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The Donnybrook
Friday, December 28, 2007
 
Why is there a double-standard for trash talk by QB's?

So, let me get this straight: Philip Rivers does some veeeeeeeeery low level jaw-jacking at the Broncos' completely ineffectual quarterback Jay Cutler, and it's still being talked about 4 days later?

Why?

Football players on both sides of the ball are constantly shit-talking during (and usually, before and after, too) games, and it's by no means a new phenomenon.

I seem to remember stories about Jack Lambert and Dick Butkus running their mouths back in the day to get a psychological advantage over any poor saps who were unfortunate enough to line up across from them.

Hell, the picture to your right shows Chuck Bednarik whooping it up after almost killing the future Mr. Kathie Lee Gifford back in 1960, for God's sake!

So why, 47 years later, is it a problem when a young quarterback verbally smacks down another young quarterback?

Is it because QB's are supposed to be the "thinkers" of the gridiron? Are they somehow expected to be more dignified than the rest of the rabble that rounds out a 45-man roster?

Bullshit.

QB's are football players just like any of the monsters throwing blocks in front of them, or the muscleheads looking to plant them in the turf on every single down.

It's only fair that they join in some reindeer games every now and again...

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Thursday, December 27, 2007
 
Ricky Gervais does it again...

He was brilliant on "The Office", and more recently on "Extras" he proved that he's no one-trick pony.

This clip is from the series-ending special that aired this past week. As funny as he is, Ricky can pull on the heart strings when he needs to.

His rant is so spot-on, it's scary...


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"We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans..."

Gary Bettman and Bud Selig, please take notice: This is the kind of thing that you two schmucks should be doing more of...

After weeks of insisting they wouldn't cave in, NFL officials did just that Wednesday. Now all of America can see the Patriots' shot at history.

Saturday night's game between New England and the New York Giants on the NFL Network, which is available in fewer than 40 percent of the nation's homes with TVs, will be simulcast on CBS and NBC.

The Patriots could become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season.
A commissioner without a tin ear. Stunning...

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
 
Regrettably, my son tried to eat his sister this week...

It was indeed a sad turn of events during this joyous holiday season...



On the upside, my wife got me this supercool Eagles T-shirt for Christmas...


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Lest any of my Democratic compatriots fall for Ron Paul's bullshit...

Take a listen to his explanation as to why Abraham Lincoln was wrong to pursue the Civil War and move to end slavery in the United States...



He's a snake oil salesman just like the rest of the Republicans. His position on the Iraq war doesn't change that one bit...

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Tuesday, December 25, 2007
 
The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend

Right? So will the Iraqi Shi'ite government support the Sunni's fighting al-Qaeda? That, along with an oil deal among the provinces of Iraq, would go a long way towards showing political progress to complement the improved security situation. I don't suggest getting your hopes up, but there is a chance here that has not been available for some time. Watch what they do, not what they say.

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Father Christmas...

Holiday greetings from The Kinks...



Forgive the poor video quality. I haven't slept in 10 weeks...

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Monday, December 24, 2007
 
They Made Their Bed Years Ago

It's time for the Republican party to lie in it. The embrace of the radical social right/Christianist politics in the late '70's and early '80's has led the party to this moment with unerring accuracy. Huckabee epitomizes the rise of the Christianist right that is coming to define the Republican party.
I don't think it is as dire as the last sentence above paints it, but that is what is at stake over time.

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A Black Hole for Wishful Spending

Would it be good to combat the nurturing of terrorists in Pakistan? Yes it would. If we throw 3/4 of a billion dollar$ at it would it be used for that purpose? No it would not. The Pakistani government cannot control this region and may not be all that interested in pursuing terrorists anyway. This is $750 million we need not spend now and not until we can be sure it does not help organise, train, and equip our enemies should it be spent at all.

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Fake Ganstas

Thanks to Malvin Venable for this great short piece in my local paper.

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Sunday, December 23, 2007
 
Loudmouth A-Hole Sapp Gets His Just Desserts

The guy just cannot shut his big, ever-yapping mouth. He is as close to Rasheed Wallace as is gets in the NFL right now. And he no longer has the skills to back up his words. Not much to like, there.

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Saturday, December 22, 2007
 
Let's Look In a Year From Now

Let us see if those Americans who whine about their jobs being stolen show up to take the jobs vacated by those terrible illegal aliens. AZ proves that the way to crack down, if you think that's wise, on illegal immigrants is to go after businesses who hire them, not piss away serious cash on a wall. I bet the blow to the state economy is seen after less than 6 months.

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One of the Greatest Tunes Ever



No matter how old you are.

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Better Than Al-Qaida, But Symbolic of How Effed Up Iraq Is

Having turned on Al-Qaida after that group of foreign radicals insisted on marriages to solidify it's presence in Iraq, the western (Anbar) Sunnis gladly accepted arms from the US. Now the Shi'ite government is nervous and denouncing these groups at the same time we tout them as a success. Both groups would like us to leave so they can get on with killing each other. This is made most clear by the lack of political progress (none) made during the increased security being enjoyed lately (only 600 Iraqis a month dying due to terrorism). It is also laid bare in the inability of the Iraqi government to assimilate these Sunnis into the main forces of the ISF. This is not a viable nation and we are in for a long stay if we don't develop the will to cut our losses. It's fair to argue that our losses could be worse for leaving quickly - and no real viable candidate for Pres is going to make that happen, no matter what they promise. But we needn't commit for a decade. This is a losing proposition of a "country". Not much more unified politically than the "Palestinians".


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Happy Fun Ball



Some of the best of SNL from the early '90's.

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Bass Fun



Wooten and Meyers ham it up and lay it down.

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Over 400 F-15's Could be Permanently Grounded

This has been coming for some time as the Air Force sold its soul for the F-22 ($132 million per, sans R&D costs) and the F-35 JSF. We could keep churning out F16's at "only" $40 million a pop but the fighter mafia in charge of the skies dug in and insisted on the highest priced toys. We may yet see the F-16 production line extended and the overall buy of F-22's and F-35's reduced as the bill payer.
Serious stuff, as it could leave us with greatly reduced air superiority capability for an extended period. Also seriously costly no matter how this turns out. The military will blame Congress for not funding their wish lists while creating the problem itself via intransigence on the need for the F-22 over the last decade. Congress deserves blame for not letting the Air Force retire planes when needed to manage the fleet. Sadly, voters get the military and Congress they deserve.

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Friday, December 21, 2007
 
EPA Rules For Dirtier Air in 16 States

Gotta love this Administration and it's corporate flunkies now running the executive branch. More to come, no doubt, on this decision.

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Great Blogging/Reporting

TPM is easily one of the best things to happen to the political blogosphere in the last couple of years. A fresh example of why:
Not only is Blackwater helping to send America's image to unexplored depths in tandem with an inept administration, it's defrauding the taxpayers at the same time. These folks are really thorough. No extra charge for that.

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Blurring the Lines Between Church and State

Your tax dollars at work:
See the vid

I would love to see the Administration or the Secretary of the Air Force state that religious intolerance and discrimination against non-Christians is U.S. policy, even if it clearly is the practice. The reason you won't hear them say that is because they want it this way. Your tax dollars at work. Merry Christmas.

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Thursday, December 20, 2007
 
A song choice from way out of left field...

I'm not even sure what made me think of this version of this song, but here we are!

"All The Young Dudes" by Bruce Dickinson...Yes, THE Bruce Dickinson...


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Desolation Row



Great song, amazing lyrics. If you don't like his voice, turn down the volume and check out the fantastic art slide show...

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
 
"Nobody has gotten a hand job in cargo shorts since 'Nam!"

If you haven't seen "Superbad", your life doesn't yet have meaning...


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The airline industry is a bunch of greedy, uncaring shitbags...

They object to even the slightest improvements in services while happily lapping up more and more government bail-out dollars...

In a case that could affect passengers delayed on planes at airports nationwide, an industry trade group is challenging New York's law requiring airlines to provide food, water, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers stuck on the ground for more than three hours.

New York lawmakers passed the "airline passenger bill of rights" — the first law of its kind in the nation — after a series of delays last winter at John F. Kennedy International Airport that left some passengers stranded for more than 10 hours with no food or water, overflowing toilets and no air conditioning.
They suck...

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Must've been more CIA interrogation tapes going up in smoke...

Either that, or Uncle Dick's pacemaker finally went shithouse...

Thick black smoke billowed from a fire Wednesday on the White House compound in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The blaze appeared to be located in Vice President Dick Cheney's suite of ceremonial offices on the second floor of the building.
Maybe he's getting an early start on destroying his files before January 20, 2009...

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Ah, the wonders of an "ownership society"...

More and more Americans get to be "owned" by crippling debt and credit card bills...

For perhaps as many as 27 million American adults, keeping warm this winter will mean borrowing money and 20 million will use credit cards to be able to afford their heating bills, according to a CreditCards.com poll.

Nearly 12 percent of Americans say they will need to borrow money to pay winter heating bills; 9 percent will need to use credit cards to be able to afford their heating bills. The poll, commissioned by CreditCards.com and conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, surveyed 1,004 randomly selected American adults by telephone Dec. 7-9, 2007 to gauge their attitudes about energy costs in 2008. A majority say they expect oil and gasoline prices to get worse in 2008.

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Monday, December 17, 2007
 
What's the matter, Tony?

Can't play in front of your brain-dead girlfriend???


A poor excuse of a performance for "the next Brett Favre".

Eagles 10, Cowgirls 6. Suck it...

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Friday, December 14, 2007
 
5 HOURS AND COUNTING!!!

In the meantime, enjoy a terrific profile of Garnet Valley's stellar coaching staff.

More to come...

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Thursday, December 13, 2007
 
Oh, She Can Play



My favorite Hillary...

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Same Old Moon, Same Old Sun...



Check out the guitar solo starting at about 3 minutes in, goes until 4:15. Sam's great solo starts at 5:25. He's my favorite Bush.

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Ripple Effect


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We can all watch Garnet Valley play for the championship this Friday!

It's on the internet, of course, but check out this link...

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The shit hits the fan today!!!

The Mitchell Report comes out today and we'll find out who the juiceheads are in Major League Baseball.

I hear Roger Clemens is going to be on the list. Works for me, since he's always been a major league asshole.

Is there anyone you're really hoping is (or isn't) on the list?

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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
 
Kiss That Frog



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Tuesday, December 11, 2007
 
Warning!!! Adorable baby photos, INCOMING!!!

After bath time = Mellow gold...



Chillin' out...



Wonder twin powers, ACTIVATE!!!


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Monday, December 10, 2007
 
Garnet Valley Headed to State Championship!!!

This post is mostly intended for the GV alums on here. For those who don't know, Garnet Valley is the high school that Brian, Cockster, Shawn and I attended.


Back when we went there it was a small, barely Class AA school (Pennsylvania breaks its sports into four classifications based on enrollment..Class A, AA, AAA and AAAA). Anywho, the concept of the Jaguars playing for a state championship in football was pretty unheard of back then because we were so small. My freshmen year we had 29 players on the team. But the area has ballooned up and Friday Garnet Valley plays in the state championship for the first time ever and does it at the Class AAA level. Amazingly, GV will be Class AAAA next year.

Who would have ever thought that? Then again, who would have ever thought that Garnet Valley would play for the state title? The Jags are 13-1 and have traveled quite a road to get to Hershey. In districts, they beat three-time state champion Strath Haven, top-seeded and undefeated Unionville (the only team to beat GV) and second-seeded Pottsgrove all on the road. Then they rallied from 10 and 13-point deficits to defeat West Scranton and Lampeter-Strasburg in the state playoffs. They won the Eastern Final in the last two minutes on a 70-yard touchdown pass. Great stuff.

This is the first time GV has ever gone to a state final in anything (although if our baseball coach didn't screw things up in the 1994 Class AA state quarterfinals we probably would have went there that year...but I'm over that), so as you can tell I'm pretty excited.

Personally, it's nice to see this happening to Coach Mike Ricci, who has been there since 1986 (except for 1990). He's a great coach, teacher and person and he is almost a sure bet to get Class AAA state coach of the year since their opponent in the state final Thomas Jefferson is a perennial powerhouse that was picked to win it all before the season started. Ricci coached me in baseball and football and the thing is he always get the absolute most from us. I always believed if he had more numbers, more talent the program would do great things and that is happening now.

GV will be heavy underdogs this week against a powerful and fast team but I believe it will take the title.

GO JAGS!

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...and so can she...

Since we're on the subject of chicks with great voices, allow me to submit a great one...

"Train Wreck" by Sarah McLachlan


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Sunday, December 9, 2007
 
Oh, She Can Sing


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When exactly will Isiah Thomas get fired?

Zeke has already done everything a head coach can do to get fired, what the hell will be the final straw???

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Saturday, December 8, 2007
 
Why Not Work For the NSA?

One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies..


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Friday, December 7, 2007
 
NOW, He Steps Down

How does this sort of filth get appointed to the Inspector General of State in the first place? He has the Cheney-Bush administration behind him, that's how. Krongard thwarted investigations into Blackwater and lied about his brother's role on the Blackwater Board of Directors. (I don't care to hear from those of you who buy his half-baked story about not knowing his brother's position - it's his business and obligation to know, especially before saying otherwise to Congress.) At least there is now one less corrupt shithead in a position of power in this absurdly unraveling administration.

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Weapon System(s) Program in Trouble?

Just change the name.
This costly failure-waiting-to-happen will get the name change and redesign for a mere $200 billion. What a bargain. Shit like this makes Congressional pork look cheap.
Your tax dollars at work. And don't forget, over 50% of all discretionary funds each year go to the Dept. of Defense. Such model stewards of taxpayer funds they are......

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Thursday, December 6, 2007
 
I'm not this good, and I have TWO hands!

That's more than a little frustrating!


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The Self-Tuning Guitar

Gibson Guitar Corp. will tomorrow introduce a new line of guitars equipped with robotics technology called PowerTune, an automated system that can, in seconds, correct the pitch of each string while the guitar is completely muted.

Yours for only $2,100!

UPDATE: Check out this fascinating demonstration of the "Robot Guitar"...


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Guaranteeing victory against a 12-0 team doesn't make you tough or smart...

...it makes you a fucking moron.

Defensive back Anthony Smith is so certain the Pittsburgh Steelers will end the New England Patriots' unbeaten season, he is guaranteeing a win Sunday in Foxborough.

The Patriots (12-0) may have the perfect record, Smith said Wednesday, but it should be New England that is worried about the Steelers (9-3) rather than the other way around.

"People keep asking me if we're ready for the Patriots," Smith said. "They should be asking if they're ready for us."

Is Smith so confident that he is willing to copy one of former Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter's familiar motivational ploys by guaranteeing the Steelers will win?

"We're going to win," Smith said. "Yeah, I can guarantee a win. As long as we come out and do what we got to do. Both sides of the ball are rolling, and if our special teams come through for us, we've got a good chance to win."
I already wanted the Pats to go 16-0. Now, I just want them to hang 60 on the Steelers this Sunday.

As David St. Hubbins said, there's such a fine line between clever and stupid...

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Monday, December 3, 2007
 
Those of you praying for war with Iran...

...may be disappointed by this piece of inconvenient news...

A new assessment by American intelligence agencies concludes that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains on hold, contradicting an assessment two years ago that Tehran was working inexorably toward building a bomb.

The conclusions of the new assessment are likely to be major factor in the tense international negotiations aimed at getting Iran to halt its nuclear energy program. Concerns about Iran were raised sharply after President Bush had suggested in October that a nuclear-armed Iran could lead to "World War III," and Vice President Dick Cheney promised "serious consequences" if the government in Tehran did not abandon its nuclear program.
Don't worry, Republicans. My guess is that you'll still see the Bushies ratcheting up the anti-Iran tough talk...

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