This has been the least talked about Derby in years.
I did some research, and placed $50 on Monba, so, go Monba!
My research consisted of reading this article, and reading a note that he won on this very track in 2007. That's it.
Btw, there's too many horses in this race, clearly. It's unfortunate because it really limits the best horses. There should be a MAX of 15.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
Imagine
Imagine in 2004 John Kerry won the election. Then, in early 2007 someone puts a briefing on his desk, and the title is "HOMEOWNERS ABOUT TO LOSE ALL THEIR MONEY BECAUSE OF SUBPRIME MORTGAGE PROBLEMS" or "WALL ST BANKS IN SERIOUS FINANCIAL TROUBLE DUE TO LEVERAGE."
Now imagine a President Kerry not reading those briefings, and then 2008 rolls along and we have all these financial problems.
You think he gets elected a second term?
Unfortunately for Kerry, he couldn't just start randomly bombing banks.
Here's the point:
When it's your actual money, you care. When it's debt others will have to pay in lives and money long after you're gone, you don't.
America.
Now imagine a President Kerry not reading those briefings, and then 2008 rolls along and we have all these financial problems.
You think he gets elected a second term?
Unfortunately for Kerry, he couldn't just start randomly bombing banks.
Here's the point:
When it's your actual money, you care. When it's debt others will have to pay in lives and money long after you're gone, you don't.
America.
FaceCrack
So I bit the bullet and created a Facebook account for myself this afternoon. I'd link you to the site to give you an idea of what it is, but I have a sneaky suspicion that if you're reading blogs, you know.
Anyway, what a nightmare this is turning out to be.
First off, I only did it because I'm monitoring this radio program, and the host keeps referencing her facebook page. In order for me to check it out, etc., I had to create a profile. The smart guy creates a fake page so he doesn't have to deal with the facebook extravaganza. Again, the smart guy...
Let me start with what's good about facebook:
For starters, I learned that my friend Andrew is "taking his son to swimming lessons."
YAY! Like I give a shit? Is he posting that for me, for his wife, for his family, for his boss, just in general, or for someone else completely? Is it a greeting/farewell he has saved, and it's easier to just throw that up there than it is to respond to anyone seeking something from him during the time when he's teaching his child how not to drown? I don't know?!?! I'm new to the facebook thing.
Another great aspect of facebook is the social interaction you have with others. And by that I do not mean the "add friends" option, and check out how all the people you are no longer friends with have new last names, or live in Rome. No, no. I mean the interaction I have with my current friends, as we discuss what happened to "Barbara...man did she put on a few..." Hey, I didn't say it. I'm just reading it and passing it on.
Yes, Barbara put on a few, but we always knew she would. She had that "put on a few" frame, and she did not let us down. Just herself.
Or as another friend said, "i take solace in knowing that these girls just got fatter and uglier for some reason..."
I hear what you're saying, and I respect it. Part of me feels that.
Me, I don't care about what these girls are doing, just like I didn't care then. I wasn't hanging out with the younger girls in high school because it was the thing older guys did. No. I was hanging out with the younger girls because they were clearly better looking, and clearly cooler than most of the girls I knew who were my age, sans 1 or 2.
Which gets me to the bad part of facebook, I'm realizing fast.
Yeah, that last part was the GOOD PART!
So back to the bad part of facebook...
I don't want to know you. If I wanted to know you, I'd know you, plain and simple. Yes there's that random person who you haven't heard from who you may want to know, and that's great. But I have a feeling that's not what makes facebook what it is. It wasn't built on the desire to connect me to Ray King or Brian Mayer. I like Ray King. I saw him at the reunion. Maybe I'll see him at the next one? Maybe he'll facebook me? Is that even what it's called? Who knows? To be honest, I don't really care that much; I wasn't thinking about it. If Ray wanted to find me, he could. If he REALLY wanted to, he could.
Ahh, but now there's facecrack, so I bet he will. Which again, is fine, if it's Ray. But all the other people, it's just so fucking strange.
Is facebook making the world a better place? I don't know! I doubt it. It's probably not for me. I'm trying to cut down on the number of people I'm friends/friendly with, and this is just making that harder. Now I can't act like I don't care because I know your son just learned how to swim, and that's great. But if I never knew I could have plausible deniability and not give a shit. Do you care about my life now that you have a kid? Naaah.
I have a lot of free time, no doubt, and apparently others do as well because this facebook thing seems to be a place where many of them are spending much of it. Oh, you're at work? Don't let that stop you from dicking around all day, finding out where Tracy has been the last 12 years.
Ahhhh, Tracy, that girl was so hot back in the day.
Yes, back in the day she WAS so hot. And now she's not. In fact, she hasn't been hot for 12 years, which is why you stopped talking to her 11 years ago. But she's back! She found you. You locked yourself in, told everyone where you went to high school, your date of birth, and there she is, Tracy. Older, living in Hoboken, annnnnnnnd...................divorced.
So that's been my facebook experience so far.
It was fun while it lasted. I think I'll do it for another day and see how it goes. For a guy who's "such a dick" I am certainly getting a lot of "requests" to be friends and "confirmations" as well. I guess that says a lot about what people really have on their plates of life these days, and not so much saying anything about me. Unless their therapist told them they should befriend some "big assholes."
I guess it exists because as exciting as your kid learning to swim really is, you kinda wish you were going out with Tracy tonight? I don't know. I don't have the answers. I'm new to this.
Anyway, what a nightmare this is turning out to be.
First off, I only did it because I'm monitoring this radio program, and the host keeps referencing her facebook page. In order for me to check it out, etc., I had to create a profile. The smart guy creates a fake page so he doesn't have to deal with the facebook extravaganza. Again, the smart guy...
Let me start with what's good about facebook:
For starters, I learned that my friend Andrew is "taking his son to swimming lessons."
YAY! Like I give a shit? Is he posting that for me, for his wife, for his family, for his boss, just in general, or for someone else completely? Is it a greeting/farewell he has saved, and it's easier to just throw that up there than it is to respond to anyone seeking something from him during the time when he's teaching his child how not to drown? I don't know?!?! I'm new to the facebook thing.
Another great aspect of facebook is the social interaction you have with others. And by that I do not mean the "add friends" option, and check out how all the people you are no longer friends with have new last names, or live in Rome. No, no. I mean the interaction I have with my current friends, as we discuss what happened to "Barbara...man did she put on a few..." Hey, I didn't say it. I'm just reading it and passing it on.
Yes, Barbara put on a few, but we always knew she would. She had that "put on a few" frame, and she did not let us down. Just herself.
Or as another friend said, "i take solace in knowing that these girls just got fatter and uglier for some reason..."
I hear what you're saying, and I respect it. Part of me feels that.
Me, I don't care about what these girls are doing, just like I didn't care then. I wasn't hanging out with the younger girls in high school because it was the thing older guys did. No. I was hanging out with the younger girls because they were clearly better looking, and clearly cooler than most of the girls I knew who were my age, sans 1 or 2.
Which gets me to the bad part of facebook, I'm realizing fast.
Yeah, that last part was the GOOD PART!
So back to the bad part of facebook...
I don't want to know you. If I wanted to know you, I'd know you, plain and simple. Yes there's that random person who you haven't heard from who you may want to know, and that's great. But I have a feeling that's not what makes facebook what it is. It wasn't built on the desire to connect me to Ray King or Brian Mayer. I like Ray King. I saw him at the reunion. Maybe I'll see him at the next one? Maybe he'll facebook me? Is that even what it's called? Who knows? To be honest, I don't really care that much; I wasn't thinking about it. If Ray wanted to find me, he could. If he REALLY wanted to, he could.
Ahh, but now there's facecrack, so I bet he will. Which again, is fine, if it's Ray. But all the other people, it's just so fucking strange.
Is facebook making the world a better place? I don't know! I doubt it. It's probably not for me. I'm trying to cut down on the number of people I'm friends/friendly with, and this is just making that harder. Now I can't act like I don't care because I know your son just learned how to swim, and that's great. But if I never knew I could have plausible deniability and not give a shit. Do you care about my life now that you have a kid? Naaah.
I have a lot of free time, no doubt, and apparently others do as well because this facebook thing seems to be a place where many of them are spending much of it. Oh, you're at work? Don't let that stop you from dicking around all day, finding out where Tracy has been the last 12 years.
Ahhhh, Tracy, that girl was so hot back in the day.
Yes, back in the day she WAS so hot. And now she's not. In fact, she hasn't been hot for 12 years, which is why you stopped talking to her 11 years ago. But she's back! She found you. You locked yourself in, told everyone where you went to high school, your date of birth, and there she is, Tracy. Older, living in Hoboken, annnnnnnnd...................divorced.
So that's been my facebook experience so far.
It was fun while it lasted. I think I'll do it for another day and see how it goes. For a guy who's "such a dick" I am certainly getting a lot of "requests" to be friends and "confirmations" as well. I guess that says a lot about what people really have on their plates of life these days, and not so much saying anything about me. Unless their therapist told them they should befriend some "big assholes."
I guess it exists because as exciting as your kid learning to swim really is, you kinda wish you were going out with Tracy tonight? I don't know. I don't have the answers. I'm new to this.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Quick News
Just some things I've been seeing, which I'm sure you have too.
The gas tax thing, please, it's a terrible idea. Obama is correct in saying so. Cutting the gas tax for the summer will not change peoples' habits at all. Americans spend, and they accrue debt on their credit cards, period. We're not a responsible lot, that's for sure. Saving drivers $30 over the course of the summer is a joke, and it certainly does not fix any long term problems we're having. Plus, the money to fix roads will be much less, and that's clearly more important. Yes, Clinton is pandering because she's a populist, who probably believes in what she's saying, even if it is wrong. And McCain is pandering because he's a panderer, at least on this issue, period.
I love how people are calling the black man an elitist. Conservatives have evolved more than I had initially believed. It's really quite sad. Poor old America, can't afford to drive to Grandma's house. Niggah Please.
Senate panel votes to block reconstruction money in Iraq. Really? Who gives a shit? These clowns are debating blocking $2 Million they want the Iraqis to pickup. Hate to break it to you, but during this Senate debate, assuming it lasted 2-3 hours, we spent somewhere between $60-100 million. Thank you US Senate, for saving us like 5 minutes of time. Can I somehow apply that time to the end of my life so I can squeeze in one more rub and tug?
And finally, for the day, I'll end with Obama again. He says the nation is "tired of hearing about his former pastor..." Yes, true, but the nation was also tired of hearing about Swift Boats, but that doesn't stop these racist, nazi, pieces of shit. Sure, most people are tired, but what else can we fill all the cable news shows with?
Sorry, Barack, it's going to continue on. I just can't wait for McCain to actually say it.
It's ironic that because we have more cable news outlets, running 24/7, we actually have less news that matters. These networks have to fill their airtime all day long, and because of it we are bombarded with shit on top of shit. Stories like Jeremiah Wright, and swift boats get run all day long, not to mention Natalie Holloway, OJ, and the rest.
So now all the shows look alike; they're all just part of the cable news cacophony. Even if a show is doing a good job, like Keith Olberman, it doesn't matter because it's all just the same to most people.
It's the Cable News Nonsense.
The gas tax thing, please, it's a terrible idea. Obama is correct in saying so. Cutting the gas tax for the summer will not change peoples' habits at all. Americans spend, and they accrue debt on their credit cards, period. We're not a responsible lot, that's for sure. Saving drivers $30 over the course of the summer is a joke, and it certainly does not fix any long term problems we're having. Plus, the money to fix roads will be much less, and that's clearly more important. Yes, Clinton is pandering because she's a populist, who probably believes in what she's saying, even if it is wrong. And McCain is pandering because he's a panderer, at least on this issue, period.
I love how people are calling the black man an elitist. Conservatives have evolved more than I had initially believed. It's really quite sad. Poor old America, can't afford to drive to Grandma's house. Niggah Please.
Senate panel votes to block reconstruction money in Iraq. Really? Who gives a shit? These clowns are debating blocking $2 Million they want the Iraqis to pickup. Hate to break it to you, but during this Senate debate, assuming it lasted 2-3 hours, we spent somewhere between $60-100 million. Thank you US Senate, for saving us like 5 minutes of time. Can I somehow apply that time to the end of my life so I can squeeze in one more rub and tug?
And finally, for the day, I'll end with Obama again. He says the nation is "tired of hearing about his former pastor..." Yes, true, but the nation was also tired of hearing about Swift Boats, but that doesn't stop these racist, nazi, pieces of shit. Sure, most people are tired, but what else can we fill all the cable news shows with?
Sorry, Barack, it's going to continue on. I just can't wait for McCain to actually say it.
It's ironic that because we have more cable news outlets, running 24/7, we actually have less news that matters. These networks have to fill their airtime all day long, and because of it we are bombarded with shit on top of shit. Stories like Jeremiah Wright, and swift boats get run all day long, not to mention Natalie Holloway, OJ, and the rest.
So now all the shows look alike; they're all just part of the cable news cacophony. Even if a show is doing a good job, like Keith Olberman, it doesn't matter because it's all just the same to most people.
It's the Cable News Nonsense.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Another Thing
I just heard someone on ESPN say "Barry Zito is at a crossroads in his life..."
What? Sorry?
Listen, Barry Zito is not a good pitcher, this we know. But, a "crossroads?" Please, give me that "crossroads."
The guy sucks at his job, was just told he'd have to work half as much, and is getting paid about $150 Million. We should all have such problems.
What? Sorry?
Listen, Barry Zito is not a good pitcher, this we know. But, a "crossroads?" Please, give me that "crossroads."
The guy sucks at his job, was just told he'd have to work half as much, and is getting paid about $150 Million. We should all have such problems.
Zito
Let me let you in on a little secret: Barry Zito sucks. Yes, I know, this is no longer a secret since he's probably the worst pitcher in baseball now. That's not the secret. The real secret is Barry Zito always was an average pitcher, and now with the added pressure coupled with the move to the top of a rotation, he's actually the worst.
Let me explain how this all happened.
When Zito was a free agent there was a clamoring to bring him from Oakland to the NY Mets. At the time I remember thinking, "God, please let this happen. That guy is so average he'll be the perfect solution for ruining the Mets." Fortunately for the Metropolitans it did not happen.
See, the thing about Zito is he's a finesse pitcher who is not as good as lefties like Tom Glavine, or even Mike Hampton. I say this because those two guys have at least been front of rotation guys. Yes, I know, Zito won the Cy Young, but he did it in the third spot with Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson pitching in front of him. Every 4-5th game he went up against another team's 3rd starter. Never was he front line, and never did he throw with great pace, or was he able to change it up enough to keep batters really guessing. The guy had no pressure, playing in a no pressure town, with two better pitchers in front of him.
What next? He goes to the neighboring city, where there is pressure, and is placed in the #1 spot. Add to it he's given an absurd contract, in a town that has been eating Barry Bonds' crap for 2 years. Bottom line: effed.
Barry Zito was never a great pitcher, and now he's even worse. It has nothing to do with his current ability, although you could say the pressure has made him a bit worse. Again, in truth, he was never that good.
The Giants are in year 2, arguably, of the worst contract ever in sports for a player who is not injured. He will not get better.
All I can say is it couldn't have happened to a better team. A team that was still cheering it's 'roided hero last year while the rest of the world was nodding its collective head side to side. Sorry.
Let me explain how this all happened.
When Zito was a free agent there was a clamoring to bring him from Oakland to the NY Mets. At the time I remember thinking, "God, please let this happen. That guy is so average he'll be the perfect solution for ruining the Mets." Fortunately for the Metropolitans it did not happen.
See, the thing about Zito is he's a finesse pitcher who is not as good as lefties like Tom Glavine, or even Mike Hampton. I say this because those two guys have at least been front of rotation guys. Yes, I know, Zito won the Cy Young, but he did it in the third spot with Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson pitching in front of him. Every 4-5th game he went up against another team's 3rd starter. Never was he front line, and never did he throw with great pace, or was he able to change it up enough to keep batters really guessing. The guy had no pressure, playing in a no pressure town, with two better pitchers in front of him.
What next? He goes to the neighboring city, where there is pressure, and is placed in the #1 spot. Add to it he's given an absurd contract, in a town that has been eating Barry Bonds' crap for 2 years. Bottom line: effed.
Barry Zito was never a great pitcher, and now he's even worse. It has nothing to do with his current ability, although you could say the pressure has made him a bit worse. Again, in truth, he was never that good.
The Giants are in year 2, arguably, of the worst contract ever in sports for a player who is not injured. He will not get better.
All I can say is it couldn't have happened to a better team. A team that was still cheering it's 'roided hero last year while the rest of the world was nodding its collective head side to side. Sorry.
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