An interesting language definition

"One in 5 men at risk of drinking problem" is the headline.

The query I would have is simple: Who/What defines a "drinking problem"?

Being a person who supports the legalization of pot, and heavy restrictions on drinking alcohol...this definition is important to consider.

I think more than 1 in 5 have a "problem," but that's me.

Who know NJ had it in em?

According to this story: "High school seniors would be taught how to write a check, manage credit card debt and obtain a mortgage under a bill advanced in the New Jersey Senate."

This is a brilliant idea, and one that should be done nationwide. With so many people in debt up to their eyeballs, and with shady marketers all around...the best defense is simple...it's education.

Bravo to NJ, I hope this passes and is signed into law.

Cellphone carriers can suck it!

In light of the upcoming Inauguration of Barack Obama to the Presidency, apparently, the cell phone companies are on their knees begging:

As the NYT reports: "The largest cellphone carriers, fearful that a communicative citizenry will overwhelm their networks, have taken the unusual step of asking people to limit their phone calls and to delay sending photos. The carriers are also spending millions of dollars to temporarily and substantially upgrade their networks in Washington."

SO....after gouging American consumers for year with shitty plans and shitty networks, and despite the still SHITTY service more American's get from their cellphones (see what people in Asia are doing with their phones routinely, and you'd be ill)...they want us to take it easy on them?

Fuck you cellphone bitches!

A conundrum - of sorts

So, the question of the day is this...



...is this woman naked on a beach or not?

I vote not naked. *mutters* Damn towel.

Andrew Jamison is a fucking moron

Andrew Jamison said, "God was certainly looking out for all of us."

Just who is this Andrew fella?

Well, golly gee, he's one of the survivors aboard U.S. Airways Flight 1549 that landed smoothly in the Hudson River due to the brilliant job of the pilot of the plane.

Why is Andrew a fucking idiot? Simple. "God" was certainly looking out for you Andrew...especially when he directed those freaking geese directly into not just one, but BOTH of the plane's engines.

Yeah, he was certainly looking out for ya...good call Andrew. Good call. *a jaunty two thumbs up*

Fucking religious whack-job. This is what's wrong with this country...you people are so myopic.

Tek & the Sox

My Boston Red Sox have only had three team captains since 1923...it's a very high honor on this team to be given the title of captain.

On December 24, 2004, Jason Varitek (nicknamed "Tek") was named that third captain in Red Sox history and given a generous 4-year deal at $10 million per year, with the help of his longtime and notorious agent Scott Boras.

After this past 2008 season was over, Tek became a free agent in baseball. However, in baseball, there is this process called salary arbitration, and the management decided to offer Tek arbitration. This meant (since players rarely lose arbitration cases, and often get a raise) Tek would have been guaranteed $11 million for the next baseball season.

Instead of taking the free $11 million, with the advice of Boras, Tek turned down the offer and became a complete free agent. Again, however, there is a catch. By offering him arbitration, the Sox were assured they would get the first-round pick in next year's draft from any team that signed Tek to a deal.

Recently, draft picks have become highly valued in baseball as a way for teams to stockpile young, cheap talent...and teams are now loathed to voluntarily give up this first round pick for signing a 36 year old catcher who is well past his prime, and on the back 4 (not even 9) of his career.

It now appears Tek has screwed himself by following Boras' advice, as no team was willing to sign him once they had to give up that first-round pick. With no where else to go, the principal Owner and CEO of the Sox, John Henry, is flying down to meet one-on-one with Tek without Boras.

I hope the Sox make Tek eat a deal for $5 million for one year, or a two-year deal for somewhere around $12 million.

Tek played the free agent game, and he lost. If he had won and there had been several teams bidding for his services, you can be DAMN sure he'd make the Sox pay up full price (they did in that 2004 deal when virtually no one was chasing Tek).

When you lose, you have to eat some money. If my Sox bend over and give him $10 million for a year...I will be disgusted.

Mass Transit

After spending all day in the hospital with an unexpected illness, I can say one thing about the concept of mass transit...

A. I support the idea.

B. During rush hour, however, mass transit is a bunch of BS.

I've been to four major cities in the past 5-6 years, all with mass transit systems, and they all suffer from this problem.

People drive their cars because even in a traffic jam, you can control your own climate, your listening enjoyment, have access to a free food smorgasbord, have a nice cushy seat, not smell someone elses' body odor, and perhaps more importantly - your overall comfort factor.

In every major cuty during rush hour, the metro operator comes across telling those stuck standing in the middle to smash further into the car to make it as full as a tin can of sardines.

The inherent problem with this is three-fold:

1. More people are likely to get injured in some type of de-railment or accident.

2. It make it infinitely harder to then GET OUT of the car at your stop before the very same operator closes the door on your ass.

3. Finally, and perhaps my biggest problem, is my lack of great balance. I nearly toppled over today in a full subway car, which not only would have been embarrassing as hell, but it could have possibly injured some unsuspecting poor jackass who was in the way of my fat ass on it's way down.

My overall point, there HAS GOT to be a better way to handle these cars during rush hour, so more people can sit.

Little Known Fact

Way back when the blockbuster "E.T." was being filmed, the filmmakers wanted E.T. to eat M&Ms, but were denied by the Mars company.

Therefore, they turned to Reese's Pieces, which then became a sensation and began flying off store shelves into the homes of America.

Mars certainly f-ed that one!

As Seen...

...on my travels during the holiday season.

So, I sit in my seat on the airplane and I'm watching people walk by in the center, waiting for them to choose their seat already.

Suddenly, I see this:



If you look on the floor of the plane in this little picture I snapped with my cellphone, you can clearly see what caused me to snicker and still be slightly appalled.

Yes, indeed. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) doesn't let people on airplanes with more and 1 ounce of hand lotion, HOWEVER...you CAN apparently bring freaking arrows on board!!

This lady literally had a quiver, with 3 arrows in it. I was lucky in that she sat fairly close to me, so I was able to snap this picture. As it took me a few minutes to get over my shock and disgust and laughter all at once.

To paraphrase Dubya, "You're doin' a heckuvah job TSA!"

As a Big Ten alumn...

...uh, yeah. I STILL hope Ohio State gets pounded HARD CORE tonight. Fuck you OSU!!!!!

Jags

Out here in the New England area of the country, we don't generally give a whit about college sports. However, occasionally something comes a stumbling down the line and makes us perk up our ears in interest.

The hot topic today has been the tale of the Boston College football coach (or former, depending on who you ask) Jeff Jagodzinski. They call him "Jags" out here.

He came to BC 2 years ago, and apparently the Athletic Director of BC, Gene DeFilippo, had to "go to bat" for Jags to get the board to support bringing him on.

Well, shit has hit the fan when Jags wanted to go interview for the Jets coaching position, which he is 90% likely NOT to even get. Now, BC has their feathers all in a kerfuffle about this development, and they are poised to fire Jags' ass upon entry into that interview.

There has been no solid proof that BC put language IN WRITING that Jags couldn't go seeking an NFL job when he was hired, it apparently was a "gentleman's agreement" between Jags and DeFilippo.

Sorry, BC, you have no legs to stand your table on here. If it's not in writing, it doesn't matter. I despise Nick Saban, Bobby Petrino for the shit they've pulled in recent years, but they had the legal right to do so if there is not language in the contract stating as such.

BC is making a huge mistake thinking their stupid little football program means anything in the grand scheme of things. Ya'll got lucky with Matt Ryan and what he did for your program, so enjoy it while it lasts.

My alma mater, Purdue, got very lucky by snagging Drew Brees from Texas and they scored huge with him. Since he's left the program has taken a dive, but we are at least on the Big Ten map.

Key sentences from the ESPN story: "Jagodzinski has three years left on his contract. Were BC to fire him, sources said, the university would be on the hook for the remainder of his salary."

This tells me for sure, this was not in writing in the contract. Lesson learned Gene. Next time, get it in writing, or don't bother whining about your milk being spilled.

Attention Doc Rivers:

Tony Allen is a blockhead, moron who has virtually NO basketball IQ and routinely has made poor decisions with the basketball on the court.

Gabe Pruitt has shown flashes of being a good NBA player, who has been stuck on the bench riding the pine. Tony Allen needs to be riding that pine, and Gabe Pruitt needs to be seriously given a shot to overtake Allen's minutes in the rotation.

The trip back to whence I came

Well, frankly, other than the time with sister, that sucked hard core.

Me and my sister have had our ups and downs through the year, but things recently have been good.

But, I'll tell you this much, if there was any doubt about the health of our relationship...my mother has brought us closer by her remarkably stupefying actions these past 6 months.

It wasn't so much the actions before this trip home, those were slightly troubling, but it was the feel of going back home and not really feeling welcome in the house.

She met a dude approx. 6 months ago, and just married him a week ago yesterday. This one action has seemingly transformed this woman I knew, who was fiercely independent, had her own voice, and owned her life....into a woman who has been co-opted, no longer thinks for herself without "checking" with her dude, and is incapable/unwilling to do things independently.

My sister wrote it best, "...the woman...was not one I recognized. There were no comfort clothes, there were no bare toes, she didn’t do anything by herself, and she lacked the cussedness I’ve come to rely on."

There were things I saw, things I was told that made my fake pointy ears go up in alert, and I'm not so sure my mother will find disappointment when I (and perhaps my sister) decide NOT to go back home next year for the winter holiday. If there doesn't seem to be some type of tenor change, I will not be going back.

If I am not welcome, then go blow yer horn.