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!

Faith Alone

Bad Religion - Faith Alone



Heard a sermon from a creaky pulpit with no one in the nave
I paid a visit to the synagogue and I left there feeling blame
No one could tell me what to do, they had no the capacity to answer me

What the world needs now is some answers to our problems
We can't buy more time 'cause our tender isn't valid
If your soul needs love you can get consoled by pity
But it loks as though faith alone won't sustain us no more

Watched scientist throw up their hands conceding, "progress will resolve it all"
Saw the manufactureers of earth's debris ignore another Green Peace call
No one could tell me what to do, no one had the ability to answer me

Whet the world needs now is some accountability
We can't buy more time 'cause time won't accept our money
If your soul needs love, you can always have my pity
But it looks as though faith alone won't sustain us no more

What the world needs now is some answers to our problems
We can't buy more time 'cause our tender isn't valid
What the world needs now is a\some accountability
If you soul needs love, you can get consoled by pity
But faith alone, won't sustsain us any more.

Beyond Embarrassing

Washington 28 - Philadelphia 59

Monday night, QB with a whopping new contract, and coming off a bye week to play a hated divisional rival at home. This is a game that, as a team, you would get up for. A game that you'd be fired up and ready to prove a point after being manhandled by a podunk loser like Detroit two weeks ago. This is about Redskins PRIDE! This is to show all those discontented haters that the team is for real. This is to put all the insanity of the bye week in the past.

If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts...

What happened? 35-0 by two minutes into the second quarter. 42-14 by the half. The Redskins didn't even get a first down until about halfway through the second quarter. I've never seen anything like it. The Redskins run twelve plays, the Eagles score FIVE TOUCHDOWNS!!!!! If I'm not mistaken, the Redskins fielded a defense today, but I'm not quite sure because IT WAS FUCKING INVISIBLE!!!

Who knows what's going to happen to the rest of the season? I predicted 8-8 when the season started, but I think I might have to revise my estimate. We still have to face a rejuvenated Dallas team once more, the Giants twice, and the Titans, Vikings, Bucs, and Jags. I'm beginning to think it might be a miracle if the Skins actually win one more.

Unbelievably pathetic.

Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.

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!

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.

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 just sick and tired.

So it goes.

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!!