The good news is that the games doesn't have to move far.  It will now be held at Lincoln University, so it will now be played literally across the street. 

The problem is the track that wraps around the field is not complete yet.  Our wet weather has been the source of blame.

Look for a true home opener on 19 September 2008 against Columbia Rock Bridge.

----------------

Last night, we loaded a 26' rental truck full of my mom and dad's stuff.  (Out of respect, I will not use the George Carlin terminology....besides, you never know what you could inherit.  Even Lamont Sanford knew this.)

Dad, Alex, Ben, David Gaines, neighbors Randy and Dalton, and I did the bulk of the work.  Kathleen had a school meeting, so she missed a lot of it.  I am sure she is upset over that.

Anyhow, here is the point I am getting at.  First, thanks to everyone who helped.  Second, after I take part in some physical activity or a long drive, I need time to wind down.

So, I first sat outside with Dad to chat and eat some yogurt.  (No big secret, just love yogurt.)

Finally, I went to bed.  I turned on the TV.  I was too tired to bother changing the channel.

It was on John McCain's speech.  

So, I heard some of it.  

John McCain does not deliver a speech with the vigor of Barack Obama, nor the enthusiasm of Sarah Palin.  But he is not as bad some like to portray.

Content wise, he hit on some decent points.  Education as the civil rights issue of the 21st Century is one that could be a winner.  Need to hash the details out on that, but it is a concept that makes sense.  I especially liked the line about helping BAD teachers find another line of work.  Wish that had been done 25 years ago.

But what struck me most was that John McCain FINALLY talked during this campaign about how his experiences as a Prisoner of War shaped his life.

Having read "Faith of my Fathers" and having heard John McCain read it to me in the audiobook version, I already knew the stories.  But to hear him tell it again to the thousands in the audience who hadn't heard it.  And the millions at home who hadn't heard it.  The camera cutting away to Bud Day in the audience wearing his Medal of Honor gave me chills up my leg.  (AGAIN, I put links in for a reason, if you do not know who Bud Day is, please check out the link.)

I know he fought to NOT talk about it, but I think he needed to.  No matter that that IDIOT former BAD President Jimmy Carter said.  I think a nuclear engineer who couldn't convince people of nuclear energy safety has little to advise others on.  

And calling Jimmy Carter a pinhead is an insult to those who have heads that come to a point, therefore, shaped like a pin.

BUT, I am off track here.  John McCain has resisted talking about his very personal experiences as a Prisoner of War.  He viewed that as a failure because he did not hold up to the standard that he set for himself.  His own father told him that he did more than most anyone could have.  Bud Day told him the same.  The late James Stockdale did as well.

When you run for political office, I think you need to share with people the stories of the events, experiences and people who have impacted your life.  It illustrates for people not so much where you are coming from, but how you got to where you are in position AND in your values and views.

And that may be why I think looking at the cast of characters that surround a politician is something that people need to look at.

If a candidate has surrounded himself or herself by the type of people you'd cross the street to avoid, you might want to reconsider voting for that person.

Just a thought.

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Have a great weekend!! 

Every morning before I leave for work, I walk across the bedroom in the dark to give Kathleen a kiss on her head.  Most mornings, she tells me to have a good day.  It is our routine.  This morning, I asked if she watched the speech.  Her reply, "yes....Home Run!"

This morning, as I type this, I am watching some of the video excerpts and listening to the entire audio of her speech.

Sure, the hockey mom comment was pretty damned funny.  But I thought the line about talking the one way in Scranton and another in San Francisco had more long term bite.  It further paints Barack Obama as the 2008 version of a "finger in the wind" poltician in the mold of Stephen Douglas.  It helps show that John McCain is, despite his many faults, consistent in what he tells folks no matter the make up of the audience.  (Joe Biden is the same and that is worth noting.)

The selling the state jet line, the one about putting it on eBay, is true.  In fact, it took more than one time to sell it on eBay.  I'd have to double check, but I want to say it was three times.   

I also liked that she showed her understanding of foreign affairs via energy policy.  That only tells me MORE how much she gets it.  Energy is the issue, it impacts the economy, in impacts the balance of world power.  And she then went on to express what would be pushed for from the White House starting in January if the McCain-Palin ticket wins.  

Now, make sure that the people understand that ENERGY drives everything else.  Once the people understand this, the other issues fall into their proper place.  

When she went on the attack toward Mr. Obama, she did so in a mostly factual way.  Sure, she got in some jabs (parting the waters and healing the ill was a theme she used) but that is what the person in that position is supposed to do.  Pointing out how Barack Obama still cannot admit that he was wrong on the surge, is a theme that needs to be used IF Obama and Biden try to continue making it an issue this fall. 

I agree with my wife.  She hit a Home Run!

The questions that remain.  Will this level of performance continue?

And will the highly biased media get the beat down that they deserve?

-------------------

Speaking of media beat downs, Us Weekly is a rag that I have never read.  I think of it as a poor woman's version of People.  Most people probably read that crap when it is about seven months old and they are waiting for the hygienist at the dental office.

They did a hatchet job on Sarah Palin and her family.  The cover didn't reflect the content of the story and the story left things out.  Remember the outrage, justifiably, from The New Yorker cover that didn't reflect the content on the story about Barack Obama? Where is the outrage?

Well, Megyn Kelly took it to a senior editor of Us Weekly yesterday on Fox News Channel's America's Election Headquarters.  

Megyn Kelly hit the guy over the implication that the word "Lies" could be inferred by someone in the checkout lane that Governor Palin lied, when the story was about lies told ABOUT her.  She hit him on their lack of mentioning that Todd Palin's DUI came when he was 22 years old, 22 years ago.

The guy was trying to defend the indefensible. Megyn Kelly, an attorney, was in full prosecutor mode and tore this guy apart.

But the dude didn't get it.

As Bernie Goldberg pointed out in his book "Bias"...they don't get it when they live inside their bubbles.

Nice to see that the feminists are stepping up like they did for Paula Jones.

----------------

Oh, for those who haven't noticed, I am almost as "in the tank" for Sarah Palin as Chris Matthews, Keith Olberman and the rest of the pinheads at MSNBC are for Barack Obama.

At least my person has a record to run on.  And I did say ALMOST.  No one is as bad as the staff at MSNBC.

-----------------

Have a great Thursday.

Oh, and Welcome Back to Missouri!!  We all like the house.

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Things maybe right with the world now.  Georgia played a no-one and despite winning they slipped out of the top spot in both College Football polls.  Who took over the top spot?

The University of Southern California Trojans, who dismantled a team of wannabes at the University of Virginia, 52 to 7, at Virginia.

Scheduling counts and it should.

Georgia will play a very rare non-conference game OUTSIDE the Southeast when they go to Arizona State later this month.  But the rest of their non-conference schedule is less than impressive.  They beat Georgia Southern, the play Central Michigan this week and they close the regular season with Georgia Tech.

Are you impressed?

Now, USC played at Virginia.  Next, they host Ohio State.  And finally they take on Notre Dame in the nations biggest interesectional rivalry this November.  The Pac 10 plays every one, every year, so they do not have a fourth non-conference game.

That is a bit more impressive.

Oh, and I think my friends back in Tennessee will quit talking about how weak the Pac 10 is.  

--------------------

I did not watch the convention last night.  I will not watch it tonight.

Though, I will admit that I sort of want to see how Governor Sarah Palin does.  I think anyone who has been reading this blog, or chatted with me, or has listened to the show, understands why I might have an interest in how she does.

All of that said, I wonder how Barack Obama will handle his children if he gets elected.  Can he be a good father and a good President at the same time?  Will his beautiful little girls suffer from potential neglect from their father or from being thrust into the spotlight?

Does that sound ridiculous?  Good.  It should.

Because those are the same kind of questions that circle all female candidates for political offices.  And they are as ridiculous.

What is even more sad, if not just pathetic, is the fact that WOMEN in the media are asking these questions.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid the media serves up.  And that includes me.....and I am honest enough to tell you that.  Because I want you to check me on what I tell you.  Not because I am wrong, but because it is possible that I do not have all of the facts and that can skew my opinion.

In other words, believe nothing you hear and half of what you see.

And if you are going to question a woman about something, be willing to question a man!!!

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Have a great Wednesday.  Again, Happy Anniversary to my parents, Peggy and Bernie Kersting!!

My Tennessee Volunteers appear to be damaged by a lost quarterback and offensive coordinator.

If you heard that a quarterback threw FOUR interceptions in the FIRST HALF, you would probably guess that his team lost.

You would be wrong.

Jonathan Crompton had the deer in the headlights look last night.  BIG TIME!  I am not convinced that new Volunteers Offensive Coordinator Dave Clawson did much to help out.

The bruins scored on a blocked punt where I think 11, 12 or 17 of them made it through the Vols offensive line to take part.  I have NEVER seen such a piss poor setup used for punts.  NOT a tight formation to prevent defenders from getting through.  NO, not this one.  It is more open than what you'd see on a spread offense run by someone like Mizzou.  AND THEY DIDN'T ADJUST LATER ON.

The Vols had to come from behind to tie the game with a field goal.  Kicker Daniel Lincoln missed two earlier that we well outside his range.  

In overtime, the bruins weren't able to get any offense going and had to settle for a field goal.  Gave me SOME good thoughts for a bit.  Then the inept play of Crompton had the Vols peter out with eight yards gained.  Then Lincoln missed the 34 yard chip shot.

I stayed up late for that crap.  WHAT IN THE HELL WAS I THINKING????

ESPN was talking about what a great game it was.  It was an ugly, sloppy and horrible game.  Exciting?  Sure.  Kept me up three hours past my bedtime.  

I should have bowed out for a rerun of "Burn Notice" and gone to sleep.

Disappointed would be an understatement.

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Bristol Palin is five months pregnant.  I'd be pretty sure that the McCain campaign knew about this.

What is sick and absolutely disgusting is the left wing blogger floating rumors out there that Trig Palin, born in April, is not really Governor Sarah Palin's son, but Bristol's son and that Governor Palin was raising him as her own. 

Can anyone explain the point of these scumbags floating rumors like this out there?  What do they have to gain?  Does this help Barack Obama some how?

Barack Obama was pushed by reporters to comment.  Had he commented without being pushed, AS WAS PORTRAYED by some media outlets, I would have said he stepped in a big steaming pile of...  well, you get it.  I am still critical of him for saying his wife was off limits and then not denouncing a Democrat attack ad on Cindy McCain.  But he is right, families should be off-limits.

So, does this revelation about Bristol Palin help Barack Obama?  I can't see how.  But I can see how it helps Senator McCain and Governor Palin.

How can a baby ever hurt a marketing campaign?  But, she is not due until late December.....so, the images will be limited to a pregnant teenager.  But the vibe will help.

And I doubt adding the title of Grandma will hurt Sarah Palin's resume.

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This does go to a bigger issue.  And that is the hive of scum and villany that is the left wing blogosphere.

For years and years, the Democrats tried to put the label of "mean-spirited" on ALL Republicans.  And the willing media helped frame that as a widely accepted truth.

But simply put, it is not true.  In fact, if you want to look at things statistically, conservative people tend to be much more generous to charities, their communities, to their co-workers and to their employees.  And conservatives tend to also be more likely to be supportive of their family both emotionally and financially.

I am not saying this without anything to back it up.  Peter Schweitzer look in to this in his latest book.  "Makers and Takers" is an interesting look that Schweitzer has well documented.

Now, this is not to say that ALL conservatives are good and that all liberals are bad.  NO!  NOT TRUE!  But good luck getting a liberal blogger to say that ANY conservative has any redeeming values.

So these scumbags will jump on a story, twist corrupt and lie about it to tear down someone.  Even if, and maybe especially, it involves a 17 year old girl.

Avoid those sites.  They have no redeeming value.  Nothing can be gained by visiting them.

I thought about posting links to the sites, but I will not dirty this website with such links.  If you want to know which ones I am talking about, shoot me an e-mail and I'll tell you who they are.

And let me be clear.  I have a lot of friends and family who call themselves liberal.  They are good people.  Misguided politically, but good people.  (Remember that I post ALL signed comments.  You CAN get me back.)

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I was chatting with my friend Ethan Mayers yesterday afternoon.  He had just gotten back from 23 days in New Zealand and Australia.  He told me many interesting things, but this is the one that I wanted to share because it was amusing to me.

He told me that he had gotten some of the news from the US and specifically from the world of politics.  Joe Biden's selection as the Dem nominee for VP, Obama's speech at the DNC, and the pick of Sarah Palin as the GOP nominee for VP.

That was what was amusing.

His girlfriend Jamie said she didn't know who Sarah Palin was.  Ethan told her thatshe was the Governor of Alaska but had no idea how he knew that.  As we were talking, Ethan realized that I was the one who had informed him of her.  

Funny where you pickup pieces of information.

Back when I was in seventh grade, I was asked in school geography question.  You are in West Germany.  You need to get to the Soviet Union and you can only go through one country.  Can you do this and if so, which country would you go through?

I knew it was possible and the country was Czechoslovakia.  The teacher was impressed.

How did I know this?  I had seen the movie "Stripes" more than just a few times.

Yeah, funny where you learn things sometimes.

---------------

Have a great Tuesday. 

All I can say is WOW!!  WOW!!!!

Have you seen any of the coverage and commentary that has come out since Friday's big announcement of Governor Sarah Palin as Senator John McCain's running mate????

Even Mort Kondracke, who is normally pretty fair and mostly moderate with a good handle on things, made a really silly comment about the selection of Palin.  I do not have the exact quote, but he went in the direction of her experience as being limited.  THEN, he explained how Barack Obama has much better experience because he has been running for President for nearly two years.

So, to use Kondracke's logic, Pat Paulsen would have been the most experienced man prior to his death in 1997.  

A lot of ideology has been exposed since Friday.  Mainly by people with an agenda, but also by some who, like Kondracke, I thought didn't have one.

Well, as you well know, I like the pick.  I really like the pick.  I floated her name back in February over at Bernie Goldberg's website.  I first mentioned her name on this site back on 4 June 2008.  There are many reasons why she is a great choice.

But too many people have their ideology, or maybe Governor Palin's appearance blinding them.

Don't even get me started on that pinhead at NBC, Mrs. Greenspan.

----------------

This leads me to another thing.  Listen to the people out there who are getting "credit" for bringing up Governor Palin's name.  

Rush Limbaugh is bragging about her pick.  I heard part of his show on Friday, I do not listen to him much any more, but really HE did this.  

And Fox News was drooling over Bill Kristol for suggesting him back in July.  WOW!!  I am SOOO NOT impressed.  In fact, I yelled out while in the studios on Friday afternoon, "Your a HACK, Kristol!" so that my program director, Brian Wilson,  could hear it. 

What am I doing?  Well, I am not bragging that I got it right nor that John McCain actually listening to me.  What I am bragging about was that I was able to look at the shortcomings of CANDIDATE McCain and find someone who could counter them.

So yes, I am bragging about the insight that I had into the potential that Governor Sarah Palin had as a Vice Presidential candidate.

I know that I am not a genius.  I know that I am also a bit of a hack.  But I think that my analysis was spot on back in February and others took a little while to see it.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I may have gotten lucky in getting the Match Game Super Match with Senator McCain.  Even if I had gotten it wrong, it was still a good suggestion based on the criteria that I said was important.  So, I set the standards for myself.

In other words, this is not a big win for yours truly.  It is what it is.

But, if Senator McCain was to give me credit, don't think for a SECOND that I wouldn't take it.

Which is why until he does that, and he won't nor should he, no one else should take credit as an individual.

------------------

I want to offer an apology and explanation to all of the Jefferson City Jays fans.  And I want to offer my praise to Jet Roberts for his action while under fire on Saturday.

The fine folks at McCluer North left us hanging on our broadcast.  We knew that we wouldn't have a phone line, but we had a cell phone coupler that would allow us to run.  What we didn't know was that they could not even provide us power.

Luckily, or so I thought, I brought my DC to AC inverter.  But it could not provide ENOUGH power to run our equipment.  

So, Jet called the game via his cell phone.  I was able to get my phone charger some power AND I was able to help the folks from Springdale, Arkansas with there video camera.  They promised to help us this upcoming weekend.

That said, we did our best and wanted you to know it.  Jet also had to deal with an obscured view and me feeding him information from time to time.  

Thanks to Jet and I apologize to anyone who was disappointed with our presentation.  We will do better as the season goes on...and we get cooperation from the folks when we are on the road.

---------------

Have a great Labor Day!

If he has any of them, that is one way to celebrate today.

Instead, he will be in Dayton, Ohio, to introduce us to his Vice Presidential nominee.  (Is Governor Palin there yet??)

I may add to this entry once his pick is made public.  Until then, Happy Birthday Senator!!

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UPDATE:

Fox News confirms that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will be the choice of John McCain for Vice Presidential nominee.

Regular readers of this blog know that I have been pushing her name for months.  Specifically, back to 9 February 2008!!

This will be a VERY interesting race with a relatively unknown person on the ticket who brings a MAJOR upside with her positions on energy and fighting the political machine. 

Being a Washington outsider, and a political executive both help.  Being a working mother of five helps. 

As for me picking her back in February?  The saying goes, even a blind squirrel can find the occasional nut.  I will not brag much about this accurate pick.  If I had that picking success in sports, I'd still be living in Las Vegas. 

Let the games begin.

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How did Barack Obama do last night?  Did he meet expections?

The fact is, there was SOOOOO much hype and hope surrounding this speech that there was NO WAY to EXCEED expectations.  Just not possible.

The GOP tried to make hay over the staging and facade used at Invesco Field at Mile High.  Pretty dumb in my opinion.  

But I do think the term facade is one worth grabbing ahold of.  Facade is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as FIRST, the front of a building , ALSO, any face of a building given special architectural treatment, and SECOND, a false, superficial or artificial appearance or effect.

Since this was a stage and backdrop, the first definition does not apply.  So, we move on to the second.

False, superficial or artificial appearance or effect.  This pretty much applies to most every political speech.

Well, I didn't watch the speech.  Past my bedtime. 

I popped on a DVD of Triumph des Willens instead.  I'll finish it next week.

No, there wasn't a Hogan's Heroes marathon as I had hoped. 

-------------------

I did think that the ad John McCain ran yesterday showed a lot of class.  It was still on the front page of his website this morning.

-------------------

Jimmy Carter was a BAD, BAD, HORRIBLE President.  For a while, I thought he was at lease a decent man.

Then I realized he is as much of a HACK in life as he was a incompetent President.  I would have thought that a Nuclear Engineer in the White House could have killed the anti-Nuke fears following Three Mile Island.  But, he was NOT a leader of people, so he couldn't.

Now, he is criticizing John McCain over his use of a key time in his life as a point of discussion.

Does McCain over due it regarding his five and a half years as a prisoner of war?  Maybe.  But my belief is that the time that McCain spent in North Vietnam shaped his life and views more than most of the rest of us could understand.  

Jimmy Carter has no shame.  That is why he will continue to go down in history as one of the five worst Presidents.  

A great loser in history, but not to the level of Mikhail Gorbachev.  OUR Country survived him.

Thank God!!

-------------------

OK, football fans. Did you see?  Did you??

YUP, UConn beat Hofstra, 35-3.

OK, OK, how about South Carolina beating NC State 34-0?

Vanderbilt's Commode Doors beat Miami of Ohio, 34-13.

Stanford leads the Pac-10, temporarily, after a 36-28 win over the Beavers of Oregon State.

As for the rest of the weekend, the Orange flag with the White Power T has been flying outside the Kersting house since Monday, in honor of the Volunteers traveling to Pasadena to face the cruddy little bruins of fucla.

I hope your team does well.  Unless your team is fucla, FU, Virginia (playing USC), Florida International (playing Kansas).  

I will be pulling for Appalachain State, as they take on LSU.  I doubt lightning will strike twice for the Mountaineers, but wouldn't that be great?

-----------------

Have a great weekend.  Enjoy your day off on Monday, if you get one.

Fred won.

But to be fair, it was the episode where Lamont and Rollo wanted to have a party at the house.  Fred wanted to be at the party and to help with it.  Lamont didn't like the idea, so they had the party at Rollo's pad.  Great stuff. 

Sorry, Bill can't compete with that.  He could compete with Grady, but not Fred with Lamont AND Rollo. 

WWAED?  Many let that rule their lives, and I understand.  

Oh, you don't know WWAED?  What Would Aunt Esther Do?

Keep that with you as you move through life.

--------------------

I knew it.  I knew it.  You probably knew it too...unless you were an only child.  Then you were IT, by default.

I am still not it.  But I am now 38, so I need to get over it.

Confused?  That is why I put up a link.

-------------------

THIS JUST IN:

No truth to the rumor that John McCain will announce his pick for Vice President via that new fangled communications method...The Pony Express.

In fact, he will be no where near St. Joseph, MO.

-------------------

Some of you think that I have been playing things a bit on the silly side the last couple of days.  And you may think that I have been showing a lack of respect for the political process.

You are right.  In fact, if you didn't see it, or didn't GET it, I explained my thoughts on these conventions back on Tuesday.

Have you heard ANY details on HOW Barack Obama is going to all that he claims he is going to do?

NO.  There are no details.  

Guess what?  Next week will be as WEAK on details as this week was.

I hope that I am wrong, but I doubt it.

So tonight, when you are watching Barack Obama tell you how he will cross the Potomac by walking across the surface, I will be hoping for a Hogan's Heroes marathon.

WWSD?  What would Schultz Do?

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Have a great Thursday.

Dmitry Medvedev is meeting with Chinese leader Hu Jintao today in an attempt to get China to recognize the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 

China making such a recognition would do a couple of things.  For one, it gives Russia their Kosovo, which is what Mikhail Gorbachev was comparing things to.  (Unlike that pinhead Barack Obama....moron that later.)

But it would also expose China as AGAIN being hypocrites.  Tibet anyone?

India is also being looked at as a possible Russian ally in getting these regions recognized as independent.  And by independent, I mean for a short period of time before they "decide" to become part of Russia.

This is about empire building.  Nothing more.

Medvedev is Charlie McCarthy to Vladimir Putin as Edgar Bergen.  Except I think Putin's lips don't move.  His eyes do give you a look at his soul though.  Just ask President Bush.

--------------

Have you seen or heard from a lot of the protestors in Denver?  They are getting more attention than the protestors in Beijing....because they actually exist and don't fear being killed.  And that is a good thing.  

But protestors are nuts for the most part.  Now, I am not saying this based on what I see on TV.  If I believed everything that I saw on TV, I'd live in a house made of, and drive a car made of, Mighty Putty.  But that stuff is not really as good as Billy Mays wants you to believe.  I know this, I bought that crap.  ANYHOW, back to my point about protestors.  My belief is based on what I experienced when I covered them in 2002-2004.  

This morning I played one of the interviews that I conducted with a protestor back in the days after the war in Iraq began in 2003.

But this is a balance of those who are unbalanced.  There are right-wing wing-nuts too.  Trust me on this.

What happens inside the convention halls and stadia is BORING.  What goes on outside is interesting.  Disturbing, but interesting.

---------------

Football season is among us.  High School and College teams have been practicing and soon they get to hit other people.  Alex had his first day of tryouts and practice yesterday at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.  Soon, he will learn what I have been warning him regarding his conditioning.

My Volunteers have their first game on Monday out at the Rose Bowl facing the fucla bruins.  I know that Tennessee will be my older brother's second favorite team this weekend.

For all of you who have been basing things on the preseason polls, prepare to be disappointed.  They are based on the voices in side the heads of those who vote in them.  Look at the preseason polls of the last five years and compare them with the end of season results.

It is a fun time of year, but what I am most interested in is how my son does in his first season of full-contact tackle football. 

--------------

Have a great Wednesday. 

Twelve years later, nothing has changed.....and this is a bipartisan issue.

This is one of the reasons why I selected theme music for the conventions, to treat them with all of the respect that they deserve.

Essentially, a political convention is a four day long masturbatory exercise.  It makes them feel good, but does nothing for the rest of us but make us want to turn our heads away in embarrassment.

What I did see yesterday was the bullying that, one of my new favorites, Griff Jenkins took from protestors outside the convention.  He was pushed, shoved, blocked, threatened and generally disrespected by those who were upset by not having their First Amendment rights respected.

Does ANYONE else see the hypocrisy here?

Anyhow, all of that said, I disagree with Koppel on what he did 12 years ago.  They have to be there just in case something of note actually happens.  While unlikely that anything of note will happen, if it does, you know that it will be messy.

------------------

I mentioned "Robin Hood, Men in Tights" because it actually happened to be programmed against the convention.  I did turn it on for about 5 minutes.  It was a better choice.  But I couldn't even sit through it.

I went to the Military Channel to watch a show about the myths surrounding the Pearl Harbor attacks.  (The USS Ward fired the first shots in the war against the Japanese, not the Japanese on us.  Interesting stuff.)

I learned something last night.  And not by watching Ted Kennedy.  Nor Michelle Obama.  Nor Claire McCaskill.

-------------------

Some folks think that my criticism of Joe Biden was a little harsh.

The main point regarding the selection of Joe Biden was that it was A BORING PICK!!!

I do not think he is a bad person.  I do not think he was a bad choice.  I do think he was a BORING choice.  

Joe Biden got ONE percent of the Iowa Caucus vote.  ONE PERCENT!!

The only thing he adds to the ticket is credibility on several issues were the naive junior Senator from Illinois will not have for a few years.   

Reverse the ticket and you bore the base, but you'd have a better setup for the nation.

But who cares about competence?  Certainly not Democrats, they gave us Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Republicans, before you think I am on your side, wait until next week.  Then, you will get yours.

------------------

Football begins this weekend.  Illinois is such a power that they are unable to provide a coach for me to interview.  

Being turned down for Mark Richt, Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, Phillip Fulmer or even Rick Neuheisel, I can understand.  But Ron Zook or his coordinators?  Really.

I am tasked to interview someone from opposing teams for our Saturday show, "On a Football Saturday" so that we can balance out our coverage.

I got stiffed by Dennis Franchione and Bill Callahan last year.  

Where are they now?

OK, so I got stiffed by Mark Mangino too.  And Oklahoma didn't get me Bob Stoops, but they got a me a great surrogate in Merv Johnson (former Mizzou player and assistant coach, long time OU Football Staffer). 

I am sure that it is not a Karma factor.  But, knowing what happened then could be a sign for other coaches to consider.  Ha ha ha.... 

----------------

Have a great Tuesday 

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

Joseph Robinette Biden, Junior.

Really?

He ran for President back in 1988 and dropped out after the discovery of plagiarism. 

He ran for President in 2008 and dropped out after getting no support.

Now, I think Joe Biden is probably a fairly intelligent guy.  But he is just not very exciting.

Does this lower the bar for John McCain to find someone as boring as Biden, like Romney or Pawlenty?  Or does he have the opportunity to knock one out of the park.  By taking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts, and maybe even Texas U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

I have not seen what Neil Kinnock has said lately, so I can't give you a prediction of what Joe Biden will say in Denver.  (OH, am I being unfair by bringing up something he did 21 years ago?) Those who are thinking I am referring to the Heisman Trophy winner from Iowa, that was Nile Kinnick.  Kinnock was the British Labor Leader that Biden "borrowed" a speech from.  Which opened the door to have his law school records reexamined.

All that said, I am still left thinking that this is the most glaring example of a Number Two being more prepared than the lead guy since the last Austin Powers movie.  

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For those who followed the Beijing Olympic Games, they are done.  I did not watch ANY this weekend.  I turned it only long enough to see that NBC was dedicating time to Synchronized Swimming.  And NONE of the other networks were carrying anything.  

Really?  

About as lame as picking a Senator from Delaware to be your running mate.

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Russia is still not getting out of Georgia.

Now we know why they may not want to go back. 

See, they are not all like Maria Sharapova.

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Have a great week. 

But McCain did stumble and it looked bad.  I understand it, to a point.

A basic look at the finances of a man who has kept things separate from his wife of 27 years leads me to understand how he got tripped up.  

First, in the stumble, he mentioned something about condos and, though it was barely intelligible, maybe rental property.   His wife, Cindy, handles these things.  Again, they keep separate finances.

AND THEREIN lies the rub.

Remember for a second that it was her real estate investments that brought him into question during the Charles Keating Affair.   So now you can argue this both ways.  First, you could say that he would want to be more engaged in her investments.  Or second, you could say that he would want to be more distant.  Knowing what happened with Keating, I can't blame him for staying away.

Now, all of that said, I think it is fair game for Barack Obama to jump on it.  Dumb move, but fair.  And let me explain why it is dumb, in case you hadn't figured it out.

It is dumb because it opened a wound that Obama has been hoping to have healed by now.  And that wound is his relationship with Tony Rezko, now a convicted felon.  Yup, McCain's people jumped on that in response. 

For those who do not know the story, here is the abbreviated version.  Barack and Michelle Obama wanted to buy their million PLUS dollar home in 2005.  The seller wanted to sell the adjacent property with the home, but the Obama's, despite their sweetheart financing deal, couldn't afford to buy the property too.  So, Tony Rezko's wife bought the property.  Deal was done.

Later, the Obama's bought a portion of that property from the Rezko's.  The price paid has been a point of contention as well.

So, while McCain's stumble was a fair point to attack there is a lesson to be learned here.

Those who live in questionably purchased and financed houses shouldn't throw stones.  Especially not at the guy with seven of them.  Or the guy whose wife has seven of them. 

Whatever.

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Two seemingly unrelated products are now being advertised on television.

First, there is now a daily version of Cialis.  Cialis is the erectile dysfunction drug that works for 36 hours.  Just not a continuous 36 hours.  Anyhow, now there is the daily version.

I guess that is for optimists.

Now the other product leaves me puzzled.  It is an energy suppliment being pitched by our favorite TV pitch man....no, not Vince the ShamWOW guy....but none other than Billy Mays. 

SO....the question one must ask is this.... Does Billy Mays really need a super energy pill, or has he been using it for years and only NOW sharing his secret?

Either way, I think people should be highly concerned. 

Billy.....why, Billy, why????

Does the Billy Mays Health Insurance Plan cover these super energy pills?  Or do we get weaker and weaker and weaker still?

As for the other product, I really don't want to go there. 

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DON'T DROP THE BATON!!

That is relay running 101.

It happened to both the USA Men and then later the Women.

Ugh!! 

The games continue.  USA Track & Field problems are seeming to continue too.

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Have a GREAT Weekend. 

Now, here we are in 2008 and the Russians are doing it again.

Why?

Good damned question.  And Mikhail Gorbachev is trying to rationalize the Russian's position.  OH? While not addressing the Poland situation, Gorby tries to explain why the Evil Empire wannabes are not evil.  What?  The Diet Coke of Evil?

You see, Gorby goes in to the Georgian situation and explains that Misha Saakashvili was about to "invade" South Ossetia.  Oh, so the Russians had to do it first.  Nevermind that South Ossetia is INSIDE the Georgian borders.  Oh, I get it.  The Russians were acting as humanitarians.  Thanks, Gorby.  It is crystal clear to me.

Now we have the Missile Defense system being set up in Poland.  I must admit that I never thought I see this day come, especially considering who the U.S. Ambassador to Poland is.  (Victor Ashe)  That said, the Russians see a Missile Defense System as a threat.

Watching Secretary of State Rice explain it, that a Missile Defense System is not aimed at anyone, was almost funny.  It is a DEFENSE system.  DEFENSE!!  Russians, do you need an explanation of this word?  Heard of Stalingrad, or Volgograd, sixty five years ago?  That city IS still part of Russia, though on its third name. 

So, Gorbachev thinks the Russians have been bullied.  Really?  If that is true, I'd say that turnabout is fair play.  Poland 1939, Hungary 1956, Czechoslovkia 1968, Afghanistan 1980 are all examples that come to mind, Gorby. 

Mr. Gorbachev, you led the demise of the Evil Empire and now a man who regrets what you had done is trying to revive it.   You were beaten in the Cold War by the United States led West.  Russia can be a great power in the world, but you need to advise Putin and Medvedev to do so by acting in a benevolent way.

If you believe that by being a bully you can get your way, some American WAY left-wing liberals can correct you.  They think that the United States got what we had coming to us by being a bully back on 11 September 2001.  (Chickens came home to roost) While, I don't agree with that, you Commies can come together since you share ideology.

In other words Mr. Gorbachev, I will make this succinct for you.  You lost.  Get over it. 

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There is some concern here in Jefferson City of the costs to renovate Adkins Stadium.  This spring and summer, they have torn down and rebuilt expanded bleachers.  This was mandated by insurance coverage.  The cinder track was replaced by an updated track.  The old grass field was replaced with a FieldTurf system.  The old lighting system was replaced with one that will not obstruct the views of the fans.  

All of this sounds good, right?  Well, sort of.  The problem is that there needs to be some clarification as to how it was all being funded.  

As you would expect, people are outraged that $5 million was spent on this project when textbooks are old and ratty.

I do not know all of the details, but I have extended an invitation to JCPS Administrator Dr. Bert Kimble.  He knows all of the ins and outs.  I hope to have him on the show in the next few days.

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The Olympic Games in Beijing continue.  Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh get the Gold in Beach Volleyball.  "Lightning" Bolt of Jamaica breaks the world record in the 200m.  

More to come as the Games wrap up this weekend.  I am still surprised at how much I have actually watched.  Key word is WATCHED.  Haven't listened to much.  Hard to with those announcers.

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Have a GREAT Thursday. 

Both were very interesting.

Both shows also left me with many more questions.

I was very pleased to see that Fox News Channel kept up to their slogan of "Fair and Balanced" with these programs.  If anything, they went out of their way to be more harsh than most other news organizations would have been.

I do not know if Fox is planning a replay of the shows, but I highly recommend them.

But still, the shows give you a taste of the personalities.  I always recommend voting the issues, NOT personalities.  Though, even I will admit, knowing the personalities can help get a better feel for the way the candidates have come to their positions on issues.

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ENERGY is the issue of the 2008 campaign season.  Some want to argue this.  Simply put, if you want to argue this, fine, but you are wrong.

Harsh?

No, and I will tell you why.  

Energy drives the economy.  Think the economy is the big issue, well since energy drives the economy, you are only partially right.

As for Iraq, Iran, Georgia, Russia....etc., what do you think makes ANY of those places significant?  Energy!

Education?  Funded through taxes.  Tax collections go up when the economy is strong.  What makes the economy strong?  Several things, including energy costs.  And if educators don't have to spend their money on energy, they can spend it in other areas.

So, again, ENERGY is the issue.

Now I went through all of this to explain what will be happening on the show over the next few weeks and months.  I have made contact with the media relations department of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the premier national lab for energy research.  I am hoping to do a series of interviews discussing the development of new energy technologies and improvements on existing technologies.  Due to their status as a national lab, ORNL is decidedly non-partisan.

I will also check with Popular Mechanics and their writers and editors to further this discussion on energy.

Energy is an issue that has been ignored or neglected for way too long.  Finally, the candidates have given it attention, but not enough.  And WE THE PEOPLE need to make sure that it gets the focus it truly needs.

If oil man T. Boone Pickens can use his money to get them focused, then millions of other Americans can, if they choose to, get their voices heard on this issue.

But first, you have to realize that I am right.  This IS THE issue of Campaign 2008.

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I don't trust them.  And they have not let me down.

I am talking about the Russians.  Both Medvedev and Putin have LIED to the world.  They are NOT pulling out of Georgia, they are digging in.

What should be done?  First, get the Russians out of Georgia without delay.  Second, expedite Georgia's membership in NATO.  Third, let Russia know that we will stand up to them.  And by WE, I mean NATO.

Once again, Patton has been proven right.

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I have been a bit strong in how I have written things this morning.  But I sometimes think that a sharpening of focus is needed.  Too many people that I have talked with recently don't see the picture clearly.  And that is not exactly their fault.  I am engrossed in this STUFF everyday due to my job.  So, I have to see it.

If I have offended you, know that this was not my intent.  But if I also made you think about a few things, then I have hit what I intended.

In the next 76 days, you will need to make a decision.  Who to vote for, or whether or not you are going to vote.  I have made no secret of my belief that I want voters to be informed.  If you are NOT informed, or you choose to be ignorant (yes, it is a choice), please stay home on November 4th.  I mean that as sincerely as anything I have ever written.

I will not tell you what to think, but I will tell you what I feel you need to be thinking about.  And, as always, I encourage you to debate me on these issues.  That is why I have a comments section on this blog.

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Have a great Wednesday. 

The big news is not the fact that a newer technology will be adopted by a political campaign.  Some think that is the big story.

Nope.  The big story?  Someone can see a little daylight between Obama supporters and the media.

My guess is that Mrs. Alan Greenspan will get the first text message. Then the daylight closes.

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For those who do not know the Mrs. Greenspan reference....that is WHY I put in links.

Anyhow, she is the one who puked out the Obama campaign talking point on "Meet The Press" about McCain having a chance to prepare for Rick Warren's questions on Saturday.  Did she check this story out?  Of course not, that would involve work and responsibility.  And NBC News can't be held to that standard.  

I mean really, Tim Russert died in June.  There is no call for stuff like that any more.

As for it happening, Rick Warren said it couldn't have happened during an appearance on Tom Sullivan's show yesterday afternoon.  He acknowledged that a TV was in the green room, but the feed to it was disconnected.  Warren said, had he turned it on, he would have only seen static.

I guess they haven't upgraded to digital yet at the Saddleback Church. 

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Back to the Olympics.  Have you see Team Handball?  Why this sport is not more popular here in the United States is beyond me.  

Think basketball, hockey without sticks, or soccer with hands.  It is really cool.

It is quite physical. Lots of contact, lots of shoving, lots of falling.  You could even add a little bit of football into the mix when describing this sport.

I hope that Team Handball is the Curling of this years games.  Meaning that I hope people are curious about it and the talk about this sport takes off.  This could be another great sport that could make its way into college athletics via Title IX.  And that could open the door for the men's game.

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Nice sweep in the 400m for the American men!!! Angelo Taylor with the Gold, Kerron Clement with Silver and Bershawn Jackson got the Bronze.  Times were 47.25, 47.98 and 48.06 respectively.

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By the way, I want to thank everyone who took the time to chat with me on my whirlwind tour of Knoxville on Friday.  Due to the nature of the trip, I did not have a lot of time so nothing was planned in advance.  I stopped by the Citadel - Knoxville studios, then met my good friend Lori Snyder for lunch.  After that, it was down to the University of Tennessee campus.  I ducked in to Dan Reilly's office at the SEE Center.  I have known Dan since my days in Warrensburg.  We chatted for a little while, then it was off to Kathy's old hangout, the McKenzie-Lawson Center.

I chatted with Bob Kesling for quite a while as well.  For those who don't know Bob, he is the broadcasting guru (not his official title) at UT.  Then it was down the hall to make several people double-take.  While in Tiffany Carpenter's office, my old classmate Kassidie Blackstock ducked in and out before she realized who was in Tiffany's office.  

After that, I went upstairs to see the folks in the development office.  Again, most of them did a double take as I walked in.  And, of course, they ALL asked about Kathy and how she was doing.

Finally, I went over to the football office to see Mary Jo Fox.  As I walked down the hall, Phillip Fulmer was looking at me with a little disbelief.  He quickly extended a hand and we chatted for a couple of minutes.  I asked how the team was looking and told him that we'd be watching from afar again this season.  Then, I met with Mary Jo and her broken desk.

Had to leave campus at that point, Kathy wanted her iced lemon cookies.  So, it was off to Ham 'N Goody's before they closed. 

Then, back in the familiar role of Friday afternoon traffic on I-40 West.  After conquering that, I didn't let the rubberneckers examining the Eastbound wreck at West Hills mess me up, I made it to Aubrey's on Cedar Bluff to see Tom Miller, Cindy Arnold and others at a remote for THEIR version of the "True Oldies Channel" (which is what Cumulus carries on Cool 97.5 here in Mid-MO).  A nice time there, but then I had to duck out to get to my next stop.  But first, a change of shirts due to the sweat.  So back to the awful motel room.  Dad was probably bored, but he understood that I couldn't go to Knoxville without seeing my friends.

Anyhow, next was a visit with some of my oldest friends at Silver Spoon Cafe.  There I got to chat with Julian Moglione, Greg Moates and Tony Smith for a couple of hours over dinner and dessert.  (Yesterday, I shared a story from Tony as you may recall.) 

Then it was back to the motel for a night of sleep before we drove back on Saturday morning.

Thanks to all who took time out of their busy days to chat with me for a little bit.  But most of all, thanks to Dad for your understanding.  I do appreciate that.

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Have a great day. 

This year, I have been watching Michael Phelps.  Who hasn't been? What has really impressed me is how well his teammates have been building him up when he almost wants to shy away from it.  They must sincerely like the guy.  He sure seems real likable. 

I enjoyed watching Dara Torres, but only wish that she could have pulled off the gold.  Don't get me wrong, a couple of silver medals at 41 years old is an amazing feat....and she SHOULD get a LOT of credit for that and better be on a Wheaties box if not a BUNCH of other endorsements for it.  It is only American pride that makes me want to see her with more.   

The amazing thing was the 100 meters on the men's side.  I watched it even though I already knew who won.  (I had forgotten which Jamacian it was by the time of the replay.)  But Usain Bolt was true to his nickname of Lightning.  If he could learn how to get a better start out of the blocks (he was about 5th of 8 in the start) and have someone push him down the stretch, Bolt could break 9.60.  He was amazing.

It is hard for me to say, but I am actually enjoying the games.  Despite the coverage from NBC.....even they can't ruin it.

And they certainly try.

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I did not watch the Rick Warren "look at me" fest on Saturday.  Sorry, the build up to it seemed be a bit more about him and his megachurch than it was about the future of our nation.  Using politicians to build your following is fine, but make it about the issues first.  Trust me, I will be doing THAT this election season.

Anyhow, I am not impressed with much that has come out of the event on Saturday night.

I will look further into the transcripts of the event.  Maybe I can find a jem.

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Have you heard of the internet "virus" known as "Rick Rolling"???

It is not a harmful virus and it is just outright silly.  It is not even a real virus...just an annoyance.

So, what is "Rick Rolling"?????

It involves sending an e-mail, or some other medium (more on that in a second), to your friends that indicates it is something that they really, really, really want.....only to be a video of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" instead.

Last week, I had a link on this site of a video called "Barack Roll" which was the Astley video with Barack Obama edited to be "singing" the song and dancing to the music.

Rick Astley was interviewed about the "Rick Rolling" activities.  All he could say was that he hoped it wouldn't embarrass his daughter too much.  (Probably no more than actually BEING Rick Astley's daugher.)

Now, the other medium "Rick Rolling" examples include a TV reporter who had her news story "Rick Rolled" on April Fools Day.  Numerous people have gotten "Rick Roll" phone calls.

But one of my favorites is one that my friend Tony Smith told me about on Friday night.  Tony's daughter Chelsea was in North Carolina for a colorguard competition.  The public address announcer was making personalized announcements for a buck or two a piece to raise money for the event.  Tony decided to buy one.  It was....

"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you.  Never gonna make you cry, never say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.  - Dad and Ben"

About a quarter of the crowd got it and were laughing out loud.

Now, if anyone was to call the show at 573-632-1240 or 866-632-1240 and "Rick Roll" me, I will laugh too.  Not that I am encouraging it.

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Have a great week!!