Air Force Football

Yup hard to believe another college football season is already here. First weekend cupcake games are upon us. AF is definitely in a rebuilding mode. Lots of young players getting their collective feet's wet. Calhoun's second season to start making strides. Last year was a great year but with experience of a 4 year starter at quarterback one can kind of assume success. This year might be a bit tougher. Looking at the season I think a 7 - 5 record is achievable with a one game being a swing game. My breakdown:

S Utah W

@ Wyoming L

@ Houston L

Utah L

Navy W

@ SD St W

@ UNLV W

New Mex W

@ Army W

CSU W

BYU L

@TCU L

Definitely some early losses but a good middle and a tough finish. Maybe we can make BYU ride a bit interesting. Calhoun showed some great promise last year, let's see what he can do this year!

Democratic National Convention

This isn't a us vs. them post. Politics as whole is just plain messed up. Picking a President probably has our founding father's rolling in their graves. My opinion is that a President really doesn't do much at all but they become the face of our nation. The President represents us. I have not listened to our current President in 8 years. His speech and mannerisms make me cringe. His beliefs and how he has put America to shame is unconscionable. Three things have really bothered me with the current administration 1) Post 9-11, we had the world at our finger tips, we could have made real strides in establishing dialogue with the Western World and Islam and what do we do with the good will? Bomb two Islamic countries...great diplomacy 2) Managing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina...this just showed the utter lack of compassion and leadership that this man had. It also showed just how out of touch this man was. A good leader can't do it all but he (she) certainly puts people with a clue into positions that they can excel in and 3) the Supreme Court mess. I've always respected the concept of a body of people that are beyond politics and who make decisions based on a body of concepts that have stood the test of time...unfortunately we now have a group that enjoys the limelight and the ability to flex muscles in our government.

So therefore, why Obama? Why not...a charismatic person, a man I wouldn't mind listening to, a person who can bring back some creditability to the office, a younger person for a new generation...the list can go on. Bottom line is America is in shambles. We are torn in two, making decisions based on emotions, and with the expectation that we deserve it all. We are living in a dream world unable or unwilling to make the hard decisions like the future of energy, future of American ingenuity, the growing immigrant and Islam issues, war in Southwest Asia, education, economics, and health care. These are all real issues yet half the country is worried about teaching evolution in our classrooms and thus allowing fear to justify our government in trampling the constitution. Doesn't anything bother us anymore? We package all of our problems in buzz words and fancy packaging (buy green!) yet are unable to really give up anything.

By the time we are adults and are allowed to make the decisions it is already over for us. The world we live in today is the decisions our parents made for us. My kids will live in a world based on the decisions I make. Electing Obama in November won't do a thing for me but maybe some of his decisions will make a difference for my children. Paying $4 for gas right now really isn't all that great but do we just dig up our nation to make a miniscule difference or do we invest time and money in making a solution that our kids will reap. Are we so selfish as a nation that we don't even care anymore? Money for the future? What good might it be if our nation rots from within and the greed destroys it all. Why is the lifecycle of happiness so short today. Just because information speeds by doesn't mean that we can take the time to make the hard decision for tomorrow.

Obama can't change the course of this nation but he can certainly help it in another direction by providing at least the concept that change is possible. Good leadership brings out the best in people because you feel like it is expected of you. You want to make a change, you trust your leader that he his doing everything possible to make things better for you. A true leader demands more of you and you aren't offended. Does the current adminstration demand anything from you? Demand accountability, demand respect, and demand a better future for our kids.

Haiku Wednesday

Republicans

Out of the shadow
of Reagan/Bush governing
Touch off for McCain?

This Week in Comics

New Avengers #44

Okay the back story is getting old.  Lets finish Secret Invasion and move on. So Mr Fantastic screw it all up but what exactly is "it".  Ughhhh let's move on.  So will the New New Avengers have Thor, Capt A, and Iron Man in it? What is going to be the doh moment?  There has to be some issue...I bet it has something to do with Iron Man and Spider Woman.  I am sure Bendis will have some oh sh&t moment...

Daredevil #110

Not a terribly satisfying conclusion.  Think the book was kind of gearing up for the return of Bullseye or Lady Bullseye.  Hope this is a good story and not just some ploy to garner readership.  Wonder if Dakota will continue to have a play?  Hmmmm

Ultimate Spider-Man #125

oh hum.  This story line just isn't grabbing me and asking me to read it with anything remotely nearing, I care...I mean why do spidey writer's think that the venom is what we want.  It is a boirng concept...I like that it ties to Peter's father and why not follow that rather than the whole bit with it taking over Spidey....I still think the whole secret invasion is taking away from Bendis's other books like this one and Powers...

X-Force #6

I am done on this one.  I loved the concept at first but it just isn't the X-men that I know.  It seems that we are just trying for some gratuitous fight crap.  Throw in the fact that the villains just don't mean much too me and it is all over the board.  By the issue I just don't care...maybe later...

Rox Talk

Another 4-2 week against the Dodgers and Reds. The Roxs currently stand at 61-71. Eight games back from division leading D-backs in third place. Currently 36-30 at home and 25-41 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored by its opponents 620-680 (expected wins is 60 versus historical wins at 62). On pace for 75 wins with 761 runs scored and 827 runs against.

Weekly WPA leaders (overall as well):

Well 30 games to play with 15 at home and 15 on the road. If they statistically play out the year then they will go 14 - 16. They have 9 games against the Giants (4), 6 against the Padres (3), 3 against Houston (2), 3 against Atlanta (2), 3 against LA (1), and 6 against the D-backs (1). The number in parenthesis is the wins we should have if we statistically play out the rest of the year. So basically all signs point to a 74 - 75 win season. Trying to be positive, I think they can probably take 2 more wins agains the Giants and three more from the D-Backs which would mean 17 - 13 down the stretch. Could we go 20 - 10 down the strectch and get to .500? That would be awesome but starting pitching consistency would really be needed. 12 starts from our 4th and 5th starter! By the way the Denver Post has an interesting story from Woody Paige who brought forth that the Roxs have the best division record since June 3! Whoppee if we could just throw out those pesky first two months of the season!

This Week in Comics

Secret Invasion #5
This actually came out the previous week but I was traveling and therefore I will talk about now! Looks like we crossed the hump so to speak. Earth and her heroes have been been beat up enough...now it is time for as the Thing would say, "Clobberin' Time" Reed is back in business and Tony ain't a skrull. Three issues to go...who is going to kick it and who is going to come out swinging. Can you taste the Spider Woman / Iron Man brouhaha?

Uncanny X-men #501

Good now that the "event" is over we can move on and start telling good stories again. Not for sure but I think this fits the mode of "this isn't your Father's X-men anymore".  Between the Emma and Scott sexual exploration and the fact that it would appear Scott wants to add to the mutant population I just have a hard time accepting this (of course it could be just Land art work).  In the end the show stopper was the Red Queen...hmmm could it be Madeleine is back?

Captain America #41

Brubaker continues to put a great story together.  Love the end "I'm Captain America"

2008 Summer Olympics

The Olympics is a wonderful event. Thankfully we have moved beyond the Cold War era of bickering and boycotts. China has put on quite the show. The architecture of these games have been wonderful highlighted by the Cube and Bird's Nest.

And to think the two defining athletes of this Olympics found gold (and World Records) in these two venues. Phelps 8 golds (7 WRs and 1 ORs) will probably be the US's memory of these games but the world will probably remember Bolt's dynamic coming out party. The pure speed of Bolt on the track is a sight to see. The 100M run was amazing in just how much faster than the rest of the world he was and the 200M was just as crazy (23 mph!).

The world will also remember some 50 odd gold medals for the Chinese, the underage gymnasts, the potential air pollution which never seemed to be that bad, and the 100 million dollar opening ceremonies. Things that mattered to me"

Best Smile - Shawn Johnson Most Heartfelt Moment - Stephanie Brown

Haiku Wednesday

Democrats

Jefferson's Party
New Deal, Great Society
Obama's Future

John Birmingham - Designated Targets

Book 2 in the Axis of Time series. Been a while since I read the first one so it took a bit to get back up to speed. Not for sure why these books give me so much anxiety to read them. I mean alternative history books mess with what you know is real so maybe that is it. This book isn't so blatant in its racist viewpoints. Still very violent in some places. Thought the Elvis and Marilyn sightings were fun. Probably should read Book 3 sooner than later. Not a big surprise that England gets invaded and Hawaii as well. Will the nuke make an appearance next book?

Rox Talk

A 4-2 week against the D-Backs and Nats. The Roxs currently stand at 57-69. Eight games back from division leading D-backs in third place. Currently 34-29 at home and 23-40 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored by its opponents 591-654 (expected wins is 57 versus historical wins at 59). On pace for 73 wins with 760 runs scored and 841 runs against.

Weekly WPA leaders (overall as well):

The inconsistency of this season is just plain maddening. Up and down, win and losing streaks, offense then pitching. There just doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason to this season. As a fan you get a little excited and think the corner has been turned only to have them fall on their face for the next few games. Gotta love baseball...

La Ronge

Another journey to our northern cousins. This time I was accosted by the Canadian Customs. Guess they don't like American workers coming in and potentially taking away Canadian jobs? Flew to Edmonton then to Saskatoon then drove to La Ronge. Big country up there. Lots of water. Very pretty, very remote. Some observations:

No cheese-its in Canada. M&Ms tough to find. Gas is $1.34 a liter, the air traffic seems to work a whole lot better (all my flights were on time!), Air Canada is a nice airline, what the heck is Tom Horton (they are everywhere!), Canada security doesn't make you take your shoes off!, Canadians seem to drink alot, it can get to -50 deg C in the winter, and the metric system is great but it sure makes you think when driving 160 km/hr!

Good things I found

Michael Chabon - Maps and Legends

Not a real exciting book just a collection of non fiction work from Chabon. A lot of what he has written, he actually used it in his talk last year when I saw him at the Tattered Cover discussing his book, "The Yiddish Policeman's Union" Also a fair amount of work on his love of Sherlock Holmes. Did find some of his analysis interesting and especially his difficulties in writing his second novel. Wow to write 1,500 pages and spending almost 5 years writing something and having it just collapse and not go to a book. Interesting...any good book notheing very jaw dropping but overall a good simple book.

Haiku Wednesday

Olympics

Spotlight on athletes
It brings the world together
Idealistic peace

Magazine Wrap Up

Just some quotes that were MAKE magazine attributed to Picasso(?)

He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is an inexorable, indisputable law.

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.

Action is the foundational key to all success. (or as Mike Shanahan says "Preparation is the foundation of Success)

All creative endeavor begins with just fooling around, not doing much of anything, just noodling and letting the different parts of your mind talk to each other. Did you follow your weird -- Cory Doctorow

Rox Talk

A 2-5 week against the Nats and Padres. Tough week and have to admit this pretty much ends the any sort of hope that the Roxs can make a run of it. To go 2-5 against the two worst teams in baseball and have it done at home is just pathetic. The Roxs currently stand at 53-67. Eight games back from division leading D-backs in third place. Currently 33-27 at home and 20-40 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored by its opponents 557-628 (expected wins is 53 versus historical wins at 56). On pace for 72 wins with 747 runs scored and 847 runs against.

Weekly WPA leaders (overall as well):

Last Sunday was Faith Day? Faith Day? Guess this was the 4th annual one at the ballpark. Look I don't have any problem having promotions but I think the whole ideal is a bit funny especially with one of the Monforts leading the way. Does Monfort think that simply faith (i.e. Rockies fans, baseball) going to win baseball games for you. Somehow I think God might have better things on his mind than what the Roxs are doing on any given day. Of course that is a good thought, who would God root for? Maybe last year the Roxs had a little luck but to carry this thought it would seem the Monforts and the Roxs are kind of like that televangelist. You know the ones that plead for your money, take it for their own purposes, and not really give anything back. Two million fans show up and all we get is a lousy 54 wins? Maybe a little more work and a little less faith and we could build a winning ball club.

This Week in Comics

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #17

Okay we don't need a a couple of page set-up like Claremont used to do but come on - Joss - I have no clue who Fray is. Discovered that the girl who looks like Buffy is actually her sister Erin? And Fray has a brother who has the slayer memories? Ughhh loved the "ride me" quote and Xander and I guess this is all leading to a show down with the good and evil Willow....

Invincible Iron Man #4

Fraction is doing a heck of a good job. It is always tough (I would think) to reboot a hero) especially one who had such a great movie opening. Anyway Tony comes out swinging finally and Pepper and him continue a really weird relationship. Now that she is magnetized I can only imagine what the dynamic dual will be doing in upcoming issues!

Warren Ellis - Crooked Little Vein

Okay not a huge comic book reader of Ellis's work but he is a comic book writer so I'll give him a chance. Plus I believe he gave away his first chapter and that really hooked me. The opening read is so wacky and crazy I just had to see where it went. Well where it went was the underbelly of American sexual deviance. Crazy all around, great characters, and frankly by the time it was all done you just have to shake your head and say, yikes and why! Not for everyone good wacky story.

Haiku Wednesday

School

The end of Summer
Yellow buses, homework blues
The backpacks march on

Haruki Murakami - Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

I belive for the most part this is the first book I have ever read that wasn't originally written in English...my question then is what is lost?  Don't think I will run out and learn Japanese but it does make you wonder what might get lost in translation.  Interesting stories, what I thought was most  interesting was that most of them made me feel a bit edgy.  His style is very visual or at least the way he crafts his stories there is a very visual feel to them.  I like two stories the most.  The one about the piano tuner who runs into a woman who learned she has breast cancer and the piano tuner reaches out to his long lost sister to only learn that she does too.

Also thought the the line about all men have three notable girlfriends in there lives was interesting.  I will have to pick up one of his longer fictional works and see how it is for a long story.

Rox Talk

A 3-4 week against the Pirates and Marlins. Tough up and down week, but did conclude the road trip with a winning record which is good. With about 2 months to go and 49 games left the Roxs have to go 30 - 19 to get to .500 and 32 - 17 to get to 83 wins (my projection? or was it 85 wins?). Anyway not impossible but with a lot of games left against the division, which we seem to have difficult winning against it will be tough. We do have 28 games at home which helps and with 7 games against the Nats, 3 against the Reds, 3 against the Astros, and a series in Atlanta. Maybe 30 - 19 isn't too tough to get to? The Roxs currently stand at 51-62. Seven games back from division leading D-backs in third place. Currently 31-22 at home and 20-40 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored by its opponents 523-578 (expected wins is 51 versus historical wins at 52). On pace for 73 wins with 750 runs scored and 829 runs against.

Weekly WPA leaders (overall as well):

No movement on the trade front..

This Week in Comics

Ultimate Spider-Man #124

It's the Ultimate Beetle! The War of the Symbiotes continues with the Beetle trying to steal the black stuff. Couple of weird flash backs, it would seem our favorite spider is possibly sick? A future plot point? Stay tune our arachnid lovers. It would seem things are picking up once again...the art in this book is really super. Bendis just nails the wise cracks. Good stuff.