Growing up and learning to drive in Michigan, one of the biggest dangers we were warned about were the deer. And it's true, you look at the sides of the highways and you see the dead deer, especially in the fall. Most of the deer are pretty big too. They can get up to one hundred and fifty pounds. That's the size of a grown adult. You run into one of those going down the road and it can do serious damage and can even kill you.
As we drove back to the Soo, we planned to stop a little over half way because we didn't want to be driving at midnight or one in the morning because the deer are moving around and when it gets dark, they move even more. The last forty five miles were the most tense I have been behind the wheel in a long long time. Even with your headlights and high beams on, they are difficult to see. It's not like they got a ton of white hair on them to reflect back, oh no, they have to be brown. They are very tasty, but I don't really think about that when they are splattered along US 2.
I've driven in blinding blizzards, no problem. Pouring down rain, sure why not? Icy roads? Just go slower and don't crank the steering wheel. Hell, I've been stopped on the Mackinac Bridge with the wind not only moving my car, but the bridge as well. I've heard the stories from my parents about the wind being so bad that it actually pushed a car over the side. No seriously. In 1989, the wind came up through the grates and threw a Yugo over the edge. The reason that these things aren't much of a problem for me is because I can help control what is going on. I can realize that the weather is bad and can slow down and take my time driving. When dealing with the knowledge of deer running out onto the road, you can't control that. You have to be on extra high alert for anything that moves.
When it gets dark this time of year, you keep your eyes on the sides of the road. A downed tree can look like a deer. A clump of tall grass takes the shape of a deer. The reflective discs on guardrails look like eyes. It's a sense of alertness and paranoia.
You can never be too sure when one will run in front of you.
31 October 2011
29 October 2011
The new counterculture (part two)
This is the second part of the Occupy Wall Street posts. Here's the first one.
I like the idea of the Occupy movement but there is something missing in it. For the longest time, I couldn't put my finger on it. Then it dawned on me. It wasn't some great epiphany or in the middle of the night and I shot up in bed with this great idea. It just popped in my head when I was reading some articles on the movement. They aren't doing as much as they should be.
It is great that there are so many voices in so many places finding a purpose. Not only are they finding a purpose, but it is the same purpose. A unified front speaking out against those they feel have let them down. Or at the very least, looked down on them from their corner offices and downtown penthouses.
The movement is great, but you can only say so much before needing to take action. They must realize that marching in the street, camping night in and night out in a town square, and making funny yet poignant signs can only get you attention. Going on political talk shows gets the attention that you need, but you need to take that next step and get your voice heard by those who really can make the change you want. If you are there just to protest that's fine, but if you want actual change, you need to take your anger and your voice and present your case, whatever it might be, to the government. They aren't going to sit up on capital hill and eventually change the way they do things just because there are protests all around the country. They can wait it out.
Do I think this will actually happen? I don't think so. I know that the thought process behind the movement is that it is suppose to be a leaderless movement. No one person is the voice of the Occupy movement. They are a collective voice. There are local leaders I guess you would call them, but there is not one or two big time leaders, but that is what they need. They need just a handful of people to meet with lawmakers and get these changes made. The only way just flat out protesting will get anything accomplished is if it is a violent protest. With guns. And that won't happen. It worked in the Middle East, but that is an entirely different world compared to the one that the Occupy movement is dealing with. The Middle East protests started violent and used violence to end oppressive and violent regimes. You can't go from being a non-violent protest movement to taking up arms. That would be disastrous.
In the end, the important thing to take away from the Occupy movement is that thousands of voices can find a common theme. And what they say can change the country if they find the right people to lead them.
I like the idea of the Occupy movement but there is something missing in it. For the longest time, I couldn't put my finger on it. Then it dawned on me. It wasn't some great epiphany or in the middle of the night and I shot up in bed with this great idea. It just popped in my head when I was reading some articles on the movement. They aren't doing as much as they should be.
It is great that there are so many voices in so many places finding a purpose. Not only are they finding a purpose, but it is the same purpose. A unified front speaking out against those they feel have let them down. Or at the very least, looked down on them from their corner offices and downtown penthouses.
The movement is great, but you can only say so much before needing to take action. They must realize that marching in the street, camping night in and night out in a town square, and making funny yet poignant signs can only get you attention. Going on political talk shows gets the attention that you need, but you need to take that next step and get your voice heard by those who really can make the change you want. If you are there just to protest that's fine, but if you want actual change, you need to take your anger and your voice and present your case, whatever it might be, to the government. They aren't going to sit up on capital hill and eventually change the way they do things just because there are protests all around the country. They can wait it out.
Do I think this will actually happen? I don't think so. I know that the thought process behind the movement is that it is suppose to be a leaderless movement. No one person is the voice of the Occupy movement. They are a collective voice. There are local leaders I guess you would call them, but there is not one or two big time leaders, but that is what they need. They need just a handful of people to meet with lawmakers and get these changes made. The only way just flat out protesting will get anything accomplished is if it is a violent protest. With guns. And that won't happen. It worked in the Middle East, but that is an entirely different world compared to the one that the Occupy movement is dealing with. The Middle East protests started violent and used violence to end oppressive and violent regimes. You can't go from being a non-violent protest movement to taking up arms. That would be disastrous.
In the end, the important thing to take away from the Occupy movement is that thousands of voices can find a common theme. And what they say can change the country if they find the right people to lead them.
26 October 2011
The new counterculture (part one)
I wanted to break this up into two because I got half way through and realized it would be too much for one post. I also think it's worthy of two posts just because it is an interesting topic and can be so much more in the end.
One of the greatest things about this country is in the first amendment of the constitution. The rights to free speech and the right to assemble. Since the first movement of Occupy Wall Street took form in New York I have been passively following it just because I'm obviously not in New York and cannot participate. Occupy Minnesota has been going on for a few weeks, but it has not had the coverage that some of the larger city occupations have gotten. Mainly because it isn't as interesting as some of the others. All across the country there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of arrests of protesters for various infractions and at Occupy Oakland there have been violent clashes with the police. This is just the latest case of violence and I'm sure there have been minor clashes throughout the country and the world.
I can't help but feel like the occupiers are the new counterculture. Just like the hippies of the sixties who were out and about protesting the government, Vietnam, civil rights, and whatever else they felt like, those protesters had a voice and a cause and were willing to clash with the government over it. The occupiers are starting to find that same voice and that same fight. They have found something they think is worth fighting for, worth getting arrested for, worth getting their skulls bashed in for.
The occupiers and protesters feel wronged by the top tier (or one percent) of this country and are sick of the greed that they have used to their advantage. This is where the 'We are the ninety nine percent' theme came from. Groups of people have unified under one banner that most of us can identify with. This isn't something that the normal person hasn't thought about before. Everyone wants to shake their fist at the government in a public place. They want to be seen, they want to be heard and that is what the Occupy movement has allowed many people in cities throughout the country to do. New York, Columbus, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Oakland. It has gone global. London, Madrid, Melbourne, Berlin. That's the beauty of the internet within this movement. It's allowed for worldwide unity against the rich.
But there is a downside to this movement that I will get into next post. Before I get into that, I have a quote from Gangs of New York which I think is appropriate for the movement. 'The earth turns, but we don't feel it. And one night you look up. One spark and the whole sky is on fire.' Just think on that for a little bit. Absorb the context. Until the next post.
Interested in learning more? Click it.
One of the greatest things about this country is in the first amendment of the constitution. The rights to free speech and the right to assemble. Since the first movement of Occupy Wall Street took form in New York I have been passively following it just because I'm obviously not in New York and cannot participate. Occupy Minnesota has been going on for a few weeks, but it has not had the coverage that some of the larger city occupations have gotten. Mainly because it isn't as interesting as some of the others. All across the country there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of arrests of protesters for various infractions and at Occupy Oakland there have been violent clashes with the police. This is just the latest case of violence and I'm sure there have been minor clashes throughout the country and the world.
I can't help but feel like the occupiers are the new counterculture. Just like the hippies of the sixties who were out and about protesting the government, Vietnam, civil rights, and whatever else they felt like, those protesters had a voice and a cause and were willing to clash with the government over it. The occupiers are starting to find that same voice and that same fight. They have found something they think is worth fighting for, worth getting arrested for, worth getting their skulls bashed in for.
The occupiers and protesters feel wronged by the top tier (or one percent) of this country and are sick of the greed that they have used to their advantage. This is where the 'We are the ninety nine percent' theme came from. Groups of people have unified under one banner that most of us can identify with. This isn't something that the normal person hasn't thought about before. Everyone wants to shake their fist at the government in a public place. They want to be seen, they want to be heard and that is what the Occupy movement has allowed many people in cities throughout the country to do. New York, Columbus, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Oakland. It has gone global. London, Madrid, Melbourne, Berlin. That's the beauty of the internet within this movement. It's allowed for worldwide unity against the rich.
But there is a downside to this movement that I will get into next post. Before I get into that, I have a quote from Gangs of New York which I think is appropriate for the movement. 'The earth turns, but we don't feel it. And one night you look up. One spark and the whole sky is on fire.' Just think on that for a little bit. Absorb the context. Until the next post.
Interested in learning more? Click it.
21 October 2011
A little late
I always take a moment at the beginning of October to remind everyone that this month is Domestic Violence Awareness month. And I also try to point out the fact that it is overshadowed by Breast Cancer Awareness month. You don't see yogurt tops to be sent in to the local YWCA in support of a women's shelter which is sad.
Want some more info? Here's some links:
Look, both causes are good causes. Both causes should be prominent in our society. Both causes can be really really scary. I don't have much more to say about it I just want everyone that reads this to take some time and get informed about domestic violence.
And if you're moved by this, get off your ass and do something about it.
Want some more info? Here's some links:
Look, both causes are good causes. Both causes should be prominent in our society. Both causes can be really really scary. I don't have much more to say about it I just want everyone that reads this to take some time and get informed about domestic violence.
And if you're moved by this, get off your ass and do something about it.
17 October 2011
A good year
Despite the fact that the Detroit Tigers did not make it to, and eventually win, the World Series (because I think that they could have beaten either National League team), it was a good year for the team. Going into the season, they were seen by most professional analysts to finish either second or third within the division and not make much noise. We all know how that turned out. We'll hang our hats on that divisional banner, thank you very much. It's funny that no one really started talking about the team until they overtook the Cleveland Indians and subsequently ran away with the division.
I will give Texas their due, I knew going in that it was going to be their bats that would keep them in the series and that if Detroit didn't take at least one of the first two games, it would have been hard for them to get to the Series, so hopefully they beat St. Louis and bring the championship back to the American League. The one thing that surprised me was their bullpen. I didn't pay much attention to the team because they play in the AL West so I didn't see them or hear about them that much. If they can win one of the first two in St. Louis it'll be done in five, even if they don't win I still think they win, but it'll be in six.
Back to the Tigers. It was a good year and I can already hear the analysts next year forgetting about them again. They'll talk up the White Sox again and their great acquisition of Adam Dunn *snicker snicker* and how Jake Peavy is going to bounce back. Again. *snicker snicker* They cannot overlook the starting five that Detroit can potentially run out there. Verlander, Fister, Scherzer, Porcello, Penny. Yes, yes, yes, maybe, and not so much. That, I think should be the rotation. You could even switch Porcello and Penny, but how long can they hold back Jacob Turner? I guess as long as Penny's contract is. Brad Penny is next year's Phil Coke. The guy that'll give me gray hairs because of his inconsistency.
They need to get in Austin Jackson's ear and get him a better eye if he is going to stay at the top of the batting order. The Tigers can't have a guy striking out that much at the top of the order. I think with Magglio re-braking his ankle he'll be done in Detroit as a major player. If he resigns, his play will be limited because players like Don Kelly and Andy Dirks and Brennan Boesch are ready to play full time and I don't want any of those players to go away just because Mags wants to play even though he's slowing down. Once again, I love Magglio. He's my Tiger, he'll be my Tiger until he's retired or moves on, but for a functional team, they can't keep rolling him out there just because of the past.
The young players are growing up and they are hungry. Hungry and angry. Just how they need to play next year.
And for years to come...
I will give Texas their due, I knew going in that it was going to be their bats that would keep them in the series and that if Detroit didn't take at least one of the first two games, it would have been hard for them to get to the Series, so hopefully they beat St. Louis and bring the championship back to the American League. The one thing that surprised me was their bullpen. I didn't pay much attention to the team because they play in the AL West so I didn't see them or hear about them that much. If they can win one of the first two in St. Louis it'll be done in five, even if they don't win I still think they win, but it'll be in six.
Back to the Tigers. It was a good year and I can already hear the analysts next year forgetting about them again. They'll talk up the White Sox again and their great acquisition of Adam Dunn *snicker snicker* and how Jake Peavy is going to bounce back. Again. *snicker snicker* They cannot overlook the starting five that Detroit can potentially run out there. Verlander, Fister, Scherzer, Porcello, Penny. Yes, yes, yes, maybe, and not so much. That, I think should be the rotation. You could even switch Porcello and Penny, but how long can they hold back Jacob Turner? I guess as long as Penny's contract is. Brad Penny is next year's Phil Coke. The guy that'll give me gray hairs because of his inconsistency.
They need to get in Austin Jackson's ear and get him a better eye if he is going to stay at the top of the batting order. The Tigers can't have a guy striking out that much at the top of the order. I think with Magglio re-braking his ankle he'll be done in Detroit as a major player. If he resigns, his play will be limited because players like Don Kelly and Andy Dirks and Brennan Boesch are ready to play full time and I don't want any of those players to go away just because Mags wants to play even though he's slowing down. Once again, I love Magglio. He's my Tiger, he'll be my Tiger until he's retired or moves on, but for a functional team, they can't keep rolling him out there just because of the past.
The young players are growing up and they are hungry. Hungry and angry. Just how they need to play next year.
And for years to come...
11 October 2011
Keep it up!
Thank you so much NBA for having two greedy sides on the negotiating table. The first two weeks of the regular season has been cancelled. With that, now is the time for the NHL to step up to the plate. Note the references to three of the four major sports within one paragraph, it just kind of happened. Touchdown! There.
The NHL needs to take advantage of the NBA dealing with this lockout. For the longest time, hockey has been seen as the fourth of the major sports. Looking at the ratings for the sports, hockey does come in last and the major part of that is the television contracts that they have. The NHL has a contract with NBC and Versus. With NBC, you see the games at the end of the season and into the playoffs, which is cool but if you don't have Versus you're sunk. And I suppose if you live close enough to Canada, you get to see the games on the CBC and CTV.
So what can the NHL do to help boost their numbers? Talk with NBC and get as much exposure as possible. They have taken steps in the right direction with the 'Winter Classic' and I know that all the games cannot be played outside, but they need to showcase the great teams. They need to stop showing Washington Capital games. They aren't that good. They need to delve deep into talented teams and get them in the national spotlight. Take Tampa Bay for example. They have young hungry players that are talented beyond belief. I would watch them play. They make the game look fun and energetic.
They need to get rivalry games like Detroit/Chicago. Buffalo/New York (Rangers). Boston/Philadelphia. Games that are intense from the first drop of the puck to the last drop of the gloves. I know that NBC loves Pittsburgh and Washington because of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, but you can only watch those games so many times because they focus just on those two players and the game is more than that.
All I know is that the NHL cannot sit idly by while the NBA bickers over billions of dollars. They need to see into the future and show the world that there is more to the sports world than football and basketball during the winter time. They need to smell the blood on the ice and hook the disenfranchised basketball fan base.
Do you hear me Gary Bettman? Get off your ass and do what's best for the sport that hates you.
The NHL needs to take advantage of the NBA dealing with this lockout. For the longest time, hockey has been seen as the fourth of the major sports. Looking at the ratings for the sports, hockey does come in last and the major part of that is the television contracts that they have. The NHL has a contract with NBC and Versus. With NBC, you see the games at the end of the season and into the playoffs, which is cool but if you don't have Versus you're sunk. And I suppose if you live close enough to Canada, you get to see the games on the CBC and CTV.
So what can the NHL do to help boost their numbers? Talk with NBC and get as much exposure as possible. They have taken steps in the right direction with the 'Winter Classic' and I know that all the games cannot be played outside, but they need to showcase the great teams. They need to stop showing Washington Capital games. They aren't that good. They need to delve deep into talented teams and get them in the national spotlight. Take Tampa Bay for example. They have young hungry players that are talented beyond belief. I would watch them play. They make the game look fun and energetic.
They need to get rivalry games like Detroit/Chicago. Buffalo/New York (Rangers). Boston/Philadelphia. Games that are intense from the first drop of the puck to the last drop of the gloves. I know that NBC loves Pittsburgh and Washington because of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, but you can only watch those games so many times because they focus just on those two players and the game is more than that.
All I know is that the NHL cannot sit idly by while the NBA bickers over billions of dollars. They need to see into the future and show the world that there is more to the sports world than football and basketball during the winter time. They need to smell the blood on the ice and hook the disenfranchised basketball fan base.
Do you hear me Gary Bettman? Get off your ass and do what's best for the sport that hates you.
10 October 2011
Is my Tiger done?
Two nights ago, Magglio Ordonez re-aggravated his reconstructed ankle. Several years ago, this would have been devastating to the team, but with some additional players, it's not so bad. Plus, he is getting older so he is not as key to the offense as he was in 2006 when the Tigers were last in the playoffs.
When the Tigers started the 'Who's Your Tiger' campaign, I immediately went with Mags as my Tiger. I liked his style of play. High batting average, smart glove, and some pop in the bat. I also like that he is not one of those players that are all about 'me, me, me'. He's a team guy. So, unlike a fair weather fan, I have stuck by him even in his down years. It makes me sad that his injuries have lowered his productivity and playing time, but if you play a sport for fourteen years, your body would wear down too.
This leads to my question, is my Tiger done? Not done just in Detroit, but done done. Forever. His play and playing time has dwindled in the past couple of years and the Tigers cannot hold back some of their younger players any longer. Not only has his playing time gone down, but the injuries are piling up. It will be a sad day when he does walk away from the game and I will have to find a new Tiger. And some names have come to mind, but I won't spoil it for you.
You'll have to wait...
When the Tigers started the 'Who's Your Tiger' campaign, I immediately went with Mags as my Tiger. I liked his style of play. High batting average, smart glove, and some pop in the bat. I also like that he is not one of those players that are all about 'me, me, me'. He's a team guy. So, unlike a fair weather fan, I have stuck by him even in his down years. It makes me sad that his injuries have lowered his productivity and playing time, but if you play a sport for fourteen years, your body would wear down too.
This leads to my question, is my Tiger done? Not done just in Detroit, but done done. Forever. His play and playing time has dwindled in the past couple of years and the Tigers cannot hold back some of their younger players any longer. Not only has his playing time gone down, but the injuries are piling up. It will be a sad day when he does walk away from the game and I will have to find a new Tiger. And some names have come to mind, but I won't spoil it for you.
You'll have to wait...
08 October 2011
A good start
While everyone, myself included, celebrated the Detroit Tigers victory over the New York Yankees like it was the World Series, we must look at it in a serious way. Not that they beat New York (which is absolutely fantastic), but that they now have to go up against another tough lineup.
I was hoping that Tampa Bay would win their series against Texas, but the baseball gods were so focused on Detroit that they forgot to concentrate on other things. I feel that the Tigers matched up against Tampa Bay better. And by better, I mean that they are a ton better than their batting team than Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay isn't as deep of a batting lineup as Texas is. Texas is just as scary as New York when it comes to hitters. If you get past Hamilton, you have Young. Get past Young? Still got Beltre. And Kinsler, Andrus, even Mike Napoli. Scary up and down.
I know that the pitching staffs don't seem even. The Tigers have a slight edge and I think that is where they need to win it. The Tigers can rake just like the Rangers can, but their pitchers cannot have any missteps because if they do, the Rangers will capitalize on it. I love Rick Porcello, but his inexperience is the weak link in the rotation.
But I have faith in the Tigers, don't worry. It will be a good series, a series of close games. I don't want to make a prediction of who wins the series because I'm superstitious like that. All I will say, is that it will be done in six games.
I was hoping that Tampa Bay would win their series against Texas, but the baseball gods were so focused on Detroit that they forgot to concentrate on other things. I feel that the Tigers matched up against Tampa Bay better. And by better, I mean that they are a ton better than their batting team than Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay isn't as deep of a batting lineup as Texas is. Texas is just as scary as New York when it comes to hitters. If you get past Hamilton, you have Young. Get past Young? Still got Beltre. And Kinsler, Andrus, even Mike Napoli. Scary up and down.
I know that the pitching staffs don't seem even. The Tigers have a slight edge and I think that is where they need to win it. The Tigers can rake just like the Rangers can, but their pitchers cannot have any missteps because if they do, the Rangers will capitalize on it. I love Rick Porcello, but his inexperience is the weak link in the rotation.
But I have faith in the Tigers, don't worry. It will be a good series, a series of close games. I don't want to make a prediction of who wins the series because I'm superstitious like that. All I will say, is that it will be done in six games.
06 October 2011
Occupy!
The Occupy Wall Street movement has started to spread across the country and it is intriguing me. It has made it's way to Minnesota. If you live in the Twin Cities and want to get involved in giving the top one percent the middle finger, here's a link to Occupy MN.
I'm not gonna lie, if I had a job that did not involve a ton of responsibility, I would think of calling in. But I can't, I need money for bills. I highly encourage anyone to take up the cause. It's a great expression of freedom of assembly and speech. And apparently the Minnesota government is okay with it. As long as everything is peaceful and doesn't get violent, they're going to let it happen. Not like the New York cops who pepper spray peaceful protesters.
And you wonder why I hate New York.
I'm not gonna lie, if I had a job that did not involve a ton of responsibility, I would think of calling in. But I can't, I need money for bills. I highly encourage anyone to take up the cause. It's a great expression of freedom of assembly and speech. And apparently the Minnesota government is okay with it. As long as everything is peaceful and doesn't get violent, they're going to let it happen. Not like the New York cops who pepper spray peaceful protesters.
And you wonder why I hate New York.
04 October 2011
A better win
I meant to write this a few days ago as a follow up to my post about the Lions' win against Minnesota not being a good win because they shouldn't fall behind a bad team like that.
This past Sunday, the Detroit Lions fell behind the Dallas Cowboys early and looked to be at the end of their perfect beginning of their season. With a combination of collapse and comeback, they ended up winning the game. I was scared about the game because I saw how far behind they were and thought 'well, Dallas knows what they're doing, the Lions will be three and one and that will be respectable.'
This was a better win for the Lions because the Cowboys are so much better than the Vikings. Because the defense carried the offense for the majority of the game and sparking the comeback with two pick sixes. And because of Calvin Johnson's one on three touchdown catch. Seriously, there were three Cowboys defenders around him in the end zone and he comes up with it? Beast mode my friends.
Beast mode.
This past Sunday, the Detroit Lions fell behind the Dallas Cowboys early and looked to be at the end of their perfect beginning of their season. With a combination of collapse and comeback, they ended up winning the game. I was scared about the game because I saw how far behind they were and thought 'well, Dallas knows what they're doing, the Lions will be three and one and that will be respectable.'
This was a better win for the Lions because the Cowboys are so much better than the Vikings. Because the defense carried the offense for the majority of the game and sparking the comeback with two pick sixes. And because of Calvin Johnson's one on three touchdown catch. Seriously, there were three Cowboys defenders around him in the end zone and he comes up with it? Beast mode my friends.
Beast mode.
03 October 2011
So that happened....
Hank Williams likened Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler today. No, seriously. And there are consequences to idiotic statements like getting your song pulled from Monday Night Football. Sports and politics crossing lines once again. I want to write how stupid this is, but that's pretty straight forward. And he did it on Fox News. But what else would you expect from them?
Now, everyone is right to have their own opinion, but at what point is it okay to go on national television and compare anyone, anyone, to the worst person ever? I don't care how much you hate someone, there is no one on earth that is in the same level as Hitler.
I just don't get people sometimes.
Now, everyone is right to have their own opinion, but at what point is it okay to go on national television and compare anyone, anyone, to the worst person ever? I don't care how much you hate someone, there is no one on earth that is in the same level as Hitler.
I just don't get people sometimes.
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