Testosterunts

I thought, for a minute, that I had come up with something original, and after some doubt, I still think I did.

In the previous post about my son's birthday party, I referred to him and his little wild friends as "Testosterunts". I thought that was pretty f'n clever so I Googled it and came up with nothing.

When is the last time you Googled something and came up with nothing?

"Genius," I thought. "Wow! I must have coined a phrase! What do I do now? How do I copyright this vulgar, but quite descriptive term?" I went to Urban Dictionary, and, nope, not there either. But then I Googled the singular version and found it in one, and only one, place.

And I don't like that definition. It's about Louie DePalma. OK, I get it, but, that's already been defined: it's a Napoleon Complex.

So I'm going to snatch "testosterunt" for my own use, and I'm putting it out there for the world to use. Here's a new use for testosterunt:

"An athletic, fearless, effortlessly popular elementary school boy."

That's a better definition, don't you think? I'm putting it out there in Urban Dictionary, but in the same way Venomous Kate pushed "blitch", I want to see "Testosterunt" in wide circulation. Of course you can link back to me, because, yes, I added this to the lexicon of bloggers with wired boys. Use it freely and proudly.

Birthday Day

My boy turns six in one week, but yesterday was his "birthday day", which means it was the day we teamed up with another boy freshly six and had a big blowout bonanza.

About forty, fifty or so kids at a local screamfest called "Thunder Valley". Same thing we did last year. I think the first words out of my mouth that time, after getting in the car, were "Never again." Sure enough, again, one year later. We won't go into all the discussions I lost that led us here.

Go karts, video games, laser tag, cake and juice. They have mini-golf, but you have to commit to a 2 1/2 hour party for that to be included. No thank you. As it turned out, thundershowers were in the area, so putt-putt wouldn't have been wise anyway. So we were all wrapped up and finished in an hour-and-a-half.

Unfortunately (or not) we had a big ole' system crash at work just as I was walking out the door to go to this saturnalia, so I only caught the last 30 minutes. Thankfully, that was almost cake time, so I missed the token begging and horrified parent part of the evening.

And as any South Roanoke Circle reader will tell you, I ranted severely about the concept of "goodie bags". Yes, there was some beggin' for bags going on, but instead we gave out cheapo water shooters. These quickly doubled as Light Sabers for most of the testosterunts in the crowd, so the proprietors of Thunder Valley were quite ready for us to go.

In the end, a fine time was had, hopefully, by all.

M'Goodness!

I've hit a hunnerd (100) posts. I'd say I need a break, but I feel like I just took one, at least from the blog.

Huge, riveting excitement to come! Alright, whatever, I'm just hitting the hay because work comes early tomorrow.

It's easy to get to 100 with drivel like this . . .

OOH, my music player just hit upon some New Order circa 1981: Dreams Never End. Vocal sounds like Joy Division, otherwise it's the beginning of New Order.

Now some Stevie Wonder. Give a listen to his "Hotter Than July" album. I can't wait for what's next!

Next ... O wouldn't you know it, it's Cortez the Killer. I could be here for another hour.

I hate bedtime.

I'll say again, what a weekend. It's time to concede it to reality ...

Polls, People, and Problems

I thought the weekly poll idea would be good fun, but for one thing, not so many took part in the baseball poll. I thought I would go for something more universal this week: a color. Just pick one. I don't care if it is your favorite, I just want to see some votes! The thing is, I'm hearing that if your browser has ever been here before, you see the poll results and don't get an option to vote.

If that is so, this is the last poll. If you want to vote and CAN'T, comment and this will be the end of this foolishness. What sense if only new visitors can vote?

For now, I say red, and if I'm the only voter, I win.

What Color?

What a Weekend

It's been event after event for this whole weekend. Some deserve further explanation, but I don't have time. We are on to another event . . . bye now.

Welcome Summer!

OK, it's not like I'm a carefree college kid or anything. I have to go to work on Tuesday. Still, something about the Memorial Day weekend makes me happy, happy, happy. There is so much going on this weekend, we can't even decide what to do.

It's 81 degrees outside at 6:00 PM. 88 tomorrow. 89 Sunday. 87 Monday. 10% chance of rain. Perfect.

I love hot weather. I don't mind being sweaty, sunburned, or on the verge of heat stroke. I like the beach, mowing the yard, running in the middle of the afternoon, relaxing on the porch in the evening, late dinners when the sun goes down, chicks in skimpy outfits . . . oh, wait, I think you get it so I better stop. I don't like mosquitoes or the electric bill, but other than that, give me summer.

Tonight's itinerary just solidified. After everyone bailed out of going to the pool, we shall venture to the ball park to see our local single 'A' professional team, the Salem Avalanche, kick some Frederick Key ass. (Alright, we don't pay much attention to the game, we mostly just drink and carry on, but it's still fun to be there.)

Happy summer everyone!

Mini Poll

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

I was a tortured man this weekend as the Mets kicked off interleague play against the Yankees. Last year, the Mets had the best record in baseball (97-65) , but they took it seriously in the nuts when they played AL teams. Frankly, I was nervous.

They came out of it winning two of three, and the Braves had a tough time with Boston, so we now have a growing lead in the NL east. Good momentum heading into a series with the Braves.

I'll say it again. The Mets are going to run away with the division and the best record in the NL. The Brewers hot start was just a fluke.

Now that David Wright is back on track, the only missing pieces are Delgado's bat (he'll be back) and Pedro (I'll keep my fingers crossed).

Name That Tune

I found this meme over on The Blogfathers, and I thought I would play along. It's obvious that LA Daddy and I roll to the same rock, because I could have echoed nearly all of his answers, so I'll have to be original and come up with my own.

What song do you hear that takes you back to high school?
Tough to pin down to just one song, so I'll give you two: Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2. It was obvious they were going to be huge. Also, Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant. It somehow became the theme song of my rowing team. Not for any good reason, except it was a fun, goofy song.

What song do you hear that really fills you full of regret?
Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses by Kathy Mattea. When I was a sophomore in college, I fell head over heels for this cute freshman from Arkansas. I drove her home for summer break (from Rochester, NY) and stayed about a week in her little hometown. Suddenly, I was a major country music fan, and in many other ways completely lost my shit.

Well, after a tearful parting, I headed back to Rochester to my summer job at Wegman's. I thought it would be a sweet, loving gesture to send a mixed tape to my girlfriend. On side one, I included some songs I thought were poignant. Eighteen Wheels is the only one I remember now. On side two I just talked and pined for my Southern belle.

Frankly, I think I scared the crap out of her. I regret making that mixed tape. Not two weeks into the fall semester she dumped me for her old high school boyfriend. It took me a long, long time to get over that. I feel sorry for my friends that they had to put up with me during all that melodrama.

What song restores your faith in humanity?
Damn, these are good questions.

Fight the Power by Public Enemy. Do The Right Thing is one of the most powerful films I've ever seen. This song was absolutely perfect for it. Perfect, motivational, inspiring, and it pissed you off. Sometimes we have to get pissed off to get off the couch. This song restores my faith in humanity because I felt the passion of an entire theater full of people during that movie. Spike nailed it, and so did Chuck D.

What song truly makes you smile?
Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles. George Harrison's were some of the best Beatles songs.

What song can't you wait to play for your child?
He hasn't really had to wait for any, because we don't censor much here on Jefferson Street. Case in point, TB's first favorite popular song was Nelly's Hot in Herre.

But herre is my answer: Ocean Size by Jane's Addiction. The lyrics speak to me so precisely they almost make me shiver. Crank it to eleven and it will blow you off the planet. I'm sure my boy has heard it in the car, but I can't wait until he requests it.

What song didn't used to mean anything to you . . . and now it really does make an impact?
I'm struggling with this one. Pause for contemplation.

I went on to the other questions and came back to this one. After some serious thought, I say Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett. Maybe that means I'm middle aged, maybe it just means I like relaxing on the beach with some music and some tequila. Growing up, we never went to the beach, even though Coney Island was only about an hour away. My first beach trip happened when I was 22 years old. I've loved the beach ever since.

When I lived alone in Washington, DC, if I didn't have much going on one day, I would drive for hours to the shore in Delaware, just to spend a couple hours on the beach by myself. I like any beach: a busy beach, a quiet beach, a family beach, a party beach. I like the ocean, the seafood, the relaxation, the sand in my shoes. The only thing I don't like about the beach is the drive home.

There's no better beach music than Jimmy Buffett, except, of course, Bob Marley. With him, though, it's the whole body of work, and I didn't want to deal with picking one Marley song.

What song takes you back to college?
Hundreds of them, but primarily How Soon Is Now by The Smiths, and the entire Dark Side of the Moon album by Pink Floyd. Somehow I never discovered them in high school. I did in a big way in college.

What song would be the first song on your iPod if you were stuck on a desert island?
I'd be SOL because I don't have an iPod. So, since I'm being obnoxiously literal with this question, how about Save Me by Queen.

What band influenced you the most?
Again a double answer. Am I a windbag, or what?

As far as an influence on my life, The Police. They helped guide the course of several friendships back in the day.

Musically, I would say King Crimson. They completely changed my view of music, and made me understand that there is no good or bad. There is only what moves you.

There you have it. I'd love to know your songs as well, so if you want to play along, go to the Blogfathers link and join in.

The Optimist Creed

G'diddy was a proud member of the Optimist Club. I had never heard of it before, and if you asked LBB, she would say I should be the President of the Pessimist Club. She's way off, but yes, I can sometimes have a more grim view than she. I still call it Realism, but I'm not saying it's the ideal way to be.

LBB and TB are clearly optimists, and I think that is wonderful. They learned from G'diddy. Here are the tenets of the Optimist Club. I hadn't discovered this until recently, but I plan to memorize it and learn from it. It should be part of the Constitution. Notice that it's all inclusive. You couldn't find a better way to explain G'diddy's philosophy of life:

The Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself-

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Purposes of Optimist International
To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed; To promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; To inspire respect for the law; To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; To aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.

Out of Practice

OK, I'm out of practice in a lot of ways, but what I'm referring to is the major butt-stomping I took from TB in foosball tonight. First game was a close one, but he pulled it out 10-9. Nip and tuck.

Second game, I had him on the ropes in a big way. I was up 9-4. Then, either I got complacent, or he decided to get up in the game. The little wretch put in six in a row. Good for him. Believe me, I wouldn't let him win. The boy got skillz.

It's been exactly a month since we played, and now he has taken the lead in the infinite tournament. Oh, by the way, I was kicking his skinny little tushy in 21, but it started to sprinkle, so we headed inside. He's lucky I haven't posted the 21 tournament, because I just might be winning 9-7 or something. A boy needs to learn some humility!

Augghh!

I'm not sure I've ever had the "willies" before, but I have them now. I can't believe I work in health care, because medicine really makes me squirm.

Now You Know The Whole Story

Looks like T-ball is going to be a rainout, so I think I'll steal this fun little quiz from Blue Country Magic. I like doing these, because they affirm that yes, in fact, the universe really does revolve around me.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? - Don't think so.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? - Shortly after 9/11. (Hey, that question sounds familiar. I think I did part of this list before.)

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? - I don't have any feelings about it. It's pretty sloppy, but I don't use it very often, either.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? - Well, this is probably disgusting, but I love liverwurst. I never eat it because it's like 88% fat, but I do like it a lot. Instead, I'll say, turkey.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? - One 5 year old son. He's going to be an only child.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? - I'm going to say, no. I'm not exactly a reach out and get to know me kind of guy, so the new other me would probably never cross paths with the real me.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? - You bet. It's the highest form of humor.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? - Yes, but I wish I didn't. I snore sometimes, so I wonder if my tonsils contribute to that.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? - In a heartbeat, yes.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? - Life.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? - I used to, always. Now, if they are old tennis or running shoes, I just yank 'em off.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? - Yes. I just hauled a 32" TV by myself from G'diddy's apartment up to our house.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? - Mint Chocolate Chip.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? - Their attitude.

15. RED OR PINK? - Red. Lately, it's become my favorite color. Used to be blue.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? - I'm selfish.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? - My parents, and my friends from University of Rochester.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? - n/a, because I didn't send it out. But if someone picks this up from here and does it, I'd love to know.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? - Tan shorts, no shoes.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? - Wasabi peas.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? - Orbital.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? - Maroon.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? - Grilling. Roasted peppers. My son after he takes a bath. Asphalt.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? - My neighbor.

25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? - Basketball, football, and baseball.

26. HAIR COLOR? - Brown, with gray on one side.

27. EYE COLOR? - This is a subject of debate around Jefferson Street. I say my eyes are green. My wife, and just about everyone else says they are blue. I have the same issue with the color of my car. So what I take from this is that I'm color blind. But I'm the one answering the question, so my eyes are green.

28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? - I have them, but haven't put them in for years. Too lazy.

29. FAVORITE FOOD? - I have too many to name. For now I'll just say anything spicy.

30. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? - Scary movies.

31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? - Mulholland Drive. Classic David Lynch film. I loved it.

32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? - Blue.

33. SUMMER OR WINTER? - Summer by a landslide.

34. HUGS OR KISSES? - Both.

35. FAVORITE DESSERT? - Seconds of the entree.

36. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? - The Cider House Rules by John Irving.

37. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? - The mouse.

38. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? - Baseball, for about 10 minutes.

39. FAVORITE SOUND? - "No new messages", on my voice mail at work.

40. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? - Both. But I have a bunch of Stones CDs and no Beatles. I'd like to get Abbey Road.

41. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? - Los Angeles.

42. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? - I can predict the sex of unborn children with incredible accuracy.

43. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? - Vassar Brothers Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY

Energizer Bunny

My son does not have an off switch. Back before we were married, I told LBB that she had only two settings: manic and asleep. TB is the same way, either manic or asleep. He does sleep long and hard, and rarely gets up in the night - if he does, it usually means he is sick. He needs the sleep, though, because energy just spills from him all day long.

Here's a brief synopsis of Saturday: he got up around 8:00, came in our room and jumped around on the bed for 15 minutes or so, ate breakfast, put on his tee ball uniform, and then went outside to play basketball for an hour before the tee ball game.

Tee ball at 10:15. Of course he wanted to bring a friend to watch the game. Then home for a quick lunch. Across the street to play with other friends for a couple hours while LBB and I worked on cleaning out G'diddy's apartment.

Then, the same friends came over to our house, and they all proceeded to do some "gardening", which meant digging a bunch of holes under our deck.

Then late afternoon, said friends Dad came over and we all piled in our cars and went downtown to see a band and cheer on some friends running a 5K.

About 6:00 we are heading home and the boy asks me, "Daddy, what are we going to do today?"

Typical. If he has two minutes of downtime, he's ready to invite someone over, even if he's been hard at it for hours. He's just like his momma and his G'diddy.

I'm a little different. While I admit I have a hard time just sitting around doing nothing or just watching TV, I don't mind a day with no plans.

Mother's Day, we were given a few specific instructions by LBB, but the expectations weren't too lofty. Breakfast, coffee, and the Sunday paper in bed. Then, our son offered to "clean the house" for her for Mother's Day. We have a big house, so that was a big promise.

We compromised: I would clean the refrigerator, and he would wash all the windows that he could reach. He really enjoyed it! Ususally he grouches and grumbles about cleaning up after himself (although he is a neat child, so he tends to put things in their place just by nature.) He was giving, "Whistle while you work." Hope he feels the same way about mowing the lawn in a couple years.

Cortez The Killer

It may not make great sense from the lyrics, but this is one of the most powerful songs I've ever heard. I first heard it 27 years ago on Live Rust. At first, I didn't think much of it. I was more into Sugar Mountain.

Nobody beats Neal Young's original. Built to Spill came close and extended it in a manner that becomes a wonderful tribute to the original. The Church did a very different take on it, which is harsh in it's own way, and a great version. I'm not sure about the Dave Matthews Band attempt. His voice could carry it, but beyond that, I'm not sure.

I've been listening to this over and over for a couple months. Not sure why. I have the Built to Spill version on the player. It's worth a listen, if you have a half hour or so.

Cortez the Killer

He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.

On the shore lay Montezuma
With his coca leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
With the secrets of the worlds.

And his subjects
gathered 'round him
Like the leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry gods to see.

And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood
straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on.

Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones.

They carried them
to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up
with their bare hands
What we still can't do today.

And I know she's living there
And she loves me to this day
I still can't remember when
Or how I lost my way.

He came dancing across the water
Cortez, Cortez
What a killer.

Junior High All Over Again

I'm really bugged by this line break mess from the last post. I hate seeing it as the first thing that comes up.

Let's fill up some space, shall we?

On Rhapsody right now, I'm listening to the top 25 guilty pleasure bands. Well, they aren't all bands. There was some Lionel Ritchie, some Kelly Clarkson. Right now, I'm listening to Careless Whisper, by Wham! Remember that mess? I think that may have been my first slow dance song.

REO Speedwagon is up next: Can't Fight This Feeling. I'll have to skip that. If it were Keep On Loving You I'd probably start weeping. Just depends where you were at the time.

Next, oh my, Air Supply. They seemed awfully poignant when I was 12. This is what spawned Meat Loaf, and why why why did we ever allow that to happen?

Next up: Hall and Oates. Sara Smile. Can't complain about that. Seriously, they were smooth. Even on M-E-T-H-O-D of love, or whatever the hell that mess was. It was a good song.

OH Christ! Now they're putting some Brittny Spears on here. Yeah, she may be a guilty pleasure, but not 'cause of the music. Skip . . .

Oh, and back to the beginning, which was Rush. Now I don't feel too guilty about that.

40 by 40?

I'm about six weeks shy of my 40th birthday. I'm not grieving over that, but I
will say that it's making me think about my overall condition more than usual.

See, I'm currently about 75 pounds heavier than I was at age 20. I'm 5'10", and
when I was a Sophomore in college, for a while, I weighed about 135. That may
have been too light, but still, 75 pounds is a hell of a load to add on. Check out the
frightening difference on this BMI calculator.

I seem to have stabilized, though. My age exceeded my waist size back around
34, and although I sometimes need to buy 36 pants, I can get away with the 34s.
It doesn't look like I'll be 40x40 next month.

Still, I announced to LBB last night that I would love to lose 40 by 40. Ain't
gonna happen in six weeks, but I'd like to get a good head start. Beach season
is coming up, and we have not one, but two beach weeks planned this year. Gotta
get my buff on.

A more realistic goal may be to lose 40, and keep it off, by the END of my 40th
year. That gives me a year and 6 weeks. I think I can do it. Back in 2001 I
was running all the time. Did a half-marathon in under two hours, and at one
point I was running nearly forty miles a week. I think I hovered in the 180s
then, and I wasn't doing anything as far as diet goes.

Then we had a kid, the routine slid, and I never quite got back there. Last
summer, I fell down the stairs and sprained my ankle severely. I still feel the
effects of that. (Excuses, excuses.) Now I run about once a week, and go to
the YMCA about once a week. That's about all that's keeping me stable.

What's killing me is that I'm going to have to include some dieting if I want to achieve
this goal, and I'll have to forego the beer. Sad days. Well, it isn't happening this
weekend but soon. I might get grumpy.

Fun New Features Just For You

Wow! Unexpectedly, I had a couple hours to myself this evening. LBB announced girls night at the local watering hole, which means I was on full basketball duty with TB. And then, as I popped inside to fix myself a salad, he came running in the house like he was being chased by a bear. His eyes were all big and he couldn't get his words out.

Finally, he blurted out, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Can I go with C____ to watch his tee ball game? They are getting in the van right now!"

"Did they invite you?"

"Yes, his Mommy did. I promise. She's right across the street, go ask her!"

And ask I did. Sure enough, they wanted to pile another in the van for an evening of runs, hits, and, mostly, errors.

My boy loves baseball, but more than anything, he loves being busy with his friends. He's just like his mother and his G'diddy.

So, what to do with my time?

Ah, some long neglected tweaks to the blog, how about that?

First, I started up some Earth, Wind, & Fire, to keep my mood propped up in case something went drastically wrong. Fiddling with the code still frightens me a little.

I hinted a month or so ago about a major overhaul. I'm starting to think the design is a bit depressing and seasonally inappropriate. Aesthetically, I like the black, golds, and reds, but it's a little dark now that we are heading into summer fun. Maybe that will be my Autumn/Winter template and I'll seek something more uplifting for now.

That's more than I want to deal with tonight.

So, what I did do was add a javascript to rotate my banner quotes each day. I was sick of that Banner History that I had at the bottom of the page. It looked messy. So I moved the quote to the top of the right column and off the banner. Tomorrow it should be a different quote. Ain't that nifty? I'm not sure if I'm going to spice up the banner.

Also, I added a Top Nine posts above the Archives in the left column. Who digs through archives, anyway? I thought I'd just highlight a few of my favorite posts. I chose nine for two reasons. First, it's my favorite number. Second, it means I'm always trying to complete the top ten. Gives me some motivation.

I changed some colors up just a bit.

Also, I've added a few new links recently in the Roanoke section and the Fun Places to Visit. Enjoy!

Yet Another Sports Arrest

Here's a teeeeny little article in the Sports section of today's local paper:

"Jaguars waive Carroll after arrest
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Jacksonville Jaguars waived cornerback Ahmad Carroll two days after he was arrested on weapon and drug charges."


That's it. That's the whole fargin' story. I didn't bother to go looking for the details. I am so damn tired of reading this same thing, day after day after day. We pretty much expect at least one athlete and one celebrity a day to do a career face plant. Who else was it today? Ty Pennington from Trading Spaces or whatever other show he is on now.

If we can't find a new schmuck, we hope one of the old losers hits bottom again. Seriously, people, why do we care? Why has the inside front page of our local paper turned into the Los Angeles DUI blotter? We have dozens, if not hundreds, getting blown to pieces in Iraq daily, but on page two, we read about Alec Baldwin.

I'm not fussing about our local paper, specifically. Looking back at the Sports page, you know what? I wouldn't really give a crap about Ahmad's drug charges, but the weapons concern me a bit.

Why is it that so many pro athletes feel the need to carry weapons? Because they surround themselves with people they can't trust, that's why. I couldn't care less if anyone famous or otherwise, felt like getting high in their homes. But because it's illegal, and thus becomes a business trying to fly under the radar of law enforcement, the stakes grow higher. Players carry guns as "protection" and end up getting arrested outside a club at 2:00AM. I'd love to know how the arrest rate of professional athletes compares to the general population.

I am a sports fan, but I'm about through. My boy hasn't yet picked a specific sports hero, but I'm scared for when he does. I can't defend the privileged athletes and celebrities who screw up in their private lives. They bring it on themselves. Each day, though, you never know who's going to face justice, be it justified or not.

Simplistic Political Prediction

I think Governor Kaine could run for President within the next ten years and win. You know why? He's a pleasant fellow. He knows how to handle a crisis. He doesn't mind sticking his neck out with a proposal, but he will compromise with the General Assembly.

Maybe I've been living in a cave, but I haven't heard nary a negative thing about Kaine. I wish we could give him a second term to prove himself further, and get some national attention.

Mark Warner quit the national race before it started. Jim Gilmore is running. Few outside of our state know them. You know why? It takes more than four years in the Statehouse to get on the radar. We need to change our one term law, but before that, I think we should find a way for Gov. Kaine to get to Washington. Maybe John Warner's Senate seat.

I Called This One

Dallas is gone after the first round. My hopes for the Knicks were way off, but I was on target about the Mavericks. Sorry to see them out, but here's my finals prediction, as I slink away from my earlier expectations of the Heat: Phoenix vs. Chicago. The Suns take it in five games.

Finetune Player

OK, I have figured out that you should be able to click where it says "JSR1" in the upper left corner, and it should open the playlist in a separate window. Then you can click Play and toggle back to the blog. But then you can't see the songs as they pop up while you are on the blog.

Do I ask too much? Improvements to come, but hey, 15 years ago I was still making mixed tapes from record albums. Clearly the technology precedes me.

Housekeeping

One of the things I've found completely annoying about the new Finetune player is that if you click on any other link on the site, it stops the player (as you should expect). I'm sure there is a quick and easy trick, but I haven't taken the time to look yet. In the meantime, if this is pissing you off too, you can just start the player, then open up another browser session and go back to the site.

Pain in the tushy, but trust me, my playlist is well worth a listen. I'll change it up from time to time.

Then, you'll notice that Infinite Foosball has come to a standstill. Good weather has sent us outside to the basketball hoop as often as possible, so we may have to start another tournament. TB seems to love 21. Shrimp that he is, he can still beat me from time to time. I spot him a couple feet on the free throws.

Finally for now, I'm long overdue for some random rants and raves. I'll get back there soon.