I've been following the political news with the jaundiced eye of one who has come to the realisation that participating in the system is just about pointless. Don't get me wrong, I participate, but mostly to claim my right to bitch about stuff.
The Republicans and Tea Party folks are busy congratulating themselves and crowing about how they are going to change everything back to the way it was (which "was" they're shooting for is not quite clear, but they seem pretty happy). Hopefully, now that the Teapublicans have control of the House, maybe we, the people, will see some sort of shift towards compromise and progress. Progress of course meaning that Congress actually gets something, ANYTHING, accomplished. I'm not confident that this will happen. The fact is, in eighteen months, the very same people who voted for this new batch of congressional clowns are going to be screaming for the candidates heads because not a Goddamned thing will get done.
Now, for my completely partisan moment (Can you guess which side I'm on?):
If you voted conservative and are unemployed, I hope you saved those unemployment checks you've been getting. Unemployment benefits are going to be the first thing to go. Find yourself a nice comfy refrigerator box.
If you voted conservative, are unemployed, and uninsured. Don't get sick. Your local Tea Party rep. ain't gonna help you pay for your perscriptions. Provided, of course, you can afford to go to the doctor to get the perscription in the first place.
If you are unaffiliated with any political party, poor, and a minority (especially you pesky Muslims), run!
If you are a really rich, white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, NRA supporting, big business fat cat, congratulations pal! You just won the lottery!!!
...and so it goes!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Oh man, that was bad.
Washington 25 - Detroit 37
I've seen some ugly games from the Skins in the past couple of years, but today's game against Detroit was horrifying. The defense wasn't too bad getting a couple of turnovers and keeping the team in the game most of the way, but also got flagged for some stupid penalties in clutch situations which directly led to Detroit points.
I don't know if words can describe the offense. McNabb was under siege since the first snap, and the running game was once again non-existent. In the strangest turn of events, when the game was winding down, 1:45 left, the Skins down by six McNabb gets pulled for Rex Grossman who immediately fumbles the ball and ends the game. Grossman????? There should be tons of speculation about THAT move. Anyway, the Skins lost a game they should have won.
Only good thing is that the Redskins have a bye week coming up. Maybe they can find a solution for whatever it is that ails them, but I'm not holding my breath.
I've seen some ugly games from the Skins in the past couple of years, but today's game against Detroit was horrifying. The defense wasn't too bad getting a couple of turnovers and keeping the team in the game most of the way, but also got flagged for some stupid penalties in clutch situations which directly led to Detroit points.
I don't know if words can describe the offense. McNabb was under siege since the first snap, and the running game was once again non-existent. In the strangest turn of events, when the game was winding down, 1:45 left, the Skins down by six McNabb gets pulled for Rex Grossman who immediately fumbles the ball and ends the game. Grossman????? There should be tons of speculation about THAT move. Anyway, the Skins lost a game they should have won.
Only good thing is that the Redskins have a bye week coming up. Maybe they can find a solution for whatever it is that ails them, but I'm not holding my breath.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sick and Tired...
I'm sick and tired of a political system that no longer allows for actual governing to take place. Where vitriol, hate, and simple pig-headedness trump reason and rational discourse. A system where how much money is raised for a campaign is more important than the issues.
I'm sick and tired of the gun lobby which has so much power it can prohibit the ATF from forcing gun dealers and manufacturers to TAKE INVENTORY despite a record number of guns "gone missing" from stocks. All this because the NRA says taking inventory will add unreasonable costs to businesses and consumers. Huh? How much does it cost to send an employee into the stock room with a list and a clipboard to count stuff?
I'm sick and tired of rude people. I'm sick and tired of people who constantly offer unsolicited advice. I'm sick and tired of bureaucrats that don't have a clue what they're doing. I'm sick and tired of stupidity and misplaced arrogance; of people talking when they have absolutely nothing to say.
I'm sick and tired of, well, being sick and tired. I'm on my second cold in three weeks, and it's pissing me off. I'm sick and tired of taking handfuls of pills (8 pills three times a day at the moment) and HOPING they work. I mean, what ever happened to the good old shot in the ass with an antibiotic blast that would cure you and the person sitting next to you?
I'm sick and tired of the gun lobby which has so much power it can prohibit the ATF from forcing gun dealers and manufacturers to TAKE INVENTORY despite a record number of guns "gone missing" from stocks. All this because the NRA says taking inventory will add unreasonable costs to businesses and consumers. Huh? How much does it cost to send an employee into the stock room with a list and a clipboard to count stuff?
I'm sick and tired of rude people. I'm sick and tired of people who constantly offer unsolicited advice. I'm sick and tired of bureaucrats that don't have a clue what they're doing. I'm sick and tired of stupidity and misplaced arrogance; of people talking when they have absolutely nothing to say.
I'm sick and tired of, well, being sick and tired. I'm on my second cold in three weeks, and it's pissing me off. I'm sick and tired of taking handfuls of pills (8 pills three times a day at the moment) and HOPING they work. I mean, what ever happened to the good old shot in the ass with an antibiotic blast that would cure you and the person sitting next to you?
I'm just sick and tired.
So it goes.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Start stocking up on Non-perishable goods because the end is near!
WASHINGTON 16 - GREEN BAY 13
I predicted after the debacle against the Rams in week 2 that the Redskins were going to need basically an act of God to win even two of their next six games. Somehow the Redskins have managed to pull of wins against the Eagles, and even more mind boggling, a win today against Green Bay.
I think the new Redskins motto is "WIN UGLY!" Both against the Eagles and Packers the offense did just enough to keep things interesting, and the defense gave up yards but no points. In fact, the Redskins D played pretty inspired ball today. You have to give any defense that holds the Packers to a measely 13 points some credit.
I don't know what the Skins are going to do about their offense. They couldn't run for shit and if McNabb doesn't spend at least part of this coming week in traction it'll be a miracle. The biggest play of the game was the play where Packer OLB Clay Matthews went out with a hamstring injury. Up until that point, Matthews and the Packer's D had been in McNabb's face and were beating him up pretty good. After Matthews went out, McNabb seemed to have a bit more time to throw, and the Skins started moving the ball a bit (not much, but enough. Anyway, the Skins managed to score 10 oints in the 4th quarter to send it into overtime.
A missed Packer field goal, a brilliant interception by LaRon Landry, and a couple of runs by McNabb in OT, and the Skins staggered away with a victory.
The Redskins face Indy, Chicago, and Detroit in the coming weeks, and, after today, I haven't a clue what's going to happen.
GO REDSKINS!!
I predicted after the debacle against the Rams in week 2 that the Redskins were going to need basically an act of God to win even two of their next six games. Somehow the Redskins have managed to pull of wins against the Eagles, and even more mind boggling, a win today against Green Bay.
I think the new Redskins motto is "WIN UGLY!" Both against the Eagles and Packers the offense did just enough to keep things interesting, and the defense gave up yards but no points. In fact, the Redskins D played pretty inspired ball today. You have to give any defense that holds the Packers to a measely 13 points some credit.
I don't know what the Skins are going to do about their offense. They couldn't run for shit and if McNabb doesn't spend at least part of this coming week in traction it'll be a miracle. The biggest play of the game was the play where Packer OLB Clay Matthews went out with a hamstring injury. Up until that point, Matthews and the Packer's D had been in McNabb's face and were beating him up pretty good. After Matthews went out, McNabb seemed to have a bit more time to throw, and the Skins started moving the ball a bit (not much, but enough. Anyway, the Skins managed to score 10 oints in the 4th quarter to send it into overtime.
A missed Packer field goal, a brilliant interception by LaRon Landry, and a couple of runs by McNabb in OT, and the Skins staggered away with a victory.
The Redskins face Indy, Chicago, and Detroit in the coming weeks, and, after today, I haven't a clue what's going to happen.
GO REDSKINS!!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Want to look like a Super Bowl caliber team? Play the Redskins
Redskins 16 - Rams 30
I'm...I'm...hell...I don't know what I am. I guess stunned might be a good word. Stunned but not surprised. I knew the Skins were going to lose the minute the Gano booted the opening kick out of bounds. How did I know? I knew because the Redskins havea history of making bad teams look like Super Bowl contenders. Against the Skins a struggling rookie QB, in this case Sam Bradford, can look like Joe Montana. Against the Skins, a struggling team, in this case the St. Louis Rams (who have won maybe 5 games in the last three seasons), can look like The Greatest Show On Turf.
This game was simply ugly from the beginning as the Rams quickly went up by 14 points. There was some spark in the Skins but a weird sputtering, "there's a short in the wiring" kind of spark. In one of the strangest moments of the game, Clinton Portis broke of a 29 yard run, but then simply fell down as defenders closed on him. Since when did CP, who has been know to throw himself bodily at defenders twice his size in pass protection, suddenly become gun shy? This team is going to make me a crazy person this year. Whether the level of crazy remains the usual "What the F*** are they doing" crazy or ratchets up to true Redskins psychosis is yet to be seen.
At the beginning of the season I felt that the Skins might be an 8-8 team at best. I have to revise that prediction. The Skins schedule leading up to the bye is as follows: Eagles, Packers, Colts, Bears, and Lions. In an alternate universe, the Skins win two for sure (Bears and Lions), maybe take the Eagles, and play well but lose to the Packers and Colts. In this universe it is perfectly possible for the Skins to head into the bye at 1-8. I'd count it as a major miracle if the Skins come away with victories against Chicago and Detroit. If they win against Philly, Green Bay, or Indy, I'm stocking up on canned goods and building a fall out shelter because, face it folks, if that happens, the end is near.
I'm...I'm...hell...I don't know what I am. I guess stunned might be a good word. Stunned but not surprised. I knew the Skins were going to lose the minute the Gano booted the opening kick out of bounds. How did I know? I knew because the Redskins havea history of making bad teams look like Super Bowl contenders. Against the Skins a struggling rookie QB, in this case Sam Bradford, can look like Joe Montana. Against the Skins, a struggling team, in this case the St. Louis Rams (who have won maybe 5 games in the last three seasons), can look like The Greatest Show On Turf.
This game was simply ugly from the beginning as the Rams quickly went up by 14 points. There was some spark in the Skins but a weird sputtering, "there's a short in the wiring" kind of spark. In one of the strangest moments of the game, Clinton Portis broke of a 29 yard run, but then simply fell down as defenders closed on him. Since when did CP, who has been know to throw himself bodily at defenders twice his size in pass protection, suddenly become gun shy? This team is going to make me a crazy person this year. Whether the level of crazy remains the usual "What the F*** are they doing" crazy or ratchets up to true Redskins psychosis is yet to be seen.
At the beginning of the season I felt that the Skins might be an 8-8 team at best. I have to revise that prediction. The Skins schedule leading up to the bye is as follows: Eagles, Packers, Colts, Bears, and Lions. In an alternate universe, the Skins win two for sure (Bears and Lions), maybe take the Eagles, and play well but lose to the Packers and Colts. In this universe it is perfectly possible for the Skins to head into the bye at 1-8. I'd count it as a major miracle if the Skins come away with victories against Chicago and Detroit. If they win against Philly, Green Bay, or Indy, I'm stocking up on canned goods and building a fall out shelter because, face it folks, if that happens, the end is near.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
WASHINGTON 27 - HOUSTON 30
In an amazing football juxtaposition, the Redskins managed to look better and worse at the same time. The offense stepped up and the defense stepped down.
It is beyond obvious that Donovan McNabb makes the Skins instantly better and that he is definitely not "done" as the Eagles seem to have thought. Find him a running game, and the Skins might actually have something.
The real surprise was the Skins D. While no one was expecting them to totally stop the high flying Texans offense, neither did anyone expect them to give up 500+ yards to Matt Schaub and company. A perennial top 10 defense, the Skins, with the exception of LaRon Landry, Brian Orakpo, and London Fletcher, looked decidedly pedestrian.
Both the Skins offense and defense had chances to win the game, but, as has been the case for too many years, couldn't come through in the end. Despite the loss, it was a fun game to watch. If this is a Redskins team truly on the mend, then I pity the St. Louis Rams next week.
...And so it goes.
In an amazing football juxtaposition, the Redskins managed to look better and worse at the same time. The offense stepped up and the defense stepped down.
It is beyond obvious that Donovan McNabb makes the Skins instantly better and that he is definitely not "done" as the Eagles seem to have thought. Find him a running game, and the Skins might actually have something.
The real surprise was the Skins D. While no one was expecting them to totally stop the high flying Texans offense, neither did anyone expect them to give up 500+ yards to Matt Schaub and company. A perennial top 10 defense, the Skins, with the exception of LaRon Landry, Brian Orakpo, and London Fletcher, looked decidedly pedestrian.
Both the Skins offense and defense had chances to win the game, but, as has been the case for too many years, couldn't come through in the end. Despite the loss, it was a fun game to watch. If this is a Redskins team truly on the mend, then I pity the St. Louis Rams next week.
...And so it goes.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Typhoon Kompasu and the Apathy Blues
It's coming on 6am in the Land of the Morning Calm, although it's not very calm as Typhoon Kompasu is rolling through, rattling the windows and doors and basically being a nuisance. The first big blast woke me around 4:30. Been up ever since.
I've been thinking about my posting something here for a while but just couldn't find the inspiration.
There's certainly a lot to get worked up about in the news these days. The politics of hate are alive and well in the US these days. The problem being that everyone's so focused on who they hate and why they hate them that no one's actually getting anything done. The US was built on compromise. The Constitution is a shining beacon to the value of compromise. It's what Americans are supposed to do well. When did the population become so blinkered and uncompromising? Of course, you can also check out the reader comments section in any online article about politics these days and be left wondering when the population got so terribly stupid.
I suppose you could blame the Republicans (fascist, right-wing, psychotic, religious nutbags) and their "Just Say No to EVERYTHING because Obama's President and We don't have Control of Congress" campaign. They make an easy target, but only because the mouth pieces of the conservative movement happen to be the ones screaming the loudest these days.
You could, I suppose, also blame the Democrats (Commie-pinko, Godless, liberal, tax and spend, tree-hugging scumsuckers) for...well...whatever it is that conservatives blame liberals for (I'm trying to be objective, but it's difficult). They make an easy target simply because they're so damn wimpy these days.
Regardless of who you blame, the fact remains that neither side could agree on the color of shit if it got dumped on their heads. It's getting old, and I'm pretty much beyond caring.
Even sport is without its clarion call these days. It's football season. Usually my favorite time of year. However, the Skins have been down so long that it's hard to work up any real excitement. Realistically, what's the best the Skins can do this season? I say 8-8. It's difficult to get hyped about 8-8. We ave yet ANOTHER new coach; yet ANOTHER new offensive and defensive scheme; yet ANOTHER off-season soap opera (Albert Haynesworth). Yawn.
The Nationals keep hope alive to a certain extent. The future does seem to be fairly bright. However, with their record at 57-76, which amazingly enough is an improvement over last year, is not something to inspire much of anything, really. The only thing Nats fans can hope for this season is that the team doesn't end up in LAST place in the entire league. Sigh
Well, it appears the wind has died down, so I can go back to bed and see if there is any inspiration buried in my sub-conscious.
...And so it goes.
I've been thinking about my posting something here for a while but just couldn't find the inspiration.
There's certainly a lot to get worked up about in the news these days. The politics of hate are alive and well in the US these days. The problem being that everyone's so focused on who they hate and why they hate them that no one's actually getting anything done. The US was built on compromise. The Constitution is a shining beacon to the value of compromise. It's what Americans are supposed to do well. When did the population become so blinkered and uncompromising? Of course, you can also check out the reader comments section in any online article about politics these days and be left wondering when the population got so terribly stupid.
I suppose you could blame the Republicans (fascist, right-wing, psychotic, religious nutbags) and their "Just Say No to EVERYTHING because Obama's President and We don't have Control of Congress" campaign. They make an easy target, but only because the mouth pieces of the conservative movement happen to be the ones screaming the loudest these days.
You could, I suppose, also blame the Democrats (Commie-pinko, Godless, liberal, tax and spend, tree-hugging scumsuckers) for...well...whatever it is that conservatives blame liberals for (I'm trying to be objective, but it's difficult). They make an easy target simply because they're so damn wimpy these days.
Regardless of who you blame, the fact remains that neither side could agree on the color of shit if it got dumped on their heads. It's getting old, and I'm pretty much beyond caring.
Even sport is without its clarion call these days. It's football season. Usually my favorite time of year. However, the Skins have been down so long that it's hard to work up any real excitement. Realistically, what's the best the Skins can do this season? I say 8-8. It's difficult to get hyped about 8-8. We ave yet ANOTHER new coach; yet ANOTHER new offensive and defensive scheme; yet ANOTHER off-season soap opera (Albert Haynesworth). Yawn.
The Nationals keep hope alive to a certain extent. The future does seem to be fairly bright. However, with their record at 57-76, which amazingly enough is an improvement over last year, is not something to inspire much of anything, really. The only thing Nats fans can hope for this season is that the team doesn't end up in LAST place in the entire league. Sigh
Well, it appears the wind has died down, so I can go back to bed and see if there is any inspiration buried in my sub-conscious.
...And so it goes.
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