Adam: Birthday Post

Boom Birthday post. Today marks the beginning of the year of Jordan for my life.
I turned 23 today and we all know that that number means one thing:

Next point: Sandstorm is the greatest song ever PERIOD.



Wish: All I want for my birthday is for LeBron James to put up 100 points against the Cavs and watch the faces of all the cLEAVEland people.

Last point:

Travis: Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire.

As The Filibust’s technology/media/entertainment/best writer, I generally offer commentary on technology news and issues that effect the readers and myself, on a macro and also micro level. Tonight, the issue is far more personal, and effects me and others on a level deeper than I have delved into before on this blog.

I am of coarse talking about the genocide of men’s balls.

As you read this blog, you could possibly be kills millions of sperm cells, thanks to the heat produced from your laptop sitting on your lap. A recent medical study stated “The combination of heat generated by the computers and the posture needed to balance the equipment on the lap leads to raised temperatures around the scrotum… past research shows that higher scrotal temperatures can damage sperm and affect fertility”. The study found that within the first 15 minutes of using a laptop scrotal temperatures increase by 33.8 degrees which can cause long term damage to one’s manjiggilies.

So what does this mean? Dare we “change our posture” to avoid the cooking of our Cracker Jacks? Or do we stand up as one Nation and tell computer manufacturers, “Hey! Stop killing our Love Spuds!”. All of us need to tell the likes of Steve Jobs that we will NOT stand for our brains being nuked by your stupid computers.

I hope that you would join me in my crusade.

Brian: Image Schmimage

What angle is the NFL trying to play here?

That is the only question I can ask myself after its latest punishment. Richard Seymour was only fined $25,000 for his punch of Ben Roethlisberger. That's it?

Jerome Harrison has been fined $150,000 for his helmet to helmet hits this season. Offensive tackled David Stewart was fined $20,000 for an unnecessary roughness penalty. LaMarr Woodley was fined $12,500 for a questionable roughing the passer penalty.

Those were all fines for playing the game of football aggressively. Some of those fines seem a bit much, and some of the fined penalties were questionable. Either way, the players were fined for things done between the whistles.

Seymour's punch was after a play and was blatantly obvious. And all he got was a $25,000 fine? Roger Goodell has repeatedly stated that he is trying to clean up the image of the NFL, rightfully suspending players for actions off the field. But what about actions on the field, in front of millions of viewers? Tons of people saw the punch and it was instantly uploaded on YouTube, and shown dozens of times of Sports Center.

Goodell has never shyed away from laying down harsh punishment for things that have been very publicly seen. Seymour should have been fined AND suspended for what he did. Throwing a punch in a game is a very immature way to handle yourself, and doesn't reflect well on the NFL. So why not suspend him and send a message that players need to control themselves during games?

If I was making millions of dollars each game, and new that I would only get fined $25,000 for decking someone, what is to stop me from doing it if I feel the situation calls for it? Plenty of NFL players would punch other players if they knew the penalty wouldn't be steep.

And now they know it won't. Good job Goodell on condemning aggressive play during the game, but, in a round-a-bout way, making a statement that it's not that bad to punch someone in the face.

So much for a complete image turnaround for the NFL.

Alan: Double Standards

My sincerest apologies for not posting in the last couple of weeks. With midterms, papers, reading, and school generally, I have been lacking in ideas and blogging. Although I am still not up to par with great ideas for blogs, I will at least be posting something this week.

In a write-in, I recieved a blog idea that highlights double standards in this world. The thing is, people like double standards...when they are the ones who benefit from them. You want to be able to do what you like, without others doing some of those very things to you.

There are many examples of contradictions. One of my favorites is the driver/pedestrian stand-off. When you are a driver, you want pedestrians to get out of your way so that you can make your right turn. When you are a pedestrian, you want drivers to slow down and just let you walk across the street without looking mad at you.

People want to have their cake and eat it too. I am honestly not sure how this phrase applies to this scenario, because what is the point of having cake if you cannot eat it...but this phrase is still always said in regards to these sorts of situations.

The person writing in to me pointed out that women look to men to be morons. In sit-coms the man messes things up, and the wife sweeps in to fix it. The write-in noted that women often will sit around talking about how foolish or moronic their male friends are. Then, they sit around and complain to these men for leaving the toilet seat up. If women know that men are morons, they ought to just check the seat before sitting down. (These are, again, the words of my write-in friend.)

Generally speaking, I think that contradictions, and double standards are informed by our sense of individuality, and looking out for number one. The more that we think just about ourselves, and our own wants and desires, the more that we end up upsetting others. We spend a lot of time looking at how our own situation is, instead of looking at the realities held by other people.

This is, however, not always the case. Some double standards are born out of thinking about other people. For example, in a lot of households, daughters are held to stricter rules about dating, curfews, or other such parental guidelines than sons. This is often chalked up to safety rules, and looking out for the daughter. Is there validity in this, or is this unfair?

Let's let go of our frustrations with double standards. Let's think about the driver when we are walking, or the pedestrian when we are driving. The more that we focus on how other people may be feeling, or what may be going on in their lives, the greater we show compassion for humanity. I think that a simple small act made on a daily basis can be a powerful symbol. A symbol for peace.

Travis: That Expensive Thing In Your Pants.

I love my Blackberry. I love it. Do I wish that I had a Droid X? Absolutely. But I have a good enough phone to keep me entertained and to offer multitasking during everyday occurrences. For the record: True multi-tasking is sending an email while taking a deuce. For all you know, I could be writing this while taking a deuce.

But what do these wonderful devices in our pockets actually cost? If you go to an AT&T store, and get the base standard iPhone, you will pay $200. Not bad right? My Blackberry Tour (far obsolete by now), was $50 with a resigned contract with Verizon. However I learned very quickly that these devices are far more expensive then we are lead to believe. Last spring I dropped my Blackberry and cracked the screen, leading a beautiful rainbow of incomprehensible color. It was depressing. However, my true sadness began when I found out what my Blackberry Tour “actuallly” costs.

My model at the time was posted on Amazon for $400, opposed to the $50 that I paid initially. It was mind blowing to discover the actual price of my cell phone when the service provider isn't subsidizing the cost. So this got me thinking. When all of our electronic devices are assembled overseas, what happens to the price of our phones when the labor powers in the USA take over the manufacturing of our wonderful devices? This answer was discovered in a statistic I heard recently.

Currently, $600 will get you a brand new iPhone 4G with no contract. The iPhone is developed here in the US, and is then assembled and imported overseas. However, if you were assemble the iPhone here in the USA, with unionized labor, an iPhone 4G would cost $5,000!

Because of America's high wages, high taxes, and union mandates, only the richest of the rich would ever be able to buy an iPhone (Though in our society, people would just throw it on a credit card and pay it for the next 15 years). So I have to ask what does this say about our labor market and future job growth? If everything is going digital, does that mean all of our manufacturing jobs will go too? Its a sad reality.

Finally, I would like to say Kudos! To our over regulated and over taxing government. Also Kudo's to unions, for demanding over reaching benefits, obscene retirement offerings, and $20+ per hour to push a button. Thanks to you, and the Indonesian guy who makes $1.50 an hour doing your same job, I get to own a Blackberry.

Adam: One Loko?

Yesterday the damn government again got in the way of some good ol American freedom. Government saw we were having too much fun and decided to make up our minds for us.

If you are 20 something and probably even in your teens you've not only heard of the drink Four Loko, but you're downing one right now as you read this blog. Four Loko was created by three Buckeye Alumni: Chris Hunter, Jaisen Freeman, and Jeff Wright. The drink contains alcohol, caffeine, taurine, and guarana. (four ingredients. If you were confused where the name came from) Yesterday November 17th 2010 the FDA said Four Loko was “too awesome and a public health concern” So they demanded that caffeine, taurine and guarana be removed from the drink thus forcing everyone to now call the drink...One Loko.

I know what some of you are thinking: oh crap I need to buy as much of this party juice as possible before the government ruins the fun. As you should since the drink you once enjoyed is being taken from you. The Midwest isn't known for much in fact its been dubbed the “rust belt” the common people in middle America don't have much to do but get schlitzed. Just because the rest of the country can't hold their alcohol like Ohio doesn't mean the government has the right to babysit everyone. So some college and high school kids couldn't handle the power of that good kush? Does one bad apple ruin the bushel? It most certainly does not!

Four Loko is already banned in four of the States in the Union and I'm guessing it won't stop there. What's with all the suits and stiffs crushing the fun and innovation of college students? I wouldn't be surprised one bit if they banned faceSchuch next...

Go Bucks

Travis: The TSA's New Xray Specs.

Earlier this week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) enacted new practices at airports that incorporate even more rigorous searching of passengers to board US flights. There are two new practices that passengers will have to endure to get to their destination. One is a more invasive pat-down, which includes an “inner thigh inspection, better known as “2^nd Base”. The only thing that isn’t checked in this new pat-down is a rectal exam…which is probably how the next terrorist will attempt blow up a plane, causing good Americans to choose between driving to their destination, or facing a prison-like level of bodily intrusion.

The other is an extra high resolution scanner, capable of seeing the most detailed parts of the human anatomy. The TSA claims that we have no need to worry because all the photos will be deleted once they have been analyzed. No problem right?! The photo to the right is a leaked image from one of the new high power scanners. It’s that of a Texas congressman Billy Long.

Also, in Orlando Florida, two U.S. Marshalls were charges brought against them for saving 35,000 x-ray images of passengers. Still trust the TSA with your naked body?

Technology like this will always be exploited, and terrorists will always try find some other way around any attempt to stop them, they always do. So we need to ask ourselves, how many liberties are we willing to compromise for the sake of "security"?

Adam: Love to Dock

The carnival cruise ship has finally 'docked' today. Oh those poor poor people...

First of you know what kinds of people go on cruise ships? Well if you have ever seen one of their commercials you'd know that extremely fit, attractive, wealthy, interesting people ride on those ships. Then suddenly the ship breaks down and guess what? They are forced to stay on this horrific cruise ship for an extra 4 days? Oh how terrible!

Psh whatever the work week is almost over as in if those people have to go back to work its only for one day... And everyone that was on the ship gets a free cruise! And to top it all off if you were on shore waiting for your cruise but didn't get to go because those awesome people got to spend an extra 4 days having the time of their lives then you get a free cruise too!

I've never had the pleasure of going on one of these fancy cruises. But I've seen a lot of commercials about the experience and I know at least one person that has been on a cruise before and I can safely say that if offered an extra 4 days NO ONE would turn it down.

Not only did these people
1)get to go on a cruise
2)get to stay on the cruise
but they are now also famous...the coast guard started dropping off food to them too while they were being tow along the horrific coast of Mexico through then dreary California weather. Oh whoa is me we get free food that rains from the sky on my free extended cruise...

All I'm saying is if I ever get the chance to be on a boat I'm bringing a collection of wrenches to heave into the engine that I can guarantee!

Go Bucks

Brian: Bandwagon Fans

Some things about sports and the fans of sports really bothers me. If you had to hazard a guess (and by the title of this post) you would probably say I hate bandwagon fans, right?

Actually, I don't mind them. The people that bother me are the ones who so passionately hate those bandwagon fans.

Extreme haters of bandwagon fans are so much worse than the actual fans who jump on said bandwagons. Who cares? If a person wants to be a fan of the best team in the sport, then so be it. Last time I checked, people had the choice to decide who they were going to root for. If a person enjoys the feeling of liking the best team, then let them!

Listen, imagine your favorite teams winning a championship in their respective sports. It's a great feeling, right? Well that is the exact feeling that bandwagon fans want to have. What is so horrible about that? They just want to enjoy sports and have a team that wins.

Not to mention, you really have no idea if that person has been a fan all of their lives or if they just started liking them. Does it really matter? Basically, anytime their is a good team (which is better or equal to yours) everyone assumes that every other fan is a bandwagon fan. This is because jealousy is a huge aspect of sports. I hate the Ohio State football team. Why? Because they are consistent winners and I am jealous of what they have. If some guy decides he wants to root for OSU, then so be it. How is that hurting me?

I understand that bragging rights play a huge part of sports, and there will always be that annoying guy who shouts about how is Lakers, Yankees, and Patriots are better than everyone else. Let him be. Why? Because he is enjoying sports and the teams that he chose. Simple as that. Everyone has a little bandwagon in them from time to time anyways. I am a huge fan of small teams that make it big (Boise State, TCU, Butler, etc.) which makes me a bandwagon fan of those teams. Once they start sucking, and new small teams emerge, I will move to them. But it makes me enjoy the sport just a little bit more. And if I'm having fun, it shouldn't matter to you who I like.

So root for your team and stop caring who roots for anyone else. Let them have fun, even if you are suffering.

That's what sports are all about, right?

(Except for Cleveland, Buffalo, and Seattle fans...I just feel sorry for you guys).

Alan: Sanity Restored

This past weekend, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity and/or fear. For those of you who don't know, this comedic duo each has their own faux-news show on Comedy Central. Although their strengths are quick wit, puns, and humor, they are incredibly insightful in critiquing both politicians and the media.

With an attempt to Restore Sanity, Jon Stewart launched the rally that was held this past weekend with the goal to reach out to those in the middle. Those who are tired of the overpowering voices of both the left and the right, and those who rationally try to look at their lives, their world, and their interactions with the greater humanity

Particularly moving were Stewart's closing remarks, which denounced the extreme points of view on all spectrums, and challenged people to continue living with dignity and decency for all people.

I personally found this to be one of the most helpful political statements made in recent history. Not only was the message good, and the delivery impeccable, but perhaps most importantly, the audience was captivated by a message that they needed to hear.

Too often are political extremists preaching to the choir of those who already believe in pinko-commy plots to over-govern and over-tax the people. Too often are other extremists telling their supporters of the devilish tea-partiers, or republicans with such a racist, bigoted agenda, that will surely seek to deepen racial and socio-economic divides and tensions.

Instead, Jon Stewart spoke to those of us in the middle. Although some of the targets of his humor may have been the media, or the politicians, his message was for the everyday independent person who needs to know that it is okay to disagree with someone, and still respect them as a person.

Some felt that Stewart's rally accomplished nothing. In a blog published by a democratic supporter, Stewart was criticized for not taking a partisan stand and helping the democratic cause. Although Stewart may lean more to the left politically, I believe this blogger missed the point. I think the rally hit the mark, and the fact that over 215,000 people showed up, when event coordinators were planning for 60,000 people goes to show that this nation is ready for sanity. This week, Jon Stewart provided the United States with a powerful symbol. A symbol for peace.

Travis: The Social Election

Yesterday was November 2nd, and was the day of the 2010 Mid Term Elections. The results seem to indicate that once again, nobody votes a party into power; rather the electorate votes parties out of power (see 2006 / 2008 elections). Though this reoccurring trend is interesting, there is another social trend that has come to being. After last night’s election, there appears to be a continued correlation between the amount of Twitter followers and Facebook friends a candidate has, and the likelihood of a candidate’s success in yesterday’s election.

To some of you this might be a no brainer. If a candidate has more Facebook and Twitter followers, obviously that candidate is better known, thus has better shot at winning. This logic makes sense, however consider the following. How many different demographics follow political candidates; old, young, professional, unemployed, middle class, upper class, lower class, Republican and Democrat candidates have extremely diverse followings based upon an American’s individual point of view.

Now maybe at one time this diversity could be found at a political rally or some sort of issue based demonstration, but now this sort of diversity is online. Old, young, poor, middle class, upper class, everyone seems to be getting on the internet, and getting involved in Social Networking sites and voicing their opinion.

Look at Sarah Palin, regardless of your opinion of her, notice that she doesn’t place press releases; she posts to her friends and followers on Facebook. People can comment, like or dislike, and people can feel like they are interacting more face-to-face then ever possible before.

More and more, Social Networks are becoming a legitimate entity. Some want to disregard sites such as Facebook and Twitter as fads, and as passing trends. And though Facebook and Twitter may not be the standard forums for social networking forever, rest assured that social networks via the internet aren’t going anywhere, and will only increase in legitimacy.

Adam: We talkin bout Practice?!

Declan Sullivan was filming a fighting Irish practice yesterday about 50 feet in the air on a scissor lift. The wind got up to about 50 miles per hour and the lift was blown over.

This 20 year old kid died while filming the practice of a game... a freaking worthless game.

I can't believe even the idea of putting him into the lift in weather conditions like that. Just before practice started Declan tweeted "Gusts of wind up to 60 mph. Well today will be fun at work. I guess I've lived long enough." about thirty minutes later Sullivan tweeted "Holy (blank). Holy (blank). This is terrifying." according to WTSB in South Bend.

How on earth could anyone let this happen? Notre Dame football practice... are you serious? Can we get some priorities straight here? Unbelievable, I cannot wait for the investigators to figure out who's dumb ass told him to go up there. Apparently, as if this wasn't bad enough the team continued practice!

Can you be anymore disrespectful? I think this should be a huge wake up call for America's priorities. They had a kid go up in horrific weather conditions to film a practice for a football team? A sport, a game, a worthless game is playing a game anywhere near that important?

Brian last week wrote about helmet to helmet hits... are we seriously willing to put human lives on the line for football? For America's general entertainment? I love football, I enjoy sports, but if the damn game comes anywhere near close to endangering lives then it just isn't worth it by any means.

I don't know what else to say about this other than to ask for your prayers for the friends and family of Declan Sullivan.

Brian: Overreacting to Overreacting

As I am writing this blog, I am currently watching the Miami Heat play the Boston Celtics.

Miami, with its new super trio of James, Wade, and Bosh, is expected to dominate the league and win a championship (some are even saying they can set the record for all time wins in a season).

Well as I write that, the Heat are currently getting shut down completely by Boston. They have scored 40 points so far, and it is deep into the 3rd quarter. For having three of the best scorers in the NBA, 40 points should be how much they are scoring in 12 minutes, not 31 minutes.

As soon as Miami loses this game (if they lose) the articles will flow from ESPN, SI, and newspapers suggesting that the Heat are a bust and "completely overrated." Because of one game? During the preseason, the Big Three played a total of 197 seconds together. That's a little more than three minutes, which is 1/4th of a quarter. These guys will need time to properly play together at a high level.

This all brings me to my overall point - one of my biggest pet peeves in sports in the unnecessary overreaction by everyone. Miami will lost one game, play awfully, and people will chant OVERRATED!

That is absolutely ridiculous. It's one game. Guess what? There will still be 81 other games this season. If you don't think they can challenge for a title because of their first game, then you shouldn't be watching sports.

This phenomena happens all the time. You're team loses one game and the season is over. Your star player has a horrific game, and he is overrated. The beauty of sports is that a season is more than one game. There is plenty of time to get back to glory. So if your team or player starts slow, just calm down and give it time.

Unless of course your team is from Buffalo, Cleveland, or Seattle - then the panic button can be hit before the season starts.

Alan: World News

Why should we care? What is in it for us? Why should I have a vested interest in the quality of life of those around me? What does it matter to me how Iran's affairs in the Middle East play out? I am only one person.

Far too often we are bombarded with messages of huge international issues, confrontations, or organizations and are made to feel as though there is little or nothing that we as individuals can do as a response. Far too often we are even shown media blurbs about mega-corporations, or corrupt systems in our own country and we are left feeling powerless to stop these giants. Even more often, many of the unspeakable evils occurring in our country and around the world escape our knowledge because we don't take the time and energy to care.

By silently sitting and watching time go by, we are condoning the actions that this world has taken. By not looking at systemic racism, sexism, classism, and sexual orientationism that operates especially within our own contexts and our own country we are supporting these oppressive systems and approving their actions. Inaction has become the way of the individual.

It is up to us, especially in this individualistic society that we live in, to take a stand for what we believe in. It is up to us to become informed on issues that are important to us, and to some of those that we are blind to. It is up to us to take action as individuals. We are a part of this world, and as participants, it is up to us to embrace our greater humanity and get involved. Even if it is only mentally, becoming aware of the realities of this life is half the battle.

Find out what it is that you are passionate about, and make sure that the world knows why you are. Find out something that you didn't know about the world, and participate in a new way. When we all become involved, we can engage one another. We need to let that engagement be a powerful symbol. A symbol for peace.

Travis: Fear The Robots.

Mechanical humans, or “Androids”, have been a dream made up in the minds of science fiction lovers since for over 100 years. We have a fascination with machines that are able to portray human emotion, thinking, and logic. However, I have a proposition to those who think having a robot would be cool: Fear the robot.

A study was recently published that explores why as we get closer to creating artificial life, the more creeped out humans get. The hypothesis by the researcher states: “A robot that's too human-like can veer into unsettling territory, tripping the same psychological alarms associated with a dead or unhealthy human. This theory is dead on. A mechanical arm that picks up a car on an assembly line, and I'm totally cool. But when I see that robo girl in the video below, it looks like a zombie deserving of a bullet.

Here is a video of one of the latest and “most human” human robot to date.

Girl Robot to Model in Japan

People see this as a “giant leap” foreword into the future, but I think this is a huge misstep. Why waste all this time on building artificial life, when we already have our hands full with “real life”. Robots will not bring about any sort of solutions to our world's problems. If anything they will merely make things worse. The more that we mechanize our world, the lazier we become, the more unskilled we become, and the more useless we become. Our jobs and our work will be replaced by machine, as they already have.

Just for the record, if anything like this shows up on my property, its getting a bullet to the CPU courtesy of the human race. Damn the robots.

So do you think robots are another step foreword for mankind? Or two steps back? You decide.

Adam: Teenage Wasteland

Get the teens off the road!

A new study was just released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying that teen vehicle fatalities are on the decline. Considering its the number one cause of deaths for teenagers this is very good news. However CDC isn't exactly sure what is causing the decrease. Whether it be higher gas prices, safer cars, or better driver's license programs, the number is going down.

I think we can get that number a lot lower by doing one simple thing. Raise the driving age to 18. These teens are too blinded by texting, speeding, and just plan inexperience. They need to take a time out and extend the permit time from six months (Ohio Law) to two years. This way teens still get to drive just with the supervision of a parent.

My birthday is in December. When I got my permit I drove from June to December with my parents... notice anything wrong with that picture? Living in Ohio, driving in snow and ice is a huge portion of operating a vehicle. Luckily I didn't kill myself (yet) while driving in the winter. Also as a teen I wanted to see how fast I could drive (like in the movies) this is stupid high school thinking and again I'm blessed that I wasn't killed. The high school mindset and environment is a bad thing to mix with new drivers. Make them wait, I've never heard anyone say “I had too much practice.”

Frankly I don't want to be on the same road as a person who has only had experience operating the machine heading straight at me for less than a year. I think forcing teenagers to put a sign on the top of their vehicles (like a pizza delivery guy) is also a great idea. This way when I have to brake I can look in my rear view mirror, see the sign and brace myself for the inevitable crash. High school aged people are not responsible its a fact of life. How can they be? They have little to no experience with responsibility because they have little to no experience with life. Also every four years when you have to renew your license you should have to redo the driving test. If you don't like that idea, its probably because you aren't that great of a driver and thus shouldn't be driving in the first place. Drivers license is a privilege, you want it? Earn it.

Go Bucks

Travis: Sextmania.

In America today, especially within the ranks of young adults, you would be hard pressed to find someone who does not have a cell phone. As group plans for cell phones increases, the number of children with cell phones increases as well. Today, 58% of teens ages 12-14 have their own cell phone. Due to the fact that teens don't need their own cell phones for anything important, they have resorted to doing what teens do; banging. Via text that is.

The act of sending naked pictures and sending them via text messages, known as sexting, is a hot button issue in schools today. According to newmedia.org, "4% of cell-owners ages 12 to 17 have sent sexually suggestive images of themselves by phone; 15% of cell owners that age have received “sexts” containing images of someone they know". Kids are taking nude pics of themselves, sending them to a "significant other" and then they're forewording them to their friends. This has become a national concern, even Oprah is addressing this issue.

But let me ask this question, am I supposed to be "outraged"? If you ask me, the fact that only 4% of children have sent suggestive photos of themselves is pretty good! Think about your high school class, do you think 4% of your class were the kind of people from "across the tracks" who are doing shady stuff anyways? Drugs? Rape? Who knows? Even more astounding, the number of teens who have attempted suicide is double the number of teens who have "sexted" themselves.

As usual, the government has been taking steps to address this issue in the most asinine way possible. If I'm a 15 year old boy, and I send a naked picture of my junk to my 15 year old girlfriend, and if Johnny Law finds out, then I can be charged as a sex offender in a court of law under the charge of "distributing child pornography". How insane is that!?

People need to awake to some common sense. Sexting is extremely stupid, and can become a serious issue, but getting our panties in a bunch and attempting label innocent teens as "sex offenders" is never going to solve the issue. Parents need to be sure they are giving cell phones to responsible teens, who aren't going to give in to peer pressure.

Johnny Law, stay out of teenage peer relationships. You just make things worse. But what do you think? Should ol' Johnny be involved in sexting situations?

Brian: Fun While it Lasted

The NFL needs to change it's name to the NFFL - National Flag Football League. Last time I checked, the NFL was a full contact sport, right?

Today the NFL announced that it would start suspending players for "flagrant hits" which would result in hitting a offensive player above the shoulder pads. The rule mainly pertains to "defenseless" wide receivers, as the NFL rule states:

"If a receiver has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself, a defensive player is prohibited from launching (springing forward and upward) into him in a way that causes the defensive player's helmet, facemask, shoulder, or forearm to forcibly strike the receiver's head or neck area -- even if the initial contact of the defender's helmet, facemask, shoulder, or forearm is lower than the receiver's neck."

So defenders need to allow the receiver to catch the ball, allow him to land while securing the ball, and then gently bring him to the ground. Basically this is giving a huge edge to receivers. One of the best ways to defend a pass is to hit the guy as he is catching it which knocks the ball out.

Now you may be thinking to yourself, "That seems like a reasonable rule! They are protecting them from concussions." The problem is that even if you come close to a receivers head, you will most likely get flagged or fined. And with the new emphasis on this rule, referees are strongly encouraged to watch for this more and flag and eject players more often. A ref doesn't want to lose his job, so if a hit looks remotely close, he is throwing his flag.

I experienced this at a Hiram football game, where our defender hit a kid in the chest on a pass and was flagged 15 yards for a hit above the shoulder pads. The penalty gave them a first down and they ended up winning the game because of it. (Picture of that very hit is on the left).

The players know the risks they face when going out onto the field. That is why they get paid so much! What is next? Are they going to eliminate tackling the legs because that causes knee and ankle injuries? Those injuries can permanently effect players later in life just as much as a concussion or two, which is the main argument for those supporting these new rules.

Hell, the way they are going (these new rules, all the rules protecting QB's, etc.), we might not have football any longer. And without football, I don't have a job. I guess it was fun while it lasted.

Alan: Miner Forty-Niner

The title really only is an homage to the classic Scooby-Doo villain.

After their first three days, their helmet lights went out. It wasn't until 17 days later that it was even discovered that they were alive. 33 men spent two dark months in a mine, and finally, this past week, the Chilean miners who were trapped underground for 69 days, were rescued. No sooner were they out of the ground, then that money started rolling in.

The miners had made a pact of silence to not talk about their experiences 2,000 feet into the earth. The pact isn't really lasting, and the miners have asked for as low as $40, to as high as $25,000 for interviews about their experiences in the mine. Who can blame them? Media outlets are willing to pay. One miner, did an Argentinian interview for a drink, while another miner held his Chilean interview for over $1,000.

What is this saying about the world that we live in? Let's offer them counseling services, rest, maybe a better job, and give them time with their families that they haven't seen in months and might have thought they would never see again. Nope. Lets harass them relentlessly and offer them thousands of dollars for interviews, for books, for possible movie rights!

A few hundred years ago, if there were a ship lost at sea for months that returned to harbor, families would rejoice, friends would embrace, and a local newspaper might write a story and even a follow up. Those lost at sea would need time to recuperate, spend days with loved ones, and try and put their lives back together.

Now, we as consumers demand stories, and eat up the experiences of others for our own entertainment. Am I the only one who finds this reality as twisted?

Guest Blogger, Kacie Graham: Bully Bull

Five teen suicides in three weeks, all from different backgrounds and in different parts of the country with one thing in common: they were bullied for being gay.

I know you all know about this and some of you are probably tired of hearing about it. I am, too. I'm tired of hearing that any of it happened because in my mind it shouldn't have.

Honestly, I don't know what the worst part is; that these kids felt this was their only option or that people are surprised it happened. Maybe it's the numbers, because five suicides in three weeks is stunning. But the fact is that we've known for a while that homosexual youth are up to four times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual teens.

I've heard some people say that bullying doesn't cause suicide. That everyone gets bullied in school and some people need thicker skin. I was most definitely bullied; I got shoved into lockers for being white, punched by a football player for being a girl and tormented by other girls for being fat. These aren't my words, by the way, it's what they said. I obviously didn't kill myself, so why should these other kids? Because when I went home I had loving family members, a Bible to comfort me and actual friends to hang out with. I didn't have to worry about whether my parents would disown me, whether God even wanted anything to do with me and if I would be molested as an influence to be turned straight. Yea, that happens too.

Recently a large group of gay celebs have teamed up to make "It Gets Better" videos to offer encouragement and moral support to gay teens now. The basic strategy is to admit that it sucks now but when they become adults things will calm down and they will be happy. Will they, though?

The bullies that broke a boy's arm for "committing gay acts" didn't come up with the idea that gays are "bad" on their own. The gang members that sodomized and abused three men in New York were certainly influenced by someone. And the boy that beat another gay youth with a metal pipe didn't face any repercussions at school. When another boy was kicked down a flight of stairs another school system turned their heads. That boy was one of the latest suicides committed this season. This hate didn't just suddenly span from non existence. It was taught to these people by adults. And one day these kids will become adults and show their youth that you ought to kick the odd man out until he lines up properly. Any abuse is cyclical and unfortunately it will keep on turning unless we do something about it.

Schools need to implement a more rounded sex education to include the acknowledgement of homosexuality. Teachers need to be given training on how to deal with youths struggling with their orientation and the bullying that is a result of that. And on a daily basis we need to remember that we're all human, we're all different in some way and if someone were to suddenly decide they hated something about us and acted on that, we would be in their shoes.

God loves us all the way God made us, even if God doesn't always like us or what we do. Why can't we respect that?

Travis: Electric Cars, "A National Concern."

In the last 10 years, as gas prices have been ever increasing and increasing, and then dropping again thanks to the recession (boo ya!), the talk of alternative means of powering automobiles has been ever increasing. Ethanol, greese, nuclear, are all propositions made to power cars in the place of gasoline. Though the option with the biggest traction is electricity. Several companies have electric models coming out in the next few years. GM, has the Chevy Volt, and Nissan is premiering its LEAF, both are being made affordable thanks to a US governments rebate of $5,000, along with a tax rebate of up to $7,500.

Now it is common sense that these incentives courtesy of our government, ergo: courtesy of our tax dollars, are being offered under the goal of obtaining “environmental sustainability”.However the dirty little secret about electric cars is that they're not as “green” as we think. A 2009 study conducted by the WWF, World Wide Fund for Nature, and IZES found that a mid-sized electric car model would emit about 11 oz of CO2 per mile, compared to 9.7 oz of CO2 per mile for a gasoline powered car.

People in America see our gasoline powered cars as the root of all evil. But if you give a crap about the environment, then you should be pissed off at America's electrical infrastructure, which is dominated by coal, which is what would be powering your "green" electric car.

So to tie it all together; “Do you want an electric car to help the environment?” If the answer is “Yes” then Save yourself some money and get a used car off the side of the road. Because as long as you live in the greatest country on Earth, your going to be doing more harm than good.

Adam: Judge, Jury: Just Junk

When the American government was founded one of the main goals was to make sure our government was a balanced and public powered operation. But aside from the many flaws of what this government has adapted into, There is one branch in particular that has always confused me: The judicial branch.

The older I get the more I begin to realize that adults are just children that have grown up. This may seem pretty obvious to most of you. But when I was growing up I guess I just figured something happened to every human that turns them into an adult. The older I get the more I realize that I still remember being a teenager, and I have realized that adults aren't some completely different form of human.

Once I came to this conclusion I began to see just how flawed the judicial branch of the government can really be. Judges are normal people, they are human beings. Judges went to high school, had pimples, got picked on, got dumped, got smashed in college, and all the other things that happen to normal average human Americans. When you think about it from this perspective the next rational thing that comes to mind is...what gives them the right? For instance lets say the judge's child broke a vase this morning, he slept through his alarm, burnt his lip drinking coffee then entered his courtroom and went face to face with a stuttering nervous innocent man? By this time this average human being (the Judge) who has had a bad day doesn't have the patience for this innocent man and makes the wrong call. That could drastically change the course of that speech challenged man's life...

Juries aren't much better, if the defendant isn't attractive or has bad hygiene the wrong call can very easily be made. Or the opposite could happen a guilty good looking dude could walk! Put yourself in the jury (because as a citizen of America you could actually be in a jury having to determine how a human life that is worth no more or less than your own will be changed forever) Think about this, you get the letter in the mail that you have jury duty on a day that you have plans to watch the clippers vs the mud hens. The game starts at noon and this court session is inching towards ruining your nice little afternoon plans. When facing twelve angry men and a nice summer day are you really willing to honestly look at this humans case and give your opinion on an incident you know nothing about?

How can we say hmm this person will be a judge and all day everyday they will make their money hearing people's stories and then determining the fate of those people. Anyone who watches sports will tell you that Referees, Umpires, Officials NEVER get it right so what makes us think that a Judge would be any different? If anything there are more mistakes in the courtroom for lack of instant replay. Judges go to law school but all the school in the world can't make the lens that they view life through completely unbiased.

We are all humans and no one person is, in anyway, more valuable than another.

Go Bucks

Brian: Bush League

This is an old subject, but one that I think about quite often. I am going to take you all the way back to the Reggie Bush scandal.

As most of you know, Reggie Bush had illegal contact with and received benefits from an agent while his was at USC. These included money, gifts, rent, and various other benefits. Bush was stripped of his Heisman and USC was forced to vacate its wins from the Bush years.

I have two main issues with this whole thing.

First, I think it was poor of the NCAA to vacate ALL of the wins during the Bush era at USC, including their BCS National Championship. This is ridiculously unfair to every player who played with Bush at USC. Now when they go back to USC and look in the football trophy room, they won't see a single win from when they played there. How is that fair to them?

How would you like to have worked hard and put everything into a program, only to have every accomplishment you earned be taken away because of one person? Basically, the NCAA is saying that it was the entire teams fault that Bush took money from an agent, and therefore should be punished for it. Some may argue that the school was complacent and looked the other way, and if that is true then punish the school, not the team. The rest of the players shouldn't be held accountable because Bush's agent paid rent for his mother. Cruel.

Secondly, if you want to take away Bush's Heisman, then by all means do so. But don't sit there and say he didn't deserve it. The Heisman is awarded to the best player in college football each year. Reggie Bush was the best player in college football the year he won it. And the money he earned from his agent did nothing to change that fact. From a football standpoint, Bush deserved the Heisman and should be recognized as the best player of that year. Anyone who disagrees is doing so out of spite, not out of fact. Anyone who watched Bush play couldn't help but be amazed at his unreal athleticism and abilities.

Bush should still be considered one of the greatest college football players of all time, and deserves to be put into the college football Hall of Fame. I will always argue that a players should be selected for Halls of Fame based on their athletic accomplishments, and that everything else should be left to the wayside when deciding that - unless a player did something that assisted their on field performance (such as steroids).

Regardless, I think it is Bush league that the whole team suffered because of Bush's poor decisions but there isn't much that can be done now except bitch and moan.

Which I have become pretty good at.

Alan: Finally

This past weekend, a Gay Pride march in Serbia was attacked. There has also been something of an outbreak in suicides in gay youth in the United States over bullying and teasing issues. These people have been pushed by those who advocate for Christian morals and Jesus' teachings.

It is about time.

These Christian activists have finally fulfilled Jesus' wishes for God's creation. They have lived up to the message that the Prince of Injustice preached during his ministry on earth. When confronted with opposing views, Jesus reacted by throwing stones, lighting fires, and pushing His disciples to do the same. Jesus preached a message of violent expression of ideals, and often lashed out physically at the Pharisees and Sadducees that challenged Him during His day.

Christ fulfilled the desire of the people by being the Messiah that they wanted. He led an army against the Roman oppressors and liberated the nation of Israel, just like the Chosen people wanted.

The Shepherd to the Flock of Those Who Already Follow Him showed His followers the way of intolerance and pushed for his believers to disrespect the marginalized and ensure their oppression. The outcasts and the suffering in Jesus' society were put in their place by the Lamb of God, who served the righteous and offered them up for salvation. Jesus said in Matthew 5:3-10

"Blessed are the rich in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who rejoice,

For they will continue in their joy.

Blessed are the strong,

For they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are the merciless,

For they have been righteous.

Blessed are the sure in heart,

For they will see God.

Blessed are the instigators,

For they will be called Sons of God.

Blessed are those who persecute in the name of righteousness,

For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."

The Way, the Truth, and the Life was only for those who agreed with Jesus and those who understood Him and His will. Jesus never healed anyone who wasn't a Jew, and His message was only for a select few. I am sure that the Light to Some of the World would smile today on those who carry on in His name the intolerance and oppression that he fought so hard to bring to this world.

Jesus made it very clear that we are to continue His judgment here on earth and in our own human understanding. Matthew 7:1-2 says, "Judge, or you will be judged for not judging. For it is up to you to judge your fellow man and act on their misdeeds."

Christ lived for us to bully gay people. Christ lived for us to enforce inequality. Christ lived for us to be rich. Christ lived as a voice for those who already had one. There are few things in this world that make me prouder than calling these intolerant people followers of the Redeeming Christ. It warms my heart to know that Jesus' messages of conditional love, acceptance of those who are alike, and radical hatred has lived on in the lives of real Christians today. These people can really continue Christ's messages and continue to be a symbol for His action in this world. Too many soft Christians have misinterpreted Jesus to be a symbol for something else. A symbol for peace.

Guest Blogger, Brandon Smith: "If You Play With Fire , you Might Get Burned"

If you pay attention to the news you probably heard about this story in Tennessee:

"Firefighters Watch As House Burns To The Ground"

Gene Cranick, a homeowner in Obion County, TN had an emergency. His home caught on fire and to make his situation worse, the South Fulton Fire Department came out to the site only to make sure the next door house didn’t catch on fire as well. They sat there while his house burned to the ground. He pleaded with them to put it out, even offering money. But they refused. And they were right to do so.

The reason assistance was refused is because Mr. Cranick had a choice to pay annual dues so that he would receive fire services if needed. He decided that the $75 per year that the South Fulton Fire Department requested so that they could extend services to his residence would be better spent elsewhere. He chose not to pay (unlike his neighbor), and suffered the consequences.

Media outlets railed against the fire department, asking how can an organization be so heartless? One Liberal pundit asked if this is what a Libertarian world would look like (ignoring the fact that this was a publicly run Fire Department). The South Fulton Fire Department was demonized, even though this wasn’t even their territory. A few decades ago, this wouldn’t have been news as there was no service to these parts and thus, no fire department would have shown up. But the fire department saw a need and offered their services for a very reasonable price. Gene Cranick just decided not to insure.

The real story out of all this is how as a nation we’ve passed the buck on personal responsibility. We jump at the emotional aspect of any situation without looking at logic and consequence. Would insurance (of any kind) actually work for Americans if benefits were paid without the collective premiums prepaid? Do you think the South Fulton Fire Department would collect enough revenue the following year if its residents knew that they would be bailed out even if they didn’t pay their dues? Finally, did we ever stop and think about the firefighters putting their lives on the line for someone else’s property that they themselves don’t see it’s valued worth at $75? Would you put your life on the line for something worth less than $75? I know I wouldn’t.

With such a lack of personal responsibility, it’s no wonder our nation is going bankrupt in the name of entitlement.

Adam: H2nO

Last Week 7 time Mr. Olympia and lead role in kindergarten cop, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law requiring free* water be made available in school cafeterias. WHAT?! I don't know how they run things in California but in Wauseon we had these machines called drinking fountains that produced a limitless supply of this precious resource.

Arnold is considering this a step in the right direction to fight kid fat syndrome. A Survey found 40% of California schools (that participated in the survey) didn't offer free* water at lunch...

Ok, now show me a school in America that offers free anything in a school cafeteria. What gives him the right to make water free*? Make the kid cough up milk money like the rest of us have done for years and years in the past. If he can't afford the milk we'll work out a deal to toss the kid a free* bag. Worst case scenario, make them get up and walk over to the drinking fountain.

This topic only leads me down one path and that is the complete rip that is bottled water. I cannot believe people buy that stuff. Third world countries have to scratch their heads and bottling companies laugh all the way to the bank. I just imagine the first person to pitch the idea “ok we'll bottle the exact thing people are already paying monthly for and sell it for a buck fifty.” I guarantee most bottled water comes straight out of the tap anyway. Again the big wig up in corporate building's 47th floor tells them “we'll slap a mountain on the label call it some weird name that isn't copyrighted yet, American's will drink it up (literally)”

But back to the schools, If I transport my mind back into its 17 year old state I consider all the things that could go wrong with this. Kids will just pound water and ditch class for bathroom breaks all day. Finish the water (or not who cares its free*) then twist the bottle until the air is pressuring the cap then flick it off across the cafeteria. And numerous other things that my adult mind can't even consider yet. Free* water for kids? What's next free butler for every child?

*Free is the liberal word for American worker's hard earned money being pulled from their pockets and spent however the government sees fit.

Go Bucks

Brian: Hate the Player, not the Game

All signs are pointing to an NBA lockout for next season.

It's all about players rights versus owners rights. And of course, by rights I mean money.

As fans we are supposed to connect with the players because they seem more personal than the guys in suits who we don't enjoy watching. We love watching the players play the game, and could really care less who is cutting their paychecks and running the team. Because of this, we, as fans, are expected to side with the players.

But I am choosing to side with the owners on this one.

The price of contracts has gotten out of hand in recent years. The Atlanta Hawks are a prime example. Their franchise player, the face of their franchise, was a free agent. The Hawks would have upset a lot of fans if they had let him walk. So they had to re-sign him, right? The problem? Joe Johnson wanted a max contract - aka 6 years, $123 million. That is more than LeBron could have made! And this is for a player who averaged 21 points and 5 assists and crumbled in the playoffs. And he is worth $20 million a year?

You can sit there and say "Well then the owner shouldn't have paid him!" But guess what? If they hadn't, someone else would have. Your response could then be "Well then no one should have paid him!" But the reality is that someone has to pay him, because he is one of the better players in the league and wouldn't have taken anything less. Plus, if all of the owners collectively agreed to not pay him because it was too much, that would have been illegal according to the current collective bargaining agreement. Basically, no matter what, he was getting that contract.

This highlights the fact that there needs to be a limit when it comes to paying these players. The amount of maximum contracts needs to be less than it currently is. Sorry to break it to you, but a person can live on a max of $10 million a year instead of the current $20 million.

Also, I would support a hard cap (where a team cannot go over, say, $57 million a year no matter what) as opposed to its current soft cap (where a team can spend as much as they want but if they go over $57 million, they have to pay a luxury tax which is double for every dollar over. So if a team went over by $10 million, they would have to also pay a $10 million tax). This current system still puts teams ahead that can afford to pay the luxury tax (cough*Lakers*cough) because they live in a bigger market as opposed to a smaller market team like Charlotte.

This would lead to a more competitive league, which is always better for fans. How many times has your team had to trade or cut players because they needed to save money? Well lower contracts and a hard cap would allow for more teams to be competitive. Everyone wins!

I'm not saying I want the owners to put the players at a serious disadvantage financially, but I would support a lock out if the players refused to budge with their salaries.

Like Ghandi always said - Hate the player, not the game.

Alan: Mind Missiles

This weekend, a jihadist cell of terrorists was uncovered in Hamburg, Germany. What does this mean? This means that despite our ninth year of the War on Terror, Al-Qaeda is still alive and well. This is just another sign that ultimately there is no end in sight for this war. World War II was over less than six years after it started and we are nearing our tenth year in the War on Terror. It is a war that we cannot win.

Why? It is because we are choosing to fight in the wrong way. We are using rockets and missiles to fight beliefs and understanding. We are using troops and battleships to fight concepts and ideals. How could we ever hope to win a war this way? We are very much in a modern age of imperialism and colonialism that we are unfortunately perpetuating in this War on Terror.

The United States has overstepped its borders, quite literally. We have troops in dozens of countries all over the world, which has helped to contribute to some of the negative impressions of the U.S. overseas. How would you like it if there were a German Air Force base outside of Columbus, OH? Would you want South African troops stationed near Philadelphia, PA?

How are we supposed to win this war then? We win a battle when we admit the times that we are wrong and make reparations for these actions. We win a battle when we stop imposing our will on the rest of the world. We win a battle when we accept criticism and move forward together with the countries that have taken issues with our geo-political stances. These battles can be won because they address ideologies and beliefs about the United States. In this way, we stop fueling the fire. We counter these anti-US ideals by showing that we are willing to work with the other countries of the world instead of bullying these nations into doing what we demand.

I am not saying that we should not stay alert or try to ignore the terrorists plots or threats against us and our Western European allies. We need to have the good intelligence to know when these attacks will happen and prevent them before they do. Ultimately, this prevention is our goal in the War on Terror. We are trying to attack first so that we will not lose lives of the citizens of the United States. Why not prevent these attacks by preventing the ideals that create the warriors that oppose us?

Greater cooperation and listening and understanding is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of acceptance and taking the higher road. We will be "the bigger person" so to speak. Acknowledging the imperialism that our nation is engaged in is crucial. Taking steps away from that imperialism is what would be a very powerful symbol to the rest of the world. A symbol for peace.

Adam: Going unSteady

In the past five years divorce attorneys have reported that the amount of prenuptial agreements has increased.

This isn't surprising considering (as I'm sure all of you have heard hundreds of times) the divorce rate in America is 50% for first marriages according to Jennifer. But what a lot of people don't know is that Baker has also found that 67% of second marriages end in divorce and even more surprisingly 74% of third marriages end in (you guessed it) divorce.

These types of statistics upset me. At no point in life are you less than a coin flip likely to end your marriage. For those of you who are technical, Webster defines marriage as:

a (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage

Contractual relationship recognized by law? Is that what America thinks of marriage? No wonder half of them don't last. It is also no surprise that more and more Americas are getting prenups. In the eyes of Webster marriage is nothing more than dating for adults. I guess once you are finished dating you want your class ring back (or in adult terms your retirement funds).

I believe marriage is something more than just between a man and a woman. I believe it is a commitment before God. If God is removed from marriage then it becomes corrupt and faulty.

This is exactly what has happened in America, we have taken the engine out of the car and have no idea why it doesn't run. I have no problem with the divorce rates in the country the only problem I have is the government selling a cheap imitation and calling it marriage. If you are going to remove the central purpose from marriage then call it something else. I think differentiating the two relationships would help identify the source of divorce rates. If you are in a consensual contractual relationship recognized by law call it what it is... a civil union. If you are in a consensual contractual relationship recognized by God call it what it is...marriage.

Go Bucks

Travis: Facebook Stalkers.

In present day American society we have things that profile us. We have a drivers licenses, a social security number, bank accounts, credit cards, all these objects and more offer information about some of our most private affairs. We are typically private with this sort of sensitive information. We don't flaunt our credit cards numbers or social security numbers, unless your the life-lock guy. However, what sort of information do we flaunt? If you have a Facebook profile, chances are there is a large portion of yourself being “flaunted” to anyone and everyone on the internet, which can lead to detrimental consequences.

Take for example a story by the about a man by the name of Isaac Vicknair. Vicknair accumulated high amounts of debt through student loans via the government, and Vicknair was determined not to pay them. Vicknair tried to stay off the grid. He even quit jobs and relocated, all to avoid being tracked down by the debt collectors, which he did successfully for 10 years. This lead Vicknair to a job selling solar panels, where his boss advised that he set up a Facebook page to continue relationships with clients. After one day of having his personal and professional information on Facebook, the government debt collectors had tracked him down via his Facebook information, and began the process of forcing Vicknair to set up a payment plan, or garnish his wages. [1]

Another example comes from a recent poll of employers. Presently, 53% of employers research by seeking out a potential candidate's Facebook page, 2 in 5 employers saw something that dissuaded an employer from hiring said employee, and 28% of employers admitted to firing an employee due to content found on their Facebook page. [2]

As a young adult involved on Facebok, I am constantly being under pressure to keep my Facebook pages clear of any compromising photos or other materials because my Facebook life, is an extension of my real life. And with job recruiters, employers, and even police using facebook as a means of investigation, we all need to be mindful of our projected image online.

What do you think? Is it right for employers to look at our social networking sites to make hiring decisions? Is this an invasion of privacy? Or are we just filled with a false sens of privacy while were online?

Brian: A Ray of Nope

Last night, the Tampa Bay Rays had a chance to clinch a playoff birth at home. They had the best record in baseball, and are on the verge of beating out the big bad Yankees for the AL East title. This was another huge step for the once woebegone franchise.

After the game, ace pitcher David Price tweeted that he was embarrassed by the Rays fanbase.

So what was the problem?

Well, they were going to clinch that playoff spot in front of roughly 12,000 fans.

Tampa Bay averages 22, 913 fans per game, which is 52% stadium capacity. That means they were at roughly 30% stadium capacity on a night in which they almost clinched a playoff spot.

Tampa Bay is the 54th most populated city in the nation, and they can't fill a baseball park for the best team in baseball? Cincinnati is below them, population wise, and they are ranked much higher in attendance. Heck, Toledo is below them in population and their Triple-A team (who isn't fighting for a title) averages around 9,000 per game!

I was listening to the Scott VanPelt show today and they were discussing this, and one former player said the problem was the economy. He chastised Prices' comments and argued that people had less money, and weren't willing to spend it on baseball tickets. He said that Price couldn't understand because he was a millionaire.

This may be true for some cities like Detroit, but Tampa Bay's economy is ranked as the 25th largest regional economy in the United States. Their economy has shrunk by 0.2 percent since the recession.

So what is the excuse now? Not to mention you can get tickets to Rays games for as little as $5. You are telling me that people living in the 25th largest economy in the US can't pay for a few tickets? People in Tampa just flat out don't care what the Rays do this year, next year, or any year for that matter. Price was right - he should be embarrassed by the fans of Tampa Bay.

Maybe it's time Tampa takes its talents elsewhere - Las Vegas anyone?

Alan: Minimum Wage Rage

In South Africa, there was a recent minimum wage raise, which attempted to improve the lives of the lower-class working citizens throughout the country. At first glance, minimum wage raises seem to be a wonderful and necessary change in order to give aid to the hard working people who aren't receiving the just treatment and payment that they deserve. This view, however, doesn't take into account the larger picture.

With the minimum wage raise in South Africa, as with other similar raises in other economically developing countries, the measures taken in an effort to help the lower class, ultimately serve to disrupt and decrease the lifestyles of the lower-class. Due to the lack of resources in many of the national industries such as manufacturing, many companies are forced to downsize, or to close their doors. In reality, these wage increases only serve to strengthen the middle class, and further marginalize those who had been struggling to scrape out a living on meager salaries, that they are no longer earning due to being let go.

South Africa already has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, and with the recent wage increases, these unemployment rates are climbing. Along with higher unemployment comes higher crime rates, violence, and a greatly decreased standard of living throughout the country.

There was a similar situation in Honduras just a couple of years ago, when the then president Mel Zelaya opted to double the minimum wage. this resulted in hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers, because their employers were no longer able to pay them the new wages. Although this was certainly not the only factor, it helped to pave the way to the coup that would happen in Honduras later that year.

Minimum wage increases need to be taken in slow steps in order to secure improved conditions, but not at the expense of further oppressing the already downtrodden.

What can we as U.S. citizens do about this oppression? We can continue to support international aid programs, NGOs, and push our government to support these developing countries more than we already do. We, as a nation, certainly do give millions of dollars in foreign aid, and we also chose to support various markets with our imports from countries such as South Africa and Honduras. That being said, we also make choices that are made largely to further our own interests ONLY and do not take into account what negative effects these choices can have on the people in these countries.

For example, we chose to have a military presence in many of these countries, such as Honduras, but refuse to give them the real help that they need economically. We aer failing in our economic responsibility to be fair to the people of many of these countries. Under NAFTA and CAFTA, we are exploiting workers all over this hemisphere and creating working conditions that are ripe for minimum wage rage. As one of the world's economic superpowers, we have a responsibility to carry our fair trade which helps to give sustainable development to the most impoverished workers around the world.

Hopefully, we can keep our responsibilities in mind, and acknowledge that our actions as purchasers have power. Hopefully, we can make responsible decisions that positively affect the whole of humanity. Even choosing to buy fair trade coffee is a step in the right direction and can be a powerful symbol. A symbol for peace.

Adam: Blazin the Trail

Legalize it, Legalize it, think of the tax money, it is harmless!

I am sick of idiots trying to push for pot to be legal. Hippies have been slamming us with this B.S. harder than a 16 year old Girl on her cell phone to my car. An under cover investigator in a Chrysler assembly plant found workers drinking beer and smoking the reefer during lunch break. This is, of course, is the same plant Obama visited earlier this year and was quoted saying:

“It's workers like you that built this country into the greatest economic power the world has ever known."

Good one Pres, with a comment like that I wouldn't be surprised if during lunch break his nose is the same color as the house he lives in. Anyway, point being we bail these crappy car companies out to help them continue making cars no one wants to buy. Now on top of that out of MY pocket comes drug money for the worthless car company to have enough hash for the company picnic.

What does this have to do with not having ganja legal? Well aside from crafting terrible cars and receiving praise from the president, Jive took the lives of three innocent tourists in Utah. A zonked tour bus driver rolled the vehicle while transporting passengers last month. The cops had found traces of the green dragon in his system.

If kush was legal would you want to be on the same road as that guy? Or millions of others that are greater than or equal to his irresponsibility? Drunk driving is bad enough as it is.

Crunk driving now? No thank you, keep your filthy tax money, the government is pissing away all of our tax money as is. The last thing I want is an elementary school funded by doobie money.

Go Bucks