So.. I DO have a Blog!

Well well...

Up until now, I honestly had forgotten that I actually have/had a blog over the years. After re-reading my own postings ... I realized that my "blogging" basically consisted of a few political rantings, a diatribe on an old cell phone bill, and a very in-depth (and exceedingly well-done analysis) of the Houston Rockets which would have been relevant back in 2005.

Admittedly, I was tempted to delete those previous postings. Or maybe there is some type of archive feature that might come in handy? It was actually kind of embarrassing reading over what I had written in the past. Go and read some of your own writings from years ago and let me know what you think about your own writing!

I've recently learned, however, that apparently my blog is searchable in Google. Given that realization, perhaps my blogging will take on a more political or issues-driven bent in the future... and less of the random diatribe function that's dominated in the past. And perhaps my recent realization that blogs aren't nearly as private and anonymous as I had once thought... will affect my future postings as well.

Who knows? I grow weary of thinking and pondering...

Active Again

After a 3 year hiatus, I have decided that it would be beneficial to my mental health to once again let out steam in some format or other, so why not a blog?  Not that anyone is paying attention or anything…

 

By the way… how many people out there have bought the IPAD?  SUCKERS!  It’s a giant iphone.  It doesn’t even do anything particularly well.  It’s not nearly as good an ebook reader as a Kindle – not even close to the same functionality as a laptop or even a netbook – it basically has a mobile web browser (still no flash-enabled web-browsing, just like the iphone) – it runs the same apps as the iphone – and if you’re going to watch movies while holding this thing then you have got some issues.  Shit, for the same price you could buy a pretty decent HD TV.

Why it pays to be an ASS to Corporate America

Last week I checked my Sprint Bill online and was SHOCKED to see that I owed them $180. What the hell?! So I called them and that bitch on the other line told me that it was my fault. What happened was that I had service restored in the middle of December ($140 dolllars, btw) and so they only gave me half of my minutes for the rest of that month. I made a bunch of calls at night that month under the assumption that I had 1000 night and weekend minutes, when in effect I only had about 300. So when the "customer service" representative told me that this wouldn't have happened if I had paid my bill, and that those were valid charges, I told her that this was bullshit, and we argued on the phone for about half an hour. She kept repeating that I should have paid my bill on time and that those were valid charges. I insisted that the charges were unfair because they didn't notify me that I had reduced minutes for that month. It just went round and round. As the conversation went on I realized that my face was red, veins were bulging out of my neck, and I was shouting into the phone. After she realized that I was not going to hang up, she told me that all they could do was give me a $50 dollar discount. I took the discount, hung up, and then called again to talk to someone else. The next representative said she would have a supervisor take a look at it.

I called today to inquire about the supervisor's decision , and once again they told me that $50 was all they could offer. So I told them that I wanted to cancel. After a pause, they transferred me over to someone else to cancel service. This person told me that she could only help me out if I didn't cancel. They offered another $50 dollar credit, and 50% off my bill. In return, I signed up for a discounted phone plan for $40 where I would get 1000 anytime minutes and unlimited night and weekends starting at 8:00 p.m (They sell this plan on their website for $50). The only reason I did it was because this new plan didn't require any commitment so I can cancel on their ass after February. So, instead of owing Sprint $180 of bullshit charges at the end of January, I got it down to $40, which is what is about what it should have been in the first place but only after A LOT of bitching.

I've put this experience on my blog just to let y'all know -- Don't let corporations scam you with their dirty rules. I have heard the thunder, and I have had my blood sucked dry by those dirty leaches. Here are some tips that I've learned from experience.

1. Understand the person on the other line. The person on the phone, this so-called customer service representative, are encouraged to resolve issues on their own, but they have the least amount of authority. Corporate preference is to have someone being paid $10 bucks an hour repeat rules to your face over and over again until you give up. Dont' give up. And don't believe their stupid lies. I was told twice by Sprint that $50 was all they could take off my bill.

2. Talk to someone else. Their number one lie is that they can take this small amount off your bill, and that's all the company can do. Ask to speak to their supervisor.

3. Threaten to drop them for a competitor. Yea baby. That's the last thing they want, to have their greedy mouths yanked away from the gravy nipple.

"Intelligent" Design

From Yahoo News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050819/ap_on_go_co/frist_intelligent_design;_ylt=
AhkQhehnl0zV_o57wXXHFrWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

Echoing similar comments from President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said "intelligent design" should be taught in public schools alongside evolution

Frist, a doctor who graduated from Harvard Medical School, said exposing children to both evolution and intelligent design "doesn't force any particular theory on anyone. I think in a pluralistic society that is the fairest way to go about education and training people for the future."
The theory of intelligent design says life on earth is too complex to have developed through evolution, implying that a higher power must have had a hand in creation. Nearly all scientists dismiss it as a scientific theory, and critics say it's nothing more than religion masquerading as science.
Bush recently told a group of Texas reporters that intelligent design and evolution should both be taught in schools "so people can understand what the debate is about."
That comment sparked criticism from opponents, including Democratic Party Chairman
Howard Dean who called Bush "anti-science."


From Another Article on Yahoo News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050820/ap_on_go_co/john_kerry;_ylt=AvwOsko0yslgd
ILBQW_7zpKyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl


Kerry said Bush and the Republicans have used the terrorism issue to divert attention from issues that favored the Democrats.
In an arch comment about the president's recent statement in favor of teaching "intelligent design" as an alternative to the theory of evolution, Kerry said, "I think we ought to be getting some intelligent design in our policy in Iraq."
That drew a standing ovation and whoops of delight from the audience.
Kerry told his audience that while Republicans dither and practice politics of "nastiness and partisanship,"

Houston Rockets Team Analysis - Projected Starters

Houston Rockets Team Analysis
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Rockets Power Dancers!!




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CENTER - Yao Ming

Look at how tough this fucker looks! The pride of China and Asian Male athletes everywhere. Yea, baby. 7 foot 5 inches of All-Star Center. The best center in the West, probably the second best center in the NBA, and still getting better every season. This handsome fella gets double-teamed in the post before he even gets the ball, creating shots for teammates even when he doesn't touch the ball.

Role on the team - This team is built around Yao and T-Mac, giving the Rockets two of the best young cornerstones in the league. The Rockets will be built around these two for the forseeable future. Yao's role offensively is to provide the low-post presence in the post. Defensively, he was the primary shotblocker for the Rockets last year. Any rebounds that bounce high and close to the rim is a rebound for Yao.

Strengths - 18.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.0 blocks. Yao ranked third in the NBA in field goal percentage last year at 55%. His overall numbers will improve as he continues to build up strength and stamina onto his relatively lean NBA frame and gains more experience. Hasn't missed a NBA game in his career. He's one of the few reliable post scorerers in the NBA, moves his feet well for a big man, good shotblocker, plus rebounder, excellent shooter, good passer. Stupid Chinese non-basketball fans who say that Yao is overrated based on watching 10 minutes of a Rocket game can shut the hell up and let me punch em in the FACE!

Weaknesses - Limited Stamina. Relatively short arms for his size. Needs to be more assertive offensively. Yao needs to work more on establishing position, cut down on the number of fadeaways, and make more aggresive post moves to dunk on opponents and draw fouls. He also needs to demand the ball from his teammates more. Defensively, he tends to get into foul trouble, but the addition of Stromile Swift next season should help. Playing with the defensively sissy Juwan Howard exposed his lack of quickness. Needs to stop trying to draw charges on defense; he's most effective with a controlled aggression defensively. If Yao can address these weaknesses, he should become a top six player in the NBA. Basically, the skills are all there, he just needs to play more aggresively overall. For one summer, the Rockets should just dump Yao off at a court on the ghetto, with Sura and Barry to watch his back, and let him learn how streetball is played.
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SF - Tracy McGrady
Imagine Kobe Bryant if he wasn't a selfish little punk-ass brat. Dominant offensively. This guy plays like superstar in a video game. Can take anyone one-on-one. An athletic freak. Can drive or shoot the ball, three point range, great ball-handling, and he makes it look all so smooth, like he's sleepwalking. And on top of all that ability, he also has great vision and is willing to make the extra pass, unlike Kobe, who passes only when he feels like it. The best SF/SG in the game.

Strengths - As stated above. Also, during the playoffs "sleepy" will wake up to, in his own words, "impose my will on the game."

Weakness - Doesn't play defense all the time. He does during the playoffs though. Sometimes, when trying to impose his will, he'll take too many bad shots, but shit, we're nitpicking here.

I can't belive the Rockets got T-Mac for Francis and Mobley. Addition by subtraction, if you ask me. It isn't a coincidence that the Rockets have the best team chemistry and ball movement I've seen since the Hakeem/Drexler championship days after they got rid of those two.

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PF - Stromile Swift
What the hell? Who is that freak dunking over Yao? That is, luckily for the Rockets and Yao, never going to happen again. That is, Stromile Swift.

This guy was the #2 overall pick in the NBA draft 4 or 5 years ago. He's one of those athletic freaks. Every time I watch him I marvel at his athleticism and wonder why he isn't dominating in the NBA. Maybe a change of scenary and playing beside Yao and TMac is all he needs to showcase his talent. The Rockets are betting that it is.

Strengths - Excellent defender. Grabs a lot of rebounds due to his huge jump. Ally-oops are an option with him on your team. Averaged 2 blocks a game last season off the bench for Memphis. Can hit the mid-range shot.

Weaknesses - According to scouting reports, he can hit the mid-range shot but he takes too many of them. Low basketball IQ.

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Shooting Guard - David Wesley

Acquired via trade midway last season, Wesley helped spark the Rockets second-half run with his wily veteran play, defense, and three-point sharpshooting.

Role on the Team - Wesley is the Rockets best perimeter defender. Usually, he ends up guarding the opponents best small guy. Van Gundy constantly raves about Wesley's defensive skills, devising entire defensive schemes off of Wesley's perimeter defense. Offensively, Wesley simply passes the ball to Yao or T-Mac, and picks his spots to launch open threes. Great system player. Always makes the right pass and is accurate from the arc. Quick release to his shot.

Weaknesses- Wesley came into the league drafted by the Celtics and was a scoring point guard early in his career. In Charlotte, he switched to shooting guard, and was their second leading scorer behind Baron Davis for the bulk of his career there. Now in Houston, and a bit past his prime, he's a system player for the Rockets but luckily still an excellent defender. But for how much longer?

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Point Guard - Bob Sura

A flurry of mid-season trades received the bulk of the credit for the Rockets rebound from an average team to a top team in the West. Actually, the Rockets began to win once Bob Sura made his Rockets debut. Before, the likes of Charlie Ward, 40 yr old Rod Strickland, and little rookie that couldn't shoot Andre Barret manned the point guard position. Yuck. Once Sura came back, healthy, athletic, energetic and feisty as ever, the Rockets experienced a surge to team chemistry.

Role on the Team - Feisty White Guy. Sura, the little guard, is the team's best rebounder. It's hard to believe, but he is. He's also a triple double threat when healthy. Looks to pass before he shoots. Not good at feeding the post. Seeks to attack the rim on offense and then dish out to open shooters when defensive help comes. Not a great shooter, not a great ball-handler, not a true point guard, sometimes a little bit too crazy. But he's a player that brings all the intangibles that last year's team lacked. Feistiness, speed, chasing loose balls, talking trash, toughness, energy, hustle - the intangibles are what he brings to the team.

Strengths - In the playoffs against the Mavericks, Josh Howard fouled Yao Ming from behind, knocking him to the ground. Then he taunted Yao by walking over Yao, who was lying on his back on the floor, and staring at him while bumping his chest like a gorilla. Yao, startled and insulted, quickly dashed to land a flurry of blows to little Howard's stupid little head. Fortunately, or unfortunately for Yao, he was in such a hurry to go pound Howard that all the big guy ended up doing was falling back on the ground before he got up. Once Yao did get up, he wanted to go after Howard, who was hiding behind Dampier, but Tmac, with an amused smile on his face, shielded the gentle giant from getting into trouble. Sura, however, watching from the bench, was incensed. Once he finally got back into the game, which was maybe an entire quarter later, everyone had forgotten about the incident... except Sura. The next time Howard touched the ball, Sura immediately tackled him and tried to instigate a fight, talking smack and bumping chests the entire time, conveying the message that "if you mess with my teammate, you mess with me, motherfucker!"

If Yao, or any Rocket should ever go psycho and run off into the stands to fight a fan, Sura will be the guy who backs him up. On a Rockets team that is older, more professional, and more polite than most any other team, Sura provides the toughness and the gritty competitiveness that every contender needs.

Weaknesses - By the playoffs last season, Sura was playing on a bad back and one leg. He shouldn't have been playing, and as soon as the season ended he was scheduled for surgery on his knee. He tried to play through it, but was just a shadow of his former self. Sura has been injury prone throughought his career. The Rockets need him to have a healthy season next year.

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This concludes my commentary for the Rockets. I had hoped to do the entire team today, but shit man now I'm tired. I wrote a lot! Who is gonna read this shit anyway? I'll do the rest whenever i feel like it. I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to comment on this post and tell me what a genius I am.

First Entry

Well... this is my blog. It sucks pretty bad right now. Figure'd I'd post something so the page exists while I figure out how to use this.