Random Thoughts for Today

I've decided to post some random musings for get-to-know-your-blogger purposes, but this is not a "link round up." There may be links, but usually it will be to clarify the comment for those who don't happen to know to what I am referring. Also, I don't plan on making this a daily thing because sometimes I don't have anything worthwhile to share with you and I don't want to force it.

Yes, for reasons I've explained before, I'm voting today. The Voting Rights Act passed in 1965...when my dad was 37 years old. (Call me sentimental.) Oh, and if someone posts pics of me from later tonight smiling, that's not joy--that's just deep-seated schadenfreude.

Congrats to the Giants on winning the World Series. As the champagne corks popped in San Fran, I'm sure Brian Cashman was on the phone with Cliff Lee's agent expressing his heartfelt condolences as Pink Floyd's "Money" was playing in the background. [insert evil laughter here.]

Say what you will about Donovan McNabb, on no planet and in no parallel universe is benching him for Rex Grossman a reasonable decision. I'm sure many Chicagoans were rushed to emergency rooms after falling off bar stools and laughing uncontrollably after seeing the substitution...and then the hit...and then the fumble...and then the touchdown.


bellum medicamenti delenda est.

I've Been Busy

Sorry I haven't done much in the way of blogging recently. Post-election political apathy and news dominated by the trillions of dollars of bailout funding have left me less inclined to comment on the stories of the day--oh yeah, and that whole "work" thing too.

Seriously though, my old Chevy Corsica started smoking--coincidentally right after I quit smoking myself (it'll be a solid month without a cigarette tomorrow!) and really screwed up my transportation routine. I took it to a shop and they told me for me to attempt to fix it would be throwing good money after bad...and I took this as a metaphor for the situation GM and the other U.S. automakers generally find themselves in now. It also made me think that perhaps my mechanic* should be picked to replace Hank Paulson.

Anyway, I got another car, so my schedule should be flexible enough again so I can blog and work without one cutting into the responsibilities of the other.

And I did manage to put a piece together on Plax's fiasco up in NYC for reason. It's about time I published again. Check it out here.

See you soon!

JPB

*Upon recommendation from the Agitatrix--the Agitator's fairer half--I took the car to Wiygul Automotive Clinic. These guys are great and honest. If you're in NoVa or the DC area, I recommend them whole-heartedly.

I Am Now a (Reluctant) Jets Fan

And I really can't stand Jets fans. (Yes, I am aware of the minor overlap with Yankees fans. I. Don't. Care.)

But, so long as the Jets aren't playing the Saints or the Colts, I'll be pulling for them because Brett Favre is what football is all about. He loves the game and plays it with the passion of a kid; he's got one of the most amazing arms you'll ever see; and he plays through all sorts of pain. He is my all-time favorite QB.

Arguably, and I tend to agree, there have been better QBs. But none have the full appeal that Favre does -- and he deserves better than what he got.

Sitting Room Only

The NFL, while my favorite professional sports league, is nothing if not a font of silly rules and regulations. The newest is not from the league office, however, but one team:

The Kansas City Chiefs have a "Fan Code of Conduct," which is essentially a list of rules that fans have to follow when they're attending a game at Arrowhead. In theory, it's not a bad idea, as you'd like your stadium to provide a friendly atmosphere for families and people who aren't drunken hooligans.

In practice, though, it might not be such a great idea, especially if the person responsible for coming up with the rules is an 85-year-old woman who teaches the 2nd grade and regards standing up as one of the evil things that young whippersnappers often do. Seriously, standing erect is the No. 2 item on the list of things that are prohibited.

For those of you unfamiliar with football, the term "12th man" refers to fans in the stands who make as much noise as possible to disrupt visiting offensive units (e.g., quarterback play calling and audibles) and Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium is notoriously hard to play at for that exact reason.

Making fans sit down is anathema to the NFL and professional sporting events generally.

Boo.