World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: The Gators are better. Take Florida and give the 6
Auburn at Ole Miss: The worst 4-4 team at the best 4-4 team. Take Ole Miss and give the 6 1/2
Tennessee at South Carolina: Spurrier to try run Fulmer out of town. Take USC and give the 5 1/2
Kentucky at Mississippi State: Take the cats at the 2 1/2, but they win outright.
Tulane at LSU: The Bayou Bengals need someone they can hang 50 on. Here they are. Take LSU and give the 25
Texas at Texas Tech: I still don't really believe in the Red Raiders. They have amassed a pretty record against some seriously bad competition. Texas is the first good team they play and they are going down hard. The line is 4, but the 'Horns win by at least 3 TDs
on the iPod:
1. "Eyes Without a Face" by Billy Idol
2. "Without Me" Eminem
3. "Burgers and Fries" by Charley Pride
4. "No More Mr. Nice Guy" by Alice Cooper
5. "Tenderness on the Block" by Warren Zevon
6. "Dead" by They Might Be Giants
7. "Thunderhead Hawkins" by Uncle Kracker
8. "Ghost Riders in the Sky" by Johnny Cash
9. "22, Acacia Avenue" by Iron Maiden
10. "Beat on the Brat" by Ramones
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
NaNoWriMo
I am quite possibly nuts. Or maybe just goofy.
Because I have just scads of spare time after family, kids, work, kids, volunteering and kids, I have decided to write a novel.
In one month.
50,000 words in 30 days.
That is a mere 1,667 words per day for the month of November.
It looks to be pretty fun - participants write hideous prose for a month with the only goal being to get to 50k words by midnight on Nov 30. Success leads to great fame and prizes in the form of a webpage widget announcing success to anyone who cares to look.
Sure, its goofy and silly, but I am one of those gazillions of people who has always wanted to write a novel. But I am also aware that no one will ever mistake me for Hemingway or Twain, and may not even mistake me for one of those hacks who writes the letters to penthouse. So I have never even started one, but here is an excuse - and it is not only okay to be a bad writer, it is expected.
I should fit write in. (heh heh)
Because I have just scads of spare time after family, kids, work, kids, volunteering and kids, I have decided to write a novel.
In one month.
50,000 words in 30 days.
That is a mere 1,667 words per day for the month of November.
It looks to be pretty fun - participants write hideous prose for a month with the only goal being to get to 50k words by midnight on Nov 30. Success leads to great fame and prizes in the form of a webpage widget announcing success to anyone who cares to look.
Sure, its goofy and silly, but I am one of those gazillions of people who has always wanted to write a novel. But I am also aware that no one will ever mistake me for Hemingway or Twain, and may not even mistake me for one of those hacks who writes the letters to penthouse. So I have never even started one, but here is an excuse - and it is not only okay to be a bad writer, it is expected.
I should fit write in. (heh heh)
Monday, October 27, 2008
Predictions and Mumme Poll
My predictions for weekend were pretty good. I was 4-1 outright and 4-1 against the spread.
Now for the MummePoll ballot.
Top 5
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Penn State
Texas
Rest of the top 12
Boise State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Southern California
Texas Christian
Texas Tech
Utah
Thoughts and Reasonings:
Georgia moves up into the top 5 after hanging half-a-hundred on LSU, while USC drops out after a weak showing against Arizona. Texas and Penn State get marquee wins and solidify their position. Alabama takes care of business against a fast-fading Volunteer squad and Florida de-furs some Kentucky felines.
Oklahoma State gets to stay in the top twelve after a fine showing in a close loss to Texas. Utah continues to roll along with a big win over BYE. Texas Christian crushes Wyoming, which is not noticeably different than taking the week off. Boise State was solid and workmanlike against San Jose State.
Oklahoma is causing me some concern with their complete lack of defense. They allowed 35 to K-State? Really? The Sooners are effectively out of both the Big 12 and the national title pictures. But, this is still a very good team and has a good chance of winning out.
Then we get to Texas Tech. I dropped Ohio State for the loss. No 2-loss teams allowed in the top twelve at this point. I had to bring TT back into the fold. That was a big win over a decent Jayhawk team, and I can't justify ignoring an undefeated BCS conference team. I've been holding that they are a fraud and would fold against the first good team they play, and that may be true, but for now they are in. Maybe Texas will save us all and completely dismantle the Red Raiders.
Hmmm ... who to keep eyes on? Many of the teams who were starting to look pretty good went down over the weekend, but there are some new ones worth watching:
Florida State
Missouri
Ohio State
Tulsa
Conference watch.
Wow. Only 1 team from the ACC or Big East even merits watching?
I am overrating the SEC with 3 in the top 5, but the resumes look good at this point, and one of those will fall after the World's Largest Outdoor Coctail Party. A Big 12 team will be best positioned to move into the top 5, depending on how this weekend pans out.
Now for the MummePoll ballot.
Top 5
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Penn State
Texas
Rest of the top 12
Boise State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Southern California
Texas Christian
Texas Tech
Utah
Thoughts and Reasonings:
Georgia moves up into the top 5 after hanging half-a-hundred on LSU, while USC drops out after a weak showing against Arizona. Texas and Penn State get marquee wins and solidify their position. Alabama takes care of business against a fast-fading Volunteer squad and Florida de-furs some Kentucky felines.
Oklahoma State gets to stay in the top twelve after a fine showing in a close loss to Texas. Utah continues to roll along with a big win over BYE. Texas Christian crushes Wyoming, which is not noticeably different than taking the week off. Boise State was solid and workmanlike against San Jose State.
Oklahoma is causing me some concern with their complete lack of defense. They allowed 35 to K-State? Really? The Sooners are effectively out of both the Big 12 and the national title pictures. But, this is still a very good team and has a good chance of winning out.
Then we get to Texas Tech. I dropped Ohio State for the loss. No 2-loss teams allowed in the top twelve at this point. I had to bring TT back into the fold. That was a big win over a decent Jayhawk team, and I can't justify ignoring an undefeated BCS conference team. I've been holding that they are a fraud and would fold against the first good team they play, and that may be true, but for now they are in. Maybe Texas will save us all and completely dismantle the Red Raiders.
Hmmm ... who to keep eyes on? Many of the teams who were starting to look pretty good went down over the weekend, but there are some new ones worth watching:
Florida State
Missouri
Ohio State
Tulsa
Conference watch.
Wow. Only 1 team from the ACC or Big East even merits watching?
I am overrating the SEC with 3 in the top 5, but the resumes look good at this point, and one of those will fall after the World's Largest Outdoor Coctail Party. A Big 12 team will be best positioned to move into the top 5, depending on how this weekend pans out.
Abandoning Children
While listening to the radio this morning, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth over the story of a woman who drove from Georgia to Nebraska over the weekend to drop her 12-year-old child off at a hospital. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution has the story.
It was the opinion of the DJs and most of the callers that the mother of this child was an absolutely horrible person for doing this over mere behavioral problems. After all, they all had kids who misbehaved sometimes and they were able to deal with it, so shouldn't she?
Of course, none of us know the whole story. If she was just trying to punish her son for acting out, then her acts were reprehensible. But what if it was more than that?
I have done a tremendous amount of juvenile law work over the years, and I have worked with a great many troubled kids who were described as having "behavior problems." The problems have ranged from talking back to mom and not doing homework all the way to vivisecting the family pet in the living room and molesting the neighbor kids.
Sometimes it gets to be too much. Not knowing anything of the mother or her son or their situation and circumstances, it is wrong to pass judgment on her. Giving up a child is a hard, terrible decision to make. I have watched parents voluntarily sign their parental rights away because they finally realized that they could not possible care for a child properly - that it was in the child's best interests to have a life separate from his or her parents.
Imagine if, instead of taking advantage of a safe-haven law, she had snapped and beaten her son to death with a baseball bat? Would not the same nay-sayers be telling us that she should have taken advantage of a safe-haven law rather than cause physical harm?
Maybe, just maybe, she made a mature and difficult decision that could give her child a better chance in life than if he had stayed with her.
It was the opinion of the DJs and most of the callers that the mother of this child was an absolutely horrible person for doing this over mere behavioral problems. After all, they all had kids who misbehaved sometimes and they were able to deal with it, so shouldn't she?
Of course, none of us know the whole story. If she was just trying to punish her son for acting out, then her acts were reprehensible. But what if it was more than that?
I have done a tremendous amount of juvenile law work over the years, and I have worked with a great many troubled kids who were described as having "behavior problems." The problems have ranged from talking back to mom and not doing homework all the way to vivisecting the family pet in the living room and molesting the neighbor kids.
Sometimes it gets to be too much. Not knowing anything of the mother or her son or their situation and circumstances, it is wrong to pass judgment on her. Giving up a child is a hard, terrible decision to make. I have watched parents voluntarily sign their parental rights away because they finally realized that they could not possible care for a child properly - that it was in the child's best interests to have a life separate from his or her parents.
Imagine if, instead of taking advantage of a safe-haven law, she had snapped and beaten her son to death with a baseball bat? Would not the same nay-sayers be telling us that she should have taken advantage of a safe-haven law rather than cause physical harm?
Maybe, just maybe, she made a mature and difficult decision that could give her child a better chance in life than if he had stayed with her.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Weekend predictions + 10
Predictions for this weekend in college football.
Georgia to win outright against LSU (but take the 1 1/2)
Florida to cover the 26 against Kentucky
Vandy to win against Duke, but take Duke and the 10 1/2
Alabama to cover the 6 against Tennessee
Ole Miss to cover the 5 against Arkansas
Ten that came up on the iPod this morning:
1. "Argument Clinic" by Monty Python
2. "Run Silent, Run Deep" by Iron Maiden
3. "Tweeter and the Monkeyman" by Traveling Wilburys
4. "Armageddon Days" by The The
5. "Too Much Fun" by Darryl Singletary
6. "The Thing That Should Not Be" by Metallica
7. "Rock Island" by Jethro Tull
8. "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush
9. "Football vs. Baseball" by George Carlin
10. "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden
Georgia to win outright against LSU (but take the 1 1/2)
Florida to cover the 26 against Kentucky
Vandy to win against Duke, but take Duke and the 10 1/2
Alabama to cover the 6 against Tennessee
Ole Miss to cover the 5 against Arkansas
Ten that came up on the iPod this morning:
1. "Argument Clinic" by Monty Python
2. "Run Silent, Run Deep" by Iron Maiden
3. "Tweeter and the Monkeyman" by Traveling Wilburys
4. "Armageddon Days" by The The
5. "Too Much Fun" by Darryl Singletary
6. "The Thing That Should Not Be" by Metallica
7. "Rock Island" by Jethro Tull
8. "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush
9. "Football vs. Baseball" by George Carlin
10. "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The problem with the right
I am generally a left-leaning libertarian. I grew up in a home that held to traditional conservative values and reliably voted for Republicans. My first presidential election was in 1984 and I was proud to vote for Ronald Reagan. I value both personal and economic freedom, but I do place a somewhat higher value on the personal liberties. Your mileage may vary.
From my center-ish position I can see the wing nuts on both ends for what they are - which is nutty. But what is disturbing to me is the change that has come over the Republican party since the end of the Reagan/Bush era. Until the election of Clinton, both parties held to the idea of loyal opposition. They could argue at length about why the other side was wrong - or just wrong headed - on a particular issue, but in the end everyone agreed that we were all Americans and that the other side of the aisle was trying to do what they thought best for America.
No more.
Starting with Clinton in 1992, the right has moved ever farther away from the center. The left has as well, but not as far or as fast. It has reached the point where the Republicans no longer see the Democrats as the loyal opposition, but rather as an enemy to be destroyed. The right sees a binary world where "If you are not with us, you are against us." Questioning or opposing the policies of the Bush team is challenged as unpatriotic and unAmerican. Best selling books are published that openly accuse liberals of treason and godlessness.
Sure, there are nutcases on the left as well - just read moveon.org for a sampling. Al Franken publishes books that accuse all rightwingers of being liars.
The difference being that the moveon.org types and Al Franken disciples are seen as being wingnuts by the mainstream Democrats. Ann Coulter/Sean Hannity/Rush Limbaugh type extremists ARE the mainstream of the Republican party.
Have there been any books published by mainstream Democrats that accuse ALL Republicans of treason? There simply is no left-wing counterpart to Ann Coulter. And she is right in the middle of mainstream Republicanism.
I am more comfortable with a unified Democratic government than with the unified Republican government we had under Bush because I just don't see that government treating everyone on the other side of the aisle as a traitor.
Folks, we are all Americans. If your preferred party is not in power, you are still American and you still have a responsibility to be loyal to America - even if you oppose the current president. You can see the difference: during an international crisis after 9/11, Democrats overwhelmingly supported President Bush. But during an international crisis in Yugoslavia where American troops were in harm's way, Republicans overwhelmingly opposed and vilified President Clinton.
It is to easy to live in a media echo chamber where you read Drudge, listen to Limbaugh, and watch FoxNews and never see anything to suggest that maybe Democrats don't have horns.
It's not quite so easy for Democrats - the news media is not nearly so leftwing as Fox would have you believe. But I guess a motivated Liberal could read only the editorial pages of the New York Times, read moveon.org and listen to Air America (are they still on the air?) and avoid all other sources of information.
I don't know how to fix it. I suspect that it can't be "fixed" at all. It may well be time for one of the major parties to split and the other to dissolve into it. Possibly the Democrats break into the moderate/conservative Clinton branch and the left/liberal Pelosi branch. The GOP might dissolve mostly into the Clinton branch and leave the remnants to have a far-right minor party to counterbalance the far-left Pelosi party.
Whatever the case, you can be sure that History is not over yet.
Current Tunes: "Inhuman Rampage" by Dragonforce
Last book finished: "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Succeed or Fail" by Jared Diamond
From my center-ish position I can see the wing nuts on both ends for what they are - which is nutty. But what is disturbing to me is the change that has come over the Republican party since the end of the Reagan/Bush era. Until the election of Clinton, both parties held to the idea of loyal opposition. They could argue at length about why the other side was wrong - or just wrong headed - on a particular issue, but in the end everyone agreed that we were all Americans and that the other side of the aisle was trying to do what they thought best for America.
No more.
Starting with Clinton in 1992, the right has moved ever farther away from the center. The left has as well, but not as far or as fast. It has reached the point where the Republicans no longer see the Democrats as the loyal opposition, but rather as an enemy to be destroyed. The right sees a binary world where "If you are not with us, you are against us." Questioning or opposing the policies of the Bush team is challenged as unpatriotic and unAmerican. Best selling books are published that openly accuse liberals of treason and godlessness.
Sure, there are nutcases on the left as well - just read moveon.org for a sampling. Al Franken publishes books that accuse all rightwingers of being liars.
The difference being that the moveon.org types and Al Franken disciples are seen as being wingnuts by the mainstream Democrats. Ann Coulter/Sean Hannity/Rush Limbaugh type extremists ARE the mainstream of the Republican party.
Have there been any books published by mainstream Democrats that accuse ALL Republicans of treason? There simply is no left-wing counterpart to Ann Coulter. And she is right in the middle of mainstream Republicanism.
I am more comfortable with a unified Democratic government than with the unified Republican government we had under Bush because I just don't see that government treating everyone on the other side of the aisle as a traitor.
Folks, we are all Americans. If your preferred party is not in power, you are still American and you still have a responsibility to be loyal to America - even if you oppose the current president. You can see the difference: during an international crisis after 9/11, Democrats overwhelmingly supported President Bush. But during an international crisis in Yugoslavia where American troops were in harm's way, Republicans overwhelmingly opposed and vilified President Clinton.
It is to easy to live in a media echo chamber where you read Drudge, listen to Limbaugh, and watch FoxNews and never see anything to suggest that maybe Democrats don't have horns.
It's not quite so easy for Democrats - the news media is not nearly so leftwing as Fox would have you believe. But I guess a motivated Liberal could read only the editorial pages of the New York Times, read moveon.org and listen to Air America (are they still on the air?) and avoid all other sources of information.
I don't know how to fix it. I suspect that it can't be "fixed" at all. It may well be time for one of the major parties to split and the other to dissolve into it. Possibly the Democrats break into the moderate/conservative Clinton branch and the left/liberal Pelosi branch. The GOP might dissolve mostly into the Clinton branch and leave the remnants to have a far-right minor party to counterbalance the far-left Pelosi party.
Whatever the case, you can be sure that History is not over yet.
Current Tunes: "Inhuman Rampage" by Dragonforce
Last book finished: "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Succeed or Fail" by Jared Diamond
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Some Interesting Questions
Things I wonder about ...
1. If the federal government cannot manage to get the simplest of projects done on time, within budget, or even competently, what makes us think they will be able to "protect us" no matter how much money we give them?
2. If a deranged person, terrorist or not, decides to detonate a bomb where you happen to be right now, how will your having given up your freedom for safety help you?
3. Based on events during the "war on terror," the odds of dying from an anthrax laced letter are more than 60 million to one. More people will be injured and killed in car accidents in the next hour than have suffered from anthrax in the last seven years. So, why, exactly are we worried about anthrax?
4. Would terrorists be likely to hijack an airplane if they knew the cockpit doors could not be opened until after the plane landed?
5. Would they even think of hijacking an airplane if they knew the flight crew and some of the passengers would be armed?
6. How, exactly, will the ability of the FBI to read my email, listen to my phone calls, and break into my house to conduct stealth searches protect me from terrorism?
7. If someone opens fire at a busy McDonald's, which would save more lives?: phoning the police quickly or a couple of armed customers?
8. Does the "Office of Homeland Security" sound as Orwellian to you as it does to me?
9. If by giving up a little freedom and some of our rights, we can buy a little safety, as so many in government and media keep telling us, does that mean that if we give up ALL of our rights and freedoms, we'll be made completely safe?
10. Or will it just make us slaves?
I cannot claim credit as original author, but I have no idea who first penned this. If you know, please let me know and I will give proper credit.
1. If the federal government cannot manage to get the simplest of projects done on time, within budget, or even competently, what makes us think they will be able to "protect us" no matter how much money we give them?
2. If a deranged person, terrorist or not, decides to detonate a bomb where you happen to be right now, how will your having given up your freedom for safety help you?
3. Based on events during the "war on terror," the odds of dying from an anthrax laced letter are more than 60 million to one. More people will be injured and killed in car accidents in the next hour than have suffered from anthrax in the last seven years. So, why, exactly are we worried about anthrax?
4. Would terrorists be likely to hijack an airplane if they knew the cockpit doors could not be opened until after the plane landed?
5. Would they even think of hijacking an airplane if they knew the flight crew and some of the passengers would be armed?
6. How, exactly, will the ability of the FBI to read my email, listen to my phone calls, and break into my house to conduct stealth searches protect me from terrorism?
7. If someone opens fire at a busy McDonald's, which would save more lives?: phoning the police quickly or a couple of armed customers?
8. Does the "Office of Homeland Security" sound as Orwellian to you as it does to me?
9. If by giving up a little freedom and some of our rights, we can buy a little safety, as so many in government and media keep telling us, does that mean that if we give up ALL of our rights and freedoms, we'll be made completely safe?
10. Or will it just make us slaves?
I cannot claim credit as original author, but I have no idea who first penned this. If you know, please let me know and I will give proper credit.
Week 8 Mumme Poll
I vote in Senator Blutarsky’s Mumme Poll, which his attempt to do a poll by approval rather than by precise rankings.
My ballot for this week:
Top 5
Alabama
Florida
Southern California
Penn State
Texas
Rest of the top 12
Boise State
Georgia
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas Christian
Utah
Comments:
The only trouble I had with the top 5 was determining whether to put Oklahoma or Florida in there. I am not a pure resume ranker, but rather I am looking at a combination of resume, power, overall talent, and even who I think would beat whom on a neutral field. I have seen no evidence thus far that Oklahoma plays defense. At all. Oklahoma’s resume is remarkably similar to Georgia’s: got beat by the only good team they’ve played. Because I believe in defense, and because Florida, so far, is playing some pretty good defense – and because I am convinced that Oklahoma at their best is not as good as Florida at their best – Florida gets the top 5 slot.
Penn State still hasn’t played anyone, but that changes this week. If they beat Ohio State the way they’ve beat everyone else their top 5 slot will be unassailable.
Most of the next group was pretty easy also. The issue is with the mid-majors: Boise State, Texas Christian, and Utah. They’re winning, impressively, over cupcakes – but how do I view them compared to a 1 loss BCS team from a weak conference? (I’m talking to you Georgia Tech, South Florida, Pitt, and anyone from the Pac 10 not named USC). At least BYU is gone and TCU gets a vote for getting rid of them. For now, I am going with the pretty undefeated records of Utah and Boise State, but remaining undefeated against bad competition will not keep them in the top if teams like Georgia Tech and Pitt keep winning.
I did not rank Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are a complete fraud. They have played an astonishingly weak schedule including TWO D1AAFCSEIEIO teams (so has GT, which is a large part of why I’m not on their bandwagon yet), got taken to overtime by a bad Nebraska team, and allowed a bad Texas A&M team to put up a bunch of points and stay in the game for far too long. Yes, I know that Utah and Boise State also have not played anyone, but they, at least, are not getting challenged by their cupcakes.
Looking forward to this week:
Penn State – Ohio State. The de facto Big 10 Title game and Penn State’s first legitimate challenge. I am seriously pulling for JoePa to put the wood to the Buckeyes, for all of the obvious reasons.
Georgia – LSU. Georgia’s second game against a decent team – if they lose this one, you can put the Dawgs down for a final record of 8-4 and the Music City bowl. Win impressively and it sets up a great Cocktail party to determine the SEC East and a possible rematch with Alabama in Atlanta.
My ballot for this week:
Top 5
Alabama
Florida
Southern California
Penn State
Texas
Rest of the top 12
Boise State
Georgia
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas Christian
Utah
Comments:
The only trouble I had with the top 5 was determining whether to put Oklahoma or Florida in there. I am not a pure resume ranker, but rather I am looking at a combination of resume, power, overall talent, and even who I think would beat whom on a neutral field. I have seen no evidence thus far that Oklahoma plays defense. At all. Oklahoma’s resume is remarkably similar to Georgia’s: got beat by the only good team they’ve played. Because I believe in defense, and because Florida, so far, is playing some pretty good defense – and because I am convinced that Oklahoma at their best is not as good as Florida at their best – Florida gets the top 5 slot.
Penn State still hasn’t played anyone, but that changes this week. If they beat Ohio State the way they’ve beat everyone else their top 5 slot will be unassailable.
Most of the next group was pretty easy also. The issue is with the mid-majors: Boise State, Texas Christian, and Utah. They’re winning, impressively, over cupcakes – but how do I view them compared to a 1 loss BCS team from a weak conference? (I’m talking to you Georgia Tech, South Florida, Pitt, and anyone from the Pac 10 not named USC). At least BYU is gone and TCU gets a vote for getting rid of them. For now, I am going with the pretty undefeated records of Utah and Boise State, but remaining undefeated against bad competition will not keep them in the top if teams like Georgia Tech and Pitt keep winning.
I did not rank Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are a complete fraud. They have played an astonishingly weak schedule including TWO D1AAFCSEIEIO teams (so has GT, which is a large part of why I’m not on their bandwagon yet), got taken to overtime by a bad Nebraska team, and allowed a bad Texas A&M team to put up a bunch of points and stay in the game for far too long. Yes, I know that Utah and Boise State also have not played anyone, but they, at least, are not getting challenged by their cupcakes.
Looking forward to this week:
Penn State – Ohio State. The de facto Big 10 Title game and Penn State’s first legitimate challenge. I am seriously pulling for JoePa to put the wood to the Buckeyes, for all of the obvious reasons.
Georgia – LSU. Georgia’s second game against a decent team – if they lose this one, you can put the Dawgs down for a final record of 8-4 and the Music City bowl. Win impressively and it sets up a great Cocktail party to determine the SEC East and a possible rematch with Alabama in Atlanta.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Death to the Innocent!
The Supreme Court was unable to muster four members who thought that there might be a problem with executing a probably innocent man.
Sometime soon a Georgia judge will set a new execution date for Troy Anthony Davis, and this time the only hope is a last minute call from the Governor.
Where is William Blackstone when you need him?
Sometime soon a Georgia judge will set a new execution date for Troy Anthony Davis, and this time the only hope is a last minute call from the Governor.
Where is William Blackstone when you need him?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tim Tebow the Rushing God
Before the season started, Mergz over at Saurian Sagacity gleefully told us that Tim Tebow only needed 18 rushing touchdowns to tie Herschel Walker for most in SEC history. He showed us this list:
1. 49 – Herschel Walker, Georgia
2. 46 – Kevin Faulk, LSU
3. 45 – Carnell Williams, Auburn
4. 44 – Dalton Hilliard, LSU
5. 43 – Bo Jackson, Auburn
6. 41 – Shaun Alexander, Alabama
6. 41 – Darren McFadden, Arkansas
8. 40 – Charles Alexander, LSU
9. 37 – Deuce McAllister, Ole Miss
10. 36 – Lars Tate, Georgia
10. 36 – Emmitt Smith, Florida
12. 35 – James Steward, Tennessee
13. 34 – Johnny Musso, Alabama
13. 34 – Joe Cribbs, Auburn
13. 34 – Errict Rhett, Florida
16. 33 – Bobby Humphrey, Alabama
16. 33 – Garrison Hearst, Georgia
16. 33 – Ernest Graham, Florida
19. 32 – Charles Trippi, Georgia
20. 31 – Fred Taylor, Florida
20. 31 – Tim Tebow, Florida.
At the beginning of the season, Tebow was tied for 20th in SEC history for rushing touchdowns. Since he rushed for 23 last season, “the possibility exists” that he could beat the record.
A “countdown” was promised to keep track as Tebow rushed toward immortality.
Now, about halfway through the season, where is Tebow? In five games he has rushed for two touchdowns. He has moved up into a tie for #16 with Humphrey, Hearst, Graham and Trippi.
If Florida plays in the SECCG, Tebow has 9 more games to play this year. He needs to get 16 TDs to beat Herschel Walker. That is only 1.77 TD per game – easily within the reach of the Greatest Player of Our Generation. Of course, he is currently on a pace of 0.4 TD per game, which would give him another 3.6 for the year. Call it four and he would move up to a tie at #9 with Deuce McAllister of Ole Miss.
Currently Listening to: HammerFall, "Steel Meets Steel"
1. 49 – Herschel Walker, Georgia
2. 46 – Kevin Faulk, LSU
3. 45 – Carnell Williams, Auburn
4. 44 – Dalton Hilliard, LSU
5. 43 – Bo Jackson, Auburn
6. 41 – Shaun Alexander, Alabama
6. 41 – Darren McFadden, Arkansas
8. 40 – Charles Alexander, LSU
9. 37 – Deuce McAllister, Ole Miss
10. 36 – Lars Tate, Georgia
10. 36 – Emmitt Smith, Florida
12. 35 – James Steward, Tennessee
13. 34 – Johnny Musso, Alabama
13. 34 – Joe Cribbs, Auburn
13. 34 – Errict Rhett, Florida
16. 33 – Bobby Humphrey, Alabama
16. 33 – Garrison Hearst, Georgia
16. 33 – Ernest Graham, Florida
19. 32 – Charles Trippi, Georgia
20. 31 – Fred Taylor, Florida
20. 31 – Tim Tebow, Florida.
At the beginning of the season, Tebow was tied for 20th in SEC history for rushing touchdowns. Since he rushed for 23 last season, “the possibility exists” that he could beat the record.
A “countdown” was promised to keep track as Tebow rushed toward immortality.
Now, about halfway through the season, where is Tebow? In five games he has rushed for two touchdowns. He has moved up into a tie for #16 with Humphrey, Hearst, Graham and Trippi.
If Florida plays in the SECCG, Tebow has 9 more games to play this year. He needs to get 16 TDs to beat Herschel Walker. That is only 1.77 TD per game – easily within the reach of the Greatest Player of Our Generation. Of course, he is currently on a pace of 0.4 TD per game, which would give him another 3.6 for the year. Call it four and he would move up to a tie at #9 with Deuce McAllister of Ole Miss.
Currently Listening to: HammerFall, "Steel Meets Steel"
Monday, October 6, 2008
The fun part of trial prep
Sometimes, every once in a while, trial prep is fun. Usually, it is dull and dry - interview witnesses, read police and lab and medical reports, plan cross exams of peripheral witnesses and so on.
But sometimes you hit something good - maybe even good enough to get a case dismissed. I was discussing the case with my client and she told me that the complaining witness was a pervert - just as an aside during the conversation. When I inquired further, she said that he would brush against her, try to look down her blouse or up her skirt, and make inappropriate comments while they were at work.
So, just for kicks, I checked the state sex offender registry.
Bingo!
The complaining witness - the state's star witness - is a convicted child molester. His offense happened in a distant county and city from the one he now lives in, and I am guessing that he will not be all that excited about me spending the entire trial calling him a child molester and waving certified copies of convictions around at the jury. Small towns are funny things - once anyone knows something, then everyone knows it.
In any case, my client's case is strong and has a good chance of winning on the merits - this will, I hope, be just enough to push it over the edge.
Currently listening to: Metallica - "Death Magnetic"
But sometimes you hit something good - maybe even good enough to get a case dismissed. I was discussing the case with my client and she told me that the complaining witness was a pervert - just as an aside during the conversation. When I inquired further, she said that he would brush against her, try to look down her blouse or up her skirt, and make inappropriate comments while they were at work.
So, just for kicks, I checked the state sex offender registry.
Bingo!
The complaining witness - the state's star witness - is a convicted child molester. His offense happened in a distant county and city from the one he now lives in, and I am guessing that he will not be all that excited about me spending the entire trial calling him a child molester and waving certified copies of convictions around at the jury. Small towns are funny things - once anyone knows something, then everyone knows it.
In any case, my client's case is strong and has a good chance of winning on the merits - this will, I hope, be just enough to push it over the edge.
Currently listening to: Metallica - "Death Magnetic"
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Vanderbilt
Does Vanderbilt have a bandwagon yet? People are definitely starting to pay attention, but the bandwagon seems to be slow in getting started. 5-0 for the first time since well before I was born, they have beat 3 SEC teams and two OOC teams. They still have Mississippi State, Kentucky, Duke and Tennessee that are "should win" games, Wake Forest that is a "could win" game, and Georgia and Florida that are "should lose" games. It is entirely possible that Vandy could end the season at 10-2 and play in a very decent bowl - probably Outback in that scenario.
On the other hand, I'm not quite ready to jump on that bandwagon myself. This is, after all, Vandy we're talking about. They have been living off turnovers (Auburn game excepted) and playing teams with pretty bad offenses. I can easily see them crashing back to reality and reeling off 5 losses in a row and finishing 6-6 and, maybe, getting an Independece Bowl bid.
But for now, I think it is just cool that Vandy is doing well and only needs one more win to be bowl eligible.
On the other hand, I'm not quite ready to jump on that bandwagon myself. This is, after all, Vandy we're talking about. They have been living off turnovers (Auburn game excepted) and playing teams with pretty bad offenses. I can easily see them crashing back to reality and reeling off 5 losses in a row and finishing 6-6 and, maybe, getting an Independece Bowl bid.
But for now, I think it is just cool that Vandy is doing well and only needs one more win to be bowl eligible.
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