Assorted Notes

I have not posted to the blog for awhile because I have been using my writing energy to freelance some articles for the Tribune online/local print editions. I have also been doing some work for Indiana University, and I recently enjoyed a trip to Tucson.

I can't believe it is Thanksgiving week already!! I was just starting to accept that summer is over...and...BAM-its the holiday season! Here are a few random perspectives I have collected in the back of my mind.

Vital Shortages

We are all familiar with occasional commodity shortages like energy, etc. But it gets really critical when there are shortages of important items like Eggo Waffles and pumpkin filling. I fear Kendall may be losing it with this recent news. News accounts suggesting Kendall is actually the cause of the Eggo shortage are baseless. But I did see his knees wobble when he learned it may be next summer before shelves are fully stocked again. Here is a link http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/18/news/companies/eggo_waffle_shortage/

Pumpkins are obviously a seasonal crop and are only harvested and packed once a year. Apparently, 2008's bad harvest left little surplus for this year, and then bad rains have devastated the harvesting process for this year. I didn't realize most of the canned pumpkin in the U.S. is grown in Illinois. Here is a link http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pumpkin18-2009nov18,0,5196858.story

Team Edward vs. Team Jacob

Twihards (Twilight Diehards) will certainly be a candidate for the "new words" category next year. I have read and enjoyed the "vampire books", but I am surprised by how successful the new movie (New Moon) is the first week. I think it is the weakest of the four stories, with Edward and Bella moping the whole book, and I don't think the series fits in the Classics category with Harry Potter and others. But it is certainly timed well and has struck a chord with a mass audience.

I don't know the origin of the "friendly conflict" of Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, but it is certainly a clever PR tool to keep everyone talking about Twilight. I understand the pre-high school girls are a heavy lean to Team Jacob. It seems they are a little put off by Edward being 100 years old, and find Jacob to be more of a "cute kid". I guess it also depends if you are talking about the movies or the books. Not that anyone asked, but you can find me firmly in the Team Alice camp.

10 Reasons I Hate October 1st

I often qualify that the word Hate is too strong and overused, but it is always a good attention grabber. I know a lot of people like Autumn, and I too like football, colorful leaves, cross country, nice weather fall days, Halloween, and of course, my mother's birthday. But I'm afraid the scale tips badly to the negative for me when the calendar flips to October.

1. You can't wear shorts all of the time. Unless you are a high school boy.
2. October weather is like March weather. You always expect it to be a lot better than it really is.
3. Baseball restarts. It never really stopped, but most people haven't given it a thought since before Labor day. And why do the "boys of summer" have to decide who is best in this weather?
4. You can't leave the windows open. Most of the time.
5. Begins the darkest 6 months. I am a big fan of daylight, and it is a long wait until it is light after dinner again.
6. It is cold when you get in the car. Most of the time.
7. Winter coats and hats. And gloves, scarves, etc. You think they are for winter, but you always end up dragging them out for something sometime in the next few weeks.
8. Negative political ads. Not this year, but we are relentlessly bombarded in October in even years.
9. End of garden season. The first frost ends the harvest of fresh garden produce.
10. Christmas decorations in stores. Really? Already!?

Catch Up

I haven't posted for awhile. My writing energies were temporarily redirected to an article I wrote for Triblocal.com and to a project I have been doing for the Indiana University Graduate School of Business. August was also a month consumed by the preparation to send Erin off to college. She has successfully moved to Bloomington and starts classes today.

Movie Update: I watched Rain Man this month as part of my quest to attack my "movies I want to see" list. It was quite good, and very different than most hit movies. A refreshing change. After knocking two off of my list recently, two more have popped up--From Here to Eternity and Men in Black. It always seems to happen the way. Harry Met Sally is still next on my list since I am following the survey from the readers of this blog.

Free Food always tastes the best. Famous Dave's celebrated its 15 year anniversary on Aug. 30 by offering free meals to anyone named Dave. Half price for people with Dave as a middle name. Note the name tags on my son and daughter, coincidentally both named Dave! Actually, they did require photo ids. But still a pretty good deal for me getting one and a half meals of barbeque for free. I think it was a pretty inventive promotion for a restaurant during tough times. It looked like almost every table had a Dave (they make you wear the name tags), but there was typically 2-4 other people with them. Appetizers, drinks and desserts were not free, so I am guessing they actually had a very profitable day. And customers walked out pleased with the great deal they got. Kudos to their marketing people.

Random Thoughts: Did anyone else notice how quickly summer zoomed off into the sunset? The midwest went from warm and sunny to cold and rainy the instant the kids went back to school. If we touched 70 degrees in the last week, I missed it. It feels like we are approaching Columbus Day rather than Labor Day. I want the rest of summer back!!!

I noticed during the recent Bears preseason game that the offense has three starters from the powerhouse SEC conference. Sounds promising, but unfortunately they are all from Vanderbilt (Cutler, Bennett, Williams). Quick, someone remind me of all the big football games the Commodores have won...ever.

Quick quiz: What is the oldest active sports venue in the United States?

A) Indianapolis Motor Speedway

B) Franklin Field (Philadelphia)

C) Saratoga Racetrack

D) Fenway Park

This is an open book (internet) quiz.

Follow-ups

One of the best weird news stories came out after my recent post. In case you missed it:

"Blue M&Ms may reduce spine injuries. (July 28) -- The same blue food dye found in M&Ms and Gatorade could be used to reduce damage caused by spine injuries, offering a better chance of recovery, according to new research. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that when they injected the compound Brilliant Blue G (BBG) into rats suffering spinal cord injuries, the rodents were able to walk again, albeit with a limp."

Here's the kicker: "The only side effect was that the treated mice temporarily turned blue." Now here is a product that would sell! Imagine the sales spike around Halloween. I think they should market this product for people who want to "temporarily turn blue," and just note in the fine print that a side effect is that it might cure spinal injuries.

Here is the link if anyone wants to read the technical details: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/07/mm-gatorade-spinal-cord-injury.html

Another new word that should make the dictionary: Textapottamus: n, A person who texts too much on the golf course (related to shankapottamus). Example: "Hey, your on the tee textapottamus!"

My cousin Terry recently referred to herself (and husband Larry) as "grandparents without grandchildren" in reference to aging and lifestyle. I tried to find a new dictionary word for this demographic phenomenon, but the best I could come up with was the acronym GWOG. So if the pre-grandchildren aging baby boomers start to be referred to as GWOGs in the media, remember you heard it here first. Thanks Terry!

Movie update: I watched Casablanca this week and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am impressed how tight the dialogue is in some of the better classic old movies. The plot moves along crisply, and every sentence advances the story. And there is still plenty of nuance to read between the lines. Thanks to all who recommended this film in my poll.

Weird News Week

The mainstream news seemed unusually odd this week. Could just be a slow time of year, but it sure beats the heck out of the stream of body counts from deserts halfway around the world. Here are a few items that caught my eye:

Taco Bell Dog Dies. Gidget passed away from a stroke this week at the age of 15. She played the male role best known for the quote "Yo Quiero Taco Bell?" From CNN: "Roles were hard to come by for the pooch after her popularity soared from the Taco Bell ads, according to her trainer. 'She was kind of typecast, so she never really got much work after that." While she did land a role in Legally Blonde 2 and was an extra in Beverly Hills Chihuahua, her trainer apparently thinks the Taco gig stunted her acting career. Seriously??

Electronic Cigarettes Pose Health Hazard. Shocking. And I somehow missed this invention. So I looked it up. According to Wikipedia: "An electronic cigarette or 'e-cigarette' is a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine by delivering a vaporized propylene glycol/nicotine solution. This vapor also provides a flavor and physical sensation similar to that of inhaled tobacco smoke, while no tobacco, smoke, or combustion is actually involved. Smoking an e-cigarette is also known as vaping. Some users of the e-cigarette may refer to regular tobacco cigarettes as analogs." The last part is my favorite. Vaping should have been in my proposed new words list last post, but now it may be lethal.

I am always intrigued by space news, and there was some good stuff this week:

Moon Dust. The WSJ ran a feature on Moon dust (dirt), and how different it is compared to Earth dirt. We have toted back 227 pounds of the stuff, which is not nearly enough to satisfy research demand. Apparently, you need to a apply to a special NASA committee to get or examine any of this treasured dust. One expert estimates our research needs for this stuff reaches 5000 lbs.! And the first moon-walkers supposedly messed up several pieces of machinery in the lunar lander when they tracked it in on their shoes. Their mothers must have been very embarrassed.

4oth Anniversary of Lunar Landing. Major event in U.S. history that some of us are lucky enough to remember. Anniversary spawned many interesting feature stories this week (like moon dust). But I can't seem to shake this thirst craving I'm having for Tang.

Total Eclipse of the Sun. The longest solar eclipse of this century occurred earlier this week...in Asia. The western hemisphere was totally shut out. Over six minutes in the best spots in India/China. Very cool, and the world did not come to an end as some always predict. One writer noted how it is a no-win proposition to predict the end of the world. Everyone is around to remind you if you are wrong, but no one will be able to give you credit if/when you are right.

There were also a couple of uncommon events in the sports world, along with a couple of interesting news items:

Uncommon: 1) White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle throws a perfect game. Only the 16th occurrence since 1900. 2) Tom Watson leads The Open Championship (aka The British Open) after 71 holes. At age 59, he would have been the oldest winner of a major if he could have just parred the last hole. It was fun for all of us while it lasted.

Interesting: 1) Lance Armstrong announced he will ride for a new team sponsered by Radio Shack next season. His impressive return to the sport of cycling at the age of 37 (not much different than 59 in golf) will continue for at least one more year. 2) The world's longest golf course, the Nullarbor Links, is set to open later this year in Australia. The par 71 layout covers 848 miles and 18 towns spanning two time zones, and should take 3-4 days to complete. You play one hole, then get in your car and drive an hour or more to the next tee/town. The course is meant to attract tourists to the desolate Eyre Highway in the southern part of the country. Each hole will showcase a local attraction, from whale-watching to ancient fossil beds to a working sheep station. This course should make for some interesting drinking games.

Enough about the news. You know I love to bash companies that come up with lame advertising concepts or slogans. And the automakers seem to be the worst. The latest Ford angle is "Why Ford, Why Now?" Interesting concept...if they could answer the question. Their reason: "Why not?" Great way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Why not? I don't think Ford would like the answers that immediately spring to my mind.

Many thanks to everyone that voted on which non-current movies I should watch next. Readers overwhelmingly suggested Casablanca and Rainman, with When Harry Met Sally far ahead of all others for third. I now have the dvd/tape for Casablanca (thanks Mary) and Rainman, and plan to watch them this week.

One more word, Chillax: to chill or relax. A little clever, but seems unnecessary.

New Words and Le Tour

July. Long hot days, the Fourth of July, and the Tour de France. Absolutely one of my favorite months, and I have really become hooked on the "3-week bike race" over the years. It is nice to have Lance Armstrong back in the saddle. The race is much bigger than any one rider, but his success over the last decade has brought improved television coverage in the U.S.

The race has moved to the mountains this weekend, and riders will start to be sorted out quickly. While Lance is looking strong, most media and casual fans don't realize his role is likely to be one of a helping teammate this year after so many years of being a team leader. This could still change based on how everyone on team Astana performs, but his presence makes the Tour more interesting either way. While Lance rides for a Kazakstan based team, there are two American teams in the race this year: Columbia-HTC and Garmin Slipstream.

Fun fact: Armadillos always give birth to four identical young -- the only mammal known to do so.

New words for Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

Many of you probably saw the brief article about the 100 new word added to the dictionary for 2009. I have always liked words, so I thought I would highlight a few of the new ones that caught my eye:

--Carbon footprint: the amount of carbon emitted by something during a given period.

--Locavore: one who eats foods grown locally whenever possible.

--Staycation: vacation spent at home or nearby.
--Frenemy: one who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy.
--Vlog: a blog that contains video material.
--Webisode: an episode especially of a TV show that may or may not have been telecast but can be viewed at a Web site.
--Green Collar: of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment .
--Flash mob: a group of people summoned (as by e-mail or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing.

I also found a few interesting ones that were recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary:

Muggle n. In the fiction of J.K. Rowling: a person who possesses no magical powers. Hence in allusive and extended uses: a person who lacks a particular skill or skills, or who is regarded as inferior in some way.
Blamestorming n. A method of collectively finding one to blame for a mistake no one is willing to confess to. Often occurs in the form of a meeting of colleagues at work, gathered to decide who is to blame for a screw up.
Threequel n. The third film, book, event, etc. in a series; a second sequel.
Cyber slacking v. Spending one's employer's Internet and email facilities for personal activities during working hours.
Frankenfood n.Derogatory, a food that contains genetically modified ingredients.
Prebuttal n. A rebuttal for an accusation before it is made.

I especially like Frankenfood. It should be very useful. And lastly, here are a few words that did not make the cut this year:

E-Jacko-lipse, noun: when one famous person's death overshadows the death of other famous people.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail, verb: spending some "alone time" with a friend in Argentina.
Grillfriend, noun: similar to bromance, a grillfriend is a guy you hang around with mainly for his skill at producing delicious, charred vittles.
Palindrone, noun: The sound former Alaskan governors make attempting to justify their strange actions, and it makes no sense backwards either.

KFedup: the reflex you feel when you hear another custody story about Kevin Federline or Britany.
Obamanomics: The over-spending of taxpayers' dollars to gain control of private businesses, and dispense billions to the poor, while over-taxing everyone else (until all are poor).
Intexticated: Driving while texting...the way the driver doesn't pay attention and is swerving all over the road, slowing down or speeding up.
Hopenchange: Vague promises of making the world a better place, followed by doing basically the same thing others before you did.
Snacktivities: Individual or group efforts to obtain non-meal sustenance (e.g. going to DQ).

Movies I want to see

I am very much looking forward to the July releases of Public Enemies and the latest installment of Harry Potter. Like most people, I have other movies from the past I would like to see as well. Some I missed because I was too busy and have never found the right time to rent. Others were before my time (yes, movies were invented before I was born) and I still haven't "caught up."

Since we are at the mid-point of the calendar year, I have decided to make a goal (a mid-year resolution??) to start seeing some of the great (or at least intriguing) movies I have yet enjoy.

Here is a list of the Top Ten movies on my "To See" list currently. Of course, there are several others, but I want to keep the list manageable. Feel free to leave a comment about any of the selections, or even leave your own list. And I also have a poll for everyone to help me decide which films from my list I should view first.

In no particular order:
Rain Man 1988
Searching For Bobby Fischer 1993
On the Waterfront 1954
Accidental Tourist 1988
My Left Foot 1989
The Piano 1993
Taxi Driver 1976
Casablanca 1942
Easy Rider 1969
When Harry Met Sally 1989

Happy Flag Day

As many of you are aware, Flag Day is my favorite holiday and favorite day of the year. I love this time of year and have loved Flag Day since I was very little. And the weather is always beautiful on June 14. Sunny and 75 today!!

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of our flag by the continental congress on this date in 1777. In 1916, President Wilson proclaimed June 14 Flag Day, and a congressional act in 1949 made today National Flag Day. However, it is not an observed federal holiday. Fun fact: Pennsylvania is the only state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.

I was downtown at an event with old work friends last week when we ran into "Da Coach." Here is a picture of my friend (and Muddy Buddy partner) Linda with one of her idols.

Doga

Like everything 70's, yoga has made a big comeback the last few years. Of course, there are new extras this time around to keep it interesting. Pilates is a new version here in the States the last few years that wasn't popular in the 70's. And to continue my efforts to keep readers informed of the hot, new, different, and sometimes unusual trends in our world, I present you with Doga.

Dog + yoga = Doga. Very creative. For those pet owners who think even one hour is too long to be away from their dog, you can now enjoy your relaxing "me time" with your canine companion. I first learned of this new trend several months ago, and I am sure several of you have heard it mentioned in the media recently. It is not sweeping the nation as some would have you believe, but there are places outside of California that offer Doga. I have located a few classes in the Chicago area, but you might need to drive a good distance to participate until this really catches on.

Do the dogs do Downward Facing Human? I was ready to come up with humorous human/dog combo poses, but it turns out the real ones are hard to beat for entertainment value. Apparently, you place your dog on your knee, neck, back, or stomach while you go through a yoga pose. This is, of course, dependent on the size and tolerance of your dog. According to an ABC News report "owners help their pups facilitate different poses, and do their own poses using the animals as props. Owners also perform doggy massage and acupressure to help soothe and relax their pets." I am not making this stuff up. It is supposed to help you bond with your dog, although I find having the dog lay in your lap while you watch a movie works just fine. And there are a few drawbacks that have come up in some classes. It is difficult to wash away the stress of the day with someone else's dog yipping away nearby. And no one can maintain your balance and de-stress when someone (human or dog) is peeing on the floor next to you while you are breathing through your nostrils in the Tree pose.

Here are a few real Doga poses, plus a few dog/yoga poses I made up.









The first one is called the Wheel pose, and the second the Cavalier Warrior pose.


This one has to be downward facing human (and no, that is not Dakota).

Now we have Dakota modeling the Donut pose (for dogs only!) and the Pushup pose.

Next we have the Stair Stretch and the I'm Having a Really Bad Day pose.

These last two come from the face yoga sub-category (face doga in this case). Special thanks to guest model Tiki Barber from Minnesota. The first I call The Muppet pose. The last is the Christmas Decorations Come Out Earlier Every Year face.

Preakness

Preakness

Congratulations to Mine That Bird on his surprising victory in the Kentucky Derby. Rarely does a horse pass 18 others on a muddy track to win a horse race! If they run that race 100 times, I doubt he wins more than twice. But he did win the one that counts!

Preakness fun fact: Calvin Borel will ride filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness after piloting winner Mine That Bird in the Ky Derby. No other jockey in the 100+ year history has switched from the Derby winner to a different horse in the Preakness. (Calvin is honoring his commitment as the "permanent" rider on Rachel).

My thoughts on the Preakness:

The Derby winner often comes back to score in the Preakness, only to stumble in the Belmont marathon 3 weeks later. I don't think that will happen this year. While Mine That Bird is probably a better horse than most people thought (or than he showed in his first year of racing), it is unlikely the events will unfold for him as they did two weeks ago. Plus, the addition of super-filly Rachel Alexandra brings in a higher level competitor than most Derby winners have to face.

The Preakness often plays closer to form than the other triple crown races, and that is likely this year as well. I agree with the oddsmaker's assessment that Mine That Bird only merits third choice behind Rachel Alexandra and Pioneerof the Nile.

13. Rachel Alexandra She was not an unknown when she went off as the prohibitive 2-5 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on the eve of the Derby. For those who don't like to bet favorites, it must have been painful to watch her destroy the field by over 20 lengths.

9. Pioneerof the Nile It looked like he was set up to win the Derby, but could not match the winner's finishing kick after he was near the front for the quick 47.2 opening half mile. Obviously took to the dirt fine, and would likely be the favorite if Rachel was not here. Very consistent horse should be there right to the end and has a fighting chance to win here.

2. Mine That Bird The thing I like best about this one is that Derby winners do often come right back and win this race. But it is hard for me to see this race breaking the same way, although the weather forecast may provide the sloppy track again. This horse has only one win outside of Canada and a new jockey for this race. I suspect he will be disrespected again, so play him if you like to root for underdogs.

7. Papa Clem One of the horses I backed in the Derby, he finished a nice 4th at 12-1. Never quite put it all together that day, but he is likely to be overlooked here even though he was less than a half length back to Pioneer in the Derby. Value play.

1. Big Drama Popular upset pick, he scored a very fast victory in a 7f stakes race last time out at Gulfstream (but was DQed to 2nd). This frontrunner has crossed the finish line first in 6 straight races, so he know how to win. Should lead for much of the race unless he gets pinched at the start.

11. Take the Points This horse will be ignored, but I suspect he will be a live longshot who will be in the mix all race. Could be 30-1 or more, so if you like to play longshots this is your horse.

In summary, Rachel looks to be a special horse. If she runs her race she will be tough to beat. Pioneer, Papa Clem, and Take the Points all look to offer good value to win or in exotics with Rachel. What about Derby favorite Friesan Fire? Good question. I wrote that I would like him better in the Derby at 8-1 or better, and I would like to see 15-1 or better here to get interested. I suspect he will get some interest because he was the Derby chalk, but I think I will leave him out because of the tough field and the possibility that his form is off.

Enjoy the race!

Kentucky Derby

DERBY 2009

Here are the horses I see as the prime contenders to WIN the race:

13 I Want Revenge This is the fastest horse, he has won on the dirt, and he has won on both coasts. His running style fits this race and his Apr. 28 workout at Churchill was sharp. He fits the profile of previous Derby winners and is a dual qualifier (related to distance breeding and accomplishment). Only concern is 19 yr. old jockey (Talamo), but the great ones are often great early. This horse deserves to be the favorite, but 3-1 is not that attractive for a horse that has not dominated to this point like Big Brown did last year.

16 Pioneerof the Nile Another California horse that has been winning big races, but has not raced on dirt (has won on turf and poly). He was beating I Want Revenge this winter in California on poly, but his speed numbers have not improved as much since then. Tough to say how poly impacts the speed numbers. Sire Empire Maker finished 2nd to Funny Cide in the Derby and came back to beat him in the Belmont. Auxilary gate start doesn't help, but this one has a great chance if he likes dirt. Also a dual qualifier. 5-1 morning line odds looks fair.

11 Chocolate Candy Another California horse that has not raced on dirt. Doesn't have quite the record of the first two, but has been winning. Last was a close 2nd to Pioneerof the Nile at Santa Anita. He is the 3rd of 4 dual qualifiers, and I can't believe his 20-1 odds. Fits the Giacomo profile, and will be charging hard down the stretch. Strong Churchill work on Apr. 27. Definite contender.

6 Friesan Fire Yes, I am aware of horses outside of California, and this one has won on the dirt. Three straight wins in Louisiana, and an eye-popping workout on Apr. 27 at Churchill. NOT a dual qualifier, but excellent breeding and has the racing background to fit with Derby contenders. Has had an unusually long 7 week rest since last race, and making a bigger distance stretch than the other contenders. 5-1 odds, and this one would be more appealing at 8-1 or higher.

Others to consider. While I think the winner will come from my prime contenders list, this group has a legitimate chance to win or finish in the money at long odds.

10 Regal Ransom Longshot alert. This horse won at Saratoga, raced once in California, and shipped to the United Arab Emirates for the winter. He won the UAE Derby in March, and his Churchill workouts have been great. No horse has ever won the Derby shipping from the middle east, but this one has a chance. Same sire as Funny Cide, and the 30-1 odds may end up higher. Definite threat to be in the money.

7 Papa Clem Has won on dirt and poly, including quality stakes score in Arkansas last race. Doesn't quite fit the "winner" profile, but strong breeding and 2nd place finishes to Pioneer and Friesan, along with his recent stakes win, show he is competitive with this group. 20-1.

1 West Side Bernie Last of the dual qualifiers, and was 2nd last time out to I Want Revenge. Hasn't won since September and inside post position not favorable in this race. 30-1 odds make him worth a consideration, but would be a little surprised if he is a major factor.

Is there anything to like about the other 13 horses?

Yes, but not enough for me to consider risking my mint julip money. Dunkirk has top breeding and was bought for $3.7 million. He is lightly raced and doesn't fit the profile of past winners. Not worth the 4-1 odds here. I think he will be a top horse...after he gets more experience. General Quarters, Musket Man, and Advice are all coming off stakes wins, but I don't think any of them have the speed or the profile to be serious threats here. Their wins, however, have moved their odds to the 20-1 range for horses that should probably be 40-1. Hold Me Back and Mr. Hot Stuff have good trainer/jockey combinations, but just haven't run to the level of the others at this point. The other seven have too many factors against them (post position, profile, etc.) or just simply don't belong here.

A tip of the cap to The Pamplemousse who is injured, but may have been my top pick. Look for him racing later this year.

Good Luck to Everyone!

Pirates

A friend asked the other day about why pirates are not called terrorists. My first thought was that it's because we have a romanticized view of swashbuckling buccaneers swinging onto a ship's deck. Pirates are really nothing more than armed robbers, but their "adventures" take place at sea. And their in lies the answer to the original question--terrorist's objectives are typically to destroy people or property for political or emotional reasons, whereas pirates are all about financial gain.

With all of the negative press about the Somali Coast pirates, I'm expecting the "professional protesters" of the politcal correctness wing to start making a fuss about pirate movies, pirate costumes, and most of all, pirate mascots. You know who I'm talking about, the people who are "offended" by almost anything and consider everything an insult to someone. They have successfully had several mascots changed, and unbelievably convinced enough people that the Chief symbol for Illinois was somehow offensive. Well, they have excess time on their hands now, and I am peering into my crystal ball and guessing that pirates will be the next thing that ruffles their uber-sensitive feathers. This will, of course, go beyond the Pittsburgh baseball club, East Carolina University, and numerous high schools. It will also include any vikings, buccaneers, corsairs, and even raiders. There are three NFL teams right there, so maybe the Redskins and Chiefs can get a little relief.

Now this political correctness "stuff" reminds me of the recent uproar regarding Joe Biden's purchase of a german sheperd puppy from a breeder. I know...you are all offended just by reading that sentence ;) But seriously, the ruckus apparently was related to the fact that he didn't get a dog from a shelter. Now I like dogs, and I very much support the work that shelters do to save, protect, and relocate lost and unwanted animals. But a small, radical fringe group of animal lovers has gone too far in protesting when someone buys a pet from breeder. They have actually severely harassed the breeder, their family, and other local breeders in this case. I even heard the expression "buy a breeder dog, kill a stray." The logic is so ridiculous that I suggest they live by the saying "eat food, kill a starving child." Like I said, these people can be offended by almost anything! (And you have to admire how the Obama's skillfully avoided this controversy by receiving their dog as a gift).

So that got me to thinking, what are we going to do when the professional protesters turn up the heat on our beloved local high school Pirates? After ten years of hassle, they will likely wear down the local school board into making a change in an effort to not offend anyone. My suggestion for a new mascot...the Rescue Dogs (Mighty Rescue Dogs?, Fightin' Rescue Pups?). This should finally please everyone, FOREVER!!

And what about our crosstown rival Vikings? I think Stray Mutts would fit very nicely.

Dakota's Top Ten List

Dakota's Top Ten Things to play with:

10. rawhide bone

9. Pepsi bottle (2 liter)

8. tire rope toy

7. Izzo (rope toy with green & white MSU colors-pic above)

6. Elizabeth's snuggie (pic to right)

5. any miscellaneos thread, leaf or paper on the floor

4. Erin's feet

3. purple rope/heart tug toy

2. tennis ball

1a. squeakie football

1. pheasant (goose, duck, whatever-top & bottom pic)

Snow Day

In like a Lion, out like...an even bigger Lion? The morning of March 29 greeted us with a couple of inches of wet, heavy snow. So after the kids excitedly cleared the driveway and sidewalks, it was time for Dakota's first experience with snow.

He was fairly tentative at first. But once he figured out he could put snow in his mouth, he began to run around like most pups in the snow.

Dakota - 12 weeks

Dakota has learned the magical wonders of stairs. They are not just to transcend levels, but also a playground and a great place to perch and watch where everyone is going. He is not deathly afraid of the outdoors like he was at first, but he is still pretty skittish about wind and anything that makes noise. But the upside is there are 10.000 new things to put in his mouth. Ahhh, puppies.