I, herodotus

The Future is Now...

2010-04-05T11:46:00.002-05:00

Opening Day... As American as apple pie and socialized medicine.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Top Ten Songs We ALL Want to Hear on the Next "Kidz Bops" Compilation

2010-01-27T20:41:00.006-05:00

10. Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine

9. Touch My Body - Mariah Carey

8. Niggaz Can't See Me - 2 Pac

7. Fantasy - Ludacris

6. Birthday Sex - Jeremih

5. Starf*cker - The Rolling Stones

4. N.I.B. - Black Sabbath

3. Lit Up (I Love the Cocaine) - Buckcherry

2. You Shook Me All Nite Long - AC/DC

1. Pony - Ginuwine

Populist ablution...

2010-01-25T14:00:00.002-05:00

I've an increasingly hectic schedule, and therefore, find little time, of late, for blogging. This said, correspondence is necessary, and the following elicited thoughts were conveyed via email to friends and I thought I'd post them here, as they represent some of my thoughts regarding last week's election in Massachusetts. Hope all is well with you and yours...

populist ablution. i realize we don't speak politics around here often, but a remark, or 3, needs to be made about the political earthquake (sorry haitians) that is giving so many politicians heart-burn (sorry j). what we saw in the election of scott brown is a truly amazing event, and one that instantly changed political and electoral conventional wisdom. regardless of whether you favor the current healthcare legislation, or not, most should agree that the process...with the brazen bribing of senators and pharm companies, tax exemptions doled out to unions, and late hour christmas eve votes...has been unseemly. Most importantly, for months the american polity has been saying, " slow down for a second. let's take a look at this."....only to be rebuffed by the very people that we sent to d.c. so...what do you get? a republican representing taxachusetts. my point in bringing this up is simple....having lived abroad in places where the government actively contravenes the will of citizens, i recognize the haughty condescension of a politcal elite, and the thing is....so do most americans. it's a part of our fiber...and that's why government largess and higher taxes, a.k.a. social democracy (see europe)....will never work here. the europeans have rousseau...we have patrick henry. once the american people look to their leaders and cry, "don't tread on me!", it's too late for said leader. pay attention to what goes on this summer, as something uniquely american is about to happen...the "people" are about to flex their politcal muscle, as it were.

You're On Notice!

2009-10-06T20:19:00.004-05:00

Blogging has been light...and there doesn't seem to be a reprieve in my schedule any time soon... thus I decided to go back and visit an old favorite of mine...that takes a few seconds to express a few thoughts and feelings. These things/people are officially On Notice!

Artist of the Week...

2009-09-21T11:27:00.006-05:00

Those of you who've known me for a while....know that I have an inclination to jazz, blues, classical, and other forms of music that aren't "on the cusp", as it were....this, coupled with the fact that I am approaching an age that almost makes it impossible to be "cool"...keeps me behind on new music that is out there waiting to be heard. Subsequently, when I do find a band that I dig...it is a relief.

I've found such a band in this week's AOTW. Two gents from Australia formed this electronic band in 2007 and released their debut album " Walking On A Dream " in November of 2008. As I've still not heard the entire work, my opinion isn't complete, but what I have heard has resonated. The lead vocals are unique...and I'm fairly certain that some will find them annoying. The music is...well...electronic...but the melodies have a laid back...yet sensual or even erotic...feel. This band probably won't change music...or even be relevant in 10 years...but this album works. Ladies and gentlemen, I offer you....Empire Of The Sun.

* the following two tracks are my favorites, thus far.

** youtube has blocked the second video.

They Just Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To

2009-09-07T23:57:00.018-05:00

Well, I used what time I was not at work this weekend to go see Rob Zombie's anticipated remake of Halloween II. I understandably had high hopes: Mr. Zombie did a surprisingly fine job with his treatment of the first installment. He demonstrated proper respect to John Carpenter's original while providing a fresh start for a tired franchise that has been mishandled for years. Anyone who saw H2O or Halloween: Resurrection knows what I mean.

Of course, by the same note, Zombie was tackling possibly the strongest entry in the series. While Carpenter did not take the director's chair for the sequal, he did provide a solid script for what he intended to be the finale of the series that gave one hell of a sendoff to our faceless voiceless killer. For some hardcore Halloween fans (including myself), Halloween II is perhaps the best film in the Michael Myers saga. This project was a tall order for Rob Zombie.

And I'm afraid Mr. Zombie failed. Don't get me wrong...the film was highly enjoyable. The latest Halloween is far superior to anything released under the same name since the dreadful Season of the Witch in 1982 (with the exception of Zombie's first remake, that is). In many ways, the film was worth the price of admission: Zombie demonstrates his usual impeccable taste in his selection of soundtrack (big ups for the strategic use of the Moody Blues during the horrific hospital scene), the gore factor, while gratuitous when used by most directors nowadays, is wielded effectively by Mr. Zombie, and moments of actual, visceral terror recurred with increasing frequency as the film built to its climax. But nonetheless, there was something missing....

...and it only took a brief revisit to the original Halloween to realize just what the missing ingredients were. First and foremost, there are some significant differences between the Michael Myers of John Carpenter and that of Rob Zombie. The remake treats us to a Myers that is a Jason Vorhees-style overkiller, complete with grunts and heavy breathing. Gone is the cold, mechanical efficiency with which Michael Myers dispatched his prey. The final result is a meat-headed, ham-fisted mouthbreather who seems to take pleasure in murder. The very thing that made Carpenter's killer so frightening, the soulless, passionless compulsion that drove the original Myers to his objective with undying, superhuman endurance is completely lost in Zombie's translation. Zombie's Laurie Strode does not possess nearly the same strength of character as the heroine in the original productions. The indominable will to live of Jamie Lee Curtis' Laurie led her to survive encounter after encounter with Myers, and she does not come away with the same twisted mental baggage we see resulting from the experience in Rob Zombie's remake. Also, the Dr. Loomis of the remake leaves something to be desired. It is hardly the fault of Malcolm McDowell, who was actually and inspired choice to play the good doctor. But it seems, much like Mr. Zombie himself, the new Dr. Loomis is too busy sympathizing with Michael Myers to effectively do battle with him. The Dr. Loomis portrayed by Donald Pleasance in the original Halloween movies did not want to apologize to Michael; he wanted to destroy him, and thought of nothing else. The single mindedness and slightly unhinged banter and manner of the original Loomis made him almost as creepy as Myers himself. He was ready to pursue Michael Myers to the ends of the earth, if need be, when any sane person would have gone the other way. Finally, letting us inside of Michael's head, while an interesting twist, did little to add to the story. The blank slate offered to the outside world by the Myers in the original films left us wondering just what, if anything, is going on in his head; Zombie's attempt to answer that question was quite underwhelming.

All in all, I would still recommend this latest production of Halloween II. Zombie's aesthetic is still impressive, which is a consistent characteristic of his films. By the same note, though, I will also recommend that, after you leave the theatre, renting the original so you can witness the work of a true master of the genre.

Postscript: Sequels That REALLY Sucked

1. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

2. Halloween III: Season of the Witch

3. Shawshank Redemption II: Return to Rapeland

4. Caddyshack II (ugh)

5. Die Hard II

Artist of the week...

2009-07-11T15:51:00.003-05:00

I'm usually on the tail end of pop culture type movements, as my tastes are steeped in the classics, and alas, this case is no different. I came across this band about three weeks ago...and three years after everyone else in the world...but have been diggin them ever since. Three brothers and a cousin have proved that rock...both melodic and otherwise...can still be written. Ladies and gentlemen...those of you who are as oblivious as I...here is Kings of Leon...

For Your Consideration: Top Ten Films of the 1980's

2009-07-08T17:27:00.010-05:00

Granted: the 1980s was not necessarily the height of the film noir aesthetic as we saw in the Sixties or the thinking-man's film market as we had in the Seventies. We can thank Steven Speilberg and George Lucas, with their watered-down, cotton-candy family action/adventure flicks and John Hughes, with his overly-sentimental, gawdily-stylish high school melodramas for the downgrade in quality that was the rule more than the exception throughout that decade. Nonetheless, there are some true gems to be gleaned from the rubbish pile of 1980's cinema...these specimens being all the more precious considering the dirth of inspiration and imagination that consumed the movie (and music) scene. The following list is about as close to definitive as it's going to get....cause the industry did not really give us alot to work with in the course of that particular decade...but the films that made the cut are truly worth acknowledgement.

10. The Road Warrior (1981): It is rare indeed for a sequal to surpass its predecessor, but the Road Warrior does just that for the Mad Max franchise...and it's not just because of the (somewhat) larger budget the filmmakers have at their disposal. All of the things that made the first Mad Max great, the gritty, tight, briskly paced narrative and relative-newcomer Mel Gibson's bad@$$ portrayal of the title character, are cranked to full volume, but done so very tastefully, in this worthy sequal. And the apocolypse of an ending and the movie's cynical-yet-effective punchline ensure this overlooked film a spot in the top ten of the decade.

9. The Lost Boys (1987): If you can overlook Keifer Sutherland's supermullet and the subpar soundtrack, then you have yourself one of the finest vampire flicks since Salem's Lot way back in '76. Forget the tragic, moody, emo vampires of Interview With the Vampire and Twilight...Sutherland and company want to eat you and make a big mess while they're doing it. They're evil creatures of the night and damned proud of it...just as Bram Stoker, the progenitor of the literary-artistic tradition of the vampire myth, meant for it to be. And the teenage hero motif that was used ad nauseum throughout the 80s actually works, considering the twisted, misanthropic (and interesting) nature of the misfit comic-book twins faced with destroying the hip vampire horde.

8. The Terminator (1984): Even more so than Conan the Barbarian, this film established Arnold Schwarzeneggar as the bad@$$ of the decade. And deservedly so, as it is his one, truly perfect role. Schwarzeneggar brings the undying, inexorable killing machine to murderous, metallic life. And, unlike his usual tasteless action blowout extravaganzas, James Cameron allows the story and the characters time to slowly build, at the same time giving the audience the gradual revelation of the Terminator's true identity, culminating in an unbearably tense climax.

7. Caddyshack (1980): It is hard to determine who was funnier in this flick: Rodney Dangerfield or Bill Murray (and Chevy Chase in a distant third). Either way, the final product is one of the finest comedies of the decade. And of course, let's not forget that adorable groundhog...

6. Return of the Jedi (1983): Out of fairness, we can only allow one of the Star Wars films into the list, and while most everyone else puts their bets on The Empire Strikes Back (1980), my chips are all going on the series finale. Sure, Han Solo is somewhat hamstrung as a character by this point in the series, but this is more than compensated by the new, improved Jedi Luke Skywalker. He whoops @$$ in all the ways we wanted him to in the first two installments, and he has the actions-speak-louder-than-words attitude to back it up. And the final, emotional confrontation between father and son is more than any fan of the franchise could have hoped for from the finale of the series.

5. Videodrome (1983): This is one of the strangest films I have ever seen...and that's REALLY saying something, considering some of the movies I've watched. Nonetheless, considering it is some of the most bizarre, most impressionistic material in David Cronenberg's canon, he handles it without sacrificing narrative or character, something David Lynch has not managed to pull off through his entire career. But this one is definitely not for the kids...or some squemish adults.

4. Time Bandits (1981): Terry Gilliam's stab at a children's film comes off as rather nightmarish...and dense, considering it deals with issues about God, good and evil, textbook-historical accuracy, human nature, and fate. Nonetheless, the kids can still enjoy it and the grown-ups are given enough to chew on, as well.

3. The Evil Dead (1981): I believe this movie STILL holds some records for amount of gore in a single scene. That's not to say that that is all this film has to offer. Sam Raimi gave us one of the most shocking, most enduring, and, at the same time, one of the funniest horror films of all time....and he gave us Bruce Campbell on top of all that.

2. The Wall (1982): Roger Waters and Gerald Scarfe might be two of the most brilliant and disturbed minds involved in popular art. And director Alan Parker brings their haunting themes and images to life like a diabolical puppet master. While it shocks and disturbs, at the same time, it resonates with us all and speaks to the loneliness and isolation at work in each and every one of us. It is just a shame that it is marginalized with vapid drug flicks like Easy Rider and Up in Smoke. Perhaps, someday, it will get its due.

(drumroll, please). And the winner iiiisssss......

1. The Shining (1980): Since Stephen King was unhappy with Kubrick's reinterpretation of his novel, I can only surmise it was because King was jealous of the vast improvement that Kubrick had made of the production. Not enough can be said about this film: The finest, most aesthetic specimen of Stanley Kubrick's career, the performance of a lifetime from Jack Nicholson, and, of course, the "Heeeeerrre's Johnny!" axe scene that has become part of popular culture for all time. So REDRUM, y'all....and if you've not seen this movie yet, then shame on you....you're life is not complete yet!

And that's it for the first installment of the "For Your Consideration" series, which I hope to make an ongoing production here on I Herodotus. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to voice them. And if you have any greivances with the above list, you'd better come with ammo.

This one's for the kids

2009-07-07T13:49:00.010-05:00

Scuffles and minor altercations are bound to occur amongst adolescents; it is treated almost as a rite of passage....a rite that should occur rarely, if at all. However, when your little angel starts engaging in viscious group attacks like a pack animal or commiting senseless, spontaneous acts of violence towards figures of authority, then there is obviously something at work on our younger generations that threatens the very fabric of our civilation...and drastic measures are going to be necessary.
The consideration for punishment of a criminal act of a violent nature, especially when it involves such irrational rage and sadistic relish such as that involved in the case in Polk County, Florida, or the bus attack in Kalamazoo should NEVER be mitigated by factors such as age or upbringing. In fact, the details of such cases are almost always far more shocking in their brutality and wantonness and, since theses acts are commited at such a developmental period, should be taken as an indication of something fundamentally flawed in the guilty party. And perhaps, for this reason, the perpetrators must be dealt with in a more strenuous (and maybe permanent) manner. For your consideration, as a concerned citizen, here is one possible set of corrective measures that could be followed to reclaim our youth and the future of our nation.
1st Offense: Sterilization. On top of any time served in one of our fine correctional facilities the offender should undergo mandatory sterilization, since he/she has made it obvious that they are unfit to control themselves, much less any offspring they produce. The result will either be another violent,out-of-control specimen or a tragic case of extreme child abuse. A law-abiding society has an obligation to keep that from happening.
2nd Offense: Physical and Mental Neutralization. The recurrence of violent acts during adolescence is a demonstration of an incurable, anti-social personality, incapable of taking a productive part in our fine society. Unilateral action, such as labotimization or inducing physical paralysis (best when both are combined) is the only option that the perpetrator has left for the rest of the law-abiding community. It may sound harsh, but we are doing our society a far worse service by letting these hellions mock and threaten the fabric of our civilization. These are purely hypothetical correctives, but if something of this sort is not pursued soon, it may be you or your child who is assualted next. More later.....

The entrammeling of greatness...

2009-07-06T11:23:00.004-05:00

As I watched Andy Roddick play the match of his life...and still come up short of the necessary resolve, grit, and game to defeat a champion of Federer's stock...I began to ruminate on another talented guy that...just...can't....finish: Phil Mickelson. Both of the guys are extremely talented...both were, at one time, tauted as "the next big thing" in their respective sports...and to be fair...both have had wonderful and productive careers...Mickelson with three major championships...and Roddick with his U.S. Open title. Still, neither has lived up to expectations...and why is this?

The easy answer is that each is a contemporary with another who is arguably the "best ever" in his area....namely, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods. If Federer didn't exist, Roddick would have at least one Wimbledon...and probably another U.S. Open title...and, jeez...when one thinks of what Mickelson would've done on a "Tigerless" tour...it gets down right depressing for the guy. But this can't be the only answer...I mean...even Gary Player and Chrissy Everett won against Nicklaus and Navratilova....every now and then...and on multiple occasions. It can't just be this...

But...what if it is? What if the psychology behind the realization that...were it not for one person...you would be the greatest of your generation...is so weighty that it is inescapable and causes a self-defeating paralysis...at the very moment when one needs to summon a higher performance...to change gears...to ramp it up...take it to another level...or whatever cliche you want to use?

What must it feel like to succeed at levels higher than anyone around you for your entire life... to be told that you can re-write record books...only to find one other person...who isn't marginally better than you...but so much so that it isn't even up for discussion? Is there personal resignation...or is there an innate drive to overcome...after so many disappointments?

P.C. vs. Patriotism (because you just can't have it both ways)

2009-07-05T16:33:00.012-05:00

There is an unhealty dichotomy at work within the American mind which seems to be grow more pervasive with each generation. While most of us are aware of the perfectly natural inclination to be proud of our identity as American, there is also this subconcsious urge (egged on by certain media personalities and politicians) to repress and outwardly deny our national will. The truly alarming part of the whole thing is, those media moguls and politicians, mostly of the leftist persuasion, have convinced us that the latter of these two tendencies is the truer.

Only in the early half of the nineties did this compulsion become known by the common nomenclature of "Political Correctness," a sort of oxymoron, if you will. It is the natural enemy of the much-older American mental habit once known as Patriotism. It is quite amazing that Americans, even (or perhaps, especially) the middle class, havemastered the mental trapeze required to practice both, since they are polar opposites and mutually exclusive. Eventually, however, one of the two must and will overcome the other. If the likes of Teddy Kennedy, who wishes to morally and financially aid our most ardent enemies, or some gap-toothed, late night T.V. personality, who wishes to savagely rip the clothes off of Alaskan tweenies, have their way, I believe you know which of these two tendencies will ultimately have sway over the American soul.

The first of the two that currently make us who we are, Patriotism, in the end, will inform who we are and how we will finally save ourselves; the other, "P.C.ness," will lead us to self-denial and an obliteration of identity, national and, ultimately, personal. If Darwin were here, he would tell us, in evolutionary survivalist terms,that Political Correctness is the next to last step toward extinction. But, after all, as an American, you still have a choice, for the time being, between the two. Choose you this day whom you will serve.

Happy Independence Day, America...and a minor tribute to LT black rabbit...

2009-07-02T23:54:00.010-05:00

This is an early post, as I will be incognito for the holiday weekend. Still, I wanted to say something to register, respect, and recognize this most important and significant of American traditions. Ours is a unique experiment in self-governing. The mere idea of a "republic" was revolutionary and transformative in 1775...and has been an example of an ideal to attain for cultures and peoples hence. To maintain this, we rely on folks that volunteer their time, experience, and lives to make sure that what was established so many decades ago... remains...and will remain...intact. To those brave souls... I say...and I speak for a majority in this great country...simply, thank you. Those of us who choose not to serve will never know the sacrifices you and your families make...but we offer...two simple words...packed with heartfelt knowledge...thank you.

One such person is one of my best friends...in fact, I've known this guy longer than any other close friend that I have...he is the famed black rabbit. He is currently serving "in-theatre" , and is eagerly expected home by his wife and family within a few months. Simply put, he is one of the most courageous, genuine, and loyal persons I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. The thing is...we have thousands of others ...whom I've never met... that serve with him and are probably those things...and more...to others. So...to LT black rabbit...and those who are with him...I say...be well, be safe, and know that we aware.

Having lived in foreign lands for extended periods of time, I say this with an untempered resolve...this country is amazing...and I'll be damned if I let others who are either ignorant of history... or malicious in personal contempt...cloud our founding ideals...in the hope of some sort of trans-national and ideological utopia...that has been tried...and never realized or actualized. We, as Americans, have had, do have, and will have, deficiencies and inequalities to overcome...but this is the greatest nation...and political experiment...to ever exist in human history...more so than Babylon...more so than Athens...more so than Rome. It is worth preserving...it is worth respect...it is worth admiration. Let freedom ring true and loud. God bless the United States of America.

Michael Jackson, R.I.P.

2009-06-26T11:13:00.010-05:00

I don't have much to say about MJ's passing that wouldn't or couldn't be said by many who are my age or close to it. In short, he was an incredible entertainer who didn't just transcend pop culture for a time...he was pop culture. He was my generation's Elvis. Yet...Elvis never ran around with a monkey...and didn't have a penchant for molesting sickly children.

I am still in awe of MJ's talent...go listen to "Who's Lovin You" to see how amazing he was at an early age...and will dance to his music until my soul escapes this world. Still, we can't lose sight of the person he became. In many ways...he personified the character of life on this planet....he delivered so much good...and exhibited so much evil.

So...rest in peace "King of Pop", if you can, and I'll moonwalk for the both of us.

Top 5 Michael Jackson songs:

1. Billie Jean

2. Who's Lovin' You ( technically Jackson 5...but he carries it).

3. Don't Stop Till You Get Enough

4. Rock With You

5. P.Y.T.

Honorable mention: Lady In My Life, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man In The Mirror, Workin Day and Night.

recent thoughts and musings 6/17/09...

2009-06-17T23:27:00.003-05:00

wow...it has been a while. there are times, when my first response to current happenings is to turn to this place of exposition, contemplation...and sometimes...confession. still, a barrier has formed for me...one of life... one that has impeded submission. now, though, i feel the need to write, albeit, briefly:

1. politics. so much to say....because so much has happened. so...let's recap...those of us who voted against Obama ( and make no mistake...mine was not a vote for johnny mac)...did so with an informed suspicion that he was a velvet socialist...that the federal government would begin it's slow creep into our everyday lives. and here we are... in a few short months, we've seen our federal government, under the guise of crisis, take over 2/3 of our auto industry, force banks to take money...and then refuse to let them pay it back, appoint 22 "czars" to "oversee" industry and national productivity, threaten to tax everything from employee health benefits to work related cell-phones, and....please, let us not forget the bang-up job Obama's done with foreign policy...

my point is this: this guy was, and is, nothing more than a 21st century Fabian. in short, these folks believe that the government...not local government, mind you, but federal and unaccountable government....is the solution to every social and political problem. the ideology of socialism reeks of the blood of those helpless folks that bought into the idea of a forced equality...only to find the hand of an unfettered product of the system...tyrrany...waiting for them. just ask the venezuelans. our country has too much left in the founding tank to let this happen...yet.

2. music. at this moment...i'm revisiting a comfortable friend...miles davis' "kind of blue". this said, my musical tastes have been mercurial...gypsy kings, sade, the flaming lips, zero 7, bobby darin, allman bros, whatever compilation "that 70's guy" is working on....all satisfying in their own way.

3. readings. well...the last time i wrote, i mentioned that i'd be reading "atlas shrugged"...what i didn't know is that i'd be reading it with 5 guys that i trust implicitly...and that...as a group...would be a vestige of the famed "history 5". the reading went well...and i gleaned knowledge and perspective. an exposition is forthcoming. now, however, we are on to "that 70's guy"'s first submission (we collaborated to come up with a list...with each of us getting a "non-negotiable"...and this is his) aristotle's "politics". thus far, i'm intrigued...and skeptical as to application...still, an interesting tie-in to a randian projection of objectivism and individualism in a collective society.

4. life. without going into detail...let me say...that i am happier now than i've been in a long, long time. i feel blessed.

Our Agenda Usurped

2009-03-29T10:17:00.002-05:00

Greetings,

It is easy to be outraged at the recent usurpations by the federal government. It is frightening when one considers the possible future--the country has definitely changed. A hand up from the community--in which the Church was the primary agent--has become the indiscriminate Robin Hood state we have encountered in Europe and can now observe burgeoning in DC. While i will not argue that we should not give Caesar his due. Caesar has, over the past century usurped the Christian agenda. Perhaps at a later time I will expand on this concept since it goes further than a simple usurpation of agenda. Even so, I cannot help but believe that the Christian world is a little culpable for this development.

When Christians ceased to be the principle source for relief from poverty and disasters in the world, whether from a lack of ability or a dearth of empathy (understand that I am not trying to posit blame), the door was opened for those seeking political leverage to snatch the agenda from the Christian community. It is difficult for me to consider the recent turn of events in Washington or the past century's government expansionist follies apart from the impoverished classes' support for their "relief" programs. I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO READ YOUR IDEAS CONCERNING THIS.

Sirach 7:32-36 along with many other references in scripture strongly urged us to be the agents for poverty and disaster relief in our communities. If not us then who? Well we know the answer.

I would now like to turn this over for comments and debate.

Peace

Things old and new...

2009-03-06T19:13:00.011-05:00

1. Wedded Bliss. First things first...one of our own wed his beautiful bride last Saturday...congrats, Dr. Zeius. The service was simple, classy, and appropriate. This...however...cannot be said of the three days of dionysian revelry that preceded this most important of days. If I see another bottle of Crown Royal in the next 6 months...it will be too soon. Also... it is just over a year since the stars aligned...causing the self-proclaimed "Bloggers Convention 2008" to occur in Savannah, Ga....for those who were there...you would be satisfied to know...that we had a Hall n Oats redux...ha!

2. On That Midnight Train To....Tennessee? Well....folks...as you can read below, I've been in a transition period, with regards to job, location, direction, etc...and I've now resolution, of sorts. I've accepted a position at a financial institution in Tennessee, and will be moving next week. Actually, my office is located in the same town as my under-grad Alma mater. Now...I am very excited about the job, as it is a considerable promotion...and am excited about being near so many folks that I care about. Still, I make this move with a trace amount of trepidation. Why? I'm not sure....it possibly has to do with the feeling of working so hard to get out of a place...only to return. This said, I am blessed, and embrace the opportunity with a full and thankful heart.

3. Hope and Change. There are so....so...many words I want/could/should type about President Obama's performance and attempt to move our nation towards a centralized and neutralized economy and politic...and will at some point. Right now...though...I just don't have it in me. Well...it's there....but I'm just...so....effing....angry...scared...and frustrated...that I'm not ready. I will say this though...both Rahm Emanuel and Hillary Clinton have been quoted recently as saying, " Never waste a good crisis.". Clinton said it most recently with regards to climate change. Think about that...these people know that families are struggling...losing jobs...losing homes...losing life savings...and their avowed and open response to this is "how can we use their suffering to advance our national-socialist agenda...". As I wrote...there will be more rants in the near future....but for now...I want to go on record as saying...this will not work. The mere premise...much less action...of redistributive economic policy is anathema to the American spirit. We will rise up, if tread upon...and we won't just flood the streets...as we have careers and families...but we are the producers...the business owners...the innovators...the do-ers...we make it happen...and we expect liberty while we do it...nay, we demand it. After all...isn't it written somewhere that it is an inalienable right endowed by our creator...not some "community organizer" who has dreams of a forced and coerced utopian equanimity. Which leads me to...

4. "Atlas, Can I Join You?". In light of the stench emanating from D.C. these days, I find it required of me to visit Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, as it deals with some of the issues referenced above. Feel free to join me...I'll have a post soon on my related thoughts.

5. Music To My Ears. I've been visiting with my dad and grandparents all week...kind of taking things in before the move. My days have been largely spent reading and listening to music. One of the folks that I've spent an inordinate amount of time with is Mendelssohn. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite composers. His is an under-appreciated and undervalued talent...as compared to the "bigs"...Mozart, Bach, Haydn, etc..

And, finally...I am very excited about an artist that I've recently discovered. Her voice is the right mix of sensual simplicity and crisp earnestness....and her story is very compelling. She went to Europe to study French, German, and Italian for a Master's degree in Comparative Lit...and was discovered for her voice. Gentlemen, if you are so inclined....get a good bottle of wine, slide your arms around the waist of beautiful woman, and enjoy the gift of Stacey Kent.

The road less traveled...

2009-01-30T18:54:00.003-05:00

A few thoughts on recent goings-on...both personal and otherwise:

1. Life's little surprises. Well....I've happened upon another little fork in the road...having just resigned my position with a financial institution. The thing is...at this stage of my life...any decision I make regarding work is a career decision...one that has long-lasting implications. Aside from the economic downturn that has folks..shall we say...hesitant to hire...frankly, I'm not sure what to do. I enjoy what I've been doing these last few years...and this particular path would be fairly lucrative, were I to continue. Still, I have this thing in me that wants to strike out again...as it were...to abandon reserve and travel. In fact, I've already sent multiple resumes to international schools in Europe, South America, and Asia. So...we'll see. While it can be scary...life is always an adventure.

2. The anti-stimulus stimulus. Regardless of one's political affiliation...how difficult is it to rationally discern that to call something an "emergency stimulus package", the funds would need to be dispersed fairly soon? Meaning, what are funds allocations doing in an "emergency bill" if they aren't used until 2011. I truly believe Pelosi to be the worst Speaker in a good long while.

3. A supporting list. The other day, Dr. Zeius and I were speaking...and the conversation turned to " best supporting actors of the last 25 years". The first name that came up....Bill Paxton. Think about it....Aliens, Weird Science, Tombstone, Apollo 13, True Lies, etc...this guy was in many many good movies...and his characters were all memorable. So...here is a list very quick and thoughtless list of my nominees( in no order):

Bill Paxton
Bruno Kirby
Marissa Tomei
Kevin Bacon
Ed Harris

4. Finally...a bit of music. This is one of my favorite songs...from one of my favorite albums...from one of my favorite bands in the 90's. I don't listen them much...but when I do...nostalgia sweeps me up. Ladies and gentlemen...Mazzy Star.

My terminal truancy...

2008-12-12T21:42:00.003-05:00

My rather conspicuous absence here is about to end...and there is all of maybe 10 folks left out there that would even care. Nonetheless, blogging should begin anew some time before Christmas. Until then, here is video of a couple of songs that I've grown to appreciate. Both are performed with an iconic aura...and a serious weight problem. Enjoy.

* i've also included a brief clip from a movie that i had no idea that i would like...and did...that includes a very brief rendition of my favorite secular Christmas song.

In my ears, eyes, and mind (in Herodotus' absence)

2008-07-18T10:48:00.008-05:00

Mere Christianity – I’ve finally begun reading Mere Christianity after having purposed to do so somewhere between ages 15 and 17…I will be 28 in October. My lack of motivation notwithstanding, it has been a while since I started a book with this level of expectation and excitement. I have read here and there and found works, like Lewis’ The Great Divorce, that I read at someone else’s behest and finished with excitement, but not for a long time have I began reading something anticipating its greatness and relevance from the outset…Also, an unwelcomed restructuring of my budget is calling for me to cut off my cable which means my literary intake should increase by about 4000%, and it should be this way for a while. At this, there are so many books I’ve planned to read through the years and never have…Any suggestions where to start?

La Vie En Rose (Louis Armstrong) – This is a wonderful song, my favorite version of which would be Mr. Armstrong’s…My jazz season has started early. Usually about the time the first cold spell of fall hits, I go through a personal season where my jazz collection takes center stage, but for some reason, I am there early.

Faith and Reason – I’ve been thinking a lot lately on the relationship between our ability to reason and necessity to have faith. For a Christian, my beliefs about God, humanity, etc…necessitate my “suspending disbelief”, to some degree, to accept the “absurd” idea of God taking the form of man and then dying and resurrecting to redeem humanity. So it seems obvious that, at the base level of belief, faith requires the suspension of my rational capability, but I know a lot of Christians who operate on this notion in all aspects of the faith, their argument being that, since humanity is inherently sinful, our sense of reason is polluted thus requiring the life of faith being based solely on belief in the absurd. It’s almost as if they see reason like a bent shovel no longer useful for digging. They carry this mentality into some of the very practical practices of faith like, for instance, in how they interpret and, thus, apply scripture. To me, accepting the need for and/or possibility of the absurd is very different than assuming that possibility as denouncing the practical. I guess my tendency is to see my reason not as a “bent shovel” but as a sound one needing faith to be the map that shows me where to dig. Now, I know at least one person who has been, literally, at the point of death from cancer and been miraculously, instantaneously, and wholly healed by God. I know this person well. I know that he is not crazy, and, further, I know other people who also are not crazy that can verify his story. That is absurd. I have no problem with that, but does that mean that when I read Paul’s Epistles I should forego my ability to process and apply information (i.e. reason) and rely simply on my expectation of the absurd?...Thoughts?

"Lost" – I recently decided, with some friends, to start at the beginning and work my way through to catch up on this show. I usually don’t get sucked into shows and am typically skeptical when they’re praised as much as this show has been. However, I simply had too many people with opinions I value and trust in these things recommend, almost demand, that I watch this show. Well, here I am almost done with the second season and I have two thoughts:

1. I can’t believe I haven’t been watching this show.

2. With the reality TV mess that we’ve created, it’s nice to turn on a show and actually be entertained. Call me prudish, but I am simply sick of turning on my television only to find a bunch of idiots running around in their underwear and poking holes in the moral fabric of our next generation. Not only is it raunchy, but it’s just not entertaining. I don’t watch TV to be reminded of how ridiculous life can be. I watch TV to be entertained and escape that. So, ultimately, it doesn’t matter if Michael gets Walt back or whether Jack finally realizes that Kate is the devil because they’re not real…I can get into the story then shut it off and go to sleep unlike when I see the 19 year old "reality star"getting ripped and taking her clothes off on national TV that hopefully won’t be one of my nieces, cousins, or, gulp, daughters some day.

cheers

zeius

A few more weeks...

2008-06-27T16:02:00.002-05:00

So...it has been a while since I've been in contact. And...really...this site isn't under construction. Rather, my computer crashed, and I am in the process of getting another. Until then, blogging will be sporadic at best. Still, if there needs to be a post that lingers at the top of the page...the most recent post more than suffices. But this too shall pass....Hope you are all well.

LOVE/LO-OVE! Or, A Five-Year Plan of My Very Own...

2008-06-02T03:19:00.001-05:00

2008-06-02T03:15:00.003-05:00

It's been nearly twenty years since the Soviet Union and its associated satellites fell. In the aftermath, Western Europe braced itself for a deluge of political and economic refugees with advanced mathematical training, but debilitating fashion sense (their union with the West at the "height" of the mullet's popularity has caused ever-so-many cultural misunderstandings ever since). Now, as le printemps turns to l'été in Paris, two decades later, Western Europe again girds its loins for a fresh invasion from the East. "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming!"...and they brought friends. The French Open is being dominated by hot, young Slavs. For you see, as the Patsy Ramseys and Dina Lohans of this country were shuttling their daughters to and from child beauty pageants and The New Mickey Mouse Club auditions, the new kids on the (post-)Soviet bloc were being groomed by far more sensible showbiz parents, hardened by the harsh realities behind the Iron Curtain. They knew their daughters could never land speaking or singing roles if a Slavic tongue were spoken in the home, and in any case, family pride objected to casting agencies shortening Sharapova to Sharp. Instead, they gave their daughters the gift of tennis. And that gift, as of June 2008, just keeps on giving.

In the spirit of 2007's "Sweet 16 of Love," I unveil for you the 2008 French Open...Women's Seeding...of, er...Love. Now sadly, I've not posted with enough foresight to allow for any voting results on matches to be tallied before the end of the current Grand Slam (next weekend). I expect, however, that the field will be largely unchanged by July's Wimbledon tournament---played on grass---and the matter could easily be revisited then. The only criteria I set for the selection of this pool of 16 were that (1) either the player be ranked in the top 100 as of the start of the French Open, or (2) she make the draw for the French Open; all in all, a pool of 138 from which to choose. No consideration was given performance on the court (in terms of a player's tennis game) in selecting the 16. Only physical beauty qualifies an individual for this draw, the purpose of which is not to objectify or degrade these successful young women, but to expand our culture's "narrow"---and often harmful---ideals of feminine beauty to include the specific allure of the female athlete...and then to appreciate such. The fierce Olympian physique of the great Steffi Graf was a welcome transition from the Sanchez-Vicarios of yesteryear, and now we are witnessing the erection of a new paradigm in the evolution of women's tennis. This shift, as I wrote at the beginning of this post, has taken a while to develop, but, in the end...isn't "nearly twenty years" just about right? I hope everyone enjoys this final week of the French Open, and if a reader has not yet had the pleasure of embracing tennis...perhaps these sixteen will entice you.

The draw (in no particular order):

Ana Ivanović---ranked #2, Serbia
Daniela Hantuchová---ranked #10, Slovakia
Alyona Bondarenko---ranked #27, Ukraine
Petra Cetkovská---ranked #77, Czech Republic
Nicole Vaidišová---ranked #16, Czech Republic
Ashley Harkleroad---ranked #61, United States
Serena Williams---ranked #5, United States
Dominika Cibulková---ranked #31, Slovakia
Gisela Dulko---ranked #40, Argentina
Sania Mirza---ranked #32, India
Tatiana Golovin---ranked #21, France
Sabine Lisicki---ranked #83, Germany
Elena Dementieva---ranked #8, Russia
Marta Domachowska---ranked #73, Poland
Maria Kirilenko---ranked #23, Russia
Maria Sharapova---ranked #1, Russia

2008-06-01T23:47:00.022-05:00

Not Miss Saigon...and I'm thankful for it.

2008-05-28T21:08:00.004-05:00

I just finished a documentary on PBA (or PBS for some of you folks)... and a surprisingly good one at that. The film is narrated by the child of a an ex-South Vietnamese military officer who fled the country ( with family in-tow ) in 1975 and settled in Louisville, Ky. Anyway...it is very good...and I would suggest it to anyone. A few more in-depth thoughts:

1. The story: The story told here is one of thousands. There were so many families displaced by that war...and that relocated...that it has a historical perspective...in addition to the personal. A military officer...his socialite wife...their children...all moved here with nothing, and made a life...a comfortable life...but something was missing...they left their homeland.... their homeland...their family....their world. Which leads me to...

2. True immigrants: Most who know me...know...that I lived in Asia for a time. Subsequently, I have an affinity for that culture (specifically, Chinese...but many Asian cultures share common traits...)...and some ask, " why?" . There are things that I say...a love for culture, family, nation...that resonate with me. If you watch this film...you might understand. Do me a favour...no, do yourself a favour, and watch this film...

3. Political: I'm not going to diatribe ...though I'm tempted...but there was a moment that was poignant for me...politically. You see...the couples' eldest daughter was left behind in the chaos of leaving there country. As one might imagine, this becomes a big part of the story. At one point, when speaking about this (and let me say...Asian people are not very verbose or emotive about these things ), the mom says, about leaving her daughter behind , " if the Americans hadn't abandoned us, I wouldn't have had to do the thing that I did.".
The point is this: This is relevant to today's struggle in Iraq. There are those who say we must leave...immediately. These are the same people that want to repeat the mistakes of 1975. Folks...there are consequences...both Geo-political...and personal. . Think about it.

my computer screen is dying...which keeps me from proof-reading or spell-checking...apologies.

Happy Memorial Day.

2008-05-26T08:00:00.003-05:00

We have no idea what it takes from those who serve our country to keep us safe and free. Yet, we can take a moment of recognition and appreciation to show that we are aware. To the men and women that have given their lives...both past and present....thank you.

In my life....today...

2008-05-22T19:58:00.004-05:00

Well...it's been a few weeks since I committed words to pixel here, so I figured I would give a few brief musings. Though...brief is the key word. Work is kicking my arse this week...and tomorrow is a full day:

1. Radiohead. What a freakin concert. The playlist was heavy on Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief...which is o.k....but, I was really hoping for more of The Bendz and O.K. Computer...but still...definitely top 3 best shows I've ever seen. Truly, as complicated as the music is...it is amazing...that they can reproduce it live with such quality. Simply...musical greatness.

2. Female Drama. Now...I'm not going into detail. Let's just say there is plenty of it in my life right now...and it is ridiculous. All you fellas out there...I know..you know...what I'm talking about.

3. Music. What I've been listening to most: Al Green, Whitesnake, Sugarland, Les Miserables, Roberta Flack, The Cure...and lots of Sinatra.

4. A Liberal Challenge. I was thinking the other day...and I challenge any of our Liberal friends to answer this...is there a policy initiative or political idea for fixing problems...that the current Democrats have that doesn't include raising taxes? I ask this sincerely. Meaning...surely they have some part of their agenda that doesn't include taxing U.S. citizens.

5. Movies. I'm extremely stoked about the Indiana Jones movie coming out (I think it is the most underrated trilogy)....and I can't wait to take my nephew...to see his face...the way he watches the screen with anticipation...the way my brothers and I did when we were kids. Also, I saw Wicker Park again the other day. I might have written about it before...but let me say...it is still that good....which is amazing... because the cast is shite. Be warned though...it is dark...with an ounce of redemption.

6. Bring out the brooms. My Hotlanta Braves will sweep the hated Mets tonight...just you wait and see...

7. Reading. I have been consumed...or should I say re-consumed... by the works of Herodotus. For those that know me well, it is common knowledge that I discovered the 'father of history' about 11 years ago, and still love reading his incredible...and mostly unbelievable stories. This said, my good friend Vox Meridies, and his lovely bride, bought me a very nice bound version of The Histories for my birhday. If you are looking for a good story to read...check out books 1, 3, and 5. I can't get enough.

8. Finally...Family Reunion. Well....my family is coming to town this weekend for an inaugural Memorial Day tradition...or, so it seems. Now...I love my family...but some of them are crazy. No...I mean really crazy...like..."is she alright?"...type crazy. Anyway...most of it will be fantastic...but there will be drama...so, my point is this...even though things might not be perfect...take a breath...look around...appreciate the good in your life...thank God...and enjoy it.

Good Times, more good times, and really good times.

2008-05-05T19:56:00.003-05:00

1. Good Times. I'm talking about that iconic t.v. show from the 70's. One of my favorite shows in syndication, it had been a while since I'd seen it...but man...so freaking good. O.k....so I was watching an episode the other night...the one about Michael being bused to a "white" school...and lo and behold...within 5 minutes Jesus, corporal punishment, and the need for a good education were all referenced...and in a positive light. Now, juxtapose that with some of the more popular themes emanating from...say BET/106 and Park/ and The Wire (for example)... materialism, sexualism, and "keepin it real"...what has happened? What went wrong? I ask...not rhetorically, but genuinely. Now...compare The Waltons with MTV...and you get the same thing....maybe, more so. So, I ask again...Are we that far gone? My guess is that James and Florida Evans wouldn't look at our culture and call it progress.

2. More good times. As most know here, while in Grad school, one can't read(for pleasure) or play sports(or do much of anything... save binge drinking) as much as one would like to. This said, having left school, and now that I am gainfully employed, my appetite for such things has returned. My point is this...recently, I've read, and played more golf, than I have in years. And you know what...I am better for it. Specifically, I played golf with a good friend the other day (who is finishing law school...congrats m3), and it was a very much needed catharsis, of sorts. So...go out...rediscover, and take the time to enjoy, the things that enrich your life. We only get one chance. Which leads me to...

3. Really good times. This week...a few very good friends...testudineous, vox meridies, and that 70's guy...will all descend on my fair city to see one of the greatest bands ever...Radiohead. My expectation is that we will recall, share, and make new memories. And just for the record...I hope they play at least 3 songs from The Bendz...the greatest album of the 90's.

I highly recommend...

2008-05-05T09:13:00.009-05:00

“Quiet is the new Loud” by Kings of Convenience – Picture a Norwegian Simon and Garfunkel only heavily influenced by Stan Getz. I wouldn’t compare these guys to Simon and Garfunkel because I wouldn’t compare most people to Simon and Garfunkel, but that description best paints the picture. The title “Quiet is the new Loud” is spot on as there is not a loud moment on this album. If you need adrenaline and something to pump you up, this is not your group, but if you like simple production that’s mellow and emotive…Buy this album. Also recommended by KOC, “Riot on an Empty Street”.

“Those the Brokes” by The Magic Numbers – Their first album was good. This one is great. Two sets of siblings. They’ve got a very unique way of blending their influences and are one of the truly unique bands out there. I love, love, love this album. It has moments both poppy and soulful and neither seems forced or out of place.

BUY THIS ALBUM!!!! (edit)

“Trials of Van Occupanther” by Midlake - Go buy this album. They sound like a modern band sounding like a 70’s band that doesn’t try to sound like a 70’s band. I can’t analyze too much of it because I haven’t had it for long…All I know is that this is one of my new favorite bands.

“Rabbit Fur Coat” by Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins – I caught Ms. Lewis’ primary group, Rilo Kiley, at a Coldplay show which they opened. I was impressed so I bought their album current to the time named “More Adventurous”. It was good. There are about four or five songs on there that I really like; whereas, the rest seemed like a misfire of an attempt at imbedding humanistic doctrine in not-so-catchy pop songs. However, I was very excited when I heard that Ms. Lewis had released a side-project bent more toward her “down home” side that subtly undertones Rilo Kiley’s stuff…Still though, as excited as I was, I was very wary of pumping the whole “I’ll question God loud enough so I don’t have to hear His answers” schtick into my ears that I was sure would be on anything she did so it took me almost two years to get myself to buy it…I am surprised. What I found is a brutally honest work by a woman who seems more desirous to reflect her life in song rather than just poke fun at all the “dumb Christians” out there, and I can certainly appreciate that. I could be wrong, but so far that’s my take, and I’m loving this album. It’s truly a post-modern folk masterpiece.

Questions I'm asking...

2008-04-18T10:52:00.006-05:00

1. Obama v. McGovern - It looks as though, barring some incredible turn of events, Barack Obama will win the Democratic Nomination. Anyone who reads political literature that’s even remotely objective now knows that he is, by his record as a legislator, one of the most liberal elected officials in our federal government, and that, because of this as well as the manner in which he has captured his party, he has drawn comparisons to George McGovern whom we know was perhaps most instrumental in the Democrats leftward sprint in the late 60’s and 70’s. I’ve had a number of conversations with fellow onlookers many of whom are confident that Obama’s fate in the general election will resemble McGovern’s in that he is just too far left for moderate America to accept….My question…Do you gentlemen agree with this?...Or do you believe that it’s only taken the general electorate this long to move just left of center enough to accept an Obama/McGovern type?

2. YFZ Ranch – Ever since the state of Texas raided that ranch I’ve had an uneasy feeling about the whole thing. First, I know there were allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct with minors made, and if they are true, which at least some surely are due solely to their marital practices, then the perpetrators should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, something just doesn’t sit right with me in how this whole thing has been executed. As I watched the footage of the raid, I couldn’t help but picture a not-too-distant future in which secular society imposes upon any religion that is outside or challenges the norm. Rest assured, I’m not equating my practicing my Christian faith with one of these alleged instances where teenage girls were forced to marry middle-age men, but I’ve watched the law enforcement proceed as ineptly and questionably as possible with few actually questioning them because the ones in subject are “weird”. It’s almost as if one can see secular society positioning itself to come under the type of leadership that would bring persecution to any who refuse to adhere to, say, a certain economic identification system, especially if for religious reasons. Any thoughts on this?...To those who may read and think I’m a doomsday-ist, I would ask…Do you think it more likely that this world will, over-time, view those who would separate themselves from it less and less favorably?...Do you think that, over-time, your faith will require you do so with increasing regularity and intensity?...For me and my understanding of Scripture, my answers are…yes…and yes.

3. Jimmy Carter – Is Jimmy Carter the dumbest man to have ever served as President or does he really harbor some sort of evil intent within him?...I really don’t know anymore.

Paint me incredulous...

2008-04-16T13:01:00.003-05:00

Tim Robbins is as famous for his outspoken political views...as he is for his body of celluloid work. Let me say definitively...there aren't many around in film today that I respect, admire, and look forward to seeing in a movie more than Mr. Robbins...and there aren't many around that I respect, admire, and look forward to hearing from less than Mr. Robbins, when it comes to politics...social or international. In the very appropriate words of one Bugs Bunny..."what a maroon!". This said, he recently gave a speech before the National Association of Broadcasters... and I have to say....kudos Mr. Robbins. Now, my guess is that his idea of "a perfect union" is much different than mine. Still, the general sentiment of his words should soak in, as it were. I just hope they were listening.

The Masters 2008!

2008-04-10T12:57:00.005-05:00

My favorite time of the year is upon us...and no...I don't mean the American Idol Finale. Alas, it is time for the greatest sports event of the year...The Masters tournament. I wrote last year about the special nature of the thing...with a brief description of the course...so, I'm not going to repeat myself. Except to say...this year we are looking for a little rain...possibly a good deal of rain...during the tourney, and this could change the entire character and outcome. Here is a brief list/summary of those who should contend for the green jacket:

1. Tiger Woods. I could write an entire post on his chances here...but let's just say that, if Tiger doesn't win...that might be as big a story as who actually does win. That is how dominant he has been. Remember...if he is putting...it is over.

2. Geoff Ogilvy. This guy has really played well of late, and could very well win. Don't be surprised if he is there on Sunday afternoon.

3. Zach Johnson. The defending champion continues to be a crowd favorite...and win a few things. It is doubtful, statistically and historically, that he would win....but....

4. Phil Mickelson. 2 green jackets in 4 years prove that he can win here. Still...Tiger is all in his head...as is his melt down a few years ago at Shinnecock Hills. He's got the game....and the mental deamons to boot. If he plays within himself, he has a shot(ha.)

5. The Usual Suspects. Goosen, Els, Singh, Harrington, Olazabal, Furyk....all these guys are in on a leader board somewhere in the world...on any given week. They have the game to win...but do they have the game to beat Augusta...and Tiger.

6. The Europeans and Australians. Rose, Poulter, Scott, Westwood...it has been said of all of these folks that "it is only a matter of time". Meaning, they can win....and should have a breakout win sooner than later. Of these guys..I would give the nod to Poulter and Scott as the possible Sunday players(ha, again).

7. Sentimental favorite: Fred Couples. Perennial fan favorite...with a non-chalant swing and attitude...and very bad back...Boom Boom played well last week....does the '92 champ have enough left? Man...wouldn't that be something...

Thoughts and conjecture....

2008-04-08T16:55:00.012-05:00

1. Champions League. My adopted team, Liverpool, beat the disdained Arsenal today...in the final leg of the round of 16...and will face the hated Chelsea on April 22 in the semis. This was somewhat of a surprise, but not a shock, as the reds have played well of late...and Arsenal hasn't. Still, a very good win...and we play another day. Please....for all that is right in the universe....please...please beat Chelsea.

2. China, the Olympics, and the world. There are going to be many....many people offering opinion...some more informed than others...about the upcoming Olympic Games. If I may say, as one who has spent significant time there, we..."the world"...have no idea what this means to China's idea of pride and "gaining face". Make no mistake...China...and her people...believe that this is their century... and that this is the beginning. Anything, or any nation, that acts in a manner that is seen as an affront to Chinese prestige will be the recipient of residual action. With this in mind, the "free world" has a chance to make a statement....but do we have the courage, will, and strength of character to do so? This is the question.

3. The Stranger. Now....Micah thinks this a reference to something else...but, alas, I'm speaking of Camus' work. After a conversation with the Black Rabbit the other day, I revisited this page-turner...before schedule(note: 2008 reading list on homepage)...and thoroughly enjoyed it. Let me say...while I completely disagree with the academic interpretation and extension often prescribed, I love the witty, frank, and obvious way it is written. If you are looking to read a very good...and brief...fiction, choose this little gem.

4. Iran and centrifuges. So...Iran is, by most reports, only a few months away from developing nuclear capability. Hmmm....am I the only one that finds this alarming? I mean in an eschatological sense? Seriously...it's not like the President of Iran has threatened the destruction of America, Israel, or any other free country....oh...I forgot this. And yeah....Obama wants to "talk" to these folks about regional stability.

5. Music to my ears. Most know the name Edith Piaf...and those who might not ...should. This lady dominated....and I mean dominated... the European music scene in the early 20th century...and then became famous in the U.S. in the 1980's when Hollywood directors realised that she is a great addition to any soundtrack. With the recent Academy award winning film about her life...she is now certainly "available". Folks...she deserves the acclaim, honour, and prestige. I heard her again last night...and wow.

6. Freaking... American Idol. I am going to get so much grief about this.....but yes...I have been watching this season's show(thank you J and E). And...I have to say...it's pretty effing good. Right now my favorite is the dude from Australia....but there are a couple of others that aren't bad. I hate that I just wrote that....

7. Finally...Faith, Friends, and Family. I say far too few words here about how blessed I am...with the friends that I've met along the way...with the brothers that I've been given...and with the unfailing love of my saviour. So...let me say...thank you to my friends...for continuing to choose me as a friend, Thank you to my brothers for loving me...honestly...and permanently. Most of all...thank you Jesus...for the ultimate sacrifice. I fail you often...but my heart...

"Why Don't We Throw a Little Nazi Party?"

2008-04-03T13:22:00.004-05:00

Just recently came across this old video...thought I'd share. I suppose it has little in common with the incumbent Nostalgic Artist of the Week, except perhaps for some of the excessive trappings of the '80s. Not much else to say...I think the video speaks for itself. Mel Brooks' "To Be or Not to Be" from his so-titled 1983 movie. Enjoy.

Nostalgic Artist of the Week... The Deele!

2008-03-30T17:47:00.005-05:00

O.K....so, that last post by Dr. Z has completely consumed me these last few days. Meaning, I've probably spent more than 5 hours, or so, on Youtube...treasure hunting for those old-school R&B gems that have faded from memory....and I have to say...it has been the happiest 5 hours for me in recent memory. This said, as I've rediscovered artists, the Artist of the Week was begging for a new designee.

Now, they wouldn't normally qualify...as I am loathe to give this esteemed title to a "one hit wonder", but, here, an exception is required. You see, if you go back and look at the list I compiled(and Dr. Z's) of the "Slow Jams 85-95", it is a fairly decent list....and while I still give "Shake You Down" the title, this classic deserves and commands note and recognition. Every single school dance played this song for years, and kids everywhere pathetically slow-danced the night away. One is hard pressed to find another single song that dominated that arena the way that this song did for a time...Ladies and gentlemen...and especially...the ladies....I give you The Deele.

Top 5 Favorite Slow Jams

2008-03-28T14:41:00.009-05:00

I’m calling a pause on my overrated/underrated/aptly rated post as it is, and has been pointed out, really three posts in one. All three categories deserve more attention and should be covered in later posts. My apologies, in hindsight it was foolish of me to think anyone else would care to or would have the time to tackle all three in one post.
That said, I offer another “music list” post:

Top 5 favorite slow jams from 1985-1995.

I meant to do this list a couple of weeks ago but was sidetracked by other thoughts.

My reasons for choosing 1985-1995 are:

1. Most everyone I know would agree this was the best period for the “slow jam”.
2. The 15-20 songs I thought of and chose my 5 from were all released in this time period.

Further, I’ve wanted to post this because I’m a complete sucker for slow jams…One of the first cassette tapes I ever owned was “Johnny Gill” by Johnny Gill…I still don’t remember how I got it…I was a little kid so I didn’t have money…Anyway, this has been part of my musical appetite for a while. So if right now you’re wondering what a “slow jam” is, this isn’t for you, but if you’re like me…let the apostrophes and slang prepositions start flyin'!

My top five all time slow jams in ascending order:

5. “Rock Witcha” by Bobby Brown – Before Whitney, the rise of Hip-Hop, and an obvious drug problem Bobby Brown released one of the best R&B albums ever made called “Don’t be Cruel”. The two standout slow jams from the album were this selection and a song called “Roni”…I really had a hard time choosing between the two.

4. “Your Body’s Callin’” by R. Kelly – Before trials, reinvention, and urinating on minors R. Kelley released another one of the best albums (12 play) for slow jams the best of which, in my opinion, is inarguably “Your Body’s Callin’”.

3. “My, My, My” by Johnny Gill – Off the aforementioned “Johnny Gill” by Johnny Gill album, this was one of his biggest hits. Not to encourage immoral behavior, but if you find yourself with a lady and in need of a song to get things moving, this song will not fail you. She may laugh at the obvious 90’s R&B vibe to start with, but she’ll stop when she finds herself doing exactly as Johnny commands when the first verse starts…If you can’t tell, Johnny Gill is one of my favorite 90’s R&B men.

2. “Night and Day” by Al B. Sure” – 1988 may be the banner year for R&B. It not only gave us Bobby Brown’s “Don’t be Cruel” but also yielded Al B. Sure’s “In Effect Mode”…Anyway, “Night and Day” is one of those songs that I never turn off…Doesn’t matter where I am, who I’m with, or what kind of mood I’m in…it’s probably one of my favorite 100 songs of all time and maybe would crack the top 60. This was a close second to…

1. “Feenin’” by Jodeci – If I had to pick a favorite R&B act, I love Johnny Gill and Al B. Sure, but Jodeci takes it hands down. As I’ve said before, I could do a top-5 favorite Jodeci songs so it was especially hard to choose which song by them would fall here. “Forever My Lady”, “Come and Talk to Me”…both great songs, but “Feenin’” off of 1993’s “Diary of a Mad Band” is easily my favorite of all the slow jams.

Honorable mentions: “Knockin’ Da Boots” by H-town and “Lady Du Jour” by Johnny Gill.

That’s it…My favorites.

What are yours?

Zeius

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2008-03-26T07:34:00.009-05:00

(watch this kid this year)

Here's my prediction for the impending baseball season...

...Division winners and playoffs scenarios.

N.L .East

Braves – Now bare with me here…We have an offense that will be and already has been plenty potent enough to compete (people forget we only finished 5 games back last year). The difference this year will be our starting pitching. Whereas we went 2 deep in our rotation last year, we’ve got 3 guys (Glavine, Smoltz, and Hudson) that have been durable, steady, “give them the runs and they’ll win” starters (except for Glavine’s every fourth start rule). Leaving Jair Jurrjens whose looked good so far and, of course, Mike Hampton. Not saying I expect it to happen, but IF Hampton can make just 20 starts this year, we’ve got 4-5 deep solid, not spectacular, rotation which neither the Phillies nor Mets can say…So what about the Phillies and Mets?...No pitching. Everyone forgets that they both fell apart last year only Philly fell apart less than N.Y…All I’m saying is they better not sleep on my Braves cause I think we’ve got at least 2 more division round losses in us.

N.L. Central

Cubs – Yeah, big shock…I know money doesn’t buy rings, but dear God!...If they can’t win with this team, they really are cursed.

Do see the Reds contending right in there with Brewers

N.L. West

D-Backs – I love this team. Young, scrappy with solid pitching that got just close enough to get a taste but not close enough to satiate the hunger…O.k. enough of the feely stuff…If we learned anything from the Beckett-Willis Marlins Championship it’s that young teams with solid pitching that also excel at moving on the bags and producing scoring opportunities always play well down the stretch which is exactly when the inevitable blood bath that is the N.L. west will be decided.

N.L. Wildcard

Dodgers – Conventional wisdom says don’t count the Padres out of the playoff race cause they always find a way in, but I think the Dodgers pitching carries them to the stretch which is precisely where the youngsters and Andruw Jones go to sleep relegating them to the Wild Card as the D-backs small ball themselves into the division crown.

And, no, I'm still not convinced that the Rockies are that good.

A.L. East

Red Sox – Everything in me says the Yanks blow up after the break and take the division, but I’m looking at this lineup and just don’t see too many holes while the Yanks have one glaring deficiency...their pitching, and just like a good front seven in football, pitching wins Championships.

A.L. Central

Tigers – Do I even need to write anything here?...

A.L. West

Mariners – I think adding Bedard will be huge in what I see is the weakest division in baseball. I also think King Felix ascends the throne this year. They’ve got a decent lineup capable of producing runs…I think this division will ultimately be decided by who is less injured and the Angels are just too old not to expect Vlad or somebody very important to go down in mid-summer.

A.L. Wildcard

Indians – Not much to say here, I think they’d take the division if not for the Tigers.

Playoffs

N.L.

Cubs def. Dodgers in 5
D-backs def. Braves in 4

D-backs def. Cubs in an epic 7 games.

A.L.
Indians def. Red Sox in 5
Tigers sweep Mariners

Tigers def. Indians in 6

World Series

Tigers def. D-backs in 6.

Zeius

Thoughts and Musings.

2008-03-24T20:00:00.007-05:00

1. Obama and race. We've been hearing for a while now that Obama's campaign represents something new...as in change...that amorphous thing that crops up every 4 years...except when the Dems are the incumbents. Specifically, the idea here is that he is the first "post-racial" candidate. I've touched on race-relations before, so I'm not going to re-hash that whole thought....but there are a few things that need to be said:

A. Obama is anything but a "post-racial" candidate. 90% of African-American voters vote for him, 75% of Hispanic voters vote against him....the only folks split are the Caucasian voters. So...one of two things is true: 1. White voters determine what is and is not "post-racial", and are held to a different standard...or 2. He is very much a racial candidate, by statistical definition.

B. In this whole Rev. Wright fiasco there is one thing that struck me....mainly, that he rolled his grandma under the bus as a racist. Now....she might have said some derogatory things with a racially prejudiced charge...and I would never defend such things. However, in doing so, he equated a statement made 40 years ago to something said in a pulpit some 3 years ago...accusing the U.S. government of creating AIDS for genocidal purposes in the Black Community. Unbelievable....

C. I Think I would like Obama as a person, and he is better than this. As I've written here before, we are in this American experiment together, but to have an honest discussion, we need honest participants.

2. March Madness. Not much to say other than this annual phenomenon always surprises...and it shouldn't. This year Davidson and Western Kentucky are the 'Cinderellas'... and madness has ensued.

3. Theatre. No...I'm not going to write anything about the proper theatre...though I am due to attend the opera soon, and am viscerally excited. No, this is about celluloid theatre. Namely movies that I have seen recently and had forgotten for a time. First, The Sound of Music was on last night...and wow...what a great movie....they truly do not make'em like that anymore. Then today...I saw Bull Durham ... say what you want about Kevin Costner... and most of it would be accurate...but that movie is darn good. One thing about that guy...he can make a good baseball movie.

4. Illegal immigration and Crime. On March 3 of this year Jamiel Shaw, 17, was shot and killed by an illegal Mexican immigrant in L.A. This Mexican citizen was one day removed from getting out of jail for a felony weapons charge. Shaw was, by most accounts, a decent student...and was college bound, as Rutgers and Stanford were offering football scholarships. So...think about this....a Mexican citizen enters this country illegally, joins a gang, is arrested on a felony weapons charge(we pay the taxes for his stay, by the way), is released...but not to ICE...but on the streets...then murders an American citizen....all because the Mayor of L.A. designated the city as an "sanctuary city". So...they protect Mexican citizens...but not American citizens? Does anyone in L.A. not see the disconnect here? Oh...I forgot to mention that Shaw's mom is in Iraq serving our country.

5. Tiger Woods and "greatness". Woods just lost for the first time in 7 tournaments. He played...by his standards...abysmally...yet, finished on the leader board. Make no mistake....Tiger is poised to do something amazing...historical...unprecedented, these next few years. Folks, when greatness appears, stop...take notice...watch...appreciate.

6. Democrats as "the party of the people"? I have a few pithy thoughts here:

a. Is it not poetic that the supposed "party of the people" is about to possibly nullify all of the cast primary votes...in favor of unelected "superdelegates"...aka party officials? Almost a Homeric tragedy...

b. Why can't Florida Dems hold a freaking election? Seriously....

7. Finally, Music. I see that Dr. Z had a very nice post below...which I will get to in due time. But...I have to say something about the new Allison Krauss and Robert Plant production. To say I was skeptical...would seriously underestimate my feelings at the time. To say that I now am a fan...would egregiously underestimate my feelings. Folks, it is that damn good.

Also, Happy Belated Easter. Christ be with you...that is my prayer.

Underrated - Overrated - Aptly Rated

2008-03-24T13:30:00.011-05:00

I awoke Saturday to a crippling hunger as Friday night I replaced what should have been dinner with a couple glasses of red wine. While on my way to get lunch, I had one of those “zen” like moments of musical enjoyment where one hears a song they’ve heard all their life only to have it strike them as though it were the first time they had ever heard it. The song for me last Saturday was “Lady” by Styx.

As undoubtedly comical as that thought alone will be for some who read here, this experience motivated me to go to my local Walmart and purchase their greatest hits. I figured I’d drop $8-$10 essentially to purchase “Lady” which, to those who know me, is a perfectly reasonable price to pay for possession of a song I really love. To my surprise though, I worked my way through the cd and track after track were songs I’d always loved but never knew were by Styx, which got me thinking about…

My most underrated, most overrated, and most aptly rated artists/bands from 1970 until now.

The only criteria for these lists:

1. Must be able to make a thoughtful argument that the artist/band should be more recognized, less recognized, or are justifiably widely recognized.

2. The artist/band must have achieved their zenith since 1970. (ex. Zeppelin released I and II in 1969 but didn’t reach the peak of their relevance until after 1970).

3. We’re talking about people who actually created music…I don’t even consider the Fergie’s of the world to be artists.

My Most Underrated Artists/Bands

Bread – You know if things like melody, harmony, and lyrical intuition mattered to the average music “lover”, Bread would be one of the most notable bands of the 70’s. Instead, they’re “that band that sang ‘Guitar Man’”. (sigh)

America – Everything that I just said about Bread only they’re “that band that sang ‘Horse with No Name’”. An aside, I have a friend from college who gloats that I’ve never beaten him at Trivial Pursuit but that also spent the better part of an afternoon arguing with me that Neil Young wrote and sang “Horse with No Name”…

Styx – No, I am not just on a Styx high. “Best of Times”, “Renegade”, “Babe” – these are all songs that I always loved and never knew were Styx. I just missed these guys somehow, but the harmonies and ultra-cheesy rock piano ballads…I mean, come on…

The Cars – I know they were huge in the 80’s, but they have fallen prey to the 80’s band stigma (as my friend Robbie put it) in that people have forgotten that they wrote some great songs and were a pretty good band just because they happened in the 80’s.

Fleetwood Mac – I know they were and are big…I just don’t think they’ve ever been as appreciated as they should be…They probably never will be.

Alice in Chains – In my opinion, easily the most talented of the Seattle bands. They put out 5 great albums before succumbing to the usual trappings of rock stardom and were never fully appreciated. I know very few people around my age that didn’t like them, but still, every time I hear Nirvana or Kurt Cobain thrown around as “King of the Seattle movement” it makes me cringe.

Travis – If you love Brit-pop rock…You should love Travis. They’re one of these enigmatic bands to me in that I know loads of people that, by their usual tastes, should absolutely love them but don’t own any of their albums. They’ve released 5 remarkable albums which is more than most bands ever do. Still though, if I could have any band’s career, it would probably be theirs because they’re just big enough to make a ton of money and play to big crowds yet small enough to still live life on their own terms. As in, I’ve three of their albums, have been a fan for almost a decade, and probably couldn’t pick one of them out of a lineup.

David Gray - In my opinion, the best lyricist of my generation. Most people disagree. Most people have never really sat down and listened to him. I say David Gray and they think “Babylon” which could not be a poorer representation of his talent. His ability to say what you feel in a better way than you yourself is rare and should be celebrated. Songs like “Shine”, “Lead Me Upstairs”, “Gutters Full of Rain”, “As I’m Leaving”, “Falling Down the Mountainside”…I really could name about 20 more.

Hall and Oates – Like The Cars…Huge in the 80’s but hindered by the 80’s stigma…They were two soulful white guys who wrote a ton of great songs. I’m firmly convinced that everyone is a Hall and Oates fan…Only there are those of us who admit it and those who don’t.

The Black Crowes – A band that’s overlooked a lot because of their characterization as gritty, southern rockers. ..Which they are and is exactly my point…They’ve consistently done what no one else has consistently done since Skynard’s plane crash.

My Most Overrated Bands/Artists

Nirvana - Treated as rock royalty when really at best they were mediocre musicians who rode the credibility coat tails of their Seattle counterparts. (Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, etc…)

Green Day - Proof that all one has to do to get Rolling Stone in your corner is write an album criticizing any or all of the following: Republicans, Christians, or any other idea rooted in thoughtful moral consideration.

The Clash – I actually like the Clash. I just don’t think they should be as celebrated as they are. Other than that, I’ve nothing much to say about them.

The Sex Pistols – Proof that ignorant, unjustifiably angry people will always choose to listen to other ignorant, unjustifiably angry people, regardless of musical ability, instead of educating themselves to the point that they realize they’ve no reason to be so angry.

The Ramones – These guys just sucked. I’ve never understood the appeal. They’re just BAD musicians.

Note: I don’t hate punk, just bad musicians who were famous for being bad musicians.

My Most Aptly Rated Bands/Artists

Led Zeppelin - Every bit as legendary as they should be.

Boston – There’s a reason their debut album held the record for such a long time (“it’s been such a long time…”). For most of my teen years I criticized them as being overrated…then I listened to them.

U2 – Over the last twenty-seven years or so, these guys have earned their status as legends. I think history will prove them as such.

Guns and Roses – Easily the best hard rock band in an era dominated by hard rock bands. I have no doubt that one day I’ll come home from work to hear “My Michelle” blasting from my son’s room…and commence worrying about him much like I’m sure my dad worried the first time he came home to the sound of me wood-shedding to his Zeppelin cd’s.

Pearl Jam – I may be a little biased here, but in terms of rock “movements”, I think the Seattle scene was huge, and PJ is the best of the few bands from that movement to consistently put out good music over an extended period of time. Now, of course, I’m sick of the whole political rock schtick that has replaced what was once the 90’s best band, but I believe they can and will eventually get it back at which time history will judge them as one of the greats.

Simon and Garfunkel – “I hear the drizzle of the rain, like a melody it falls…” If you can’t listen to “Kathy’s Song” (my personal favorite) or any of their other many, many great songs and not be drawn to some strong emotion, you’re dead inside…Now, if you cry profusely and writhe about on the floor upon hearing any part of a particular of their songs…You’ve issues.

The Bee Gees – Scoff if you must, but they achieved their notoriety for being an extremely talented dance music band which is precisely what they were.

Dave Mathews Band – I know it’s too soon for it to be cool to admit that you liked them, but they were the best group of musicians to have gained the kind of notoriety that they did since the 70’s, and they wrote some very intriguing stuff accomplishing what few others have…Creating music that both the “top 40” listener and the hyper-critical musician could enjoy.

Note 1: These are my MOST overrated/underrated/aptly rated, not my ONLY overrated/underrated/aptly rated.

Note 2: The lack of presence of more ethnic artists is not due to any racial bias. Rather, I tried to focus more on rock/pop-rock artists and feel that the R&B, Soul, and Hip-hop genres deserve their own lists.

cheers
Zeius

The little team that could...and still could...

2008-03-17T09:03:00.018-05:00

For those that don’t follow college basketball too closely, something of such an improbable nature happened this weekend that I wanted to write about it but was also surprised that no one had yet done so.

This past weekend my beloved Georgia Bulldawgs entered their conference tournament in last place in the conference boasting an atrocious conference record of 4-12…and won the whole freakin thing.

Round one –Thursday night, they beat Ole Miss in an overtime nail-biter.

Round two – Their second round game against Kentucky, scheduled for Friday night, was rescheduled, seemingly by the hand of God, for Saturday morning setting them up to not only play a game in which they were a complete underdog, but also put them in a situation where a win buys them a second game against an even better team later Saturday night. They won…How? A freshman guard that doesn’t start and averages just over 4 points per game hits a turn around three with someone’s hand in his face and very little time left, once again, in overtime.

Round three – After having already played one game on saturday afternoon, they play a Miss. State team saturday night that had a better record than any other western division team and beat them in a game that was decided by fewer than 5 points and one in which had State been able to make anything in the closing 2 minutes, they win and I’m not writing this right now.

The Championship game – They draw an Arkansas team that was absolutely lights out the night before, establish an early lead, surrender early lead, and pull away at the end not only winning the SEC Championship but also getting a punched ticket to the DANCE!

Thoughts:

1. What makes this scenario even more absurd is the production that put them over the top in all four games was from guys that couldn’t do anything all year…They get in the conference tourney and all of the sudden Terrence Woodbury turns into about a 60% three point shooter, Albert Jackson develops and milks a little hook shot finally doing something to take advantage of his size, and Billy Humphrey and Corey Butler start drawing charges and making things happen in the clutch?!!!!!....Really?

2. The sweetest thing about this is the fact that you have a senior point guard (Sundiata Gaines) who has absolutely played his heart out and a coach (Dennis Felton) who was hired to clean the program up and has done so often at the expense of winning (i.e. the Mercer and Brown incidents) and they not only are pulled from depths of a wasted year (in Gaines’ case, a wasted last year) but are also Dancing!...How awesome is that? Two class acts winning in the end…I thought that sort of thing only happens in movies…

3. I’ve said it at least 35 times over this weekend, but I firmly believe this was a turning point for this program. The kids that are coming back next year, which is most of them, will show up to camp knowing that if they put it together they can beat anybody in the conference, and that goes a long way.

4. I’ve been fortunate to watch my Dawgs win two SEC championships in football over the last 8 years, but if you had told me that I’d see them win a conference title in basketball, I probably would have given you the blank-face (as I’ve been told it is) before betting you $100 that it wouldn’t happen before I turn forty (in 13 years), and it just happened.

5. This is why I love sports…because you never know. Sure 99% of the time we assume the outcome and are correct, but there’s always a Boise St. fiesta bowl, or a Sid Bream, or a David Tyree catching a ball against his helmet in the biggest moment of his career, or a Valparaiso, or a Jim Valvano, or a ’99 Ryder Cup team out there…and now, there’s the 2008 SEC Champion Georgia Bulldawgs.

So, they’re dancing, and they‘ve drawn Xavier in the first round…Thoughts?

And if they beat Xavier they’ll likely get Purdue…Thoughts?

And if they were to beat Purdue, they’d likely get Duke in the sweet sixteen…Thoughts?

zeius

I love this game!

2008-03-12T14:58:00.012-05:00

So, I completely destroyed my ankle playing tennis last week which prompted me to take two and a half days off from work (Yes, it’s that bad). I spent that time doing what a sub-thirty year old male does when he’s off work and principally immobile...I watched ESPN, the weekly showing of “The Godfather” I and II on AMC, and played an absurd amount of “March Madness ‘08”. Much like Peter from “Office Space”… “I did nothing, and it was everything I always thought it could be”.

Anyway, perhaps the most intriguing thing I watched during that whole time was an NBA classic films spot chronicling Jordan’s 63-point game in the Garden against the Celtics in the ’86 playoffs.

Now, facts of interest:

1. This was just Jordan’s second year in the league, and he sat out most of the year with a broken foot that doctors advised him to rest through the end of the season and offseason. So, he did this while recovering from an injury.

2. That Celtics team is easily one of the top three best teams in the history of the NBA. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, and an aging Bill Walton. In fact, they were so good that they won that game in overtime. Which leads me to…

3. The Celtics swept Chicago in that series. SWEPT Chicago in that series…If that’s not a testament to the fact that a superstar scorer does not guarantee wins in basketball, I don’t know what does.

4. Larry Bird was quoted after the game as saying “…I think that was God disguised as Michael Jordan”…Larry freakin’ Bird!...That’s not exactly Craig Ehlo saying that. That’s Larry Bird, inarguably one of the top ten, probably top five, best players ever, and Jordan so demoralized anyone put in his path that night that the only way Bird could describe it was to say that it was like watching God play a basketball game against humans.

Now, my point in all this is that I’m very excited about the NBA playoffs for the first time since the ’98 finals, and that was due to being able to watch Jordan in what we all knew would be his last and that one of my favorite players of all time, John Stockton, had a shot to win a ring.

Why am I so excited?...

1. Because I’ve run through every possible first round matchup in the West and I would refuse to bet on a single one of them…And that’s the first round!...Not that there won’t be favorites, but, as Golden State reminded us last year, the West is just that deep.

2. Because watching that clip of Jordan’s 63-point game made me think that today’s equivalent would be Kobe or Lebron dropping that kind of performance on the Spurs (who will eventually go down as one of the ten best teams ever) or Celtics, respectively…AND THAT TOTALLY COULD HAPPEN!…I don’t know maybe I’m just jonesin for baseball more than I realize, but I can’t shake the feeling that one of those guys is going to assume the throne during this year’s playoffs just like Jordan did that year which, just like Jordan, may not translate to a title run… yet (I do realize that Kobe has three rings, but everyone knows that never happens without Shaq in his prime).

3. Because the thought of having a Lakers v. Celtics finals matchup excites me. You’ve got Kobe and Gasol, a dominating, prima-donna superstar and a weird Canadian that should not be as good as he is, going against Allen, Pierce, and Garnett, three sincere, legitimate stars that all suddenly find themselves resurrecting a great franchise after having to waste most of their collective prime on bad teams (sorry T).

This is going to be good because you don’t know what’s going to happen...What if the Celtics draw Cleveland in the second round of the East playoffs and Lebron decides to drop 63 on them in game two at the Garden?...Have you noticed what he's been doing to his opponents lately?...That could really happen!…I’m excited.

zeius

Thanks for nothing, Andy...

2008-03-12T11:20:00.009-05:00

I started playing tennis about a month ago. I've got a friend who plays, and we average about three nights a week on the court (until I suffered a severe ankle sprain which I am currently nursing). Tennis is a sport I've always had an appreciation for but never followed closely or paid too much attention to with football, baseball, basketball, and golf consuming what attention is left over from Christ, work, music, and my girlfriend. However, as with anything, the more I play the game and the more I improve at it, the more I want to follow it. I even watched a couple sets from a match in Dubai last week between two eastern European guys with names I had neither heard nor could pronounce.

My point, I'm getting into tennis hardcore, and I just saw a headline that not only disrupts my newfound interest in the game but also my overall philosophy for international sports which basically is that I first always want "the Amercian" to win, and if there is no viable American competitor, I'll pull for a Brit (especially in tennis, they need to win Wimbledon), then an Irishman (Scot or Welshman), then a German or an Eastern/Nor-Euro, then an Italian, then an Asian, then a Spaniard, and then a Frenchman in which case there is nothing but Frenchman left and I can't imagine that being a sport I would care about.

Anyway, my point is that my main criterion for choosing whom to support in international sports are based on patriotism. That said, what is the biggest patriotism-fueled sports event in the world?...The Olympics, of course.

Well, Andy Roddick just announced he's skipping the Olympics to gear up for the U.S. Open.

I understand that he wants to win the Open because he's an American and it's the only major he stands a chance in right now, and that the Olympics aren't as big a factor in Tennis as, say, javelin throwing, but still, this pisses me off.

Represent your country, Andy!

Set aside your carreer for pride in your country every four years. That's like three times in the average career.

This also bothers me because there are major athletes that take immense pride in representing our great country in the Olympics. Take Lebron James, for instance. He's arguably the biggest athlete in this country right now, and I've heard him equate his desire to win Olympic gold for America to his desire to win an NBA championship for Cleveland, which he's very passionate about.

There's always been something that bugged me about Roddick. I just could never put my finger on it. Well, now I have a reason.

Say, who's the top Brit in tennis right now?

zeius

"Shame On You, Barack Obama!"

2008-03-11T12:02:00.002-05:00

The CDC has just released its yearly report, and the STD infection rate is, again, accelerated and disturbing. Reading the piece on the CNN website, however, I was completely distracted by the accompanying photo. Does anyone else feel like Team Clinton might be behind this one?

This week's headlines from the "You don't say!" category.

2008-03-08T14:24:00.002-05:00

Nobel winner: Hillary Clinton's 'silly' Irish peace claims

- You mean First Ladies don't broker international peace agreements...and never have? You dont say...

Hampton injured in second spring start

- Mike Hampton is hurt? What...?

Private Eye Accused of Spying on Targets

- A Private Eye actually is stealthy? No...

Rice, Abbas Urge Resumption of Talks

- Palestinians shell 2 Israeli cities...then, murder 7 teenage seminary students...Israel gets pissed and threatens action....and Abbas wants to talk. Really...?

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR ENGINEERS in Syria.

- You mean there actually is an axis of evil? Seriously...?

And, Finally.....Record snowfalls mean big meltdown

-Snow melts? Huh...?

On Flatulence and Faithfulness

2008-03-03T16:58:00.002-05:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about a conversation Herodotus and I had during Blog Summit 2008 in Savannah. We were discussing women, relationships, and such when I revealed what, to him, was an astonishing revelation. I told him that I had yet to fart in front of my girlfriend. He responded with the question “Then how do you know if the relationship is real or not?”. I, then, revealed that passing gas is something I’ve always tried to avoid regardless of the length and depth of the relationship in question, and his response birthed an internal conversation I’ve been having over the last few weeks. One that has culminated with the following:

If the emotional oil to the engine of relationship is humility, and humility toward someone is only attained through true vulnerability to the same, how could I have ever counted a relationship real without ever compromising myself to the point of even something so menial, and often comical, as timely flatulence?

Further, if vulnerability is the springboard for true spiritual/emotional growth with someone and spiritual/emotional growth the only real way to ensure the longevity of a relationship, how could I have ever expected to openly seek the face of God with a woman through prayer, confession, etc...if I lack the stones to even gas her every now and then?

So I realized the irony in that we close ourselves off in order to avoid being vulnerable to the emotional loss of being left by someone we love while vulnerability is the most needful quality if one hopes to avoid such a loss.

I guess no one ever said it would be fair or easy.

cheers
Zeius

'Crime and Punishment' or 'How the West Was Won'?

2008-03-03T11:25:00.003-05:00

The following is a video of A Russian rock band playing 'Sweet Home Alabama'...with the Red Army Choir(Hat tip: NRO). It is a passable rendition of the song, but I find the mere idea of the thing as the most interesting aspect here. We tend to forget how the world has changed over these last 18 years...which, in historical/chronological terms is almost nothing. Nevertheless, a change has come...and speaks to possible future changes. What do these next years hold?

Artist of the Week...Ray Lamontagne.

2008-02-27T14:17:00.002-05:00

I've referenced him recently in this space, but decided that he deserved his own post. I don't have much to say about him, as I don't know much, and am new to his music, but I am very impressed...and grateful for this addition to my listening rotation. Ladies and gentlemen...your Artist of the Week....Mr. Lamontagne. And by the way, you are welcome....

William F. Buckley Jr., R.I.P.

2008-02-27T13:18:00.002-05:00

There are many things one could say....and many will say much in these next few days and weeks.....about Buckley, but the one thing that comes to mind for me....is the word erudition. A true 'Renaissance Man', he embodied a higher order in thinking and action. Whether sailing, debating, writing, or playing the harpsichord, there was a sense that he was the best at it.

One of my first memories of Buckley was on his show Firing Line. He was interviewing Norman Mailer....and boy was it a verbal donnybrook. Other than Reagan, he was the first unrepentant conservative I'd heard...and I loved it(even though he and Reagan disagreed on the Panama Canal thing). Simply, his contribution was this...while Europe sailed towards a socially and economically crippling socialism, Buckley uttered those famous words of commandment....'to stand athwart history, and yell stop!'. He did....and now it is our turn. God bless you and your grieving family, Mr. Buckley....and thank you.

Here is Buckley taking on Noam Chomsky:

Random Thoughts...

2008-02-26T21:17:00.004-05:00

Nothing to say...that really means anything. Here are a few random thoughts tumbling around the ole' bacon-eater:

1. I hate it when the MSM reports on 'consumer confidence' as a news story...primarily, for two reasons: 1. It's never good news....which leads me to this...2. If the MSM constantly reports that consumer confidence is falling....wouldn't consumer confidence...fall further? I mean, what would be the purpose of reporting...oh, yeah...

2. There's a big argument as to whether...'Tiger is that good', or 'does his competition lack that much'. I say...it doesn't matter. In fact, both are true. My guess is that if Tiger at his best(have we even seen it yet) played 'The Golden Bear' at his best....well, who knows...

3. I hate Tennessee. But I kinda like their basketball team.

4. Kosovo. No one wants to talk about it. Why? I have a guess...regardless, it's a big story.

5. Shooting that 'rogue' satellite down might be the coolest thing that has happened in a long, long time. In one fell swoop we proved Missile Defense capabilities...and took Brittany Spears out of the headlines.

6. Good friends with taste are invaluable. Testudineous just sent me some music, and in this veritable treasure trove of auditory pleasure is the voice of Ray LaMontagne. Seriously....a white Otis Redding...and I say that with all deference due Mr. Redding.

7. Diane Lane is still beautiful.

8. I took my oldest nephew to a movie this week. He's only eight...so, I had to find a movie that he could see...and that made me think...something as seemingly innocuous as going to the movies...and children still need to be protected...amazing. What have we come to...? But we had a good time. We saw National Treasure 2. He really didn't get the story...but he loved the adventure and visuals....and I think he dug hanging out with his uncle. That won't last long...

9. Anyone who knows me....and who would listen...knows that I've always said that Hillary Clinton is a weak candidate. She had to go to N.Y. to run for the Senate...because the more people see and hear her, the less they like her(NY became a natural habitat, because they don't like anyone). I completely disagree with Obama on every issue...except for maybe 'energy independence'...and would probably never vote for him...but I like him. Hillary is toast.

10. Here's a quote...let's see who can guess it first...if you are kin, you better get this: "I would like to direct this to the distinguished members of the panel: You lousy cork-soakers. You have violated my farging rights. Dis somanumbatching country was founded so that the liberties of common patriotic citizens like me could not be taken away by a bunch of fargin iceholes... like yourselves."

List of the Week...Supporting Actors.

2008-02-25T10:42:00.009-05:00

As many of my conversations devolve into one of lists, I figured a weekly feature of lists would be appropriate. Thus, I offer....the List of the Week. This week the subject is one that has been on my mind for a while now... namely...the top five consumate supporting actors. Now...this list could be ridiculously extensive...and is by no means exhaustive...yet, five is all I offer here. The criteria is as follows: 1. Can't really carry a movie on his or her own. 2. Has more than just one fantastic supporting role. 3. Generally, makes any movie he/she is in better. 4. Fairly underrated. Though...some are highly rated...as supporting role actors. O.k...so here is my list....without extensive thought going into it. Feel free to post your own list...as I am interested to see where this goes:

1. Peter Boyle. Movies of note: The Candidate, Young Frankenstein, Taxi Driver, Monster's Ball. Boyle is one of my favorite actors of all-time. Though...not for the movies listed above. Those give him 'industry cred'. The roles that endear him to me....Young Frankenstein(his tour de force), Johnny Dangerously, Yellowbeard...all are ridiculous roles...but he is perfect for them. For me....his major qualification for being on this list is that he makes awful movies...and very good movies...better.

2. Claude Raines. Movies of note: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, King's Row, Casablanca, Notorious, Lawrence of Arabia. Raines is one of the best actors that no one today has ever heard of. Hitchcock loved using the guy...and rightfully so. His ablilty to play sneaky and creepy was very subtle....but that was his genious. If you haven't seen Notorious...do so. Again...the guy couldn't/didn't carry a movie on his own...but he made the likes of Bogart, Grant, and Stewart that much better.

3. Richard Farnsworth. Movies of note: Papillon, Comes a Horseman, The Outlaw Josie Wales, Roots, Anne of Green Gables, The Natural, Misery. Farnsworth had a prolific career, but was always....and I mean always...in the background. Still, I can't think of a time when he did something poorly. His turn in The Natural is one of the best from the 80's, and let me say....I watched Anne of Green Gables while living in China....and was grateful to have 8 hours of uninterrupted english entertainment...but more than that....Farnsworth reminded me of why I love movies....and my grandfather. No one....except for the person next on the list...had a better grasp of being the 'old rustic sage'...combining that old-school southern gentility with an iron will.

4. Robert Duvall. Movies of note: If you don't know, you don't deserve to have an opinion. In short, Duvall is one of the best actors of his time. The characters, the movies, the general success.....all give testament to this. From holding his own in The Godfather movies to convincing audiences that he is a crew chief for Nascar...he's that good. There is much I could say here...but the jist is this....if you enjoy westerns...he makes the best out there today. Check out Open Range and Broken Trail, if you don't believe me.

5. Kevin Pollack. Movies of note: A Few Good Men, The Ususal Suspects, L.A. Story. I can hear the howling or laughter or ridicule...already, but I like this guy. His turn in A Few Good Men was perfect, and in one of my sentimental favorites from the 90's Indian Summer, he was really really good. Now...usually...any person in a movie like Juwanna Man would never be in any positive list of any kind. But that is kinda my point here....he has been in some absolutely awful films...but he does a decent job in them. I hate...loathe...disdain...Daryl Hannah in anything she has done....but in Grumpy Old Men...Pollack actually had me rooting for him to win her over....and I normally wouldn't wish that on anybody. That's acting, folks.

* I really wanted to put Paul Giamatti on this list, but his role in American Splendor disqualifies him. He carries that entire film by himself...and could've won an Oscar for it. If you haven't seen it.....

Thoughts

2008-02-23T19:14:00.002-05:00

Our identity and/or liberties as individuals must never become an agent of destruction, either for ourselves or others. Who we are is a gift from our Creator. Our special place in this world must always be understood in the light of our Savior and His commission. As Isaiah wrote, "the wolf and the lamb shall graze alike...;" the wolf is still a wolf but has subjected his will to that of the Father. We too must understand who we are but always filtered through who He is. Above all esle, we must protect humankind's dignity through our policies and actions. This means resisiting any moevement that encourages the breakdown of that dignity. Social instutitions, individual "liberties", and government polcies must be placed to this scrutiny. Indeed the diginity of individuals must be protected. Yet, the dignity of the whole must be the priority when individual liberties and human dignity are on different paths.

VM

Hey everybody....it's that 70's guy!

2008-02-19T17:51:00.004-05:00

You may have noticed that we are now blessed with a new contributor...that 70's guy. Trust me when I say...this is quite the coup for this little corner of the internet. T70G is one of the brightest, most analytical, and well-read minds I've had the pleasure to come across(he had read Nietsche before most get braces), and we can look forward to him saying/writing the utterly ridiculous...and the ridiculously insightful. When he isn't shaping the culinary landscape in his hometown, I hope he can offer up just a little of that earthy and caustic banter that many of us have come to love and appreciate. Welcome, that 70's guy...just keep the Pink Floyd and Military Industrial Complex conspiracy to a daily minimum. But then again....

The resurgence of alacrity.

2008-02-19T11:06:00.003-05:00

These last few months have been somewhat tumultuous for me personally...moving, beginning a new career, having to expend energy to learn for that new career, making new friends, becoming reacquainted with old friends...etc. As a consequence, my ability, or even willingness...or even still, desire....to use this space for thought and conjecture had waned. In fact, I've been rather lazy in my personal time. For some reason, though...actually, I can think of a few reasons...I've become more introspective of late...and subsequently...cognizant of the need to shake off this opaque lethargy. So, my first order of business is to begin writing again. This task is marked here. In addition, my mind needs food. Now, I read consistently...but am I reading the things that would 'stretch my tent', as Faulkner might say. To make certain...I am going to revisit the endeavor that Testudineous and I began right at a year ago...before all of these life-changes...and start work on the authors found to the left.

With this in mind, I am going to re-post the conversation he and I had regarding Kierkegaard. Anyone is welcome to join this journey....but I have to say....this is something I need....to be better....wiser...more fruitful.

With Fear and Trembling, we approach Kierkegaard and his idea of faith and the absurd.-circa 02/13/2007

2008-02-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

The following is a brief attempt to tackle a few of the pertinent ideas found in Johannes de Silentio's(S. Kierkegaard) Fear and Trembling....in the form of a Q&A with testudineous and myself:

I. Summary.

(H)- In short, de Silentio uses the story of Abraham and his son Isaac as an example of a great leap toward the absurd. The idea here is that we, as finite beings, struggle to find the difference between the Universal(ethical) and the Absolute(a relationship with God). There are many areas of thought that one might choose to focus on, but these are the ideas that strike me, as it were:
1. That there is a fundamental difference between allegiance to what is right and what is faithful.
2. That an issue of primacy exists between what is given, and he who is the giver.
3. That we, as finite beings, try to resolve this difference resulting in a 'spiritual trial', not to be confused with temptation.
4. To show this, he gives us the Knights of resignation and faith, the idea of 'duty to the absolute', and a possible 'teleological suspension of the ethical'.
In addition, there are general things to remember when reading this work
1. This is a primarily philosophical work that he, himself, thought of as different from his strictly religious works.
2. There is a purpose to the pseudonym used.
3. His audience, in part, was his contemporary church that he found 'passionless ' in its faith and application thereof.

(T)- herodotus has pointed out a few of the ideas he takes from Fear and Trembling, but perhaps a very brief exposition of the work is necessary for the uninitiated. Johannes de Silentio, our narrator, feels he has understood Hegel's philosophical "System" well enough, but there is one idea he feels he cannot fully grasp: faith. His attempts at defining faith are centered on the story of Abraham---the "father of faith"---and the ultimate test of his faith...God commands that he kill his only son, Isaac. However brave he feels himself, however much he believes he loves God, Johannes simply cannot admit that he has faith, has what Abraham exhibited.
In this attempt to define faith, in terms both positive and negative (i.e., what faith is not), several related dilemmas arise. herodotus has touched on the major issues above, although I'll add some of my own thoughts and responses here, before we move on to our dialogue. I think that, where my intrepid co-blogger cites the struggle to distinguish between the Universal and the Absolute, Kierkegaard instead struggles to reconcile the two. That is, for de Silentio the difference between them is obvious; it is how Abraham broke from the one into the other, while somehow maintaining his place in both, that our narrator just cannot comprehend. The use of "right," as opposed to "faithful," makes me nervous. I am not saying that it is incorrect, but it may be confusing for our lay readers (and it would open an entirely new debate). I would prefer we contrast "faithful" with "ethical." Finally, the difference is not so much "resolved" by a spiritual test, as it is proved or exposed. But the "teleological suspension" of the ethical is, as herodotus noted, the only way to "leap" from one sphere of life to the other. For me, this is probably the most debatable topic in Fear and Trembling. Assuming for a moment one can make the leap, can suspend the ethical or universal in favor of, at the same time, the individual and the absolute, how does one make the leap? More dangerously, why does someone make the leap? The suspension of the ethical is, by definition, perilous to a society or community, because an individual has abandoned the group ethos, the "ties that bind," in a quest to elevate him- or herself above the group to seek the absolute. I think this is an issue that will require illumination.

I, HERODOTUS: Kierkegaard's narrator, Johannes de Silentio, identifies himself with the Knight of infinite resignation by taking on "the guise [quality] of tragic hero" (p. 64). Why does he address us from the perspective of the first knight, looking up to one of faith, rather than directly presenting this Knight of faith?

(T)- First, I think it is important to note that, for Kierkegaard's era---the Age of Romanticism---the tragic hero is thought to be the very height of human accomplishment, the realization of individuality. He is attempting to show that something much higher exists. Furthermore, Kierkegaard wants to avoid any semblance of setting up a "System," in direct opposition to Hegel. That is, there is a need for skepticism and doubt, a need for subjectivity. The downside of this is that we are never given exactly how Abraham has "so easily" made his leap. I think he primarily wants to draw attention to the gulf that exists between the two knights, each called to a spiritual trial. It is even possible that, in infinite resignation, one cannot make the leap; one may need to make such a movement from another point. Both relate in their own way to an absolute---to God---but only one is credited with faith. I think Kierkegaard is showing us that suspension of the ethical is not enough for faith, as both knights have abandoned, or at least subordinated, the laws of their community the Hegelian Sittlichkeit in striving to become true individuals. Only the Knight of faith, however, succeeds in this, by getting beyond the Romantic's "unfulfilled longing"---an aesthetic end in itself---and fulfilling this longing for both individuality and the absolute. The synthesis of individual (infinite subjectivity) and the absolute (infinite universality) seems to be accomplished in the Knight of faith by a relating of the individual to the absolute.

(H)- I agree, for the most part. He is showing a 'higher' place, as it were, and does so by defining the 'other'. In fact, usually, there is no better way, illustratively, to define one's self than by defining the 'other'. Here we see, as the definition of the Knight of faith becomes clearer, his own identity(that of infinite resignation) becomes clearer, as well. This also points to a couple of other things of note. While it would be natural to suspect that there is a sense of inferiority in the person of resignation, this is not necessarily so. You see, J.D.S, while defining himself as one of resignation, infers that one cannot reach a point of faith without at least some action....which would initially put one in the state of resignation. It is only after this initial action that one gets to the precipice of the absurd action. This isn't to say that this movement is necessarily linear, but rather connected. Hence, J.D.S' description of Abraham's movement to the absolute as being 'so easily' done. For J.D.S, resignation is so very close to, as close as one might get to, faith, yet is still so very far from what is required. There isn't a sense of denigration for the resigned person, as he identifies himself as one.

I, HERODOTUS: You mention several times an individual’s “teleological suspension of the ethical” and relation to the “absolute.” Both the “ethical” and the “absolute” are forms of universality, in contrast to the individual. How does Kierkegaard, in Fear and Trembling, differentiate these two “universals?”

(H)- Well, there are a few issues here, and I will defer to testudineous to unpack most of them, so to speak. It is important to first recount, as best one can, J.D.S' delineation of the two. In short, the ethical would generally refer to the universal application of societal rules or 'should do's and don'ts'....i.e. a man should never kill his son. The absolute refers to the 'higher' realm of duty and responsibility...i.e. a man has a duty, when in relation to the absolute(God), to follow, however absurd the action or direction of movement. For J.D.S, one main issue here is one of primacy. Meaning, if man is bound first to the ethical, then the absolute(God) is subject to the ethical arena he created. If a law is absolutely wrong, no matter what, then this subordinates the absolute(God). More simply, a law is either wrong because it is wrong or because God declares it so. The former gives power to the law and subordinates the absolute(God), whereas the latter infers a conditional nature of the law...i.e. if God chooses something different, then...

(T)- Thanks for the deferral. Now, if only Sallie Mae would be so kind... I think the "ethical" and the "absolute" are universals, in that they each make claims on every individual. Every individual is cultivated in a community of some sort of Sittlichkeit, and this community must, to perpetuate itself, construct some sort of ethos to govern the behavior and identity of its members. (Community in this sense ranges from a locality to all humanity.) There is a relative aspect to this universality: an ethos holds true only for one who is in relation to it, whether by choice or otherwise. If, as Hegel sets forth, the ethical is the only (and thus highest) expression of human existence, its "limit and completion," then there is no need for any further universality. The individual is inextricably bound by his or her community; one is subordinated to the many, and it is only in the group that any identity can be found. Kierkegaard gives us an alternative: the individual raised above the group in relating to something greater than the group...an absolute. This absolute is universal in that it lies outside of the ethical, but relates itself (or is relatable) to the individual. This is one of my difficulties with Kierkegaard's philosophy, as set forth in Fear and Trembling: there seems to be no direct relation of the absolute to the ethical (or vice-versa). If the two relate at all, it seems to be only indirectly through the individual (e.g., loving God by loving one's neighbor). But for Kierkegaard, this is the essence of the relating of the individual to the absolute, of faith. One cannot even define faith in ethical terms, as they belong to completely separate categories. And in relating to the absolute---through faith---one elevates oneself above the community, above all humanity. Such exaltation is rife with all kinds of dangers.

I, HERODOTUS: You're referring to the "teleological suspension of the ethical." What qualifications does Kierkegaard make for such a move? For example, how would he or how does he exclude from his definition of faith someone who, like Abraham, hears a voice telling him or her to commit a heinous crime in the name of faith?

(H)-Wow. I really do not like this question. Not that it isn't valid....it's just incredibly difficult to qualify any kind of Kierkegaardian structure for this kind of movement(not that I can find explicitly, anyway). I would start by discussing the difference between the idea of, what testudineous and I term, an action that is offensive to the ethical and that of absolute faith. It seems to me that that J.D.S. infers that a distinction is found in man's natural movement. Meaning, in the universal(ethical) man's inclination is to offend and the universal constricts this movement. Whereas, in the absolute man's inclination is to move back to the ethical. There is a recoiling in both instances, but within the absolute, the recoiling is from the unknown or a freedom for absurd action. For one to make that 'leap', he must believe that the giver of the universal(ethical) will sustain him while he is in breach of the universal. J.D.S compares Agamemnon and Abraham to show the difference between these movements. Agamemnon's choice was one of ethical utility...i.e., should I kill 1 person to save 100, etc....while, Abraham's was a choice of obedience.
Now, here I'm going to step away from the text and talk a little about the practical implications of all this. The fact that S.K. can't face this subject himself shows how troublesome he thought his ideas here might be. If one takes this idea to its fullest, we have nothing more than modern Islam, as a general practice. Let me explain. While it is true that the existentialist mind places the individual above ethos, this doesn't necessarily preclude a communal application. I think we find in modern Islam an extension of Kierkegaardian movement to the absolute...a teleological suspension of the ethical....but with a Marxist materialism infused. Remember, a movement is made up of individuals that give themselves over to an action...individually. Though some may disagree, it seems to me that every time a mother/father gives a child over as a suicide bomber it is an act steeped in faith in the absolute. Now, is it a perfect linear extension of the Kierkegaardian tradition...of course, not. Still, the pathos is there...lurking beneath the surface. This is why, for any kind of personal application, it is impossible for one to apply any of this absent the presence of Christ on the cross. If one is inclined to believe the Biblical account of the Passion of Christ, it is there that one finds the kind of absolute mediation for a practical application. In that figure one finds the kind of fusing of both the absolute and universal that can preempt a nihilistic projection of faith.

(T)- herodotus is right. This question sucks. But it is one that needs to be addressed. What "answers" I found in the text give me no satisfaction whatsoever, as I believe that Kierkegaard in fact gives us no direct qualifications for faith. As I read it, there is no way to distinguish Abraham's trial from that of the woman who obeys a voice telling her to drown her children in a bathtub. (In response to herodotus, there is a distinction between Abraham and the jihadist. The latter would be comparable to Kierkegaard's Agamemnon, making his "sacrifice" for some greater good, in this case, the death of infidels and the expansion of sharia and the Dar al-Islam.) In fact, the only differences I can surmise between Abraham and some other murderer in this case are the subjective differences between the two individuals and the nature of the voice's speaker commanding them to kill. This is all my own deduction, however; it is simply not in the text. Really, Kierkegaard in Fear and Trembling is giving the reader a choice: either Abraham is the father of faith, or he is a contemptible murderer. We are given how the former case can be universally applied (Abraham as related to the the universal, the ethical), but we are given no universal or objective treatment of Abraham as the latter. Johannes de Silentio admits he can only go so far, and then he butts up against "the paradox." Kierkegaard will not even address us directly, instead presenting the entire matter from the vantage point of a pseudonym, whom he can distance himself from. Though I knew Kierkegaard was challenging any possibility of a systematic approach to philosophy (a la Hegel), unfortunately I was still hoping for a systematic explanation of faith. He gives none. All of this begs the question, then: Just what is Kierkegaard's purpose in all of this? I think his first purpose is to set up the idea that there is something beyond the ethical; for him, it is faith. Second, an individual can only truly be an individual by paradoxically rising above the universal and relating oneself to the absolute. Third, there is no formula for achieving this (at least from the perspective of de Silentio); it is a purely subjective experience, and no one outside of it can understand it.
None of this safeguards against the dangers of someone looking to directly apply such a philosophy. I think Kierkegaard's only safeguard in this case is making everything so vague and paradoxical, that no two people could find a concrete program to apply. Unfortunately, how do we then know whether the mother who drowned her children has faith? There is no standard from Fear and Trembling by which to judge such a case, so we must unfortunately decide based on external criteria. And I think the only way to "objectively" appraise her (if such is in fact possible) is to look at the outcome of her "faith." She has transgressed against her community and the absolute, evidenced when the absolute did not sublimate her actions. That is, her children remain dead, and if they were sent to heaven prematurely to "protect them from Satan," we have no proof that this offense was transformed into something higher, and the woman herself does not seem to be performing Kierkegaard's double movement. But this is all conjecture; Kierkegaard has nothing to say about such a case in Fear and Trembling. The danger is not so much that we cannot assess the presence of faith by the outcome of one's trial, but that we cannot assess it until the outcome is apparent, after it is too late. One possible way around this (not given in the text) is to consider the particular individual and the nature of the absolute before the trial, but I don't think that this is very helpful either, as what we thought we knew of God (in this context) is completely annulled by his command to perform human sacrifice. And again, following Kierkegaard, we come up against the paradox. The only response I have, then, is that faith can be considered from the outside, but no more. It can only be understood by the one actually performing the movement, becoming greater than the universal. Very dangerous.

(H)-Finally, there are a couple of things that need to be said:

1. We've not touched on Kierkegaard's relationship with Regine Olsen. Many believe that this work is a response to their failed relationship. To get a full understanding of this particular work, one must take this into consideration.
2. Again, it must be said that there are no explicit answers found in the text of Fear and Trembling. This said, when contemplating this work, one might find answers and solace in some of Kierkegaard's other works. It is quite possible that S.K. never intended this text to stand alone, and further commitment to Either/Or, et al....is needed.

Guilty Pleasures.

2008-02-18T12:00:00.008-05:00

One of the many adult beverage-laced conversations had this weekend touched on a subject that I've been ruminating on for a while....and one that I thought would make an interesting subject for a listing post....namely that of guilty pleasures(it began with a story that involves Simply Reg, Hall and Oates' Private Eyes, and a bouncer that laughed so hard... he stopped checking IDs for about 10 minutes). Now...I define a guilty pleasure as something that I take pleasure in...but that also calls into question my ability for discriminating taste...and , in some cases...my person. But I enjoy these things anyway....aspersions be damned. So...here is a list of just some of my guilty pleasures....in no specific order. Feel free to list your personal pecadillos in preference:

1. Grease...the movie.

2. Bread...the musical group.

3. Maury Povich paternity shows.

4. Slim Jim

5. Movies based on Jane Austen novels.

6. Watching Duke basketball teams lose.

7. The Indigo Girls.

8. Donna Reed

9. Doc Hollywood...the movie.

10. Big Brother...the reality show.

*others of note....Yoo-Hoo, Journey, and watching Hillary Clinton cry in public.

3 a.m. in the garden of good and evil...

2008-02-18T10:32:00.010-05:00

Though it requires a little effort on my part, a post is needed in this space. I've just returned from a trip to Savannah, Ga. that included some of the notorious names associated with this site and others. Here are a few thoughts regarding the trip....and then other less...relevant thoughts:

1. The City. I usually refer to Savannah as....Charleston with a significant crime rate. Yet, if one doesn't venture out of the Historic District, it's nothing of the sort. In fact, that part of town is clean,vibrant, and festive. Of course, it didn't hurt that we had sunny skies and 70 degree weather. In all, I was impressed. As Simply Reg might say....you do have to look out for the occasional DB...but they can be avoided.....Just don't go to any pub with an overtly Irish name or a picture of one of our founding fathers on the sign....which leads me to...

2. The Nightlife. We really didn't go out of our way to 'experience' everything Savannah could offer. Meaning, there was a time when I would've wanted to do a serious pub crawl...we're talking 6 or 7 pubs in a night. Now, though, I find it preferable to go to a couple of places....and find one place in which to settle...have a few drinks...a few decent conversations...and make a few good memories. That's pretty much how this trip went. A few suggestions.....1. Have dinner on the river. 2. Don't be afraid to meet some folks...locals or visitors... and 3. Take some money.

3. The People. Savannah is home to SCAD, and therefore, has an edgy feel to it. In that, the city is strange anyway...what with the ghosts, voo-doo, cemeteries, etc....but the art students add that certain....I don't know....I'm un-washed and hip feel. It's like an entire cultural subset of Jim Morrison and Amy Winehouse wannabees. This said, most everyone is pretty friendly....and there are lots of incredibly nice looking women. I have to say though.....a trip is only as good as your travel companions. In this case, Spydrz, Micah(the arist formerly known as Jmblya), Simply Reg, Dr. Zeius(I refuse to acknowledge that change), and a couple of Dr. Z's child-hood friends.....all descended on the fair city for a time of frivolity, conviviality, and revelry. I had a blast fellas. Let's do it again soon....

Other random thoughts:

1. If I have to hear that One Republic song again....and I don't even listen to the radio....but if I do...

2. The game of darts is one fantastic thing.

3. Can Mike Hampton stay healthy....please baseball gods....say it is so...

4. Iran has again announced the imminent destruction of Israel. Is anyone listening....?

5. Steven Speilberg refuses to work with the Chinese during the Olympics because of Human riights violations.....but dines and reclines with likes of Chavez and Castro? Really...?

6. If you haven't listened to Miles Davis' Kind of Blue recently....do it soon. You will thank me.

You don't say....

2007-12-13T10:19:00.000-05:00

Fed's have served up a number of subpoenas to a number of different employees of the Reverend Al Sharpton.

The idea that he is thought to maybe have been less than honest in his financial reporting is not what inspires this post.

Rather, it is the dismissal offered by his lawyer:

Lawyer Michael Hardy shrugged off the probe, which sought a vast array of business, political and personal records, as a federal fishing expedition.

"I can't think of a time when the Rev. Sharpton wasn't under investigation," he said.

Really...

cheers
Zeius

You are on Notice!

2007-11-28T16:22:00.001-05:00

Folks, I am almost to the point to where regular blogging will resume....and with some frequency. In general, life is good. The career and geographic transitions have been for the better, and I can truly say that I am blessed. This said, I do miss the dialogue found here earlier, and will do my best to regenerate and stimulate further discussion. And yes....Micah....I wrote stimulate.

New Blog...

2007-10-31T08:05:00.000-05:00

As you all may have noticed, I have dropped the moniker in favor of my real name. This is because I have started a new blog.

It is: www.unto-me.blogspot.com

I decided to start a blog where I could focus on spiritual matters without worrying about undermining the purpose of this one. Please drop by. Please leave comments. Contributors are welcome.

cheers
Matthew

Random Musings.

2007-08-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I last wrote in this very vacant space. As such, and due to my morning of working from home, it is necessary for me to write something...anything. So, here are a few brief thoughts about a number of things that are in the fore of my consciousness these days:

1. Illegal Immigration and Crime. Recently, there have been a number of heinous and gruesome murders reportedly perpetrated by persons who are here illegally. Furthermore, the 'authorities' knew that these individuals were here illegally...because they had already committed crimes. That's right...here illegally...committed crimes....not deported...not imprisoned...set free to further act as a pariah on civilized society. One case is out of New Jersey...apparently, a bunch of gang-affiliated illegals shot three black youths execution style. The victims were aspiring college students. Another case involved the rape and murder of a 15 year old girl from Texas. She was visiting her sister in Oregon. The guys that did her in had been convicted of drunk driving multiple times. Go here and here for details. Hey...politicians...this issue isn't going anywhere....and most conservatives and liberals agree here...do something...like...I don't know...enforce the law and protect the citizenry.

2. College Football. There are few things in life that I enjoy more than the college football season. For me, it is a time of hope, camaraderie, disappointment, expectation, and ideally...victory. Hmmm...the smell of fall in the air... leaves crunching under foot...the biased ramblings of Lee Corso...it all gets me giddy. My much maligned Georgia Bulldogs aren't expected to do much in the way of winning any championships, as we have many new and young faces starting for the team. Yet, I have a feeling that this year could special. I don't know why.....but I do. Regardless, it should be fun. Let the prognosticating end....and the Saturday ritual that is college football begin. Go Dawgs.

3. War in Iraq. Is it just me, or does it seem ridiculous that the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, declared the war lost back in March...and now Carl Levin, of all people, is applauding the 'surge'? Note to Liberals....Defeatism isn't productive, proper, patriotic, or popular. You see, the Democrats have put themselves in a unique position...politically, with regards to the war...if the U.S. does well...they lose! Let me say that again...Democrats can only gain politically...if the U.S. surrenders and leaves Iraq. Amazing.

4. Music. My musical listening habits, of late, have been a mixed bag. I've really really enjoyed Dinah Washington's Lady Sings the Blues. Her voice is lathered in heartache, longing, and reflection. Also, Paganini has been in the rotation quite a bit. But the most played cd in my rotation right now is 2Pac's All Eyes On Me. I listened to this all through University...and busted it out for the first time last week. Here one can find the kind of paternal advice that one takes with him/her forever..."keep yo head up, legs closed, eyes open..." Picture me rollin, fools...

5. Michael Vick. I, for one, am going to miss watching Vick play. He gave me something...and all of the life-long, and long-suffering, Falcons fans something that will be forever remembered...relevance. The thing for me regarding his whole situation is this....how stupid is he? I mean...it's one thing to be too stupid to learn more than 25% of a play-book(pretty stupid)...but to think that RICO laws regarding gambling and inter-state commerce don't apply to you because you throw...I mean run...a football? And another thing...where were his attourneys and CPAs to say..."uh, Mike...you know you can't do that...right?"? And where were those old black guys that Dave Chappelle talked about...you know the ones that could be paralegals...according to Chappelle...because they'll jump out from behind a tree and say, " Oh, don't do that -----...that'll get you 5 to 10!"? The whole thing is sad, really. Vick's people let him down...He let us down...and quite frankly, the kind of culture that glorifies this type of stuff has failed an entire generation...and we're just beginning to see the ramifications.

6. Chinese Exports. Isn't it interesting that almost daily we are told that another Chinese export is tainted? I have two things to say about this: 1. I could have told anyone this after having lived there...and 2. This is the beginning of a smear campaign that is a passive way to get the Chinese to release the yuan to world market forces. It should be fun to watch...

7. Presidential Politics. I really don't have much to say about it...except what I say to anyone who thinks they know what is going to happen....it is August of 2007, folks. The election, in political terms, is forever and a day away. I will also say this though....John Edwards might be the most ridiculous human being on the planet. This guy lives in a 26,000 sq./ft. house, made money by investing in sub-prime mortgage lenders that foreclosed on Katrina victims, and gets paid $55,000 to speak at universities about poverty....and is running as the anti-poverty/populist candidate. Anyone that would vote for a guy like that is either....A. Incredibly naive and unaware, or B. Very, very stupid....I mean the kind of stupid that thinks Dennis Green is a good football coach...that kind of stupid.

8. Finally, Friendship. I've been reflective lately about the idea of a 'true friendship' and all that it entails. Let me say that I am so very blessed to have as many close friends as I do, and in many cases, the kind of friends that can be counted on invariably. To those who read this, if you are counted as a friend(you know who you are), I would just like to say thank you...and that I hope that my friendship to you is something that can be counted on. Be well, everyone. Cheers.

* the move has gone well, and the job is working out nicely, i think. this said, i'm not completely settled and it will be a while before i am. regular postings will be erratic until then.

The Great Divorce.

2007-07-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

“Friend, I am not suggesting at all. You see, I know now. Let us be frank. Our opinions were not honestly come by. We simply found ourselves in contact with a certain current of ideas and plunged into it because it seemed modern and successful. At College, you know, we just started automatically writing the kind of essays that got good marks and saying the kind of things that won applause. When, in our whole lives, did we honestly face, in solitude, the one question on which all turned: whether after all the Supernatural might not in fact occur? When did we put up one moment’s real resistance to the loss of our faith?”

-C.S. Lewis

I am currently working my way through this book for the first time. As always, Mr. Lewis’ ability to express, through allegory, the principles of truth is nothing short of amazing.

I read this quote yesterday, and it struck me. Particularly in the sense that myself and so many I know take comfort in our asking questions, yet we ask questions solely for the purpose of avoiding the answers we know in our hearts to be true. There are so many I know that speak of their loss of faith as if it were something that happened to them rather than the fruit of their own volition. Further, so many times I, myself, treat my failures as if they are just to be the expected result of my fallen nature all the while proclaiming the supreme worthiness of the antidote to it. So, to these I have described and to myself, I ask along with Lewis:

“When did we put up one moment’s real resistance to the loss of our faith?”

“When have we honestly met everyday facing the challenge to ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’?”

“When will we stop asking our questions and be willing to hear and accept their answers?”

cheers
zeius

Must Connect...

2007-07-13T14:46:00.001-05:00

Man, I L-O-V-E Baseball.

cheers
Zeius

Navaquote of the Day

2007-07-13T09:34:00.000-05:00

"Ah, yes, Estonia, the Baltic Tiger. Or the Baltic Liger...that's Latvia."

You're On Notice!

2007-07-10T18:20:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the dearth of postings, but sometimes actual life gets in the way of blogging. This said, as soon as the move and transition are complete...I'm hoping for mid-August...regular blogging should resume. Hope all is well. Oh...and these things/folks are officially on notice!

Happy Independence Day.

2007-07-04T20:04:00.000-05:00

Just a short note of thanks to all of those who have sacrificed so that we all are, and remain, free. Having spent significant time living abroad, I'm uniquely and acutely aware of how special and remarkable this country is. Enjoy the freedom, folks...and guard it steadfastly. Happy July 4th everyone.

Cybrids? Are You Kidding?

2007-06-27T21:28:00.000-05:00

In May, a Bill was proposed in the British Parliament to legalize the laboratory creation of animal-human hybrid embryos. As if this was not incredible enough, scientific teams have already begun applying for licences to create these "cybrids." I AM AT A LOSS FOR WORDS!
By the way, one should note that I did not find this in the pages of the Weekly World News while waiting to purchase groceries.

"The demand for legislation to create interspecies embryos is being driven with great enthusiasm by members of the scientific community. Researchers claim that experimentation on animal-human embryos will offer insights into possible cures for certain cancers and such conditions as Alzheimer's and motor neuron diseases."

Of course! This has become the mantra of anyone performing mad-science! At one time any ludicrous proposal could find support when coupled with "its for the children."

Before we know it, the Sci-Fi channel will have the same credibility as CNN...well...it is not that bad yet.

Christians in Gaza

2007-06-26T01:46:00.001-05:00

As we should all be sophisticated enough to know, there are many Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land. The recent developments in the Gaza Strip are unsettling. Although only God knows for certain the outcome of the Hamas take-over, Omar Shaban, the leader of the Catholic Relief Services for Gaza, has stated "I can't predict what will happen, but one thing is for certain: There is a group within Hamas which is starting to talk of the Islamization of society."

Let us all pray for the Christians in Gaza, for their liberty and safety. May God give them strength!

The Church

2007-06-24T01:22:00.000-05:00

I had a conversation with a very important person in my life concerning the importance of the church and whether or not the church was necessary for the salvation of modern man. Unknowingly, this person was influenced by a postmodern weltschaung. This person’s conclusion about salvation was that “it is Jesus, and myself naked. Everything else is man-made and possibly beneficial but unnecessary.” I found this disturbing and therefore wish to flesh-out, over a series of posts, my thoughts on the church its purpose and its necessity.

First, what does one meant by “church?” Of course the origin of our word as English speakers is German: kirche. One should note that this word communicates “that which belongs to the Lord” and is derived from the Greek κψριάκε. However, since the earliest Christianity consisted of a Jewish core, the term for church came from the Septuagint, or the Greek translation of The Old Testament. This is the ever-familiar εκκαλέιν. This was the term used to describe the gathering of God’s chosen people assembled for His purposes.

The Christian use of the term church describes a liturgical assembly. (I Cor. 11:18, 14:19, 28, 34-35) In I Corinthians Saint Paul used this term to communicate meetings, community, and church. It is obvious in St. Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians that there were liturgical practices in the church that were being disrupted (in this case by women). One of the earliest, biblically recorded, liturgies in the church was the breaking of bread or the Eucharist. (Acts 2:42) The Apostles, including Saint Paul, emphasized the church as a community—note the centrality of unity and communion. The church draws her life from Christ’s body, blood, and gospel. Therefore, the church constantly unites herself to Him. She is both the bride and body of Christ. (Eph. 1:22-3) As a result, to be in communion with the church is to be in communion with Christ.

In addition, the Church is a sheepfold to which Christ is the shepherd. Scripture dictates that the Church, as the Body of Christ and a sheepfold, is the necessary gateway to Christ. Christ is the shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. (St. John 10:1-16, St. Peter 5:4, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:11-31) In each of these passages, membership with the “flock” is equivalent to both safety and salvation. Christ is the gate to this sheepfold and even says that anyone who tries to enter the sheepfold without passing through the gate is a thief. What clearer picture of Christ’s church is there? Notice, that there is no image of the Shepherd and a single sheep sharing some existential sublimity on the other side of the pasture. One might quickly reference the parable of the lost sheep…now that is existential, right? Wrong! Truly, Christ leaves the flock to save the individual lost lamb. However, He saves them by bringing them back into the flock and the sheepfold.

One might also argue that the sheepfold mentioned here is the proverbial “invisible church” and not a organizational or physical as well as spiritual church. Therefore, being that a Christian is member of a holy priesthood and can interperate scripture for oneself and find salvation through ones own studies, one has no need for communities of believers or apostolic organization. If this is so, we are all clamoring in the darkness. The fact is that Jesus Christ established a church that would expand from the top-down. Most are familiar with Saint Peter’s ordination as the possessor of the keys to the kingdom. However, Jesus, before his ascension, also gave special instructions to the Apostles to go out, baptize, and forgive or retain sins. The Apostles, by the virtue of the Holy Spirit, led the church in practice, doctrine, and evangelism, bringing the church into existence. Around 80 AD, one generation removed from Christ's earthly ministry, Saint Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth:

The apostles have preached the Gospel to us
from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ [has done so] from God. Christ
therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these
appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God.
Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with
full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom
of God was at hand. And thus preaching through countries and cities, they
appointed the first-fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the
Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe. Nor
was this any new thing, since indeed many ages before it was written concerning
bishops and deacons. For thus says the Scripture a certain place, "I will
appoint their bishops s in righteousness, and their deacons in faith." ... Our
apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there would be strife on
account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as
they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed those
[ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when these
should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We
are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by them, or afterwards by other
eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and who have blame-lessly
served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and
have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly
dismissed from the ministry. For our sin will not be small, if we eject from the
episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties. Blessed
are those presbyters who, having finished their course before now, have obtained
a fruitful and perfect departure [from this world]; for they have no fear lest
any one deprive them of the place now appointed them. But we see that you have
removed some men of excellent behaviour from the ministry, which they fulfilled
blamelessly and with honour.

One should consider things historically. First, for the first 400 years of Christianity there was no established canon of Holy Scripture to interpret. During this time, the Church was led through the bishops and lesser clergy, it is a historical fact! There were those who wanted an interpretation of scripture and the gospel outside the pale of the sheepfold and account for the numerous heresies that plagued the church in the first centuries. Without the Holy Spirit's preservation through the Apostles, the Early Church Fathers, and their acolytes the gospel as recorded in Holy Scripture would not be. If we doubt this apostolic succession and/or the holy people who transmitted the gospel through the ages, we haven’t a foot on which to stand and must doubt the whole of scripture! These Saints wrote the scripture, taught the gospel to their disciples, and put into motion the chain of apostolic succession that remains to the present. Christ sent these men of faith into the world to establish His Church on earth and spread the kingdom. The Apostles passed their leadership on to their disciples. (Timothy for example) In addition, in the first century the church was organized to the point that Saint Paul was compelled to discuss the necessary characteristics of bishops and deacons. These clergymen passed-on the faith through their successors by virtue of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it was through this apostolic leadership that the Holy Scriptures were adopted and Christian doctrine established. The Church is the only avenue and authority of the gospel established by Christ for mankind and thus, the Christian church is the vessel of God’s plan of Salvation and continuing revelation of himself to the world.

One should note that God, being omnipotent and fully just, merciful, and holy, can do all that He wills. Thusly, God can show mercy upon whomever He chooses. It is arrogance to think that we can definitely know the limits of His mercy. However, the church is God’s vessel of the gospel and salvation. The church is, by virtue of her communion with Christ and her place as the sheepfold, the Body and Bride of Christ. Therefore, the church is the necessary pathway to Christ and Salvation.

File under: Musician with nothing else to post on...

2007-06-20T15:07:00.001-05:00

Well, this past week, Turtle asked me what my “birth song” was. Rather than the shriek of agony my mother undoubtedly released during my actual birth, he was asking me what song was atop the “Top 40” charts the week I was born. Being the music aficionado I often claim to be, I was both ashamed for not knowing and intrigued to find out…I’m not quite sure what this says about me, but the number one song in the land the week I was born was “Another One Bites the Dust”, of course, by Queen…I’m not sure how I feel about that. This song is among maybe a handful of Queen songs that I’ll always enjoy, but I’m not sure how comfortable I am with being born under a song sang by a man who makes the guy who sang duet on Mariah Carey’s unplugged cut of “I’ll be There” look like Tom Jones...Nothing personal to the nancies…Just not the best representation of me, perhaps.

Onward, now that I’ve no doubt enraged no one that reads this blog…

I also thought it time to do a “Seven songs that I’m absolutely lovin’ right now”…

“Sleeping Lessons” – The Shins. For starters, I’m a sucker for the oft referred to as the “boom-chuck” of a blue grass inspired signature present in this, as well as many others, Shins song. I’m also a sucker for proper dynamics, even when as easily foreseen as in this song. So when the song builds into the guitars all chiming in, I’m done.

“My Eyes” – Travis. Off their new album which is great. This song is the kind of song that you listen to at 8:30 a.m. only to realize at 3:54 p.m. that you’ve been humming it all day long.

“That’s How Strong My Love Is” – Otis Redding. Very rarely have or will I do a “songs that I’m currently lovin” list without an Otis Redding tune on it. I’ve written extensively, well for a blog, about what exactly makes Mr. Redding the greatest soul singer of all-time, and if I haven’t made you a fan yet, you may be lost. Still if you are and somehow haven’t heard this song…Do yourself a favor, quit your job right now so you can go home and listen to it right now. It’s like a love potion…You hear it and the first woman to catch your eye has you nailed.

“Losin’ You” – The Marshall Tucker Band. This song traverses the following path ever so sweetly: just another sad country ballad, oh wait those steel guitars sound sweet, “ain’t no denyin’, you been lyin’”- wait am I actually singing along, man she really broke my heart, oh sweet! Steel guitar solo….BAM!!!! Jazz break right smack in the middle of one of the best she-broke-my-heart southern ballads ever made, is that an electric piano?...an alto sax?...I love this song!....O.k. maybe just for me, but if the previous even remotely intrigues you, check it out.

“Distant Lover” – Marvin Gaye. All I have to say is the part where he breaks down and starts with the whole “Somethin I wanna say, when you left you took all of me with you”…and then gets to “Do you wanna hear me cry…PLEASE!..PLEASE!”…That’s just magic…Here again, if you think I’m just sappy, check it out…

“Never Be the Same” – Christopher Cross. I’m not even going to explain this cause I’m just going to get worn out anyway…You know deep down you love it too!

“Girl from the North Country” – Bob Dylan. (from “Freewheelin”)… “I wonder if she remembers me at all, many times I’ve often prayed”…Haven’t we all, Bob. Haven’t we all…

cheers
Zeius

Crush of the Week!

2007-06-18T08:30:00.000-05:00

I'm co-opting one of Micah World's weekly features here. I came across this young lady the other day...and frankly, I'm madly in love. A Russian soprano, this siren offers three characteristics that are unquantifiable...elegance, beauty, and passion. Ladies and gentlemen, Anna Netrebko...and do yourself a favor...click on the link.

Once more into the breach dear friends...

2007-06-12T17:47:00.000-05:00

So, my life has dramatically changed over these last few weeks. I've moved states and cities, I've changed jobs and schedules, and am just now getting acquainted with my new life. Here are a few things that have been on my mind lately(there is so much to say, but this will be a truncated exposition, I fear).

I. Housekeeping. For those who might be wondering...in all, I'm very happy with my decision to move. Though there is an adjustment time required, the whole thing has been positive, thus far. Naturally, there are those whose company I miss, but I've gained the daily company of others that is equally needed, or more so. To all of you who I've not contacted yet...it is not reflective of my thoughts or feelings for you...just a time of settling...and you'll here from me soon enough...whether you want to or not.

II. Immigration. I want to make this perfectly clear...and I think I speak for most who were/are opposed to Agri-business/democrat plans of amnesty for Mexican illegal immigrants...just because I might stridently oppose your agenda, I am not necessarily racist. As one who has studied ardently various periods of history, nation building, and migration movements of people...I can say definitively that a nation that cannot/will not enforce stated boundaries is doomed to implosion. Go ask the Cossacks, Vandals, or the Carpathians if unfettered immigration works. Also, my insistence on English as a common language does not make me xenophobic....it makes me human. There isn't a nation in this world that doesn't cling to a self-identity through language and culture. Go to China....go anywhere in Asia...go to Sub-Saharan Africa....hell, go to freakin Mexico...they all self-define through the lens of culture and language. The difference is that in the United States...our requisites for cultural acceptance and mobility are ridiculously lax when compared to most other nations. Finally....and I really want to emphasize this....I am completely and wholeheartedly in support of legal immigration. Having lived abroad for extensive periods, I know all too well the feeling of being the outsider and trying to live life in success. A vibrant and colorful immigrant community is wanted and needed in this country. It is a source of strength. Illegal immigration, though, is anathema to civility, order, and commonality of vision and motive.....all of which are necessary for a successful nation...and anything less is unacceptable.

III. Euphonic Bliss. I saw the ASO perform Orff's Carmina Burana the other night...and wow. Simply put, one of the most amazing pieces of music I've ever had the pleasure of seeing performed. If you ever get the chance...

IV. Hamas vs. Fatah. Why is it that the media insists on calling Iraq a 'civil war' but refuses to utter those words with regards to Palestine? On the one hand, you have foreign fighters from all over the region spilling into Iraq...attacking Iraqi civilians to foment terror and fear...and on the other hand you have Palestinians fighting.....other Palestinians. I'm sure the media have a good explanation though.....but what could it be....?

V. Sarkozy. Something tells me that this guy is going to be fun to watch.

VI. I wish there were more time, but finally... I leave you with one of my favorite videos I've seen in a while....hyperbole, thy name is Dennis Miller.

A passing..."hello".

2007-05-30T21:31:00.000-05:00

The dearth of postings here is something that is, at once, regrettable and unavoidable. Yet, here are a few thoughts for interested parties:

1. I began my new job yesterday...with the obligatory HR led...and mind-numbingly bad "this is us" presentation that every Fortune 500 puts new hires through. Today, though, went very well, and I am extremely excited about the opportunity that is before me. But you know what they say..." mo money, mo problems"....

2. After having been away for so long, it really is nice and re-filling to the spirit to be around family. And, when they are not crying and whining, children really do light up a room with joy and smiles.

3. I've gone back and read Eyck's biography of Bismarck....very much worth a look. Also, I'm enjoying Purcell's choruses these days.

4. This Saturday I should have some 'down' time, and hope to post at length. Topics might include....immigration and socialism, Fred Thompson, the Champion's League debacle, cyber-war in Estonia, consanguinity in Germany, Chavez and social-fascism, the meaning of friendship, the 'Fort Dix Six', the Beatles and the Beach Boys, Romanian constitutional intrigue, the sad figure of Rosie O'Donnell, Reductive philosophy vs. Deconstruction, and why I think John Edwards is an alien....as they have all been in my thoughts of late....and in the famous words of John McLaughlin...."bye, bye".

State of my union.

2007-05-13T22:04:00.000-05:00

So, I've been absent lately...maybe even neglectful...but with good reason. In all aspects of my life...my life is about to change. The following thoughts are thoughts that give a brief explanation of me...at this point:

1. O.k. I've been offered a position with a large financial institution...though, we are still in contractual negotiations. This said, I'll be moving home sooner than later...and I'm excited. For those who don't know, I've not lived 'at home' for close to 15 years...and it is time. I don't think I'll settle there, but I do believe that it is time to go home for a while...be close to family...be close to those who matter most. I've spent the better part of my life exploring...and now it seems that it is time to go back.

2. I can't get enough of the current Tracy Lawrence song. It is a country song...so those opposed are warned. If I had the talent to write a song...any song...I would write a song about my friends and family...and it would be similar...though, it probably would have a bit more horn...a bit more crooning...and a little less...well, you get the idea. Anyway, it gives a good sentiment. Also, one of my brothers just completed an album...and it's really good. Talent...when not owned...is very impressive. Congrats...Spanky.

3. I can't think of anything better than how I spent my Sunday. Well...maybe. But today was incredible. Nascar....a Braves game on t.v....and the last round of the TPC. Granted, 2 of the 3 didn't go 'my way'...but all were entertaining...and deserved attention. Phat Phil won...and makes this U.S Open even more interesting.

4. I went with some friends this past Friday and saw a band called Carbon Leaf. They are truly a good band..and I suggest checking them out. Which leads me to...

5. Can I just say that I truly love women. Now...they are maddening, infuriating, confusing, and discombobulating...but they are also...caring, nurturing, emotive, and quite frankly....aesthetically... absolutely beautiful. They look good...smell good...and well, again...anyway, women are a true blessing....a complicated blessing...but, a blessing nonetheless.

6. Sports. The Braves are doing well. Lefty is poised to make a run at Tiger. The college football blogs are heating up. Here are a couple of related thoughts:

I. The Braves. I truly believe that this could be a special team. One that does something really impressive...they just seem to have that intangible 'will to win' thing going on...well, not yesterday...but in general.

II. Golf. What is there to say...but that it is one of the greatest things on earth. Playing it, watching it, living it...the whole thing...On tour, Mickelson left some shots out on the course, but won the TPC yesterday...stoking the flames of desire for a hot and relevant rivalry with Tiger.

III. Nascar. Gordon won yesterday...giving him his third win this year...and moving him closer to an 8th championship....let me say that again...an 8th season championship. I really don't like him as a driver...but you have to hat-tip greatness. Even the turtle has to acknowledge that Favre is a 'great one'...so, I acquiesce and say congrats rainbow warrior....hope you have fun celebrating at the Blue Oyster...you deserve it.

IV. Basketball. I've just now started paying attention...and am I the only one who thinks that the Spurs-Suns match-up is the only interesting thing there?

V. Hockey....who cares? I don't.....

7. Shamrock, Spydrz, Jmblya, and I are all heading to Atlantic City for a Tony Bennett concert. Get your tux ready boys...it's time for a Rat Pack Resurrection......

8. Music....there is an entire post here...but for now, I'll just say I'm listening to a lot of Country...and a lot of Bossa Nova. Good summer stuff. Also, I've learned some new things...like...the Cure doesn't entirely suck....I heard Pictures of You for the first time the other day and really dig it....also, I discovered Rocco Deluca and The Burden....here is a video for their song Colorful....enjoy....

Just a few thoughts...

2007-05-08T15:24:00.000-05:00

Rudy Giuliani – O.k., so Rudy’s laid out what is going to be his answer to the abortion question very clearly. When asked, he says something to the affect of “Personally, I hate abortion, but believe in a woman’s right to choose” and finishes by recalling New York’s adoption growth statistics from his tenure as mayor. It has now come out that, at least during the 90’s, Rudy was a regular contributor to Planned Parenthood and spoke at various abortion activist gatherings hosted by organization like NARAL Pro Choice America…I have a problem with this. Not with Rudy’s stance, but that, at least for me, the entirety of his appeal is that he seems to be the most sincere GOP candidate, certainly more than Mitt, who we’ll get to later, and McCain, who I dislike more every time I hear him speak. I can understand the “I believe in choice, but don’t worry because my judicial philosophy will lead to the type of appointments that conservatives want” argument, but that’s not enough. What he needs to sell would-be, truly conservative voters is the “Personally, I hate abortion” argument which falls apart in light of this. A philosophy of choice is one thing, but I just don’t see how someone who really “gets” the abortion issue could donate to and/or be associated with these types of organizations. He just seems insincere now, which leads me to…

Mitt Romney– I missed the debate last week and asked my brother for his take on it to which he replied about Romney, “He looks like a b-actor playing a presidential candidate”. I have since watched the debate and caught him on H&C last night, and I would have to say that I half agree. I would say he looks like an actor playing a presidential aspirant, but I would say he’s doing better than a b-caliber job at it….My point is that while he does give me that “too polished” vibe, and I most likely would not vote for him in a primary, I would not be devastated if this guy wound up with the nomination and, frankly, would be kind of excited just to see how his campaign would unfold.

Roger Clemens – I love baseball more than most people I know, and I especially love to watch good pitching. I love baseball, love good pitching, and am 26 years old which means that at some point, I developed an immense respect and appreciation for Roger Clemens’ ability on the mound. I’ve also always kind of loved his demeanor on the mound. There’s an old school sensibility to how he approaches his job. That gritty, hardball-esque, throw inside, back you off the plate, “I’ll hit you if I have to just to make a point, but either way, I will own this plate tonight” kind of prowess just strikes all my baseball chords. However, one thing that is always quick to induce apoplexy in me regardless of the person or sport is an athlete that deals with his team and/or teammates as if he is bigger than the game itself, and Clemens has displayed this type of mentality repeatedly over the last few years. It all started with his “retirement” from the Yankees. Now I hate the Yankees so I was admittedly a little happy to see them get the shaft, but I still thought his actions were shady. Then the whole “I won’t fly with the team, and I’m flying home after my spot in the rotation” thing really pissed me off. Finally, the whole “ I’m going to wait and see if Houston’s winning to see if I pitch this year” thing just depleted whatever respect I had for this guy. If anything, that is saying I’m bigger than the game, the teams, the traditions, and especially the other current players, and I just can’t stomach that. So now, he has again whored out his talents at the expense of a team waiting on him to decide what he’ll do, the Astros. So, I find myself at a place I never thought, as a baseball fan and lover of pitching, I would be…I’m going to have to root against Roger Clemens, a circumstance only exacerbated by the fact that he staked the ‘Stros to rejoin the Yanks...This truly is a sad day.

cheers
Zeius

Thoughts on the price of war.

2007-05-04T12:42:00.000-05:00

There is a story on the news sites today about a 17 year old, female Iraqi Kurd that has been publicly stoned to death for loving a Sunni boy. The reasons cited are more religious than ethnic as the two obviously fall under differing sects of Islam. I think it is worth noting that the group of men responsible was comprised mostly of members of her family.

Now, we all know that this type of thing is not new to Islamic society and have, most likely, all previously read or heard of acts just as appalling, if not more so, than this particular incident, but as I read the article on this, my mind rewound a couple of days to President Bush’s “veto” speech.

I watched his address with my roommate who is a reporter for our local newspaper and a conservative, though he may fall into the category of those who are conservative and don’t really know why. Listening to Bush, he mentioned a conversation he recently had with his many liberal coworkers. The conversation essentially started with the war and ended with their regurgitating the usual complaints about the “dishonesty” in the reasons initially given for our going in (i.e. the lack of WMD’s) and my roommate’s inability to address them (for an admitted lack of knowledge).

I thought about this conversation as I read this article and couldn’t help but wonder why the cost of this war in terms of lives, money, and diplomatic leverage is so easily considered unjustifiable to so many. I’m not a big fan of “nation-building”. I’ve never really cared for the interventionist bend of our foreign policy. I’ve never held a strong hope that our attempt at establishing a lasting, relevant democracy in Iraq would be successful. The conflux of my understanding of Islamic culture and beliefs about the future of this world, especially regarding the Middle East, has kept me from ever truly buying into the viability of what we have been told is our goal there. I don’t believe Bush and Co. are lying. I just think their a little more optimistic about the future of the region than I am. With all this said, I read about this girl who was stoned or another girl in Kuwait whose father cut her throat because it was merely believed that she had been violated, not consentingly “deflowered”, raped, and I am left with the sole reality that we have been blessed with enormous prosperity and power and are presently the only country on earth that can effect a change almost wherever and whenever it feels compelled to take the necessary steps to do so. I think of these things, and, for me, it comes down to the question of is it worth paying an American life in order to wield that power for the betterment of the world entirely? I can’t say that I know the answer…In a general sense I would reject this notion, but in breaking principle down into applicable scenario, I am left with another thought.

I recently watched “Saving Private Ryan” for upwards of the 500th time. As I’m sure everyone knows, immediately after D-day, Hanks and Co. are sent out to retrieve a private (Ryan) so that he can be sent home. The reason is that Ryan’s three older brothers have died in taking the beach, and the government determines that three losses is plenty for one family. I thought about this scenario as I am also the youngest of four sons. I tried my best to insert myself into Ryan’s place and weighed a loss of that magnitude against the benefit of freeing people like this girl who was stoned to death, and honestly, if my three brothers went of their own volition and died for the cause of freeing someone like this girl, I could begrudge neither my country for having sent them nor my God for having allowed it. Why?...Because, in my eyes, if sacrifice, the laying aside of oneself for another, is not the ultimate mark of greatness, whether in a person or a society, what is?

cheers.
Zeius

Mourino Truly a Pentioneer!

2007-05-01T23:08:00.000-05:00

"We were the best team today, even against a team only playing for the Champions League. In extra-time we were the only team who tried to win..."

After Liverpool's glorious victory over Chelsea to earn a trip Athens for the Champions League Final Monday, the true Chelsea Pentioneer spirit came out in their manager, Jose Mourino. Mourino had some interesting comments for the press after his team's defeat. While, from pictures, I always understood Mourino to be a man in his fourties, he has proven to be something of a schoolyard brat.

However, should we expect any less from a Pentioneer? It appears not.

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!

Topics in the news...and on my mind.

2007-05-01T08:50:00.000-05:00

O.k...so, I'm in hotlanta, and have been for a few days. I'm awaiting word from a prospective employer, and subsequently, have had time to pay attention to current global/local/political goings-on. Here are a few thoughts that have grabbed me, as it were, these last few days:

I. May 1st and Immigration Rallies. There are a couple of things to be said here:

A. May 1st is the global day for celebrating socialism...and it is no coincidence that the pro- immigration people chose this day for their protests....as they are predominately socialists. Most people don't realize this, and, I'm convinced, that if this were to become widely understood, the dynamic of the immigration conversation would have a new dimension. This conversation isn't just one about open borders and cheap labor....it is one of post-Americanism, trans-national socialism, and international economy reallocation. Remember, too, that when we speak of immigration 'problems', we are mainly speaking of a huge influx of Mexican peoples....and these people come from a very socialistic mind-set and government. If given amnesty and voting rights....this could have huge ramifications for the conservative movement.

B. I believe these types of protests are self-defeating. In that, it reminds Americans of two things....1) Just how many are here...and 2) Just how many are here and do not work. Meaning, not all of us can take the day off to go protest in the street.

II. Global Warming. Now, most know by now that I am not only skeptical of the science...but mostly skeptical of the usual suspects that are so adamantly touting this science....and wanting to control behaviour through it. So, here we learn that Mars is also experiencing a warming trend and that our planet has 'see-sawed' for the last 10,000 years, with regards to climate change. Again, I ask....how can anyone definitively say that any climate change is due to human behaviour primarily? Yet, we are told that, if one denies this idea of human fault, he/she is no better than a holocaust denier. I've gone from ambivalence to skepticism...and am moving to antagonistic in a hurry.

III. Family. This isn't really anything found in the news, but I wanted to say a short something about family. I've spent the better part of the last decade, or so, living away from my family, and for good reason...school, work, travel, etc. I'm now in a position where I might move closer to home and family, and it has caused me to become reflective and introspective. Understand, I'll put my family's craziness up against any one's...they can be absolutely infuriating and mind-numbingly provincial...but they are also devoted, loving, and mine. So, tell someone in your family that you love'em today...we won't always have the ones we love.

IV. Chavez and Nationalistic Communism. Apparently, Chavez has removed control of Venezuela's oil fields from all of the international companies operating there...and has removed Venezuela from the IMF and World Bank. I'm glad to see Venezuela free from debt to these entities, but my question is...at what cost? Chavez is moving in a direction that is not just against American regional interests...which it is...but also dangerous for the country. In the short term, these types of nationalistic-socialist moves seem like they are working...but history shows the long term will provide a cataclysmic collapse....economically and structurally. Such a shame...

V. Turkey and Estonia. In both places there are interesting things going on...but the MSM just doesn't report it:

A. Turkey, as I've noted here before, is about to elect a new President...but there is a national 'conversation' as to what direction the country should go....Islamist or Secular. The situation is unique here, in that, the Parliament chooses the nominees. They've chosen a very conservative Muslim as the only candidate, and the secularists have been protesting in big numbers. Turkey is incredibly important historically...and maybe even more so now regionally. Pay attention to this.

B. There is a kerfuffle in Estonia over a Soviet era statue that is in the centre of Tallinn's town square. The Estonians, of course, want it torn down, but the Russian sympathisers are crying foul. The political and diplomatic back drop to this is the way that Russia has been treating it's former satellites. Interesting stuff.

VI. Litigious Magicians. It seems that magicians have sued because some of their 'tricks' and methods have been exposed to the public. First, doesn't this prove that they aren't, in fact, using magic....and therefore, not magicians? Second, the only thing worse than a person that does magic for a living...is a person that does this and becomes legally disgruntled. Litigious Magicians...you are on notice!

VII. Newspaper Circulation. Readership and circulation of major newspapers have been in steady decline...causing much consternation in newsrooms and boardrooms across the nation. This, no doubt, is a natural response to the rise of Internet media. Still, why the steady decline? My thinking leads me to believe that, with the rise of alternative avenues of information...we also have been made aware of journalistic editorial disguised as reporting. Most don't read newspapers....actually, most don't read at all...but those who read the news regularly are fairly savvy...they can see through the veneer of loaded objectivism that is so infused in most journalistic reporting. If this decline causes the media to change...then great. But if it, instead, chooses to become more entrenched...then we all lose.

VIII. French Elections and American Elections. The French have a Presidential election coming up and it looks like the more conservative candidate...I say this because there is no truly conservative politician left in France...Sarkozy...is poised to win. So, the socialist candidate has now decided to call him 'crazy and maniacal' in an attempt to gain ground. Now, let's look at our Presidential election...Giuliani, the other day, said this...prompting the liberals to go apoplectic...and now, Giuliani is 'crazy'. Is there a pattern here? You bet. Liberals/Socialists can't win on issues and debate...so they throw invective and hyperbole out with the hope that something sticks in the public consciousness. I would describe that course of action...with the aim of gaining power...definitively maniacal.

IX. Torture and What Makes Us Different. With the Tenet book just out, there is a renewed debate about torture as a form of legitimate extraction of information from war-time belligerents. This is a conversation that must be had, and quite frankly, no one really has the right answer, in my opinion. But let me say this...there are those who would say that the very thing that makes America better, read:more humane, than our enemies, is our refusal to adapt to their tactics. I disagree. The thing that makes us different is that we have this conversation...that as a people, we are aware enough to know that the conversation is necessary and cathartic. Our enemies live and fight like it is 690 A.D....there is no debate for them. They teach in their homes, schools, and churches that it is their duty to eradicate the infidel. So, remember this...what makes us different is that we might have to torture someone to save innocent lives...but this doesn't make us the same as militant islamists...because we care about the consequences of the awful war-time decisions that must be made. For them...it is a chosen lifestyle and mentality....for us...it is an exception.

X. The D.C. Madam. Well, she's poised to name names...and D.C. is on tinterhooks. I have mixed feelings about it all. First, we've got more important things to deal with in Washington. Second, this just gives the MSM an excuse not to report on things that it should be reporting diligently. This said, I kind of like it when D.C. hypocrisy is exposed. For instance, this Tobias guy. What an idiot. He's the U.S. Under-Secretary of State...using an escort service solely for 'massages'. Now, he's also the former USAID director...causing him to take a definitive stance against prostitution. As if this isn't enough, when exposed as a 'john' for this escort service, he claimed that no sex had taken place....and get this...that he changed services to one that uses 'Central American girls.'......he actually said that in front of microphones as an explanation. Forget the hookers...this guy's a freakin' idiot...and that's why he should lose his job.

XI. Britain and Muslim Extremists. So, they've just sentenced five people to life for trying to blow up innocent people....and they've just arrested another group for wanting to do the same. How is it that Britain doesn't see the danger of multi-cultural capitulation to a people that has an avowed purpose for the West's destruction. It is the definition of obtuse(sorry...no link).

XI. Fred Thompson. Finally, I'm going to leave you with a link to a short video of an interview Mr. Thompson did with Chris Wallace of Fox News. Naturally, I disagree with him on some small things...but, he says just about everything I would say... were I a candidate. Also linked is an article he wrote on federalism. Run... Fred... Run.

Sometimes you wanna go...

2007-04-28T22:15:00.000-05:00

where you can take a couple of decades off your surroundings, enjoy velvet wall coverings, and an old fashioned drink. Yes it's LAMAR'S Chatt-town's finest! This is just a trip to an old favorite for many contributors.

Cheers gents!

And with the second pick the Atlanta Falcons take...Calvin Johnson from Georgia Tech University!!!

2007-04-25T07:27:00.000-05:00

O.k., so maybe I’m dreaming, but oh how freakin’ sweet it would be to hear Roger Goodell utter those words (while wearing a Pacman Jones jersey) on draft-day.

Anyway, I’m particularly excited about this year’s draft as my beloved Dirty Birds’ best case first pick is to trade up and take the best receiving prospect to come along probably since Michael Irvin (I say Irvin only because their skill sets are comparable as they’re two of the few to have both the incredible size and speed that they do) in Calvin Johnson, and their worst case first pick scenario is to take a safety whose college career I’ve followed closely out of both a love for his ability as well for fear of it being put on display in my backyard in Laron Landry. Simply, we desperately need help at both receiver and in the secondary and we’re going to get a surefire plug for one of those spots.

Personally, I’d call Cleveland up and say “Look, Vick, Brooking, and Jerious Norwood are off limits…Other than that you tell me what you want for that pick”…I’d make the deal and draft Johnson.

Moving along, though, I do love the draft for the maneuvering and dealing and such which is the purpose for this post. I came across this article on the best composite first round in NFL history. I figured our shared love for football and lists would spark some conversation.

Click here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-bestfirstroundpicks042307&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

cheers
Zeius

An Inconvenient Truth

2007-04-25T01:45:00.000-05:00

Now, I really will get around to publishing a post on a topic of gravity and substance sometime soon, but I'm afraid I must comment on European football once again. The Champions League semifinals have begun, and Manchester United posted a victory at Old Trafford against Milan, with Wayne Rooney scoring the tying and winning goals in the second half. Today, Liverpool will face Chelsea at the latter's home stadium, Stamford Bridge. The Champions League presents the Reds their final chance for a major title this season, as they have fallen from contention in the Premiership and the FA Cup. These last honors will be contested solely between Manchester United and Chelsea, who will play each other twice in an eleven-day span next month. The Pensioners (Chelsea) have already won the Carling (or League) Cup, which makes possible an unprecedented "quadruple," should they win the three remaining competitions. Man U, likewise, is in position to repeat the "treble" from their glorious (ugh!) 1998-1999 season. With the exception of (AC) Milan, who will need to outbattle Manchester United at home in next week's second-leg semifinal, only one team stands in the way of preventing a Chelsea-Man U monopoly...Liverpool. Though I will give Rafael Benitez's squad even odds against Chelsea, I must pose a distasteful question to the Reds' supporters, should their team end up "walk[ing] alone": Can you actually cheer on the Blues to spite Man U?

Momma I'm comin' home...

2007-04-24T11:57:00.000-05:00

Folks, I'm off to the durty durty for an interview...and some old school home cookin'. Blogging will be sporadic, at best, but I'll try to give updates. I'm thinking I might even break code and tradition and post pictures from the TED. Until then, here, for your listening pleasure, is one of the greatest songs ever recorded/performed. One memory for me....standing in San Marco Square(Venice, Italy for those less inclined to travel)...coming from a gondola ride....and a lone saxophone was playing this song. I stopped....sat down....took it in....and nodded....Ladies and Gentlemen....Mr. Ray Charles....

* normally, I would put the video in this space, but, for some reason, blogger won't let me. so, follow the link for a live performance.

You're on notice!

2007-04-18T15:07:00.000-05:00

In times of tragedy, there is a need for levity. In that spirit, I turn to Mr. Colbert of The Colbert Report. He has a spot on his show where he puts people 'On Notice', and it is incredibly ridiculous and funny. I've gone here and created my own list. These folks/things are officially On Notice!

*begrudging credit due to micah world....and this is the only reason why he isn't atop those rapacious global warming alarmists on the list.

What to say?

2007-04-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

I don't have much to say right now about the tragedy and horror in Blacksburg, Va. yesterday. There is going to be a lot of political posturing over the next few weeks, and we can talk about that then. For now, let's just pause, say a prayer for the families that have lost the irreplaceable, reflect on our own lives and communities, and tell those we love how we feel.

Let's talk about something fun....like race relations!

2007-04-16T13:50:00.000-05:00

This topic has been at the fore of my thoughts recently...race relations in the good ole' U.S. of A. With the recent happenings in Durham, N.C., the Imus vs. Rutgers vs. Al Sharpton fiasco, the Obama presidential campaign, and others...one cannot help but think about it. And we should...but the question isn't one of should...but how...and when...and with whom. The following are some random, yet mildly connected, thoughts on the matter:

1. My first thought is this...racism is not a thing relegated...or specific to...the United States. In fact, we, as a nation and people, have done a remarkable job of healing wounds and reconciling the past with present and future. Having lived abroad for an extended time, I can say, and do, that there are cultures far more steeped in a racist world and cultural view than ours. The Chinese culture is ensconced in it. While teaching there, I was present when a science teacher actually taught, in class, that I proved evolution to be true...because I had more body hair...and, was therefore, obviously closer to apes than the Chinese who have little to no body hair. Racial superiority based on a Darwinian idea of evolution...now that's good old fashioned racism for you. If one follows this logic to its conclusion, one can then imagine what this woman thinks/feels about other races. My point here is that many in the States think that our 'race problem' is a result of slavery and the legacy of Jim Crow, and is consequently unique to America...and while that is partly true...it does not mean that others don't deal with issues of strident racism...people who have no idea what 'Jim Crow' means. Again, look at the Chinese...the Han feel a distinct superiority to the Man. The simple fact is that every single Nation and culture deals with racial issues...the thing is that we deal with them more openly than most....and most of us don't realize this. Which leads me to...

2. How do we deal with racism and racial connection? This is a point of serious consternation and frustration for me. There is such a dearth of open and honest dialogue about race these days. And when there is a slight sliver of honesty uttered...benignly, or not...the P.C. crowd goes apoplectic. We've allowed for too long the conversation to be dominated by the likes of Sharpton, Jackson, and others who have a vested interest in discord and disunity. If we, as a society, are afraid to be honest out of fear of name calling and social branding, we will never progress...we will never heal...we will never be of one mind and heart. which leads me to...

3. Sharpton, the dukies, Imus, and others. A look at the two recent events regarding race tells a painfully obvious story. Let's start with Imus. I don't particularly like the guy...never have...and have no compulsion to defend what he said. In fact, I love that he got fired. Meaning, I see no problem with the public holding people to account for things said and done. If society decides that he doesn't deserve to make millions for talking, because of something that he said...I say great. Freedom doesn't remove responsibility from us...it adds more. Civilization has the right to self govern and regulate. My problem here is the ridiculous hypocrisy of the whole thing. Sharpton gets on his high horse named Charlatan and starts beating the drum for 'apology' and 'justice'....as usual, while Jackson calls CBS to see how much money he can shake them down for...when just a few short months ago, they were in Durham, N.C. doing the same thing...standing in front of a church...invoking the name of Christ...when it was obvious that that girl was lying...and those kids were innocent of the charges against them. Hypocrisy is not the worst thing in the world....I love Jonah Goldberg's thought here...that it is hypocritical for a father who steals to teach his children not to steal, but it doesn't make the lesson invalid.....but what is egregiously offensive to me is that Sharpton and those of his ilk get away with this. Also, look at the Hip-Hop culture. It is infused with, and defined by, misogyny, violence, and debauchery. The very words that Imus used...are words that 11 year old African-American girls sing along to all day long...every day. Here is a sample of lyrics from a song called Hoes...done by Lil Wayne...it took me 5 seconds to google and find them...showing how prevalent this stuff is...warning: if you mind bad language, don't read:
I got this rat name Shelly dat loves Makaveli
Number 5 combo meals its bad she K-Y jelly. Our
old school shorty still drinkin 40's. Grab the mic
start a fight,fuck up the whole party. Maybe you
should leave, just yo weave thats velcro hell no bitch
go wit Steve. Got this lead singer bitch from a popular
group I would say her name but she bought me a coupe. Got
this poor hoe Shonna swear like Marijuana she dig lil wayne
but she love the big tymers. Got pretty gurl Patrice found out
Im fuckin her niece she tried to stab her so I grab her and we
call the police. Mr. Officer, dat bitch den lost it bra she goin
to jail oh well, I be fuckin her. See two dykes, spanish twins nuts
press on they chin, will we go belly low well nigga that depends

[Chorus]
Hoes! Lets just talk about Hoes!
Can we talk about Hooooooeeeeesss Hooooooeeeeesss!
[Repeat]

I want to reiterate...as long as these are the voices of a community...and people like Sharpton are given the room necessary for his type of hyperbole and public rants...we have no chance for honesty, fairness, and forgiveness. Which leads me to...

4. The white man and velvet racism. The lack of honesty here also rests with whitey. So let's be honest...a large number of white folks are still racist. Heck, I can admit, though it is difficult, that I have to fight the easy urge of racist condescension. That's why I love the Maury Povich Show so much....the ridiculous names, the ridiculous behaviour, the ridiculous reality of it...this all supports racist assumptions and stereotypes that reside in me. I use the term velvet racism because...this kind isn't overt or even malicious. It is the kind that is understated, soft, and easy...but also informs who the person is...that adheres to this type of thinking. Simply, until white people stop...and realize...and admit openly... that just because they don't use the 'n' word... and that they don't actively root against other races...that they can still have a problem with race...that needs addressing through honesty, openness, and truthfulness...this issue will not be resolved...true community will never be accomplished...and other races will continue to be suspicious of white folks and our motives....and rightfully so.

4. I want to make perfectly clear that my frustration with this topic is born from a place of strong desire for community between races in the U.S....specifically, with white and black peoples. And the thing is...I believe it is attainable...because I've experienced it on a personal level. I've been blessed with friends of all sorts of different heritages, cultures, and colors...and have learned so much from them...and will continue to. When I've reached a place of comfort and respect with my friends, the door has opened to an honest and loving dialogue about our similarities and differences...with the result of deeper understanding and care. We can have this...but not without honesty, forthrightness, and understanding.

* i'd like to say thank you for all of the kind things said regarding my birthday. you all mean the world to me, and i'm lucky to have you in my life. this does not mean, however, that i will forget the john denver thing...you're on notice dr. z...

Here's to you, 33!!!!

2007-04-13T10:31:00.000-05:00

(Herodotus: age 15 after first, and last, guitar lesson)

Happy Birthday Herodotus!...

For all of you who may not know, today is Herod's, I mean Herodotus’, 33rd birthday.

I’m constructing a birthday “package” to send to you, but it, of course, will not come even close to getting there on time. (in some ways, I am my mother’s son)

cheers
Zeius

Euro Soccer Organization 101

2007-04-13T03:43:00.000-05:00

In response to a request from our very own Dr. Zeius, I'm beginning a brief "tutorial" on the subject of European football. Since the UEFA Champions League has been the focus of recent posts, I figure that this tournament is as good a place as any to commence a lesson on the sport.

Unfortunately, as the good doctor has probably noticed, the organizational set-up of European football leagues and their various tournaments can be very difficult for an American to understand (I don't claim to get all of the several "coefficients" that determine eligibility to compete in them), especially in contrast to our relatively straightforward systems of regular season-playoffs-championship format. To begin with, there is no American-style playoff format in European football per se. Each country has its own professional football league, loosely administered by UEFA---the governing body for Euro football. The more highly-regarded leagues are (in no particular order) England's Premiere League, Spain's Liga Primera (La Liga), Italy's Serie A, France's Ligue 1, Germany's Bundesliga 1, Portugal's Liga, and the Netherlands' Eredivisie. In a sense, each of these leagues is more "democratic" than, say, baseball's Major Leagues, in that there are several lower-tier leagues in each country that compete each year to reach the top league, providing a form of "upward mobility." Since herodotus, Vox Inferus, and myself tend to be more interested in the English Premier League, I will use it as a case study here.

England has four professional leagues directly beneath the Premier League (think of them in terms of Minor League baseball---AAA, AA, and A), with more small-scale conferences below them. The Premier League, set up in 1993 as a reorganization of all the club teams in the country under the Football Association (FA), fields twenty teams each year. The three teams which finish last each year are relegated to the Championship League---one tier down (AAA), and the top two Championship teams, along with the winner of a playoff, ascend to the Premiership...and so on through the ranks of the lower divisions. Each year's champion is simply the team which finishes atop the standings with the most points (each team plays each of the other nineteen twice throughout the season---once at home and once away). There is no playoff tournament, no championship match. There is, however, the FA Cup tournament, which roughly coincides with the football season, August to May. I don't quite understand the rules for the calculations or "coefficients" which qualify teams for this competition, but suffice it to say that MANY teams are invited. Last year, a record 687 teams entered the knockout tournament from all the various tiers. To further confuse matters, there is also the annual League Cup tournament, which allows only the top 92 teams (from the top four leagues); although the oldest competition in European football, it is less prestigious and less popular than the FA Cup. The lower-tier leagues also feature their own annual tournaments. The League Cup is a bit of an aberration in European club football, in that most country's leagues feature only one top-tier cup tournament; as you might have guessed, it is a vestige of more than a century of organization, reorganization, and consolidation of the leagues (think of it as incompletions in the NFL-AFL merger, only more than a century old and including Arena Football leagues and the XFL). Obviously, the pinnacle each team aims for each year is to win both the League championship and the FA Cup.

I have described how European football can be seen as more "democratic," through its "upward mobility." The way in which it is more "undemocratic" than American sports is that each country's professional league is typically dominated by only three or so teams. For Spain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia tend to finish each year atop the standings. In Italy, it is (AC) Milan, Juventus, Internazionale (Inter Milan), and lately, Roma. In the Netherlands, Ajax (Amsterdam), PSV (Eindhoven), and Feyenoord (Rotterdam). The German Bundesliga is perennially dominated by one team, Bayern München. The Premier League features probably four top teams (Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and lately, Chelsea), along with Tottenham Hotspur and Everton finishing toward the bottom of the top teams each year. There is no salary cap in European football, and, as a result, only a handful of teams ever win the top competitions. Now, the Champions League...

The Champions League is an annual competition--the most prestigious European international---that features the top professional teams (from the previous year) from all of the European leagues. In the fall, most of the teams from smaller-scale national leagues (Greek, Russian, Turkish, Romanian, et al) duke it out in the early rounds to qualify for the group rounds, where the field is narrowed to 32. This format should be familiar to followers of the World Cup: a round-robin is played within the eight groups, and the top two teams from each group advance to the elite Champions League Round of 16. These games are played in late February and early March in two legs, one at home and one away. The winner is determined by the higher aggregate score, and ties go to the team which scores more goals away. If that is not enough to break the tie, the second game plays into extra periods until a winner emerges. The same format applies to the quarterfinals and semifinals. The final is played at a predetermined stadium (this year at Olympic Stadium in Athens), and is European football's version of the Super Bowl. We have just finished this year's quarterfinals, and three English teams have advanced to the semis: Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea. The fourth team is (AC) Milan. The semifinals will begin at the end of April, and the final is played on May 23.

Again, to further confuse matters, UEFA administers the UEFA Cup, a tournament featuring---generally---the runners-up from all of the top European national leagues and some of the champions from the lower-ranked leagues. And again, I don't know how the qualifications for this tournament are determined, exactly. Furthermore, club teams---usually in the summer off-season---will play exhibition matches against other international club teams and even against some national teams. The winners of the Champions League and the UEFA Cup play each other every year in August for the European Super Cup, a relatively minor event. Japan used to host (1980-2004) the Intercontinental Cup, played between the Champions League winner and the Copa Libertadores (South America's international club tournament) winner. This has since been replaced by the FIFA Club World Cup, which features 12 teams, the top two clubs from each of the six continental associations. It has not yet, however, gained much popularity in Europe. The Reverend Sun Myung Moon has recently established a biannual Peace Cup, and there are all kinds of other competitions and cups.

So, here it all is in a nutshell...the Champions League is the most sought-after championship in European football. Its only international rival is the South American Copa Libertadores. Manchester United, in its celebrated 1998-9 season, secured the unprecedented "Treble," in winning the Premier League Championship, the FA Cup, and the Champions League all in the same season. This is the loftiest goal for all English clubs, and is paralleled in all of the other top national leagues. Listed are the five most prestigious championships in international football (nos. 2-5 in disputable order):

1. FIFA World Cup---national teams, every four years
2. UEFA Euro Cup---European national teams, every four years between World Cup Years (2004, 2008, etc.)
3. CONMEBOL Copa América---South American and some North and Central American teams, every two, three, or four years (don't ask!) (the U.S. will be participating in this year's tournament)
4. UEFA Champions League---annual club competition for European professional teams
5. CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores---annual club competiton for South American professional teams

I will leave the task of elaborating on specific teams and players to herodotus and Vox Inferus, although I hope the latter refrains from propaganda (Liverpool is generally favored by Catholics and Celts). I hope this helps somewhat to dissipate some of the mystery surrounding the organizational labyrinth that is European football, and perhaps it will enable one or two readers to more easily engage what is really a very enjoyable and exciting sport.

(Anyone, please feel free to apply graphics liberally---stupid Blogspot-Apple incompatibility!)

RAF, RAF, RAF, RAF, BENITEZ!

2007-04-11T18:51:00.000-05:00

Liverpool advances at ANFIELD after a 1-0 win and a 4-0 agregate victory over PSV Einhoven. Sorry oranje, I guess the Erendivisie will have to do. (Fat Chance!) Come On Reds! Just like 2 years ago, let's dismantle the Russian machine!

DOWN WITH CHELSKI!

COM'ON LADS! ONWARD TO VICTORY!

Staring down a tiger...

2007-04-11T13:03:00.000-05:00

In one of the best Masters tournaments in recent memory, Zach Johnson accomplished something that few can say...or will ever be able to say...that he beat Tiger Woods at Augusta...and did it in convincing fashion. He showed grit, heart, humility, and patience...and in doing so, changed his life, and his young family's life, forever. This guy, and his performance this year at Augusta, is why I love this tournament, and the game of golf, so much. There really is nothing else like it...

No one asked, but I'm giving my magic seven anyway.

2007-04-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

Herodotus informed me that I am not eligible for “tagging” as we occupy the same blog. He did however encourage me to post my current “seven songs” so here goes.

1. Otis Redding: “Good To Me” – Simply put, this song has replaced “Dreams to Remember” as my favorite track by Mr. Redding who is one of my favorite artists. My instinct says to describe the wonder of this song, but my good sense tells me that words cannot possibly suffice.

2. Stars: “Your Ex-lover Is Dead” – Off the album entitled “Set Yourself On Fire”, this track is one of the best indie-pop songs I’ve heard in a good while. This song is very melodic and describes a scenario in which one encounters an ex-lover only to realize that the part of them that was so enamored with the ex-lover is dead and gone…A scenario that speaks to me and probably most everyone else.

3. Gypsy Kings: “Love And Liberte” – I live in the deep south where, minus the last few days, spring has sprung which means that Gypsy Kings will find my player frequently. This song, however, is one that I have missed until recently, and I can’t get enough of it…It’s just sheer beauty in music form.

4. Ryan Adams: “Come Pick Me Up” – This is the best “I wish you loved me just half as much as I love you” song I have heard in a long, long time. I simply love, love, love this song.

5. Dinah Washington: “To Forget About You” – In purely emotive terms, Ms. Washington had a voice rivaled, in my opinion, only by previously mentioned Otis Redding. Well, through the beneficence of one Herodotus, I have come into possession (temporarily) of a rare-and-incredible cd by her that contains this song which I have only recently discovered. If you’ve ever found yourself with a desire to stop loving someone that is surpassed only by the weight of the reality that you cannot, this song is for you…Thanks Herodotus, and I’ll return it promptly.

6. David Gray: “Gutters Full Of Rain” – David Gray is, in my opinion, the best lyricist of our generation, and I know very few people that have actually absorbed his body of work in its entirety that take issue with such a statement. Still, because of the commercial success of “Babylon” as a poor representation of his overall feel as a musician, he is often quickly disregarded by many as a sort of second-tier artist. I’ll say this, I absolutely ADORE this man’s work, and have been profoundly influenced by it in my own artistic endeavors (as insignificant as they may be). This song is off of one of his earlier albums (“Sell, Sell, Sell”) that I had not listened to in far too long. Just the other day my itunes used it to remind of how foolish I am for allowing this to be the case.

7. Van Morrison: “I’ll Be You Lover": - I’ve always loved Van Morrison but had somehow missed this one. Well, a few years back now, an old girlfriend sent me a mix-cd with this song on it, and ever since it has occupied a solid third spot in my “top-three favorite Van Morrison” songs list. Just a classic, classic track that will make anyone with any measure of a romantic sensibility ache on the inside.

cheers
Zeius

Saint John Paul the Great!

2007-04-08T10:36:00.000-05:00

The initial phase of the Church's scrutiny of John Paul the Great's life in the process of his cannonization has concluded. The first phase was completed April 2nd. His Holiness, Benedict XVI stated of his former shepherd,

Especially with the slow but relentless progression ofhis illness, which little by little stripped him of everythinkg, he made himself an offereing to Christ, a living proclamation of HIS passion, in a hope filled with faith in the resurrection. Like his divine Master, he lived his agaony in prayer. He died praying. Truly he fell asleep in the Lord.

Agony, and the Christian example with which that agony is carried, is a critical aspect of the Church's scrutiny of a candidate's life. One should note that the Koine Greek term for saint is Αγιος the word from which English derives "agony."

Those who know me know my thoughts on JPII, even so I would like to know your thoughts and perhaps some memories. What, in your opinions, were his most significant moments?

Dona nobis pacem

Consummatum Est

2007-04-06T23:07:00.000-05:00

I might consider life,

had today never been,

just as Sisyphus' stone.

In my children I'd see,

had today never been,

a cruel perpetuam.

Nihilists creed accept

had today never been,

Epicurus embrace.

To grasp at pagan roots,

had today never been,

and pass as Denethor.

But dark clouds filled the sky

when today was

and sacred viels defiled

So now consider life

since today was

a gift of sacrfice

Breathe deep hopefullness

since today was

and "consummatum est"

The Masters 2007!

2007-04-05T11:15:00.000-05:00

Well, the greatest golf tournament, and arguably the greatest sports event, in the world is upon us...The Masters. I can say from experience, having been there, that the Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most beautiful places in the world...and I mean it....the Palace at Versailles, the Cliffs of Dover, the Great Wall of China, The 12 Apostles in Australia, Cotopaxi in Ecuador...they are all beautiful and amazing...but Augusta ranks. As for the tournament itself...it is sure to be exciting...if for no other reason than the weather and it's effect on course difficulty. Here are a few thoughts:

1. The Course. One thing to know is that this course is old school. It isn't nearly as long as some others(despite 'Tiger Proofing' it), but the difficulty is in the short game. There are almost no level lies, and each green has anywhere from 4 to 8 tiers. To win at Augusta, you have to hit crisp iron shots...but, most importantly...you have to putt well. If you can't putt...especially from 10 to 20 feet...you are dead in the water, as it were. This year there is a tangible excitement about course readiness and weather. You see, most years, the course winds up getting some rain during the tournament...April showers and all...slowing the greens up and allowing approach shots to stick...all leading to lower scores. Every now and then, though, mother nature says...o.k. boys let's see what you guys can do...and keeps the rain away...making even the most seasoned and prolific golfers shake in their cleats. This, my friends, is what this year is shaping up to be like. The forecast is for no rain...only tears...and lots of high numbers.

2. The Players. There is really only one name that one absolutely needs to know...and he goes by Tiger. Still, there are others of note that could, and might, walk away with the Green Jacket this year:

I. Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods. I'm not going to waste my time here. If you don't know anything about him...you stopped reading this post a long time ago...and care nothing for golf. I will say, though, he is playing extremely well...and if he wants it...and I think he does...it's his. This would give him 3/4 of his second 'Tiger Slam'...can you say "the best ever'?

II. 'Fat' Phil Mickelson. The guy you hate to love. He's broken more hearts than Ava Gardner...but we always come back to him. The question here is 'The Meltdown" of Jean Van de Velde proportions last year at the U.S. Open...and whether he can recoup. Early this year he looked unbeatable...but had another meltdown on the 18th out in California. As I write this, he is already (+4) on the front after 7. While the defending champ, I'm afraid this just isn't his year. This said, if his short game is on...and he can keep the driver in the bag on 18...he's always got a shot.

III. Ernie Els. The 'Big Easy' has got the game for Augusta, but isn't playing that well in recent weeks.

IV. Charles Howell III. The local boy...and my sentimental favorite. He has played well this year...and has got a chance. Though, the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd hasn't always proved productive in the past. I gotta think that last year's disaster of a showing has to be motivation to play well...he finished behind Charles Coody...who is 180 years old.

V. Retief Goosen. He's been quiet lately...playing mostly overseas..and that's the way he likes it. In short, he's got the game. He proved that at Shinnecock.

VI. The Europeans and Aussies. This very well could be the year that a foreign player wins the Green Jacket...it has been over a decade. All of these guys have game...and really want to be the one to reclaim the tournament. Look out especially for Henrik Stenson(Scary good), Adam Scott( Playing very well...is rounding out his game), Paul Casey( All-around game), and Jose Maria Olazabal...who is freaking amazing. He's won two already....plays three tournaments a year..but always shows up to play at Augusta.

VII. Others to Look For: Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, David Toms, and Davis Love III.

3. Predictions. I really don't know what to expect. Other than to say that...1. If the rain stays away, the winner shouldn't be under (-7) after 4 days of golf...and that's playing well...and 2. Again, this is Tiger's tournament if he is putting. If not, there are others that could jump up...but if his putter is on, forget it.

4. Enjoy it everyone...it only comes once a year...and is always entertaining. Man...I love the freakin Masters.

* I should say, too, that Vaughn Taylor is another local boy from Augusta and that I'll be pulling for him to do well...though, it is unlikely.

Day one recap:

1. The morning groups had it a bit easier than the afternoon groups...as is usually the case. Consequently, Justin Rose set the early bar at (-3). He also gave us the stat of the day....only five greens in regulation...and only 20 putts on the day....let me say that again...20 putts all day. Amazing. Tiger did what he always does in the early rounds...he keeps himself in contention. Phil did what he usually doesn't do...he played in the first round the way he usually plays on Sunday. And...there are a host of could've/should've beens hanging around the leader board. My dad taught me a life lesson early in life...and it involved this tournament...he would say, " boys, it doesn't start 'till the back nine on Sunday". When I was a kid, I thought him crazy. How could someone win The Masters and be 7 strokes back after the first day. Then...Jack won in '86. Dad...you were right then...and you're right now. 'Setting the table is important...and necessary...but there's a lot of golf to be played.

Day two recap:
1. The course is dominating this tournament. Watching this play out, I would be very surprised to see anyone finish on Sunday in red figures. I just don't see it. Not much to say other than: I. Phil will be lucky to make the cut. II. Woods is right where he needs to be to make a move on Saturday. III. Look out for Vijay Singh...that guy is creeping...and he can grind as well as anyone. IV. Patience...patience....patience. Scores are going to vary drastically...it should be fun to watch...I certainly wouldn't want the task of playing...well, o.k. I lied...of course, I would...

Day three recap:
1. Never in my life have I seen Augusta play this tough. Speaking with my dad yesterday, I asked him if he ever remembered the course like this and he said that it had been a good 30(+) years. I mean...growing up, I always heard that it could be this difficult...but weather and technology mitigated the innate treachery. This year, though, we see just how forceful and unrelenting this beautiful place can be.
2. Now...what is going to happen? Who the heck knows. Conventional wisdom says that Tiger is in the last group...and therefore, has the advantage. Still, he looked just a confused and frustrated as anyone coming off of 18. I know for a fact that no one will finish in the red. The winning score will probably be (+)1 tying the highest winning score in the history of the Master's. The guy who goes out and shoots a 70 or 69 has a great chance. If I'm in the last few groups....course management is the name of the game. Be patient ...take your pars...focus on the par fives...hope to get 70 and watch everyone else shoot 75....with a decent round. Regardless, it's Sunday at Augusta....

I've been tagged!

2007-04-04T20:08:00.000-05:00

Micah from Micah World tagged me today. I had no idea what that meant...until this afternoon. Apparently, it's kind of like a chain mail type thing. Anyway, the topic is 7 Songs That I'm Digging Right Now. So, here you go...with a brief explanation for each:

1. Sam Cooke-Bring It On Home to Me. I really can't get enough of this particular song. I'm familiar with most of Cooke's stuff, but for some reason, this one had escaped me. No longer. If you like blues, soul, and desire...this one's for you. Hat tip: Testudineous.

2. Mika-Grace Kelly. I was just given this cd by Micah. Possibly, the official Song of the Summer. The jury is still out...but what isn't up for debate is that this is a great pop song. He's eerily similar to Freddie Mercury...but in a good way. I seriously can't get this song out of my head.

3. Frank Sinatra-You Make me Feel So Young. It is the live version from the Sinatra at the Sands. The entire album is fantastic, but this track really stands out. He was still involved with a much younger Mia Farrow, and undoubtedly had her in mind when singing it. It is playful and rambunctious...in all, just a great version of a great song.

4. Shelby Lynne-Dreamsome. This is a very mellow track that is perfect for summer. I just compiled a two disc cd compilation for springtime/summertime listening and this was the first track included on the chill cd. It is a perfect song for background ambiance or for end-of-day relaxation and reclination.

5. Hotel Lights-A.M. Slow Golden Hit. Another extremely mellow track, but with a bit more electronic experimentation. The juxtaposition of the bold electronics and his very understated voice is both soothing and intriguing. I can't recommend these guys enough. It is a must have.

6. The Beatles-Dear Prudence. I was late in reaching my Beatles phase...but, when I did, there was no going back. For those who really love music, and who are affected by certain songs, there are moments and times when one hears a song for the first time, and he/she remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing. This is one of those songs for me. I busted out The White Album the other day and was reminded of how much I love it.

7. Allison Krauss-Let Me Touch You For A While. I don't think I need to explain what this song is about. But I will say that this song is a perfect reason why this lady is a national treasure. If you aren't familiar with her...become so. If you haven't seen her live...do so. You won't be disappointed.

8. Finally, as is my supposed duty, I'm now tagging Spydrz. You're it, biatch. Also, the following is the video for Mika's Grace Kelly. Listen to it a couple of times, and try not to sing along...I dare you.