
What is YOUR favorite Arnold movie and/or character. And no BS answer about how he's always playing some version of himself, because we already know that. Predator? Terminator? Total Recall? Twins? Junior?
Actor Laurence Fishburne (and Daily Update favorite) is 43.
Now, Lawrence is a fantastic actor, but when I first saw him, I hated him. Hte first memorable movie I saw him in was What's Love Got To Do With It?, the Tina Turner story. He played Ike. And I hated Ike. But after I took some time to think, it takes a really great actor to create a character that you hate that much. And after seeing him in Othello...well it's pretty obvious he's good at what he does.
Actress Lisa Kudrow is 41.
Actress Vivica A. Fox is 40.
All I need now is a glass of milk to dunk her in...yum.
Actress Hilary Swank is 30. (Is it just me or does her name just SOUND dirty?)
Actress Jaime Pressly is 27.
I'm not a proponent of smoking. Normally it's a HUGE turnoff. But that top picture of Jaime....dang.
Word of the Day:
ensorcell , transitive verb:
To enchant; to bewitch.
Shakespeare Quote of the Day:
"They do not love that do not show their love"
Two G of V, Act i, Sc.2
Forget Kris, let's trade for Anna Benson!
Kris Benson is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has a wife named Anna Benson. She has a website. She also has some unique viewpoints on the concept of abstinence prior to competition. These thoughts are shared here.
Pictures of another hot baseball wife, Shaune Bagwell, who has been in the daily Upate before, can be found here.
New Showtime show, The Ranch:
In their efforts to find the next mini-series that can do battle with HBO, and become the next "Sex and the City" or Sopranos, Showtime has produced a show called "the Ranch", which centers around a brothel in Nevada. High on above-average looking women simulating sex acts, the show has promise, and allows you to see them as people, and not just sex objects, even if thats what the job description requires. the only problem is that it's hard to feel any empathy for them because, well, they are prostitutes. There's one who is getting married, and hiding the fact that she is/was a prostitute (he thinks she is an airline stewardess). There's another who is fighting with her ex-husband over how to raise their daughter, and how much influence her career has on the little girls upbringing. There is a widowed mother who runs the place and watches over the hired help, while raising a teenage son. Or the bartender who has romantic feelings towards one of the working girls.
Some interesting story lines, even if you don't really care about the outcome of their lives. There are hidden costs and consequenes that you pay when you enter into career fields like these. And you have to be strong enough to pay them if this is what you want to do with your life. So I'll watch,and hopefully some of you will to, so that we can have some discussion about it.
You'll get to see her if you watch. That's enough incentive isn't it?
Nadine Velazquez for no reason at all:
Are you accusing me of padding a weak Daily Update with a bunch of pictures to throw you off the scent? Yes. Yes I am.
Find it in yourselves to forgive me.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Song of the Day:
Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks (gonna)
Come back and take you home, I could not stop, that you now know
(singing)
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities (am I)
A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease (singing)
You are You are You are You are You are You are
And nothing else compares
Oh no nothing else compares
And nothing else compares
This Day In History:
In 1789, Congress established the Department of Foreign Affairs, the forerunner of the Department of State.
In 1794, French revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre was overthrown and placed under arrest; he was executed the following day.
In 1861, Union General George B. McClellan was put in command of the Army of the Potomac.
In 1866, Cyrus W. Field finally succeeded, after two failures, in laying the first underwater telegraph cable between North America and Europe.
In 1960, Richard Nixon was nominated for president at the Republican national convention in Chicago.
In 1974, the House Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) voted 27-11 to recommend President Nixon's impeachment on a charge that he had personally engaged in a "course of conduct" designed to obstruct justice in the Watergate case.
In 1996, terror struck the Atlanta Olympics as a pipe bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park, killing one person and injuring more than 100.
That Day In History (Monday):
In 1775, Benjamin Franklin became postmaster-general.
In 1788, New York became the 11th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
In 1908, U.S. Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte issued an order creating an investigative agency that was a forerunner of the FBI (news - web sites).
In 1948, President Truman signed a pair of executive orders prohibiting discrimination in the U.S. armed forces and federal employment.
In 1952, Adlai E. Stevenson was nominated for president by the Democratic national convention in Chicago; John J. Sparkman was nominated for vice president. Now, wait a minute....that can't be right. I don't remember there ever being a President Stevenson.
In 1952, Argentina's first lady, Eva Peron, died in Buenos Aires at age 33.
In 1952, King Farouk I of Egypt abdicated in the wake of a coup led by Gamal Abdel Nasser.
In 1953, Fidel Castro began his revolt against Fulgencio Batista with an unsuccessful attack on an army barracks in eastern Cuba. (Castro ousted Batista in 1959.)
In 1971, Apollo 15 was launched from Cape Kennedy.
Todays birthdays:
Rock star Mick Jagger is 61.
The man that proved "Ugly is Sexy". Well, OK. Not ugly. "Money is sexy". But I'm not bitter.
Rock musician Roger Taylor (Queen) is 55.
OH, yeah....they were straight..(rolls eyes)
Actor Kevin Spacey is 45.
But who is Keyser Soze? It's Kevin Spacey. There. I just saved you 2 hours. Thank me later.
Rock singer Gary Cherone is 43.
He was in "Extreme", who was not. thereis a hole in his heart that can only be filled by me. Well, hopefully it's the shape of a 45 magnum bullet, for what he did with Van Halen. Ok that's harsh. But Gary? Go away.
Actress Sandra Bullock is 40.
But she looks better in long hair, as I'm sure you'll agree...
Actress Kate Beckinsale is 31.
That nurse outfit is quite flattering. I put that sentance in just so I could have a link to "nurse outfit". Here's another picture as an apology.
Soap Opera Monday recap of the week:
Every Monday, the Star Tribune publishes a summarized paragraph of the previous weeks story line for each soap opera. This allows those who watch them to pick up where they left off. for me, it some of the most unintentionally funny reading I've seen since the Whitewater deposition. Seil Groves was the original writer, and none of this is to reflect on her.
This weeks winner is GENERAL HOSPITAL.
"After Edward told Sonny and Carly that their love for each other reminded him of the love he shared with his late wife Lila, they admitted they wanted their marriage back. Heather fantasized about marrying Edward, and then killing him. "
Word of the Day:
braggadocio, noun:
1. A braggart.
2. Empty boasting.
3. A swaggering, cocky manner.
Picture of Cash Casia for no reason whatsoever:
Shakespeare Quote of the Day:
"A rarer spirit never did steer humanity"
Ant & Cleo, Act v, Sc.1
Ricky Williams runs for daylight:
Running Back Ricky Williams announced his retirement on Saturday evening, forcing the Miami Dolphins to consider playing the entire 2004 season strictly on defense and special teams, seeing as how the Dolphins no longer have an offense.
Turns out that Ricky had no passion for the sport, and enjoyed traveling and toking much more. Whatever. If he wants to eget to places unknown high flying, I guess I have no control over it. What is amazing is how it cripples his team completely. Dolphins coaches said that he was entusiastica nd attended all of hte off-season meetings with gusto, so I'm thinking it was a recent development. He started thinking about retirement, and the more he thought about it, the more it appealed to him. And the more it appealed to him, the less he coud wait to explore the world, with a plane ticket in one hand,and a joint in the other.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins are left in the lurch at this new development. And especially Dave Wannstedt,former Bears head coach and current Dolphins head coach. Good ol' Dave needs to make some serious serious noise in the playoffs to keep his job. And now, without the one man his entire offense was built around, he's left with flotsam and jetsom to piece togeather an attack. It's not going to work, and we all retty much know it. They counted on Ricky to get 6-7 yards on first and second down, making for a convertable 3rd and short. Without that, their offense just isn't built to be able to get a first down on 3rd and 7 or 8.
Relax Dolphins fans, the Cheerleaders aren't leaving.
So they'll scan over the waiver wire, and will probably sign Stacy Mack or James Stewart, or some other RB of that ilk to replace him, while they plan on just getting through the next year, and will probably look at making some wholesale changes to their personnel (and maybe coaches?) in the next off-season.
They COULD make a trade with the RB-heavy Vikings, who have 3-4 guys who could be starters, or they could go with Anthony Thomas of the Bears, but why do that when they can get a free agent and not cost themselves a player or draft pick they'll need later?
Now, had they been able to plan for this during the off-season, or even if it had happened as recently as a month ago, they could have been able to plan for it, and make a few moves to compensate for their loss. If it happened before the draft, tehy could have taken Stephen Jackson out of Oregon, who would have been a perfect fit.Or they could have made a free agent signing, like Thomas Jones, or gone after Corey Dillon.
OR even if it happened a week or so ago, they could have had Eddie George, or Antwoin Smith. INsterad they're looking at scraps and has-beens like James Stewart or Dorsey Levens. Dorsey Levens hasn't had a good year since 1998. That's about 6 years ago at this point, folks.
so what is my point? Well, the same as everyone elses. the Dolphins season is hosed. Maybe if they had a more creative coaching staff, they'd stand a chance, but I have so little faith in Dave Wannstedt (from his days as a Bears head coach) that I predict nothing but doom and gloom for him.
Still, I have to wonder if all of the magazines like Sporting News and Street and Smith's, etc. who ahve all put out their annual football preview issues are banging their heads on their desks, since Ricky has already made each one of them out of date.
Doug Meintkiewicz possibly traded?
Back in 1992, the Twins were coming off of a World Championship season. In spring training, it was obvious that they were a starting pitcher short from contending, since Jack Moris decided to take his arm north to Toronto. So the Twins traded away a talented up-and-coming Paul Sorrento to Cleveland, and an outfielder who never amounted to anything and pitcher Denny Naegle to the Pittsburgh Pirates for John Smiley, who up to that point had been a young and promising pitcher, on the cusp of possible stardom.
John Smiley paid the Twins back by pouting through the season, complaining about the height of the mound, American league hiters, and anything else that came along. Meanwhile, the day AFTER the trade was made, Starting first baseman Kent Hrbek damaged his shoulder sliding into 3rd base during a spring training game.
The Twins traded away their backup 1st baseman only to lose their starting 1st baseman, traded away a promising arm for a up-til-then proven commodity, and in return got a moody, over-priced pitcher, who got out of Dodge (ok, Minneapolis) as soon as he could the following year.
12 years later, we're talking about trading away the best defensive 1st baseman in the league to pick up a pitcher for the playoff push. The pitcher? Kris Benson. Of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
NOT the Twins we are talking about.
Of course, we have a young new hotshot player in Justin Morneau, who is hitting moon shots into and beyond the bleachers. He is providing the offense that Doug just hasn't been able to do the past year. And he's healthy. And cheap. The move makes sens on a few fronts. Bowever, should Justin cool off or get injured, you no longer have the offense he provides, and you no longer have the defense or leadership that Doug provides. Given the best world situation, Doug would remain as an option off of the bench, and a late inning defensive replacement. Course, that would be ignoring Doug's desire to play and get at bats, and any sort of ego he might have. Or the fact that the Gm told him that he'd be traded this week.But I think that if we're setting ourselves up for a playoff run, he might provide more by staying than leaving. But that's just me. I will not buy this record, it is scratched.
Again, NOT these twins...
Hey! The rest of the article is down here!! Just can't stop staring, can you?
I'm not against getting some pitching to help us downthe road, but I'm against weakening our team defense (what this team was built on) and taking a major chance by trading away a possible key component during the toughest part of our schedule. ANd if Doug doesn't like sitting, then tough. We need him. We just don't have the room to start him right now. Given time, Morneau will cool off, and we'll need Dougie to step in. I just don't think he'll be here when that time comes.
The best sort of revenge is to live well:
Ther was a story in the Hoosier Gazette that told of a man who up until mid-July, was living a life best reserved for a country Western song. His wife cheated on him. His dog died, his car was totaled in an accident. He lost his home because of the divorce. All of which was finalized on July 15th. On July 17th, our tragic hero won the lottery. Now, he's free to live his life like a Johnny Cash "screw you!" type of song.
Congrats to Randy Fletcher. Live well. It'll torment the hell out of your ex-wife.
Picture of Tanit Phoenix for no reason at all:
Wedding Day blues:
The wife and I attended a weddingthis past weekend. It was a standard wedding, with nothing that struck me as all that different or unique in any bold way. BUt during the service, the fathe or the bride walked his daughter down the aisle, stopped, and was asked who gives this woman away. He stated "Her mother and I do." And then sat down to watch the rest of the ceremony.
2 reactions: A) The scene in Father of the Bride came to mind, as Steve Martin solliloquies about the moment, and his relationship with his daughter leading up to that point. And how she was no longer his daughter in that same sense any more...he had more claim to her as her husband than he did as a father.
B) I just about bawled like a baby on the spot. Because I knew that I would be going through it 3 times. Three times, I will have to hand over my daughter to another person. I would no longer be the primary person responsible for their security, for their serenity, for their health, or most important, their happiness. A moment that would be the happiest of their lives will be one of my lowest. And the two come togeather at the same place and time in the universe with alarming speed.
My oldest is 9 years old. My God....9 years! I've never taken her camping. Or fishing! Time is running out, and much too soon. Time is dragging me kicking and screaming to a moment that I'll never be ready for. And Anna is almost 4 years old now. Bailey is almost 2.
Steve Martin's character puts these feelings best in the movie, and I'll quote...
No, you don't lose them. They're still there. You're still daddy. But her heart belongs to another at that point. And you'll forgive me if I don't want to give that precious gem up.
After the wedding, we headed to the reception, and then headed home. However, since our baby sitters were willing to watch the kids overnight, we headed out for a night on the town. We had planned to head to Ground Zero, but we got an urge.
The wife has been re-discovering her passion for photography (nature and architechture, you pervs), and earlier in the day, we picked up a light meter.So we headed out for a midnight shooting, skulking around in parks at midnight, taking photos and having a blast. There wasn't much for me to do, other than follow her around and appreciate nature while she clicked away. But it gives me something to look forward to when the girls leave us to live their own lives. Now if only I could convince the wife to shoot a swimsuit calender.....
Wrong kind of shoot, but right idea.
One last note: I know that the comments section doesn't work. I've fiddled with it, and for the life of me can't figure out why not. I'll keep plugging away in the meantime, but I apologize to those that have tried.
Talk to you soon.
Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks (gonna)
Come back and take you home, I could not stop, that you now know
(singing)
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities (am I)
A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease (singing)
You are You are You are You are You are You are
And nothing else compares
Oh no nothing else compares
And nothing else compares
This Day In History:
In 1789, Congress established the Department of Foreign Affairs, the forerunner of the Department of State.
In 1794, French revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre was overthrown and placed under arrest; he was executed the following day.
In 1861, Union General George B. McClellan was put in command of the Army of the Potomac.
In 1866, Cyrus W. Field finally succeeded, after two failures, in laying the first underwater telegraph cable between North America and Europe.
In 1960, Richard Nixon was nominated for president at the Republican national convention in Chicago.
In 1974, the House Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) voted 27-11 to recommend President Nixon's impeachment on a charge that he had personally engaged in a "course of conduct" designed to obstruct justice in the Watergate case.
In 1996, terror struck the Atlanta Olympics as a pipe bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park, killing one person and injuring more than 100.
That Day In History (Monday):
In 1775, Benjamin Franklin became postmaster-general.
In 1788, New York became the 11th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
In 1908, U.S. Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte issued an order creating an investigative agency that was a forerunner of the FBI (news - web sites).
In 1948, President Truman signed a pair of executive orders prohibiting discrimination in the U.S. armed forces and federal employment.
In 1952, Adlai E. Stevenson was nominated for president by the Democratic national convention in Chicago; John J. Sparkman was nominated for vice president. Now, wait a minute....that can't be right. I don't remember there ever being a President Stevenson.
In 1952, Argentina's first lady, Eva Peron, died in Buenos Aires at age 33.
In 1952, King Farouk I of Egypt abdicated in the wake of a coup led by Gamal Abdel Nasser.
In 1953, Fidel Castro began his revolt against Fulgencio Batista with an unsuccessful attack on an army barracks in eastern Cuba. (Castro ousted Batista in 1959.)
In 1971, Apollo 15 was launched from Cape Kennedy.
Todays birthdays:
Rock star Mick Jagger is 61.
The man that proved "Ugly is Sexy". Well, OK. Not ugly. "Money is sexy". But I'm not bitter.
Rock musician Roger Taylor (Queen) is 55.
OH, yeah....they were straight..(rolls eyes)
Actor Kevin Spacey is 45.
But who is Keyser Soze? It's Kevin Spacey. There. I just saved you 2 hours. Thank me later.
Rock singer Gary Cherone is 43.
He was in "Extreme", who was not. thereis a hole in his heart that can only be filled by me. Well, hopefully it's the shape of a 45 magnum bullet, for what he did with Van Halen. Ok that's harsh. But Gary? Go away.
Actress Sandra Bullock is 40.
But she looks better in long hair, as I'm sure you'll agree...
Actress Kate Beckinsale is 31.
That nurse outfit is quite flattering. I put that sentance in just so I could have a link to "nurse outfit". Here's another picture as an apology.
Soap Opera Monday recap of the week:
Every Monday, the Star Tribune publishes a summarized paragraph of the previous weeks story line for each soap opera. This allows those who watch them to pick up where they left off. for me, it some of the most unintentionally funny reading I've seen since the Whitewater deposition. Seil Groves was the original writer, and none of this is to reflect on her.
This weeks winner is GENERAL HOSPITAL.
"After Edward told Sonny and Carly that their love for each other reminded him of the love he shared with his late wife Lila, they admitted they wanted their marriage back. Heather fantasized about marrying Edward, and then killing him. "
Word of the Day:
braggadocio, noun:
1. A braggart.
2. Empty boasting.
3. A swaggering, cocky manner.
Picture of Cash Casia for no reason whatsoever:
Shakespeare Quote of the Day:
"A rarer spirit never did steer humanity"
Ant & Cleo, Act v, Sc.1
Ricky Williams runs for daylight:
Running Back Ricky Williams announced his retirement on Saturday evening, forcing the Miami Dolphins to consider playing the entire 2004 season strictly on defense and special teams, seeing as how the Dolphins no longer have an offense.
Turns out that Ricky had no passion for the sport, and enjoyed traveling and toking much more. Whatever. If he wants to eget to places unknown high flying, I guess I have no control over it. What is amazing is how it cripples his team completely. Dolphins coaches said that he was entusiastica nd attended all of hte off-season meetings with gusto, so I'm thinking it was a recent development. He started thinking about retirement, and the more he thought about it, the more it appealed to him. And the more it appealed to him, the less he coud wait to explore the world, with a plane ticket in one hand,and a joint in the other.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins are left in the lurch at this new development. And especially Dave Wannstedt,former Bears head coach and current Dolphins head coach. Good ol' Dave needs to make some serious serious noise in the playoffs to keep his job. And now, without the one man his entire offense was built around, he's left with flotsam and jetsom to piece togeather an attack. It's not going to work, and we all retty much know it. They counted on Ricky to get 6-7 yards on first and second down, making for a convertable 3rd and short. Without that, their offense just isn't built to be able to get a first down on 3rd and 7 or 8.
Relax Dolphins fans, the Cheerleaders aren't leaving.
So they'll scan over the waiver wire, and will probably sign Stacy Mack or James Stewart, or some other RB of that ilk to replace him, while they plan on just getting through the next year, and will probably look at making some wholesale changes to their personnel (and maybe coaches?) in the next off-season.
They COULD make a trade with the RB-heavy Vikings, who have 3-4 guys who could be starters, or they could go with Anthony Thomas of the Bears, but why do that when they can get a free agent and not cost themselves a player or draft pick they'll need later?
Now, had they been able to plan for this during the off-season, or even if it had happened as recently as a month ago, they could have been able to plan for it, and make a few moves to compensate for their loss. If it happened before the draft, tehy could have taken Stephen Jackson out of Oregon, who would have been a perfect fit.Or they could have made a free agent signing, like Thomas Jones, or gone after Corey Dillon.
OR even if it happened a week or so ago, they could have had Eddie George, or Antwoin Smith. INsterad they're looking at scraps and has-beens like James Stewart or Dorsey Levens. Dorsey Levens hasn't had a good year since 1998. That's about 6 years ago at this point, folks.
so what is my point? Well, the same as everyone elses. the Dolphins season is hosed. Maybe if they had a more creative coaching staff, they'd stand a chance, but I have so little faith in Dave Wannstedt (from his days as a Bears head coach) that I predict nothing but doom and gloom for him.
Still, I have to wonder if all of the magazines like Sporting News and Street and Smith's, etc. who ahve all put out their annual football preview issues are banging their heads on their desks, since Ricky has already made each one of them out of date.
Doug Meintkiewicz possibly traded?
Back in 1992, the Twins were coming off of a World Championship season. In spring training, it was obvious that they were a starting pitcher short from contending, since Jack Moris decided to take his arm north to Toronto. So the Twins traded away a talented up-and-coming Paul Sorrento to Cleveland, and an outfielder who never amounted to anything and pitcher Denny Naegle to the Pittsburgh Pirates for John Smiley, who up to that point had been a young and promising pitcher, on the cusp of possible stardom.
John Smiley paid the Twins back by pouting through the season, complaining about the height of the mound, American league hiters, and anything else that came along. Meanwhile, the day AFTER the trade was made, Starting first baseman Kent Hrbek damaged his shoulder sliding into 3rd base during a spring training game.
The Twins traded away their backup 1st baseman only to lose their starting 1st baseman, traded away a promising arm for a up-til-then proven commodity, and in return got a moody, over-priced pitcher, who got out of Dodge (ok, Minneapolis) as soon as he could the following year.
12 years later, we're talking about trading away the best defensive 1st baseman in the league to pick up a pitcher for the playoff push. The pitcher? Kris Benson. Of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
NOT the Twins we are talking about.
Of course, we have a young new hotshot player in Justin Morneau, who is hitting moon shots into and beyond the bleachers. He is providing the offense that Doug just hasn't been able to do the past year. And he's healthy. And cheap. The move makes sens on a few fronts. Bowever, should Justin cool off or get injured, you no longer have the offense he provides, and you no longer have the defense or leadership that Doug provides. Given the best world situation, Doug would remain as an option off of the bench, and a late inning defensive replacement. Course, that would be ignoring Doug's desire to play and get at bats, and any sort of ego he might have. Or the fact that the Gm told him that he'd be traded this week.But I think that if we're setting ourselves up for a playoff run, he might provide more by staying than leaving. But that's just me. I will not buy this record, it is scratched.
Again, NOT these twins...
Hey! The rest of the article is down here!! Just can't stop staring, can you?
I'm not against getting some pitching to help us downthe road, but I'm against weakening our team defense (what this team was built on) and taking a major chance by trading away a possible key component during the toughest part of our schedule. ANd if Doug doesn't like sitting, then tough. We need him. We just don't have the room to start him right now. Given time, Morneau will cool off, and we'll need Dougie to step in. I just don't think he'll be here when that time comes.
The best sort of revenge is to live well:
Ther was a story in the Hoosier Gazette that told of a man who up until mid-July, was living a life best reserved for a country Western song. His wife cheated on him. His dog died, his car was totaled in an accident. He lost his home because of the divorce. All of which was finalized on July 15th. On July 17th, our tragic hero won the lottery. Now, he's free to live his life like a Johnny Cash "screw you!" type of song.
Congrats to Randy Fletcher. Live well. It'll torment the hell out of your ex-wife.
Picture of Tanit Phoenix for no reason at all:
Wedding Day blues:
The wife and I attended a weddingthis past weekend. It was a standard wedding, with nothing that struck me as all that different or unique in any bold way. BUt during the service, the fathe or the bride walked his daughter down the aisle, stopped, and was asked who gives this woman away. He stated "Her mother and I do." And then sat down to watch the rest of the ceremony.
2 reactions: A) The scene in Father of the Bride came to mind, as Steve Martin solliloquies about the moment, and his relationship with his daughter leading up to that point. And how she was no longer his daughter in that same sense any more...he had more claim to her as her husband than he did as a father.
B) I just about bawled like a baby on the spot. Because I knew that I would be going through it 3 times. Three times, I will have to hand over my daughter to another person. I would no longer be the primary person responsible for their security, for their serenity, for their health, or most important, their happiness. A moment that would be the happiest of their lives will be one of my lowest. And the two come togeather at the same place and time in the universe with alarming speed.
My oldest is 9 years old. My God....9 years! I've never taken her camping. Or fishing! Time is running out, and much too soon. Time is dragging me kicking and screaming to a moment that I'll never be ready for. And Anna is almost 4 years old now. Bailey is almost 2.
Steve Martin's character puts these feelings best in the movie, and I'll quote...
I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That's getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition. I know. I've just been through one. Not my own, my daughter's. Annie Banks Mackenzie. That's her married name: Mackenzie. You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you're in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it's the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That's the greatest fear of all, because, then you lose her. It was just six months ago that that happened here. Just six months ago, that the storm broke.
No, you don't lose them. They're still there. You're still daddy. But her heart belongs to another at that point. And you'll forgive me if I don't want to give that precious gem up.
After the wedding, we headed to the reception, and then headed home. However, since our baby sitters were willing to watch the kids overnight, we headed out for a night on the town. We had planned to head to Ground Zero, but we got an urge.
The wife has been re-discovering her passion for photography (nature and architechture, you pervs), and earlier in the day, we picked up a light meter.So we headed out for a midnight shooting, skulking around in parks at midnight, taking photos and having a blast. There wasn't much for me to do, other than follow her around and appreciate nature while she clicked away. But it gives me something to look forward to when the girls leave us to live their own lives. Now if only I could convince the wife to shoot a swimsuit calender.....
Wrong kind of shoot, but right idea.
One last note: I know that the comments section doesn't work. I've fiddled with it, and for the life of me can't figure out why not. I'll keep plugging away in the meantime, but I apologize to those that have tried.
Talk to you soon.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Song of the Day:
Let's go down to the water's edge
And we can cast away those doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
But they still turn me inside out
Turning inside out...turning inside out
Tell me...
Why
Tell me...
Why
This is the book I never read
These are the words I never said
This is the path I'll never tread
These are the dreams I'll dream instead
This is the joy that's seldom spread
These are the tears...
The tears we shed
This is the fear
This is the dread
These are the contents of my head
And these are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
And this is how I feel
Do you know how I feel?
'Cause I don't think you know how I feel
That Day in History (July 22nd):
In 1796, Cleveland, Ohio, was founded by General Moses Cleaveland.
In 1934, a man identified as bank robber John Dillinger was shot to death by federal agents outside Chicago's Biograph Theater.
In 1937, the Senate rejected President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court.
In 1942, gasoline rationing involving the use of coupons began along the Atlantic seaboard.
In 1943, American forces led by Gen. George S. Patton captured Palermo, Sicily.
In 1975, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in voting to restore the American citizenship of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
In 1995, Susan Smith was convicted by a jury in Union, S.C., of first-degree murder for drowning her two sons. (She was later sentenced to life in prison.)
This Day in History (July 23rd):
In 1885, Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, died in Mount McGregor, N.Y. at age 63.
In 1914, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia following the killing of Archduke Francis Ferdinand by a Serb assassin; the dispute led to World War I.
In 1942, Harry James and his Orchestra recorded "I Had the Craziest Dream" in Hollywood for Columbia Records.
In 1952, Egyptian military officers led by Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew King Farouk I. Pass fell incomplete, it's now 3rd down and 15 yards to go. If only King Farouk I had a faster 40 time.
In 1967, rioting that claimed some 43 lives erupted in Detroit. But God Forbid that some night show host make a joke that calls you on it.
In 1977, a jury in Washington, D.C., convicted 12 Hanafi Muslims of charges stemming from the hostage siege at three buildings the previous March.
In 1984, Vanessa Williams became the first Miss America to resign her title, because of nude photographs of her that turned up in Penthouse magazine.
And now she's doing commercials for Radio Shack....amazing.
In 1986, Britain's Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey in London. (The couple divorced in 1996.)
That days Birthdays (July 22nd):
Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan.- 81.
Now, do you want a picture of E.D.-sufferer Bob Dole, or do you want a picture of what might cure him?
Smart choice.
Actor Terence Stamp is 65.
All will kneel before ZOD!
Game show host Alex Trebek is this old. What is 64?
Actor Danny Glover is 57. BUt leave him alone. He's getting too old for this shit.
Actor-comedian-director Albert Brooks is 57.
Rock singer Don Henley is 57. But all she wants to do is dance.
Oh sure, I could have gone with End of the Innocence, or Heart of the Matter or some other Don Henley song. But this was the first that came to mind.
Actor Willem Dafoe is 49.
He was the Green Goblin, you know. Also starred in Mississippi Burning.
Actor John Leguizamo (and Daily Update favorite) is 40.
What are the chances that 2 actors playing drag queens would have a birthday on the same day?
This is why clowns aren't liked....
Pretty good looking guy, in a Benjamin Bratt/Quentin Taranino kinda way.
Actor-comedian David Spade is 40.
Actress A.J. Cook is 26.
It's ok girls....just go with that feeling...
Todays Birthdays (July 23rd):
Actress Gloria DeHaven is 79. Actor Calvert DeForest is 76. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy is 68. Actor Ronny Cox is 66. Radio personality Don Imus is 64. Country singer Tony Joe White is 61. Rock singer David Essex is 57. Actor Larry Manetti is 57. Actress Belinda Montgomery is 54. Rock musician Blair Thornton (Bachman Turner Overdrive) is 54. Actor Woody Harrelson is 43. Rock musician Martin Gore (Depeche Mode (news - web sites)) is 43. Actor Eriq Lasalle is 42. Rock musician Yuval Gabay is 41. Rock musician Slash is 39. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is 37. Rock musician Nick Menza is 36. Model-actress Stephanie Seymour is 36. Actress Charisma Carpenter is 34. Rhythm and blues singer Sam Watters is 34. Country singer Alison Krauss is 33. Rhythm and blues singer Dalvin DeGrate is 33. Rock musician Chad Gracey (Live) is 33. Actor-comedian Marlon Wayans is 32. Country singer Shannon Brown is 31. Actor Omar Epps is 31. Baseball player Nomar Garciaparra is 31. Actress Stephanie March is 30. Country musician David Pichette (Emerson Drive) is 27. Rhythm and blues singer Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child) is 24. Actor Daniel Radcliffe is 15.
Word of the Day:
eructation , noun:
The act of belching; a belch.
Shakespeare Quote of the Day:
"Thus we play the fools with time; and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us"
Henry IV, Act ii, Sc.2
Hometown Hottie that should have moved on in the competition from last year:
Holly of CO. With legs like that...whew.
Ah, footall season is approaching. I sense it. I feel it. If I were to put my ear to the ground, I could hear the thundering hoofsteps of the approaching stampede. It resonates deep within me. It's not here yet, but it is approaching. So I must prepare. While I am not yet ready to do a breakdown of every team (that is also on the horizon), I'll give my thoughts to some recent moves that have caught my interest.
Buffalo Bills sign Jason Gildon:
First and foremost, Jason Gildon is and yet is NOT Greg Lloyd. Greg Lloyd was another OLB for the Steelers who was a pass-rushing fiend for the Men of Steel. Then, he broke his leg in the first game of the season one year, and was nevr the same after that. He was cut by the Steelers, signed with the Carolina Panthers, and had brief glimpses of his former self, but never was able to be the same player ever again.
Jason Gildon hasn't suffered the major injury that Greg Lloyd did. But after 10 years or so in Pittsburgh, they figured the law of diminishing returns was about to be applied, so they let him go. And to be fair, he wasn't putting up the big sack #'s as he had previously. So now he'll leave the 3-4 system that he was a perfect fit, for a 4-3 scheme in Buffalo, where he'll be out of place. He'll provide depth, and enough of a challenge to OLB Jeff Posey that he may win the starting job. (He won't challenge Takeo Spikes on the other side, and he's not a MLB, so London Fletcher's job is safe.) He may even provide some pass rush on 3rd downs by being a sometime-DE. But I can't help but think that this is an awkward fit. IF this were the 3/4 system that they were running in the Super Bowl years with Bruce Smith,and Cornelius Bennett, and Nate Odoms, Mark Kelso....it'd be a different deal. He'd be a great Bennett-type replacement.
But in a 4-3, he's a guy without a home. Should he be an under-sized DE, like Leonard Little for the Rams, or should he be an OLB? I don't know.
But I DO know that he's got enough talent that he's worth adding to your roster, taking a calculated risk, and maybe you figure out where he fits best after you get him signed. And I think that's what Buffalo figures. I can't say that I have enough faith in them to find a role for him, like what the Patriots do with alot of their guys, guys who have numerous roles. I don't think Buffalo's defense is pliable and flexible enough to let them change on the fly. But I don't blame them for trying.
Tennessee Titans release Eddie George:
When Eddie George first came into the league, I wasn't a big fan, seeing as how he was an Ohio State guy. But as time passed, I got to see his running style, which was reminiscent of the late great Walter Payton. And after seeing how much heart that Eddie played with, I couldn't help myself. He wasn't the speedy kinda running back, who could outrun you to the endzone, but he was the kind that would run you over, and earn every yard he got.
But as time passed, he also got beat up. He never missed a game, and played hurt, but you could see the affect his injuries had on him. He wasn't breaking of the big runs anymore. He was getting only 3 yards per run towards the end, but he was and IS such a fan favorite, they kept him around. And it's a good thing they did, because he was able to finally shed the demons and th whispers that he was afraid of getting hit by Ray Lewis, by turning in a great performance in the playoffs, with a dislocated shoulder, no less. Like the kid being picked on by the school yard bully, he finally fought back and earned Ray Lewis' respect. Or at least, that's how we the viewers saw that.
Maybe Ray respected him all this time,and just got the better of him all the time. they are the only ones who know.
Either way, it's got to be sad for Titans fans to see one of your favorite players get released, because of what he meant to the franchise for so long. But that is the NFl these days, and he'll get an oppurtunity to prove Tennesse wrong, much like Stephen Davis did against the Redskins. It's only a question of who he ends up signing with. There is talk about Dallas, and Tampa and Philly. I'd love to have him in Chicago, but with the system they're putting in place, he doesn't have the speed to excel in the program. He deserves to go to a team that will make him they're undisputed #1 running back, adn the best palce for that wouldbe Dallas. I could see him doing good things there, especially with Bill Parcells, and how Bill likes punishing RB's.
Wait, that sentance has 2 possible meanings. Either one applies, since Bill likes to beat up on his RB"s, running them until they drop. But if you can take his abuse, and run it up the gut 25-30 times a game, and dish out just as much punishment that you get, you'll always be one of Parcell's guys. And george is just that kind of running back.
But if his goal is to win a Super Bowl (which I would imagine it is), his best chance may be in Philly. there are a few other talented but hardly complete running backs for the Eagles, but they may be able to provide the speed that he cannot. And if he is willing to trade some carries with those running backs for a shot at a Super Bowl ring, things could work out quite well in Philadelphia.
I'm dismissing Tampa on purpose, since I don't really see room for him there, with as crowded as that backfield is.
Tour De France
Lance Armstrong is going to win his 6th straight Tour de France after being at deaths door. The only thing stopping him at this point is some sharp corner that he forgets about, or someone running a branch through his wheel spokes. He's recieved accolade after accolade for it, abd yet I don't know that it will be fully appreciated for some time. He has an iron will that is simply too tough to measure. I remember when it was kind of a big thing when Greg LeMond won the thing 2x. But this is well beyond that. And I think that if it weren't for an American in the race, noone would care about it on this side of the Atlantic. Including myself. BUt it's hard not to cheer for him as he heads into history. And if it pisses off the French in the process...well, that's what we call a bonus.
No plans for this weekend, though we might be lucky enough to check out a club called "Ground Zero". IF the name means anything to you I don't think I have to say anything more. And if I have to explain it, then I don't want to scare anyone.
We'll talk more next week.
Let's go down to the water's edge
And we can cast away those doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
But they still turn me inside out
Turning inside out...turning inside out
Tell me...
Why
Tell me...
Why
This is the book I never read
These are the words I never said
This is the path I'll never tread
These are the dreams I'll dream instead
This is the joy that's seldom spread
These are the tears...
The tears we shed
This is the fear
This is the dread
These are the contents of my head
And these are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
And this is how I feel
Do you know how I feel?
'Cause I don't think you know how I feel
That Day in History (July 22nd):
In 1796, Cleveland, Ohio, was founded by General Moses Cleaveland.
In 1934, a man identified as bank robber John Dillinger was shot to death by federal agents outside Chicago's Biograph Theater.
In 1937, the Senate rejected President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court.
In 1942, gasoline rationing involving the use of coupons began along the Atlantic seaboard.
In 1943, American forces led by Gen. George S. Patton captured Palermo, Sicily.
In 1975, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in voting to restore the American citizenship of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
In 1995, Susan Smith was convicted by a jury in Union, S.C., of first-degree murder for drowning her two sons. (She was later sentenced to life in prison.)
This Day in History (July 23rd):
In 1885, Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, died in Mount McGregor, N.Y. at age 63.
In 1914, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia following the killing of Archduke Francis Ferdinand by a Serb assassin; the dispute led to World War I.
In 1942, Harry James and his Orchestra recorded "I Had the Craziest Dream" in Hollywood for Columbia Records.
In 1952, Egyptian military officers led by Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew King Farouk I. Pass fell incomplete, it's now 3rd down and 15 yards to go. If only King Farouk I had a faster 40 time.
In 1967, rioting that claimed some 43 lives erupted in Detroit. But God Forbid that some night show host make a joke that calls you on it.
In 1977, a jury in Washington, D.C., convicted 12 Hanafi Muslims of charges stemming from the hostage siege at three buildings the previous March.
In 1984, Vanessa Williams became the first Miss America to resign her title, because of nude photographs of her that turned up in Penthouse magazine.
And now she's doing commercials for Radio Shack....amazing.
In 1986, Britain's Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey in London. (The couple divorced in 1996.)
That days Birthdays (July 22nd):
Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan.- 81.
Now, do you want a picture of E.D.-sufferer Bob Dole, or do you want a picture of what might cure him?
Smart choice.
Actor Terence Stamp is 65.
All will kneel before ZOD!
Game show host Alex Trebek is this old. What is 64?
Actor Danny Glover is 57. BUt leave him alone. He's getting too old for this shit.
Actor-comedian-director Albert Brooks is 57.
Rock singer Don Henley is 57. But all she wants to do is dance.
Oh sure, I could have gone with End of the Innocence, or Heart of the Matter or some other Don Henley song. But this was the first that came to mind.
Actor Willem Dafoe is 49.
He was the Green Goblin, you know. Also starred in Mississippi Burning.
Actor John Leguizamo (and Daily Update favorite) is 40.
What are the chances that 2 actors playing drag queens would have a birthday on the same day?
This is why clowns aren't liked....
Pretty good looking guy, in a Benjamin Bratt/Quentin Taranino kinda way.
Actor-comedian David Spade is 40.
Actress A.J. Cook is 26.
It's ok girls....just go with that feeling...
Todays Birthdays (July 23rd):
Actress Gloria DeHaven is 79. Actor Calvert DeForest is 76. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy is 68. Actor Ronny Cox is 66. Radio personality Don Imus is 64. Country singer Tony Joe White is 61. Rock singer David Essex is 57. Actor Larry Manetti is 57. Actress Belinda Montgomery is 54. Rock musician Blair Thornton (Bachman Turner Overdrive) is 54. Actor Woody Harrelson is 43. Rock musician Martin Gore (Depeche Mode (news - web sites)) is 43. Actor Eriq Lasalle is 42. Rock musician Yuval Gabay is 41. Rock musician Slash is 39. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is 37. Rock musician Nick Menza is 36. Model-actress Stephanie Seymour is 36. Actress Charisma Carpenter is 34. Rhythm and blues singer Sam Watters is 34. Country singer Alison Krauss is 33. Rhythm and blues singer Dalvin DeGrate is 33. Rock musician Chad Gracey (Live) is 33. Actor-comedian Marlon Wayans is 32. Country singer Shannon Brown is 31. Actor Omar Epps is 31. Baseball player Nomar Garciaparra is 31. Actress Stephanie March is 30. Country musician David Pichette (Emerson Drive) is 27. Rhythm and blues singer Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child) is 24. Actor Daniel Radcliffe is 15.
Word of the Day:
eructation , noun:
The act of belching; a belch.
Shakespeare Quote of the Day:
"Thus we play the fools with time; and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us"
Henry IV, Act ii, Sc.2
Hometown Hottie that should have moved on in the competition from last year:
Holly of CO. With legs like that...whew.
Ah, footall season is approaching. I sense it. I feel it. If I were to put my ear to the ground, I could hear the thundering hoofsteps of the approaching stampede. It resonates deep within me. It's not here yet, but it is approaching. So I must prepare. While I am not yet ready to do a breakdown of every team (that is also on the horizon), I'll give my thoughts to some recent moves that have caught my interest.
Buffalo Bills sign Jason Gildon:
First and foremost, Jason Gildon is and yet is NOT Greg Lloyd. Greg Lloyd was another OLB for the Steelers who was a pass-rushing fiend for the Men of Steel. Then, he broke his leg in the first game of the season one year, and was nevr the same after that. He was cut by the Steelers, signed with the Carolina Panthers, and had brief glimpses of his former self, but never was able to be the same player ever again.
Jason Gildon hasn't suffered the major injury that Greg Lloyd did. But after 10 years or so in Pittsburgh, they figured the law of diminishing returns was about to be applied, so they let him go. And to be fair, he wasn't putting up the big sack #'s as he had previously. So now he'll leave the 3-4 system that he was a perfect fit, for a 4-3 scheme in Buffalo, where he'll be out of place. He'll provide depth, and enough of a challenge to OLB Jeff Posey that he may win the starting job. (He won't challenge Takeo Spikes on the other side, and he's not a MLB, so London Fletcher's job is safe.) He may even provide some pass rush on 3rd downs by being a sometime-DE. But I can't help but think that this is an awkward fit. IF this were the 3/4 system that they were running in the Super Bowl years with Bruce Smith,and Cornelius Bennett, and Nate Odoms, Mark Kelso....it'd be a different deal. He'd be a great Bennett-type replacement.
But in a 4-3, he's a guy without a home. Should he be an under-sized DE, like Leonard Little for the Rams, or should he be an OLB? I don't know.
But I DO know that he's got enough talent that he's worth adding to your roster, taking a calculated risk, and maybe you figure out where he fits best after you get him signed. And I think that's what Buffalo figures. I can't say that I have enough faith in them to find a role for him, like what the Patriots do with alot of their guys, guys who have numerous roles. I don't think Buffalo's defense is pliable and flexible enough to let them change on the fly. But I don't blame them for trying.
Tennessee Titans release Eddie George:
When Eddie George first came into the league, I wasn't a big fan, seeing as how he was an Ohio State guy. But as time passed, I got to see his running style, which was reminiscent of the late great Walter Payton. And after seeing how much heart that Eddie played with, I couldn't help myself. He wasn't the speedy kinda running back, who could outrun you to the endzone, but he was the kind that would run you over, and earn every yard he got.
But as time passed, he also got beat up. He never missed a game, and played hurt, but you could see the affect his injuries had on him. He wasn't breaking of the big runs anymore. He was getting only 3 yards per run towards the end, but he was and IS such a fan favorite, they kept him around. And it's a good thing they did, because he was able to finally shed the demons and th whispers that he was afraid of getting hit by Ray Lewis, by turning in a great performance in the playoffs, with a dislocated shoulder, no less. Like the kid being picked on by the school yard bully, he finally fought back and earned Ray Lewis' respect. Or at least, that's how we the viewers saw that.
Maybe Ray respected him all this time,and just got the better of him all the time. they are the only ones who know.
Either way, it's got to be sad for Titans fans to see one of your favorite players get released, because of what he meant to the franchise for so long. But that is the NFl these days, and he'll get an oppurtunity to prove Tennesse wrong, much like Stephen Davis did against the Redskins. It's only a question of who he ends up signing with. There is talk about Dallas, and Tampa and Philly. I'd love to have him in Chicago, but with the system they're putting in place, he doesn't have the speed to excel in the program. He deserves to go to a team that will make him they're undisputed #1 running back, adn the best palce for that wouldbe Dallas. I could see him doing good things there, especially with Bill Parcells, and how Bill likes punishing RB's.
Wait, that sentance has 2 possible meanings. Either one applies, since Bill likes to beat up on his RB"s, running them until they drop. But if you can take his abuse, and run it up the gut 25-30 times a game, and dish out just as much punishment that you get, you'll always be one of Parcell's guys. And george is just that kind of running back.
But if his goal is to win a Super Bowl (which I would imagine it is), his best chance may be in Philly. there are a few other talented but hardly complete running backs for the Eagles, but they may be able to provide the speed that he cannot. And if he is willing to trade some carries with those running backs for a shot at a Super Bowl ring, things could work out quite well in Philadelphia.
I'm dismissing Tampa on purpose, since I don't really see room for him there, with as crowded as that backfield is.
Tour De France
Lance Armstrong is going to win his 6th straight Tour de France after being at deaths door. The only thing stopping him at this point is some sharp corner that he forgets about, or someone running a branch through his wheel spokes. He's recieved accolade after accolade for it, abd yet I don't know that it will be fully appreciated for some time. He has an iron will that is simply too tough to measure. I remember when it was kind of a big thing when Greg LeMond won the thing 2x. But this is well beyond that. And I think that if it weren't for an American in the race, noone would care about it on this side of the Atlantic. Including myself. BUt it's hard not to cheer for him as he heads into history. And if it pisses off the French in the process...well, that's what we call a bonus.
No plans for this weekend, though we might be lucky enough to check out a club called "Ground Zero". IF the name means anything to you I don't think I have to say anything more. And if I have to explain it, then I don't want to scare anyone.
We'll talk more next week.
Monday, July 19, 2004
Song of the Day:
I used to love her
But I had to kill her
I used to love her, Mm, yeah
But I had to kill her
I had to put her six feet under
And I can still hear her complain
Picture of Sara Spraker for no reason at all:
That Day in History (Saturday, July 17th):
In 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States.
In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Spanish troops in Santiago, Cuba, surrendered to U.S. forces.
In 1917, the British royal family adopted the name "Windsor."
In 1944, 322 people were killed when a pair of ammunition ships exploded in Port Chicago, Calif.
In 1955, Disneyland debuted in Anaheim, Calif.
In 1975, an Apollo spaceship docked with a Soyuz spacecraft in orbit in the first superpower link-up of its kind.
In 1979, Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza resigned and fled into exile in Miami.
In 1981, 114 people were killed when a pair of walkways above the lobby of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel collapsed during a "tea dance."
In 1996, TWA Flight 800, a Paris-bound Boeing 747, exploded and crashed off Long Island, N.Y., shortly after departing John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 230 people aboard.
In 1998, Nicholas II, last of the Romanov czars, was buried in Russia 80 years after he and his family had been executed by the Bolsheviks.
This Day in History:
In 1553, 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey was deposed as Queen of England after claiming the crown for nine days. King Henry VIII's daughter Mary was proclaimed Queen. No, comic Book fans, this is not Jean Gray, of "X-Men" fame.
In 1848, a pioneer women's rights convention convened in Seneca Falls, N.Y.
In 1870, the Franco-Prussian war began. The importance of this event, however, is overshadowed by the emergence of the Franco-AMERICAN product, Spaghetti-O's in 1965.
Next year will mark the 40th anniversary for this delectable meal that sustained me through much of my childhood...sometimes with the hot dogs, and sometimes without. (It was a time of experimentation; I don't judge YOU for your past mistakes. )
(OK, so maybe I do. )
According to the Spaghetti-O's website, there are more than 1,750 "o's" in each can. Some small o's. Some larger O's. BUt try as I might, I can never seem to provide THE BIG O's.
OK, I think I was trying to hard on that joke. Moving on.
In 1941, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill launched his "V for Victory" campaign in Europe.
In 1943, allied air forces raided Rome during World War II.
In 1969, Apollo 11 and its astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins, went into orbit around the moon.
In 1989, 112 people were killed when a United Air Lines DC-10 crashed while making an emergency landing at Sioux City, Iowa; 184 other people survived.
In 1993, President Clinton; announced a compromise allowing homosexuals to serve in the military, but only if they refrained from all homosexual activity.
So lemme get this straight (Err, uh...lemme make sure I have this correct)- "You can BE gay, but don't BE gay." IS that right? Or is this the old message repeated to me when I as just a wee little lad, and entering a china shop: Look, but don't touch.
God forbid you might meet someone with the same interests... I'm not in the military, so I can't say too much, but this kind of thing seems to be rather inconsistent.
"Gays cannot be in the military".
or
"OK, you can be, in the military, but just don't tell anyone."
or
"OK, you can be gay, but just don't act on your feelings."
or
"OK, you can be gay and act on your feelings, but don't let us catch you, or we'll drum up some charges and ship you right on out."
Being heterosexual,and out of the military, I don't have much voice in this discussion. I can imagine that in the military that there is a certain subculture that isn't inclined to accept gays. But I don't see that they've got much choice, to be honest. And even if they did, I'm not sure that they should have a choice. It's not like there is some sort of test that will prove one way or the other someone's sexual preference.
That days Birthdays:
David Hasselhoff-52
Elena Anaya-29
This Days Birthdays:
Actor Pat Hingle (Commisioner Gordon of Batman fame) -80
Guitarist Brian May of Queen-57
Anthony Edwards (Goose!)-42
Actress Rachel Miner-24
I don't know her either. Apparently she was on Guiding Light, according to www.imdb.com. Here is a picture, anyway.
Word of the Day:
quisling \KWIZ-ling\, noun:
Someone who collaborates with an enemy occupying his or her country; a traitor.
Shakespeare Quote of the Day:
All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven:
Tis gone.
Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell!
Yield up, O love! thy crown and hearted throne
To tyrannous hate.
Swell, bosom, with thyfraught,
For 'tis of aspics' tongues!
Othello-Act III Scene III
Spiderman 2
Thursday night found the wife and I without children, seeing as how the oldest was away at camp, and the 2 younger kids were off with Neighborhood Nanny. So what better to do than spend a night out on the town with your favorite dame, and catich one o' dem picture shows?
Confession: I'm not going to say anything new about the movie than what you probably already have heard. they did a great job showing the emotional conflicts that our superhero faced, and still maintained the pace and action that you expect of a summer blockbuster.
One thing I was happy to see is how well they're setting themselves up for some of the future movies, if there is to be a Spiderman 3 or 4 or 5. (Note, you would do yourself a favor if you haven't seen the movie to skip to the next section) At the end of the movie, you have Harry Osborne finding the Green Goblin suit, setting him up as the villian in SPiderman 3. Not only that, he knows that Spiderman IS Peter Parker. PLenty of story line there. And since we've already seen the green goblin in one movie, they'd have to make it a bit of a different challenge,s o why not throw in a 2nd villian? But who?
Well, they've set it up nicely by introducing the audience to the one-armed professor, who changes into The Lizard, which is basically a Crocodile who stands on his hind legs. Not only that, but you've got JOhn Jameson, who is the son of J. Jonah Jameson. John was the guy who was supposed to marry Mary Jane, but since she left him at the altar, all that is left is his career as an astronaut.
SO how does he fit into all of this? It's too easy. He's an astronaut. So they'll send him into space to get him out of the way for the next movie. In space (moon, Mars, etc) he'll come across a bubblin' crude. But it won't be texas tea. Instead, it'll be an alient symbiote that will become Spiderman's new suit for a small time, before it becomes one of the great villians in Spiderman Lore. And my favorite to boot. Venom.
It was also one of the first comic book villians that I was introduced to. My dad had purchased a Spiderman comic when I was younger that detailed how Peter Parker was able to shed the black and white costume that was threatening to suffocate him within itself. So the character left an indelible image on me. The amount of CGI that will be required to create this character will be amazing, but I'm hopeful that they'll do right by him, and really show him as bad as he can be.
ONe other thing...at the end of the movie, they IMPLIED the death of Dock Ock, but you can't say for sure that he's dead. It wouldn't surprise me if he showed up again.
OK. Enough geekiness.
Still looking for topics...
Anyone? Is anyone there? Hello?
Link of the Week:
Kalucha. It's all I'm saying.
Ok, it's obvious I don't have much to say lately. So I'll (ahem) jiggle the tip jar so to speak, and suggest again that you try the comments section.
Talk to you soon.
I used to love her
But I had to kill her
I used to love her, Mm, yeah
But I had to kill her
I had to put her six feet under
And I can still hear her complain
Picture of Sara Spraker for no reason at all:
That Day in History (Saturday, July 17th):
In 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States.
In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Spanish troops in Santiago, Cuba, surrendered to U.S. forces.
In 1917, the British royal family adopted the name "Windsor."
In 1944, 322 people were killed when a pair of ammunition ships exploded in Port Chicago, Calif.
In 1955, Disneyland debuted in Anaheim, Calif.
In 1975, an Apollo spaceship docked with a Soyuz spacecraft in orbit in the first superpower link-up of its kind.
In 1979, Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza resigned and fled into exile in Miami.
In 1981, 114 people were killed when a pair of walkways above the lobby of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel collapsed during a "tea dance."
In 1996, TWA Flight 800, a Paris-bound Boeing 747, exploded and crashed off Long Island, N.Y., shortly after departing John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 230 people aboard.
In 1998, Nicholas II, last of the Romanov czars, was buried in Russia 80 years after he and his family had been executed by the Bolsheviks.
This Day in History:
In 1553, 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey was deposed as Queen of England after claiming the crown for nine days. King Henry VIII's daughter Mary was proclaimed Queen. No, comic Book fans, this is not Jean Gray, of "X-Men" fame.
In 1848, a pioneer women's rights convention convened in Seneca Falls, N.Y.
In 1870, the Franco-Prussian war began. The importance of this event, however, is overshadowed by the emergence of the Franco-AMERICAN product, Spaghetti-O's in 1965.
Next year will mark the 40th anniversary for this delectable meal that sustained me through much of my childhood...sometimes with the hot dogs, and sometimes without. (It was a time of experimentation; I don't judge YOU for your past mistakes. )
(OK, so maybe I do. )
According to the Spaghetti-O's website, there are more than 1,750 "o's" in each can. Some small o's. Some larger O's. BUt try as I might, I can never seem to provide THE BIG O's.
OK, I think I was trying to hard on that joke. Moving on.
In 1941, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill launched his "V for Victory" campaign in Europe.
In 1943, allied air forces raided Rome during World War II.
In 1969, Apollo 11 and its astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins, went into orbit around the moon.
In 1989, 112 people were killed when a United Air Lines DC-10 crashed while making an emergency landing at Sioux City, Iowa; 184 other people survived.
In 1993, President Clinton; announced a compromise allowing homosexuals to serve in the military, but only if they refrained from all homosexual activity.
So lemme get this straight (Err, uh...lemme make sure I have this correct)- "You can BE gay, but don't BE gay." IS that right? Or is this the old message repeated to me when I as just a wee little lad, and entering a china shop: Look, but don't touch.
God forbid you might meet someone with the same interests... I'm not in the military, so I can't say too much, but this kind of thing seems to be rather inconsistent.
"Gays cannot be in the military".
or
"OK, you can be, in the military, but just don't tell anyone."
or
"OK, you can be gay, but just don't act on your feelings."
or
"OK, you can be gay and act on your feelings, but don't let us catch you, or we'll drum up some charges and ship you right on out."
Being heterosexual,and out of the military, I don't have much voice in this discussion. I can imagine that in the military that there is a certain subculture that isn't inclined to accept gays. But I don't see that they've got much choice, to be honest. And even if they did, I'm not sure that they should have a choice. It's not like there is some sort of test that will prove one way or the other someone's sexual preference.
That days Birthdays:
David Hasselhoff-52
Elena Anaya-29
This Days Birthdays:
Actor Pat Hingle (Commisioner Gordon of Batman fame) -80
Guitarist Brian May of Queen-57
Anthony Edwards (Goose!)-42
Actress Rachel Miner-24
I don't know her either. Apparently she was on Guiding Light, according to www.imdb.com. Here is a picture, anyway.
Word of the Day:
quisling \KWIZ-ling\, noun:
Someone who collaborates with an enemy occupying his or her country; a traitor.
Shakespeare Quote of the Day:
All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven:
Tis gone.
Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell!
Yield up, O love! thy crown and hearted throne
To tyrannous hate.
Swell, bosom, with thyfraught,
For 'tis of aspics' tongues!
Othello-Act III Scene III
Spiderman 2
Thursday night found the wife and I without children, seeing as how the oldest was away at camp, and the 2 younger kids were off with Neighborhood Nanny. So what better to do than spend a night out on the town with your favorite dame, and catich one o' dem picture shows?
Confession: I'm not going to say anything new about the movie than what you probably already have heard. they did a great job showing the emotional conflicts that our superhero faced, and still maintained the pace and action that you expect of a summer blockbuster.
One thing I was happy to see is how well they're setting themselves up for some of the future movies, if there is to be a Spiderman 3 or 4 or 5. (Note, you would do yourself a favor if you haven't seen the movie to skip to the next section) At the end of the movie, you have Harry Osborne finding the Green Goblin suit, setting him up as the villian in SPiderman 3. Not only that, he knows that Spiderman IS Peter Parker. PLenty of story line there. And since we've already seen the green goblin in one movie, they'd have to make it a bit of a different challenge,s o why not throw in a 2nd villian? But who?
Well, they've set it up nicely by introducing the audience to the one-armed professor, who changes into The Lizard, which is basically a Crocodile who stands on his hind legs. Not only that, but you've got JOhn Jameson, who is the son of J. Jonah Jameson. John was the guy who was supposed to marry Mary Jane, but since she left him at the altar, all that is left is his career as an astronaut.
SO how does he fit into all of this? It's too easy. He's an astronaut. So they'll send him into space to get him out of the way for the next movie. In space (moon, Mars, etc) he'll come across a bubblin' crude. But it won't be texas tea. Instead, it'll be an alient symbiote that will become Spiderman's new suit for a small time, before it becomes one of the great villians in Spiderman Lore. And my favorite to boot. Venom.
It was also one of the first comic book villians that I was introduced to. My dad had purchased a Spiderman comic when I was younger that detailed how Peter Parker was able to shed the black and white costume that was threatening to suffocate him within itself. So the character left an indelible image on me. The amount of CGI that will be required to create this character will be amazing, but I'm hopeful that they'll do right by him, and really show him as bad as he can be.
ONe other thing...at the end of the movie, they IMPLIED the death of Dock Ock, but you can't say for sure that he's dead. It wouldn't surprise me if he showed up again.
OK. Enough geekiness.
Still looking for topics...
Anyone? Is anyone there? Hello?
Link of the Week:
Kalucha. It's all I'm saying.
Ok, it's obvious I don't have much to say lately. So I'll (ahem) jiggle the tip jar so to speak, and suggest again that you try the comments section.
Talk to you soon.
