This blog has now gotten 2,000 hits and 100 posts. Hard to believe that I have 100 posts worth of crap to throw out there.
Junior is doing very well. Mamma, Junior, and I went out to eat last night at Outback. First, let me say that I didn't really want to go to Outback that often in the past b/c there were so few things on their menu I was interested in. Their appetizers were very limited. Their salads were overpriced. However, the Outback Special, which consists of an 8 ounce steak (11 ounce if you want to pay a few bucks more) and a side or two, is only $12! That's a derned good deal so I always get that but there's just so many times you can eat the same steak cooked the same way.
Now, Outback has changed their menu and they have a wider variety of appetizers. That'll bring me back more often! We had cheese fries last night for an appetizer. The thought of cheese fries always reminds me of high school when some kids would get that processed government cheese and dump it all over a plate of cafeteria fries. Well, let me tell you, the cheese fries at Outback are AWESOME. Think potato boats but instead of potatoes, fries. Really good!
That, an Outback Special, a bowl of french onion soup (I'm willing to put aside my hatred of the French so I can eath their onion soup...could we rename it "Freedom onion soup"?....kind of like Freedom fries?) and I was STUFFED. Not stuffed enough that I didn't decide to stop by the local dairy bar and get a large banana shake.
That was a mistake. I think I was more full last night than I've been in YEARS! MISERABLE! I had to go lay down in bed at 8 PM and just let my stomach settle. Again, MISERABLE!
Anyway, Junior did really well at the restaurant like he always does. He's a quiet little baby. Just sits there and looks around taking in the scenery. We were really proud of him and always get compliments about how good he is. We know that, of course!
Now here's the bad news: Due to the fact that I will be a state employee soon (I guess I am now but I'm really more like a federal employee), I won't have tenure for another 6 years (hopefully it will happen in 6!!!), and I have a tendency to run my mouth, this blog will be shut down when we move home in a couple of months. Thanks to all of you for reading and I will continue posting most days until we move in late May, but I have a hard time controlling my mouth/keyboard and I recognize my limitations. So, in the interest of not putting anything in print that would get me fired, this whole blogging thing will come to an end around the time we move.
Thanks again to all of you and hope this doesn't cause you any undue distress.
Take care,
Pappa
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
He's Gone Again
Gillispie's gone again but I don't think he'll be at A&M next season. He sure won't be at U of A it looks like.
I'm vindictive I guess but I hope he waits around for the FL or KY job and gets burned having to stay in College Station.
I'm vindictive I guess but I hope he waits around for the FL or KY job and gets burned having to stay in College Station.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Baby Druel
Well, Mamma evidently started teething at a VERY early age - like 4 months old. I wouldn't have known that was early but you learn these things as you progress through this crash course in parenting called "The First Year".
All this means that (and you know what's coming....insert ominous sounding music here...Star Wars theme if you like) Junior has started teething - we think. No, he doesn't have fangs yet but we think they're coming in. He's drueling like a mad man, get's cranky, and sucks on his arm like he's starving, stuck on a deserted island with only fast birds and poisonous weeds for sustanance. There are no coconuts, pineapples, mangoes, or the like on this island. Only fast birds and poisonous weeds. He should have picked a better island.
With regard to the druel, he has this stuff running down his face like a Saint Bernard at a meat market. I'm surprised the dripping of druel doesn't keep him up at night like a leaky faucet.
Drip, drip, drip, drip...
Junior says, "Damn! What's that dripping noise?!? I can't get a lick of sleep in this rat-hole! MOM! DAD!! Fix the faucet! Oh, wait. I think I'm sleeping in Lake Hamilton. Did I pee myself?"
This got me thinking. Druel sounds remarkably similar to "duel". Do you think in the olden days that folks used to separate their babies by 10 paces and have a druel duel? I can see it now:
Baby with British accent: "Little Tommy, your time has come. You have soiled your last diaper."
Baby with French accent: "Ha Ha, Mon ami! Your lack of humor is only matched by your over confidence. Prepare to meet your doom!"
(insert toot noise here where a parent of one baby jumps in to change a diaper...the druel duel continues)
Baby with British accent: "Ahem, now that I have been 'readyied' by Mom I will proceed to wipe my mouth with my arm and fling druel in your general direction."
Baby with French accent: "While your druel producing capabilities are undoubtedly substantial, my own are far superior. Fling your druel. Fling it with all your might. You will find that the viscosity of my druel allows me to fling mine with much greater velocity and accuracy."
Baby with Brittish accent: "Your druel may be superior in terms of velocity and accuracy, but mine scatters. I may not coat completely on the first shot but I will in the span of two. Prepare for a soaking!"
At this point the babies would attempt to fling their druel with parents in the background yelling, "FLING THAT DRUEL!! FLING THAT DRUEL!!!"
Undoubtedly one set of parents would act like Beck Campbell (Mitch Mustain's mom) and yell at her baby, "DO YOU WANT TO LOSE THIS DRUEL DUEL?!?!?? GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND FLING THAT DRUEL FURTHER!!! DO YOU WANT TO LOSE? YOU LOSER!!!"
This would undoubtedly be the parent of the French baby. You see, the French baby didn't train for this druel duel b/c it was part of the French work-rule society where one can only put in no more than 12 hours of labor per week. Yet, the French baby's parents expect the same performance from their child as is exhibited by the British baby.
The French baby eventually winds up covered in druel. Losing in miserale defeat. The French parents whine and then demand a meeting with the Director of Druel Duel Duels. When their appeal of the Druel Duel falls on deaf ears, the French parents then proceed to boycott any further druel duels and refuse to give their vote to any Brittish proposals in the United Nations.
You see, the French are whiney, cheese-eating, contrarians. That's why they suck and lose druel duels!
All this means that (and you know what's coming....insert ominous sounding music here...Star Wars theme if you like) Junior has started teething - we think. No, he doesn't have fangs yet but we think they're coming in. He's drueling like a mad man, get's cranky, and sucks on his arm like he's starving, stuck on a deserted island with only fast birds and poisonous weeds for sustanance. There are no coconuts, pineapples, mangoes, or the like on this island. Only fast birds and poisonous weeds. He should have picked a better island.
With regard to the druel, he has this stuff running down his face like a Saint Bernard at a meat market. I'm surprised the dripping of druel doesn't keep him up at night like a leaky faucet.
Drip, drip, drip, drip...
Junior says, "Damn! What's that dripping noise?!? I can't get a lick of sleep in this rat-hole! MOM! DAD!! Fix the faucet! Oh, wait. I think I'm sleeping in Lake Hamilton. Did I pee myself?"
This got me thinking. Druel sounds remarkably similar to "duel". Do you think in the olden days that folks used to separate their babies by 10 paces and have a druel duel? I can see it now:
Baby with British accent: "Little Tommy, your time has come. You have soiled your last diaper."
Baby with French accent: "Ha Ha, Mon ami! Your lack of humor is only matched by your over confidence. Prepare to meet your doom!"
(insert toot noise here where a parent of one baby jumps in to change a diaper...the druel duel continues)
Baby with British accent: "Ahem, now that I have been 'readyied' by Mom I will proceed to wipe my mouth with my arm and fling druel in your general direction."
Baby with French accent: "While your druel producing capabilities are undoubtedly substantial, my own are far superior. Fling your druel. Fling it with all your might. You will find that the viscosity of my druel allows me to fling mine with much greater velocity and accuracy."
Baby with Brittish accent: "Your druel may be superior in terms of velocity and accuracy, but mine scatters. I may not coat completely on the first shot but I will in the span of two. Prepare for a soaking!"
At this point the babies would attempt to fling their druel with parents in the background yelling, "FLING THAT DRUEL!! FLING THAT DRUEL!!!"
Undoubtedly one set of parents would act like Beck Campbell (Mitch Mustain's mom) and yell at her baby, "DO YOU WANT TO LOSE THIS DRUEL DUEL?!?!?? GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND FLING THAT DRUEL FURTHER!!! DO YOU WANT TO LOSE? YOU LOSER!!!"
This would undoubtedly be the parent of the French baby. You see, the French baby didn't train for this druel duel b/c it was part of the French work-rule society where one can only put in no more than 12 hours of labor per week. Yet, the French baby's parents expect the same performance from their child as is exhibited by the British baby.
The French baby eventually winds up covered in druel. Losing in miserale defeat. The French parents whine and then demand a meeting with the Director of Druel Duel Duels. When their appeal of the Druel Duel falls on deaf ears, the French parents then proceed to boycott any further druel duels and refuse to give their vote to any Brittish proposals in the United Nations.
You see, the French are whiney, cheese-eating, contrarians. That's why they suck and lose druel duels!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Update on Billy Gillispie
All signs still point to BG to Arkansas. I'll say this though, the man is a good actor. If you want a good laugh, go to this Texass A&M website. They are in shock and complete denial.
It started yesterday with "AR is filled with a bunch of hillbillies and rednecks....There's no way they can land BG....AR is a step down from TAMU..." yadda yadda yadda.
Fact is, TAMU is NO WHERE NEAR the U of A in terms of basketball tradition. Football, they probably have us beat but it's not by a WIDE margin. In fact, the U of A actually has an all-time winning record against TAMU. Do they have more money than U of A? Sure. Can they afford to dole out the big bucks to keep BCG? Sure, in the short term. However, they have major expenses as well, such as impending construction of new BB facilities (that they started in expectation of keeping BCG), maybe firing their football coach (currently making $2 MM/yr) next year, etc...
I've heard rumors floating around that they are preparing a counter offer of $2.5 MM/yr for 10 years to keep Gillispie. I'm not sure I really believe that. Further, I'd be willing to bet that Frank doesn't fire his man unless he feels as certain as he humanly can be that BCG isn't in the bag.
U of A is a HUGE step up in terms of basketball prestige. I've heard an announcement could come as early as today but will be no later than Saturday.
Let the rebirth of Hawgball begin.
Pappa
It started yesterday with "AR is filled with a bunch of hillbillies and rednecks....There's no way they can land BG....AR is a step down from TAMU..." yadda yadda yadda.
Fact is, TAMU is NO WHERE NEAR the U of A in terms of basketball tradition. Football, they probably have us beat but it's not by a WIDE margin. In fact, the U of A actually has an all-time winning record against TAMU. Do they have more money than U of A? Sure. Can they afford to dole out the big bucks to keep BCG? Sure, in the short term. However, they have major expenses as well, such as impending construction of new BB facilities (that they started in expectation of keeping BCG), maybe firing their football coach (currently making $2 MM/yr) next year, etc...
I've heard rumors floating around that they are preparing a counter offer of $2.5 MM/yr for 10 years to keep Gillispie. I'm not sure I really believe that. Further, I'd be willing to bet that Frank doesn't fire his man unless he feels as certain as he humanly can be that BCG isn't in the bag.
U of A is a HUGE step up in terms of basketball prestige. I've heard an announcement could come as early as today but will be no later than Saturday.
Let the rebirth of Hawgball begin.
Pappa
Monday, March 26, 2007
The Winds of Change Appear to be Turning AGAIN
I should know better by now that to open my big, fat mouth (keyboard) when it comes to hiring and firing of coaches on The Hill. I'm by no means well-connected, but I have a friend who is and I follow the REPUTABLE Hog message boards closely.
I have put on this blog that Stan Heath would be fired this week and Billy Gillispie would be the next coach. I have put on this blog that John White might screw it up. I have put on this blog that it looked really good that it was going to happen. I have put on this blog *last night* that it looks like JW was going to screw it up again.
This same type of "turn of events" took place when I tried to keep my friends informed, via e-mail, of David Lee's potential hiring as Hog football OC. On, off, on again, off again, on again, off again.
I should really keep my mouth shut but I enjoy the soap opera I guess.
Anyway, take this for what it's worth, but it looks like ONCE AGAIN the deal is done. Billy Gillispie will get a fat contract at U of A and Stan "I can't motivate my players worth a snakes turd but I'm a damned classy guy" Heath will be gone this week.
I'm sure this will change a hundred times before it actually happens but this is the latest I'm hearing.
Stay tuned to "As The Hog Turns."
Pappa
I have put on this blog that Stan Heath would be fired this week and Billy Gillispie would be the next coach. I have put on this blog that John White might screw it up. I have put on this blog that it looked really good that it was going to happen. I have put on this blog *last night* that it looks like JW was going to screw it up again.
This same type of "turn of events" took place when I tried to keep my friends informed, via e-mail, of David Lee's potential hiring as Hog football OC. On, off, on again, off again, on again, off again.
I should really keep my mouth shut but I enjoy the soap opera I guess.
Anyway, take this for what it's worth, but it looks like ONCE AGAIN the deal is done. Billy Gillispie will get a fat contract at U of A and Stan "I can't motivate my players worth a snakes turd but I'm a damned classy guy" Heath will be gone this week.
I'm sure this will change a hundred times before it actually happens but this is the latest I'm hearing.
Stay tuned to "As The Hog Turns."
Pappa
Sunday, March 25, 2007
I'm No Longer Very Confident BG Will Coach Here Next Year
I'm no longer very confident that John White is going to let Frank hire Gillispie. He is the sole person making this decision and he's going to have to deal with the consequences.
John White Got Hosed
John White is an idiot. I'm sure he's a very smart person, academically. Unfortunately, if you've spent your life in academics you have no experience in positions that actually require you to focus on PERFORMANCE with little regard for fluff. In other words, if you own your own business and you have to hire a new sales manager, you are going to go after the one who will PERFORM the best. You will give little credence to the person's skin color, gender, etc...
Sports are even more competitive than business. As a matter of fact, some business academic should figure out some research comparing sports to business, but I digress.
You don't hire a basketball coach based on the color of his/her skin. That's racism.
You don't hire a basketball coach based on his/her gender. That's sexism.
Yet in the PC world of academia, it's OK to be racist and sexist as long as you are favoring the a priori underepresented group.
Thankfully, Frank Broyles won his last major battle this week. Negotiations with Billy Gillispie are going on through this weekend. Heath will be fired next week. Gillispie will be hired soon thereafter.
Equality through performance based evaluation has triumphed.
Sports are even more competitive than business. As a matter of fact, some business academic should figure out some research comparing sports to business, but I digress.
You don't hire a basketball coach based on the color of his/her skin. That's racism.
You don't hire a basketball coach based on his/her gender. That's sexism.
Yet in the PC world of academia, it's OK to be racist and sexist as long as you are favoring the a priori underepresented group.
Thankfully, Frank Broyles won his last major battle this week. Negotiations with Billy Gillispie are going on through this weekend. Heath will be fired next week. Gillispie will be hired soon thereafter.
Equality through performance based evaluation has triumphed.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
John White is Meddling
I received some information today from a friend of mine in Fayetteville who is well-connected to some sources at U of A.
He says there is a 70% chance, in his estimation, that Billy Gillispie will be the next head basketball coach at Arkansas. Why the 30% uncertainty?
John White, chancellor, made a promise to Stan Heath regarding his job security after the MS State win in the SEC tournament. Further, Dr. White is very concerned with diversity. An admirable trait to be sure but ultimately the cruelest thing you can do to a coach is to hire him/her not on their merits but on the color of their skin/gender.
Let's hope that John White does the best thing and allows Broyles to hire Gillispie.
He says there is a 70% chance, in his estimation, that Billy Gillispie will be the next head basketball coach at Arkansas. Why the 30% uncertainty?
John White, chancellor, made a promise to Stan Heath regarding his job security after the MS State win in the SEC tournament. Further, Dr. White is very concerned with diversity. An admirable trait to be sure but ultimately the cruelest thing you can do to a coach is to hire him/her not on their merits but on the color of their skin/gender.
Let's hope that John White does the best thing and allows Broyles to hire Gillispie.
Family Portrait
We had a family portrait made yesterday. Or, I should say, we had the pictures for a family portrait taken yesterday.
Junior did very well. He got cranky a couple of times, and we had to take a break, but a little formula in the dressing room and he was ready to go again. He was so worn out afterwards he was falling asleep walking the whole 4 steps to the car.
The picture lady kept saying, "Boy, he's a fat baby." Or, "He sure is big!"
Over and over and over and over and over ad nausem. It got old.
Sure, he is a big baby, but you can see the kid's abs. I can say with 99% confidence that he's not a fat baby. She's a doofus.
I think the pictures will turn out well. We did one with Mamma, Junior, and I, one with me and Junior, one with Mamma and Junior, and one with Junior flying solo. I think Mamma wants a few more so we'll have to discuss that with the picture folks.
I foresee a big family portrait hanging over our fireplace in the new house. Call me psychic.
Junior did very well. He got cranky a couple of times, and we had to take a break, but a little formula in the dressing room and he was ready to go again. He was so worn out afterwards he was falling asleep walking the whole 4 steps to the car.
The picture lady kept saying, "Boy, he's a fat baby." Or, "He sure is big!"
Over and over and over and over and over ad nausem. It got old.
Sure, he is a big baby, but you can see the kid's abs. I can say with 99% confidence that he's not a fat baby. She's a doofus.
I think the pictures will turn out well. We did one with Mamma, Junior, and I, one with me and Junior, one with Mamma and Junior, and one with Junior flying solo. I think Mamma wants a few more so we'll have to discuss that with the picture folks.
I foresee a big family portrait hanging over our fireplace in the new house. Call me psychic.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Obligatory Razorback BB Post
So, the Hogs got HOSED in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Not entirely unexpected. The Hog team that showed up in the SEC tournament is not the same team that showed up in the NCAA tournament.
The Hog team that showed up in the NCAA's is the Hog team we've seen all year. No heart. No drive. Would someone please explain to me how a team cannot be fired up to play in the NCAA's? Especially after all this team went through to get there?!?!?
Anyway, I'm hearing Stan Heath is history as predicted in this blog multiple times. I thought Stan might have saved his job by making the tournament but I bet you hear differently in the next 5-7 days.
I also bet that we'll all be happy with the new hire. I've mentioned the most likely hire previously and word is it will be one of those people. I'll leave it at that.
Pappa
EDIT: The whole situation just became more interesting with Tubby Smith taking the Minnesota job. KY is an attractive place. We'll see.
The Hog team that showed up in the NCAA's is the Hog team we've seen all year. No heart. No drive. Would someone please explain to me how a team cannot be fired up to play in the NCAA's? Especially after all this team went through to get there?!?!?
Anyway, I'm hearing Stan Heath is history as predicted in this blog multiple times. I thought Stan might have saved his job by making the tournament but I bet you hear differently in the next 5-7 days.
I also bet that we'll all be happy with the new hire. I've mentioned the most likely hire previously and word is it will be one of those people. I'll leave it at that.
Pappa
EDIT: The whole situation just became more interesting with Tubby Smith taking the Minnesota job. KY is an attractive place. We'll see.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Junior Sleeping
Sappy post warning...
I generally wake up WAY too early every morning. Like, around 4-5 AM. Don't know why except for this trait seems to run in my family...Actually, given that, I guess I do know why.
I've actually come to enjoy getting up that early. The world is quiet and it's a very productive time to be at work.
Every morning I go to the nursery and shut the door so I don't wake Junior up as I'm getting ready.
Mamma asked me last night before we went to sleep if I told Junior that I love him when I go in. I told her that I didn't but I did check on him to make sure he was OK.
This got me thinking and I decided that I would take a little time out of my morning every day to sit and look at Junior sleeping before I leave. I did that this morning.
There can be no more peaceful creature on Earth than a sleeping baby. I stood there and watched him for a while. He sometimes sleeps with his eyes open and has this blank stare on his face all the time staring right at you. I wondered if he recognized me in his sleep but know that he's probably having visions of formula bottles racing through his head.
I told Mamma the other day that the love I have for her is similar to the love I have for Junior. There's always this base level of love I feel for her but sometimes I look at her and realize how happy I am to have such an incredible woman to share my life with. At those times I love her even more.
The same thing applies to Junior. I always have a base level of love for him but at times like this morning I realize how happy I am to have him as a son, how blessed we are that he is healthy, and how much I love him. I told him that I love him this morning and, truly, there was no better use of my time.
I generally wake up WAY too early every morning. Like, around 4-5 AM. Don't know why except for this trait seems to run in my family...Actually, given that, I guess I do know why.
I've actually come to enjoy getting up that early. The world is quiet and it's a very productive time to be at work.
Every morning I go to the nursery and shut the door so I don't wake Junior up as I'm getting ready.
Mamma asked me last night before we went to sleep if I told Junior that I love him when I go in. I told her that I didn't but I did check on him to make sure he was OK.
This got me thinking and I decided that I would take a little time out of my morning every day to sit and look at Junior sleeping before I leave. I did that this morning.
There can be no more peaceful creature on Earth than a sleeping baby. I stood there and watched him for a while. He sometimes sleeps with his eyes open and has this blank stare on his face all the time staring right at you. I wondered if he recognized me in his sleep but know that he's probably having visions of formula bottles racing through his head.
I told Mamma the other day that the love I have for her is similar to the love I have for Junior. There's always this base level of love I feel for her but sometimes I look at her and realize how happy I am to have such an incredible woman to share my life with. At those times I love her even more.
The same thing applies to Junior. I always have a base level of love for him but at times like this morning I realize how happy I am to have him as a son, how blessed we are that he is healthy, and how much I love him. I told him that I love him this morning and, truly, there was no better use of my time.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
I'm Home!!
Geez, travelling in winter is a pain. When I got to Regan National on Friday to fly home, the ice storm that belted the NE hit. All flights cancelled. So some others from MSU and I got a hotel for the night and then rented a car and drove home Saturday. I caught some bug and slept almost all day Sunday and took it easy most of the day yesterday. Anyway, I'm back at work today and feeling a lot better. Which is good because I have to go run 2 miles this afternoon for the marathon training.
On to the story from DC.
I arrived in DC around noon on Wednesday. Took a cab to the hotel b/c I had too much luggage to ride the Metro. I normally pack pretty light but I had my clothes bag, laptop bag, bag to carry my poster handouts, and my poster tube. The Feds get to foot my bill for the cab.
Got to the hotel and settled in. My hotel room had a porch on it facing North and when you step outside and look to the left, you see the Washington Monument. When you look to the right, you see the Capitol. It was an INCREDIBLE VIEW!!!
I had to go to a reception that night (which was held at the congressional office building!! That was pretty cool too.) at around 5:00 PM so I had a little time to kill. I therefore decided that I would go out and walk around. Specifically, I decided I wanted to walk to the Capitol. It was probably about 2 miles from my hotel and I set out.
I walked past some hippies protesting the war in front of the Capitol and resisted the urge to put a steel toe up their dope smoking rear ends.
I then decided I would see how close to the Capitol I could get. Surprisingly, you can get REALLY close. Like, on the front steps close. So, I then noticed that there were some people exiting the Capitol that looked to be on some type of tour (i.e. they really didn't look like they belonged inside the Capitol). At this point I wondered to myself, "Self, how might you get a tour of the Capitol?" I figured it would take an act of Congress to get one but I decided that the only way to find out was to ask one of the gentlemen standing at the front of the Capitol who happened to be carrying M-16s.
So I walk up to one of the guys carrying an M-16 and say, "Hey. I've got a stupid question for you. How do I get a tour of the Capitol?"
They were very cordial. They didn't shoot me or anything. I thought that was polite of them.
They told me that the tours were probably all booked for the day but that I could walk down to this white tent about 1/4 mile away and ask. So I walk down to the white tent, stand in line for about 2 minutes, get a free ticket, and stand in line for the tour that left about 10 minutes later!
We walk through some fairly touristy parts of the Capitol but it was really cool.
At the end of the tour they just kind of turn you loose to go wander around. That's a bad idea on their part. I'm curious as hell and generally have a fairly low regard for being told what to do (e.g. "Authorized Personnel Only Past This Point") so I set out to go see what trouble I could get in.
I'm wandering around the Capitol and see some meeting rooms. Nothing too exciting but it was pretty cool just seeing the place. The most famous person I walked past was Dennis Hastert. He didn't even say "hi" to me!! I can't imagine why?!?!?! Oh yeah, I know why. He doesn't know me from Adam.
I continue walking around and see a sign that says "Senate Balcony -->" and I was off to see if I could get on that balcony overlooking the Senate floor. Now, I know that you need a pass to do this but I thought I'd go check it out. When I got up there, sure enough, there was a (short) line of people who had these passes but there was an alternate entrance with a "Don't come in here unless you're Jesus, the President, or someone important" sign. I decided I was important enough to go in that way........I was wrong.
I took the approach that I would walk nonchalantly past that sign and try to look like I knew what I was doing. I got about 5 steps past the sign when a big dude in a suit with a mic in his ear said, "SIR! Where are you going?"
I really wasn't prepared for this guy to be there b/c he was kind of situated where you couldn't see him when you were out in the foyer. I had no option but to lay on the Southern accent and say, "WELL HI THERE!!! I'm just kinda wanderin' around. Do you know where the bathroom is?"
He didn't buy it. Oh, I'm sure he bought the Southern accent part. He just didn't buy it to the extent that he was going to let some dumb redneck wander around the Capitol.
"Sir, you need to turn around." he replied.
I had no choice but to say, "Alright then. Ya'll have a nice day now, ya hear!"
This same scenario polayed out about 4 more times. I'll be damned if the Capitol isn't well guarded! Who'd a thunk it?
One time, after getting turned away, I was walking off trying to find some other trouble to get into and I happened to look back over my shoulder and see a Capitol policeman walking about 3 steps behind me. I turned left. He turned left. I turned right. He turned right.
At this point I'm thinking, "Holy shemp! I'm about to get arrested in the U.S. Capitol! That's going to suck to have to tell my family that I got arrested in the Capitol." I could just see myself sitting in some dark, basement lock-up with a spotlight shining on my face getting interrogated by some guys in black suits. Thankfully, I don't think he was really after me as I finally lost my "tail".
I wandered around a little bit more but decided I had pressed my luck enough and went back to the hotel.
The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. The poster presentation went well. The conference was primarily attended by a bunch of "science" folks (i.e. chemists, biologists, etc...) and was therefore not really that interesting in that I didn't have a clue what many of them were talking about.
I've already covered the pain in the rear that was getting home so this pretty much concludes my trip.
Good time. Love DC! I could spend about a week or more there going through all the museums and stuff.
Glad to be home!
Junior is doing great! I need to post more pictures don't I?!??!??!??!??!!!!
On to the story from DC.
I arrived in DC around noon on Wednesday. Took a cab to the hotel b/c I had too much luggage to ride the Metro. I normally pack pretty light but I had my clothes bag, laptop bag, bag to carry my poster handouts, and my poster tube. The Feds get to foot my bill for the cab.
Got to the hotel and settled in. My hotel room had a porch on it facing North and when you step outside and look to the left, you see the Washington Monument. When you look to the right, you see the Capitol. It was an INCREDIBLE VIEW!!!
I had to go to a reception that night (which was held at the congressional office building!! That was pretty cool too.) at around 5:00 PM so I had a little time to kill. I therefore decided that I would go out and walk around. Specifically, I decided I wanted to walk to the Capitol. It was probably about 2 miles from my hotel and I set out.
I walked past some hippies protesting the war in front of the Capitol and resisted the urge to put a steel toe up their dope smoking rear ends.
I then decided I would see how close to the Capitol I could get. Surprisingly, you can get REALLY close. Like, on the front steps close. So, I then noticed that there were some people exiting the Capitol that looked to be on some type of tour (i.e. they really didn't look like they belonged inside the Capitol). At this point I wondered to myself, "Self, how might you get a tour of the Capitol?" I figured it would take an act of Congress to get one but I decided that the only way to find out was to ask one of the gentlemen standing at the front of the Capitol who happened to be carrying M-16s.
So I walk up to one of the guys carrying an M-16 and say, "Hey. I've got a stupid question for you. How do I get a tour of the Capitol?"
They were very cordial. They didn't shoot me or anything. I thought that was polite of them.
They told me that the tours were probably all booked for the day but that I could walk down to this white tent about 1/4 mile away and ask. So I walk down to the white tent, stand in line for about 2 minutes, get a free ticket, and stand in line for the tour that left about 10 minutes later!
We walk through some fairly touristy parts of the Capitol but it was really cool.
At the end of the tour they just kind of turn you loose to go wander around. That's a bad idea on their part. I'm curious as hell and generally have a fairly low regard for being told what to do (e.g. "Authorized Personnel Only Past This Point") so I set out to go see what trouble I could get in.
I'm wandering around the Capitol and see some meeting rooms. Nothing too exciting but it was pretty cool just seeing the place. The most famous person I walked past was Dennis Hastert. He didn't even say "hi" to me!! I can't imagine why?!?!?! Oh yeah, I know why. He doesn't know me from Adam.
I continue walking around and see a sign that says "Senate Balcony -->" and I was off to see if I could get on that balcony overlooking the Senate floor. Now, I know that you need a pass to do this but I thought I'd go check it out. When I got up there, sure enough, there was a (short) line of people who had these passes but there was an alternate entrance with a "Don't come in here unless you're Jesus, the President, or someone important" sign. I decided I was important enough to go in that way........I was wrong.
I took the approach that I would walk nonchalantly past that sign and try to look like I knew what I was doing. I got about 5 steps past the sign when a big dude in a suit with a mic in his ear said, "SIR! Where are you going?"
I really wasn't prepared for this guy to be there b/c he was kind of situated where you couldn't see him when you were out in the foyer. I had no option but to lay on the Southern accent and say, "WELL HI THERE!!! I'm just kinda wanderin' around. Do you know where the bathroom is?"
He didn't buy it. Oh, I'm sure he bought the Southern accent part. He just didn't buy it to the extent that he was going to let some dumb redneck wander around the Capitol.
"Sir, you need to turn around." he replied.
I had no choice but to say, "Alright then. Ya'll have a nice day now, ya hear!"
This same scenario polayed out about 4 more times. I'll be damned if the Capitol isn't well guarded! Who'd a thunk it?
One time, after getting turned away, I was walking off trying to find some other trouble to get into and I happened to look back over my shoulder and see a Capitol policeman walking about 3 steps behind me. I turned left. He turned left. I turned right. He turned right.
At this point I'm thinking, "Holy shemp! I'm about to get arrested in the U.S. Capitol! That's going to suck to have to tell my family that I got arrested in the Capitol." I could just see myself sitting in some dark, basement lock-up with a spotlight shining on my face getting interrogated by some guys in black suits. Thankfully, I don't think he was really after me as I finally lost my "tail".
I wandered around a little bit more but decided I had pressed my luck enough and went back to the hotel.
The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. The poster presentation went well. The conference was primarily attended by a bunch of "science" folks (i.e. chemists, biologists, etc...) and was therefore not really that interesting in that I didn't have a clue what many of them were talking about.
I've already covered the pain in the rear that was getting home so this pretty much concludes my trip.
Good time. Love DC! I could spend about a week or more there going through all the museums and stuff.
Glad to be home!
Junior is doing great! I need to post more pictures don't I?!??!??!??!??!!!!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Global Warming Post
I know I said I'd be off until Monday but I can't resist applying common sense to global warming.
Read THIS INTERESTING BLOG.
Good stories from DC coming next week. Tune in.
Read THIS INTERESTING BLOG.
Good stories from DC coming next week. Tune in.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
No Blog Entries Until Monday
Dear All,
I'll be on the road for the next few days and most likely will not update the blog until Monday.
Everyone have a great weekend!
Best,
Pappa
I'll be on the road for the next few days and most likely will not update the blog until Monday.
Everyone have a great weekend!
Best,
Pappa
Monday, March 12, 2007
You Might be a Redneck Parent if....
If you can guess which of these actually apply to us and Junior, I'll send you a cookie.
You might be a redneck parent if...
...your baby's crib consists of a spot on the floor outlined in cinder blocks.
...you have ever put tin foil on the antenna of your baby monitor to improve reception.
...you have ever wondered why they don't make a baby toupe to cover up those bald spots.
...you hope your baby's first words are the name of your favorite NASCAR driver.
...you have ever told your wife, "There's no need to give the baby a bath tonight. I've had him/her laying on the ground all day and the dog has licked him/her all over."
...your baby's crib collapsed and ten animals perished underneath.
...you've ever wondered why bars don't serve a mix of formula and Jim Beam.
...you have the same number of teeth as your newborn.
...you've ever tried to set your baby up with one of his/her cousins.
...you've ever tried to cut crystal meth with baby formula.
...you've told your significant other that you already have plans for your baby to get a job when they turn 12.
...the highest aspiration you have for your baby include the words "manager" and "Dairy Queen".
...your baby owns a Mississippi State starter jacket or bib.
...the first baby gift you received was a "log" of Skoal.
...you don't understand why babies can't spit Skoal juice as far as you and your wife can.
...you wish your boss would let you druel and poop your pants just like your baby does.
...the first song your baby ever heard was Willy Nelson singing "Crazy".
...you hope your baby enjoys Willy Nelson's, "I've Gotta Get Drunk and I Sure Do Dread it" as much as you did when you were a kid.
...you said the words, "Hey son, watch this!!!" when you were driving your baby home from the hospital.
...your baby's stroller has a lift kit installed on it.
...your baby's stroller has a sticker on the back with Calvin peeing on a Chevy/Ford logo.
...your baby's stroller has an 80's era Trans Am "screaming chicken" sticker on it.
...you rock your baby to sleep at night singing Lynerd Skynerd's "Freebird".
...you've ever used your baby as collateral on a new truck.
...your wife ever scolded you for saying "Wooo Pig" to your baby before saying "I love you."
...you taught your baby to "Call the Hogs" while he/she was still in the womb.
...you think a c-section is right next to the smoking section.
...you dress your baby with clothes you bought using Marlboro miles.
...your wife didn't scold you for saying "Wooo Pig" to your baby before saying "I love you."
...you've wondered if your baby's first words will be the dog's name, mamma, or da da.
...one end of your baby's crib has an animal mounted on it.
...you found it in yourself to watch your baby's birth by thinking of cleaning game, because you normally can't stomach the sight of such mess.
...you've ever explained to your baby that, "What happens at duck camp, stays at duck camp."
...you've ever wondered if your other baby's mamma/daddy knows about your current baby's mamma/daddy.
...you've ever gotten in a fight because someone said your baby boy was "beautiful".
...you took your baby to the vet for his/her immunizations.
...your pediatrician has the letters "DVM" behind his/her name.
...you named your baby girl "Bessie" b/c you just like the name of the family cow so much.
...your baby's stroller is currently up on cinder blocks in the front yard b/c you're trying to find that squeek.
...there's an old, empty freon drum next to your baby's crib.
...you own a bib that has "No Fear!" embroidered on it.
...you use old pieces of carpet as a baby blanket.
...you refer to your baby as part of a litter.
...you use saw dust as a changing table.
...you've ever explained to your baby the intricacies of how "Rubbin is racin."
...the birth of your baby was announced over the loudspeaker at the local dirt track speedway.
...you compared your baby's birth weight to the largest bass you've ever caught.
...you have a sticker on the back of your car that reads, "My baby could kick your honor student's ass."
...you show pictures of your baby to friends and then immediately transition to showing them pictures of that 10 point you shot last year.
...you refer to your baby's weight in terms of the size of shotgun shells: "Well, he started off as a 4-10 but I've been mixing Crisco in with his formula so now he's up to a 10 guage."
...you tried to plan conception, and subsequent birth, around football/duck/deer season.
...you ever THOUGHT about planning conception, and subsequent birth, around football/duck/deer season.
...you hope you live long enough to see great grandbabies and to see the Hogs win a National Championship in football.
That last one's a freebie. You know that applies to me.
You might be a redneck parent if...
...your baby's crib consists of a spot on the floor outlined in cinder blocks.
...you have ever put tin foil on the antenna of your baby monitor to improve reception.
...you have ever wondered why they don't make a baby toupe to cover up those bald spots.
...you hope your baby's first words are the name of your favorite NASCAR driver.
...you have ever told your wife, "There's no need to give the baby a bath tonight. I've had him/her laying on the ground all day and the dog has licked him/her all over."
...your baby's crib collapsed and ten animals perished underneath.
...you've ever wondered why bars don't serve a mix of formula and Jim Beam.
...you have the same number of teeth as your newborn.
...you've ever tried to set your baby up with one of his/her cousins.
...you've ever tried to cut crystal meth with baby formula.
...you've told your significant other that you already have plans for your baby to get a job when they turn 12.
...the highest aspiration you have for your baby include the words "manager" and "Dairy Queen".
...your baby owns a Mississippi State starter jacket or bib.
...the first baby gift you received was a "log" of Skoal.
...you don't understand why babies can't spit Skoal juice as far as you and your wife can.
...you wish your boss would let you druel and poop your pants just like your baby does.
...the first song your baby ever heard was Willy Nelson singing "Crazy".
...you hope your baby enjoys Willy Nelson's, "I've Gotta Get Drunk and I Sure Do Dread it" as much as you did when you were a kid.
...you said the words, "Hey son, watch this!!!" when you were driving your baby home from the hospital.
...your baby's stroller has a lift kit installed on it.
...your baby's stroller has a sticker on the back with Calvin peeing on a Chevy/Ford logo.
...your baby's stroller has an 80's era Trans Am "screaming chicken" sticker on it.
...you rock your baby to sleep at night singing Lynerd Skynerd's "Freebird".
...you've ever used your baby as collateral on a new truck.
...your wife ever scolded you for saying "Wooo Pig" to your baby before saying "I love you."
...you taught your baby to "Call the Hogs" while he/she was still in the womb.
...you think a c-section is right next to the smoking section.
...you dress your baby with clothes you bought using Marlboro miles.
...your wife didn't scold you for saying "Wooo Pig" to your baby before saying "I love you."
...you've wondered if your baby's first words will be the dog's name, mamma, or da da.
...one end of your baby's crib has an animal mounted on it.
...you found it in yourself to watch your baby's birth by thinking of cleaning game, because you normally can't stomach the sight of such mess.
...you've ever explained to your baby that, "What happens at duck camp, stays at duck camp."
...you've ever wondered if your other baby's mamma/daddy knows about your current baby's mamma/daddy.
...you've ever gotten in a fight because someone said your baby boy was "beautiful".
...you took your baby to the vet for his/her immunizations.
...your pediatrician has the letters "DVM" behind his/her name.
...you named your baby girl "Bessie" b/c you just like the name of the family cow so much.
...your baby's stroller is currently up on cinder blocks in the front yard b/c you're trying to find that squeek.
...there's an old, empty freon drum next to your baby's crib.
...you own a bib that has "No Fear!" embroidered on it.
...you use old pieces of carpet as a baby blanket.
...you refer to your baby as part of a litter.
...you use saw dust as a changing table.
...you've ever explained to your baby the intricacies of how "Rubbin is racin."
...the birth of your baby was announced over the loudspeaker at the local dirt track speedway.
...you compared your baby's birth weight to the largest bass you've ever caught.
...you have a sticker on the back of your car that reads, "My baby could kick your honor student's ass."
...you show pictures of your baby to friends and then immediately transition to showing them pictures of that 10 point you shot last year.
...you refer to your baby's weight in terms of the size of shotgun shells: "Well, he started off as a 4-10 but I've been mixing Crisco in with his formula so now he's up to a 10 guage."
...you tried to plan conception, and subsequent birth, around football/duck/deer season.
...you ever THOUGHT about planning conception, and subsequent birth, around football/duck/deer season.
...you hope you live long enough to see great grandbabies and to see the Hogs win a National Championship in football.
That last one's a freebie. You know that applies to me.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
The Hogs Made It In!!!
I'm not sure this is the best thing for the program long-term, but I am happy for Stan and the kids.
I'll be on the road and probably won't be able to watch the game so we'll see if they're still playing at this time next week.
The folks at Syracuse and Drexel are none too happy. They've got a point but wait...oh yeah...I don't care what folks from Syracuse and Drexel think.
That game today was a complete embarassment. The Hogs quit with 10 minutes left in the game. Were they tired? I'm sure they were. Was Nolan's team tired in 2000 during the championship game when they had similarly played 4 games in 4 days? I'm sure they were. Did they quit with 10 minutes left? Nope.
Granted, Florida is probably the best team in the country right now but quitting is not acceptable. Similar to when the Hogs turned down an NIT bid in one of Stan's earlier season b/c the "team was not emotionally ready to play any more games."
They quit then too. This is why I don't like Stan's teams. They have no identity or heart.
Oh well. What are we supposed to do? The powers that be haven't asked me my opinion so I guess I'll just enjoy watching the Hogs and let those that can do something about it worry about these issues.
Soooooooo....
GO HOGS!!! BEAT USC (in basketball at least)!!!!!
Pappa
I'll be on the road and probably won't be able to watch the game so we'll see if they're still playing at this time next week.
The folks at Syracuse and Drexel are none too happy. They've got a point but wait...oh yeah...I don't care what folks from Syracuse and Drexel think.
That game today was a complete embarassment. The Hogs quit with 10 minutes left in the game. Were they tired? I'm sure they were. Was Nolan's team tired in 2000 during the championship game when they had similarly played 4 games in 4 days? I'm sure they were. Did they quit with 10 minutes left? Nope.
Granted, Florida is probably the best team in the country right now but quitting is not acceptable. Similar to when the Hogs turned down an NIT bid in one of Stan's earlier season b/c the "team was not emotionally ready to play any more games."
They quit then too. This is why I don't like Stan's teams. They have no identity or heart.
Oh well. What are we supposed to do? The powers that be haven't asked me my opinion so I guess I'll just enjoy watching the Hogs and let those that can do something about it worry about these issues.
Soooooooo....
GO HOGS!!! BEAT USC (in basketball at least)!!!!!
Pappa
Just When You Thought it was Safe to Go Back in the Water
The pundits are saying the Hogs may have to win today to get in the tournament. Stan may not be safe yet.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
First Nice Meal With Junior in Tow
A couple of weeks ago I proctored some exams for a professor up here. He didn't have to do this but, in return for proctoring these exams, he gave me dinner for two at the "U Club".
The U Club is a university sponsored (or at least affiliated) country club type thing. Mamma and I went there for dinner tonight and I've gotta tell you, it was pretty swanky. Great food! I had some tomato/crab dip, shimp bisque, a filet, and some turtle cake. Mamma had some thai chicken lettuce wraps, french onion soup, cashew chicken and some cheesecake. Everything was AWESOME except for the cashew chicken and it wasn't bad. Just a little bland.
Anyway, Mamma and I decided that we would try to take Junior with us tonight when we went. This is quite a risk b/c our reservations were for 6 PM and Junior starts getting sleepy (read: cranky) at 7 PM....but we conveniently forgot about that.
Things worked out great though. Junior did start getting a little cranky at 7 PM (almost to the minute) but we picked him up and he was fine. Then he fell asleep in Mamma's arms and slept through the rest of the meal.
One lady stopped at our table and was amazed at how quiet Junior was being. She said that she and her husband had just had their first enjoyable meal IN 6 YEARS with their kids present. Junior's a good little feller. He laughed louder during the meal than he fussed when he did get cranky. Hard to complain.
On another note: The marathon training starts tomorrow (Sunday). 3 miles. I don't know if I'll be able to run the entire 3 miles but I'm going to travel 3 miles on foot at one speed or another. I'm sure I'll feel like a "pre-owned" diaper afterward.
On another another note: The SEC Championship is at 1 PM EST. Tune in.
The U Club is a university sponsored (or at least affiliated) country club type thing. Mamma and I went there for dinner tonight and I've gotta tell you, it was pretty swanky. Great food! I had some tomato/crab dip, shimp bisque, a filet, and some turtle cake. Mamma had some thai chicken lettuce wraps, french onion soup, cashew chicken and some cheesecake. Everything was AWESOME except for the cashew chicken and it wasn't bad. Just a little bland.
Anyway, Mamma and I decided that we would try to take Junior with us tonight when we went. This is quite a risk b/c our reservations were for 6 PM and Junior starts getting sleepy (read: cranky) at 7 PM....but we conveniently forgot about that.
Things worked out great though. Junior did start getting a little cranky at 7 PM (almost to the minute) but we picked him up and he was fine. Then he fell asleep in Mamma's arms and slept through the rest of the meal.
One lady stopped at our table and was amazed at how quiet Junior was being. She said that she and her husband had just had their first enjoyable meal IN 6 YEARS with their kids present. Junior's a good little feller. He laughed louder during the meal than he fussed when he did get cranky. Hard to complain.
On another note: The marathon training starts tomorrow (Sunday). 3 miles. I don't know if I'll be able to run the entire 3 miles but I'm going to travel 3 miles on foot at one speed or another. I'm sure I'll feel like a "pre-owned" diaper afterward.
On another another note: The SEC Championship is at 1 PM EST. Tune in.
Stan May Have Just Saved His Job
Congratulations to Stan Heath and the Hogs!!!!
I think the odds are pretty good that the Hogs make the tournament now. Florida HAS to beat Ole Miss, and some other games have to work out as they should, but I think the Hogs might get in albeit with a pretty crappy seed.
This may go without saying, but I didn't think they had it in 'em. Where did this team come from?!?!? They played with some grit, hustle, and determination. They always had the talent. They just rarely played with the hard-nosed effort that it takes. I'm impressed.
Now, I really don't think that the Hogs beat Florida tomorrow (assuming FL wins). However, if they put on a good show I think that the odds are close to 100% that they make the tournament.
The most frusterating thing is that this team should have RUN AWAY with the Western Division.
Nobody ever argued with Stan Heath the person. It's just Stan Heath the motivator/coach that people were frusterated with.
What's going to be interesting is if the Hogs make the tournament, and lose in the first round AGAIN, does Stan keep his job? Only the powers that be know that answer.
None of that is important right now. What's important is that the Hogs showed up these last couple of weeks and no true Hog fan out there ever WANTED them to lose. They might have wanted a new coach. I know I did/do. But they never wanted the team to lose.
I wish Stan nothing but the best and hope he can find a way to keep his job IF he can get the team to play at a high level of intensity during the regular season.
Go Hogs!!! Beat FL/Ole Piss!!!!
I think the odds are pretty good that the Hogs make the tournament now. Florida HAS to beat Ole Miss, and some other games have to work out as they should, but I think the Hogs might get in albeit with a pretty crappy seed.
This may go without saying, but I didn't think they had it in 'em. Where did this team come from?!?!? They played with some grit, hustle, and determination. They always had the talent. They just rarely played with the hard-nosed effort that it takes. I'm impressed.
Now, I really don't think that the Hogs beat Florida tomorrow (assuming FL wins). However, if they put on a good show I think that the odds are close to 100% that they make the tournament.
The most frusterating thing is that this team should have RUN AWAY with the Western Division.
Nobody ever argued with Stan Heath the person. It's just Stan Heath the motivator/coach that people were frusterated with.
What's going to be interesting is if the Hogs make the tournament, and lose in the first round AGAIN, does Stan keep his job? Only the powers that be know that answer.
None of that is important right now. What's important is that the Hogs showed up these last couple of weeks and no true Hog fan out there ever WANTED them to lose. They might have wanted a new coach. I know I did/do. But they never wanted the team to lose.
I wish Stan nothing but the best and hope he can find a way to keep his job IF he can get the team to play at a high level of intensity during the regular season.
Go Hogs!!! Beat FL/Ole Piss!!!!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Hogs Win and Socialized Medicine
HOGS WIN!!! HOGS WIN!!!
Wow!!! What a game!!
I'm sticking to my guns though, if for nothing else b/c it seems to be good luck: Stan Heath's last game as a Hog is tomorrow.
If the Hogs win tomorrow, they are VERY likely to go to the tournament and Stan keeps his post. We'll see. I say Hogs lose.
On another note:
Do you want to know what socialized medicine looks like: Walter Reed.
Can we ever put the idea to bed that (completely) socialized medicine is a good thing? When there's no accountability, too much paperwork, and too much bureaucracy, you have defined a government run organization where nothing gets done.
If the government won't take care of injured soldiers do you think they'll take care of Aunt Gertrude?
Idea from Ronald Bailey.
Wow!!! What a game!!
I'm sticking to my guns though, if for nothing else b/c it seems to be good luck: Stan Heath's last game as a Hog is tomorrow.
If the Hogs win tomorrow, they are VERY likely to go to the tournament and Stan keeps his post. We'll see. I say Hogs lose.
On another note:
Do you want to know what socialized medicine looks like: Walter Reed.
Can we ever put the idea to bed that (completely) socialized medicine is a good thing? When there's no accountability, too much paperwork, and too much bureaucracy, you have defined a government run organization where nothing gets done.
If the government won't take care of injured soldiers do you think they'll take care of Aunt Gertrude?
Idea from Ronald Bailey.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
The Hogs Won!!!
I admit I was wrong. However, I stand by my original feeling that the Hogs WILL NOT win tomorrow.
Stan needs to win 3 games to make the tournament. If Stan makes the tournament, Stan keeps his job.
I will never root against the Hogs but I think that if they make the tournament this year, and Stan keeps his job, I think that's bad for the program long-term.
Think Nolan Richardson 2000 (I think it was 2000). Nolan was (believe it or not) about to get fired in 2000 until he won the SEC tournament and made it to the NCAA tournament. I think we then lost in the first round and Nolan continued to drive the program into the ground.
I don't think Stan would intentionally drive the program into the ground but his teams play with no heart for most of the year and that will lead to continued losses and him getting fired eventually. Getting to the tournament this year only delays the inevitable.
I won't root against the Hogs but I hope the best thing happens for long-term benefit of the program.
Stan needs to win 3 games to make the tournament. If Stan makes the tournament, Stan keeps his job.
I will never root against the Hogs but I think that if they make the tournament this year, and Stan keeps his job, I think that's bad for the program long-term.
Think Nolan Richardson 2000 (I think it was 2000). Nolan was (believe it or not) about to get fired in 2000 until he won the SEC tournament and made it to the NCAA tournament. I think we then lost in the first round and Nolan continued to drive the program into the ground.
I don't think Stan would intentionally drive the program into the ground but his teams play with no heart for most of the year and that will lead to continued losses and him getting fired eventually. Getting to the tournament this year only delays the inevitable.
I won't root against the Hogs but I hope the best thing happens for long-term benefit of the program.
In Honor of Stan Heath's Last Game as Hog
Call me pessimistic. Really, I never WANT the Hogs to lose. I just don't have much faith in Stan Heath's teams. Especially outside of Bud Walton. The Hogs have already lost to SC once this year. I think they lose again today. I'll be at the local sports bar cheering, but I'm afraid this is Stan's last game as a Hog. In honor of Stan's last game, I present to you the following bit of Youtube humor.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Junior is Starting to Get on a Sleep Schedule
He still wakes up at night a few times but he hits the rack around 7 PM on a regular basis.
Oh yeah, he still poops.
Temperatures are warming up here starting in the next couple of days. HIGHS IN THE 40's FOR A FEW DAYS AND EVEN A DAY OR SO CLOSE TO 50!!!!!
This is the time of year where I start to hate even the sight of snow on the ground. I mean, I'm literally angry at snow as stupid as that sounds.
If I see a snow "clod" on the road, I'll swerve to hit it. I intentionally step on the same clods if they're on the sidewalk. I consider it doing my part to better my environment by breaking apart the snow so it melts faster.
The closing date on our house got moved up to 4/27 at the sellers request. That's the Friday before the Monday we were going to close. No biggie.
That's all the news that's fit to print....or at least all I can think of right now.
Adios,
Pappa
Oh yeah, he still poops.
Temperatures are warming up here starting in the next couple of days. HIGHS IN THE 40's FOR A FEW DAYS AND EVEN A DAY OR SO CLOSE TO 50!!!!!
This is the time of year where I start to hate even the sight of snow on the ground. I mean, I'm literally angry at snow as stupid as that sounds.
If I see a snow "clod" on the road, I'll swerve to hit it. I intentionally step on the same clods if they're on the sidewalk. I consider it doing my part to better my environment by breaking apart the snow so it melts faster.
The closing date on our house got moved up to 4/27 at the sellers request. That's the Friday before the Monday we were going to close. No biggie.
That's all the news that's fit to print....or at least all I can think of right now.
Adios,
Pappa
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Marathon
A few friends of mine and I have decided that we're going to run the Dallas White Rock Marathon on December 9th, which also happens to be Junior's birthday!
Make plans to come to Dallas that weekend and celebrate Junior's first and our completion of our first (only?!?!?) marathon.
Make plans to come to Dallas that weekend and celebrate Junior's first and our completion of our first (only?!?!?) marathon.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Human Caused Global Warming is B.S.
Then again, that's just my opinion and I've got an axe to grind b/c I can't stand the global cooling...er...overpopulation....er...global warming, yeah that's it - global warming, tree hugging hippies.
Do I want clean air? Well, yeah! Who doesn't want clean air. Do I think that humans are causing climate change of a global proportion? Hell no. We humans are an entirely too arrogant group with a complete lack of perspective. We can't even model the supply chain of a large corporation yet we create models of our global climate, based upon a litany of assumptions, and then purport that humans causing climate change is FACT.
THINK FOR YOURSELVES, PEOPLE! POLITICAL CORRECTNESS HAS RUN AMOK!
Further, why don't we get alternative explanations for global warming as the Brittish do?
CLICK ME
One of the more interesting points in that snippet is that increased CO2 levels may actually be CAUSED BY GLOBAL WARMING...not vice versa!
If humans would actually stop and think about how little we truly know about our world, we would laugh at people who claim to know all the answers about a system so huge that we cannot begin to fathom its enormity. Hell, we can't even predict what the weather is going to do next week very well yet the wackos will tell you what it's going to do 100 years from now (and FURTHER OUT!!). Pardon me if I'm skeptical...and not just b/c I hate hippies.
Thanks to Darren at Right on the Left Coast for finding this.
Do I want clean air? Well, yeah! Who doesn't want clean air. Do I think that humans are causing climate change of a global proportion? Hell no. We humans are an entirely too arrogant group with a complete lack of perspective. We can't even model the supply chain of a large corporation yet we create models of our global climate, based upon a litany of assumptions, and then purport that humans causing climate change is FACT.
THINK FOR YOURSELVES, PEOPLE! POLITICAL CORRECTNESS HAS RUN AMOK!
Further, why don't we get alternative explanations for global warming as the Brittish do?
CLICK ME
One of the more interesting points in that snippet is that increased CO2 levels may actually be CAUSED BY GLOBAL WARMING...not vice versa!
If humans would actually stop and think about how little we truly know about our world, we would laugh at people who claim to know all the answers about a system so huge that we cannot begin to fathom its enormity. Hell, we can't even predict what the weather is going to do next week very well yet the wackos will tell you what it's going to do 100 years from now (and FURTHER OUT!!). Pardon me if I'm skeptical...and not just b/c I hate hippies.
Thanks to Darren at Right on the Left Coast for finding this.
Teachers Get in a Huff
I've gotten one comment and one e-mail since my post yesterday regarding teachers getting 4.5 months per year off. I'll emphasize this now and several times hereafter, the following is not directed to those who sent these to me yesterday!
Both the comment and the e-mail were from people with jobs in the academic community at differing levels. Both the comment and the e-mail made the point that "teachers don't really get as much time off as I implied yesterday."
OK, let's get something straight. This is a hot-button issue with me b/c, even though I am a teacher, I get sick of teachers moaning and groaning.
(note: the comment and e-mail were NOT "moaning and groaning"...the above just references teachers in general)
As the old saying goes, the reason why academic disputes are so fierce is because so little is at stake. There is no whinier (sic) group in the world than the academic community (again, not referencing the persons who commented on my post yesterday). This includes all levels of teachers from pre-k to university.
I say this b/c I "is" one. I am exposed to these folks on a daily basis. Those who have not yet come to the realization that having the ability to sit on the beach (or wherever you may choose to be) in the summer time and do research DOES NOT CONSTITUTE WORK are convinced that they are abused b/c they have to work in the summer.
Different disciplines and schools have different ways of doing things. In business, we don't have to report back to anyone about what we did with our summers. If you do research, you report what you submitted/got published that year at the end of the academic year. It doesn't matter if you did it during the summer or not. One would be strongly advised to do it during the summer b/c that's when you have the most "long blocks of time". However, let's assume for the sake of argument that you have to report back to a tenure/promotion committee about what you did that summer. So what?
"Dear Committee, despite the fact that you cannot fire me b/c I have tenure, therefore if I do not sleep with a co-ed or poop on the dean's desk I cannot get fired, or will not fire me b/c it makes work for you, I am taking (read: wasting) my time reporting back to you on what I did this summer. I attended a few meetings this summer that I really didn't want to attend b/c they impinged on my time. I exchanged e-mails and phone calls with students that were not happy about their grades last spring. I taught one 8 week class b/c you pay me a crapload of money to do so. I sat around and sipped on fruit smoothies while "working" on research. Here's a list of the publications I worked on:
1. Professor, I'm a Doofus (2007), "I Put a Lot of Work Into Writing this Title Despite the Fact That Nobody is Ever Going to Read this Article," Journal of Dust Gathering, 4(1), p. 3444-4332.
2. Buttscratcher, Sally (2007), "I Call Doing Research Work Because The Hardest Work I've Ever Done is Untangling Butt Hair in the Shower," Journal of Nobody's Going to Cite this Article, 1(2), p. 999-1234.
3. Shrunkenutts, Don (2007), "Reasons I Haven't Broken a Sweat in 10 Years: My Life Growing up Upper Middle Class and Sacking Groceries as a Teenager," Journal of Unreproduceable Results, 44(8), p. 1-33.
4. Fatheiney, Garth (2007), "The Unfathomable Congnitive Reasoning of an Academic Malcontent: You Know I'm Complaining When My Mouth is Moving," Journal of Teachers Who Need to Dig Ditches for a Summer So They Realize What Real Work Is, 1(1), p. 44-222.
In summary, I probably could have done nothing this summer b/c all you would do is send me a hateful letter that will amount to nothing as long as I publish in accordance with the quantity and quality of journal articles (that nobody will read) as generally accepted by the department. Best, Whiny Teacher"
OK, so let's assume that teachers don't really get that much time off in the summer/spring break/fall break. Do you get some time off during these times? Yes. Could you/do you take at least 8 weeks off every year? The answer is most likely "Yes" you could, even if you don't. Are you paid a 9 month salary that most folks would be happy receiving in 12 months? Yes, and you can supplement this with summer work. Do you get better benefits that 99% of the working population? Yes, especially if you work for the public school system.
So, all of us teachers should do the following: 1) get a grip on reality, 2) if you think you're working too hard, go install HVAC equipment in 150 degree attics for a summer and then come back and tell me that your "work" is really work, 3) come to terms with the fact that you are paid well for what you do, 4) quit complaining: aferall, life is GOOD!, 5) realize that simply b/c you don't "like" grading papers, don't "like" responding to students, don't "like" doing anything that impinges on you doing what you like doing DOESN'T MEAN THESE THINGS ARE "WORK!", 6) realize that the reason you vehemently hate things that impinge on your time is because you've gotten so used to having so much time.
I could go on and on...
TEACHERS OF THE WORLD (including Pappa): HERE YEE!! HEAR YEE!!! WE HAVE IT GOOD!!! QUIT YOUR DAMNED COMPLAINING!!!!
Both the comment and the e-mail were from people with jobs in the academic community at differing levels. Both the comment and the e-mail made the point that "teachers don't really get as much time off as I implied yesterday."
OK, let's get something straight. This is a hot-button issue with me b/c, even though I am a teacher, I get sick of teachers moaning and groaning.
(note: the comment and e-mail were NOT "moaning and groaning"...the above just references teachers in general)
As the old saying goes, the reason why academic disputes are so fierce is because so little is at stake. There is no whinier (sic) group in the world than the academic community (again, not referencing the persons who commented on my post yesterday). This includes all levels of teachers from pre-k to university.
I say this b/c I "is" one. I am exposed to these folks on a daily basis. Those who have not yet come to the realization that having the ability to sit on the beach (or wherever you may choose to be) in the summer time and do research DOES NOT CONSTITUTE WORK are convinced that they are abused b/c they have to work in the summer.
Different disciplines and schools have different ways of doing things. In business, we don't have to report back to anyone about what we did with our summers. If you do research, you report what you submitted/got published that year at the end of the academic year. It doesn't matter if you did it during the summer or not. One would be strongly advised to do it during the summer b/c that's when you have the most "long blocks of time". However, let's assume for the sake of argument that you have to report back to a tenure/promotion committee about what you did that summer. So what?
"Dear Committee, despite the fact that you cannot fire me b/c I have tenure, therefore if I do not sleep with a co-ed or poop on the dean's desk I cannot get fired, or will not fire me b/c it makes work for you, I am taking (read: wasting) my time reporting back to you on what I did this summer. I attended a few meetings this summer that I really didn't want to attend b/c they impinged on my time. I exchanged e-mails and phone calls with students that were not happy about their grades last spring. I taught one 8 week class b/c you pay me a crapload of money to do so. I sat around and sipped on fruit smoothies while "working" on research. Here's a list of the publications I worked on:
1. Professor, I'm a Doofus (2007), "I Put a Lot of Work Into Writing this Title Despite the Fact That Nobody is Ever Going to Read this Article," Journal of Dust Gathering, 4(1), p. 3444-4332.
2. Buttscratcher, Sally (2007), "I Call Doing Research Work Because The Hardest Work I've Ever Done is Untangling Butt Hair in the Shower," Journal of Nobody's Going to Cite this Article, 1(2), p. 999-1234.
3. Shrunkenutts, Don (2007), "Reasons I Haven't Broken a Sweat in 10 Years: My Life Growing up Upper Middle Class and Sacking Groceries as a Teenager," Journal of Unreproduceable Results, 44(8), p. 1-33.
4. Fatheiney, Garth (2007), "The Unfathomable Congnitive Reasoning of an Academic Malcontent: You Know I'm Complaining When My Mouth is Moving," Journal of Teachers Who Need to Dig Ditches for a Summer So They Realize What Real Work Is, 1(1), p. 44-222.
In summary, I probably could have done nothing this summer b/c all you would do is send me a hateful letter that will amount to nothing as long as I publish in accordance with the quantity and quality of journal articles (that nobody will read) as generally accepted by the department. Best, Whiny Teacher"
OK, so let's assume that teachers don't really get that much time off in the summer/spring break/fall break. Do you get some time off during these times? Yes. Could you/do you take at least 8 weeks off every year? The answer is most likely "Yes" you could, even if you don't. Are you paid a 9 month salary that most folks would be happy receiving in 12 months? Yes, and you can supplement this with summer work. Do you get better benefits that 99% of the working population? Yes, especially if you work for the public school system.
So, all of us teachers should do the following: 1) get a grip on reality, 2) if you think you're working too hard, go install HVAC equipment in 150 degree attics for a summer and then come back and tell me that your "work" is really work, 3) come to terms with the fact that you are paid well for what you do, 4) quit complaining: aferall, life is GOOD!, 5) realize that simply b/c you don't "like" grading papers, don't "like" responding to students, don't "like" doing anything that impinges on you doing what you like doing DOESN'T MEAN THESE THINGS ARE "WORK!", 6) realize that the reason you vehemently hate things that impinge on your time is because you've gotten so used to having so much time.
I could go on and on...
TEACHERS OF THE WORLD (including Pappa): HERE YEE!! HEAR YEE!!! WE HAVE IT GOOD!!! QUIT YOUR DAMNED COMPLAINING!!!!
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Spring Break
Yesterday symbolized the precise reason why I have the 2nd overall best job in the world and the absolute best job in the world for my age group.
The best overall job in the world is being a rock star. If you're a kid in your twenties, there couldn't be a much better job than that. Yet, we all get a little older (hopefully! ...the alternative ain't no fun) and, as Hank Williams, Jr. says,
"The hangovers hurt more than they used to.
Cornbread and iced tea took the place of pills and 90 proof"
I was a beer man (I've never been a "pills" guy and "90 proof" only very sparingly) during my wilder days but the principle remains the same: when you get older, you either change your ways or feel miserable every day.
This brings me to my point, I have the best job in the world for my age. First, I enjoy going to work every day, even during weeks like this one where I put in about 60-70 hours (edit: I first typed 70-80 but then calculated how many hours a day I'd have to work to reach 80 and I didn't work THAT much!!!).
Second, I've got a job where I can always make more money if I want to. I got a call yesterday from my old officemate who is now a professor at Northeastern University in Boston. He said that Accenture (consulting firm) asked him to find someone who would like to do research full time, get paid $140 - $180,000/yr, and move to Boston. My officemate asked me if I would be interested. To which I replied that I don't believe I'm ready to move to Boston yet. Point being, there are always opportunities.
Third, I get about 4.5 months a year off if I want to take it. Professors are paid on a 9 months salary, but during those 9 months you have Christmas, spring break, fall break, etc... By my calculation, that adds about another 1.5 months onto the 3 summer months.
The reason I bring this up is because yesterday was the last day of school before spring break at MSU. One of my professors here told me one time that he has a great job because if he "doesn't show up one day...no one dies." Well, nobody died at MSU yesterday, but nobody showed up either. The office was EMPTY! No professors. No students. Nothing. The best part is, the odds are that none of the professors even called in to say, "Hey boss. Not coming in today." They just didn't show up...and...no one cares!
This is the best thing about academia: the lifestyle. Work on what you want to work on, no boss (in the formal sense of the word), no set schedule, none of that crap that makes a "real job" suck. Now, the fact that nobody has a "real" boss means that there is very little accountability. This means that all things move at a glacial pace, which can be VERY frusterating. However, you take the good with the bad.
I've got the best job in the world (for my age group) because I'm on spring break this week but I'm still going to go into work. Why? Because I want to, but if I didn't want to, nobody would care or be any worse off.
The best overall job in the world is being a rock star. If you're a kid in your twenties, there couldn't be a much better job than that. Yet, we all get a little older (hopefully! ...the alternative ain't no fun) and, as Hank Williams, Jr. says,
"The hangovers hurt more than they used to.
Cornbread and iced tea took the place of pills and 90 proof"
I was a beer man (I've never been a "pills" guy and "90 proof" only very sparingly) during my wilder days but the principle remains the same: when you get older, you either change your ways or feel miserable every day.
This brings me to my point, I have the best job in the world for my age. First, I enjoy going to work every day, even during weeks like this one where I put in about 60-70 hours (edit: I first typed 70-80 but then calculated how many hours a day I'd have to work to reach 80 and I didn't work THAT much!!!).
Second, I've got a job where I can always make more money if I want to. I got a call yesterday from my old officemate who is now a professor at Northeastern University in Boston. He said that Accenture (consulting firm) asked him to find someone who would like to do research full time, get paid $140 - $180,000/yr, and move to Boston. My officemate asked me if I would be interested. To which I replied that I don't believe I'm ready to move to Boston yet. Point being, there are always opportunities.
Third, I get about 4.5 months a year off if I want to take it. Professors are paid on a 9 months salary, but during those 9 months you have Christmas, spring break, fall break, etc... By my calculation, that adds about another 1.5 months onto the 3 summer months.
The reason I bring this up is because yesterday was the last day of school before spring break at MSU. One of my professors here told me one time that he has a great job because if he "doesn't show up one day...no one dies." Well, nobody died at MSU yesterday, but nobody showed up either. The office was EMPTY! No professors. No students. Nothing. The best part is, the odds are that none of the professors even called in to say, "Hey boss. Not coming in today." They just didn't show up...and...no one cares!
This is the best thing about academia: the lifestyle. Work on what you want to work on, no boss (in the formal sense of the word), no set schedule, none of that crap that makes a "real job" suck. Now, the fact that nobody has a "real" boss means that there is very little accountability. This means that all things move at a glacial pace, which can be VERY frusterating. However, you take the good with the bad.
I've got the best job in the world (for my age group) because I'm on spring break this week but I'm still going to go into work. Why? Because I want to, but if I didn't want to, nobody would care or be any worse off.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Wally Hall is a Freaking Idiot!
I cannot stand Wally Hall. Haven't liked him for years. However, his article today was low down. Specifically, the two following quotes:
Quote 1:
"Patrick Beverley is one of the most exciting freshmen in the SEC and overall a nice young man, but he needs to spendmore time in his English class and less time learning how to spin the truth.
"After the victory over Mississippi State he said: “Ain’t nobody going nowhere because we’re going to the NCAA Tournament. The media’s putting so much pressure on us, y’all making us tight.”"
Quote 2:
"The pro-Razorbacks crowd celebrated the appointment of John Tyson to the UA board of trustees Wednesday.
"Apparently, they feel he will not be swayed by the pro-Houston Nutt group."
Nobody is arguing that Patrick Beverley's use of the English lanugage is proper. I just think it is downright REPREHENSIBLE for a grown man (if you consider 5' tall grown) who happens to be the "sports editor" of the largest paper in the state to degrade an 18 year old kid in this manner.
Further, simply because Nutt called Wally out for his lies on the radio, does not mean that the rest of the state is either pro-Razorback OR pro-Houston Nutt. Wally is neither.
The sad part is that many people turn to Smally Balls for "inside" information. You want the facts: Wally doesn't attend football practices. Wally attends very few football games. WALLY DOES NOT HAVE INSIDE INFORMATION! Wally doesn't go to the Broyles Center and talk to coaches. The coaches won't talk to him. Wally isn't respected by his peers.
Wally is also the next best thing to illiterate when it comes to writing. Have you ever tried to read one of his columns? They are usually a string of one sentence paragraphs. If one is unable to put together a coherent paragraph/thought, one should not be a journalist...and Wally is not.
We're obviously returning home in about 3 months. There are several things I look forward to with regard to returning to Arkansas. Outside of the big things, like family and friends, I was looking forward to several little things. For example, I cannot wait to put an Arkansas license plate back on my vehicle. It's a little thing, but it really sank in that I was about to spend 4 years (that turned into 5) in MI when I removed my old Arkansas plate and replaced it with a Michigan plate.
Another little thing I was truly looking forward to was subscribing to the Democrat-Gazette. I have read that paper online EVERY DAY since I've been in MI. In college and graduate school I would look forward to waking up every morning so I could go get the paper, sit, and drink coffee while reading it.
Well, I'm going to sacrifice that pleasure until Wally Hall is gone. I'm not going to contribute my hard-earned money to a paper that employs a lieing charlatain who degrades young people.
In fact, I called the circulation director of the AR DEM GAZ to let him know how much I was looking forward to subscribing to the paper upon my return but that I would not be doing so because of Mr. Hall.
Looks like I'll be subscribing to the Log Cabin Democrat and looking forward to the day when Wally is no longer employed by the Democrat-Gazette. This time can come none too soon.
Quote 1:
"Patrick Beverley is one of the most exciting freshmen in the SEC and overall a nice young man, but he needs to spendmore time in his English class and less time learning how to spin the truth.
"After the victory over Mississippi State he said: “Ain’t nobody going nowhere because we’re going to the NCAA Tournament. The media’s putting so much pressure on us, y’all making us tight.”"
Quote 2:
"The pro-Razorbacks crowd celebrated the appointment of John Tyson to the UA board of trustees Wednesday.
"Apparently, they feel he will not be swayed by the pro-Houston Nutt group."
Nobody is arguing that Patrick Beverley's use of the English lanugage is proper. I just think it is downright REPREHENSIBLE for a grown man (if you consider 5' tall grown) who happens to be the "sports editor" of the largest paper in the state to degrade an 18 year old kid in this manner.
Further, simply because Nutt called Wally out for his lies on the radio, does not mean that the rest of the state is either pro-Razorback OR pro-Houston Nutt. Wally is neither.
The sad part is that many people turn to Smally Balls for "inside" information. You want the facts: Wally doesn't attend football practices. Wally attends very few football games. WALLY DOES NOT HAVE INSIDE INFORMATION! Wally doesn't go to the Broyles Center and talk to coaches. The coaches won't talk to him. Wally isn't respected by his peers.
Wally is also the next best thing to illiterate when it comes to writing. Have you ever tried to read one of his columns? They are usually a string of one sentence paragraphs. If one is unable to put together a coherent paragraph/thought, one should not be a journalist...and Wally is not.
We're obviously returning home in about 3 months. There are several things I look forward to with regard to returning to Arkansas. Outside of the big things, like family and friends, I was looking forward to several little things. For example, I cannot wait to put an Arkansas license plate back on my vehicle. It's a little thing, but it really sank in that I was about to spend 4 years (that turned into 5) in MI when I removed my old Arkansas plate and replaced it with a Michigan plate.
Another little thing I was truly looking forward to was subscribing to the Democrat-Gazette. I have read that paper online EVERY DAY since I've been in MI. In college and graduate school I would look forward to waking up every morning so I could go get the paper, sit, and drink coffee while reading it.
Well, I'm going to sacrifice that pleasure until Wally Hall is gone. I'm not going to contribute my hard-earned money to a paper that employs a lieing charlatain who degrades young people.
In fact, I called the circulation director of the AR DEM GAZ to let him know how much I was looking forward to subscribing to the paper upon my return but that I would not be doing so because of Mr. Hall.
Looks like I'll be subscribing to the Log Cabin Democrat and looking forward to the day when Wally is no longer employed by the Democrat-Gazette. This time can come none too soon.
Thought du Jour
“A man without money needs no more fear a crowd of lawyers than a crowd of pickpockets.”
– William Wycherley, English dramatist
– William Wycherley, English dramatist
Thursday, March 1, 2007
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