Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope everyone has a great time with family and friends, but don't eat too much turkey!

My family is celebrating at my grandma's house with dinner and board games. I love when family is able to get together. Our family is so close, but I think we all lead busy lives. When I think of Thanksgiving I think of family (and The Wizard of Oz - but mostly because it is always on this time of year). Ever since I can remember, at least 20 or so members of our family have gotten together to enjoy dinner together.

I also think of football on Thanksgiving. Unfortunately the Lions stunk it up today. Their offensive line is terrible. John Kitna is terrible. At least KJ had a good day (I started him on my fantasy team today).

Anyways, enjoy yourselves today. Take it easy.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Lloyd Carr



So Michigan lost once again to Ohio State. I was so pumped for this game. I thought Hart, Henne, and Long were going to play the games of their lives. Unfortunately Hart and Henne were still dinged up.

Ohio States should have enjoyed the weekend, but they must have felt terrible Monday when Lloyd announced his retirement. Lloyd became to the Buckeyes what Cooper was for us Wolverine fans. Now they have reason again to fear UM - especially after we bring in Les Miles.

But how will Lloyd's legacy be defined? Will he be remembered for his National Championship, 5 Big Ten titles, and 13 straight bowl appearances? Or will he be remembered for ending his career with at least 4 straight bowl losses (4 out of 5 if he wins his last) and 1-6 record in his final 7 years against OSU?

I hope you is remembered for running a clean program and being more than just a coach to his players. He was a mentor. He was a father-figure to his athletes. Ultimately he is a person who taught his kids values and attitudes that transcend football and life in general. It is something truly unique in FBS (1A) football.

Despite the loss I had a great time in Ann Arbor. We were up early to tailgate and had a great time giving the OSU fans a hard time. Time seemed to stand still Saturday. After the game Josh, Nick, Fink and I went to eat sushi - it felt like 10pm but it was only 430. Saturday night we partied at the house. We put on a bunch of karaoke favorites (American Pie, Margarittaville, etc.) and sang and danced for a while.


Later that night Dennis, Fink, and I went party hopping. We pretended to be exchange students from Brazil and we spoke giberish to each other, but everyone believed it to be Portuguese. I pretended to translate to the guys about what a kid at the party was talking about. It was one of the funniest moments of my life. Everyone bought it and we were treated as the guests of honor.

Wrestling is going well. Our first meet is in a week. I started a website/blog for the team. Check it out when you have time. Not much on their now.

Should be substitute teaching by the end of next week. Until next time, take care.

Friday, November 16, 2007

March for Justice

So as you may have heard, thousands showed up in D.C. today to march around the Department of Justice. They marched to demand equality in the justice system - a result of recent hate crimes including Jena 6 and a rash of nooses nationwide.

It is sickening that in the year 2007 that people are still idiotic enough to hang nooses around to send a message. The noose is to slavery what the swastika is to the Nazi party. You can't tell me there isn't a racial message behind it.

Also sickening is Fox's coverage of this march. While at the gym I was watching the coverage on CNN. They broke to coverage from DC about 5 or 6 times. Meanwhile on the neighboring TV was Fox News Channel. How many times did they cover this march? 0. Not one single mention the whole half hour I was doing cardio. Ironically the show was called American Pulse - apparently America is dead. Any mention of this story on foxnews.com? Absolutely not. I don't get it? How is this not important?

What stories were so much more important that they couldn't cover this demonstration? Well archaeologists discovered dinosaur fossils the shape of Darth Vader and apparently keeping your kids germ free will actually increase the likelihood of sickness...I think I'm going to puke.

Fox is known for its Republican bias, but this is ridiculous. I don't think the Republican party could give a shit about civil or human rights. Now I know Fox isn't 'The Official News Channel of the Republican Party', but their stances and stories tend to match those of the Republican party (just as CNN is more of a liberal news station).

I'm dumbfounded. I just don't understand.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

SiCKO



Zac suggested that I rent the movie SiCKO - a Michael Moore film. I know there are many out there who won't watch simply because it is Michael Moore, but this was a great documentary. I strongly recommend it regardless of political belief.

The movie actually got me quite fired up. I just can't believe there are people who are denied health care because they don't have insurance. It is inhumane. Even those with health care have a hard time benefiting from it. We receive education and protection (in firefighters and police) for free, what makes health care so different?

A line in the movie states: "If we can pay to kill people, we can pay to help people." Bush recently asked for $90 Billion to continue our efforts in Iraq. Even more recently, Bush vetoed a bill that would give health care to CHILDREN. How can this be? Don't tell me the money is necessary to keep our troops safe because if we really wanted our troops safe we would bring them home (an issue I'll save for another time). Don't we care to keep our children - the future of this country - healthy?

And how can we deny health care to people who are ill? It seems immoral. The truth is that the goals of HMOs aren't to help people; their goals are to make money - and don't tell me its not. Pretty much every other nation has a nation-wide health care plan. Surgeries, medications, general visits, etc. are free (or virtually free). Why is it that we don't? It isn't because we are stubborn and have our own way of doing things. It is the MONEY. There is way too much money to lose for our privatization-happy administration. I have never been so turned off by the republican party in my life. I was actually fairly moderate at one time. Believe it or not I was "a conservative economically and a liberal socially". But my eyes have been opened by our money-happy, fear-thriving, self-centered administration. At some point it is necessary to forget about the bottom-line and start thinking about people.

It is so bad that even 9/11 volunteers - volunteers who carried dead bodies and cleaned ground zero - can't even get help from sickenss acquired while volunteering. They pay hundreds of dollars for inhalers and get help from their insurance. Meanwhile, criminals locked up in a federal penitentiary or even Guantanamo Bay are fully covered. I don't want to ruin the movie, but if you rent it you will understand...or you can just ask. It just isn't right.

People are so turned off by "Universal or Social" health care because they think of communism. This has nothing to do with communism. It has everything to do with making sure the citizens of this nation will help when they become sick. And don't be so quick to judge these 'communists'...Cuba (a communist nation) gives free medical attention to its citizens (and even non-citizens - they gave those same 9/11 volunteers the medical attention they were denied in the states). I hope people can really open their eyes and realize that Universal Health care is a good thing. Don't be so selfish. Don't be so greedy.

Please, regardless of ideological or political belief, rent this movie and decide for yourself. It is eye-opening.

Switching gears...This weekend was Zac's birthday (Happy Birthday!). We went out Saturday night to have a few drinks. I got a late start because of work, but had a great time anyways. We ended up at J&S Hamburg for some late night eats. I've had some bad experiences there and when we walked in the door the waitress said, 'ut-oh'. Haha we will leave it at that.

I started coaching wrestling on Monday and it has gone well so far. I am excited for our first meet. I am curious how it will go with me being the coach this time instead of wrestling. Coaching is something I am passionate about. I love teaching and working with the kids.

My interview with the Peace Corps went extremely well and I have another interview for substitute teaching next Tuesday.

Let me know what you all think. Take it easy.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Go Blue!


Today is the day of the Michigan vs. Michigan State game. Its a huge rivalry for State fans. Just another game for us. Visit this link for more.

Go Blue!