An old friend

Well, she's not old, but it's been a while since I've seen her.
Jessica and I worked together at the Kalamazoo Gazette a few years ago before going on to a stint with the Shreveport (La.) Times.
She has a new Web site, and if you like photography, it's worth checking out.
I think she's very talented, but who am I, really?
Have a very blessed and merry Christmas.

I gotta try this!

A friend at work e-mailed this story to me. I have no idea how true it is, but it's worth the read anyway.

When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don't take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don't know.

I was sitting at my desk when I remembered a phone call I'd forgotten to make. I found the number and dialed it.

A man answered, saying "Hello?"

I politely said, "This is Chris. Could I please speak with Robyn Carter?"

Suddenly a manic voice yelled out in my ear "Get the right f**in number!" and the phone was slammed down on me.

I couldn't believe that anyone could be so rude. When I tracked down Robyn's correct number to call her, I found that I had accidentally transposed the last two digits. After hanging up with her, I decided to call the 'wrong' number again.

When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled "You're an asshole!" and hung up.

I wrote his number down with the word 'asshole' next to it, and put it in my desk drawer. Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I'd call him up and yell, "You're an asshole!"

It always cheered me up.

When Caller ID was introduced, I thought my therapeutic "asshole calling" would have to stop. So, I called his number and said, "Hi, this is John Smith from the Verizon. I'm calling to see if you're familiar with our caller ID program?"

He yelled "NO!" and slammed down the phone.

I quickly called him back and said, "That's because you're an asshole!"

One day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking spot. Some guy in a black BMW cut me off and pulled into the spot I had patiently waited for. I hit the horn and yelled that I'd been waiting for that spot, but the idiot ignored me.

I noticed a "For Sale" sign in his back window which included his phone number, so I wrote down the number.

A couple of days later, right after calling the first asshole (I had his number on speed dial) I thought that I'd better call the BMW asshole, too.

I said, "Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?"

"Yes, it is", he said.

"Can you tell me where I can see it?" I asked.

"Yes, I live at 34 Mowbray Blvd, in Vaucluse. It's a yellow house, and the car's parked right out in front."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"My name is Don Hansen," he said.

"When's a good time to catch you, Don?"

"I'm home every evening after five."

"Listen, Don, can I tell you something?"

"Yes?"

"Don, you're an asshole!" Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial, too.

Now, when I had a problem, I had two assholes to call. Then I came up with an idea.

I called Asshole #1. "Hello." "You're an asshole!" (But I didn't hang up.)

"Are you still there?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"Stop calling me," he screamed.

"Make me," I said.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Don Hansen."

"Yeah? Where do you live?"

"Asshole, I live at 34 Mowbray Blvd, Vaucluse, a yellow house, with my black Beamer parked in front."

He said,"I'm coming over right now, Don. And you had better start saying your prayers."

I said,"Yeah, like I'm really scared, asshole," and hung up.

Then I called Asshole #2.

"Hello?" he said.

"Hello, asshole," I said.

He yelled, "If I ever find out who you are..."

"You'll what?" I said.

"I'll kick your ass," he exclaimed.

I answered, "Well, asshole, here's your chance. I'm coming over right now."

Then I hung up and immediately called the police, saying that I lived at 34 Mowbray Blvd, Vaucluse, and that I was on my way over there to kill my gay lover. I called Channel 9 News about the gang war going down in Mowbray Blvd, Vaucluse.

I quickly got into my car and headed over to Mowbray. I got there just in time to watch two assholes beating the crap out of each other in front of six cop cars, an overhead police helicopter and a news crew.

Now I feel much better. Anger management really works.

This makes me laugh. 

A note from a friend

Jon Wedel is a member of the Air Force Honor Guard and was part of Pres. Ronald Reagan's funeral. I interviewed Jon for a story during the funeral because he is a Battle Creek guy. This was an e-mail from him about a program he is involved in. Please take a minute to watch this slideshow.

2005 National Military Survivor Seminar

This link is to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, a program started by Bonnie Carroll after she lost her husband, a U.S. Air Force General, when his plane went down in Alaska.
She started the program to help spouses and children who have lost loved ones in military service, and each year over Memorial Day weekend, children and their families visit Washington, D.C. fir what is know as a "good grief camp".
The camp's staff members are all trained in how to help these children grieve. A majority of the camp's mentors come from the Ceremonial Guardsmanship -- USAF Honor Guard, U.S. Army's "Old Guard," U.S. Navy's Ceremonial Guard, U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard.
These troops volunteer almost 50 hours over the holiday weekend to give back to the same families of the heroes we bury every day in Arlington. These troops provide an open ear and a shoulder to lean on.
The slideshow is from the 2005 camp. This was my third year, and it hits you harder every time. The slide show takes a minute to load, but it's extremely worth it.
Jon J. Wedel, MSgt, USAF
Superintendent, Formal Training
USAF Honor Guard

For more information...

FactCheck.Org, a creation of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, often has interesting independent analyses of national politics in the news.
Some of the more recent posts include:
Liberal Ad Against Alito: True As Far As It Goes and Iraq: What Did Congress Know, and When?
Now, as any good reporter will tell you, double-check any piece of information, and FactCheck doesn't consider itself to be the end-all of reporting. There often are links to other sites and documents, giving more information on a topic.
I read the Iraq piece, and I am further convinced Pres. Bush snowed Congress and the country.
The president is privy to a daily intelligence report with more information than was ever disseminated in Congress, yet he insists lawmakers new what he knew.
Given Bush's penchant for appointing buddies to high-ranking administrative positions, why should we believe there wasn't an "understanding" of the president's motives by the people reporting to him?
If Pres. Bush wants to convince Americans that he went to Iraq with the best of intentions and not a capitalist agenda, then he'd better convince us he's finally listening to what we have to say about how OUR government works.

Domestic threats?

According to an report from the Society of Professional Journalists, there is a bill moving quickly in the Senate that would create the first-ever agency categorically exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
As the article points out, the idea is to protect the new Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency (BARDA) from public health and safety threats, but "it guts the public safety benefit that flows from citizen participation in government. The key to public health is the public, which cannot avoid transmission of epidemic or pandemic disease unless it has knowledge of the disease, and understanding of how to treat it."
It's quite obvious our government, charged with protecting us from external threats, has become so obese, it is a threat to the very freedoms and liberties it's supposed to safeguard.
Pardon me for being a skeptic, but what's so top-secret about a bird flu pandemic? Is there some national security risk in stem cell research?
Politicians can really piss me off.

I hate Muzak

But I love NPR.
I heard Paul English, the creator of the IVR cheat sheet, this morning on NPR.
How can you pass up the opportunity to circumvent almost any automated answering system?
Just a useful tip I thought I'd pass along.

Whack jobs or free thinkers?

9-11 seems so far behind us now, but it's omnipresent in that it has dramatically changed our everyday lives.
I'm not usually a big supporter of conspiracy theories, and even this one makes me wince a little. But it raises some good points, and makes a decent argument.
Perhaps the people labeled militants and nonpatriotic nuts by mainstream society deserve to be listened to. While we would like to consider ourselves intelligent and open-minded, maybe there is something to the argument that most Americans have become desensitized to the government and it's power. Perhaps we are just sheep, blindly accepting what we're told by elected officials.
Wow. I'm a little depressed right now.

Props

Many thanks to my brother, Tony, for letting me continually link to pictures on his Web site, metaphysicalrockstar.com.

Double the fun!

Today we celebrate two birthdays.
John Dennis Schirripa, 55, and Angela Marie Schirripa, 40.
My dad and step-mom not only share the same wedding anniversary, but the same birthday. (That was funny!)
Anyway, love and blessings to you both on your day.

Politics, politics. Oh, and computers.

There is enough crap on Capitol Hill without Rove, Libby and McClellan adding to the steaming pile.
Next year is a congressional election year, so with Karl and Scooter helping Pres. Bush's approval ratings reach the lowest ever, there will be some interesting maneuvering in the District.
Expect to see many Republicans distancing themselves from Bush's antics and specific ideas while trying to stay close to the party's ideology and platforms. The economy, education and national security still are big GOP issues, but much of the Right is starting to question what the President is doing.
In library news, what happened to the card catalogue? This may be easier, but then who will talk to Mr. Parr?
I wish I understood PC technology better, because after reading this, my only response is, "Huh?"

Thanks, Spruce.

Here's the best first line of a story ever:
"So me, Troy, the Ricker and these three developmentally disabled guys try to go to the strip club..."
That's hilarious. The rest of the story doesn't even matter.

Wow. Patience.

Things have been a little hectic, alright? Sorry I haven't been able to serve the demanding readers I know I have, but cut me some slack, huh?
Today I feel like reaming cyber beggars. You know, the people who start Web sites just to solicit free money for whatever reason? Talk about worthless.
Here are a few, just to sample:
CyberBeg
Melissa's Breast Augmentation Project
The Society to Prevent My Employment
Now, I understand we all need help from time to time, but come on. Really? Begging on the Internet? Now I know there's too much room in Cyber space.
Some sites just ask for loans, and promise repayment with interest.
Sure.
Other sites have been utilized for self-enhancement. I'm sure all of Michel's contributors got some kind of sick return on their investments.
If you can find any unique cyber beggars, let me know. I'll send them my two cents.

Picture perfect

As promised, here are the pictures from the Treetops golf excursion.

We're baaaa-aaaack!

Can't tell you how good it was to watch the boys in the Winged Wheel play a game tonight.
A good win, and there is some promising young talent in Detroit, namely Niklas Kronwall and Jason Williams.
Valtteri Filppula is only trying out, but may earn a spot on the roster.
Always warms my heart to see the favorites back: Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan and Nick Lidstrom.
Pavel Datsyuk just resigned, and I couldn't be happier to see him and Henrik Zetterberg returning for another year in D-Town.
Yippee, hockey!

Golfed out

Treetops was AWESOME! But after playing 63 holes in two days, I can honestly say I am golfed out.
The courses were beautiful, especially Premier, and the time I spent with my brother was like a Hattori Hanzo sword: Priceless.
Tony took some great pictures, but you'll have to wait until he posts them on his Web site to see them.
Some highlights of the trip include treacherous sand traps, rough that could eat a good sized dog, sleep deprivation, greens like ice, the two holes-in-one that never were and a near-death experience with a pair of golf carts.
I will attempt to recount each in a series of short stories coming soon.
Until then, tee 'em high and hit 'em straight.

Good advice from John

I have looked into comment spam controls, and I am trying something new.
When you want to comment, you will have to verify a word. It's nothing tricky, but it's supposed to prevent automated comment spam programs from getting to my blog.
Really, it's not a big deal, and I hope it doesn't keep anyone from commenting.
As a matter of fact, leave a comment on this post, and let me know how it works.

Sending out an S.O.S.

Stop Outrageous Spam!
There are several Spam-ish comments now.
How I do make them stop?

For your viewing pleasure

Thanks to my brother for this video.
I love Kieth Olbermann.
UPDATE: At the advice of a sensible sister-in-law, the video link has been updated and is no longer on a Web site with a fair amount of adult content, if you catch my drift.

I hate to say, 'Told you so'

But we knew.
Wow.
Thanks to Eric for finding this gem from October 2004.

Uncle Sam says...

I blame you!
We've heard the pleas from the Bush administration for the media not to play the blame game.
Well, guess what. Millions of people have been affected by Hurricane Katrina, and while we can blame the federal government and emergency agencies for their piss-poor response, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin should be in the crosshairs, as well.
The federal government cut funding for the Army Corps of Engineers levee projects in New Orleans. That is true, and certainly the war in Iraq left the feds with less money.
While Nagin is screaming at FEMA and other federal officials to "get off their asses," he is conveniently forgetting to mention the he was made aware of Katrina's potential danger more than 48 hours before the hurricane hit New Orleans, and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency three days before Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.
Yet, he didn't issue an evacuation order for another day.
The timeline is quite telling. Both the federal government and Mayor Nagin dropped the ball.
Just because Nagin is wading through the flood water while Pres. Bush is flying overhead doesn't relieve him of his responsibility to his residents.
Then again, I knew Katrina was going to hit, and I didn't do anything to aid the evacuation.
Hell. Blame me, too.

Spam sucks

Is it possible to get a Spam in a comment on my blog?
Check the comment from on the last post. I am clueless.
If you are the the Phantom-comment-leaver turned cowardly-blog-spammer, knock it off.
I don't like you.
No one likes you.

Sept. 12 is a great day

On Sept. 12, 1950, Barbara Ann Duryea was born.
Happy birthday, Mom.
I love you.

Europe was truly a visionary band

It's the final countdown!
In just a few short days, Tony and I will be on our way to the Treetops, where it's golf, golf and more golf.
There are no words to describe how excited I am.
YIPPEE!

This hurts

I don't consider myself a Michael Moore fan or friend. I think the man is a disgrace, quite honestly. But in all fairness, I have to admit I made some of the very same comments as he recently has.
I still think he's a worthless pile of breathing crap, but he's a fellow Michigander, so I have to give him some props for making it big.

Shame

I have been reminded that my ancestors were French.
Indeed they were, and while establishing a city between a large lake and the Gulf of Mexico, such as New Orleans, may not have been one of their finest ideas, I do owe the French more credit than given in the previous post.
In honor of my heritage, allow me to list some of the greater French accomplishments through history:
- One of the first modern bicameral legislative branches of government.
- Strong support of colonial America against the British in the American Revolution.
- The Statue of Liberty.
- Paris, a modern cultural icon for much of the Western world.
- And of course, French fries. (O.K. We all know that's not really true, but it's fun, isn't it?)
I hope I have not offended anyone with French heritage. It may not hurt to point out it is Americans who are to blame for building large metropolitan centers on both coasts, in the Mississippi flood plane, and on one of the largest faults in the world.

Updates galore

Three things:
First, if you haven't been Metaphysicalrockstar.com lately, I urge you to check it out. Tony's added some new stuff, and it's worth taking a look at or a listen to.
Second, one of the new galleries is from Toxic Bash. Great stuff, and Semi-Productive rocks!
Last, but certainly not least, allow me to briefly sound off about New Orleans.
My thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered so greatly, but I can't help but wonder if the extensive damage suffered by the great city could have been prevented, or at least mitigated to a greater extent.
Who builds a city on the Gulf Coast in a spot that's below sea level and on the banks of a huge lake? Leave it to the French.
That aside, everyone knew Katrina was moving across the Gulf, and FEMA has even recently examined emergency scenarios involving New Orleans taking a direct hit form a category three storm. Why was this handled so poorly.?
People are stranded on buildings and in attics with no food, water or medical supplies, and the National Guard is unable to help people fast enough.
Why doesn't Pres. Bush send more troops? Oh, wait. They're all in Iraq.
Speaking of Bush, he is pressing a $10.5 billion relief package through Congress, and it likely will be approved today. How gracious of law makers to come back into session early to consider the bill.
$10.5 billion. Sounds like a lot, but Bush pledged $15 billion to tsunami aid last December.
At least Bush has almost admitted he screwed up, not to mention former Presidents Bush and Clinton are chipping in with their pull.
At least Fats Domino is safe.

Michael was so excited about his first day of school, it was all Kris could do to get a picture of him. Note the new backpack. He is very proud. (So's his dad.)

Proud father

Today was Michael's second day of school, but his first full day.
He is going to Greenwood Elementary, just down the street from our house.
I take him to school every morning at 8:45, and Kris will pick him up at 3:45.
Both yesterday and today, I have teared up a little after dropping him off.
They grow up so fast.
Anthony starts preschool next week, also at Greenwood, but he will only go half-day.

The Countdown Continues

In just 19 (very, very long) days, Tony and I will be teeing off at Treetops' Tradition.
Goody, goody, goody.

CrackBerry

I have now entered the world of tech nerds... I think.
I traded my old phone in for a Nextel BlackBerry, and I am addicted. The wireless Internet and e-mail is sweet, and I am saving my pennies for a Bluetooth headset.
The calander and contacts software allowed me to eliminate my PDA, and the phone itself is not as big or awkward as I thought it would be.
Not a big deal, I know. But I think it's cool.

A response from John Vargo

MMORPGs are just getting out of hand...

To me, it seems like an extension of the geeks that gave us RPG.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I have participated, and enjoyed a few RPGs.
But, there are people that take these things waaaay too seriously.

And on that note, I leave you with Tom Smith's web site.
Be sure to check out the Free Stuff > MP3s.

Freakin' nerds...

Why You Should Fear Video Games

As a software developer I know a lot of video gamers, including most of my best friends and myself. I must admit that I myself am not an avid (read obsessed) video gamer, but I do play my fare share and I am certainly in the right circles to keep my finger on the pulse.

Anyway, over the last few years, I have noticed a pattern emerging in video games: increased levels of incidents of addiction. This may seem like an exaggeration, but give me a chance.

First, let us discuss the economy of online, massive-multiplayer games where a player is represented in the game by an avatar, or a digital character, for example EverQuest or World of Warcraft. The virtual worlds these games take place in are very complex, and include money, real estate, commerce, etc. I have friends who have spent money (real money) for (not real but virtual) gold for their character. Don't believe me? There are people who are making a living just by playing the game so their character will gain salable goods, and then selling these goods to other gamers. Well, as this virtual economy has evolved, so has its crime rate. Mugging and sweat-shops have now become a part of your gaming experience.

Now let us discuss duration of playing sessions. I think it is fair to say that on a day with no scheduled activities, it is not hard to lose several hours to any good video game. However, when sessions start to creep over the single-day-of-continuous-play mark, it is time to rethink your priorities. I know people who have taken one or two week vacations just so they could spend all their time playing a game. Thus, leading from that with no surprise at all, I present you this.

So there, that is why video games are bad. And, to those gamers who find themselves hopelessly addicted to some game where they get to pretend to be a two-inch high dwarf that hangs-out with a bunch of Swedish elves searching for a dragon-scale-loin-cloth or something, I give you this: go outside and play the game of life as yourself - you never know, you just might like it.

This post was authored by Tony, my brother. 
If you are interested in writing a guest post, send your idea to nschirripa@hotmail.com. 
Please include any Web addresses or links that might be helpful to readers.

Tee minus...

26 days and counting.
Yippee!
Treetops, here we come!

You've been called out

So this was a comment posted to The Script a couple of days ago:

Anonymous said...
Free golf!!! Sounds like a great friend, where can I get one that thoughtful? What a prize! Enjoy the experience.

You all remember when I asked you not to leave anonymous comments, right? Well, someone has to be a rebel and continues to drop little comments with no name attached to them.
I'm calling you out, Phantom Commenter Person!
It just so happens that the Phantom is the same friend who got me into the raffle for the Treetops trip. Apparently, there haven't been enough accolades.
I'll get right on that.

Tee 'em high...

Some great advice from a great golfer, my dad, regarding the upcoming free-golf extravaganza at the Treetops:

Enjoy, relax and take in the beauty of the courses. Don't forget to look back at the tees from every green. The scenery is breath taking. Hit 'em straight!

According to the veteran golfer, I have skill. He can be so cute when he's lying!
Thanks, Pop. I'm sure we'll have a good time.

Dad's the experienced one

My dad says he's golfed the Treetops courses, and he guarantees we'll love them.
Here's a picture of him, as well as my brother and I. Please note, Dad's the good looking one in the middle, Tony's the smart one on the right, and I am the fat guy in a little coat.
Anyway, Dad is a phenomenal golfer. I wish I was half as good as him. I have never met anyone who can shape shots and think the game like he can. Just amazing.
Tony is good, too, He's gotten a hole-in-one already.
I have been golfing for more than 20 years, and I can't even shoot par.
A hole-in-one is out of the question.
Treetops, here I come!

FORE!

So, I have this friend who called me one day a few weeks ago and said, "Hey, I'm going to this thing and one of the raffle prizes is a golf trip to some place called 'Treetops.' Do you want a ticket or two?"
Well, being an avid-but-awful golfer, I said, "Absolutely," then forgot about it because I never win anything.
Last Friday, I checked my voicemail, and what do you know, I won.
SWEET!
September 18 and 19, my brother and I are golfing at Treetops. 27 holes Sunday and 36 holes Monday. Some of the best golf I could ever hope to play.
Here's the schedule for Sunday:
10 a.m.: 18 holes on Tradition.
4 p.m.: Check into our deluxe room.
4:10 p.m.: 9 holes on Threetops.
And for Monday:
10:20 a.m.: 18 holes on Signature.
3 p.m.: 18 holes on Premier.
Oh. Did I mention the best part? It's all FREE!
I love free golf.

Peter Jennings, 7.29.1938-8.7.2005

A death in the family

Peter Jennings was great.
As a journalist, I bow my head in respect to one of the industry's most recognized names.
As a man, I pray his family finds peace after his passing.
For years, millions of people welcomed him into their homes each night to report the news the world over. He touched hearts with stories of tragedy and compassion, stirred discontent with reports of injustice, and taught with glimpses of the world outside everyday life.
More than that, he became a distant but reliable friend.
He was know for respecting people's privacy, and so relied on viewers and sources to let him in. We did, and we respected and appreciated his observance of our private space.

Some people continue to pretend that anchor people are reporters.
Peter Jennings

There is a great divide between print journalists and television news anchors. Peter realized that, and used his "face time" to develop relationships with his viewers.
Peter Jennings will be missed by many.
God bless.

Greed

Dad wrote again:

"I agree with most of what you say, but our forefathers did not design the government we have today. Theirs was completely different. It was done with the "people" in mind, not the government. Today with big businesses and the greed of most politicians, the government is nothing like our forefathers had hoped. (MY opinion!)"

Dad, Dad, Dad. You are awesome.
I think you are mostly right. The government we have is still the government designed more than 200 years ago by a group of land owning, weed smoking, slave banging aristocrats.
What they didn't plan on, account for or foresee was the power of lobbyists and special interest groups swaying the lawmakers.
We can all agree ethics in government may as well be the name of a college drinking game. Federal politicians don't necessarily worry about doing the right thing, but doing the thing right now, especially if it means some pork or campaign money.
"Big business," as it were, accounts for the degeneration of the people as a voice. Lawmakers have managed to squirm their way into interstate commerce and the business of individual states, taking away the power of states to exist on a relatively autonomous level.
Perhaps Betsy Ross should have used three shades of green for our country's flag. Could we be proud of the Green, Hunter Green and Mint Green?

Now this is what it's all about

The two previous posts, in which I quote my parents' comments and respond with my own thoughts, are two of my best blog entries.
It's not alone that we toil through struggles, live through adventures, grieve losses or celebrate greatness. But it is those we hold closest to our hearts with whom we pass through this life.
It is futile for me to spout opinion and profess knowledge, for without the exchange of ideas with others, I exist in a vacuum.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Your thoughts and ideas are bound to stir thoughtful discussion and passionate debate, the likes of which can only strengthen us as friends, embolden us as citizens and elevate us and human beings.
Peace and love to you all.

Fathers' words of wisdom

My dad wrote:

"I agree that the constitution was written to preserve our rights but that seems to be going away slowly but surely. I enjoy reading what you write and do agree with some of it. The patriot act has diminished some of our rights, and if you log onto some of the forums from papers around the state, they have "Big Brother" monitoring what you say. If something is said that they don't like, it is gone before you know it. So as far as our rights go, they are not what our forefathers had in mind. But in response to your writing, I enjoy hearing my son spout words of wisdom about our country and politics whether it be local or national. I might be a little biased, but I am enlightened every time I read your articles. Keep up the good work and know that your are a treasure."

A treasure? Enlightened? Aw, shucks. I'm blushing.
My dad makes an interesting point that the government seems to whittling away at our rights, and strengthens his point by citing the USA PATRIOT Act.
Good show, Old Bean!
However, I am not ready to join the ACLU just yet.
There certainly is a fear of the omnipresence of "Big Brother," and certainly some recent legislation -- especially since 9/11 -- has increased that idea.
But I think it's more complicated than just saying the government is taking over. Remember, our forefathers designed the government we have, and as Pres. Abraham Lincoln so eloquently pointed out, countless men and women have died to ensure a "government of the people, by the people, for the people."
The government has no more or less power than we allow it to have over us. Granted, once elected officials take office, they are virtually free to enact any legislation they see fit. They do, however, have to answer to voters for their decisions, whether through our right to vote them out of office, or the right to call for a referendum vote to overturn overwhelmingly objectionable policies.
Not only that, but there are numerous checks and balances built into the system that prevent our government from turning into a monstrous, dictatorial regime -- although Pres. Bush is coming dangerously close. (Thank goodness for term limits!)
The First Amendment is alive and well, and we, as Americans, need to be diligent about exercising our right to free speech when we are not satisfied with the decisions made by those we put in office to represent us.

Another link for you to visit

So Kelli says, "Go to my Web site, you big meanie head!"
Well, I'm going.
Here's the link.
Fair warning. There's lots of pink and bad grammar.
Yuck!

Yea! My first comment and response!

My mom wrote:

"I'm not really into politics, especially the national stuff because I don't think I have any control over that. I do like hearing about local concerns. Things closer to home have an impact on my life. Of course being your mother, I like to read about how you think and feel about most everything."

Well, first of all, thanks Mommy.
With all due respect, the national politics thing is way off. There are millions of Americans who need to remember that every voice counts. I know it seems overwhelming sometimes, but it's the truth. Some very wise men wrote a thing a few years ago that guarantees us that right. You may have heard of it, the United States Constitution?
I'm not trying to be critical or condescending, so forgive me if it reads that way. But we all need to respect our own value if we expect our elected officials to respect our ideas.
Local concerns are a newspaper's bread and butter. That's where we, as print journalists, do our best work; informing the people in our communities about what's going on around them, what their government is doing and how it impacts their daily lives.
Here is a wonderful example of the power journalists have.
It's always nice to get a letter or a quick e-mail from readers telling us we've done just that.
How I feel about most everything is really irrelevant. Well, actually, I'm always right, but don't' tell Mark.

Thanks, and a small request

I've recently learned a lesson about comments made on my blog.
Allow me to say thank you to each of you who has taken the time submit comments. I will be sure to respond to each of them from here on out.
My small request is rather simple, but it does involve typing.
As most of you know, I am a journalist. To be more specific, I am a newspaper reporter.
As such, it always interests me to know what kind of news you like to read, what you hate about newspapers, and how journalists can do a better job.
Please take a few thoughtful minutes to let me know what you think.
I will be sure to address each of your ideas as quickly as I can.
Thanks,
Shrips.

Toxic Bash = Rockin' summer fun!

Semi-productive certainly made the trip worth it. St Clair Shores was rockin' Saturday, and my little brother's band was one of the best.
O.K. So I'm a little biased, but the whole experience was great.
Pictures are soon to come.

October never looked so good

The countdown to Oct. 5 now begins.
Very sad to see Darren go, though.

The '80s rock

This Saturday, my little brother and his '80s cover band, semi-productive, will be rockin' the stage at the 9th annual Toxic Bash in Saint Clair Shores.
If you have the chance to get out there, I hear it's an awesome time. Bands play all day at several houses in an outdoor venue.
Check out these pictures from last year's Bash.
How fun does this sound?

Do you remember much about junior high?

I know. It was, like, 100 years ago, but stick with me.
If you're anything like me, you weren't one of the popular kids in school. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a freak, Goth, nerd, jock, prep or anything else. I was just me, but that was my thing. I didn't fit in with any one clique, so I wasn't really a part of a social sub-group smaller than the 150 kids in my class.
Anyway, the point here: Remember the first time you were invited to party at a popular kid's house, and all the other popular kids were there? You walked in, and the popular kids were actually talking to you. You could feel your internal popular-ometer going into the red, and you felt like your chest was visibly pulsing.
Do you remember that fluttery, first-kiss feeling you got when -- even for a moment -- you were one of the popular kids?
If you do, than you know exactly what I'm feeling right now. I blogged a couple days ago about Nickerblog, and I got an e-mail from Shane Nickerson yesterday.
I have spent the last couple of hours reading several blogs, including Nickerblog, and I bumped into Wil Wheaton's Web site. The same friend that turned me onto Nickerblog gave me the lead on Wil's site, but I had to see it for myself.
For those of you doing the same thing I did -- "Wil Wheaton... Why do I know that name?" -- let me tell you, you know it for a good reason.
Wil was Gordie Lachance in Rob Reiner's 1986 film, Stand by Me with River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, John Cusack and Richard Dreyfuss.

"I am acting my age. I'm in the prime of my youth and I'll only be young once."

"Yeah, but you're gonna be stupid for the rest of your life."

That is one of my all-time favorite movies. In fact, every time I pass a strange dog and it barks at me, I still say aloud, "Chopper, sic balls!"
This is a junior-high-party-with-the-popular-kids-moment.
I wonder if any of the guys in the movie have kept in touch (with the obvious exception of River Phoenix)?

And Bush said...

Let there be a man to replace a woman.
John Roberts is making some ground in his quest for Senate confirmation as a U. S. Supreme court nominee, because a nonactivist judge is a good thing.
Who wants a justice who is going to use his or her moral and legal opinions to create law rather than to interpret the laws written by the actual law makers?
Of course, the hard questions including abortion and tendency to overturn court precedent are coming later from Senate democrats.
Although several potential appointees have been floated in the media to replace recently retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to please the Hispanic voters, or Judge Edith Jones of Texas to replace a woman with a woman -- there was some degree of surprise when Bush appointed Roberts.
In all fairness to Pres. Bush, many on the Hill are confident he is saving his "appointment in the name of diversity" for when Chief Justice William Rehnquist finally retires (or dies).
While Roberts basically looks like a shoe-in to most, legal experts have said he "is a reliable conservative who can be counted on to undermine if not immediately overturn liberal landmarks like abortion rights and affirmative action."
According to law.com, Friends of Roberts said his true character can be found in his professional history, including clerking for Rehnquist, membership in the Federalist Society, laboring in the Ronald Reagan White House counsel's office and at the Justice Department into the Bush years, working with Kenneth Starr among others, and even his lunchtime conversations at Hogan & Hartson.

"He is as conservative as you can get," one friend puts it.
In short, Roberts may combine the stealth appeal of Souter with the unwavering ideology of Scalia and Thomas.
law.com

I'm sure that won't send up a few HUGE RED FLAGS with blue Senators.
Bush may have his conservative appointment for now, but he is basically a conservative replacing a conservative.
While that is no big hit to democrats, if they give Bush this appointment, you can bet they will fight tooth and nail to get a liberal -- or even moderate -- appointment to replace Rehnquist.
As a masculine voice once proclaimed in the En Vogue song "My Lovin":
"And now, it's time for the break down."
If you have an opinion about Roberts -- or any federal or state issue, for that matter -- I challenge you to contact your local representatives and let them know how you expect them to vote or act. After all, it is your voice they have been elected to represent, isn't it?
Here are a couple of links to help you find your reps, but there are plenty of others out there, which you can find with simple Internet searches.
Michigan House of Representatives
Michigan Senate
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate

The student becomes the teacher

After just a day on my blog roll, Dana has already introduced me to a sweet blog:
Nickerblog
Check it out. Dana gave me some great Hollywood rundown on the Shane Nickerson guy, but I've forgotten all the good parts.
What I do know is that he is a great writer, and his stuff is easy to read.

New Kid on the Blog

We here at The Script would like to welcome Dana Carter... er, Dana Jacob... uh, Dana Something-or-other to the blogger fold.
Be sure to check out her blog, The Newlyweds, as she chronicles her adventures with her new hubby, Scott.

On the edge of my seat

Pres. Bush is expected to announce his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court vacated by retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Will he appoint a man or a woman? A conservative or a moderate? A thinking human being or a mindless puppet of the administration?
It's almost too good to wait!

Bittersweet (almost) finale

I'm happy I may get my hockey back in a few weeks.
I'm more than a little disappointed that it cost the NHL a season. There's no way to measure the damage the league and players association have done to their fan base.
Obviously, given the details of the proposed contract, the players aren't going to be completely happy.

"I don't think the deal that we're going to get would have been ratified last summer. But I just think we've been worn down to the point where at this stage the deal would really have to be incredibly bad for the guys not to vote it in. At least that's the sense I'm getting." Sean Burke, NHL goaltender

There are also some possible rule changes in the works. Other than the shootout idea, none of them seem appealing.

Television changed my life

Well, not exactly. But I finally caught an episode of "30 Days" on FX, the show by the Morgan Spurlock guy that did "Supersize Me."
The episode, "Straight man in a gay world," spurred some really interesting conversation among the adults in the Shrips household -- read as, my wife and me.
Being a life-long, God-fearing Christian from the Midwest herself, my wife has struggled with the whole debate about homosexuality as a chosen lifestyle versus an inborn trait.
Myself, I guess I'm what some conservatives would call a liberal puke, although I don't think it's that clear. I have learned the Bible says homosexuality is a sin, but the Bible also teaches us to love our neighbors.
So I guess here's where it all makes sense to me: If homosexuality is a sin, then it is no greater sin than any other in God's eyes. It is not my place to judge other's behavior. That responsibility is reserved by God alone, for God alone.
I respect the decisions, lifestyles, habits and behaviors of other people as just those; their decisions. They are people, regardless of their sexual orientation, and they deserve the same treatment as everyone else.
They are the not scourge of the earth. They are not diseased, demented people. They are my people, and they are no different than you and me.

Vacation rules!

So, today is the last official day of my vacation, and the last two days have been awesome!
Yesterday, the boys and I spent the afternoon basking in the sun (with the help of Coppertone Kids SPF 40) and lounging in the pool at Papa and Nana's house (my dad and stepmom, for those of you keeping score at home).
Michael finally jumped off the diving board, and he loved it. Of course Anthony jumped off the board. He certainly is the more fearless of the two. Either way, it was fun to watch them play.
Today, the boys took their first trip to "the big lake," AKA Lake Michigan, with Grandma Kane (again, for those of you at home, that's my mom).
What a blast. All the hot sand, the beautiful blue water and the sunscreen. Sand castles were the hit of the day, but I have to be the proud dad and brag on my two boys walking chest-deep into the rather chilly lake and swimming -- actually swimming -- all the way back to shore.
I had forgotten how much fun the beaches in South Haven can be. (This picture was taken by Dick, Phyllis and Ginger, and is posted on their Web site.)
What a great vacation.

da bomb

More terrorist attacks yesterday, this time in London, have killed more than 50 people and injured more than 700.
Check this BBC report for details.
I admit I'm a little late on this one. Blame vacation. There is no CNN at the beach.
While the attacks caused a hiccup in London's public transportation system, it's more disturbing to read they upset the British economy, and to a much lesser extent, the greater European and Asian economies.
In the U.S., concerns for mass transit security are even bigger, and the London attacks will certainly give the Bush administration leverage to justify its war in Iraq and on terror.
For now, though, it appears Pres. Bush is firmly standing at the side of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Hibernation

I have been trying to change my sleep schedule for the past couple of weeks, but it has not worked.
Any suggestions?

Vacation interrupted

I am on vacation this week. I planned on relaxing and finishing some little projects around the house, hanging out with my boys, maybe catching a round of golf with my dad.
What I have discovered is an irresistible urge to blog. I am reading a lot of news and finding it hard not to pass along my thoughts to you, my loyal readers.
The battle over the U.S. Supreme Court appointment is just beginning, but already there is conflict within the GOP.
Republicans can't seem to agree on who will be conservative enough, and according to a New York Times report online today, there is a movement afoot to calm conservatives and keep them focused on the language they use when talking about possible candidates.
According to the report, Republican leaders are faced with the daunting task of rallying social conservatives behind a nominee who must be characterized as moderate to win Senate confirmation.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the report is the apparent reluctance from several Christian conservatives to support the nomination of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
They claim it is because of his positions on abortion and affirmative action.
My concern is the Christian right is against supporting a minority. If Pres. Bush supported Gonzales enough to appoint him as A.G., he must be relatively conservative, certainly more so than moderate.
Obviously, a Hispanic is going to have more liberal views on affirmative action than white Christian conservatives.
A column in The Dallas Morning News today has good summary of the discord a Gonzales nomination would create.

Pres. Bush wows audiences with address

Pres. Bush's stance on Iraq two years ago:
The war ahead of us in Iraq is dangerous and difficult, but Americans must continue to have faith that democracy and freedom will perservere.
Bush's stance on Iraq Tuesday:
Americans must have faith that democracy and freedom will perservere in a dangerous and difficult war in Iraq.
So what's changed in two years? What has been accomplished under the President who swore there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and a connection between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden?
Here are some of my thought on the President's address from June 28.
Bush is still linking the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, vis-a-vis the war on terror, even though there are no clear links to terrorism in Iraq. Iraqi insurgents are not fighting America, they are fighting what they perceive to be American occupation of their homeland and what they think is the United States' attempt to change their culture and society.
Bush said, "Our mission is Iraq is clear." To whom, Mr. President? Who asked you to help Iraq build a free nation? From whom did the request come to advance freedom in the Middle East? While these certainly seem like great ideological concepts, the President is acting as if he has a mandate from the Iraqi people, which he clearly does not.
"Some wonder whether Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. Among the terrorists, there is no debate. Hear the words of Osama Bin Laden: "This Third World War is raging" in Iraq. "The whole world is watching this war." He says it will end in "victory and glory, or misery and humiliation.""
Now Bush is quoting bin Laden? That's more than a little scary. The leader of the strongest nation in the world is using the words of a genocidal maniac to make his case with the American people. That can't be a good thing. Shouldn't the merits of the American President's case stand on their own?
There are some things we have to give Bush credit for; making a sovereign people of Iraqis after the rule of Hussein, successful free elections and the unsuccessful attempts of insurgents to incite a civil war.
It is true that Iraq is building a strong police force, but that force is riddled with men who are opposed to America and the work we are doing there. They are enlisting not because it's a noble cause, but because it is the best-paying work in Iraq.
Bush said, "As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." The fact that Bush will not give a timeline for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq has angered many people, but I agree with his reasoning. By creating deadlines and benchmarks for Iraqi accomplishments and ultimately the withdrawal of U.S. troops, insurgent attackers would have a better idea of when and where to strike to interrupt the work being done by Iraq and allied forces.

"We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed, and not a day longer."
Pres. George W. Bush

The participation of Sunni Arabs in the democratization process is key. A culture that has intertwined government and religion for centuries should not be expected to suddenly separate church and state in a few years. And, if Iraq's new government is going to be successful, they will need every culture in the country to be on board, which requires the significant Sunni population to buy in.
Bush is still insisting his plan is the right plan. There is no real "plan" for the American people to evaluate, but we can look at the broad goals Bush has laid out:
- Creation of a stable democratic government in Iraq.
- Completion of a constitution as the legislative base for that government.
- Create a national Iraqi police force to help secure freedom for Iraqis.
- Defeat terrorist factions and help build a network of allies in the Middle East to fight terrorism on a regional and global scale.
Certainly Bush's intentions are noble, but it is still unclear if they will pan out in the end. American men and women are losing their lives fighting a war the American people are quickly losing faith in.
While we are free to disagree with our government, there are still troops overseas fighting for our freedom. Our national celebration of independence in the United States is upon us, and what better time to reach out to those troops and their families to show our support for them.
Take a minute to visit America Supports You and see how you can help support our men and women overseas. It would mean a lot to many people.

Thanks for the comments

I appreciate all of your feedback. It's nice to know you are reading The Script.
I do have one favor to ask, however. Please identify yourself in some way. Anonymous comments are kind of like "unnamed sources." While they make for interesting reading, credible journalists do not use them for anything more than entertainment.
Please put your name on your comments.
Thank you.
Management

High ground on the High Court?

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement yesterday. Recapping her career would be kind of wordy, so I will just thank her for her 24 years of service to the American people.
But, of course, Democrats and Republicans are already bracing for a confirmation battle over Pres. G. W. Bush's appointment.
Democrats are asking for a moderate justice, the GOP is expecting a conservative justice, and Bush is being appropriately vague about his intentions.
In a Voice of America report, Bush was quoted: "I have directed my staff, in cooperation with the Department of Justice, to compile information and recommend for my review, potential nominees who meet a high standard of legal ability, judgment and integrity, and who will faithfully interpret the Constitution and the laws of our country."
O'Connor may have been a Republican, but changes in the country's political climate, as well as a shift to the right on the Supreme Court has given led many to think of O'Connor as a moderate.
O'Connor has a history of being the swing vote on many issues, and her record indicates she has sided with business, and several lobbies are poised to work for a favorable appointment.
Here's my two cents. The judicial branch of our government was designed to be the law-enforcement branch, and was not given the law-making powers of the legislative branch or the power to carry out policy like the executive branch.
Over the course of the last 200 years -- specifically the last 75 years -- the Supreme Court has positioned itself as a law-making body through interpretation of law. By limiting or expanding the scope of legislation, Supreme Court justices, in effect, have been able to make law.
Through famous cases like Roe v. Wade and Brown v. Board of Education, the Court has potentially changed the meaning of laws and their application in certain cases.
Senators may argue over whether a conservative, moderate or liberal justice is an appropriate replacement for O'Connor, but they are arguing because they are perpetuating the law-making power the Supreme Court has created for itself against the principles spelled out in the U.S. Constitution.
The appropriate replacement is a justice who will honestly and faithfully interpret the laws as written, not as presented by lawyers with agendas and clients to serve.

I am getting good at this blog thing

Check out the new features to the right.
I added a Google search bar and some advertisements. It's almost like I know what I'm doing and stuff.
Pretty soon, CNN anchors and political junkies in The District will be citing "The Script" in their reports.
And while you're here, click on some of the ads. It will help our economy.

BTK is FUBAR

I don't know if you've ever heard of BTK, but let me tell you, the guy is twisted.
It's been all over the news recently, but I actually got to meet the Wichita Eagle team that helped publicize this maniac's deeds over the past 25 years, and eventually broke the news of his identity and capture.
It's an interesting story, and I encourage you to learn about it. It's kind of a real-life murder mystery, so if you're in to that kind of thing...
The really big news is Pres. Bush's address tonight regarding the war in Iraq. I will be on the ice while he's delivering it, but I will try to get something in tonight afterward.
Some news sources are already addressing a speech that hasn't happened yet. Isn't Technology great?

Eminently bogus

It may seem far removed, but a Supreme Court case resolving an eminent domain issue in New London, Conn., should have everyone a bit worried.
Apparently owning property doesn't amount to much anymore, and if the government wants to take what's not theirs, they will find a way.
"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..." unless it stands in the way of government progress. Ben Franklin would be so mad.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented, but you don't have to be conservative to see the problems here.
Just in case you don't read the entire story, the company New London officials want to make more room for is the Pfizer Inc. drug company with production operations right here in Portage.
Perhaps the Kalamazoo City Commission will decide my block is a great place for Pfizer to expand next.

Elsewhere in the world of shady politicians, Pres. Bush and his minions are still pushing the Social Security issue.
Republicans and a few conservative Democrats are trying to convince all of us that private retirement accounts are the way to save Social Security.
What we're not being told is private accounts are really the only way to keep the government from spending any Social Security surplus and digging an even deeper hole for future retirees and the benefits program they thought they would be able to count on.
There's a lot of crap in cyber space about the Social Security debate, but I found a pretty good article by Carolyn Lochhead at the San Francisco Chronicle. If you're up for some pretty deep analyses, check out this report on FactCheck.org.

Well, that's enough garbage for now. I might jump on Tony Blair and the EU later, but it's my day off. I may just take a nap.

There were some strange people at Battle Creek's Cereal Festival this year, but I found these three beautiful people right next to me. But the boys wouldn't eat cereal. So much for the Cereal City. The mom's hot, though. 

Kissing up to the boss and his wife at Cereal Festival 2005. 

Back on the horse

So, I'm back, and I have plenty to say.
First, I urge you to scroll down a couple of entries and check out the pictures.
I have the coolest kids in the world.
As for the rest of the stuff, most of it is just ranting about politics, so I will spare you all...
This time.
A few weeks ago, I went to Wichita, Kansas, for a writer's conference. I got to meet a lot of great writers, including Tom French, a writer with the St. Petersburg Times, and Poynter writer Chip Scanlan.
But mostly I took in some great blues and enjoyed a new town.
You might think, "Kansas? What's there to do in Kansas?" Well, let me tell you, a weekend in Wichita was not nearly enough to enjoy all the city has to offer. I highly recommend the trip.
Other than that, not a lot to report. Work is, well, work. The family is great, and there's little more I can ask for.
Except a $1 million or so.

Anthony took a spill down the stairs. 

The weather was crappy. Anthony was sick. But we saw Thomas, dad gum it. 

What a life

It's hard to excuse my absence, but I beg your forgivenenss.
Life comes fast sometimes, and I have been stuck in the back seat for a few weeks.
Lots to talk about, but I can't right now.
Just wanted to let you all know I am still alive. The boys are awesome. The wife is the best. Life is good.
I just wish it would slow down a little.
Until the next post...

A little catching up to do

A few things to cover, so stick with me.
A shout out to a friend of mine, Craig McCool, a reporter I met when I was with the Kalamazoo Gazette.
McCool ha been all over the news lately for reported misconduct while reporting and writing a story about beer pong.
Kind of a weird situation. I still think McCool is a great and ethical journalist. He made a mistake, and who hasn't done that.
I hope he gets a second chance and soon. He deserves one.
The debacle was covered in several places:
Poynter Institute columnist Romanesko
Editor & Publisher
Detroit Free Press
Wood TV
And that's just a sampling.
Being a journalist, I understand both sides of the issue. I wish I knew more than what was printed, but based on what I know, it just doesn't make much sense.
Apparently, there are a few people out there who feel the same way.
My best to you, McCool. I hope you're, well, cool.

In the big-boy world, Pres. Bush is spewing more GOP rhetoric about Social Security and oil.
Bush is still adamant about privatized accounts, but the Dem's still aren't sold on the idea. Can the word "compromise" be spoken in Washington?
As far as oil and fuel prices, Bush has proposed an energy bill that is supposed to make the U.S. more energy-independent.
Experts say the legislation is the same as that which he proposed four years ago, and takes no real steps toward making the country more self-sufficient.
One obvious problem is that Bush's plan is not the answer he is promoting it to be. The U.S. is sitting on about 3 percent of the world's oil but accounts for the daily consumption of about 25 percent.
Bush also talked about increased use of nuclear energy and liquid national gas.
Is my math bad, or is there something wrong here?

On the lighter side, a friend sent this link to me. Cool if you like mirages.

Bad weather, good day.

The weather sucked, but the boys were determined to have fun. It was about 28 degrees, windy and it was all kinds of wet snow. Miserable weather.
But there we was. The big blue engine, and it was awesome.
Michael said as much when he first saw the train:

"This is totally awesome!"

Anthony was a bit under the weather, but he was not about to miss the fun. He even got sick on the ride over, but he refused to quit. That kid is such a trooper.
Both of them are.
So they got to ride Thomas the Tank Engine, play with a whole bunch of Thomas stuff, and they even got their picture taken with Thomas.
It may have been a crappy day to be outside, but it was a great day to give to my boys. I think they enjoyed it.
I apologize for not having pictures yet. We have to download them, and frankly, I'm too tired.
Will post them soon, though.
Peace and love.

Thomas the Tank Engine

Day Out with Thomas

Tomorrow we're off to the Henry Ford Museum for a Day Out with Thomas. It's a total surprise for the boys, and I am SO excited to see the look on their faces when they first see that big, lovable blue train engine. A friend turned me on to the event, and I thought it was a great idea. Given my penchant for giving away secrets and surprises, I can't believe I've kept this one from them for a month.
After a day with Thomas -- which should tire the boys out beyond imagination -- we're heading to Uncle Tony's for a night of grilling and shenanigans.
I will report back and let you all know how it goes. I hope to have a few new pictures to post, as well.
Until then...
Choo! Choo!

FORE!

So, I've got a day off and I've done some golfing.
Let me quickly say, I'm not good, but I do enjoy the game.
I walked the back nine at Angels Crossing, and it was fantastic. Beautiful course, not many people there, and it was quiet.
I shot a 43: 6, 4, 6, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5. Not bad for the second round of the year.
There are a few more courses I want to play this year:
The Medalist Golf Club
Yarrow
Eagle Eye
Hawk Hollow
I figure if I can play each of these courses once this summer, it will be a golfing success.
I think I might get Michael and Anthony a set of clubs, too. What could be more fun than golfing with my boys? At the very least, I will finally be the best golfer in the group... For a little while, anyway.

You missed me. Admit it.

It's been a while since I last blogged, so to the handful of loyal readers, I apologize.
the Bush administration has recently accused 15 states of improperly obtaining Medicaid money. According to officials, these particular states are using some fancy accounting to get more money than they are entitled to.
It's a New York Times article, so I don't know if you can get to it from here.
My question is, have the states been doing this with the fed's knowledge and the Bushites are trying to make themselves look better, or are these states really guilty of some impropriety?
Of course state people are claiming their innocence and Bush is crying "foul," but who's right? Will we ever know?
Perhaps this is a symptom of an excessively large and powerful government. If that's true, than every American eligible to vote needs to take responsibility for the situation they have contributed to.
In a Washington Post story, "Recent Washington Scandals Test 'Honesty Is the Best Policy'," by John F. Harris, the ability and willingness of our elected officials to come clean is called into question.
There is no doubt we, as citizens, have no need or use for all of the activities of the government. But each of us needs to examine our willingness to let our government use the authority we have granted to keep information away from us because it's "official government business" or "classified information."
Elected officials are charged with upholding the laws and representing the interest of their constituents when creating new policy.
Obviously the interests of 294 million people cannot be represented in every piece of legislation, but the interests of the majority HAVE to be while balancing the interests and rights of the minorities.
Americans are divided by countless boundaries: Political parties, race, religion, age and income, just to name a handful. There is no clear method for reaching popular consensus, so when politicians say they know what people want, they are stretching the truth at the very least.
It's time for every American who can to register to vote. One voice may not seem like much, but all those "just one" votes add up. We as a population can be a powerful political voice, and it's time we're heard.
Well, enough of that rant.
Here's something a little more fun.

Sad update

It's Friday, and that means tomorrow is Saturday. Nothing real important happening in Shrips-land, but I do want to pass my blessings on to Terri Schiavo and my condolences to her family.
That's just a bad deal all the way around. No winners there.
Pope John Paul II could use some prayer-power as well.
Celebrity deaths seem to come in threes, and Johnnie Cochran Jr. was the first.
Weird.

John 3:16

Remember Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
Tomorrow, we celebrate his resurrection.
God bless you, and happy Easter.

My brother rocks!

So, his name is Tony, in case you haven't been a regular reader, and he's my little brother.
Well, not exactly little, but you get my meaning.
He enjoys taking pictures, snowboarding, and taking pictures of himself snowboarding.
He recently posted this video in his Web site, Metaphysicalrockstar.com.
Keep your eye on the daring young man jumping things.
He also has an awesome girlfriend.
Kristin, you rock, too!

Pray for Terri

The news of the week is Terri Schiavo.
I understand people's reluctance to let her starve to death, but would it be any easier if it were a matter of pulling the plug of a life support system?
Experts have said there is no hope of Schiavo recovering from a permanent vegetative state, and I tend to agree -- in my infinite medical wisdom -- that surviving for 15 years in such a state is miraculous in itself.
I can't imagine why people wouldn't think her husband would make such a decision that isn't in his wife's best interest, as well as his own. I trust him, and I respect his decision.
My other big beef is with protesters. Who are you, and since when do you have a say in other's lives?
Or deaths, for that matter?
Michael Schiavo has made perhaps the most difficult and heart-wrenching decision any husband could ever have to make, and everyone is condemning him. Like he doesn't have enough to stress about. Do you really think he wants his wife to suffer?
Something my mother told me when I was just a young boy:
Mind your own business.
My prayers are with Michael and Terri Schiavo.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Nothing really special, except for the green beer and green-ice hockey games.
I did learn today that more human men should behave like male marmosets, but that's about it.

Bush at his finest

Eric Greene, a political reporter for the Battle Creek Enquirer, is a sharp man.
Here's an example an example of his political prowess and humor:
The Big Bushowski speaks
Professor Greene also blogged about Pres. Bush's career as a stand-up comedian, and referred to this story:
Don't Stop Him Even If You've Heard This One
With a Wink and a Nudge, President Bush Is Turning Into a Stand-Up Kind of Guy
By Mark Leibovich
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 14, 2005
President Bush is telling another audience that the Social Security system is in great distress, and there will be ghastly consequences if our leaders don't act, and act now.
But first, a little joke:
About a guy trying to get to Livingston, Mont. "To get to Livingston, you've got to go down the highway," Bush says during a recent "town meeting" in Great Falls, Mont. "And you go through the cattle guard. And you turn left. And go through another cattle guard."
Bush chuckles, races through his setup, then hurtles into his punch line.
"And a fellow comes back and says, 'Hey, what color uniforms do those cattle guards have on?' "
Get it? Like, the doofus in the joke thought "cattle guards" were people (protecting the cows), as opposed to steel rails (placed at fence openings to stop cows from walking onto roads).
The crowd is silent. Bush's face freezes in a guess-you-had-to-be-there smile.
Laughter comes eventually, in deference to the president's game effort, if not his joke (showing that it's possible to hate the joke but love the jokester). There are smiling grimaces and shaking heads, looks of amused disbelief that ask:
Did the Leader of the Free World really just go off on such a goofball digression?
In fact he did, and has been doing so often during otherwise sober discussions on Social Security, energy policy and foreign affairs. Like many politicians, Bush has always used humor as an icebreaker or all-purpose tool of endearment. But he has recently been unleashing (or inflicting) his inner-laugh-riot to a point where he is resembling a Texas auctioneer pitching private accounts on the Borscht Belt.
Last Wednesday Bush began a speech in Columbus, Ohio, by mentioning the international body-building competition that was held there the previous weekend. "When the vice president heard I was coming, he asked me to pick up an application form for next year's competition," the president joked, and what better image to begin a speech on energy policy?
At a town meeting in Little Rock last month, Bush was joined onstage by Gloria Bennett, a part-time food inspector.
"I'm from De Queen, Arkansas," she told the president.
"That," Bush replied, nodding, "is right next to De King."
Silence gave way to groans, which became chuckles and, finally, applause. This is Little Rock's way of saying, "Stop it, Mr. President! You're killing us!" And then the discussion returned to thrift savings plans.
In a session with European print reporters last month, Bush seemed compelled to tell a German journalist named Klaus, mid-interview, that "my roommate in college, by the way, was named Dieter."
Klaus replied by asking the president whether he thinks the "transatlantic relationship" would require an "institutional overhaul."
One benefit of being the commander-in-chief is that people are usually inclined to laugh at your jokes -- especially, in Bush's case, when your events tend to be presidential amen sessions restricted to ticketed believers. He has proven a serviceable comedian on Washington's black-tie dinner circuit, and has even been criticized for overdoing it at times (as when he joked about America's failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq during a dinner last year).
But people close to Bush say his recent comic releases reflect a noticeably more relaxed presidential disposition. Since the Iraqi elections in January and his well-received State of the Union speech a few days later, Bush, according to aides, has been much more willing to toss out what-the-heck quips in public, reflecting the attitude of someone who has nothing to lose, or run for.
"He's been locker-room loose," says Bush's longtime adman Mark McKinnon, who says Bush is as at ease as he's ever seen him.
"There's no question he's a slightly different guy," adds Sen. Rick Santorum, the Pennsylvania Republican with close ties to the White House and who recently accompanied Bush to a town meeting in his home state. The president has always had a casual demeanor, Santorum says, and he has been buoyed by recent events. "Success does make you feel a lot more comfortable with who you are."
If not necessarily funny. But the president, in his own words, has been "feeling pretty spunky" as he barnstorms through town meetings to discuss Social Security. The conversations are marked by teasing banter with his audience. At North Dakota State University last month, a man told Bush he's from Velva, N.D., which, he added, "is very close to Karluhe, North Dakota."
To which Bush cracked: "That's good. I was just thinking the same thing myself."
In Alabama last week, Bush became giddy when noting that two of his Social Security panelists -- George Wood and his grandson, George Wood Moody -- shared his "GW" initials.
"George Walker Bush, George Wood, George Wood Moody," the president said, surveying the stage, nodding in revelation. "G.W., W. Thanks for coming." (W must stand for "wiseguy" in the president's case.)
Bush often appears with an "expert" who supports his Social Security plan -- some adviser, professor or smarty-pants whom the president likes to use as a foil to contrast with his own academic record. "I'm a C-student," Bush said proudly in Louisville last week. "He's the PhD. He's the adviser. I'm the president. What does that tell you?"
Bush has always liked to project a common-folk demeanor, but only occasionally mentioned his slacker past during his first term. Now his repertoire includes frequent references to how he paid little attention in class while in college.
When a panelist in Tampa used the word "multitasking," Bush, with a hint of sarcasm, commended her for using a "nice long word, 'multitasking.' Very good. Inject a little intellectual strength in the conversation."
Bush has used self-deprecating humor in tense environments, such as during his trip to Europe last month, a delicate diplomatic jaunt. On his arrival in Brussels, Bush spoke of Benjamin Franklin's visit to Europe two centuries ago. He quoted a writer who said Franklin's reputation "was more universal than Leibniz or Newton, Frederick or Voltaire, and his character more beloved and esteemed than any or all of them. The observer went on to say, 'There was scarcely a peasant or a citizen who did not consider him as a friend to humankind.'
"I have been hoping for a similar reception. But Secretary Rice told me I should be a realist."
The crowd ate this up and the transatlantic ice was cracked slightly, if not thawed.
And Bush demonstrates again that Andrew Card is not the highest ranking card in this White House. (Get it? That's a play on the chief of staff's last name?)
Stop it! Enough already!

Another great birthday

Happy birthday to my little brother, Tony.
He's not so little anymore, but he will always be my little bro'.
Today he's 28, and I hope he doesn't mind me saying so.
He's my hero, and I wish everyone in the world could meet him.

As is quickly becoming tradition here in The Script, here are some fast facts about today in history, according to MSN:
1516: Louis II, aged nine, succeeds as king of Bohemia and Hungary on the death of Ladislas II.
1802: West Point, site of the United States Military Academy, is founded by the Congress of the United States.
1850: Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is published.
1966: United States astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott, aboard Gemini 8, achieve the first linkup of a crewed spacecraft with another object, an Agena rocket.
1968: United States soldiers massacre hundreds of men, women, and children at the village of My Lai, in South Vietnam.
1971: Simon and Garfunkel win the Grammy Award for Best Album for Bridge Over Troubled Water and the Grammy for Best Record for the title song.

Famous people born today include:
Rosa Bonheur, French painter (1822)
Pat Nixon, first lady and wife of Richard M. Nixon (1912)
Georg Simon Ohm, German physicist (1787)
James Madison, fourth president of the United States (1751)
Bernardo Bertolucci, Italian motion-picture director (1940)
Daniel Moynihan, United States senator (1927)
Jerry Lewis, actor, comedian (1926)
Erik Estrada, actor(1949)