Evel Knievel Jumps Into the Sunset

This man was a hero, right or wrong, to every boy growing up in the 70's. Jumping trash cans in the back yard, fearless in our youth - we all wanted to be him in his blaze of red, white, and blue. Check the comments at the end of the story (one of the few times I'll say that). So long big fella.

Daredevil Evel Knievel dies at 69

An Interesting Take on Sean Taylor's Death

I was surprised to see a pointed social commentary like this on FoxSports.com. It ought to get all of us to stop and think about the societal evils we gloss over on a daily basis. Jason Whitlock makes some compelling points that ought to be the starting point for discussions about how to make life better. Unfortunately, it probably won't. Because no one is listening. Everyone is reacting. Our society has come to the point where everyone just reacts and blasts back at the thinker. Mr. Whitlock's "crab-in-barrel mentality" extends far beyond this scenario.

He'll probably be lambasted to the point where he offers the obligatory "I'm sorry to anyone I've offended" speech. His employers are probably already getting calls to fire him immediately. I hope he doesn't and I hope they don't. Read it. Think about it.

Taylor's death a grim reminder for us all

Barnes & Noble Making It Easy to Support the Troops

With thoughts turning from tasty Thanksgiving turkey to holiday shopping lists, one national bookseller has made it easy to find the perfect gift for everyone, including the nation's servicemembers.

Barnes & Noble, a corporate supporter of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, has created an online book store that benefits troop-support organizations with a 5 percent donation from each sale made through the www.bn.com/asy Web site.

America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. 

http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/Content.aspx?ID=44943546

Finally! We Have Rain

Even the birds are excited about it.

Text Your Thanks!

Let them know you appreciate their sacrifice.

'nuff said.

Wisdom of a 12-Year-Old

Pretty sharp for a little guy. A remarkable phone call from a 12-yr old boy to Houston
radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. We'd all do well to remember this.

http://www.ksbj.org/eblogs/morningShow/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/logan-calf-story.mp3

Football Ramblings

Some thoughts on football after a weekend of semi-attention. Some of these have been percolating in my noggin for a while and I'm just getting around to them.

• I think the NFL should adopt some version of two rules from college football. 1) Stop the clock on a first down in the last two minutes of the game. Reward the team for making a first down and allow for more excitement at the end of the game. 2) Allow a replay official to review any play in the game that (s)he deems necessary.
• I think college football should adopt some version of an NFL rule. 1) HAVE A PLAYOFF. I've listened to so many supposed experts claiming that college football is great without a playoff because "every game counts." What a lie. Tell that to the University of Hawaii Warriors. If they go undefeated, likely the only team in the nation, will all of their games have counted? Not. It's happened to big and small schools, get positioned wrong in the polls or come from the wrong conference and NONE of your games count.
• Why do they put first initials on the backs of football jerseys? The Cincinnati Bengals, for example, have C. Johnson, J. Johnson, L. Johnson, and R. Johnson. Are the initials supposed to help us tell them apart? Isn't that what those huge numbers on their chests and backs and shoulders are for? The only thing worse is when the spell parts of the first names because they have both have the same initial. Come on, Penn State has no names at all and we can figure out who's who.
• Is Bill Belichick the Darth Vader of the NFL?
• I clicked over to the Cowboys / Washington game this afternoon and had flashbacks to the Houston Oilers. When did the Cowboys go with powder blue pants? Are they hoping for the same kind of cult following the Chargers have with their powder blue jerseys? Yikes!
• I thoroughly dislike the allowable intentional grounding rule.
• I wonder what would it take for the Falcons to get Tim Tebow?
• The NFL and NCAA should go to high definition for ALL games by Thursday. I thought I was going blind watching the Georgia / Kentucky game on Saturday. They were just a bunch of red and blue blurry spots bounding around my screen. Fortunately, the red blurs won.

UND To Change "Fighting Sioux" Nickname

I never thought I would say, this but I like the new University of North Dakota nickname better. Now I just want to see the logo...

UND Decides To Change "Fighting Sioux" Nickname

Liberty Dollar Office Raided

The offices of the Liberty Dollar were raided Wednesday morning by FBI agents. All of the company's assets were confiscated according to the Evansville Courier-Press. The Liberty Dollar is an alternative voluntary barter currency backed by silver. I've done a little bit of research on it and everything I've seen about the Liberty Dollar says it is legal. If someone wants to trade silver for my services, sounds good to me. So why the raid? Why haven't I seen anything in the lamestream media about it? What is going on?

Liberty Dollar office raided : Evansville Courier Press

People's Liberation Army's Navy Pops In Unannounced

I hate it when that happens... Chinese sub pops up in middle of U.S. Navy exercise.

...and are they really called the "People's Liberation Army's Navy?"

Politicos Promise "The Federal Government Can..."

One of my pet peeves when listening to politicians comes when they say the "Federal Government can pay for..." whatever it is they're trying to sell. They speak of the "Federal Government" as if it is a rich, old philanthropist just waiting to shell out his/her money on their program-of-the-day. Why don't they say "Warren Buffett can pay for..." ...oh, I don't know... your new Corvette? Because Warren Buffett would politely invite them to mind their own business. What they're really saying, when the volunteer the "Federal Government," is that Y-O-U can pay for... . Every time anyone says the "Federal Government" they really mean you and me. I'd like to see a debate where politicians were forced to say "You" anywhere they would normally say "Federal Government." For example, "You can pay for extra healthcare for small businesses." "You can pay for universal healthcare." "You can pay for an increase in the minimum wage." "You can pay for...."

Just take a moment the next time you hear a politician promising that the "Federal Government can pay (or implement or manage or control) anything" and think about what they're really saying. It's like someone walking up to you and saying your ten-year-old can pay for their lunch. It doesn't sound like it affects you directly but then where does your ten-year-old get her allowance? Be leery of anyone who promises your money to someone else.