Quote of the Day

Today YaYa's second grade class held their mock election, complete with actual ballots provided by an election worker. The verdict? McCain won by a landslide, with only four dissenting votes.

Guess who was one of the four who chose Obama? Yup, it was YaYa, no doubt swayed by her best friend and her twin brother, both of whom live in a house adorned with pro-Obama and anti-Bush signs.

"But she screwed up her ballot," Lisa said when she called to tell me. "At first her teacher couldn't tell who she voted for because she'd gotten confused and marked both."

I couldn't hold back. "Hmm," I said, "Maybe she will grow up to be a Democrat after all."

Happy 7th Birthday YaYa!

It's been a grand 7th birthday for my YaYa, with plenty to write about, but it's also been such a busy 24 hours that I'm too winded to write about it now. But I'll give you a hint: the guy in the picture is Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block.




Tired or not, I felt it'd be bad karma to go to bed without blogging a Happy Birthday wish for my firstborn :)

Happy 7th Birthday YaYa, and 100 - no 107 more! You'll never know how much your Mom and I love you :)

Munich

Munich obviously isn't a new movie, and I assume most people know the gist of the plot. Just in case it slips from your memory: following the abduction and murder of the Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games, Prime Minister Golda Meir authorizes a clandestine group to assassinate the figures involved in the planning and financing of the terrorist operation. The movie follows the leader of the group as he morphs from confident operative to a morally plagued paranoid.

Let me state for the record that the accounts of the assassination squad are deemed by historians as historically shaky and/or a downright fabrication. While Meir's Israel was certainly a nation that would strike back, and strike back hard, it's difficult to believe they would do so with a hodge-podge group of accountants, toymakers, and untested operatives.

That's not a fault of Spielberg but of the source material, and Spielberg acknowledges this by treating it as a fictional portrayal that underlines the moral gray area of Jew/Arab relations.

Visually Spielberg displays a deft hand behind the camera that is worthy of praise, and as a movie Munich is an interesting and solid film. However, I take issue with the moral ambiguity that he tries to show, as the agents become no better/worse than those they've been sent to kill.

Horsehockey.

Do you want to know the clearest indication (on screen) that the two groups are as different as night and day? The Israeli heroes of the movie, for all the 'gray areas' they inhabit, mourn the bloodshed they've caused, fear for their own souls and sanity, and go far out of the way to try and remove innocents from harm. On the other hand their opposition kidnaps and murders unarmed men while Palestinian women and children cheer the news on TV.

To me, as filmed, Munich firmly shows there is no comparison between the two groups. I have a feeling that conclusion was Spielberg's actual intent, and if so I applaud the man for (covertly) skirting convention by stating that there is or at least can be a right and a wrong side in even the bloodiest of conflicts.

3.25 out of 4, 80 out of 100.

Happy Birthday Lisa and Dad!

Today marks the birthday of both Lisa and my Father, and may they both enjoy many more.

Not much excitement on the birthday front for Lisa, I'm afraid. I took the day off work and we hung out together all morning, but we had to wait for Smiley to start school at noon before we could go out to lunch. Even then no one would take the baby off our hands so we had her tag along with us to the restaurant. By the time we were done it was time to pick up the kids and then Lisa went to work.

Swell.

In the evening a hectic but nice dinner at my Mom's house, complete with cake and presents.

Anyhow, Happy Birthday and much love to them both!

Fantasy Football Week 6 (NFL Week 7)

Well I just flat out got creamed this week. Pathetic, but part of me doesn't mind. The Colts - and I was playing Manning and Harrison - were stomped by the Pack this week. The fun I had watching that perfectly executed game was worth the loss. Unless it costs me a playoff berth, natch.

So I'll fall back to .500 at 3-3. That SUCKS, but whatever. Next Sunday is another day Rhett, and I intend to finish it at 4-3.



SlapJacks VS L-TRAIN

4-1-0 Points
Pos Player Actual
QB Peyton Manning
(Ind - QB) 3.53
WR Santana Moss
(Was - WR) 15.50
WR Marvin Harrison
(Ind - WR) 1.10
WR Braylon Edwards
(Cle - WR) 7.80
RB Jamal Lewis
(Cle - RB) 9.80
RB Ricky Williams
(Mia - RB) 1.60
TE Zach Miller
(Oak - TE) 5.70
K Mason Crosby
(GB - K) 10.00
DEF San Diego
(SD - DEF) 0.00
Total 55.03 Points

Pos Player Actual
QB Brett Favre
(NYJ - QB) 3.07
WR Greg Jennings
(GB - WR) 3.20
WR Lee Evans
(Buf - WR) 16.90
WR Chad Johnson
(Cin - WR) 13.20
RB Frank Gore
(SF - RB) 6.10
RB Marshawn Lynch
(Buf - RB) 17.20
TE Greg Olsen
(Chi - TE) 15.40
K Rian Lindell
(Buf - K) 12.00
DEF Washington
(Was - DEF) 9.50
Total 96.57

Favre = Benedict Arnold? Maybe

You'd think that the fine performance by Aaron Rodgers in the past six games - well, five of the last six - would help squash the creepy Brett Favre obsession here in Wisconsin.

Apparently not, as local stations run commercials pimping next week's Jets game (!). Socialist himself was annoyed Favre's Jets played at the same time as the Pack this week, handicapping his viewing pleasure.

Well what do you think about your hero now folks? There are reports that Favre called opposing teams to feed them information about the Packer's offense

Sure, nothings proven in court, and the reports might prove as false as the web fury over the 'Kill him!' screech at a Palin rally, [which was later denied by the very Secret Service agents that were scattered in the crowd].

Favre certainly denies it, and by text message no less. Of course, not so long ago he swore he wasn't considering returning to the game, and he text messaged that too.

Several NFL sources state that Favre initiated a call to the Lions and spent between an hour and ninety minutes giving a "dissertation, every single thing that the Green Bay Packers do on offense".

Oh, and for the record, the Lions have issued a 'no comment' and their individual coach's have pointedly not stepped forward to deny the report.

Allegedly, he's done the same thing before other Packer games this year too. Stay classy Brett, stay classy.

How did the current Packers react to the news? Charles Woodson: "I don't respect that. If they called him and he gives them information, that's one thing. But to seek a team out, because, you know, I guess you're trying to sabotage this team, you know I don't respect that. I know he's been the greatest player around here for a long time but there's no honor in that."

It's pretty blatant that Brett not only holds a grudge but prefers to deal with it like a spoiled child. He's gone public with the fact that he called injured Dallas QB Tony Romo to wish him well, but has done nothing publicly or privately for Aaron Rodgers, who's played through a shoulder injury for two weeks.

Cullen Jenkins: "I don't have nothing against Brett personally. But I think in his position, he could at least show a little more class, a little more respect to Aaron in that regard."

Here's hoping that, if confirmed, it kills the Brett mania around here for good. Oh, and Brett?

I enjoyed the Jets OT loss to Oakland. Hope you did too.

Just your average quiz result

In the comments on the 'Say What?' post Beth brought up an old question that plagues me. I have no idea why, but people - sometimes people I just met or have no personal connection to - seek me out to talk about some of the most sensitive and emotional items in their lives. If I wanted to I could rattle off the name of a person who told me a 'deep dark' secret within days of our meeting, at a point in time when I'd have been unlikely to divulge my middle name, much less such an embarrasing item. Former employees call me after half a decade to discuss this or that, other people have sought me out to talk about a loved one's illness, their problems with their spouse, childhood trauma's, or as noted in the prior post, innapropriate bedroom data ranging from activites performed, desired, or rejected, and with whom.

I don't get it - I'm not even that nice to people.

On the other hand I do manage to keep my mouth shut, I'm not very judgemental (unless you tell me you're a Democrat :) and I look like a guy who could rip your head off while known as a goofy softie. Eh, who knows.

On a somewhat related note I no longer have the link to this quiz, but I stumbled across the results while combing through my email. True or not? I'll let others judge.

[btw the photo above came with the quiz. As you can see, I'm also experimenting with photo placement. Bear with me.]

You perceive the world with particular attention to humanity. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the colors around you. Because of the value you place on humanity, you tend to seek out other people and get energized by being around others. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You are a down-to-earth person who enjoys going with the flow.

Compared to other takers
15/100 You scored -6 on HumanityToNature, higher than 15% of your peers.
38/100 You scored -1 on BackgroundToForeground, higher than 38% of your peers.
96/100 You scored 13 on DetailsToBigPicture, higher than 96% of your peers.
16/100 You scored -5 on ColorToShape, higher than 16% of your peers.

Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais

In Chasing Darkness private investigator Elvis Cole is back, this time to right a wrong he himself might have played a part in creating. Cole once cleared a man in a murder case. Years later when the same man commits suicide and grisly pictures of the crime scenes are found in his possession, it becomes clear to police that a guilty man had been set free.

Cole isn't so sure, and believes his original investigation had exposed the truth, the photos be damned. Was the man guilty? Did Cole inadvertently let a killer go free to strike again? Or is there a much darker truth loose in Los Angeles? Cole and his friend and partner Joe Pike are about to find out.

I was once a great Crais fan, but I (reluctantly) confess that I believe his work has slipped in recent years. There's nothing wrong with Chasing Darkness per se, as it was a quick and enjoyable read. There just seems to be less, oh, 'heart' is as good a word as any, in his novels and a more formulaic feel.

Cole is still Cole, Pike is still Pike, and while that's not a bad thing it also highlights a lack of development over the course of the series. As for the plot, I felt like I'd seen it all before and knew what was coming not only around the next corner, but the three after that. It reads like an enjoyable but standard issue movie of the week.

I don't think I'm too harsh in my assessment, as I think most people will close the book with the same conclusion.

2.5 out of 4, 60 out of 100.

Say What?

This morning an average looking, middle aged customer came up to me and mentioned it was her husband's birthday. After some friendly but banal conversation I asked her what she'd bought him for the big day. She replied that she wasn't buying him anything - instead she was 'giving' him a night with another woman.

"Really?" I said, caught a little off guard. I'd never seen the woman before, and I thought it might be a joke.

"Sure," she said. "I just worry about what he'll think. I tried to arrange it once before and he got upset."

I have no idea why she was so forward, but at this point she filled in some more details.

"You're going to be there?" I asked.

"Oh yeah," she said, "I'll be in on the fun."

Crap. On my birthday all I got was a trip to Benihana's, and I had to pick up the check. ;)

One of these days, when I've moved on with my life and a polite statute of limitations has passed for everyone involved, I'd love to document all the weird anecdotes of my work life.

I've worked with a woman who started life as a man, a 500 pound woman who crapped on office chairs, and people who claimed to be paralyzed but miraculously regained the use of their limbs. I've fired an employee for setting up a tent at work and taking a nap, and had another who spent her break each day looking at corpses on the Internet. And those are just past employees/co-workers.

I've also worked for bosses who, well, they were unusual.

As for anecdotes about my customers . . . that's a pair of books right there. I've testified in a murder trial against one, met Jimmy Page and Jessica Simpson, and on and on.

It's a shame my only real hope for retirement is a good and fatal heart attack, because I'd love to spend my golden years putting that all down on paper.

On comebacks, Lions, stench and ships

Let me go on record as being disgusted by the Red Sox comeback in game five of the ALCS. Down 7-0 and winning it in the bottom of the ninth? Ugh, what a lousy evening in the Slapinions household. Pass me the Pepto.

Outside of the Cubs there is no team in MLB that I detest more than the Red Sox. (although my hatred is tempered by their recent success. At least now I can't critique their fans for following a perennial loser.)

That late inning collapse might be enough to break the backs of the Rays, but if I was their manager I'd tell them the God's honest truth: it was a game, one game, and nothing more. Shake it off and seal the deal.

Rays in six, unless God is napping and the Devil rules in Florida.

* * * *

Unrelated to my Red Sox bias, although you won't believe me: What's with all this man-love towards Dustin Pedroia? My gosh, the guy didn't create time travel or cure cancer; he didn't even invent Robitussin. To hear the announcers talk he's had just the *hardest* life ever and is such a scrappy little guy yada yada. [with scrappy being a codeword for 'short as your ten year old'].

The guy makes a fortune and he's barely old enough to drink. I think his life's OK.

* * * *

On one of the ESPN channels I caught a replay of a Lions/Packers playoff game from 1993(?), the one where Brett Favre comes into his own with a cross-field touchdown bomb to Sterling Sharpe. I enjoyed the in-depth analysis of the plays (wish baseball coverage was that detailed) and it was great to see the dawn of the Favre era again.

Of special note was a fan in the stands on his cell phone; a great big honking brick held up to his ear. Technology does march on, doesn't it?

* * * *

According to this article space smells of steak and hot metal. Astronauts have reported the smells on their space suits following excursions outside their vehicles. The aroma of fried steak and welding is now trying to be recreated in a lab in order to better train future astronauts.

I have no idea how this would aid in training, since it has nothing to do with their actual work, but it is a neat little bit of trivia.

* * * *

In other news the last remaining survivor of the Titanic disaster is auctioning off Titanic memorabilia to pay her nursing home bills.

Millvina Dean was only two months old when she escaped the ship that took her father's life. With no memories of the event she ignored the weight of Titanic fandom until the 1980's, when she became more active in those circles. Now confined to a nursing home at age 96, she will be selling off the suitcase her parent's used on the trip, letters offering her Mother survivor benefits, and rare prints.

There's certainly a pitiful aspect to this story, of course, but on the other hand the ship has molded her life for nearly a century. It's only fitting it now provides her the means to live out her life in comfort.