a dropped call can ruin a conversation...

THE UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
The “FLAG CODE”

§171. Conduct during playing The Star-Spangled Banner

During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.


What part of that don't you understand, Obama?

You are not in uniform, you are a United States Senator, and you are one of the Democratic candidates for President of the United States, yet you refuse to place your hand over your heart during the National Anthem? If you are unwilling to pledge your allegiance to our nation, then whose nation are you pledging your allegiance to?

Sure some people have made a big deal out of your stance on not wearing an American flag lapel pin. I was surprised that you would come out and declare that you will not wear one as opposed to just deciding privately that you don't need excessively patriotic "flair" on your suits.

Do you have a problem with our flag? With our country? With being a citizen of this country? You're not making a very convincing argument for why America should vote for you.

Excited for tonight...

Tonight can't come soon enough...

Two hearts fading, like a flower.
And all this waiting, for the power.
For some answer, to this fire.
Sinking slowly. The water’s higher.
Desire

With no secrets. No obsession.
This time I'm speeding with no direction.
Without a reason. What is this fire?
Burning slowly. My one and only.
Desire

You know me. You don't mind waiting.
You just can't show me, but God I'm praying,
That you'll find me, and that you'll see me,
That you run and never tire.
Desire

feeling it...

In the wind in the gale, thunder and the hail
Sometimes I feel like I'm going insane
Without the numbness or the pain so intense to feel
Especially now it added up through the years

Most of the time I got nothing to say
When I do it's nothing and nobody's there to listen anyway
I know I'm probably better off this way
I just listen to the voices on the TV 'til I'm tired
My eyes grow heavy and I fade away

And I, I taught myself how to grow
Without any love and there was poison in the rain
I taught myself how to grow
Now I'm crooked on the outside
And the inside's broke...

Sad to see you go...

The internet community was hit hard this week as the popular website TV Links was shut down and the Gloucester police arrested the site's creator (for more on this story, check out these articles: The Guardian | Online Community Mourns | FACT Targets the Little Guy | Digital Spy on FACT | A State-side Reaction | Further Analysis).

This was not the first time someone has gotten in trouble with the law for computer and web usage that infringes on trademark and copyright issues, and it will most-assuredly not be the last. Without self-incrimination, I can say that I am sad to see TV Links go. It was an amazing website, the vastness of the link archive was truly awe-inspiring and exciting. Discovering new TV shows that you had never seen, catching up on missed episodes, reminiscing with an old Transformers cartoon... I can honestly say that TV Links was one of my all-time favorite websites.

But what is disconcerting about this action isn't the loss of a fun website, because really there are lots of similar websites out there (here's a list to get you started), but I worry about the legitimate legal basis for this. As some of the articles and blogs have commented, this man still hasn't been charged and authorities aren't entirely sure what to charge him with. Of course the idea is that they arrested him because his website was providing pirated content to users. But his website was not hosting the content, only linking (hence the site's name) to other sites that publish the videos. So really, his website was just a collection of links to other people's stuff. Is that illegal? Does that count as "inducement?" Even if it does, since this was a UK-based website, "inducement" isn't a recognized or punishable offense in Britain. On top of that, the majority of the content this site linked to was published on foreign (primarily southeast Asian) websites, which are outside the jurisdiction of the British police and courts.

And why is FACT going after this small-time guy instead of some of the bigger sites out there? Is it because they know he won't be able to defend himself or afford a good lawyer? Is it because YouTube has become so popular, not only with users, but also with reporters and news commentators as their pop-culture-relevance flavoring touch, trying to stay young and hip?

I am really sad to see this amazing site go, but I also feel bad for this young man who provided so much for so many people around the world and now has been targeted by the "big guns" and is pretty much hung out to dry. It's just sad....

G'day Goodell!

I do have to say that I love the endless quotes and quips and references to London Calling on Sportscenter and First Take as the dream-jobbers debate the validity and impact of the upcoming NFL regular season game being played in London, England. But as far as the idea, I don't buy it. What does Commish Goodell think this will accomplish? Why does he think this is a good idea?


First of all, I just don't buy the fact that anyone outside of the U.S. is very interested in the NFL, or American football as a sport in general for that matter. I know that they have this whole new promotional campaign to try to get latinos interested in American football. It is as if they are saying, "really, it's ok. I know you love soccer, but come watch the NFL. It won't kill you." But the facts are pretty clear. Unlike other sports, American football is uniquely American and has never been able to successfully move beyond our borders. Although I am not entirely certain that there is a majority of NFL viewers in the U.S. that would want that to happen anyways. The NFL is, and always has been, kinda "our" thing. We have tried hosting games in other countries to try to get people interested and promote it, but those events haven't turned out that well. The (smaller) stadiums aren't full, the atmosphere is completely different, and the fans don't really know what is going on or what to cheer for. It is as if we said, "ok, well this is my favorite toy, but I am willing to share it with you" and then have it rejected. In the past, NFL games played outside the United States have not gone well.

But the difference is, those games were pre-season exhibition games. Not regular season games that actually count and matter!! If you play a pre-season game in Mexico City and no one shows up or the fans don't get it and sit there eating their churros completely befuddled, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter! The NFL execs get a couple extra bucks, the Mexican fans walk out the stadium not sure why there were so many points on the board and barely any kicking involved in a sport called football... and the two NFL teams go back to their respective cities with fun stories and get ready for the season. But, if it is a regular season game, being played across the pond in London, not only do you have the fans that have no clue what is going on in the game and cheer at the wrong times, if at all, fans that have absolutely no investment in the game or either team and could care less who really wins (it is like that stupid board game Hoopla where no one wins, the point of the game is for us all to be happy little fairies that encourage and build each other up).

Did Goodell learn nothing from the disaster of NFL Europe?? Those stadiums are smaller than almost all the NFL football stadiums in the U.S., but none of them sold out, no one really cared, no one watched. Europe sent a message to the front office, loud and clear, "We don't care about American football. We don't get it, we don't want to watch it, the only interest we have is the curious amazement at how you Americans get so into it." But apparently Goodell turned a deaf ear to that and has spent a ton of money, I am sure, on developing this NFL beachhead in London. I hope for the NFL's sake that there is a negative backlash both by the British and by the loyal Giants and Dolphins fans here in the states.

Speaking of which, another reason this game is a horrible idea is the fans. And no, not just the clueless and indifferent European "fans" but also the die hard, season ticket holding, American NFL fans. Home games are highly prized by NFL fans, especially ones who have season tickets, yet this game is taking a home game away from the already miserably awful Miami Dolphins. Now, the Dolphins and their fans are already having a horrible season. Both the starting QB and RB are out for the rest of the season, their usually good defense has been horrible, and their star linebacker, Zach Thomas, might miss the overseas game because of a neck injury.

So, in essence, the season is falling apart in Miami, but you are still taking away a home game that these loyal fans have paid for and expected to enjoy. Both teams are traveling all the way to London (much further than a couple states over for an away game), dealing with the time change, culture change, jet lag, and neutral, if not hostile conditions in the stadium. Then after playing in these strange circumstances, they have to come all the way back to play the following week back in the states. It is in the middle of the schedule and you expect it to not affect these teams rhythm and focus? I think it is a bad idea and I hope that it fails miserably and everyone hates it. It sucks that the Giants and the Dolphins are the ones that have to get sucked into this and that their seasons and potential playoff hopes (the Giants more so than the Dolphins) will be affected by this stupid promotional stunt.

I hope you're happy with yourself Commissioner.

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river