Happy Valentines Day

photo: espn.go.com

Excuse me if I don't trip over myself trying to climb aboard the Bobby Valentine bandwagon.
Valentine was all smiles this past week as he was introduced by the Boston Red Sox as the 45th manager in the history of the franchise. He was officially introduced last Thursday in a cleverly staged press conference that had all the makings and trappings of a baseball franchise that abandoned their last manager after a still-discussed September collapse that saw the Red Sox go from World Series threats to imploding choke artists. The press conference included a front office-led ovation and ended with a photo opportunity that showed Valentine and members of the front office and ownership in an "all-in" pose.

Spare me.

Leave it to the Boston Red Sox to be full of drama and cliffhangers even in the offseason. I thought all that was in the past. Wasn't this new ownership? Was this not a media-savvy ownership that new how to make the right moves and didn't have to rely on public relation ploys when it came to putting a viable product on the field.

The hiring process started well enough. There were four, maybe five candidates brought in to speak with General Manager Ben Cherrington. None of them were blockbuster names but neither was Terry Francona when he was selected before the 2004 season, the season that saw the Red Sox win their elusive world championship. Dale Sveum knew the team. He was Francona's bench coach with the Red Sox. Gene Lamont was a viability with experience. None of them brought cachet to the position but this is the Boston Red Sox. This is a team whose front office has put out a competive team year after year with legitimate chances to appear in the postseason. Fans, real fans, know it takes more than just a big name in the office to make a team a winner and draw a better attendance.

Ownership saw differently. Principal Owner John Henry described the Red Sox reasoning for hiring Valentine thus:

"Valentine is] the right man at the right time for this particular team. We're set to win. We should've won last year. We're built to win. We thought, in the end, that Bobby was the person most capable of taking us to where we want to go in 2012 and 2013. We're not at a point right now where we're building for the future. We are trying to win now. We always try to do both, but we felt he was the right person at the right time for this team."

Translation: "We were odds-on favorites to represent the American League in the World Series but that didn't happen because certain players were too stupid and lazy to play a whole season. We pissed off a lot of people, especially the Pink Hats. We were afraid we wouldn't sell tickets next season if we had a team with certain returning players so we didn't want to take a chance on bringing in someone who may not be a marquee name, even though that's what we did seven years ago and we ended up winning two world championships in four years."

This front office has had a reputation of making all the right moves. Even ideas that seemed questionable (seats over the Green Monster and right field pavilion) teurned out to be great moves that looked like they've always been there. September was a calamity for Terry Francona and his players and I am sure everyone would like to forget it. Unfortunately, this is something that requires people to address the situation and face it head-on. Fans are too smart to think a big-name manager is the answer to problems. It's nothing more than a bandage.

Deliver us all from these changes

Yesterday marked the beginning of the new responses and customs in the order of the Roman Catholic Mass. These changes have been discussed and in the works for weeks. The Boston Globe reported on them in yesterday's newspaper.

The changes are universally recognized as minor and maybe add a few seconds to the mass. The official word from the Church explaining the need for change is to give a "less awkward translation" of the customs and traditions of the Mass. I wonder why the congregation's responses didn't fit the translations but the scriptures, readings and gospels have translation that needs no changes or tweakings.

I have heard from a few priests. They all seem to be toeing the company line. Statements of, "This is a good thing," and, "Try it. You'll learn to like it and get used to it," are among the most common statements made by the cloth.

These changes are bad.

It is my opinion that thses changes are made to make the Mass more formal. Some examples:

Priest: "The Lord be with you."
Congregation; "And with your spirit."

Excuse me? Are we not told the body houses your soul? Is the human body not sacred? Now the Lord is not with us but the spirit?

Part of the mass before the distribution of communion is sung in Latin. I believe this pushes the congregation further away. This is not the time for the Catholic Church to push people away from the flock. The church should be doing everything it can to retain its numbers and add to them.

The Creed, also known as the Profession of faith also changes "One in being with the Father" to "Consubstantial with the father." Again, do not complicate things for old and new members of the congregation. Keep it simple enough for all to understand and follow.

My biggest fear with all thses changes is that Catholics all over the country will appeal to their respective archdiocese and even the Vatican to revert to the old form and the authorities will only wave them off. I fear authorities will tell them what is good for them and that they should learn to embrace the changes. This is a bad thing to do and one of the worse times to tell the faithful what they need and what is good for them.

Black Friday Blues

Thanksgiving is just aroud the corner. You know what that means: Over next couple of days we will be inundated with ads on the television and radio with incredible deals and unbelievable savings on merchandise that would normally cost you 40-60% more if you shopped at more sane hours.

Thanksgiving 2011 looks to be one of the more exciting and interesting periods in the retail industry. Stores are not only hoping the Chri$tma$ Season will help their bottom lines but some stores are opening on Thanksgiving Night.

We all know the driving motivation behind opening doors hours before the normal time. Stores everywhere count on the Holiday Shopping season to help turn a profit. The economic doldrums that have been hanging on for three years and counting have hurt stores' bottom line. Hence the "need" to get a jump on the jump on the shopping season.

I feel bad for the retail employees. Unless you work in management, you will never earn what you are worth. The employees have every right to spend and enjoy the holidays with their families like everyone else. If a store is going to open at 10:00 p.m., it does not mean a clerk will have to show up at 9:50 in order to be ready for the madness. They will have to be at the store at a time closer to 8:00 to be ready. Figure time for a nap so they can be up all night, then time to wash up, change and hit the road so they can get to work.

The Holidays are a time to spend with your family. They are not a time to be at work and to figure out when a quick meal can be squeezed in before making your shift.

The stores are putting out great deals and opening as early as they can in order to entice shoppers and their money. These stores have had well over 300 days to give customers a great deal on merchandise and bring in some cash. If stores had good deals the entire year, they would not have to open up in the middle of the night. Offering sales and bargains throughout the rest of the year will mean more money for stores and shareholders. Customers will get what they want and employees will feel a little more appreciated and better about their job, which means they will be happier to help.

Casino Gambling in Massachusetts

Casinos in Massachusetts are this close to becoming a reality. Now it's just a question of dotting the i's and crossing the t's. An article in today's Boston Globe reports on the Legislature's progress toward passing a bill that would result in three casinos and one slot parlor to be built at locations throughout the commonwealth.

I have long been a proponent of gambling in Massachusetts. I believe the benefits and revenues that will come into the economy outweigh the risks and concerns opponents of the idea have when it comes to preying on the less affluent and other impending social concerns others have. What I don't like is the restrictions and conditions that have been watered down by lawmakers that deal with the time current members of Beacon Hill would have to wait between leaving their office and going to work for the industry. The original wait time of five years hase been slashed to one year. Another provision in the bill takes casino revenue from local aid and gives it to the horse racing industry for the purpose of increasing payouts on gambler's winnings.

Governor Deval Patrick has given every indication of signing the bill if/when it is passed by the State House, saying in the aforementioned article article, "there are no 'showstoppers' that would prevent him from signing the bill". Patrick did say, however, that he was "surprised and worried" by the changes in the bill that would divert money from the local aid to the racetracks.

Stop right there, Mister Patrick and lawmakers.

Leave it to a group of politicians to take a potentially good idea for all and see if they can use it for their personal gain. That's what cutting the waiting period from five years to one will do. It will only add to the distrust the public has when it comes to lawmakers. Of course, Patrick will be delivered a political "hot potato" if the bill is presented to his desk with all of the provisions mentioned included. His veto gives opponents the opportunity to call him a hypocrite and accuse him of abandoning an issue he has long supported.

Do not allow yourself to be fooled by those accusations. Patrick will not be a hypocrite and he will not be abandoning a cause. He will be refusing to allow an economic stimulant to be used by state representatives and senators for their personal gain. Lawmakers should work and stand together to allow the five-year ban to stand and allow cities and towns to keep their money. If not, the Governor should use his veto power until the proper clauses are restored. If not, everyone on Beacon Hill has given their contituents another reason to be wary and distrustful.

Herman Cain

 

Photo from hermancain.com

Running for office is tough enough without sexual harassment allegations. Just ask Herman Cain.
Getting elected doesn't mean you're out of the woods. Just ask Bill Clinton.

A new accuser has made allegations against Cain, a GOP presidential candidate. Cain has continued to deny the allegations before the mdia, even blaming the media for publishing "anonymous, ancient, vague personal allegations" as described in an email Cain sent to supporters.

One allegation would be cause for a story since it concerns someone running for President. Two raises eyebrows. Four, which is what we have with Sharon Bialek, dominates the headlines and diverts a candidate's time and resources from what they should be talking about: How they will lead the country.

Bialek is the first woman to come forward and openly accuse Cain. She alleges the unwanted advances occurred 14 years ago. The statute of limitations will not allow for Cain to face criminal charges and Bialek, who has hired a lawyer, has said she does not intend to file a lawsuit but wants Cain to "come clean - admit what you did and move forward" according to published reports.

Cain has crossed the Rubicon as far as these allegations. If something had happened, he would have done well to address the issue, offer a mea culpa and hope the incident would fade as he continued with his campaign. Now, if these allegations are true, Cain wil be disgraced and will face a fallout not only with political supporters, but more importantly with his wife and family.

Cain is not the first politician to face women accusers. Bill Clinton was dogged by the issue when he ran for president in 1992. His womanizing lifestyle followed him into the White House and he finally admitted in the summer of 1998 to having an affair with an intern. The media covered it relentlessly for more than a year prior. Clinton's popularity due to the surging economy, couple with the fact that he was more thatn halfway through his second term in the Oval Office, shielded him from further political fallout.

Other politicians like Howard Dean allow themselves to get caught up in a moment and are never allowed to live it down.

Herman Cain has surprised many Americans with his high standings in the polls. If he continues to stand up to the accusations and disprove them, he will be that much stronger and tougher to beat in elections. If this is a mere attempt to hide past lapses in judgement, it will destroy his bid for the White House and define his legacy forever.

Gadhafi

Libyan rebels were successful today in their hunt for former Libyan dictator Moammar Ghadafi. Ghadafi was captured alive after being found in a sewer CNN.com reports he died in a crossfire between his loyalists and Libyan rebels.

While this day is being hailed as a victory for the Free World. I wonder about the implications this may have for embattled president Barack Obama. The President is less than 14 months away from Election Day and Republicans have gone after him and his economic policies that have failed to pull the nation out of its recession.

While the phrase, "It's the economy, stupid," has resonated throughout the United States since the 1992 Presedential Election when Democratic Candidate Bill Clinton delivered it on the stump, Obama may have inadvertantly stepped into some good political fortune over the past six months. Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SeALs on the first week of May. Now Ghadafi is another feather in Obama's cap.

Let me be clear: Finding Ghadafi was a team effort between French warplanes, a U.S. drone and other resources provided by NATO. It was not the work of the United States alone. However, the hunt for the mastermind behind the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland is dead. He is the second neutralized threat to the United States and other democracy-seeking and loving nations during the Obama Administration.

Republican Presidential candidates have been debating for months. All who are running for the GOP nomination have never missed an opportunity to attack the President and his economic policies. What they cannot argue against is victories that have been scored against Al Qaeda terroists and a Libyan dictator.

Take them out of the Beer Game

The World Series starts tomorrow night and talk throughout these parts are still centered on September and beer. Only in New England.

The "Days of our Sox" Saga continues today with a story from the Boston Globe where Jon Lester attempts to dial down the drinking in the clubhouse issue to, "a ninth-inning rally beer." Lester also goes on to say, "Nobody played video games."

There is a saying: If you're in a hole, stop digging. the antics of Lester (15-9, 3.47), Josh Beckett (13-7, 2.89), and John Lackey (12-12, 6.41) have taken on a news cycle that everyone from clubhouse to front office wishes would just go away. The Red Sox failed to win a third of their games in the final month of the season and led to an awkward exit of a manager who failed to win 90 games just once during the eight seasons he was in charge.

Offseasons are difficult enough for team executives without the drama of an epic collapse. This isn't just a shot of whiskey before an elimination game at Yankee Stadium. These are three players making over $38 million combined during the 2011 season. While the rest of the team was fighting for their playoff lives, the Chicken Men were in the clubhouse as if they were college students on a Friday Night.

On top of this, your general manager has taken off for a job in Chicago.

John Henry has had a fairly easy tenure as owner of the Boston Red Sox. He has two World Series Championships and has been to three League Championship Series. It has been fairly smooth sailing at Yawkey Way for the Red Sox ownership and the players. It is time, however to see the mettle of Henry and his lieutenants. There was more chaos and drama than needed in 2011. The Red Sox have a great chance to corral their personnel with the right manager and general manager in 2012. If Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino can run their business, they can weed out the problem players and get a team made up of players who are more concerned about winning than fast food tabs. If that means fans don't deserve the opportunity to see Tim Wakefield chase a record, I think the fans can live with that.

Illegal Immigration Bill misses mark and oppurtunity

A story on cbsboston.com reports on a proposed bill that would result in jail time for any business owner that knowingly hires illegal immigrants. The bill, proposed by Ryan Fattman of Sutton, calls for a minimum of six months in jail if an employer is caught for a third time.

Fattman, according to the article, "said employers that hire illegal immigrants need to be held accountable."

While I agree there needs to be a tougher stance on illegal immigration, I don't agree with Representative Fattman's solution. Someone who hires someone who is in the country illegally should not be put in a place designed and reserved for murderers and rapists.

Instead, there is a better solution to deal with these scofflaws: impose fines and don't wait until the third offense to do it. Fining a business owner would get them where it hurts. It would also help raise money in a time where doing such a thing is difficult for Massachusetts. Impose a fine of $1,000 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second offense and $10,000 for the third offense. This is a more reasonable solution. You are bringing more money into the state and not wasting a jail cell or tax dollars on a non-violent offender.

Representative Fattman should amend his own bill and turn it into something that could truly help Massachusetts and its citizens.

Bruce Chen is not the Answer

The 2011 journey for the Boston Red Sox, from World Series penciled-ins to bust is almost complete (Think I don't have a good feeling about tonight?). There is one game remaining in the regular season. The Red Sox still have a mathematical chance to get into the playoffs and there is a very good chance there could be a playoff game between Boston and the Tampa Bay rays tomorrow if neither of the two teams are able to clinch tonight.

The starting pitching for the Red Sox has been terrible (insert John Lackey line here). I have no idea how many chances Tim Wakefield got for his 200th career win. Things have gotten so bad the Red Sox are considering a trade should a 163rd game be necessary. Right now reports from foxsports.com are centering around Bruce Chen, a lefty for the Kansas City Royals whose numbers (12-8, 3.98) whose numbers aren't spectacular. his wins would tie him for third on the Red Sox with Lackey and his ERA would actually be in the top 10 of the staff, not figuring having enough innings to qualify.

For all we know, Chen could help the Red Sox. His pitching could give other starters as well as the bullpen a rest. That is not the point. The point is the 2011 season is a lost cause. the Red Sox had time after chance after oppurtunity to wrap up the division, let alone clinch the Wild Card. They went from Major League Powerhouse to swooning choke artists.

This deal is bad for the team in so many ways. Chen is a free agent after the season. the Royals, perenial "Have Nots" when discussing the finances and economics of Major League Baseball, will be looking for cheap Major League talent that usually comes in the form of triple A prospects who are not far from being ready for the Bigs. The Red Sox will be giving up good minor league prospects for the ultimate example of a Rent-A-Player. This makes no sense for a team that stopped looking like a playoff contender at the end of last month.

It would be tempting to look at the standings and the schedule and the tribulations that the 2011 Boston Red Sox pitching staff has faced and say, "Let's do this deal." The harsh reality is, if they do make the playoffs, they will be dead on arrival. Chen could be gone and the Red Sox will have lost players that could have been useful cogs for the team down the road.

Bases Loaded

I have been playing video games for over 20 years. Most  of what I play are sports games. I like the idea of being able to "own" a team. Build it into a contender, draft, sign free agents and win the championship.

Doing this with video games is a relatively new thing. The first games I owned allowed you to make trades, release players, and sign players from a limited pool of free agents. The closest you could actually get to a "draft" was creating a player and customizing him (sometimes even "her") by adding to attributes from a limited number of points allotted to you. This person was placed in the free agent pool and you could sign the player on your way to a championship season.

Thankfully, there are a number of websites today that allow you to relive those glory days. My favorite websites are arcadecow.com and nintendo8.com. These websites allow me to play two of my favorite old school sports games from the original Nintendo system. Nintendo8 features a game called Baseball Stars. This game allowed you to fire and sign players. You could even create players. You won money with every game you won. This money went to improving your players and signing free agents. If you wanted, you could even have girls play for your team. You could play a customized season and the Nintendo would calculate and record stats for you.

Another game I love to play is a game that I call the best baseball game not to be licensed by Major League Baseball. Bases Loaded is a game that features 12 fictitious teams. You play through a 163 game season. I love playing this game. The graphics and gameplay is a little primitive by today's standards but I loved playing it when I was a kid and I still love it. I have been looking for a website that has Bases Loaded 2. If anyone knows where I can find it. Please let me know.

If you own a Wii, you can go to the Wii Shop Channel, click on the "Virtual Console" and buy oloder games to play on your Wii console.

NFL Kickoff Returns

Another NFL season is beginning as I write this. Although I was confident there would be no work stoppage for the most popular professional sport on American television, I am glad the season commenced with little delay.
I was unhappy with one change in the rules. The change regarding kickoffs. Kickoffs this year will be from the 35-yard line. This is a move up from the 30-yard line, from where the ball has been kicked since the 1994 season.
The reason for the move was because of a concern for the safety of the players. Many people in the league are citing the kick return as the one play or situation where players are the most susceptible to injury.
Some people, including me, are sorry to see this rule change. While I applaud the NFL for looking out for the welfare of its players, I believe the return is one of the most exciting plays in football. Moving the ball up to the 35 gives an advantage to the kicking team. It makes it almost automatic that a team will begin at its own 20.
The kickoff return not only provides excitement for the fans and the players but it also gives a team a chance to establish field position. The return can make for an interesting game.

Mitch McConnell

We are heading down the homestretch toward the deadline for the United States defaulting on its debt. Democrats and Republicans are still arguing in both houses why their plan is the best for the nation.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has voiced his opposition to President Barack Obama and the Congressional Democrats for submitting solutions to the debt crisis that contain tax increases.

McConnell was quoted in an AP news article saying, "We have more important things to worry about than getting through the next election."

That's very admirable, Senator, except for one tiny detail. You gave a speech to the Heritage foundation in which you said, "Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term."

Don't believe me? See for yourself. McConnell, to his credit, admits in an interview with FOX News that is what he wants.

Senator, your top political priority right now should be working together with the Democrats toward avoiding default on the United States' debt. You and House Speaker John Boehner do nobody any service by pointing your finger at the other side of the aisle. The same can be said for President Obama and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.

Time is running out on both sides. It is time for people like Mitch McConnell to work for what's best for the country as a whole. Not for the political ambitions of a party in an election that is more than a year away.

Fixing the Debt Problem

There are less than two weeks until the United States government defaults on its debt. The $14 trillion ceiling must be raised or otherwise dealt with by August 2 in order to avoid defaulting on loans.

President Barack Obama has been engaged in negotiations and debate with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and numerous other Republicans. Democrats and Republicans continue to be cautiously optimistic and report some form of progress while the issue itself appears to have larger problems that prevent it from being resolved completely.

One of the biggest obstacles preventing a deal is taxes. Democrats want to end the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. They also want to close corporate tax loopholes and impose a tax on Americans who make $250,000 or more.

Republicans are against these measures, saying the tax increases will halt the recovery to the suffering economy.

What recovery? The country is already deep in a recession and Americans everywhere are looking for a way out of it. Both sides of the political aisle are not accomplishing anything by walking up to the podium, putting on a smile and talking about, "what's best for the American people."

The fallout from this issue will be huge economically and politically. Squabbling while millions continue to be out of work does not accomplish anything.

Here is my solution to solving this crisis:

• Repeal the Bush Tax Cuts
• Close half the corporate tax loopholes
• Raise taxes on Americans making at least $250,000 by 2.5%
• Cut lawmakers' salaries by 10%
• Cut staffers' salaries by an amount between 1% and 5%

These steps will not solve the issue overnight but it will be a good start toward solving the debt crisis. This will help the nation tackle the problem that has plagued the country throughout history. Staying in debt and accumulating more is not a solution. A housing crisis and credit crunch has shown us that already.

Irish eyes are indeed smiling

James "Whitey" Bulger was arrested by the FBI in Santa Monica, California on Wednesday. The arrest ended a 16-year manhunt that took state and federal authorities around the world before finding their man in a rent-controlled triple decker.
Bulger faced a judge in a Los Angeles courtroom. While in the courtroom, he appeared to be confident as he chatted with his girlfriend, Catherine Greig, and imitated reporters by pretending to scribble notes on an imaginary notepad.

Bulger was smiling and confident... And he should be.

Bulger is 81 years old. He has lived his life in relative comfort and ease. When he was arrested, there wasw $800,000 reportedly in his apartment. That's just one home. Imagine what could be in the other dwellings he used while he was on the lam.

The FBI not only spent 16 years tracking him down but also protected him. He was an informant. He enjoyed legal protection while authorities removed competitors. Businesspeople all over would salivate at such an arrangement.

Now that Bulger is apprehended, former FBI agents including former agent John Connolly Jr. will have a lot to answer for. Bulger will take down many former members of the organization who brought him to justice, but not before shielding him from arrest and taking care of loose ends he may have had.

Current members of the FBI are happy to have their man. They hope this will put to rest suspicions the general public may have about the integrity of the bureau and the genuineness of their desire to take him down. Current FBI agent have already begun issuing the standard "A few corrupt individuals does not a corrupt organization make." from the Law Enforcement Playbook.

"Whitey" Bulger eluded capture for more than a decade. He had means with which to support, provide for, and protect himself and his mistress. His run has ended. He will face justice but what justice can there really be for a man who has lived his life and got caught in his eighties?

There's Nothing Wrong With Compensating the Board

An article in Friday's Boston Globe reports on State Senator Mark Montigny from New Bedford, who has introduced legislation that would prevent anyone who sits on a non-profit organization's board of directors from collecting a salary.

Montigny's reasoning for the bill is to steer the money towards projects that could be undertaken by the charities and foundations instead of paying the people who oversee the organizations.

Montigny earned a $61,133 salary in 2010 as a state senator according to the Boston Herald. The coomonwealth of Massachusetts is currently dealing with a $1.9 billion budget shortage.

The Board of Directors for any company, non-profit or for-profit, is charged with overseeing its respective organization. In the case of the non-profits, they are in charge of raising funds and making sure those funds are being put to good use. Non-profits have little margin for error and must be careful with how the funds raised are being spent.

The people who run the non-profit organizations make sure the organizations remain viable pieces of the community. It is absolutely right that these organizations compensate the people who sit on the boards and help the communities and the people who live in them.

Senator Montigny, if you really want someone to take one for the team...

The End of "The Chicago Code"

I'm not one of those people who watched "The Chicago Code" from the beginning. I don't even know how I started watching it but it became one of my favorite television shows after I saw my first episode.

FOX announced the series would not return for a second season. At first, I was disappointed with the network's decision but my reaction was nothing compared to that of Windy City residents as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

As much as I enjoyed watching the show, I think FOX is making the right decision. The ending of the season/series was magnificent. (I'm not going into any details in case your DVR is backed up.)

FOX would be taking a lot of chances with a second and third season. Television shows all too often fall into the same traps and lame plot devices. How many times could Ronin Gibbons stretch the law and evade Wysocki and Colvin. How may more times could Liam Hennessy count his lucky stars after the Deus ex Machina intervenes again.

How many more seasons need to happen before finding out how Ted Mosby meets his wife in "How I Met Your Mother"? How much longer before Booth and Bones finally decide to take things to the next level? It's worn-out gimmicks like these that make fans roll their eyes and walk away.

"The Chicago Code" didn't do any of that. The series ended in just the right way with questions answered and loose ends tied. Fans of the show should be careful for what they wish for before they find out what too much of a good thing can be.

GERONIMO!

The death of Osama bin Laden has not only closed a chapter in the United States' War on Terror. It also appears to create another problem. This problem deals with people in the United States.

Reports are coming out that American Indians are unhappy with the code name assigned to bin Laden: Geronimo.

The Associated Press reported that Loretta Tuell, staff director and chief counsel for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, has objected to the use of the name in the covert Navy SeALs mission. Tuell is one of many people of American Indian descent who believe using the name insults the Indian warrior of the same name and diminishes the contributions made by American Indians who served in the United States military.

Using the code name was no meant to insult or diminish anyone who belongs to an Indian tribe or however they have served their country. The sole purpose of using the code name was the same as using every other code name: To make sure anyone who may be listening in on the radio relays does not understand the topics or the targets of who or what forces are going after.

Referring to Osama bin Laden as "Geronimo" was not meant as an insult to the fighter or anyone who decsends from a tribe. No one in planning this attack was looking for a specific Indian name or any particular nationality or culture. When a mission of this magnitude is being planned, the name of the target is not important. What is important is the intelligence gathered and whether the mission is successful.

Osama Bin Laden is Dead

Osama Bin Laden is reported to have been killed as the result of a Special Forces raid. Bin Laden is said to have been killed in a mansion 100 kilometers away from Islamabad, Pakistan's capital city. His body is reported to be in custody of American forces. President Barack Obama addressed the nation following a briefing with advisors. The President was originally scheduled to address the Nation under the pretense of National Security before word of Bin Laden's death spread.
"We will be relentless in the defense of our friends and our allies," the President said in his address to the nation. "Justice has been done."
 New York City is expected to be on heightned alert following the death of Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Precautions have been taken at U.S. Embassies all over the world. In Washington D.C, a crowd gathered in front of th White House and chanted "U.S.A."
A son of Bin Laden is also expected to killed in the firefight as well as a woman who was being used by al Qaeda as a human shield.
One helicopter crashed in the mission. The helicopter was destroyed by American forces to prevent Al Qaeda from gathering intelligence from it.
Bin Laden was 54 at the time of his death. He had been on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list since 1999.

Blah, Blah, Blah at the Olde Ball Game

I like to watch baseball. Not just the Red Sox. I like baseball in general. Sometimes things get in the way of enjoying a game in television. Anyone watching baseball on NESN knows what I'm talking about.

Don Orsillo is a good announcer. For the most part, I like the way he calls the game. Jerry Remy is tolerable. He's not as good as he or NESN want you to think. I believe if he just sits back and adds his expertise to what Orsillo is saying, games will become more enjoyable. People don't need to know about his other business ventures. The stupid jokes that sometimes make their way on the air are useless. It sometimes sounds forced. Viewers don't need that

I am opposed to Wally in every which way. When he first arrived on the scene, I thought he was a cheap marketing ploy that was better suited for independent baseball. I was hoping he would fade into obscurity after a couple of years. Unfortunately, this hasn't happened. No one needs to see him or a likeness of him on a lawn chair in the broadcast booth.

The Red Sox have the most expensive ticket in Major League baseball. This, of course, is due to playing in a small, oudated stadium. To its credit, the front office has made a tremendous effort to keep its team competitive year in and year out. I understand the need for ideas that are marketable and will translate into more dollars but I know there are better ways than a mascot to do it.

I also understand it's the same reason everything from lineups to first pitches to pitching changes need to be sponsored. It's about maintaining a business. Why does the game need to be sacrificed in order to bring in more revenue (the beginning of each half of the inning)? No one at NESN can come up with a better idea than to have viewers miss part of the first at-bat everytime it's a team's turn to bat?

Leave the volume level the same for the whole game. Don't manipulate it in and out of commercial breaks.

People like to watch the Red Sox on televison. I understand that sometimes it's difficult to watch. There is viable alternative: Just listen to the game on the radio. WEEI does a great job. Joe Castiglione and Dave O'Brien are a great pair. They know what they are talking about and the broadcasts aren't as gimmicky as what's on television.

As always, the consumers have a say in what they can watch and hear. If they complain about how NESN broadcasts a game but continue to tune in, they have nobody to blame but themselves.

NFL Lockout could mean opportunity for high schools everywhere

The NFL lockout is in its second week and it doesn't appear to end anytime soon. The work stoppage is affecting billionaires, millionaires, and regular people who actually need their job that may not be there if the lockout is not ended in time for the 2011 season.

If there is no 2011 season, fans could be at a loss with how to spen their Sunday afternoons. It's my hope that there is no NFL season for the sake of the high schools that field football teams every year.

Schools throughout Massachusetts and the rest of the country have been crying poverty for years. These cries have credence unlike the NFL owners and players who are squabbling over 10-figure amounts.

No professional football could be a boon for the football teams and the high schools they represent. Moving games to Sunday afternoons will provide a convenient and more affordable alternative to people who claim to love the game of football so much. This move and the potential increased attendance for the schools will not be a cure-all to the fiscal woes that are plaguig our local communities but the increase in ticket and consession sales will provide schools with a little more cash for the academic year.

I am in no way saying the talent level will be as good as the pros. No one can say that when it comes to high school football. I am saying this could be a win-win situation for football fans and cash-strapped high schools. An NFLwork stoppage will leave a void that could be filled. Move football games from Saturday to Sunday. Give fans a chance to watch a game, have a hot dog, mingle with friends and neighbors. Give kids the thrill of playing before a large crowd. Give schools more money to help improve the communities they are based in.

NFL Fallout?

In my opinion, the NFL is the model business format of the four major sports. The financial model used by the league results in all teams making a profit no matter how they perform during the season.
The 2011 season appears to be in jeopardy as a federal mediator oversees negotiations over sharing a pie that is worth billions of dollars. The National Football League is a not only a monetary juggernaut but also a ratings behemoth with a championship game that is mentioned in the same breath as most watched television programs.
The progress in the talks is being watched by everyone who has a stake in the pending labor agreement from the owner to the hot dog vendor. Cancelled games will mean cancelled revenue for the league and little guys across the country looking for another way to earn somme extra cash.
My first thought regarding the impending labor stoppage is this: It won't happen. There is too much money on the table for people to squabble over and risk losing a year in the gold mine. Then again, this isn't the first time we've seen millionaires and billionaires arguing over more money than most people will see in their lifetime.
People are wondering if there will be any fallout from a potential labor stoppage. There will be none. Since the baseball strike in 1994, there have been three other work stoppages in professional sports. When the games resume, there are fans who are angry and swear off the game. The resolve usually lasts until the first game of the season.
The same will happen for the NFL. People will be angry but it won't last. the owners and players will go on with their lives and fortunes. Fans may be angry but it won't last and they won't allow it to matter.

No Strike-Out for Wisconsin

The labor movement in Wisconsin has given news-watchers more than drama. It has given everyone in labor and management a reason to follow the drama on the streets and in the State Capitol Building. No doubt politicians everywhere are watching this unfold and wondering if state executives across the country will have a unique card to play if Wisconsin governor Scott Walker will win this battle with the unions.

Walker has no right to attempt to strip the unions of their bargaining rights. If he really wants to do something about the $137 million budget defecit, he should look into reports by the Huffington Post that states, "two-thirds of corporations pay no taxes."

The State of Wisconsin, like any other employer, should be bound to honor the agreement made with labor. If they feel they got a bad deal, there is nothing they can do about it until it is time to negotiate a new agreement. When that time comes, then and only then should Walker ask for more consessions from the other side of the table.

Scott Walker can not blame unions for agreeing to deals with him. Workers should not be punished by taking away their unions. If Walker is so concerned about his state's economy, go after the aforementioned corporations who are doing business in the Badger State but not paying anything into the tax coffers.

Qualified Candidates need not apply

Yahoo.com has reported on something that, unfortunately, is nothing new or uncommon. According to a story on its website, an increasing number of employers will not consider unemployed people who apply for a job.

According to the article, employers who practice this do so because they believe there is a reason someone is unemployed. Because they are unemployed, taking a chance on this person may not be a good thing for the company to do.

This may be true for some people but it is certainly not the case for everyone who is without a job. The recession that may or may not be ending (depending on who you listen to) has taken its toll on the economy and the people who contribute to it. At this time, it would be foolish to think that every unemployed individual has only themself to blame for being out of work.

Any company that uses this form of discrimination is hurting itself. Refusing to look at the credendials and qualifications of someone who is unemployed is denying itself a chance to get a potentially great worker. Limiting the pool of candidates hurts not only the potential growth of the company, but also the community the company is in.

Refusing to interview people who are not working shows another angle ignorance. Why would someone who is employed take a chance on another prospect in this economic climate. One who already has a job would be less likely to leave a position knowing there is so much uncertainty in the job market.

Posting a job opening and making it available only to people who already have a job makes no sense. These companies are hurting everyone including themselves. Opening a position to everyone will improve the economy and allow all companies to advance and improve. It is the only solution that makes sense.

The Wal-Mart Dilemna

There has been a lot of talk lately about Wal-Mart and the damage they do to a community when a new store is opened in a community. A lot of people criticize the retail giant for shutting down Mom-and-Pop stores, not paying fair wages and mistreating employees in other ways.

Wal-Mart's website boasted sales of $405 million in fiscal year 2010. For all of the complaints that seem to be lobbed against the store, there seem to be a lot of shoppers who either don't know about the allegations or simply don't care.

Why? Why do millions of people go into a store that may or may not use unethical business practices when it comes to fair wages or humane working conditions? The answer is simple: When people are shopping, they are looking for something they can afford. Not something that was made and sold by people who are treated fairly.

The past three years have been marred by economic turbulence. Many people, especially those in the financial sector have referred to 2000-2009 as "The Lost Decade". Many people have seen their life savings and retirement plans go up in smoke. People must work longer and put off that retirement because of the damage done to their 401k's.

Wal-mart knows this and uses it to their advantage. As much as people want to help the local store around the corner, why buy something for $5 when they know they can get it at Wal-Mart for $2.15?

It would be unfair to say it is only Wal-Mart who does this. Large-chain retailers have been doing this for years. It is bad for the local economy. Jobs are getting rubbed out and businesses are going under but millions of people are saving money everywhere.

Where are you going to go the next time you need bathroom tissue or a roll of tape? You know you will keep your money in the local economy if you head down to Joe's Local Store but you will keep your money in your own pocket if you are at Wal-Mart or want a little "Cheap Chic" at Target. You really want to do the right thing but can you afford to?

A very vicious circle is going to rear its ugly head before long. Large stores will continue to swallow smaller competitors and the business they continue to lose. People's chances for honest work and a fair wage will fade. Before long, employees will be forced to take jobs that will not pay them what they are worth or what they need to even get by. Customers looking to save a buck will groan about how hard it is to find good help.

How I Met Your Mother

The latest episode to date of "How I Met Your Mother" aired on January 17. It was about the funeral of Marshall's father and what the last words were from father to son. The episode got the other cast members thinking what could be the last words they would hear from their respective fathers.

The episode, like many before it starts off with a simple premise but then gets dragged out toward the end. Marhsall thinks he has heard the last words he will ever hear from his father until he remembers one at-the-time insignificant conversation. Or he looks at his cell phone and sees there is a voice mail. There is always another "twist" until the episode ends with what the final words are and what everyone remembers them to be.

Another example of this gimmick is an episode where Ted intends to go to his usual spot for coffee in the morning but a series of events lead him to a different spot one morning and he finally meets his wife and future father of his children.

To me, this method shows a lack of creativity. People are simply looking to fill space and trying to create cliffhangers by extending a situation. It tries to be dramatic but, in my opinion, is like a student trying to give an oral report off-the-cuff because they ran out of ideas or didn't do their homework.

"How I Met Your Mother" is a great television show. The characters have their own quirks and endearing qualities and it is not hard to imagine a group like this hanging out at the local bar, with or without Barney Stinson. I hope the show will stick to the rituals and traditions of the gang before the inevitable climax of who Ted Mosby's wife is and how he met her. Dragging subject matter out and prolonging situations adds very little to the show.