This post is for all the NBA fans out there. Everyone else might want to go back to sleep or go back to pretending like you're working hard.
Award time. Let's pick 'em... Please write in your picks for each category. I'll keep your choices and we'll compare when the season is done and a new champion is crowned. My picks:
2009 NBA MVP: LeBron James
2009 NBA Champions: Cleveland Cavaliers
2009 NBA Finals MVP: LeBron James
2009 Eastern Conference Champions: Cleveland Cavaliers
2009 Western Conference Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2009 NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
2009 NBA Coach of the Year: Mike Brown
2009 NBA Rookie of the Year: Derrick Rose
2009 Sixth Man Award: Jason Terry
2009 Most Improved Player: Devin Harris (Sorry, Danny Granger)
2009 NBA 1st Team:
Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tim Duncan
Dwight Howard
Let's hear it...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
War and Weed
Because I'm attending Roosevelt University, I decided to not be a total hack and do some research about the person that the school is named after, Franklin Roosevelt. And, thinking about Roosevelt and learning new information on the man led to a theory about some possible remedies for our current economic situation.
First, a piece of must-know information. One of the significant events that preceded the Great Depression was the Stock Market crash of 1929. The initial crash was on what some refer to as Black Thursday. The exact date was October 24, 1929. Exactly 50 years later, in a Las Vegas Hospital, yours truly was born. Yes. On the 50th Anniversary, October 24, 1979, Brian Fredrick Wright was born. I just Bo Jackson-ed (referred to myself in the 3rd person). So, there has to be some reason for that. And, I think it's this:
Most experts agree that World War II acted as a springboard to recovery for America following the Depression. Jobs were created based on the needs of the Military. Hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers were now full-timers, building vehicles and packaging food and printing papers and doing jobs that were born from the War. In the six years of World War II, unemployment went from over 10% to roughly 1.2% when the war ended in 1945.
Okay. So, what's the point? Some will say that we're already at war. Two wars, to be exact. But, I think we can all agree that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan don't create jobs (except for the elite companies chosen for contracts). But, there is a war that can not only create jobs, but build a universal pride in America, and put us back on the moral high ground in the world. And, this war will be short. Actually, I hate to even call it a "war" because the war part is the gateway to a larger, more efficient strategy of investment.
The war is in Sudan. I agree that there are evil forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, but on the global evil scale, President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan is the equivalent of Adolf Hitler. Many have heard of the Darfur conflict, but most don't know that al-Bashir is directly involved in the deaths of roughly 400,000 people and the displacement of over 2.5 million people. On top of that, daily rapes of women and children and gruesome murders occur.
Is this a reason for war? Yes. I think so. The great, leading American minds on this don't agree with me. These heroes of mine want a peaceful solution. And, I admire them for that. But, 80s Arnold movies taught me that, sometimes, you need to kick ass and take name. But, like I said, this was will lead to something bigger. And, because the US has the most unbelievable military in the world, we can make this war short and sweet. Which leads to the the bigger deal. The Big Deal (yes, taken from Roosevelt's New Deal).
The Big Deal will start in a now democratic Sudan, and spread throughout Africa. One part of The Big Deal will be called InvestAfrica. The model will be Sudan. And, in Sudan, with a democratically elected President (which Sudan used to have until al-Bashir led a coup in 1989), America will invest in the infrastructure and people of Sudan. We'll build roads, telephone capability, power, etc. We'll create jobs. We'll make a now struggling country turn into the model country of Africa. And, other countries will follow. I'd love to speak to finance, infrastructure and government experts on this to really map out the plan. Until then, I'll push for the overall ideology. This idea could be a whole book. For now, it must live here, on a blog. But, hopefully, it can expand into policy.
Another huge factor in stopping the Great Depression was something so simple, yet so important to the fabric of America that we tend to forget about it. And, that's ending Prohibition. Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933. In that time, the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol for consumption were banned nationally. It was Constitutional law. So, what happened? Bootlegging rose hence crime rose. People were going to drink... no matter what. They visited illegal bars and speakeasies. They got their alcohol. And, organized crime blossomed and benefitted.
What is the 2009 mirror of alcohol in the 20s? Weed. Pot. Marijuana. That's right. The border problem we have with Mexico is not just illegal immigrants. We have major problems with violence spilling into US border towns form Mexican drug cartels. These violent drug cartels thrive off American consumption of their product. My idea works two-fold for this, and makes Mexican drug cartels irrelevant.
First, the national government must legalize marijuana - the use, sale, manufacture, and transportation. Decriminalize it. Then, industrialize it. Imagine the jobs created in the legal marijuana market. There would be farms, equipment, transportation, wholesale, retail - millions of jobs will be created. Much like alcohol in the 1920s, present pot smokers will smoke pot NO MATTER WHAT. So, why not fix problems?
We have to start thinking Green, too. But, there isn't a plain and simple answer to those problems. I wish there was. But, lifestyle changes are always gradual. I have ideas on simple ways to head in the direction of living green, but that's a different article all together.
So, what do you think? Problems with my plan? Holes? Would you approve of this new world where the economy flourishes and there's smiles on everybody's face?
First, a piece of must-know information. One of the significant events that preceded the Great Depression was the Stock Market crash of 1929. The initial crash was on what some refer to as Black Thursday. The exact date was October 24, 1929. Exactly 50 years later, in a Las Vegas Hospital, yours truly was born. Yes. On the 50th Anniversary, October 24, 1979, Brian Fredrick Wright was born. I just Bo Jackson-ed (referred to myself in the 3rd person). So, there has to be some reason for that. And, I think it's this:
Most experts agree that World War II acted as a springboard to recovery for America following the Depression. Jobs were created based on the needs of the Military. Hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers were now full-timers, building vehicles and packaging food and printing papers and doing jobs that were born from the War. In the six years of World War II, unemployment went from over 10% to roughly 1.2% when the war ended in 1945.
Okay. So, what's the point? Some will say that we're already at war. Two wars, to be exact. But, I think we can all agree that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan don't create jobs (except for the elite companies chosen for contracts). But, there is a war that can not only create jobs, but build a universal pride in America, and put us back on the moral high ground in the world. And, this war will be short. Actually, I hate to even call it a "war" because the war part is the gateway to a larger, more efficient strategy of investment.
The war is in Sudan. I agree that there are evil forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, but on the global evil scale, President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan is the equivalent of Adolf Hitler. Many have heard of the Darfur conflict, but most don't know that al-Bashir is directly involved in the deaths of roughly 400,000 people and the displacement of over 2.5 million people. On top of that, daily rapes of women and children and gruesome murders occur.
Is this a reason for war? Yes. I think so. The great, leading American minds on this don't agree with me. These heroes of mine want a peaceful solution. And, I admire them for that. But, 80s Arnold movies taught me that, sometimes, you need to kick ass and take name. But, like I said, this was will lead to something bigger. And, because the US has the most unbelievable military in the world, we can make this war short and sweet. Which leads to the the bigger deal. The Big Deal (yes, taken from Roosevelt's New Deal).
The Big Deal will start in a now democratic Sudan, and spread throughout Africa. One part of The Big Deal will be called InvestAfrica. The model will be Sudan. And, in Sudan, with a democratically elected President (which Sudan used to have until al-Bashir led a coup in 1989), America will invest in the infrastructure and people of Sudan. We'll build roads, telephone capability, power, etc. We'll create jobs. We'll make a now struggling country turn into the model country of Africa. And, other countries will follow. I'd love to speak to finance, infrastructure and government experts on this to really map out the plan. Until then, I'll push for the overall ideology. This idea could be a whole book. For now, it must live here, on a blog. But, hopefully, it can expand into policy.
Another huge factor in stopping the Great Depression was something so simple, yet so important to the fabric of America that we tend to forget about it. And, that's ending Prohibition. Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933. In that time, the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol for consumption were banned nationally. It was Constitutional law. So, what happened? Bootlegging rose hence crime rose. People were going to drink... no matter what. They visited illegal bars and speakeasies. They got their alcohol. And, organized crime blossomed and benefitted.
What is the 2009 mirror of alcohol in the 20s? Weed. Pot. Marijuana. That's right. The border problem we have with Mexico is not just illegal immigrants. We have major problems with violence spilling into US border towns form Mexican drug cartels. These violent drug cartels thrive off American consumption of their product. My idea works two-fold for this, and makes Mexican drug cartels irrelevant.
First, the national government must legalize marijuana - the use, sale, manufacture, and transportation. Decriminalize it. Then, industrialize it. Imagine the jobs created in the legal marijuana market. There would be farms, equipment, transportation, wholesale, retail - millions of jobs will be created. Much like alcohol in the 1920s, present pot smokers will smoke pot NO MATTER WHAT. So, why not fix problems?
We have to start thinking Green, too. But, there isn't a plain and simple answer to those problems. I wish there was. But, lifestyle changes are always gradual. I have ideas on simple ways to head in the direction of living green, but that's a different article all together.
So, what do you think? Problems with my plan? Holes? Would you approve of this new world where the economy flourishes and there's smiles on everybody's face?
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Bird
I have two topics I want to discuss today. First, the Alex Rodriguez steroid scandal. I don't want to get into what side I'm on and what I think about steroid use. But, I do want to talk about one particular part of the debate. And, that's the fact that every article I've read about this and every TV broadcast about it all talk about what affect it has on kids. On children. A lot of people say that the children are the ones affected most because they look at their heroes in a certain way and blah, blah, blah...
It's such a simplistic way of looking at this whole situation. What do these people think? That if they bring up just the idea of children, that, oh, no. No way. It's killing the children. Can't argue with that. The children. Oh, geez. So, I want to explore this scenario.
A child of eight, a youth league baseball player and avid fan of the Yankees, is watching cartoons. He decides to flip the channel to CNN, and he catches the coverage of the A-Rod steroid story. He loves A-Rod. Looks up to him. Admires him. Wants to grow up and play major league baseball. But, since he saw that his hero is a steroid user, which he doesn't understand at all, he's crushed. He's crushed because he knows that his hero is a cheater. A low-life bastard. Someone who robbed the purity of the game. His childhood is ruined. He's miserable at school. His grades drop. His friends hate him now. His parents are nowhere to be seen. And, if they were around, their hands are tied. Their only parents. And, we all know that parents have no real impact on a child's thoughts.
The kid grows up and has issues of trust and confidence. He's long removed from baseball, now spending his days at the video game parlor, drinking can after can of Red Bull just to stay up and play more Deer Hunter games. He loves the feel of that plastic rifle as he blasts the digital deer into oblivion. But, he needs more. So, he buys a real rifle. Next thing you know he's picking people off one by one at the mall. And, it's massive bloodshed and heartbreak. And, most importantly, it's Alex Rodriguez's fault.
Come on! You must see how ridiculous this is. I'll buy anyone's idea that what A-Rod did, and what many steroid users in baseball do, is detrimental to the game. I love valid arguments. But, I will no longer accept that his actions have anything to do with anybody's kid. It's not realistic. It's lazy. And, it gets us no where. If you want to have an interesting discussion about A-Rod and steroids, leave the kids out of it.
The next topic is one that bugs me on almost a daily basis. Here it is: You're at a crosswalk. You start to walk across. And, a car pulls up who doesn't see you. He/she brakes, stops for you. You stop walking, not wanting to be hit by a moving vehicle, and make eye contact with the driver. And, what does that driver do next?
Exactly! He motions you across by a flick of the wrist. Are you kidding me!? I'm begging everyone, from now on, to stop the flick of the wrist thing. The order... that you're giving the walker. Don't ever do it again. It's very condescending. And, it's unnecessary. Who do you think you are? A crossing guard? Are you a traffic cop? Do you have a whistle? Are you that insecure that you have to be in charge and give orders at the crosswalk?
Why not wave? The whole point is to show the pedestrian that you will not run him over. So, why not wave? Or, throw up a peace sign? Or, nod and smile? Why do you have to do the Tom Matsie sign for 'hit away'? It's trite. It's annoying. It makes you look like a weak, insecure prick who needs to push people around all day.
And, never, I mean NEVER, do the double flick of the wrist. If you're going with the flick of the wrist, you don't need to compound your jerky attitude by adding ANOTHER flick for the quick, double flick. Don't ever do it to me. Or, I'll give you a sign with my hand.
The bird.
It's such a simplistic way of looking at this whole situation. What do these people think? That if they bring up just the idea of children, that, oh, no. No way. It's killing the children. Can't argue with that. The children. Oh, geez. So, I want to explore this scenario.
A child of eight, a youth league baseball player and avid fan of the Yankees, is watching cartoons. He decides to flip the channel to CNN, and he catches the coverage of the A-Rod steroid story. He loves A-Rod. Looks up to him. Admires him. Wants to grow up and play major league baseball. But, since he saw that his hero is a steroid user, which he doesn't understand at all, he's crushed. He's crushed because he knows that his hero is a cheater. A low-life bastard. Someone who robbed the purity of the game. His childhood is ruined. He's miserable at school. His grades drop. His friends hate him now. His parents are nowhere to be seen. And, if they were around, their hands are tied. Their only parents. And, we all know that parents have no real impact on a child's thoughts.
The kid grows up and has issues of trust and confidence. He's long removed from baseball, now spending his days at the video game parlor, drinking can after can of Red Bull just to stay up and play more Deer Hunter games. He loves the feel of that plastic rifle as he blasts the digital deer into oblivion. But, he needs more. So, he buys a real rifle. Next thing you know he's picking people off one by one at the mall. And, it's massive bloodshed and heartbreak. And, most importantly, it's Alex Rodriguez's fault.
Come on! You must see how ridiculous this is. I'll buy anyone's idea that what A-Rod did, and what many steroid users in baseball do, is detrimental to the game. I love valid arguments. But, I will no longer accept that his actions have anything to do with anybody's kid. It's not realistic. It's lazy. And, it gets us no where. If you want to have an interesting discussion about A-Rod and steroids, leave the kids out of it.
The next topic is one that bugs me on almost a daily basis. Here it is: You're at a crosswalk. You start to walk across. And, a car pulls up who doesn't see you. He/she brakes, stops for you. You stop walking, not wanting to be hit by a moving vehicle, and make eye contact with the driver. And, what does that driver do next?
Exactly! He motions you across by a flick of the wrist. Are you kidding me!? I'm begging everyone, from now on, to stop the flick of the wrist thing. The order... that you're giving the walker. Don't ever do it again. It's very condescending. And, it's unnecessary. Who do you think you are? A crossing guard? Are you a traffic cop? Do you have a whistle? Are you that insecure that you have to be in charge and give orders at the crosswalk?
Why not wave? The whole point is to show the pedestrian that you will not run him over. So, why not wave? Or, throw up a peace sign? Or, nod and smile? Why do you have to do the Tom Matsie sign for 'hit away'? It's trite. It's annoying. It makes you look like a weak, insecure prick who needs to push people around all day.
And, never, I mean NEVER, do the double flick of the wrist. If you're going with the flick of the wrist, you don't need to compound your jerky attitude by adding ANOTHER flick for the quick, double flick. Don't ever do it to me. Or, I'll give you a sign with my hand.
The bird.
Friday, February 6, 2009
She's Having A Baby
Congratulations to Frank and Jen Daczewitz on the birth of their baby boy. His name is Oliver Gracin Daczewitz, and he and his mother are healthy and doing great. Daddy is beaming and celebratory. Congrats, guys! Love the Olly.
This leads me to today's post. I want to explore the California octuplets mom and the whole situation. I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this, because I really don't have a clue. Usually, I can line myself up with a side based on long thoughts and practical discussion. So far, I haven't with this.
In case you don't know, the story is that a California mother of six just had octuplets. So, she now has 14 total kids. Her name is Nadya Suleman. And, she's a single mom. Part of the controversy is that she had fertility treatments. Although I'm not an expert in this type of procedure, I know that in these cases, doctors implant hundreds if not thousands of eggs hoping that one will catch. Then, one baby is born. But, in some cases, more than one egg implants and survives. In this case, eight eggs landed or settled in or made it.
Part of me says that no one should have that many babies. Illinois law says that Day Care centers must have a maximum of four children per caretaker. I have one child, and I raise him with his mother. And, we're tired, always catching up, etc. Multiply that by 14!!! I can't imagine. So, I lean towards the group that wants doctors to monitor this, regulate it, and not allow this to happen.
Then, I start to think about the other side. And, when I start accessing the situation, I realize that it's none of my business. I might have an opinion about it, as so many others do, but my opinion doesn't matter. My opinion, whether for or against her, is inconsequential. And, you know what they say about opinions? Opinions are like assholes. Everyone's got one. Except the Coneheads, but that's a different story all together.
So, I'm asking everyone if they have an opinion. If so, why does your opinion matter? What do you think about this case? Do you care? Does it bother you? What side are you on?
This leads me to today's post. I want to explore the California octuplets mom and the whole situation. I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this, because I really don't have a clue. Usually, I can line myself up with a side based on long thoughts and practical discussion. So far, I haven't with this.
In case you don't know, the story is that a California mother of six just had octuplets. So, she now has 14 total kids. Her name is Nadya Suleman. And, she's a single mom. Part of the controversy is that she had fertility treatments. Although I'm not an expert in this type of procedure, I know that in these cases, doctors implant hundreds if not thousands of eggs hoping that one will catch. Then, one baby is born. But, in some cases, more than one egg implants and survives. In this case, eight eggs landed or settled in or made it.
Part of me says that no one should have that many babies. Illinois law says that Day Care centers must have a maximum of four children per caretaker. I have one child, and I raise him with his mother. And, we're tired, always catching up, etc. Multiply that by 14!!! I can't imagine. So, I lean towards the group that wants doctors to monitor this, regulate it, and not allow this to happen.
Then, I start to think about the other side. And, when I start accessing the situation, I realize that it's none of my business. I might have an opinion about it, as so many others do, but my opinion doesn't matter. My opinion, whether for or against her, is inconsequential. And, you know what they say about opinions? Opinions are like assholes. Everyone's got one. Except the Coneheads, but that's a different story all together.
So, I'm asking everyone if they have an opinion. If so, why does your opinion matter? What do you think about this case? Do you care? Does it bother you? What side are you on?
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