"If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself." Dwight L. Moody
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Reggie White (1961-2004)
Whenever the Banshee takes a vacation, it takes a few days for this blog to get back up to date. Although this post is late, I did not want to allow the recent death -- and most importantly, the life -- of Reggie White to pass by without notice.
Reggie White had a glorious NFL career that included 13 straight selections to the Pro Bowl. White began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985. He then joined the Packers in 1993 and helped lift that storied franchise back to greatness in the '90's. White ended his career with the Carolina Panthers. When he retired, White owned the record for career sacks.
As great as Reggie White was on the field, he was just as great off the field. "Reggie White was a gentle warrior who will be remembered as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "Equally as impressive as his achievements on the field was the positive impact he made off the field and the way he served as a positive influence on so many young people."
The Minister of Defense was a real life, ordained minister ever since he was a young man. He was instrumental in bringing about free agency for NFL players and was famous for his work with inner-city youths. Reverand White was also one of the founders of Christian Athletes United for Spiritual Empowerment.
Then on Sunday morning, December 26, Reggie White was pronounced dead at Presbyterian Hospital in North Carolina. He was only 43 years old. White apparently died in his sleep, but the cause of his death is somewhat mysterious. White has suffered recently from a respiratory ailment that affected his sleep but was otherwise in good health. Just the day before his unexpected death, White took his family to see Fat Albert on Christmas day. An autopsy was conducted this week, but the family has asked for privacy in this matter.
White is survived by his wife Sara, his daughter Jeremy, a freshman at Elon University, and his son Jecolia, a junior in high school.
Perhaps Mike Holmgren, White's coach as a Green Bay Packer, summed up most people's feelings best when he said, "He was just a wonderful player, first of all. Then, as a person, he was just the best. .... I'm a better person for having been around Reggie White."
Reggie White had a glorious NFL career that included 13 straight selections to the Pro Bowl. White began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985. He then joined the Packers in 1993 and helped lift that storied franchise back to greatness in the '90's. White ended his career with the Carolina Panthers. When he retired, White owned the record for career sacks.
As great as Reggie White was on the field, he was just as great off the field. "Reggie White was a gentle warrior who will be remembered as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "Equally as impressive as his achievements on the field was the positive impact he made off the field and the way he served as a positive influence on so many young people."
The Minister of Defense was a real life, ordained minister ever since he was a young man. He was instrumental in bringing about free agency for NFL players and was famous for his work with inner-city youths. Reverand White was also one of the founders of Christian Athletes United for Spiritual Empowerment.
Then on Sunday morning, December 26, Reggie White was pronounced dead at Presbyterian Hospital in North Carolina. He was only 43 years old. White apparently died in his sleep, but the cause of his death is somewhat mysterious. White has suffered recently from a respiratory ailment that affected his sleep but was otherwise in good health. Just the day before his unexpected death, White took his family to see Fat Albert on Christmas day. An autopsy was conducted this week, but the family has asked for privacy in this matter.
White is survived by his wife Sara, his daughter Jeremy, a freshman at Elon University, and his son Jecolia, a junior in high school.
Perhaps Mike Holmgren, White's coach as a Green Bay Packer, summed up most people's feelings best when he said, "He was just a wonderful player, first of all. Then, as a person, he was just the best. .... I'm a better person for having been around Reggie White."
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Tsunami: Devestation and Charity
Over the course of the last week, many news outlets and talk radio hosts were conducting polls and hosting discussions about the biggest news story of the year. But, as this week began, perhaps the biggest news story of my lifetime was just beginning to take shape.
On Sunday, an earthquake ocurred beneath the ocean's surface near the island of Sumatra. This quake which registered a 9.0 on the richter scale was the strongest quake in the last 40 years and unleashed a tsunami that hit Asia and Africa. The devestation from this tsunami is of absolutely epic proportion. Thus far, 77,000 deaths have been confirmed. Some officials fear that the toll will eventually reach 100,000. News reports have been absolutely horrific, although most TV channels have spared audiences from gruesome video footage of bloated and disfigured bodies. And the stench cannot be captured by either print or video media.
Most of the nations affected by the devestation are borderline third-world at best. This means that disease caused by the decaying bodies, the flooding and the lack of clean drinking water will cause serious problems for the people who survived the initial destruction.
The United States, Japan, India and Australia have come together to form a coalition that will coordinate the relief effort. In addition, the United States has already pledged $35 million in relief money. Despite the fact that the United States is currently waging a worldwide War on Terror, the US will also divert several naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier, to the effort. These ships will be able to produce 90,000 gallons of fresh water per day.
Japan, Australia, Great Britain, France and Germany are all contributing over $20 million each to the effort. Nonetheless, U.N. Undersecretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland declared on Tuesday that the western nations of the world are being "stingy." Egeland declared that there would be more money available for relief if only these developed nations would raise taxes on their own populations.
I'm sure you call all imagine how the Banshee feels about this comment from a U.N. official. But, I will refrain at this time from bashing the U.N. because it seems inappropriate to detract from the tragedy of this tsunami with political sniping.
On Sunday, an earthquake ocurred beneath the ocean's surface near the island of Sumatra. This quake which registered a 9.0 on the richter scale was the strongest quake in the last 40 years and unleashed a tsunami that hit Asia and Africa. The devestation from this tsunami is of absolutely epic proportion. Thus far, 77,000 deaths have been confirmed. Some officials fear that the toll will eventually reach 100,000. News reports have been absolutely horrific, although most TV channels have spared audiences from gruesome video footage of bloated and disfigured bodies. And the stench cannot be captured by either print or video media.
Most of the nations affected by the devestation are borderline third-world at best. This means that disease caused by the decaying bodies, the flooding and the lack of clean drinking water will cause serious problems for the people who survived the initial destruction.
The United States, Japan, India and Australia have come together to form a coalition that will coordinate the relief effort. In addition, the United States has already pledged $35 million in relief money. Despite the fact that the United States is currently waging a worldwide War on Terror, the US will also divert several naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier, to the effort. These ships will be able to produce 90,000 gallons of fresh water per day.
Japan, Australia, Great Britain, France and Germany are all contributing over $20 million each to the effort. Nonetheless, U.N. Undersecretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland declared on Tuesday that the western nations of the world are being "stingy." Egeland declared that there would be more money available for relief if only these developed nations would raise taxes on their own populations.
I'm sure you call all imagine how the Banshee feels about this comment from a U.N. official. But, I will refrain at this time from bashing the U.N. because it seems inappropriate to detract from the tragedy of this tsunami with political sniping.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/28/04
"The last play isn't important. It's the next play that's important." Joe Paterno
I'm back
After taking a week off for Christmas travels, the Banshee is finally back in action. But, I've always had a hard time jumping right back into work, so this will be a slow posting night. But, have no fear. Posts on tsunamis, the college bowl season, the year in review and previews for next year will certainly be coming in the next few days.
Mr. Perry Gets His Way
This isn't a particularly timely post. Yeah, I know that there have been tsunamis and deaths of famous athletes since I last posted on this blog. Still, this just dawned on me tonight. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about my Robert Sean Leonard siting. Leonard co-stars on FOX's new medical drama House (Tuesdays at 9 pm). Robert Sean Leonard got his acting break as Neil Perry in Dead Poets Society. In that movie, Neil Perry loves acting, but his overbearing father demands that the sensitive Perry become a doctor. In the end, Neil Perry kills himself. However, all these years later, Mr. Perry finally got his wish. Robert Sean Leonard grew up to be a doctor after all -- albeit in an entirely unrelated, television drama.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/20/04
"The tongue is a wild beast; once let loose, it is difficult to chain." Latin proverb
Worn Out
I thought that I would be able to juggle working, my holiday preparations, travel and maintaining this blog. But, this evening I realized that Wild Banshee is not actually Super Woman. Therefore, Wild Banshee is going to take a vacation. Posting will resume in one week. Merry Christmas to all!
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/19/04 Fourth Sunday in Advent
"And Mary who had never been married -- and we can talk about it this way -- and had never had a boyfriend was going to have a baby." Pastor Beasely during this morning's children's sermon.
Ocean's 12
The all-star cast from 2001's Ocean's Eleven reunited this December to bring us Ocean's Twelve. Ocean's Eleven is a remake of the Rat Pack classic from 1960, but Ocean's Twelve has an original story line. Under penalty of death, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) must repay the owner of the Bellagio all the money he stole during the first heist plus interest. The only way to do that -- steal it, of course. So, Ocean reuinites the gang, and the story unfolds from there.
One of the best aspects of both of these films is the cast which features, among others, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle. Julia Roberts is also in both movies. Katherine Zeta Jones joins the cast for Ocean's Twelve and plays a sexy and suave, European detective. There is also a notable cameo by one of the Banshee's favorite leading men, but I won't give that away.
Ocean's Twelve is well-written and unpredictable. The action moves along quickly and is bolstered by witty and sardonic dialogue. Overall, this is a highly entertaining film that is well worth the cost of admission.
One of the best aspects of both of these films is the cast which features, among others, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle. Julia Roberts is also in both movies. Katherine Zeta Jones joins the cast for Ocean's Twelve and plays a sexy and suave, European detective. There is also a notable cameo by one of the Banshee's favorite leading men, but I won't give that away.
Ocean's Twelve is well-written and unpredictable. The action moves along quickly and is bolstered by witty and sardonic dialogue. Overall, this is a highly entertaining film that is well worth the cost of admission.
Banshee Polling
Poll Results: This week's poll asked how many Christmas trees you have in your home. 70% of you said that you had one tree. 30% said that you had two trees. No one said that they had three or more trees.
I realized partway through the week that this poll was actually flawed since there was no choice for zero trees. Wild Banshee herself is actually treeless this Christmas. No, I'm not a Grinch, but apartment living makes trees tough. Natural tree are forbidden and the idea of storing an artificial tree is a little daunting.
New Poll: I'm going to be on the road next Sunday. This will make it hard to post a new poll. Therefore, this poll will be two weeks long. Christmas day will pass in the middle of this polling period, so Banshee Blog will ask a transitional question this week. This week, Banshee Blog wants to know: When should the Christmas decorations come down?
I realized partway through the week that this poll was actually flawed since there was no choice for zero trees. Wild Banshee herself is actually treeless this Christmas. No, I'm not a Grinch, but apartment living makes trees tough. Natural tree are forbidden and the idea of storing an artificial tree is a little daunting.
New Poll: I'm going to be on the road next Sunday. This will make it hard to post a new poll. Therefore, this poll will be two weeks long. Christmas day will pass in the middle of this polling period, so Banshee Blog will ask a transitional question this week. This week, Banshee Blog wants to know: When should the Christmas decorations come down?
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/18/04
"A love of tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril; but the new view must come, the world must roll forward." Sir Winston Churchill, speech in the House of Commons, November 29, 1944
Holiday Traditions
As promised, here are some holiday traditions that Wild Banshee and friends have decided to share with our family of readers here on Banshee Blog. If you're a frequent visitor to this blog, you will probably recognize some of these names because they have all been steady commenters and contributors to this site.
Tina: Tina will be celebrating her second Christmas as a married woman. Her new family of two has adopted a lofty holiday goal. It is their hope to get a Christmas tree from every different state in the Union. Thus far, they have hit Maryland and Deleware. This will certainly be a tough goal to accomplish, but if anyone can do it, I think it is Tina and Chris. One thing is for certain, they will have fun traveling in search of the perfect tree each year.
David: David said that each year his large family gathers for a few days at home. At some point during that visit, they make time to sit down together. Each person shares their prayer requests for the new year. Throughout the year, the family then prays for these requests. David said that it is very encouraging at the end of each year to see how the Lord has worked through the prayers of the family.
David shared a second tradition. Nearly 30 years ago, David's maternal grandmother stocked up on 100,000 square feet of red and white, candy-striped, wrapping paper. Each year since then, Santa's gifts have arrived wrapped in that particular paper that his family now associates with Santa alone.
Sherrah: Sherrah said that in her family, her father cooks Christmas breakfast for her mother and the four girls out on the grill. Potatoes, skillet fried eggs and peppered bacon. I have known Sherrah's family my entire life, and I know that any time her father cooks, it is a time of flavor and of joy.
Mimi: Mimi comes from a large family. Growing up, almost all of the presents under the tree were for all the kids to share. But, Mimi remembers that each kid had their own stocking, and the presents inside were for that kid alone. Mimi particularly remembers getting an orange in the toe of her stocking. She said that even though it was the same each year, every time it was special to find that citrus treat.
Mimi also remembers experiencing her first candlelight Christmas Eve service as a teenager. At that time, she was struck by the beauty of a congregation singing with only candles lighting the sanctuary. Mimi has been to a candlelight Christmas Eve service nearly every year since that time.
Wild Banshee: In my family, we bought a new Christmas ornament for the family each year. We also got ornaments for me and my sister. We tried to get ornaments that commemorated something important that happened in that year. New houses. Trips to Disney. Starting school. Driver's licenses. Then when it came time to decorate the tree, Daddy would pull the ornaments out one at a time, and we would all remember the event commemorated by the ornament. Now my sister and I each have a box of ornaments to take with us as we start our own holiday traditions in our own households.
Another tradition in the Banshee's family is the decorating Santa. I am not entirely sure when this tradition started, but I am sure that I don't remember the Christmases that preceeded it. Each year while my sister and I slept, Santa would do something to redecorate the tree and the presents beneath it. One year it was animal balloons. Another year there was a bird theme. And, this tradition has continued into adulthood. I believe it was just a year or two ago that there was a snow theme, complete with fluffly white puffs starting at my bedroom door and leading downstairs to the tree.
Tina: Tina will be celebrating her second Christmas as a married woman. Her new family of two has adopted a lofty holiday goal. It is their hope to get a Christmas tree from every different state in the Union. Thus far, they have hit Maryland and Deleware. This will certainly be a tough goal to accomplish, but if anyone can do it, I think it is Tina and Chris. One thing is for certain, they will have fun traveling in search of the perfect tree each year.
David: David said that each year his large family gathers for a few days at home. At some point during that visit, they make time to sit down together. Each person shares their prayer requests for the new year. Throughout the year, the family then prays for these requests. David said that it is very encouraging at the end of each year to see how the Lord has worked through the prayers of the family.
David shared a second tradition. Nearly 30 years ago, David's maternal grandmother stocked up on 100,000 square feet of red and white, candy-striped, wrapping paper. Each year since then, Santa's gifts have arrived wrapped in that particular paper that his family now associates with Santa alone.
Sherrah: Sherrah said that in her family, her father cooks Christmas breakfast for her mother and the four girls out on the grill. Potatoes, skillet fried eggs and peppered bacon. I have known Sherrah's family my entire life, and I know that any time her father cooks, it is a time of flavor and of joy.
Mimi: Mimi comes from a large family. Growing up, almost all of the presents under the tree were for all the kids to share. But, Mimi remembers that each kid had their own stocking, and the presents inside were for that kid alone. Mimi particularly remembers getting an orange in the toe of her stocking. She said that even though it was the same each year, every time it was special to find that citrus treat.
Mimi also remembers experiencing her first candlelight Christmas Eve service as a teenager. At that time, she was struck by the beauty of a congregation singing with only candles lighting the sanctuary. Mimi has been to a candlelight Christmas Eve service nearly every year since that time.
Wild Banshee: In my family, we bought a new Christmas ornament for the family each year. We also got ornaments for me and my sister. We tried to get ornaments that commemorated something important that happened in that year. New houses. Trips to Disney. Starting school. Driver's licenses. Then when it came time to decorate the tree, Daddy would pull the ornaments out one at a time, and we would all remember the event commemorated by the ornament. Now my sister and I each have a box of ornaments to take with us as we start our own holiday traditions in our own households.
Another tradition in the Banshee's family is the decorating Santa. I am not entirely sure when this tradition started, but I am sure that I don't remember the Christmases that preceeded it. Each year while my sister and I slept, Santa would do something to redecorate the tree and the presents beneath it. One year it was animal balloons. Another year there was a bird theme. And, this tradition has continued into adulthood. I believe it was just a year or two ago that there was a snow theme, complete with fluffly white puffs starting at my bedroom door and leading downstairs to the tree.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/17/04
"Business is war. Take no prisoners, get no second chances." From The Hudsucker Proxy.
You're Hired!
On Thursday night, the second season of the Apprentice came to an end. The final showdown was between Kelly and Jennifer. Kelly is a West Point grad and a former Army Ranger. After the military, Kelly earned his MBA and J.D. from UCLA. After that, Kelly has been president of several start-ups in California. In contrast, Jennifer has no real-life accomplishments to her credit but does have a undergraduate degree from Princeton and a J.D. from Havard. Since that time, she has worked for the world's largest law firm in their San Francisco office.
In the final task, the competitors were joined by formerly fired comrades. Kelly was joined by Elizabeth, Raj and John. Their task was to organize a charity polo match. Jenn was joined by Pamela, Chris and Stacy R. Their task was to run a charity basketball tournament. Each team experienced the usual ups and downs. In the end, both events were fairly successful.
The boardroom for this three-hour finale was quite extensive. It was held live at the Lincoln Center and was hosted by Regis Philbin. Cast member from the first Apprentice, audience members, members of Trump's empire and former bosses of the candidates all got to voice their opinion as to who the Donald should hire. The popular support went almost unamimously to Kelly.
And, in the end, the Donald agreed with popular opinion and told Kelly, "You're hired." Kelly chose to oversee Trump's gigantic building project on Manhattan's west side.
Editorial Comment: The Banshee totally agrees with the Donald's decision. By the end of last season's Apprentice, I was emotionally attached to both Bill and Kwame. This year, I was never really drawn to Kelly. I didn't particularly like him. That being said, I don't think I would have a hard time working for him.
Most importantly, Kelly has real life experience that he can bring to the job. The Donald needs someone who can actually run a business -- not just someone who learned about it in an Ivy League classroom. Jenn really hung her hat on the fact that she has law degree from Harvard. But, I am here to tell you that a law degree alone is not much of a qualification for running a business. And as a 29 year-old member of a gigantic law firm, my guess would be that Jenn has yet to even meet a single one of her corporate clients. Writing memos about the legal intracacies of a proposed merger is not exactly stellar preparation for leading real people in the business world.
Preview: Apprentice 3 will start in January. Instead of dividing the teams by the sexes, next season's show will pit candidates with book smarts against candidates with street smarts. An interesting premise. It's my feeling that there is no reason to choose between those two types of knowledge. After all, Kelly clearly possessed both.
In the final task, the competitors were joined by formerly fired comrades. Kelly was joined by Elizabeth, Raj and John. Their task was to organize a charity polo match. Jenn was joined by Pamela, Chris and Stacy R. Their task was to run a charity basketball tournament. Each team experienced the usual ups and downs. In the end, both events were fairly successful.
The boardroom for this three-hour finale was quite extensive. It was held live at the Lincoln Center and was hosted by Regis Philbin. Cast member from the first Apprentice, audience members, members of Trump's empire and former bosses of the candidates all got to voice their opinion as to who the Donald should hire. The popular support went almost unamimously to Kelly.
And, in the end, the Donald agreed with popular opinion and told Kelly, "You're hired." Kelly chose to oversee Trump's gigantic building project on Manhattan's west side.
Editorial Comment: The Banshee totally agrees with the Donald's decision. By the end of last season's Apprentice, I was emotionally attached to both Bill and Kwame. This year, I was never really drawn to Kelly. I didn't particularly like him. That being said, I don't think I would have a hard time working for him.
Most importantly, Kelly has real life experience that he can bring to the job. The Donald needs someone who can actually run a business -- not just someone who learned about it in an Ivy League classroom. Jenn really hung her hat on the fact that she has law degree from Harvard. But, I am here to tell you that a law degree alone is not much of a qualification for running a business. And as a 29 year-old member of a gigantic law firm, my guess would be that Jenn has yet to even meet a single one of her corporate clients. Writing memos about the legal intracacies of a proposed merger is not exactly stellar preparation for leading real people in the business world.
Preview: Apprentice 3 will start in January. Instead of dividing the teams by the sexes, next season's show will pit candidates with book smarts against candidates with street smarts. An interesting premise. It's my feeling that there is no reason to choose between those two types of knowledge. After all, Kelly clearly possessed both.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/16/04
"The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has." Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)
In-flight phone calls
This morning I heard a news story reporting that the FAA may start allowing cell phone use during flights. I have always wondered about the actual safety concerns with cell phones on planes. After all, if a phone with the power on could actually bring down a plane, then why weren't passengers searched for phones or required to check them?
Although I am glad to learn that cell phones may not actually be all that dangerous, I have to say that I am not eager to see phone calls become a regular part of air travel. Let's face it -- flying alone can be boring. It would be nice to chat a little with a friend as long as you had nothing else to do. But, can you imagine what a flight would be like if your neighbor was laughing and yelling as only cell phone users can do? And only a foot from your head? I shudder to think.
Although I am glad to learn that cell phones may not actually be all that dangerous, I have to say that I am not eager to see phone calls become a regular part of air travel. Let's face it -- flying alone can be boring. It would be nice to chat a little with a friend as long as you had nothing else to do. But, can you imagine what a flight would be like if your neighbor was laughing and yelling as only cell phone users can do? And only a foot from your head? I shudder to think.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/15/04
"One of the serious obstacles to the improvement of our race is indiscriminate charity." Andrew Carnegie (robber baron and famous philanthropist)
Last call for contributions
On Saturday, I will post a collection of holiday traditions. It took a while to get things rolling, but contributions have begun to flow in. This will be the final request for contributions. So, if you have something to share, please send it in.
TV Preview
If you don't know how to program your VCR, today is a good day to learn. Thursday night has a quality TV lineup.
The big feature of the night is the three-hour finale of The Apprentice. This will air on NBC at 8 p.m. Opposite that, ABC will air the Christmas classic, "It's Christmas, Charlie Brown." We've all seen this Peanuts special many times, but it never loses it's magic. This show is timeless because, unlike any other primetime special, "It's Christmas, Charlie Brown" features the real Christmas story -- complete with Scripture readings from Luke.
The big feature of the night is the three-hour finale of The Apprentice. This will air on NBC at 8 p.m. Opposite that, ABC will air the Christmas classic, "It's Christmas, Charlie Brown." We've all seen this Peanuts special many times, but it never loses it's magic. This show is timeless because, unlike any other primetime special, "It's Christmas, Charlie Brown" features the real Christmas story -- complete with Scripture readings from Luke.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/13/04
"How hard can it be to build a nuclear reactor? Korea did it." Homer Simpson.
Brief Apprentice recap
Due to technical difficulties with my VCR, I was only able to watch the second half of the most recept episode of the Apprentice. So, this is gonna be a very brief recap. Heading into this week, only Sandy, Jenn, Kelly and Kevin remained. The task for this week was to undergo a series of interviews from Trump's people. Only Jenn and Kelly survived. And, so it's down to two.
But, Jenn and Kelly won't be alone as they go for the gold. Both were given three ex-competitors to join their teams. Jenn's task is to organize some sort of charity basketball game. Kelly's task is to run a polo event.
It will all come to an end on Thursday night. The 3-hour (yeah, you read that right) finale will air on NBC this Thursday. The marathon show will begin at 8 this week rather than at the usual 9 o'clock timeslot.
But, Jenn and Kelly won't be alone as they go for the gold. Both were given three ex-competitors to join their teams. Jenn's task is to organize some sort of charity basketball game. Kelly's task is to run a polo event.
It will all come to an end on Thursday night. The 3-hour (yeah, you read that right) finale will air on NBC this Thursday. The marathon show will begin at 8 this week rather than at the usual 9 o'clock timeslot.
Vermeil must go!
I try not to air my personal problems on this website, but one of the perks of having your own blog is having a platform to vent to the world when someone has wronged you. The focus of this rant is Kansas City Chiefs' coach Dick Vermeil.
Ever since the Chiefs drafted running back Larry Johnson out of Penn State, Vermeil has been mishandling the former Nittany Lion. Vermeil has publicly bashed Johnson in the press and has denied the promising youngster the playing time that his salary and skills deserve. This has angered me for two years, but last night was the final straw. Last night Vermeil's grudge against my beloved Nittany Lion put an end to my fantasy football season.
All season long my team has relied on Chiefs' starter Priest Holmes to lead the way. But, as the fantasy football playoffs began, Holmes was sidelined for the season with a knee injury. So, I turned to my old friend Larry Johnson. Heading into Monday night's game, I needed 27 points (a pretty healthy amount) from Johnson in order to advance. But, thanks to Vermeil's stubbornness, Johnson was only on the field for about 3 plays in the entire first half. He finally got the playing time he deserved in the second half, totaling over 100 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns. In the end, he tallied 24 fantasy points, but it was not enough. My fate was sealed, and my season was over.
So, here's to you Larry Johnson. I have loved you since we were both teenagers. And to you, Dick ... well, the last time you did anything Larry Johnson and I were both just learning how to walk. Yeah, it's been that long. Consider yourself permanently added to my bad list.
Ever since the Chiefs drafted running back Larry Johnson out of Penn State, Vermeil has been mishandling the former Nittany Lion. Vermeil has publicly bashed Johnson in the press and has denied the promising youngster the playing time that his salary and skills deserve. This has angered me for two years, but last night was the final straw. Last night Vermeil's grudge against my beloved Nittany Lion put an end to my fantasy football season.
All season long my team has relied on Chiefs' starter Priest Holmes to lead the way. But, as the fantasy football playoffs began, Holmes was sidelined for the season with a knee injury. So, I turned to my old friend Larry Johnson. Heading into Monday night's game, I needed 27 points (a pretty healthy amount) from Johnson in order to advance. But, thanks to Vermeil's stubbornness, Johnson was only on the field for about 3 plays in the entire first half. He finally got the playing time he deserved in the second half, totaling over 100 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns. In the end, he tallied 24 fantasy points, but it was not enough. My fate was sealed, and my season was over.
So, here's to you Larry Johnson. I have loved you since we were both teenagers. And to you, Dick ... well, the last time you did anything Larry Johnson and I were both just learning how to walk. Yeah, it's been that long. Consider yourself permanently added to my bad list.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/13/04
"You can be the ugliest sad sack on the face of the planet, but if you're in a rockin' band then you're the cat's pajamas, man, you're the bee's knees." From School of Rock starring Jack Black.
Verdict is In
It's been nearly a year since Laci Peterson disappeared. Today, a California jury told her killer his fate. His fate is death. And if there was ever an individual for whom the death penalty was designed, it is Scott Peterson -- a man who cheated on his pregnant wife and then killed her.
Although I believe that Scott Peterson deserves to die, I am surprised that the California jury opted for the ultimate punishment in light of the sparse direct evidence in this case. After all, Cali ain't no Virginia.
I'd also like to note that the jury wrapped things up just in time. Now America can turn its full attention to the Robert Blake murder trial.
Although I believe that Scott Peterson deserves to die, I am surprised that the California jury opted for the ultimate punishment in light of the sparse direct evidence in this case. After all, Cali ain't no Virginia.
I'd also like to note that the jury wrapped things up just in time. Now America can turn its full attention to the Robert Blake murder trial.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/12/04
"The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously." Hubert H. Humphrey
Banshee Polling
Poll results: Last week's poll asked readers whether they preferred white lights or colored lights on their Christmas trees. This was a fairly close poll. In the end, 60% of voters expressed a preference for colored lights while only 40% preferred white lights.
New Poll: Continuing with the Christmas theme, this week's poll asks: How many Christmas trees do you have in your home?
New Poll: Continuing with the Christmas theme, this week's poll asks: How many Christmas trees do you have in your home?
Heisman Trophy Winner
For nearly 70 years, the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City has been presenting the Heisman Trophy to the most outstanding player in college football. The award is voted on my members of the club and media. In addition, all past winners also have a vote. Each year, the top five vote getters are invited to the ceremony in New York.
This year, for the first time ever, there were two sets of teammates on the stage. Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush of the USC Trojans were both finalists. In addition, last year's winner, Jason White, was joined by his Oklahoma Sooner teammate Adrian Peterson. White did exercise his right to vote as a past champion. He said he voted for Peterson first and Leinart second.
The fifth finalist was Alex Smith, quarterback for the Utah Utes. Smith did not have any college teamates with him on the stage, but he played on the same high school team in San Diego as Reggie Bush. None of the finalists have suffered a loss during the 2004 football season.
When the votes were tallied, it was Matt Leinart, the left-handed quarterback from the University of Southern California, who was declared the ---th winner of the Heisman trophy.
(AP Photo)
Leinart has been the toast of LA for two seasons now. Last season he led the Men of Troy to a share of the national title, and he now has a chance to make the Trojans a wire-to-wire champion this season. He has certainly come a long way from the days when he was teased in elementary school for being a fat and cross-eyed kid.
This year, for the first time ever, there were two sets of teammates on the stage. Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush of the USC Trojans were both finalists. In addition, last year's winner, Jason White, was joined by his Oklahoma Sooner teammate Adrian Peterson. White did exercise his right to vote as a past champion. He said he voted for Peterson first and Leinart second.
The fifth finalist was Alex Smith, quarterback for the Utah Utes. Smith did not have any college teamates with him on the stage, but he played on the same high school team in San Diego as Reggie Bush. None of the finalists have suffered a loss during the 2004 football season.
When the votes were tallied, it was Matt Leinart, the left-handed quarterback from the University of Southern California, who was declared the ---th winner of the Heisman trophy.
(AP Photo)
Leinart has been the toast of LA for two seasons now. Last season he led the Men of Troy to a share of the national title, and he now has a chance to make the Trojans a wire-to-wire champion this season. He has certainly come a long way from the days when he was teased in elementary school for being a fat and cross-eyed kid.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/11/04
"They say that behind every man there's a good woman,
But I think that's a lie.
'Cause when it comes to you
I'd rather have you by my side."
Lyrics from Keith Urban's "Better Half." Urban wrote this song about his parents' marriage.
But I think that's a lie.
'Cause when it comes to you
I'd rather have you by my side."
Lyrics from Keith Urban's "Better Half." Urban wrote this song about his parents' marriage.
Real Life Hero
Okay, I have to admit that I first heard this story on the radio and that the only verification I can find on the Internet comes from the National Enquirer. Nontheless, I choose to believe this is true.
Sometime last week, actress Kirstie Alley was walking her dogs in a Los Angeles park. Ms. Alley is still quite recognizeable, but she has gained a substantial amount of weight since she achieved celebrity status on the sitcom Cheers. While she was minding her own business in the park, some 20-something year-olds decided that Ms. Alley needed to have her weight gain pointed out to her. The bullies were quoted as saying, "Hey, you're the chick from 'Cheers' . . . Man, you really packed on the pounds since then!" and other such fat comments. Poor Kirstie was embarrassed by the taunting and tried to hurry her dogs back to her SUV. But, the punks wouldn't leave her alone and continued to harrass Alley until a muscular man stepped up and asked, "You boys have a problem?" That man ... Vin Diesel.
Diesel told the wanna be tough-guys, "I think you boys owe this lady an apology." Of course, they obeyed. No one defies Richard B. Riddick.
Sometime last week, actress Kirstie Alley was walking her dogs in a Los Angeles park. Ms. Alley is still quite recognizeable, but she has gained a substantial amount of weight since she achieved celebrity status on the sitcom Cheers. While she was minding her own business in the park, some 20-something year-olds decided that Ms. Alley needed to have her weight gain pointed out to her. The bullies were quoted as saying, "Hey, you're the chick from 'Cheers' . . . Man, you really packed on the pounds since then!" and other such fat comments. Poor Kirstie was embarrassed by the taunting and tried to hurry her dogs back to her SUV. But, the punks wouldn't leave her alone and continued to harrass Alley until a muscular man stepped up and asked, "You boys have a problem?" That man ... Vin Diesel.
Diesel told the wanna be tough-guys, "I think you boys owe this lady an apology." Of course, they obeyed. No one defies Richard B. Riddick.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Quote of the Day 11/10/04
"Two wrongs don't make a right, but they make a good excuse." Thomas Szazs
National Treasure
It might be a bit too late to catch this flick in theaters, but I wanted to say a few words about the movie National Treasure. This film features Nicholas Cage and Sean Bean. Cage plays a man named Benjamin Franklin Gates. For generations, the Gates family has been searching for a fabulous treasure that was hidden by our nation's Founding Fathers. For some reason, the critics have been really hard on this movie. I don't understand why. Sure, it's a bit far-fetched. But I found it very entertaining. After all, part of the reason I watch movies is to see stuff that is more fantastic than real life. If I wanna see only stories that can really happen, I'll watch the news.
Another reason that I wanted to write about this movie is that I don't have to add any warnings or caveats to this recommendation. There is no sex. There is very little violence and virtually no language. This movie is so clean that it actually came out with a PG rating and under the Walt Disney banner, rather than under the Touchstone label as originally planned.
So, if you're looking for a couple hours of light entertainment, definitely give National Treasure a try.
Another reason that I wanted to write about this movie is that I don't have to add any warnings or caveats to this recommendation. There is no sex. There is very little violence and virtually no language. This movie is so clean that it actually came out with a PG rating and under the Walt Disney banner, rather than under the Touchstone label as originally planned.
So, if you're looking for a couple hours of light entertainment, definitely give National Treasure a try.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
What Christmas Figure Are You?
It's been a while since I posted a good quiz on this website. Now that I have my personal computer back, I can again peruse the selections at Quizilla.
My latest quiz experience: What Christmas figure are you?
My result:
Hey there, Frosty! You are the nice, happy snowman.
You know how to have a good time. You are most
likely invited to almost all the Christmas
parties, if any are scheduled. You will
probably really enjoy this Christmas, which is
great for you. People love to be around you.
Have a Merry Christmas =)
What Christmas Figure Are You?
My latest quiz experience: What Christmas figure are you?
My result:
Hey there, Frosty! You are the nice, happy snowman.
You know how to have a good time. You are most
likely invited to almost all the Christmas
parties, if any are scheduled. You will
probably really enjoy this Christmas, which is
great for you. People love to be around you.
Have a Merry Christmas =)
What Christmas Figure Are You?
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/8/04
"Having a holiday weekend without a family member felt like putting on a sweater that had an extra arm." Pamela Ribon
From one court to another
Last month, Banshee Blog reported on the wild brawl that broke out on November 19, 2004. The brawl took place at the end of the Pacers-Pistons basketball game in Auburn Hills, Michigan. This incident was unique because it included both players and fans.
(AFP/Getty Images)
The NBA acted quickly and handed out serious suspensions to the players involved. But the repercussions do not end there. Today, Oakland County prosecutors announced that criminal charges will be filed against both players and fans. Five Indiana Pacers, including all-stars Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal, are now facing misdemeanor assault charges. Several fans were also charged with assault, including Detroit Piston Ben Wallace's brother. One fan named Bryant Jackson was also charged with a felony for throwing a chair into the melee.
(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Overall, I am quite pleased with the way this incident has been handled by both the NBA and prosecutors. I am not a big proponent of bringing the judicial system onto fields of play. I do not think that the occasional cheap shot between players should be treated as a criminal event even though that same action would rise to the level of an assault if it occurred a sidewalk. However, this incident involved fans. That is whole different matter. In this situation, you are no longer dealing with individuals who have all chosen to engage in an activity with a foreseeable level of violence.
(AFP/Getty Images)
The NBA acted quickly and handed out serious suspensions to the players involved. But the repercussions do not end there. Today, Oakland County prosecutors announced that criminal charges will be filed against both players and fans. Five Indiana Pacers, including all-stars Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal, are now facing misdemeanor assault charges. Several fans were also charged with assault, including Detroit Piston Ben Wallace's brother. One fan named Bryant Jackson was also charged with a felony for throwing a chair into the melee.
(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Overall, I am quite pleased with the way this incident has been handled by both the NBA and prosecutors. I am not a big proponent of bringing the judicial system onto fields of play. I do not think that the occasional cheap shot between players should be treated as a criminal event even though that same action would rise to the level of an assault if it occurred a sidewalk. However, this incident involved fans. That is whole different matter. In this situation, you are no longer dealing with individuals who have all chosen to engage in an activity with a foreseeable level of violence.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/7/04 Pearl Harbor Day
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
If Banshee ruled the world
If Wild Banshee ruled the world, one of the very first things that I would do is create a playoff system for Division I college football. That's right, it's that time of year again. The time of year where the powers that be throw a mishmash of bowls together and then pretend that they have determined a champion.
This year, there are four undefeated and untied teams in major college football. The BCS has chosen Oklahoma to play USC in the Orange Bowl to determine the national champion. Meanwhile, the undefeated Auburn Tigers will play Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. The remaining undefeated team will play the Pitt Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl. Quite possibly, there will be three undefeated teams remaining when the dust settles, and the winner of the Orange Bowl will be arbitrarily declared the champ.
But, as the great Teddy Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic that counts." I am a firm believer in the idea that if you are going to criticize something then you had better have a proposal of your own. Well, I layed out my proposal in detail in a post from last January. Here is an excerpt from that post:
For a more detailed explanation of the pros and cons of this system, please see my post from last January.
If the Banshee Playoff was in place, this year's New Year's Day match-ups would be as follows:
Fiesta: Texas (10-1) vs. Utah (11-0)
Sugar: Pitt (8-3) vs. Auburn (12-0)
Orange: Virginia Tech (10-2) vs. Oklahoma (12-0)
Rose: Michigan (9-2) vs. USC (12-0)
This would allow all four undefeated team to advance into Week 2 and settle this championship on the field. One can only dream of a day when such things are possible.
This year, there are four undefeated and untied teams in major college football. The BCS has chosen Oklahoma to play USC in the Orange Bowl to determine the national champion. Meanwhile, the undefeated Auburn Tigers will play Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. The remaining undefeated team will play the Pitt Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl. Quite possibly, there will be three undefeated teams remaining when the dust settles, and the winner of the Orange Bowl will be arbitrarily declared the champ.
But, as the great Teddy Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic that counts." I am a firm believer in the idea that if you are going to criticize something then you had better have a proposal of your own. Well, I layed out my proposal in detail in a post from last January. Here is an excerpt from that post:
So here's the idea: All the non-BCS bowls would remain unchanged. They will
remain just as insignificant and yet just as fascinating as they currently are.
For the current BCS bowls, we'll have a little bit of throwback. Restore the old
conference ties. Let the PAC 10 champ play the Big 10 champ in the Rose Bowl.
The Sugar Bowl would get the SEC champ and the Big East champ (or a an at-large
if the Big East loses its legitimacy). The Orange Bowl would get the Big 12
champ and the ACC champ .... The Fiesta Bowl would go back to its roots and get two at-large teams (see Jan 2, 1987 when the Fiesta secured its position on the national stage). The at-large berths would be given to the teams with the highest BCS ratings.These BCS games should all be played on New Years weekend as they are now. The next week would have two neutral site games pitting the bowl game winners against each other. The week after that a College Super Bowl. What could be better than that?
For a more detailed explanation of the pros and cons of this system, please see my post from last January.
If the Banshee Playoff was in place, this year's New Year's Day match-ups would be as follows:
Fiesta: Texas (10-1) vs. Utah (11-0)
Sugar: Pitt (8-3) vs. Auburn (12-0)
Orange: Virginia Tech (10-2) vs. Oklahoma (12-0)
Rose: Michigan (9-2) vs. USC (12-0)
This would allow all four undefeated team to advance into Week 2 and settle this championship on the field. One can only dream of a day when such things are possible.
Monday, December 06, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/6/04
"If you knew anything about food, you'd know that fats and oils are the vehicles through which flavor travels. .... That's why a wise and a loving God created them in the first place." Reese on Malcolm in the Middle
We Want to Help
America - what a country!
Be proud fellow citizens as you see how our country has come to the aid of the suffering victims of the tsunami. Not only are we sending money but we are also sending manpower. And we expect nothing in return. The world wanted us to help in a big way and we have.
But also be proud fellow citizens when you see how our country has come to the aid of the suffering people in Iraq. Almost twice as many people died as a result of the violence of Saddam as did from the violence of the tsunami. We sent not only money but also manpower. And we expect nothing in return. But the world ridicules and reviles us.
Be proud fellow citizens as you see how our country has come to the aid of the suffering victims of the tsunami. Not only are we sending money but we are also sending manpower. And we expect nothing in return. The world wanted us to help in a big way and we have.
But also be proud fellow citizens when you see how our country has come to the aid of the suffering people in Iraq. Almost twice as many people died as a result of the violence of Saddam as did from the violence of the tsunami. We sent not only money but also manpower. And we expect nothing in return. But the world ridicules and reviles us.
Reality TV of Worth?
I’m not really a fan of reality TV. It seems to always highlight the worst in people, i.e. our obsession with appearance, our greed, our lust, our lack of self-control and on and on and on. However, I recently accidentally came across the show “Extreme Home Makeovers” Sunday night on ABC.
This show has the usual odd decorators and carpenters but it also has an unusual purpose. It highlights a deserving family who needs better housing. The families have been chosen for a variety of reasons. Some have children with disabilities, some are recently widowed, some have shown exceptional kindness to other people. Now I’ll admit this show has its sappy moments and it does seem unbelievable that an entire house can be built in one week. But what makes this show worth watching is that it highlights giving rather than getting. Not only that, but it exposes the audience to people who are living truly real lives – lives filled with hard work, joy, commitment and many other attributes that are rarely seen on TV.
If you’d like to know more about the show or the families that have received new homes check out http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/show.html
This show has the usual odd decorators and carpenters but it also has an unusual purpose. It highlights a deserving family who needs better housing. The families have been chosen for a variety of reasons. Some have children with disabilities, some are recently widowed, some have shown exceptional kindness to other people. Now I’ll admit this show has its sappy moments and it does seem unbelievable that an entire house can be built in one week. But what makes this show worth watching is that it highlights giving rather than getting. Not only that, but it exposes the audience to people who are living truly real lives – lives filled with hard work, joy, commitment and many other attributes that are rarely seen on TV.
If you’d like to know more about the show or the families that have received new homes check out http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/show.html
Letters from Home
People my age (don’t ask) can remember wearing silver POW (prisoner of war) bracelets during the Vietnam War. Fortunately, the war in Iraq has been so successful that those kinds of remembrances are not necessary. However a new type of bracelet can now be worn to show your support of our active service men and women.
A young officer back from Iraq has started a program through his university that allows people to “adopt” a soldier and become their pen pal. When anyone signs up for the program a red bracelet is sent to be worn by those supporting the soldiers in this way.
It is hard to imagine what a letter of support from someone “back home” means to those deployed overseas but this is a great way to find out. Learn more about how you can be involved at http://www.mville.edu/news/NEWS_nov04_mysoldier.HTML.
A young officer back from Iraq has started a program through his university that allows people to “adopt” a soldier and become their pen pal. When anyone signs up for the program a red bracelet is sent to be worn by those supporting the soldiers in this way.
It is hard to imagine what a letter of support from someone “back home” means to those deployed overseas but this is a great way to find out. Learn more about how you can be involved at http://www.mville.edu/news/NEWS_nov04_mysoldier.HTML.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/5/04
"Do your duty in all things. You could not do more. You would not wish to do less." General Robert E. Lee
Christmas contributions
Last week, Banshee Blog announced that it is seeking information about holiday traditions that are near and dear to Banshee Blog readers. I intend to post this collection on Banshee Blog on December 18, 2004.
So far, Wild Banshee has received only one submission. So, I am renewing my call for contributions. If you or your family has a special activity or food or anything that you look forward to each year, please consider passing it along to Wild Banshee. Same thing goes for holiday traditions from your childhood that are no more. There are not narrow guidelines for this activity.
I look forward to checking my inbox in the days to come.
So far, Wild Banshee has received only one submission. So, I am renewing my call for contributions. If you or your family has a special activity or food or anything that you look forward to each year, please consider passing it along to Wild Banshee. Same thing goes for holiday traditions from your childhood that are no more. There are not narrow guidelines for this activity.
I look forward to checking my inbox in the days to come.
Banshee Polling
Poll results: This week's poll was a little bit abbreviated. Due to my computer problems, it only went online on Monday night, rather than on Sunday afternoon. Despite this, there was decent response in these short days, so this poll will be retired today.
This poll asked: What is your favorite holiday movie?
Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas Vacation each received 8% of the vote. A Christmas Story received 16% of the vote. The runaway winner was It's a Wonderful Life. This timeless classic received 66% of the vote.
New Poll: We'll try to stick with the holiday theme from now until Christmas. This week's poll asks: Which type of lights do you prefer for your tree?
This poll asked: What is your favorite holiday movie?
Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas Vacation each received 8% of the vote. A Christmas Story received 16% of the vote. The runaway winner was It's a Wonderful Life. This timeless classic received 66% of the vote.
New Poll: We'll try to stick with the holiday theme from now until Christmas. This week's poll asks: Which type of lights do you prefer for your tree?
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/4/04
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be." Abraham Lincoln
Ivana Gets the Axe
Ivana finally got eliminated from The Apprentice on Thursday night. And, boy, was that ever overdue! The best part of the whole thing is that the Jennifer, the woman Ivana hates most, remains.
When the week began, there were only five players remaining. Apex had 3 members: Ivana, Kevin and Kelly. Kelly was exempt from firing due to leading his team to victory last week. Apex made Ivana their project manager. Mosaic had only two members: Sandy and Jennifer -- two women who had screeched at each other in the previous week's boardroom.
The task this week was two-fold. It involved the production and sale of Mars' new candy bar, the M-azing bar. It is a candy bar with some sort of M&M's in it. On the first day, the teams had to operate an assembly line with only their members and produce as many bars as they could that would pass Mars' quality inspection. On day two, the teams had to sell the bars they produced on the streets of New York. Whichever team brought in the most money would win.
Despite having an extra team member, Apex produced only marginally more bars than Mosaic. Therefore, the competition really came down to who could sell their bars for the most money. Mosaic decided to capitalize on their good looks and dawn the persona of the M&M sisters. So, the two comely blondes took to the streets in slinky tank tops, mini skirts and heels. They really did look almost like twins. Their good looks and their cute demeanor allowed the women to sell their bars for an average price of nearly $5 a bar. And they did all this while being very mindful of not crossing over into a slutty presentation.
Meanwhile, Apex staked out a spot near the top of a subway escalator on Wall Street. They used a pretty standard carnival barker approach. And it worked to moderate success. However, they were only selling their bars for $2 at the start. Kevin was having no success at that price and dropped his price to only $1 without getting approval from Ivana. Aside from this, it was a pretty uneventful outing for Apex until Ivana was told by a pedestrian that two attractive women were selling the same thing for $5 just a few blocks away.
At this point Ivana, who has been exhibiting extreme and irrational jealousy of Jennifer's good looks for weeks, lost all perspective on the situation. After strolling down to check out Mosaic's outfits, Ivana decided to take desperate measures. She started approaching men and telling them she'd drop her skirt if they'd pay $20 for a chocolate bar. She had two takers and dropped her skirt twice. Granted, Ivana's panties were of the boys shorts variety, but you could see the handwriting on the wall as Caroline observed these antics.
Despite this desparate display of exhibitionism by Apex, Mosaic came out way ahead. Kevin took a little heat in the boardroom for dropping the price without approval. But, as usual, the finger was pointed at the project manager. It certainly didn't help that Ivana had used a strip-tease as part of her marketing plan. In the end, Ivana's only defense was her claims that both Jen and Sandy were superficial and worse players than her. But as Trump astutely pointed out, those girls won and were not in the boardroom to be fired. Then the Donald said the words I've been longing to hear. He slapped the table and said, "Ivana, you're fired."
When the week began, there were only five players remaining. Apex had 3 members: Ivana, Kevin and Kelly. Kelly was exempt from firing due to leading his team to victory last week. Apex made Ivana their project manager. Mosaic had only two members: Sandy and Jennifer -- two women who had screeched at each other in the previous week's boardroom.
The task this week was two-fold. It involved the production and sale of Mars' new candy bar, the M-azing bar. It is a candy bar with some sort of M&M's in it. On the first day, the teams had to operate an assembly line with only their members and produce as many bars as they could that would pass Mars' quality inspection. On day two, the teams had to sell the bars they produced on the streets of New York. Whichever team brought in the most money would win.
Despite having an extra team member, Apex produced only marginally more bars than Mosaic. Therefore, the competition really came down to who could sell their bars for the most money. Mosaic decided to capitalize on their good looks and dawn the persona of the M&M sisters. So, the two comely blondes took to the streets in slinky tank tops, mini skirts and heels. They really did look almost like twins. Their good looks and their cute demeanor allowed the women to sell their bars for an average price of nearly $5 a bar. And they did all this while being very mindful of not crossing over into a slutty presentation.
Meanwhile, Apex staked out a spot near the top of a subway escalator on Wall Street. They used a pretty standard carnival barker approach. And it worked to moderate success. However, they were only selling their bars for $2 at the start. Kevin was having no success at that price and dropped his price to only $1 without getting approval from Ivana. Aside from this, it was a pretty uneventful outing for Apex until Ivana was told by a pedestrian that two attractive women were selling the same thing for $5 just a few blocks away.
At this point Ivana, who has been exhibiting extreme and irrational jealousy of Jennifer's good looks for weeks, lost all perspective on the situation. After strolling down to check out Mosaic's outfits, Ivana decided to take desperate measures. She started approaching men and telling them she'd drop her skirt if they'd pay $20 for a chocolate bar. She had two takers and dropped her skirt twice. Granted, Ivana's panties were of the boys shorts variety, but you could see the handwriting on the wall as Caroline observed these antics.
Despite this desparate display of exhibitionism by Apex, Mosaic came out way ahead. Kevin took a little heat in the boardroom for dropping the price without approval. But, as usual, the finger was pointed at the project manager. It certainly didn't help that Ivana had used a strip-tease as part of her marketing plan. In the end, Ivana's only defense was her claims that both Jen and Sandy were superficial and worse players than her. But as Trump astutely pointed out, those girls won and were not in the boardroom to be fired. Then the Donald said the words I've been longing to hear. He slapped the table and said, "Ivana, you're fired."
Friday, December 03, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/3/04
"We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves." Lynn Hall
Let the games begin
I love every major sport in this country. But nothing gets my blood pumping quite like college football. The passion. The pagentry. The rivalries. There is nothing quite like it. And tomorrow is a great, great day of college football.
The excitement kicks off on ABC at 1 p.m. when Virginia Tech heads to south Florida to take on Miami for the ACC Championship. Then at 2:30 on CBS, one of the most historic rivalries in all of sports is renewed for the 115th time when Army battles Navy. After the Army-Navy game ends, you'll have time to run out and pick up some wings for dinner. But don't dilly-dally because possibly the best game of the day will be starting in just a few minutes. At 6 p.m. CBS will broadcast the SEC Championship game from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The SEC Championship features the Tennessee Volunteers and the undefeated, untied Auburn Tigers. When that game ends you'll still have a chance to catch most of the Big XII Championship game. The Big XII Championship begins at 8 p.m. This year's game pits the powerful Oklahoma Sooners against the Colorado Buffaloes. The Sooners will be a heavy favorite, but the Big XII Championship has a history of stunning upsets -- including last year's upset of the Sooners by the Kansas State Wildcats.
So, if you're a college football fan, write all this down so that you don't miss a moment. And if you're someone who really just can't understand what gets people like me so excited about all of this, please tune into any one of these games. It'll be almost impossible for you to avoid being swept up in the emotion of these games.
The excitement kicks off on ABC at 1 p.m. when Virginia Tech heads to south Florida to take on Miami for the ACC Championship. Then at 2:30 on CBS, one of the most historic rivalries in all of sports is renewed for the 115th time when Army battles Navy. After the Army-Navy game ends, you'll have time to run out and pick up some wings for dinner. But don't dilly-dally because possibly the best game of the day will be starting in just a few minutes. At 6 p.m. CBS will broadcast the SEC Championship game from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The SEC Championship features the Tennessee Volunteers and the undefeated, untied Auburn Tigers. When that game ends you'll still have a chance to catch most of the Big XII Championship game. The Big XII Championship begins at 8 p.m. This year's game pits the powerful Oklahoma Sooners against the Colorado Buffaloes. The Sooners will be a heavy favorite, but the Big XII Championship has a history of stunning upsets -- including last year's upset of the Sooners by the Kansas State Wildcats.
So, if you're a college football fan, write all this down so that you don't miss a moment. And if you're someone who really just can't understand what gets people like me so excited about all of this, please tune into any one of these games. It'll be almost impossible for you to avoid being swept up in the emotion of these games.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/2/04
"It is only poverty which makes celibacy contemptible. A woman of good fortune is always respectable." Emma in Jane Austen's Emma (I actually took this from the movie. I did not verify its existence in the book).
Beer for my horses?
Country music superstar, Toby Keith, has recently decided to lend his name to a new chain of restaurants. The restaurants will be named Toby Keith's I Love this Bar and Grill. Although the chain is actually owned by a group of investors and not by Toby himself, Toby approves of the atmosphere for the restaurants. Toby said, "It's going to be John Wayne meets Captain America." Apparently Keith will also be involved in approving the food for the restaurants. At a recent press conference, Keith said, "We've got to have great food, and I'm going to have the last say-so on that." At a previous press conference, Toby told reporters, "I don't want anyone walking up to me at an OU game and saying, 'Hey, your steak sucked!'" Construction has already begun on the Oklahoma City and Las Vegas locations. Other planned locations include Kansas City, Missouri; Shreveport, Louisiana and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The only question remaining is whether patrons will indeed be able to order beer for their horses.
Waiting for marriage
New marriage statistics hit the news today. The news is that Americans are waiting longer and longer to get married. According to the 2003 census, the age of 30 is no longer the official start of old maidhood for American women. The latest numbers report that 23% of women between the ages of 30 and 34 have never been married. 33% of men in that same age group have never been married. These are dramatic increases over the last few decades. In 1970, the figures were only 6% of women and 9% of men.
Fox and Friends discussed these new numbers during their 6 o'clock hour this morning. The unmarried beauty queen/reporter, Lauren Green, noted that sexually transmitted disease has also risen by similar margins over this time period. An interesting observation. The married Brian Kilmeade also made an interesting observation. He stated, "People in their 20's have more to do now -- like play video games."
So true Brian, so true. And as the title of Kilmeade's NY Times best-seller points out, the games do count.
Fox and Friends discussed these new numbers during their 6 o'clock hour this morning. The unmarried beauty queen/reporter, Lauren Green, noted that sexually transmitted disease has also risen by similar margins over this time period. An interesting observation. The married Brian Kilmeade also made an interesting observation. He stated, "People in their 20's have more to do now -- like play video games."
So true Brian, so true. And as the title of Kilmeade's NY Times best-seller points out, the games do count.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Quote of the Day 12/1/04
"I think that's how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough. Let's go west.'" Richard Jeni
Thanking our Troops
Most of us have said many times over the last couple of years that we are very proud of our troops and thankful for their service. Well, if you want a way to express that gratitude to a soldier in the Middle East, then you may want to check out these two websites.
A Million Thanks: This website gathers letters, cards and emails and distributes them to those who have served our country both in the past and in the present.
Operation Uplink: This website operates in conjunction with the VFW. This site collects donations that are used to buy phone cards for the troops. This allows many who are in harm's way to call their loved ones back at home. This is a perfect gift for the Christmas season.
(Thanks to Mimi for providing these websites)
A Million Thanks: This website gathers letters, cards and emails and distributes them to those who have served our country both in the past and in the present.
Operation Uplink: This website operates in conjunction with the VFW. This site collects donations that are used to buy phone cards for the troops. This allows many who are in harm's way to call their loved ones back at home. This is a perfect gift for the Christmas season.
(Thanks to Mimi for providing these websites)
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