Haste makes Waste

I've refrained from commenting on the Sherrod matter because I wanted the dust to settle. My take is that we have seen the "Get it first, get it fast, get it now" mentality which we have been living with exposed. We seem to be so interested in speed that accuracy gets sacrificed. Research anything? Forget it. Take a minute to make sure we "get it right?" Not in this instant gratification world we seem to live in. Let me know when that changes. In the meantime, you won't be able to call me on a cell phone because I don't own one. When I absolutely need one, my wife lends me hers. If you're interested in what I think, not to mention where I am, you'll just have to patient. I live in a slower world, one that is concerned with accuracy over speed, quality over quantity.

In other news that I'm sure no one is interested in (since no one seems to be reading this blog), the wonderful folks at the Diabetes Care Clinic at the NY VA Hospital, most of whom actually work at NYU Med Center, seem to think that synthetic insulin is better than real insulin. They really went to town with me the other day trying to convince me to switch. However I, the dinosaur, refused. Why? Somehow, I don't think there is much we can do that improves upon nature, expecially that which goes into my body. Call me a troglodyte, but that's just the way I am.

But seriously, folks

In my other life, I'm an extremely progressive-liberal Army veteran. As such, I find the rantings of the right wingnuts who infect our society to be a matter of concern. However, when they open wide and insert foot, not to mention open back passage wide and insert head, it is funnier than all get out. Take Sister Sarah Palin, half governor of the great state of Alaska. She wants to mobilize all the pink elephants out there. I'm wondering, how often has she seen the Walt Disney classic "Dumbo?" Does she think it's a true story? Keith Olbermann is right (as usual), that woman is an idiot.

The there's Glenn "I consistantly rip off a Dave Foley Kids In The Hall Sketch" Beck. The other day, he demanded to know why there is no film or video of Senator Robert Byrd filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it was up for debate in the US Senate. In 1964. Years before any kind of electronic recording device, never mind a camera, was allowed in the Senate Chamber. I had to check my Polaroid before entering the Senate Chamber's visitors gallery when I went there on my 8th Grade Class Trip. In 1971. 1971 came after 1964. On that day, I heard Senator Edward M Kennedy of Massachusetts propose National Health Care during morning business. There was no video of that. No film, either. Just the Congressional Record. On paper. Transcribed by a stenographer. The same as in 1964, which came before 1971. The record is there. It has never been expunged, altered, amended or any other kind of change. Senator Robert Byrd filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He failed. It passed. He later regretted doing it. Almost every obituary I have seen or read concerning Senator Byrd covered this historical fact in detail. They also covered the fact he used to bring in a ton of pork barrel funding for his state, which is one of the poorest in the nation. Unfortunately, his pork barrel spending included forcing Amtrak to run a regular schedule of trains between Washington, DC and Martinsburg, WV. Very few people rode it and it finally was terminated after a number of years. They unofficially called it "The Byrd Express." However, Beck can't even get his conspiracy theories out without running smack dab into a brick wall called historical fact. There's no video or film because none was shot. It wasn't shot because it wasn't allowed. It didn't become allowed for a goodly number of years after 1964. There's no cover-up, no grand conspiracy against the truth. It doesn't exist. Why not try another one of Keith Olbermann's ideas when a video record doesn't exist, puppets? That's right, puppets! Knock yourself out with all kinds of hand puppets, marionettes, whatever. Do all the voices yourself. What, you're not a mimic? Can't you find one or two? Once again, Olbermann is right. Glenn "Reality, what a concept! I know nothing about it" Beck, now and forever, the Worst Person, In The WORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLD!

Let's Send Youk to Anaheim

I really think that Kevin Youkilis, formerly known as The Greek God of Walks, is worthy of selection to the 2010 All Star Game. The problem, the Yankee propaganda machine has plumped for Nick Swisher, he of the all bat, no field persuasion, to take the last spot away from our Youk. Let's see, Youk, the all around player, owner of the longest errorless streak among first basemen, plays third as well, also been known to play the outfield, hits a ton, never gives up an at bat versus Swisher, a product of Steinbrenner/Sterling puffery. It should be a no-brainer, but it isn't. So, here's a great link to make sure justice and Youk triumph:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2010/fv/ballot_pop.html?tcid=cp_fm2010_ballot&cmpid=425903&cme=13520

Red Sox Nation expects all to do their duty.

Football and Technology

So, in the wake of some apalling decisions by the match officials at the World Cup, the cry goes up anew for technology to be added to the game. Well, as far as goal/no goal goes, either a goal judge standing alongside the netting or some form of replay might be in order. Otherwise, kindly keep your technology out of the game. I still haven't seen a foolproof method for video to judge offside or a foul, since the camera has its own angle which is not necessarily the proper one. The real problem is match commentators who know nothing of the laws. This includes former players and managers who infect or TV coverage with their often uninformed views and lack of knowledge concerning the laws. If you ask most of them about the offside law, they'll go one and on about the second last defender but never once talk about where the ball is. there was even one former player turned pundit, an international yet (OK, it was Ty Keogh), who would describe a player as being in an offside position on a throw-in at least one time a year. I'll bet his father Harry had something to say about that. Lord, spare me from the pundits.

Guess I was a little crazy

Haven't blogged since World Cup started. No, we didn't beat England, but we won the group. Ghana simply outplayed us in extra time of the Round of 16 but I'm happy with USA's World Cup. We showed grit and determination, which is more than England, France and Italy. England completely spit the bit against Germany, allowing one goal not given (we had two ruled out for no good reason except horrible officiating and yet got points out of each game) to toally flummox them. The second half of England - Germany proved the total inadequacy of the English system. Teams are chosen based on reputation, not actual performance. Instead of a cohesive unit, they have eleven individuals. So, instead of picking up where they left off in the first half, they through numbers forward recklessly, failed to react when a free kick was turned into a German counter and then threw up their hands and cursed their luck. Compared to the American effort and England looks like a spent footballing force, good enough to qualify for major tournaments but never a real contender for honors. It's passed time for Europe to be cut down to ten qualifying places out of the thirty two. France and Italy were imposters, Spain and Portugal have it all to prove (one is definitely on its way out) and some of the others really didn't belong. After all, this is the World Cup, not the European invitational.

Explanation

So, what is a Redpalacenycoskyblueeagleocpbullsox? It is the amalgamation of my leisure time intersts, football (the real kind), baseball and opera. For the record, we have Red Bull New York of MLS, Red Sox of MLB, Crystal Palace Eagles of the English Football League and Crystal Palace Baltimore of NASL, Sky Blue FC of WPS, Opera Company of Philadelphia, and New York City Opera. How do you pronounce it? Any way you want to. Why am I here? Who cares! I'm doing this blog and that's all that matters. I'm still celebrating the rescue from near extinction of Crystal Palace, waiting for the World Cup to start so that the USA can prove me a prophet. I predict the USA will beat England 3-1 and go on to win the whole thing. How crazy am I? We'll see.