Dave's Ramblings

Senators are one game from the Stanley Cup final

2007-05-15T12:04:00.000-04:00

Congrats to Ottawa.

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Pistons remain unbeaten in playoffs

2007-05-11T11:40:00.000-04:00

The Pistons dug in, putting Chicago in a hole from which no NBA team has emerged.

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Joe Torre's job is safe for now

2007-05-01T11:19:00.000-04:00

"The season is still very young, but up to now the results are clearly not acceptable to me or to Yankee fans," Steinbrenner said in a statement. "However, Brian Cashman, our general manager, Joe Torre, our manager, and our players all believe that they will turn this around quickly." says Steinbrenner.

Here is my two cents. The Yankees have the most injury prone pitching staff in the Majors. It is time for them to begin trade talks for some pitchers. They could easily cut that top heavy lineup (that isn't hitting too well) and balance the roster with at least 2 pitchers. The funny part to me is that in NYC if you sit in last place the fans start screaming for somebody's head on a pike. Could be why the Yanks have won more crowns than any other team. I don't think they will be adding to that number this year though. If you take a look around both leagues you will see many teams that have produced winners with lower budgets and they based their teams around a quality starting rotation. A couple examples, Detroit and Minnesota. Also look how Boston has beefed up their pitching staff. Guess they were pissed about losing the division last year to the lackluster Yankees that got bombed in the post-season.

So if you wanna watch a good team in NYC, just turn on the Mets game.

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Bay Area freeway crash causes horrible commute

2007-04-30T13:25:00.000-04:00

A fiery tanker crash caused a heavily trafficked section of freeway to collapse.

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Value of the US Dollar

2007-04-25T12:25:00.000-04:00

The dollar came within a whisker of an all-time low against the euro. Maybe this article can explain why. Maybe our dollar just isn't worth much these days.

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More tainted pet food

2007-04-24T10:31:00.000-04:00

If you have a pet you may want to follow this story and keep your pet safe.

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Red Wings win series, beating Calgary in 2nd OT

2007-04-23T10:45:00.000-04:00

Jarome Iginla had Calgary's lone goal on a difficult day for the Flames. Hours before being eliminated, the team was fined $100,000 and head coach Jim Playfair penalized an additional $25,000 for the Flames' actions in a penalty-filled finish to Saturday's game in Detroit. Backup goaltender Jamie McLennan was also suspended for five games.

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GO WINGS !!!!!

How To Feed a Hundred Dogs at Once

2007-04-22T10:12:00.000-04:00

Nasa gunman kills himself and hostage

2007-04-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

Seems like nothing but bad news and shooting these days. I don't blame video games or television, I blame society. I have played many video games and watched my fair share of TV, yet you don't see me shooting up a schoolyard. Where society has failed (just regarding this subject) is in the mental health system, and also the policy of corporate greed and how it effects all of us. In our society companies do not treat humans as humans, they are treated as if they were a piece of machinery, actually worse because a company would probably do routine maintenance on a machine to protect their investment. Yeah, this was NASA, not a corporation, unless you look at the government as one big business. I also know that Virginia Tech is a college and not a company. As far as the VT story goes, I think the school made serious efforts to try to get this guy help long before he snapped. Going beyond placing the blame on society, I also place the blame on the individuals that somehow reach the conclusion that it is OK to kill people and commit suicide because they are severely depressed. It seems that people really have no understanding of the value of human life. That perhaps is the biggest and saddest problem of all. Let me offer my thoughts on it and then wrap this up. If people realized that there are so many people that fight to stay alive and battle diseases maybe they would not squander the gift of life in these violent ways. If they knew that there are many people that would literally give anything to live an extra day or have a lost loved one back for just a short time maybe things would be different. If you want the details of the NASA incident: click here for details

A coincidence

2007-04-20T09:22:00.000-04:00

These two business headlines were next to each other today:

Pfizer 1st-Quarter Profit Falls 18 Pct.

McDonald's Profit Climbs 22 Percent

It would seem people have grown tired of Viagra and would rather eat Big Macs. Just a hunch.

Mark Buehrle pitches a no-hitter

2007-04-19T08:49:00.000-04:00

"You don't want to make that one mistake and give up a hit," he said. "I could feel my knees a little bit, a little shaken, a little extra adrenaline going for the ninth inning."

With the exception of a walk to Sammy Sosa he just missed a perfect game. He even picked Sosa off at first base, so he only faced 27 batters. Pretty amazing pitching.

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On this day in history

2007-04-18T10:37:00.000-04:00

Apr 18, 1775, American revolutionaries Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode though the towns of Massachusetts giving the warning that "the British are coming."

How deadly shooting unfolded at VA Tech

2007-04-17T09:29:00.000-04:00

Gunman identified as Korean national Seung Hui Cho, the link below has a map and timeline of what occurred. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this act of insane violence.
It seems this type of thing is just becoming all too common.

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Larry Doby - American League Pioneer

2007-04-16T10:59:00.000-04:00

The first African-American player in the American League, Larry Doby was a power-hitting center fielder and a key member of Cleveland's pennant winners in 1948 and '54.

"He was a great American, he served the country in World War II, and was a great ball player. He was kind of like Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, because he was the second African-American player in the majors."
— Bob Feller

I watched the Dodger game on TV last night, it was the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game in the majors. I listened to Joe Morgan and and Frank Robinson (two living legends) talk about Larry Doby. Just like the second man to set foot on the moon, we tend to overlook the accomplishments and sacrifices Larry made. I can only imagine things were just as tough for Larry Doby as they were for Jackie Robinson. If you love baseball, take a moment to visit Larry Doby's page and plaque on the hall of fame website.

Take me to the hall of fame

Jackie Robinson - an American Hero

2007-04-15T21:06:00.000-04:00

Let it be no secret that my all time hero and favorite baseball player that has ever graced the diamond is Jackie Robinson. This great man cannot be honored enough in my opinion. Stories and events about #42 of the Brooklyn Dodgers should be shared with pride among all Americans and baseball lovers. Baseball is our national pastime, without the superhuman accomplishments that Jackie Robinson gave to the game, the game would mean next to nothing. I can only describe Jackie Robinson with one word, greatness. Everything he stood for, everything he accomplished, everything he endured and overcame. Pure heroism and greatness. I am not ashamed to say that I am filled with emotion as I write this blog. The events that occurred were all actually long before I was even born, yet I can say without hesitation that this great man is my hero. He always will be. He accomplished so many things that the rest of us can only dream of, but we can all give thanks that he made baseball a game worthy of being our national pastime. Until he set foot on the field, it was not. There will never be another player that approaches your level of greatness Jackie. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving the game I love so much. Thank you for your greatness. Thank you for your honor, integrity, courage, and determination.

If you would like to read more about how MLB celebrated April 15th click here

CBS and MSNBC drop Imus

2007-04-13T12:08:00.000-04:00

Normally I'd post a link to the various news stories but this time around I want to follow up on my earlier post about the whole Imus incident. First let me say, CBS and MSNBC made the right decision. I don't care if it was based upon sponsors pulling their money away from his show. The decision still is the right decision. Let me give you a simple example and explanation. I was listening to sports talk radio on the way home from work (as I usually do), and they always have open lines through the show. A caller made a very simple and excellent point, and I want to share it with you. He called and said, at my job if you make racist remarks you get fired, he said that there was diversity in his workplace and everybody had to respect each other and get along, or they got fired. If they wanted to make racist remarks they could go home and do that in privacy, but not in the workplace. Why should there be a different standard for somebody who makes more money, or is a celebrity? Quite frankly Imus had a track record of over the top comments and put downs that people tolerated for far too long. This incident was so far over the top, and such a cheap shot, and racial slur, that people could no longer tolerate his behavior. He has apologized, and I respect that. I even believe his apology is somewhat sincere. More than I believed Mel Gibson, or Kramer at least. All that being said, the right move was for him to be fired or to resign. The freedom of speech should NEVER be abused to degrade people or make racist jokes. There is no humor in it. It has never been funny and never will be. The very fact that we still have to see this type of thing occur in the year 2007 makes me sad really. My hope is that through this event somehow people's awareness and conciousness was raised. That now they will stop and think instead of slandering others and shooting their mouth off.

Yuri Gagarin

2007-04-12T11:52:00.000-04:00

Today is April 12th. So pay tribute to the first human in space. Here are a few details of his flight:

1961, at the age of 27, Gagarin left the earth. It was April the 12th, 9.07 Moscow time (launch-site, Baikonur). 108 minutes later, he was back . The period of orbital revolution was 89:34 minutes (this figure was "calculated by electronic computers"). The missions maximum flight altitude was 327 000 meters. The maximum speed reached was 28 260 kilometers per hour.

Vostok 1 : First manned spaceflight, one orbit of the earth. Three press releases were prepared, one for success, two for failures. It was only known ten minutes after burnout, 25 minutes after launch, if a stable orbit had been achieved.

The payload included life-support equipment and radio and television to relay information on the condition of the pilot. The flight was automated; Gagarin's controls were locked to prevent him from taking control of the ship. The combination to unlock the controls was available in a sealed envelope in case it became necessary to take control in an emergency. After retrofire, the service module remained attached to the Sharik reentry sphere by a wire bundle. The joined craft went through wild gyrations at the beginning of re-entry, before the wires burned through. The Sharik, as it was designed to do, then naturally reached aerodynamic equilibrium with the heat shield positioned correctly.

Gagarin ejected after re-entry and descended under his own parachute, as was planned. However for many years the Soviet Union denied this, because the flight would not have been recognized for various FAI world records unless the pilot had accompanied his craft to a landing. Recovered April 12, 1961 8:05 GMT. Landed Southwest of Engels Smelovka, Saratov.

Don Imus comments

2007-04-11T09:12:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally had a moment to watch the video of Imus and his slandering of the Rutgers women's basketball team. I was very disgusted with his remarks. I also watched most of the press conference with the Rutgers team, and I can understand how a group of top notch athletes and students would be offended by his racist and sexist remarks. If Imus would just retire I think it would be the best solution. More importantly though, as I watched the Rutgers coach and players speak at the press conference, I saw a group of student athletes that not only DID NOT DESERVE to be slandered, but rather should be praised for all of their hard work on and off the court. My first reaction to the situation was pure outrage. Then I learned something, tried to see the bright side, I saw a group of athletes that worked very hard to get to the top. Nobody can take that away from them. Nobody ever will. So when some ignorant guy behind a microphone tries to put people down, all he actually accomplished was to make a complete ass of himself. I am happy that he is being called out to be accountable for his words.

If you get a chance to see any of the video of the Rutgers team or coach, take the time to see what a class act they are. To me that is what is important. They represent themselves with class, dignity, and display all the excellent qualities that college athletes and students should strive for. You don't get to the championship game by sitting in a chair like Imus does. You don't get there by hurling insults and racial slurs around. You get there through blood, sweat, and tears. Very hard work, make no mistake about it.

So I ask any reader that stumbles onto my blog to consider just a few things. If you feel inclined, let CBS and MSNBC know how you feel about the slanderous remarks from Imus. Or, let the Rutgers team know how you feel about all the hard work and class they display on and off the court.

Thanks for reading.

My thoughts on Barry Bonds

2007-04-05T08:54:00.000-04:00

When Mark MacGuire and Sammy Sosa were knocking the ball out of the park every 5 minutes and they both looked like jacked up bodybuilders, did the press follow them around looking for steroids and needles? I don't recall that happening. Yet Barry Bonds is singled out as he approaches the all time HR record. To me it is not a question of if Barry used steroids or not. Do I believe in steroid use? No. Is it cheating? Yes. Do I believe that Sosa and MacGuire used steroids? You betcha. So what is my point? Simple. If you are going to stalk Barry Bonds like he is Al Capone, you better start going after everybody that used steroids all the way down into the minor leagues. You better make it retroactive to any records set since the use of steroids began. Don't just jump on one guy.

It is no secret Barry has never liked the press and the press has never liked Barry. Let's face it, the press is about as kind as a group of lawyers. I would not like them hounding me either. Furthermore, baseball is not a popularity contest. You can hate Barry Bonds if you like, but if you are going to drag him into a courtroom, you better drag a bunch of other players in there with him. If you want to put an asterisk by each of their names, then go ahead. If you want to create a new statistics book for players that used steroids, go ahead. Just don't single out one guy.

I guess Major League Baseball simply got tired of torturing Pete Rose. That is a whole other blog entry that would go on for days. So get off Barry's back. Let him hit his homers. Sit back and maybe even enjoy a ballgame or two this season. If you prefer legal drama, go watch court TV.

Bonds makes fast start with 735th home run

2007-04-05T08:51:00.000-04:00

If you are tracking the all time home run record, here is an update.

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Vehicles of Today and Tomorrow

2007-04-04T12:29:00.000-04:00

Back from the Dead? The Future of EV Powered Cars.

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Prayer of the Day

2007-04-03T11:43:00.000-04:00

This is a good time of year for all of us to pray so I found a website that offers a prayer of the day. Just click on the date of the calendar and it will give you a prayer.

prayer of the day

Opening Day - Basseball 2007

2007-04-02T13:36:00.000-04:00

Thank God, baseball season has begun !!!!!!!!! As always Go Tigers !!!!!!! Enjoy the games, unfortunately I have to work this afternoon, but at least I got to watch the season opener last night between the Mets and Cards. Nice to see the Cards lose to the Mets too bad it was not a playoff game played in 'o6. Oh well, I am sure the Mets will hold a gruge.

Former Expos pitcher Urbina jailed 14 years

2007-03-28T12:58:00.000-04:00

Former major-league pitcher Ugueth Urbina, who spent six-plus seasons with the Montreal Expos, was sentenced to 14 years in prison Wednesday for the attempted murder of five workers on his family's ranch.

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U.S. Judge Blocks 1998 Online Porn Law

2007-03-22T14:51:00.000-04:00

A federal judge on Thursday dealt another blow to government efforts to control Internet pornography, striking down a 1998 U.S. law that makes it a crime for commercial Web site operators to let children access "harmful" material.

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Apple TV - new product

2007-03-21T22:54:00.000-04:00

Internet downloads are the future, baby. Any movie, any TV show, any time.

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Siberian mine blast kills 78

2007-03-20T08:10:00.000-04:00

MOSCOW - A methane gas explosion deep in a Siberian coal mine killed at least 78 people and left another 50 trapped Monday in Russia's worst mining disaster in a decade.

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Rent a gun

2007-03-09T09:43:00.000-05:00

Just when you thought it was safe

Two Big Winners

2007-03-07T14:02:00.000-05:00

At least two people can claim a share of a record $370 million lottery jackpot.

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Rocky Balboa movie trailer

2007-03-05T13:43:00.000-05:00

Four seconds of entertainment

2007-03-01T00:57:00.000-05:00

If you have 4 seconds to spare watch this clip.

Stocks Climb After Tuesday's Plunge

2007-02-28T13:16:00.000-05:00

Maybe it was just a correction in the markets. Guess we will all have to wait and see.

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World Markets Plunge for Second Day

2007-02-28T03:05:00.000-05:00

Shares in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Indonesia all tumbled more than 3 percent in morning trading, following dismal overnight losses on Wall Street, the worst since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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Dow Drop Due to Computers

2007-02-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

Not to mention the crash in China's market. You will see a lot of articles posted here over the next few days. Until then keep a close watch on your investments.

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Cheney OK After Afghan Blast but 23 others Killed

2007-02-27T11:08:00.000-05:00

The headline says it all, I will simply post a link to the article.

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Greenspan Warns of Likely U.S. Recession

2007-02-26T13:13:00.000-05:00

If you live in Michigan this comes as no big shocker. Just try looking for a job around here. Or make a list in your head of friends and family that have been laid off in the past 6 months. See the costs of fuel and insurance rise without wages rising. Yup, recession sounds about right to me. Usually when an economist predicts a recession, it already means we are in one. Kind of like the weather man, he predicts snow from the weather patio while the snow is falling on him.

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A crazy ride

2007-02-25T11:31:00.000-05:00

Can you say vomit ??? Kinda cool idea though.

Conglomerates Seek Small Acqusitions

2007-02-25T10:42:00.000-05:00

Yeah, that is a shocker. Buy out the little guy. I am stunned.

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7 Deaths Blamed on Winter Storm

2007-02-24T22:45:00.000-05:00

I suppose this could be turning into a weather doomsday blog. I just didn't find much else exciting to post. So here is the bad news from Wisconsin.

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My name is John Daker

2007-02-21T01:55:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it is best to just watch video clips and not ask questions why I post them.

Inventor of the TV Remote Dies

2007-02-19T03:18:00.000-05:00

Hit the mute button for a moment of silence: The co-inventor of the TV remote, Robert Adler, has died.

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Video of a exploding light bulb

2007-02-15T12:50:00.000-05:00


Slow motion film, cool to watch for the first few seconds, then you'll ask yourself what was the purpose of this video?

Happy Valentines Day from Chrysler

2007-02-14T13:16:00.000-05:00

In the next three years, 13,000 Chrysler workers will lose their jobs under a wrenching restructuring announced Wednesday that eventually may lead to a DaimlerChrysler divorce.

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Storm Hits Midwest With Snow

2007-02-13T20:51:00.000-05:00

A blast of snow, freezing rain and plunging temperatures created headaches for travelers Tuesday across the Midwest with canceled flights and cars and tractor-trailer rigs sliding off highways.

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This pisses me off

2007-02-10T13:13:00.000-05:00

Militant Islamic Groups turn to YouTube. Anyone with an Internet connection can watch videos of bombings and sniper attacks against U.S. forces - shot and edited by Islamic militants and broadcast on YouTube, the world's largest video-sharing Web site.

Instead of writing a 30 page document about why this pisses me off, I will just simply say, I cannot wait for the day when foreign oil becomes an antiquated fuel source. Then
Militant Islamic Groups will have no leverage.

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Autopsy Begins on Anna Nicole Smith

2007-02-09T12:38:00.000-05:00

A medical examiner began an autopsy Friday on Anna Nicole Smith, whose mother blamed drugs for the former Playboy playmate's sudden death that ended an extraordinary tabloid life at just 39.

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Anna Nicole Smith Dies in Florida at 39

2007-02-08T23:57:00.000-05:00

Sad story really.

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TiVo and Amazon.com Offer Video Downloads

2007-02-07T11:06:00.000-05:00

The companies said a test version of their new service, called Amazon Unbox on TiVo, will begin Wednesday with an unspecified number of TiVo customers.

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Colts 29 - Bears 17

2007-02-05T12:24:00.000-05:00

Congrats to coach Tony Dungy and the rest of the Indy team. I have to admit my wild prediction was wrong. Tony Dungy deserved the ring and the win. Glad to see him win it.

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My favorite bridge

2007-02-02T13:37:00.000-05:00

Every time I visit NYC I always make a point of looking at my favorite bridge. I chose this particular photo to say thanks to the NYPD. Thanks for all of your sacrifices, and for keeping NYC safe. You guys and ladies are true heroes.

Photo of the day

2007-02-02T13:24:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of the Manhattan Bridge in NYC. Not sure what year it is from, maybe you can guess from the skyline.

Chupey a.k.a chupacabra

2007-02-02T01:11:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I'm sure photobucket has storage and bandwidth limits I will surely exceeed, but seeing how nobody reads this blog, I just may get away with posting my absurd photos.

Having a rough day ?

2007-02-02T00:59:00.000-05:00

Well, I am going to start using photobucket to host images since they make it nice and easy. Thought the blog could use a few photos here and there. Allow me to introduce psycho doggy.

Beat-boxen Bush

2007-02-01T11:35:00.000-05:00


So, you wanna learn how to beatbox? GWB is back in the house.

Iraq War

2007-02-01T11:34:00.000-05:00

The top U.S. commander in Iraq told a Senate panel Thursday that improving security in Baghdad would take fewer than half as many extra troops as President Bush has chosen to commit.

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Specter: "Bush Not Sole 'Decision-Maker'"

2007-01-30T13:59:00.000-05:00

Hmmmm seems a Republican even says Bush is out of line. Watch them all change their tune as the 2008 election approaches. Keep an eye on the ones up for re-election. They will distance themselves gradually from W. Then start talking about an exit stategy.

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Blog's 3 year anniversary

2007-01-30T02:47:00.000-05:00

Well, if you glance over at the archives you will see they date back to Feb. 1st 2004. This means I have been writing my senseless drivel for 3 years. Crazy really. It seems like just yesterday I threw together this blog on a whim. Then it was mostly used as a platform for my various political tyrades, rants, and raves. Always the latest sports story to lighten the tone, and more recently some posts about type 2 diabetes. Quite a collection of non-related articles and material. Some writings that came from the heart. Mostly links to stuff I find interesting and want to share with my very small audience. When I started this blog, Myspace was certainly not exploding with users like it is now. The thing to do back then was write a blog. Most people either wrote about their day-to-day life, or picked a single topic and stuck to it. I chose to organize my blog like a messy salad bar. You check it out, see if there is anything you like, then put it on your plate. If anybody is thinking of starting their own blog, and they want lots of traffic, I suggest you try a different approach than I did. Still, I am proud of my little blog. It has survived 3 years and grows slowly. I write it for my own personal reasons. Sure I'd like to have a larger readership, but oh well. So here's to another 3 years, may my slice of twisted cyberspace still exist then, and on into the future.

Ford posts worst loss in company's history

2007-01-27T00:47:00.000-05:00

This blog is written about 40 minutes west of the Motor City. I was born in Detroit. I grew up in a suburb that was 10 minutes from Detroit. So this article hits home for all Michiganders in regards to the life force of our local economy. The implications of this economic bleeding in Dearborn are far reaching. Read the article for yourself if you can stomach the numbers. How does -12.7 billion sound? What is ironic about this breaking news story; it comes from the the World Business section ofthe Taipei Times website. It seems everything really has been outsourced, even the news of our dying auto industry.

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Son of a bee sting

2007-01-26T12:50:00.000-05:00

Bush: "I'm the Decision-Maker' on Iraq".

Wow, that is something to be proud of George. By the way, no you are not anymore. I hope congress smacks down all your crappy policies and legislation until we can rejoice at your departure in 2008. You have a 20 something percent approval rating Mr. Bush. That means 8 out of 10 Americans think you suck and the other 2 don't care what happens, because they are as drunk as you were while you pretended to be in the Air National Guard during Nam. So go rustle some cattle at your ranch you fake cowboy, and when you are done, go duck hunting with Dick Cheney and we can find out who is a better shot. Let congress do their job, get out of the way. Your own party doesn't support you anymore, the election is coming, they will distance themselves from you for their own safety. The people have spoken. They said, "Bush, sit down and let intelligent people clean up your mess with a logical solution.".

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Wild Predictions

2007-01-24T13:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I have been known to throw around my wild sports predictions in the past. So why stop now? It is Superbowl time. Mostly I have been a Kentucky Derby longshot handicapper, with 33% success. So here it comes, I think the Bears can pull this off. The biggest (and I mean biggest) challenge they face is the passing attack of the Colts. As much as I hate to say this, the Colts have the best QB and recievers in the league. The key to beating the Colts, get in Peyton's face all day long, 4 quarters in his face without ever letting up. This is a gamble, you blitz this guy and he still throws it up the middle and burns you. However, let's not overlook the Chicago defense, best in the NFL. If they come to play, and can cause some turnovers, we have ourselves a nice little ballgame. Urlacher must deliver another powerful performance to help the Bears to victory. Just bear in mind (pun intended) this game will be much closer, and hard fought than people are willing to believe. The word on the street is that the Colts walk away with a win and the Bears never get in the game, I don't see it that way folks. So as my title says, a wild prediction, Bears 27 - Colts 24. If I am way off, I will publish a little apology, if I am right, I will run around screaming "I TOLD YOU SO !!!". Enjoy the game.

Chicago Bears are headed to the Super Bowl

2007-01-24T12:51:00.000-05:00

With fog and doubt shrouding Soldier Field, Bears Coach Lovie Smith kept his unbending faith in his quarterback. Can the Bears upset the Colts? I say of course they can.

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Superbowl

2007-01-22T04:57:00.000-05:00

Who do you want to win? Bears or Colts? The link below gives you the matchup.

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Rising Nicotine in Cigarettes Could Lead to Litigation

2007-01-19T13:55:00.000-05:00

Evil tobacco companies up to no good as usual.

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Let freedom ring

2007-01-15T16:02:00.000-05:00

Audio that all Americans should listen to on this day. The clip speaks for itself and the message is timeless.

hear clip

I have a dream

2007-01-15T15:44:00.000-05:00

No matter how many times I hear or read this speech it always cheers me up, and lifts me up. On this day when we honor a great man that offered us a peaceful solution to fight for civil rights, take a moment to remember his words. A link to the PDF file is below.

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Dschingis Khan Muskouw Dance

2007-01-13T05:07:00.000-05:00


quite humorous ?!???!!!?!? I thought so. The late 1970's disco band Dschingis Khan, from germany, recorded this video of their hit Muskouw, hailing the Russian capital of Moscow. The dance moves are hilarious and the singers themselves are even better.

Pickled eggs

2007-01-12T13:50:00.000-05:00

A PDF document that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about making your own pickled eggs. Perhaps the most overlooked food. Shouldn't we all have a pickled egg once in awhile???

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Objects falling from space

2007-01-05T11:40:00.000-05:00

Russian rocket comes down over Wyoming.

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Type 2 Diabetes

2006-12-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

I am seriously considering either changing this blog into a resource for type 2 diabetes management or creating a new blog dedicated solely for that purpose. I am not sure if anybody reads my blog besides my family and friends. 5 trillion blogs already exist so my guess is that I don't have much of a following in my ramblings. So my minor dilemma is do I want to jumble this blog with the usual posts and mix in diabetes info as I go along, or start from scratch and try to write 2 blogs when I barely have time to manage and update 1. My intention when I began this blog a couple years ago was simply to keep a little slice of cyberspace for myself. A way to communicate primarily with a few family members. It was something I thought would be a good creative project, and assumed nobody would ever really read what I wrote. Currently I find myself at a crossroad in life. A point where my lifestyle must completely change, and I am working through accepting and embracing that. In a short span of time my focus has been shifted. My top priority is management of my health and the challenges I face. The best way to explain this is suddenly things that seemed important became trivial. Things I overlooked became things I needed to focus on immeadiately. What I need to do in regard to type 2 diabetes is fairly straight forward. Just because the lifestyle changes that must be made are clear cut, it does not mean it is a simple task to manage. To make a crude analogy; when a person goes through a knee surgery they enter into physical therapy 2 weeks after. That PT is more painful than the surgery, and improvement is slow. It takes 6 months or more and most of the time it feels like you will never return to anything close to normal. You have a Physical therapist that pushes you, and when they see you limping they pull you aside and give you hell about it. They are like a personal trainer that keeps you on track, pushing you against your own will, and in the end it pays off. Type 2 diabetes comes with no coach. It does come with a lot of emotions. Fear, remorse, regret, confusion, did I mention fear? It creates a desire to be able to turn back the clock to when you were pre-diabetic. You think of a million things you could have done to attempt to prevent the onset. Simple things like cutting out soda and candy from your diet before it was too late. Losing that extra weight to keep your body happy and healthy. With the type 2 diagnoses came a feeling of failure, a reflection on years of playing with fire instead of taking care of a genetic condition that was lurking beneath the surface. I know it serves no purpose to look back in time, there is no rewind button in life. It is all about making changes for the future. Learning from past mistakes. Correcting the course we were on that led us down the wrong path. So in closing I offer this message to all type 1 & 2 diabetics and their families: Have a safe and happy holiday season, be there to support one another. Realize what is important in life. Take care of each other, and take care of yourselves. Most importantly, put your faith in God.

The Jewish Diabetes Association

2006-12-21T12:35:00.000-05:00

I just found this resource and haven't had time to fully look through the site. It seems like they have some good information there. I like the scripture that is posted on their front page: Take very good care of yourselves. - Deuteronomy 4:15

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American Diabetes Association

2006-12-18T16:36:00.000-05:00

Need information on diabetes? Want to make a donation to a great cause for the Christmas season? Visit the American Diabetes Association's website and look around. At the very least you will find all types of information on this disease that plagues our country. Let's find a cure.

And don't forget to donate before Dec. 31 to claim your 2006 tax deduction. This is a worthwhile cause. If you can't afford to donate (money is always tight around x-mas), then just look around the website a little. Read some of the stories and information provided there. I can tell you firsthand that being newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is scary. This website has a message board where people from all over can discuss treatment and strategies for diabetes management. Thanks for reading this post.

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Bringing drug test results into the public light

2006-12-17T15:06:00.000-05:00

When questions are raised about the heart safety of drugs used by millions, Dr. Steven E. Nissen often raises a red flag.

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quote of the day

2006-12-16T23:17:00.000-05:00

courtesy of Dale:

"Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box."

USA sold up the river

2006-12-08T12:34:00.000-05:00

Read the headline. I mean it. I have sat silent too long. I have watched jobs being outsourced and not replaced for too long. I have watched the American worker get cheated, used, and abused for too long. I have watched the US government spend billions on weapons so they could look for weapons of mass destruction they never found. By the way, where is Bin Laden. I thought they were going to "bring him to justice". Did the guy who said that actually know what justice is? I doubt it. I think to know justice begins with having to work hard to put food on your table. As Americans we are tough and we take pride in our work, but the fat cats have sold our work up the river. They have sold the American worker up the river. So they have sold our country out from under us. For what? To save a few bucks? So some Billionaire can have another yacht? Where do they think this is all headed? They don't care, it is all about money for them right now. As I watch America systematically weakened from within, I grow sick. It is never too late to turn things around, but it will take action, not just a bunch of BS. This country runs like one giant crooked ENRON. Wake up people. Start putting pressure where it belongs, or sit on your ass and watch your country crumble.

Pearl Harbor Day - Dec. 7th

2006-12-07T13:13:00.000-05:00

Please visit the link below and take a moment to remember the brave Americans that lost their lives. Thank you.

Battleship Arizona Memorial

Pollsters screw the Maize and Blue

2006-12-03T22:33:00.000-05:00

The Buckeyes have been No. 1 since the preseason. Led by Heisman Trophy front-runner Troy Smith, they've run roughshod over their competition. No team, other than Michigan, stayed within 17 points of Ohio State this season.

Read that carefully, because the only blemish on the record of the Wolverines is a 3 point loss on the road under poor field conditions. Somehow this is all overlooked because of the illusion that the SEC is a great conference. Really, people just don't want to have a rematch. So it is easier for them to screw Michigan out of a title shot than it was to screw Florida. Florida also had 1 loss, it was by 4 points to LSU I believe. They were not a #1 ranked team. Florida leapfrogged over Michigan because they beat a #8 ranked opponent. They only play this game because their conference has 2 divisions that play a SEC title game. It gives them an extra conference game on their schedule. Since this is such a hair splitting affair about strength of schedule and team rankings, you tell me why Michigan with only one 3 point loss to the #1 ranked team, on the road, is facing up against USC that has 2 losses both to unranked teams. If you are retarded enough to believe that the PAC 10 is superior to the Big Ten, where somehow 2 losses to mediocre opponents puts them on the same field (a home field advantage) with the Wolverines, then you are insane and simply know nothing about College football. The bottom line is the BCS is a giant pile of crap. You can spin some bull however you want about Florida deserving a fair shake, but we all know Michigan is the second best team in the land, maybe the best team in the land. You'll never know. The rematch was voted down, thanks to the BCS and their pathetically flawed system.

I will say this just 1 time. In my lifetime I have never rooted for OSU. This year I shall grant them a 1 day pass when they play the Gators. I will cheer as the Buckeyes trounce that SEC club team and do the Big Ten proud. We may hate OSU, but we respect them and our rivalry with them. We respect Troy Smith here in Ann Arbor. I personally hope the Detroit Lions draft him. What team wouldn't want that guy. Let me also say that our Wolverines are one hell of a group of tough men. USC, you better bring your A game to Pasadena. I heard non-stop trash talk after you beat Notre Dame at home (we did it on the road baby) about how you were such a great team and you earned your shot. What you earned was 2 losses to unranked teams. If you didn't overlook UCLA on your schedule we might not be having this conversation. Shut your traps in Hollywood and get ready to play some ball in the Rose Bowl. I promise our team won't be gentle.

Sagittarius wisdom

2006-12-02T05:16:00.000-05:00

Usually, or often, horoscopes can be full of crap, however, on some ocassions they hit upon a theme that was going through my mind at the time I read mine. This may not make sense to you, or it may. It was an interesting message to me though. Perhaps I am just deprived of sleep. Here it is:

Sagittarius (12-02-06)
Like a pointillist painting by Seurat, your life is made up of many small details that add up to something lovely. But as with that painting, what you see when you focus closely is a bunch of unrelated pieces. Take a step back, and things will fall into place -- you'll see that the complete picture is distinctively beautiful. Try not to be too caught up in your life's details today, and congratulate yourself on the wonderful masterpiece that you're in the process of creating.

Pistons win 7 straight

2006-12-01T00:41:00.000-05:00

Detroit won its seventh game in a row. Defending NBA champion Miami fell to 6-9 and begins a four-game trip Saturday in Memphis. Good job guys.

Stay posted and I may write about Ben Wallace.

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This Day in History

2006-11-29T11:46:00.000-05:00

This Day in History

On November 29:

1864 The Sand Creek Massacre occurred in Colorado when a militia, led by Colonel John Chivington, killed at least 400 peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians who had surrendered and had been given permission to camp.

1890 Navy defeated Army by a score of 24-0 in the first Army-Navy football game. The game was played at West Point, NY.

1947 The U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution that called for the division of Palestine between Arabs and Jews.

1963 President Johnson named a commission, headed by Earl Warren, to investigate the assassination of President Kennedy.

1971 I was born in Detroit, Michigan at 1:11pm

1981 Actress Natalie Wood drowned in a boating accident off Santa Catalina Island, CA, at the age 43.

1988 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the rights of criminal defendants are not violated when police unintentionally fail to preserve potentially vital evidence.

1998 Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected legalizing heroin and other narcotics.

Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T16:42:00.000-05:00

My writing is always subjective, so if at times I get preachy, it is just my personality. I want to just briefly give thanks on this day for a few things, but more importantly I want to emphasize that no matter how bad our current situation is, or we perceive it to be, there are always many things to be thankful for, most of them I take for granted on a daily basis. Of course I am thankful for my friends and family, having a job, a home, and just to be alive. What opened my eyes today was a 30 minute special documentary on TV, thanking the troops and Veterans for their service. If I was only able to give thanks for one thing on this day, I would thank those that gave their lives, those that served, and all of their families. This thanks is extended to those that bravely served in wars before I was born. In my opinion we can never repay somebody that has given their life to fight for our freedom, regardless of if we believe in war or not. This thanks goes beyond politics, it is the ultimate sacrifice to serve in the way these heroes have, and many families have also lost their loved ones making the ultimate sacrifice. What i've always noticed when the families of heroes are interviewed, I never hear complaining about their loss, but I hear the voices of honor that let me know the definition of courage and true representation of strength. I am always humbled by these heroes and their families. There is no proper way to ever repay all of you, so I simply say "thank you" from my heart.

Podcast Use Rising but Increase is Small

2006-11-22T12:58:00.000-05:00

Basically there was a very small poll conducted of about 950-1000 Americans. Findings were that new users downloaded a podcast or two but most people don't subscribe or listen regularly. Here is my take on it.....from a guy that loves his iPod.......most podcasts are fun and entertaining for the first few times you listen to them, then they become redundant or the content gets stale. Audio is a tough medium as it is, radio has been around forever, and still it is highly competitve. It usually takes a team of trained professionals to hold our interest for more than a few minutes or we simply listen to the radio because we are trapped in our cars for a set amount of time. Radio is live, podcasts are not, so unless you are listening to information that is not subject to current events this plays a factor in my opinion. The other observation I have made (and this is subject to my geographic location) most people have not adopted mp3 players as their 1st method of audio listening. My job is unique in that I can listen to audio 30-40 hrs. a week if I choose, but I can't find that much new interesting audio content each week. The vast percentage of co-workers at my company still listen to CDs or internet radio. It would seem most people prefer music over talk shows. I like a combo, but I am selective in my talk show tastes. With music you only invest 3 minutes on the average so you don't have to love a song to listen to it. As for talk shows, I am a big Art Bell fan. His show has a subscription fee (reasonable rate). I mention this for one reason, in the world of podcasting and online audio you get what you pay for. The bulk of podcasts are free, there are a few decent ones. The majority of podcasts however do not necessarily have a professional quality to them. Many are done on a low or no budget by some creative folks with a few mics and a computer, and if they are lucky a sponsor. I will mention a few decent free ones I have listened to in the past, and you can check them out on iTunes if you like. TWIT (This week in tech) from Leo LaPorte and the old crew from Tech TV, a good podcast if you are a techie. Leo also has his own podcast KFI Tech guy, which is geared more towards helping folks with technical issues or questions. NPR has a variety of good free material, but you can always just turn on a radio to listen to NPR. MLB puts out a good podcast during baseball season with different interviews of up and coming players or managers. The one podcast that almost actually hooked me into becoming a regular is called EscapePod. It is a sci-fi show that features a different story each episode. Some obviously better than others. The only thing that eventually caused me to quit listening to this podcast was the annoying voices of some of the readers. They had a different reader each week, but more often than not their voice got on my nerves. The content of the show was and is excellent, some of the best sci-fi writers out there contribute to this podcast (if you like that sort of thing). Well there is my 2 cents on podcasting. I'll provide you with a link to the original article that prompted this rambling.

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Michigan No. 2, But Not by Much Over USC

2006-11-20T13:17:00.000-05:00

This seems fair to me, and as a Wolverine fan I am content with this decision. USC is being given the chance to control their own destiny and Michigan after losing by only three points retains their #2 rank. The following article will explain the BCS current rankings and possible scenarios for the championship game. Florida's coach is pretty pissed, and says if it ends up an OSU vs. Umich rematch then college football needs to go to a playoff system. Personally, I think before he has a hissy fit he should focus on winning his last 2 games. If he wins out they will easily jump Michigan in the polls. The odds of Michigan making it into a rematch game are slim. I would guess USC or Florida will win their final 2 games and then play for a championship.

Anyhow here is the article: read more

A Wolverine Tribute - Go Blue

2006-11-18T04:18:00.000-05:00

In my own words I want to write about Bo Schembechler. I am a lifelong U of M fan. I am 35 years old. I have been a Wolverine fan since I could walk and talk. New years day meant one thing to me as a kid, it meant Bo taking the team to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl against the best team from the PAC 10. I watched #1 Anthony Carter catch touchdowns with Bo calling the shots on the sidelines. With Bo calling the shots I felt safe, we all did. I eventually got older and understood and appreciated football more, and Bo's coaching style of running the football, and winning the battle in the trenches with his offensive line became a glorious Saturday ritual I looked forward to seeing each week. I became spoiled. Bo demonstrated teamwork and excellence. He made it look easy when it wasn't. I took it for granted. We all have memories of the match ups against the Fighting Irish, Buckeyes, Spartans, Hawkeyes, Golden Gophers, Badgers, and the other Big Ten rivals. Bo was always there, the tough coach on the sidelines that always had my vote of confidence.

When I was lucky enough to get tickets to see a game at the Bighouse, it was impossible for me to sing Hail to the Victors without a thought of Bo popping into my head. To me he always was the ultimate Victor.

Bo Schembechler's coaching achievements on the field speak for themselves. I won't rehash the statistics of all the victories. I would rather talk about the character of this amazing man. I don't recall Bo ever pointing fingers, I always recall Bo taking responsibilty for any loss, but when it came to success Bo was humble. He gave the credit to his players for the wins and the successes. If you ever get a chance to listen to any interviews with former U of M players, they all say the same thing. Bo was like a Father to his players. He cared about these guys, and was a teacher of excellence as much as he was a coach. He always stressed academics to his atheletes that played for him, and they all respected him.

Several weeks ago I listened to a radio interview with former Wolverine Dr. Billy Taylor. Dr. Taylor spoke of his battle with drugs after his college football career ended. He then went on to say he could always hear the words and teachings of Bo in the back of his mind, and it was a guiding force to get him back on the right track. I could hear the sincerity of Dr. Taylor's words in his voice. Bo was simply a great leader on and off the field. All around he was a man filled with greatness, and it spilled over to the players and the fans.

My sincerest condolences go out to Bo's family and friends. There is a giant empty place in all of our hearts because we know greatness and legends like Bo rarely ever enter our lives and make such an impact. We will miss you, but be certain we will never forget you. We will always be thankful for the memories you gave us, the excellence you demonstrated, the lives you touched. Thank you Bo.

I'll leave you with this quote from Reggie McKenzie, who played under Bo from 1969-71, ".....today the world seems so much sadder, and so much smaller."

Bo Schembechler - A Great Man

2006-11-17T13:33:00.000-05:00

Michigan coaching legend Bo Schembechler has died after collapsing Friday morning, Detroit-area television station WXYZ reported. He was 77.

My personal thoughts: This info I found I the web: Schembechler had a heart attack on the eve of his first Rose Bowl in 1970 and another one in 1987. He has had two quadruple heart bypass operations.

Bo beat death many times........so I guess I foolishly believed he always would. It was his personality. One way or another Bo always found a way to win. I will miss him. I feel he was the greatest college football coach of all time tied with Joe Paterno for the # 1 spot on my all time greatest list. History will acknowledge his greatness. Bo was a victor and a champion in every sense of the word. It is a sad day in Ann Arbor, and across the country.

if you want to read more details

Election Summary

2006-11-09T00:30:00.000-05:00

This article gives a good breakdown of the entire election.

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Rumsfeld yada yada yada

2006-11-09T00:19:00.000-05:00

More on his resignation in case you want more quotes and blah blah blah.......

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Rumsfeld steps down

2006-11-08T13:06:00.000-05:00

Rumsfeld steps down the day after the 2006 elections. They say something smells different in the White House. Perhaps it is better to step down then to face the trial that congress would put him through.

Here is something for you, it is from Fox news (the Republican owned media) it is dated Nov. 8th. and is completely wrong.

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, a key target of Iraq war critics, gave no indication Wednesday that he planned to step down in the wake of Democratic midterm election gains, his chief spokesman said.

Eric Ruff, the Pentagon press secretary, said he participated in meetings with Rumsfeld on Wednesday morning and heard no talk of changing war strategies or of Rumsfeld leaving his post. He said he did not know whether Rumsfeld has talked to President Bush about his future in light of the election results.

The focus of U.S. strategy for stabilizing Iraq remains the same, Ruff said: handing over more control to the Iraqi government and encouraging the leaders there to make political progress on reconciliation and resource sharing.

"They're moving and the (Iraqi) leadership is showing they are trying to get some things done," Ruff said.

• Click here to visit YOU DECIDE 2006, FOXNews.com's complete election center.

Asked whether the election results would lead to changes in the military's approach in Iraq, Ruff said Rumsfeld will continue to rely heavily on the advice of U.S. commanders in Iraq, while consulting with the Congress.

Election Results

2006-11-08T01:42:00.000-05:00

Democratic landslide. Senate up for grabs.

Election Day 2006

2006-11-07T12:39:00.000-05:00

I won't give you the lecture of who to vote for, just get out and vote today. No excuses. I voted. It was raining at my precinct and voter turn out was very low. I arrived at 11:45 am and was done by 12:00 noon. At least 5 minutes of that time was spent reading over my ballot before I began to fill it out. There was no line to wait in. Quite different from the 2004 election.

If you are interested in some local (Michigan) pre-election day polls and results I am providing a link to WXYZ election coverage.

2006 election day and more

Republicans Resigned to Idea of Big Losses

2006-11-04T14:12:00.000-05:00

It's about time. Remember to vote on Tuesday November 7th.

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Repost from Feb. 2004

2006-11-03T13:39:00.000-05:00

This is what I had to say about Mel Gibson and his father on Feb. 27th, 2004. The reason I am reposting it is because well, I told ya so. Furthermore I would question the sincerity of Mel's apology for his drunken racist tyrade. Like father like son.

Reposted:

Mel Gibson's daddy

Check this out. If Mel won't denounce his father's sick statements then he is most definitely not OK in my book. I don't care how senile his dad is. I don't care if his dad has 1 marble left rolling around in his head. If his son had any decency he'd set the record straight but what does he do instead, he makes propaganda and hypes it up as art, and cries boo hoo poor me the celebrity they won't leave me and my daddy alone. Nevermind that his daddy is a bigot. If his dad is really that senile then medicate him, and shut him up, and lock him away. Otherwise take responsibility for what he has said publicly.

Economic News

2006-11-02T12:41:00.000-05:00

Here are some alarming numbers if you are interested in our so called "healthy" economy. Read this article and then be sure to go out and vote.

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Food-borne bacteria evolving

2006-11-01T10:55:00.000-05:00

The first rule of public health is one most of us learn in kindergarten: Don't eat poop.

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Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T12:17:00.000-05:00

Click here for a photo of everybody's cute little Halloween pal

Novemeber 1st is Day of the Dead

2006-10-30T13:23:00.000-05:00

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS. How is this holiday celebrated in Mexico? Here is some info.

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Cursed Grave Stone ???

2006-10-29T23:21:00.000-05:00

This photo was originally sent to me by a friend and it spiked my interest. It is a pretty creepy grave stone, and it is not a hoax or doctored up image. There is mystery surrounding the inscription on this stone, and many have searched all possible public records to solve the riddle, but to no avail. See for yourself the chilling inscription, and draw your own conclusions.

take me to the creepy grave

Snoop Dogg arrested at California airport

2006-10-27T12:42:00.000-04:00

So it sounds like they pulled him over for parking in the wrong zone at the airport and found a gun and some pot in his car.

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Cardinals Put Tigers on the Brink

2006-10-27T12:39:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Tigers face elimination and the Cardinals are happy.

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A Christian Perspective

2006-10-26T10:43:00.000-04:00

Daily Prayer & more.

click here if you have faith

Cardinals headed to World Series

2006-10-20T01:01:00.000-04:00

The St. Louis Cardinals are going to the World Series for the second time in three seasons after beating the New York Mets 3-to-1 to win a tense seventh game of the National League Championship Series.

In my humble unbiased opinion they will lose to the Tigers. Look for some pretty darn good pitching matchups in this series. The Cardinals can win games with their pitching just like the Tigers do. As for their hitting, Albert Pujols is a major threat always. Hopefully the Tigs can find a way to pitch to this guy or pitch around him.

The advantages the Tigers have in this series are as follows: overall the Tigers have a deeper offense than the Cardinals. The series (if it goes past 5 games) will give the Tigers home field advantage for games 6 & 7 if needed. A case could be made that the Tigers have an advantage in pitching, but I would rather be conservative and say these 2 pitching staffs are both excellent and we will see some great pitching from both sides.

For those that like rematches, this is a rematch of the 1934 and 1968 World Series.

As Always GO TIGERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!