What's Left!!!!

In the last two weeks two secrets have finally been revealed.
1. How Anakin Skywalker (finally) became Darth Vader and
2. That W. Mark Felt is "Deep Throat"!

In the case of emotionally tortured Mr. Skywalker, we knew this was coming, and while Obi-Wan gave it scouts try to save him, we knew that he would fail and leave him as a lump of scarred flesh, only to rescued by the Emperor, and become the Bad guy we remembered. And that he wouldn't be Anakin again until his son who after just becoming a Jedi could have destroyed the Emperor himself, sacrifices himself to the powers of the Dark Side, until his father can no longer face the pain, and become good again, destroying the Sith, saving his son(and the Jedi), and restoring balance to the force.

In the case of Mr. Throat-- I mean Mr. Felt. This was one the greater mysteries of our time, and the revealation has left me with a little feeling of dissappointment. For one thing I had $20 riding on that it was Alexander Haig, and second what was unknown is now known, and now it's time to move on. That's it! All that build up and POOF! Kind of like when we found out who shot J.R.!
There will be a little debate on whether he is a hero, as his family feels or a sell out like the wonderfully heroic G. Gordon Liddy thinks. But that will come and go faster than Jennifer Wilbanks my emotionally tortured runaway bride, who never hooked me up with the blonde police woman escorting her away from the press.

Now for me the question remains, what's left! What else is out there are we just dying to know, but haven't or aren't willing to figure out yet. Could it be the cure of a major disease, and if it's found will I have the same feeling as when Mr. Felt was discovered. "Wow that's it! All that moral debate over stem cells and all you had to do was eat the leaf of an oak tree!"
Could it be the one really big question, the one I'm even avoiding (on this blog anyway), Is There a God? A simple question really that seems to cause more pain than it really intended, and it's becoming more of a fight between the people who feel that they have a fantastic computer in their head that can do almost anything, including a little thing called rational thought vs. people with books, and a little thing called faith. The problem I feel, is that the answer came and went a long time ago, and nobody liked the answer, therefore the queston(s) persist.
That's all I have today,

Have a great weekend,
PAC

Find Your Niche, Keep Your Niche, and Try Not to Scratch It!

Cable and Satellite TV sure is getting interesting these days, because the networks are scrambling around trying to get who they can as often as they can for as long as they can. In the past few years a lot of networks (AMC,TLC,GSN,Headline News,MSNBC,& G4/Tech TV to name a few) have given up their "Niche" programming in order to somehow obtain a larger audience and please the masses. So instead of standing out and being different and pleasing a number of core fans that can form a base and basically with them and a website can do the marketing for you, they get basic programs or what some are calling "dumbed down" programs. AMC is the worst offender at this. AMC used to stand for American Movie Classics, but no longer. They felt that Turner Classic Movies was doing a better job(which they were) and gave up, shortened their name to AMC and now play such classic movies like tonight: Jaws III (I'm betting not in 3D like the original theatrical version) followed by Jaws:The Revenge! If that wasn't bad enough, they are edited with commercials!!! That sure is appeasing the masses. Because that's what most people want when they are spending close to $1400 a year for cable or satellite service in the first place is crappy movies, edited with commercials.
Now I can't write an article like this without talking about my favorite king of contradiction, the great sports network that I will never mention by name, but their initials are E.S.P.N. Yes that's right the network that has every cable and satellite company by the you know whats, feels that a fantatical sports fan base is not enough, and is getting in on the "dumbed down" programming. It seems like they are having a hard time figuring out what to put on their main network(Here's a hint:SHOW SPORTS!!)! "Hmmm, how about on a Thursday prime time let's show the movie "Days of Thunder"(Great, a crappy sports movie edited with commercials! SHOW SPORTS!). "How about this, we get teammates together and make a show like The Newlywed Game"(How about this:SHOW SPORTS!)! "Wait, I've got another one, we get this fat guy who knows all about sports trivia, and others guys to try and beat him(SHOW SPORTS INSTEAD!!). And we can't figure out what to do overnight, so let's just show the same Sportscenter for 12 hours straight(why is it so hard to SHOW SPORTS!)! Even Sportscenter has reduced itself to using old network news ploys to retain viewers. "Shaq didn't win the MVP, Was Racism involved?" only to have two people and the announcer with great hair to say that it wasn't.
This is old school economics that says there is a fixed number of channels, and fixed number of viewers, that don't apparently know what to watch and when.
But they should use the new school of economics that says, because of technology there are an unlimited number of viewers with all kinds of viewing needs and wants (and note to all networks, infomercials is NOT one of them), just let me know when it's on, and if I can't watch then, I can record or TIVO it! Really not that hard folks. And since I always like to leave things on a positive note, the one network that seems to be doing an okay job at least is GSN, formally Game Show Network. When they started they showed nothing but old game shows, but when they got bought out by Sony, and since they are a major corporation, they needed to make a profit, so out went the old shows and in with some crappy new ones. But now they seem to have a good mix of old shows (Match game(the best), Family Feud, Pyramid(Dick Clark)) with new ones that aren't as crappy. And finally you don't see CSPAN doing cooky things to try attract an audience, and they now have 3 channels plus the internet!!
The moral of this story and life is, don't be afraid to be different!
That's all I have today,
PAC

Go Ahead, Ask me Anything!
It's Friday! And I'm stuck at the Madison Airport until midnight, so I'm opening up the phone lines (that's an expression) and allowing you the viewing/listening audience to ask me anything! You can use the comment section or email me an audio question by recording your question and sending in .mp3 format to radioaffliction@gmail.com and I'll put it on the next Radioaffliction!
In the comments section is examples of previous Ask Me Anythings!

Enjoy and thanks
PAC

When Gold is Not Good Enough!

Here is a story close to home for me! Marquette University in Milwaukee ever since it changed it's nickname for it's sports programs from Warriors to Golden Eagles waaaay back in 1993, has had complaints from students and mostly alumni. This all started when the University got complaints from local Native American groups about Marquette's use of their logo and mascot. At least that's my opinion of what they should have been upset about. I'm really not sure what claim they have to the term "Warrior", indeed some of them were, but the Vikings were warriors, Attila the Hun, Constantine, The Crusaders, Hey George Washington was even a warrior, fought in two of them, Eisenhower for crying out loud, and what about Darth Vader! And with nicknames like Redskins, Indians, and Braves out there, whining about Warriors is pretty thin. But Marquette is a Catholic run school and therefore principle is more important than principal, and so bye-bye to Warriors and hello Golden Eagles. The University doesn't get it however, they think people don't like Golden Eagles, and that's not true for the most part. What they don't like is that it's not the Warriors. So bowing to pressure, and the fact that some very nice people were willing to make (sizeable)donations if the University changed back to Warriors, they decided they would have a panel look at changing the name. I think everyone thought that if they were going to change the name, it would go back to the Warriors, or after some careful study say, "You know right now isn't the right time, being at war and everything, and the Native Americans still aren't really happy about it, so we aren't going to anything right now, it's the Golden Eagles, so just live with it". I could accept that, and I think most people would still grumble a little then move on with life after a little while, but what does the Univerisity do. They make a major press conference, send out thousands of letters to Alumni to announce the new nickname and logo to: (get ready Warriors fans!)
THE GOLD!!!!!!!!!
Yes that's right ladies and Gentlemen, your new team the Marquette Gold!
It does make sense in one regard, they are moving into the Big East Conference, there will be the big game with The Orange of Syracuse for the battle of the Orange and Gold! (Excited yet!)
But so far only the University is happy with the change, although I haven't heard from the Native Americans yet, everyone else is still up in arms. I'm surprised there isn't a religous nut out there complaining of a nickname that has ties to materialism. Give it time.
My advice to Marquette is this, your students and alumni are your life blood, kind of like your children or pets. And while you try to guide them and teach them rights and wrongs, there are just times the only way you can shut them up, is to GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT!
Go Warriors!
Have a great weekend,
PAC

BUMMERS!

Bummer #1

I was a little sad to see that Dr. Gene Scott passed away a couple weeks ago. In this crazy world in which I am trying to come to grips, and find understandings, especially in Religion, I always found Dr. Scott a little refreshing and entertaining. I first came across Dr. Scott on my grandparents satellite dish, and then on a over the air station in San Francisco, and I just thought it was interesting how he would sit and smoke his cigar waiting for people to call, and how he could get everyone in his studio to stand at attention, "Yes SIR!!". I don't think he affected my beliefs one way or the other, but if I was ever bored, he was always on the air, and I'm glad that his website still broadcasts his shows! Click here to check it out! It looks like his daughter Dr. Melissa Scott has taken over, she has the same demeanor, but is much cuter!* (* check update below)


Farewell Dr. Scott!
This link has more info on the passing of Dr. Scott

Bummer #2

With the upcoming election in the United Kingdom on Thursday, there has been no Prime Ministers questions the last couple of weeks, so another loss of entertainment. But it has brought up an interesting question. Prime Minister Tony Blair's approval rating according to the funny papers is at an all time low, however in the election the voters are not voting for a particular person, but the minister in their district on the political party to which they are affiliated with. And which party has the most ministers the leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister. So what do you do, in my district the Labour party candidate could be a cool guy, but I don't want Tony Blair to be Prime Minister, do I vote for the conservative candidate even though he is a dufus. In some ways I suppose it makes as much sense as our Electoral College. So good luck U.K. and happy voting!
In the meantime CSPAN is showing the Canadian Prime Ministers questions, and it is extremely disappointing. I have never swore on this blog, and this is pretty tame, but all it is, is one Bitch session. What is the point! The opposition leader starts the questioning, and I'm paraphrasing, "Prime Minister, isn't it true that you suck, and all your programs suck, and that our programs are better, but because you suck, you won't even listen to our proposals because you're too busy sucking all the time!"
And the Prime Minister responds "That is a fabrication, I can't possibly suck that bad, because you suck worse!" And on and on and on. And to further tick off an American watching, a minister will come on and tell the Prime Minister he sucks in French! It was like watching a Sports reporter asking a player or coach after a loss "Why did you lose the game?" Duh, what do they really expect them to say? "We suck, or They scored more points than us!" The point I'm trying to make is, what is the point! If you are going to ask questions, ask a question that has some sort of a chance of getting an answer. Britain gets a little tense sometimes, but it actually seems like they are trying. I didn't understand one thing in Canada(despite the French) that showed they were trying to make any progress or solve anything. I could be wrong so if anyone in Canada can help me out I would be grateful.

Bummer #3

Ever since I was in high school I developed a nickname Claymate (my last name is Clay if you didn't catch it), so a young lady who had the privilage being my special friend would be a claymate. Well I find out now that fans of Clay Aiken are called "Claymates". This is completely unacceptable! I could wait it out, and hope his career tumbles, but hey Barry Manilow is still around, and I'm an easy going guy, so for now I have changed my email address to radioaffliction@gmail.com
Probably works better for the site, and when the show comes back on the air!

Well that's all I have for today,
Enjoy,
Until Next time,
PAC

* Update:
Turns out Melissa Scott is actually Dr. Scott's wife. Check the comments for all the details

The Truth Can Set You Free! Really It Can! Trust Me It Can Work!

Let's take the story of poor Jennifer Wilbanks since everyone thought that's what I wanted on my TV on a Saturday afternoon. A 32 year old medical assisant from Georgia who was supposed to get married yesterday to John Mason. But hold on! Jenny has plans of her own. Maybe she has come to her senses, well aparrently not completely, but something is on her mind that says, "I've been thinking about this and I know you're going to hate me, but I don't think I can do this, I know everything is paid for, and I know I love you, but I just don't want to get married right now."
Now it's that so hard to say!
Of course it is, but let's dig a little deeper into this. If you have followed some of my posts in the past you'll find I've written about relationships and people who fall in love and get married because they believe they have to, not that they really delve deep into their soul about what they want to be and who they want to be with. Now think of the pressure of an unmarried 32 year old woman who is with a nice enough guy. Pressure from family, friends, and even ones self to say, "Hey, if not this guy, who?" So what is a person supposed to do when you have something this big on your mind, and you don't think telling the truth will help you out. Runaway! I can see that, but hoaxing a kidnapping, that's about 27th on my list of things to do in that situation.

Personal Traditions - When to Give in or Give UP!

Personal Traditions - When to Give in or Give UP!

Tonight is Wednesday Night. That used to mean something to me and my friends for many years. It's starts again this evening and it will interesting to see how the evening will develop. The reason or the excuse for the weekly get together is to play volleyball at a local pub, a pub that shows sports. Like I said volleyball is the reason, but in the meantime, before, after, and during volleyball, massive amounts of a fermented malt beverage was consumed. This was a tradition that started way back in 1992 (for me at least, for some of my teamates it goes back to 1989), and what times we've had. The late nights, and the times when we would embarrass a team or ourselves on the court, but after the game we would bring all the tables together and party all night long! But the days and the years have changed. Priorities and hair styles, and life styles for some have changed. Even team members have changed, I was gone for two years before coming back during the summer last year as a sub. Now I'm back as a full team member, and I'm curious how the night will go. Will the past come back to life, and have a rip roaring time, and will I arrive to work in the morning with a nasty headache, or has age, wisdom, and maturity (and I'm trying night to laugh when I type this) taken over. I guess what I'm afraid of is all of us coming right at game time (we used arrive a couple hours before the game) play the game, maybe have a beer or two, maybe a burger then leave. Now I'm not sure myself if I can handle an all nighter. The point I'm taking way too long to get at is, this used to be like a sacred day! It's not about whether or not we drink all night long, it's just that we would look forward to Wednesday night, have fun, discuss things in life, and share good times with ourselves and others. Now it seems like it's like everything else in life. A distraction, something that needs to be planned around, put on the calender in a time frame like everything else. It still means something to me, but maybe it's just the memory, and nothing or no one will take that from me, but me it shouldn't be that hard to have one night (out of 7), but that's life. Either way it will be nice to get out, see friends and play some volleyball.
Have a great Wednesday Night!
PAC

??????????????

Did you ever get a comment on your blog that you just didn't understand why someone would take the time to respond! My case in point is this one from PiKKeL WeeZeL!

This is exactly why people from Wisconsin shouldn't write blogs. You have cats? Reason number two that you shouldn't have a blog.

Not quite sure what being from Wisconsin has to do with anything that he would be commenting on (his comment came from last post Back in Action), and besides when I got the cats, I was in Colorado. So should people who have cats in Colorado be allowed to have blogs? If I had to sterotype (like WeeZel did), I would have to say that he/she is stuck in Illinois because he/she can't afford the raised toll prices.
Or is still upset that his/her favorite team got their butts kicked by the Packers, and just can't let go!
It's okay WeeZel, I forgive you. So when you get a chance to leave your sheltered life, come visit, bring the family to the Dells, or go to Mt. Horeb and visit the Mustard Museum, or if you're a little more ecletic, visit Door County. Have fun, and if you send me your address I'll make sure you get a cheeshead for Christmas!


What did these innocent sweet children do to upset PiKKeL WeeZeL!

Satisfying Our Discontent(?)

Got a comment from Sunbather on the "Love:A Reality Check" post on how people simply stay in relationships basically for the sake of being in a relationship, and wondering where the love is, or the wife who has the marriage but not the romance. And Sunbather's comment was:
I know that our discontent is an evolutionary necessesity, that without it there wouldn't be any progress, but man, sometimes I just want to rest from the search for more. Sometimes I am deeply envious of those who have learned how to settle for less.
But I'm sure this is just a phase.
First thank you for the comment, and second I sure hope like hell it's just a phase!
Being envious of those who have learned how to settle for less??????????
I'm sure that's the easy solution, but that's where these problems come up. Sure it's great to be in a relationship with someone, but should you really have to wait 5 years before you decide to make a commitment, I should just settle, and be thankful I have someone. The wife who doesn't think it's romantic enough that her husband sit around on the couch in his underwear eating buffalo wings and goes to her, "Here honey, lick the sauce off my fingers!" She should just settle, and thank her lucky stars she's not an old maid.
I don't think our discontent is an evolutionary necessity. Our discontent comes from not being patient, and not realizing or coming to terms with who we are, who we want to be, or be with, what we want to be or do. You don't need Tony Robbins or for that matter Jesus to tell you that you can have whatever you want. Does it take a lot of work. Sure seems like it, because that's where a statement like settling for less comes from, but since you want more (and face it we all do), then expect more, be more, do more and maybe it's not so hard. Didn't JFK say we don't do things because they're easy, and we shouldn't especially when it comes to our ultimate satisfaction.
I envy people who are with people that they absolutely adore, and through the struggles press on. And I'm sad to say I don't see it very often, but when I do, it just inspires me more, that the "more" is more important. Don't settle for less, because your "more" could just be around the corner! Hang in there!
That's all I have for today,
Until Next Time,
PAC

Interview with Past Radioaffliction Co-Hosts!

In this audio post I interview former co-hosts Rick Harrington & Matt Kendall

Spam A-Lot!

Hello, and Happy Tuesday! I hope spring has sprung where you live, because it's having a tough time springing up here! I actually had a tough time scraping the windshield this morning because the frost made a cool pattern and I didn't want it to die! But had to get to work, so tough cookies.
I'm training new people in our new office this week, and that's been a lot of work, moving and teaching people new things, but sometimes things settle down, and can actually get quite boring. I did the normal stuff, checked my email, my ebay auctions, stock portfolio(still not rich yet!), website stats, another email account, checked the news, and still nothing going on here at the office. Crap, now what. So I thought I would check my bulk email folder! What fun! I have blindly just let mail goe into this folder and just empty it when it gets too big. But no more! Just look at all the things I've been missing that I can use in my life! 22 credit card applications, 9 of the pre-approved! 9 Auto loans, 6 Directv units (although I think a couple were Dish Network!), 16 home refinace offers, also I can get cash by tomorrow! 5 new cell phones, and offers for more ring tones for those phones, don't forget affordable health care and life insurance, plenty of those, and I can get a degree in criminal justice! I don't how I gotten along without the right Martini glasses all this time, and finally the best hair barrettes ever made(in the description they say "Hair's the details! Man that's funny!)!
So if you feel something is missing in your life, it could as close to you as your bulk mail folder!
Have a great day!
PAC

A Love Follow-Up!

After my lengthy discussion on love the other day, I came across another blog from a woman which I felt proved my point, or at least the point I was trying to make to the question that was at hand.
This is what was at the top of her blog for the day:
What Do You Want Out of Life?
1. To be a GREAT Mother
2. To be a GREAT Wife (first two is hard to argue with, good to have goals)
3. FOR MY HUSBAND TO ROMANCE ME (this is where we need a judges ruling!)
...........................................
(this is the rest of her rant)
Is it so hard? Women are simple creatures! No really
we are! All we want is to be appreciated. See its not
hard!
(Now back to me)
Two points that I can add to this,
Point 1 is a follow up to what I wrote about last Thursday, is that self matters. What are you doing that makes you feel like you should be romanced? Just being his wife I guess is reason enough, therefore what are both of your ideas of what romance is? In his mind maybe he is, to some people coming home with a bucket of chicken wings and sitting with him on the couch and watching him slam them down watching football is romantic. That leads to point 2 (and when I get to quote Tony Robbins it's a good day), which is the quality of your life(or marriage) is equal to the quality of your communication. Spouting off to the blogoshpere is okay so that you are not bottling stuff up, but it's not who you should be talking to. Talk and find out what makes both of you happy. Men are simple creatures too, but remember it's not simplicty that we ultimately are searching for. Loving is easy, it's all around like I said Monday, and don't lie, even if he starts romancing, you're going to want a little more. It's your complexities and your ability to communicate and show them, is what makes you lovable and capable of "more"!
I welcome comments on the subject, I want to make sure I'm on the right track and not coming off as insensitive.
Best wishes again to all searching for "more!"

That's all I today, comments are always welcome,
have a great day,
PAC

Love: A Reality Check!

Once again while surfing the blogs, another hot topic (giving God & Politics a day off) is love and relationships.
I came across this blog, and it’s the question and the writers response that inspired me to view my thoughts on the subject.
The question was from a woman who had been with a man for over five years, and she asked the host if she really was in love, or was with someone she was just used to!
His response was maybe a little jaded (admittedly), because he was skeptical of love, and thought of it more as an illusion.
In my opinion the answer to her question is, it’s both.
There is the life long debate about loving, and being “in love”, and the difference between the two. The fact that she has spent five years with the same guy shows some of evidence of love there. I’m sure there’s affection, and caring, and other things(!), but now after five years, is this it? Is there more? Or Isn't There More?
In response to the response, that “true love” as a mere illusion, I offer this to both of them.
Love is defined is a strong positive emotion of regard and affection. I think that most of us can agree that this exists and is all around and therefore love defined as such is a reality. I love my parents, my brother, my friends, my co-workers, my cats, and yes even my ex-girlfriends. I don’t hesitate in sharing my feeling for these examples and have a strong positive emotion of regard and affection for them.
What happens is that we have inherent and instinctive “needs” for companionship and the melding of our lives with someone else. We are to be brought up and educated to provide commerce and at some point we get together with someone and get married and have children and the process starts all over again. For a lot of people this seems fine, but for some of us there seems like there should be more.
It’s the “more” that we are ultimately searching for. We called it love, and it is very often mistaken for love, because it is a very key part of it, but it is so much more. This we can debate as illusion, because it is not defined, and if you could ask ten people what the “more” means to them, you will probably get ten different answers.
In searching for the “more”, self matters. You must come to grips with your “aberrations” and really self evaluate what the “more” means to you, and why you want to invite another into that. I have seen so many fine and affectionate people simply give themselves up in the name of “love”, without ever exploring themselves and the wonderful things that actually make them “loveable” to fill this “need” to be loved, or married or a parent, and never asking why, and giving themselves enough time for them to get a honest answer.
In my opinion five years is enough time to figure out if there is “more” there or not. It’s scary to have to decide to move on or not, but it’s even scarier to realize that there could be someone that gives you “more” all along.
My best wishes to all of us who are searching for “more”!

That's All I Have today,
Happy St. Patricks Day,
PAC

Is The Fat Lady Humming for PBS?!

It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who believes in the irrelevance of PBS!(referring to my 2/17/05 post)
Here is George Will's article I found in the funny papers yesterday!

Nintendo vs. Sega Revisited!
I have tons of things to do and get organized this weekend and thanks to a couple peoples blog's (Jason Barrow's was one) I've been playing some Nintendo games I played 15 years ago!
Everyvideogame.com is an evil site that has every old Nintendo game plus Sega and Arcade games as well. What's worse is you don't have to download anything they play right on your browser through Java!
My sore fingers healed about 7 years ago and are starting to feel the pain again. I'm sure I'll get tired of it before too long, and if anyone find's Atari 2600 or anything else I may have to be institutionalized!

Helpful Hint For the Day!

OnStar! or Else!

Did anyone catch the new OnStar commercials this past weekend while networks were trying to show "Sports" programming and on the Oscars! The ads that suggest that if you don't get OnStar you're a terrible, unfeeling, money stuffing, human being.
Before I go on I must add that this is not like me. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I am getting old! I hate complaining, in fact I think there is way too much of it these days, and it's not getting anybody anywhere any faster than if they would just try and be nice! And I'm begging people, please stop bashing President Bush, it's only enhancing his "legacy" and was one of the reasons that he actually got elected this last time.
Anyway,
So I don't like to complain, and in the past when I would see a commercial like this I would say, "Oh, that was nice. Now could someone please pass the bean dip!"
But Sunday I had a different reaction when I saw the ad, it was more like, "WHAT THE @#$%$#, THE MOTHER-@#$%^&%$##'S, how dare you! With that heart tugging music in the background, and the cute kids saying, "You wouldn't let your kids ride without a seat belt would you?" "So why wouldn't you use OnStar!"
Because I don't want to! Seems like a good response to me and I shouldn't be made to feel like a heartless bastard if I don't get the service.
First off it's only available on GM vehicles and I don't drive them and I don't plan to. So they are also implying that if you don't own a GM product you're a heartless bastard, and get this, if you read the fine print in the commercial that the service is available on most but not ALL GM vehicles. So they're also saying that if you don't get the right vehicle you're not only a heartless but cheap bastard as well!
I realize I'm probably making more out of this than is really necessary, I really believe that GM is doing this has a last ditch effort because they can't give the service away, and I would probably be less offended by the campaign if the program wasn't exclusive to GM. The fact for me is that I drive Toyota and Ford, and I when I drive I have a cell phone with me, and one time when my car started on fire, not only having the phone saved my life, but ended up saving the car as well. So I believe that is a reasonable alternative, so I feel I don't need a guilt trip to consider a new product.
Now that is over, I must point out that the Sun is shining and it's a wonderful day!

Beyond Belief!

One of my daily reads is Ran Selig's website (he doesn't like the term blog) No Relgion Now. A nice site that's a little on the cranky bleedin liberal side, but he brings up good topics and makes you think about things that really need to be more thought ought.
What's Good: He allows comments even if you don't agree with his position(just try to have a thoughtful comment, but that's what we all ask isn't it!), and he always responds.
Constructive Criticism: Most of the people who participate already share his views, and sometimes his use of language is a little tough. If you're main focus is to get people to think beyond their belief systems, he might in one of his statements say that Pat Robertson is a $%#@er. Now that might be true, but if I'm a follower of Pat Robertson (just for the sake of arguement!) and I may be willing to move beyond that. Calling him a $%#$er is probably not going to convince me.
But anyway, besides the plug, on his site today I came across a link to the BBC radio program (or programme to them) Beyond Belief. And since this site was intended to have audio programs. Here is a List of available programs. It is BBC so it's a little monotone, but discusses a number of issues that show that there is more to believing than just believing! Plus listening to one of the programs (programmes!) I got my quote of the day, week, year or whatever!
"You can take things literally, or you can take them seriously!"

That's all I have today,
Until next time,
PAC

Reason #2415 Why I Shouldn't Drink Mt.Dew!
Go ahead and try to listen to 4 minutes of Pete!
1. I was trying to bring up a couple interesting topics in just 4 minutes, and
2. I had Mountain Dew with lunch! (they didn't have Diet Rockstar!)
So I'm talking real fast, but I didn't want to re-record, plus it's kind of funny.
Tell me what you think!

Until next time,
PAC

So Just What is Tacky These Days?

I found this story I wrote in my notes from a couple years ago when my office was in a hotel in Boulder, CO. It made me laugh so I thought I would share it with all of you!

An interesting situation happened to me recently, and it happened in the men's room. Now I will try not to be tacky while explaining it, but I went into the men's room, because that's what I do from time to time when nature calls, and went to the urinal, because that's where I do it. Behind me in the sit down stall with the door open, a man is standing doing #1 and talking on his cell phone. In other words doing business while doing the business! I snicker a bit, and I probably say to myself "Now I've seen everything!", and move along with my process, although trying to listen in on what the conversation is about that is so important that it can't wait a two minute bathroom break.
Another gentleman walks in, and goes to the far urinal leaving the traditional one space in between, because he would be tacky to use the urninal right next to mine. He is astounded by what's happening in the stall behind us, and he says to me, "His he talking on his cell while going to the bathroom?" and I said "Sounds like it." And he responds with "Well that's pretty tacky isn't it?" and I said "Well?" in a kind of "to each his own" kind of way, and wasn't quite sure a grown man should use the word "tacky" in public.
So when Mr. Talker leaves his stall and goes to wash his hands, while still talking on the phone, the man next to me yells from his urinal "That's Tacky!"
The first guy doesn't acknowledge him and continues his conversation on the phone, while continuing to wash his hands, and at this point is actually displaying some talent. I am now in an uncomfortable position, so I get done and wash my hands quick and get out, while the second guy finishes and while washing his hands says to the guy again, "That's Tacky!", while the guy is still talking on his phone. I bolt out the door at this point, because I'm about to bust out laughing. There is something about a potentially confrontational situation that I find funny. But it left me with a little bit of a dilema.
What is less tactful?
Talking and doing business on the cell phone while going to the bathroom, or yelling at someone and telling them they're being tacky while they're going to the bathroom, when he is going to the bathroom!
As I get older, I seem to be more forgiving to a person doing a tacky act, than to a person who cries foul at a tacky act. I was willing to laugh off the first guy, but with the second guy, I actually wanted to take the first guys cell phone and beat the crap out of the second guy, OR while I'm going to the bathroom, and when the second guy yells "That's Tacky", I quickly turn to him and "WHOOPS!"
Now that would be tacky!

One Sport Down - One Going Down in Flames!

Thank you National Hockey League(NHL), for finally doing the right thing and doing what you had planned to do all along. Cancel your season. In case you hadn't noticed there hasn't been any hockey this year. Did you miss it? No, neither did I. Two reasons, one there is still hockey in my town (ON Wisonsin! GO Badgers!) if I wanted to see it, and two I've been following English Football, which is pretty much like hockey, just played on a bigger field, with more players, no ice, no sticks, just as much scoring, better fans sitting in the stands drinking beer and singing songs, and players getting red carded (kicked out of the game) for nailing a guy in the back of the head (just like they do in Hockey!). So there is nothing to miss. So long NHL, you're not missed and even if you come back no one will notice.
Next up:Juiceball-- I'm sorry, I mean Baseball.
Baseball isn't going away, but with the steroids controversy, and all the talk shows, interviews, opinions, Sportcenters, and Behind the Lines, you may not even know the games are being played!
For the record, the controversy isn't that some star players were taking steroids and in the process some long standing records were or will be broken. It's the culture of the whole league that has allowed a player using steroids to flourish. With two expansions, moving a crappy American League team making them a crappy National League team, and at least 16 new stadiums, with the exception of Seattle all seeing increases in home runs. A player in these conditions shouldn't need steroids to hit 30 or more home runs, but why settle for 30 or 35 when with a little juice you can hit 50 or 60, get more bucks ($$$) and more babes! Should be a fun season. And who knows maybe the games will be good too.

Coming Soon: 24 Hours of Pledge Drives!

The NHL may have company soon. PBS is struggling to find new revenue sources, it's President will not seek another term, is losing some corporate grants, and now has to rely on a Republican Congress for Government grants, which some Republicans consider PBS to be too liberal and elitist.
Bummer! Click Here for full story!
I don't mind PBS, but I also get a least a hundred other channels that show such things as English Football, Old Game Shows (Match Game!), constant News & Opinion, just the weather, video games, old National Geographic shows, BBC programs, Military programs, music videos (rap,classic rock, R&B, Hits, and not mention at least 30 other audio only music channels), college sports, sports news only, Poker, traveling, A Leopard eating a Zebra, Chef cooking against another chef, Old Sitcoms, Cartoons, Way too many Children's programs, People pretending to do a Newscast, Stand Up Comedy,Fashion, Home Shopping, Infomercials, City Government, National Government, God gets two channels, and a channel named after a greeting card!
Even if most of these channels have commercials, WOW! I have a little thing called Tivo that makes them go away. So I apologize if I have very little sympathy for the struggles of PBS. But I wish them luck, and look forward to their begging and pleading-- I'm sorry pledge drives.

Comments & Prime Minister Withdrawel Symptoms and a Follow up

There is no Prime Ministers Questions this week in the U.K. and has I mentioned in a previous post I find them most entertaining. Thanks to "apples" for her suggestion in her comment that Australia's is also entertaining, and what I've read about their Prime Minister John Howard I would think so. I did a search and couldn't find a broadcast archive, so if someone knows one please email the link to me or use the comments, because they're always welcome as well!
And It's Here!

To all those loyal readers Lime Coke is Here!
Details to come!

That's all I have today,
Until Next time,
PAC

An Apology!

I want to take this moment on my website to apologize.
I'm really really, very sorry.
To my loyal readers, people passing by, to my co-workers, my family, my kitties and once again ALL my ex-girlfriends. I am truly very sorry.
When I wrote to other blogs I spoke the truth, and anyone who says something else or is writing a book on it, is delusional.
So once again let me say just how sorry I am, and that someday and I will actually be able to tell you why!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Jason Giambi, I was having a bad day yesterday, and if this whole situation wasn't so very, very, very, VERY sad, I would laugh my ____ off! Like I said yesterday with the Readers Digest article, unless you really have something to say or something to get off you chest, don't bother! I've got plenty of things to worry about. Like what kind of sports I might watch this weekend, Auto racing is back with the Bud Shootout(nah, kind of like Pre-Season Football), The Pebble Beach Golf Tournament(maybe if it's in Hi Def, and once again need a nap), Plenty of College Basketball(Not unless I really have to, and there's nothing on the Food Network, although I might check on the Wisconsin/Illinois game), College Hockey!(maybe because it's the only Hockey there is, and it's between the two places I've lived in the last two years(Wisconsin/Denver)),WAIT the NFL isn't over yet, there's the Pro Bowl(yick, Preseason Football is better! Arena Football is better!)! Plus a million other things I need to do. So don't waste my time, with maybe, or I can't tell you right now.
Thank you,
Have a fabulous weekend,
until next time,
PAC

Just Babbling!
Just a couple thoughts for today that hopefully won't turn into a full fledged rant. I'm a little antsy, I feel like I could write a novel right now, and I have plenty of energy, since I've had two diet Rockstars!! However when I start typing my thoughts get cluttered, well think of this way. Picture a funnel, and at the top are all my thoughts, but what's coming out is a single slow little stream. But I'm plugging away!
Okay,
I got a email from my brother the other day after he read my last post on Truth and where is it, and how when someone says one thing, right there is someone that says something else or that their wrong. So my smart alec brother after reading what I said, said - YOUR WRONG!!!
And by the way the way the hits just keep on coming. First someone says Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb was puking, and couldn't call plays during the last drive in the Super Bowl, and like clockwork, he comes right back and says "Liar, Liar Pants on Fire!".

I know her link is on the sidebar, but I need to give a shout out to a nice blog As the Law Books Close, which would be a good title for a Soap Opera(my title would be "As The Blood Flows").
First my website is on her sidebar as a "must read", and that's very nice(thank you!), but she wrote a very good post about what she is going to do for Valentines Day, which kind of goes with some things I wrote on the mighty subject of "Love".
Which you can review HERE!
She has a very healthy attitude about spending it with herself(which she could be crying uncontrollably and eating a half gallon of Cookies N' Cream Ice Cream while writing it!).

This struck me while reading the new Readers Digest on a possible new clue, by using digital technology that may prove a shooter at the grassy knoll in the JFK murder.
Hmmmm, here's a thought. How about use the technology, test it out, make a conclusion, and then tell me if it worked or not!
Just a thought,

That's all I have today,
Have wonderful day,
Until next time,
PAC

Eight Words with two Meanings
I received this in an email, and I thought I would share them with everybody!
Enjoy,
PAC

1. THINGY (thing-ee) n.
Female...... Any part under a car's hood.
Male..... The strap fastener on a woman's bra.

2. VULNERABLE (vul-ne-ra-bel) adj.
Female.... Fully opening up one's self emotionally to another.
Male.... Playing football without a cup.

3. COMMUNICATION (ko-myoo-ni-kay-shon) n.
Female... The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's partner.
Male... Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys.

4. COMMITMENT (ko-mit-ment) n.
Female.... A desire to get married and raise a family.
Male...... Trying not to hit on other women while out with this one.

5. ENTERTAINMENT (en-ter-tayn-ment) n.
Female.... A good movie, concert, play or book.
Male...... Anything that can be done while drinking beer.

6. FLATULENCE (flach-u-lens) n.
Female.... An embarrassing by-product of indigestion.
Male...... A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding.

7. MAKING LOVE (may-king luv) n.
Female...... The greatest expression of intimacy a couple can achieve.
Male.. Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it.

8. REMOTE CONTROL (ri-moht kon-trohl) n.
Female.... A device for changing from one TV channel to another.
Male... A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes.

The Truth!!! It's Out There Somewhere!

It's inevitable isn't it. One person says one thing, another is right there to say "No, it isn't." They will go on & on, and others will get on board for one side or the other and make their case, and hopefully some common ground is met and life goes on. But there's someone that asks "Well, which is it?", and nobody knows for sure, that's when such phrases as "Well, it's somewhere in the middle" come into existence. Is that good enough though? Was one right? Was one wrong? Were they both a little right? And what doesn't get noticed enough in my opinion is Were they both wrong?
That's the common practice I've noticed in both houses of the U.S. Congress, and somewhat in other countries as well. I weekly watch the Prime Ministers questions from the U.K., it's informative and very entertaining(I used to watch the Canadian one as well, it just wasn't as entertaining). I'm waiting for the day when Prime Minister Tony Blair answers one of Michael Howard's(the leader of the opposition party)questions by replying "Michael, you ingnorant slut!" It gets pretty dicey sometimes, but being British it remains mostly civil. I'm not taking sides but there is something to what Mr. Howard says every week when is he asks a question, Mr. Blair goes right into rhetoric, and how his government has created two million jobs since they have been in office and so on and so forth, which Mr. Howard always replies "Once again, he hasn't answered the question!". This goes on and on, and the observer(being me in this case) is forced to ask or ponder, "Which is it?". Just because one asks a question, and doesn't get a firm answer, has he successfully relayed an alternative that 1. Makes sense, and 2. has somehow proved the other side wrong!
This thought process came to me this morning when I was looking at the funny papers, and on the news that former baseball player Jose Canseco will reveal in his new book that not only did he take steroids but helped others take them, and witnessed others take them, and he names names. Which immediately drew quotes from some players and their former manager to say it's a bunch of rubbish and it's not true. So which is it? Can it all be lies? I actually give Canseco a little credit for completing it, he said about three years ago he was going to write the book and name names, and wasn't taken very seriously, especially when he stated that about 80% of players were on steroids. However when test results were revealed by the league it was more like 7%. But is that the truth?
I recently read "The Da Vinci Code", and within a work of fiction it stated a number of things about Jesus, and some people got upset. But these things weren't true were they? It's just fiction isn't it? Or is it? Or was the truth layered around a fictional story to make it more understandable? And now there are books for both sides of the debate. So, which is it? Do we really want to know? Can we accept such a truth and still have faith? We used to believe the Sun revolved around us, why was it so hard to accept that. Doesn't look any different to us does it, and think of what we learned from that, and our place in the universe.
Are we so entrenched in belief or faith in one side or another that we cannot accept what maybe true!
To me, I don't need the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but I don't want to be completely lied to, in order to join or choose a side, and if I have a question try to give me an honest answer, and not I can't answer that because it goes against my faith. And to my religous friends please do a little better job of answering some questions than by answering "I may be wrong, but what if I'm right!".
I saw that twice from the TV services yesterday, plus I've heard it before.
We can all do better, and this truth is out there somewhere.
But are we really looking for it, and will we accept it if we find it? Will we do it together, or keep taking sides!
How about that for a Monday!
Hope you a had great weekend and cograts to the Patriots! They are best team (aren't they?)!
That's all I have today,
Until next time,
PAC

It's a Tragedy!

The grogginess of waking up this morning was shaken off by my favorite sin of ESPN when the anchor announced that New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady suffered a "personal tragedy" with the death of his grandmother at age 94! I repeat AGE 94!!!
Folks that's an accomplishment, not a tragedy! Sure it's a bummer, and there's a time of reflection, and grief, but I'm sure Tom will be okay. But how does the Mighty ESPN and other reporters share his grief, by shoving a bunch of microphones in his face and demanding a comment. Hello, what do think he's going to say. The only reason I can think of people wanting to know this, is if he went out on a limb and went nuts and said, "It's about time the old bag went, my mother has been waiting for her inheritance for years, now I can count the days until she goes!"
No, that's not going to happen so leave it alone. My disdain of this kind of reporting goes back to when John Lennon was killed, and somebody found Paul McCartney and asked him how he fealt. Paul looked at him, and you can tell he's holding it all in, and said "Yeah, it's kind of a bummer isn't it!" Now looking at the words it sounds kind of vain, but Paul looked at the reporter and saying with his expression, "How could this Mother$%&*# ask me this right now!" That was a tragedy, here's another one, A Rural Wisconsin man kills his wife, very young daughter and teenage step-son, because GOD asked him to bring his family to heaven! Once again forgetting about the loosely translated fifth commandment of "Thou Shall Not Kill", and also I think someone famous said "Thou Shall Not Be Lead Into Temptation", and I'm only assuming that includes God. I maybe going to extremes but ESPN should choose their words a little more carefully when trying to fill in the blanks and make a story while we're still waiting for this "Game" to start.

Life is SO GOOD!
Now that we have the tragedy out of the way, we should not forget that by and large life is pretty good, and the State in which I presently live is pretty good too.
The State of Wisconsin announced it's new slogan to attract those poor pitiful souls of State's like -- Illinois(thanks for raising the price of those TOLLS!)!
Wisconsin --- Life's So Good!
It's not the best (Escape to Wisconsin is still the best), but it's not bad either.
But there's too many people who think life sucks, and they only way they can express their "freedom" is by complaining, which is a simplifcation, because what their really doing is b#$%ing, moaning, and whining! And they think it should be changed.
Wisconsin is a good state, and if you need a reminder that life IS pretty good overall, this is a good place to visit, so you can experience that reminder. (I will be expecting a greater return on my State tax return for the plug!).

Well folks have a good weekend enjoying the good life, and all the best if you are experiencing a tragedy! Enjoy the game Sunday! And when I return Monday, I will be a year older, and after the some of the events of this week, I hopefully will be a littler wiser as well.
Until next time,
PAC

Always Look On the Bright Side of Life!

With my birthday coming my best friend was taking me, and another friend of mine who also has a birthday coming up to the Wisconsin Badger Basketball game. Along for the ride also was one of my best friend's clients. I get done with work early and head over to TGI Fridays to meet them. I'm looking forward to a good time, and on the way my best friend gives me a call and let's me know about the customer, that he's a really cool guy, but really doesn't need to know our whole sorted past. Typical stuff from him , but a good point.

Well I get there, his client recognizes me, and it turns out to be my ex-girlfriends brothers brother in law. We have a good laugh at what a small world it is, and as the Long Island Ice Tea's keep coming, the night spirals downhill and he hears all of our horrid stories, and he tells the story of what really happened at a family wedding we were both at a year ago.
Anyway the Long Islands keep coming and it's getting close to game time. I must point out I didn't want Long Island's because at some point they give me a sour stomach, but my best friend was picking up the tab, I followed the rules.

Anyway, we head over to the Kohl Center, and we're laughing, honking the horn at other cars and acting "really" mature. We make it there, and just as we get there, I can't make it any further, it hits me, and hilarity ensues. It's really not worth reporting what happens next, and whatever you hear, it's probably true. Let's just put it this way, when I left the office I was wearing a nice button down shirt, with my Hillfinger pants, and came home with Bucky Badger boxer shorts, Wisconsin Pajama Bottoms and a nice Wisconsin T-shirt!
I only caught five minutes of the game, my first reaction was to runaway, call a cab and never face another soul as long as I live. But my best called on my cell phone, and when I got there they acted as a shield, and I got my senses back and everything was fine. Later on they toasted me at a bar(for water & food!) next to the stadium for hanging in there, but I provided another story to add to our legacy!
Just another sign that as I get another year older it's getting time to grow up!
Now I must point out I don't condone such behavior, the only point I'm trying to make is that humility can be a wonderful thing. It's not the end of the world, and if you have good friends, you can overcome lapses in judgment, and actually make someone's life. "Did I ever tell you about what happened to Pete at the Badger game!"
I just wanted to come "clean" with the story.
Have a Wonderful day, and stay away from TGIF Long Island Ice Teas!
Until Next Time,
PAC

Outdoors--OUT!
The big news here in Madison, a certain sports network, I won't mention their name but their intials are E S P N will not be back in town this year for their Outdoor games.
BUMMER!
I guess I will just go back to doing just about anything else!!!!!
I'm not bragging but ESPN has more to lose than Madison, they can go back to Lake Placid, NY or Reno, NV or find a new place, all they're going to do is spend four days in a city and edit the heck out of it, and show it for an hour over five days!
In the end nobody really cares, give me Sportscenter, and then give it to me for ten hours straight.
I went to the games one day last year, and it was fine, had some fun, watched some cute young girls log roll as they had Sponsor Me! on their butt, and that's nice. But I probably wouldn't of gone if there was admission, and I don't like how ESPN is trying to make it out like it's Madison's fault for them not returning. We'll get over it, come to think it, I just did,
Moving ON,

Weekend in "Review" & Comments!
Thanks to all for you comments over the weekend, I made it through without football for the most part, I did have some Arena football on in the background.
I also this weekend read the whole "The DaVinci Code"! (***1/2)
I'm probably a year too late to give a full review, and Pat Buchanan on McGlaughlin Group listed it as his "Lie of the Year" because it "probably damaged the faith of an awful lot of people. And I think it's by and large a big fraud, but it's a gigantic best-seller."
I don't why I've been leaving my deeper thoughts on other peoples blog, and not on my own, but here I go again.
I will say this about the book:
The answers we seek, are easier than the questions asked.
If your faith is hedging on some sort of "truth", you get that.
If your faith is sound, and you just want to see what kind of rubbish someone is writing. Your faith should be restored by the end, as long as you don't kill anyone over it.
If there is something you truly seek in life, your end isn't very far from your begining.
And finally if you need a good book to read on a weekend with no football you get that too!

One other thing from this weekend for all you who can't wait for Lime Coke. I tried the Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper (**).
A little disappointed, it tasted like the Old Diet Dr. Pepper that came in the blue can or bottle.(By the way if anyone has a photo of the old Diet Dr. Pepper could you email me, I couldn't fine one on google!)
I know the approach for Diet Dr. Pepper is to taste like the original, but I don't think this what they had in mind for this product. Oh well, Lime Coke is on the way to save the day!

That's all I have today,
Until Next time,
PAC