Baseball Season!!

While the start of the official season is a month away, Spring Training started and I couldn't be happier. In fact, I might even make a trip down to watch some Spring Training games.

I'm in hopes that the Braves are going to make a World Series run, but I have to be realistic and say I doubt that's going to happen. Regardless, I'm hoping its the Braves and Red Sox in October ... I'm also hoping for that winning lottery ticket to appear.

Anywhoo -- good to see Chipper Jones is back playing. Gotta love his quote this morning to the ole journos (from today's AJC): “If they think I’m doing this for the money, they obviously haven’t seen my bank account,” he said. “I’ve never played this game for money. Nor will I. My mind doesn’t work that way. I play this game because I love my teammates and they wanted me to come back.

It keeps getting better ...

So I thought yesterday's story about the SAS taking out British citizens in Libya was great until the Sun posted the story below. They've been in country for weeks and smuggled in all of their equipment / supplies.

Way to go Pippen! I'm impressed and can't wait for you to sell the movie rights to someone else.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3436544/SAS-fire-on-Libyan-thugs-trying-to-sabotage-rescue-of-British-oil-workers.html

Gotta love the SBS and SAS

Sounds like an amazing mission. I'd like to think our Delta boys were doing something similar ... eh Pippen?

This would never happen to my car

Cause I have an elephant gun in the trunk. Great story from Today's The Sun:

Wednesday Picture of the day

Teddy Roosevelt just requested his remains be moved to Canada

Caution -- anti-Obama administration rant about to occur ... In case you are living in a cave, which means you are either a member of Al Queda or stuck in cro-magnon-man times, things are changing drastically around the world, especially in my two favorite areas, Africa and the Mid-East.

Call me a pessimist, but I'm not as overly excited as our current administration about the "change" and democracy in the region. I'm happy to see that this could mean the end of radical Islam (or then again the exact opposite)- which by the way was predicted by both Powell and Bush but no one wants to point that out - and Al Queda, but I am more concerned about how the current admin has reverted back to Carter-ism almost over night. And if you think that worked well, Google Desert One.

Why, oh why, is the Obama administration weighing in on what's going on in the Mid-East on a daily basis. Obama is not Anderson Cooper and should not feel the need to share thoughts about the situation in the mid east. "Our" government's comments had a major influence in the demise of Mubarak in Egypt which might not be the smartest thing in the world b/c ole Hosni knows where the bodies are buried. Pretty sure we don't want him running his mouth off about all the things we've done in the "interest of democracy" in the mid-east. And now, we are weighing in on Libya, Bahrain, Syria and Iran.

First off, I want to say that I agree that democracy is super and that shooting protesters is wrong, but I do have a problem with an administration constantly weighing in on the side of protesters because they are protesting. Does the brain trust in Washington realize they are creating verbal precedence and doctrine when they comment on such issues? What will we do when they Iranians send out death squads to kill protesters in Tehran; because that is a plausible option. Or better yet, when Syria uses chemical weapons on its own people? Do we risk supporting the victims and as well as alienate and damage our relations with Israel even further?

All questions that no one has the answer ... and rightfully so ... these are tough questions. But wouldn't it have been easier to say nothing or just a simple "we think this is unfortunate" statement? Probably would have given us some time to determine the path forward and saved us all the future headaches.

I saw a T-Shirt the other day that had George Bush on it and in big letters underneath it said, "Miss me yet?" I'm not so sure its only him that I miss him specifically ... hell, I'd take Carter over the current goat rodeo ruining our foreign policy.

What I learned in the Big Easy

After spending a couple of days working in Baton Rouge, I took an evening off and headed down to New Orleans to spend some time with the one, the only, WWJCD. We haven't seen each other in years so we thought it would be a nice catch up. Here's what I learned, found out about New Orleans:

• Hurricane's are much better poured at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. And no Dr. Noisewater, I did not get punched in the face.
  
• GW Fins is good food -- the lobster pot stickers were one of the best things I've ever had and I really don't like Lobster
  
• The Cabaret Bars are full of Russians
  
• Bourbon street is a lot more fun when you have a hurricane in hand
  
• We saw members of the Soprano's cast in a swanky hotel
  
• There is actually a bar that goes around in a circle so your view is "constantly changing"
• We saw a wedding party with 28 bridesmaids -- 28 ... that's 56 people who are going to hound you about wedding gifts and judge you when you get divorced
  
• The Hilton Riverside is like Gatlinburg -- somewhere you should go once and then never go there again
• I've never had success at a Harrah's gambling
  
• 3 for 1 drinks at Cat's Meow might be on one of the greatest things ever
  
• And most importantly -- New Orleans is good once a year. Once you turn 30, adults should consider not returning because the hangover is painful, expensive and Charleston is a lot closer.
  

I'm planning my vacation to the red areas

I thought Gibby was gone?

Thanks to Dr. Noisewater for pointing out that the new press secretary might be just as bad as Gibby. Never thought that would be possible.

Seriously, can we just do an American Idol talent search for someone who has taken a speech class and can react to a question with out stammering about for twenty minutes?

Oh, look ... its another cute Canadian. Can we please shoot them now?

We all know that I "love" Canadians. So much so, that I refer to the entire country as America's Trucker hat. Most people don't see the evil ways of the Canucks until you go to Europe ... where they have a sense of entitlement and act like they own the world. Seems like their little entitlement is now spewing out of Canadian citizen, Justin Bieber.

In a recent interview in Rolling Stone, the Bieb said,"You guys are evil," he says. "Canada's the best country in the world. We go to the doctor and we don't need to worry about paying him, but here, your whole life, you're broke because of medical bills. My bodyguard's baby was premature, and now he has to pay for it. In Canada, if your baby's premature, he stays in the hospital as long as he needs to, and then you go home."

I'm starting to the think Aziz / Randy was right about the Bieb.

Raaaaaaaandy Declares War on Justin Bieber from Aziz Ansari

The People's Champion ... is back

Not that I watch much wrestling any more, but this is pretty awesome. If only Stone Cold Steve Austin would have come out there and provided Pippen with a Stone Cold Stunner.

They have a submarine?

This is awesome ... just a shame they caught them. Appears that the drug cartels in Colombia have a "narco-submarine". By far, the coolest thing I've heard of in years. I'm not really into the drug smuggling market, but if I were, I'd want a Submarine. Link

You know you are in trouble ...

When huge presidential supporters NBC and MSNBC are calling out the administration for their poor reaction to Egypt. You know it's bad when the Saudi's are calling us out publicly. I know he is trying to look more like Kennedy but unfortunately, he's coming up Carter.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thursday Tweet of the Day

History unfolding

Obama made a comment earlier today (which all the news channels covered) that we were about to watch history unfold in Egypt. Here's what we watched ... a president not leave office and then basically tell foreign nations to bugger off. Hmm, so I'm still waiting for that "history to unfold" or maybe the history was that another one country dislikes Obama. I've seen foreign policy screw ups but this is Carter-esque. And no Mr. President, WE don't have to get this right.

From NBC: NBC News' Chuck Todd reports that White House officials say President Barack Obama found Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's speech "extremely dispiriting." After making upbeat remarks earlier in the day at a speech in Michigan, in which he said the world was watching "history unfold," Obama is now expected only to issue a written statement this evening. "We've got to work this carefully," a U.S. official told Todd. "We've got to get this just right."

I want my life to be a beer commercial

Heineken - The Entrance from Desmond en Demian on Vimeo.

Later Gibbs ...

You've set the position back by 20 years. Adios. Hope you finally get to stay at that Holiday Inn while on the campaign trail.

Guess who just lost some voters

Yay (insert sarcastic font). The first lady is in town. Yay, its supposed to snow again (insert sarcastic font). Yay, traffic is going to suck.

Seriously, they are closing down the two major highways / interstates in Atlanta during rush hour to drive Michelle around. Are you kidding me?

Fantastic planning! Kinda like when they closed all the interstates in LA for an Obama fundraiser. I want a six hour commute home like I want it to snow again. Way to win friends and influence people. Not that I was going to vote for you anyways (cause I'm going to throw my vote away again and vote for Colin Powell) but this will certainly not win any friends and voters.

Looks like someone read the healthcare bill

I'm guessing this is how this story went down: The president finally read the healthcare bill and realized, "yup, I should quit smoking because after reading that crap, I'm not going to the doctor."

Personally, I bet he still lighting up on the golf course ... and who cares. The fact that this is even a story is a bit redonculous.

Obama has kicked the smoking habit, first lady says

Furman Baseball!!

This is for Captain Fry -- thought you'd like a quick stroll down memory late. Love how Moon went Dominican with the hat and looks super comfortable in front of the camera.

7 days ...

... until Valentine's Day and when pitchers and catchers report. Finally, Spring is right around the corner. And to celebrate ... one of my favorite baseball rituals. Can't wait until I'm back in Fenway this summer.

Go ahead ... make fun of me

But I can't wait for this movie to come out. Yes, there is a good chance that it will be horrible, but then again, most people know me for my ability to love awful movies.

Good to know

Did you know that we changed the lyrics to the national anthem? I guess Christina Aguilera was the only one who got the memo. Pretty sure this isn't the career reboot that she wanted.

Friday Picture of the Day

Thanks, Soon to be Mom Fun Times Girl

This won't go over well ..

I understand clever marketing, but combining a fashion launch with a revolution in a Muslim state, probably a bad idea (The Daily What).

Friday Update

Not much to report today ... I'm sitting in a hospital lobby with Grumpy and its tre' tre' exciting. Couple of things I now love about this hospital:

• They have a Starbucks
  
• If your here for over six hours, they valdiate parking ... wow, really?
  
• The "support staff" will go get food and drinks for you ... this is a tremendous improvement on other hospitals where you have to drive off site to get a bottle of water.
  
• The gift shop has Crunchie Bars !!!! I'm pretty sure it's the only place in the Southeast that actually has Crunchie Bars. I might come up with excuses to come hang out in the lobby.
• Old people don't adapt well to technology - watching Grumpy use an iPad is pretty entertaining.
  

Going to try hospital food shortly ... if I don't write back, someone call a doctor.

Wednesday Picture of the day

Thanks, Captain Fry.

The words ... I told you so ... come to mind

Anderson Cooper should be a finalist for the Darwin Awards. He went into the protest / crowds in Cairo and got smacked around a bit and he was surprised the way they reacted. Really? A very American man, in the Mideast, in the middle of an all Muslim protest where they are chanting Anti-Mubarak and Anti-American cries ... gets smacked around a bit. And you think we should be surprised?

Happy Groundhog Day

"Ned. I would love to sit here and talk to you ... but I'm not going to." You have no idea how many times I wish I could have said that today.

Groundhog Day - Ned Ryerson - watch more funny videos