I had an amazing blast from the past over the weekend. I had a voice message from a high school friend that I had not talked to in about five years. The message went something like "Hey, we haven't talked in a while...blah, blah, blah...I got hit by a train...blah, blah, blah."
Apparently, Bone (as he went by back in the day) was driving a car that was hit a train. Due to extreme sun glare, and some loud music, he didn't notice the oncoming locomotive until the train was about, oh, two feet away. I guess that gives a guy just enough to let an expletive fly before impact. Anyways, not only did he live, but he walked away from the crash. After being taken to the ER, the doctor sent him home with the advice to take some aspirin for the mild shoulder pain and keep doing whatever it is that he does for exercise - something must be working.
And no, I am not making this up. Check out the news blurb from KEYC TV in Mankato, Minnesota.
Bone, glad you made it just far enough across the tracks that day. And may I suggest a pair of sun glasses for the future?
Monday, May 5, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
"Network" - a Timeless Film
I recently watched "Network" for the first time this past week. It is amazing how so many of the issues it spoke of 30+ years ago are applicable today. Corporate influence on news media content. Globalization and the fear of Arab nations controlling "US" companies. The general population's reliance on being told what to think by the media instead of making the effort to do it for themselves.
As a movie fan with a romantic view of the impact that film can have on culture, it is really sad to see that a classic like this laid out some of the problems in our culture and we, as a people, totally ignored it. Perhaps the movie tagline should have been "We're lazy as Hell, and we're going to keep taking it."
As a movie fan with a romantic view of the impact that film can have on culture, it is really sad to see that a classic like this laid out some of the problems in our culture and we, as a people, totally ignored it. Perhaps the movie tagline should have been "We're lazy as Hell, and we're going to keep taking it."
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Bloomberg - analyzing the country one voter at a time
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is doing some heady stuff in regards to voter analysis, and I like it. What I like about this is that it shows careful thought and analysis about how to approach a situation. Instead of relying on hunches and whims, this is a guy who will let cold, hard facts affect his decision-making process. Good! As our ability to analyze data continues to improve at astounding rates, it is only right that political figures start doing what successful business leaders have done for some time. It is fitting that this politician himself is an accomplished businessman. Is he the candidate for you? Check out his views for yourself.
Monday, December 31, 2007
The Reason for 16-0 is #81.
Congrats to the New England Pats on completing a perfect regular season. This is truly a great achievement in the modern NFL. There are many reasons why they won: a great coach, personnel director, and owner. Great players like Brady and Seymour and a lot of guys that fit their system. But the singular reason that they had such a great year is simple: Randy Moss.
Randy Moss is simply the best WR I have seen play in the NFL since I started watching in the mid 1980s. Growing up a Vikes fan, I followed his early career quite closely. The guy is a freak of nature when it comes to playing his position. Sure, he has admitted to taking plays off. I appreciate the honesty - I bet every player has loafed on a play or two in his career, they just don't have the courage to admit it. He walked a field with a few seconds to go in a game. He (rightfully) mooned the Green Bay crowd. This is what happens when a guy with a lot of talent plays with a lot of emotion, for better or worse. It is what makes him the best in the game (that, and his physical talents). When he is with a good team, like his early Viking teams and this year's Pats, then he helps transform them to great teams. It is no coincidence that he was the biggest offensive threat on the top 2 offenses of all time, the '98 Vikes and '07 Pats. When he is on bad teams, like in Oakland, he unfortunately does not play to his potential.
Some may argue that great players make others around them better, and that Moss in Oakland did not make others better. I say that great players at some positions in each sport make others better. A good point guard like Steve Nash or Jason Kidd. Joe Montana and other QBs like Brady, Bradshaw
Until this fall, I had the pleasure of living in New England for the past 5 years. When the Pats acquired Moss in the offseason, nobody wanted him. WEEI sports talk show hosts and callers were questioning what a guy as horrible as Moss would do to such a well-oiled machine. Nobody thought that they would be better. Even though these folks had great trust in Belichick, they didn't want Moss on the team. Well, how do they feel now?
The anti-Moss attack had plenty of support from national figures like Cris Collinsworth, who, during the Pats win over the Giants, was "surprised" to see Randy blocking down field because they figured he would not put forth that kind of effort and that he never did. Well guess what? That's a load of B.S. From his Day 1 in the NFL, Moss blocked down field. Under the tutelage of Cris Carter, he had no choice. When those Vikings teams had big plays down the field, whether it was Carter, Jake Reed, or Robert Smith, it was a common sight to see Moss making a key block down the field. I think Collinsworth & Co. need to get over their envy of Moss's talents and watch his play with a less bias.
Now everybody will continue to pile the accolades and credit onto to Coach Belichick and Tom Brady, saying those are the two keys to the 16-0 and season. Yes, I fully agree that those two deserve a lot of the credit. To me, the difference maker for the 2007 Pats was Randy Moss. Fans should have loved it that he was coming to New England. Critics should have realized that he would have one of his top seasons, if not his best, with a great team. But few were genuinely excited for the trade back then. Today, I am sure that most of those fans forgot how much they were opposed to him and critics bring up his "character issues" less and less. I think that Randy Moss epitomizes the old sports adage of a guy you love to root against...until he is on your team.
Randy Moss is simply the best WR I have seen play in the NFL since I started watching in the mid 1980s. Growing up a Vikes fan, I followed his early career quite closely. The guy is a freak of nature when it comes to playing his position. Sure, he has admitted to taking plays off. I appreciate the honesty - I bet every player has loafed on a play or two in his career, they just don't have the courage to admit it. He walked a field with a few seconds to go in a game. He (rightfully) mooned the Green Bay crowd. This is what happens when a guy with a lot of talent plays with a lot of emotion, for better or worse. It is what makes him the best in the game (that, and his physical talents). When he is with a good team, like his early Viking teams and this year's Pats, then he helps transform them to great teams. It is no coincidence that he was the biggest offensive threat on the top 2 offenses of all time, the '98 Vikes and '07 Pats. When he is on bad teams, like in Oakland, he unfortunately does not play to his potential.
Some may argue that great players make others around them better, and that Moss in Oakland did not make others better. I say that great players at some positions in each sport make others better. A good point guard like Steve Nash or Jason Kidd. Joe Montana and other QBs like Brady, Bradshaw
Until this fall, I had the pleasure of living in New England for the past 5 years. When the Pats acquired Moss in the offseason, nobody wanted him. WEEI sports talk show hosts and callers were questioning what a guy as horrible as Moss would do to such a well-oiled machine. Nobody thought that they would be better. Even though these folks had great trust in Belichick, they didn't want Moss on the team. Well, how do they feel now?
The anti-Moss attack had plenty of support from national figures like Cris Collinsworth, who, during the Pats win over the Giants, was "surprised" to see Randy blocking down field because they figured he would not put forth that kind of effort and that he never did. Well guess what? That's a load of B.S. From his Day 1 in the NFL, Moss blocked down field. Under the tutelage of Cris Carter, he had no choice. When those Vikings teams had big plays down the field, whether it was Carter, Jake Reed, or Robert Smith, it was a common sight to see Moss making a key block down the field. I think Collinsworth & Co. need to get over their envy of Moss's talents and watch his play with a less bias.
Now everybody will continue to pile the accolades and credit onto to Coach Belichick and Tom Brady, saying those are the two keys to the 16-0 and season. Yes, I fully agree that those two deserve a lot of the credit. To me, the difference maker for the 2007 Pats was Randy Moss. Fans should have loved it that he was coming to New England. Critics should have realized that he would have one of his top seasons, if not his best, with a great team. But few were genuinely excited for the trade back then. Today, I am sure that most of those fans forgot how much they were opposed to him and critics bring up his "character issues" less and less. I think that Randy Moss epitomizes the old sports adage of a guy you love to root against...until he is on your team.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Season's Greetings!
What says Merry Christmas more than having your baby modeling clothes on a popular knitting blog? Nothing, I say. Some very fine work by the folks at Lickety Knit Apparel. Not interested in going all the way to the blog? Then just see for yourself. Let's just hope that my parenting skills better those of a certain Mr. and Mrs. Spears of Louisiana and that I don't make more of this modeling gig than what it is. 
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Is it 1984?
Some are arguing that with the House passing the THE VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT, we are one step closer. Does this act permit the government to punish "though crimes"? Is the Internet really a primary source of promoting violent, terrorist acts? If you think this bill goes too far, then may I suggest that Dennis Kucinich, the oft-maligned presidential candidate, be your choice for 2008. Or perhaps somebody in the Senate will vote against S. 1959. Otherwise, there is a good chance that your candidate will support this bill. After all, is it not political suicide to dare vote against anything called "terrorist prevention act?" I am very interested to get everybody's comments.
Follow this link if you want to contact your Senator about this bill.
Follow this link if you want to contact your Senator about this bill.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving...
...not "happy holiday" as too many of us have come to say of late. I understand that everybody is overly PC about wishing somebody a Merry Christmas who isn't Christian. But we have to do that for Thanksgiving? Really?! This is a national, non-demonational, US holiday that everybody is free to celebrate. So why can't we wish each other a "Happy Thanksgiving!"? Why, instead, do I have an inbox full of e-mails wishing me a good holiday. Do we do this for Independence, Memorial, Labor, and New Year's Days? Not so much. So please, everybody. Indulge me and wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving. Not holiday.
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