Tuesday, November 30, 2004

The Basketball Brawl

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

Professional sports were recently in the news. Not because it was a playoff, either. No, some of the Detroit Pistons got into a melee after a fan decided it would be a good idea to throw a cup of liquid onto a player. Granted, the fan was in the wrong, and should probably be banned from attending any game for the rest of the season. Here's a thought: cut off the alcohol at some point. Brain cells might stay intact. As for the players, they were fined a good deal of money and the main instigators were also banned from playing in games. This is also as it should be, since they obviously forgot what the word "professional" means. Respect begins at home, folks, and coaches have an obligation to reinforce that. Don't leave it to a sports comissioner to handle discipline. Just like teachers punishing students for poor behavior and parents taking away privileges once the child returns home.

Extra, Extra! This Nation's Gone to Pot!

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

For once, pot dominated the news rather then politics. An improvement? Anyway, there is a woman trying to have a case heard before the Supreme Court about taking medical marijuana. Why? She has an inoperable brain tumor. According to her on camera interview, she cannot stop taking pot because she would "die" without it. Wait a minute. She has cancer of the brain, so that would likely kill her anyway. Of course, some CA citizens support her in this. More states backed this proposal, but only CA has Montel.

Sunday, November 21, 2004

Death to Progress

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

Computer has gone batty for the umpteenth time. However, it is basically focused on one site in particular at the moment. Not sure why, all I want to do is find an upcoming episode of my favorite television show. Is the show that secret? This is the perfect esample of art imitating life. On Capital Hill, Republicans changed the already set in place rules so that Tom DeLay could continue his work even if indicted in his home state of Texas. Why? He has yet to see any action on that standpoint. However, some of his former associates have been. Here's a hint ladies and gentlemen, no matter how indispensible you may think you are, your constiuents can always throw you out of office. The last election results gave the Reds so much power already that surely the coup of getting rid of a person at the top cannot defeat them...

Monday, November 15, 2004

Conspiracy Revisited

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

There is a guy who made the news recently because he wants to reopen the investigation into what happened on 9/11. Personally, I think he should stay off anybody's camera so as to avoid being forever labeled as a kook. Unfortunately, this is the exact image he projects in an on camera interview. That being said, however, there may yet be some still unanswered questions. For example, we all saw footage from the World Trade Center Towers. Did they really blow up as a result of being hit by airplanes? I can hear every engineering and physics major calling for my head. Yes, I know. Those twin towers stayed upright, though, even with planes stuck in them. 2) No tapes or written documentation of any kind from the Pentagon. Out if curiosity, why not? Seems to me that if everything happened as we thought, no biggie to prove the point. 3) Building 7 of WTC (3-6 kicked to the curb) collapsed as well without benefit of a plane. Mary Alice Young, are you listening? We could use some words of wisdom here.

My take on Russell Gunn's Ethnomusicology

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

One of the group of CD's I am reviewing right now is Ethnomusicology by Russell Gunn, a jazz mixture of piano, horns, keyboards, and other instruments. As CD's go, it's not that bad. However, most songs bear a resemblance to one another. This by itself is not the best testament of how much listeners will enjoy the selections. One song those who appreciate muscial theatre may find appealing is "Summertime", from Porgy and Bess. This typically Gershwin tune is given an upbeat rendering by Gunn, but recognizable nonetheless. If interested, justin-time.com is the production company.

Saturday, November 13, 2004

Peterson Pondering

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

Scott Peterson has been found guilty of double murder, although on a lesser scale when it came to his unborn son. Now then, by definition of law, this means the prosecution should have proved its case beyond "reasonable doubt". What does this signify? That a reasonable person cannot have doubt when it comes to a person's guilt. Did the "burden of proof" work? No. The case was flimsy from the start. All that was proven was that Scott was a lying cheat whose wants and needs were the only ones which mattered. Pliers in the boat? The hair was too tiny for a clear indication of ownership. Yes, Scott did not help his case much when one followed his actions. However, grieving people do not act according to protocol. What made the difference, perhaps, is that the foreman ended up being let go before any verdict could be rendered. Why? Because this guy was both a lawyer and doctor taking copious notes. He not only understood law, but realized all angles required complete and full examination. If still found guilty, fine. Mark Geragos should be able to appeal now. Easily. That being said, however, the defense failed too, by not providing a reasonable alternative to who killed Laci and Conor.

Friday, November 12, 2004

It ain't over til the Fat Lady Sings

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

Arafat was buried today and Scott Peterson was found guilty of murdering his wife and unborn son. At last. yes, they were news. Although, once again, the media talked about these two items ad nauseum for longer than needed. CBS had to apologize for interrupting a CSI NY episode with the news of Arafat's death (that was news?). Why did this make news? Because if CBS had chosen to wait five minutes, the local news would have come on and led with that story. ABC interrupted again with the Peterson verdict. The term "crawl" was invented because there can be a ticker tape sliding alongside the bottom of the television screen which lets viewers catch up with the world without a disruption. Time to move on, folks. There are other stories to cover.

Schrenko indicted on theft charges | ajc.com

Schrenko indicted on theft charges | ajc.com

Explain this, please. Evidently Schrenko is a smart lady. After all, she did make it to the top of the school board as a Superintendent, right? It seems to me that if she was going to embezzle funds (her personality seems to lend credence to that), she would have enough common sense to stay out of the money trail. Oh well. At least "innocence until proven guilty still holds true, even for her.

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

Okay, that's a little cruel. However, Arafat finally died last night after four long days of news reporting. He sank into a coma, rallied for a bit, but ended up with the only outcome imaginable. What gets me is why in the world the news media kept up the vigil. Would not the real story have been when Arafat died rather then when he was barely part of the breathing world? Slow news day, I suppose.

Saturday, November 06, 2004

Had to stop and think

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

While I was surfing today, I ran across a blog with JFK's (the asassianted one, not the one who recently lost the election) definition of a liberal. It made me start thinking about my own beliefs on hot button issues. You know, the ones so prominently featured when it came time to go out and vote.
Here's the thing: I used to vote a straight party Republican ticket until I realized that it automatically put people into office I did not want there. At the state level, it is possible to vote for Democrats and Republicans alike. Which I proceeded to do.
Anyway, do my beliefs make me a liberal? I'll spell them out, you decide. I believe in marriage between a man and a woman, although I do NOT believe that the Constitution should be amended in order to reflect that. (GA already has the law on its books, govt. needs to butt out) I want a husband, not a wife. I believe that sexual orientation, like gender or race, or political affiliation, should not be reasons for discrimination. Do gays make better parents than straights? Probably in some cases, but certainly not all. I believe partial birth abortion should be banned, for the procedure is horrific. I believe that people who do not want their children need to find those who would simply adore nothing less than to raise a child. That being said, not every one with the interest or funds to adopt should do so. I believe in stem cell research for its own sake. There are other ways to acheive it than embryonic nethods, though. Try this: save umbilical cord blood for use. Those who want to see this medical miracle in use can fund it themselves and not pester the govt. for help.
I believe television, while bringing issues to the forefront and values to the table, should be taken on the same level as media or books , CD's, etc. Always with a grain of salt. Especially news-although journalists with integrity will make an effort to present more than one side of the issue. For the record, I like Extreme Makeover, West Wing, 8 Simple Rules, Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives. These sharp shows reflect life honestly, even if they are skewed to ensure viewers watch each week.
Liberal? Not really. Thinking for myself? Priceless.

Friday, November 05, 2004

Arrrggh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

My computer is back to normal after throwing fits for a few days. You'd think with all the advances in technology, they'd make computers which never broke down. Of course, that would be entirely too simple.
For most, this would be a temporary inconvienence. And it would be for me, too, except for one thing. I'm a materials reviewer for an online websitehttp://blogcritics.org. With membership completely free, and no payment needed for materials or shipping, I can get books, CD's, tickets sent to me as often as I wish because I compose a blog. The trade off is that I write up a review for said item, mostly on a weekly basis. Usually it's one review a week, sometimes more. Best of all, I get to keep whatever ends up being sent to me. No monetary compensation, but I do not have to spend money I don't have on simple pleasures. You can find my Blogcritic reviews at the site under NancyGail.

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Can we say lazy?

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

In my local paper today, an article ran about our mayor getting angry phone calls, letters, etc. from angry constiuents. Why? Garbage pick up. But not for the reason you might think. You see, people were mad that their garbage was not being picked up. So? There just happens to be an ordinance that says you need to place your bags of trash into the plastic containers the city provided you in order for the trash to be picked up. This makes sense; those cans are able to be secured by handles which lock onto the lids when they are all the way down on the cans. Not to mention if the bags rip, at least the mess is contained all in one spot.
People are getting angry because they are just leaving their garbage bags on the street and nobody takes away the trash. Gee ,wonder why? Folks, it only takes about two seconds to throw your trash in an actual can. If you'd rather not be bothered with that particular chore, assign it to your kids. Otherwise, maintain the ordinance.

Monday, November 01, 2004

One day to go

'http://notesfromnancy.blogspot.com
Blogarama

Are we going to have another repeat of 2000? Let's hope not. However, if delaying the outcome so that everyone who is legally registered to cast their aspirations or aspersions on Bush has an opportunity to, I'm all for it. Castro, Bin Laden, and Arafat have finally helped out in the political process-they took the focus off the campaign for a little bit. By the way ABC, for the"Special Report" during Oprah, a scrawl sliding its bottom at the extreme lower portion of our tv screens would have sufficed. The candidates agreed that Bin Laden has to go! Hallelujah. Now, if we could all agree on the same measure for Bush... I'm talking votes here, people. We have a responsiblity in this country to express our views on how well a politiican is doing. The person sucks, they are going to find them selves kicked to the pavement. Don't believe me? Ask Cynthia McKinney.