Category: Thought and Opinion

Sports, Thought and Opinion

NFL Reporters – Stop Playing Favorites

I am a die-hard Seattle Seahawks fan. So much so that this year I flew out to Seattle on a Friday, watched them play (and subsequently lose to the Atlanta Falcons) and fly back.

Sadly, they are now 2-6 halfway through the season with pretty much zero chance of reaching the playoffs. I’ll be the first to admit to you that they stink. I mean, it doesn’t take a genius to know that a team playing with that kind of win/loss record is not Super Bowl caliber. Unfortunately though, I’ve been noticing a trend a late with some sports reporters who don’t seem to feel the same way when it comes to other teams around the league. It was tolerable years ago but has since gotten much worse.

Want to know if bias exists in the news media? Look no further than the so-called “reporters” of major news organizations on the NFL where only one simple rule seems to exist:

The Dallas Cowboys are good no matter how bad they are playing or what their record indicates.

Here is a team that gets so much media attention because they are called “America’s Team”, a quote coined in 1978 by an NFL Films editor. The fact is, the Cowboys could lose every game one year and be the laughing stock of the entire league but still find itself having three prime time games the following year along with a Thanksgiving Day game at home. What’s wrong with this picture?

I watched my Seahawks play the Cowboys this past weekend. The game was tied at halftime 6-6. Both teams equally bad but all the announcers seemed to keep focusing on was the Cowboys. What they needed to do, how they should make adjustments, the great play of their running back. Quite hardly a peep about the “other” team.  Sure enough, when the Cowboys managed to win the game the announcers seemed to have already punched the golden ticket to the Super Bowl for them.

But what’s even more appalling than the Cowboys of late is the media circus surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles. Here is a team who brought in a bunch of talent in recent years to a bruhaha of attention. Visions of championships filled every news article about them. A rehabilitated quarterback (himself a convicted felon) was going to lead them to the promised land. That was until they started losing.

The team with the Super Bowl or bust mentality had lost four games in a row and reporters, rightfully so, lambasted them on their horrific playing. Some even calling for the coach to be fired. Then the Eagles man handled the Dallas Cowboys last week, brought their record to 3-5  and now suddenly the past four losses were instantly forgiven by this same press in favor of one game where they put it all together.

I took a quick peek at who CNN considers it’s “Fine Fifteen”.  The top 15 teams it considers to be the best out of 32. They ranked the Eagles (with a LOSING record) at #11. Ahead of teams having much better years (and better records) than they do.

Last night, the team with the losing record played in prime time against the Chicago Bears (with a winning record) and looked as bad as ever. Of course, the Bears were ranked worse than the Eagles on the “Fine Fifteen” list. Go figure.

You could call it sour grapes on my part because my team isn’t even on the radar and that’s ok if you feel that way.

The truth is I’m just tired of seeing the SAME teams getting all the attention no matter what.

Childhood Memories, Thought and Opinion

The Economy Hits Home

If you don’t mind I’d like to opine a little bit on the current state of the economy and how we all need to be wary of it.

From pretty much the day I was born my mother has worked at a local non-profit hospital. She started out in 1971 part-time in the registration department and then worked her way up (if that’s what you want to call it) to become a “Senior” clerk in central registration making the exorbitant amount of $15 an hour. Her primary job was to register patients for surgery and deal with health insurance companies.

Over the years she’s worked every shift. Missing out on many activities of myself and my siblings while working the 3-11 one. Imagine being a parent and for five days out of the week the only time you see your kids is in the morning before sending them off to school. That’s what she did for years. To this day I still remember the telephone number we used to call her. It’s ingrained in my head from calling it so much to tell her how school went.

Ironically in 1990 I got my first  real job at that same hospital with her help. By that point she had already been there for almost twenty years. For me, my job was literally being the trash man on the second shift. If there was garbage in that hospital I hauled it away and put it in the dumpster. It didn’t take long for me to work my way “up” and eventually out of hospital garbage and into computers.

But this post is about the economy so now let’s get to the meat of it.

About ten years ago the ownership of the hospital changed hands. It could no longer survive in its current form and went from being a not for profit hospital to one whose sole purpose was to get paid. I remember Mom telling me many times how she didn’t like the demands that were being placed upon her. Having to demand money from people coming in before any surgery, no matter how life threatening. Reluctantly she did it anyway out of fear of losing her position.

Recently I began to get frustrated when I would ask her to come to some activities (my daughter’s softball games, dinner for example) when she would always tell me she had to go into work. Many times this was over the weekend because there was so much work to do and the hospital had no problems with having employees work extra. It was busy.

By now I think you might know where this is going.

Today she called me and told me that yesterday she, along a few other long time employees, had been called into the office and one at a time were told their position had been eliminated effective immediately. No reason like bad performance or excessive tardiness (things she never did). They were simply told to go back to their desks, clean them out and leave.

Forty years as the model employee making a paulty salary let go. Forty years.

She will recieve a small severance package but how long is that supposed to hold up in an economy like this? She is 65 now and may be eligible for social security and her pension but now the huge cost of health care (something  that was provided by the hospital) is now gone. With the cost of COBRA insurance being $600 a month my guess is that she is going to bypass getting anything to supplement in the event she gets sick. God forbid if something happens to her.

On a side note my Mom, who is an active subscriber of this blog, will now have to find a different way to get them. They were always sent to her work email address.

The moral of this story is that no matter how well off you think you are or how comfortable you may be with your job, the rug can be pulled out from under you without warning at any moment.

Just ask my Mom.

Thought and Opinion

Today’s Headlines – Nov 3, 2011

I always love reading the top headlines from various news websites. There’s always some which have some sort of relevance as to what’s going on in the world. Things we should probably be paying attention to. But then there’s also the ones that leave you sort of scratching your head. They’re also a nice break from the monotonous 24/7 news cycle of Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan.

So today, I’ve decided to present some “Top News” headlines to you as they appear at this very moment and give you some quick thoughts.

Foxnews.com

Top Stories:

US Explores Faster Afghan Handover; White House Considered Bailout of Solyndra; Port Shutdown Indefinitely After “Occupy” Protests

All valid headlines I suppose. Ones with the buzzwords that keep in the theme of a right leaning agenda with a democratic president. In a nutshell they are:

1. Handover = Surrender

2. Bailout = Socialism

3. Occupy = Hippy Bums

Then throw in this fourth little diddy “Vet Gets Eviction Notice After Hanging US Flag”.  An outrage? Perhaps. I was prepared to read it to find out until I read the sub headline for another story underneath it:

Veteran Says She Was Forced to Sit in Urine After Flight

Since I didn’t want to just read the “right” leaning agenda and appear to be biased, I moved a bit over to the “left” and was even more surprised at what I discovered.

CNN.COM

Headlines:

Sandwich Lands Mom In Jail:  All I wanna know is, what kind of sandwich was it and more importantly, where can I get one?

Taped Whipping Enrages Dr. Drew: I don’t know about you but anything that enrages Dr. Drew pisses me off too.

Mexicans Enter US Through Gas Lines: So THAT’S how those little buggers are getting in here. Who’da thunk it? Next time I’m filling up at WaWa I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open.

Meat Lovers Get  A Vending Machine: I already thought we had those. I could have sworn I saw Slim Jim’s in the one here at work.

Happy Thursday!

1980's, Music, Thought and Opinion

Kimball-Jamison: A Melodic Rock Masterpiece

I  still remember it like it was yesterday. I was a teenage boy in 1984 perusing the twenty or so television channels and stumbled upon the then fledgling MTV. That’s when I first saw the video for “I Can’t Hold Back”. It was the first single from Survivor’s Vital Signs album and the first time I ever heard Jimi Jamison, a man I proclaim has the best voice in rock.

I begged my parents to buy me that record. The very first one I ever purchased. One I subsequently wore out and to this day now adorns a spot prominently on my office wall.

I’ve been an avid follower of Jimi’s career ever since. From Survivor to Baywatch to Empires and pretty much everything in between. Every song bringing me back to those carefree days of youth. I still remember walking to class on my college campus blasting “Desperate Dreams” and “Didn’t Know It Was Love” from Survivor’s “Too Hot To Sleep” album on my Sony Walkman, a brick compared to what’s available these days.

Similarly, Bobby Kimball’s vocals abound all over my youth. From Toto’s biggest hits including “Hold The Line” and “Rosanna”, his vocals also hold a special place in my own personal musical journey.

Combine these two forces together and you get Kimball-Jamison, a Mat Sinner produced album featuring twelve new tracks from two of the greatest vocalists in rock.

From the soaring vocals and guitars of the intro Worth Fighting For to the angelic sound of Your Photograph, this CD has everything the melodic rock fan could want.

“It’s my heart you’re breaking. It’s my soul you tear apart.” Worth Fighting For

I have to say that there’s really something special when you listen to this record. Something that I’ve found to have previously been lacking in music that’s synthetically released to the masses these days: great songwriting and musicianship. In a world where the robot voice and auto-tune has become the norm it’s refreshing to hear true vocalists do what they do best: sing great songs.

Any fan of  70’s and 80’s bands can appreciate the influences on this record. Forget Kevin Bacon. Within one degree of Kimball-Jamison you get contributions from: Ides of March, Survivor, Toto, Mister-Mister, Cobra, The Baby’s, Bad English and more.

“We won’t get far pretending in this house of cards.”
“Can’t Wait For Love

Included with the CD is a DVD containing a thirty minute “making of” documentary as well as video clips for the songs Worth Fighting For and Can’t Wait For Love.

You may not find me trolling college campuses these days but this album will surely find a place on my i-Pod. And if you’re a fan of melodic rock like I am, I suggest it be on yours as well.

Track Listing:

· Worth Fighting For
· Can’t Wait For Love
· Sail Away
· Chasing Euphoria
· Find Another Way
· Get Back In The Game
· I Did Everything Wrong
· Shadows Of Love
· Hearts Beat Again
· We Gotta Believe
· Kicking And Screaming
· Your Photograph

Musicians:

Lead & Background Vocals: Bobby Kimball & Jimi Jamison
Guitars: Alex Beyrodt
Bass Guitar: Mat Sinner
Keyboards: Jimmy Kresic
Drums & Percussion: Martin Schmidt

Thought and Opinion

When October Goes

I’ve always liked this lyric and wanted to share. Living in the Northeast this past weekend it really seems to fit:

When October Goes

And when October goes
The snow begins to fly
Above the smokey roofs
I watch the planes go by

The children running home
Beneath a twilight sky
Oh, for the fun of them
When I was one of them
And when October goes
The same old dream appears
And you are in my arms
To share the happy years
I turn my head away
To hide the helpless tears
Oh how I hate to see October go
I should be over it now I know
It doesn’t matter much
How old I grow
I hate to see October go

Thought and Opinion

Here We Go Again

Here we go again. Time for the media to start fear mongering about the weather again.

I can see how it must get pretty boring during the warm months here in the Northeast. I mean, how much fun is it to talk about a sunny day or a passing thunderstorm for months and months? These meteorologists long for cold winter days and big nor’easter storms so they can talk about the same things over and over again ad nauseam.  Some of them even for go sleep and stay up for days to keep reporting on accumulations.

I’m sure they all got their jollies though a few months ago when Hurricane Irene churned up the coast. A storm that by all accounts would lay waste to New York City. They all took comfort in having had days and days to warn everyone to start stocking up on gold for the end of the world and directing everyone to the local grocery for milk, bread and eggs before the apocalypse.

I can just see all the local weather people gathering in their offices when the storm passed and the sun started to peek out. High-fiving each other and saying “Good Job!”.

But that was a ‘one-off’. A nice chance to issue a dire warning while waiting anxiously for Winter.

Then they received an early Christmas present. Mother Nature, in her wisdom, decided to throw a curve ball and play a little “trick” this Halloween by dropping some snow. And the media ran with it. I think the headline says it all:

“Scary Weather? High elevations may get 4-6 inches of snow, most of Valley to see much less.”

So here we go again. And this time they get to use Scary to coincide with Halloween for more dramatic effect. A Nostradamic prediction of doom from the local newspaper for an out of the ordinary “Halloween” snow storm in the Northeast. A storm that might drop 4-6″ of snow in the highest elevations? FOUR to SIX INCHES?? You’ve got to be kidding. Have these people reporting this event even lived here long? EVERY storm in the winter is 4-6″.

So let me see if I’ve got this straight. It “may” snow as much as 4-6 inches in the highest elevations (meaning the mountain areas where no one lives). The rest of us will probably see less. That qualifies as “scary”?  Hardly. The only thing scary is that we have to wait six months until we are out of the woods and the warm weather is back.

Now I’m no meteorologist but I did have a life science course in ninth grade. Armed with that knowledge and my reading ability since the age of four I did a quick scan of the extended weather forecast and drew the following conclusion:

Temperatures are said to be somewhere in the mid 50’s the days following the “storm to end all storms”.  One of the first things we learned in class was that a temperature that high is more than enough to melt snow. Especially light accumulations.

I’ve determined that any snow we get this weekend will be gone by Monday. Yet the media is warning us to have shovels and snow blowers on alert.

I can already see it’s going to be a long, cold winter.

Movies and TV, Thought and Opinion

What We Should Learn From The Netflix Debacle

I don’t know about you, but I’m a lazy ass. When I want something, I want it NOW. I don’t want to toast my bread anymore or have to brush my teeth manually. I’m all about convenience. I’d much prefer to go into the kitchen every morning and push a button from a menu board and it would magically appear. And I’d rather just stand there and open my mouth while an electronic machine got my whites all pearly.

I mean, c’mon this is the twenty-first century here right? Even George Jetson assumed we’d all be driving cars that could fly and using robots as maids by now. Is it too hard to ask for a little convenience?

But my biggest beef isn’t really about toast or teeth. It’s about something much more important. MOVIES.

When I read about the whole Netflix debacle I was stunned. I mean, here was a tiny upstart company who literally put the goliath stores Blockbuster and Hollywood Video out of business with just this simple idea:

Maybe people don’t want to drive to get their movies. What if we mailed DVDs to their house and they could send it back whenever they want? And what if we used the power of the Internet to stream movies into their homes when ever they wanted?

The idea was brilliant and Jetson like. I don’t know about you but I certainly don’t sit at work all day long and decide I’m going to watch a movie that night. Unless it involves going to the theater for a new release watching a movie is a spur of the moment thing. Something you decide to do while perusing the channels.

And quite frankly, when I want to watch a movie the LAST thing I want to do is have to order a DVD online and then trudge out to the local grocery store and wait in a line at the Red Box machine to pick it up. And please don’t get me started on the old biddies that hold up the line by standing at the machine and just browsing. The Netflix model was right up my alley.

But then corporate greed took over and they blew it. NetFlix decided a few months ago to nearly double their monthly fees and split the company into two parts. One for DVD’s by mail and the other for their streaming service they would rename Qwikster. And that’s when everyone ran for the hills.

After much public outcry and seeing their stock price plummet, NetFlix “Qwiksterly” eight-sixed the idea of separate companies and will keep them as one (but will still keep the new pricing thank you very much). All of this now means the progress of my Jetson movie watching will be delayed.

So what should we learn from this? That it’s high time we give the people what they want. I really don’t understand why these companies can’t get it together. It’s not hard to figure out. If you’re listening, here’s is what I want:

I want to sit down in front of my 50″ television, click on a menu button and watch ANY movie or TV show ever made when ever I want.

I’m talking anything not newly released. I don’t care how they do it. Get all the movie studios into one room and make it happen. There’s free money to be made. Get people interested in the old catalog again. Sure, there’s no market for releasing DVD’s from 1970’s game shows but if it was streamed as part of a package I bet there would be.

Chances are good that people who stumble upon a movie they haven’t seen in ten years will stream it on a whim rather than dig through a pile of old DVDs. There’s no time for that and we shouldn’t have to do that anymore anyway.

Stream absolutely EVERYTHING!  From the first episode of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood to Star Wars. I want it all, and I want it NOW. Charge me something like $34.99 a month (you’ve got to love the way making it a penny less than $35 psychologically makes it look cheaper) and I’ll be happy.

It’s coming. Sooner rather than later I hope because I’m tired of making my own toast, brushing my own teeth and standing in line at the RedBox.

I can just picture George Jetson turning over in his grave right about now.

 

 

Cereal, Childhood Memories, Thought and Opinion

I’ve Figured It Out: My Letter To General Mills

Mr. Kendall J. Powell (CEO)
General Mills, Inc.
P.O. Box 9452
Minneapolis, MN 55440

Dear Mr. Powell and Associates of General Mills:

I’ve figured it out and I know what you’re up to. You probably thought I’d never find out your dirty little secret didn’t you? I know you’ve waited 40 years to launch your master plan to prey on the innocent youth of America but I am here to tell you that I won’t let you win.

It all started in 1971 and I can just imagine your evil minions all concocting the scheme. Releasing Monster Cereals in the hopes of eventually controlling the heart and mind of all good children and like a fool I drank the Kool-Aid. You knew I couldn’t resist the combination of chocolate and vampires.

You waited silently while the children grew into adults. It was the perfect scheme: An entire generation willfully consuming the goodness of Count Chocula, Frankenberry and Boo Berry.

It wasn’t until last Summer that you put your master plan into effect. Slowly taking the cereals loved by millions off of the shelves of the grocery store. Little by little both myself and the other children of the disco generation saw their old friends disappear. You knew it was only a matter of time before you would control them.

I began scouring the country-side for chocolately goodness. I even thought of paying outrageous prices online in attempt to fuel the fix you started. I would have done anything.

But then you made your one fatal mistake. Something you didn’t count on.

Unbeknownst to you, a large stash of Count, Frank and Boo managed to make their way to the grocery shelves in time for Halloween. Stores began selling them at a discounted rate in attempt to deplete their inventories before the Feds showed up and I purchased as much contraband as I could to stock up for the Winter.

So why you may have gotten others to bow before the Big G you’ll NEVER get me. I’ve got enough of Monster Cereal to see me through next Summer and beyond.

Eat that.

Sincerely Yours,

Fruit Brute

Thought and Opinion

My Apologies

I’m sorry to have to write this. No, really I am. I just can’t take it anymore and I really thought you should know. It’s not for anything you or I did personally. I just feel the need to apologize for what we as a society have become.

Yesterday I noticed an article on the home page of the FoxNews.com website that made me cringe. With all the issues going on in this world: The republican debates, the Occupy Wall Street bunch (no matter which side of the fence you’re on), the Iranian assassination attempt, the wars… take your pick or make up your own. The list goes on and there’s a plethora of topics that should be discussed.

But with all of these issues facing us as Americans what was the top story yesterday afternoon on FoxNews.com? Susan Sarandon making comments about the Pope and calling him a Nazi and how Catholics have demanded she apologize.

Susan Sarandon?? You mean the chick from the Thelma and Louise movie? The woman who used to be some what relevant when she was married to Tim Robbins and who now peddles the benefits of drinking milk? THIS was the headline that was more important than anything else?

I’m sure some of you would tell me that because she is famous and has a bunch of “followers” she should therefore say she’s sorry for her words but I beg to differ. The fact of the matter is, she knew what she was going to say and what might happen but chose to say it anyway. So let the chips fall where they may.

Why should she apologize if that’s how she really feels? I say crucify her if you must. If you feel passionate about it then how about not going to see her movies or maybe boycotting milk in your cereal for the next week as a sign of protest? Sounds silly right? So does having her standing in front of dozens of tv cameras saying she’s sorry for her words or having her work soup kitchens in the Catholic church. Is that really going to change the way she feels? Is her doing this going to make it “all better”? Hardly.

Here’s something else to consider: I think the real issue here isn’t so much about her hateful words. It’s the fact that members of the media tend to use calls for half-hearted apologies and “reform” methods just to further embarrass and promote their own agenda rather than rehabilitate.

Why else would a “news” story about a left-leaning liberal like Susan Sarandon be front and center on the right leaning “Fox” website? Ironically, some of the same people who are railing against Ms. Sarandon’s words and would get their jollies reading about her turmoil have themselves probably called President Obama a Nazi at some point.

So, I’m sorry for having to put you through this. I’m sorry if you think people who make comments like these will change feelings they’ve held all of their lives overnight. I tend to believe that it might be quite a while before Ms. Sarandon apologizes for her ugly comments and quite frankly, that doesn’t bother me.

I mean, heck I’m still waiting for my Mom to apologize to me for lying about Santa Claus.

Thought and Opinion

Coffee

I was trying to think of a witty title for this entry. “Ode to Coffee”, “Java-Licious” and “Joe Momma” all came to mind. But in the end I simply decided that the single word speaks for itself and should not be tampered with.

I’m talking about coffee. That wonderful dark brewed beverage with a slightly acidic flavor that’s prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The drink that starts every morning off for me (and one that goes great along side a bowl of Count Chocula if you really want to know).

I can just imagine the joy the early Ethiopian settlers must have had when they brewed their first pot over an open flame. As the sun rose over the African terrain and they took that first sip I’m sure it was probably equivalent to that of when man first discovered fire and invented bacon. And centuries later we’re still giving thanks.

Having been around for such a long time might make one take the glory of coffee for granted. But not me. I don’t just blindly pour a cup from a pot in the office kitchen. For me, coffee is much more than just a drink. Coffee is an experience. Half of the fun of drinking coffee is in the camaraderie of getting into a car with a bunch of your friends and making the excursion to obtain the nectar of the Gods.

I know that there are some heathens out there who like to ruin the coffee experience by putting things like whipped cream and sprinkles into their cup of joe. These folks should have their java card taken away. Sweetness is necessary but not at the expense of turning coffee into ice-cream.

But how do you make a perfect cup of coffee? I’m glad you asked. There are actually only four steps needed to obtain the proper cup of coffee from any reputable coffee establishment:

1. Order a 20 oz (or Venti) sized coffee. Always go for the big size. If you are going to enjoy coffee it’s best to not go too small where you’ll be wanting more when your finished. Upon your last sip you should be completely satisfied with your coffee consumption. Not too little. Not too much. Just right. You know, like Goldilocks.

2. Under no circumstances should you allow a barista to place sugars/cream into your coffee. Always take it black and prepare it yourself.

3. Pour in the equivalent of two creamers. Coffee should have a slight milky consistency. Not too dark. Never allow a Dunkin Donuts barista to add cream. Their “2” creams are more equivalent to “30”. I want to drink coffee, not milk.

4. Add six packets of Equal to taste. Add half packet extra if necessary.

I know. You’re probably thinking “What kind of man puts Equal in his coffee?” And all I can say to that is “Don’t Hate”. As I’ve said before, a little sweetness is very much necessary and encouraged.

So the next time you’re standing in line at Starbucks, in the Mickey Dees drive-thru or putting a K-Cup into your Keurig remember to give thanks to those tribesmen who made it possible all those centuries ago. There’s is a gift we never will be able to repay.

And last and most importantly: always enjoy responsibly.