Thursday And Friday Reading And I'm OK With This

Exodus 29 and 30.


I'm OK with Duke losing.  And I'm OK if you want to do this, also.

Wednesday Reading, With Apologies To Wichita State

Exodus 28.


Bracket is done, I'm ready for the games.

But I do have to apologize to Wichita State.

It's not that I am not picking them.  I am.  Which is the reason I apologize. 

Because I have officially jinxed them.  I only remember picking the winner of this thing a couple of times, and both times I think involved Kentucky.

But I can't help myself.  I watched more college basketball this year than I have in probably 10 years.  And they were by far the best team I watched play.

They look big enough, strong enough, fast enough and experienced enough.

And did I mention they were Missouri Valley?

So despite the NCAA's attempt to destroy the strongest Mid-Major in modern tournament history, I look for them to get on a roll.  Even though no one else is picking them, I am.

Which means they are sure to lose.

But I can't help myself.  It's what I do.

Monday And Tuesday Reading And Ron Paul

Exodus 26 and 27.


Call me stupid (OK, now let's move on), but who can argue with Ron Paul's logic?

Weekend Reading And Cardinals Miscellany

Exodus 24 and 25.


I didn't realize I had such influence on the club.  A Celebrity of the Month bobble head night coming this year, undoubtedly inspired by my January post.

I wouldn't mind going to this one either.

But I think they are scraping the bottom of the barrel of ideas with this last one.

And I wish I'd been on Jeopardy this night for this question.  I'm not sure whether this was a top or bottom of the board question, but to me it had to be a top, no?

Thursday And Friday Reading And Sheets Of Integrity

Exodus 22 and 23.


We're nearing time for the sheets of integrity.

No, not these.

These. 

So go here, nerds, and fill out your bracket.

Tuesday And Wednesday Reading And Case Closed

Exodus 20 and 21.


The Bears just proved my point again.

Let me summarize.

They fire Lovie Smith for going 10-6.

Then they hire a Canadian Football League coach.

They get rid of Urlacher after that.

Then when this year's season seems lost, they play a backup quarterback (Josh McCown) who keeps the team in the playoff hunt, only to be benched in favor of JAY CUTLER, who loses the last 2 games!

So, they go 8-8 and miss the playoffs.

After that sad outcome, they sign Jay Cutler to a contract for $22.5 million a year.  JAY CUTLER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!

Then they release Devin Hester.

Then they let McCown get away.

And now they release Julius Peppers, the sacks leader for the Bears the past four years (37.5), including last year on a team that HAD NO DEFENSE to begin with (because they cut loose Lovie and Urlacher!).

I love how the ESPN article cites the reason for letting Peppers go is that his salary was "unsustainable" for the Bears.

UNSUSTAINABLE?!!!  That is hilarious.  A team that pays JAY CUTLER $22.5 million a year!  Priceless.

The Bears have become the Cubs.  Or at least the anti-Cardinals.  Because they have no clue what they are doing.

I wish I could laugh instead of cry.  But I have no idea what I'm going to do the next several years on Sundays, because I predict the Bears are about to become unwatchable.  That's saying a lot, because I've suffered through some miserable seasons as a Bears fan and still managed to watch.

We'll check back in this December and see if I was right.

Sunday And Monday Reading And More From Sirius

Exodus 18 and 19.


Another memory bin exploded thanks to Sirius 70s on 7.  Heard this for the first time in 3-4 decades on Friday.

Gotta hand it to Leo Sayer, he had a few really good hits.

Friday And Saturday Reading And TV's Greatest Moments

Exodus 16 and 17.


The only thing more hard to believe than Ed actually hitting a pitch from Sandy Koufax is the fact they got the latter to participate in the following farce.

Good thing Ed was not playing on last year's Dodgers, or they most certainly would have taken down the Cardinals.

A couple of years ago I posted about TV's funniest episode and moment.  Those probably still are, but at the time I wrote that I had forgotten about the following, a worthy rival for the title.

Wednesday And Thursday Reading And It's Official

Exodus 14 and 15.


Yes, it is official.

They've removed all doubt.

The Bears are idiots. 

How many more Cub-like moves can they make?

Monday And Tuesday Reading And The Funnies

Exodus 12 and 13.


I was reading an old newspaper article about an old NFL bowl game in the 1960s when I saw a couple of comics on that page.  One was Priscilla's Pop and the other was Out Our Way. 

I had not had a thought about either one in years, probably decades, but remembering them did lead me to Google both, and lead me to an interesting website about comic strips.

Just going to the website and seeing the strips listed there joggled my memory about some others.

There is Captain Easy.  Alley Oop.  Apartment 3G (I think it must have been a chick strip, I never read it but remember it taking up useful space in the local paper's funny page).  Gil Thorp (was in the Chicago Tribune I read in high school, I don't think it ever ran locally).  Our Boarding House.  Nancy (never liked it but for some reason always read it).

The whole thing makes me wonder how many other things are stored in bins up in my mind that I will never access again unless I'm reminded somehow of them.

These things are the "Apartment 3Gs" of my brain, just sitting there taking up space right now.  Hoping they will be useful again some day.

So somebody say or write something clever to make me remember, huh?

Weekend Reading And 2014 Goal Tending

Exodus 10 and 11.


Been keeping up with reading every day.  Check.

Been keeping up with posting.  44 so far.  On track.

I'm at 3325 push ups and squats at 60 days.  I'm on track for push ups, but behind on squats.

The really good news is my shoulder feels great.

Thursday And Friday Reading

Exodus 8 and 9.


The wacky-springness continues.  A snowstorm may hit.

You'd think it was still winter.

But we know it's not- because they PLAYED BASEBALL TODAY!

Tuesday And Wednesday Reading And Spring Injuries

Genesis 6 and 7.


Lots going on in the baseball world.  Looks like this spring is playing out like all the others I can remember...some pitcher is going down for the year.

Funny thing is, after the last 3 year's results, I'm not too worried about it.

Monday Reading And Daytona

Exodus 5.


I tried to stay awake, but I fell asleep during the Daytona 500 last night with about 60 laps to go. 

It wasn't that it wasn't a good race up until then.  In fact, unlike most 500s, there wasn't a continual parade of cautions.

Of course, there was one long 6 hour delay instead of all those little ones.  So there was that.

And, of course, there was Jimmie Johnson "winning" the "first race".  But only if you're so gullible you watch Fox News.

Anyway, I was awakened from my slumber last night by yelling and screaming, just in time to see Dale Jr. win.  I'm glad that he won.

In addition, I was blown away by two of the cars, even though they didn't win.

Brad Keselowski's Miller Lite Ford Fusion looked awesome.  I know it was an alternate paint scheme, and next week he'll return to the norm.  But you have to ask why?  He should stick with the one from yesterday.  A great look.

The ultimate beauty of the day had to be Terry Labonte's incredible silver Fusion.  Wow.  Best looking car in racing.

Weekend Reading An' Da Wedda

Exodus 3 and 4.


One thing about Spring, it can have crazy weather.  Last week started with an ice storm, then snow, then it warmed up to 60, then there was a tornado warning, then a wind advisory which made me feel like I was going to be blown off the road.

There's a lesson to be learned here.  And depending on who is lecturing, it could be any number of things.

Thursday And Friday Reading And Sammy Hagar

Exodus 1 and 2.


Sammy is a former Celebrity of the Month.  The original post had embedded in it a couple of songs from Sammy's 1983 St. Louis concert at the Checkerdome, broadcast on MTV.  Those videos are no longer available.

However, probably for a limited time only, that entire concert is up on YouTube.  So enjoy it while it lasts.

Tuesday And Wednesday Reading And The Olympics

Genesis 49 and 50.


I like to get up early, so I've really enjoyed waking up and having the Olympics to turn on the past 2 weeks.  It works best when they are half a world away. 

Next week I'll have to return to the early morning wasteland of infomercials.  The only exception being MLB Network.

Sunday And Monday Reading And Christ Cathedral

Genesis 47 and 48.


Awesome article about something we should expect to see more and more the next few decades.

Friday And Saturday Reading And Winter's Saturdays

Genesis 45 and 46.


Now that it is Spring, and we are experiencing this unusual Spring time snow, I was unable to get out and work in the garden this weekend.

Which is okay, because it gave me another Saturday to stay indoors and watch TV. 

As I previously posted, I'm watching more and enjoying more PBS programming, and most of my PBS watching happens on Saturdays.

I usually like to start off with Mid-American Gardener, although sometimes I'll catch a little P. Allen Smith before that.  Then comes Victory Garden.

I'm no chef, but I really enjoy America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country, which comes on next where I live.  It is so much more simple and down to earth than the Food Network stuff.

Later on come the home shows, Home Time and This Old House Hour.

I can sometimes catch Simply Ming or Bob Ross.

By evening there's Rick Steves and Antiques Roadshow.  Then finishing off the day with some Brit comedies and then Red Green.

I won't even go into Curious George and The Cat in the Hat during the weekday mornings. And Thomas.  All of that's fodder for another post altogether.

Wednesday And Thursday Reading And New Seats

Genesis 43 and 44.


First picture I've seen of rooftop seats.  Hard to tell how good of view it is, but my first impression is it's not too bad.

Tuesday Reading And Spring Training Eve

Genesis 42.


There are only 5 real holidays in America.  Thanksgiving.  Christmas.  Easter.  Pitchers and Catchers Report Day.  And Opening Day.

Tomorrow pitchers and catchers report officially, at least for St. Louis, although some have been there already for awhile. 

I'd like to invite everyone to take tomorrow off to celebrate with your families.  WINTER WILL BE OFFICIALLY OVER!!!

Monday Reading And Jack Vs. Albert

Genesis 41.


I guess it is the best way for this to end.  Nobody really loses.  But it could have definitely been interesting.

Weekend Reading And Froggy Tweeters?

Genesis 39 and 40.


Besides me.

It started I think with Torty Craig.  Then there was Rally Squirrel.

After reading about this, I think the frog may be next.

Thursday And Friday Reading And The Debate

Genesis 37 and 38.


Went to the Creation Museum last summer and spent a few hours there.  I'd like to go back when we have more time.

I had heard some time back Ken Ham and Bill Nye were going to have a debate.  It must have happened this week because I heard about it on the radio.  Did anyone watch?

Wednesday Reading And Keeping It Simple

Genesis 36.


For some reason, the above sounds like a secret 1960s government project.

Or an album.

Speaking of albums, they are often done by rock bands.

Which reminds me that this week is the 50th anniversary of the Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan.

Nice segueing, huh?  I tell you, it's an art in and of itself.

It's always been a Beatles vs. Led Zeppelin thing with me regarding my favorite band.  At various period of my life, I've liked each one a little more than the other, depending on my mood at that time and overall outlook on the world.

I remember the Beatles a little bit when I was a child.  Some of my earliest music memories are of their later years.

But I really started liking them just before my senior year of high school, when I bought my first Beatles album.  The Blue Album.  I still have that one.  Awesome.

So I was just starting the scratch the surface of that music.  It was during that year that Double Fantasy was released, followed shortly by John Lennon's murder.  I still remember sitting on a hard wooden chair watching Johnny Carson on a black and white TV that night when NBC news interrupted with that bombshell.  Hard night to sleep, that one.

The radio was filled for some time after that with the Beatles, and Lennon's songs in particular.

I've always liked the singles that were released from Double Fantasy.  There is a simplicity and contentment that is being communicated in these songs that I appreciate even more as I have gotten older.

Songs that could complement the thoughts written in Proverbs or Ecclesiastes.  Basically the reflections of a man who rose to the top of the mountain, who had it all, all the money and pleasure he could want, only to realize that there were better things in his life. 

Someone who discovered that the best things in his life, that truly made him rich, were the simple pleasures he had.  And most everyone else's inability to get that.

They're just songs that make you want to smile.

Lynyrd Synyrd's "Simple Man" has that effect as well.  A song I love more and more as the years pass.



Watching The Wheels.

Starting Over.

Woman.

Tuesday Reading And QB Ratings

Genesis 35.

"Don't need any...Balboa's So Predictable And Stupid..."

Just substitute the word Balboa with sports talk radio and ESPN.

The incessant but predictable drum beat about Peyton Manning's "legacy" after Sunday's loss makes me ill.

Legacies are written after the fact.  Usually years later.  Manning hasn't even finished playing yet.

I find it ironic that the same people who are saying he can't remove this loss from his "legacy" are a lot of the same people who consider John Elway at or near the top of all-time quarterbacks.

The same John Elway who with the Broncos lost to San Fran 55-10 in 1990.

I love how they engineer controversy in order to beat it to death with debate.  All on stuff that is just pure opinion presented as certainty.

I can hardly stand it any more.

So my question is...since Peyton Manning CANNOT win in big games (allegedly)...what quarterback would have beaten Seattle on Sunday?

Anyone who has the answer, please leave it in the comments.

I suspect the answer will be the same quarterback who beat the '85 Bears, and the '00 Ravens, in the big game.

Monday Reading And Jumping The Shark

Genesis 34.


This year's Super Bowl should be forever dubbed the Unwatch-A-Bowl.

I've never felt so cheated out of 3 hours of my life as last night.  Just dreadful.

And the commercials were even worse.  How pathetic was it that I watched that stinking pile in its entirety just so I wouldn't miss a great commercial that never materialized?

I wrote about this whole extravaganza jumping the shark last year.  This year, even if all we had was a game, it still would have been crap.

I've had my fill of football for a long time.  Baseball, and spring, comes in 9 days.

Super Bowl Pick And Storming The Country

Picking the Seahawks but rooting for Denver.

Don't ask why, I'm too tired from my weekend as a winter storm to explain. 

And I'm a little embarrassed by the part of the video showing the "southern side of Maximus" around the 30 second mark.  So have a little class and please don't look. 

They promised it would be tasteful.  We've all done things we later regretted.

Weekend Reading And Baseball Stadiums

Genesis 31, 32 and 33.


I like looking at and studying uniforms.  Both old and new.  Which is why I like the Uni Watch website.

But I like doing that with stadiums even better.  And I learned of this site from Uni Watch.

There are so many interesting as well as historical photos here.  Be forewarned, plan on being there awhile if you click on the link.

Thursday Reading And Big Puma

Genesis 30.


As Tony K. would say, "Happy Trails to Lance Berkman."

He was the best player on the Astros back when they were the Cardinals' chief rivals.  Hardly seems possible these days.

That was the only rivalry in my lifetime in which I actually liked the other team.  And part of the reason was I liked Berkman, a goofy Elvis doppelganger.

I was thrilled when he came to the Cardinals in 2011.  Without him the Cardinals would not have won anything that year.

Game 6 10th inning, Albert Pujols was walked to get to him.  Understandable.  But Berkman was always a clutch guy.


I was upset when they let him go last year.  This time the send off is forever.  Happy Trails.