Thank You Notre Dame

Thank you Notre Dame University for making my previous blog from a few days ago look like a hiccup. Well ASU might look like a bunch of dumb asses, but we didn't have every crazy devout Catholic set up camp.

Good thing I was able to get this read up on this breaking story from FoxNews.com. Where they informed me of the bus loads of people coming from all over the country to show there support and prove that truly religious people don't have jobs. This next passage really made me realize how serious people where about this issue;

Judy Parran, an organizer for the group, said a third bus is currently being procured due to increasing demand. Several priests and nuns are expected to be on board, she said.

"The calls just keep on coming," Parran told FOXNews.com. "I just got an e-mail from a couple of people who aren't even Catholic."

Let me guess Judy, did these other people happen to be Evangelicals? So what you are trying to tell me is that there is more than one religious group out there that would pack up all their shit and drive across the country. Look at this picture to prove it, notice the licence plate. Colorado, well that's only 1,100 miles and 17 hours away from South Bend. And let me guess that box van get greats mileage. Wait, what do you say....oh it's running on used veggie oil, well I'm glad that when you are forcing your beliefs on others you are being kind to the environment. That makes it all ok. This next picture really moved me. Good thing that they pointed out on the bottom of the poster that all the crosses where for the aborted fetuses. I would of never guessed. (It also made me sad to think how many Charlie's have to die for Travis' enjoyment of ND football.)

I was glad to see that these protesters where going to take the nessary actions to prove to America how fanatic for they where about getting their point across;

Corrina Gura, an organizer for the Pro-Life Action League, said their group will send a total of four buses -- approximately 220 people.

"We're going have graphic pictures of abortion and what abortion does to babies and we'll also have signs that will say 'Obama = Abortion' and 'Shame on Notre Dame,'" Gura said.

Thank you for pointing out that Obama is now synonymous with Abortion. That's a good one, I will be sure to use that one at work.

Now in no way do I believe that abortion is right and moral. But then again I've never been forced with a decision that would make me think differently. So don't you people understand that it isn't a government's role to make that decision for you, but your own. I love to hear these Pro-Life fanatics in the news, always talking about how America is being ruined by the moral less leaders. "How we need to get back to what this country was founded on", you hear it over and over. Well open a history book and realize that this country was founded on separation of Church and State. And when you start to blur those lines you are going against everything that and truly American by attacking our freedoms.

I watched this very compelling documentary this morning and it really made me think about how I listen to music today. I am very much in agreement with the film and believe that most radio today sucks and the only real way to hear good new music is through the internet or word of mouth. It got me thinking of the last time really I listened to music on the radio, and I truly cannot remember. Besides getting into someone else car and have to subjected to them flipping through the stations finding the same shit on each channel. Recently I almost yelled at one of my best friends when he picked me up and was listening to the radio, flipping through and I almost lost it.
There will probably always be the bubblegum pop shit, but its becoming easier to avoid. Naturally you would think that the demand for better music could have changed this by now. Unfortunately with large corporations allowed to control the air waves its taking longer than what the true market demands. The death of independent radio stations has hindered the growth of new music because the corporate stations play what the major labels tell them to play and never really plays anything that is new and different.
As the movie points out we have became a nation obsessed with material wealth and pop culture and the music we listen to reflects this. All the garbage that was put out there was only to turn a quick buck and get us to buy their image more than the music itself. Now this movie is a few years old (2006) and times have changed economically for us recently and the way we digest music has definitely taken a step in the right direction. I don't purchase many albums anymore and have bought a few albums but only from artists that deserve my dollar. For the most part I discover bands from friends and internet and if I like them I respond by seeing their live performance, not by purchasing the album because that shit is free. The amount of music that is out their to discover is now limitless due to the web and sites such as myspace and last.fm. When I feel the need to listen to something new I don't turn on MTV of the radio but just browse the net for a bit until I find a band I like. Then I find their full album and download it, and if they are just lucky enough I pay them for their music by seeing them in concert. Plain and simple that is how I digest my music today. I know there are many people who consume their music much like I do, but clearly there isn't enough to really change the music industry, but time will tell.

We have a game to play

Last time I checked MLB had a problem with the length of games. So I don't understand why everyone is coming to the support of Magglio Ordonez, Jim Leyland, and the Detroit Tigers. You can't have players arguing balls and strikes for a certain reason, pace of play. So when an umpire doesn't want to hear one player's cry and gives a player a directive cue (I know you like my term for a slight push) everyone acts like he punched the guy in the face. Umpires are authoritative figures and players and managers need to start respecting them like one to make the games run smoothly and allow fans to enjoy a 3 hour game. No one has pointed out that the game 7 to 8 in the 7th inning, already 2 hrs 30 min in and that the Tigers had just scored a 3 run HR with no outs. There was a lot of runs on the board and the ump wanted to get the game moving. Oh and it only took 4hrs 50 min to complete the 13 inning game. Wow I wish every player would of argued when they struck out so game could of been 6 hours long.
There should be a zero tolerance for players and managers delaying the game. Now this doesn't mean that you can't let the umpire know how you feel, but just do it yelling on the way to the dugout so the next player can bat. MLB always talks about implementing rules to pick up the pace, but they are soft on enforcing them and players end up ignoring them. How about this rule; A player has 3 seconds to start heading towards the dugout after being called out, or they will be ejected for delaying the game (barring injury). Then this whole situation would of been avoided. This would never happen because MLB is as serious about picking up the pace as they are on steroids. MLB talks a big game but rarely acts.
Shame on you MLB for not backing the umpire for trying to move things along. Shame on you Magglio Ordonez for being a cry baby because you stared down a nice curve ball away. And most of all shame on you Jim Leyland for spitting all over umpire Paul Schrieber when you where yelling at him. I bet you have that decrepit old mans breath and let that ump get a good taste of it.

I'm glad my degree is worth something

When I watched this last night I was almost crying from laughing so hard. Then I watched it again this morning and realized what a fucking joke ASU is and it made me somewhat embarrassed to have graduated from this distinguished university. I already know that Arizona State doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to education and that it is known as a party school, but I don't need to reminded of it on a national level. Getting made fun of on the Daily Show is usually reserved for crooked politicians and moronic media organizations, and ASU fell right in line. ASU made it easy to embarrass themselves and allowed others to take credibility away from the university.
Now I've been upset with Arizona State before. When they told me take down my pirate flag that was displayed in my dorm window. The 2004 presidential debate was coming and they needed to clean up campus before all the CNN cameras showed up. In a letter I told them to not to trounce on my 1st Amendment rights and something about ASU being communist. By which they respond by changing the locks on my door when I went out one night and my roommate and I had to sleep on couches in the common room. Anyhow I ended taking down the flag the next morning so my roommate and I could sleep in the 5'x20' box they called a dorm. Now this situation pissed me off but that's much different then being ashamed to have graduated from ASU.
It's a shame that university president Micheal Crow must embarrass the university like this and didn't have the sense to step in and make things right. All it would take is one word from the man (Micheal Crow) and this whole thing would of went away. It doesn't matter how big you make the school or how many big name professors you bring in, we will still look like a bunch of idiots if you allow things like this happen Mr Crow.