Jay Kersting's Blog

I have never been a real big video game person.  In fact, prior to the middle of 2006, the only video games my sons had were those battery powered ones with RCA plugs on them.  Then, Hallerin Hill gave my sons an XBox (he upgraded to an XBox 360) and my attitude changed a little bit.

I was still awful at playing the games.

This Christmas, as I have talked about ad nauseum, Alex and Ben got a Nintendo Wii.  They clocked MANY, MANY hours on it.  

Wednesday, Alex and Ben went with my parents to Kansas City.  Yesterday, I decided to try the Wii.  I did play with another Wii over the weekend, but not a whole lot.

I shot pool yesterday afternoon.  I did a little better than I would do on an actual table.

Then I bowled.  That was slightly trickier as I was trying to figure our how to put a little spin on the ball.  Couldn't figure that out.  And as for my scores, pretty much what I get when I really bowl.

I played for about 45 minutes.  

I still do not really care for traditional video games, but I like the Wii.  Why?  Because it operates the way you do.  You hold your cue stick and hit the ball.  You bowl just like at the lanes.

Boxing is the one I can't figure out.  

Last night, after Kathy and I got done with dinner we decided to pay with the Wii.  Had to do so while we could, the boys were out of town.  We bowled, we shot 9 ball and then we boxed. 

Kathy knocked me out.

Either I couldn't figure out how to do it.......or maybe, just maybe, she was just more motivated.

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Benazir Bhutto was killed yesterday.   What does this really mean?

Well, first off, I will admit that I do not know much about her policies.  I do know that she was viewed by some as corrupt when she served at Prime Minster of Pakistan in the 1980's and 1990's.  I also know that she was viewed as the best alternative to Pervez Musharraf, a general in the Pakistani army who seized power back in 1999.  

As far as US interests are concerned, many believed that we would best be served by supporting Musharraf.

I fear this is possibly a flaw policy along the lines of "my enemy's enemy is my friend" where we support certain regimes for wrong reasons.

While true that Musharraf and his administration have helped US interests during the Global War on Terror, this always seemed to me based on their strategic location more than in support of Musharraf.  So, I would argue, based on my limited information, that we should support who ever is in power there to maintain some influence in the region.

Now, all that said, I do think it is possible that the Bhutto assassination COULD lead to bigger things in the Global War on Terror.

Of course, bigger things do not equate better things when it comes to the Global War on Terror.  At least NOT in the short term.  It COULD mean that more of our young men and women get deployed overseas.

Here is a thought.  I hear all this talk of pulling out of Iraq, despite the success of the surge.  Leave them there to finish the job.  And start talking about pulling out of Kosovo.

Comment as you see fit.