Not In My Backyard

On April 5, 2010, an opportunity was bestowed upon a university which may never occur in Division 1A college football (I refuse to call it the Football Bowl Subdivision).  In one corner, you had the behemoth, heralded program which exudes the finest pedigree known to man.  In the other, you had a little known up and comer of a university.  Why do so many wish to put down and deem unworthy those schools which fight for a chance, an opportunity for a mere place at the table amongst "the elite" of college football?  If you don't recall, Butler pushed the Duke Blue Devils to the brink in the national championship game on the aforementioned date before losing 61-59, in what was one of the most exciting finales to any hoops season I can recall.  Unless the BCS is treated like Osama Bin Laden and blown to smithereens, never to be heard from again, this will never have a chance of happening in college football for the foreseeable future.  What a shame...follow along after the jump.

The Facts of (my) Island Life

Many I know are enthralled with the aspect of island life.  Don't get me wrong, we are very blessed to live here.  That being said, I thought it would be pertinent to share with you the quirks and nuances which make island life both interesting and joyous.

There is no Target here, but there is a Costco.  There is also a Wal-Mart, but the county fought this addition to the island with much vigor.  We adore Costco due to the fact that some stores will make your wallet feel as if it just endured a high-powered colonic.

The Aggies' 12th AND 13th Men

Poor Huskers.  Poor Coach Pelini.  Poor blind officials.  Don't get me wrong.  It is somewhat satisfying to watch in wonderment if Coach Bo Pelini will actually be the first human being to launch into orbit by his own personal powers.  And by powers, I am referring to his uncanny ability to look as if he caught a bandit red-handed, robbing his home, stealing his car, and kicking his puppy, all at the same time.  Personally, I'd get over the stuff, but if you kick my dog, I am going to unleash my inner Pelini with a force never witnessed on this earth heretofore.

In fairness, Coach Pelini has a reason to be completely livid.  If you did not click the link to the left of this sentence, do so now......................That right there should have been a penalty on the Aggies, but per the usual, the refs saw the retaliation, not the instigator, which was one Tony Jerod-Eddie.  You sir, are a coward of a football player.  Going after another player's junk?  First the TSA and now you?  Notice the official could not see Jerod-Eddie sexually assault Ben Cotton at the bottom of that pile.  That is bush league antics which should earn Jerod-Eddie a suspension for the upcoming game against the Longhorns.  The other egregious call against the Men of Corn was a disaster of a "Roughing the Passer" penalty which made it look like the fix was in.  For the record, the Huskers got flagged 16 times while the Aggies only suffered 2 penalties the entire game.  Needless to say, Husker Nation is none too happy.  Nor should they be.....

I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watchin' Me...And I Have No Privacy

Maybe Rockwell was onto something with their 1984 "hit" that graced your TV screen back when MTV actually played music videos.  One thing is for certain in life:  Change.  Most certainly, the attacks of 9/11 changed not only the USA, but the world.  After the families and friends who lost loved ones on that fateful day, nowhere has this change been felt more than for those who fly here in the USA.  In typical fashion, our government likes to overreact to situations vs. utilizing astute analysis and arriving at a conclusion deemed sensible.  Their motto is literally:  Ready.  Fire.  Aim.

You all remember Richard Reid, the infamous "Shoe Bomber" who failed miserably at his assigned task which would have netted him 78 virgins by Allah upon entry to lala-land and other warped views of these deranged murderers?  Thanks to this dimwit, you and I still remove our shoes prior to going through security.  The worst part about this situation is that if the uber-complicated protocol of Freaking Common Sense would have been deployed, they would have caught this sad excuse for a human being before he even got on the plane.  Follow along after the jump...

Like a Good Neighbor: State Farm Bails On You.

I'm no socialist, not by a long shot.  I'm simply for doing the right thing.  This is a practice which seems very lost in American corporate culture. For example, I'm against airlines increasing their fares between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day simply because it's "the holidays."  What if retailers decided to jack up prices during the holiday shopping period?  First, they would all have to collude to pull it off.  But, the main reason that will never happen is capitalism and the fact that the free market takes over and keeps them in check.  Oh how I long for there to be a free market regarding air travel.  Sadly, we are faced with a corporate oligarchy, which bilks consumers for more dollars on a whim due to the seasons changing.  Those are the facts.  Their costs do not rise dramatically between November and January.  It is akin to a hurricane or earthquake striking and retailers charging $7 for a gallon of water as opposed to $1.50.  This practice would be known as "price gouging" and is against the law.  Because of my work commitments, I cannot leave Kauai to be with my family over the holidays.  Since, the airlines increase the fare on the route from LA to Kauai by 60-80% during this time period, it prohibits me from flying them out here as well.  This upsets me but I will get over it.  However, the airlines abuse of the "free market" is a bit minor compared to what this post is going to focus on next...

A Review: Death to the BCS

I'm passionate about college football.  My wife will tell you that my passion is exponentially exuded when the Longhorns are occupying space on the flat screen in our home.  Listen to this woman, she speaks truth and wisdom.  I was recently asked what the difference is between the NFL and college football.  Regarding the NFL, nothing can compare to Andrew Siciliano and DirecTV's Red Zone Channel.  Every Sunday, this NFL experience is a whirlwind tour from game to game around the league, focusing on various team's scoring opportunities, with live network feeds.  It's like having about 10 flat screens in your living room each displaying a separate game.  You have reached in-home football viewing nirvana.  Fact.