Welcome Back Kotter

So it has been a bit since I last posted, or so I was informed by Craig tonight.

About Thursday or Friday I had a good blog idea running through my head, but got lazy and while it is still there, I thought I would put it on hold.

I was going to blog about jobs tonight but don't want to jinx myself. I'm starting to become pretty "black cat" and "broken mirrors" with jobs. I should come up with something like not changing my socks until I get a new job. Or maybe a bad idea seeing how my feet would stink at interviews. hmmm.

I could go through some book reviews, but I'll wait til I get the two finished that I just bought until I do that.

What I will touch on briefly is the NCAA tournament. Was that not one of the best weekends of basketball ever?!? Thursday and Fridays games were pretty good (one bad traveling call let North Carolina survive) but Saturday and Sunday is when the action really picked up. 4 games, 2 amazing comebacks, 3 overtimes. Are you kidding me?

Louisville wins after being 20 down and West Virginia hitting EVERY three they put up. The Illinois game was probably the best. Down 15 with 4 minutes. They tie it and go into OT. The crowd shots were the best. Fans throwing up their arms in disbelief and their faces were priceless. Sports are a wonderful thing!

Yesterday saw a Double OT Michigan St./Kentucky game with a toe-line three point to tie it at the buzzer. By the way, who said the Big Ten was weak? Also, who is the only team to have played all four Final Four teams? That's right. Iowa. 2-4 against them this year. Beat Louisville and Michigan St. A nice fact to let us Hawkeye fans feel better about our season, but also makes one frustrated that they can't do better ALL season long. Not just when they are playing the "big boys."

To end, speaking of the Hawkeyes, my dad and I commented yesterday while watching the double OT game that we were just glad the Hawks were not a part of that game. If they had been, I may not be typing to you. I would be in a hospital someplace on oxyen or something. I was nervous watching those games enough. Later

What the (beep) is going on?

Okay, so I need to make a political rant here. I will stay off the whole Terri Schiavo case (the lady with the removed feeding tube)...I think that topic is on the news enough and is such a sad situation. One of my topics tonight though will sort of look like a Venn Diagram and interlock with this story.

Stop reading now if you don't like conspiracy theories or if you don't want to read about how government plays dirty/nasty games. Just a warning.

First...and this one I have the support of a staunch Republican on...does anyone smell something fishy with the gas prices and now the future drilling for oil in ANWR (Alaska National Wildlife Refuge)? What I'm smellin' is the Bush Administration having wanted to drill there for many moons now and using the high gas prices to their advantage. I am not saying they are keeping the prices high or raising them, but Bush Co. is definately telling Congress and us, "Look at those high gas prices, outrageous! Now if you just let us drill in ANWR they will go down...wink." Estimates are that ANWR only holds like 10 million barrels of oil. Iraq puts out like half that a day. Second, I have heard that gas prices by drilling in ANWR won't even go down until like 10 years from now and very measly reduction at that. But if drilling in ANWR means more oil and money for the oil companies that really run the government...so be it.

Second...and this one is more of a stretch but follow along...is what is up with the CONSTANT bashing of federal/district judges by right-wing pundits on talk radio. You cannot go one day wihout hearing Hannity say "these wackos are a threat to our livelihood, they want to impose their will on us by making policy from the bench, stop them now!" First of all, if something is so crazy of a decision, it will get turned around. There are plenty of judges. Second, if you think you can do a better job Hannity/Rush/Michael Savage, get off your butt and away from the mic and get a law degree and pass the bar and get a seat in a courtroom. I'm sure you wouldn't impose your will with "policy from the bench." Now here comes the crazy part...since this attack on federal/district judges began about a year ago...look at the increased crime rate TOWARDS judges. A Chicago judge had her family killed. The Atlanta dude shot the judge who was going to sentence him for rape. Then I hear Michael Savage on the radio say "I'm not for killing people, but these judges need to think about their decisions" (not word for word but close). Excuse me? Is the judge not just doing his/her job? What ever happened to people paying the price for their crime/actions and not blaming judges. I think talk radio should step up to the plate and assume some responsiblity for teaching listeners that judges are "evil." They have a job to do. If they think that the person bringing forth a case has a point, they will judge accordingly. If that was a bad ruling...it will get overturned. Take it easy. If they find that you should be punished to a life sentence rather than the possible 50 years, maybe you shouldn't have done the crime.

Had enough yet? Maybe for tonight. Later

64-32

Well, as I type Georgia Tech is sealing the deal to become the final team who moves into the round of 32. The best two days of the year are over with. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO BE EXCITED FOR THIS YEAR!!!! Okay, I'm exaggerating.

Seriously though, has anyone else ever thought that the first two days of the tournament should be declared National Holidays. I mean come on! Businesses lose an estimated $1.5 BILLION (yes, billion with a B) in lack of productivity over the course of the tournament. I know that the words "over the course" means the entire tournament, but these were the only two days when games take place during the actual work-day. The remaining games are on weekends or at night. Thus, I begin my official campaign that starting with the 2006 Tournament, the first two days are declared National Holidays. If Bush were able to get this passed, my opinion of him may change.

So, thoughts on the first couple days? It sucked. Iowa lost, UNI lost, ISU won. I have no problem with Iowa St. I DO have a problem with certain ISU fans wanting to rub in the fact that ISU won and Iowa lost. To the ISU team and to the good fans, I say congrats.

I have noticed in the past few years when Iowa was not in the tourney that my brackets are vastly better off. I'm such a sucker for taking Iowa to the Elite 8. What was I thinking?

Another "What was I thinking" moment...Picking Kansas. I didn't take them very far in any bracket I filled out, but I still feel like a darn fool for even picking those chokers. First, in the '90s they stole good Iowa players from the state schools and now they choke every year. To go with my campaign of a national holiday, I am also starting one calling for Kansas to be removed from the Union. Just get rid of them.

Syracuse!?! I had you in the Final Four, even the championship game (not winning though) in a couple brackets. Way to go! You officially lost a couple pools for me! By the way, any former Wartburgers have a special place in their hearts for teams with Orange. I found myself always going "Syracuse...Illinois...Oklahoma State....win, win, win" (Though Ok St. and Illinois are in the same region...I know some of you were ready to call me out on that one). Very fitting though that Bucknell, the team that beat Kansas, were wearing a certain color of uniforms...ORANGE.

Lyrics...

A lot of the readers here are big fans of music. The question I have then is how many of us really pay attention to the lyrics of our favorite songs? To be honest, a lot of times I dont. I know the lyrics and I sing along with them, but I don't pay too much attention to them. I'm more of a person who gets drawn in by the music and the beat. Occasionally though a song really gets me in both beat and lyrics. The follwoing song's lyrics can have a bunch of meanings. A longing for a past place in life; whether it be a town, a college life, a girl, friends that you miss....it just holds a lot in my opinion. So without further introduction, I present to you "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane...my apologies to copyright people. I'm sure Keane doesn't mind the free press ;)

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete

Oh Simple thing, where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when, you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

Oh Simple thing, where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when, you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it Somewhere Only We Know
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know

This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know

I'll be back soon with more about some interesting things at Lineville-Clio and the Townsley wedding. Later.

GO HAWKS!!!

Let the Madness begin...

Because CBS says so and have the support of the national patent and trademark office I cannot officially use the words "March" and "Madness" in the back to back order we commonly see it. But regardless of copyright laws, it is that time of year again. So let the Madness that happens in the month of March begin!!!!

Congratulations first and foremost to Iowa, UNI and...okay, ISU...for their invites to the "Big Dance." Having three state schools dancin' in March is an impressive feat. The Hawkeyes start their journey to the Final Four (wishful thinking) against Cincy. A tough matchup, but I like the way the Hawkeyes are playing lately. When you win five in a row and then finally lose, but on a heaved up three point shot that banks in (don't you have to call bank?), you know you are playing well. If they win that, they play the 2 seed Kentucky in the second round. How Iowa always gets stuck playing Duke or Kentucky in the second round is beyond me. Anyways, it will be tough, but it is March and we all know that Madness occurs then. Anything is possible.

All of the talk of Madness in March has me all pumped up to watch Hoosiers for like the 275th time. Does that movie ever get old? To make it better, they have just released a special edition DVD. Haven't got it yet, but it is on the list.

Anyways, my Final Four picks right now (besides the dream one of the Hawkeyes as one of the four): Illinois, Gonzaga (I think they finally get over the hump this year, kinda bold I know), North Carolina and Syracuse. Haven't really decided yet out of those four, but Illinois vs. North Carolina would be the dream matchup for this college basketball season (other than Iowa vs. whoever obviously).

One last note on the tournament..okay actually two. Iowa plays at 1:50 Thursday. Lineville doesn't have cable hook up. Great! Second, if I get good interest in running a free online pool, I definately will set one up. Let me know with an email or a response here.

Later.

Pickin' and Panin'

Well friends, it is that time that I again offer up my opinions on music, movies, books, whatever else I want to...remember, it is my blog!

Let's see...if you haven't already, start listening to The Killers. They rock!! I love the song "Mr. Brightside."

Side note- Why is Hootie doing those awful Burger King commericals. Poor guy. Hootie and the Blowfish kicked ass during the 90s.

Another song sure to get you moving...Sugar (Gimme Some) by Trick Daddy with a cast of other characters helping out. It is definately a fun, dancin type song.

Movies- well I did see Hitch (yes, on my own) and I highly recommend it. Also saw "Be Cool," I wish I had more hands so I could give that movie four thumbs down. Just kidding, it wasn't that bad, but you can be patient and wait until video time.

While in Chicago, I found a DVD of the best of Spin City...needless to say, I don't get my work done near as well. Also picked up an interesting historical book called "The Devil in the White City." Check it out.

Okay, so while typing I had a big scare. There is a thunderstorm going through right now and I wasn't expecting it to lightining out. Odd. Anyways, on that note I should wrap this up. Later