Date posted: February 15, 2008 - Friday
Title: TW3 02/15/08
Current mood: blah
Surprise, Surprise!
Well, not really.
The economy is going to hell rapidly. It all seems to have started because banks made some really stupid decisions in awarding mortgages to people who were credit risks. Now I have no problem with helping out people who need a home. But you have to at least give them a chance to keep the home.
So banks are losing a shitload of money (that's more than a ton and just short of financially disastrous). And the financial community has reacted to this crisis by lowering the prime interest rate to help banks out.
So the next step is the banks give their customers a break on interest, right?
Not on your tintype.
Word now comes out not only have banks not passed on the interest break to their customers, but have actually raised credit card rates in a lot of cases. They are jacking credit card interest at the drop of a hat to make up for their poor decisions and get back all those funds they have lost in the mortgage crisis.
Greed knows no bounds apparently. And why should any of us be surprised your bank will screw you to make up for their own mistakes.
Who's Telling The Truth -- And Should We Really Care
Roger Clemens and his accuser, Brian McNamee, both appeared before a Congressional committee this week. They played He Said - He Said about whether or not Clemens had steroids and HGH injected into his butt to improve his baseball game.
I have to confess I didn't watch the hearings. I don't think I could watch that much self-serving lying at one sitting. But the outcome was just what I could have predicted. Both men stuck to their story and one Senator remarked, "Someone is not telling the truth here."
Duh. Really, Senator. Ya think?
I did read some sports page coverage of the hearings and the columnist made a good point. Clemens and McNamee both came off as looking like lying jerks, but the Senators didn't come out much better looking for their performance. He also pointed out, and I have to agree fully, these hearings are wasting time Congress could be spending on things like the economy, health care and the war in Iraq.
I thought one remark by this columnist was really telling though. He said baseball was like a cockroach, no matter what happens it will still be around.
So this is the point we have come to. What was once praised as the "national pastime" and lauded in song and poetry is now being likened to a disgusting household insect.
And the great shame is he is probably right. While there should be a public outcry about the crap this sport is perpetuating, it will still go on as if nothing happened. Owners will rake in more and more money. Players will get higher and higher salaries and devise new and colorful ways to offend the public and violate the tenants of good behavior. And we will all sit there like a herd of sheep and watch.
Camera, What Camera?
Another story coming out of Congress involving sports was the ongoing farce that has been labeled "Spygate."
The Senator interviewing Roger Goodell about the NFL's investigation of coach Bill Belichick about videotaping opposing team's defensive signals confirmed what most in the public suspected. Belichick had been taping opposing teams since 2000 when he became the head coach at New England. So it wasn't an isolated incident as was first claimed, but an ongoing practice.
Belichick's reasoning? He didn't think it was illegal.
Say what!!!!!!
Either this guy is incredibly stupid or he is a lying SOB. And since most sports writers agree he is a "brilliant" coach, I have to think the SOB tag is appropriate.
For most people ignorance of the law is not an excuse, but it seems for football coaches it passes as a defense. He did get slapped on the wrist to the tune of a $500,000 fine, but I'm sure he will make that up through some source -- if the club doesn't pay it for him as a reward for winning several Super Bowls. And since the club just raised ticket prices I can guess where the funds will come from----the fans.
So again the NFL proves it will ignore almost anything to keep its' popularity and profits.
That Gun Is Just Normal In Legal Proceedings
The saga of Reggie Bush has taken another bizarre turn.
The New Orleans running back has been denying charges he took gifts and favors while still in college -- a clear violation of NCAA rules. One of his accusers has been "compensated" and is no longer pressing his case against the athlete. The other is pressing on in a suit to regain funds he says he paid Bush and his parents.
Lloyd Lake appeared in the offices of Bush's attorney (David Cornwell) to testify at a deposition, but quickly exited when confronted with a retired police officer carrying a gun. Cornwell's explanation? Since Lake has a record as a convicted felon the armed guard was there for protection.
Really, David? Is that normal practice for an attorney? Do you have so many 'pure' clients you're scared of someone with a record who is there to testify?
And this is just the latest BS in this saga. Cornwell has accused Lake's attorney, Brian Watkins, of passing on threats from Lake. Watkins said Cornwell threatened Lake by saying he had friends at the FBI and would call Lake's probation officer.
Good Lord! Look, we all know Bush cashed in on his fame as a college football player. Now we see Bush has a sleazy attorney doing his dirty work for him. I have heard tapes of Lake talking with Bush's father where the father admitted they got the money and Reggie would repay it. So what's the big brouhaha here? You paid off one of the guys to buy his silence, why not Lake as well?
Just An Opinion
Yes, I know there are a lot of sports related items preceding this. It just seems like that was what was happening this week.
But we can blame nobody but ourselves. From the time a kid can show any talent carrying a ball, shooting a basket or hitting a baseball he is treated like a celebrity. He is given advantages not available to others. His transgressions are forgiven because of the potential he has in the world of sports.
There develops a cult of personality, an aura around a kid with athletic talent and it works on his mind. He gets so much praise and attention he begins to believe he deserves it all, that it's his "right."
The second factor in all this is the worship of money which permeates every level of our society. Getting more, no matter how, is the be all and end all for too many people.
And that's why we wind up with athletes who take drugs to stay in the game, kill dogs, get into bar fights, drive drunk and commit all manner of social and moral transgressions.
It's also why we wind up with business leaders who think nothing of using whatever tactic necessary to insure a constant flow of money in to their endeavors. Sports owners who will overlook the 'sins' of athletes if it will mean a winning team and more money coming in. Bankers who will change their fees, no matter what the cost to the average consumer, just to make up for their mistakes and bad business decisions.
And this will continue the be the norm until we, as consumers, sports fans, and just ordinary people, stand up on our hind legs and say "enough."
And while there probably won't be a huge public outcry or effort in this regard, perhaps there can be some small, grass-roots movement. Skip a ballgame and tell anyone who asks exactly why you aren't going. Don't buy souvenirs of your team, or food if you do go to the game. And maybe apply some of these same tactics to other areas where they can drive home a point.
OK, end of sermon and end of rant, but give it a little thought.
A Sign of the Apocalypse?
So Valentine's Day was a little more expensive this year. And now we know why.
This week news reports said three countries are investigating the largest chocolate candy suppliers in the world for price fixing. Germany, Canada and the United States have ongoing investigations that allege companies like Mars, Inc., Kraft Foods, and Nestle have raised prices far above the increases in raw materials and did so after exchanging e-mails, phone calls and conducting secret meetings in coffee shops. And evidence says they may have been doing this since 2002.
Is nothing sacred anymore? (Asked with tongue firmly in cheek).
And I think this is a cause the women's movement can really get behind. Protesting price gouging in the area of chocolate.
The Worst of Hollywood
Well, it's that time of year again. No, I'm not talking about the Oscars.
Nominations for the "Razzies" have been announced. The 28th annual awards for the worst coming out of Hollywood.
Some big 'winners' include films like "Daddy Day Camp", "Norbit", "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" and "I Know Who Killed Me".
In the actor category nominees include Nicholas Cage, Jim Carrey, Eddie Murphy (not only mentioned in the worst actor category, but getting a nod in the worst supporting actress category as well) and Adam Sandler. Actresses include Jessica Alba, Diane Keaton and Lindsay Lohan (two nods as worst actress -- looks likes she may have the award locked up.)
I have previously noted my thoughts on the crap coming out of Hollywood these days. I had to chuckle when I read the list of potential 'award' winners in the paper. You can find a complete list of nominees for this dubious achievement in movies at www.razzies.com.
