SNAKES!!!

WE GOT MUTHAFUCKIN SNAKES ON THIS MUTHAFUCKIN PLANE!



Mmmm....trailer.

Coming in August to a theater near you.

A Culture of Corruption

No, the OTHER party.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) -- Former Gov. Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth chief executive Richard Scrushy were convicted Thursday in a bribery scheme that derailed Siegelman's campaign to retake his former office.

Gee, corrupt Democrats? That never happens. Why, I thought it was just Republicans that were corrupt swindlers, That's what the New York Times says and they're always right, just like the Internet!

I thought the Democrats were all nice, honorable guys, like Harry Reid. Or Nancy Pelosi. Or William Jefferson. Or Ted Kennedy. Or Robert Kennedy Jr. And back to Harry Reid.

Seriously - you probably don't want to make "culture of corruption" a campaign weapon. Not when that weapon can be turned around and shot through your own chest.

It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp

Bitch, where my W-2?

You know, theoretically, by taxing prostitution, you just might be paving the way for its eventual legalization instead of erasing it.

Libertarians, rejoice.

The rest of us will just fret about the continued decline of Western Civilization.

Besides, I didn't think conservatives liked implementing new taxes.

Big, Long, Tremendous Upside Potential

One thing the NBA draft lacks that the NFL provides in abundance is cliches. Mel Kiper has about 20 different ways apiece to describe someone who is fast, or powerful, or has a good arm.

Most of the comments on NBA prospects, though, use one of the words above. Or more, if you're Hubie Brown.

The draft tonight didn't feel as exciting or as interesting as previous years. It might be because there was no clear-cut #1, or the continued influx of foreign players I've never heard of, or college players I don't know. The names I did know didn't seem to get taken very often, or at all.
The Hawks did OK, getting Shelden Williams from Duke and Solomon Jones from South Florida, players who can both assist greatly with the Hawks' terrible frontcourt. Williams was a pretty good player, but I don't know much about Jones aside from numbers. Still, as a second-rounder, if it works, great.

What struck me the most were the approaches taken by two of the NBA's most woebegone franchises, the Portland (Jail) Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks.

New York, suffering from a bloated payroll, inept ownership and management, a coaching coup, and an overabundance of guards, decided to draft.......two more guards. Isiah Thomas must have illicit pistures of Jimmy Dolan and farm animals to continue to be allowed destroying this franchise. Even moreso, neither guard is really that acclaimed or would bring anything more to the table than several of the guards already on New York's roster - one from South Carolina, one from Temple, but neither squad was very good last year. Better guards were available - Taquan Dean, Dee Brown, Marcus Williams - I just don't get it. Inside help would have been better - Pittsnogle, anyone?

The drunk Knicks fans being interviewed were quite funny, though. One kept falling on the ESPN guy while talking. Apparently, not a significant ESPN guy, as I didn't recall ever seeing him before nor do I remember his name.

Portland, on the other hand, while suffering from a lot of the same problems, actually made moves that helped the team. They have made six trades as I write this post, with the potential for more. So far, they have gotten rid of Theo Ratliff, Viktor Khryapa, Sebastian Telfair and his camera crew, and picked up six new players - LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, the best in the draft at their positions, four other draft picks, and a couple veterans (Dickau and LaFrentz) who could be bit players. They'll have a much lower payroll though, and perhaps all the new blood will help calm down the team and their pitbulls. This is one quick overhaul - half the roster in just a few hours!

Well, that's it for the NBA until November. On to baseball, the World Cup, and very soon, the return of the NFL. Which reminds me - it's time to start thinking about a new fantasy football league!

Relief

No, I'm not talking about the Braves' lousy bullpen. Or Rolaids.

I talking about a general sense of relief that accompanies being calm.

I haven't posted a lot in the last week or so, mostly because the last week has been amazingly topsy-turvy, to put it mildly. In no particular order, there was GSU school registration, annual reviews at work (the first since I changed jobs), my current boss leaving and a new boss moving up (eek), and two sudden openings at the office (which were big surprises to the rest of us).

However, all that pales in comparison to going to a doctor for tests. I'm normally skittish about stepping foot anywhere near a doctor's office, so I was especially nerve-wracked when going last week to Northside Hospital.

Thankfully, after weeks of concern about things working out OK, we got told that yes, in fact, things were OK and moving along very well.

17 weeks along and counting up to 40. But we'll have to wait until December for the newest Francis to make her debut. In the meantime, we can keep praying for a happy few months and for a happy, healthy little girl to make for a very happy Christmas season.

OK, I'll stop using the word "happy" for a little while. But frankly, after the last few weeks, of a lot of different stressors creating the perfect storm (and a severe lack of sleep), it is a big relief to know that, for now, everything may just work out OK.

For our next post, we will return to the usual snarkiness, but for now, it's good to just be happy. (Oops, did it again)

Oh, bother

Justices pooh-pooh Winnie the Pooh

No honey pot for the plaintiffs today.

Gotcha!

U. S. Navy test intercepts warhead

Well, that should impress those who want to fire a test missile and those who say it can't be done.

Ka-boom.

Next.

Thrown under the bus

Well, Larry Brown's back on the road again.

Isiah Thomas will get the chance to coach the mess he's made in New York in one of the most predictable moves possible. $40 million for one year of coaching is a pretty good deal - and Brown will see most if not all of that money once an arbitrator gets their hands on this contract.

Knicks management is currently the most bumbling, confused, and inept group of "professionals" in all of sports. I would be surprised if the Knicks win more than 20 games next year. They're $60 million over the salary cap and stuck with several players making at least 10 million next year. Plus, no first-round pick to provide some talent and cap relief, since apparently Eddy Curry was more valuable (sincker).

And before some readers begin to comment about the woebegone status of other franchises in comparison, let me just trot out these two records:

Team A: 23-59, $108 million payroll for 2005-2006
Team B: 26-56, $20 million payroll for 2005-2006

Team A - your New York Knicks. Team B - the Atlanta Hawks. How the mighty fall.

Boo-yah!

I wrote before the series that Miami would win in 6 games.

The gloating commenced a few minutes ago with a 95-92 Miami win, closing the series out in 6 games. I hope you had money on it. If so, I want a cut of it.

Hopefully this means Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, and Alonzo Mourning will finally walk away, just as Bettis did after the Super Bowl. Payton and Mourning have had long careers, and I've been sick of Walker for a long time.

Shaq gets another ring before Kobe. Nice.

Wade gets a ring before LeBron. But I think LeBron will end up with more when it's all said and done. All I know is it will be a lot of fun watching so much young talent around the league instead of a bunch of shove-them-around, win-ugly games.

I don't quite understand why Terry took the last shot, but he did have a decent look on the final 3-point shot with Dirk double-teamed.

A great final game to cap a great playoff season.

But don't worry - the NBA draft is next week. The cycle never ends.

Double your pandas, Double your Fun

Courtesy of CNN.com:

But scientists from Britain's Cardiff University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences now think there could be as many as 3,000 there after a survey using a new method to profile DNA from panda faeces revealed there was more than double the number of estimated pandas in one reserve.

I'm sure working with panda bears is fun, cute, and cuddly, but I REALLY don't thinking working with panda poop is high on the list of careers I'd like to pursue.

To satisfy the panda lovers out there, here's the picture from the story. And yes, this will probably be the last panda post I make for a very long time. All other animal posts are fair game.

Stanley Cup Champions - Congratulations!

Congratulations to the Hartford Whalers on their first Stanley Cup.

Wait...they're WHERE? Raleigh, NC? You're kidding, right?

Afraid not. For the second consecutive season, the Stanley Cup Champion is from a city that sees almost no snow whatsoever.

Aside from that, I don't really have an opinion. My interest pretty much disappeared when the Thrashers didn't make the playoffs, and even so I was more psyched about the NBA playoffs than hockey playoffs.

Even so, these guys are pretty deserving of some kudos for a dominant regular season and the guts to go through such a grind in the playoffs, climaxing with a great Game 7 win with everything on the line.

So with that said, congratulations on the win....

and more kudos for beginning the celebration in the most apropos way imaginable.

It IS a cup, after all.

Break it down, Charlie Brown

This is the funniest video I have seen in a long time. Even funnier than what I posted yesterday.



Thankfully, much better than Connie Chung singing.

Web Junk

Just because I can.

Mario and the Princess. Poor Mario. It might be time for an intervention.

24 Dynamite. Like, nuh-uh.

Jessica Simpson Bouncing Around. I don't think I need to add anything more.

Jodie Foster Rapping. For those who aren't scared enough by Connie Chung singing.

Panda Fight. Good to see pandas actually, um, moving.

Army Jedi. Triumphing over evil one lightsaber at a time.

All links courtesy of iflim.com.

Big Church Changes a-Coming

Bishops approve new Order of Mass with U.S. adaptations

I think some folks here will be quite happy to see this news. Considering that a lot of the changes described are rolling back changes that went into effect only after Vatican Council II, I'd say these are fairly good changes.

We're beginning to see a bit more emphasis on the orthodox feel of things, rather than the huggy, happy, hold-hands Catholicism of the last few decades.

It's a first step in turning Mass back into a penitent service from a late-afternoon hippie concert, as anyone who goes to a 5:30 or 6:00 "Mass" may feel. But only a first step.

Evicting Screech?

Click here for full story.

I guess Celebruty Boxing didn't pay the bills that Saved by the Bell reruns couldn't cover.

It's kinda sad.

OK, let's try this again

That's what I get for posting a few times before I actually leave.

So, let's try this again.

I'm off to America's playground for a couple days. Be back next week.

George Soros, Convicted Inside Trader

You can read all about it here. Because, you know, it's been all over CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS. Why, I just can't get away from hearing about it.

What? You mean there's been no coverage whatsoever? I am just shocked and appalled, given his sterling financial history.

Schmuck.

What Price Freedom?

Approximately $17.4 million dollars.

This would have been better to write about yesterday, since that was Flag Day, but I didn't hear about it until this morning.

Viva Las Vegas

How on earth am I going to place a bet on the Red Sox against the Braves?










Oh. The Strip. Yep, that'll work.











I might decide to post an entry on the road......but probably not. Unless I see this guy on the way to a performance, since we are staying at the Flamingo.

Leave tomorrow, and come back Sunday after a whole lotta flying. Hopefully, happy flights back and not rooting, how-the-hell-did-my-aces-get-cracked, angry flights.

Obituary time

I didn't want to write this post.

I've been trying to avoid it for several days.

I even said earlier on the phone to someone that I wasn't ready to write this post.

Then I tuned in tonight.

I'm ready to write it now.

The Braves are toast.

THERE, I SAID IT.

Braves lost last night against Florida, and had a three-run lead late in the game. Bullpen blows the lead in the 8th. Braves load the bases with 1 out in the 8th but can't push anyone across after an Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur strikeout. In the 10th, the bullpen blows it with a base hit, a HBP, and a throwing error that allows the winning run to score.

I don't think I have ever seen the Braves look so out of sorts. I haven't seen Bobby Cox look that way too often (in the regular season) either, but tonight he looked llike a doddering old codger who had no clue what was going on.

So, it's time to write this post. After losing 13 of 16 games, falling 12.5 games back in the division into 4th place, and 8 games back in the wild card. With a record better than only three teams in the National League. While sitting only two games out of last place. And after seeing management continue to sit on its hands and better a team that clearly needed help.

The Braves are not winning the division. And they won't be winning the wild card. I said at the beginning of the year they could win 88 games. It appears they may instead lose 88 games.

On the bright side, the Braves pplay the Red Sox this weekend. I think I may have to put something down on the Sawx for those games.

At least I'll have enough time Sunday to watch the game in a sports bar during the three-hour layover in Newark. Because there's nothing better than spending an afternoon of your life stuck in an airport in New Jersey.

Whoopee.

You may commence gloating in the comments.

Join congress and double or triple your salary, maybe more!

Your Congressman just got a raise.

Because they're doing such an awesome job already, they will now make $168,500 per year.

I mean, it takes a lot of work to continue to spend YOUR money by the truckload. So Lord knows they deserve more money for the effort of spending your money.

Can't I just take some greenbacks and flush them down the toilet? I's be putting them to better use.

What in the name of Yentl is going on here?

I get a lot of e-mails about Atlanta events. Thrashers games, Hawks games, Braves games, street fair, grand openings, and so on. It's good to hear about new things.

Normally.

Imagine my surprise when I get a note from Philips Arena, bestowing upon me the opportunity for the following new event:

Your Exclusive Barbra Streisand Pre-sale!

Enjoy the ultimate Barbra Streisand Experience!
By special arrangement with CPI, the promoters of the Barbra Streisand 2006 Concert Tour,
is pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchasePremium Tickets and Exclusive VIP packages in advance of the public on sale.

Escapade VIP Party FEATURES: TOP PRICED TICKET, FABULOUS PRESHOW, FULLY CATERED DINNER PARTY IN OUR HEADLINES BAR AND GRILL, HIGH END EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE ITEM, VIP OR LIMO PARKING, SOUVENIR PROGRAM, COLLECTIBLE LAMINATE. PRIVATE MERCHANDISE BOOTH

I'm not sure how scared I should be - and I really, really hope this is an error. I don't need to be getting special offers on DVD's of The Prince of Tides or Funny Girl.

Everyone else gets Viagra, Nigeria, and Rolex spam....I get Barbra Streisand. I'd rather get thirty e-mails a day about cheap drugs.

I hope this is the last time I ever have to post about something like this. But it's just too odd NOT to post about. Talk about targeting the wrong demographic!

Maybe I should look at going to Ozzfest or Warped after all to repair my bruised ego.

Campbell sentenced to 30 months in jail

Such a proud ending for Atlanta's former mayor. Kind of - he's appealing. But he's going in for some hard time thank to his eight years of non-stop corruption (making it much easier to appreciate Shirley Franklin and the good things she's managed to do on occasion.)

In honor of Georgia's newest celebrity con (replacing Bobby Brown/Whitney Houston), here's a little ditty courtesy of the Man in Black:

I hear the train a comin'; it's rollin' 'round the bend,
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when.
I'm stuck at Folsom Prison and time keeps draggin' on.
But that train keeps rollin' on down to San Antone.

When I was just a baby, my mama told me, "Son,
Always be a good boy; don't ever play with guns."
But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
When I hear that whistle blowin' I hang my head and cry.

I bet there's rich folk eatin' in a fancy dining car.
They're prob'ly drinkin' coffee and smokin' big cigars,
But I know I had it comin', I know I can't be free,
But those people keep a movin', and that's what tortures me.

Well, if they freed me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine,
I bet I'd move on over a little farther down the line,
Far from Folsom Prison, that's where I want to stay,
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away.

Johnny Cash, Folsom Prison Blues, 1956.

Enjoy your well-deserved stay at the Greybar Hotel.

Will the last conservative please turn out the lights?

Breaking news:

A House of Representatives panel voted Tuesday to raise the U.S. minimum wage in increments to $7.25 an hour by Jan. 1, 2009.

The House Appropriations Committee backed the proposal by a vote of 32-27 during work on a massive fiscal 2007 funding bill for labor and health programs.

But the legislation faces many hurdles, including possible efforts by House Republican leaders to remove this language from the spending bill.

Last I checked, there were more Republicans than Democrats, so why this passed I don't know.

As if there were not enough economic slowdown signals already - slowing growth, rising CPI/PPI, new jobs starting to drift lower, and now Congress (in its oh-so-infinite wisdom) may handicap companies by raising the minimum wage? Gee, that'll help in securing a "soft landing" for the economy so that it won't go into recession.

Wage growth raises the cost of doing business, and will continue to allow for inflation to creep upward, which will give the Fed reason to keep pushing interest rates higher, which if it continues will lead to a nice, big recession. Fears of further rate hikes have already milked 1,000 points out of the DJIA - if tightening does continue, the losses will accelerate.

We don't need to be providing mroe fuel to the fire for a campaign of further Fed tightening, when the slightest story could tip the balance.

Just another example of Congressional Republicans continuing to morph into Ted Kennedy.

For better examples and arguments against government largesse, click on over to Geek Soap Box.

Do yourselves a favor, and stay home in November. I'm 98% sure the Democrats can't do any worse. Let them take the wheel and see if they do better, and if not, well, 2008 may lead to the political earthquake we're looking for.

I bet this won't be in Regis Alumni News

White House senior adviser Karl Rove has been told by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald that he will not be charged in the CIA leak case, according to Robert Luskin, Rove's lawyer.

Full story, click here.

A few months ago, RAN decided to devote several pages to Mr. Fitzgerald's little crusade. Given the liberal slant towards which the school seems to be drifting, somehow I don't think it will be newsworthy that Fitzgerald is being exposed for what he is - a media-chasing publicity hound with no regard for due process or the Bill of Rights.

But aside from that, job well done. How proud we should be of this alum.

Sheesh.

US News & World Report Rankings

Every year, they do rankings of colleges and universities. They just came out with an issue about best Graduate Schools. While walking through Kroger last night, I spotted it and read it for a minute.

The rankings for part-time MBA programs surprised me. Not because of where GSU was located - I knew that already. I just didn't know the others around it - which are more notable than I thought the list would be:

1) NYU
2) Univ. of Chicago
3) Northwestern
4) UCLA
5) UC Berkeley
6) USC
7) Georgia State (tie)
8) Michigan (tie)
9) Minnesota-Twin Cities
10) Southern Methodist

I'm surprised (in a good way) that it is rated on par with Michigan.

As for full-time programs, GSU did not rank in the top 50. But Emory came in at 18, which is a big drop for them. Good. I hope they fall even further. Not that there's any antipathy to Emory or anything...

Ingredient in Beer May Prevent Prostate Cancer

CORVALLIS, Ore. — A main ingredient in beer may help prevent prostate cancer and enlargement, according to a new study.

Oregon State University researchers say the compound xanthohumol, found in hops, inhibits a specific protein in the cells along the surface of the prostate gland.

The protein acts like a signal switch that turns on a variety of animal and human cancers, including prostate cancer.

Why couldn't I have been in studies like this when I was an undergraduate? I would have been quite happy to take part in this study.

Beer helps prevent prostate cancer. Wine helps prevent high blood pressure.

In honor of this earth-shattering study, I have to ask - What kind of alcoholic drink are you?

You scored as Tequila Shot. You are a Tequila Shot. You are strong-minded and well known. Sometimes you can be intimdating and a lot of people look at you as a challenge. Tequila Shot 79% Long Island Iced Tea 64% Beer 57% Champange 54% Sex on the Beach 43% What kind of alcoholic drink are you ? created with QuizFarm.com

Back to School

On Saturday, I sat down for my first class in over seven years.

At 8 AM we had BA 5000, which was essentially an introduction and orientation for Robinson students. Thankfully, I actually arrived on time for the class, so I suppose that puts me one step ahead of my undergraduate days.

There were about 100 other students in the class with me. The majority were around 28-35. There were a couple folks who were fresh out of college and a couple of more seasoned folks, but mostly around my age. One surprise was that there was such a large international contingent - probably 15-20 people. In introductions, I'd say there were about 10 people from banking & financial services companies - I had expected a lot more.

It felt very odd sitting in a classroom again. Considering I'd spent several years vowing never to return to student life, I'm now much more interested in what is offered. I guess I needed a break and needed to mellow out a bit first. It did finally hit me, though, that I was really going through with this and that going back to school wasn't such an abstract concept anymore.

Now I just have to actually work this time through school, as just coasting through classes won't cut it this time around. At Emory, I could get away with BS'ing through a Classics course - I'm pretty sure I can't screw around with these classes.

On the bright side, at least I'm finally going to a Division I school (for basketball, at least). Considering Georgia State's made the NCAA tournament a few times recently.......

Quote of the Day

"He's our Clemenza"

Shaquille O'Neal on how important Udonis Haslem is to the Heat, when discussing an injury to Haslem.

At least someone's watching a gang movie other than Scarface.

I am wondering who Fredo would be.

Death Rattle

No, i don't mean Zarqawi. I mean the Braves, who now sit 3 games under .500 and 7 games out of the wild card. While they are not out of the WC chase, it doesn't look good at the moment.

David O'Brien gives a nice indictment of the pitching and especially the bullpen, though again I ask if anyone can really be surprised how poorly they've done. I'm not - it was only a matter of time until the Braves collapsed because of the piss-poor bullpen if they didn't get any help...and they didn't.

On the bright side....the first game of the NBA Finals lived up to expectations, the World Cup is underway, and NFL Training Camps begin in 4 weeks. So there's reason to still be happy about the sports world without lamenting over a June swoon, or other baseball matters.

And you thought the steroids stories were bad....

Zarqawi killed...Women, Minorities hardest hit

Too bad the same action that was taken last night was not taken when Saddam was found, since both were just as deserving of a quick bus trip to Hell.

I'm hoping this clarifies that actual progress is being made, and I'm also hoping this will mean a dramatic downturn in the civil clashes of the past couple of years. Taking out the leader of an insurgency would probably cause some trouble, but not if the MSM has anything to say about it. Even as early this morning it's being downplayed as a non-momentous, unimportant event by CNN & ABC.

This could not be further than the truth. The ONLY possible better news would be that Osama was killed in an air-raid.

Between the death of Zarqawi (and a successful mission for intelligence forces), and the completed installation of an Iraqi cabinet, this is a pretty good day for the American military and millions of people worldwide.

But you won't hear that reported on CNN. And in a few weeks, they'll scratch their heads trying to figure out why Bush's poll numbers have magically gone up without mentioning the events of the last 24 hours. At least that is what one can reasonably expect from a media with no standards, decency, or honesty.

The NBA...It's FANNNNNTASTIC!

These playoffs are probably the best playoffs in almost 10 years. Possibly in almost 20 years, since Showtime and Boston were regularly in the Finals. We've had a lot of entertaining series, and gotten rid of the grinding, win-ugly-on-defense teams such as San Antonio and Detroit.

Now, we've got a Finals with two high-energy, high-talent teams beginning tomorrow night, with all seven games at American Airlines Arena(s).

I've been trying to figure out who might win, and unlike previous years it's hard to have a clear-cut favorite. Doesn't look like any sportswriters can figure it out. Let's break it down...

SMALL FORWARD:
Antoine Walker & James Posey, Miami
Josh Howard & Jerry Stackhouse, Dallas

Defensively, Howard and Stackhouse come through, especially with Walker's penchant for standing around the 3-point line and tossing up bad shots. EDGE: DALLAS.

POWER FORWARD:
Udonis Haslem, Miami
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas

Matchup is even worse when Walker plays PF. Nowitzki is the best all-around player in the series. Can Dirk average 40 in the Finals? Maybe. EDGE: DALLAS.

POINT GUARD:
Jason Williams & Gary Payton, Miami
Jason Terry & Devin Harris, Dallas

Neither Williams nor Terry plays great D, and Williams can be psyched out pretty easily with a bad start in any game. Devin Harris has come out a bit in these playoffs but is still inferior defensively to Payton. When Payton gets matched up on Terry, Dallas may suffer a bit on the offensive end. It's tight, but....SLIGHT EDGE...MIAMI.

SHOOTING GUARD:
Dwyane Wade, Miami
Josh Howard, Dallas (and sometimes Harris)

Does anyone else think the flu and sinus infection story is just a setup for a big game Thursday? Does anyone else think Wade will have a lot of highlight reels when this series is over? Me too. EDGE: MIAMI.

CENTER:
Shaq-Fu & Alonzo Mourning, Miami
DeSagana Diop & Erick Dampier, Dallas

This is not really fair. Until you factor in Nowitzki coming over to help. Then it isn't nearly as bad as it could be. Diop does know how to flop, but even if Shaq gets in Foul trouble, Zo is still a capable backup. EDGE: MIAMI.

COACHING:

Avery Johnson, Dallas
Pat Riley, Miami

One guy has a chip on his shoulder after getting ripped up on taking over the team midway through the season. So does the other guy, last season.

One has been innovative in his play design and defensive coaching based on the turnaround from last year to this year. So has the other guy.

Both have shown tremendous ability in preparing their teams well for every game on both ends of the floor.

What is comes down to for me is that one guy is in his first NBA finals as a coach. One guy has four rings. I can't go against the rings, even if he f'ed up in NY. EDGE: MIAMI.

HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE: DALLAS.

Well, Dallas has the best player and home-court, but Miami can attack in more ways than Dallas.
Based on the breakdowns and the fact that four of the positions break down evenly, it will come down to the play of the PG's, and if you ask me to bet on Gary Payton or Jason Terry....well, I'm not going to bet on the former Hawk.

Miami in 6. Yes, that means winning one, probably two games in Dallas. They do have the talent. It's a tough call, but I can't see them winning a Game 7 in Dallas. I can see them winning a Game 6.

On one other note - do you really think David Stern wants to hand the trophy to Mark Cuban? I don't. I won't be surprised to see some questionable refereeing to ensure a Miami victory. But that's just the conspiracy theorist in me coming out.

What June 6 Should Really Mean

Aside from the forwards and other postings and articles floating around, I have not yet seen one show, commercial, article, or webpost about what June 6 should REALLY signify to Americans.

Perhaps we should try to remember the real meaning of this day, and some words said on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day.

"Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young that day and you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet, you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love. The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge—and pray God we have not lost it—that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force of liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer... You all knew that some things are worth dying for."

—Ronald Reagan, June 6, 1984, Pointe Du Hoc, France

The Beast By The Numbers

H/t to the Corner. Strangely enough, as of right now, the S & P 500 is down by...you guessed it...6.66 points.

666 Biblical Number of the Beast
660 Approximate Number of the Beast
DCLXVI Roman Numeral of the Beast
665 Number of the Beast's Older Brother
667 Number of the Beast's Younger Sister
668 Number of the Beast's Neighbor
999 Number of the Australian Beast
333 Number of the Semi-Beast
66 Number of the Downsized Beast
6, uh... I forget Number of the Blond Beast
666.0000 Number of the High Precision Beast
665.9997856 Number of the Beast on a Pentium
0.666 Number of the Millibeast
X / 666 Beast Common Denominator
0.00150150... Reciprocal of the Beast
-666 Opposite of the Beast
666i Imaginary Number of the Beast
6.66 x 102 Scientific Notation of the Beast
25.8069758... Square Root of the Beast
443556 Square of the Beast
1010011010 Binary Number of the Beast
1232 Octal of the Beast
29A Hexidecimal of the Beast
2.8235 Log of the Beast
6.5913 Ln of the Beast
1.738 x 10289 Anti-Log of the Beast
00666 Zip Code of the Beast
666@hell.org E-mail Address of the Beast
http://www.666.com/ Website of the Beast
1-666-666-6666 Phone & FAX Number of the Beast
1-888-666-6666 Toll Free Number of the Beast
1-900-666-6666 Live Beasts, available now! One-on-one pacts! Only$6.66 per minute! [Must be over 18!]
666-66-6666 Social Security Number of the Beast
Form 10666 Special IRS Tax Forms for the Beast
66.6% Tax Rate of the Beast
6.66% 6-Year CD Interest Rate at First Beast Bank of Hell ($666 minimum deposit, $666 early withdrawal fee)
$666/hr Billing Rate of the Beast's Lawyer
$665.95 Retail Price of the Beast
$710.36 Price of the Beast plus 6.66% Sales Tax
$769.95 Price of the Beast with accessories and replacement soul
$656.66 Wal-Mart Price of the Beast (next week $646.66!)
$55.50 Monthly Payments for Beast, in 12 easy installments
Phillips 666 Gasoline Used by the Beast (regular $6.66/gal)
Route 666 Highway of the Beast (where he gets his kicks!)
666 mph Speed Limit on the Beast's Highway
6-6-6 Fertilizer of the Beast
666 lb cap Weight Limit of the Beast
666 Minutes Weekly News Show about the Beast (airs daily fromMidnight to 11:06 a.m., on Cable Channel 666, of course)
666o F Oven Temperature for Cooking "Roast Beast"
666k Retirement Plan of the Beast
666 mg Recommended Minimum Daily Requirement of Beast
Lotus 6-6-6 Spreadsheet of the Beast
Word 6.66 Word Processor of the Beast
Windows 666 Bill Gates' Personal Beast Operating System
#666666 Font Color of the Beast (gray)
i66686 CPU of the Beast
666-I BMW of the Beast
IAM 666 License Plate Number of the Beast
Formula 666 All Purpose Cleaner of the Beast
WD-666 Spray Lubricant of the Beast
DSM-666 (rev) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the Beast
66.6 MHz FM Radio Station of the Beast
666 KHz AM Radio Station of the Beast
66 for 6 A Beastly Score for an Innings (in cricket)
6 for 66 Bowling Figures of the Beast
6/6/6 Birthday of the Beast

Atlanta Barbies

Something for the local folk. Heck, I live here, so it might be nice to post something about Atlanta once in a while.

Mattell Inc. announces the release of models of Limited Edition Barbie Dolls for the Atlanta area:
Riverdale Barbie-que:
This barbie comes in brown or black with fourteen interchangeable hair weaves, seven sets of multi-colored press on nails and hoop earrings. Complete with her 1985 Cutlass Supreme Limited in speckled purple and spinner rims, and includes her mo-fo Kenneth (aka Lil' K). Optional bling bling accessory kit available. Barbie-que comes with up to 7 children (no car seats or seat belts required). Also included, gold teeth with the "Yo Momma" accessory kit.

Peachtree City Barbie:
Comes with a built-in voice recorder that whines "If Delta files bankruptcy - I'll have to get a real job!" Also included, a club car golf cart, and a church of your dominational choosing bumper sticker. Wal-Mart Super Center play set sold separately. Delta Pilot Ken is stuck in traffic at the intersection of Hwy. 74 and Hwy. 54, and will not be available until Fall 2006.

Fayetteville Barbie:
Comes with a loaded SUV of your choice, with Navigation System, DVD player, and built-in car seat. Also included, large "to-go" cups of Chick-fil-A sweet tea, and cell phone with Destiny's Child "Survivor" ring tone. Cheating (but Christian) Ken is included with golf clubs and Chevy truck. Compact hand gun hidden in purse for shopping at the Pavillion sold separately.

Griffin Barbie:
This trashy babe comes with 80 acres for her doublewide trailer play set, 3 dogs, and a Polaroid of her brother who is currently serving 3-5 for Meth possession, drunken and disorderly and urination on a government vehicle. 1990 Ford pickup with tinted windows (so she won't be seen with Fayetteville's Cheating Ken) sold separately.

McDonough Barbie:
This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR shirt (bra not included) and has a tattoo of a Tweety bird on her shoulder. She has big, stiff hair, a six-pack of Bud Light and a Hank Williams, Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and can kick Mullet-haired Kenny doll's butt when she's drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get Confederate flag bumper stickers absolutely free.

Douglasville Barbie:
This chain-smoking, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased her beer-gutted boyfriend out of Griffin Barbie's house. Her make-up is dark red lip liner with your choice of lips covered in a sparkly pink or no fill-in at all. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans with assorted colored G-strings that stick out the back and a white see-through halter-top. Accessories include: tape player equipped with Bon Jovi and a 1989 Camaro with T-Tops.

Southeast Atlanta Barbie:
This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a stolen Chevy with tinted windows and her own Meth Lab kit.This model is available after dark and can be paid for only in cash. Preferably small, untraceable bills. Unless you're a cop.Then we don't know what you're talking about.

Marietta Barbie:
This trendy homemaker Barbie is available with your choice of Lexus SUV or Ford Windstar minivan. She gets lost easily south of Roswell Road and has no full-time occupation. Traffic-jamming cell phone sold separately. Available with or without tummy tuck and face-lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with "augmented" version. Optional matching tennis outfit.

Buckhead Barbie:
This yuppie Barbie comes with choice of a BMW sports car or a souped up Hummer 2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. But you can't afford them anyway.

Dunwoody Barbie:
This collagen injected, rhino-plastic Barbie wears a leopard-print ski outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while she entertains friends at the club.Percocet prescription available.

Piedmont Park Barbie:
This doll is made of actual tofu, has long gray hair and arch-less feet, sandals with white socks, no makeup and an adopted mutt. She prefers that you call her "Willow."

And of course you can't forget: Midtown Barbie - who's actually a feminine Ken doll complete with his "partner" Steve doll. Comes with tickets to Bette Midler and Cher and Ken's very own manicure kit. Also comes with their pet dog with diamond collar. Ken is an architect and Steve is well-known hair dresser to the Buckhead Barbies.

Go to Hell.

Hell, Michigan, of course.

Yes, this is a real town.

This road to Hell, however, is paved with concrete via US 23, not good intentions.

It's about an hour from Detroit, so I suppose the name is appropriate.

Sorry for the absence.....

I've been a bit busy lately with a lot of things so I haven't really had any time to post - or enough functioning brain cells to write something interesting and coherent.

That will change. Just not today. The batteries will be re-charged this weekend though and I will have something fresh soon.

In the meantime, here's a link to a quick political quiz.

I did this a while ago, and showed as a Libertarian. Now? Conservative. Odd, since there aren't any left in Congress.