Pet Peeve No. 2078

There's been a handful of times in my life where I've gotten all teary-eyed.

When Wayne Gretzky was traded...
When the Red Wings won the Cup in 97...
When Claudia Schiffer got married...
That one night in Vegas I can't talk about...
When King Kong beat Godzilla...
When Dean Martin died...

and now this :
http://www.11alive.com/video/player.aspx?aid=69560&bw=
or
watch here: http://www.nbc6.net/news/11456674/detail.html


I'm getting soft as I get older. Not good. I'm going to go watch
a Rocky movie, maybe that will help. if that doesnt work, it's time
for Die Hard.

Pet Peeve No. 43 Checkout

This is a classic one, but it has hit me again. Why why why!!? You are standing in line at the check out counter (I hate waiting in line...that's another pet peeve stay tuned). And this soccer mom is in front of me. Yeah she grabbed her People magazine, has a cart full of hoho's and low fat every cookie imaginable (try jogging honey).
So what happens when its her turn to pay for all her stuff? Yes! She then decides to pull out the check book, after it is buried deep in her purse. She then has to scramble to find a pen...of course she is talking out loud to the cashier, who pretends to actually care. Then she smiles over at me, but I'm about to take the stack of kit kats and start whaling on her head. Finaly after rummaging through all her plethora of useless crap in her purse, countless key chains, millions of reciepts, trailer trash make up, she then gets the damn check book and pen. She starts writing out the check.
Oh come on! It's killing me. Take your time honey, life is very long so what's your hurry?
I then take every ounce of my being to stop my perpetual eye roll. It's not working...it can't stop. I'm now going crazy. Crazy I say. Crazy.
So as she writes the friggin check...she is still talking, talking about the amount of money she just saved with all her coupons. Nice..as if i care. I'm thinking about all the money i'm losing by standing in line wasting time. Time is money, and she is putting me in debt quickly.
Now as Ms. Nascar finally leaves...I ask you; Why do these people not have their checks already written out? Why!! They have no concept of time. They have no concept of productivity. They have no concept of manners or common sense.
To all you soccer moms out there; please write your checks ahead of time, so when the total comes up...you can spend 20 seconds to write the check. The world will be a better place. You'll get out of the store faster so you can get home to watch Springer and eat more fat, so your NASCAR loving husband can ignore you more. But more importanly, those that give a damn about life, can move on.
Time is so precious.

Pet Peeve #17 Tattoos - I don't get it

Ladies, Gentlemen, and MySpace people,Please explain to me the appeal of having a tattoo. I just do not get it or understand it. I think they are ugly, and I do not get the mentality to have something placed on your body forever because you are INTO it at the moment. I mean there was a time I was really into Led Zeppelin. But now, as I've gotten older, I still really like them, but I am not INTO them like I was. Imagine if I had gotten a Zeppelin tattoo a while ago, and now could care less about them. I'd feel embarrassed.
Here's what gets me, is this notion that its cool and an expression of individualism. Oh really? Everyone and their brother has a tattoo nowadays. How individuliastic is that? It reminds me of people saying they like "alternative" music, when there is nothing alternative about the music at all.
Tramp stamps. I know alot guys, and none like the tramp stamp. Must be a girl thing to impress other girls, because quite frankly it's not attractive.
Please don't tell me it's your body and you have a right to do whatever you want to it. Yeah we know, no one is questioning that. I shutter when it is called ART. Art is meant to last, tattoos fade away, and look really bad when you are older. When I see a hot chick...and she has a tattoo...she drops a notch on the attractive scale. Maybe sleeping with a tramp stamped tramp is inviting, but nothing more. Now don't get me wrong, I have friends and family with tattoos and I could care less if they do or not...makes no matter to me. I'm just curious to the fascination of it all. Because I do not get it. Explain it to me. Give me something concrete. I do not think less of people who do this, I know what is on the inside that counts. But that "inside" decided to do this to their bodies. I'd like to get an insight to this line of thinking.Variety makes the world go round. Talk to me.

Chicks - Alien Species Called Female

That alien species called "female"
Current mood: cynical
So inevitably, any chick I've ever met has said to me these statements at any given time:
I'm not like other girls, I like to hang out with men.
I'm not like them, I prefer to be with men only.
Women bother me, I like to hang out with the guys instead.
I'd rather hang out with the guys than go shopping.
Then what inevitably happens? While trying to sound different and to seperate themselves from the pack, they ultimately spew the same verbiage over and over and end up cloning themselves. I find this very humorous as I call them out on it every single time in mid-sentence. In fact, I usually finish those sentences much to their dismay. So what is it, are you different or when you congegate as cacklin hens you are putting on a show?
Enlighten me. Teach me. Show me the way.

Truth - Ikea Sheep

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Ok so I went to the new opening of the Canton Michigan IKEA store. It was a mad house. Took me 60 minutes just to check out, and this was a family & friends day only, a few days before the Grand Opening no less.

Crazy!

So todaythere are people waiting in line, camping just to be the first ones in the new store which opens in 2 days. Someone explain to me this line of thinking, this craziness. This absurdity. These people do not have anything better to do? Is it really worth your time to camp out at a store for days at a time?

These are the same people that camp out to be the first people in line to see a Star Wars movie or get the new Harry Potter book. I need this explained to me. Im not questioning the interest, or the desire to experience something new. But to spend days doing this? Its as if all these mini-Woodstock events occur and everyone has to be a part of it.

Have we lost focused of how valuable time is? I find myself not having enough time in the day to even write a blog entry, and these people waste 3 days. And for what? Will their lives be better off? Is getting a free prize really that important to you?

Time for some sheering of the sheep.

Praise to you lord IKEA.

10 Year Anniversary - THE BRAWL

10 Year Anniversary - THE BRAWL

Originally written in March 1997 by me

The BRAWL
It has been touted as one of the most important games in recent Red Wings history. Bloody Wednesday was defintely a night to remember in Motown that's for sure. "The Brawl" which it has been labled has been shown on a Detroit cable station for 2 straight days. VCRs in the Motor City were working overtime to tape the event over and over. Blood thirsty fans? One would think this is equivalent to the Romans feeding gladiators to the Lions the way the local media and fans have reacted. You can call it sweet revenge or justification or payback time or retribution. Whatever you call it, it was important to the Red Wings. "This is a game that brought the Red Wings together," said Vernon, who picked up his 300th career win against the Avs. "Whether it was the first-period fighting or the overtime goal, a game like this only helps give you confidence to go into the playoffs. When you go to the playoffs, everybody has to be ready to do the job and stay together. Tonight showed the guys were willing to pay the price." The fans were willing to pay the price of admission for this game. This is what the Wings needed with 10 games remaining before the playoffs. This year for most teams would be considered a great season, but coming off of last year's record setting performance, this has been a big letdown. Something was missing in the formula.

Last year's playoff elimination to Colorado was overshadowed when Claude Lemieux checked Kris Draper from behind into the boards face first and rearranged his face. Lemieux recieved only a 2 game suspension and a $1000 fine from the NHL while Drapes spent the summer recovering from a broken jaw. Lemieux became public enemy number one in Detroit and has been a target of the fans and media for about 300 days. He did not apologize for the incident and Draper has said that is all he wanted. In fact Lemieux has gone about how he has made Draper famous, made him money, and has helped his career. There is no doubt that Lemieux has killed the Wings the last two seasons as he rightfully has hoisted the Cup for New Jersey and Colorado. His statements about Draper has partially fueled the bad blood between the two teams establishing the Western Conference rivalry like never before.

"Screw Lemieux" T-shirts were being sold all over the Detroit Metro area. A local sports station labled March as "Screw Lemieux Month". The hype for this game has been building for along time and finally reached its pinnacle on Bloody Wednesday. Kris Draper's grandfather died the night before the game and he mentioned it to no one. He didnt want anything to be taken away from the game. Draper's best friend is Darren McCarty. McCarty had beem incensed over the comments Lemieux made regarding the incident about his friend. "He did it to Drapes, but he did it to me to," said McCarty, "If one of your brothers gets taken advantage of, you respond. It's a family thing." The same stand has been taken by the Red Wing's fans who consider their team as family. They wanted Lemieux and they wanted him to pay. You will have your fans that are just blood thirsty. Call it sick or morbid curiousity, it is human nature to be excited and drawn to these situations.

The overwhelming consensnus around town, with the exception of the elitist media, are very content of the outcome of the game. The outcome unfortunate as it may have been for the game of hockey to some in general, was ultimatley inevitable. The beginning of this story needed an end. And in a game that meant nothing to the standings it meant everything to the Wings and the final line was written by not only Darren McCarty, but by the whole team. The eye for an eye mentality is being questioned and talked about by everyone fom psyhcologists to school kids.

The Avalanche are still superior and the odds on favorite to win the Cup. The Wings haven't dented that fact one bit. But for the Wings, winning that game in overtime rallying from two goals down and getting revenge on Claude Lemiuex was a turning point. The fans have been finally won over. They were shown that their team wasn't going to get pushed around and wasn't going to get stepped on for lack of effort. Mike Vernon a scapegoat the past few seasons has won the hearts of Detroit just by blooding Patrick Roy in their fight.

For as long as fighting has been in hockey, there has been a movement to remove it from the game. My contention is, if Lemieux would have apologized then this would not have happened. But he didn't and it was assumed that he had no remorse and did the hit intentionally. Within the rules the Red Wings payed him back. McCarty did not recieve a fighting penalty because Lemieux turtled away claiming he was jumped and sucker punched. He did not fight. Video replay clearly shows Lemieux saw McCarty coming and ducked. Lemieux had a cut reopened by McCarty and recieved 17 stitches but returned to the game and nearly scored. The cut may have been reopened when McCarty dragged Lemieux and his head hit the boards. Colorado coach Marc Crawford claims that McCarty kneed Lemieux in the head. That is debatable as the replay would indicate, but McCarty has denied that he did. A few years ago Claude turtled to Cam Neely in a similar situation. This is great fodder for Don Cherry to spew!

Darren McCarty was not suspended or fined for the game much to the dismay of the Colorado officials. After the game Wings defensemen Arron Ward filed a complaint to NHL officals in reference to an alledged altercation between he and Colorado coach Marc Crawford in the hallway outside the locker rooms. Marc Crawford denies these allegations and claims that this is just another Scotty Bowman ploy to fuel the media. Also filed by the Red Wings was an incident where Avs GM Pierre Lacroix was seen pushing a local sports writer in the Press Box during the game.

Lady Byng candidate Igor Larionov took expection to visor wearing Peter Forsberg's hit from behind to start the fights. That being the case it would be far fetched to say that the fight was premediated as Colorado is proclaiming. But to say the altercation as a whole was not premediated is absurd. The time it was going to happen was never planned and how it was going to happen wasn't known. But the fact that it was going to happen was well known. The electricity in the air was enough to light the city that night. 19,983 fans crammed into Joe Louis Arena (a proper name, don't you think?) and cheered furioulsy as 144 penalty minutes were handed out. To finally beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions in overtime and to get revenge was very sweet. Ironically Red Wing enforcer Joey "KO" Kocur didnt suit up for the game due to the flu. Neither did tough defensemen Bob Rouse.

These teams will only meet in the Conference Finals if they each get there. If the hockey gods choose this fate it should be a most interesting battle. Otherwise anything as far as paybacks to the Wings by Colorado will have to wait until next season. Roy, who played stellar was bloodied by Mike Vernon and injured his shoulder when Shanahan ran into him at center ice. Lemieux was bloodied. Forsberg was bloodied. Will these scenarios be repayed and relived in the future? No one knows for sure. Picking and choosing a right time and a right place is the key. The Red Wings picked this time and place to get Lemieux back. Mike Keane wanted to know why the Red Wings waited to do this at home? Does it really matter? In hockey you pick and choose your time and place. Sometimes it takes years, sometimes only 300 days. This event or debacle, depending on your point of view, might be the great deterrent this game needs for the cheap shots that occur. It will serve notice that you can't get away with it.

The Red Wings have been criticized for being to small to match the teams in the East, but on that Wednesday they finally played very big! Kris Draper feels closure has taken place. Hockeytown feels that something has finally opened, it is called Aggressive Hockey! This statement might be true, "The Romans had the gladiators... we have hockey." The spirit of Gordie Howe has made a comeback. What a game!

Sports - Replay for the Replay

Replay for the Replay

I'm not sure what the officals were looking at during the shoot out between the Blues and Red Wings. Is it possible that they are looking at video replay views that the fan on tv is not? Yeah it is possible. However when the replays CLEARLY show that Hasek stopped the goal, and that the Red Wings scored their goal, how do they come up with the opposite?

Imagine if this was a playoff game. Everyone is crying for basketball to use video replay, but yet video replay isnt even conclusive. When it is conclusive, you still have officials who can't see making the calls.

There has to be a better way. I've always thought that the puck should have a chip in it, where when it crossed the goal plane sensors would indicate goal or not. You can't tell me this would not be a better scenario. The sample applies for the NFL. Use lasers for first downs, and for goal line situations.

The Wings got screwed.

Pet Peeve No.7 Taxes

Dear Democrats,

I would like to thank you for the tax increase that is about to happen. Now I dont have to worry about scrambling to the pay the bills, I'll know full well in advance that my refund will be half of what it was. Now I dont have to worry about investing or saving that money, or actually putting some of that back into the economy to spur growth for the local economy. Thank you so much for taking care of me, and running my life. What could I do without you? You are so wonderful in taking care of me. I am so happy that you take my money to use for others who arent willing to work. I just think that is so compassionate of you. You make me want to work harder now, so you can take more of my money. It's great I don't have to think for myself and you can just do it for me. I'm not used to being a blind sheep, so please cut me some slack until I get used to it. I just am speechless. I get this warm and fuzzy feeling on this. Oh wait, that's pee running down my leg.

Love,
Dino

Pet Peeve No. 2007 - Tax Increases

A few interesting facts about the Great Lake State:
Michigan ranks first in unemployment!
First in foreclosures!
First in personal bankruptcies!
Property is worth less but property taxes are higher!
Last in business development!
Michigan is the only state in the union to have a decrease in employment for 2006!
Our high school graduates rank third from last world wide!
Michigan is ranked 48th in total economy in the U.S.!
Everywhere you look, houses are for sale, cottages, boats, etc.

Recent quotes from the Democrat Canadian born Governor Jennifer Granholm:
"And in 5 years, you're going to be blown away"
"We're excited about how this economic plan is working/going"
"We're just getting started my friends"

Now she wants to raise taxes, even though those facts and them some are clearly in play. She says she is cutting spending. The point is that she isn't cutting enough. As a matter of fact her budget is about 3% bigger than what it is now with an 800 Million dollar deficit. And as anyone knows, once a tax gets in place it never goes away it only gets bigger. First it's 2% then 2 years from now when she still can't balance the budget it's another 2%. It will never end!

Granholm made the remark that her tax increase would only effect non-essential purchases by consumers plus she wants to let 5500 convicted felons out of prison to save money? By saying they are either sick or elderly doesn't make them any better or rehabilitated. Yeah real smart.

Sure she's spending more on schools but since when has more money every meant a better education? Our schools are not up to snuff.

What are some of the taxes she wants?
2% tax increase on haircuts
2% tax on day care
2% on lawn care
etc etc etc

Who's going to want to move here, let alone stay here when it is economically not sound to be here? Businesses are leaving left and right. People are moving out of the state. It's time that we go to a part time legislature, and all those perks those non-realists in Lansing should be cut asap. They work for 8 years, pass laws and tax hikes, then get a lifetime pension. Nice.

Fact:
Government has never ever taxed an economy into prosperity. It's economics 101. No society has ever been taxed into prosperity. It just cannot happen or work. This line of thinking that you deserve something from the government other than protection is absurd and it has to stop. Eliminate state funded cars, planes, and other such perks for public officials. Make them pay for their own transportation or make them take public transportation. Yeah right.

Also, someone tell me why the first man has to have 3 aids on his staff who make around 80,000. What does he actually do anyways? And why didn't anyone get pissed when she gave herself a 47% pay increase a couple of years ago?

I heard this from a liberal regarding her latest proposal "It takes courage and leadership to raise taxes". Unreal. Granholm being reelected is one of the great mysteries of our time.

I am amazed how successful the Granholm campaign was in convincing us that Michigan's problems were President Bush's fault. Under Bush's administration the economy has been stronger than ever. These people hate Bush more than they love their own future. Idiots. You voters who put her in office are to blame. You deserve her.

I have yet to figure out what services Michigan offers me. The roads are awful, the education system mediocre at best, many politicians earn a six figure salary for doing such an outstanding job. It never ends.

Watch out America...Hillary is coming for you next. Open your wallets...more bureaucracy is on the way. I ask you, who is more out of touch, the voters who vote these robbers in office, or the actually legislature who have no sense of reality that the working class has to face?

http://www.recallgranholm.com/

Pet Peeve No. 18 Liberal Programs

The great Canadian governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm (D) wants to institute a plan to have college tutition free in Michigan.  She wants to take taxes and match them with private donations. So in essence is some rich dude promises $1000, she will take state taxes (probably local taxes ...your property taxes) and match that so kids can to go college for FREE.

Hello? There is no FREE.  You will be paying for this with more taxes.  The tax base that is used for all your services and other useless programs will have to be raised to support those.

Free College!
Free Health Care!

Who wouldn't want to be a Democrat when you promise to make all of our lives so wonderful?  Since when is it governments job to supply a college education or anything else to anyone?  Is she supposed to govern or ruin our lives?  Michigan is ranked 50th in the country in economy. Michigan is suffering a recession because of its reliance on the tanking auto industry.  So rather than try to diversify and give companies tax breaks...she comes up with this to put the nail in the coffin.   Why did you people vote for this person is beyond me!

So let's pay for kids to go to college for free...yet when they graduate there is no work, so they'll leave the state.  The tax base will dwindle...then taxes will be raised again.   Amazing.

The state is in debt, fretting about how to bring in more needed money and our Governor is suggesting we spend more money, subsidizing kids who can't afford to go to college?  Wow.  

What's even more scary is those with college degrees support such nonsense. Yeah I really want to fund people who think like this.  Focus on k-12, and make sure those kids get edumacated, that way those than can go to college will.  

I saw this and had to repost it:

You too can be a Good Liberal like Gov. Jenny if you:
Believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
Believe that there was no art before government funding.
Believe that employees are good but that employers are evil.
Believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of government funding.
Believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
Believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
Believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
Believe that this message is a part of a vast right wing conspiracy.

I'm tired of an inept government. I'm tired of people expecting a hand out. I'm tired of it all. People, educate yourself!  No one cares any more do they? 

Truth: Pleasure vs. Happiness

It was the best of time, it was the worst of times.

So many people live in the now. Everyone is into how they can have fun now and for the momentwhether it is drugs or alcohol or worshipping some Hollywood idiot. It seems that no one ever really leaves high school. Its like high school is everywhere. And you know what, I never really liked high school. Sure it had its moments, and I had some friends, but I couldnt wait to get out in the real world. Now 20 years later, my work is like high school. Our culture is like high school. Everyone just has to have the latest clothes or the newest car. If you dont know what is hot on tv you are out of the loop.
Dont get me wrong, I love pop culture and I love all that is Americana, but weve lost focus have we not on what is and isnt important?

I just see this spilling out into everyday relationships and friendships. They are then tainted because of the added pressures of our lives. The lives we live, the choices we make infringe upon that which we hold dear.

All too often I hear how a person has to party on the weekend. Do you really have to? Not that there is anything wrong with that, its the whole notion that its somehow your God given right to get wasted and nothing is going to get in your way. Hey I know what it is like, been there many times.

All too often I find myself wanting to simplify my life and rid myself of the things that do not matter to me. You end up acquiring things over the years, that quite really you do not need. Do I really need all this stuff? If and when I leave this earth, my stuff will be the responsibility of others, and do I want that to be the case?

Pleasure is greatbut happiness is better. Dont infringe on true happiness for the sake of pleasure. Hedonism is not a means to an end. Quality of life is where its at. True happiness is the goal.
So graduate from your current high school and move on to bigger and better things, which most likely are much simpler.

Bowie

Former baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn died of pneumonia. As a cool kid growing up in the 70's, Kuhn was one of the icons of sport. He along with Pete Rozelle were always in the spotlight. It's hard to say what his legacy is, as he had to deal with free agency which pretty much changed the game as we know it. Did he he do a good job, or did he adequately handle what was dealt to him in a sea of inevitablity?