this just warms the heart

I don't even know where to begin with this one. . .

Gatlin, banned from track, works out for Texans

The Houston Texans worked out the world's fastest man, Justin Gatlin, on Tuesday, but that doesn't mean he's making a fast entrance into the NFL.

The Texans didn't make a big deal out of the Tuesday visit. They looked at Gatlin like they did two other receivers: Kevin McMahan of Maine and Jovan Witherspoon of Central Michigan. NFL teams usually bring in players for Tuesday workouts while the 53 players on the regular roster take a day off.

In April, he tested positive for the banned substance testosterone and accepted an eight-year ban from track and field.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2679967

I'm actually a little conflicted here - the guy is only 24, obviously made a huge mistake, and should be given a second chance. You can't just tell him to never be an athlete again; that is what he does. But he put his entire career on the line by cheating in track - an 8 year ban is essentially forever. That is some risky behavior, especially when he could just take the undetectable stuff that Balco sells.


The Olympics have been in a downward spiral ever since Katerina Witt hung up her skates, but I'm pissed that we can't even keep the one good memory that came out of Greece.

What if Keri Strug had turned out to be on the juice?

Or what if that Dominique girl in the foreground of this picture ended up freaking out and rebelling from her parents who were whoring her out for endorsement money and getting legally emancipated at the age of 15?

What? Oh yeah, that did happen didn't it? I got it confused with an old Law & Order re-run.

on the iPod:
Phish, Billy Breathes

file sharing

I'm not sure why I never heard of this before - maybe it is new - but www.savefile.com lets you post files, and then gives you a link to share with your friends. That means you can expect to see me posting music some time in the future.

straight to hell

It always shocks me when people don't know who Kevin Kinney is. He was the front man for Drivin & Cryin and remains one of the better contemporary song writers.

What? Oh yeah - a lot of people don't remember Drivin & Cryin either. The title track from Fly Me Courageous was all over the radio back in the mid 90s. Despite popular success, the record is one of the best from the decade.


Drivin & Cryin still gets together from time to time - with annual Thanksgiving shows in Atlanta and an appearance on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Gimmie Three Days" cruise.

Kinney's song Straight to Hell (just like my mama said) was an anthem for teenagers across the south who probably never even stopped to listen to the actual lyrics.

So I walk on down to the parking lot,
hang around with all my friends,
and roam the streets til dawn breaks again
I come in at five a.m. and she is waiting for me
She said where have you been, I said I was out,
She said you're no good cause you're running without love

Cause I'm going straight to hell
Just like my momma said
I'm going straight to hell

parking cars

Finding a parking spot in my neighborhood can be a real pain, so it is especially infuriating to see cars that are parked in two spaces. Sometimes this happens in spaces with lines painted on, but usually it happens when someone parallel parks where there s room for two cars, but doesn't pull up or back and just stays in the middle, with a half space in front and a half space in back. That does me a lot of good when I want to park there too.

I used to assume that these people were so concerned about their brand new BMW SUVs getting a mark on the bumper, that they took measures to keep other cars away. My idea for a remedy was to keep a broom stick handle in my car and smash out their tail lights. If you are gonna freak out about other cars touching your bumper, you need to live somewhere where you have a driveway or garage or parking space. If you live in the city and use on-street parking, people will tap you with their cars.

BUT - I have noticed that it is not just the prissy luxury cars that do this, so I have modified my theory: People are just idiots and don't know that they should pull all the way into one spot so that other people can park in the other spot. One option for a remedy that was suggested to me is to leave a note on their windshield - in lipstick. That is a good idea, but might take too long. Instead, I am thinking about ordering some of these and sticking them on the windows - or maybe on the paint so that I will also piss off the prissy people who park like that on purpose.

Here are my ideas:

Right Now

Remember Pepsi Clear? I actually liked that stuff - but then again I was 15, so I would have fallen for any gimmick.

One gimmick I did not fall for was the Van Halen commercial - the song was super pop, but the video was interesting, and the sell-out was absolute. Of course, that presupposes that Van Halen had any original fight the power real rock and roll soul left in them by the time OU812 was released and they settled into the Van Haggar years.


At any rate, I have always thought the lyric was "right now, there's no tomorrow" and then "right now, it's everything" (emphasizing that we should live in the moment) .

Today, I looked up the lyrics on a random inspiration and, at least according to lyrics freak, the real words are "right now, it's your tomorrow"

That really changes everything.

Seasons Change

No, not the hit single by Exposé, although you can watch that video here.

I mean that each year, the seasons are different - and this year Christmas really has come early. No, not in the form of presents to me, but in the form of skipping Thanksgiving all together and going straight for the commercial kill. I have gotten fliers advertising toys - clearly for Christmas. Starbucks is pushing its "Holiday Roast." Someone at school was walking down the hall yesterday whistling "White Christmas." The Salvation Army guy is already posted up at the grocery store ringing his bell - which seems to have gotten smaller and emits a higher pitched more ear splitting ring than the old ones.


It's still warm out - well, sometimes. We have had days in the mid 60s in the last week. Can we just enjoy where we are and look forward to the gluttonous all-american tradition of celebrating all that we have by gorging ourselves on enough food to make ourselves pop before we move on to the next all-american tradition of super-hyped consumerism where we show how much we care about each other by spending money on pre-fabbed materialism?

on the iPod:
Wilco, Live at William & Mary, 4/22/06

Quote of the Day

“The shells themselves are made of different materials, a barrier shell, that is relatively much more impermeable.” Dr. Scott L. Spear, the chief of plastic surgery at Georgetown University who has conducted clinical research for Allergan of Irvine, Calif., describing new silicone breast implants approved by the FDA and available for you use on Monday.

My first thought, well - maybe my second thought - upon reading that the FDA has approved silicone breast implants and dismissed earlier safety concerns was "wow - Dow Corning must be pissed." But, it looks like they emerged from bankruptcy ok and have a spiffy website up and running, so I guess that whole "class action" thing is in their past.

The more I read the article, and the more I reminded myself that this FDA is part of the Bush administration, the more skeptical I became. And then I came to today's Quote of the Day, and other comments that 70% of implants rupture and that women should only assume that their implants are safe for 3 years, after which they need to have regular MRIs. If you are gonna put a plastic bag in your body and fill it up with liquid, wouldn't you want it to be close to the fluids that are already there? Silicone? Forget about it - you might as well have kerosene implants as far as I'm concerned.

As is rightfully pointed out by "Dr. Sidney Wolfe, chief of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. . . 'The approval makes a mockery of the legal standard that requires ‘reasonable assurance of safety.’ ”

At any rate, someone needs to send Dr. Scott L. Spear over at Georgetown a dictionary. American Heritage Dictionary defines 'Impermeable' as "impossible to permeate" - as in, nothing can get through; zero; zilch; nada. Something can't be more impermeable, more impossible. It is impossible for me to fly - but is it more impossible for me to fly in outer-space?

As if that wasn't enough, he even qualifies the "more impermeable" with "relatively." I guess that means that the new implants are more "more impermeable" that some things, but less "more impermeable" than others?

full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/washington/18breast.html
read more at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/17/AR2006111701246.html

G6

This weekend I drove a Pontiac G6. Probably the best thing about the car is its super sweet name. "G6" - that just sounds cool.

The G6 is supposed to be a sports sedan or something like that. I guess it is made for people who have to get bigger cars for practical reasons, but wish they didn't. To me, creating something in between a sedan and a sports car means that you have a sports car that is too big and clunky (although it did have nice pick-up, esp. for a rental car) and you have a sedan with a terribly stiff ride.

In the tradition of Pontiac, there was nothing special about the interior. It did feel relatively open & the lay-out of the controls was fairly convenient and easy to reach etc. I've always wondered why so many cars have the button for rear defrost in completely nonsensical places, and apparently the engineers behind the G6 wondered the same thing - the button for the rear defrost is right by the other buttons & knobs for the rest of the climate control. Of course, this is probably not a good reason to buy the car.

The drivers seat was fairly comfortable, a conclusion based on about 10 hours of driving in 2 days - but the passenger seat was not. The drivers seat had adjustable height; the passenger seat did not. The drivers seat had adjustable lumbar support; the passenger seat had none.

I like driving, and I like driving all sorts of cars - from my 81 Volvo 242 (which is on its retirement tour) to minivans, Chrysler 300s, and trucks - whatever. I did not particularly enjoy driving the G6, and it did not seem to be especially practical.

>> After drafting the preceding text, I went on Washington Post. com to see if Warren Brown has ever reviewed this car. He has. This is what he said (back in 2004 about the 2005 model - the car I drove had 4k miles, so it is probably an 06):

"Pontiac should drop the base G6-6 Cylinder. It is the kind of automobile car-rental companies buy because it's the cheapest model in the lineup. The rental companies then advertise that they have the "all-new Pontiac G6!" Excited customers take that bait only to find out that they're renting a base, marginally enjoyable car."

Go figure. The rest of the review is available here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2004/10/10/AR2005032405082.html


on the iPod:
nothing - Radio Paradise today:
8:56 am - Chuck Berry - Nadine
8:53 am - A Band of Bees - A Minha Menina
8:50 am - Tom Waits - Clap Hands
8:45 am - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Supernaturally
8:38 am - Guster - Ruby Falls

---

8:33 am - Neko Case - Star Witness
8:28 am - Paul Simon - Slip Slidin' Away
8:24 am - Chris Smither - Link of Chain
8:21 am - Ellen McIlwaine - Up From the Skies
8:17 am - Jimi Hendrix - Rainy Day, Dream Away

Bling-Blaow!

the mack daddy pimp belt:

"Bling-Blaow! This LED Name Digital Belt Buckle is like having a piece of the future on your waist. Be one of the first people to floss this new LED Belt Buckle. You can put up to 256 characters on it.

Wanna make a statement? WELL BRING IT ON! Write whatever you want and let it scroll across the screen! Your name , your number, your hood! Stand out in the club without a bottle of bubb. Scroll on playa.




disclaimer: I have no affiliation with, nor do I endorse, Iced Out Gear dot com

quote of the day

"If the [law] be clear, we are bound to conform to it even though we do not comprehend the principle upon which it is founded."

From Commonwealth v. Pullis, the first American criminal prosecution for conspiracy against striking shoemakers in 1806.

the next Dubya

The "macaca" quote is old hat, but check out some other Senator (for now) George Allen quotes:

"Stay strong for freedom . . . and accuracy in elections will prevail." Do the terrorists hate our recounts? (Speaking to his supporters when it became apparent that the only way for him to win would be after a recount.)

"When we get to the future, I'll determine the future" And I thought being the Decider was a good gig! (Replying to a question about his presidential aspirations.)

source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701844.html

The Carolinas

This is why people from North Carolina don't like it when you get us confused with people from South Carolina:

South Carolina governor's goof delays his vote

SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, South Carolina (CNN) -- A sheepish Gov. Mark Sanford was turned away from a South Carolina polling place Tuesday because he forgot his voter registration card.

The casting of ballots in front of the news media is a well-worn tradition for politicians, but it was no Kodak moment when Sanford discovered he had left his card behind.

Off camera, South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford could be heard telling her husband that she had reminded him to bring it. (Watch his wife's stunned reaction -- 2:09)

Eventually, the poll manager at Sullivan's Island Elementary School politely told the governor that he couldn't vote unless he had a registration card.

The first lady's identification was in order, and she was allowed to vote, said poll manager Bob Crawford, according to The Associated Press.

Later, Sanford told reporters that his card was in the capital, Columbia, but he planned to obtain a replacement immediately so he could cast a ballot.

"We had the number, we could read it over the phone, but as a credit to the poll manager, she said that ain't enough -- you've got to have the card," the governor said. "I'll vote here shortly."

Sanford said he admired the poll manager for being conscientious.

His office later said the governor had returned to the polling station and successfully voted.

According to the South Carolina State Elections Commission's Web site, voters can obtain a duplicate registration card -- even on Election Day -- if their card is lost or stolen.

The Republican is expected to win his bid for re-election against Democratic state Sen. Tommy Moore.

Sanford has had a tough few days.

Bright stage lights injured his eyes on Sunday, forcing him to skip campaigning on Monday to go to the doctor and recuperate, AP reported.

Sanford's eyes were red and watery as he stood in line at the voting site on Tuesday, but he told AP, "It's behind me and the prognosis is good."

Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

available at http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/sanford.votes/index.html

Andy Rooney

In case you missed 60 Minutes last night, this is what Andy Rooney had to say (of course, if you are thinking to yourself "what kind of flaming liberal watches 60 Minutes when O'Riley is on, then you are probably the exact person who this is aimed at, and you are also the kind of person who thinks Andy Rooney hates our freedom):

"There's a silent little war going on in this country. It's between people who wear the American flag in their buttonhole and people who do not.

(Footage of various politicians with American flag pin on lapels; flag pin; political debate; photos of President Bush; photos of President Bush's father; footage of President Bush when he was governor; photo of Harry Truman; photo of John F. Kennedy; photo of Dwight Eisenhower; photo of Richard Nixon; photo of woman; photo of Condoleezza Rice; photo of Senator Charles Schumer; photo of Oprah Winfrey with woman; footage of American flag)

Mr. ROONEY: (Voiceover) Every night on the evening news, you see people, politicians mostly, being interviewed or giving speeches wearing a little metal American flag. Are are they suggesting they love America more than I do?

If a politician running for office has an opponent who wears a flag, he usually thinks he has to wear one, too. Afraid people might say he isn't as patriotic as his opponent is.
President Bush always wears an American flag. Would we think he was un-American if he didn't? His father wore one sometimes, didn't wear one other times. I think politicians wearing the American flag is a fairly new phenomenon. Politicians weren't wearing them as much just a few years ago, not as much as they are now. President Bush didn't wear one when he was governor of Texas. I don't remember seeing Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy or Dwight Eisenhower wearing one. We did come across a picture of Richard Nixon in the '70s wearing a flag. Maybe he started it.

I've always wondered if a politician who wears a flag when the cameras are rolling wears one on Saturdays when he's home alone in his old clothes. Or is he only patriotic in public?
Women politicians don't seem to use the flag as decoration like men do. Maybe that's because they have no good place to hang a flag or they don't want to put a hole in their dress with a pin.

I suppose it isn't a very popular opinion I have, but I don't like to see a politician or anyone else for that matter wearing an American flag. Using the flag as decoration is demeaning to a great symbol. The American flag may be the best symbol ever designed. It's perfect. It represents our current 50 states and the 13 original colonies. It's both attractive and meaningful, and it stands for who we are. That's a lot to ask of a piece of cloth. And the American flag does it magnificently. It should not be used as a bumper sticker.

traveling gnomes

If you were essentially a one hit wonder band with a loyal, although small, devoted fan base and you struck it big earning a gold record with your most radio friendly single, what would you do with it? I mean the record - you know you actually get a gold record when your record goes gold, although I am not sure that it is made out of real gold. Presumably you don't get real platinum records when you go platinum, but it sure would be a lot cooler if you did. OK - so hold that thought. You would take your Gold Record - the one sign of popular success after all those nights playing in smoky dive bars with people more interested in the video poker machine than they were in your music - and you would do _____ with it.

OK - now imagine that you are a ragged out fan of a do nothing band that made it big with one hit single, and all of a sudden the same posers from school who used to make fun of you for listening to weird indy california fruity music are the guys showing up with brand new t-shirts from the band and cranking the same hit radio single out of their never-seen-the-mud rag top jeep with brush guards that daddy bought them for their 16th birthday. You tough it out, knowing that your band would never really sell out - it was just the big music industry moguls polluting the essence of the music's soul. And sure enough, a few later when the band is mentioned most often as the answer in Trivia on tuesday nights at at the local bar & grill, the band is still appreciative for its loyal fans who stuck with them. So one night, one of the band members has some fans over at his house and they are playing fooseball in his garage . . .

Well, if the band was Toad the Wet Sprocket and you were drummer Randy Guss, you would but the Gold Record on the line. And if you were the fan that won the gold record, you would travel the world uniting Toad fans and start this website:

http://www.toadgold.com/

FYI - Toad was on tour this summer. If you are so inclined, you can check out their official website at http://www.toadthewetsprocket.com/

Quote of the Day

“When I see someone wearing headphones in the New York City Marathon, I feel sorry for them,” Mr. Solarz said. “They don’t even know what they are missing. The hoots, the hollers, all the bands, the excitement. When else can a skinny white guy wearing little shorts run in Harlem and get cheers?”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/02/fashion/02fitness.html

Smoking Hot Dogs

Apparently this Friday at 7:00 there will be more going on than you rewinding your cd's and re-laceing your shoes. Oh yeah - the Smokin' Hot Dogs of Frankfort High School in Frankfort IN will take their four game winning streak into the Hamilton Heights Huskies' house looking to avenge last years loss in the championship game. The Huskies, for their part, haven't lost a sectional game in 5 years.

In celebration of the game, cafeteria lunch will be:

Foot Long Hot Dog
Baked Beans
Fruit
Frito Lay Chips

Should be a barn burner.

Smoking Hot Dogs stand in Huskies' way

Frankfort has won 4 in a row; Heights takes shot at 5th straight title.

By Ted Schultz

November 2, 2006

The streak stands at 14 and counting.

It was five years ago this week that Hamilton Heights last lost a sectional football game. The Huskies are one win away from their 15th straight sectional victory and their fifth straight title going into Friday's 7 p.m. battle with Frankfort.

"This will be an emotional game," Heights coach Steve Stirn said. "Like always, a good start will be an advantage for the team that gets out of the gate quickly."

Last year's sectional championship came down to these two teams, and the Huskies (8-3) prevailed 35-21.

"Last year's game with Frankfort was a contrast in style, but it was a great game," Stirn said. "This year's game appears to be very similar. They are playing with a high level of confidence."

The Hot Dogs (7-3) have won four in a row following a 3-3 start. They went on the road and blanked West Lafayette 28-0 last week after receiving a first-round bye.

Heights and Frankfort have played two common opponents. The Hot Dogs opened the season with a 28-6 win over Western and a 26-7 loss at Twin Lakes. The Huskies lost at Western 21-20 in Week 8, downed Twin Lakes 21-14 the first round of the sectional and avenged the loss to Western with a 13-3 win last week.

Heights is a team that usually throws about as much as it runs, but in the rain and mud last week, ran 48 times and threw six.

"We have smart kids that understand the game of football. Ross Eckart, our center, is very intelligent. (Quarterback) Justin (Boser) is smart on and off the field. That had a lot to do with it," Stirn said. "They kept their poise, and they understood the conditions that we played in."

Frankfort doesn't throw the ball much. Tyler Brown has completed 15-of-32 passes for 215 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ben Kelly has carried 188 times for 1,234 yards and 18 scores, and C.J. Smith has 129 carries for 659 yards and four touchdowns. Kaleb Thompson has caught four passes for 121 yards and two scores, and Smith has five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Kelly leads the Hot Dog defense with 102 tackles.

"Frankfort appears to be very physical with outstanding speed," Stirn said. "Frankfort will use an offense that is not conventional, just effective. They will use a very tightly bunched formation. Defensively, they will use multiple alignments and stunts to keep us off balance and to cause hesitation."

Full article at: http://www.thenoblesvilleledger.com/articles/7/079682-1567-094.html