Departmental Review

The "Let's Blow Shit Up" Dept.:

Breaking News!!

North Korea, wigging out over South Korean military exercises off the west coast of the Korean Penisula, dropped a truckload of artillery shells on the tiny island of Yeongpyeong yesterday afternoon. Following closely on the heels of the Cheonan incident last spring (Korean Navy corvette sunk by DPRK torpedo with the loss of 46 ROK sailors), this latest incident has inflamed tensions to an all time high. Needless to say, there is much hand-wringing and consternation across the penninsula. I'm sure that the photos and news footage of the burning island town has brought back some unwanted memories amoung the survivors of the last Korean war.

While this is a serous crisis, I really don't feel that there is that much to worry about. All the parties involed are acting consistently with past inter-Korean crises. In other words, the DPRK propaganda machine continues to spit bile and brain-torturing hyperbole, while the ROK calls for action and restraint at the same time. The western community, mainly the US, "condemns" the action in "the strongest possible terms" while China calls for more restraint. I would love to be a fly on the wall in one of the Chinese defense meetings whenever the DPRK pulls one of these stunts. They must feel that North Korea is like the recalcitrant child who is too old to spank but not responsible enough to move out of the house.

In the meantime, until the North lobs a few shells into Seoul or Incheon, I see no reason for undue concern.

The "Where did THAT come from?" Dept.:

The Redskins managed to pull off a gritty, impressive 19-16 OT victory against the Tennessee Titans Sunday. This is impressive for a number of reasons; the first of which is that the Skins managed to regroup after getting their asses handed to them by the Eagles last Monday night. However, the most impressive thing was that the Skins accomplished this feat with after losing 12, count 'em, 12 players to injury during the game. The Skins used a patchwork O-line made up of 2nd and 3rd stringers (at one point considering playing a 4th string rookie tight end at guard) that put up one of the most impressive performances of the year. Donovan McNabb, despite being sacked three times, was provided with some of the best protection he's seen all year, and Keiland Williams, the third string running back was given decent running room for a change.

Hopefully, the passion and drive shown against the Titans will carry over to this weeks game against the reeling Vikings. The Vikings worry me because this will be there first game after Brad Childress got fired. If the dallas Cowboys are any indication, the Skins could be up against a fired up Vikings team looking to impress a new coach. Can you say "trap" game?

The "Total Waste of Time" Dept.:

It's almost 6:30am, and I need to get ready for my first class, which is at 7:00. I'm not really in any big hurry simply because these days NONE OF THE DAMN STUDENTS ARE BOTHERING TO SHOW UP!!! This, of course, burns my ass because I have to be there at Oh Dark:Thirty for a one hour class after which, I have no classes until 4pm. ARRRGH!