Did you happen to catch a recent episode of the ABC series Boston Public? Yeah, me neither. Truth be told, I never have seen the show. From what I gather, Spader plays a rather unsympathetic character on the show, a smarmy lawyer with a heart of less than gold. Also? Shatner is on this show, and he’s always gold. I’m amazed I don’t watch, come to think of it.
The clip is here.
I haven’t even seen the entire episode mentioned above, only this clip. Spader’s character is defending a woman who is avoiding paying taxes in protest. It’s perfectly setup, having the prosecutor rant to the jury about how her form of dissent is unpatriotic, and how they, the jury, have little choice but to convict. Spader’s address to the jury is nothing short of astonishing, in the fact that it was broadcast on commercial television. It hits on all the relevant points of how dissent in this country is quickly labeled as unpatriotic, when the reverse is true. He dares to question the jury (and in reality, all of us) where our outrage is while all of these decidedly un-American things have occurred under the guise of a War on Terror. Things like a war based on misinformation, state sanctioned torture, warrantless wiretaps, etc.
I can only imagine that ABC has received a backlash form the traditional media lapdogs (Hannity, Limbaugh, etc.), ironically, calling them unpatriotic traitors. Yes, yes we get it: Hollywood is full of left wing liberal nutjobs who hate America and love muslims/commies. Hopefully, they will receive an equal number of comments applauding the bravery of airing this. Contact them here and tell them what you think.
We live in dangerous times. The climate of fear that has been placed upon us was not done so by accident. Having a population living in constant fear of whatever bogeyman we can think of (in this case, Muslim extremists) allows a government to get away with things far above and beyond rational democratic actions. The populace, when kept uneducated about such things, and in a constant state of anxiety, is far more likely to accept Police state type security measures, all under the guise of “protection”. Playing upon those fears is manipulative and more in line with the governments we claim to despise. Think that color coded terror alert system will ever sink below yellow? Yeah, me neither. Disagree with the current administration? You must hate America! Want to speak out, as is your right? Move over to that “Free Speech Zone” three blocks away. (Funny, I thought all American soil was a “Free Speech Zone”.)
Thankfully, it seems like we Americans might finally be waking up and smelling the coffee. Dubya’s approval ratings are the lowest they’ve ever been, and continue to sink each time the polls are taken. Even members of his own party are openly questioning the policies they helped put into place, though a lot of that could be due to election year posturing, as nothing is worse that to have the stench of an unpopular president on you while campaigning. Soldiers are openly questioning what the hell they are trying to accomplish in Iraq, and why they have to do so with inadequate equipment. Here’s a hint: maybe the goal isn’t to “win”, but simply to remain there and keep the war machine rolling along. There are profits to be made, after all, eh Dick?
The proof will be if, this November, things change enough to dismantle the Republican majority in Congress. I’m not saying the Democrats are any better, by any stretch. After all, many of them voted for this war, though they later claimed they were misled. They further proved their weenie-ness this past week when Russ Feingold produced a measure to censure the President, and the afraid-to-dissent-and-seem-unpatriotic Dems let him twist in the wind. The Dems need to convey a better message than “We’re not them” in order to rally the voters. We can force them to revert to being the party of FDR and JFK, if we do it right, and not reduce them to being the party that has to defend Pro-Choice all damn day. The tent needs to get bigger, and they can’t be held captive by the extreme fringes, which seems to happen every election cycle.
It would send a message if many incumbents were defeated, and that should be the goal. See who is up for reelection in your district, make sure the voting machines work (that is, they aren’t made by Diebold), and vote for change. Me? I’m going to do my damndest to make sure that my state senator, noted Republican-in-Donkey-clothing Joe Lieberman, gets ousted.
Remember, this country was founded by a group of intelligent, pissed off guys, who were tired of living under the rule of an elitist system of which they could never be part. Sound familiar? Dissent is not only in our blood, it is our responsibility. At the very least, we need to restore the system of checks and balances designed by these brilliant thinkers, which were setup to prevent anyone, even our elected (or in this case, selected) leaders from putting themselves above the law. As Sean Hannity likes to say, "Now more than ever." Indeed, Sean. Indeed.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Fan for Hire Update – We have a winner!
The results are in! After being contacted by six NBA franchises, and carefully going over the responses, I have decided which team is the recipient of my rooting loyalty. The winner is…….the Phoenix Suns!
I received this reply from Karlis Kezbers, Account Experience Specialist, in response to my original e-mail:
Note that the Suns were my choice despite not being offered any material goods, i.e. T-Shirts, hats, etc. The outstanding reply was a big part, but these other factors played into my decision:
The team is well managed (again, after witnessing the Dolan/Thomas regime, anything looks good by comparision)
The Suns are consistently competitive.
They will be competitive for the foreseeable future.
They are an entertaining, high energy team.
They’re not run by Isiah Thomas.
Currently, the Suns sit with the #2 seed in the Western Conference, and despite having big problems matchup-wise with San Antonio, are a legitimate threat to take the conference title. Go Suns!
I received this reply from Karlis Kezbers, Account Experience Specialist, in response to my original e-mail:
John,
Great to hear from you and glad to hear that you are interested in joining the Phoenix Suns. Before we make our offer, I do want to let you know that we always have the best interest of the fan in mind, so may I offer a few suggestions:
1) Join up with a mid level team for three years and buy a half season package. After the third year, nationally state that you are unhappy and want a new deal. This will entice Isiah to call and sign you to an 8 year $120 million dollar deal. (This would be looking out for your best interest financially.)
2) Go overseas for a few years and follow an Italian team. After a couple years, declare yourself eligible for the NBA draft. The Knicks will more than likely pick you in the 2nd round and then lock you up for an 8 year $120 million dollar deal. (looking out for you financially.)
3) Become a Suns fan. We're coming off of a 62 win season, with the MVP of the league, coach of the year, and executive of the year. Currently, without arguably our best player, we are atop of the Pacific Division by 6 games, positioning ourselves to be at least a 3 seed in the Western Conference. We have made moves this season to help us acquire Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, James Jones, and Eddie House. We pride ourselves on putting the best team on the floor, showing top of the line entertainment, and providing the best service in the NBA. (obviously, looking out for your best interest as a fan)
Please let me know if you have any other questions or comments regarding the Suns. We look forward to having you as a lifetime fan!
Note that the Suns were my choice despite not being offered any material goods, i.e. T-Shirts, hats, etc. The outstanding reply was a big part, but these other factors played into my decision:
The team is well managed (again, after witnessing the Dolan/Thomas regime, anything looks good by comparision)
The Suns are consistently competitive.
They will be competitive for the foreseeable future.
They are an entertaining, high energy team.
They’re not run by Isiah Thomas.
Currently, the Suns sit with the #2 seed in the Western Conference, and despite having big problems matchup-wise with San Antonio, are a legitimate threat to take the conference title. Go Suns!
Monday, March 06, 2006
Am I Being Monitored? I’ll Probably Find Out.
Now that Bush, Cheney and the neocon gang want to be all up in our personal business (see Act, Patriot and Tap, Warrantless Wire), I began to wonder what behavior, if any, I would personally do which could result in a visit from Big Brother. This blog is pretty much non-political, so I doubt it would turn up in any high powered searches (until now, perhaps). I don’t recall any phone conversation where I trashed the current administration, as most of those rants were done face-to-face.
Oh wait – I’ve recently made a few trips to my local public library, and was browsing for books when I did a search for Al Franken. Now, I like Franken, ever since the salad days of Saturday Night Live in the 70’s, he has consistently made me laugh. I recall seeing him at a corporate event a few years back and thoroughly enjoyed him. His books balance facts, heavy sarcasm, and intelligence to make his points. I don’t agree with everything he says, but nonetheless he is a very enjoyable read, and listen on his Air America radio show.
I found the book I was looking for, Lies and The Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, and grabbed a copy. While in the aisle, I also came across, then checked out these other items:
When You Ride Alone, You Ride With Bin Laden, by Bill Maher
Bushwacked!, by Molly Ivans
Stupid White Men, by Michael Moore
I read those, then went back and picked up the following:
Dude, Where’s My Country?, by Michael Moore
The Truth (with Jokes), by Al Franken
Man, I’m screwed. I mean, if they’ve been poking around vegetarians and nuns, what would they do with me? The WARNING: LEFTY EXTREMIST alarms were probably ringing like crazy at the NSA. Maybe I should go back and grab a Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly or Ann Coulter book to balance it out. (Truthfully, I have read books by O’Reilly and Coulter, and got them from this library, but that was before the snooping began.) That would probably confuse the hell out of the poor schlub who was on Library Duty that day.
Guess if you don’t hear from me for awhile, assume the worst. Welcome to 1984.
Oh wait – I’ve recently made a few trips to my local public library, and was browsing for books when I did a search for Al Franken. Now, I like Franken, ever since the salad days of Saturday Night Live in the 70’s, he has consistently made me laugh. I recall seeing him at a corporate event a few years back and thoroughly enjoyed him. His books balance facts, heavy sarcasm, and intelligence to make his points. I don’t agree with everything he says, but nonetheless he is a very enjoyable read, and listen on his Air America radio show.
I found the book I was looking for, Lies and The Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, and grabbed a copy. While in the aisle, I also came across, then checked out these other items:
When You Ride Alone, You Ride With Bin Laden, by Bill Maher
Bushwacked!, by Molly Ivans
Stupid White Men, by Michael Moore
I read those, then went back and picked up the following:
Dude, Where’s My Country?, by Michael Moore
The Truth (with Jokes), by Al Franken
Man, I’m screwed. I mean, if they’ve been poking around vegetarians and nuns, what would they do with me? The WARNING: LEFTY EXTREMIST alarms were probably ringing like crazy at the NSA. Maybe I should go back and grab a Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly or Ann Coulter book to balance it out. (Truthfully, I have read books by O’Reilly and Coulter, and got them from this library, but that was before the snooping began.) That would probably confuse the hell out of the poor schlub who was on Library Duty that day.
Guess if you don’t hear from me for awhile, assume the worst. Welcome to 1984.
Fan For Hire
I'm a pretty big sports fan, as you might have gathered form some previous posts. I grew up when the "Big 4" professional sports consisted of Baseball, Football, Basketball and Hockey. Today, in terms of fan base, you'd have to bump hockey in favor of NASCAR, as the NHL seemingly has gone out of its way to alienate its fan base (canceling a season after recklessly expanding might be a factor). I've tried to see what all the fuss was about regarding stock car racing, and could now be considered a very casual fan. Very casual.
For baseketball, the choice for my favorite team was simple : the New York Knickerbockers. Not only were they a great team during my youth, they were local. Tons of media coverage, and interesting, talented players like Clyde Frazier, helped make rooting for them a joy. Like any good team, they endured their share of hard times, but I always stuck with them. When they hit the jackpot in 1985 by winning the Patrick Ewing lottery, I was pumped. The glory would return to the Garden!
Well, there were a few close calls, most notably the '94 Finals where the Knicks took a 3-2 lead to Houston and lost both games, and the title, but they never did win another championship. An underdog run to the Finals in '99 didn't hurt as much, as they were simply not as good as the Spurs, who took the crown in five games. Still, they were always competitive and in the playoff mix every year. One could make a rather convincing argument that being an elite team during the same time as the Jordan Bulls was an impossible hill to climb. For the Knicks, it certainly was.
Despite the recent years of poor play, I continued to stick by my team. It's what you're supposed to do, right? After Isiah Thomas was hired to be the General Manager in the aftermath of the awful Scott Layden regime, I was taken aback slightly. I had always despised Thomas, both as a player with Pistons, then as an executive who buried the CBA. Still, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, what with the bountiful resources the Garden would provide him. I figured it could be an interesting mix.
Well, two plus years in, it has become an absolute disaster. Thomas continues to make player moves which boggle the mind, taking on enormous salaries nobody else wants, which in turn destroys any flexibility the could have regarding the salary cap. Hiring Larry Brown at $10M per was also suspect. Brown, a noted carpetbagger who can't seem to stay in one place for more than 2-3 years, was never going to win with the roster he inherited. The soloution from GM Isiah? Throw more bad money after mediocrity, and ask the Genius Coach to somehow make it all work. The moves were puzzling to any observer, and the NBA beat writers struggled to figure out if perhaps there was some grand plan Thomas was cooking up, and that somehow all of the moves would make sense later. We're still waiting, Zeke.
The last straw, for me anyway, came a few weeks back when Thomas dumped a hefty expiring contract (Penny Hardaway) along with a decent young player (Trevor Ariza) for Steve Francis. Um, Isiah, you already have a selfish, overpaid point guard, correct? You are aware that during the game, only one ball is in play at a time, yes? Oh, did I mention that the Knicks currently have the ugly combination of the highest payroll, and the worst record in the laague? That is truly a remarkable accomplishment, but hey, at least we'd get the best odds to win the Draft Lottery, right? Um, no. Thomas decided, in all his wisdom, to send the pick to the Bulls in the Eddie Curry deal, and not have the pick lottery protected. Thus, when this season ends with New York likely grabbing one of the Top 3 choices in the '06 Draft, the Chicago Bulls will have the honor of selecting the player. Unbelievable.
After that, I took a step I had never undertaken in the course of my fandom: I was walking away from one of my teams. My plan was rather simple. I would contact as many teams as I could via their web sites on nba.com, sending an email to the fan relations/marketing division expressing my sudden availability as a fan. I though about eBay, but couldn't decide how to make it work, since money would have to change hands and I didn't think any team would be that desperate. (Although I imagine Isiah might toss me a contract, but he's out of the running here).
I ended up contacting 19 teams (thus far), with the message below:
I am a lifelong New York Knicks fan. Well, I was, but no longer can tolerate the inept management and general joke the once proud franchise has become. Therefore, I am putting my loyalty up for grabs. Every team inthe NBA NOT residing in Madison Square Garden will receive correspondence from me, and the franchise which provides the best response will gain a new fan forlife...as long as it doesn't hire Isiah Thomas at any point in time, in which case all bets are off.
Respectfully,
Me
This was risky, in that there are several franchises I absolutely can't stand (Lakers, Bulls, Celtics), but bound myself to my word: best response gets my rooting interest. Imagine my surprise when the first response I received, a few minutes after hitting send, was from the Boston Celtics. Gulp. Turned out to be an auto-reply. Phew.
So far, I've received 6 responses, some of them awesome. Minnesota offered gear, and tickets if I could schlep my butt to Minneapolis (in February/March?). Utah did as well.
I will set a deadline of March 15 for all responses, and will adhere to the terms of the deal. Admittedly, I'm awaiting a response from Mark Cuban, who I think would like nothing better than to stick it to the Knicks by publicly taking one of their fans. Nothing yet from Mark. I'll keep you all posted as this all plays out.
I think I should also be looking at the team structure as part of the equation. For example, how is the team currently managed? What is the cap situation? Roster balanced with good young guys and decent veterans, who could conceivably make a run in the post-season? That kind of stuff. Should be fun!
For baseketball, the choice for my favorite team was simple : the New York Knickerbockers. Not only were they a great team during my youth, they were local. Tons of media coverage, and interesting, talented players like Clyde Frazier, helped make rooting for them a joy. Like any good team, they endured their share of hard times, but I always stuck with them. When they hit the jackpot in 1985 by winning the Patrick Ewing lottery, I was pumped. The glory would return to the Garden!
Well, there were a few close calls, most notably the '94 Finals where the Knicks took a 3-2 lead to Houston and lost both games, and the title, but they never did win another championship. An underdog run to the Finals in '99 didn't hurt as much, as they were simply not as good as the Spurs, who took the crown in five games. Still, they were always competitive and in the playoff mix every year. One could make a rather convincing argument that being an elite team during the same time as the Jordan Bulls was an impossible hill to climb. For the Knicks, it certainly was.
Despite the recent years of poor play, I continued to stick by my team. It's what you're supposed to do, right? After Isiah Thomas was hired to be the General Manager in the aftermath of the awful Scott Layden regime, I was taken aback slightly. I had always despised Thomas, both as a player with Pistons, then as an executive who buried the CBA. Still, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, what with the bountiful resources the Garden would provide him. I figured it could be an interesting mix.
Well, two plus years in, it has become an absolute disaster. Thomas continues to make player moves which boggle the mind, taking on enormous salaries nobody else wants, which in turn destroys any flexibility the could have regarding the salary cap. Hiring Larry Brown at $10M per was also suspect. Brown, a noted carpetbagger who can't seem to stay in one place for more than 2-3 years, was never going to win with the roster he inherited. The soloution from GM Isiah? Throw more bad money after mediocrity, and ask the Genius Coach to somehow make it all work. The moves were puzzling to any observer, and the NBA beat writers struggled to figure out if perhaps there was some grand plan Thomas was cooking up, and that somehow all of the moves would make sense later. We're still waiting, Zeke.
The last straw, for me anyway, came a few weeks back when Thomas dumped a hefty expiring contract (Penny Hardaway) along with a decent young player (Trevor Ariza) for Steve Francis. Um, Isiah, you already have a selfish, overpaid point guard, correct? You are aware that during the game, only one ball is in play at a time, yes? Oh, did I mention that the Knicks currently have the ugly combination of the highest payroll, and the worst record in the laague? That is truly a remarkable accomplishment, but hey, at least we'd get the best odds to win the Draft Lottery, right? Um, no. Thomas decided, in all his wisdom, to send the pick to the Bulls in the Eddie Curry deal, and not have the pick lottery protected. Thus, when this season ends with New York likely grabbing one of the Top 3 choices in the '06 Draft, the Chicago Bulls will have the honor of selecting the player. Unbelievable.
After that, I took a step I had never undertaken in the course of my fandom: I was walking away from one of my teams. My plan was rather simple. I would contact as many teams as I could via their web sites on nba.com, sending an email to the fan relations/marketing division expressing my sudden availability as a fan. I though about eBay, but couldn't decide how to make it work, since money would have to change hands and I didn't think any team would be that desperate. (Although I imagine Isiah might toss me a contract, but he's out of the running here).
I ended up contacting 19 teams (thus far), with the message below:
I am a lifelong New York Knicks fan. Well, I was, but no longer can tolerate the inept management and general joke the once proud franchise has become. Therefore, I am putting my loyalty up for grabs. Every team inthe NBA NOT residing in Madison Square Garden will receive correspondence from me, and the franchise which provides the best response will gain a new fan forlife...as long as it doesn't hire Isiah Thomas at any point in time, in which case all bets are off.
Respectfully,
Me
This was risky, in that there are several franchises I absolutely can't stand (Lakers, Bulls, Celtics), but bound myself to my word: best response gets my rooting interest. Imagine my surprise when the first response I received, a few minutes after hitting send, was from the Boston Celtics. Gulp. Turned out to be an auto-reply. Phew.
So far, I've received 6 responses, some of them awesome. Minnesota offered gear, and tickets if I could schlep my butt to Minneapolis (in February/March?). Utah did as well.
I will set a deadline of March 15 for all responses, and will adhere to the terms of the deal. Admittedly, I'm awaiting a response from Mark Cuban, who I think would like nothing better than to stick it to the Knicks by publicly taking one of their fans. Nothing yet from Mark. I'll keep you all posted as this all plays out.
I think I should also be looking at the team structure as part of the equation. For example, how is the team currently managed? What is the cap situation? Roster balanced with good young guys and decent veterans, who could conceivably make a run in the post-season? That kind of stuff. Should be fun!
Monday, February 13, 2006
Cool Site Recommendation: Television Without Pity
TWOP
Are you a TV fan? C’mon, it’s okay to admit it, you’re among friends. Guilty pleasure, perhaps?
If so, this is the site for you. I recall the day I stumbled upon it back in 2001, when I was doing a search for sites about Big Brother 2. (I realize by typing that how pathetic it sounds). Once I found it, I was hooked forever, and it is a site I visit daily.
This advertiser supported site boasts some of the coolest forums you will ever see, covering topics on all things TV, with the emphasis on snark. The name is apt, as very few topics are off limits. The boards show a community of members who show an amazing breadth of intelligence, humor, and snarky comments, which provides an addictive time consuming pastime. Be careful, however, if you decide to become a member and join in the fun: the boards have some very strict rules, and failure to adhere to these results in warnings and bans. Trust me, I speak from experience here. Read the FAQ, and when you’re finished, read ‘em again.
What sets it apart form other sites, though, are the Recaps. A number of shows are in rotation for which the staff provide long, detailed, recaps of each episode. While these are extremely useful if you’re trying to catch up on missed viewings, you will love reading them even if you’ve watched. The writers are outstanding, and the recaps are gold. (Personal fave: the amazing Miss Alli). Reading these talented scribes tear down Reality shows is about as much fun as you can imagine, but it’s also insightful to read how shows like 24 or Battlestar Gallactica are dissected.
I suppose the highest praise I can muster is that I’ve actually taken up watching shows based on them being recapped by TWoP. I now would not dream of missing The Amazing Race after reading the boards and recaps. It’s even sweeter when you begin to watch a show, then find out it has joined the rotation on the site.
If you love TV, or if you love yelling at your TV, this is the best place to visit. What are you waiting for?
Are you a TV fan? C’mon, it’s okay to admit it, you’re among friends. Guilty pleasure, perhaps?
If so, this is the site for you. I recall the day I stumbled upon it back in 2001, when I was doing a search for sites about Big Brother 2. (I realize by typing that how pathetic it sounds). Once I found it, I was hooked forever, and it is a site I visit daily.
This advertiser supported site boasts some of the coolest forums you will ever see, covering topics on all things TV, with the emphasis on snark. The name is apt, as very few topics are off limits. The boards show a community of members who show an amazing breadth of intelligence, humor, and snarky comments, which provides an addictive time consuming pastime. Be careful, however, if you decide to become a member and join in the fun: the boards have some very strict rules, and failure to adhere to these results in warnings and bans. Trust me, I speak from experience here. Read the FAQ, and when you’re finished, read ‘em again.
What sets it apart form other sites, though, are the Recaps. A number of shows are in rotation for which the staff provide long, detailed, recaps of each episode. While these are extremely useful if you’re trying to catch up on missed viewings, you will love reading them even if you’ve watched. The writers are outstanding, and the recaps are gold. (Personal fave: the amazing Miss Alli). Reading these talented scribes tear down Reality shows is about as much fun as you can imagine, but it’s also insightful to read how shows like 24 or Battlestar Gallactica are dissected.
I suppose the highest praise I can muster is that I’ve actually taken up watching shows based on them being recapped by TWoP. I now would not dream of missing The Amazing Race after reading the boards and recaps. It’s even sweeter when you begin to watch a show, then find out it has joined the rotation on the site.
If you love TV, or if you love yelling at your TV, this is the best place to visit. What are you waiting for?
Hair Apparent
I composed the below piece a few months ago, but never posted it. It was an admittedly vain piece regarding my hair, and some of the subtle changes that were beginning to occur as aging set in. It was intended to be somewhat tongue in cheek, but didn’t really come off as such.
[Trivial Vanity Break]
With apologies and acknowledgement to Dave Barry, who has probably already covered this topic with a lot more wit in the past….
Found my first gray one a few weeks back. Ugh. The only upside is that I haven’t lost any of the hair on my head. This was a trade off I always said I would accept, so I guess I’m okay with it. Heck, I knew guys who started losing their hair in their twenties, so I feel like the follicles are on borrowed time anyway once a guy hits 25. The flip side is that now, not only is hair springing up in previously hairless places (ears, nose), but some existing hair is doing odd things. To wit, I’ve noticed a few rogue hairs in the eyebrows begin to take on lives of their own, and shoot off in wildly different directions. When these few rebels decided to assert their independence, I don’t know. I never received a list of demands, or a deadline, they just took off. Are they to be plucked? Ow, that seems really painful, but if you’ve looked at Andy Rooney lately, you see what happens when the rebellion isn’t crushed early. Think about how pointless your eyebrows are in the first place. What is their purpose? Of course, you would look like a pretty large freak if you shave them off, so I guess they’ll have to stay, even they start wandering. Makes me really appreciate how much crap women do all the time to keep themselves beautiful.
Like most other guys who’ve never had facial hair, I am about to make my annual attempt at the Mid-Life Crisis Beard. It should be noted that every other attempt can be classified as an abject failure, but I am undeterred, or perhaps just delusional. Last years effort was the lengthiest one yet, and despite my wife’s constant admonition that I just looked like I had a dirty face, I pressed on for about three weeks before giving up. (She was sorta right). This attempt will likely result in a similar fate, yet I forge ahead in the futile hope that this time will be different.
[/Trivial vanity break complete]
First things first, the facial hair experiment failed, yet again, and possibly for the final time. Whatever.
I didn’t post this item because after reading it, it sounded like so much self-indulgent bullshit, which was not my aim when setting up this blog. This would be the kind of stuff that nobody would ever care about, other then perhaps to have a quick laugh.
Perspective arrived in the form of a fund raiser being coordinated by some folks in our office. The organization is called St. Baldrick’s, which is a group that raises money for pediatric cancer research. The hook is a simple one: gather people who will solicit donations from friends and co-workers, who sponser a few brave souls who will shave their heads. The literature puts it in plain English – these kids are about as brave as one can be, undergoing painful chemo (which causes their hair to fall out), so the least we can do is undergo some temporary humiliation to help the cause by showing some solidarity. Besides, it’s gonna grow back eventually, right?
I hemmed and hawed a little on this, trying to make sure that if I decided to do this, it would be for the right reasons. Donating a few bucks was one thing, but I began to contemplate becoming a “shavee”. It’s fun to be the center of attention and all, and I really wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to participate to make myself look good (not in a physical sense, obviously).
Eventually I got around to browsing the St. Baldrick’s web site, and it got me. I contacted the team leader for our company and signed up. Now there is no turning back! My dome will be revealed on March 16th in all its glory. I’m looking forward to it, and hopefully will be able to raise a lot of cash for a worthy cause. Those in attendance might want to bring sunglasses to combat the glare from my lilywhite scalp, which hasn’t seen the light of day since I was an infant.
Please check out my site here, and make a donation if you have anything to spare. It is tax deductible, and most appreciated. The "Before" photo is up, and the "after" shot will be posted shortly after the event.
Thanks!
[Trivial Vanity Break]
With apologies and acknowledgement to Dave Barry, who has probably already covered this topic with a lot more wit in the past….
Found my first gray one a few weeks back. Ugh. The only upside is that I haven’t lost any of the hair on my head. This was a trade off I always said I would accept, so I guess I’m okay with it. Heck, I knew guys who started losing their hair in their twenties, so I feel like the follicles are on borrowed time anyway once a guy hits 25. The flip side is that now, not only is hair springing up in previously hairless places (ears, nose), but some existing hair is doing odd things. To wit, I’ve noticed a few rogue hairs in the eyebrows begin to take on lives of their own, and shoot off in wildly different directions. When these few rebels decided to assert their independence, I don’t know. I never received a list of demands, or a deadline, they just took off. Are they to be plucked? Ow, that seems really painful, but if you’ve looked at Andy Rooney lately, you see what happens when the rebellion isn’t crushed early. Think about how pointless your eyebrows are in the first place. What is their purpose? Of course, you would look like a pretty large freak if you shave them off, so I guess they’ll have to stay, even they start wandering. Makes me really appreciate how much crap women do all the time to keep themselves beautiful.
Like most other guys who’ve never had facial hair, I am about to make my annual attempt at the Mid-Life Crisis Beard. It should be noted that every other attempt can be classified as an abject failure, but I am undeterred, or perhaps just delusional. Last years effort was the lengthiest one yet, and despite my wife’s constant admonition that I just looked like I had a dirty face, I pressed on for about three weeks before giving up. (She was sorta right). This attempt will likely result in a similar fate, yet I forge ahead in the futile hope that this time will be different.
[/Trivial vanity break complete]
First things first, the facial hair experiment failed, yet again, and possibly for the final time. Whatever.
I didn’t post this item because after reading it, it sounded like so much self-indulgent bullshit, which was not my aim when setting up this blog. This would be the kind of stuff that nobody would ever care about, other then perhaps to have a quick laugh.
Perspective arrived in the form of a fund raiser being coordinated by some folks in our office. The organization is called St. Baldrick’s, which is a group that raises money for pediatric cancer research. The hook is a simple one: gather people who will solicit donations from friends and co-workers, who sponser a few brave souls who will shave their heads. The literature puts it in plain English – these kids are about as brave as one can be, undergoing painful chemo (which causes their hair to fall out), so the least we can do is undergo some temporary humiliation to help the cause by showing some solidarity. Besides, it’s gonna grow back eventually, right?
I hemmed and hawed a little on this, trying to make sure that if I decided to do this, it would be for the right reasons. Donating a few bucks was one thing, but I began to contemplate becoming a “shavee”. It’s fun to be the center of attention and all, and I really wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to participate to make myself look good (not in a physical sense, obviously).
Eventually I got around to browsing the St. Baldrick’s web site, and it got me. I contacted the team leader for our company and signed up. Now there is no turning back! My dome will be revealed on March 16th in all its glory. I’m looking forward to it, and hopefully will be able to raise a lot of cash for a worthy cause. Those in attendance might want to bring sunglasses to combat the glare from my lilywhite scalp, which hasn’t seen the light of day since I was an infant.
Please check out my site here, and make a donation if you have anything to spare. It is tax deductible, and most appreciated. The "Before" photo is up, and the "after" shot will be posted shortly after the event.
Thanks!
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Rockin’ To An Early Grave, Baby
God, are we still having this discussion? This has to be a joke, right? This site produces a pretty comprehensive list of anyone who could be associated, however loosely, with Rock & Roll over the past 50 years, and who is now dead. The conclusion? Simple, really: getting involved with The Devil’s Music will lead you to an untimely demise. (Average age of the dead people on the list: 36.9). Honest. They provide scripture quotes and everything. Oh, and in case you forgot, it’s 1958.
Man, where do I begin? First of all, the list conatins such noted Demon Worshippers like John Denver, Karen Carpenter and Jim Croce. Would you even remotely consider any of those three “Rock” artists? No knock on them, but they sang nice songs, none of which would even be thought “dangerous” or “subversive”. Are they listed merely to pad the numbers, thereby making the list look more impressive? Should the really be listed anywhere on the same page as Tupac Shakur?
Second, some of the people (Promoter Bill Graham, for example, who was 60) had a pretty long life. Why didn’t this supposedly vengeful God claim these guys a lot sooner? Sure would’ve saved a few more souls, I imagine.
Finaly, how do these self righteous folks sleep at night? Thousands of “good” people die every single day, some tragically at young ages. How is this explained by these folks? “God called them home early, as He needed them.” So, presumably “good” folks (like 8 year olds with cancer) die before their 30th birthday because they are needed by God, but Jimi Hendrix died because God disapproved of his lifestyle choice? Why did He let some members of Lynrd Skynrd survive the plane crash? Why did he take Ozzy’s guitarist, Randy Rhodes, and not bird biting nutjob Ozzy himself? Why did He let Kurt marry Courtney? I have so many questions!
Most artists are people who tend to live outside the mainstream. Some of the greatest painters the world has ever known would be considered, well, a bit “off”. Van Gogh cut off his freaking ear for God’s sake! There is an obvious correlation between troubled people and good art. After all, since when do really shiny happy people create lasting, memorable art? Musicians are no different, many being troubled souls, which could lead to some pretty bad choices like drug abuse, alcoholism, or associating with some unsavory characters. This makes them human, not damned, and if the art they produce helps one person through a tough time, or just makes someone’s day better, how can that be a bad thing?
The bottom line? Shit happens. People die. Nobody really knows why. The ones who do know are dead, so they can’t enlighten us. Instead of spending time condemning people for choices they made while alive by claiming you know what God wants, why not take the time and money you’re wasting on spreading this garbage and help someone?
I plan on corresponding with these people, and will publish any responses I get. Should be fun!
------------------------------------------------
Man, where do I begin? First of all, the list conatins such noted Demon Worshippers like John Denver, Karen Carpenter and Jim Croce. Would you even remotely consider any of those three “Rock” artists? No knock on them, but they sang nice songs, none of which would even be thought “dangerous” or “subversive”. Are they listed merely to pad the numbers, thereby making the list look more impressive? Should the really be listed anywhere on the same page as Tupac Shakur?
Second, some of the people (Promoter Bill Graham, for example, who was 60) had a pretty long life. Why didn’t this supposedly vengeful God claim these guys a lot sooner? Sure would’ve saved a few more souls, I imagine.
Finaly, how do these self righteous folks sleep at night? Thousands of “good” people die every single day, some tragically at young ages. How is this explained by these folks? “God called them home early, as He needed them.” So, presumably “good” folks (like 8 year olds with cancer) die before their 30th birthday because they are needed by God, but Jimi Hendrix died because God disapproved of his lifestyle choice? Why did He let some members of Lynrd Skynrd survive the plane crash? Why did he take Ozzy’s guitarist, Randy Rhodes, and not bird biting nutjob Ozzy himself? Why did He let Kurt marry Courtney? I have so many questions!
Most artists are people who tend to live outside the mainstream. Some of the greatest painters the world has ever known would be considered, well, a bit “off”. Van Gogh cut off his freaking ear for God’s sake! There is an obvious correlation between troubled people and good art. After all, since when do really shiny happy people create lasting, memorable art? Musicians are no different, many being troubled souls, which could lead to some pretty bad choices like drug abuse, alcoholism, or associating with some unsavory characters. This makes them human, not damned, and if the art they produce helps one person through a tough time, or just makes someone’s day better, how can that be a bad thing?
The bottom line? Shit happens. People die. Nobody really knows why. The ones who do know are dead, so they can’t enlighten us. Instead of spending time condemning people for choices they made while alive by claiming you know what God wants, why not take the time and money you’re wasting on spreading this garbage and help someone?
I plan on corresponding with these people, and will publish any responses I get. Should be fun!
------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)