So I just saw a local news report regarding the lion attack at the San Francisco zoo. Sad indeed. Of course, Xpinionated's spin is slightly different. Listening to the police spokesman, she said that the lion had killed one person was standing over another injured person, and yet another injured zoo visitor lay nearby. The police. . . .yelled... at the lion as an attempt to get it to leave the injured person it was cowering over alone. Now, if I'm standing over a body and don't freeze when the police expect me to freeze, I could easily catch three warning shots in the back. Yet an animal is yelled at. A wild animal with a history of human attacks is yelled at. Further proof that this country is more lenient with animals than with humans.....
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
The State of Kobe Hating
Ya wanna know how bad the Kobe hating has gotten? Scott Skiles was recently relieved of his duties as the coach of the Chicago Bulls. A poll by foxsports.com poses the question 'Who is to blame for the Bulls poor season start? 38% say GM Jim Paxson, 27% say Kobe Bryant. What kind of freaking sense does that make?
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Hip Hop Blasphemy
I am about to commit what can probably be considered hip hop blasphemy. I intend to hurt no one's feelings, nor disrespect the deceased. If I had any loyal readers, I imagine saying this could spark off a comment fusillade. Eh, don't have to worry about that though...so here goes.
The Notorious BIG aka Biggie Smalls aka Christopher Wallace was not that great of a rapper. There I said it. Let's think about it, he had two albums, both pretty good but both only had one or two songs that can be considered classics. Further, when you truly listen to his lyrics, he isn't saying much. Outside of great storytelling, there is no message, no fire, nothing that makes you think 'What did he mean by that?'
Don't get me wrong, I like BIG. Enjoy his music still. But I was thinking when I heard Lil Kim or Foxy --one of those hookers -- rap 'Big comes first then the cream comes after.' And I thought, I don't think Biggie Smalls would make my top 5 Hip Hop hall of fame.
2Pac would be number 1 due to his ability to have a message in his lyrics from 2Paclypse Now all the way to Machiavelli. Eminem would be number 2 due to raw ability. I have yet to see Em lose a freestyle battle -- which in my opinion shows much more in terms of lyrical skills. In the same vein that BIG isn't really saying anything, Em doesn't either. However, Em says nothing so cleverly ferociously that I can look past the lack of PSA. Not to mention both 2Pac and EM put out more than two albums. Slick Rick would represent some of the old school at number 3. Great storytelling without the use of egregious language or unnecessary sexual references, along with a sense of humor puts MC Ricky D at the three spot. At number 4, Gangstarr. Just a personal favorite of mine. Lyrically capable, independent sound. Lastly, at number 5, Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everybody....KRS-One. The man tells stories, is socially conscious, and has covered years of hip hop without 'getting caught up'.
I think a big factor in BIG's perceived greatness is due to New York's influence on hip-hop. Though much of hip-hop's origins lie in New York, it's not necessarily the capital of hip-hop anymore. Nor can any other part of the country claim that title. Hip Hop has transcended geographical locations. With that said, the perception of New York as the birth land of rap gives undue credence to anything or anyone coming out of the area. As such, if Biggie put out the same exact albums and led the same exact life but was from Milwaukee instead of New York, I don't think he'd be thrown in the greatest of all time debate.
Oh well, I added some Technorati tags to see if we can't get some readership and comments going. Maybe I'll even throw this out on Helium.com
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Kobe Happy?
After the turmoil of the Kobe-capades this summer, is Kobe Bryant happy? It would appear so as the Lakers sit at 15 - 9, fourth in the talented Western conference.
"With trades, you never know what's going to happen," said Bryant, whom Lakers insiders say hasn't mentioned being traded since the Bulls talks ended. "I'm happy to be playing and not caught up in the business. It becomes too difficult for me to be involved. I don't have that great education, so I can't handle that type of stuff. My high school education just can't get it done."
As you may remember, a certain Lakers fan stated that should the Lakers get off to a good start, perhaps Mamba would change his tune. I don't want to jinx anything and Kobe may not have changed his tune entirely, but he has muted it for the time being!
--
In other observations, I haven't been able to see as many games this year due to circumstances but looking at the box scores I can't but be happy about Sasha's progress this season. In fact, big kudos to our entire bench and all the youngsters showing up in ways bigger than expected. Baby boy Bynum is doing his part to prove that Lakers management got it right by keeping him. Turiaf continues to bring the necessary energy to bring life to the game at any given moment. Farmar continues to improve, D. Fish leads by example, and V.Rad is playing like we expected when he was acquired.
Getting excited.....
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Best Thing About the Denver Game
Allen Iverson scorched us for 51 points in a loss last night and he reminded me of how he was back when we were in high school at Bethel. Unstoppable. But this ain't the high school game, one man doesn't often win a game in the NBA and such was the case last night. The Lakers won 111-107. Bigger than the team victory is the fact that we have already won the season series with Denver should that come into play for playoff seeding.
Monday, December 03, 2007
BCS Respect Waning, Waning, Woeful
LSU will be taking on Ohio State in the National Championship game this year. This is what the BCS system has come up. These teams are considered the best that this country has to offer.
Of course, if any of you reading this have perused before, you know that I'm partial to Virginia Tech, being an alum and all. I spent a good part of yesterday watching my Redskins give up a heartbreaker (17-16) to the Bills; but in the back of my mind, I was slowly trying to build a case for why the Hokies have earned (a key word here) a chance to play for the big pretty sparkly football. By the time, the BCS Selection had started, I had actually convinced myself, or maybe just got my hopes up really really high, that the 'experts' would see that Va Tech is as deserving of a National Championship if not more so.
Needless to say, I was disappointed. At first, it was just disappointment born of my own blown-out-of-proportion hopes. Then the internet trolling began....what's that you say? The computers have ranked Virginia Tech first in 4 out of 6 computer tallies? But the humans showed no love, no respect? Disappointment has slowly marinated into anger at this point.
So let's go through some things in regards to Va Tech's argument to be in the National Championship game -- and what better place to start with than our two losses.
@ #2 LSU - Week 2 - LSU soundly beat the Hokies 48-7. There is no denying that. The Hokies came in with an inexperienced and injury riddled offensive line, a qb with growing confidence but easily rattled, and an atmosphere rarely replicated anywhere else. The perfect storm for just such a blowout. Given that, the Tigers may have played their best game this year that night. That, for all the talk of SEC superiority, has been their statement game this season. They have simply looked like a good to very good team since that game. Virginia Tech has improved week in and week out. An early season loss is rarely used as the validation for keeping a team out of the national title hunt...but this year, as I will soon prove, is all the human voters have.
@ #2 BC - Week 8 - The Boston College Eagles strode into Lane Stadium as one of the hottest teams in the country. For 53 minutes and 59 seconds, the Virginia Tech Hokies put them in their place. A breakdown physically, mentally, and strategically led to a 14 - 10 loss to BC at Lane Stadium. Though an interesting game, what is more interesting is the number of stories last week -- before the ACC Championship game, a rematch of BC-VT -- that made note of the implications of that game. Essentially, had VT won that rainy Thursday night, the ACC Championship game would have been VT playing to get in the National Championship game. With that being said, the Hokies showed that they were indeed better than Boston College with a win in the ACC Championship game.
So that begs the question: If Va Tech would have been in the Championship game if they had won in October and they avenged that loss in the Conference title game, why exactly are they not going to the National Championship game? Ah, the answer lies in hypocrisy my dear fellow. Apparently, simple logic is not at play. If you say a win at BC in mid-season is enough to make you forgot a week 2 loss, then it would be fair to say that a win against BC in a title game should make the pollsters forget about a week 2 loss, correct? Chew on that, I'ma move on.
OSU vs LSU - I firmly believe neither of these teams deserve this shot. LSU has been ranked number one twice this season and managed to lose that standing twice -- including once to an unranked team. Do you think pollsters would be as sympathetic to a team they hadn't picked as their preseason favorite? LSU is a remarkably talented team. But let's face it, they haven't gotten any better since that week in September. And quite frankly, they've been pretty lucky a few times as well. OSU, well, I hate to join the cacophony of Buckeyes haters, but their strength of schedule is ridiculously unimpressive. I know I know, they should be penalized because other members of their conference can't keep up. But what about their non-conference slate: Youngstown St, Akron, Wash, and Kent State. I hear you Bucks fans with the 'they schedule years in advance'. But be real with yourselves, years ago your athletic director knew that Youngstown (Div I AA), Akron, and Kent State were not going to be powerhouses! And quite frankly, with a loss to an unranked Illini team, I'm not sure you earned a trip to the big one. Who is your keynote win? Where was your statement game?
And LSU fans, for all the talk of SEC superiority, LSU's opponents' win - loss record (91 wins to 67 losses) is exactly one game better than VT's (90 wins to 68 losses). And the Ohio State university can't even be included in this analysis as their opponents win-loss tally is 73 - 71 -- and that includes Div I AA Youngstown State's 7-4 mark which means your DIV I win-loss ratio would 66 wins to 67 losses.
So with all that said, who do I think should be in the National Championship game? I believe it should be Virginia Tech vs Oklahoma. I am a fan of winning your conference championship in order to play for a National championship. It's as simple as that. There's the ACC, SEC, Big 12, and some smaller conferences with the courage to have their conference champion be declared on a neutral field. LSU reppin' the SEC is out for reasons stated above. That leaves Va Tech and the Sooners to battle it out.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Outside looking in?
From a broader perspective, VT had a slim, very very slim, chance at possibly playing in the National Championship. All they needed was for #1 Missouri to lose to favorite #9 Oklahoma, #2 West Virginia to lose to unranked and lowly Pitt, and, to a smaller extent, Tennessee to upset #7 LSU......we got two out of three. Missouri was no match for Oklahoma for the second time this season. West Virginia scored it's lowest total of the season in an embarrasing 13 - 9 loss to the 4 or 5 win Panthers in the Backyard Brawl. LSU did beat Tennessee, but not nearly as convincingly as some would have thought.
So now we have a conundrum in the BCS. Most do not dispute Ohio State getting in. They are #3 with a fairly weak schedule and one loss as the only real chink in their armor. After that, the picture gets pretty muddy. Georgia as the number 4 team is hoping the BCS operates as it has promoting in a direct line which would make them number 2. I oppose that not only because I'm not a Georgia fan, but also because they didn't win their division much less their conference. Of course, the more bullheaded Dawgs fans claim they were 'co-champions' of their division, a joke to all but UGA fans. So after number 4, you have Kansas. Kansas was a surprise one loss team this year, although once they played a reputable team they were not nearly as successful. Also, no conference or even division championship for Kansas. Though there is no specific rule that says a team must win it's conference in order to play for a National Championship, I personally feel that a National champion that doesn't win their conference cheapens the whole process. Many folks argue that there have been Super bowl champions that didn't win their conference -- but they have a playoff! After Kansas, we have the Hokies. Conference champions. Two losses both to teams ranked number two in the country at the time the game was played. The real chink in our armor is the 48-7 loss to LSU early in the second week of the season. It was a horrible loss, but we are nothing like that team in September. In fact, I would love the chance to play LSU again, especially in a neutral site. Speaking of LSU, their are the layman's pick to jump to number two. Given that they won their conference, and have only lost games in multi-OT games many believe they should catapult to the number two spot.
I believe it should be either LSU or VT. Trying to be objective, I understand that LSU has had the tougher schedule and they did beat Va Tech -- in Death Valley on a Saturday Night; one of the toughest venues in the country. However, LSU also lost to unranked Arkansas (last week!) and a Kentucky team that didn't pan out as being as good as originally thought. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, has lost to BC in a nail biter that they easily should have won. In fact, if not for a complete meltdown in the last 6 minutes of that game, Virginia Tech could likely be looking at a number one or two ranking...no controversy. If shoulda coulda woulda......In any case, Kansas and Georgia with no conference championship to their names, should not be playing in the National Championship.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Handed to us
The Jazz handed us our asses last night. 52 points in the paint -- at halftime. Yeah, the Lakers had 51 points total at halftime. Every loose ball, every rebound, every bounce went their way. Out-hustled, out-played, and out-skilled. My hats off to the Jazz for their play.
Now, you know I wasn't going to post without some kind of complaint about last night. After all, I usually post when something's bothering me. The Jazz fans booed Derek Fisher last night. I'm assuming they felt slighted that D.Fish wanted out of his contract with Utah over the summer. Normally, booing a player asking to be released would be acceptable. But Fish didn't leave because of normal player boohooing - he left to find better care for his daughter. How a group of fans can put their basketball team -- their title-less basketball team (not that that makes a difference, just an opp for a cheap shot; like the one Jazz fans delivered last night) -- above a player caring for his daughter is beyond me.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
RIP Sean Taylor (1983 - 2007)
Sunday, November 25, 2007
The Revenge Factor
Friday, November 16, 2007
Psychological Torture on MySpace
The fact that parents would do this to someone else's child is despicable.
His name was Josh Evans. He was 16 years old. And he was hot.
"Mom! Mom! Mom! Look at him!" Tina Meier recalls her daughter saying.
Josh had contacted Megan Meier through her MySpace page and wanted to be added as a friend.
Yes, he's cute, Tina Meier told her daughter. "Do you know who he is?"
"No, but look at him! He's hot! Please, please, can I add him?"Mom said yes. And for six weeks Megan and Josh - under Tina's watchful eye - became acquainted in the virtual world of MySpace.
Josh said he was born in Florida and recently had moved to O'Fallon. He was homeschooled. He played the guitar and drums.
He was from a broken home: "when i was 7 my dad left me and my mom and my older brother and my newborn brother 3 boys god i know poor mom yeah she had such a hard time when we were younger finding work to pay for us after he left."
As for 13-year-old Megan, of Dardenne Prairie, this is how she expressed who she was:
M is for Modern
E is for Enthusiastic
G is for Goofy
A is for Alluring
N is for Neglected.
She loved swimming, boating, fishing, dogs, rap music and boys. But her life had not always been easy, her mother says.She was heavy and for years had tried to lose weight. She had attention deficit disorder and battled depression. Back in third grade she had talked about suicide, Tina says, and ever since had seen a therapist.
But things were going exceptionally well. She had shed 20 pounds, getting down to 175. She was 5 foot 5½ inches tall.
She had just started eighth grade at a new school, Immaculate Conception, in Dardenne Prairie, where she was on the volleyball team. She had attended Fort Zumwalt public schools before that.Amid all these positives, Tina says, her daughter decided to end a friendship with a girlfriend who lived down the street from them. The girls had spent much of seventh grade alternating between being friends and, the next day, not being friends, Tina says.
Part of the reason for Megan's rosy outlook was Josh, Tina says. After school, Megan would rush to the computer.
"Megan had a lifelong struggle with weight and self-esteem," Tina says. "And now she finally had a boy who she thought really thought she was pretty."It did seem odd, Tina says, that Josh never asked for Megan's phone number. And when Megan asked for his, she says, Josh said he didn't have a cell and his mother did not yet have a landline.
And then on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006, Megan received a puzzling and disturbing message from Josh. Tina recalls that it said: "I don't know if I want to be friends with you anymore because I've heard that you are not very nice to your friends."
Frantic, Megan shot back: "What are you talking about?"
SHADOWY CYBERSPACETina Meier was wary of the cyber-world of MySpace and its 70 million users. People are not always who they say they are.
Tina knew firsthand. Megan and the girl down the block, the former friend, once had created a fake MySpace account, using the photo of a good-looking girl as a way to talk to boys online, Tina says. When Tina found out, she ended Megan's access.
MySpace has rules. A lot of them. There are nine pages of terms and conditions. The long list of prohibited content includes sexual material. And users must be at least 14.
"Are you joking?" Tina asks. "There are fifth-grade girls who have MySpace accounts."As for sexual content, Tina says, most parents have no clue how much there is. And Megan wasn't 14 when she opened her account. To join, you are asked your age but there is no check. The accounts are free.
As Megan's 14th birthday approached, she pleaded for her mom to give her another chance on MySpace, and Tina relented.
She told Megan she would be all over this account, monitoring it. Megan didn't always make good choices because of her ADD, Tina says. And this time, Megan's page would be set to private and only Mom and Dad would have the password.
'GOD-AWFUL FEELING'
Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, was a rainy, bleak day. At school, Megan had handed out invitations to her upcoming birthday party and when she got home she asked her mother to log on to MySpace to see if Josh had responded.
Why did he suddenly think she was mean? Who had he been talking to?
Tina signed on. But she was in a hurry. She had to take her younger daughter, Allison, to the orthodontist.
Before Tina could get out the door it was clear Megan was upset. Josh still was sending troubling messages. And he apparently had shared some of Megan's messages with others.Tina recalled telling Megan to sign off.
"I will Mom," Megan said. "Let me finish up."
Tina was pressed for time. She had to go. But once at the orthodontist's office she called Megan: Did you sign off?
"No, Mom. They are all being so mean to me."
"You are not listening to me, Megan! Sign off, now!"
Fifteen minutes later, Megan called her mother. By now Megan was in tears.
"They are posting bulletins about me." A bulletin is like a survey. "Megan Meier is a slut. Megan Meier is fat."
Megan was sobbing hysterically. Tina was furious that she had not signed off.
Once Tina returned home she rushed into the basement where the computer was. Tina was shocked at the vulgar language her daughter was firing back at people.
"I am so aggravated at you for doing this!" she told Megan.
Megan ran from the computer and left, but not without first telling Tina, "You're supposed to be my mom! You're supposed to be on my side!"
On the stairway leading to her second-story bedroom, Megan ran into her father, Ron.
"I grabbed her as she tried to go by," Ron says. "She told me that some kids were saying horrible stuff about her and she didn't understand why. I told her it's OK. I told her that they obviously don't know her. And that it would be fine."
Megan went to her room and Ron went downstairs to the kitchen, where he and Tina talked about what had happened, the MySpace account, and made dinner.
Twenty minutes later, Tina suddenly froze in mid-sentence."I had this God-awful feeling and I ran up into her room and she had hung herself in the closet."
Megan Taylor Meier died the next day, three weeks before her 14th birthday.
Later that day, Ron opened his daughter's MySpace account and viewed what he believes to be the final message Megan saw - one the FBI would be unable to retrieve from the hard drive.
It was from Josh and, according to Ron's best recollection, it said, "Everybody in O'Fallon knows how you are. You are a bad person and everybody hates you. Have a shitty rest of your life. The world would be a better place without you."
BEYOND GRIEF INTO FURY
Tina and Ron saw a grief counselor. Tina went to a couple of Parents After Loss of Suicide meetings, as well.
They tried to message Josh Evans, to let him know the deadly power of mean words. But his MySpace account had been deleted.The day after Megan's death, they went down the street to comfort the family of the girl who had once been Megan's friend. They let the girl and her family know that although she and Megan had their ups and down, Megan valued her friendship.
They also attended the girl's birthday party, although Ron had to leave when it came time to sing "Happy Birthday." The Meiers went to the father's 50th birthday celebration. In addition, the Meiers stored a foosball table, a Christmas gift, for th
at family.Six weeks after Megan died, on a Saturday morning, a neighbor down the street, a different neighbor, one they didn't know well, called and insisted that they meet that morning at a counselor's office in northern O'Fallon.
The woman would not provide details. Ron and Tina went. Their grief counselor was there. As well as a counselor from Fort Zumwalt West Middle School.
The neighbor from down the street, a single mom with a daughter the same age as Megan, informed the Meiers that Josh Evans never existed.
She told the Meiers that Josh Evans was created by adults, a family on their block. These adults, she told the Meiers, were the parents of Megan's former girlfriend, the one with whom she had a falling out. These were the people who'd asked the Meiers to store their foosball table.
The single mother, for this story, requested that her name not be used. She said her daughter, who had carpooled with the family that was involved in creating the phony MySpace account, had the password to the Josh Evans account and had sent one message - the one Megan received (and later retrieved off the hard drive) the night before she took her life.
"She had been encouraged to join in the joke," the single mother said.
The single mother said her daughter feels the guilt of not saying something sooner and for writing that message. Her daughter didn't speak out sooner because she'd known the other family for years and thought that what they were doing must be OK because, after all, they were trusted adults.
On the night the ambulance came for Megan, the single mother said, before it left the Meiers' house her daughter received a call. It was the woman behind the creation of the Josh Evans account. She had called to tell the girl that something had happened to Megan and advised the girl not to mention the MySpace account.
AX AND SLEDGEHAMMER
The Meiers went home and tore into the foosball table.
Tina used an ax and Ron a sledgehammer. They put the pieces in Ron's pickup and dumped them in their neighbor's driveway. Tina spray painted "Merry Christmas" on the box.
According to Tina, Megan had gone on vacations with this family. They knew how she struggled with depression, that she took medication."I know that they did not physically come up to our house and tie a belt around her neck," Tina says. "But when adults are involved and continue to screw with a 13-year-old - with or without mental problems - it is absolutely vile.
"She wanted to get Megan to feel like she was liked by a boy and let everyone know this was a false MySpace and have everyone laugh at her."I don't feel their intentions were for her to kill herself. But that's how it ended."
'GAINING MEGAN'S CONFIDENCE'
That same day, the family down the street tried to talk to the Meiers. Ron asked friends to convince them to leave before he physically harmed them.
In a letter dated Nov. 30, 2006, the family tells Ron and Tina, "We are sorry for the extreme pain you are going through and can only imagine how difficult it must be. We have every compassion for you and your family."
The Suburban Journals have decided not to name the family out of consideration for their teenage daughter.The mother declined comment.
"I have been advised not to give out any information and I apologize for that," she says. "I would love to sit here and talk to you about it but I can't."
She was informed that without her direct comment the newspaper would rely heavily on the police report she filed with the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department regarding the destroyed foosball table.
"I will tell you that the police report is totally wrong," the mother said. "We have worked on getting that changed. I would just be very careful about what you write."
Lt. Craig McGuire, spokesman for the sheriff's department, said he is unaware of anyone contacting the department to alter the report.
"We stand behind the report as written," McGuire says. "There was no supplement to it. What is in the report is what we believe she told us."
The police report - without using the mother's name - states:
"(She) stated in the months leading up Meier's daughter's suicide, she instigated and monitored a 'my space' account which was created for the sole purpose of communicating with Meier's daughter.
"(She) said she, with the help of temporary employee named ------ constructed a profile of 'good looking' male on 'my space' in order to 'find out what Megan (Meier's daughter) was saying on-line' about her daughter. (She) explained the communication between the fake male profile and Megan was aimed at gaining Megan's confidence and finding out what Megan felt about her daughter and other people.
"(She) stated she, her daughter and (the temporary employee) all typed, read and monitored the communication between the fake male profile and Megan …..
"According to (her) 'somehow' other 'my space' users were able to access the fake male profile and Megan found out she had been duped. (She) stated she knew 'arguments' had broken out between Megan and others on 'my space.' (She) felt this incident contributed to Megan's suicide, but she did not feel 'as guilty' because at the funeral she found out 'Megan had tried to commit suicide before.'"
Tina says her daughter died thinking Josh was real and that she never before attempted suicide.
"She was the happiest she had ever been in her life," Ron says.
After years of wearing braces, Megan was scheduled to have them removed the day she died. And she was looking forward to her birthday party.
"She and her mom went shopping and bought a new dress," Ron says. "She wanted to make this grand entrance with me carrying her down the stairs. I never got to see her in that dress until the funeral."
NO CRIMINAL CHARGES
It does not appear that there will be criminal charges filed in connection with Megan's death.
"We did not have a charge to fit it," McGuire says. "I don't know that anybody can sit down and say, 'This is why this young girl took her life.'"
The Meiers say the matter also was investigated by the FBI, which analyzed the family computer and conducted interviews. Ron said a stumbling block is that the FBI was unable to retrieve the electronic messages from Megan's final day, including that final message that only Ron saw.
The Meiers do not plan to file a civil lawsuit. Here's what they want: They want the law changed, state or federal, so that what happened to Megan - at the hands of an adult - is a crime.
THE AFTERMATH IS PAIN
The Meiers are divorcing. Ron says Tina was as vigilant as a parent could be in monitoring Megan on MySpace. Yet she blames herself.
"I have this awful, horrible guilt and this I can never change," she said. "Ever."
Ron struggles daily with the loss of a daughter who, no matter how low she felt, tried to make others laugh and feel a little bit better.
He has difficulty maintaining focus and has kept his job as a tool and die maker through the grace and understanding of his employer, he says. His emotions remain jagged, on edge.
Christine Buckles lives in the same Waterford Crossing subdivision. In her view, everyone in the subdivision knows of Megan's death, but few know of the other family's involvement.
Tina says she and Ron have dissuaded angry friends and family members from vandalizing the other home for one, and only one, reason.
"The police will think we did it," Tina says.
Ron faces a misdemeanor charge of property damage. He is accused of driving his truck across the lawn of the family down the street, doing $1,000 in damage, in March. A security camera the neighbors installed on their h
ome allegedly caught him.It was Tina, a real estate agent, who helped the other family purchase their home on the same block 2½ years ago.
"I just wish they would go away, move," Ron says.
Vicki Dunn, Tina's aunt, last month placed signs in and near the neighborhood on the anniversary of Megan's death.
They read: "Justice for Megan Meier," "Call the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney," and "MySpace Impersonator in Your Neighborhood."On the window outside Megan's room is an ornamental angel that Ron turns on almost every night. Inside are pictures of boys, posters of Usher, Beyonce and on the dresser a tube of instant bronzer.
"She was all about getting a tan," Ron says.
He has placed the doors back on the closet. Megan had them off.
If only she had waited, talked to someone, or just made it to dinner, then through the evening, and then on to the beginning of a new day in what could have been a remarkable life.
If she had, he says, there is no doubt she would have chosen to live. Instead, there is so much pain.
"She never would have wanted to see her parents divorce," Ron says.
Ultimately, it was Megan's choice to do what she did, he says. "But it was like someone handed her a loaded gun."
Ball is in our Hands
After a furious fourth quarter 'rally' -- is it really a rally if you're down by 1 -- the Hokies 
Most are saying this weekend's game against rival Miami is meaningless and consequentially speaking that's true. However, I have never been a fan of losing whether it's an NFL or NBA preseason game or a 'meaningless' non-conference game. Losing screws with a player and a team's mind.
With that said, the only true worries I have going into the game with the 'U' is letdown. With a trip to the ACC Championship on the line next week against our original rivals UVA, it would be easy for the Hokies to overlook this game. With the ass whipping that Miami took in their Orange Bowl farewell game last week (UVA dropping 48. . . .on anybody???!?!), the 'Canes would love nothing more than to get a little revenge on somebody else. Not to mention, Randy Shannon's team is still not yet bowl eligible so the game is far from meaningless for the Hurrricanes.
Let's hope Beamer and the Boys can come in and quell in upstartiness from the 'U' early, sit some starters and stay injury-free. On a side note the Hall Monitor -- Vince Hall -- will be back in action after what seems like forever. So hopefully he can 'get the rust out of his cleats' before the big game next week against the 'hoos.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Miami seeing what L.A. already knows
With Smush Parker's point guard play disappointing the Heat ( Pat Riley believes he's better at shooting guard), people inside the team are wondering if he will be traded when he becomes eligible Dec. 15.
Even at shooting guard, Parker (shooting 30 percent entering Tuesday) has limitations, with one NBA personnel director noting that even though he can shoot from long range and finish at the rim, he's hurt by his lack of an ''in-between game,'' which Parker admits.
The Heat tracks plus/minus ratios, and although it's a small sample size, consider: Per every 48 minutes, Miami entered Tuesday's game outscoring teams by 1.5 points with Parker on the bench, but it is being outscored by 16 with him in the game.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Jenkem - The new high----or low
The SmokingGun.com reports a Florida sheriff released a warning memo in September regarding the new high of choice for students. Officially called Jenkem, it is a fermented concoction of urine and doodoo. Yes, urine and doodoo. The ingredients, when left to marinade in the sun for a while, produce a gas for inhalation. Since only sun, and regular bowel movements are the only inputs for this new drug, Jenkem is officially the world's cheapest high!
Disclaimer - Jenkem is not a real threat -- at least not yet. The Florida Sheriff did send a warning out regarding this however snopes.com (a trusted sleuth in the world of online urban legend) has reported scant evidence of a Jenkem takeover in the U.S.
Still, you gotta wonder how desperate, depressed, and or disillusioned a person would have to be a) collect raw sewage in a jar, and b) to decide to ferment said sewage, and lastly c) to inhale the biogases for a high.....
Friday, November 02, 2007
Damn Johnny Depp
Pirate attacks have increased 14% in the first nine months of 2007 according to this Cnn.com report. Yes, that's right pirate attacks.
Who knew that pirates even still existed? The Goonies must be elated!! Now, instead on online piracy, we have to shimber our timbers thinking that the 'arggh, we come for your booty' is real and not just a Hollywood created phenomenon. I guess the only thing left is to make a video game about it.
I personally think we can place the blame on Hollywood for glorifying the thug -- pirate -- life. I mean, I can't recall any stories of pirates before Johnny Depp's run on the Caribbean waters. Do you think any of the pirates wear those costumes we see in the movie? Better yet, are there any hot female pirates we see during Halloween parties? That would be hot.....
A Formal Apology to Sean Glennon
Well Mr. Glennon, it appears I owe you an apology. Last night, you looked like the quarterback that I see in NCAA 2008. You were efficient, accurate, and smart. I apologize for previous commentary in this blog with reservations. I know that sounds like a cheap apology however......
Since coming off the bench, you have been a different player. Where before indecision led to you getting sacked, now you take off (still a little late sometimes but you do). Where before a pass to the flats would make it to the flats only 60% of the time, now passes are getting to the wideouts. It looks like it took a little adversity to get your confidence shaken and then strengthened.
I'll admit, when T-squared went down, I was less than optimistic. But then you had a pretty decent game and I said to myself, quality backup is good to have. After all, you were lighting up Duke so that's not exactly a proving ground. Then came the BC game, and you strode onto the field, and again my optimism was shaken but nearly as much as it was when you strode onto the field against LSU. Faith was building. Then you played a solid game, no huge numbers but what was good was that there weren't any huge mistakes. I think that's where my faith was weakest in you, your inability to get sacked without fumbling bothered me (particularly blindsided sacks -- which is somewhat understandable -- but still).
Alas, you rolled into Bobby Dodd stadium. No jersey, sharpie all over the opponent's loaned threads like you were an underprivileged quarterback playing for Goldie Hawn in Wildcats. I didn't shutter when I saw you take the field. In fact, I didn't think about you at all, which is a good sign that you are not my concerns for the game.
Then work calls, I have to leave the watering hole to go make the bread. I work furiously, checking Foxsports.com and I see you're 13 of 15. Whoa....where'd that come from?!?! I finish work and head back to the watering hole. And your performance inspired me, brought confidence back that had been shattered by LSU.
At this point, even if T-squared is healthy, I think it may be your job to lose. And remember that feeling of being replaced against LSU, remember that plane ride home. And you let that be the spur in your ass.
Sean Glennon, I apologize.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Intentional Lack of Kobe Commentary
I have not posted here in quite some time. That's intentional. In keeping up with the Kobe saga -- and unfortunately it has become a saga not a mere distraction -- I have read tons of comments and articles from Kobe haters and lovers. I am a Lakers lover.
With that said, I only choose a side in regards to a specific player when I feel the player is causing the Lakers harm as an organization. I completely understand Kobe's side of things. Help was promised but the trigger wasn't pulled. Perhaps management has some undisclosed explanations for caution, outside of the Shaq to the Heat transaction. The fact still remains that there are teams that have produced franchise helping decisions. Teams that have gotten better because they had to. If there is a franchise that needs to get better because it has to, the Lakers are that franchise.
At this point, I still cheer for Kobe and ultimately hope that he retires in a Lakers uniform. I hope the relationship between Dr. Buss and Kobe can be repaired at least to the point of coexisting. I do doubt that.
I don't know, from a Lakers fan perspective, if I want Kobe to get traded so we can move on or if I want him to stay and deal with this (and potentially future) season of doubt. Normally, I am excited for a new season to start. But watching the Rockets game the other night, though it was a close game, I couldn't get that sense of excitement, that sense of optimism. The other players weren't happy. The faces showed that Kobe's fate is and will be a distraction. The best I can hope for is a solid enough start to the season to perhaps quell Kobe's desires for a trade. And who knows...maybe a trade deadline mega-deal that benfits the Lakers......
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tip Drill
A recent graduate of Georgia Tech decided to celebrate his new alumni status. So he, and I'm assuming friends, did what many coming of age men might do when it's time to celebrate, they went to a strip club.
At the end of the night, the graduate had run up a $53,000 tab. Now daddy wants to sue to get some money back. He claims there are fraudulent charges and only the first credit card signature matches his son's signature. Never mind that some receipts are initialed as a means of itemizing. I know strip clubs are far from the moral high ground, but do we really think strippers and bartenders are going to take the time to fraudulently itemize receipts to get this kid's loot?
That's why you only go to strip clubs with the exact amount of cash that you want to spend....no more, no less....
And after re-reading the article, I noticed that it's the guy's father that is pursuing criminal charges. The article says over and over the father says this and the father says that...has the father asked the son what exactly he spent?
The Little Things
I got home last night, slightly disappointed because of the game, and fearing that Mrs. Xpinionated was gonna be upset at me for taking to long returning home. I put on some Buju Banton on the ride home and sang my heart out. As I get out of the car, I hear Mrs. Xpinionated and lil Mr. Xpinionated.
Uh oh, lil Mr. Xpinionated had been fussy all weekend from his teething and flu shot. Fussy is an understatement, the boy had been bipolar, from laughing and cooing to straight throwing a fit like we left him with Michael Jackson and R.Kelly for a weekend getaway.
But to my surprise, they were playing and laughing. I walked just inside the door and just watched for a few moments....taking it in. Suddenly, the horrible game, or games including Thursday night's events, were wiped away. The house smelled of Sunday dinner, my wife and kid were having a blast and I got home in time to see it and enjoy it.
My heart put two hands in the air like lil man does when you say 'YEAAAAAAA'