Not Quite Sleepwalking

DSCF3038

Originally uploaded by Xpinionated

Yeah, so it appears lil man had every intention of getting out of bed to do something but apparently fell back asleep midway through whatever his intentions were. He fell back asleep standing up!

A Leg to Stand on?

In this report, United States defense officials are demanding that Russia cease it's aggressive actions in Georgia.  Stop invading Georgia....says the country still invading Iraq. . . .

One of those days

Maybe it's a combination of exhaustion and irritability, but Saturday was one of those days where I couldn't conjure enough emotion or drive or desire to do much of anything but lay on the couch in varying positions of laziness.

I'm not even sure where the afternoon went as I watched hours of 'The Last Comic', the Olympics, and Car Wash. The night was a blur of napping, a bit of gaming, and 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. By the way, the book is ridiculously better than the movie.

Now's it's ten til two and I'm watching more Olympics. Odd given that I've watched sports that I normally couldn't care less about. Handball and volleyball seemed to be the rule of the day with some rowing, gymnastics, and boxing thrown in for good measure. By the way, I think I like team handball. A bit like basketball and soccer mixed together.

Anyway, I'm gonna lay on the couch and flip through the boob tube.....here's hoping I'm back to myself tomorrow....

Eye for an Eye

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="170" caption="No execution for obesity?"][/caption]

Richard Cooey, a rapist and murderer of two young women, believes he should not be forced to endure execution because he is fat. At 5'7" and 267 pounds, he has poor veins.  In addition, he is currently on tax payer funded medicine for migraines that may have made his body resistant to the anesthesia provided during lethal injection.

Hmm...

Fuck him.  He raped and murdered two people.  They had no anesthesia.  They had no choices.  He's lived 22 years after killing two young women.  And we worry about his suffering.  Again, I say fuck him.  He needs to pay for what he chose to do.  And if it's painful, sorry.  Death hurts.  We're worried about making him comfortable on his way to hell?!?

I apologize for the language as I have tried to refrain from getting too vulgar in speech and content in recent months but this is one of those cases that society has pissed me off.  Further, I have not personally decided whether I'm pro capital punishment  or against it.  But I am against going out of our way for folks convicted of rape, murder, child molestation, and any other crime against another person (as opposed to crimes against property).  So if capital punishment is to be used, then do it with the same consideration the convicted had for their victim.

Update:  His appeal was denied.  He is scheduled to be executed on October 14, 2008.

New Look

By now I'm sure you've guessed that there is a new look here at Xpinionated.

I was sitting here with Mrs. Xpinionated watching Project Runway (she was watching and then she went to sleep and I just didn't turn it -- busy webbing it), when I decided I really wasn't pleased with the site's look as of late.

Well, the show inspired me but I wanted the theme to be something that suited me personally. Well, the Header suits me like a glove if you've ever met me in person. I am very much into funky button up shirts and the header was definitely something I would rock (like the horseshoe mustache I'm rocking today :)!

I did have to do some editing as the theme came with some space for advertising and that's not what this blog is about. Not that I could tell you what this blog is about but I can definitely tell you it's not about that!

Hip Hop's Foot

Ludacris has released a song endorsing Barack Obama. Unfortunately, in his endorsement, he says everything possible to make any voter who may have been on the fence lean towards voting for McCain.

Idiot statements include a reference to McCain being paralyzed, a diss to Hilary Clinton, and something about painting the White House black. The White House being painted black is nothing new and I don't find that offensive at all. I'm sure a lot of folks will jump on it but is a phrase that has been used since the seventies in one way or another.

But the disrespect to the other political figures is not what Obama has been about and is not what the campaign needs right now. . . or ever. On Sirius this morning, the entertainment reporter on HotJams (can't remember her name) suggested that Obama distance himself from hip-hop in order to avoid situations like this that could be potentially devastating to his campaign efforts. I agree wholeheartedly. As someone who has spent 20 years trying to defend hip hop in various circles, it has become increasingly hard. Hell, I want to distance myself and I'm not a public figure in any way, shape, or form.

Hopefully, this will get marked up as just one big embarassing moment for Ludacris and blow over....doubt it though!

Guilty

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Originally uploaded by Xpinionated

The boy just looks guilty doesn't he?

Money management

Many of you are familiar with the show 'Extreme Makeover - Home Edition'. I personally hate the show but found this story about one lucky couple that received the gratuity of this show. Their 5500 square foot remodeled home is now facing foreclosure. Hmm? The show remodels and from what I understand pays off your house. That begs the question: how can a paid-for home be facing foreclosure? Ah, stupidity would be the answer to that question.

Your mortgage was paid off, your home remodeled, and you were given $100,000 in cash. Yet, somewhere along the line, you needed a second $450,000 mortgage? Let's do some quick math, no mortgage for 3.5 years (42 months) at a grand a month (to make the math easier). So there is $42000 bucks you have saved. Add to that the 100 grand, which should have been used to pay off any car notes and other outstanding debt. Suddenly, you should be able to find yourself living pretty comfortably with a 40K/year job if all you're doing is paying utilities and food costs.

But no, you want to start a business. Good for you, entrepreneurial spirit is the backbone of this country. But what's that you say? You don't want to try to save the start up money or get a traditional loan from the bank? Huh? You wanna take out a second mortgage on a home that is paid for, likely your greatest asset? Uh, ok....

Yeah, no sympathy for this couple whatsoever......

Dollars

Dollars

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Good Ballin' Days

The human body is a strange thing.  The last time I dunked a basketball or even attempted to dunk had to be back in 2003.  I had become resigned to the fact that my body was no longer in basketball shape nor would it ever attain the basketball glory that it had once known.  After all, I had been spending more time in bars than in gyms without a doubt.

But yesterday afternoon, Chocolate Thunder drove around his man, and I jumped, I looked into the eye of the last defender and what I saw was immediate recognition that I was expected to dunk.  I was taking the big steps I used to take back when I could throw it down.  I went up, and up, and missed the dunk.  But I felt great just trying.  It felt right.  Of course, today everything on me is sore but it's nice to know that I'm slowly but surely returning to form!

Devin at the Fountain

Great Comment Messageboards #2

This is not so much a comment as much as it is an embarassing testament to the understanding of the English language.  The article is entitled 'Looser Gun Law, other new state laws start Tuesday'.  The comment is as follows:

By Kahne

Jun 30, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

"looser"? Must mean the AJC is concerned the Perps are loosing some advantage over their victims. Now they will have to wonder if their potential victim is armed.

Not only does Kahne impress us with his use of 'Perps' as if he is in law enforcement (let's hope this isn't the case), but he manages to show he has no idea of the difference between lose and loose.  And to prove that he has no vocabulary skills even further, he manages to use loosing (a word?) in a sentence....yet these are the folks who want guns....scary to me.

Technorati tags: Grammar, Lack of Grammar

Screw College, I'll Travel

High School to NBA . . . via overseas? That's one scenario for Brandon Jennings, a top incoming freshman at the University of Arizona. 

Instead of abiding by the NBA's 'One Year Removed from High School' rule and being forced into college ball, this prep star is thinking why not get paid for a year and then see what the NBA has to offer.  And Xpinionated says 'Go for it'.

In a country where the majority of citizens never attend college, I find it preposterous that so many folks use their own selfish reasons to insist that prep basketball players attend college for at least a year before getting entering the NBA.  These people fear a decline in the level of college basketball while at the same time touting the importance of getting a college education.  Give me a break, most college basketball fans didn't attend the college for which they cheer and they definitely did not throw their support to the college because of it's Entomology department.

In a country where we will give an 18 year old an assault rifle and send them to the other side of the world to fight a war for a reason they barely understand, I find it preposterous to suggest an 18-year-old does not have the right to forgo college if he so desires.

If it were anything other than a pro sport (in my mind, even if it were pro baseball or hockey), folks would have no problem with an 18 year old forgoing college to make his way in the world legitimately.  College is not for everybody.  And though studies show those who attend college make more money, there are exceptions -- and one of those exceptions is the sporting world. 

If a kid has god-given talents and gifts that can be used to secure his place in this world as well as his family's place, why should we force him to provide those talents to an institution for an education that he doesn't necessarily value?

Technorati tags: Brandon Jennings, NBA Draft, College Basketball

Fascinatingly Odd

Isn't odd how many folks on the internet will read an internet story, take the time to sign in or register on the website, take more time to leave a comment and the comment says something to the effect of 'I don't care about this topic' but with a lot more words?  If you don't care, why waste the time, energy, and space to tell us?  Why not just not care?

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Xpinionated LIVE 6/26/2008

Technorati tags: Kentucky Gunman, Zimbabwe, Mugabe, Tsvangirai

Kentucky Gunman

Yet another coward with no moral fabric and little social skills gets a gun.  I am really getting fed up with the stories of people opening fire over what usually amounts to trivial issues.  I'm even more fed up with cowards such as these 'turning the gun on themselves' after their dastardly deed. 

In my opinion, if you're 'man' enough to shoot someone, and man enough to boast to your girlfriend that you're going to kill your boss, then you should be man enough to face the families you've destroyed, to face the consequences you've earned. 

<---Face of a coward -- and yeah, I'm intentionally not putting his name here for he deserves no fame or recognition.

 

 

Zimbabwe Elections

Every time I think U.S. politicians are some of the lowest of the low, situations such as the current Zimbabwe elections reminds me of how lucky I am.  Do you realize that people are being killed as a means of deterring votes for the challenger Tsvangirai.   And we in Georgia are worried about Voter I.D. laws? 

It saddens me sometimes to think of how people in other countries live and fear -- fear of doing things to make a better life (hopefully) for themselves.  It angers me to think that the incumbent Mugabe has run a country through fear for this long yet my country, who often feels it must police the world, has done nothing to step in -- not enough oil I guess.....

Shaq's startin' again

Shaquille O'Neal has again lost the respect of me and probably most of Lakers nation.  He apparently performed a rap freestyle dissing Kobe and blaming Kobe for his divorce -- 4 years after Kobe's ill advised mutterings. 

Let's dissect this shall we?

1. Let's make it absolutely clear:  Shaquille O'Neal has again (as has been the case 99% of the time) started with Kobe.  So when everyone says Kobe drove Shaq out of L.A., once again note who started whining and crying.  Notice who started talking shit first -- The Big Nobody.
2. Shaquille mentions the Lakers loss to the Celtics in the Finals saying something to the effect of 'Kobe couldn't win it without me.'  And Shaquille fails to mention that he rode Dwayne Wade's coattails to his only non-Kobe championship.    He also fails to note that his team didn't make it out of the first round.  Or that Kobe and the Lakers defeated the team that ran through them so easily.
3. In a quote to the media, Shaquille says something to the effect of 'Nothing personal, it's a freestyle, it's what M.C's do.'  Someone, anyone, please tell this 300 pound mass that he's a lot of things -- a has been, a sheriff, a bad actor -- but an M.C. he is not.  He has never been.  Exhibit A:  'I'm a horse, Kobe ratted me out, that's why I'm getting a divorce.'  huh?  wtf? horse, divorce, what?
4. Blaming divorce on someone ratting you out - no matter how anti-man law snitching on a man's sex life may be - is really not sensible.  Don't blame Kobe for your divorce...blame your dick!
Technorati tags: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Freestyle, Rapper

Oh and. . .

LAKER FAN TIL i DIE....AND THEN SOME MORE AFTER THAT

Next Season

lost to a better team

Devin's Favorite Part of the Game

DSCF2016

Originally uploaded by Xpinionated

I promise you, Devin just insisted that I take this photo...and all the others too!!

Down 3-2 and Holding Steady

As the series heads back to Boston, the Lake Show finds itself in a 2-3 hole in the quest for a title.

There are several problems that I've seen with our game this series.  Our lack of consistent aggression is our number one problem.  Our inability to play a complete game has cost us one if not two games.

Reading the internet (something I should seriously consider giving up), you would think that the Lakers are some last place team that's lucky to be in the finals.  All the talk is of the vaulted Celtic defense (a bit touchy grabby for my taste but I'm not an official).  Oddly enough, though our screen and roll defense leaves much to be desired, many of the stats that are a reflection of the defense are not that underwhelming. 

Lastly, there's a simple statement I want to make for all the newly diehard Celtics fans claiming greatest basketball franchise -- the Celtics are relevant every twenty years, the 60's, 80', and currently.  The Lakers have never gone 22 years without a championship......the Lakers have played for a championship in every single decade. 

Let's go Lake Show...let's win Game 6 and move on from there!

Technorati tags: Finals, Lakers, Celtics

And the NBA wonders why college ball is more popular?

38 free throws for Boston, 10 for the Lakers.  Result?  17 point differential in free throws made.  There is home court officiating, and then?  Then?  Then there is downright travesties.

I've watched the NBA for 24 years.  Through every NBA conspiracy I've held on to a belief that the game is not rigged.  My faith in this is not shaken.  Do I think we will see such a favoritism in L.a?  Not at all.  At the very most, I expect maybe a 10 point free throw surplus in favor of the Lakers.  That would be normal home cookin' as they say.  But tonite was an embarrassment for the officiating crew.

One of my boys who is also a Lakers fan said that (before our comeback in the fourth) our defense was porous.  In fact, he believed our the foul calls were a result of our poor play.  I disagree.

Poor play?  The Lakers had 18 points off turnovers, the Celts had 19.  The Celts had 14 points on the fastbreak while the Lakers managed 10.  Points in the paint saw the Lakers with a 31 to 30 advantage.  So far the only overwhelming stat in favor of the Celts is field goal percentage , 53% to 49%.  And that's not really overwhelming.  Rebounding?  The Celts had a plus one advantage.

So where was this game determined.  With 83 shots and just shooting a shade under 50%, the only  logical guess is the free throw line.  Am I arguing that the Lakers didn't commit their share of fouls?  Nope.  I'm saying that the difference lies in referees perception of what teams are known for.

Since there are no regular readers of this blog, I'll openly admit that I have brought this point up in previous posts, most notably in the Pistons/Lakers Finals a few years back.  My theory is this:  when a team is known to be a "physical" team, they are allowed to reach and grab much more freely than a team not known for a physical style of play.  This is ridiculously unfair.  Even more unfair to the team abiding by the spirit of Naismith basketball (you know the one, basketball is a non-contact sport officially speaking), is that if the non-physical team attempts to become more physical, they get the whistle blown.  Effectively, you're telling one team it is completely fine to push, grab, and reach while telling the other team it's a foul.

At this point, given our fourth quarter effort, I am only slightly discouraged.  I would have loved to see us take one of these games in Boston as I love winning a series on your home floor if the opportunity is there.  Now, assuming three wins in L.A., we have to win what would be an enormously intense game on the Celts floor.  The disadvantage in that is the physicality allowed in a game six or seven will be increased.  If the refs continue to allow one team to be physical while blowing the whistle on another team . .. . you get my point so I won't be a dead horse.

Sadly, right now I'm not even sure I want to watch a game with my boy which is a sad state of affairs.  The way the conversation went, I was made to feel like my opinion didn't count, almost as if he knows more of basketball than I do.

In any case, Kobe, Lamar, Pau, Derek, Vladimir, Sasha, Jordan, Luke, Trevor, DJ, and the rest of the crew have some work to do.  As a bleeder of Purple and Gold, I know it can be done.

Go Lakers!!!!!!!!

Update:  To further enhance my point, here's what foxsports.com analyst Charley Rosen had to say:

The Lakers' defense was porous, and their offense was virtually obliterated by Boston's defense. Yet there was another significant dimension to the game.

Within the first couple of minutes, Perkins and then Garnett were tooted for committing moving screens. Both of these calls were highly questionable, and even though they favored the Lakers, they certainly boded ill for the visitors. When the visitors get the benefit of blatantly bogus fouls early in a game, the standard operating procedure tends to be that the refs will shaft them from then on. And that's exactly what happened.

A pair of phantom fouls on Kobe ruined the Lakers' first-half rotation, and at the intermission Boston had attempted 19 free throws to L.A.'s two (one of these being a technical foul on KG). After three quarters the margin was 26-to-4, and the final total was 38-to-10.

This disparity was even more puzzling since the Lakers' game-plan called for them to constantly drive the ball to the hole. And several replays showed exactly how biased and inconsistent the refs' decisions truly were.

No surprise, then, that the Lakers were distracted, annoyed and even outraged all game long. And rightly so.

Technorati tags: NBA Finals, Lakers, Celtics, Referees, Physical Play

Game 1 Loss in the Finals

The Lake Show fell 98-88 to the Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. 

The game seemingly turned when Paul Pierce faked an injury (and I will believe it is a faked injury until proven otherwise) leaving the game by being carried off the floor to a wheel chair.  After a few minutes he returns with a brace and a barely noticeable limp.  The Lakers, however, seem to have lost that edge when he appeared to be out and the Celtics received an adrenaline rush upon his return at one point outscoring us 28 - 16 after Pierce's return.

 

Initially, I wanted to remain somewhat indifferent about the injury.  But then watching Pierce flail anytime someone got close to him took my already waning respect for him to the bottom.  At one point, he throws his head back and reaches for his eye as if he's been hit in the eye.  Blinking and blinking.  The replay shows, he wasn't touched, not only not touched in the face, not touched at all.  He has become a soccer player.

Last night's loss can also be attributed to horrible rebounding.  The Celtics had far too many second chances.  On top of that, our shots weren't falling so there was a recipe for disaster.  And it certainly didn't help that there were at least three calls that the refs simply blew that replays showed no foul occurred.  The disgusting part was that not only did the replays show no foul occurred, the plays themselves were so conclusively clean that they couldn't have even been 'go either way' calls. 

Game 2 is Sunday.  Here's to hoping our shots start to drop and we man the boards a bit better.  Watching the game, I feel like we are the better team.  It's just time to prove it.

Why I blog?

I sometimes wonder why I blog.  I see other folks blogs and wonder how they became so popular.  How did they get such a loyal fanbase?  Then I tell myself that I don't do it to gain a fanbase.  It would be nice, no doubt, to have or to know that somebody out there has found Xpinionated other than the scammers who try to spam my comments.  But after six years, I guess I do  do it for myself.

I do feel as if I have something to add.  Although, I may not have a particular theme with Xpinionated (which is probably part of the reason the readership is low), I do have an opinion that I would like to be heard.  Though, I don't blog as much lately, I still want to be heard.

Even if I wanted a theme, I'm not sure what theme that would be.  As witnessed by the decline in my Lakers and Redskins/Hokies blogs, even the things I love I don't always feel like talking about. So to put a theme to this blog would mean I would have to damn near be obsessing over something....I'm too old to obsess or at least too old to actually put any kind of extra effort into my obsessing!

MegaFest moving to . . . . South Africa

I'm not a T.D. Jakes fan.  Or Creflo Dollar or any televangelist.  I think most, oops I mean all, are using religion as a money making machine which doesn't sit right with me.  But this story caught my eye.  The formerly Atlanta based Megafest Christian get together is moving to South Africa in 2008.  Apparently, folks found traveling to Atlanta and lodging expenses too much of a burden.  In response to that, Jakes is moving the money machine, I mean get together, to . . . wait for it . . . . South Africa?!?!

This makes sense how?  In addition to getting together for some worship -- on another continent, Jakes' organization is also going to be offering 11-day tours around the same time as the get together for five to six grand per person.  And this doesn't strike anyone as fishy, odd, conniving, or scammish?

"When you're the mother of a couple of kids, it's not something that you can do on an annual basis, " said Williams, who managed MegaFest for Jakes. "We want to be sensitive to the needs of our delegates."

Sadly, the quote above is referring to the good ol' days when the get together was in Atlanta......

Technorati tags: T.D. Jakes, Megafest, Religious Scams

Devin Finds His Shadow

2008 WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!!!

The game started off ugly.  Very Ugly.

Ridiculously ugly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the Lakers matured in this series right in front of our eyes.  The development of poise is a beautiful thing to watch.  The evolution of leadership was something to behold. 

In a first quarter  dominated by the hot shooting Spurs, adjustments had to be made.  The double teaming of Tim Duncan was leading to wide open jumpers for Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, and the rest of Spurs' perimeter squatters.  Our rotations had to get better, we needed to force cross court passes that would allow our defense to rotate and recover.  And on the offensive side of the ball, we needed to stop settling for jumpers. 

Somewhere in the second quarter, we got it.  Thanks to Jordan Farmar's spark of three straight buckets, the offense started getting aggressive going to the hope and getting paint points.  Along with getting out of our scoring quagmire, our defensive intensity picked up. 

By mid third quarter, that feeling of being a team of destiny for this series started to settle in.  Loose balls were rolling to the purple and gold.  Amazingly, we managed to get the Spurs in the penalty with more than a minute left in the quarter.  You just felt it.

Now we need four more victories.  We get a week off.  Rest and prepare.....

Technorati tags: Western Conference Finals, Lakers, Spurs

GTAIV = A Clockwork Orange?

In this article from The Record, a newspaper (used loosely in this case) in Stockton, CA, aggression is being attributed to the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. 

Stockton's Mark Wellis, 19, said he was involved in an altercation a week after he purchased "Grand Theft Auto IV." At the time he noticed that he had become less sensitive to violence.

Wellis doesn't completely blame the game for his violence, but it did affect him.

 

So after 19 years of life, one week with GTAIV and the kid is no longer sensitive to violence?  Wait there's more....

"My son Peter was never really aggressive, but once he got into video games, 'GTA' being one of them, he started to push, hit, talk back, and just become a different person," said Stockton parent Greg Within, 46.

Does Peter sound like he is 17 or older?  I ask because GTAIV is rated Mature meaning you have to be 17 or older to purchase the game.  Seems to me like Greg Within may need to look 'within' for the root of the kid's new personality (pun intended).

Critics seem to want to paint this video game and others like it as the source of the debauchery of the world.  They seem to think that if we can reduce or remove this 'influence' entirely, the world would be a better place.  But maybe, just maybe, the world would be a better place with fewer critics and politicians...just maybe.

Technorati tags: GTAIV, Grand Theft Auto, Violent Games

A different look on illegal immigrants

Here's an interesting take on the 'jobs Americans won't do' stance of those supporting illegal immigrants from CNN's Glenn Beck:

The Journal article offered an example of a couple that sells food at fairs around California each summer. They say that because of the H-2B visa shortage most of their seasonal employees aren't able to enter the country.

So why don't they just hire Americans instead? Good question. Her answer? "This is a hard job."

I find it pretty hard to believe that there aren't a few college students who wouldn't want to drive around California and work outdoors all summer, but let's assume that's true. Let's even assume that none of the other 1.1 million Californians who were unemployed as of April are interested in the job either. Isn't anyone wondering why?

Well I'm not a labor consultant, but I am a thinker. Maybe the problem isn't that the job they're offering is "too hard," maybe it's that the wages they're offering are "too low."

No one paints the undersides of bridges for fun, they do it for the money. That's how capitalism works.

How capitalism does NOT work is when we collectively look the other way as companies exploit illegal labor for their own benefit.

The unspoken truth is that these businesses don't hire illegal aliens because they can't find American workers, they hire illegal aliens because they don't want American workers. And it has nothing to do with wages.

 

Technorati tags: immigration, low wages, unemployment, visas

Conference Finals

After a tough series against a very physical and game Utah Jazz squad, the Lake Show is preparing to square off against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.  It's only right that if the Lakers go on to win a championship this season, they should have to go through the Spurs to do so. 

The key factors going into game one:

1. Kobe's health:  He says he's 100%, that's good enough for me.
2. Manu Ginobili:  Starter?  Bench?  Does it matter?  Containing him will be one of the keys to our defensive effort.  I'm not as worried about Tony Parker as we are coming off a long series against Deron Williams who I would place ahead of Tony Parker in terms of causing defensive problems.  And D-fish held his own against D-Will so the focus in my mind will be Manu.
3. Pau vs Tim:  After facing a Utah team without a true center, I wonder how Pau will matchup with Tim Duncan.  On one hand, I don't think Tim is nearly as physical as Carlos 'Bruiser'.  On the other hand, Tim is better.  However, this year's playoffs have seen Tim disappear for stretches. 
4. Role Players:  Starter for starter, the Lakers look good in this series.  Even going down the rotation, I give the Lakers the edge.  The wild card?  Experience.  This Spurs team knows how to win regardless of circumstances.  Keeping the Bowens and Finleys under control will go a long way to reaching the Finals. 

Sorry

I have been rather scarce here lately.  No particular reason.  Just haven't had that urge to get my type on.  But for nearly six years I have made at least one post to Xpinionated so I gotta keep the tradition going.  So how about a simple update....

Had a great time with Devin, Mrs. Xpinionated, and some friends of ours at the Georgia Force game a couple of weekends ago. 

Was in the emergency room this past Monday morning with the worse asthma attack I've had since I was five or six years old.  But the Prednisone that I'm on now has me feeling ridiculously good breathing wise...

sorry Devin won't sleep (and hasn't been for the past week) so the writing stops now....

Post Game Four Thoughts

Technorati tags: Lakers, NBA Playoffs

The Utah Jazz have tied the series at 2-2 with a an overtime victory today.  Here are some abstract thoughts:

• If the refs hand out the same home team calls in L.A. as they did in today's game, I will be satisfied.
• There were several calls that either were displayed differently on my TV or that the announcers felt obliged to agree with the refs:

• The block on Luke Walton from behind was a great hustle play. . . however. . . since when is legal to go through someone's body to get the ball -- head and all?
• The foul called on Sasha when he blocked Deron Williams shot from behind was ludicrous.  Even more ludicrous was the play by play of Hubie Brown....'got him on the forearm'?  He said this during the replay showing nothing of the sort.
• Why exactly is Matt Harpring getting all star treatment in terms of foul calls?

Two games in Utah, two losses.  The upside?  Each game was lost as opposed to us being beaten.  Game three: turnovers.  Game Four: foul shots and foul calls -- could have made the foul shots.  And though the refs had a horrendous outing, we need to stop swiping without intent because the refs are making prejudicial calls.

Kobe's back spasms could be telling.  Needed him to facilitate the last two minutes of the game instead of forcing shots.  I would have preferred the focus shifting to Odom and Fish with Gasol and Bryant looking to play decoy and man the boards.

Game 5 Wednesday at Staples Center. 

Wins are good but .. . .. .

Quite frankly, I'm not altogether sure how we pulled yesterday's game out.  Out-rebounded embarrassingly, particularly on the offensive boards is usually a recipe for disaster. 

Also, the adjustments the Jazz made to slow down our offense bothered me a little although to be quite honest I couldn't pick out what those adjustments were.  The only real difference seemed to be that the Lake Show wasn't getting out on the break for most of the second half and the offense kind of stalled. 

Sasha, I mean the Machine came through like the emerging star he is.  That's right I said it!  Emerging star.  Look at the young kid.  The ingredients are there.  Young kid, big stage, hair that flows in the wind, and a deadly bomb from deep....emerging star!

In all seriousness, if we get at the boards and maintain our defensive intensity Wednesday night, we should be able to head back to Utah with home-court in tow.

Technorati tags: Lakers, NBA Playoffs, THe machine!

So far so good

Up 2-0 in our first round series against the Denver Nuggets and I think my main concern is will the stellar play hold up in Colorado.  Playing in front of fans full of contempt (a special contempt given Kobe's relationship with the state of Colorado) is a different monster than doing it for your faithfuls. 

I think the key will be sustaining the initial energy Denver is inevitably going to bring to the floor the first quarter.  The idea is to not panic.  The idea is to stick to our game, play defense, and limit our mistakes.   I know pretty simple advice but it's tried and true.  JR Smith, the guy off of the Denver bench, looks like he was trying to egg Kobe in last night's game -- maybe as a head game headed back to the mile high city.  Although, I have some words of advice to JR:  When you're coming off the bench (despite being pretty damn effective), do not trash talk the guy that has dropped 40+ on your squad with time still a tick tick ticking.  This person is apparently a bit hot so last thing you need to do is to give him extra incentive, extra motivation to score.  But Kobe handled it well.  He got the ball drove at JR Smith, got the foul, made the bucket, hit the free throw, and left the game for good. 

Word is JR Smith is still talking......And who the hell is this Linas Kleiza?!??!

Technorati tags: Los Angeles lakers, Denver Nuggets, NBA Playoffs, Kobe Bryant, Linas Kleiza, JR Smith

Take the time to Notice

I don't know if I am going through some chemical imbalance the past few days but I have been pretty emotional watching little man this week.  He's so amazing, from him ability to pretend to not here you say no to his finally giving you a kiss after you stopped asking for one an hour ago, everything he does just kind of leaves you in awe. 

We have this game where he runs in circles from the living room, through the french doors and dining room, into the kitchen, through the foyer and back into the living room.  My part is to hide somewhere along his route.  Usually, I'm either in the bathroom, up the stairs a little ways or just badly hidden like a cat with his tail out.  Then I jump out and say hey and if he's surprised he says 'O000hhhhhgobagodoogabal'.  Well, we were doing this the other day and I guess he REALLY wasn't expecting me.  His exact words were scarily close to 'OOOHHHHJESSUS'!  Absolutely hilarious.

Our other game is from the football practices of old.  We stand in place and run and then fall down and pop back up.  What makes it fun for us parentals is that he's saying 'Ooohhhhh' the whole time we run in place.  Then we fall and he bursts into laughter...it's the funniest thing for him to run in place and fall.  Unfortunately, I'm so out of shape that after two or three times of doing this, I need a break.....I'm gonna have to get in better shape.

And, then there's the new game that we don't like.  In this game, which is further proof that boys are daredevils from their first breath, he finds a way onto the coffe table.  A toy, a box, whatever he can climb on to get on the table.  We didn't mind at first because he showed significant caution about 1) what he did on the coffee table which was usually pacing and yelling, and 2) he always got onto his stomach and slid backward to get off the table.  But for the past week, he's decided that he wants to jump off of the table into my arms.  I made the mistake of catching him and laughing once.  Now he thinks it's a game....we gotta break this game

 

Above, Devin and Daddy on the Laptop

What Others Won't Say

Is it me or does the media LOVE Boston sports?  It seems like the slightest winning for any team in the area results in a tidal wave of stories specific to New England.  As a disclaimer, if you read Xpinionated, then you know I am slightly considerably biased against the entire New England area.  But let's say a couple of things about the amazing season the 07-08 Celtics had this year.

Most Improved.  The Celtics accomplished the biggest turnaround ever for an NBA team by increasing their win total by 42 wins.  Great achievement. . . except last year's roster doesn't feature at least nine players on this year's roster.   Only 40% of your previous roster is there.  In my mind, this isn't the true meaning of Most Improved.  In my mind, Most Improved means taking what you had, working on it through practice/experience/playcalling and drastically improving your results.  It does not mean gutting your roster and pulling off some spectacular GM moves.  Personally, I think the recognition for Most Improved should go to teams carrying at least 60% of the previous season's roster.  However, I'm not sure this is an official recognition so there are no rules... 

Best Regular Season Record.  With 66 wins, the Celts also had the most wins in the league.  Impressive indeed.  60+ wins in this league is always an accomplishment.  Taking a look at who the Celtics get to play night in and night out, it seems to me that playing in the Eastern Conference had much to do with their success.  In fact, based on Hollinger's Statistics on ESPN.com, Boston has the lowest strength of schedule in their league.  San Antonio has the highest.  Does anyone think any of the top four seeds could not have accomplished the same feat against the Eastern Conference?  And yes, Boston had a great record against the West, but I doubt they would have the same kind of success if it was a day in day out kind of thing instead of just a road trip to get hyped for.

With all that said, it sure is nice to have Boston around to hate....even if it's only for a couple of years....

Technorati tags: Boston Celtics, NBA, Most Improved, Best NBA Record

Daddy and Devin Day - The Post-Game

Well, Daddy and Devin day didn't go exactly as I planned.  I had fun with lil man and I know he was happy to be out of the house as much as he was on Saturday.  But I'm disappointed that I didn't pull the day off as planned.  Next time, I will need to plan better....

We left the house around noon and headed up to Triple Play.  Triple Play is a new sports bar where some friends of mine work.  My plan was to hit this place (been open all of one night), see my friends, and then hit up Hooters for dinner before the game later on.  Devin was a hit of course with waitresses wanting to hold him but him playing hard to get. 

We left there around 1:30 I guess and had to do some errands at Costco and Kroger.  By the time we finished the errands, it was 3:30, Devin was head down, neck stretched sleep in the backseat and I knew we weren't going to make it down to the car show.  So Devin slept from 3:30 to 5:30 finally giving us (though Mrs Xpinionated wasn't there to enjoy it) the two hour nap he routinely takes at daycare.

I decided to wake him up at 5:30 which didn't take much more than me walking into the room.  At this point, Hooters too was out of the question if we were going to get to the Force game on time.  So I decided it would be easier to get to the game way early, get some food, feed Devin before folks started crowding us and get settled.  And that worked.....until Devin decided he was going to spit on the guy next to us....every time the guy spoke.  The man was a good sport and laughed it off as I tried to cover lil man's mouth.  But at halftime, after letting Devin run loose a little bit, I thought it was time to bring Devin and Daddy day to an end.....

With all that said, I still got lil man four cheerleader chicks!!! 

Technorati tags: Georgia Force, Daddy Day, Cheerleaders

See other pics here

Nice...must be nice

The survey showed that households with discretionary income of more than $1.35 million now view real estate as a bargain.

Arthur Blank, owner of the Falcons and Atlanta it seems, has put his mansion on the block for $10.9 million.  Blah blah blah.  The gem of the article above is the 'discretionary income of more than $1.35 million' statement.  How many people does then encapsulate?  Seriously, 135,000,000 pennies of discretionary income?  Hell, in these times, what is this discretionary income of which they remark?  If I have discretionary income now, it's only because I forgot to pay a bill. 

Technorati tags: Arthur Blank, Discretionary Income

Daddy and Devin Day

Daddy and Devin Day is upon us!  Saturday, April 19, 2008.  Mrs. Xpinionated will be scrapbooking and girl talking her Saturday with friends.  It's the jump off.  Daddy and Devin will be touring the Metro Atlanta area getting into all sorts of mischief.

The day will start after Devin's afternoon nap.  We will head downtown to the car show at the World Congress Center.  Take in some automobiles and hope for some hot car models with a soft spot for handsome babies so daddy can take pictures to show off to his folks.  After that, we'll head back out to the 'burbs.  Depending on the time, we may just go chill at the mall or we may go get an early dinner at either Hooters or Triple Play (or whatever the name of the new bar some friends of mine are working at).  I'm leaning toward Triple Play since that will give some folks to see Devin that haven't seen him in a while.  But then there is the appeal of Hooters...ah time will tell.  After that, we may stop at home to re-up on some supplies.  Then it is off to watch the Georgia Force game. 

Ok, I admit it.  Perhaps it's really just Daddy day and he's taking the baby!  But Devin will have fun!!!  I mean it!!!!!

Numero Uno

1st in the Western Conference.  It feels right.  This is what the Lakers organization is about.  This is where we are supposed to be.  Now to finish the deal. 

It looks like we'll be facing Dallas or Denver in the first round.  We went 6-1 against those teams combined going 3-0 over Denver and 3-1 over Dallas (though all games seem to be a battle at the end). 

I have never really been the kind of fan to prefer to meet one team over another.  By so saying, it indicates a fear of the less preferred team.  I do not like fear.  I like to think, nay, I know we can beat any team in the league in a seven game series.  Perhaps I'm blinded by the Purple and Gold, but if so let me remain in that manner. 

My main concerns going into these playoffs:

1. Consistency:  Save for last night's undressing of the Kings (which five years ago would have been a victory to be relished), the Lakers have shown a tendency in the second half of the season of building big leads and losing big leads by crunch time in the fourth quarter.  That cannot continue. 
2. Health:  Both Kobe and Fish are playing through injuries with Luke Walton and Pau coming off recent injuries.  Though we are a deep team, we must be weary of the injury situation.  Add to that no timeline for the return of Baby Boy Bynum or Trevor Ariza, and our health concerns are not minor.
3. Lastly, assuming Baby Boy Bynum comes back, jelling and working him into the offense during the playoffs could be a tricky scenario.  Combining that with not knowing how the young man will react or play (aggressiveness still there?) after his first major injury poses some logistical questions for the Lake Show

In any case, getting out of the first round is a must, plain and simple.  The 48 - 17 finish means nothing if we get goosed in the first round.  The Pau Gasol acquisition means nothing.  And the number one seed means nothing.  Perhaps a regular season conference crown is big for the Hornets, or Rockets.  But to teams like the Lakers or Spurs (yes a measure of respect is being granted here), conference championships are but a sidenote to the title.

Technorati tags: Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, NBA Playoffs, Trevor Ariza, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers

APRIL 16, 2008

Virginia Tech -- We remember.

He's still a rapper?

The 39-year-old rap performer was arrested Thursday night at the couple's Wellington home in South Florida. Police said his wife called 911, saying he had kicked and hit her during an argument over buying a bedroom set. She later told deputies he had only pushed her.

Again, as seen in some other posts I've made (of which I'm too lazy to find) about the media's tendency to ensure rap is associated with as much negativity as possible, Vanilla Ice who has one successful rap song (which in actual hip hop circles is still debatable -- like calling the Super Bowl shuffle rap) is identified as a rap performer in a story about domestic abuse.  It's sad really.  Vanilla Ice, 18 years removed from a successful rap song and attempts at everything under the sun from heavy metal and acting to reality star(used oh so loosely) and current bull riding contestant on some celebrity (again used oh so loosely) CMT affair, is still considered a rapper. IT would be different if he at least had a current album that someone outside of his immediate family purchased but his current moneymaker is bull-riding on CMT.  So REALLY, the story should say 'The 39-year-old bullrider. .  . .'.  Alas, that will not happen.  Since Brokeback Mountain', cowboys have been really sensitive about their image....

Technorati tags: Vanilla Ice, Rapper, CMT, Bullriding

Digital Irony

A study of World of Warcraft players aged 12 - 83 has found that after some violent gaming, the players were actually more relaxed or tired than aggressive. 

"There were actually higher levels of relaxation before and after playing the game as opposed to experiencing anger but this did very much depend on personality type," said Jane Barnett, who headed the Middlesex study. Translation: If you're an aggressive jackass before you play a video game, you'll still be one after; and video games don't magically turn peaceful people into violent offenders.

Hopefully, more studies like this one will make it to the mainstream media so every violent outburst doesn't fall at the feet of gaming.   I dare wager that the same could be proven of music and other forms of media.  Though, these forms of media do effect us, the foundation for violence toward others is built on something more than an album, video game, or shoot 'em up movie. 

Technorati tags: Gaming Study, Violent Games

Steve Nash - Hypocrite

"If it stopped the way it is, I think Chris Paul has been outstanding and his team has been the top of the charts," said two-time MVP Steve Nash.
"It's the team, your impact on your team and what you do overall. Let's face it, he has been unbelievable. His scoring, his assisting, he's a leader in steals. He shoots a good percentage. He put his team on his back in the fourth quarter. That's what it's about. He doesn't have the players around him that Kobe has."

Funny that Steve Nash should say this considering he won the award twice with superb talent around him.  A bit of the pot calling the kettle black ain't it...or should I say eh?

That's My Baby's Daddy .. . . and granddaddy

An Australian couple has come forward admitting their incestuous relationship including the birth of two children, one of which died on congenital heart problems.  The other child is now nine months old. 

 

The 61 year old father/grandfather has been having relations with his 39 year old daughter since they fell in love back in 2000 after 30 years of separation.

A judge has ordered that they stop doing the nasty and also given them a fine for their 'behavior'. 

Oddly enough, I don't even have a funny joke for this.   It's kind of disgusting, well not kind of, it is disgusting.  On the other hand, it's been eight years since they started so they may 'love' each other but I still think there is a huge psychological research project here just waiting for the undertaking. 

Technorati tags: Australian Incest

Down the wire

It's coming down to the wire in one of the greatest playoff races in recent NBA history.  The Lake Show has locked up it's 55th (out of 60 years) playoff appearance and now focuses on getting a better seed.  Right now, the teams I don't want to play in the playoffs are Golden State, New Orleans, and to a lesser degree Houston.  I'm not talking matchups here.  I'm talking bad feelings.  I just don't feel good running into those teams until we are on all cylinders. 

With Gasol back in the lineup, it looks like we are starting to play to our capabilities rather than to the level of competition.

I fear Kobe may once again be shunned in the MVP race if the Hornets lock up the one seed.  It truly is a shame that the best player in the league has never one the award.

I must give Lamar Odom his proper props for Friday night's game.  I've ridden him quite hard for a few years so when he has a night like he did against the Mavs, it's only right I at least mention it.  Keep it up Lamar, love the way you play when you're relaxed in the third option role.

Who would have thought we were in for a 50+ win season when this roller-coaster began?

Technorati tags: Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol

Stephen King on Video Games

Stephen King recently wrote an article at EW.com concerning his take on violence and video games spurred by a Massachusetts' bill that would ban violent games from being sold to anyone under 18. 

What really makes me insane is how eager politicians are to use the pop culture — not just videogames but TV, movies, even Harry Potter — as a whipping boy. It's easy for them, even sort of fun, because the pop-cult always hollers nice and loud. Also, it allows legislators to ignore the elephants in the living room. Elephant One is the ever-deepening divide between the haves and have-nots in this country, a situation guys like Fiddy and Snoop have been indirectly rapping about for years. Elephant Two is America's almost pathological love of guns. It was too easy for critics to claim — falsely, it turned out — that Cho Seung-Hui (the Virginia Tech killer) was a fan of Counter-Strike; I just wish to God that legislators were as eager to point out that this nutball had no problem obtaining a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. Cho used it in a rampage that resulted in the murder of 32 people. If he'd been stuck with nothing but a plastic videogame gun, he wouldn't even have been able to kill himself.

Technorati tags: Video Game Violence, Stephen King, HB 1423

Amazing

This fatherhood thing truly is amazing.  I can't see how any man would not want to be around his child.  I can't see how any man wouldn't do anything for his child.  My son can bring me out of a funk with a simple smile or shout, both of which are just as likely to occur at any random moment. 

This morning he introduced a new game showing his mischievous side.  When I'm in the closet searching for another extraordinary Xpinionated outfit, lil Man will either come in there with me or close the door.  He used to close the door and just wait outside.  This morning though he closed the door and all I heard was the pitter patter of little feet off to do something they inevitably weren't supposed to be doing.  So I turn the handle to let myself out and those some pitter patters come back in a blaze.  He peeks around the door, smiles, and shuts it.  And again, pitter patter.  Back and forth we go, shut and run, run and smile and shut.  Until finally, he opens the door and I throw a shirt of his head making him giggle but also giving me time to get out of the closet (the Logo channel would be so proud!).  Things like this can make any ordinary day something a bit more special. 

For the last three nights, he has decided he is ready for bed.  He lets us know by grabbing one of our fingers to take us on a journey.  We say, 'Devin do you want to go up up?'  Meaning are you ready for bed and he leads us to the stairs.  Now this isn't to say that he doesn't still fight the sleepies but the fact that between 8 and 9, he knows it's getting close to counting sheep time.  He probably thinks since he has more freedom upstairs since we let him rummage in a couple more rooms than we do downstairs, that if he can just get to the cusp of freedom things will be just as he likes them:  just out of sight of us but not so far that he doesn't know where we are.  But we think, if we can just get him to sleep........we usually win......for now.

Shout out to VT Softball

Virginia Tech's softball stepped up to the plate Wednesday night and defeated the US Olympic softball team 1 - 0.  Rock star Angela Tincher doled a no hitter to the U.S. in ending the national team's 185 game winning romp through pre-Olympic exhibitions.

Daddy's new camera and new favorite pics

 

So we bought a new digital camera as ours had four solid years of service, and coincidentally 4 megapixels of resolution.  Needless to say unless you're not a digital cam fan, that is nothing.  Today's average camera is at least 7 megapixels.  Anyway, we were torn between buying a point-and-shoot camera or a dlr camera.  At first, somewhat encouraged by keeping up with the Jones' so to speak, we were leaning toward the DLR camera....you know the one that people take classes to properly learn.  Then, in January, I stumbled upon an article about the forthcoming Fujifilm s8100FD.  I liked what I read and decided that it was more of an advanced point and shoot which should suit us nicely.

Anyway, long story short (and because the experience with the scam artists Broadway Photo.com continues to piss me off anytime I think of it), here are my early favorite pics:

 

Random Thoughts

The Lakers are again at the top of the West tied with Houston at 46 - 21.  Pau Gasol is out indefinitely and Bynum is expected back by the first round of the playoffs.  If Ariza can come back as well, the Lakers would be at full strength but would still need a couple of games to gel and play together.  There has been concern that Kobe, Pau, and 'Drew haven't played together yet.  I'll put it like this:  Pau gelled with the team almost immediately playing out of position.  There's no reason that bringing young 'Drew back to a team he's played for at the positions he plays should be a huge cause for concern.  A bigger concern may be finding a way to make sure that the bench players that have stepped up during our bouts with injury don't lose focus like V. Rad. 

Check the following from Charley Rosen (whose book about the 71-72 Lakers is a great read) when asked which two players he would take from today's NBA to build a team around:

That's easy.

Kobe Bryant, because he's a better shooter and defender than LeBron James, and can easily play both wing positions. Not to mention Kobe being one of the game's greatest clutch performers.

Tim Duncan, for his versatility and his championship-attitude. TD is a jack-of-all-trades and master of every one.

Kobe and TD would provide an inside presence as well as an outside one — and would enable a team to play inside-out basketball. Having them both on the floor would also discourage defenses from double-teaming either one.

There's no other possible combo that comes close.

Big win at Dallas last night though we almost blew a 21 point halftime lead.  These are the kind of games where you don't know which team walks away with the most (besides the win of course).  Do the short-handed Lakers realize the accomplishment of coming out with a victory over a playoff bound team or do they realize they lost all but 2 points of a 21 point lead?  Does Dallas hang their heads for losing to a team missing it's two big men or do they realize that each of their past two losses could have gone either way?  I don't know.  But in the competitive West right now, the win is all that matters.  I'll let the Zen Master put together the mental gymnastics!

Congrats Houston on your run!  And bigger congrats to those happily living in Lakers land knowing our streak is still THE STREAK!

Technorati tags: Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Charley Rosen

Possible New Tattoo

I am thinking about getting this tattoo on my back.  I have been going back and forth about whether I want to get another tattoo.  If I do get this one though, it means I will need to get a tattoo for every child we have, if I want to be fair and not show favoritism.  Whatcha think?  I may add 'Lil Man' above or below it....

Same Difference?

From an AJC story regarding the removal of the ad valorem tax: 

Most Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the legislation. However, Rep. David Lucas (D-Macon) warned that lawmakers might wind up starving state coffers by cutting taxes at a time when the population is increasing, along with the need for services.

"You've got to fund state government," Lucas said, "and state government runs off money, not water."

Uh, Mr Lucas, this is Georgia...we ain't got no damn water either!!!

Technorati tags: Rep. David Lucas

First Black President

As I'm sure everyone this side of Europe is aware, Barack Obama has gained an explosive amount of momentum in his quest for a Democratic Presidential nomination.  Unfortunately, I think a lot of folks, should he go on to win the presidency, are misguided in their thoughts concerning what a 'first black president' means.

If it does happen, it is without a doubt a great moment in history.  Years of struggle have led to this potential monstrous historical event.  An Obama presidency would provide validation for several people in terms of how far this country has come. 

To my dismay, though, I fear that an Obama win may be misleading on two counts.  I fear that too many blacks will be voting for Obama simply because he is black.  I voted for Obama as the nominee but not because of his race.  I have a very simple tenet in voting, I try to vote for somebody but I find I am usually voting against others.  In the democratic race, something about Hilary Clinton rubs me wrong.  I think I would have respected her more if she had stood up against Bill Clinton.  Now don't get me wrong, and this sounds hypocritical, I am a Bill Clinton fan -- at least during his presidency.  My reasons are purely selfish, my life seemed more affordable and less stressful when he was in office.  But for Hilary to stand by her man in the situation he got himself into, though somewhat noble at the time, seems like a very politically motivated move in hindsight.  And someone who would use their marriage as a political maneuver doesn't inspire trust from me.  I didn't want to vote Republican simply because the past eight years have not left me with a good taste in my mouth, kinda like Lewinsky.

Secondly, there are few examples in history where a U.S. president single-handedly changed the world.  Perusing the internet I'll see comments suggesting that a change is gonna come for my black sistas and brothas out there because now there's a black president.  It's not going to happen.  Nothing happens in a vacuum.  Obama will still have Congress, the Supreme Court, and state Governments to deal with.  Checks and balances -- learned it (or at least memorized it for the test) in high school.  Along these lines, we also have the possibility of unrealistic expectations.  If Obama wins and if the change that black folks (an undefined change by the way) expect doesn't occur, will that tarnish his legacy.  Worse, (and this goes for Hilary as well), will the unfulfilled expectations provide ammunition against the next black or women candidate.  'Well ya see what happened when let one of 'em in office last time' motto will become rampant. 

What initially made our form of government great is that leadership was elected based on common values, beliefs, and ideals.  Far too often these days, elections are driven by party affiliations and money.  And that makes it a bit difficult to vote and feel particularly confident. 

For the record, I will likely vote for Barack should he win the nomination because a fresh outlook is what I think our leadership needs right now.  If he doesn't win, I can't say for sure that I would simply vote Democrat for the sake of party affiliation.  Just can't do it......I kind of wish there was a black woman running so we could get the 'firsts' out of the way!

Technorati tags: Barack Obama, Presidential Elections

Still no worries

It had to come to an end.  The Lakers ten game win streak came to an end last night with a 119-111 loss to the Portland Trailblazers.  It was one of those games I kind of felt was coming.  The way the Blazers played us earlier in the week showed a lot of heart.  And they did that on the road so this definitely had the feel of a caught-off-guard game.  Add the return of the Blazers court general Brandon Roy and 4 straight losses in the Rose Garden, there shouldn't be too much surprise with the outcome of this game.

With that said, the only alarm that goes off in this loss is the amount of points given up.  119 is a big number even in today's higher scoring NBA (when compared to the less talented 90's).  The defense should be fine come playoff time as the talent is there to play defense, it's just going to be a matter of wanting to give it 100% on both sides of the floor.

More on Campus Shootings

CNN has allowed readers to respond to the campus shootings at Northern Illinois University yesterday.  Of course, as with the Virginia Tech tragedy, the gun advocates are taking this opportunity to promote their cause.  They say if the average citizen carried a gun, the shooter yesterday would have been shot long before he could fire so many rounds.  They throw out the cliche 'If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."  What these advocates fail to see is that this shooter and the shooter at Virginia Tech did not obtain their guns illegally.  In fact, it was so easy for them to attain their guns that no one even thought twice about these individuals wanting to have so many guns.  In effect, the legalities that allowed these killers their weapons is actually part of the cause of both of these tragedies.

The next argument the advocates proliferate is that campus shootings are on the rise because they are known to be 'gun free zones' giving perpetrators a heads up on how much resistance will be faced.  This may be true to an extent.  And increased security in every public place is infeasible and in my xpinion not desirable.  Still, allowing everyone to carry guns would only escalate violence.  Consider the number of assaults that occur on a daily basis, in bars, schools, wherever.  Now imagine those assaults occurring with citizens with guns.   Instead of a fistfight and a night in jail, you've got wounded people, including bystanders (unless we're assuming that once every citizen carries a gun, their aim will be dead on accurate), property damage and a feeling exactly the opposite of security.  I wouldn't feel safe knowing that everybody around me had a gun. 

What about the predicament our police officers would be put in?  They already have to take great precaution to ensure that a simple traffic stop of a driver is not a violent situation.  Imagine that same incident knowing that 90% of the population is strapped. 

Then there are those that say it's not guns, it's our society.  Our society of "CSI", "Law and Order", and violent video games has propagated a culture of violence.  This is just a cop out.  These media outlets are not watched solely by serial killers.  We all watch these programs.  As such, if these media outlets exert such control over us all, why haven't we all gone the route of mass killings?  That's akin to saying that the kid that played the robber during a game of cops and robbers grew up to be larcenous.  Silly.  Indeed, there is something deeper to this recent outbreak. 

I think these killers have been around since the beginning of time.  Some never kill, never act on their violent thoughts.  Others dwell on them but don't erupt until the opportunity presents itself.  I think the main reason we hear and see it more often now is twofold.  One side is that weapons are easier to obtain, whether legally or illegally, and generally much more powerful and sweeping.  Automatic handguns, rifles, and machine guns whose output would have been unheard of outside the military forty years ago are now commonplace in gun shops or the black market.  It's time we make some weapons 'for government and military use only' by restricting the gun's manufacturers from sourcing gun shops with these tools.  Secondly, today's media is much quicker in getting information to the masses.  No longer will a report on the East coast 'make it's way' to the west coast; information exchange is now immediate.  I think there have been tragedies such as throughout civilized (and uncivilized) history.  Try reading the Encyclopedia of Serial Killers if you need proof of man's ability to kill (and many of the killers listed did their dirt long before guns and CNN).  We feel like more people are dying because more people are dying AND we know about it. 

Technorati tags: Campus shootings, CNN, Northern Illinois Shooting, gun control

Sick of Cowards

I'm tired of it.  I'm tired of these cowards with guns.  I'm sick of these guys who can't handle their own problems so they go into a classroom and shoot folks who have nothing to do with their problems. 

6 Killed in Northern Illinois classroom.  For what?  Right now there is no motive.  Will it be the same as the Virginia Tech murders?  'Boo hoo I'm an outcast'.   You know what?  Every single one of us is outcast from something, from someone, from somewhere.  You can't pick the general public as your enemy and start shooting.  Furthermore, if you do, have the fucking guts to stand up to the anger and sadness you so eagerly caused.  Don't kill random folks and then get scared and kill yourself. That's cowardly and a punk way out.   If you're man enough to pick up a gun and shoot innocent people face to face, then be man enough to look those same folks' families in the face and tell them why you took their loved one.  Tell that family that you were trying to get a point across about . . . . what?

You think you'll evoke change by killing random people and then yourself?  What message do you think gets across?  The only message that gets across is that you were a disturbed, mentally immature person who couldn't handle the pressures of growing up/being grown and didn't have the compassion for others to limit the consequences. 

In fact, your killing of innocent people only creates martyrs of the people you killed.  We don't remember you when we think of the killing spree, we think of the killed.  I despise that news reports even include your death in the reported number killed.  Your name doesn't belong in the same sentences. 

I do not feel pity for your situation of being outcast.  It is not because I don't have compassion for those that are outcast.  It is because I reserve compassion for those that are compassionate enough not to give up and harm or kill other people to get a message across, a lost message.  The second you picked up a gun with intention of killing people you didn't know is the second you gave up any claims of victimhood, of being the abused. 

At the point, you became nothing.

Technorati tags: Northern Illinois Shooting, Virginia Tech Shooting, School Shootings

Nine Game Road Trip - No Problem

7 up 2 down.  That's a helluva road trip.  Two losses by a combined four points.  Easily winnable games too.  The Lake Show is looking good and this is without young Drew doing his thing in the middle.  Kobe is playing with a newfound youthfulness, happy to be on the court.  Pau Gasol fits in like a lego in seven year old's hand.  Everybody is learning and accepting their roles.....

Things are looking good!

Lakers 105 - Nets 90

Something happened tonite.  A special feeling emerged.  Kobe dropped a solid six points in a win.  That's right, Kobe Bryant scored six points.  Fisher had 24, Pau had 24 and 12 rebounds.  Kobe added eight assists.

But the thing that made this game special was the emotions Kobe showed at the end of the game.  He was downright giddy.  Just happy.  Something we haven't gotten to see from Kobe in quite some time.  And it made me smile...

Who is going to benefit from the Gasol acquisition?  Derek Fisher did tonite.  But on any given night, after the defense focuses on Kobe, then Pau, then Bynum, there is going to be seriously wide open people named Luke, Sashsa, Ronnie, Lamar, Vladimir, Trevor, and Derek.

Technorati tags: Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol

Round 1 of the LPG Tournament - Complete

After a long layoff, I have returned to complete this here tournament. However, I will not be tracking stats and such as that is what killed my momentum over the summer. So check it out, the first round results are complete.

LPG First Round Results

Great Comment Board Conversations: #1

It's time for a new category on Xpinionated.  I know, I know past features on this blog have often been shortlived.  But you know what, still my blog so read it, comment, and let me do what I does!

The first installment was on this story regarding injury to that guy covering Plaxico Burress on the winning Super Bowl score.

OCleftcoast:  tank, careful, I think I hear a banjo in the background! Yikes!

tankrose:  OCleftcoast, don't be a racist on here. That is not cool! You have no idea what you are talking about!

OCleftcoast:  racist? what are you talking about?

tankrose:  You said you could here a "banjo playing" are you saying that I am a hillbilly. Watch that BLEEP !

OCleftcoast:  no, I was joking about that other guy you told to go clean his fish. C'mon now,

tankrose:  Yeah, sure and if the shoe was on the other foot, then what? I find that offensive! You have no idea what my skin color is and you are saying I am a inbreed, hillbilly. That don't belong here. You want to go there, we can. Lets keep it out of that!

Cubbiesfan93:  Geez tankrose, he wasn't even talking to you. The only reason you should react like that is if you really are a hillbilly.

OCleftcoast:  Tank chill, It was the other guy, his avatar, not you, lighten up!

tankrose:  NO, what I am saying is that kind of BLEEP leads to other BLEEP So lets keep it above that. We anit got to go there. Stay with football! Don't get all racial!

OCleftcoast:  The movie Deliverance, maybe you never saw it! My apologies.

As I was reading this dialogue that had nothing to do with the topic of the story, I couldn't help but wonder how sensitive and/or politically correct tankrose must be.  But then the comedy of this exchange rears it's comical head.  Who knew hillbilly was a race?  And what exactly is the other foot when you call someone a hillbilly?  In fact, for all of his political correctness, tankrose is actually more offensive than any others befuddled by his responses.  tankrose makes several jumps to stereotypical conclusions:  banjo to hillbilly, hillbilly to race(?), hillybilly to inbreed.  Oddly enough, when I read banjo, I too thought 'Deliverance'.  

Corporate Twilight Zone

You gotta love the way technology has enriched corporate America.  But there are those times where technology presents an opportunity for stupidity to raise it's misshapen head and attack.  Case in point:

A technical issue regarding how remote users connect to the corporate network has been found.  The IT vendor, obviously in an effort to alleviate concerns, sends a corporate wide email simply stating that they are aware of the problem and working to resolve the issue.  Unfortunately, once you admit that something is broken in corporate America, there are those that feel it is the perfect time to share their own aggravation with the broken issue.  So, these folks start Replying to All  simply to say 'Yeah, it's happening to us in xxxxxxtown too'.  After 10 to 15 emails essentially saying the same thing and being sent to everyone in the entire country, the next wave of folks jump in to say 'Please stop replying to all'.  The irony, these same people trying to curtail the email traffic have hit Reply to All.  In effect, they did what they were telling others not to do which is setting a horrible example.  Though this could have been effective if only a single person does it, alas that it is not the case.  For the next hour, the 'Don't Reply To All' people are bombarding the company with their message while the 'Yeah it's happening to me people' are slowly fading and decreasing their email throughput.  Halfway through this hour, the 'I have a workaround' people start chiming in and yep they are replying to all...

'Tis a vicious circle guaranteed to last at least until lunch time....

Technorati tags: Corporate Catch 22, Email, REPLY TO ALL

Retrospect

What better day than Super Bowl Sunday to consider what could have been in the world of Pigskin Glory?

The Hokies season ended in yet another bowl loss as the Kansas Jayhawks outcoached and out-gameplanned Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Though I still believe the Hokies are the better team per se, the Jayhawks came prepared to do what they needed to do. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, got too cute with their offense, abandoned the run which was the only consistent success they had, and gave up entirely too many third or fourth and short plays.

The Redskins season ended in a playoff loss to Seattle....again. If you recall, the last time the 'Skins made the playoffs, the season went terminal with a loss to the Seahawks. In this game, the 'Skins struggled for the entire first half, made a run to take the lead in the third quarter and early fourth, and let a missed field goal propel Mr. Momentum to the Seahawks bench as they scored 22 straight points to win 35 -14.

With all that said, two very good seasons. An ACC championship and a playoff berth. And with the way Daniel Snyder is handling this head coach search, a playoff berth may not be in the 'Skins new future. The Hokies, meanwhile, will probably be in a slight rebuilding mode as the defense will be losing a few folks. With that said, another ACC championship is not out of the question given the recent mediocrity of the conference as a whole....