sam's notes
notes on government, sports and popular cultureMonday, July 24, 2006
....I've moved. Please update blogrolls.
I was playing around with inserting images, so some of the posts don't have much to do with anything. But I'll leave them up anyway.
I was playing around with inserting images, so some of the posts don't have much to do with anything. But I'll leave them up anyway.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
....When it's your time.......
"......A 42-year-old woman on her way to Mexico for a vacation was killed about 5 a.m. today when her SUV was struck by an unattended tractor trailer that rolled onto Interstate 85.
"The truck rolled more than 1,000 feet down Cox Road, crossed the off ramp, then went down an embankment before breaking through a guard rail and entering southbound traffic. Maria Raquel Alvarez Gallardo of Cameron in Harnett County died at the scene, police said...."
.......it's your time
....."A man who is legally blind accidentally shot and killed his wife while trying to balance a plate of fried chicken and a pistol, authorities said......."
"......A 42-year-old woman on her way to Mexico for a vacation was killed about 5 a.m. today when her SUV was struck by an unattended tractor trailer that rolled onto Interstate 85.
"The truck rolled more than 1,000 feet down Cox Road, crossed the off ramp, then went down an embankment before breaking through a guard rail and entering southbound traffic. Maria Raquel Alvarez Gallardo of Cameron in Harnett County died at the scene, police said...."
.......it's your time
....."A man who is legally blind accidentally shot and killed his wife while trying to balance a plate of fried chicken and a pistol, authorities said......."
Friday, July 21, 2006
....They don't know what they've missed.....But there's still time, because tomorrow's time trial will decide the Tour de Fance, although there's a slim chance Sunday's ceremonial stage could have the final say.
Interesting that the article on the Tour's ratings without Armstrong note the decline in France, where an average audience of 37.7 percent watched the race in the first 15 days of the tour compared with 44.7 percent a year earlier.
We know damn well the French weren't tuning in to pull for Armstrong. Must have been like watching the Yankees in the playoffs. We watch and pray they lose.
Interesting that the article on the Tour's ratings without Armstrong note the decline in France, where an average audience of 37.7 percent watched the race in the first 15 days of the tour compared with 44.7 percent a year earlier.
We know damn well the French weren't tuning in to pull for Armstrong. Must have been like watching the Yankees in the playoffs. We watch and pray they lose.
........Interesting discussion over at Cone’s on North Carolina’s now-unconstitutional cohabitation law. Guarino’s getting his two cents’ worth in. I’d rush to his defense, but he does pretty good by himself.
Thing is, there’s a law forbidding just about every other personal choice in this country, with only more to come. Mind you, the TRC hasn’t come right out and said there ought to be a law requiring every Greensboro citizen to read the report, but they probably don't think it's a bad idea, either.
The fundamental debate over any law governing personal choice is over whom the law does or doesn’t impact. Motorcycle and seat belt laws are perfect examples. Opponents say it’s their business if they kill themselves; proponents argue that when opponents don’t finish the job, society’s stuck with the medical bills. (Although I’m sure Big Ben picked up his tab.)
Guarino’s simply arguing that cohabitation does, in many cases, harm innocent third parties: kids. It’s a reasonable argument, and who in their right mind wouldn’t support any measure to protect kids, even if it technically infringes on the rights of the childless?
My girlfriend certainly would. I’ve never actually heard Dr. Laura advocate for cohabitation laws. She just preaches that cohabitation is the poorest personal choice a woman can make, especially when children are involved. It just comes naturally after taking hundreds and hundreds of calls from women wondering why their kids are messed up while they’re all shacked up with some strange dude.
Thing is, there’s a law forbidding just about every other personal choice in this country, with only more to come. Mind you, the TRC hasn’t come right out and said there ought to be a law requiring every Greensboro citizen to read the report, but they probably don't think it's a bad idea, either.
The fundamental debate over any law governing personal choice is over whom the law does or doesn’t impact. Motorcycle and seat belt laws are perfect examples. Opponents say it’s their business if they kill themselves; proponents argue that when opponents don’t finish the job, society’s stuck with the medical bills. (Although I’m sure Big Ben picked up his tab.)
Guarino’s simply arguing that cohabitation does, in many cases, harm innocent third parties: kids. It’s a reasonable argument, and who in their right mind wouldn’t support any measure to protect kids, even if it technically infringes on the rights of the childless?
My girlfriend certainly would. I’ve never actually heard Dr. Laura advocate for cohabitation laws. She just preaches that cohabitation is the poorest personal choice a woman can make, especially when children are involved. It just comes naturally after taking hundreds and hundreds of calls from women wondering why their kids are messed up while they’re all shacked up with some strange dude.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
.....A nice spread, cold beer, pretty ladies, Rep. Harrison.
Looks like a good time.
Looks like a good time.
.....Why Wal-Mart works.......
Federal judge Frederick Motz overturns Maryland law requiring the retailer to spend 8 percent of its payroll on employee health care costs.
Great quote, from Terry Lierman, chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party:
"Judge Fred Motz is clearly more worried about Wal-Mart's bottom line than the bottom line of average working families in Maryland."
Somehow I think Judge Motz has more to worry about than Wal-Mart's bottom line.
Federal judge Frederick Motz overturns Maryland law requiring the retailer to spend 8 percent of its payroll on employee health care costs.
Great quote, from Terry Lierman, chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party:
"Judge Fred Motz is clearly more worried about Wal-Mart's bottom line than the bottom line of average working families in Maryland."
Somehow I think Judge Motz has more to worry about than Wal-Mart's bottom line.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
....Correction..... this the man who was wearing the yellow jersey......
......I think this guy forgot something: Support for the arts. Everyone knows liberals support artists while conservatives are constantly censoring them through cuts in funding.
As it turns out, the N.Y. Times addressed the issue of conservative artists with a look at documentary filmmakers.
As it turns out, there a few conservative documentaries out there to counter the many liberal documentaries that have been released in recent years.
But why aren't there more?
Director Wash Westmoreland:
“The origin of the word conservative is about not changing, accepting what is. And that’s never a very interesting thing to make a film about. The thing that drives you to make a documentary is seeing it as a way to social change. Societies with little conflict tend not to make interesting art.”
But the article goes on......
"The notion that conservatism is essentially static would probably come as a surprise to some of the exuberant right-leaning thinkers who have upended the talk-radio world......"
True. And it's been working to a great degree as conservatives gradually have been countering the mainstream media message that our country is constantly going to hell. I know there are filmmakers out there who aren't content with accepting what is......
As it turns out, the N.Y. Times addressed the issue of conservative artists with a look at documentary filmmakers.
As it turns out, there a few conservative documentaries out there to counter the many liberal documentaries that have been released in recent years.
But why aren't there more?
Director Wash Westmoreland:
“The origin of the word conservative is about not changing, accepting what is. And that’s never a very interesting thing to make a film about. The thing that drives you to make a documentary is seeing it as a way to social change. Societies with little conflict tend not to make interesting art.”
But the article goes on......
"The notion that conservatism is essentially static would probably come as a surprise to some of the exuberant right-leaning thinkers who have upended the talk-radio world......"
True. And it's been working to a great degree as conservatives gradually have been countering the mainstream media message that our country is constantly going to hell. I know there are filmmakers out there who aren't content with accepting what is......
.....This is the man wearing the yellow jersey:
"..... Landis is slow. He walks with a limp. He sits as often as possible and cannot cross his right leg over his left. He takes elevators instead of stairs, valet-parks at the shopping mall and sometimes has difficulty sleeping. Running is out of the question. Like many of the 216,000 Americans who will receive hip replacements this year, his life is defined by chronic, debilitating pain."
"..... Landis is slow. He walks with a limp. He sits as often as possible and cannot cross his right leg over his left. He takes elevators instead of stairs, valet-parks at the shopping mall and sometimes has difficulty sleeping. Running is out of the question. Like many of the 216,000 Americans who will receive hip replacements this year, his life is defined by chronic, debilitating pain."
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
....Kruk said the Braves should go ahead and deal John Smoltz.
Monday, July 17, 2006
......Yet another hiatus....What can I say, I've had projects to finish and places to be.....Longer days mean more time spent outside, which in turns means I don't have much to say when it's all over.
And what's to say? Hoggard had it right over at Guarino's when he told the fellas to carry on the horn-locking over various functions of the anus and the mouth.
Hey, we're on the verge of World War III anyway, so that matter might come up before a higher court real soon. And if all that's not bad enough, we're not far away from another November 3 in Greensboro.
Speaking of courts, gay marriage has taken a hit in the courts recently, most notably Nebraska's ban, which was approved by 70 percent of voters in 2000.
James Dobson said it best:
"This ruling is a textbook example of how courts should discharge their duties to interpret laws, not make them. The judges showed respect for the will of the 70 percent of Nebraskans who voted six years ago to keep marriage defined as the union of one man and one woman, noting in their decision that they were `highly deferential' to those who approved the amendment."
Other notes:
The N&R could use more articles and columns about family life.....
I'm damn glad I watched the replay World Cup final given everything that's been written about the Zadane head-butt. I would have felt left out....
The great Mel Allen spent some of his childhood here in Greensboro, according to a 1962 Sports Illustrated piece that's part of this collection......
The Reds may have fixed their bullpen problems. But now the Cardinals are playing well, though they stumbled tonight against the Braves....
And what's to say? Hoggard had it right over at Guarino's when he told the fellas to carry on the horn-locking over various functions of the anus and the mouth.
Hey, we're on the verge of World War III anyway, so that matter might come up before a higher court real soon. And if all that's not bad enough, we're not far away from another November 3 in Greensboro.
Speaking of courts, gay marriage has taken a hit in the courts recently, most notably Nebraska's ban, which was approved by 70 percent of voters in 2000.
James Dobson said it best:
"This ruling is a textbook example of how courts should discharge their duties to interpret laws, not make them. The judges showed respect for the will of the 70 percent of Nebraskans who voted six years ago to keep marriage defined as the union of one man and one woman, noting in their decision that they were `highly deferential' to those who approved the amendment."
Other notes:
The N&R could use more articles and columns about family life.....
I'm damn glad I watched the replay World Cup final given everything that's been written about the Zadane head-butt. I would have felt left out....
The great Mel Allen spent some of his childhood here in Greensboro, according to a 1962 Sports Illustrated piece that's part of this collection......
The Reds may have fixed their bullpen problems. But now the Cardinals are playing well, though they stumbled tonight against the Braves....
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