The end of 2007 saw a flurry of activity here on ZiggyBackRide as I presented a November/December Rush - honoring the craptacularity of the movie "August Rush" with frequent (for me) blog posts. There were eight posts last December. This makes three for 12/08.
It has been a lackluster finish to a fine year here, but with good reason. My computer has been giving me the dreaded "blue screen." You know the one.
"Beginning dump of physical memory."
"Physical memory dump complete."
I'm not positive about that wording, but I know I see the word "dump" a couple of times and it always feels rather appropriate.
Anyway, we find ourselves now on the brink of another calendar year and inquisitive Riders can't help but wonder what might be in store. It is my distinct pleasure to share two items with you that shall certainly help define '09.
1) This site will soon welcome its 20,000th visitor. This approaching milestone shall stand as a celebration of victory and a beacon of hope for all.* Please be sure to let us know, using the comment feature, if the visitor counter to the right tells you that you are number 20K. History shall surely wish to record your important achievement.
2) In a harsh blow to New Year's Resolutions already in place, as well as to those yet to be made, a new breakfast item has been introduced, and will most certainly see wider distribution in the next twelve months. For those of you have not had the pleasure of making its acquaintance, allow me to introduce** the Dough-nini. This savory sandwich features sausage, egg, and cheese stacked tastefully and tastily between two grilled, glazed doughnuts. It is available now at a Mapco Mart just west of Nashville. I suspect it is available elsewhere, but that's where I saw it. It did not appear that they invented the culinary delight, nor that they had the sole right to offer it for sale. I suspect that 2009 shall be every bit "the year of the Dough-nini."
It could be worse. They say breakfast is the most important meal.
* All, in this case, refers to me and to anyone that either has nothing to celebrate and no hope or no standards limiting what he or she will celebrate or take inspiration from.
** I took a blurry picture of a photo advertisement for the Dough-nini at the Mapco Mart. If I can get a better photo of the sandwich or figure out how to use that one properly, I'll share it here so you can behold the sight that had me giggling for several miles on Interstate 40.
.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Philanthropy On The High Seas
Pirates are in the news again. PIRATES!!! Attacking ships in international waters, looting, pillaging, swashbuckling, etc. As long-time ZiggyBackRiders know, I find it quite hilarious that there are still pirates in the world. Past Piracy Post
What is not hilarious is that in photos of these modern-day marauders, they never seem to be properly outfitted. Not a single leg replaced with a wooden peg, nor a hand with a hook. Frankly, I believe we are throwing the term "pirate" around rather loosely. It is sad that people - looking for a money-making opportunity, I presume - decide to be pirates. It is even sadder that they are not able to do so properly.
We can help, though. Every October 31st, right here in America, thousands (maybe more) of children and adults dress as pirates, only to discard their apparel and equipment the following day (or store it in a closet or "dress-up" bin from which it is unlikely to ever emerge). This is a moment for action. That is why I have decided to create a philanthropic organization that will turn this rampant and unacceptable post-Halloween waste into opportunities for piracy enthusiasts the world over.
Patches For Pirates, or PFP, will recycle gently used eye patches and other pirating accessories and will prevent the pirates of this millenium from certain embarrassment, caused by improper attire, when illegally boarding a passing ship or when their images are captured by the international media.
I'm just trying to do my paarrrrrt and I hope you'll join me in making PFP - and every pirate it helps - a huge success.
What is not hilarious is that in photos of these modern-day marauders, they never seem to be properly outfitted. Not a single leg replaced with a wooden peg, nor a hand with a hook. Frankly, I believe we are throwing the term "pirate" around rather loosely. It is sad that people - looking for a money-making opportunity, I presume - decide to be pirates. It is even sadder that they are not able to do so properly.
We can help, though. Every October 31st, right here in America, thousands (maybe more) of children and adults dress as pirates, only to discard their apparel and equipment the following day (or store it in a closet or "dress-up" bin from which it is unlikely to ever emerge). This is a moment for action. That is why I have decided to create a philanthropic organization that will turn this rampant and unacceptable post-Halloween waste into opportunities for piracy enthusiasts the world over.
Patches For Pirates, or PFP, will recycle gently used eye patches and other pirating accessories and will prevent the pirates of this millenium from certain embarrassment, caused by improper attire, when illegally boarding a passing ship or when their images are captured by the international media.
I'm just trying to do my paarrrrrt and I hope you'll join me in making PFP - and every pirate it helps - a huge success.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Worth Doing The Time
The following has been making the rounds on the internet over the last day or so. I did not write it. I stole it. It was worth it. Enjoy...
BCS DECLARES GERMANY WINNER OF WORLD WAR II
US Ranked 4th
After determining the Big-12 championship game participants, the BCS computers were put to work on other major contests, and today the BCS declared Germany to be the winner of World War II.
"Germany put together an incredible number of victories beginning with the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland and continuing on into conference play with defeats of Poland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Their only losses came against the US and Russia; however considering their entire body of work--including an incredibly tough Strength of Schedule--our computers deemed them worthy of the #1 ranking."
Questioned about the #4 ranking of the United States the BCS commissioner stated "The US only had two major victories--Japan and Germany. The computer models, unlike humans, aren't influenced by head-to-head contests--they consider each contest to be only a single, equally-weighted event."
German Chancellor Adolph Hiter said "Yes, we lost to the US; but we defeated #2 ranked France in only 6 weeks." Herr Hitler has been criticized for seeking dramatic victories to earn 'style points' to enhance Germany's rankings. Hitler protested "Our contest with Poland was in doubt until the final day and the conditions in Norway were incredibly challenging and demanded the application of additional forces."
The French ranking has also come under scrutiny. The BCS commented " France had a single loss against Germany and following a preseason #1 ranking they only fell to #2."
Japan was ranked #3 with victories including Manchuria, Borneo and the Philippines.
BCS DECLARES GERMANY WINNER OF WORLD WAR II
US Ranked 4th
After determining the Big-12 championship game participants, the BCS computers were put to work on other major contests, and today the BCS declared Germany to be the winner of World War II.
"Germany put together an incredible number of victories beginning with the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland and continuing on into conference play with defeats of Poland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Their only losses came against the US and Russia; however considering their entire body of work--including an incredibly tough Strength of Schedule--our computers deemed them worthy of the #1 ranking."
Questioned about the #4 ranking of the United States the BCS commissioner stated "The US only had two major victories--Japan and Germany. The computer models, unlike humans, aren't influenced by head-to-head contests--they consider each contest to be only a single, equally-weighted event."
German Chancellor Adolph Hiter said "Yes, we lost to the US; but we defeated #2 ranked France in only 6 weeks." Herr Hitler has been criticized for seeking dramatic victories to earn 'style points' to enhance Germany's rankings. Hitler protested "Our contest with Poland was in doubt until the final day and the conditions in Norway were incredibly challenging and demanded the application of additional forces."
The French ranking has also come under scrutiny. The BCS commented " France had a single loss against Germany and following a preseason #1 ranking they only fell to #2."
Japan was ranked #3 with victories including Manchuria, Borneo and the Philippines.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Mind The Business That Needs Minding
Someone at the rehab center didn’t charge Cynthia’s chair properly this morning. I met her a little while ago outside my gym, where her motorized wheelchair was caught in a crack on a slight incline in the sidewalk, just around the corner from the home of a friend she was visiting. She just didn’t have the juice to get over the crack and up the hill. (That last sentence really makes it seem like this post is about drugs! It’s not.)
I didn’t know all of this when I approached. All I knew was that there was a lady sitting in a wheelchair on the sidewalk, not really going anywhere and not really at any recognizable destination. I didn’t even know if I should approach, to be honest. Maybe I should just mind my own business, I thought. I decided, though, to ask if everything was okay and I found out what you now know, and I helped her over that crack and a few others, over the hill, and around the corner. We had a very nice conversation about Thanksgiving, the fall foliage, and the gym, and she and her friend, Butch, thanked me heartily when we arrived a few minutes later.
It was a good feeling, to be sure, and I’m glad I decided to stop, but I’m not telling the story so you’ll know how noble I am, what a nice thing I did, or how lucky she was that I happened by. I’m telling the story because it stirred within me many thoughts – some disturbing and some hopeful – and some simple truths.
First, I am astounded by how close I came to “minding my own business” and leaving Cynthia to try to handle the situation alone until, hopefully, someone else came along. I didn’t ask her how long she had been there before I came. Maybe I was the first person to pass on foot (it’s not a heavily pedestrian area); I hope so. And I wonder if I would have stopped so willingly if I “had some place to be.”
Cynthia seems to be a perfectly lovely person. I’m happy to have met her. She can’t walk, or at least not too well, but she certainly isn’t some kind of helpless drain on the society around her. She happened to hit a circumstance today in which her battery didn’t have what it took to get up the hill and she needed a little push.
Many among us hold dear and extol the virtue of self-reliance, as we should. It is a great thing to be able to lift and hold one’s self up physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, and in other ways. In political and economic discussions of late, I have heard many speak with disdain about those who can not do so financially. Some are in dire economic situations because of their own doing, certainly. Some, however, have hit an unfortunate, scary moment of vulnerability because a faulty power cord, a hill, and some rough cement have converged to leave the battery without quite enough juice, unless someone can give a little push. It could happen to anyone and, in fact, it does eventually happen to everyone.
We should not allow ourselves to be bogged down or derailed by supporting those who are not willing to support themselves, but we should not be opposed to giving a little push when it is genuinely needed, either. The ability to give that push is one of the very greatest things about being a person and we ought not go so far out of our way to train ourselves to do otherwise. “Mind your own business” and “do it yourself” simply do not work all the time. Even if I had “had some place to be” today, I was in the right place.
Mind the business that needs minding.
I didn’t know all of this when I approached. All I knew was that there was a lady sitting in a wheelchair on the sidewalk, not really going anywhere and not really at any recognizable destination. I didn’t even know if I should approach, to be honest. Maybe I should just mind my own business, I thought. I decided, though, to ask if everything was okay and I found out what you now know, and I helped her over that crack and a few others, over the hill, and around the corner. We had a very nice conversation about Thanksgiving, the fall foliage, and the gym, and she and her friend, Butch, thanked me heartily when we arrived a few minutes later.
It was a good feeling, to be sure, and I’m glad I decided to stop, but I’m not telling the story so you’ll know how noble I am, what a nice thing I did, or how lucky she was that I happened by. I’m telling the story because it stirred within me many thoughts – some disturbing and some hopeful – and some simple truths.
First, I am astounded by how close I came to “minding my own business” and leaving Cynthia to try to handle the situation alone until, hopefully, someone else came along. I didn’t ask her how long she had been there before I came. Maybe I was the first person to pass on foot (it’s not a heavily pedestrian area); I hope so. And I wonder if I would have stopped so willingly if I “had some place to be.”
Cynthia seems to be a perfectly lovely person. I’m happy to have met her. She can’t walk, or at least not too well, but she certainly isn’t some kind of helpless drain on the society around her. She happened to hit a circumstance today in which her battery didn’t have what it took to get up the hill and she needed a little push.
Many among us hold dear and extol the virtue of self-reliance, as we should. It is a great thing to be able to lift and hold one’s self up physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, and in other ways. In political and economic discussions of late, I have heard many speak with disdain about those who can not do so financially. Some are in dire economic situations because of their own doing, certainly. Some, however, have hit an unfortunate, scary moment of vulnerability because a faulty power cord, a hill, and some rough cement have converged to leave the battery without quite enough juice, unless someone can give a little push. It could happen to anyone and, in fact, it does eventually happen to everyone.
We should not allow ourselves to be bogged down or derailed by supporting those who are not willing to support themselves, but we should not be opposed to giving a little push when it is genuinely needed, either. The ability to give that push is one of the very greatest things about being a person and we ought not go so far out of our way to train ourselves to do otherwise. “Mind your own business” and “do it yourself” simply do not work all the time. Even if I had “had some place to be” today, I was in the right place.
Mind the business that needs minding.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
On This Very Day
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope this day finds you with plenty in your life for which to give thanks, as well as the capacity and willingness to do so. Among countless blessings in my own life, I include this medium for expression and those of you who choose to share in it. It is a most glorious ride.
On this very day, one decade ago, I was in Austin, TX, unexpectedly, to welcome my first niece, who turned 10 yesterday, into the world. As if that weren’t reason enough for the visit to my old college town to be gloriously memorable, once there, I was lucky enough to be given a ticket to a much anticipated Texas football game against Texas A&M. The intrastate showdown is a big deal every year, but that particular game saw Ricky Williams trying to break the NCAA all-time rushing record, which he did in memorable fashion on a 60 yard touchdown run in the first quarter. I just saw the replay on ESPN Classic and it’s still awesome. He really was a fantastic player and was incredibly deserving of the Heisman Trophy he won a few weeks later.
Ten years have passed and, on this very day, another Lone Star Showdown will unfold tonight in Austin and it’s a big one, folks. (I’m listening to Brent Musberger call the ’98 game and I think his talking style is rubbing off on my typing!) Texas has the chance to cement its case for spot in the Big XII Championship game and a shot at a second national championship in four years. That race has been analyzed to death as the football-enthusiast world has sought to understand the BCS system and how this season might shake out. Needless to say, I’m very excited about tonight’s game and the opportunity to beat down a despised opponent.
I’m almost equally excited about the chance for another Texas hero to earn Heisman votes. Colt McCoy is very much in the mix for the coveted award and, if it’s going to go to one of the players currently being prominently mentioned, it should be McCoy. He has done so many different things so well in leading this team, unexpectedly, to the top of the mountain this year. It was, however, this very game that cemented Vince Young’s fate as runner-up for the award four years ago, as he had a mediocre outing against the Aggies and was seen sulking on the bench while Reggie Bush ran wild over some terrible West Coast team.* That game wasn’t held on Thanksgiving, though, and I didn’t have the chance to eat sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and other burnt orange holiday delicacies. I believe this very day will be different.
* Vince promptly led the Horns to a 70-3 victory in the Big XII Championship and gave perhaps the greatest single game performance in college football history in a head-to-head showdown with his Heisman nemeses in the national championship. Hopefully, voters learned their lesson.
On this very day, one decade ago, I was in Austin, TX, unexpectedly, to welcome my first niece, who turned 10 yesterday, into the world. As if that weren’t reason enough for the visit to my old college town to be gloriously memorable, once there, I was lucky enough to be given a ticket to a much anticipated Texas football game against Texas A&M. The intrastate showdown is a big deal every year, but that particular game saw Ricky Williams trying to break the NCAA all-time rushing record, which he did in memorable fashion on a 60 yard touchdown run in the first quarter. I just saw the replay on ESPN Classic and it’s still awesome. He really was a fantastic player and was incredibly deserving of the Heisman Trophy he won a few weeks later.
Ten years have passed and, on this very day, another Lone Star Showdown will unfold tonight in Austin and it’s a big one, folks. (I’m listening to Brent Musberger call the ’98 game and I think his talking style is rubbing off on my typing!) Texas has the chance to cement its case for spot in the Big XII Championship game and a shot at a second national championship in four years. That race has been analyzed to death as the football-enthusiast world has sought to understand the BCS system and how this season might shake out. Needless to say, I’m very excited about tonight’s game and the opportunity to beat down a despised opponent.
I’m almost equally excited about the chance for another Texas hero to earn Heisman votes. Colt McCoy is very much in the mix for the coveted award and, if it’s going to go to one of the players currently being prominently mentioned, it should be McCoy. He has done so many different things so well in leading this team, unexpectedly, to the top of the mountain this year. It was, however, this very game that cemented Vince Young’s fate as runner-up for the award four years ago, as he had a mediocre outing against the Aggies and was seen sulking on the bench while Reggie Bush ran wild over some terrible West Coast team.* That game wasn’t held on Thanksgiving, though, and I didn’t have the chance to eat sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and other burnt orange holiday delicacies. I believe this very day will be different.
* Vince promptly led the Horns to a 70-3 victory in the Big XII Championship and gave perhaps the greatest single game performance in college football history in a head-to-head showdown with his Heisman nemeses in the national championship. Hopefully, voters learned their lesson.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Recipe For Disaster
If you happen to be an undefeated college football team, may I suggest that you beware 1 second remaining during road games against teams wearing black jerseys?
I just watched Penn State lose its first game of the year to Iowa on a field goal with a tick left on the game clock, painfully reminiscent of Texas Tech's last second touchdown a week ago to defeat the previously undefeated Longhorns. The mob scenes were very similar and I know how sad a moment it was for Penn State fans (though I was rooting for them to lose as that clears out a team from ahead of Texas in the rankings) and how exciting it was for a proud program looking for something to build on toward the next level.
Now, if only LSU were wearing black!
I just watched Penn State lose its first game of the year to Iowa on a field goal with a tick left on the game clock, painfully reminiscent of Texas Tech's last second touchdown a week ago to defeat the previously undefeated Longhorns. The mob scenes were very similar and I know how sad a moment it was for Penn State fans (though I was rooting for them to lose as that clears out a team from ahead of Texas in the rankings) and how exciting it was for a proud program looking for something to build on toward the next level.
Now, if only LSU were wearing black!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Procrastination Works: Electoral Math
Happy Election Day!
1 is the number of votes I just cast. There were
0 people ahead of me in line. It took
6 minutes from the time I got out of my car until I began a
2 minute exit poll with a student from GHS-TV channel
17 on my cable dial. Evidently, over
50 percent of my precinct's voters voted early, and over
500 had been through the precinct between
6 a.m. and
1 p.m.
Before I get too gleeful about the short line, I must remind myself (it's not hard) of the
8 long years that I have waited to cast this vote. Now, it's just
5 or
6 hours until I spend the evening watching my evil twin,
Chuck Todd, as he brings us results on the NBC family of networks.
In my opinion, these pictures don't do the similarity justice. Imagine me with a goatee and my hair combed. I've never really heard a word this guy has said on tv because I'm always just laughing at myself on the screen! (I'm an idiot.)
.
1 is the number of votes I just cast. There were
0 people ahead of me in line. It took
6 minutes from the time I got out of my car until I began a
2 minute exit poll with a student from GHS-TV channel
17 on my cable dial. Evidently, over
50 percent of my precinct's voters voted early, and over
500 had been through the precinct between
6 a.m. and
1 p.m.
Before I get too gleeful about the short line, I must remind myself (it's not hard) of the
8 long years that I have waited to cast this vote. Now, it's just
5 or
6 hours until I spend the evening watching my evil twin,
Chuck Todd, as he brings us results on the NBC family of networks.
In my opinion, these pictures don't do the similarity justice. Imagine me with a goatee and my hair combed. I've never really heard a word this guy has said on tv because I'm always just laughing at myself on the screen! (I'm an idiot.)
.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Busy Times
So much has happened over the last week and a half or so. I can't believe I haven't shared all of the excitement with you yet. I have given comedy performances outside in a sukkah on a very cold night at an Orthodox congregation and at a retirement home/assisted living facility. The audience age at the first averaged around 26. At the latter... about 89. I spent four days in New York City with 31 tenth graders, saw Wicked and met some of the cast, went to an 80's prom in The Village, visited the Saturday Night Live studio (where I accidentally dropped a business card. Oops!), and ate Chinese rose treats, pickles, and tofu as I walked the streets of the Lower East Side. I took Baked Cheetos with me to the city so that I could eat them on game day. Thank goodness, too! It was a close one as Texas topped Oklahoma State to stay atop the national rankings and on track for a national championship run. This week presents yet another monumental task for the Horns in Lubbock at Texas Tech. Yikes. And hook 'em.
I have also spent a great deal of time responding to emails, facebook posts and the like which claim that Barack Obama is either a communist or a terrorist or that he believes judges should rule based on empathy rather than the law. There seems to be no end to the ridiculous crap people will communicate and believe.
The one thing I have not done is vote. Early voting ends today in my state and I will have to do it on election day. I hear terrible tales of the lines I might have to wait in, but wait I shall! If I should decide that I'm too busy to vote, I risk this...
Watch News Story
Don't let that story be about you!
I have also spent a great deal of time responding to emails, facebook posts and the like which claim that Barack Obama is either a communist or a terrorist or that he believes judges should rule based on empathy rather than the law. There seems to be no end to the ridiculous crap people will communicate and believe.
The one thing I have not done is vote. Early voting ends today in my state and I will have to do it on election day. I hear terrible tales of the lines I might have to wait in, but wait I shall! If I should decide that I'm too busy to vote, I risk this...
Watch News Story
Don't let that story be about you!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Your Auto: Liberal or Conservative?
Recently, I was in traffic behind a small Subaru wagon that was adorned with an Obama '08 bumper sticker. It occurred to me, then and there, that Subaru seems to be a decidedly Democratic car. I thought through the Subaru owners that I know and their political leanings all fell into 3 of 5 categories that I quickly created at a stoplight.
1) Regular/Frequent Democratic voter
2) I don't know, but if I had to guess, I'd say regular/frequent Democratic voter
3) I really don't know
4) I don't know, but if I had to guess, I'd say regular/frequent Republican voter
5) Regular/Frequent Republican voter.
Every single Subaru owner I know fell into either category 1, 2, or 3, with several in category 1. It is important that share with you, at this point, that the total number of owners I could come up with was about 10 - a rather small chunk of the electorate. A small chunk, yes, but an undeniable correlation between party and car. I tried to think of any other car maker that I could connect so closely with a political party. I thought through luxury car makers and the Republican party, but I could name Democrats that drive them all.
It's probably too late for this election cycle, but it seems quite clear that the Democratic party must forge partnerships with Subaru and Subaru dealers to get more Americans in those vehicles. Perhaps Democratic National Committee dollars could be utilized as subsidies for those wishing to purchase Subarus. For the DNC, it would be an investment in practically guaranteeing future votes.
I did a very quick internet search for "Subaru Democrat" and did find this article, which confirms Subaru, and a couple of other makes as having been decidedly Democrat in 2004, and Porsche as a car whose owners overwhelmingly supported George Bush that year. It also mentions some other proclivities of voters, including hobbies, and all I can say is Democrats watch some crap TV!*
* They, like everyone else, should be tuning in to see Texas Longhorns football games like the one played last weekend that propelled the 'Horns to #1 in all the land!
.
1) Regular/Frequent Democratic voter
2) I don't know, but if I had to guess, I'd say regular/frequent Democratic voter
3) I really don't know
4) I don't know, but if I had to guess, I'd say regular/frequent Republican voter
5) Regular/Frequent Republican voter.
Every single Subaru owner I know fell into either category 1, 2, or 3, with several in category 1. It is important that share with you, at this point, that the total number of owners I could come up with was about 10 - a rather small chunk of the electorate. A small chunk, yes, but an undeniable correlation between party and car. I tried to think of any other car maker that I could connect so closely with a political party. I thought through luxury car makers and the Republican party, but I could name Democrats that drive them all.
It's probably too late for this election cycle, but it seems quite clear that the Democratic party must forge partnerships with Subaru and Subaru dealers to get more Americans in those vehicles. Perhaps Democratic National Committee dollars could be utilized as subsidies for those wishing to purchase Subarus. For the DNC, it would be an investment in practically guaranteeing future votes.
I did a very quick internet search for "Subaru Democrat" and did find this article, which confirms Subaru, and a couple of other makes as having been decidedly Democrat in 2004, and Porsche as a car whose owners overwhelmingly supported George Bush that year. It also mentions some other proclivities of voters, including hobbies, and all I can say is Democrats watch some crap TV!*
* They, like everyone else, should be tuning in to see Texas Longhorns football games like the one played last weekend that propelled the 'Horns to #1 in all the land!
.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Rebuttals, Realignments, Rivalries, and Repentance
Note: This post will be conveniently divided by the respective "R" words above so you can easily access the R-topic that most interests you (though I wholeheaRtedly Recommend Reading all fouR).
R1: I have decided I don't care for the Presidential debates. Even the most casual of ZiggyBackRiders will know that I am very interested in the election and the political process, but I really believe that no purpose is served by these little get-togethers. The candidates just break their stump speeches into little answer-sized pieces (though actually slightly larger than answer-sized, as they continually exceed the agreed upon time limits) and deliver them in response to whatever question seems to come closest to broaching the appropriate speech piece. They also engage in a great deal of pettiness in hopes of looking better in a side-by-side comparison. Last night, I learned nothing new. The only interesting part was thinking about how I would have anwered the final question: "What don't you know and how will you go about learning it?" Perhaps I'll address that in a future post. Or maybe I'll finally write that list of my favorite sports movies, which I've promised to Zina, David, and others for about three years now! That brings us to...
R2: I'd like to take this opportunity to invite/encourage all Chicago Cubs fans to realign themselves with the New York Yankees. Here's why. The Cubs have broken your hearts again. Again! I would never encourage you to return to a lover or a business associate who had scorned or cheated you so many times and I can not, in good conscience, let you think it's okay going on believing that the Cubs will win you a championship one day. The Cubs are just wrong for you - plain and simple. I've always thought of them as somewhat similar to the Yankees, though - aside from the winning, of course - in that they are a classic team with a national following, a colorful history, and a landmark stadium. So, it's not that big a switch, really - aside from the winning, of course. And while I don't think sports fans should be casual about switching alliances, I think it's always okay to like the Yankees. They are baseball history and they are America. They are pinstripes and pride, legends and lore. Their story is every baseball fan's story. They can be your team. And you, Cubs fan... you, too can know what it's like to be with a team that cares about you. Welcome aboard!
R3: Texas vs. Oklahoma! This Saturday! Two undefeated teams! Both ranked in the top 5! Red River Rivalry! History! Heisman candidates! College Gameday! Big Tex! Bevo! Baked Cheetos! National Champi...No! I dare not!
I'm excited. A little.
R4: Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, begins tonight at sundown. May you who are observing have an easy fast and a meaningful day, may you find it easy to forgive and to feel forgiven, and may you emerge from this holy day ready to be better and do better, ready to live the life - and build the world - of your dreams.
R1: I have decided I don't care for the Presidential debates. Even the most casual of ZiggyBackRiders will know that I am very interested in the election and the political process, but I really believe that no purpose is served by these little get-togethers. The candidates just break their stump speeches into little answer-sized pieces (though actually slightly larger than answer-sized, as they continually exceed the agreed upon time limits) and deliver them in response to whatever question seems to come closest to broaching the appropriate speech piece. They also engage in a great deal of pettiness in hopes of looking better in a side-by-side comparison. Last night, I learned nothing new. The only interesting part was thinking about how I would have anwered the final question: "What don't you know and how will you go about learning it?" Perhaps I'll address that in a future post. Or maybe I'll finally write that list of my favorite sports movies, which I've promised to Zina, David, and others for about three years now! That brings us to...
R2: I'd like to take this opportunity to invite/encourage all Chicago Cubs fans to realign themselves with the New York Yankees. Here's why. The Cubs have broken your hearts again. Again! I would never encourage you to return to a lover or a business associate who had scorned or cheated you so many times and I can not, in good conscience, let you think it's okay going on believing that the Cubs will win you a championship one day. The Cubs are just wrong for you - plain and simple. I've always thought of them as somewhat similar to the Yankees, though - aside from the winning, of course - in that they are a classic team with a national following, a colorful history, and a landmark stadium. So, it's not that big a switch, really - aside from the winning, of course. And while I don't think sports fans should be casual about switching alliances, I think it's always okay to like the Yankees. They are baseball history and they are America. They are pinstripes and pride, legends and lore. Their story is every baseball fan's story. They can be your team. And you, Cubs fan... you, too can know what it's like to be with a team that cares about you. Welcome aboard!
R3: Texas vs. Oklahoma! This Saturday! Two undefeated teams! Both ranked in the top 5! Red River Rivalry! History! Heisman candidates! College Gameday! Big Tex! Bevo! Baked Cheetos! National Champi...No! I dare not!
I'm excited. A little.
R4: Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, begins tonight at sundown. May you who are observing have an easy fast and a meaningful day, may you find it easy to forgive and to feel forgiven, and may you emerge from this holy day ready to be better and do better, ready to live the life - and build the world - of your dreams.
Monday, October 06, 2008
A Fond Fair Well
The Mid South Fair has made it's final stop at the Memphis Fairgrounds over the last couple of weeks. Carnival enthusiasts soaked it up, as the future of the event is uncertain. I certainly made the most of the opportunity to create a memory that will last a lifetime. I'm not sure if you saw the news story. Here it is...
The Ride of My Life
.
The Ride of My Life
.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Sensory Selection
I was recently asked, "If you had to give up one of your five senses, which would you choose?" Here is my answer. (Please feel free to use the comment feature to share your answer.)
I found it pretty easy to narrow this down from five, but harder to decide on one.
Sight is out. Not an option. Not beeing able to see changes life so dramatically, so quickly - the way you interact with people, with the world, with stumbling blocks, with dogs, etc.
Hearing wasn't far behind. Being deaf isn't as bad for your shins as being blind, but it has to be worse for relationships. I like hearing (certain) people's voices too much, I like hearing music too much, I like to hear jokes too much, I need to hear my alarm clock too much.
Actually, that last one makes me want to be deaf a little. But just a very little.
Touch got eliminated next. Dangerous! I'd hate to think that I was hurting myself or someone else and couldn't tell. Also, there are, well, certain things that I like to feel. That's for another conversation, though!
So it's down to Smell and Taste. Which has to go? Hmmm....
On one hand, I do enjoy food and certain things taste very good. Also, certain things taste very bad and that could let me know I shouldn't be eating those things (e.g. bleach, acid, sardine-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, etc.). And there are lots of smells that aren't really all that enjoyable. For every comment I've made or thought I've had about how nice something smells, there have surely been two about how undesirable another thing smells. And rarely (not never, but rarely) do I get the same enjoyment from smelling anything as I get from tasting certain things. Smell seemed to be losing the battle.
HOWEVER...
Like I said, I do enjoy food and certain things taste very good. Perhaps if I could not taste, I would be able to truly eat for sustenance rather than for entertainment. I could probably be much healthier if broccoli tasted like milk chocolate, and bell peppers like Cheetos. Also, how often do I really eat bleach, acid, and sardine-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans? Especially with my keen sight that would help me read pertinent labels and my tactile acuity that would make my fingers burn at the touch of acid, my olfactory brilliance that would alert me to the presence of bleach in or near my mouth, and my hearing that would enable me to hear those who care calling out to me, saying "Michael Ziggy Danziger, don't eat that sardine-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean! You probably won't like it."
Just like that, the dangers of being without taste seemed to melt away. At the same time, I remembered how closely the sense of smell is tied to taste and how giving up smell might mean substantially giving up both. I also remembered how closely smell is tied to memory and how smells constantly remind me of another place or time. I also remembered that there are a lot of smells that aren't that enjoyable and I realized that I would certainly want to know if any of them was emanating from me. How could I know that if I could not smell?
And so the answer became clear. If I should be called upon (for whatever reason - it's hard to imagine such a scenario) to choose a sense to lose, I would choose taste. And from then on, it would be said about me, "He has really poor taste." Like I haven't heard that before!
I found it pretty easy to narrow this down from five, but harder to decide on one.
Sight is out. Not an option. Not beeing able to see changes life so dramatically, so quickly - the way you interact with people, with the world, with stumbling blocks, with dogs, etc.
Hearing wasn't far behind. Being deaf isn't as bad for your shins as being blind, but it has to be worse for relationships. I like hearing (certain) people's voices too much, I like hearing music too much, I like to hear jokes too much, I need to hear my alarm clock too much.
Actually, that last one makes me want to be deaf a little. But just a very little.
Touch got eliminated next. Dangerous! I'd hate to think that I was hurting myself or someone else and couldn't tell. Also, there are, well, certain things that I like to feel. That's for another conversation, though!
So it's down to Smell and Taste. Which has to go? Hmmm....
On one hand, I do enjoy food and certain things taste very good. Also, certain things taste very bad and that could let me know I shouldn't be eating those things (e.g. bleach, acid, sardine-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, etc.). And there are lots of smells that aren't really all that enjoyable. For every comment I've made or thought I've had about how nice something smells, there have surely been two about how undesirable another thing smells. And rarely (not never, but rarely) do I get the same enjoyment from smelling anything as I get from tasting certain things. Smell seemed to be losing the battle.
HOWEVER...
Like I said, I do enjoy food and certain things taste very good. Perhaps if I could not taste, I would be able to truly eat for sustenance rather than for entertainment. I could probably be much healthier if broccoli tasted like milk chocolate, and bell peppers like Cheetos. Also, how often do I really eat bleach, acid, and sardine-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans? Especially with my keen sight that would help me read pertinent labels and my tactile acuity that would make my fingers burn at the touch of acid, my olfactory brilliance that would alert me to the presence of bleach in or near my mouth, and my hearing that would enable me to hear those who care calling out to me, saying "Michael Ziggy Danziger, don't eat that sardine-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean! You probably won't like it."
Just like that, the dangers of being without taste seemed to melt away. At the same time, I remembered how closely the sense of smell is tied to taste and how giving up smell might mean substantially giving up both. I also remembered how closely smell is tied to memory and how smells constantly remind me of another place or time. I also remembered that there are a lot of smells that aren't that enjoyable and I realized that I would certainly want to know if any of them was emanating from me. How could I know that if I could not smell?
And so the answer became clear. If I should be called upon (for whatever reason - it's hard to imagine such a scenario) to choose a sense to lose, I would choose taste. And from then on, it would be said about me, "He has really poor taste." Like I haven't heard that before!
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Welcome To The Bailout Ball
The Senate just passed a financial bailout plan by a vote of 75-24. I hope, very sincerely, that it does what it is meant to do and will bring financial peace to the citizens of our nation.
I am hopeful. And I am annoyed.
As I write, leaders of the Senate are taking turns patting one another on the back in press conferences for their great work on this. They are also extolling their own bipartisanship, proud of their ability to come to consensus within five weeks of an election.
Translation: It is accepted that they are usually willing to avoid doing what the country needs if doing so may result in electoral gain.
That is not leadership and that is not what we pay them for. ZiggyBackRiders, don't be so quick to join the party congratulating our lawmakers for this. Don't let them get away with trying to make us believe that that is how it should be.
I don't care if the election is fifty years away or thirty seconds away. Any lawmaker who would ever do anything other than what they think or know should be done for the good of the nation to gain something politically should be removed from office immediately, if not sooner.*
If we want more, we have to ask for it and keep asking, even demanding it, until we get it. And when we get it, we should, like any supervisor, show appreciation for a job well done, but we need not throw a party every time a senator does his or her job. Now, let's see if the Members of the House can do theirs.
* I would love, LOVE to see a list of every senator or representative whose vote had to be bought with the addition to this bill of some unrelated clause. Forget voting against them. We should consider trying them for treason.
I am hopeful. And I am annoyed.
As I write, leaders of the Senate are taking turns patting one another on the back in press conferences for their great work on this. They are also extolling their own bipartisanship, proud of their ability to come to consensus within five weeks of an election.
Translation: It is accepted that they are usually willing to avoid doing what the country needs if doing so may result in electoral gain.
That is not leadership and that is not what we pay them for. ZiggyBackRiders, don't be so quick to join the party congratulating our lawmakers for this. Don't let them get away with trying to make us believe that that is how it should be.
I don't care if the election is fifty years away or thirty seconds away. Any lawmaker who would ever do anything other than what they think or know should be done for the good of the nation to gain something politically should be removed from office immediately, if not sooner.*
If we want more, we have to ask for it and keep asking, even demanding it, until we get it. And when we get it, we should, like any supervisor, show appreciation for a job well done, but we need not throw a party every time a senator does his or her job. Now, let's see if the Members of the House can do theirs.
* I would love, LOVE to see a list of every senator or representative whose vote had to be bought with the addition to this bill of some unrelated clause. Forget voting against them. We should consider trying them for treason.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Poor Judgment
First of all, whatever person decided that judgment is spelled without the "e" at the end of judge was using very poor judgment.
Second, in political matters, see if you can understand what concerns me about the way Americans judge candidates and, by extension, elect our leaders. Yesterday, I changed my Facebook status to read, "Michael has less confidence in McCain by the minute."
Today, I had a response to that comment which read exactly as follows...
"I'm still for him...dont like the name "Barack (sounds like Iraq) Huessin (Relation to Sadam?) Obama (Osama Bin Laden)...I dont want a president with this name! Priority One!
Take a few seconds to read that again.
Sounds like Iraq. Of course! Why didn't I think of that? How did the pundits miss this important piece of political insight?!?
Am I wrong to question how we make our choices? Is it any wonder that we've had the President we've had for the last eight years when this is the criteria some number of actual voters uses to decide? When news organizations poll likely voters about the most important issues in the election, usually the economy, security, and foreign policy rank highly, but is that only because CNN neglects to include "candidate's name sounds like Iraq" as an option?
God help us.
In unrelated poor judgment-related news, my kickball team lost the other night as a result of a bad call by the umpire on the final play of the game, which resulted in a 1-1 tie being broken.
See if you can count the number of instances of poor judgment in the sentence above. If my blog gave me the capability to do so, I would list the answers in small print, upside-down at the bottom of this post so you could see how you did. Unfortunately, I do not have back-of-cereal-box-activity capability, so I will list them here...
1) I am on a kickball team
2) some guy is a kickball umpire
3) he blew the call at the first, enabling a game-winning run to score
4) I'm telling you about it
Second, in political matters, see if you can understand what concerns me about the way Americans judge candidates and, by extension, elect our leaders. Yesterday, I changed my Facebook status to read, "Michael has less confidence in McCain by the minute."
Today, I had a response to that comment which read exactly as follows...
"I'm still for him...dont like the name "Barack (sounds like Iraq) Huessin (Relation to Sadam?) Obama (Osama Bin Laden)...I dont want a president with this name! Priority One!
Take a few seconds to read that again.
Sounds like Iraq. Of course! Why didn't I think of that? How did the pundits miss this important piece of political insight?!?
Am I wrong to question how we make our choices? Is it any wonder that we've had the President we've had for the last eight years when this is the criteria some number of actual voters uses to decide? When news organizations poll likely voters about the most important issues in the election, usually the economy, security, and foreign policy rank highly, but is that only because CNN neglects to include "candidate's name sounds like Iraq" as an option?
God help us.
In unrelated poor judgment-related news, my kickball team lost the other night as a result of a bad call by the umpire on the final play of the game, which resulted in a 1-1 tie being broken.
See if you can count the number of instances of poor judgment in the sentence above. If my blog gave me the capability to do so, I would list the answers in small print, upside-down at the bottom of this post so you could see how you did. Unfortunately, I do not have back-of-cereal-box-activity capability, so I will list them here...
1) I am on a kickball team
2) some guy is a kickball umpire
3) he blew the call at the first, enabling a game-winning run to score
4) I'm telling you about it
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Where, Exactly, Is Washington? And When, Exactly, Is Now?
I hope this little stop on The Ride finds Riders doing well and weathering the storms that assail us. Many are still without power in and around Houston, and other areas affected by Hurricane Ike. Whether it is a blessing or a curse that their means of following the financial turmoil are surely limited, I do not know. For many, these are certainly trying times.
The issues and obstacles before us give added weight to the ongoing (or is it?) Presidential campaign. It is interesting to see how the candidates and their teams are handling themselves here. As I watch and consider the aftermath of Sen. McCain's big announcement of suspending his campaign until the financial crisis is solved/helped/averted, I am becoming more convinced that his campaign is seriously lacking direction and meaning.
Over the past week or so, he has opposed and then, later, supported a bailout of AIG. He has touted the fundamental strength and likely recovery of the economy and then, yesterday, sounded the alarm of a crisis that must be solved by the weekend. He suspended his campaign to get back to work in Washington, then conducted - several hours later - an interview with Katie Couric in New York and, the next morning - this morning - gave a speech at Bill Clinton's conference... still in New York.*
I watched a few minutes of the speech live this morning. He called himself an "old navy pilot" (I'm a little surprised his handlers allow him to describe himself as old) who knows when it's time for "all hands on deck" and that this is one of those moments. This is a moment, he said at his speech in New York, for leaders to be in Washington solving this problem. He said the work in Washington was of dire importance because a solution was not near. Within ten seconds of hearing him say that, I changed the channel to CNBC and I swear the first thing I heard there was that they were hearing from both sides in Washington that they were getting close to a consensus.
While I admire John McCain and believe in his sincere desire to serve the nation and help people, I am left with believing that his "suspension" of his campaign** to work on the financial crisis is either pure political gamesmanship or misguided and, at best, late leadership. Neither of these is good for him.
I realize, of course, that I am playing politics here - giving my interpretation of what is going on when I, too, am anxious for the bailout plan to be finalized, but alas, I am not the one who called off my campaign.
* Anyone who accused John Kerry of being a "flip-flopper" better not be planning to vote for McCain, lest they risk being accused of the very same for supporting one now. And don't get me started on Sarah Palin, just how big an inexperienced nutjob she's turning out to be, and, quite closely related, how old McCain looks every time I see him.
** Saying that he is suspending his campaign gets him a ton of press coverage and few days off from spending on tv advertising. The money saved for a couple of days now will come in handy for late flurries of ads as election day draws near. Also, I couldn't help but notice that his "I'm not campaigning because I'm in Washington solving the problem" speech in New York contained what sounded like campaign platforms and promises. I'm sure he wasn't campaigning at this non-financial-crisis-related conference in New York because he had already called that off to be "on deck" in Washington.
The issues and obstacles before us give added weight to the ongoing (or is it?) Presidential campaign. It is interesting to see how the candidates and their teams are handling themselves here. As I watch and consider the aftermath of Sen. McCain's big announcement of suspending his campaign until the financial crisis is solved/helped/averted, I am becoming more convinced that his campaign is seriously lacking direction and meaning.
Over the past week or so, he has opposed and then, later, supported a bailout of AIG. He has touted the fundamental strength and likely recovery of the economy and then, yesterday, sounded the alarm of a crisis that must be solved by the weekend. He suspended his campaign to get back to work in Washington, then conducted - several hours later - an interview with Katie Couric in New York and, the next morning - this morning - gave a speech at Bill Clinton's conference... still in New York.*
I watched a few minutes of the speech live this morning. He called himself an "old navy pilot" (I'm a little surprised his handlers allow him to describe himself as old) who knows when it's time for "all hands on deck" and that this is one of those moments. This is a moment, he said at his speech in New York, for leaders to be in Washington solving this problem. He said the work in Washington was of dire importance because a solution was not near. Within ten seconds of hearing him say that, I changed the channel to CNBC and I swear the first thing I heard there was that they were hearing from both sides in Washington that they were getting close to a consensus.
While I admire John McCain and believe in his sincere desire to serve the nation and help people, I am left with believing that his "suspension" of his campaign** to work on the financial crisis is either pure political gamesmanship or misguided and, at best, late leadership. Neither of these is good for him.
I realize, of course, that I am playing politics here - giving my interpretation of what is going on when I, too, am anxious for the bailout plan to be finalized, but alas, I am not the one who called off my campaign.
* Anyone who accused John Kerry of being a "flip-flopper" better not be planning to vote for McCain, lest they risk being accused of the very same for supporting one now. And don't get me started on Sarah Palin, just how big an inexperienced nutjob she's turning out to be, and, quite closely related, how old McCain looks every time I see him.
** Saying that he is suspending his campaign gets him a ton of press coverage and few days off from spending on tv advertising. The money saved for a couple of days now will come in handy for late flurries of ads as election day draws near. Also, I couldn't help but notice that his "I'm not campaigning because I'm in Washington solving the problem" speech in New York contained what sounded like campaign platforms and promises. I'm sure he wasn't campaigning at this non-financial-crisis-related conference in New York because he had already called that off to be "on deck" in Washington.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Why Wait?
This morning, I heard a local radio personality say, in reference to remembering 9/11, that "the best thing about America is how we come together when something bad happens."
I could not agree more. And less.
Our ability to unite for a common purpose is one of the wonderful things about America. The fact that we fail to do so until tragedy strikes is one of our worst qualities. Why wait?
Why not recognize that we have common wants and needs and goals and values every day? Yes, there are ideas that divide us; there are opinions about how to satisfy our needs and reach our goals about which we disagree, sometimes vehemently. But if we know that those differences won't stand in our way when it really matters, why would we let them ever stand in our way? Or why won't we recognize that it always really matters?
I have written before about the difficult beauty of America - of our incredible gifts and possibilities, and how those very things can stand in our way. Here, again, we are faced with the surprisingly difficult challenge of choosing and cherishing what is good and right, and we are challenged to do so of our own accord, without inspiration from evil-doers or mishap like we have, in so many cases, required.
When we notice a gap, now - not when the next hurricane hits - is the time to bridge it. When we encounter a wall that divides us for no reason, now - not when terrorists strike - is the time to tear it down. When families are estranged, now - and not at the next loved one's funeral - is the time to understand one another and heal.
We can come together whenever we decide we're ready. Why wait?
I could not agree more. And less.
Our ability to unite for a common purpose is one of the wonderful things about America. The fact that we fail to do so until tragedy strikes is one of our worst qualities. Why wait?
Why not recognize that we have common wants and needs and goals and values every day? Yes, there are ideas that divide us; there are opinions about how to satisfy our needs and reach our goals about which we disagree, sometimes vehemently. But if we know that those differences won't stand in our way when it really matters, why would we let them ever stand in our way? Or why won't we recognize that it always really matters?
I have written before about the difficult beauty of America - of our incredible gifts and possibilities, and how those very things can stand in our way. Here, again, we are faced with the surprisingly difficult challenge of choosing and cherishing what is good and right, and we are challenged to do so of our own accord, without inspiration from evil-doers or mishap like we have, in so many cases, required.
When we notice a gap, now - not when the next hurricane hits - is the time to bridge it. When we encounter a wall that divides us for no reason, now - not when terrorists strike - is the time to tear it down. When families are estranged, now - and not at the next loved one's funeral - is the time to understand one another and heal.
We can come together whenever we decide we're ready. Why wait?
Saturday, August 30, 2008
9 Hours 21 Minutes 17 Seconds
until kickoff of a new Texas football season. Hook 'em Horns!
Before tonight's game, Vince Young's #10 jersey will be retired. If you should have any questions about why that might be happening, I encourage you to click here and enjoy.
Have a good Saturday and if Gustav is headed your way, please start ZiggyBackRiding out of town. Be safe.
Before tonight's game, Vince Young's #10 jersey will be retired. If you should have any questions about why that might be happening, I encourage you to click here and enjoy.
Have a good Saturday and if Gustav is headed your way, please start ZiggyBackRiding out of town. Be safe.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Welcome To The Season
Election season is here. Football season is here. ZiggyBackRide's figurative head is ready to explode with excitement.
I thought Barack Obama's address at the Democratic National Convention in Denver was perfect. I believe, more and more each day, that he is the kind of leader he says he is and is willing to truly champion the kind of change about which he speaks. Granted, I was a supporter already and this may just be convention-related euphoria, but I'm trying to see through that.
He talks about things that I believe very firmly: going beyond policy to look at what kind of person each of us is and what kind of communities we can build together; putting party aside in favor of what can really help people, make America stronger, and make the world better.
It is his glorious commitment to loftiness for which I believe we should all be striving that I anticipate will make this election season so frustrating. I have already heard commentary from people who say he's thinking too big and that lofty is nice, but you have to get things done. I'm hearing these things from people who would be first in line to say how great America is. Why, then, would they want a candidate for President of this great country to shoot for anything other than lofty? If you reach for the stars, you may not reach them, but you won't end up with a handful of dirt either. Let's not be afraid to aim high!
John McCain selected Sarah Palin, this morning, as his running mate. I look at the two of them and my first impression says they will not win. I'm looking forward to finding out more about her, though, and hearing what they both have to say next week in the Twin Cities.
My congratulations to both candidates for classy moves early on, though. We might be in for a great campaign. I hope so! We'll see over the next few months.
With all the political goings-on, there has been less time for pre-football season preparations, but the season is upon us. The Texas Longhorns play their first game tomorrow night against an upstart Florida Atlantic team who won their conference last year and whose coach recently questioned the toughness of the Longhorns. Let's get it on.
Yesterday, I went on my first football season shopping trip of the year, procuring orange food and drink for gamedays and it's all set up in front of the tv, ready for the game...
Now, I know what you must be thinking and, deep down, I know you're right. The queso is really more yellowish than orange, but I feel confident that it has something to add to the effort! No, I know what you're REALLY thinking and don't worry, I didn't leave the carrot chips sitting in front of the tv. They're in the fridge. Okay, okay, I know what you're REALLY, REALLY thinking and I think it's going to be okay. Gatorade G2 can be just as effective in helping the Horns as Diet Rite Tangerine and Diet Sunkist have been in seasons past.
For some clarification on just what on earth I'm talking about, see these previous posts.
The Adventure Begins
My Stitions ARE Super!
I thought Barack Obama's address at the Democratic National Convention in Denver was perfect. I believe, more and more each day, that he is the kind of leader he says he is and is willing to truly champion the kind of change about which he speaks. Granted, I was a supporter already and this may just be convention-related euphoria, but I'm trying to see through that.
He talks about things that I believe very firmly: going beyond policy to look at what kind of person each of us is and what kind of communities we can build together; putting party aside in favor of what can really help people, make America stronger, and make the world better.
It is his glorious commitment to loftiness for which I believe we should all be striving that I anticipate will make this election season so frustrating. I have already heard commentary from people who say he's thinking too big and that lofty is nice, but you have to get things done. I'm hearing these things from people who would be first in line to say how great America is. Why, then, would they want a candidate for President of this great country to shoot for anything other than lofty? If you reach for the stars, you may not reach them, but you won't end up with a handful of dirt either. Let's not be afraid to aim high!
John McCain selected Sarah Palin, this morning, as his running mate. I look at the two of them and my first impression says they will not win. I'm looking forward to finding out more about her, though, and hearing what they both have to say next week in the Twin Cities.
My congratulations to both candidates for classy moves early on, though. We might be in for a great campaign. I hope so! We'll see over the next few months.
With all the political goings-on, there has been less time for pre-football season preparations, but the season is upon us. The Texas Longhorns play their first game tomorrow night against an upstart Florida Atlantic team who won their conference last year and whose coach recently questioned the toughness of the Longhorns. Let's get it on.
Yesterday, I went on my first football season shopping trip of the year, procuring orange food and drink for gamedays and it's all set up in front of the tv, ready for the game...
Now, I know what you must be thinking and, deep down, I know you're right. The queso is really more yellowish than orange, but I feel confident that it has something to add to the effort! No, I know what you're REALLY thinking and don't worry, I didn't leave the carrot chips sitting in front of the tv. They're in the fridge. Okay, okay, I know what you're REALLY, REALLY thinking and I think it's going to be okay. Gatorade G2 can be just as effective in helping the Horns as Diet Rite Tangerine and Diet Sunkist have been in seasons past.
For some clarification on just what on earth I'm talking about, see these previous posts.
The Adventure Begins
My Stitions ARE Super!
Friday, August 15, 2008
A Million Other Things, Part II
I checked back to proudly and vainly reread this morning's post (and, let's be honest, to see how many visitors had seen it) and I feel the need to clarify that I don't find reproductive rights to be a "dumb issue." I kind of made it sound that way, I thought. It - like many, many other things - is very important and worthy of thought and discussion. It's only a dumb issue when it is seen as the only issue or the most important issue.
Think of presidential administrations and vice presidencies as far back as you can recall, and try to name some ways that the opinions of those leaders on abortion affected the impact they had during their time in office. Has Dick Cheney's vice presidency been defined in any way by his beliefs on abortion? Would the last eight years have been different if he believed otherwise? How about Al Gore before him? (I mention the vice presidents because the article that set me off this morning was about potential running mates for McCain.)
In the scheme of what needs to be dealt with day-to-day in the White House, the Old Executive Office Building, the Capitol Building and Congressional office buildings, this issue is one of millions, and is not of a greater magnitude than many of its peers. Belief to the contrary has resulted in the unbelievably insane weight given to this issue in nominating and comfirming Supreme Court justices.
I may have more on this at another time, and I'm sure I'll comment on related issues as the election draws nearer. The staff here at ZiggyBackRide certainly welcomes and encourages your comments.
In other news that is slightly related to the last couple of posts, have you seen the pictures of President Bush with the women's beach volleyball team? Absolutely priceless. If I can, I'll post photos - or a link to some - here.
Think of presidential administrations and vice presidencies as far back as you can recall, and try to name some ways that the opinions of those leaders on abortion affected the impact they had during their time in office. Has Dick Cheney's vice presidency been defined in any way by his beliefs on abortion? Would the last eight years have been different if he believed otherwise? How about Al Gore before him? (I mention the vice presidents because the article that set me off this morning was about potential running mates for McCain.)
In the scheme of what needs to be dealt with day-to-day in the White House, the Old Executive Office Building, the Capitol Building and Congressional office buildings, this issue is one of millions, and is not of a greater magnitude than many of its peers. Belief to the contrary has resulted in the unbelievably insane weight given to this issue in nominating and comfirming Supreme Court justices.
I may have more on this at another time, and I'm sure I'll comment on related issues as the election draws nearer. The staff here at ZiggyBackRide certainly welcomes and encourages your comments.
In other news that is slightly related to the last couple of posts, have you seen the pictures of President Bush with the women's beach volleyball team? Absolutely priceless. If I can, I'll post photos - or a link to some - here.
It's A Million Other Things, Stupid!
One of the lead news stories that popped up on my internet home page this morning talks about whether a certain vice presidential nominee would kill John McCain's chances in this November's election. The following is an excerpt from that story:
"...McCain’s comments Wednesday to the Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge’s pro-abortion rights views wouldn’t necessarily rule him out quickly found their way into the in-boxes of Christian conservatives. For those who have been anxiously awaiting McCain’s pick as a signal of his ideological intentions, there was deep concern that their worst fears about the Arizona senator may be realized..."
Their worst fears? Are you kidding me? Is this what we're doing? AGAIN?!?
There is no bigger waste of time and energy in American politics than the abortion debate. Is it interesting to talk about? Yes. Is it really important to individuals who are or who could be faced with an unwanted pregnancy? No doubt. Is it it the most pressing issue that our next President will address? Absolutely not. Should it be? Absolutely not.
That so many people across the political spectrum have bought into the idea that this issue is so much more important than all others is incredible to me. We are at war. We are very likely in a recession. Social Security is in serious trouble. Health care is beyond the means of many in an aging population that will, increasingly, require access to it. These are just a few of the actual, everyday issues that legitimately affect citizens and the continued well-being of this nation. The idea that many vote (or don't vote) based solely on where candidates stand on abortion rights is absolutely appalling* to me.
Forget about it! Or at least put it into perspective. Look at the candidates and decide who might make the best leader for our country and our citizens, and for ALL of the issues that we do and will face. If you are passionate about the abortion issue, that's fine. Admirable, even. Just don't let it blind you to the real jobs of our elected officials, the real questions we need to answer, and the real tasks that await us.
I'll never forget the day I was campaigning at a local polling place for a candidate for Shelby County Commissioner (a member of the board of commissioners that vote on county budget, land use issues, etc.) and a woman stopped to talk with me. She was concerned because she had heard that my candidate was pro-choice. It took every ounce of restraint that I could muster to refrain from (1) raucously laughing in her face, and/or (2) grabbing her, shaking her, and yelling at her to use her brain as I explained to her that the county commission isn't - during this 4 years or any other - going to be deciding the abortion issue!
I'll say it again: There is no bigger waste of time and energy in American politics than the abortion debate. Think what you will about it, consider it amongst many issues, discuss it with your friends every now and then, but use your brain and open your eyes to what we really need... in our leaders and in our lives.
*appalling = appalling
"...McCain’s comments Wednesday to the Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge’s pro-abortion rights views wouldn’t necessarily rule him out quickly found their way into the in-boxes of Christian conservatives. For those who have been anxiously awaiting McCain’s pick as a signal of his ideological intentions, there was deep concern that their worst fears about the Arizona senator may be realized..."
Their worst fears? Are you kidding me? Is this what we're doing? AGAIN?!?
There is no bigger waste of time and energy in American politics than the abortion debate. Is it interesting to talk about? Yes. Is it really important to individuals who are or who could be faced with an unwanted pregnancy? No doubt. Is it it the most pressing issue that our next President will address? Absolutely not. Should it be? Absolutely not.
That so many people across the political spectrum have bought into the idea that this issue is so much more important than all others is incredible to me. We are at war. We are very likely in a recession. Social Security is in serious trouble. Health care is beyond the means of many in an aging population that will, increasingly, require access to it. These are just a few of the actual, everyday issues that legitimately affect citizens and the continued well-being of this nation. The idea that many vote (or don't vote) based solely on where candidates stand on abortion rights is absolutely appalling* to me.
Forget about it! Or at least put it into perspective. Look at the candidates and decide who might make the best leader for our country and our citizens, and for ALL of the issues that we do and will face. If you are passionate about the abortion issue, that's fine. Admirable, even. Just don't let it blind you to the real jobs of our elected officials, the real questions we need to answer, and the real tasks that await us.
I'll never forget the day I was campaigning at a local polling place for a candidate for Shelby County Commissioner (a member of the board of commissioners that vote on county budget, land use issues, etc.) and a woman stopped to talk with me. She was concerned because she had heard that my candidate was pro-choice. It took every ounce of restraint that I could muster to refrain from (1) raucously laughing in her face, and/or (2) grabbing her, shaking her, and yelling at her to use her brain as I explained to her that the county commission isn't - during this 4 years or any other - going to be deciding the abortion issue!
I'll say it again: There is no bigger waste of time and energy in American politics than the abortion debate. Think what you will about it, consider it amongst many issues, discuss it with your friends every now and then, but use your brain and open your eyes to what we really need... in our leaders and in our lives.
*appalling = appalling
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Triumph In Beijing
As you certainly know, the games of the XXIXth Olympiad are in full swing in Beijing and, just a few days in, there is no shortage of fantastic stories of triumph. From the USA Men's 4 X 100M Freestyle medley win over the heavily favored French at the Cube (the aquatics venue) to the USA Men's unlikely team bronze in gymnastics*, surprising moments of glory have kept viewers and fans cheering half a world away. Perhaps the greatest achievement of all, though, may be the one that has unfolded on the sand of the women's beach volleyball competition where the USA's Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh look to continue their dominance in the sport and earn their second straight Olympic gold. So far, so good for their quest to repeat as champions, as they are 2-0 in pool play. No surprise there. What then, is the real surprise of this beach volleyball competition and these Olympic Games?
The real triumph here is that someone has found a way to make women's beach volleyball "uniforms" more revealing than they already were. Truly amazing! For those that have not seen the sport, the ladies wear bikinis - appropos for a beach pasttime and certainly unencumbering for sport. Of all sports that I can think of, though, this gear offered the lease body coverage of any regulation uniform**. I caught part of last night's May-Treanor/Walsh match and was appalled*** to find that not only were they wearing white uniforms that were somewhat more transparent than your average woman might wish to wear on worldwide television, but the sides and the top of the back of the bikini bottoms were made of what appeared to be mesh of some sort. See through. I presume this allows the sides and back of the players' waistlines to breathe more during competition? I'm sure that, prior to this, the smothering of the waistline area kept many a team from reaching full potential and challenging for the gold. Kudos to those whose commitment to the comfort and performance of our athletes never wavers (though I think they may have overlooked the possibility of thong bottoms and band-aids over nipples for maximum breathability, but hey, progress can sometimes be painfully slow).
* I'm sure some other countries have had good moments, too, but while the Olympics is a time for international unity and fellowship through sport, it is also an excuse for extreme, founded or unfounded, jingoism. It's kind of fun.
** Now that swimmers have, in large part, left the old "speedo" and gone to the full body suit, but even that tiny suit had some perceived performance impact as it lessened an potential resistance the suit may cause as a swimmer traveled through the water.
*** appalled = delighted
The real triumph here is that someone has found a way to make women's beach volleyball "uniforms" more revealing than they already were. Truly amazing! For those that have not seen the sport, the ladies wear bikinis - appropos for a beach pasttime and certainly unencumbering for sport. Of all sports that I can think of, though, this gear offered the lease body coverage of any regulation uniform**. I caught part of last night's May-Treanor/Walsh match and was appalled*** to find that not only were they wearing white uniforms that were somewhat more transparent than your average woman might wish to wear on worldwide television, but the sides and the top of the back of the bikini bottoms were made of what appeared to be mesh of some sort. See through. I presume this allows the sides and back of the players' waistlines to breathe more during competition? I'm sure that, prior to this, the smothering of the waistline area kept many a team from reaching full potential and challenging for the gold. Kudos to those whose commitment to the comfort and performance of our athletes never wavers (though I think they may have overlooked the possibility of thong bottoms and band-aids over nipples for maximum breathability, but hey, progress can sometimes be painfully slow).
* I'm sure some other countries have had good moments, too, but while the Olympics is a time for international unity and fellowship through sport, it is also an excuse for extreme, founded or unfounded, jingoism. It's kind of fun.
** Now that swimmers have, in large part, left the old "speedo" and gone to the full body suit, but even that tiny suit had some perceived performance impact as it lessened an potential resistance the suit may cause as a swimmer traveled through the water.
*** appalled = delighted
Friday, August 08, 2008
Summer Vacation Is Over
Summer vacation is nearing its end for school children, teachers, and others who are fortunate enough to still have summer vacation. The end is particularly nigh in my part of the world, where schools will be back in session next week. A little early for my taste, but then, the classroom wasn't always my favorite place in the world.*
While the big break is nearing its end for the education world, it has reached its conclusion in the ZiggyBackRide world. After a long hiatus from writing on this site, the whole staff is back on the job, ready to fill you in on much that has happened in recent weeks and preparing to be your guide on the exciting journey that the remainder of 2008 is shaping up to be. The Olympic Games began today, a new college football season starts in three weeks, and Presidential campaign season is beginning in earnest. All of these are topics this blog has addressed in the past and these, among others, shall be covered as only ZiggyBackRide can cover them in the months to come.
Now, what have we missed in the time since ZBR's last stop?
In recent days, Morgan Freeman was involved in a serious accident that left him in critical condition in a Memphis hospital. The world-renowned actor and voiceover artist was driving a 1997 Nissan Maxima at the time of the crash. If you had been asked to guess what kind of car this entertainment superstar was driving, how many guesses would you say you'd have needed to land on 1997 Nissan Maxima? I would have needed at least 4!
Other Morgan Freeman accident-related facts that the staff here can now confirm are as follows:
- Morgan Freeman is well on the road to recovery and has been released from the hospital.
- Asked about his immediate plans as he left the hospital, Freeman mentioned that he had decided to "...get busy livin', rather than get busy dyin'." He added a note of sincere gratitude to the medical staff for what he called "a common thread of exceptional care."**
- The lady in the car with Mr. Freeman at the time of the accident was not, as popular conjecture originally held, Miss Daisy.
- Hospital staff have reported that Freeman, though fully anesthetized, narrated his entire surgery, offering up helpful and soothing commentary at every turn.***
We'll certainly keep you updated on any further developments. Check back soon for stunning news regarding Me and My Purple Car, my season in Jewish softball, comedy fun, and more.
* The classroom was never my favorite place in the world. Though I have always enjoyed learning, I would have been happy if school had started sometime after Easter... if it had to start at all.
** quotes based upon Freeman's lines in The Shawshank Redemption and commercials for LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, respectively.
*** See post . Though I joke, I'm glad he's doing better!
While the big break is nearing its end for the education world, it has reached its conclusion in the ZiggyBackRide world. After a long hiatus from writing on this site, the whole staff is back on the job, ready to fill you in on much that has happened in recent weeks and preparing to be your guide on the exciting journey that the remainder of 2008 is shaping up to be. The Olympic Games began today, a new college football season starts in three weeks, and Presidential campaign season is beginning in earnest. All of these are topics this blog has addressed in the past and these, among others, shall be covered as only ZiggyBackRide can cover them in the months to come.
Now, what have we missed in the time since ZBR's last stop?
In recent days, Morgan Freeman was involved in a serious accident that left him in critical condition in a Memphis hospital. The world-renowned actor and voiceover artist was driving a 1997 Nissan Maxima at the time of the crash. If you had been asked to guess what kind of car this entertainment superstar was driving, how many guesses would you say you'd have needed to land on 1997 Nissan Maxima? I would have needed at least 4!
Other Morgan Freeman accident-related facts that the staff here can now confirm are as follows:
- Morgan Freeman is well on the road to recovery and has been released from the hospital.
- Asked about his immediate plans as he left the hospital, Freeman mentioned that he had decided to "...get busy livin', rather than get busy dyin'." He added a note of sincere gratitude to the medical staff for what he called "a common thread of exceptional care."**
- The lady in the car with Mr. Freeman at the time of the accident was not, as popular conjecture originally held, Miss Daisy.
- Hospital staff have reported that Freeman, though fully anesthetized, narrated his entire surgery, offering up helpful and soothing commentary at every turn.***
We'll certainly keep you updated on any further developments. Check back soon for stunning news regarding Me and My Purple Car, my season in Jewish softball, comedy fun, and more.
* The classroom was never my favorite place in the world. Though I have always enjoyed learning, I would have been happy if school had started sometime after Easter... if it had to start at all.
** quotes based upon Freeman's lines in The Shawshank Redemption and commercials for LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, respectively.
*** See post . Though I joke, I'm glad he's doing better!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
It's Gettin' Hot In Herre...
so take off all your clothes. These lyrics from the hit song "Hot In Herre" by Nelly come to mind as I consider the summer now upon us. The heat is here (from this point forward, I will spell "here" with one 'r' - the way to which ZiggyBackRiders are accustomed, as opposed to the way Nelly prefers it) and has brought with it plenty of activity, which I will now falsely claim has kept me too busy to write here.
Here's an update on some of the fun...
My sports career has resumed after a several-month layoff following my latest broken foot. I'm playing softball again. The season is off to a fine start, with my team having recorded a record of 2-1 so far. In our first game, I made the play of my life - a diving catch of a line drive to shallow right-center field. I fear it gave my teammates false hope and belief in my ability. I should have retired permanently from softball at that moment and gone out on top, but that is not my way. I'll wait until I break a foot.
I've had a number of comedy gigs for a number of very random groups in random places - last night was the Penn State Alumni of the MidSouth at a nearby Mexican Restaurant, a couple of weeks ago I (sort of) entertained the "Jest 'n Fun" elderly social club at a condo clubhouse, and last week I gave away $60,000 in cash and diamonds in the VIP club at Harrah's Casino in Tunica. I have a sing-a-long engagement at a local children's bookstore and a songleading and comedy weekend at a summer camp in the Poconos coming up. It's going well and quite strangely!
Finally (for now), I've been to a couple of fun and lovely weddings here in Memphis. It was great to see (and make) a lot of close friends and to celebrate with two great couples. Most of my family was at the second of the two weddings and, at one point, I was dancing with my mom. It was then that I realized that the aforementioned Nelly song was being played. A strange choice, I think, for a wedding reception in a synagogue, and most certainly a hilariously disturbing selection during which to enjoy a mother-son dance. I suspect mom and I will wait for a different song next time we decide to show off our moves.
Here's an update on some of the fun...
My sports career has resumed after a several-month layoff following my latest broken foot. I'm playing softball again. The season is off to a fine start, with my team having recorded a record of 2-1 so far. In our first game, I made the play of my life - a diving catch of a line drive to shallow right-center field. I fear it gave my teammates false hope and belief in my ability. I should have retired permanently from softball at that moment and gone out on top, but that is not my way. I'll wait until I break a foot.
I've had a number of comedy gigs for a number of very random groups in random places - last night was the Penn State Alumni of the MidSouth at a nearby Mexican Restaurant, a couple of weeks ago I (sort of) entertained the "Jest 'n Fun" elderly social club at a condo clubhouse, and last week I gave away $60,000 in cash and diamonds in the VIP club at Harrah's Casino in Tunica. I have a sing-a-long engagement at a local children's bookstore and a songleading and comedy weekend at a summer camp in the Poconos coming up. It's going well and quite strangely!
Finally (for now), I've been to a couple of fun and lovely weddings here in Memphis. It was great to see (and make) a lot of close friends and to celebrate with two great couples. Most of my family was at the second of the two weddings and, at one point, I was dancing with my mom. It was then that I realized that the aforementioned Nelly song was being played. A strange choice, I think, for a wedding reception in a synagogue, and most certainly a hilariously disturbing selection during which to enjoy a mother-son dance. I suspect mom and I will wait for a different song next time we decide to show off our moves.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Love My Maw, Love My Paw...
But I just love ol' Arkansas (Mississippi and Louisiana, too)!
4 days
3 great shows in
3 synagogues in
3 states...
Michael "Ziggy" Danziger's Deep South Jewish Comedy Road Trip '08 (or the MZDDSJCRT08, for short) has come and gone, and was a lot of fun. The audiences were great in all three cities, I got to see a lot of friends, ate incredible baked goods at Ambrosia bakery in Hot Springs, was called Kathy Lee Griffith* by a gas station attendant in Arkansas, hurriedly ate Mexican food - which I was certain I would regurgitate during that evening's show - with the temple youth group in Jackson, MS, and recommended - in the course of my shows - that all three congregations consider offering anus perfume as a Purim carnival prize in the future. Needless to say, this was a fantastic experience!
I drove a rental car - provided by the institution that organized this little tour** - rather than my purple car, now well-known from the "Me and My Purple Car" series on this very site. The rental - a Chevy Malibu - had all sorts of features that my distinguished older vehicle does not. The one that got much of my attention was the real-time miles-per-gallon notifier. Watching the effect of every press of the pedals on the gas mileage was absolutely fascinating. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Unfortunately, it was not located on the road, where my eyes should have been! I'm lucky to tell the tale. In this epoch of ultimate concern over fuel economy, it was interesting and every driver would probably benefit from seeing how various driving habits affect what we can get out of each tank. However, if you get caught up in numbers as I do***, you might want to avoid this feature for safety's sake.
I'm tired. More later.
* The attendant, either crazy or bored, kept calling me different names at the end of each sentence. Most were men's names and most were just a first name. Then came Kathy Lee Griffith, which was, perhaps, supposed to be Kathy Lee Gifford or, possibly, Kathy Griffin. Or maybe she meant just what she said.
** The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life was responsible for organizing the MZDDSJCRT08.
*** For instance, I drove 1320 miles over the course of four days. At that rate, I would drive 120,450 miles in a normal year; 120,780 in this leap year.
4 days
3 great shows in
3 synagogues in
3 states...
Michael "Ziggy" Danziger's Deep South Jewish Comedy Road Trip '08 (or the MZDDSJCRT08, for short) has come and gone, and was a lot of fun. The audiences were great in all three cities, I got to see a lot of friends, ate incredible baked goods at Ambrosia bakery in Hot Springs, was called Kathy Lee Griffith* by a gas station attendant in Arkansas, hurriedly ate Mexican food - which I was certain I would regurgitate during that evening's show - with the temple youth group in Jackson, MS, and recommended - in the course of my shows - that all three congregations consider offering anus perfume as a Purim carnival prize in the future. Needless to say, this was a fantastic experience!
I drove a rental car - provided by the institution that organized this little tour** - rather than my purple car, now well-known from the "Me and My Purple Car" series on this very site. The rental - a Chevy Malibu - had all sorts of features that my distinguished older vehicle does not. The one that got much of my attention was the real-time miles-per-gallon notifier. Watching the effect of every press of the pedals on the gas mileage was absolutely fascinating. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Unfortunately, it was not located on the road, where my eyes should have been! I'm lucky to tell the tale. In this epoch of ultimate concern over fuel economy, it was interesting and every driver would probably benefit from seeing how various driving habits affect what we can get out of each tank. However, if you get caught up in numbers as I do***, you might want to avoid this feature for safety's sake.
I'm tired. More later.
* The attendant, either crazy or bored, kept calling me different names at the end of each sentence. Most were men's names and most were just a first name. Then came Kathy Lee Griffith, which was, perhaps, supposed to be Kathy Lee Gifford or, possibly, Kathy Griffin. Or maybe she meant just what she said.
** The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life was responsible for organizing the MZDDSJCRT08.
*** For instance, I drove 1320 miles over the course of four days. At that rate, I would drive 120,450 miles in a normal year; 120,780 in this leap year.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Reverend Wright For Clinton
I believe that Barack Obama's minister, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, whose now well-known, inflammatory comments have stunted his former congregant's run for the White House, is getting exactly what he wants.
What's that? How can the man's minister not want him elected? How can an African-American leader who is now famous for bemoaning America's mistreatment of its African-American citizens oppose the ascent of one of them to the highest office in the land? Eureka! There's your answer.
Rev. Wright makes his living off of the idea that America would never elect a Black man President. If Barack Obama becomes President of the United States, where does that leave the man who tells church-goers that the government holds them down because of the color of their skin?*
On the other hand, if Obama seems headed for the Democratic nomination, but doesn't get it in the end**, all of Wright's now-famous points will have their latest and greatest illustration. We will, I suspect, hear plenty from the Reverend then and I assure you that anyone who has followed him up to this point will certainly be moved by his words at that time, even if he, himself, is the cause of Obama's electoral demise.***
Common sense would tell us that having a member elected President of the United States is a good thing (or neutral, at worst) for a church. Reverend Wright knows that is not the case here. Is he racist? Evidently. Unpatriotic? All signs point to yes. Dumb? Seemingly not. Reverend Wright knows that "President Barack Obama" contradicts (at least part of) the message of his ministry and may, therefore, cause followers (and funders) to turn elsewhere for their spiritual guidance and giving.
* Where it leaves him is to continue to attack the government as unholy and racist, and, if necessary, President Obama as unfaithful to his people - defined by Rev. Wright, as suits his argument, as African-Americans.
** Reverend Wright will likely characterize this as something along the lines of "America toyed with the Black man, pretended it would elect him to its highest office, and then snatched it away! They try to blame me. They try to blame this church. But this was America showing its true color... white." He'll probably do it less eloquently, but louder.
*** See predictive quote above. Reasonable people may know it's his fault, as will the Reverend I suspect, but he will never acknowledge that. According to him, it will be America's fault and it will speak volumes about the character of our nation. ZiggyBackRide Staff's Note: It will also be Obama's fault if he loses and this is the major contributing issue. He was crazy to be as closely connected to Wright as he was and he was way to slow to distance himself.
What's that? How can the man's minister not want him elected? How can an African-American leader who is now famous for bemoaning America's mistreatment of its African-American citizens oppose the ascent of one of them to the highest office in the land? Eureka! There's your answer.
Rev. Wright makes his living off of the idea that America would never elect a Black man President. If Barack Obama becomes President of the United States, where does that leave the man who tells church-goers that the government holds them down because of the color of their skin?*
On the other hand, if Obama seems headed for the Democratic nomination, but doesn't get it in the end**, all of Wright's now-famous points will have their latest and greatest illustration. We will, I suspect, hear plenty from the Reverend then and I assure you that anyone who has followed him up to this point will certainly be moved by his words at that time, even if he, himself, is the cause of Obama's electoral demise.***
Common sense would tell us that having a member elected President of the United States is a good thing (or neutral, at worst) for a church. Reverend Wright knows that is not the case here. Is he racist? Evidently. Unpatriotic? All signs point to yes. Dumb? Seemingly not. Reverend Wright knows that "President Barack Obama" contradicts (at least part of) the message of his ministry and may, therefore, cause followers (and funders) to turn elsewhere for their spiritual guidance and giving.
* Where it leaves him is to continue to attack the government as unholy and racist, and, if necessary, President Obama as unfaithful to his people - defined by Rev. Wright, as suits his argument, as African-Americans.
** Reverend Wright will likely characterize this as something along the lines of "America toyed with the Black man, pretended it would elect him to its highest office, and then snatched it away! They try to blame me. They try to blame this church. But this was America showing its true color... white." He'll probably do it less eloquently, but louder.
*** See predictive quote above. Reasonable people may know it's his fault, as will the Reverend I suspect, but he will never acknowledge that. According to him, it will be America's fault and it will speak volumes about the character of our nation. ZiggyBackRide Staff's Note: It will also be Obama's fault if he loses and this is the major contributing issue. He was crazy to be as closely connected to Wright as he was and he was way to slow to distance himself.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
How Long Have I Been Asleep?
In today's mail I received an offer for a free pedometer if I bought or renewed an AARP membership. There was also a coupon offering a special price of $8 for a hamburger combo at a favorite fast food outlet of mine.*
And I just saw a commercial for classes enrolling at Central Michigan University in Memphis.
Seriously. What year is this?
* It was a 1 lb. hamburger, but still!
And I just saw a commercial for classes enrolling at Central Michigan University in Memphis.
Seriously. What year is this?
* It was a 1 lb. hamburger, but still!
Monday, April 28, 2008
What Not To Wear
Last night a good friend told me that I am the worst-dressed person she knows. I laughed and asked if she was serious. She thought for a few seconds and said, "Well, my grandfather's pretty bad, too." Then I laughed much harder - it was very funny to me that she came up with one specific eighty-something that she would put in my class.
Let's be clear about a few things: 1) My friend was not being mean and I don't expect that she's actually thought through everyone she knows and ranked us all.
2) To say that fashion has never been my passion would be a gross understatement*. It is not the least bit important to me to be wearing the newest, hottest, most cutting-edge thing. As a matter of fact, I often think the newest, hottest, most cutting-edge things look insane, stupid, uncomfortable, or some combination thereof. (See Post from Oct. '05) Perhaps I am not imaginative enough to understand fashion trends until they are very mainstream. Maybe I am timid and afraid to be fashionably bold. Maybe I just don't have a good eye for these things.
My goal in dressing myself is (and I have never tried to articulate this before, but I believe this generally covers it) to cover all of the things that need covering with clean clothing articles and look presentable and appropriate for the places I'm going and activities in which I'm engaging. Secondarily (once I believe the aforementioned guidelines have been met), I'd like to look "good." I generally choose clothing items that are somewhat classic in nature so that I can be pretty sure that if I'm covering the primary goals, the secondary should be well-enough taken care of.
I would say I spend about 80% of my time in khaki trousers** and a polo-type collar shirt or button-down dress shirt. Am I wrong about the level of fashion acceptance accorded these items? I think I see a lot of other people wearing them, too.*** Or is it the other 20% of outfits I wear...
(That's me in the red above.) Yes, perhaps it is what I wear when I'm out of my normal uniform. Believe you me, I'll be keeping a close eye on fashion from here on out****.
* When I was younger, I didn't like khaki pants. Bright red were my dress slacks of choice until about age 10. Maybe 12.
** The staff here at ZBR likes the word "trousers."
*** Not that that, alone, would make them okay. If I saw those same people jumping of a bridge...
**** No. That's not true. I don't think I will.
Let's be clear about a few things: 1) My friend was not being mean and I don't expect that she's actually thought through everyone she knows and ranked us all.
2) To say that fashion has never been my passion would be a gross understatement*. It is not the least bit important to me to be wearing the newest, hottest, most cutting-edge thing. As a matter of fact, I often think the newest, hottest, most cutting-edge things look insane, stupid, uncomfortable, or some combination thereof. (See Post from Oct. '05) Perhaps I am not imaginative enough to understand fashion trends until they are very mainstream. Maybe I am timid and afraid to be fashionably bold. Maybe I just don't have a good eye for these things.
My goal in dressing myself is (and I have never tried to articulate this before, but I believe this generally covers it) to cover all of the things that need covering with clean clothing articles and look presentable and appropriate for the places I'm going and activities in which I'm engaging. Secondarily (once I believe the aforementioned guidelines have been met), I'd like to look "good." I generally choose clothing items that are somewhat classic in nature so that I can be pretty sure that if I'm covering the primary goals, the secondary should be well-enough taken care of.
I would say I spend about 80% of my time in khaki trousers** and a polo-type collar shirt or button-down dress shirt. Am I wrong about the level of fashion acceptance accorded these items? I think I see a lot of other people wearing them, too.*** Or is it the other 20% of outfits I wear...
(That's me in the red above.) Yes, perhaps it is what I wear when I'm out of my normal uniform. Believe you me, I'll be keeping a close eye on fashion from here on out****.
* When I was younger, I didn't like khaki pants. Bright red were my dress slacks of choice until about age 10. Maybe 12.
** The staff here at ZBR likes the word "trousers."
*** Not that that, alone, would make them okay. If I saw those same people jumping of a bridge...
**** No. That's not true. I don't think I will.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
What Will We Do With Our Freedom?
Today is the first day of the week-long festival of Passover (Pesach), the Jewish holiday that recalls our deliverance from slavery in the land of Egypt. Last night, Jews all over the world gathered to retell the story, to celebrate, and to connect with generations past and future as we recalled and relived history, and recommitted ourselves to the hope and promise of days to come.
Today is also April 20th (4/20), a day on which those who are committed to pot smoking celebrate their beloved passtime. Why April 20th? I don't know. I've learned before, but I have forgotten. I won't be taking the time to learn again.
We (I'll lump anyone reading this together, for the purpose of this sentence) live our lives with incredible freedom and opportunity. We are free to express ourselves, live where we want, pursue our dreams, worship as we see fit, make most decisions about how we live our lives without interference. We live with incredible freedom, but certainly not in a perfect world. There are battles to be fought and our freedom puts the choices of which battles to pursue - and to what extent and by what means - in our hands.
We can use this day of celebrating justice and freedom to concern ourselves with ensuring that those blessings are bestowed upon every human being. Or we can use this day to glorify illegal drug use and campaign for the freedom smoke pot whenever and wherever we want. Or we can do neither.
ZiggyBackRiders, I beseech you, choose the first option (and if you can't see fit to do that, choose the third). Our freedom is wasted and incomplete if we can't use it to secure the same for others. (And our freedom is most certainly wasted if we use it to get wasted.)
Right now, not so very far from the land of Egypt, where my people were enslaved generations ago, people are experiencing the horrors that man's inhumanity to man makes possible. I don't know as much as I should about the situation in Darfur and I certainly haven't done as much as I should to change it. It is clear, however, that the freedom I celebrate on this Passover and the freedom I celebrate every July 4th and the freedom I celebrate every day that I live free is incomplete and is being wasted by me. Next Passover, I need to be able to say I've used my freedom to help. Not for me, but for my world and for all of the people, human beings just like me, who don't share the blessing of liberty that I enjoy today.
Below, please find a piece written by my friend Laurie, distributed to be shared at seders (traditional Passover meals) all over. I am honored to share it here...
________________________________________
Seder for Sudan
The Passover Seder focuses on recounting the story of our oppression as Jews in Egypt. In even the most basic Hagadot it is clear that this yearly retelling, along with the symbolic foods that represent the bitterness and tears we felt during our journey to freedom, are tools to remind us that we were once oppressed, that we were enslaved, that we were not free because of our ethnicity, and that we have a duty to use our subsequent capacity for empathy to work for the freedom of others.
When reflecting on the oppression we withstood in ancient Egypt, it is natural to reflect on the devastation that Jews faced during the Holocaust. Tonight at our Seder we can turn our attention to a current and ever-intensifying genocide. In Darfur, the southern region of Sudan, more than 400,000 people have been killed based on their race since 2003. More than two and a half million are displaced refugees. The Sudanese government army and a government-sponsored militia attack entire villages of non-Arab Darfuris, usually simultaneously bombing from the air, poisoning water sources, and attacking with guns on the ground. Men defending the villages are tortured and slaughtered, and women and children are routinely and repeatedly raped.
Those who survive a village attack are then left to find their way to some semblance of safety, perhaps at a refugee camp in Chad. That journey, however, takes place across vast spans of desert with no roads, often no water, and the constant threat of being seen and attacked again.
“Lo taamod al dam réakha,” a Biblical commandment, means, “Thou shalt not stand idly by the shedding of the blood of thy fellow man.” It is easy to let the physical distance between our country and Darfur blur the harsh reality of the terror the Darfuri people are facing. It is easy to become immersed in our daily lives and forget that millions of people’s lives are being purposefully destroyed. The message of Passover tells us to reawaken to the pain and needs of others.
Each night of Passover, choose a way to speak out for the Darfuri people: Write an email, or even simply send a pre-written one, to your senators and representatives, to the President, or to your newspapers, stating that you want a full peacekeeping mission deployed, that you will not invest in companies or countries that fund the Sudanese government, and that you want to hear our leaders in the international community speaking out more often and with more force about this genocide. To learn more about actions to take, email petitions to sign, and companies and countries to boycott or protest, visit savedarfur.org.
This Passover, we can refresh our resolve and make a covenant with the Darfuri people, that we will stand up for their freedom from fear, from murder, and from torture. Again, please visit savedarfur.org to learn more and take action. Avadim Hayeinu—We once were slaves.
___________________________________________
In words that work for everyone, Jewish tradition tells us, "It is not your duty to complete the work, but neither are you free to ignore it." Riders, the world needs us!
Check back soon for more mundane matters including The New Adventures of Me and My Purple Car: The Georgia Caper.
Today is also April 20th (4/20), a day on which those who are committed to pot smoking celebrate their beloved passtime. Why April 20th? I don't know. I've learned before, but I have forgotten. I won't be taking the time to learn again.
We (I'll lump anyone reading this together, for the purpose of this sentence) live our lives with incredible freedom and opportunity. We are free to express ourselves, live where we want, pursue our dreams, worship as we see fit, make most decisions about how we live our lives without interference. We live with incredible freedom, but certainly not in a perfect world. There are battles to be fought and our freedom puts the choices of which battles to pursue - and to what extent and by what means - in our hands.
We can use this day of celebrating justice and freedom to concern ourselves with ensuring that those blessings are bestowed upon every human being. Or we can use this day to glorify illegal drug use and campaign for the freedom smoke pot whenever and wherever we want. Or we can do neither.
ZiggyBackRiders, I beseech you, choose the first option (and if you can't see fit to do that, choose the third). Our freedom is wasted and incomplete if we can't use it to secure the same for others. (And our freedom is most certainly wasted if we use it to get wasted.)
Right now, not so very far from the land of Egypt, where my people were enslaved generations ago, people are experiencing the horrors that man's inhumanity to man makes possible. I don't know as much as I should about the situation in Darfur and I certainly haven't done as much as I should to change it. It is clear, however, that the freedom I celebrate on this Passover and the freedom I celebrate every July 4th and the freedom I celebrate every day that I live free is incomplete and is being wasted by me. Next Passover, I need to be able to say I've used my freedom to help. Not for me, but for my world and for all of the people, human beings just like me, who don't share the blessing of liberty that I enjoy today.
Below, please find a piece written by my friend Laurie, distributed to be shared at seders (traditional Passover meals) all over. I am honored to share it here...
________________________________________
Seder for Sudan
The Passover Seder focuses on recounting the story of our oppression as Jews in Egypt. In even the most basic Hagadot it is clear that this yearly retelling, along with the symbolic foods that represent the bitterness and tears we felt during our journey to freedom, are tools to remind us that we were once oppressed, that we were enslaved, that we were not free because of our ethnicity, and that we have a duty to use our subsequent capacity for empathy to work for the freedom of others.
When reflecting on the oppression we withstood in ancient Egypt, it is natural to reflect on the devastation that Jews faced during the Holocaust. Tonight at our Seder we can turn our attention to a current and ever-intensifying genocide. In Darfur, the southern region of Sudan, more than 400,000 people have been killed based on their race since 2003. More than two and a half million are displaced refugees. The Sudanese government army and a government-sponsored militia attack entire villages of non-Arab Darfuris, usually simultaneously bombing from the air, poisoning water sources, and attacking with guns on the ground. Men defending the villages are tortured and slaughtered, and women and children are routinely and repeatedly raped.
Those who survive a village attack are then left to find their way to some semblance of safety, perhaps at a refugee camp in Chad. That journey, however, takes place across vast spans of desert with no roads, often no water, and the constant threat of being seen and attacked again.
“Lo taamod al dam réakha,” a Biblical commandment, means, “Thou shalt not stand idly by the shedding of the blood of thy fellow man.” It is easy to let the physical distance between our country and Darfur blur the harsh reality of the terror the Darfuri people are facing. It is easy to become immersed in our daily lives and forget that millions of people’s lives are being purposefully destroyed. The message of Passover tells us to reawaken to the pain and needs of others.
Each night of Passover, choose a way to speak out for the Darfuri people: Write an email, or even simply send a pre-written one, to your senators and representatives, to the President, or to your newspapers, stating that you want a full peacekeeping mission deployed, that you will not invest in companies or countries that fund the Sudanese government, and that you want to hear our leaders in the international community speaking out more often and with more force about this genocide. To learn more about actions to take, email petitions to sign, and companies and countries to boycott or protest, visit savedarfur.org.
This Passover, we can refresh our resolve and make a covenant with the Darfuri people, that we will stand up for their freedom from fear, from murder, and from torture. Again, please visit savedarfur.org to learn more and take action. Avadim Hayeinu—We once were slaves.
___________________________________________
In words that work for everyone, Jewish tradition tells us, "It is not your duty to complete the work, but neither are you free to ignore it." Riders, the world needs us!
Check back soon for more mundane matters including The New Adventures of Me and My Purple Car: The Georgia Caper.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
The Mourning After
Most of the city is in a daze. I am busy with work, but every 7-8 minutes it hits me again and I groan aloud, "Ohhh mmmyyy Goddd." People around me ask what's wrong. All I have to say is, "the game," and they understand.
If you've read this blog recently or live in Memphis, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I won't recount the details because anyone who is in any way connected to any level of interest in college basketball knows what happened. All I can say is... we hurt.
We hurt for our city who has been so delighted and excited over the past weeks and months with the success of our Tigers. We hurt for every fan who has waited and wished for a championship for so long. And we hurt especially for the Memphis players because we know how badly they wanted to show their fans the championship trophy when they stepped off the plane today and we know how excruciatingly close they came to doing just that. We hurt for them because they have thrilled us, entertained us, united us, represented us, and, in some ways, grew up before our very eyes - as individuals and as a team.
From a sports perspective, it was one of the most brutal defeats I can recall, and not just because it was my team. It was as cruel a way to lose a game, a champioship, a goal, and a place in history as I can really imagine. Being blown out would have been easier because we (players and fans) would never have to live with knowing we could have done it. Even more than "could have" - we did it and lost it. It was an absolutely perfect storm. There are probably 10 things - shots, plays, moments - that all had to happen just as they did for things to go the way they did. I can't help but keep reading and listening to the terrible story as it is recounted today. As awful as it was, it's an amazing story.
If there are positives (and while I always tend to find them, I'm not completely sure here), they might include: 1) The team lost as a team - the same way they won 38 games. It wasn't one big mistake by one poor guy. The responsibility can be shared completely. I can name something every player and the coach did in those horrifying two minutes that contributed to the loss. 2) They had the chance to prove themselves again, and this time as people rather than just players, during the post-game. They were classy, they took responsibility, they dealt with it as well as anyone ever could. 3) It's easy for fans to show support when a team is winning. I saw a lot of Memphis shirts around town today, even after the... thing. I saw cars with windows painted with blue and white statements of support, saying things like "Cal 4 Mayor." Still. Commitment is commitment. People here have it for guys who've earned it. Unwavering support of those we love is something good for all of us to practice.
We hurt, but we're proud, and with good reason. It was a fantastic season and long after the pain is gone (or at least reduced by time) we will remember how excited we were and how much we loved this team.
I realize that this is all very dramatic for a reaction to a basketball game, but these feelings are real and it's great how passionate we can be about people and goals and journeys. It is a fantastic illustration of why so many people love sports so much. It's not life and death, but "it's just a game" just doesn't cover it.
If you've read this blog recently or live in Memphis, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I won't recount the details because anyone who is in any way connected to any level of interest in college basketball knows what happened. All I can say is... we hurt.
We hurt for our city who has been so delighted and excited over the past weeks and months with the success of our Tigers. We hurt for every fan who has waited and wished for a championship for so long. And we hurt especially for the Memphis players because we know how badly they wanted to show their fans the championship trophy when they stepped off the plane today and we know how excruciatingly close they came to doing just that. We hurt for them because they have thrilled us, entertained us, united us, represented us, and, in some ways, grew up before our very eyes - as individuals and as a team.
From a sports perspective, it was one of the most brutal defeats I can recall, and not just because it was my team. It was as cruel a way to lose a game, a champioship, a goal, and a place in history as I can really imagine. Being blown out would have been easier because we (players and fans) would never have to live with knowing we could have done it. Even more than "could have" - we did it and lost it. It was an absolutely perfect storm. There are probably 10 things - shots, plays, moments - that all had to happen just as they did for things to go the way they did. I can't help but keep reading and listening to the terrible story as it is recounted today. As awful as it was, it's an amazing story.
If there are positives (and while I always tend to find them, I'm not completely sure here), they might include: 1) The team lost as a team - the same way they won 38 games. It wasn't one big mistake by one poor guy. The responsibility can be shared completely. I can name something every player and the coach did in those horrifying two minutes that contributed to the loss. 2) They had the chance to prove themselves again, and this time as people rather than just players, during the post-game. They were classy, they took responsibility, they dealt with it as well as anyone ever could. 3) It's easy for fans to show support when a team is winning. I saw a lot of Memphis shirts around town today, even after the... thing. I saw cars with windows painted with blue and white statements of support, saying things like "Cal 4 Mayor." Still. Commitment is commitment. People here have it for guys who've earned it. Unwavering support of those we love is something good for all of us to practice.
We hurt, but we're proud, and with good reason. It was a fantastic season and long after the pain is gone (or at least reduced by time) we will remember how excited we were and how much we loved this team.
I realize that this is all very dramatic for a reaction to a basketball game, but these feelings are real and it's great how passionate we can be about people and goals and journeys. It is a fantastic illustration of why so many people love sports so much. It's not life and death, but "it's just a game" just doesn't cover it.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Ghosttown, Tennessee, USA
My breathing has grown shallow. My pulse is racing. It's almost game time!
The streets of Memphis are growing quiet already, just under an hour and a half until tip-off of the NCAA National Basketball Championship game. I imagine it will be rather quiet around the city this evening. I hope it remains that way.
Campuses (campi?) and cities that have had teams reach this level in the past have done some rioting - some in victory and some in defeat - and, unfortunately, I can't necessarily put dumb behavior beyond the people of my beloved hometown (see posts from Sept. 9th and Oct. 4th of 2007. Also, see this entire blog, written by a citizen of the community in question).
In all seriousness, this is really special. People all over the city have something great to be excited about and talk to one another about. This team that so many of us have followed and cheered and grown to love has had the chance to win the hearts of so many others. They have shown their talent and they have reaped the benefit of their incredibly hard work. Boise State and Hawaii and George Mason and Davidson and every other school that's not in one of the major college conferences has to be rooting for the Tigers to get over the hump tonight. If Memphis can win a major national championship, why not any other school, regardless of tradition or history. Win or lose, the fact that Memphis is in this game should be a beacon of hope for "non-BCS" schools everywhere.
I'm off to soak in the whole experience. I want to watch and listen to as much pre-game commentary as I can. I want to see it all and enjoy it all because I know how rare this is. Hopefully, I won't have to wait another 32* years, but if I do, I'll have memories of this incredible day.
GO TIGERS!!!
* It has been 32.5 years, but since we're at the date of the championship for this year already, the time until our next visit there will have to be counted in full years. It would either be 32 or 33. Unless there are big changes in the scheduling of the sport, it won't be 32.5. Hopefully, it'll be 1! Got all that? Am I babbling? Can you tell I'm nervous?
The streets of Memphis are growing quiet already, just under an hour and a half until tip-off of the NCAA National Basketball Championship game. I imagine it will be rather quiet around the city this evening. I hope it remains that way.
Campuses (campi?) and cities that have had teams reach this level in the past have done some rioting - some in victory and some in defeat - and, unfortunately, I can't necessarily put dumb behavior beyond the people of my beloved hometown (see posts from Sept. 9th and Oct. 4th of 2007. Also, see this entire blog, written by a citizen of the community in question).
In all seriousness, this is really special. People all over the city have something great to be excited about and talk to one another about. This team that so many of us have followed and cheered and grown to love has had the chance to win the hearts of so many others. They have shown their talent and they have reaped the benefit of their incredibly hard work. Boise State and Hawaii and George Mason and Davidson and every other school that's not in one of the major college conferences has to be rooting for the Tigers to get over the hump tonight. If Memphis can win a major national championship, why not any other school, regardless of tradition or history. Win or lose, the fact that Memphis is in this game should be a beacon of hope for "non-BCS" schools everywhere.
I'm off to soak in the whole experience. I want to watch and listen to as much pre-game commentary as I can. I want to see it all and enjoy it all because I know how rare this is. Hopefully, I won't have to wait another 32* years, but if I do, I'll have memories of this incredible day.
GO TIGERS!!!
* It has been 32.5 years, but since we're at the date of the championship for this year already, the time until our next visit there will have to be counted in full years. It would either be 32 or 33. Unless there are big changes in the scheduling of the sport, it won't be 32.5. Hopefully, it'll be 1! Got all that? Am I babbling? Can you tell I'm nervous?
Saturday, April 05, 2008
New Frontier
For this first time in college basketball history, a team has won more than 37 games in a single season. Today, the Memphis Tigers have set a record, surpassing a couple of Duke teams and a UNLV team that had finished their seasons at 37. Today was 38. Monday, the Tigers will be playing to extend that record with a 39th that will make them champions.*
For the first time in my lifetime one of the two teams of which I am a fan for life is in the NCAA basketball championship game.** Memphis got to the Final Four in 1985 and lost in the semi-finals and Texas did the same in 2003 (I was at that one), but we are over that hump. Hopefully there is one more hurdle left in the legs of these high-flying Tigers.
As far as I can remember, this is the first time that one of the CBS commentators served as the arena announcer for the starting line-up. Good job, Jim Nantz, but what's the deal with that?
*None of those previous 37-game-winners won the national championship so this guarantees nothing for Memphis other than the milestone, itself. Of course, if Memphis had stopped at 37 like those teams did, that would have guaranteed a non-championship. At 38, there's a chance!
** Michigan is not one of my "fan for life" teams, but in 1989 - before I went to Texas or was a Longhorn fan - they won a surprising national championship with both of my older brothers enrolled, so they were certainly one of two family squads. In short, this isn't completely new to me so hopefully I won't be overwhelmed by the pressure and excitement of the first Monday in April.
For the first time in my lifetime one of the two teams of which I am a fan for life is in the NCAA basketball championship game.** Memphis got to the Final Four in 1985 and lost in the semi-finals and Texas did the same in 2003 (I was at that one), but we are over that hump. Hopefully there is one more hurdle left in the legs of these high-flying Tigers.
As far as I can remember, this is the first time that one of the CBS commentators served as the arena announcer for the starting line-up. Good job, Jim Nantz, but what's the deal with that?
*None of those previous 37-game-winners won the national championship so this guarantees nothing for Memphis other than the milestone, itself. Of course, if Memphis had stopped at 37 like those teams did, that would have guaranteed a non-championship. At 38, there's a chance!
** Michigan is not one of my "fan for life" teams, but in 1989 - before I went to Texas or was a Longhorn fan - they won a surprising national championship with both of my older brothers enrolled, so they were certainly one of two family squads. In short, this isn't completely new to me so hopefully I won't be overwhelmed by the pressure and excitement of the first Monday in April.
Golden Ticket 5: Grandpa Joe or Grandma Josephine
30 minutes until tip-off. The Final Four.
I will write this post because I promised it before the Elite 8, though I'm rather certain that anyone who cares has known for days which of my teams will going to the Final Four (thus, using the "Golden Ticket" that I "found" when Memphis and Texas both made it to the Elite 8, assuring me a beloved squad in the Final Four). Texas will have to stay in bed with Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina for at least another year. There endeth the metaphor.
Memphis plays UCLA today - in a rematch of the 1973 NCAA Championship game - for the right to advance to this year's final game. It should be a great game and a great Final Four. I'm wearing blue, I'm cranking up the band*, and I'm already sweaty. This is going to be hard work!
Outside of the Men's Final Four, there is much to report from the past week. The Lady Rabs lost a heartbreaking defensive battle by a score of 9-8 this week. We're inching ever closer to victory. Stay tuned. Also from the world of women's basketball, I'm pretty sure I have a big crush** on Candace Parker, star of the Tennessee Lady Vols. Not only is she beautiful, talented, and seemingly intelligent and team-oriented, she is tough! During the Lady Vols' regional final game, she dislocated her left shoulder - TWICE - and returned to the game, helping her team reach the Final Four. Again. I don't follow women's basketball that closely, and I wouldn't necessarily normally feel any need to root for "goliath," which Tennessee clearly represents in the women's game, but you have to be a fan of extraordinary performers that make goliath goliath. Go Vols!
Non-basketball-wise, yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. here in Memphis***. I have some comments on that that I will focus on sometime after the upcoming game. Check back as the Ride and the dream continue soon! GO TIGERS!!!
* The Mighty Sound of the South, the University of Memphis Band
** The "crush" and the "beautiful" aren't really basketball-related, I realize. I guess that's one of the differences between watching men's and women's basketball!
*** It was the anniversary everywhere. The death happened in Memphis. Just wanted to be clear.
I will write this post because I promised it before the Elite 8, though I'm rather certain that anyone who cares has known for days which of my teams will going to the Final Four (thus, using the "Golden Ticket" that I "found" when Memphis and Texas both made it to the Elite 8, assuring me a beloved squad in the Final Four). Texas will have to stay in bed with Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina for at least another year. There endeth the metaphor.
Memphis plays UCLA today - in a rematch of the 1973 NCAA Championship game - for the right to advance to this year's final game. It should be a great game and a great Final Four. I'm wearing blue, I'm cranking up the band*, and I'm already sweaty. This is going to be hard work!
Outside of the Men's Final Four, there is much to report from the past week. The Lady Rabs lost a heartbreaking defensive battle by a score of 9-8 this week. We're inching ever closer to victory. Stay tuned. Also from the world of women's basketball, I'm pretty sure I have a big crush** on Candace Parker, star of the Tennessee Lady Vols. Not only is she beautiful, talented, and seemingly intelligent and team-oriented, she is tough! During the Lady Vols' regional final game, she dislocated her left shoulder - TWICE - and returned to the game, helping her team reach the Final Four. Again. I don't follow women's basketball that closely, and I wouldn't necessarily normally feel any need to root for "goliath," which Tennessee clearly represents in the women's game, but you have to be a fan of extraordinary performers that make goliath goliath. Go Vols!
Non-basketball-wise, yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. here in Memphis***. I have some comments on that that I will focus on sometime after the upcoming game. Check back as the Ride and the dream continue soon! GO TIGERS!!!
* The Mighty Sound of the South, the University of Memphis Band
** The "crush" and the "beautiful" aren't really basketball-related, I realize. I guess that's one of the differences between watching men's and women's basketball!
*** It was the anniversary everywhere. The death happened in Memphis. Just wanted to be clear.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
It's Spano Time
I'm so excited! I'm so excited! I'm so... scared.*
* This, of course, refers to the game, about to tip off between Memphis and Texas (see "Golden Ticket" series) and uses the words of one of the most quoted/quotable moments of "Saved By The Bell" and, perhaps, of all situational comedy tv. Jessie Spano was hooked on pills that were keeping her alert and energetic enough to get all of her school work, dancing, and other jobs done. It did not turn out well for her.
Take a lesson, kids. Drugs are not the answer. Memphis and Texas got where they are through hard work, not because of drugs or some crazy scheme hatched at The Max.
* This, of course, refers to the game, about to tip off between Memphis and Texas (see "Golden Ticket" series) and uses the words of one of the most quoted/quotable moments of "Saved By The Bell" and, perhaps, of all situational comedy tv. Jessie Spano was hooked on pills that were keeping her alert and energetic enough to get all of her school work, dancing, and other jobs done. It did not turn out well for her.
Take a lesson, kids. Drugs are not the answer. Memphis and Texas got where they are through hard work, not because of drugs or some crazy scheme hatched at The Max.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Golden Ticket 4: What's A Ziggy To Do?
Saturday night. The eve of the Elite 8 showdown between my two favorite teams: The Longhorns of The University of Texas, my much beloved alma mater, and the Tigers of the University of Memphis, the team I have cheered for since I was a small child. The game begins in about thriteen and a half hours and I have yet to figure out a way to arrange it so that both teams can win. It appears that one will go to the Final Four and one will go home. Will I watch? Will I wear either team's color? Who will I cheer for?
What's a Ziggy to do?
I have considered thoroughly and been asked by many who I want to win this game. Will I root for the Longhorns - the team representing The University I love and of which I am a proud graduate (and to which my parents paid a fair amount of tuition)... the team that has a chance to get to its 2nd Final Four this decade and cement its place amongst the perennial powers of college basketball... the team that wears the color I figuratively bleed and literally eat on game days? Or will I root for the Tigers - the team I grew up idolizing and imitating on the family driveway/basketball court... the team that is and has long been the sports focal point of the city where I grew up and currently live... the team that has been overlooked by the major conferences, but who has nonetheless reached the Elite 8 for the third straight year and has the chance to get to the next level?
Here's the answer: I will be rooting for the Memphis Tigers (but will be hoping for both teams to play well and will be happy for whichever team wins and sad for the loser).
Here's the reasoning: Tiger basketball runs deep within me. I love playing, watching, and coaching basketball and that was all fed by my experience as a Tiger fan, during and since my childhood. I went to The University of Texas a huge college basketball fan and Texas basketball, at the time, did not consume me like it did in Memphis. Partly because basketball at Texas wasn't all that great, and partly because so many other things were. Basketball is THE chance Memphis has to achieve greatness in sports. Texas wins everything! UT has won a football national championship and a College World Series in the last few years, and was in the Final Four in 2003. As a matter of fact, the Texas Swimming and Diving team is in the middle of competing for its 10th National championship this weekend. In short, Texas will have other chances. Finally, and most selfishly, a Tiger trip to the Final Four would be a huge uplift for the City of Memphis and it would be fun to live amidst the excitement in the coming week.
Here's the prediction: I have no idea what will happen. Either team could win. I will be very excited.
I'm sorry that one will have to eliminate the other, but I'm thrilled that one of these teams will advance. Good luck to both and to ZiggyBackRiders (and their favorite teams) everywhere. Check back soon for "Golden Ticket 5: Grandpa Joe or Grandma Josephine?"
What's a Ziggy to do?
I have considered thoroughly and been asked by many who I want to win this game. Will I root for the Longhorns - the team representing The University I love and of which I am a proud graduate (and to which my parents paid a fair amount of tuition)... the team that has a chance to get to its 2nd Final Four this decade and cement its place amongst the perennial powers of college basketball... the team that wears the color I figuratively bleed and literally eat on game days? Or will I root for the Tigers - the team I grew up idolizing and imitating on the family driveway/basketball court... the team that is and has long been the sports focal point of the city where I grew up and currently live... the team that has been overlooked by the major conferences, but who has nonetheless reached the Elite 8 for the third straight year and has the chance to get to the next level?
Here's the answer: I will be rooting for the Memphis Tigers (but will be hoping for both teams to play well and will be happy for whichever team wins and sad for the loser).
Here's the reasoning: Tiger basketball runs deep within me. I love playing, watching, and coaching basketball and that was all fed by my experience as a Tiger fan, during and since my childhood. I went to The University of Texas a huge college basketball fan and Texas basketball, at the time, did not consume me like it did in Memphis. Partly because basketball at Texas wasn't all that great, and partly because so many other things were. Basketball is THE chance Memphis has to achieve greatness in sports. Texas wins everything! UT has won a football national championship and a College World Series in the last few years, and was in the Final Four in 2003. As a matter of fact, the Texas Swimming and Diving team is in the middle of competing for its 10th National championship this weekend. In short, Texas will have other chances. Finally, and most selfishly, a Tiger trip to the Final Four would be a huge uplift for the City of Memphis and it would be fun to live amidst the excitement in the coming week.
Here's the prediction: I have no idea what will happen. Either team could win. I will be very excited.
I'm sorry that one will have to eliminate the other, but I'm thrilled that one of these teams will advance. Good luck to both and to ZiggyBackRiders (and their favorite teams) everywhere. Check back soon for "Golden Ticket 5: Grandpa Joe or Grandma Josephine?"
Friday, March 28, 2008
Golden Ticket 3: On Down To San Antone*
They've done it. It's done.
Texas and Memphis will meet Sunday at 1:20 p.m. Central time (Eastern is for suckers) for a spot in the Final Four in San Antonio.
Memphis let it get a little more exciting than I would have liked in the 2nd half, though the lead never got below 14 or 15. It would have been nice to keep it close to 30 and be able to rest more players, though, as Memphis will enjoy the shortest rest of all the remaining teams between Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games - 7 or 8 hours shorter than one of last night's teams. That's a full night's sleep!
Check back tomorrow for Golden Ticket 4: What's a Ziggy To Do? in which the staff here will discuss plans for game watching, predictions, what we'll eat and wear and, ultimately, who ZiggyBackRide will be rooting for.
* Lyric from Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues"
Texas and Memphis will meet Sunday at 1:20 p.m. Central time (Eastern is for suckers) for a spot in the Final Four in San Antonio.
Memphis let it get a little more exciting than I would have liked in the 2nd half, though the lead never got below 14 or 15. It would have been nice to keep it close to 30 and be able to rest more players, though, as Memphis will enjoy the shortest rest of all the remaining teams between Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games - 7 or 8 hours shorter than one of last night's teams. That's a full night's sleep!
Check back tomorrow for Golden Ticket 4: What's a Ziggy To Do? in which the staff here will discuss plans for game watching, predictions, what we'll eat and wear and, ultimately, who ZiggyBackRide will be rooting for.
* Lyric from Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues"
Golden Ticket 2: For What It's Worth
It's halftime of the Memphis/Michigan State game and Memphis leads 50-20.
50-20!
I do not, in any way, believe that this game is over. If anything, all the pressure is now off Michigan St. and they can come out after the half, play loose and hope to do something amazing (and if they should do it, amazing would be a severe understatement).
Whatever happens, this was one of the most fun and exciting* halves of basketball I have ever witnessed. Go Tigers!
* Only if you like Memphis, I presume. It probably did not have casual viewers on the edges of their seats.
50-20!
I do not, in any way, believe that this game is over. If anything, all the pressure is now off Michigan St. and they can come out after the half, play loose and hope to do something amazing (and if they should do it, amazing would be a severe understatement).
Whatever happens, this was one of the most fun and exciting* halves of basketball I have ever witnessed. Go Tigers!
* Only if you like Memphis, I presume. It probably did not have casual viewers on the edges of their seats.
Golden Ticket 1: Texas Does Its Part
Today's the day that I can get a team in the Final Four. I wrote after the NCAA Tournament bracket was originally released about the horror of having both my championship-contender teams (Memphis and Texas) in the same region, meaning only one could advance to the Final Four. Since that time, I have computed and recomputed every possible eventuality and considered every possible scenario to find the one that best suited me and my teams.
In the end, the obvious choice of both teams winning as many games as possible and facing each other became the clearly desirable situation. That way, I would be assured of one of my teams making it to the tournament's final weekend with a chance to be a champion. That is the upside of both teams being assigned to the same region.
Texas has done its part. The Longhorns just finished off a twenty-point win over Stanford to advance to the Elite 8. Well done, 'Horns! Can Memphis uphold its end of the bargain and secure its third consecutive trip to the next round and, more importantly*, satisfy - a round early - my desire to see one of my teams back in the Final Four? We shall soon see. I'm off to change out of my burnt orange shirt into the royal blue of Memphis, and say goodbye for now to the Longhorn Band in iTunes and click over to the Mighty Sound of the South, the Memphis band, for some Tiger tunes.
* To me.
In the end, the obvious choice of both teams winning as many games as possible and facing each other became the clearly desirable situation. That way, I would be assured of one of my teams making it to the tournament's final weekend with a chance to be a champion. That is the upside of both teams being assigned to the same region.
Texas has done its part. The Longhorns just finished off a twenty-point win over Stanford to advance to the Elite 8. Well done, 'Horns! Can Memphis uphold its end of the bargain and secure its third consecutive trip to the next round and, more importantly*, satisfy - a round early - my desire to see one of my teams back in the Final Four? We shall soon see. I'm off to change out of my burnt orange shirt into the royal blue of Memphis, and say goodbye for now to the Longhorn Band in iTunes and click over to the Mighty Sound of the South, the Memphis band, for some Tiger tunes.
* To me.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Back On Track
I read yesterday that train derailments and accidents* in the State of Tennessee were down by 13% in the last year, as a result of 19 fewer incidents. WHAT?!?
19 fewer train derailments and accidents in a state, in a year was a THIRTEEN PERCENT reduction?
Where are all of these disasters? Did anyone have any idea that there were so many railroad accidents in any state? I would have thought that any reduction in incidents would have represented a 100% or 50%, or 33% at the very least, reduction.
A train is passing by my home as I write this and I'd like to share that it is not the least bit comforting that the tracks are a mere 25 feet or so from where I sit. I'm happy to hear about the big reduction in incidents, but I still feel about 87% scared.
Speaking of back on track, the Temple Israel Lady Rabs have begun a new season of teen league basketball and I made my triumphant** return to the sideline tonight. It's a great group and it's going to be a fun season. I'll keep you posted.
* I don't know what counts as an accident. Until I find out, I'd stop at crossings if I were you.
** The triumph was in being there and having fun coaching, not - as has so often been the case throughout my coaching career - in the final score.
19 fewer train derailments and accidents in a state, in a year was a THIRTEEN PERCENT reduction?
Where are all of these disasters? Did anyone have any idea that there were so many railroad accidents in any state? I would have thought that any reduction in incidents would have represented a 100% or 50%, or 33% at the very least, reduction.
A train is passing by my home as I write this and I'd like to share that it is not the least bit comforting that the tracks are a mere 25 feet or so from where I sit. I'm happy to hear about the big reduction in incidents, but I still feel about 87% scared.
Speaking of back on track, the Temple Israel Lady Rabs have begun a new season of teen league basketball and I made my triumphant** return to the sideline tonight. It's a great group and it's going to be a fun season. I'll keep you posted.
* I don't know what counts as an accident. Until I find out, I'd stop at crossings if I were you.
** The triumph was in being there and having fun coaching, not - as has so often been the case throughout my coaching career - in the final score.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Celebrate Good Times, Come On!
Memphis Mayor W.W. Herenton has announced that he is stepping down from the post as of July 31st of this year. Congratulations to Memphis!!! (see post from Oct. 4, 2007) Clearly, Mayor Herenton read that post and took it to heart. Well done, ZiggyBackRiders!
Soundtrack playing in my iTunes as I report this to you: "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang, followed by "Good Times" by Chic.
We'll see what happens, but I suspect the result will be improvement in some form or another.
Soundtrack playing in my iTunes as I report this to you: "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang, followed by "Good Times" by Chic.
We'll see what happens, but I suspect the result will be improvement in some form or another.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Question of the Day
Why me?
That is today's question and, truthfully, the one I've been asking myself since Sunday evening when my worst 2008 college basketball fear* became reality. As I predicted in the last post, Memphis and Texas were, indeed, placed in the same region of the NCAA tournament, making it impossible for both to make it to the Final Four and making Memphis play the lower-seeded Longhorns in Houston, a virtual home game for the 'Horns**.
I can only assume that I have been personally targeted by the Tournament selection committee. How else can this be explained? The task now at hand is to go committee member by committee member until it becomes clear which had the clearest motive to strike out at me in this manner. Did I - knowingly or unknowingly - wrong one of them? Did I run over someone's dog?*** Spill a beverage on a selector? Prank call one of their houses as a mischievous child? Oh, I'll get to the bottom of this, believe you me.
Upon finding the culprit, however, I will be merciful, as the perpetrator of this heinous 2008 college basketball crime - in what I can only assume was a last minute fit of conscience - clearly endeavored to soften the blow by scheduling both teams' first and second round games in Little Rock, AR. They tried to make it okay by making it possible for me to see my two beloved teams in early action, a short drive from Memphis. I don't know if I'll make it to the games, but the fact that the person or persons who harmed me sought to make it right in some way will not be forgotten.
In short, I don't think the selection committee chambers is the place to be acting on old grudges, but maybe that's just me. If others agree, though, then perhaps that little guideline could be shared with future committees and uncomfortable, unfortunate situations like this may be avoidable in future years.
* In the grand scheme of things, this isn't that big a deal. That's why the very specific category of worst fear was necessary. I mean, it's not like I'm crazy! Or paranoid.
** This all assumes that both teams advance to the Elite 8, which is not a given. They both have difficult games to play to get there and nothing is being taken for granted. It's just that according to seeding, they are the two teams most likely to make it to that game.
*** Not likely. Otherwise, I'm certain the staff here at ZiggyBackRide would have uncovered and reported that story in the "Me and My Purple Car" series of posts from October of 2007.
That is today's question and, truthfully, the one I've been asking myself since Sunday evening when my worst 2008 college basketball fear* became reality. As I predicted in the last post, Memphis and Texas were, indeed, placed in the same region of the NCAA tournament, making it impossible for both to make it to the Final Four and making Memphis play the lower-seeded Longhorns in Houston, a virtual home game for the 'Horns**.
I can only assume that I have been personally targeted by the Tournament selection committee. How else can this be explained? The task now at hand is to go committee member by committee member until it becomes clear which had the clearest motive to strike out at me in this manner. Did I - knowingly or unknowingly - wrong one of them? Did I run over someone's dog?*** Spill a beverage on a selector? Prank call one of their houses as a mischievous child? Oh, I'll get to the bottom of this, believe you me.
Upon finding the culprit, however, I will be merciful, as the perpetrator of this heinous 2008 college basketball crime - in what I can only assume was a last minute fit of conscience - clearly endeavored to soften the blow by scheduling both teams' first and second round games in Little Rock, AR. They tried to make it okay by making it possible for me to see my two beloved teams in early action, a short drive from Memphis. I don't know if I'll make it to the games, but the fact that the person or persons who harmed me sought to make it right in some way will not be forgotten.
In short, I don't think the selection committee chambers is the place to be acting on old grudges, but maybe that's just me. If others agree, though, then perhaps that little guideline could be shared with future committees and uncomfortable, unfortunate situations like this may be avoidable in future years.
* In the grand scheme of things, this isn't that big a deal. That's why the very specific category of worst fear was necessary. I mean, it's not like I'm crazy! Or paranoid.
** This all assumes that both teams advance to the Elite 8, which is not a given. They both have difficult games to play to get there and nothing is being taken for granted. It's just that according to seeding, they are the two teams most likely to make it to that game.
*** Not likely. Otherwise, I'm certain the staff here at ZiggyBackRide would have uncovered and reported that story in the "Me and My Purple Car" series of posts from October of 2007.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Journey Continues. The Journey Begins.
The Journey Continues
I'm back. I stepped off The Ride for a good, long while and I have plenty of stories to share. It occurred to me, at times, that perhaps our glorious expedition had met its end. And then I thought, "Awww, hell no!" Not with an election coming. Not with a southern Jewish comedy tour coming. Not with the strange, but glorious and true story of the life I lead continuing to unfold with each passing minute.
And not with the NCAA Basketball Tournament set to begin...
The Journey Begins
Here it comes again. The event/series of events that I have written about at this season in years past. The greatest sports championship process of all. The tournament pairings will be announced in just a few short moments and the stage will be set. As has been the case in previous years, but perhaps to an even greater extent, the two teams which I follow and support loyally have legitimate championship aspirations. Both Memphis (the team of my childhood and my daily life in the city of the same name) and Texas (my alma mater) have been considered among the top teams all year and have big expectations going into the "Big Dance." Having two teams can present some problems. I am prepared, however, to deal with the possibility of the two meeting in the national championship game. That's a problem I'll happily confront. What I do not want (and what seems more and more destined to happen as the moments pass) is for the Tigers and Horns to end up in the same regional, meaning only one can get to the Final Four. You'll hear more from me, rest assured, should this travesty come to be.
For now, I'm just excited for tourney time. It's going to be fun. It always is!
I'm back. I stepped off The Ride for a good, long while and I have plenty of stories to share. It occurred to me, at times, that perhaps our glorious expedition had met its end. And then I thought, "Awww, hell no!" Not with an election coming. Not with a southern Jewish comedy tour coming. Not with the strange, but glorious and true story of the life I lead continuing to unfold with each passing minute.
And not with the NCAA Basketball Tournament set to begin...
The Journey Begins
Here it comes again. The event/series of events that I have written about at this season in years past. The greatest sports championship process of all. The tournament pairings will be announced in just a few short moments and the stage will be set. As has been the case in previous years, but perhaps to an even greater extent, the two teams which I follow and support loyally have legitimate championship aspirations. Both Memphis (the team of my childhood and my daily life in the city of the same name) and Texas (my alma mater) have been considered among the top teams all year and have big expectations going into the "Big Dance." Having two teams can present some problems. I am prepared, however, to deal with the possibility of the two meeting in the national championship game. That's a problem I'll happily confront. What I do not want (and what seems more and more destined to happen as the moments pass) is for the Tigers and Horns to end up in the same regional, meaning only one can get to the Final Four. You'll hear more from me, rest assured, should this travesty come to be.
For now, I'm just excited for tourney time. It's going to be fun. It always is!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Collision Course
Greetings from Memphis, TN, where basketball fans and loyalists to the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee are gearing up for the biggest basketball game ever played in this state*. ZiggyBackRiders know how excited the staff here can get about big sporting events that involve a beloved team. In the history of this blog, most of that excitement has been reserved for Texas Longhorn football, with a dash of Pittsburgh Steelers and a pinch of Memphis Tiger basketball.
This week, however, Tiger basketball is center stage**. Will I eat blue foods? That remains to be seen. Rest assured that I will do anything and everything (legal) within my (limited) power to push the Tigers to victory, state basketball supremacy, an extended winning streak and stay atop the national polls, and the hope of an undefeated, national championship season. This has all the makings of a great game - high stakes (the teams are ranked nos. 1 and 2 in all national polls and battle for the same top area recruits each year, and both teams are trying to position themselves for national title runs), exciting playing styles (both teams get up and down the court, are incredibly athletic, and play very tough defense), and a rivalry atmosphere (the two top bball programs in the state - and currently nation - large numbers of fans for each school in the city and at the game, families divided, etc). It's going to be fun and I will be a nervous wreck!
College gameday, the Saturday sports preview show that I have often referenced during football season, will air live from FedEx Forum in Memphis this Saturday. We will welcome Rece, Hubert, Digger, and Jay with open arms and we must protect this house!
Speaking of big collisions in Memphis, the other day I heard - on a radio traffic report - about a wreck at the corner of Democrat and Republican***. You think the Bluff City is excited about November?!? Chill out everyone. Several months to go.
By the way, I think if you'll take a look at Obama's winning streak in the Democratic primaries, you'll notice a strong correlation between the timing thereof and the release of this site's endorsement for him. Coincidence? I think SO.
In that same post, I delivered a scathing, yet admittedly vague review of the President's proposed budget. Devoted ZiggyBackRider and my beloved brother, David, left a comment with a lucid, thoughtful challenge to my opinions on the budget. I encourage you to read it and I encourage you to tune in soon for my response, lest you be left with no choice but to buy what David's selling.
* My opinion, but I'm pretty confident in this. If there's a game I'm forgetting that rivals this one (other than the one played at Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis in January of 1992 when I hit the game-winning buzzer-beater for Germantown Methodist - I was Methodist for basketball purposes in the early 90's), please let me know.
** The Tigers' biggest game of the week is at Tulane tonight. We don't overlook any opponent. The Green Wave (whatever the hell that means) are not to be taken lightly!
*** The nexus of the political universe?
This week, however, Tiger basketball is center stage**. Will I eat blue foods? That remains to be seen. Rest assured that I will do anything and everything (legal) within my (limited) power to push the Tigers to victory, state basketball supremacy, an extended winning streak and stay atop the national polls, and the hope of an undefeated, national championship season. This has all the makings of a great game - high stakes (the teams are ranked nos. 1 and 2 in all national polls and battle for the same top area recruits each year, and both teams are trying to position themselves for national title runs), exciting playing styles (both teams get up and down the court, are incredibly athletic, and play very tough defense), and a rivalry atmosphere (the two top bball programs in the state - and currently nation - large numbers of fans for each school in the city and at the game, families divided, etc). It's going to be fun and I will be a nervous wreck!
College gameday, the Saturday sports preview show that I have often referenced during football season, will air live from FedEx Forum in Memphis this Saturday. We will welcome Rece, Hubert, Digger, and Jay with open arms and we must protect this house!
Speaking of big collisions in Memphis, the other day I heard - on a radio traffic report - about a wreck at the corner of Democrat and Republican***. You think the Bluff City is excited about November?!? Chill out everyone. Several months to go.
By the way, I think if you'll take a look at Obama's winning streak in the Democratic primaries, you'll notice a strong correlation between the timing thereof and the release of this site's endorsement for him. Coincidence? I think SO.
In that same post, I delivered a scathing, yet admittedly vague review of the President's proposed budget. Devoted ZiggyBackRider and my beloved brother, David, left a comment with a lucid, thoughtful challenge to my opinions on the budget. I encourage you to read it and I encourage you to tune in soon for my response, lest you be left with no choice but to buy what David's selling.
* My opinion, but I'm pretty confident in this. If there's a game I'm forgetting that rivals this one (other than the one played at Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis in January of 1992 when I hit the game-winning buzzer-beater for Germantown Methodist - I was Methodist for basketball purposes in the early 90's), please let me know.
** The Tigers' biggest game of the week is at Tulane tonight. We don't overlook any opponent. The Green Wave (whatever the hell that means) are not to be taken lightly!
*** The nexus of the political universe?
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Tread Carefully, Patriotic Ladies
On this Wacky, Wonderful Wednesday, which follows Super Tuesday, which closely follows (perhaps we need to do some adjective brainstorming)Super Sunday, it occurs to me that female supporters of Hilary Clinton who believe that all women should support Hilary Clinton should carry and act upon this belief with great care.
There are several reasons for my concern. First and foremost, no demographic distinction - gender, race, religion, sexual preference, etc. - should be THE defining characteristic of a successful political candidate. While I know well that any group may be happy to see one of its own reach new heights, women should no more support Hilary just for being a woman than Blacks should blindly support Obama, Christians Mike Huckabee, or even (and a LOT of people never even consider this one) those who consider themselves Republican or Democrat their respective party's eventual nominee. That's a fantastic way to get awful elected officials (see post from 10/4/07).
I mention women for Hilary today because I have read and heard statements, of late, accusing any woman who would vote for another candidate of being opposed to the cause of feminism. Kind of an "either you're with us or you are against us" message. This characterization is both unfair and unhealthy. Certainly someone who thinks another candidate might make a better leader for our nation is not automatically in favor of limiting the rights or potential of women.
More importantly, the next time anyone who assumes a non-Hilary-supporting female to be anti-feminist critcizes America for something, he of she had better be prepared to called unpatriotic, which is ridiculous, unfair, specifically unpatriotic, and the exact same thing.
There are several reasons for my concern. First and foremost, no demographic distinction - gender, race, religion, sexual preference, etc. - should be THE defining characteristic of a successful political candidate. While I know well that any group may be happy to see one of its own reach new heights, women should no more support Hilary just for being a woman than Blacks should blindly support Obama, Christians Mike Huckabee, or even (and a LOT of people never even consider this one) those who consider themselves Republican or Democrat their respective party's eventual nominee. That's a fantastic way to get awful elected officials (see post from 10/4/07).
I mention women for Hilary today because I have read and heard statements, of late, accusing any woman who would vote for another candidate of being opposed to the cause of feminism. Kind of an "either you're with us or you are against us" message. This characterization is both unfair and unhealthy. Certainly someone who thinks another candidate might make a better leader for our nation is not automatically in favor of limiting the rights or potential of women.
More importantly, the next time anyone who assumes a non-Hilary-supporting female to be anti-feminist critcizes America for something, he of she had better be prepared to called unpatriotic, which is ridiculous, unfair, specifically unpatriotic, and the exact same thing.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
I Voted, An Endorsement, And A Budgetary Review
I Voted! That's what the little stickers they used to give you on your way out of the polling place said. I haven't gotten a sticker in several years, though. I'm thinking about not voting any more.
Just kidding. I'm not considering that at all. Furthermore, if you live in a state in which voting is taking place today, get your ass to the poll (unless it has already been there, in which case you, too, deserve a sticker)!
I don't mind telling you that the ZiggyBackRide editorial board has chosen to endorse Barack Obama. We feel that of the two Democratic candidates (they were the only ones in the running for this prestigious statement of support), whose policy positions are really rather similar, his campaign is the one most successfully promoting what ZBR likes to call "the America of our dreams."
A brief glimpse at the two websites tells the tale of one candidate charging forward and pulling citizens with him toward our goals and dreams and values, and one candidate pettily quibbling over semantics, fighting not to lose a race, rather than fighting to win as a nation. Of course, their positions as underdog and frontrunner, respectively, contribute to their ability/need to run the campaigns the way they are - the underdog free to play without the pressure of expectation - but in the end, a campaign is the reflection of the candidate that we have to work with, absent a personal conversation with him/her.
In November, the entire ZBR staff will proudly vote for either of these candidates, but for now, Obama gets the nod.
In other news, did you see the President's budget? I mean, did you see this?!? A final (I hope, but at least budgetarily final) testament to his fiscal irresponsibility/incompetency (it's one, the other, or both, and I don't know which is worse), his lack of compassion (cut services to Americans in need to try to convince anyone still stupid/bored/blindly committed enough to listen that tax cuts for the wealthy should be permanent), and his lack of desire to actually accomplish anything (no one on either side of the Congressional aisle wants to support this). Once again, sir, well done.
Just kidding. I'm not considering that at all. Furthermore, if you live in a state in which voting is taking place today, get your ass to the poll (unless it has already been there, in which case you, too, deserve a sticker)!
I don't mind telling you that the ZiggyBackRide editorial board has chosen to endorse Barack Obama. We feel that of the two Democratic candidates (they were the only ones in the running for this prestigious statement of support), whose policy positions are really rather similar, his campaign is the one most successfully promoting what ZBR likes to call "the America of our dreams."
A brief glimpse at the two websites tells the tale of one candidate charging forward and pulling citizens with him toward our goals and dreams and values, and one candidate pettily quibbling over semantics, fighting not to lose a race, rather than fighting to win as a nation. Of course, their positions as underdog and frontrunner, respectively, contribute to their ability/need to run the campaigns the way they are - the underdog free to play without the pressure of expectation - but in the end, a campaign is the reflection of the candidate that we have to work with, absent a personal conversation with him/her.
In November, the entire ZBR staff will proudly vote for either of these candidates, but for now, Obama gets the nod.
In other news, did you see the President's budget? I mean, did you see this?!? A final (I hope, but at least budgetarily final) testament to his fiscal irresponsibility/incompetency (it's one, the other, or both, and I don't know which is worse), his lack of compassion (cut services to Americans in need to try to convince anyone still stupid/bored/blindly committed enough to listen that tax cuts for the wealthy should be permanent), and his lack of desire to actually accomplish anything (no one on either side of the Congressional aisle wants to support this). Once again, sir, well done.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Pay Attention, World
First suicide attack in a year in Israel
By LAURIE COPANS, Associated Press Writer
30 minutes ago
DIMONA, Israel - A Palestinian bomber blew himself up Monday in this desert town near Israel's nuclear reactor, killing an Israeli woman and wounding 11 people in the first suicide attack inside Israel in a year....
Yellow Fatah flags flew outside the home of one of the attackers, 22-year-old Luay Laghwani, and Al Aqsa gunmen fired in the air in tribute to him. His sobbing mother, Ibtissam, held a picture of her son as a young teenager, while male relatives scolded her for crying, saying she should be proud....
Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha praised the bombing as a "glorious act."
_______________________
Any questions?
read the whole article here
By LAURIE COPANS, Associated Press Writer
30 minutes ago
DIMONA, Israel - A Palestinian bomber blew himself up Monday in this desert town near Israel's nuclear reactor, killing an Israeli woman and wounding 11 people in the first suicide attack inside Israel in a year....
Yellow Fatah flags flew outside the home of one of the attackers, 22-year-old Luay Laghwani, and Al Aqsa gunmen fired in the air in tribute to him. His sobbing mother, Ibtissam, held a picture of her son as a young teenager, while male relatives scolded her for crying, saying she should be proud....
Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha praised the bombing as a "glorious act."
_______________________
Any questions?
read the whole article here
Monday, January 28, 2008
Ohhh... Eight.
2008 has been an exciting, yet rough year so far. It has included 1)five great comedy shows; 2)a very promising start to a new Jewish men's basketball league season; 3)sickness; 4)and a very abrupt - and somewhat painful - end to a new Jewish men's basketball league season.
1)Look for new comedy clips online soon if I can harness the technology needed to capture video off a dvd. I'm getting close. I think. I also have high hopes of spending more time on the road this year, performing in cities that I should have gotten to long ago. It appears that I might be on the verge of actual promotion of my comedy act. It has been a long, lazy road, but I'm almost there!
2)Fun basketball team, great teammates, and an unbelievable start to the season. I never shoot the way I shot during our first game. (Almost) everything was going in. This is going to be fun.
3)Missed the 2nd game sick. It was not pretty, but played okay in the 3rd game as the team picked up another win.
4)Played about 9 minutes of game 4 yesterday before breaking my left foot. Specifically, I have an acute fracture of the proximal 5th metatarsal (I think that's right), commonly known as a Jones fracture. This is pretty much the exact same injury I suffered on my right foot just under two years ago (See posts from May 17th and 18th, and June 6th and 13th).
Luckily, I still have my walking boot and it is ambi-foot-rous. Also... I don't like being on crutches. Just sayin'.
1)Look for new comedy clips online soon if I can harness the technology needed to capture video off a dvd. I'm getting close. I think. I also have high hopes of spending more time on the road this year, performing in cities that I should have gotten to long ago. It appears that I might be on the verge of actual promotion of my comedy act. It has been a long, lazy road, but I'm almost there!
2)Fun basketball team, great teammates, and an unbelievable start to the season. I never shoot the way I shot during our first game. (Almost) everything was going in. This is going to be fun.
3)Missed the 2nd game sick. It was not pretty, but played okay in the 3rd game as the team picked up another win.
4)Played about 9 minutes of game 4 yesterday before breaking my left foot. Specifically, I have an acute fracture of the proximal 5th metatarsal (I think that's right), commonly known as a Jones fracture. This is pretty much the exact same injury I suffered on my right foot just under two years ago (See posts from May 17th and 18th, and June 6th and 13th).
Luckily, I still have my walking boot and it is ambi-foot-rous. Also... I don't like being on crutches. Just sayin'.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
