Ever since the current president of the United States became president, many folks have questioned whether or not he is a natural born citizen. His mother was citizen of the United States, but his father was a citizen of the African nation of Kenya. The current president claims to have been born in the state of Hawaii, which would make him a natural born citizen. However, to date, there has been no birth certificate produced.
The democrat governor of Hawaii, in hopes of putting this issue to rest, has searched Hawaiian birth records, but has not been able to locate a birth certificate for the current president. The only record of his birth is a notation in the archives that he had been born.
Call me a birther, a whacko, or whatever you want to call me; but the birth of this president is mysterious. I learned in American history in junior high school that one of the qualifications to run for president of the United States is that you must be a natural born citizen. That means that you must be born on United States soil or born on foreign soil to parents that are U.S. citizens. In other words, naturalized citizens cannot run for president. So, Arnold Schwarzenegger cannot run for president and neither can my boss. My boss’s daughters can. The oldest was born before my boss and his wife became citizens, but she was born in the United States; well, actually in Auburn, Alabama.
The current president was born in 1961 or 1962, hardly in the dark ages. So, the state of Hawaii should have a birth certificate for him if he was indeed born in Hawaii. Also, this president is pushing fifty. I can’t believe that he’s never had to produce a birth certificate for something in his entire life. Most people have theirs; a copy of mine is here at the house. Mr. President, if you were born in Hawaii like you claim, just produce your birth certificate. Snuff out all of this speculation, for goodness sake!
Bottom line, the governor of Hawaii can’t find a birth certificate for the current president, and the current president refuses to show us his birth certificate. It certainly appears that there is mystery surrounding this man’s birth, and it scares me. Who all is covering up for him? He deceived a majority of the American people who voted for him in 2008. Now, he appears to be gravitating to the center and may deceive others, as well A lot of folks think that something big is going to happen in 2012. It sure seems that we’re heading for that something, doesn’t it?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
WHO’S THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE NATION?
As of this writing, we don’t know. The BCS Championship game is a week and a day away and we all know that the winner of this game takes home the crystal trophy plus a plethora of accolades. This is certainly not a perfect system, but it beats anything else that is feasible.
My football team was supposed to repeat in the BCS championship game for the second year in a row. Could we do a repeat? In the pre-season, everyone thought so. Who could possibly stop Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram, who would be splitting playing time with Trent Richardson, a talented young man who many think is a better runner than Ingram. There were some questions about our young defense, but with Mark, Trent, and Julio, we’d manage.
Now anybody that’s been associated with national championship teams, and I remember a few in my lifetime, knows that you have to be good and some luck is also associated with being the national champion. The ball has to bounce your way a time or two and it did for Alabama in the 2009 college football season.
Back to the 2010 Alabama team. As we all know, Bama will not repeat as national champions having lost to South Carolina, LSU, and Auburn. South Carolina considers its 2010 victory over Alabama the greatest in its gridiron history. Bless their hearts! Even after the South Caroline debacle, we still controlled our own destiny; but after losing to LSU, our hopes of playing for the SEC championship and eventually for the national championship were all but dashed. Following our third loss, a heartbreaker to cross-state rival Auburn, all we had left to play for was the chance for a ten win season. There’s something about winning ten games in a season that that labels you as a special team.
The Auburn game left me shaking my head about this team. It hasn’t been that long since Alabama was struggling to be considered above average. No one thought that we could bounce back after enduring devastating sanctions even with Coach Nick Saban at the helm. It seemed to me that the 2010 team was struggling to find its identity. The running game was a disappointment with Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson not having the performances that were expected. The defense was suspect, but kept us in some of our games. The defense improved over the course of the season while the offense seemed to stall. Much of the offense came from the passing of quarterback Greg McElroy and the spectacular receptions from wide receiver Julio Jones.
Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect from Alabama in its appearance in the Capital One Bowl. I kept having visions of the 2009 Sugar Bowl game against Utah where we were caught flat-footed and suffered an embarrassing loss. As a result, I hoped that Bama had learned its lesson and would be motivated to finish in style.
Was I surprised? Yes, I guess I was. Bama found its identity and played a spectacular game against the Michigan State Spartans, ranked number 9. Were we the best team in the nation on January 1? Yes, we were! Could we have beaten anyone in the top 10 on January 1? Yes! The running game clicked, the passing game clicked, and the defense clicked. We stopped their running game and we stopped their passing game. As the last minutes of the game ticked down, tears came to my eyes. While Greg McElroy, a truly outstanding young man would never suit up for Bama again; I have a feeling that he will have a presence in our lives for many years to come. Would this be the last time that Mark Ingram and Julio Jones would suit up for Bama? We’ll have to wait and see.
On the sidelines, Mark Ingram was grinning from ear to ear. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner is a team player and there should never be any doubts about that. According to Coach Saban, Julio Jones is the hardest working player that he has ever coached. Whatever these two young men, along with their families and coaches, decide regarding their futures, they are loved.
For the young men on the team who also work so hard with the expectations of getting at least some playing time in an Alabama uniform, we love them just as much. When their names were called late in the second half of the Georgia State game, we shook our heads and said, “never heard of him”.
There’s no doubt that if we had played against South Carolina, LSU, and Auburn the way we did against Michigan State, we would be in the BCS championship game. But as you know, we didn’t. In the real world, you can’t sustain that level at all times. To be national champions, you have to be good and you have to get a few breaks. There were a few times that the “ball bounced our way” last year, and there were a few times this year that it just didn’t.
Do I see more national championships in the not too distant future for Alabama? I certainly do. Will other young men step up to fill the shoes of Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Greg McElroy and the others who will or may be leaving? Yes, there will be others to rise up and be the ones.
Now that Alabama has finished its season, I’ll sit back and watch the remainder of the bowl games with interest. A top ten finish for us would certainly be nice. But no matter what happens, we’re Alabama and it’s great to be from Alabama. I just can’t imagine being for anyone else.
My football team was supposed to repeat in the BCS championship game for the second year in a row. Could we do a repeat? In the pre-season, everyone thought so. Who could possibly stop Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram, who would be splitting playing time with Trent Richardson, a talented young man who many think is a better runner than Ingram. There were some questions about our young defense, but with Mark, Trent, and Julio, we’d manage.
Now anybody that’s been associated with national championship teams, and I remember a few in my lifetime, knows that you have to be good and some luck is also associated with being the national champion. The ball has to bounce your way a time or two and it did for Alabama in the 2009 college football season.
Back to the 2010 Alabama team. As we all know, Bama will not repeat as national champions having lost to South Carolina, LSU, and Auburn. South Carolina considers its 2010 victory over Alabama the greatest in its gridiron history. Bless their hearts! Even after the South Caroline debacle, we still controlled our own destiny; but after losing to LSU, our hopes of playing for the SEC championship and eventually for the national championship were all but dashed. Following our third loss, a heartbreaker to cross-state rival Auburn, all we had left to play for was the chance for a ten win season. There’s something about winning ten games in a season that that labels you as a special team.
The Auburn game left me shaking my head about this team. It hasn’t been that long since Alabama was struggling to be considered above average. No one thought that we could bounce back after enduring devastating sanctions even with Coach Nick Saban at the helm. It seemed to me that the 2010 team was struggling to find its identity. The running game was a disappointment with Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson not having the performances that were expected. The defense was suspect, but kept us in some of our games. The defense improved over the course of the season while the offense seemed to stall. Much of the offense came from the passing of quarterback Greg McElroy and the spectacular receptions from wide receiver Julio Jones.
Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect from Alabama in its appearance in the Capital One Bowl. I kept having visions of the 2009 Sugar Bowl game against Utah where we were caught flat-footed and suffered an embarrassing loss. As a result, I hoped that Bama had learned its lesson and would be motivated to finish in style.
Was I surprised? Yes, I guess I was. Bama found its identity and played a spectacular game against the Michigan State Spartans, ranked number 9. Were we the best team in the nation on January 1? Yes, we were! Could we have beaten anyone in the top 10 on January 1? Yes! The running game clicked, the passing game clicked, and the defense clicked. We stopped their running game and we stopped their passing game. As the last minutes of the game ticked down, tears came to my eyes. While Greg McElroy, a truly outstanding young man would never suit up for Bama again; I have a feeling that he will have a presence in our lives for many years to come. Would this be the last time that Mark Ingram and Julio Jones would suit up for Bama? We’ll have to wait and see.
On the sidelines, Mark Ingram was grinning from ear to ear. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner is a team player and there should never be any doubts about that. According to Coach Saban, Julio Jones is the hardest working player that he has ever coached. Whatever these two young men, along with their families and coaches, decide regarding their futures, they are loved.
For the young men on the team who also work so hard with the expectations of getting at least some playing time in an Alabama uniform, we love them just as much. When their names were called late in the second half of the Georgia State game, we shook our heads and said, “never heard of him”.
There’s no doubt that if we had played against South Carolina, LSU, and Auburn the way we did against Michigan State, we would be in the BCS championship game. But as you know, we didn’t. In the real world, you can’t sustain that level at all times. To be national champions, you have to be good and you have to get a few breaks. There were a few times that the “ball bounced our way” last year, and there were a few times this year that it just didn’t.
Do I see more national championships in the not too distant future for Alabama? I certainly do. Will other young men step up to fill the shoes of Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Greg McElroy and the others who will or may be leaving? Yes, there will be others to rise up and be the ones.
Now that Alabama has finished its season, I’ll sit back and watch the remainder of the bowl games with interest. A top ten finish for us would certainly be nice. But no matter what happens, we’re Alabama and it’s great to be from Alabama. I just can’t imagine being for anyone else.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
REFLECTIONS ON 2010
2010, it’s been quite a year! From the BCS Championship game to being in the hospital thinking I was about to have open heart surgery to save my life.
On January 7, 2010, Alabama beat the University of Texas to become the NCAA football national champions. After being left beaten and bloodied by the side of the road to die as a result of the NCAA sanctions leveled in 2002, we overcame and became national champions for the 2009 season. While I didn’t attend the BCS championship game in Pasadena, I watched from one or my favorite places and partied into the night. This was truly a magnificent evening that will live in my mind forever.
I did, however, attend the Jimmy Buffett concert in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Jimmy did a concert to raise awareness and assist local businesses with respect to the explosion of the BP rig in the Gulf of Mexico. I was able to attend the concert and drop some money into the economy. My favorite singer at my favorite place! How great is that?
While both of the events have shaped my year, the highlight of my year had to be the attending of my high school reunion. Since I graduated, I had not been back for a reunion, nor had I kept up with anyone in my class. Well, attending the reunion changed everything. I changed from a somewhat “I didn’t like those people then and I doubt I would like them now” to someone who really loves the members of my high school class. They’re great people and I almost missed out on their friendships. But I didn’t. For those of you in my class, I love you and look forward to our continued friendships.
Another high point in my year came when I was re-united with my best friend from high school. She was unable to attend the reunion, but I later re-united with her at her Mom’s funeral. While this was certainly a solemn occasion for all of those that had been touched by her mother, falling in to my best friend’s arms gave me a comfort I can’t describe. We’ve vowed to never lose touch with each other.
The 2010 football season has been a disappointment; but when I think about those dismal seasons in the mid-2000’s under Mike Shula, I have to be pleased that we’re once again competing for championships and top-notch recruits. We’re ALABAMA, and the rest is the rest.
I guess the low point of this year was being admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. I guess I could have died, but I didn’t. Medication and a change of diet will hopefully seem me through. This little episode made me realize how import friends and family are, and that mine are the greatest. To my friends and family who helped get me through this, thank you!
2010 will be a memorable year and one that is bringing so many changes to my life. And they’re good changes. There will be some challenges coming my way in 2011, but with God and great family and friends, I’ll surely come through. “Thank you, thank you, thank God for you!
On January 7, 2010, Alabama beat the University of Texas to become the NCAA football national champions. After being left beaten and bloodied by the side of the road to die as a result of the NCAA sanctions leveled in 2002, we overcame and became national champions for the 2009 season. While I didn’t attend the BCS championship game in Pasadena, I watched from one or my favorite places and partied into the night. This was truly a magnificent evening that will live in my mind forever.
I did, however, attend the Jimmy Buffett concert in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Jimmy did a concert to raise awareness and assist local businesses with respect to the explosion of the BP rig in the Gulf of Mexico. I was able to attend the concert and drop some money into the economy. My favorite singer at my favorite place! How great is that?
While both of the events have shaped my year, the highlight of my year had to be the attending of my high school reunion. Since I graduated, I had not been back for a reunion, nor had I kept up with anyone in my class. Well, attending the reunion changed everything. I changed from a somewhat “I didn’t like those people then and I doubt I would like them now” to someone who really loves the members of my high school class. They’re great people and I almost missed out on their friendships. But I didn’t. For those of you in my class, I love you and look forward to our continued friendships.
Another high point in my year came when I was re-united with my best friend from high school. She was unable to attend the reunion, but I later re-united with her at her Mom’s funeral. While this was certainly a solemn occasion for all of those that had been touched by her mother, falling in to my best friend’s arms gave me a comfort I can’t describe. We’ve vowed to never lose touch with each other.
The 2010 football season has been a disappointment; but when I think about those dismal seasons in the mid-2000’s under Mike Shula, I have to be pleased that we’re once again competing for championships and top-notch recruits. We’re ALABAMA, and the rest is the rest.
I guess the low point of this year was being admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. I guess I could have died, but I didn’t. Medication and a change of diet will hopefully seem me through. This little episode made me realize how import friends and family are, and that mine are the greatest. To my friends and family who helped get me through this, thank you!
2010 will be a memorable year and one that is bringing so many changes to my life. And they’re good changes. There will be some challenges coming my way in 2011, but with God and great family and friends, I’ll surely come through. “Thank you, thank you, thank God for you!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
A BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE
TV shows have been written around them. We’ve all had them, and we will continue to have them. There are certainly worse things that can happen to you, but for some reason they make us very angry; sometimes to the point of showing our posteriors. What are they…bad restaurant experiences and I had once last night.
Twas the night after the Iron Bowl and I wasn’t particular happy. When that game was over, I wanted a nice dinner to get a little bit of consolation. Also, this has not been a particularly good week, even though I love Thanksgiving. I found out that a dear friend of mine, someone that I have been friends with for a very long time, has an aggressive cancer that is in stage three. She will soon begin an intense chemo regimen.
Back to last night! Wentzel’s Oyster House, an old established Mobile restaurant, opened a restaurant in Tuscaloosa about a year ago (I think). I like the Wentzel’s in Mobile, although I prefer Felix’s Fish Camp when I’m down there. A friend of mine that went to the game with some other friends and I decided that we would try this newer Wentzels’s.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the parking lot was not full. While this surprised me, I was okay with it because this should mean a shorter wait. We were told by the hostess that the wait would be about fifteen or twenty minutes. To me this is nothing and I was again pleasantly surprised. For the wait, my friend and I went to the bar and found two empty stools. This where our luck started to run out. We had a chatty bartender and I was definitely not in the mood for “chatty”. I was in more of a mood to sit and brood.
We were taken to our table in the promised fifteen or twenty minutes, which was good. However, after we were seated, no one came to wait on us. The ones that were waiting on other clientele were running around with frowns on their faces and acting like they didn’t want to be there. After I was unable to make eye contact with any of them, I suspected that we might have been seated at a table that was not assigned. I also suspected that they were short of help. And that’s not good for what is sure to be a busy evening.
I was finally able to flag a young man down and asked if anyone was assigned to our table. He was nice and indicated that he would take care of us. Of course, we immediately put our orders in because we didn’t want him to get away and not come back. The young man, whom we later found out was one of the managers, appeared to be very capable and our food arrived in what I would consider a timely manner.
While the appetizer that we shared was decent, my entree, flounder béarnaise, left a lot to be desired. It was soggy and I question whether it was real flounder. It was supposed to be topped with a crab meat dressing. There was soggy dressing on top of the flounder, but I found no evidence of crab meat. The béarnaise sauce was bland and probably came out of a jar. The lettuce in my salad was primarily made up of iceberg and I don’t particularly care for iceberg, preferring spring mix or romaine. To top it off, the baked potato was a bit undercooked, and we all have experienced undercooked baked potatoes. My friend ordered the friend oyster/fried flounder combination and said that her food was overcooked and a bit tough.
When the waiter came back and asked if we wanted desert, we said no and indicated that we were ready for our checks. We didn’t complain, but were ready to get out of there and head back to Birmingham, When our checks arrived, we were given small discounts and that was nice. The waiter/manager indicated that they were indeed short of help because a number of the wait staff had been allowed to take vacation that day. That was a mistake, in my opinion, because the evening after the Iron Bowl would surely be one of their busiest days of the year.
While the above was certainly not a major disaster, it wasn’t the satisfying dinner that I was hoping to have after a disappointing afternoon. Will I go back there? Sure, I’ll give them a second chance, but that’s all.
I don’t think I’ve ever written about a good restaurant experience and I do have a lot of them. It’s always the bad ones that you remember and sometimes end up laughing about for months and even years.
Twas the night after the Iron Bowl and I wasn’t particular happy. When that game was over, I wanted a nice dinner to get a little bit of consolation. Also, this has not been a particularly good week, even though I love Thanksgiving. I found out that a dear friend of mine, someone that I have been friends with for a very long time, has an aggressive cancer that is in stage three. She will soon begin an intense chemo regimen.
Back to last night! Wentzel’s Oyster House, an old established Mobile restaurant, opened a restaurant in Tuscaloosa about a year ago (I think). I like the Wentzel’s in Mobile, although I prefer Felix’s Fish Camp when I’m down there. A friend of mine that went to the game with some other friends and I decided that we would try this newer Wentzels’s.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the parking lot was not full. While this surprised me, I was okay with it because this should mean a shorter wait. We were told by the hostess that the wait would be about fifteen or twenty minutes. To me this is nothing and I was again pleasantly surprised. For the wait, my friend and I went to the bar and found two empty stools. This where our luck started to run out. We had a chatty bartender and I was definitely not in the mood for “chatty”. I was in more of a mood to sit and brood.
We were taken to our table in the promised fifteen or twenty minutes, which was good. However, after we were seated, no one came to wait on us. The ones that were waiting on other clientele were running around with frowns on their faces and acting like they didn’t want to be there. After I was unable to make eye contact with any of them, I suspected that we might have been seated at a table that was not assigned. I also suspected that they were short of help. And that’s not good for what is sure to be a busy evening.
I was finally able to flag a young man down and asked if anyone was assigned to our table. He was nice and indicated that he would take care of us. Of course, we immediately put our orders in because we didn’t want him to get away and not come back. The young man, whom we later found out was one of the managers, appeared to be very capable and our food arrived in what I would consider a timely manner.
While the appetizer that we shared was decent, my entree, flounder béarnaise, left a lot to be desired. It was soggy and I question whether it was real flounder. It was supposed to be topped with a crab meat dressing. There was soggy dressing on top of the flounder, but I found no evidence of crab meat. The béarnaise sauce was bland and probably came out of a jar. The lettuce in my salad was primarily made up of iceberg and I don’t particularly care for iceberg, preferring spring mix or romaine. To top it off, the baked potato was a bit undercooked, and we all have experienced undercooked baked potatoes. My friend ordered the friend oyster/fried flounder combination and said that her food was overcooked and a bit tough.
When the waiter came back and asked if we wanted desert, we said no and indicated that we were ready for our checks. We didn’t complain, but were ready to get out of there and head back to Birmingham, When our checks arrived, we were given small discounts and that was nice. The waiter/manager indicated that they were indeed short of help because a number of the wait staff had been allowed to take vacation that day. That was a mistake, in my opinion, because the evening after the Iron Bowl would surely be one of their busiest days of the year.
While the above was certainly not a major disaster, it wasn’t the satisfying dinner that I was hoping to have after a disappointing afternoon. Will I go back there? Sure, I’ll give them a second chance, but that’s all.
I don’t think I’ve ever written about a good restaurant experience and I do have a lot of them. It’s always the bad ones that you remember and sometimes end up laughing about for months and even years.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Iron Bowl Memory
The year was 1980 and I was going to the game with my Dad. The game was still being played at Legion Field in Birmingham. Even though we had lost two games already, one to Mississippi State and the other to Notre Dame; we were good. I don't remember what Auburn's record was that year, but fourth year coach Doug Barfield was walking on thin ice. Alabama won. I don't remember the score and I don't think it was a real nail-biter.
We had parked at what was the old Big B Warehouse at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Highway 11/the Bessemer Super Highway. Walking to the car after the game, Daddy and I got to the intersection of Hwy 11 and Eight Avenue where a policeman was in the middle of the intersection directing traffic. We were standing right at the curb and there were some folks right behind us. The light changed for us to walk, but the policeman had not stopped traffic on Hwy 11 for us to cross. So, we were a little hesitant to begin crossing.
Well a couple of Auburn fans behind us started yelling for us to go on ahead and cross and said, "it looks like we're going to have to teach these Alabama fans how to cross the street." The policeman did stop traffic and we crossed. When we got to the other side I turned around to the Auburn fans and said, "You can teach us how to cross the street and we'll teach ya'll how to play football". The guys, who were cute, started laughing and said, "you got yourself a deal". They were very anxious to get rid of Barfield and talked to us for a minute or two before we went our separate ways.
In the car, Daddy laughed and said he thought for a second that I was going to get us in fight. Well, Daddy had to call everyone he knew and tell them about that.
Daddy's been dead for a while now, but that is a memory I will always cherish.
We had parked at what was the old Big B Warehouse at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Highway 11/the Bessemer Super Highway. Walking to the car after the game, Daddy and I got to the intersection of Hwy 11 and Eight Avenue where a policeman was in the middle of the intersection directing traffic. We were standing right at the curb and there were some folks right behind us. The light changed for us to walk, but the policeman had not stopped traffic on Hwy 11 for us to cross. So, we were a little hesitant to begin crossing.
Well a couple of Auburn fans behind us started yelling for us to go on ahead and cross and said, "it looks like we're going to have to teach these Alabama fans how to cross the street." The policeman did stop traffic and we crossed. When we got to the other side I turned around to the Auburn fans and said, "You can teach us how to cross the street and we'll teach ya'll how to play football". The guys, who were cute, started laughing and said, "you got yourself a deal". They were very anxious to get rid of Barfield and talked to us for a minute or two before we went our separate ways.
In the car, Daddy laughed and said he thought for a second that I was going to get us in fight. Well, Daddy had to call everyone he knew and tell them about that.
Daddy's been dead for a while now, but that is a memory I will always cherish.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
BEEN QUITE A SUMMER
No rental cars or westbound trains as Jimmy Buffett sings about, but a summer that I will never forget.
Not having kids, summer is just another season to me, albeit my favorite season because I like warm/hot weather and summer clothes. Well, I like pretty much all types of clothes. Back to summer, I generally do most of my vacationing in months other than the summer months in order to avoid the summertime crowds. So, I generally go to work everyday, attend local concerts, attend a Birmingham Barons baseball game, and go to a Jimmy Buffett concert, depending on his tour schedule. This summer was a little different, though.
In June I attended a high school reunion, the first one I’ve attended since I graduated. Like a lot of folks are, I was a bit apprehensive about attending; but after much deliberation, I decided to go. My decision was probably the best decision I have ever made in my life. I now have a bunch of new friends and acquaintances. I’m facebook friends with people I thought I would never cross paths with after leaving high school. I’m even planning to attend my school’s homecoming this fall. Are we talking about the same Nancy Graham? I really think my high school graduating class is great, and not very many people will say that. They’re really just good people and I’m proud to be one of them. There’s a few, of course, that I never cared for and still don’t; but we’re talking very few. And who knows; maybe if I had gotten to talk to them a little more at the reunion, I would have changed my mind. Anyway you look at it, going to this reunion has changed my life forever and for the better. Again, are we talking about the same Nancy Graham?
About a month after the reunion, I attended the event of a lifetime. My favorite singer in my favorite place…Jimmy Buffett in Gulf Shores. Getting everything together to get there took some doing, but we made it and ended up in a VIP section for the concert. Jimmy and his Coral Reefer band performed for free in an effort to get folks to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast following the oil spill caused by the explosion of a BP oil rig in the Gulf. The concert was broadcast on CMT with some of my friends and I actually getting on TV. The concert was great and the beaches were beautiful. There was a little bit of oil on the beach in front of the condos where we stayed. In fact, I picked a little up and squished it between my fingers. If my four friends had scoops and garbage bags, we could have cleaned it up in no time. But, of course that would have been strictly forbidden by the third Reich, I mean the USEPA.
Between 42,000 and 45,000 attended the concert and it was a site to behold. I’m so happy that I got the chance to be a part of such a historic event.
I’ve always acknowledged that summer is my favorite season and that I could easily live in an all year round warm weather climate. The summer of 2010 was long and hot, and made me realize I probably should stick to living in a place where the climate is seasonal. With actual temperatures in the high 90s/low 100s and heat indexes in the 110 to 115 degree range, I experienced a lot of migraine headaches and generally felt bad. Once the temps got back into the mid-90s, the headaches went away and I felt much better.
As a result of the oppressive heat here in central Alabama, I stayed inside a lot. However, friends and I did make one trip during these oppressive days. We traveled to Florence, Alabama to see Mac McAnally in concert. Mac has been named CMA Musician of the Year for two years in a row. He’s also the guy with the red hair and beard that stands just behind Jimmy and to his right while the band if performing. The concert, of course, was wonderful and we were able to meet Coral Reefer band members Roger Guth and Jim Mayer. Now, there are very few Coral Reefers that I haven’t met. Mac also remembered us from some of his previous concerts.
To most people, my summer would be considered a very “dorky” summer; but to me it was one that has changed my life for the better, making “old/new” friends and attending events that were not only fun, but made some lifetime memories.
Football season has now started and while Alabama certainly looked good in its opening game; the team has a grueling season ahead. Can we repeat? I’m not making any predictions. Life goes on.
Not having kids, summer is just another season to me, albeit my favorite season because I like warm/hot weather and summer clothes. Well, I like pretty much all types of clothes. Back to summer, I generally do most of my vacationing in months other than the summer months in order to avoid the summertime crowds. So, I generally go to work everyday, attend local concerts, attend a Birmingham Barons baseball game, and go to a Jimmy Buffett concert, depending on his tour schedule. This summer was a little different, though.
In June I attended a high school reunion, the first one I’ve attended since I graduated. Like a lot of folks are, I was a bit apprehensive about attending; but after much deliberation, I decided to go. My decision was probably the best decision I have ever made in my life. I now have a bunch of new friends and acquaintances. I’m facebook friends with people I thought I would never cross paths with after leaving high school. I’m even planning to attend my school’s homecoming this fall. Are we talking about the same Nancy Graham? I really think my high school graduating class is great, and not very many people will say that. They’re really just good people and I’m proud to be one of them. There’s a few, of course, that I never cared for and still don’t; but we’re talking very few. And who knows; maybe if I had gotten to talk to them a little more at the reunion, I would have changed my mind. Anyway you look at it, going to this reunion has changed my life forever and for the better. Again, are we talking about the same Nancy Graham?
About a month after the reunion, I attended the event of a lifetime. My favorite singer in my favorite place…Jimmy Buffett in Gulf Shores. Getting everything together to get there took some doing, but we made it and ended up in a VIP section for the concert. Jimmy and his Coral Reefer band performed for free in an effort to get folks to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast following the oil spill caused by the explosion of a BP oil rig in the Gulf. The concert was broadcast on CMT with some of my friends and I actually getting on TV. The concert was great and the beaches were beautiful. There was a little bit of oil on the beach in front of the condos where we stayed. In fact, I picked a little up and squished it between my fingers. If my four friends had scoops and garbage bags, we could have cleaned it up in no time. But, of course that would have been strictly forbidden by the third Reich, I mean the USEPA.
Between 42,000 and 45,000 attended the concert and it was a site to behold. I’m so happy that I got the chance to be a part of such a historic event.
I’ve always acknowledged that summer is my favorite season and that I could easily live in an all year round warm weather climate. The summer of 2010 was long and hot, and made me realize I probably should stick to living in a place where the climate is seasonal. With actual temperatures in the high 90s/low 100s and heat indexes in the 110 to 115 degree range, I experienced a lot of migraine headaches and generally felt bad. Once the temps got back into the mid-90s, the headaches went away and I felt much better.
As a result of the oppressive heat here in central Alabama, I stayed inside a lot. However, friends and I did make one trip during these oppressive days. We traveled to Florence, Alabama to see Mac McAnally in concert. Mac has been named CMA Musician of the Year for two years in a row. He’s also the guy with the red hair and beard that stands just behind Jimmy and to his right while the band if performing. The concert, of course, was wonderful and we were able to meet Coral Reefer band members Roger Guth and Jim Mayer. Now, there are very few Coral Reefers that I haven’t met. Mac also remembered us from some of his previous concerts.
To most people, my summer would be considered a very “dorky” summer; but to me it was one that has changed my life for the better, making “old/new” friends and attending events that were not only fun, but made some lifetime memories.
Football season has now started and while Alabama certainly looked good in its opening game; the team has a grueling season ahead. Can we repeat? I’m not making any predictions. Life goes on.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Global Warming Rebuked Again
In an article linked by the Drudge Report to the New York Post online, the global-warming establishment took a body blow this week, as the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change received a stunning rebuke from a top-notch independent investigation. For two decades, the IPCC has spearheaded efforts to convince the world's governments that man-made carbon emissions pose a threat to the global temperature equilibrium -- and to civilization itself. IPCC reports, collated from the work of hundreds of climate scientists and bureaucrats, are widely cited as evidence for the urgent need for drastic action to "save the planet".
But the prestigious InterAcademy Council, an independent association of "the best scientists and engineers worldwide" (as the group's own Web site puts it) formed in 2000 to give "high-quality advice to international bodies," has finished a thorough review of IPCC practices and found them badly wanting.
In this article, several examples were cited such as the IPCC's claim in 2007 that Himalayan glaciers were rapidly melting, and would possibly be gone by the year 2035.
Global warming, now referred to as climate change in a lot of circles is probably the biggest hoax on mankind in the history of the planet. Al Gore and many other alarmists have insisted that "the debate is over," that the science was "settled." That claim is now in shreds -- though the grants are still flowing, and advocates still hope Congress will pass some version of the economically disastrous "Cap and Trade" bill.
About a year ago I was at some function or club meeting and commented that I would love to drive a Hummer...gas guzzling and environmentally challenged... just to spite the climate change alarmists. One of the folks that I was talking to said, "you're bad, you're bad". She was being good natured about it, though. I went on and she kept saying, "you're bad". Finally, I said, "I'm not bad, I'm good", and let loose about climate change and some other things. This lady then kept saying, "I didn't know that." She assumed without a doubt that the planet was warming and drastic measures had to be taken to save civilization. I told her to read my blog and do some research because there is definitely a strong credible other side; and she said she would.
This is Birmingham, Alabama, not Palo Alto, California, and still folks are duped about climate change. The mainstream media says it exists and so it must. I've run into a few other people who definitely believe there is climate change those that don't buy into it are somehow self-centered and think only of themselves.
Well, maybe this time we can "put a sock" in climate change and stop this viscious assault against the middle class that regulations to lessen the emmission of greenhouse gasses will surely bring. We have a long ways to go to get our country and our way of life back. Can we do it?
But the prestigious InterAcademy Council, an independent association of "the best scientists and engineers worldwide" (as the group's own Web site puts it) formed in 2000 to give "high-quality advice to international bodies," has finished a thorough review of IPCC practices and found them badly wanting.
In this article, several examples were cited such as the IPCC's claim in 2007 that Himalayan glaciers were rapidly melting, and would possibly be gone by the year 2035.
Global warming, now referred to as climate change in a lot of circles is probably the biggest hoax on mankind in the history of the planet. Al Gore and many other alarmists have insisted that "the debate is over," that the science was "settled." That claim is now in shreds -- though the grants are still flowing, and advocates still hope Congress will pass some version of the economically disastrous "Cap and Trade" bill.
About a year ago I was at some function or club meeting and commented that I would love to drive a Hummer...gas guzzling and environmentally challenged... just to spite the climate change alarmists. One of the folks that I was talking to said, "you're bad, you're bad". She was being good natured about it, though. I went on and she kept saying, "you're bad". Finally, I said, "I'm not bad, I'm good", and let loose about climate change and some other things. This lady then kept saying, "I didn't know that." She assumed without a doubt that the planet was warming and drastic measures had to be taken to save civilization. I told her to read my blog and do some research because there is definitely a strong credible other side; and she said she would.
This is Birmingham, Alabama, not Palo Alto, California, and still folks are duped about climate change. The mainstream media says it exists and so it must. I've run into a few other people who definitely believe there is climate change those that don't buy into it are somehow self-centered and think only of themselves.
Well, maybe this time we can "put a sock" in climate change and stop this viscious assault against the middle class that regulations to lessen the emmission of greenhouse gasses will surely bring. We have a long ways to go to get our country and our way of life back. Can we do it?
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