That said, I was looking forward to the game today (Dec 28) between the Cowboys and Eagles. It should be noted that I don't particularly like the Eagles either. Again, not because of any of their players, but because their fans are the worst fans in the world. How do you cheer when an opposing team's player is lying motionless on your turf because he might be paralyzed. How can anyone cheer for or hope for an injury for any opposing player? Not only is it bad form, but it also is an admission of your own inferiority. It is an admission that you cannot win against the other team's best and it also leaves any victory your team achieves rather empty.
... but I digress.
I did not enjoy the game today despite the Dallas loss and the ability for me to razz my friends that call themselves Cowboy fans. The game was horrible. It was a blowout of epic proportions... Dallas embarrassed themselves. This was suppose to be a team, coming off a 13-3 season, that would contend for a Superbowl. Sure they were upset in the first round of last years playoffs, but they weren't the first team to ever do that, and certainly won't be the last. Besides, it is from games like their playoff loss to the Giants last year that teams grow and learn. It is games like that where seasoned veterans are borne. Two years ago, San Diego was primed for a deep playoff run with a 14-2 record only to be upset by New England in their first round. What did they do the next year.... stumble out of the gate, with an entirely new coaching staff, but end the season on a high and made it to the AFC championship game this time.... They showed a lot of heart and perseverance.
The Cowboys are showing that despite their incredible collection of talent, they are not a team. They have no heart. When faced with adversity they shrivel and fade instead of fighting. They had every opportunity to close on teams with just a few weeks to go and just like they've done for the last eight years, they choked. I don't know what is in store for the coaching staff. But I believe they are NOT the problem. I think Jerry Jones must do a different kind of math to get a mix of players that will take him where he wants to go.... He needs a little addition by subtraction. Get rid of the guys are are looking out for themselves and keep the guys who will all pull together. Terrell Owens should go... he's a great teammate when the team is winning, but when there is some adversity he starts dividing the team. Pac-Man Jones should go... he's proven that, not only is he a child who learned nothing from his time on suspension, but he isn't worth the money or the time. He just isn't that good. Roy Williams (the Safety) cannot cover to save his life and stopped making the big hits about three years ago. And when he is asked about some of the mistakes he makes during a game, he lashes out the media.
Of course, the real problem is Jerry Jones' ego. He bought the team and installed a strong personality to run his team in Jimmy Johnson. It was a great move and together they built some of the greatest teams ever. But both men's egos got in the way and Johnson left. Jerry would then install coaches he could clearly control after that. Sure Barry Switzer won a Superbowl for Jerry, but it was the team that Jimmy built and left in place. After that, a series of coaches who enjoyed a modicum of success, rarely making the playoffs and when they did, losing. When the players were in control... when things went awry, they knew they didn't have to answer to a toothless coach because Jerry was in control. Then along came Bill Parcells, who demanded respect because of his personality and past success. There was no way around Parcells for the players and he built some successful teams. Any success the Cowboys are now enjoying is the direct result of Parcells' involvement in the club. But he is gone and Jones is left to his old ways where HE is in control instead of the coaches. Until that changes, the Cowboys will never win another Superbowl.
]]>Please take a moment to view the videos (they are each about 5 minutes long) and consider supporting the African Wildlife Foundation.
Without further adieu...
African Wildlife Foundation Promo - Part 1
African Wildlife Foundation Promo - Part 2
I believe you're going to need the Apple Quicktime Plugin, if you don't have it, please get it.
]]>I took photos a bunch of photos and played around with the exposures and came up with a couple that are okay. The first, is a shorter exposure that shows the moon pretty much in focus and the two planets look like specks on the image. In the longer exposure, the moon appears more blurry (it's actually over exposed) and the planets appear as small discs. Remember that the brighter of the two planets is venus. See below.
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Imagine my surprise when I caught up to you after I crossed Houston street, walking along the side of the station building to get to the DART platforms, stepping into a crosswalk and fortunately looking to my left side as you tore out of the station, tires squealing and spinning, no lights or siren on this time. I'm glad I was able to jump back out of your way before getting hit while you gave me that awesome and self indulgent/righteous grin.
I guess you just wanted to get to the station quickly, most likely to talk to a pal or perhaps one of those female Fare Enforcement officers? I know for sure you didn't have enough time to get out of your car or conduct any business in the less than a minute that occurred between when I last saw you and you almost ran me down!
Which makes me think you were doing the "light blink" trick I wrote about earlier...and actually had no true reason for speeding down that street. And you most definitely had no reason to take off again in that high speed manner, causing pedestrians legally using a crosswalk to flee for their continued existance.
Just remember, Mr. DART officer, just keep smiling!
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Version with The Who:
]]>If you've got an hour of time to kill and are interested, you should look at the youtube video embedded below. Not only will you learn something interesting about sound waves, but you discover the real story behind Roswell, NM and the flying saucers from one of the top physicists in the world today, Dr. Richard A Muller.
So... enjoy.
]]>This public servant was easily doing 50 in a 30 and didn't even slow down through the crosswalk, even though I was still in it (you are supposed to come to a full stop in both directions if someone is in the crosswalk, no matter where in the crosswalk they are located). The officer continued tearing down the road until arriving at the intersection of this road with Mockingbird Lane.
The officer then proceeded to finally flash his or her lights, but only to rush the drivers waiting at the light for oncoming traffic to allow for safe right-hand turns onto Mockingbird into moving out of his or her way. As soon as the officer made the right turn, the lights went out. The officer then hit the gas and disappeared from view very quickly.
Mr. Officer - if you needed to get somewhere quickly, your lights should have been on. There are laws which state this. To turn this another way - if I were going down that same stretch of road and tore through an occupied crosswalk at 20+ mph over the speed limit and you saw me doing that, what would YOU do? Nothing? Or pull me over immediately and write a ticket? Why should it be any different for you then?
And regarding that blipping - what's up with that? Your blip shoved law-abiding drivers into a potentially dangerous traffic situation. This is unforgiveable. What's even more unforgiveable is a cop (or in this next case, two cars of cops) using a light blip to justify an illegal act. Recently, in Ft. Worth, two cops apparently wanted to take a right turn to go to a restaurant. However, a right turn was illegal in this stretch of the road - there was even a sign saying "No Right Turn" right next to where the cops had pulled up.
However, they both turned on their lights, made the illegal right turn into the restaurant, then immediately turned their lights off, parked, turned off their vehicles and got out and went in. They obviously weren't on important police business - they had merely used their lights, most likely under the barest requirement of the law, to justify their illegal action and provide themselves the police blanket of immunity to not have to be put out, like everybody else, by traffic rules and restrictions.
And don't get me started on how many officers in downtown Dallas drive their cars obviously above the speed limit at all times in general, along with DART police, etc.
I'll say again to the police - what would you do to me, a normal citizen, if I did what you apparently feel you have a right to do, even though you don't have that right?
Hypocrites.
]]>"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations," Palin told host Chris Plante, "then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."You have got to be kidding me. Could this woman, who could be elected, and end up being a heartbeat away from the Presidency, be any dumber? She's making Dan Quayle look like a freakin' Rhodes Scholar.
PRICKS!]]>
Sarah Palin gets a chance to re-answer all the questions she f--ked up when Katie Couric asked them. Here she was "interviewed" by Fox News' Carl Cameron:
As we send our young men and women overseas in a war zone to fight for democracy and freedoms, including freedom of the press, we've really got to have a mutually beneficial relationship here with those fighting the freedom of the press, and then the press, though not taking advantage and exploiting a situation, perhaps they would want to capture and abuse the privilege. We just want truth, we want fairness, we want balance.Let's set aside the fact that this nearly incoherent drivel looks like it could have come out of the mouth of an eighth-grader.... oh and did I mention she was a Journalism major in college.
Freedom of the press, a privilege??? How novel.... let's see, I think I remember reading something about that somewhere...hmmm.... where was that, oh yeah... A little thing I like to call the first Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Here's the traditional oath of office taken by the Vice-President
I, [Vice-President Elect's name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.]]>
Bite my shiny metal ass, Olympics.
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You know who's bitter in America? I AM! Because shit-kickers voted twice for a retarded guy that they wanted to have a beer with, and everybody else had to suffer the consequences!
