Thoughts on the NBA

It had to happen. There have been so many complaints about NBA officiating that an incident like this was bound to appear. Any time that I watched a game with even slightly knowledgeable fans last year, the common complaint was, "Man! These refs stink! What are they doing, trying to fix the game?" Sure, that's common in any sport, especially when your team is losing. In this case, though, the fix was in.

The main thing that Tim Donaghy apparently did was to affect the over/under line of the game. I'm sure that more will come out as this case progresses. But the big question that is hanging over the NBA right now like the Sword of Damocles is: Were any other refs involved?

How big is this? It's huge. It's "damage the sport for a decade or longer" huge. It's "how will refs be able to do their job without worrying about game fixing allegations" huge. Referees are human and will make mistakes. They are doing a tough job that involves constant running, judgment calls, and players who think that they are bigger than the game. So if they make a mistake, will the calls of "cheater" from the stands rain down on them? That isn't fair either. But it is going to happen.

Why did this happen? I'm sure there are a lot of reasons, but I want to point a finger at one in particular. Stu Jackson, who is in charge of Vice President of NBA Operations, is also in charge of the referees. He has sat on his throne like a modern day emperor, slapping down all implications of referee misbehavior or incompetence as though he is always right about everything. Guess what, Stu? You blew it! And it isn't just Donaghy that should pay the price. This was your domain and your watch, and you dropped the ball. Time to go, and if you go, it will be without a tear in the eye of any true NBA fan. It's time that the NBA got humble and realized it needs to make some changes. Change the way the refs are trained, paid, and policed. Change the playoff structure and even the conference structure to allow for more exciting playoffs. And change the atmosphere from one of "hip hop, male diva, gangsta" attitudes and get professional.

Boy, Mr. Stern. Mark Cuban is probably laughing his hiney off right now. Would you like a towel to wipe that egg off of your face?

Filling Space

It's been a couple of weeks, so let me fill some space with some more random thoughts.

SPORTS:
Wimbledon - What a great match between Federer and Nadal. I have to admit it, I am a Federer fan. Nadal is great, but I love the way Federer can dig down and find the "killer instinct". If he sees any weakness in an opponent, he has the skill to decimate anyone. That's what happened in the finals. Nadal showed some weakness in his knee (even though he seemed to be better as he went along after it was taped), and Roger got the mojo working. Five in a row. Amazing.
Kobe Bryant - Shut up, Diva. In the name of sanity and the hatred of whining everywhere, just shut up.
Summer League NBA - Who cares?
World League of American Football (NFL Europe) - I still remember going to a Sacramento Surge game when the league was new. Now it is defunct. Hey Commish, why not a developmental league here? It works for the NBA.

CULTURE AND NEWS:
Al Gore III - Daddy must be so proud. Possession of drugs. Speeding. (100 in a Prius???) But hey, at least the carbon signature was lower than if you did it in a Hummer, right?
Commutation for Scooter - I can't resist this. It had to be humanitarian, right W.? I mean, you probably imagined what fellow prisoners would do to a guy named Scooter, didn't you?
Polite Paris - An article on MSNBC.com talked about how the mayor of Paris wants locals to be more polite. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19680045/ ) One of the quotes was:

Tourists, too, were given tips like “try out French products” instead of heading to the first Starbucks in search of friendly service.

Let me be very blunt here, American tourists. If you go to Starbucks in Paris for coffee instead of any...and I mean ANY... local cafe or restaurant that serves coffee, you don't deserve to go to Paris and should be forced to take your next vacation at your local McDonalds. Yes. That's right. You should also be forced to wear a sign that says "Taste Challenged". Are we getting the picture here? I don't care how rude Parisians may seem, you simply deal with the perceived attitude and get the real coffee, not Starbucks! Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time. (Common Monty Python reference, for you French Taunter fans.)

COUNT YOUR SHEEP - Man, I love this web comic. Adrian, you're a genius. I urge everyone to keep an eye on this comic. Here's a great example:

http://www.countyoursheep.com/d/20070707.html

Be sure to check out his tshirts and such available at Zazzle.com.



I've been sick these last few days. You know what? I'd rather have a cup of Starbucks coffee in Paris than feel this way anytime soon.

Will France Change? Will the U.S.?

The elections are over. While the Socialists made some gains in the Asemblee Nationale, the UMP still holds the cards. Thus, Sarkozy may be looking ahead to some big changes in the way that France runs its economy. But hold on there, Monsieur le President! There are some roadblocks in your way. And I mean that literally!

While trying to change the length of the workweek and make things more palatable for business in France, Sarkozy will have to find a way to circumvent the unions and their habit of shutting down Paris. Sure, it sounds great for Sarkozy to say, "We are going back to the 40 hour workweek." But what happens next? Strikes, as always. And the worst strikes are always those that surround the transportation sector. So...what can Sarko do? There is a radical solution, and it may be his only hope: make strikes in the transportation and public safety sectors illegal. Thus, any strike by the RATP, SNCF, firefighters, police, or the like would be illegal. Then, he would have to have the guts to fire them if they strike and bring in the Army. Will it happen? It's doubtful. France has not been willing to do what it takes to fix what is wrong, and I'm not sure that Sarkozy has enough public support to do something like this. Still, one would think that Parisians would remember the recent strikes, with huge traffic jams and people walking into Paris because there was no Metro or RER service. I guess we'll have to see if Sarko will do what it takes.

Do you have the feeling, though, that when you look at U.S. politics that it's business as usual here as well? The Dems took over Congress, made promises, and promptly went back to the way things have always been. Before the U.S. interferes with other countries' political systems, shouldn't things be corrected at home? Just curious. Not that I'm involved or that I espouse one party over another. It just cracks me up, that's all.

Quick Shout to a Fellow Blogger

Just in case you want to read a blog by a very sharp young person, click over to "Asia's Personal Chronological Log of Thoughts". It's a nice blog by a shy but extremely bright friend of mine.

http://asiavou.blogspot.com/

Random Thoughts of the Week

Sometimes I like to rant. OK...I frequently like to rant. Here --- catch!

Paris Hilton: Let me get this straight. She serves a few days in jail and then, due to unexplained "medical reasons", she has to serve her full sentence (with no time off for good behavior -- I can't believe I wrote that without falling off my chair) at home. A Hilton home. And that's tough...how? And why do I have the feeling that her condition has to do with some form of the D.T.s? Now, now ... There's no proof of that, sir.

Stan Van Gundy: Well, Sacramento's Kings were scorned by Stan Van Gundy, who has decided to sign as the coach of the Orlando Magic. To that I say, "Whew!!!". I was never hot on the idea. I'm still an Elston Turner fan, but I think he burned his bridges with the Maloofs. I'm just hoping that Kurt "Laker" Rambis won't get the nod. Not because he's forever linked with the Lakers, but because I think he might try to bring the triangle offense to Sactown. Not a good match for the crew we've got. Calling Terry Porter! Terry Porter, white courtesy phone, please.

Ford is #1 in quality: Mmmphh.....pffftt.....BWAH HA HA HA HAAAAAAA!!! Ahem...sorry. That just got away from me. Latest news release - J.D. Power survey ranks Ford as #1 in quality. In the same release, J.D. Power announces that the Yugo and Pinto are #1 and #2 as best small cars in history.

OK. Done for now. Gonna try to up the frequency of this blog, even if no one is reading it.

Sports Day!

Well, with so many things going on in the sports world right now, I wanted to throw in some random thoughts (especially since I haven't written about sports in a while!)

• The Sacramento Kings ended up with the tenth pick in the lottery. I keep reading all of the mock drafts and I have come to an important conclusion: Geoff Petrie never does what people expect him to do. Therefore, I say to all of those who are making up these mock drafts - just leave the Kings guess blank. You're almost guaranteed to be wrong when you try to figure out what they are going to do!
• The coaching interviews go on in Sacramento, and the only thing we know for sure is that everyone is glad that the Maloofs are staying out of it. The recent forays of the owners into the day-to-day aspects of running the team have given us the release of Rick Adelman, the acquisition of Ron Artest, the hiring of Eric Musselman, and the firing of Eric Musselman. Joe...Gavin...you have been great at running the business side of the team (except for your recent PR disasters with the arena). Let Petrie do his job. He's one of the best.
• The Raiders have drafted JaMarcus Russell as their quarterback of the future. Does anyone else see the poor guy suffering hit after hit because the Raiders have no blocking?
• The 49ers have done a great job this offseason. I still have too many doubts about Alex Smith, though.
• Real football (aka soccer) continues in the U.S. in the form of the MLS. Here in Northern California, though, we really don't care. Oh, it isn't because people don't like the sport (although it seems that most don't.) Rather, it's because our San Jose Earthquakes, now known as the Traitors in Houston, don't exist. With the difficulties that seem to be appearing in the quest for a new stadium in San Jose, we may end up burying the idea of a new team forever. Yet there is that nagging rumor that Placer County may be up for building them an arena. Can you just see it? The Roseville Earthquakes? The Lincoln Quakes? The Placer Quakes? The California Earthquakes? (That last one sounds bad, doesn't it?) In any case, I'd still like to have a team to root for.
  
• Finally...it's official. Clinton Portis needs to have elective surgery to either sew his mouth shut or remove his foot from it. I know this is old news, but it's been driving me nuts. How could anyone, regardless of his education, think that you can do whatever you want on your own property? "Yeah...well, this is my house and I can store nuclear waste here if I want to!" No, Clinton, you can't. You can't commit a felony by staging dog fights. You can't kidnap neighbors. You can't kill someone. What you can do, however, is go on an interview show and prove that you're a complete moron. Oh wait...you already did.

Ahhhh....I feel better now. Sports thoughts released. Now returning to our regular programming.

Whales In Sacramento Redux

It's deja-vu all over again! Twenty-two years ago, a wayward whale nicknamed Humphrey the Humpback wandered into the Sacramento River. He eventually made his way out and an affectionate legend was born. This week, however, the legend is reborn in the form of a mother and calf that have made it all the way up to West Sacramento. They haven't been given names yet, but here they are a long way from home.

People tend to romanticize this situation and think that it's pretty neat to have these whales swimming around. But let's look at the circumstances logically instead. These are two whales a long way from where they should be. It appears that someone got too close to them while they were in the river and both are now injured. (People can be really stupid sometimes in their pursuit of selfish pleasures, can't they?) If these whales don't turn around soon, chances are that they will die. -- Hey folks! Isn't it cute? Two dead whales in the Sacramento River! Awwwwww, how adorable! -- That isn't going to be as much fun, is it? Instead of turning it into a sightseeing tour, people need to get away from the levies (which are having enough trouble) and get away from the whales (who are confused, hurt, and not doing well), and let the specialists try to lure them out. Whales are beautiful in their own way, but not when they are in this much trouble.

Still, I can't help thinking that some private filmmaker is going to be writing a story called "Star Trek 10 - The Voyage to the Delta (Quadrant)" with the tagline, "There be whales here!"

Studio 60, We Hardly Knew Ye

Well, NBC has completed their journey to the dark side. They have gone completely over to the side of inanity and gimmickry and announced the cancellation of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. What have they decided to keep? Well, you can be thrilled with more episodes of shows like Deal or No Deal. Even Heroes, which is higher quality than Deal, is still more geared towards shock value than quality, but at least there are a few redeeming features.

Why the big deal about Studio 60? Let me take you back in time. Way back in the "old days", there was a little show with a little following. In many cases, this show would have been canceled, but NBC decided to give it time to find an audience, because the president of the network thought that quality should count for something. The title of that series was Hill Street Blues, and it did find an audience and became one of the most appreciated police dramas in television. Want another example? How about a show that focused on the happenings in the White House? It was given time to find its legs, and became another hit. It was a quality show that assumed that the public was smart enough to "get it". That show was, of course, The West Wing, an Aaron Sorkin masterpiece.

Sorkin came back this season with another intelligent series, with witty, quick-moving banter and story lines. Instead of giving it a chance to find its audience, NBC kept pre-empting it with other programs (a special Deal or No Deal??) and making people go weeks between episodes. Is it any wonder that it couldn't find an audience? Now, after no opportunity whatsoever, NBC is pulling the plug.

What does this tell us about network television? It tells us that corporations are running the networks with nothing more than dollar signs in their eyes and no concern about quality. Is it really a surprise that cable networks are killing the free networks? It isn't because they have more money or sponsors. It's because they take a chance on quality. Shows like Monk, Psych, or even Mythbusters wouldn't have a chance on NBC, but are huge hits for USA and Discovery. Frankly, I'm insulted that NBC thinks that my intelligence is lower than theirs. I long for the days when a network president would give quality a chance. I miss West Wing. NBC...you've lost a viewer.

Let's be careful out there.

How Stupid Can French Protesters Be?

OK...just a quickie here.

Sarkozy elected president. Claims he will be a president for all of France. Vacations on a billionaire's yacht. Not too bright, but hey, he's the President-elect and won't be recalled for it. Just not a big public relations coup.

My main thing is the protesters. Once again, they start burning cars and clashing with police, calling Sarkozy a facist. (Have they already forgotten what a facist really is? I don't think Sarkozy is looking to put any Jews, Roma, or Jehovah's Witnesses in a death camp.) But on top of it...this:

In Paris, about 150 protesters shouting "Sarko, fascist!" clashed with police in the Bastille district. In the suburbs, youths set fire to a nursery school and torched cars in a garage.

In Lyon, some 200 demonstrators clashed with police, while UMP party offices were set ablaze in the nearby town of Villeurbanne.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6638301.stm

OK, guys. You're calling someone a fascist and then torching a nursery school??? There are some people in this world that truly qualify as idiots. Congratulations, protesting youths...you are overqualified for the word.

France Has Chosen

I just finished listening to the BBC World Report. They had a special edition on the French elections. After hearing the different reactions from the French politicos and people, I have a few thoughts to relate:

1) Nicolas Sarkozy is a driven man. He has wanted the presidency for a long time, and now he has it. There have been some negative comparisons to Napoleon - a short man driven to rule - and feel that while negative, they do have some merit. Not the "short" part, mind you, but the driven part. Even though Napoleon is viewed by many today as a crazy, power-hungry loon, the fact is that Napoleon was largely responsible for the look of Paris today, as well as the Codes that are still used to govern France. Sarkozy is driven, that's for sure. But no one can really say what direction he will ultimately take the country. One of the main problems that he sees in France is the business climate, and he sees that as causing many other problems that are offshoots from that one. He isn't wrong. When a country has high unemployment and bored youth, as well as poor immigrants who can't find work, there are bound to be social and criminal problems. Put people to work, and problems diminish. The only way that will happen is to remove some of the burdens that the Socialist governments have put on business. That's one of Sarkozy's main goals. Will he be able to implement it? That leads to item #2.

2) The Leglislative elections that are coming up are vital for any chance of success for Sarkozy's programs. If the French really wanted Sarkozy to do something, then the people are going to have to follow up the presidential elections with a legislative group that is in favor of change. The problem with France's multi-party system is that it is very difficult for the Assembly to speak with a single voice, or even two voices. The multitude of platforms makes it tough for a leader to get what he needs to implement policy. Sarkozy needs a majority to make it happen.

3) The Socialists still don't get it. Listening to the comments of one of the Socialist leaders, I realize that they don't really see what's happening. They see France as a left-leaning country and Sarkozy as a dangerous villain. But when asked if they need to change, the interviewee stated that they need to examine the reasons for the loss, but just need to find a new candidate with experience. Hello? Are you hearing what the people are telling you? They are tired of eight percent unemployment! They are tired of strikes interfering with their daily lives! The Socialist agenda didn't work. That isn't to say that Sarkozy's agenda will. No human government can ultimately succeed, because humans aren't capable of guiding their own steps, as the Bible tells us. Still, this is three losses in a row for the Socialists. If a dog gets swatted on the nose with a newspaper often enough, he learns not to use the carpeting as his personal toilet. The Socialists have been swatted several times now. They need to stop wetting themselves and take an honest look at their failures.

OK...enough politics. I'm sick of it. This old system keeps proving the Bible's point and that we need the Kingdom to rule. Want more proof? The Dems and Republicans have been debating in the U.S. Watch...learn...gag...

Tough Decision for France

When a country arrives at a crossroad, it's always interesting to observe which path its people takes. In the case of France, we see a clear-cut decision placed before her citizens, and it is truly fascinating to watch.

First....to be redundant and repeat what I always do...I don't get involved in politics. I don't feel that any official can truly make things better for people. Only God can do that. But, I do like to observe cultures and the way that people react to situations. That's why I'm writing about France's elections today.

For years under Mitterand, France had been careening down a Socialist path. High taxes paid for increasing social programs that served no real benefit for the economy. Then, along comes Chirac, who was supposed to be a fiscal conservative. The problem was that his p.m. was a Socialist, so that nothing could really get done. One thing that DID get done, and horribly so, was a change to a 35 hour work week. That slowed the economy farther. In addition, due to restrictions put on companies, youth unemployment sits at over 25% because companies won't hire a young person who is untested and cannot be fired. When a proposal was made that would allow a company to fire a newly hired person if they didn't work out, riots ensued. In fact, it seems as though France has been one riot after another.

So, we come to the election. There cannot be a more striking gap between the two candidates. On one side is Sarkozy, who is pro-America, pro-business, and fiscally conservative. He wants to get rid of the 35 hour work week, eliminate some of the mass of social welfare programs, and make it more difficult for public employees to strike. Sounds good, right? The problem is that for years the French people have violently opposed any proposal that might take away some of their "God-given" rights, such as the right to strike for a damaged toenail. Still, Sarkozy has the lead in the polls right now.

On the other side is Royal. She is a relative newbie to politics. She is a Socialist who wants to increase the social programs so that the youth of France will be taken care of better. Of course, that will mean increasing taxes, but what the hey? Her downfall, however, has been her self-contradictions and gaffes. People see her as too inexperienced. She is also anti-Bush, but who isn't these days?

Now the fun begins. Will France elect the conservative Sarkozy? If they do, will they allow him to implement his programs? Will they elect Royal? If they do, will France ever be relevant again? Who will the centrist voters of Bayrou turn to? So many questions. But this may turn out to be one of the most meaningful elections in France in years. It may, in fact, determine if France ever becomes a major player on the world stage again. Both candidates are from the younger, post-World War 2 era. In the end, however, the candidates will not be the ones who decide on France's path. The people of France will need to decide once and for all if they are willing to make drastic changes to fix what is holding them back. That may include giving up some of the freebies that they think they are entitled to have.

Interesting...

Tragedy in Virginia

I was going to start this with some thoughts about Imus' firing. However, not only has that topic been beaten to a pulp, but now a news story is breaking about an incredible horror story at Virginia Tech. As of this moment, MSNBC is stating that 31 people are dead in a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech University. The gunman apparently started at a dorm around 7:30 this morning, and then moved over to an engineering and math building about 2 1/2 hours later. Details are still sketchy, but it is the worst murder spree at a school in U.S. history, and that includes Columbine.

It would be easy to rant here about gun control, safety in our schools, college life and the like. But in the end, these kinds of changes wouldn't fix the problem. The problem lies within the hearts and behavior of people.

Not all people are as wicked as this gunman. That's obvious. There are many people who give of their time, their effort, and their hearts to help others. Even those that don't actively volunteer to help others may still be nice folk and lend a hand from time to time. But people still look out their windows and are afraid. Some fear crime, some fear war and terrorism, and some fear natural disasters. There are those who live on little or no money and are hungry every day. The world is an unsafe and in general, an unkind place.

I want to tell anyone who reads this, though, that there is hope. Please take a moment and visit the following website for information:

http://www.watchtower.org/library/dg/article_09.htm

You can also go to the main page and get answers to other questions.

I can't say it any better than the site does. It's a terrible day for all who love peace, but there is still a way to enjoy safety in this troubled world.

Foreclosures

The news is filled with stories of the rise and fall of the "Subprime Lenders".

As I understand things - I say it this way as I did not buy a home over the last few years - loan companies came out of the woodwork to offer Interest Only Loans for new homeowners. After a specified amount of time, the payments would readjust to allow for new interest rates. These loans were even being offered to those with low or downright poor credit ratings. Now, people are having great difficulty paying the new monthly amounts. Loan companies are failing. Foreclosures are growing. Thus, I ask this question: What the heck did you expect????

The problem is that people want everything right away. They aren't willing to wait. Thus, they got loans that they couldn't afford, with the idea that interest rates would stay low or they could just flip the house and make a huge profit before the payments went up. Nice dream. The reality was that the housing market began to tank because people pushed up house prices because they got into a bidding war to see who could buy the biggest and best property with the least down. Housing prices in my area are so high that I can't even begin to think of purchasing a home.

I should feel sorry for these people, I really should. And I do feel sorry for those who were badly deceived by loan companies, some of which falsified or grossly inflated applicants' income so they would qualify for a loan. These are people that I feel sorry for because they just didn't do their homework. I also feel sorry for those who were scraping by and either lost their job or had medical bills or some other tragedy crop up. But for those who were just looking to make a quick buck, to brag about what they owned, or to just let the bank foreclose when the interest went up I say: Nyahh, nyahh, nyahh. (Okay...so that was childish.) Still, I have little sympathy for those who were greedy.

What happens now? Do housing prices come down to a more realistic level? I don't know. I'm not an economist, realtor, or other form of expert. I just hope that people will learn to live within their means and be satisfied with the basic needs of life. But in California, I doubt it.

Time Marches On!

Do you ever have the feeling that the day only has 12 hours instead of 24? Well, that's the way it's been lately. So, instead of apologizing once again for my failure to post for any of my one or two readers...let me move on boldly and full speed ahead.

Politics are funny. Anyone who has dared to read this blog knows that I don't get involved in them. But I do laugh at them. California has decided to move its primary up several months to have a bigger say in who gets nominated for President. But not so surprising is that a number of other states are trying to do the same thing. The law of the land says that Iowa and New Hampshire get first dibs on primaries, so none of the other states can usurp that position. But you have to ask yourself; what happens if almost all of the other states hold their primary on the same day? The answer? You get about 9 months of endless commercials and photo ops with the two winners. You think you get sick of it now? Just wait, folks.

If it comes down to that, though, can you imagine what else that means? It means that candidates will have to enter the race and start earning money almost as soon as the previous election is over! They will have less time to make their names known and get their faces in front of the public, so they'll need to start earlier and they'll need to raise more money and do it faster than ever. Imagine that. November elections are over, and you have a new President. He or she outlines what the administration hopes to accomplish in the first 100 days. After the 100 days..."oh, by the way, I'm running for re-election!" Time to throw the tv and newspaper out the window to avoid the endless campaigning.

I really don't like the way the French government operates in a number of areas. But maybe their idea for a national election would work the best. It would have to be modified for the U.S., though. Maybe a single primary election that takes place, say, on a day that would be designated a holiday or a weekend day. Then, about two weeks later...the presidential elections. Wouldn't that be interesting??

Anyway, on to other things. Over the weekend, someone got the bright idea that it would be fun to burn a railroad trestle in Sacramento, California. Yes, some bonehead arsonist decided to torch a creosote-laden wood railroad trestle. Not only did it burn for a few days, and not only did it pour pollution into the air that just hung over the city and caused no end of respiratory ills, but it will cost about $30 million to rebuild it and will delay trains by nearly a day as they have to take alternate routes. Anyone up for harsher penalties for arsonists? Pardon me...I have to cough.

Let's talk sports for a moment, shall we? Yes, I think we shall. The Sacramento Kings are looking abysmal. After looking so good for so long, this season is a wreck. But why? What happened? Since it's my blog, I'm going to chime in. First, the Maloofs should stay out of Geoff Petrie's way. Petrie is one of the best, if not THE best, GM in the league. He has an eye for talent and getting the most bang for the buck. But then, in stepped the Maloofs, who decided that Rick Adelman was too boring for them as coach. Even though it was Adelman who was able to get a bunch of average players to work together and was able to find the strengths of each player and use them to the best advantage, the Maloofs canned him. Want proof of Adelman's skill? Where are the following players now, and what are they doing: Jason Williams, Doug Christie, Yogi Stewart, etc., etc., etc. Adelman got their best and they thrived in Sacramento. Anyway, then the Maloofs demanded and got Ron-Ron Artest, who can't decide if he wants to jack up threes, starve his dogs, alienate his teammates, or hit his wife. There's a prize acquisition! And now, even if he wanted to, Petrie is going to have a hard time moving him. Joe and Gavin, please....focus on cooperating with the city and getting a new arena built. Sacramento needs one, there is no doubt. Make it happen. Work with people instead of against them. Focus on the running of the franchise and of making your paying public happy. Let Petrie make the player and coach moves. There are few better. You guys were at your best when you were into public relations and letting the GM do his job.

More soon...I hope. If anyone is actually reading this blog, drop me a comment! I would like to know if I'm just a voice crying out into the wilderness with nothing but an echo for an answer!

Wii were just wondering...

OK...so I didn't live up to my billing. I didn't improve my blog record. Mea culpa. I guess I could say I've been so busy with school, family, and spiritual life that I just didn't have time. Well...I will say it! So there.

Around October of 2K6, the big question was whether the PS3 or Nintendo Wii would rule the video game world in December. I think it's been decided that the Wii has taken the crown. (the wii-ner?) But why? Why would such a strange little system beat the powerful PS3? The answer, I think, is playability. As the years have gone by, I have found little to like in video game systems. Not that the graphics were bad or anything like that. I just wonder how in the world I'm supposed to remember a 10-button code to throw a forward pass! Along comes the Wii, with its controller and nunchuck. If you haven't seen it, go to Nintendo's website. This thing detects motion, and is bundled with the system and the Wii Sports game. I couldn't believe that I was bowling with this thing, and the controller was reading everything from the speed that I threw to the twist of the wrist. Amazing.

And fun. My son had a graduation party at a friend's home, and as things died down a little, one of the guys hooked up the Wii. Very quickly, a crowd gathered, as they took turns playing tennis, bowling, and any of the other games. But it wasn't just the players having fun. The spectators were having a blast commenting and kibbitzing. In the end, it was a hit.

No, I didn't really want one. But now I do. The problem is...I just can't find one! I've found them in bundle deals, where instead of $250 you have to pay $650 and choose 6 or 7 games to bundle with it. I don't want 6 or 7 games! I want the Wii (and everything that comes with it), an extra controller and nunchuck, and maybe Madden 07. That's all for now! Why can't I find that?? The reason is that Nintendo just can't pump them out fast enough, and retailers figure that they can make more by forcing folks to buy games. That's just low. If people want games, they'll buy them. Don't make us do it.

In the meantime, I'll keep hoping that Nintendo can ramp up their production. I'll be patient. Really. But I'm also disabling ebay from my computer for now. Less temptation.

French and American: Really so different?

My wife and son just got back from Paris, and from what they told me and what has been going on lately, I'm beginning to think that the French aren't as different from Americans as many may think. I'm going to give just four examples here, and you can decide for yourself.

McDonald's: There are more and more of the restaurants in Paris. Surprisingly, it isn't just the food that attracts Parisians. In Paris, if you want to use the bathroom of a cafe or restaurant, you almost invariably have to buy something. Not at McD's. You can walk in and use a clean bathroom without buying. Americans take that for granted, but it's new in France and is a very popular idea. Unfortunately, it seems that artery clogging is becoming more common as well. The fast food craze is leading to higher levels of heart disease in France. How American is that?

Starbucks: Yes, that's right. Starbucks is in Paris and is growing by leaps and bounds. My son counted three within a few blocks of each other. Now why, you may ask, would Starbucks be so popular when you can get some of the world's best coffee at any sidewalk cafe? Besides the drinks, one reason is a very un-French reason: the drinks cost the same whether you drink it there or take it to go. In Paris, if you want to eat or drink at the restaurant or cafe, the price is higher because you are basically renting the table. However, that isn't the way in the U.S., and it isn't the way at Starbucks. You pay the same price for your beverage no matter where you're going to drink it. So, even though it goes against tradition, the Parisians are leaping at the idea. (Starbucks also does the bathroom thing that McDonald's does, but I won't go into that.)

Smoking: The French are getting ready for a ban on smoking in public places. Seems that Chirac stopped smoking a while ago and wants others to do the same. Very American, eh? Even though some are protesting the idea, chew on this fact. Another reason that Starbucks is popular in Paris is...that it is a non-smoking establishment! The French seem to be ready for the ban on smoking and there appear to be many who are already embracing it.

Politics: If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that I don't get involved in politics. But there is something similar going on in France and the U.S. that struck me, and I had to point it out. The most popular candidate for president of France right now is a woman named Segolene Royal. She is the Socialist candidate (leftist), is very attractive, has little real political experience, is a media darling, and has hoards of fans to the point where she is almost a rock star.
Where's the similarity? I present to you one Barack Obama. Let's see...left wing, attractive, little political experience, is a media darling, and has hoards of fans to the point...you get the picture.

So...are the Parisians and Americans really so far apart, or is it just another form of "let's hate someone who isn't just like us" going on? Time to quit picking on the French, folks. They're more like you than you might like to admit!

Online Translator Programs Crack Me Up!

Many years ago, there was a concern that computers would take over from humans. It's true that computers have changed life in many ways. Still, there's one area where computer software needs work: web-based translation programs. Why am I bringing this up? Not because I'm picking on those who are trying to succeed at this incredibly difficult task. No, it's just to point out some funny things that happen when you translate pages with Google.

I'm just going to give a few examples, but if you want to laugh, try using Google Translate on any page. (Mind you, it helps if you have at least some knowledge of the language you are translating to get the full humor.)

Here is some odd stuff from the front page of the web site for the Le Monde newspaper. (www.lemonde.fr)

In a section of the website focused on the Presidential election coming up in 2007, the headline is: La Campagne Heure par Heure, which means "The campaign hour by hour". Instead, it translates it "The countryside hour by hour". hmmmmm

Some other odd sentences:
Business the Russet-red one: silence, one doubts (huh??)
In Vernon, flamers of five and seven years (arsonists...not flamers )
Mr. the PEN does not see "not a disadvantage" with the pacs, promised with abrogation in the program of the FN. (Yikes!!! Let's start of with the man's name, Mr. LePen. The rest just gives me a headache!)
One more: Raffarin gives her support for Sarkozy for 2007 (In French, it's Raffarin apporte son soutien... how they got that Raffarin is a female, I'll never know, and I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate that!)

Anyway, it's fun to do. Try it! You never know what you'll get. And to those who are working so hard to get these programs working...keep working at it! You've made incredible strides. The problem is that it really takes the human element to really fine tune it. I'm not sure a computer will ever be able to handle the complexities of human language. That's a little comforting, isn't it?

A Shout Out to "Count Your Sheep"

Out in Internetland there are more online comics than you can shake a keyboard at. Some are quite good, while others....eh....

One of the absolute best, in my humble opinion, is a good-natured comic called "Count Your Sheep". The author and artist is Adrian Ramos, but he goes by Adis.

Link to "Count Your Sheep"

Now, I don't always see eye to eye with Adis, as my religious beliefs are obviously different than his. That having been said, Adis has created a webcomic that is charming, insightful, and just downright fun. I won't go into details...you have to see it for yourself. I'll give you a quick overview, though.

The main characters are Katie ( a little girl with a hatred for school and a love for soccer), Laurie (her widowed mother who is raising Katie on her own), and Ship the sheep. Ship is an imaginary sheep (as much as Hobbes was imaginary in Calvin's opinion). Ship is typical for his type of animal, as all Katie has to do is count him and she falls asleep. However, Ship is far more than that. He is a friend and confidant for Katie, but is also the same for Laurie, as Ship was Laurie's imaginary friend first. Laurie can still see him, so Ship is the family friend.

Anyway, I can't even begin to describe this comic except to say that you should take a look. Go back to the archives. Then, prepare to be won over.

As Adis concludes all his postings....now go to bed.

Excuses, excuses!

OK...so it's been awhile. Can I call it laziness? Yes. Will I? Yes, and no.

I can't really blame this on work. Even if things are crazy, they aren't crazy enough to keep me from writing something now and then.

Home life? Well, other than a car being stolen and recovered, (and having two teen sons), I can't really say that this part of my world is interfering.

My spiritual life? Busy...very busy. New assignments, new responsibilities...but again, does it keep me from writing a little blurb now and then? No.

So...the only choice left seems to be laziness. I will take that as one reason. The other is that I just plain don't have a lot to say. Except this: I take full responsibility for not posting. Isn't that refreshing? Someone taking responsibility for themselves? This leads to my rant for the day.

So many people want to blame anyone but themselves for things that happen. Someone spills hot coffee on their lap and blames the fast food chain for the coffee being hot. You know how it goes.

In the end, though, we need to be responsible for our own actions. If someone makes a mistake, admit it! Then, the one who was on the receiving end should forgive and forget. Isn't that easy? Could you imagine the reduction in lawsuits, anger, road rage, and the like if people just applied the Golden Rule and its corollary, self-responsibility? Imagine! "Sir, I'm sorry that I forgot my turn signal. It was irresponsible and it won't happen again. You have my apologies." "That's okay. We all make mistakes." No guns. No loud arguments. And everyone moves on.

So, the next time you make a mistake, don't cover it up. Just admit it, apologize if anyone was hurt or inconvenienced, and learn from it. What a concept.

To all who actually read these posts...I apologize. I'll try to post more often. (I feel better now. Don't you?)

I'm still alive...I think...

It occurred to me that it's been a whole month since my last post. That isn't good form for a blog, is it? So, I struggled and struggled to figure out what to write today, and to be honest, I haven't the vaguest idea. Thus, I'm going to go to my old standby of writing whatever comes to mind, which could be very dangerous or, at the least, very boring.

SPORTS
I'm not a huge fan of the professional game these days. There is so much free agency that it's tough to keep up with a team. Add to that the drug accusations and the incredible amount of money some of these guys make, and it's enough to make a bookworm out of any fan. That having been said, there are a few things of note lately.

The Oakland A's are in the playoffs. Why is that interesting? Look at the payroll. They get by on less money than just about any team in the league, yet they are always right up there. It's nice to see young guys playing their hearts out and having fun, so go A's!!!

The two Bay Area teams are going to meet this weekend in the Ho-Hum Bowl. Does anyone really care which team wins? Who actually wants bragging rights in this case? San Francisco has one win, and the Raiders have none. Again...who cares?

The Sacramento Bee recently did a poll showing that two ballot measures designed to pay for a new arena for the city is failing miserably. As anyone knows, I'm not political. But I do have to ask what the people of Sacramento are thinking. A sales tax hike of one quarter of one percent? Big deal! Half of that money goes to community services, and the other half goes to building a new arena on some horrible looking railyards to replace an arena that has outlived its useful life. The new arena will not only make downtown look great, but if we don't get it, I don't want to hear any of these yo-yos whining that we never get any concerts or events in town. Where do they want these events held; a local park?? These whiners need to get real and understand that if they want to play, they need to play. It isn't about how much money the Maloofs have. It's about taking care of the city that doesn't want to be called a Cowtown anymore.

SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

Sad. Nothing else to say. Just sad.

CONGRESSMEN

Sick. Nothing else to say. Actually, a lot to say, but I'm not going to say it.

HOUSING BUBBLE

What in the world did people THINK would happen? They overextend themselves, take out interest only loans, pay double what a house is worth and think that they will resell it...did they think it would go on forever???

FINALLY...

I'm still in my Sociology class and I hate it. I'll be glad when this semester is done. It's important to reassess priorities in life, and I think that mine may be to not worry so much about finishing a stupid Associate's degree. I think I'll focus on learning French, studying my Bible, becoming a better minister, and taking care of my family. Far more important than a lousy degree, don't you think?