The Spork Report

Why Do Women Even Bother to Practice Christianity?

2008-10-22T12:33:00.001-05:00

Christianity is a man's world with "holy" passages written by men used to control other men, but particularly women. For centuries, bibble verses have been used to justify horrible treatment and forced submission of women. Even today. I can no longer fathom why any woman would choose to follow such an oppressive invisible sky daddy.

And now, this behavior is affecting football. FOOTBALL. Because you know, gawd truly cares about football:

Controversy follows girl football kicker
A female football kicker was let back on the field last weekend. But controversy keeps swirling around the decision to let her play football with home-schooled and private school boys.
The Georgia Football League official who sidelined Spalding County kicker Kacy Stuart for most of the season based on her gender gave in and allowed her to play. But he doesn't want to discuss it.
"There's no story," said Hank St. Denis, the league's executive board chairman. "She's playing, isn't she? End of story."

In August, St. Denis told Kacy, 14, she could not play after she was accepted by and practiced with the New Creation Center Crusaders.
The first team Kacy faced relied on the Bible to express its beliefs about female football players in a pre-game statement, said New Creation athletic director Coach Ken Townley.
"The East Atlanta Mustangs didn't play us under protest but they were allowed to read a statement on their beliefs about female football players," Townley said. "They used biblical verses from the book of Romans. I was very stunned by that."
Mustangs Coach Alan Hawkins did not immediately return phone calls or e-mails Monday asking for comment. St. Denis didn't want to discuss why he changed his mind after being sent a letter from an attorney representing the Stuarts.
The Crusaders beat the Mustangs 39-8, with Kacy doing all the kicking and completing three extra-point attempts, Townley said.
"She's an amazing kicker and I'm glad she got to play," he said. "She's a natural, she's really good and only 14."

The Crusaders were slated to face the Bartow Generals Saturday for the last game of the regular season but that has been scrapped. Kacy's mother, Angie, thinks the team doesn't want to face a girl.
But Generals coach Mike Gifford disputed that. "We're not playing them but for reasons not related to that," he said, without elaborating.
The Crusaders, who won the league championship last year, have a 4-3 record, Townley said, and are expected in the playoffs.

Instead, Townley said the Crusaders will play LaGrange's Dawson Street Christian School Wildcats Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.

So, to please their invisible sky daddy, adults are willing to subject a 14-year old girl to discrimination, oppression, and humiliation. This goes beyond a "girls shouldn't play football" mentality. I understand the physical differences between the sexes, but she's a kicker. She'll be fine. What these men are saying is that "you're a girl and you suck. We want nothing to do with you because your actions do not fit our bigoted world view."

But I'll wager that these moronic men are still going to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket. But I wonder how they can justify giving a woman the second most powerful job in America while destroying a young girl's psyche over a game.

Another Case of Mad Cow Disease

2008-09-30T14:30:00.001-05:00

Mad Cow disease is alive an well in Cincinnati.

Woman Wearing Cow Suit Charged With Disorderly Conduct

MIDDLETOWN -- A Middletown woman is accused of being disorderly in public -- while wearing a cow suit.

A police report filed about the incident said Michelle Allen allegedly chased children in her neighborhood while wearing the suit on Monday evening.

Allen also urinated on a neighbor's front porch, the report said, and was warned by officers to go home and stay there.

Allen was charged with disorderly conduct after an officer found her causing traffic problems on North Verity Parkway.

The officer's report stated that Allen was verbally abusive to him on the trip to jail and smelled of alcohol.

The report did not speculate as to why Allen was wearing the cow suit.

"It's Man's World And These Things Will Never Stop"

2008-09-12T13:06:00.001-05:00

"It's Man's World And These Things Will Never Stop"

So goes the chilling quote by an elderly lady as she responds to an "honor" killing in her village:

In a tangle of bushes and trees outside a remote village in southwest Pakistan, six close male relatives of three teenage girls dug a 4-foot wide by 6-foot deep ditch, on a sweltering night in mid-July, and allegedly buried the girls alive.

The girls' crime: they dared to defy the will of their fathers and the customs of their tribe and choose their own husbands. The mother of one of the girls and the aunt of another were shot and killed while begging for the girls' lives, according to local media reports.

This is a despicable act was "carried out according to tribal traditions," said Israrullah Zehri, a senator representing Balochistan in the upper house of Pakistan's parliament in the capital Islamabad. "These are centuries-old traditions and I will continue to defend them," he said.

These are poor, uneducated people who have followed a set of traditions laid down by old men who wanted to control their tribes, especially their women. It is hard to imagine a life such as this in the United States, but looking into the third world reveals horrors and atrocities committed solely on the basis of ancient superstitions and religious texts.

This event is something to think about the next time you read in the Old Testament (Torah) about how it was okay for parents to stone their children outside the city gates if they rebelled. Rebellion. You know, like wanting to marry somebody you love as opposed to somebody your dad or religion says.

9-11. The Day Religion Became Evil for Me

2008-09-11T08:54:00.001-05:00

I hate this day. The events of 9/11/2001 will haunt me and everybody in this country for ever. And we have religion to thank for that. I was a Christian at the time and used my religion to find peace and understanding. But now that I'm an atheist, 9-11has come to represent for me just how much religion poisons everything. It is a serious delusion that poisons the minds of its followers. I am hopeful that in my lifetime that I will see the measurable decline of all religions. I hope to go to my grave knowing that rational thought and logic will ultimately win out over superstition and ignorance.

In related 9-11 news, Marie Cocco wrote a great piece over at TruthDig about McCain and Obama exploiting the events of 9-11 for political gain.

Yet their decision to visit the site where the Twin Towers once stood is distasteful stagecraft, the sort that a city still striving to recover can probably do without. The Obama campaign says the joint visit was set when the Democratic candidate phoned McCain to congratulate him on his speech to the Republican National Convention, and said that "since they'd be in NYC together that they should go to Ground Zero together," an Obama campaign aide said. "McCain immediately agreed." The two candidates are scheduled to speak on Thursday night at the ServiceNation Summit in New York, an event organized to promote national service as an appropriate response to the events of 9/11.

That, in a word, is the issue. What is appropriate for two political candidates, neither of whom represents New York or the metropolitan area that suffered so much, in a city that grieves so openly on this day?

I totally agree. They have no business being there. The media circus surrounding their visit will be entirely inappropriate for the somberness of the occasions. I'm sure their hearts are in the right places, but McCain and Obama need use their brains and think about the bigger picture rather than their campaigns. Great. Now I have another reason to hate today.

Welcome to the Internet, Loser

2008-09-10T09:41:00.001-05:00

I created this blog to find support for and follow my progress in letting Electronic Arts know that their biggest attack on Christian values to date will not be tolerated.
We can not allow the gaming industry to invade our homes and poison the minds of our children.
After all, their billions in revenue and all the advertising in the world are no match for the power of God.

Great. Another christian looney starting a blog to whine about persecution and something attacking his god or values. My favorite part is him writing that the gaming industry is "invading our homes" and poisoning the "minds of our children." I've yet to see a news story about Electronic Arts commandos storming the homes of innocent and unsuspecting Christians and FORCING them to play the game Spore. It sure would be more interesting if that was the case, but this is just another demonstration of some religious nutjob getting his feelings hurt because not everybody subscribes to his world view.

I would like to own this game and would have no problems letting my seven-year old daughter play. Besides, its only a game. It's not like it will actually teach anybody about evolutionary biology. But if it will get my daughter thinking about evolution and get her mind away from the creation nonsense she's getting brainswashed with at Sunday school, I'll glady take that.

Eating Outside the Box...Literally

2008-09-08T12:34:00.001-05:00

I got this mini article as part of an e-mail from T-Nation this weekend. Enjoy.

Don't eat anything that comes in a box. Why? Prior to oh, about the 18th century, very few people had diabetes. Then came the invention of industrial-type mills that were able to grind flour to a fine powder. Whammo! Cases of diabetes start to pop up within a decade or so.

It might be mere coincidence, but I tend to think not. Instead, I think that the fine milling greatly increased the glycemic, or insulin, index of the foods it was used in. Prior to high-powered milling, flour had big chunks of fiber in it, kind of like the toilet paper they use in third world countries. As such, it digested slowly, as the bread-equivalent of a two-by-four is wont to do.

That wasn't the case with the new grain products. The fine powdery flour was digested much more quickly than even sugar and consequently caused a big tidal flood of insulin to be released. After years of eating this way, the peasants first became insulin resistant, and then fat. And some would develop diabetes.

It's no different today. Almost any food product you can think of that comes in a box is highly processed, and as such, the insulin index is way off the scale. It's my belief that eating high insulin-index, boxed foods, causes most of the obesity in the country.

And furthermore, these processed foods almost always contain an abundance of trans fatty acids, simply because they don't go rancid as quickly as unsaturated oils.

In short, buy fresh foods whenever possible.

Republican Talking Head Hypocracy Exposed

2008-09-05T13:24:00.002-05:00

Reason #263 why The Daily Show should be required viewing for EVERYBODY:

This Frog Makes Me Laugh

2008-08-28T11:09:00.001-05:00

The image of this frog makes me all happy inside. I'm not sure why. One reason may be that it reminds me of how a good buddy of mine looks when he's drunk (minus the egg). The other may be that this bit of artwork has the Pope and all his little robe-wearing teetotalers all in a tizzy:

The Vatican wrote a letter of support in the pope's name to Franz Pahl, president of the regional government who opposed the sculpture.
"Surely this is not a work of art but a blasphemy and a disgusting piece of trash that upsets many people," Pahl told Reuters by telephone as the museum board was meeting.
The Vatican letter said that the work "wounds the religious sentiments of so many people who see in the cross the symbol of God's love."
Pahl, whose province is heavily Catholic, was so outraged by the sculpture of the pop-eyed amphibian that he went on a hunger strike to demand its removal and had to be taken to hospital during the summer.

Hunger strike? Over a frog? Geezus H. F***ing Buddha. Here's hoping that reason and free artistic expression win out in the end.

Art experts defended the work.
"Art must always be free and the artist should not have any restrictions on freedom of expression," Claudio Strinati, a superintendent for Rome's state museums, told an Italian newspaper on Thursday.

How can you look at the frog and not smile? Just look at his cute little drunken face.

I can think of worse things done to a frog, namely shoving lighted M80 firecrackers down their gullet as a kid. And I can tell you those acts were most certainly NOT done in the name of art but in the name of destruction.

Awkward Olympic Headline

2008-08-22T10:00:00.001-05:00

Hooker wins pole vault gold for Australia

I had no idea prostitutes were so adept with poles:

BEIJING - Steve Hooker of Australia has won the gold medal in the men's pole vault, Australia's first in track and field at the Beijing Olympics.

Hooker cleared 5.90 (19-4 1/4) on his third attempt in Friday night's final, immediately after world indoors champion Yevgeniy Lukyanenko of Russia had failed at his last attempt on the same height and took silver at 5.85 (19-2 1/4).

Hooker was attempting an Olympic record 5.96 (19-6 1/2).

Denys Yurchenko of Ukraine cleared 5.70 (18-8 1/4) and still was eligible at greater heights but withdrew with an injury and settled for bronze.

The irony is that Hooker is a dude.

Testing Block Quotes

2008-08-19T22:04:00.001-05:00

I wanted to see if I can do block quotes from the e-mail posting feature.

Testing block quote where I put something in a block quote.

I have ended the block quote.

Now I'm trying to post a picture. I'm not sure where it will end up, but this is where I want it to land.

Test Posting

2008-08-19T21:32:00.000-05:00

This is me trying out e-mail blogging.

Test

Faith-Based Initiative Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope

2008-06-25T23:00:00.003-05:00

Maybe there is hope yet in this battle against stupidity and the Bush's administration's blatant defiance of the separation of church and state:

States Reject Abstinence-Only Funding From Federal Government
WASHINGTON — Skeptical states are shoving aside millions of federal dollars for abstinence education, walking away from the program the Bush administration touts for slowing teen sexual activity. Barely half the states are still in, and two more say they are leaving.

Some $50 million has been budgeted for this year, and financially strapped states might be expected to want their share. But many have doubts that the program does much, if any good, and they're frustrated by chronic uncertainty that it will even be kept in existence. They also have to chip in state money in order to receive the federal grants.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, made his decision to leave based on the congressionally mandated curriculum, which teaches "the social, psychological and health gains of abstaining from sexual activity." Instructors must teach that sexual activity outside of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.

"It was just too strict," said Emily Hajek, policy adviser to Culver. "We believe local providers have the knowledge to teach what's going to be best in those situations, what kind of information will help those young people be safe. You cannot be that prescriptive about how it has to be taught."

A federal tally shows that participation in the program is down 40 percent over two years, with 28 states still in. Arizona and Iowa have announced their intention to forgo their share of the federal grant at the start of the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
[snip]
Longtime critics of abstinence-only education say the dwindling participation is a signal that Congress should abolish the program or change it.

"If Congress isn't getting that message, it's difficult to figure out what will convince them," said William Smith, vice president for public policy at the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.

Since most of Congress has its collective heads up Bush's ass, I doubt the message will get though. Still, it is an encouraging sign. But lo! All good news about the battle to defend the Constitution must be taken with a grain of salt.

From God is for Suckers:

Another typical stunt pulled by the Bush administration, once again subverting the taxpayers’ money to religious groups who have no business getting any tax money to support their blatant prosyletization efforts. Bush and his regime is going to push this faith-based bullcrap agenda as one commenter put it right “down to the wire, to the very last day and hour of being in power.”

Read the entire post to learn about how the U.S. Department of Justice awarded part of a $1.2 million grant to an evangelical Christian organization, Victory Outreach, whose mission is to carry “the hope and message of Jesus Christ to the four corners of the earth."

A commenter from the site summed things up nicely:

At least as far as this issue goes, it will be like the tagline for Aliens vs. Predator: No matter who wins, we lose.

Calling the Kettle Barack

2008-06-25T22:43:00.003-05:00

It appears James Dobson, super christian fundamentalnutjob, has his bible belt too tight around his waist these days:

James Dobson accuses Obama of `distorting' Bible
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - As Barack Obama broadens his outreach to evangelical voters, one of the movement's biggest names, James Dobson, accuses the likely Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.
The criticism, to be aired Tuesday on Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program, comes shortly after an Obama aide suggested a meeting at the organization's headquarters here, said Tom Minnery, senior vice president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.

The conservative Christian group provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of the pre-taped radio segment, which runs 18 minutes and highlights excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal. Obama mentions Dobson in the speech.

"Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.

Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy — chapters like Leviticus, which Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination, or Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, "a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application."

"Folks haven't been reading their," Obama said.

Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament.

"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology," Dobson said.

The funny part is that Christians do exactly that: distort the bible to fit their world view.

Of course, Obama dismisses Dobson's criticism like he should:

Barack Obama said Tuesday that evangelical leader James Dobson was "making stuff up" when he accused the presumed Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible.

Politicians and religious nutjobs making stuff up? I never! I just wish Obama didn't have to be politically correct in his dismissal of Dobson. I honestly believe he would earn thousands of moderate Christian votes if he just said what we all think: "Shut the f*** up, you lunatic!"

And No, that title is not being blatantly racist by injecting a bad, stereotype Chinese accent for the word "black." It did make me giggle a little, though.

Sometime I Don't Feel Like Moving My Arms

2008-06-17T09:28:00.003-05:00

New Wearable Feedbags Let Americans Eat More, Move Less

This is perfect for me today because I don't feel like moving my arms today. Yesterday morning I started a new weight routine, so I'm starting to get sore. Last night, I biked nearly 28 miles in 100 degree heat (plus humidity) at an average pace of 19 mph. This morning, I fought through a tough 2200 meter swim workout.

Well, perfect except that I don't eat those particular brands of foods.

The Secret to Becoming a Plastic Duck

2008-06-04T12:26:00.009-05:00

A page from what appears to be a desktop calendar for The Secret was sitting on the toilet paper dispenser in the men's room today.

Live your dream in your heart and let the Universe move everything to bring your dream to you. Feel your dream, feel the presence of the Universe inside you, KNOW that the Universe is with you, guiding you, and then allow the Universe to realize your dream.

Profound. I felt so inspired that I dreamed for some buxom elven maidens to appear and wipe my bottom with silken toilet paper. I felt that dream, baby. I felt the presence of the Universe inside me. I just KNEW the Universe was with me and that it would realize my dream for me.

Alas, the only presence I felt was my skin growing around the toilet seat from sitting on my ass and dreaming. And the only bottom wiping being done was by my own hand with a substance as far removed from silk as possible (probably two notches above sand paper). And you are very welcome for that imagery.

For an appropriate smack-down of this nonsense, check out The Atomic Dog in his article My Speech to the Graduates, 2007.

And sure, The Secret "helps" people, but I'm going to quote Karl Marx here and proclaim that The Secret is the opium of the people. People who believe in The Secret surrender responsibility. They don't need hard work or resolve or perspiration, The Secret will provide all. They're all plastic ducks that have cast themselves onto the mercies of the ocean.

If you're vulnerable to every false god that comes along, you're pretty much doomed to be a 7-11 clerk...4EAE. (That's "forever and ever" to you non-texting people.) And not even a dayshift 7-11 clerk. No, you won't be good enough for "the show." You'll work the night shift and when some punk slips a 12-count box of Bud underneath his parka, you'll look the other way lest he use your rectum as a bottle opener.

If you're prone to every false god that comes along, you're emotionally and intellectually weak. You're a plastic duck.

For fun, I replaced "the Universe" with "God" and got essentially what makes up good Christian dogma: Just ask God to do things for you and it will happen. Never mind hard work, planning, and determination. Simply pray, or dream, for something and it will be delivered to you, no effort required on your part (except a little faith that no effort on your part is required).

But perhaps what disturbed me the most is that I found this in the men's room. In a stall. Was some dude (duck?) meditating on this while he pooped? What a way to treat your holy text.

And in that spirit, I used the sheet to wipe myself. Seemed like a more appropriate use of my time.

Quack. Quack.

The NBA: Where 1987 Happens

2008-06-04T09:14:00.002-05:00

I couldn't agree more with Dan Shanoff:

The Last Word: So I was tuned in to the replay of Game 6 of the 1987 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Celtics, and it did nothing to change my mind that the nostalgia kick around the 2008 Finals is a crutch. I was watching with a rabid sports fan in his 20s, for whom the NBA in the 80s was little more than a blurred childhood memory. "Where 1987 Happens" cannot really be the way the NBA wants to look forward.

I realize that all the executives at ESPN and other sports media outlets are reminiscing about the classic battles from the 80's between the Celtics and the Lakers, but this is 2008. Enough with the nostalgia. And if another ESPN personality calls for both teams to wear short shorts, I think I'm going to throw something at the TV (yes, I'm looking at you, Stuart Scott).

Holy Crap!

2008-06-03T09:37:00.001-05:00

Let's be careful out there, please.

(Full Article)

Da Brudders R N Da House!

2008-06-02T13:21:00.005-05:00

My buddy's kids are living on the online edge with this humorous take on "The Hand That Feeds" by Nine Inch Nails.

(I have to say, though, that one of Da Brudders looks suspiciously like a Sistah)

'Nuff Said

2008-06-02T11:09:00.002-05:00

What I Won't Be Getting My Daughter for Her Birthday

2008-05-28T12:53:00.002-05:00

My daughter's seventh birthday is tomorrow. This clever Verizon Wireless commercial humorously explains why ponies aren't such great presents. I got her Hyper Dash so she can stay in shape to get where she wants to go under her own power.

Jezus is Ripped, Dude!!!

2008-05-27T12:05:00.003-05:00

Seriously. If you were a god, would you like to be honored by this t-shirt, worn by fans who watch mixed martial arts fighting? Unless I was a Viking god or an old time Roman or Greek god of war, I'd be quite offended by this. Or at least puzzled.

Jezus is pretty ripped, though. So is Satan.

News of the Weird: Naked Mom Argues with Son

2008-05-23T11:48:00.003-05:00

File this under "Things That Make You Go AH HA HA HA HA":

Naked mom argues with son, accidentally shoots finger (link)
A 73-year-old Fort Worth woman shot her finger after arguing with her son because she had been walking around the house naked, police said.

Fort Worth police were called to a house in the 5600 block of Decory Road around 1:30 a.m. Friday when they found Bertha McElroy with a bullet wound in her left index finger, according to a police report.

Ms. McElroy was taken to John Peter Smith hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Police said that Ms. McElroy told them she had gotten into an argument with her son, Keith McElroy, 53, because she had been walking around the house in the nude.

Ms. McElroy told police that after the argument her son walked outside and slammed the door. She then went into the bedroom to load the gun when she shot her finger.

Police said they unloaded the gun and gave it to Mr. McElroy.

Here are some of my general thoughts:

NOBODY wants to see a 73-year old woman naked. Period. So I can understand why the son lit into his mother.
It's bad enough to fight with your mother, but to do it while she's naked?
Does the son still live with his mother? Why else would he be fighting with her at 1:30 in the morning. That's just creepy. Get a job and get a life, dude.
The police gave the gun to the son. "Mr. McElroy, here's the gun your mom wanted to shoot you with. We took out the bullets, but here ya go." Logical? Probably not. Let's now see what happens when mom tries to walk around the house naked again. Advantage: son.
The headline kind of wrote itself. The story was the icing on the cake.
There are some pretty messed up people in this world.

The Walk of No Shame

2008-05-23T11:25:00.001-05:00

Hat tip: The Function Key.

Kewl Retro T-Shirts

2008-05-23T09:06:00.002-05:00

Cool retro-tech t-shirts.

Abdullah Pimp Slaps Bush

2008-05-16T13:28:00.003-05:00

It's always fun when your fearless leader begs for somebody else to save his country from its own gluttony.

Bush: Hey there, Ab-dool-AH. How's about doing me a big faver and put out a bit more?

Abdullah: No more oil for you!

Abdullah pimp slaps Bush then spits on him.

The Saudi oil minister, Ali al-Naimi, said the kingdom decided on May 10 to raise production by 300,000 barrels, at the request of customers, and that increase was sufficient.

“Supply and demand are in balance today,” he told a news conference. “How much does Saudi Arabia need to do to satisfy people who are questioning our oil practices and policies?”

Makes me think how this situation parallels the obesity crisis in this country. Rather than make the necessary changes to live a healthy life, most people choose to look to magic bullets or butchery to solve their problems as easily as possible.

Is this Where the Virgins Come From?

2008-05-15T13:06:00.004-05:00

I guess everyone needs a hobby.

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict thanked consecrated women virgins gathering at the Vatican on Thursday for their "total gift" to Christ, praising a holy rite that he recognized was difficult for some non-Catholics to understand.

"(Live your lives) in such a way that you always irradiate the dignity of being the wife of Christ," the pope said in an address to hundreds of consecrated virgins from dozens of countries meeting in Rome.

There are several things I can think of doing that would be more fun that not having sex so I can be "wed" to a zombie. Slicing my skin with a razor blade and pour lemon juice on the wound comes to mind.

The article states that it is estimated there are more than 3,000 consecrated Catholic virgins worldwide.

But reading this made me wonder if its from this pool--and what a small pool it is--that the 72 virgins are pulled that Muslim men supposedly receive in the afterlife. Won't they be disappointed? "Wait. You're WHAT?"

Magic Cat

2008-05-15T13:04:00.004-05:00

This made me laugh out loud.

There's No Substitution for the Real Thing

2008-05-09T12:14:00.004-05:00

I'm trying to wrap my brain around the motivation behind this act:

3 Texas teens accused of using skull removed from coffin to smoke marijuana
HOUSTON (AP) — Three Kingwood teens have been arrested and accused of digging up a secluded grave and removing a skull in Humble, a city north of Houston.

Kevin Wade Jones, 17, and Matthew Richard Gonzalez, 17, both of Kingwood, told Houston police that around March 15 they and a 16-year old juvenile dug up a grave, removed the skull from the coffin and converted it into a “bong,” a device used to smoke marijuana, according to court documents.

So the kids used the skull to smoke some weed. What were they high on when they decided this was a good idea? And I had no idea there was such a law as abuse of corpse.

But the weirdness doesn't end there. These kids weren't caught...one of them fessed up:

Houston police were initially interviewing [Kevin Wade] Jones about the use of a stolen debit card when Jones told them about the grave theft, according to court records. Asked why Jones would volunteer such a story, [Houston police Sgt. John ] Cholmiak said, “we can only speculate and guess to what goes on in the criminal mind.”

I guess it's safe to say that not much goes on in these criminal minds.

Meeting Sydney McGee

2008-05-09T09:32:00.003-05:00

Last night at the Barnes & Nobel at Preston and Park, I ran into Sydney McGee. "Who is that?" you're asking. Ms. McGee is a former art teacher from Frisco, TX, who was fired because an elementary student she took to a museum on a field trip saw abstract art of nekkid people.

Seriously.

Here's a recap from a NY Times article:

But Ms. McGee, 51, a popular art teacher with 28 years in the classroom, is out of a job after leading her fifth-grade classes last April through the Dallas Museum of Art. One of her students saw nude art in the museum, and after the child’s parent complained, the teacher was suspended.

Although the tour had been approved by the principal, and the 89 students were accompanied by 4 other teachers, at least 12 parents and a museum docent, Ms. McGee said, she was called to the principal the next day and “bashed.”

She later received a memorandum in which the principal, Nancy Lawson, wrote: “During a study trip that you planned for fifth graders, students were exposed to nude statues and other nude art representations.” It cited additional complaints, which Ms. McGee has challenged.

I found her to be a really nice woman and I gave her encouraging words, telling her that the firing was unjust and that I hope she can eventually find work again. That work, however, will have to be found in Austin as she is trying to sell her house. She told me she is unhireable in Dallas because she's too controversial. I would have loved to sit and talk with her, but I had my daughter with me and she couldn't stand still and it was late.

Best of luck, Sydney! I think you'll find Austin to be more receptive to rational thinking and artistic interpretation.

Barkley Gets Punked

2008-05-08T12:33:00.002-05:00

Awfully funny prank played on Charles Barkley the other night on TNT's "Inside the NBA."

I Got Dibs on Ghrelinstat

2008-05-06T12:48:00.005-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gazing into my crystal ball and predicting that supplement companies looking to profit off of the next weight loss fad will come out with what I call Ghrelinstat:

From MSNBC: A hormone that makes people eat more works by causing food to look tastier.

This natural molecule, named ghrelin, actually improves perception and memory when it comes to food.

"When you go to the supermarket hungry, every food looks better," said researcher Alain Dagher, a neurologist at McGill University in Montreal. "Now, we've found that it is ghrelin that acts on the brain to make food more appealing."

In fact, big pharama is already on the case:

Therapies that disrupt these effects of ghrelin could help fight obesity, the researchers conjectured. However, such treatments might come with unwanted side effects on mood, since they would target the brain's pleasure centers, Dagher said.
"Many drug companies are currently developing ghrelin-blocking drugs as obesity treatments," Dagher said. "However, we show that ghrelin acts on brain areas involved in emotion and motivation. A drug that suppresses this brain system runs the risk of causing depressed mood. There is a risk of side effects."

Side effects, shnide effects. Drug companies don't give a rip about side effects. Look at Alli. It prevents the body from absorbing about a quarter of the fat you eat. Side effects? Just some slight anal seepage lovingly called "treatment effects."

All that matters is how much money can be made by capitalizing off of people's willingness to do nothing and still lose weight. The FDA will force drug companies to slowly bring a product to market, however supplement companies are not under such regulations. I'll wager that somebody is already writing marketing copy for their potential new supplement: It's Not Your Fault You're Fat! Speaking of, I'd better get over to the copyright office and register the name Ghrelinstat.

(Pssst. Want to lose weight fast the right way? Try this.)

BRILLIANT

2008-05-06T09:19:00.001-05:00

Hat tip: Pharyngula.

It's All About Priorities

2008-05-05T12:57:00.002-05:00

SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. - Bill Bramanti will love Pabst Blue Ribbon eternally, and he's got the custom-made beer-can casket to prove it. "I actually fit, because I got in here," said Bramanti of South Chicago Heights.
The 67-year-old Glenwood village administrator doesn't plan on needing it anytime soon, though.
He threw a party Saturday for friends and filled his silver coffin — designed in Pabst's colors of red, white and blue — with ice and his favorite brew.

Redeeming Loserville

2008-05-05T12:30:00.002-05:00

At least one team in this town is having some success this year.

DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Stars have finally made it back to the Western Conference finals. It took the eighth longest game in NHL history to do it.

I'll admit to being a fair-weather hockey fan. And since the weather is looking pretty damn good right now...GO STARS.

Happy National Day of Wishful Thinking

2008-05-01T09:11:00.004-05:00

Happy National Day of Prayer!

Read some great take downs of this ridiculous day at Pharyngula, God is for Suckers (here and here), and Atheist Revolution. Here's a better way to spend the day: The National Day of Reason.

The Most Fun You'll Have Preventing Prostate Cancer

2008-05-01T08:46:00.007-05:00

I swear I'm not making this up. May is officially National Masturbation Month as designated by the fine folks at Good Vibrations.

At Good Vibrations, we know that sexual pleasure is a birthright and that masturbation is a powerful source of sexual gratification. Since practically everyone masturbates, but few people talk about it, we created National Masturbation Month, a month-long celebration recognizing the many ways we can pleasure ourselves.

One of the highlights of this month is the The Ninth National Masturbate-A-Thon Weekend. As the slogan says, it's your opportunity to get off for a good cause!

Between now and the end of May, ask people you know to sponsor you for every minute you'll masturbate during the Masturbate-A-Thon on May 27. After you masturbate for the cause, be sure to tell your friends how much money they helped raise.

I just can't seem myself running around the office with my Masturbate-A-Thon pledge sheet. In the belt buckle of the Bible Belt down here in Texas, I'm sure that sort of "deviant" behavior will be frowned upon. That could explain why so many people are so uptight around here. Besides, there are many health benefits to giving yourself some solo loving. One was detailed in a 2003 Australian study that found that men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer.

So the next time your significant other asks about what you did while she was away, you can confidently proclaim "prostate cancer prevention."

Jack FM Moment of the Week

2008-04-30T20:48:00.002-05:00

Leave it to local radio station 100.3 Jack FM to pull out one of my all time favorite songs from my childhood: Born to be Alive by Patrick Hernandez.

I have to say that while I loved this song growing up, I may have sung a different tune if I had seen the video. If MTV Video Awards were handed out back then, this one would have won "Most Awkward and Uncomfortable Performance by an Artist."

I mean, did Hernandez borrow the Flock of Seagulls video set and just remove the foil or was it the other way around. He can't even seem to figure out which camera to look at. That, or he's unaware of the others.

"YOO HOO! Patrick! The camera is to your left. No, your other left!"

You just have to watch it to believe. Ah the good old days when making music videos was simple.

Cool Triathlon iGoogle Artist Theme

2008-04-30T15:51:00.001-05:00

I found this really cool triathlon theme by triathlete Vanessa Fernandes for my iGoogle home page.

A top triathlete, Vanessa Fernandes continues to impress fans in her home country of Portugal and around the world with her discipline and spirit of sacrifice. She is considered one of the youngest promising stars of the decade.

And there are plenty of other cool designs. Check them out.

Did I Really Say That?

2008-04-28T09:10:00.004-05:00

Did I really predict the Mavs over the Hornets in seven? Dang. My bad.

At least the Stars are doing their best to drag Dallas out of professional sport's Loserville.

Old College Tri Race Recap

2008-04-27T14:57:00.004-05:00

The results are in for my Old College Tri triathlon and I couldn't be more pleased. I met or beat my goals for the race and had a wonderful experience. Here's what I wrote for my race report over at Beginner Triathlete. You can see the results broken down by age group here.

Run 3.11 miles Bike 12 miles Swim 300 meters

Total Time = 1h 14m 8s
Overall Rank = 140/400
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 13/28

Pre-race routine:
Breakfast of whole grain waffles with peanut butter and jelly.

Event warmup:
Dynamic warmups along with a few laps in the pool. Nothing much. Could probably benefit from more lower back and hip movements to warm them up.

Swim
Comments:
This was a solid but not spectacular swim. My goals were to swim 5:30 and focus on my breathing and form. The last race, I gulped and gasped during the swim and performed poorly. This time, my form was consistent, as was my speed. I didn't start out too quickly and maintained a steady pace. I passed five people, which surprised me, and wasn't passed. While not spectacular, I'm very pleased with this solid swim.

What would you do differently?:
For this race, not a thing. I would like a faster swim time, but this race was about technique, not speed.

T1
Comments:
Transition was fine. I'm sure I'll get more efficient in the future, but my time was basically the same as the last, so I'm happy. I took a shot of gel before getting on the bike this time for some extra fuel.

What would you do differently?:
Nothing.

Bike
Comments:
This was the area where I thought I could improve the most, and I was right. The additional time spent on the bike with the Carrollton Cycling Club increased my confidence and pace. The shifting could use some more work, but I have no complaints. I've been riding this bike for just over three months now. I took an additional gel shot a couple miles before transition and finished my water bottle as I planned. My back did hurt but not as much as the last race. However, because I was pushing hard, my power levels declined as the race leg progressed. I must continue to work on this area because the bike rides will get longer as the season progresses. If I want to maintain top speeds, my back has to be strong. Overall, I'm very pleased with this ride.

What would you do differently?:
Maybe more back specific warm ups prior to the race, but there's not much I can do while I'm on the bike.

T2
Comments:
Very smooth transition. No issues. Found that running on the my toes and not my heels made the run easier.

What would you do differently?:
Nothing.

Run
Comments:
The course was made for turning a fast time, but my legs were shot from the bike ride. However, that was expected because I have not been running much due to the achilles issues. I had not run the week leading up to the race and had not practiced any bricks since my last race in March. That said, the achilles behaved and I had no calf issues, although both felt a little tight. I began the race deliberately slow, waiting for my running legs to come. They never came, but my pace was steady. No kick, but my pace was steady. I usually only take one drink during a 5K, this time I took two. I had a brief sloshy episode but it quickly passed. Overall, I'm happy with the time.

What would you do differently?:
Nothing other than only taking one drink during the race leg.

Post race
Warm down:
No warm-down. Drank fluid, ate pancakes, visited with friends, and cheered on my girlfriend.

What limited your ability to perform faster:
My sore back may have slightly limited my bike performance. I felt my power leave me over the last couple of miles of the bike leg. For the run, the issue with my achilles is clearly slowing me down. I've running decent times for the races but I know that I can go faster.

Event comments:
Another great race by the Dallas Sports University. And the weather was stunning and perfect. As with the St. Patrick's Day tri, I was beaten by the 11-year old girl from The Woodlands. Although, I'm closing the gap.

This Isn't Helping

2008-04-25T16:54:00.000-05:00

I struggle with "why am I doing this thoughts" when it comes to triathlon training. One of the parts about this sport I'm not particularly looking forward to is open water swimming. Tragic stories like this one aren't helping.

Second Try at a Tri

2008-04-24T15:03:00.001-05:00

I guess it's time to commit some race goals to writing, especially since my next triathlon is this weekend.

Old College Tri Goals
April 26, 2008
www.oldcollegetri.com

* Goal: Finish in 1:19:57 (yes, that is only one second faster than my last race)
* Swim Goal: 300m in 5:30 (my official seeding time is 5:10)
* Ride Goal: 12 miles in 40 minutes (that's an average of 18 mph)
* Run Goal: Run 5K in 28 minutes
* Total Transition Time: Less than 4:30

So, doing the math, that totals 1:18:00. But my overall goal is to simply be faster than the last race.

I see the bike ride being my area of biggest improvement. When I rode the St. Patrick's Triathlon, you could count the number of times I had ridden my bike on two hands. Since then, I've ridden with and joined the Carrollton Cycling club and have spent more time on the bike. My confidence has grown and I've learned how to tolerate and mange any back pain.

My biggest worry is the run considering the achilles problems I have had. Plus, I haven't trained on the run at all this week, focusing on bike and swim. Training not to break I call it. If the pain is tolerable, I believe I can run faster than 28 minutes. Shoot, I managed to beat that time at St. Patrick's while limping through several hundred meters when my calf exploded.

I'm excited for the race though. The weather is looking good. Rain is forecast for Friday night but Saturday morning will be in the upper 50s. The race starts at 7:00 a.m. so by the time I hit the bike and run the temperature will be warm but not super hot.

The theme of the race is the old college tri so most people will be wearing college-themed gear. I'll be sporting a sweet IU swim cap that one of my ad reps scored for me. Kara will be wearing one as well as a show of support. I'll probably wear a red shirt for the bike and run and maybe an IU cap for the run. No IU t-shirts as the one shirt that I have will be uncomfortable to race in. I may do some body marking, too. We shall see. Until then, I'll leave you with this:

Indiana, Our Indiana
Indiana, we're all for you
We will fight for
the Cream & Crimson,
For the glory of Old IU
Never daunted, we cannot falter
In the battle, we're tried and true
Indiana, Our Indiana
Indiana, we're all for you!
I-U

HA HA. You Suck, Isiah

2008-04-22T13:56:00.002-05:00

Finally, justice have been served against The Great Destroyer:

From ESPN.com: Former New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas has been banned from having any contact with members of the team as part of his reassignment agreement with team president Donnie Walsh, the New York Daily News reported, citing a team source.

What a fun month for Ol' Zeke. First, he gets canned as GM. Then the new GM cans him as coach and reassigns him to do...something:

Thomas does not have an official title. He reports directly to Walsh, who said no player brought up Thomas' name during last week's exit meetings Thursday.
"I don't want there to be some kind of double-voice here, so he's answering to me and nobody's reporting to him," Walsh said on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York on Tuesday. "... He's not going to be here on a full-time basis anymore. I'll be calling the shots, I'm in charge of the franchise. It's my responsibility where it was his."

So let's recap Isiah's post-player career: Screws the Toronto Raptors, bankrupts the CBA, leads the New York Knicks into the basement of the NBA as coach and GM, and further embarrasses the once proud franchise by sexually harassing an employee.

I used to love this guy. He was awesome for the Indiana Hoosiers and the only reason why I rooted for the Detroit Pistons during their Bad Boys days and championship runs. He was my hero as a kid. Now? I'll be a happy man if I never hear his name again.

Except here.

Mavs in Seven

2008-04-17T14:19:00.003-05:00

Call it karmic payback for last year's historic choke job, but I like the Maverick's chances in the first round of this year's NBA playoffs against the Hornets. Yet:

But the truth is that this Mavericks team is impossible to read. The moment they begin to flex their muscles, the moment they give you a hint that there is playoff hope after victories over Golden State, Phoenix and Utah, they lose to Portland and Seattle.

This team is good, but it's easily the most inconsistent group Avery Johnson has coached. Nothing this team has done during the regular season leads you to believe they are capable of a deep playoff run. But then, last year's team gave every indication it was braced for a long playoff run and went out in the first round.

The Mavericks won't win the title this season. But they are capable of making some noise in the playoffs. They are also capable of leaving the scene with not much more than a whimper.

We're about to find out which route they take.

At least one of my teams has to do well this year: Cowboys? Chokeboys. Colts? Dolts. Hoosiers? Don't get me started.

Mavericks? Somethings gotta give, right? Mavs in seven.

My Tax Dollars at Work?

2008-04-16T09:37:00.005-05:00

In the name of chicken sandwiches, I hope my tax dollars are not being used for this:

WASHINGTON - President Bush has quite a birthday present for Pope Benedict XVI: at least 9,000 excited guests gathered on the White House's South Lawn for a 21-gun salute, a famed soprano's rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" and an emotional presidential welcome.

The pontiff turns 81 on Wednesday, the first full day of his first trip to the United States as leader of the world's Roman Catholics. He'll spend most of the day at the White House, only the second pope to do so and the first in 29 years.

The amount of media coverage for the pope's visit is astonishing and nauseating. This guy is no different than any other religious leader, but I wager that no imam or hindu swami would be given this kind of treatment. I'm hopeful that in my lifetime the influence this worthless position has on the world will diminish. Must be the hats because the only things the pope spouts are stupidity, hatred, bigotry, and nonsense.

Nauseating Update:

Bush showed off America to its important visitor, ticking off what he said are its best virtues: a nation of prayer and compassion, a nation that believes in religious liberty and welcomes the role of faith in the public square, and one that is the most "innovative, creative and dynamic country on Earth" but also among the most religious.
"Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America people whose hearts are open to your message of hope," Bush said.
But while acting the proud father, Bush also seemed to suggest that America could use a little tough talking-to by the pontiff.
"In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred and that each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary," the president said, drawing sustained applause from the lawn.

That this is front page news is vomitous. That I'm actually reading it is worse.

Temporal Perspective

2008-04-14T16:17:00.002-05:00

An animated short about the evolution of man through the perspective of two rocks on a hillside. The movie is in German with English subtitles.

Hat tip: Pharyngula

What's Your Game?

2008-04-14T13:23:00.000-05:00

I love this commercial.

My game? Triathlons.

Eternal Life

2008-04-13T13:52:00.003-05:00

Eternal life eligibility, according my daughter:

The only people who can live for ever are Santa and Jesus...and Mrs. Clause.

I laughed.

What? Santa can live forever. Who else brings all those presents?

We are reading about ancient Egypt civilization and their belief that they could live forever. Makes me wonder what will happen when she finally comes to the realization that Santa doesn't exist. Will she make the logical jump about Jesus? I can only hope.

Devil's Cape Book Signing

2008-04-08T09:09:00.004-05:00

Rob Rogers, Devil's Cape author, signing my copy of the book.

Here are some of his thoughts about the event.

Of Course It Works!

2008-04-07T16:04:00.003-05:00

Five Philadelphia elementary schools replaced sodas, candy, and snack with wise food choices, juice, and good nutrition education. The result? Sit down, because you're going to be shocked:

After two years, besides fewer new overweight children, the overall number of overweight students at the five schools dropped about 10 percent to 15 percent. At the no-change schools, the number of overweight children rose a quarter to 20 percent.

I hope this evidence carries over to a more nation-wide effort for educating children on nutrition. Seems pretty simple, really:

“We found when you give children healthy choices, they pick them,” said Grace McGinley, school nurse at Francis Hopkinson School, one of the test schools.

Let's hope the next administration is way smarter than a fifth grader and get serious about childhood obesity.

New Gear for the New Coach

2008-04-02T13:02:00.003-05:00

Tom Crean was hired last night. He had a press conference today at 11:00 A.M. Eastern. He was handed this shirt early this morning. It's not just some enterprising student, it's already on sale.

The 'Crean and Crimson' Era of IU Basketball

2008-04-02T08:37:00.005-05:00

Seeing "The Crean and Crimson era of IU basketball" as the title of blog post by Terry Hutchens finally got me excited about the hiring of Tom Crean as IU's next basketball coach. And more I read about Crean, the more I think this is a really solid hire for IU:

I like the hire on several levels. I was not looking forward to a coach who was too old because I felt they needed a younger coach to build a program around. At the same time I wasn't crazy about coaches who had only led a program for a couple of years because I've never thought of Indiana as a place that should be a proving ground for anyone. And so while I thought Tony Bennett would have been a good fit on many levels, his inexperience as a head coach was a less than favorable point with me. With Crean, you have a 42-year-old coach with nine years of head coaching experience at a good school. He's a Midwestern guy, has coached in the Big Ten, he's a proven recruiter and he runs a clean program.

Here's a nice look at his profile. Inside the Hall has a link dump about the hire.

I found out about the hire last night before going to bed. I was in a bit of shock to really know how I felt about the hire. It's now a new day--both for me and the Hoosiers. I'm excited.

But it won't be easy.

So welcome to Bloomington, Tom. Just business as (un)usual around these parts. Fix a broken program. And do it within a year. Maybe two. (Full column by Bob Kravitz)

Let the Crean and Crimson era begin!

Hoosiers Hire Tom Crean as Next Coach

2008-04-01T22:25:00.004-05:00

Well, that was fast.

Indiana is turning to Tom Crean to bring respectability back to Hoosiers.
A couple dozen wins each year would help, too.
After a tumultuous season and turbulent coaching search, the Hoosiers finally hired Crean on Tuesday as what they hope will be a long-term replacement for Kelvin Sampson. Sampson resigned in February amid a phone-call scandal that included five major allegations from the NCAA.

Crean is not the sexy hire I was hoping for, nor was he really on my radar...this year. He was on my radar two years ago before Sampson was hired. Overall, I'm happy with this choice. I'm not jumping up and down, but I'm not indifferent. I'll reserve full judgment and wait for the press conference.

Here's a nice take on this over at The Dagger:

Now Crean has landed there. The next step is to find out if he can coach. If his Marquette returns are any indication, he could be an inscrutably solid, if not dazzling, solution to IU's considerable woes. Indiana got bailed out with this one. Now it's up to Crean to right the ship.

I hope he can.

Timely April Fool's Joke

2008-04-01T10:34:00.002-05:00

Bravo to the Card Chronicle. Nice little joke. Ha, ha.

Good Lord.
Apparently there's some truth to the message board chatter that Louisville fans have been brushing off for the last couple of weeks, as ESPN's Pat Forde is reporting that Rick Pitino met with Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan in Bloomington on Monday afternoon, and cites a source close to Pitino as saying that he is "leaning towards" taking the job.
[snip]
Forde didn't say whether or not a timeline had been set for Pitino to make a decision, but he did say that today is April Fool's Day, and that Mike Rutherford of CardChronicle.com had made every word of this post up.

What the Hell is Going on at IU?

2008-04-01T09:01:00.004-05:00

I wake up this morning to a fine how-do-you-do:

From the Indianapolis Star: Basset, Ellis Kicked Off Team
The Indiana University basketball team could enter the 2008-09 season with a new coach and no returning starters.

The latter is the result of confirmation Monday that IU starters Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis were dismissed from the team by interim coach Dan Dakich, according to three people close to the program.

According to The Hoosier Scoop, the two players were hoping that whoever the new coach is would change their punishment:

But [Bassett and Ellis] are telling teammates that they hope the dismissal will turn into more of a suspension. They plan on maintaining their eligibility in hopes that a new coach will allow them back on the team, according to a source close to the situation.

These two have been previously suspended during the year for a violation of team rules. Bassett missed games against Kentucky, Western Carolina and Coppin State, and Ellis missed the regular-season finale against Penn State. It was never revealed what they did to earn their suspensions, but suffice to say, these guys were already walking on thin ice when they decided to play the "you're not my real coach" card.

Those people say Bassett and Ellis missed a pre-arranged appointment late last week, and Dakich told them that they were required to run at 6 a.m. the next day as punishment. He also told them at the time that if they didn't show up, they would be off the team.

The next morning neither was there and Dakich informed them later of his decision.

All this happened last night, while I was blissfully unaware. This morning, IU confirmed that the dismissals are a done deal:

Indiana athletics media relations director J.D. Campbell confirmed this morning that IU has dismissed Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis from its basketball team.

Campbell gave no explanation about the reasons for or timing of the dismissals.

Terry Hutchins of the Hoosier Insider has a nice post that about sums up the whole mess that is IU basketball:

A friend just told me that IU was worried at one point about what the NCAA might do to them and what it would do to the program. But this team appears to be imploding all by itself. Can you believe the timing of this one? If this program didn't have bad timing, it would have no timing at all.

I have no idea why an interim coach would toss these two off the team, but clearly there's more to all this than what's on the surface. One thing is for sure, it's going to get worse before things get better. What coach wants to inherit this mess?

Devil's Cape Has Arrived

2008-04-01T08:56:00.002-05:00

I received a surprise in my mailbox last night: my copy of Devil's Cape arrived several days earlier than expected. I'm anxious to return to Pirate Town:

If New Orleans has earned its "Sin City" nickname for its debauchery, then its nearby sister Devil's Cape has earned its "Pirate Town" moniker for the violence and blatant corruption that have marred the city since its founding. A city where corruption and heroism walk hand-in-hand, and justice and mercy are bought and paid-for in blood, Devil's Cape is a city like no other.

Buy the book today.

Visit the author's blog.

Devil's Cape Shipped

2008-03-31T09:44:00.003-05:00

I got an e-mail from Amazon.com that my preordered copy of Devil's Cape, written by my friend Rob Rogers, just shipped. I should have it no later than Friday. In the meantime, I may hit a bookstore or two with my Border's Rewards coupon and see if it's on the shelves starting tomorrow.

Pssst. Hey Buddy. Wanna Coach a Basketball Team?

2008-03-31T09:25:00.007-05:00

Doesn't anyone want to coach the Indiana Hoosiers? Let's recap my three top choices.

Bruce Pearl (Tennessee)?

From The Sporting News: Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said Friday afternoon he'd received no requests from other schools to interview Pearl for another head coaching position. He is confident Pearl will remain at Tennessee.

Tony Bennett (Washington State)?

From The Hoosier Insider: Indiana and Bennett talked about the opening today and the Washington State coach told IU that he wasn't interested in pursuing the position. "I had an exploratory conversation with Indiana,'' Bennett told the newspaper Sunday, "and I am not going to pursue the Indiana job.'' (Possible reasons why)

Sean Miller (Xavier)?

From The Hoosier Scoop: Publicly, Miller has already stated that he wants to stay at Xavier, where’s he’s been the coach since Thad Matta left for Ohio State.

“I will be at Xavier,” Miller said after his team lost to UCLA Saturday. “I’m looking forward to coaching at Xavier and continuing on with what we’ve done for years behind me and what we’ve done this year.”

I know that most of this is based on speculation and rumor, except the Bennet quote. Coaches will endeavor to say the right thing to cover their butts in case any move doesn't pan out. To quote Don Nelson when he coach the Dallas Mavericks, "If my mouth is moving, I'm lying to you." Not that these coaches are lying, but I do hope one of them has a change of heart.

On the bright side, the great destroyer hasn't been contacted by the search committee.

I'd Like to Thank Tennessee...

2008-03-28T08:24:00.003-05:00

...for totally f***ing up my bracket.

On the bright side, the Hoosiers are now free to pursue Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl for its head coach job. Um, so thanks Louisville.

Tell the FDA What You Think About Drug Ads

2008-03-27T10:00:00.002-05:00

Endless drug ads on TV: do these drugs really work, and what about side effects? Are we hearing the whole story???

I just took action to make sure we know more about the benefits and risks of the drugs we take. Join me in urging the FDA to require drug companies to include a 1-800 number and website in all TV drug ads so consumers can report side effects. A better system for reporting problems means earlier detection of problems!

Click here and sign the online petition.

Some history from the Prescription for Change Blog:

An Institute of Medicine report found that in 2004, only 21,500 of the 423,000 adverse event reports that year came directly from doctors and patients — even though there is an easy to use 1-800 number.

Drug safety activist Kim Witczak of Minneapolis, Minn. proposed a nifty idea: what if these ubiquitous drug ads included that 1-800 number? Rep Schakowsky of Illinois offered an amendment to the FDA reform bill last fall requiring this information for all drug ads. By the time the bill got to the President, it required drug companies to only include the 1-800 number on print ads, but not TV ads. Rather, the law called for FDA to study the TV ad idea.

I hate drug ads. I wish there were completely banned from print and TV. But since that won't happen any time soon, I'll throw my support behind this effort. I urge you to do the same.

Buy This Book: Devil's Cape

2008-03-25T21:29:00.002-05:00

My good friend Rob Rogers is about to have his first novel published. In fact, it will hit stores in ONE WEEK!

From the man himself:

Man, it's just one week until Devil's Cape hits bookshelves. If you're interested in the book, please call your local bookstore and make sure that it's going to be stocking some copies. Judging by the other Discoveries titles, it might not automatically be stocked, and I could really use the help generating some interest.

Wizards has expanded its coverage of Devil's Cape on its site. Some things are still being tweaked and more content is coming, but I'm excited that a sample chapter has been posted. Please take a look at it here. I apologize that it's a zipped file--I'm not sure why they do it that way. If I can figure out a way to host the PDF myself somewhere, I'll do so.

What's this book about, you ask? Allow me to elaborate:

Heroes with a Southern Gothic edge.

If New Orleans has earned its "Sin City" nickname for its debauchery, then its nearby sister Devil's Cape has earned its "Pirate Town" moniker for the violence and blatant corruption that have marred the city since its founding. A city where corruption and heroism walk hand-in-hand, and justice and mercy are bought and paid-for in blood, Devil's Cape is a city like no other.

Devil's Cape is a novel like no other. It blends the gritty crime novel with a heavy dose of the supernatural and weaves a tale of superhuman heroes and villains. Briskly written and highly readable, Devil's Cape will appeal to a wide audience.

I had the privilege of reading an early draft of Devil's Cape. I'm not much of a fan of the comic book genre but story and characters kept me riveted. I can't wait for the final version to be released. I preordered my copy on Amazon months ago. Honestly, I'm not pushing this book just because Rob is my friend. It's a damn good book. Download the sample chapter and see if you're not instantly hooked.

Dakich Receives Kiss of Death

2008-03-25T13:00:00.003-05:00

It was bad enough for interim Hoosier coach Dan Dakich to coach what became his final game under the specter of the announcement by the university that it had formed a basketball coach search committee. Now this:

From the NY Daily News: HOOSIER DADDY? With Indiana eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, the school is expected to being a search for a new head coach. Former Hoosier player Dan Dakich is serving as the interim coach. Scott Skiles is scheduled to be interviewed for the job, but when one of Indiana’s most famous alums was asked if he has any interest, Thomas passed. “I would hope that they would keep Dan Dakich there,” Thomas said. “Dan has done a good job under some tough circumstances. “I’ll do everything I can to help and support the program in terms of financial resources and also helping them recruit players. I definitely would like to see Dakich keep the job.”

The support of Isaiah Thomas? The Great Destroyer?

So long Dakich. It's been good knowing you.

Bracket Update

2008-03-24T08:37:00.004-05:00

I manged to pick a meager nine of the sweet 16 teams this year. In my favor, I still have my final four intact. In my office pool, I'm currently tied for 68th place out of 206. I have 43 points to the leader's 52. Only one person in the top 11 picked UCLA to win it all so I'm hopeful I can move up in the standings next weekend.

Oh, and the Hoosiers lost. Yippee.

Indiana Could Absolutely Be a Dangerous Team

2008-03-21T10:05:00.002-05:00

I hate Billy Packer. And his infinite wisdom is on display again:

"I think Indiana could absolutely be a dangerous team in this tournament. I've seen Indiana play some great basketball and in fairness to the kids they've gone through a lot. What I'm anxious to see right now is what Indiana team will be here. The Indiana team that I've seen play does not lose to Minnesota. Anytime. Any game. On any day. So that goes to show you that they were a far cry last week from the great Indiana team I've seen play several times this season.''

Well, DUH. Thanks for that great insight Billy. Of course Indiana could be a dangerous team in this tournament. If they had kept playing like they did right before Kelvin Sampson was fired, IU would be seeded higher and ready to make a deep run. As it stands now, I believe Arkansas will run IU out of the building.

I hope I'm wrong.

Muscle Madness

2008-03-20T12:08:00.003-05:00

Here's a neat take on the NCAA basketball bracket craze by the folks at Men's Health: letting readers select what they think is the single best muscle building exercise.

I fear that the bench press will ultimately win out because it's traditionally been the measuring stick of strength and machismo: "What's your bench, dude?"

I'll be voting for the deadlift. Should that not make it to the finals, any of the squats or the power clean would get my vote. I haven't personally done any power cleans. I have completed hanging cleans and those are certainly ball-busters. But I think the deadlift is currently king.

And after I've had a chance to do deadlifts again for awhile, I may kick an already tough lift up a notch and try the deadlift walk.

UCLA Wins. IU Loses.

2008-03-20T06:40:00.002-05:00

March Madness has arrived. It's officially the best time of the sporting year for me. Usually.

It's been a long, frustrating basketball season for me as a Hoosier fan. At it's peak, I was ready to take IU to the Final Four in my bracket and make a case to anyone that IU had just as good a shot as any top team to win it all.

Now? IU is an eight seed and I'm picking them to lose in the first round.

The whole Hoosier team seemed to lose its will to live after Kelvin Sampson got fired. They have played horrible basketball, losing three of the last four games, including a woodshed spanking at the hands of Michigan State and losses to Penn State and Minnesota.

Not only that, the week that IU is scheduled to play after limping into the Big Dance, the university announced the formation of a 10-panel search committee to find a new coach. Nice timing, eh? Just one more distraction.

So this year, its more March Sadness than it is Madness.

Now to my picks. Usually, I do my research, listen to experts, and fill out multiple brackets. This year, I haven't done any research, listened to any experts, and completed only one bracket. There are only three things that are locked in stone for me, the rest are simply shots in the dark: IU will lose to Arkansas in the first round, Tennessee will make it the school's first ever championship game, and UCLA will win it all.

Final Four:
Tennessee
Wisconsin
Texas
UCLA

Final Game:
Tennessee vs. UCLA

2008 Champion: UCLA

Go Vols!

St. Patrick's Day Triathlon Race Report

2008-03-18T11:11:00.006-05:00

Taken from my race report filed on Beginner Triathlete, my online training log.

Total Time = 1h 19m 58s
Overall Rank = 233/462
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 30/40

Official age group results can be found here. You'll notice that I'm in the 40-44 age group even though I'm still a spry 39. USA Triathlon determines age based on how old you'll be by December 31 of a calendar year. Thus, I got to have a big FOUR-OH marked on my legs during the body marking.

Pre-race routine:
Rise and shine! 4:30 came awfully early. I didn't have a restful night's sleep. I was too excited. This was my first triathlon. Breakfast was two whole grain waffles with peanut butter and jelly. Kara and I packed up and hit the road.

Event warmup:
Most of my warmup was spent wandering around and taking in the sights and sounds. I got set up in the transition area. Got body marked. Checked out the pool. I eventually got around to some dynamic warmups and light jogging. I needed to check my right calf and left achilles. Both have been giving me trouble. The achilles pain was tolerable. The calf pain was gone. YES! I eventually got into race gear and moved inside the natatorium for some light pool warmups.

Swim
Comments:
I totally sucked today. The size of the pool got into my head. And once I got winded, my form went to pot. Still, only one person passed me so I must have decently seeded myself. I did pass the guy in front of me.

What would you do differently?:
I was the mental equivalent of a bowl of jelly. Once I got winded, the negative thoughts flew in. I need to work on my mental conditioning prior to the next pool swim. If 50 meter lanes can get to me, what will happen in an open swim? I want to swim at least once in a 50 meter pool prior to the next race. Also, I need to do some mental exercises to help me keep my rhythm and form.

Transition 1
Comments:
Much quicker and easier than I thought. I took my time, dried my feet, put on my socks and shoes and shirt and helmet. I stuffed some gel into my shorts, grabbed my glasses and headed to bike out.

What would you do differently?:
For now, nothing.

Bike
Comments:
I did much better than I expected on this. I went hard, attacked the hills, passed a few people and got passed by the elite. It was great. Except that my back tightened up. This has been a reoccurring problem due to, I think, an improper fitting. Other than that, I know I can go faster.

What would you do differently?:
Attack harder. Work my gears better. Work on my pedal technique.I need to hydrate better on this leg. I only drank half my water bottle. And I needed the electrolytes for the next leg.

Transition 2
Comments:
Same as before. Fast and easy. I dismounted in my shoes and jogged to my bike rack. Changing shoes was fast and easy. No issues.

What would you do differently?:
For now, nothing.

Run
Comments:
I started off fine. I didn't have the expected "brick" legs from riding so hard. I started off at what I thought was a gentle pace to get my running legs. About five minutes in, my calf completed seized up and caused me to stop running. On a scale of one to ten, this was about an eight. It hurt like a big dog. Stretching did no good. Cursing, I continued on with a limp walk. Then evolved into a limp run, which evolved into a run. I was surprised by my time and disappointed as well. I know I could have run much faster if not for the calf issue.

Best sign seen on the run course: "May your ex be jealous of your rock-hard body." I had to smile in spite of my pain at that one. Now THAT'S an Irish blessing.

What would you do differently?:
Nothing. I need to finish a run pain free first.

Post race
Warm down:
This involved mostly limping, cursing, and stretching.

What limited your ability to perform faster:
Mental issues in the pool. My right calf seizing up on the run.

Event comments:
I can't say enough good things about this race. This was a perfect first triathlon experience for me and my girlfriend. We both had a great time, were impressed by the level of assistance, the course, everything. I really loved the leprechaun pope (I hope to get a picture of him). He made a great emcee. I recommend the race and course to newbies, beginners, and even experts looking for a speed workout. This race totally SHAM-ROCKED!

Other highlights include getting beat by an 11-year old girl.

Cheezy Technique - Amazing Results

2008-03-12T12:52:00.002-05:00

As much as I want to eat according to a sound nutritional plan and stay compliant, I struggle just like everybody else. In my weaker moments, I will engage in an internal dialog to justify eating a hamburger, high-GI carbs, or any kind of sweet (especially ice cream, my kryptonite).

But I may have found something that will help me. Ryan Andrews of the Precision Nutrition team writes about the "oh well" technique. Here it is in all its complicated glory:

You see, after learning which foods were on the plan and which were off the plan, each time he was presented with a food off the plan, instead of debating the merits of the food, instead of justifying "just one bite," instead of talking himself into a poor decision, he simply repeated the cheesy trigger phrase:

"Oh Well, it's not on my plan."

Then, with a shrug of the shoulders, he'd move on and busy himself with something else. An activity. A book. A conversation. His compliant food choices. Etc.

So that's it. As you can tell from the title of this post, which quotes the title of the article, Andrews thinks this a pretty "cheezy" technique. However:

This is one of the most powerful strategies I've ever found for helping folks make the right decisions day in and day out - both in the gym and at the dining table.

It allows folks to avoid the messy mental gymnastics and gives them a touchstone for remaining true to their real intentions and goals. Indeed, it helps us avoid the problem outlined in this quote...

"The reason most people fail instead of succeed is that they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment."

I love that last line. It exactly describes what happens to me when eat an unplanned sweets or snacks or indulge in crappy food choices when eating out. I settle for what I want at the moment.

I'm going to give the "oh well" technique a try and see if it works.

Tomorrow. And after I eat this cookie.

Now That's Irony: Abortions Highest Where Religion is Highest

2008-03-07T14:12:00.001-06:00

Austin Cline at About.com has a nice analysis about an article first published in The Guardian.

Abortions Highest Where Religion is Highest
Given how opposition to legal abortion is almost entirely based on religious dogma, one might think that areas where belief in religious dogma is highest will be areas where abortion is lowest. That, however, is incorrect - abortion rates are highest in places where religiosity is highest but lowest in more secular areas. This is not an incidental correlation: not only does it disprove the popular idea that secularism destroys the moral values which oppose abortion, but it points to how religion itself can make demand for abortion higher.

While I'm not taking this as, if you'll excuse the expression, the end-all gospel, I will say that this is just another nail in the coffin of the "moral superiority" that is religion. The more religious leaders try to control their flocks, the worse things get.

Rocky Mountain High

2008-03-04T15:04:00.000-06:00

This makes as much, if not more, sense than any explanation the bible gives:

Was Moses high on Mount Sinai? - Science- msnbc.com
“The thunder, lightning and blaring of a trumpet which the Book of Exodus says emanated from Mount Sinai could just have been the imaginings of a people in an “altered state of awareness,” Shanon hypothesized.

"In advanced forms of ayahuasca inebriation, the seeing of light is accompanied by profound religious and spiritual feelings,” Shanon wrote.
“On such occasions, one often feels that in seeing the light, one is encountering the ground of all Being ... many identify this power as God.”

A stoner party out in the middle of the desert? I don't even think Burning Man in its prime could top this.

Texas + Religion = Stupidity

2008-02-29T08:38:00.006-06:00

Here are a couple of reasons why religion in Texas continues to f*** up this state.

From Newsweek:
Texas produces more carbon emissions than most countries, but the state government and business community don't seem too concerned.

Were the Lonestar State to secede from the union it would be the world's eighth-largest emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, just behind Canada, with 630 million metric tons spewed into the atmosphere in 2005, according to new figures released this week by the U.S. government's Energy Information Administration. That's actually a reduction of 40 million metric tons since 2003, when Texas was the globe's seventh-largest CO₂ contributor. But even though the state is improving, Texas still outpaces the combined emissions of California and Pennsylvania, the states with the second- and third-highest CO₂ outputs.

And why does Texas continue to lead the nation in carbon emissions? It is the nation's leading producer of energy, and with more cattle and oil refineries than any other state, it is essentially America's power plant, gas pump and beef basket. That's well and good. However, it's Governor Rick Perry, a right-wing religious nut job who swallows everything his buddy President Bush feeds him, who continuously holds things back:

But to many Texans, environmental activism looks too much like big government threatening the state's business interests. Under Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Texas has dug in its heels when it comes to enacting any state initiatives aimed at cutting emissions or promoting efficiency. Perry publicly doubts that global warming is a manmade problem—something his predecessor George W. Bush has acknowledged—and pokes fun at those who do. Last year Perry remarked that Al Gore's mouth is the country's leading source of carbon dioxide, not Texas.

In another show of blind stupidity, there's a chance than a school board electron from the 11th District could elect a creation science supporter:

Board member Pat Hardy, R-Fort Worth, is being challenged in the GOP primary by Cleburne urologist Barney Maddox, a critic of the theory of evolution who calls it a "myth" on a creation science Web site and who once testified that Texas schoolchildren are "brainwashed" into believing in evolution.

PZ Meyers from Pharyngula sums this up nicely:

There's a school board election in District 11 of Texas that has a clear choice: Pat Hardy is the pro-science candidate, despite being a conservative, religious Baptist, while her opponent is a deranged lunatic who is quietly outspending her 12:1 while avoiding the public eye altogether. You do not want to vote for Barney Maddox — he is an "ill-informed nutcase".
Isn't this weird? Here in Minnesota, we're affected by the outcomes of local school board races in Texas — allowing ignorant, raving lunatics to make textbook decisions there is going to shape the choices we get to make here. So if you know any Texans, spread the word: Barney Maddox is bad news.

If he wins, I suppose that means Texas will be teaching kids crappy science who in turn, if they grow up to be scientists, will continue to ignore the issue of global warming because destroying Texas and the world will more quickly bring about the return of geezus.

It's okay to weep for us Texas. I won't mind. In fact, I'm about to do that myself.

UPDATE: Intelligence and reason won in the school board election! There's hope for this state yet.

OUCH!!

2008-02-28T16:42:00.003-06:00

Arsenal say Eduardo "back in nine months"

Tough Times for Hoosier Fans

2008-02-14T08:39:00.006-06:00

I didn't have the opportunity to watch what turned out to be a terrific game for the Hoosiers. But as luck would have it, they lost when Wisconsin's Brian Butch hit a lucky bank three with just a few ticks left on the clock. The boys at one of my favorite blogs, Inside the Hall, said it best:

The one good thing here? IU played well. This is two games in a row we can sit back and say: “Hey, we’re looking good, we’re finally coming around.” It’s just too bad it had to come in a loss. At home. The day it was announced Kelvin Sampson got slapped with major sanctions.

Here’s a sampling of columns put together by Chris Korman over at The Hoosier Scoop:

Throw in the passing of Terry Hoeppner prior to the 2007 football season and you have the makings for a really tough year for Hoosier fans. Hope, optimism, and dreams of post season success have been replaced by tragedy, mourning, and feelings of betrayal, anger, and disgust.

Thanks Kelvin Sampson. We can indeed hear you now.

Too bad all you seem to be saying are lies. Time for you to go. But thanks for turning D.J. White into at beast. I can at least give you credit for that.

Looking Good for Jesus

2008-02-12T14:03:00.000-06:00

It's wonderful when blog posts simply write themselves.

From MSNBC: SINGAPORE - A cosmetics range with cheeky taglines that extolled the virtues of "Looking Good for Jesus" has been pulled from stores in Singapore after some Roman Catholics complained the items were disrespectful, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
Promising to "Redeem your reputation and more," the product line included a "virtuous vanilla"-flavored lip balm and a "Get Tight with Christ" hand and body cream, as well as bags and other items sold by British retailer Topshop and produced by Blue Q, The Straits Times said.
[snip]
On the packaging of one of the products, Jesus, wearing a bright white robe, looks heavenward while a blonde, heavily made-up woman with an arm draped across his shoulder gazes dreamily at his face.

So how does one go about redeeming one's reputation? It's easier than you think.

This is great. No more boring and embarrassing trips the confessional. Simply apply the virtuous lip balm and think pure thoughts...well, until the next hot date. Unfortunately, this kit doesn't put an END to sinning. It just takes the edge off of it. No wonder the word "Repeat" is in bold, red letters.

Starbucks Irony

2008-02-12T12:46:00.000-06:00

Here's an amusing Starbucks post by Cassandra Forsythe over at the Female Fitness and Nutrition Scientist blog.

While I was in line waiting to order, I noticed the most ironic advertisement. Right there behind the counter on the Coffee of the Day sign was the following statement: "Try our new SKINNY lattes and have it with our warm cinnamon swirl muffin!"

I need to see if any Starbucks in my area have this bit of silliness posted in their stores. I had my own internal struggle with some irony that finally led me to stop having whipped cream with my NONFAT mocha. It's bad enough that I add peppermint syrup.

Don't Buy an iPhone If...

2008-02-11T14:02:00.000-06:00

I asked a guy in the locker room today about his iPhone. He said it's a piece of junk. And here's why. First, there's no warranty. I can't verify that, but I'll take his word for it. Usually with Apple you HAVE to buy an extended warranty if you want any help with your product past the initial 90 days. It's a rip, but that's what they do. In this case, it's $69.

Second, he complained about how sensitive the touch screen is. Even with the protective case on, he's been "busted several times" when he's with a lady and the phone activates. He makes out with a gal, his phone calls another so one of his other lady friends can hear what he's doing with his current lady friend. His advice to me? "Don't buy an iPhone if you're dating more than one girl."

I swear I'm not making this up. He then proceeds to use his sucky iPhone to talk with what appeared to be one of his unhappy lady friends. And he emphasized to her over the phone that she is indeed "just a friend."

I still want one. It just costs too much for me.

3: The Number of the Beast

2008-02-11T09:12:00.001-06:00

This is D.J. White. He is now officially a beast after his beastly performance against Ohio State last night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State officials called for "white out" conditions for Sunday's game against Indiana, asking fans to wear white.

Indiana countered with D.J. White.

The IU senior forward had a double-double in the first half and finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds as No. 14 Indiana posted its second Big Ten road victory in four days, beating Ohio State 59-53 before a sellout crowd of 19,049 at Value City Arena.

White's 15th double-double in 23 games included 10-of-15 shooting, six offensive rebounds, two blocks and a steal. He played the entire game.

"I was just playing hard," White said. "From watching film, I knew we'd have a chance to get offensive rebounds. So that's what I did when the ball went up. I went for the offensive rebounds."

Eric Gordon may be the superstar of this year's team, a title he rightly deserves. But this is D.J. White's team and night after night he shows why. He's the most consistent, most aggressive, and most enthusiastic. This team rises and falls with D.J. Gordon is the superstar. White is the MVB: Most Valuable Beast.

Great Chess Player. Great Movie.

2008-01-18T09:14:00.000-06:00

Bobby Fischer, outspoken ex-chess champion, dies of kidney failure

From ESPN: REYKJAVIK, Iceland -- Bobby Fischer, the reclusive chess genius who became a Cold War hero by dethroning the Soviet world champion in 1972 and later renounced his American citizenship, has died. He was 64.

The article does a good job of explaining Fischer's eccentric life, but if you want to get a different take on the man, I highly recommend the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. If you're not a chess fan, that's okay. It's more than that. I may have to break out the VCR this weekend and watch it.

At Least the Hoosiers Won

2008-01-14T08:43:00.000-06:00

This was not a good weekend to be a fan of the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams suffered humiliating defeats on their home turf.

First, the Colts returned to their old playoff ways to go one-and-done in their final game at the RCA Dome.

Chargers stun Colts, will face Patriots in AFC title game (ESPN.com)
Errors, poor play doom Colts in Dome's finale (IndyStar.com)
Minus L.T. and Rivers, Chargers Stun Colts (SI.com)

I didn't get to watch much of the game, but from what my buddy Jonathan tells me, the Colts deserved to lose. I hope last year's Super Bowl victory wasn't an aberration. I want to be confident that the Colts have a shot at making the Super Bowl each year without having to worry about choking in the playoffs. I was confidently looking forward to the Colts playing the Patriots is what could have been the best AFC Championship game ever. Now, we're all stuck with watching the Chargers getting their asses whooped. Then again, I assumed that would happen against the Colts. Shows what I know.

Speaking of playoff futility, let's move our attention to the hometown team of the Dallas Cowboys. I was worried about this game from the start, thinking that any upsets that occurred this weekend would happen in the NFC. I was half right (unfortunately).

Da Boys extended their postseason futility by collecting NFL record-tying sixth straight postseason loss. At home. Against the Giants.

Another Dallas Cowboys season ends on sour note (Dallasnews.com)
Dallas Cowboys exit playoffs with 21-17 loss (Dallasnews.com)
Cowboys fall short on last effort as Giants move on to face Packers (ESPN.com)

Shoulda. Coulda. Woulda. The Giants wanted this game more. I guess there's always next year to look forward to. But Decembers have not been kind to the Cowboys the past few years. I'm tired of getting my hopes up and having them dashed over and over with uninspired play. It was a great season for the Cowboys. But what a disappointing way to have it end.

But at least my Hoosiers won.

Remember These Guys?

2008-01-10T14:25:00.001-06:00

They're only the defending Super Bowl champions. From MSNBC:

Yes, it’ll be quite a weekend with New England, Green Bay and Dallas in action. All the great teams are ready to make their Super Bowl push. New England, Green Bay and Dallas. All the great teams in the NFL. Is there a team missing?

Oh, that’s right, the Indianapolis Colts.

Oh, those Colts. The defending Super Bowl champs led by former league MVP Peyton Manning and current defensive player of the year Bob Sanders.

Will Indianapolis breeze through San Diego and then conquer New England?
Maybe not, but they could and they won’t be scared. And they should be remembered. This is your Super Bowl champion and they haven’t gone anywhere yet. While others are basking in the glow of the playoffs, the forgotten Colts are shining their Lombardi Trophy and quietly preparing for another run at a ring.

Actually, I hope the Colts are overlooked. That will make their victory over the Patriots in the AFC Championship game even sweeter. Go Colts!

Unlucky #13

2008-01-02T11:00:00.000-06:00

Cowboys Defeat Hoosiers in Insight Bowl

I wasn't expecting the Hoosiers to win, but I was h0ping for a closer game. I didn't watch it and, in a way, I'm glad I didn't. All I need to know is that IU put up some points in the second half and hopefully created some momentum for next year.

"We dug ourselves a big hole but we played much better in the second half," [Head coach Bill] Lynch said. "I was really proud of our guys the way they came back in the second half and kept battling."

I expect the Hoosiers to battle next year. And that may be enough to fully convert me to a full-fledged IU football fan. The spirit of Coach Hoep was honored this year. Let's see what they can do next year without a tragedy to distract them.

GO HOOSIERS.

"Stray bullets change lives ... sometimes in a very tragic way,"

2007-12-31T15:47:00.000-06:00

Semi humorous headline from my local news paper: Dallas police, officials discourage random gunfire.

As opposed to thought out gunfire?

But this is kinda scary too, but in a cool, high tech sort of way:

The city is also reviewing new gunshot detection technology. The machines, which are in use in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, are able to detect gunfire and pinpoint its location.

Big city life has it's high points and low points. This would be a low point. Have a happy and SAFE New Year's eve.

Lucky #13

2007-12-03T08:49:00.000-06:00

Indiana Selected to Play in the Insight Bowl

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University has been selected to play in the Insight Bowl, IU Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan and Insight Bowl Chairman Dick Stemple announced on Sunday evening. The Hoosiers (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten) will face Oklahoma State (6-6, 4-4 Big 12) on Monday, Dec. 31.

IU will be making its ninth bowl appearance and its first since the 1993 Independence Bowl. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. MST/5:30 p.m. EST in Tempe, Ariz. The game will be played at Sun Devil Stadium (73,752) and will air on the NFL Network.

"I was delighted to learn that our football team has been selected to play in the Insight Bowl," Indiana University President Michael McRobbie said. "Coach Lynch and our players persevered through a season of unique challenges and, with strong support from our fans, achieved their goal to `play 13.' As we strive for excellence in all things at IU, this achievement is a point of significant pride for all of us."

Congratulations, Hoosiers. What a great way to honor Coach Hoep's memory and brief legacy by making a bowl game. The kick in the gut is that the game will be broadcast on the NFL Network, which is unavailable to about 70% of the households in the country. I do believe Indiana is very much a cable company stronghold. I hope a local station gets to simulcast the game. That happened here in Dallas for the Cowboys/Packers game. Go Hoosiers!!

Here's the kick that got us to number 13.

Another Casualty of the Obesity Crisis

2007-11-20T14:14:00.000-06:00

It appears that the world is getting too big for the It's a Small Word ride at Disneyland:

Heavier-than-anticipated loads have been causing the boats to come to a standstill in two different spots, allowing for an extra-long gander at the Canadian Mounties and the Scandinavian geese, said Al Lutz, whose website MiceAge first reported the refurbishment plans.

"If these boats get stuck . . . they have to send someone back in there to lighten the load on the boat," said Lutz, who has been on the ride when a guest or two was asked to disembark.

"They've even built a platform next to that [Mounties] curve because they've had so many problems."

Disneyland plans to add an inch of depth to the water channel and design more-buoyant boats, Lutz said.

Of course, it's not the expanding waist lines of Americans and tourists. It's the "layers and layers of fiberglass have built up where maintenance teams have patched and re-patched problem areas, said Disneyland Resort spokesman Bob Tucker."

Layers of fiberglass. Riiiight. That would explain the need to redesign many of its costumes and to start stocking them in larger sizes to accommodate ever-expanding waistlines of the cast members (Disney doesn't have employees. They're called cast members. It's all a big show, you know?).

But here is the insult that gets added to the injury:

So when somebody gets booted from the boat, Lutz said, Disneyland ride operators make sure the guests don't leave disappointed: They hand them a food ticket.

Overweight tourists getting free food tickets? At the rate the world is growing these days, it will be a large world, after all.

Sounds like it's time to head over to The Little Land of Duff ride where allowances for extra weight are built into the ride's design. But then there's that song.

This Just In: Men Are Simple Creatures...DUH!

2007-11-20T09:17:00.000-06:00

From the Department of the Blatantly Obvious: Males are simple creatures who simply want to get laid.

And now there is scientific proof:

Despite flash, males are simple creatures

Females evolve slower, but it's because they're more complex

The secret to why male organisms evolve faster than their female counterparts comes down to this: Males are simple creatures.

In nearly all species, males seem to ramp up glitzier garbs, more graceful dance moves and more melodic warbles in a never-ending vie to woo the best mates. Called sexual selection, the result is typically a showy male and a plain-Jane female. Evolution speeds along in the males compared to females.

The idea that males evolve more quickly than females has been around since 19th century biologist Charles Darwin observed the majesty of a peacock’s tail feather in comparison with those of the drab peahen.

How and why males exist in evolutionary overdrive despite carrying essentially the same genes as females has long puzzled scientists.

New research on fruit flies, detailed online last week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds males have fewer genetic obstacles to prevent them from responding quickly to selection pressures in their environments.

"It’s because males are simpler," said lead author Marta Wayne, a zoologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville. "The mode of inheritance in males involves simpler genetic architecture that does not include as many interactions between genes as could be involved in female inheritance."

Need further proof? How about this new study by researchers at the University of Paris X-Nanterre that found that a woman's hair color influenced men's performance on general intelligence tests. Men who looked at photographs of blonde women scored lower on the tests than men shown images of brunettes and redheads.

Researchers discovered what might be called the “bimbo delusion” by studying men’s ability to complete general knowledge tests after exposure to different women. The academics found that men’s scores fell after they were shown pictures of blondes.
Further analysis convinced the team that, rather than simply being distracted by the flaxen hair, those who performed poorly had been unconsciously driven by social stereotypes to “think blonde”.
“This proves that people confronted with stereotypes generally behave in line with them,” said Thierry Meyer, joint author of the study and professor of social psychology at the University of Paris X-Nanterre. “In this case blondes have the potential to make people act in a dumber way, because they mimic the unconscious stereotype of the dumb blonde.”

But are men really "talking down" to blondes or is it something more sinister?

Michelle Collins, the blonde-haired former EastEnders actress, suspected the results were more to do with men’s approach to sex than intelligence. “I don’t think it’s to do with hair at all; it’s all about the breasts,” she said.

So let's recap: the rapid evolution and adaptation by males is all because we want to get laid--especially by blondes because we think they're easier to bed because they're stupid.

Eh, so be it. It's not like this is news to anybody, particularly women (although, somebody may need to spell it out for the blondes of the world. But be sure to use small words and brightly colored pictures. Maybe a flannelgraph will help.).

Come on Spaghetti Monster!

2007-11-16T15:46:00.000-06:00

From MSNBC:

Indeed, the tale of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and its followers cuts to the heart of the one of the thorniest questions in religious studies: What defines a religion? Does it require a genuine theological belief? Or simply a set of rituals and a community joining together as a way of signaling their cultural alliances to others?

A great read that asks a simple question about the origin of religion: am I part of something bigger?

Lucas Johnston, the third Florida student, argues the Flying Spaghetti Monsterism exhibits at least some of the traits of a traditional religion _ including, perhaps, that deep human need to feel like there's something bigger than oneself out there.
He recognized the point when his neighbor, a militant atheist who sports a pro-Darwin bumper sticker on her car, tried recently to start her car on a dying battery.
As she turned the key, she murmured under her breath: "Come on Spaghetti Monster!"

And may you be touched by His noodly appendage. Ramen.

"Ask Your Doctor if Getting Off Your Ass Is Right for You"

2007-10-16T08:46:00.000-05:00

Because he's a way better writer than I can even dream to be, here's a post I'm taking from Lou Schuler and his terrific blog:

I nominate Bill Maher to head up the FDA under the next administration:

If you believe you need to take all the pills the pharmaceutical industry says you do, then you're already on drugs.
Yes, it's that time in the campaign where all the candidates are presenting their health care proposals. Hillary's covers children's teeth. Edwards has one that includes maintaining gorgeous, shiny hair and Barack Obama's involves going on Oprah, and everyone gets a gastric bypass!
But, none of the plans address the real problem. We won't stop being sick until we stop making ourselves sick. Because -- because there is a point where even the most universal government health program can't help you. They can't outlaw unhealthy food or alcohol or cigarettes. Just pot, sadly.
Because, you see, the government isn't your nanny. They're your dealer. And they subsidize illness in America. They have to. There's too much money in it. You see, there's no money in healthy people. And there's no money in dead people. The money is in the middle. People who are alive, sort of -- but with one or more chronic conditions that puts them in need of Celebrex or Nasonex or Valtrex or Lunesta. Fifty years ago, children didn't even get Type 2 Diabetes. Now, it's an emerging epidemic. As are a long list of ailments which used to be rare, and have now been "mainstreamed."
Things like asthma and autism and acid reflux, and arthritis, allergies, adult acne, attention deficit disorder. And that's just the "A's."
Doesn't anybody wonder why we live with all this illness? I'll tell you why. At the L.A. County Fair last week, they were serving something called "Fried Coke." Now, my first thought was, gosh, what a waste of a perfectly good "Eight Ball." But, no, they actually pour the Coca-Cola syrup into a deep fryer.
Then put it in a cup and top it with sugar and whipped cream, and a cherry, because, you know, fruit is good for you.
Would it really be that much more unhealthy to get molested by one of the carnies?
In Hillary Clinton's health plan, the words "nutrition" and "exercise" appear once. The word "drugs" 14 times. Just as the pharmaceutical companies want it. You know, their ad weasels love to say, "When diet and exercise fail ... " Well, diet and exercise don't fail. A fact brought home last week by a new Duke University study that showed exercise -- yes, exercise -- is just as effective a cure for depression as Paxil and Zoloft.
So ask your doctor if getting off your ass is right for you!
You know, if Republicans can sell the idea of preemptive war, Democrats have to at least get us interested in the idea of preventive medicine. Someone has to stand up and say that the answer isn't another pill. The answer is spinach. Okay, not spinach. Turns out that crap'll kill you. But you know what I mean!

Thanks for the Hope, Coach Hep. You Will Be Missed.

2007-06-19T09:01:00.000-05:00

From the Indy Star: IU football coach Hoeppner dies

I was surprised and saddened to learn today that Indiana University football coach Terry Hoeppner, who had been battling brain cancer, has died at the age of 59.

As a Hoosier Fan in Texas, it was hard to follow along with what was happening during Coach Hep's first months. I remember a visit to Bloomington to see my parents and seeing billboards and signs with Hep posed as Uncle Sam calling on the students to support the team. I thought it was great but pessimistic that it would help much.

It did. Coach Hep got me.

While his 9-14 doesn't look all that impressive, he may go down in IU history as one of the program's best coaches. His passion for the game rubbed off on his players, the students, the alumni, and me. When available on TV (and surprisingly, I was watching IU football on TV), I could see IU football playing with more aggression and fun over the past two years. Yeah, the team still lost lots of games, but I could see a change occurring, one that gave me hope for the future, hope that at the very least, IU would be competitive in every game.

Here are a couple of items that sum up Coach Hep:

From the Official press release:

Hoeppner made an immediate impact in his first year at the helm of the Hoosier program. In addition to leading Indiana to its first 4-1 start since 1994, Hoeppner rejuvenated an IU fan base that enjoyed a 39-percent increase in per-game attendance, a 46-percent increase in overall season ticket sales and a 110-percent increase in student season ticket sales.
He not only helped generate a buzz about Indiana football, but he and his staff also installed an aggressive, big-play defense to go along with an exciting spread offense that threw a school-record 24 touchdown passes.
Furthermore, Hoeppner helped establish new IU football traditions. Two hours prior to each home game, fans and players engaged in "The Walk," as Indiana coaches and players marched through the tailgating areas en route to the "crimson gates" at Memorial Stadium. Hoeppner also dubbed Memorial Stadium "The Rock," a nod to the stadium's limestone construction. A three-ton remnant from the original stadium construction was placed near the north end zone, as the IU coaches now challenge the Hoosiers to "defend the rock." Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the coaches and players join The Marching Hundred band to sing the school fight song after every home victory.

From Brian Janosch, 21, an Indiana University senior and former sports editor at the student newspaper The Indiana Daily Student:

In one year, just one year, he turned the attitude around here from "Who cares," to "You know what, maybe there's a chance." And that's all we could ask for having not visited a bowl game in more than a decade.

Thanks for the memories, the fun, and the hope, Coach Hep. You will be missed.

Now That's A Boost

2007-06-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

From MSNBC.com: Man blames health drink for unwanted erection

NEW YORK - A man has sued the maker of the health drink Boost Plus, claiming the vitamin-enriched beverage gave him an erection that would not subside and caused him to be hospitalized.

The lawsuit filed by Christopher Woods of New York said he bought the nutrition beverage made by the pharmaceutical company Novartis AG at a drugstore on June 5, 2004, and drank it.

Woods’ court papers say he woke up the next morning “with an erection that would not subside” and sought treatment that day for the condition, called severe priapism.

So Woods' wood wouldn't go away, eh? This poor fellow underwent surgery to implant a Winter shunt to move blood from one area to another. When that didn't work, he had a penile artery embolization to close off some blood flow to prevent continued engorgement and lessen the likelihood of an erection.

I wonder how long he's had this problem? Since June 5, 2004? Surgery seems so drastic. Couldn't the guy have just hired a few hookers to take care of the problem?

The Difference

2007-06-01T14:26:00.000-05:00

The Difference

The difference between a champion and a loser is in the mindset. Champions welcome pain. Losers avoid it at all costs. Champions seek out challenges. Losers have an aversion to challenges. A champion embraces grueling workouts that push his mind and willpower to the brink. A loser sits quietly on a leg extension machine and reads the latest issue of Us magazine.

-- Chad Waterbury

Kind of sounds like my blogging, doesn't it?

Great New Weight Loss Products

2007-03-30T13:01:00.000-05:00

Random blog fodder touting the benefits of terrific new weight loss products.

As you can see on CNN...
Here is piece of spam I received at work the other day. I did not edit this:

Anatrim – The latest and most fascinating product for over-weight people is now available – As you could see on CNN
Do you realize excessive body kilograms kill a plenty of people for every new year? We know that you hate the ugly appearance of those people and the low status they have in modern society. Moreover, you have not the will to withstand pressure of your pernicious eating habits. If it all sounds familiar, then we got something to propose to you!

We’re proudly introduce you Anatrim, the later product for the reduction of your body’s extra weight. The most astonishing thing is that Anatrim improves the quality of your life, repressing the feeling of hunger and giving you gay spirit. Here are what people say on this product:

"It is wonderful! I stopped gorging any food close at hand and watching TV constantly I became keen on exercise. Anatrim put me back on the right path. I have a great form now and there are lots of men following me with their eyes!
"Victoria K., Bellevue WA:

"Passive weight losing was of no result to me. I could not restrain my ravenous appetite. One day I heard about Anatrim from my very best friend and I was really impressed at the information. I had tried to use it, and my wife said I look very good now, 3 months later. 26 pounds have gone away and I keep losing them! And you know, the bedroom thing is cool, too."
Mike Brown, New York

Anatrim helps you to understand you got no such great need for that much food. It raises your spirit, supplies you with energy, and attacks useless kilos. Especial thanks to its powerful distinguished formula!!

"And you know, the bedroom thing is cool, too!" What bedroom thing? Sleeping?

Wake Up With Happy Smiley George
Now here's a product I would like to see:

I'm Pretty Sinful

2007-03-23T15:41:00.000-05:00

Your Deadly Sins

Lust: 60%

Envy: 20%

Greed: 20%

Gluttony: 0%

Pride: 0%

Sloth: 0%

Wrath: 0%

Chance You'll Go to Hell: 14%

You'll die from overexertion. *wink*

How Sinful Are You?

What's On My Coffee Cup Today

2007-02-23T11:11:00.000-06:00

The Way I See It #209:

Growing up, my parents always said, "You will leave this world the same way you came into it: with nothing." It made me realize that the only things we do in this world that count are those things that make the world a better place for those who will come behind us.

--Tyrone B. Hayes
Biologist, herpetologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer.

Is Golf As Good As Sex?

2007-02-22T10:35:00.000-06:00

I know for many that golf is akin to a religious experience. But is it really as good as sex? I'll let you be the judge based on this e-mail I got from a friend describing her most recent trip to the links:

I really have to liken a good round of golf to something you enjoy doing.

Got paired up with some 40ish-year-old guy. Gave him a good spanking.

My driving was smooth and repetitive. As well as long.

My short game: I was caressing those shots right in.

My putting: In the hole every time.

Yup. It is just like riding a bicycle. You just need to hop back on and go for it. Not bad for a four-month layoff.

Aahhh. Now I need a cigarette. :)

You and me both. Whew.

Happy Lupercalia!

2007-02-14T08:48:00.000-06:00

I'm going to admit right now that I'm stealing all this from the great Lou Schuler's blog. Here's a fascinating bit about the true origins of Valentine's Day:

February occurred later on the ancient Roman calendar than it does today so Lupercalia was held in the spring and regarded as a festival of purification and fertility. Each year on February 15, the Luperci priests gathered on Palantine Hill at the cave of Lupercal. Vestal virgins brought sacred cakes made from the first ears of last year's grain harvest to the fig tree. Two naked young men, assisted by the Vestals, sacrificed a dog and a goat at the site. The blood was smeared on the foreheads of the young men and then wiped away with wool dipped in milk.
The youths then donned loincloths made from the skin of the goat and led groups of priests around the pomarium, the sacred boundary of the ancient city, and around the base of the hills of Rome. The occasion was happy and festive. As they ran about the city, the young men lightly struck women along the way with strips of the goat hide. It is from these implements of purification, or februa, that the month of February gets its name. This act supposedly provided purification from curses, bad luck, and infertility.

Long after Palentine Hill became the seat of the powerful city, state and empire of Rome, the Lupercalia festival lived on. Roman armies took the Lupercalia customs with them as they invaded France and Britain. One of these was a lottery where the names of available maidens were placed in a box and drawn out by the young men. Each man accepted the girl whose name he drew as his love -- for the duration of the festival, or sometimes longer.

As Christianity began to slowly and systematically dismantle the pagan pantheons, it frequently replaced the festivals of the pagan gods with more ecumenical celebrations. It was easier to convert the local population if they could continue to celebrate on the same days ... they would just be instructed to celebrate different people and ideologies.

Lupercalia, with its lover lottery, had no place in the new Christian order. In the year 496 AD, Pope Gelasius did away with the festival of Lupercalia, citing that it was pagan and immoral. He chose Valentine as the patron saint of lovers, who would be honored at the new festival on the fourteenth of every February. The church decided to come up with its own lottery and so the feast of St. Valentine featured a lottery of Saints. One would pull the name of a saint out of a box, and for the following year, study and attempt to emulate that saint.

Lou's entire post is a great history lesson. I always enjoy learning about the true origins of supposedly "Christian" holidays and just how pagan they really are. This line is the magic bullet for me as to how early Christianity was able to spread so rapidly:

It was easier to convert the local population if they could continue to celebrate on the same days ... they would just be instructed to celebrate different people and ideologies.

Embracing the pagan origins of these holidays makes them easier for me to enjoy. Christmas has always been difficult for me, even when I was a Christian, until I fully understood the origins of the holiday and threw out the religious crap. Now I can enjoy all my holidays without all the religious hang ups.

Now let's see, where did I put that loin cloth and februa? Any maidens out there who wish to be purified on this fine Lupercalia?

Metallica is My Messiah

2007-02-06T21:49:00.000-06:00

Gimme fuel
Gimme fire
Gimme that which I desire

Okay, maybe not my messiah but certainly my savior today. If it weren't for the words and music of "Fuel" by Metallica I would not have survived my sprints (Seven 30-second sprints with 90 seconds rest). I had to play that song twice to pull through the last two.

Oh, on I burn
Fuel is pumping engines
Burning hard
Loose and clean

Oh, and on I burn
Churning my direction
Quench my thirst with gasoline

So gimme fuel
Gimme fire
Gimme that which I desire

I had not sprinted for a couple of months but had done many slow and steady runs or intervals with longer intensity periods (90 seconds on/180 seconds rest). Today was so warm that I took off my shirt. Had I been in a public place I surely would have blinded many with my pasty white flesh. And I was served a reminder as to how much further I have to go in accomplishing my body composition goals as I felt the remaining fat around my belly wiggle while sprinting. I'll take motivation from any corner.

Motivation for what? My 10 Percent Solution. I'll have more on that in another post, but essentially this is series of obtainable goals I've set for myself in 2007, culminating in reaching an overall body fat of ten percent (I'm currently carrying a 15 percent body fat after dropping seven points in 2006).

After finally regaining my health after a two month battle with an upper respitory plague thing, I'm currently in the middle of week two of my four-week ramp up program prior to starting my 10 Percent Solution.

This is going to be challenging and fun. I hope to learn a bit about myself as well.

On I burn.

COLTS ARE SUPER BOWL CHAMPS

2007-02-05T09:15:00.000-06:00

I can't say much more than that, can I? It was a great win for the Colts. They were the team that overcame the elements and the pressure to win this game. They were clearly the better team. My condolences to the Grossman family over the death of his QB career in Chicago. His mistakes aside, Manning and company played a terrific game. The true MVPs of the game were Addai and Rhodes for running over and through the Bears defense, getting key yards and massive games when they needed them the most. Actually, the whole team deserves the award. Way to go Colts!

On a more serious note, the Indianapolis Public Schools system closed it schools today because "a number" of bus drivers called in sick. Read more about this mysterious bus driver plague here.

Time to Get Totally Organic

2007-02-02T22:35:00.000-06:00

I wish I was talking about sex but alas I'm not. I'm referring to a brand new reason to buy organic meats and dairy products:

When the government approves food from cloned animals, expected in the next year, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t plan special labels. Government scientists have found no difference between clones and conventional cows, pigs or goats.
However, shoppers won’t be completely in the dark. To help them sort through meat and dairy products, one signal is the round, green USDA organic seal, says Caren Wilcox, who heads the Organic Trade Association.
While many people choose organic to avoid pesticides or antibiotics, Wilcox says the U.S. Department of Agriculture label also means clone-free.

I've been slowly making the move to purchase more organic foods from stores like Whole Foods. It's pretty price competitive and the grain-fed beef is to die for, but I still fall into the trap of one store shopping while buying staples from Kroger. I have all my coupons and sometimes to save more money I need to buy a minimum dollar amount of goods.

I'm not sure how I feel about eating cloned critters yet. In theory, I can't see how meat would be different. I'm more surprised with how quickly the FDA has approved this process. So while the long-term results of eating cloned animals plays itself out in the public, I'll be looking for the USDA organic label on all my goods.

Besides, I don't see the need yet to buy organically produced, over-priced toilet paper. Isn't my crap organic enough?

I'm a Happy Hoosier

2007-02-01T08:56:00.000-06:00

The Colts are in the Super Bowl and the Hoosiers upset the number two ranked team in the country last night.

I'm a happy Hoosier this week.

SUPER AT LAST

2007-01-22T08:24:00.000-06:00