A Whole Lot of Another

Been lots of interesting things in the news here lately.  Everybody must be trying to get things in before the Super Bowl since things always seem slow down afterwards. So, if I can thaw my fingers out, will try to give you a little food for thought if nothing else.  Here we go:

• Man!  What a Super Bowl!  Didn't care a whole lot who won.  Only hoped for a good game, and it was delivered.  Was glad to see the Saints pull it off.  They and their fans certainly deserve it after 43 years of heartache.  They played a great game and Sean Payton showed he wasn't just glad to be there.  Calling for an on-sides kick to start the 2nd half took some real courage.  WHO DAT!!!;
• Thought this year's ads were just kind of OK.  Liked the Doritos ad where the kid told the man not to touch his mama or his Doritos.  Didn't realize the Tebow ad was on until he tackled his mother and had to rewind it to pay attention to it.  Like many other things in life, it was much ado about nothing.  Certainly wasn't as controversial as you would have thought.  Think some groups decided to "protest" it beforehand just to get their name in the papers.  Can't always believe the hype, I reckon.  Imagine that.  Did read where one group said tackling his mother encourages violence against women.  Guess they had to complain about something since the ad didn't live up to other expectations.  Would think most people are smart enough to see the humor in it and don't think the ad is saying it's OK to tackle women, especially your mother;
• Did anyone know we are apparently fighting in Pakistan now?  Or, at least we have sent "advisers" there. (Ain't that how we got started in Vietnam?)  Anywho, three were killed in a suicide bombing the other day.  Looks like the reigning Nobel Peace prize winner may be expanding the war on terror, or, whatever they are calling it these days.  (Apparently that phrase is a no-no with the White House and its staff.)  Anyway, not saying there's anything necessarily wrong with it.  Just wondered if you knew about it;
• Read where Michelle Obama is catching some flak about using her daughters as examples in her fight against childhood obesity.  Said might be setting them up for eating disorders and/or poor self-esteem later in life.  Think as long as she keeps it in proper perspective for them, they will be OK.  If the doctor said they need to lose a little weight, she should be praised for trying to do something about it (as long as she didn't do anything out of the ordinary) instead of ignoring the problem.  Shouldn't be anything wrong with using a personal example, either.  Just hope they don't turn it around later and say they don't want their children to be in the spotlight.  Can't expect to have it both ways if you are going to put them out there yourself.  That don't mean someone should go out of their way to put them out there in a bad way, though;
• Sarah Palin spoke at the Tea Party convention over the weekend.  Had notes written on her hand like she was cheating on a civics test in high school.  Not sure about all the particulars as to why she wrote on her hand and not on note cards.  Maybe she thought of something she wanted to be be sure to mention as she was walking to the stage.  Don't know.  But, it don't look real good.  Not very professional at best.  Mostly unprepared at worst.  Just something someone already looked down upon by the media should consider; 
• Read some speculation the other day that the Feds are being tough on Toyota since they are competition for Government Motors (that's what some folks are calling General Motors nowadays).  Since we the people own most of GM now, it will help our bottom line to make the competition look bad anytime they can.  Not saying I necessarily buy it, but some interesting food for thought;
• Hard to believe NASCAR has started back up again.  Got the Daytona 500 this weekend.  Looks like Danica Patrick will run in the Nationwide (one step below the Sprint Cup in case you don't know) race on Saturday.  Could be interesting.  Hope she does well.  The sport could use a little boost.  Lost interest myself last year when they flat out caught Jimmy Johnson and Mark Martin cheating in a Chase race and did nothing about it. Both cars were about an inch lower than NASCAR allows.  Don't sound like much, but it was a race they totally dominated over the rest of the field so it must have been something.  If they allow the drivers to start racing again instead of just driving around in circles, will probably watch again this year.  Will have to see;
• Read an interesting snippet on Dale Earnhardt, Jr, this week.  Someone asked him if he had to win to be a central figure in the sport.  His reply: "Apparently not."  Purty astute if you ask me.  Hasn't won a race in a couple of years, and he's still the most popular driver, probably for no other reason than who his daddy was and how he died.  Think all he wants to do is race and be himself.  Too many other folks want him to be his daddy reincarnated, and that ain't fair to him.  Ain't but one Ironhead and there won't ever be another.  If you ask me, all of The Intimidator's fans should have gone to Tony "Smoke" Stewart.  He's the closest thing out there to Number 3.  Anyway, hope Jr has a good year this year.  While Smoke is my favorite driver, will be rooting for anyone but Jimmy this year;
• Certainly been some odd weather around the country this year.  Heard last year that if there's thunder in January, there will be snow in February.  Well, we had thunder around here in January.  Will see if it happens this year.  Had thunder last year and snow on March 1, which was purty close.  Had some snow flurries Saturday and Sunday.  Might have to count that.  One odd thing is, with all the snow we're having in the States, read they are having to haul snow in for the Olympic snowboarding events next week in Canada.  Strange days indeed. 

Well, that's all I got fer now.  Thanks for hanging in this long.  Y'all have a good'n!

Later.

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

Been an interesting week in the news.  Lots of stories in the news ranging from sports, politics and entertainment.  Got my own opinion to share on some of 'em. If it ain't in line with yours, might at least give you a different angle to think about, anyway.  So, if you're interested, here we go:

• Before we get started, was watching TV with my son the other day.  Some commercial with a remake of The Beatles' "All You Need is Love" came on.  My son said it was a "real catchy" song.  Replied that's probably why it's been popular for pert near 40 years.  He was amazed it was that old.  That's the problem with getting older, you see very little that is new and actually impresses you.  Ah, to be young again and discovering things in the world;
• Been reading about all the hoopla surrounding Tim Tebow's Super Bowl commercial.  To be honest, not real sure why some folks are upset about it.  After all, we do have a little something called "freedom of speech" in this here country.  If they have the money to run a counter to it, more power to 'em.  If CBS declines to run it, then you might have something to complain about.  Anyway, doubt the ad will change many opinions about the subject.  Most people are purty dug in on whichever side they are on so they won't be budging.  More surprised there hasn't been much hullaballoo about CBS turning down an ad for a gay dating website.  When I read the storyline of the ad (it ends with two guys making out on a couch), wasn't so surprised they turned it down.  Not sure many people would want to see that.  Lots o' folks are open-minded on that subject, but that don't mean they want to see it, not to mention the folks who ain't so open-minded about it;  
• Saw where J.D. Salinger died last week.  Tried to read Catcher in the Rye when I was in college.  Had a difficult time getting into it and don't think I even finished.  Interesting thing to me is most of the stories I read about him always talk about what a recluse he was.  Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird) has the same kind of stories written about her.  Guess the media folks have a hard time accepting not everyone is hungry for fame.  Must be an anomaly for them cuz they're used to dealing with narcissistic egomaniacs most of the time.  Not sure about Mr. Salinger, but have heard from people who know that Ms. Lee is just an ordinary person who wants to live her life like most other normal folks. Ain't a thing in the world wrong with that, either;
• Heard where President Obama wants to do away with the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.  Got no problem with that.  Times have changed a lot since the military decided to ban gays and lesbians.  Now, have to admit have never served in the military myself so not sure what, if any, effect it will have on unit morale.  However, there were also huge outcries when women, blacks, and other groups were first allowed to join.  Now, most people don't think twice about it.  Reckon this might happen here, too.  Truth is there are already gay folks in the military so it shouldn't be that much of an adjustment.  Most straight folks I know who are leary of gays are worried they're gonna get hit on.  Have several friends I know who are gay and several others I suspect but have never asked and they ain't tellin', either.  None have ever hit on me and feel comfortable when they are around my children.  In other words, like many other fears, has more to do with what you don't know rather than having a legitimate reason to fear or hate.  Imagine it will all work out in the long run;
• Looks like there's finally a issue both sides of the political aisle can work together on.  The president's office announced they are going to look into getting a playoff for Division One (or whatever it's called now) college football.  This all got started when Republican Orrin Hatch got his panties in a wad cuz Utah wasn't in the championship game last year, or at least given a piece of the championship since they were undefeated.  Glad to know we've solved all our minor issues such as the economy, unemployment, health care reform, two wars, terrorism, et al.  What's that?  You say we haven't solved those things, yet?!  Surely they have or they wouldn't distract themselves with petty issues like a football playoff?  Man o' man;
• Kurt Warner has decided to retire from the NFL.  His story is the true American dream.  As Carl the Greenskeeper use to say, "A true Cinderella story.  Coming out of nowhere to win..."  To go from making $5.50/hour as a grocery clerk to winning the MVP and the Super Bowl the next year is truly amazing.  Will be a long time before his story is duplicated. Sure he will hit the speechifying circuit sharing his faith (very devout Christian) now. Good luck in retirement, Kurt;
• Went out to eat the other night and ran into an old college friend I haven't seen in close to 20 years.  Weird thing is, since we've 'talked' on Facebook over the last year or so, we didn't feel the need to sit there and chat in a loud restaurant trying to catch up on the last 20 years in 5 minutes or less.  Another example of the power of the internet;
• Realized the other day have only watched one episode of American Idol this year, and haven't really missed it that much, either.  Might get more interested in it once the finals start.  Don't know.  Not a big fan of Ellen DeGeneres so maybe not.  Possibly after Biggest Loser is over.  We'll see.  Think the biggest problem with the show is, outside of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, none of the winners have really struck it big.  Some who were culled from the herd have done OK such as Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken, but that ain't quite the same.  Think once Simon leaves the show, it will have really jumped the shark. (What exactly does that really mean, anyway?  What does this expression have to do with something not being popular, anymore?);
• Added a link to a blog called You're So Vain (link here and over to the left).  It's a lady in Northern Virginia who posts photos of a different vanity plate every day.  Pretty neat if you ask me.  Must be lots of them plates around there.  Not sure I could find a different one every day in my neck of the woods.  Found it just hitting the Next Blog button at the very top of the page.

All I got fer now.  Thanks for making it to the end with me.  If you know where "jump the shark" originated and/or why, please leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail.  Please feel free to leave any other comments, too.

Y'all have a great week!

Gapses in the Synapses

Have a veritable smorgasboard of material to cover this go around.  Subjects ranging from politics to the power of TV to sports, among other things.  So, if you're game, here we go:

• Want to know the true power of television?  My son had been playing his Nintendo DS in the living room all morning with the TV turned off.  I went into the kitchen to fix myself some breakfast and turned the TV in there on while I was eating.  He came in the room, while still playing his game, just to listen to the show I was watching. It was a show about the different stages the earth went through as it was being formed, too.  Riveting television for a nine year old.  He didn't leave until I turned it back off, either.  Reckon only got myself to blame for that;
• If you have any political ambitions, better make sure you know your local sports teams.  According to David Gergen, a well-respected political analyst, part of the reason the Dem lost in Massachusetts was cuz she didn't know who Curt Schilling is.  She was asked during a radio call-in show about him, and she apparently made some comment about him being a Yankee fan.  Per Mr. Gergen, the fact she didn't know who the hero of the 2004 Red Sawx is didn't set well with the Sawx fans and probably cost her a bunch of votes.  Just never know what may appeal to or turn off voters.  We sure are fickle sometimes.  Who says we only care about the issues?;
• Know this will sound crass, but if there's anything positive coming out of the whole Haiti crisis, it's that celebrities have something to rally around now.  Been worried about them since they don't have W to kick around any more.  Didn't watch the Hope for Haiti stuff last week, but it wasn't cuz it was hard to find on TV.  Counted at least 7 stations that were covering it, including the major networks.  Read the concert has raised almost $58 million so far and it's still coming in.  Did see an article today saying overall donations for Haiti are already slowing down.  Guess we've almost reached our saturation point.  Talk about a short collective attention span;
• Read an article saying the best gift you can give is cash if you are interested in donating for Haiti.  Have to say I agree with that.  Was down on the Gulf Coast for nine months after Katrina hit.  Saw piles of water, food, clothing and diapers still outside a lot of facilities when I left from there.  At some point, they are going to need to start purchasing building supplies and other things.  A lot easier to do that with cash instead of diapers.  Also easier to ship cash to Haiti than actual supplies;
• Saw where Grant Desme, one of the Oakland A's top prospects, is leaving pro baseball for the priesthood.  Have to admire someone who will give up potential millions to follow his heart.  He was the MVP of his league last year so he obviously had potential.  Said he had been conflicted since he turned pro and now he's at peace within himself. The article I read said there is 10 years of training involved to be a priest.  Never knew there was that much to it, but, then again, ain't Catholic, either.  You go, Grant, and God bless;
• Did you watch the NFL conference championships this weekend?  As much as Brett Favre has aggravated me this year (well, more the media covering him than him), have to admit he played a whale of a game while pretty much getting his brains beat out for most of it.  Wish could say it's surprising his last pass was an interception, but it ain't.  The game was his career in a nutshell.  Great plays because of the risks he's willing to take along with bonehead plays for the same reason.  Excited to see the Saints and Colts in the Super Bowl.  Can honestly say will be happy with whoever wins.  Da Bears are home watching, too, and am fans of both Peyton Manning and the Saints;
• Saw where Pernell Roberts died today at the age of 82.  Loved him in Trapper John, M.D.  Was also pretty good in Bonanza.  The article I read said he marched with Martin Luther King, Jr, somewhere in Alabama. Selma, I believe.  He also protested having an all-white stage crew for Bonanza.  Never knew he was that big into the civil rights movement.  Not a bad legacy for an old Georgia boy;
• Was looking at my map today and saw where someone from Istanbul, Turkey, had visited the blog.  Purty cool.  Wish it would tell me how long they were on the page.  Sometimes I will click on the "Next Blog" link at the very top of the page to see what else is out there.  Imagine that's what happened here.  Most of the websites are in other languages.  Oddly enough, most I run across are in Portugese.  Reckon that shouldn't be much of a surprise since the Portugese settled the half of the New World that the Spainsih didn't. A translation button comes up so can translate any that really look interesting to me.  Still, gives you some perspective on just how global the internet really is.

Well, that's all I got for now.  Appreciate you making it this far.  Hope you have a great week!

And, I am outta here!