August 23 (Thursday)
Surely by now most people have heard of the Michael Vick situation. Of course I don't equate cruelty to animals to cruelty to humans, but it's
close. Ordinarily I would be in favor of allowing such a person who is guilty of what Vick has been accused to regain his status in society upon
completion of restitution, but in the case of such a high-profile profession, I am not opposed to a lifetime ban against his rejoining the NFL. He
has already made a lot of money and that money has come almost exclusively from his entertainment value. He has forfeited his right to be
paid such a high salary as an entertainer. If he needs to earn money then let him get a job where he actually has to contribute something
other than laughs or thrills, like the rest of us. That is my opinion.
One week from today the 2007 college football season opens up with my Alma Mater LSU visiting Mississippi State. I know that LSU is touted
as one of the top teams in the country, but I know better than to take anything for granted. Yes, the Tigers should win the game, but I won't
count on the margin being any greater than nine points. Lets say: LSU 23 and Mississippi State 14.
It is very much in the news lately that the exposure of underwear should be banned. Some local communities have passed ordinances against
such activity, aimed obviously at black youth who wear their baggy pants in a manner to expose their boxer shorts. Are you kidding me? Hell,
when I was a kid growing up you just about couldn't go to anybody's house on a Saturday afternoon without having to endure the indignity of
seeing the old man there lounging around in his boxer shorts without any bagging pants.
Most people remember where they were and what they were doing when they first heard that the World Trade Center towers were attacked,
and when they heard that JFK was assassinated, et al. I certainly do. A recent pole suggests that most people remember where they were
and what they were doing when they first heard of the death of Lady Di. Well, I don't.
August 24 (Friday)
For the past five (5) years I have worked from home. After having done that for a while every day became like all the others. Friday felt like
Monday, which felt like Thursday, which felt like Saturday, and so on. I had forgotten what it felt like to reach the end of a work week. Now,
after having worked away from home for the past three months I am beginning to experience the thrill of TGIF. Oh what a feeling!
The story of Yousiff, the Iraqi five-year-old boy who was abducted by a masked man, doused with gasoline, and set on fire is igniting once
again the reaction from Americans that has become so typical. He will be flown to the United States and all expenses regarding his medical
care and living expenses will be paid for by Americans. Ah, poor, immoral, degenerate America! Where would the world be without you?
August 25 (Saturday)
Saturday. What can I say? I arose this morning at my usual 4:30, fed and watered the animals and sat down at my computer for another
session of software development. This is not the day I go to town and run errands. Errands will have to wait for another day. I saw "Buddy,"
the big, beautiful, white male cat I rescued a year ago. He is still hanging around down near my sister's and mother's houses. I love that cat.
He took me three whole years to catch and get neutered. He is still very wary, but a lot less "violent" when I approach him.
August 26 (Sunday)
I went to Sunday School two weekends ago (Oakland Baptist) for the first time in more than 20 years. I went to Sunday School at First Baptist
last weekend. I have also started to shave my face again after nearly that long. I have shaved once a week on Sunday morning before going
to Sunday School on each of the past two weeks.
August 27 (Monday)
I don't dread Mondays as much as most people probably do. I love my job, and the morning 1.75-hour drive from my house in northern Alcorn
County to my office on Poplar Avenue in Memphis is really quite pleasant. I figure that on average, those who live in the Memphis area drive
as much daily as I do, what with carrying the kids to school, practice after school, stopping to get a loaf of bread, etc. I'll spend $6000 in one
year on gasoline (at today's gas prices), and roughly $7000 to $10,000 per year in wear and tear on my automobile. If I put 50,000 miles on
my truck each year I will go through a new one once every three to four years, if I am lucky. On paper this may appear to be a losing
proposition. I cannot possibly come out ahead on the investment end, but...when considering how much more I am paid to work in Memphis
compared to what I would be paid by working in Corinth, the net effect is positive.
LuLu was not looking good over the weekend. She appeared listless and slightly
bloated, although her appetite appeared to be healthy. I am hoping that it isn't
bloat. I am suspecting that one of the other dogs got after her while I was gone.
She would let out a painful yelp whenever I picked her up or when another dog
touched with its nose.
August 28 (Tuesday)
I can't think of anything to write about today. Dave is out of town, and will be
back tomorrow, so ... maybe we'll check out Advantage Server to where we stand
on the ADO upgrade. LuLu appears to have improved, although I shall continue
to monitor her demeanor, which wasn't great last night.
August 29 (Wednesday)
Lu Lu is looking not as bad today as she was on Sunday. I can't positively say
that I think she is better, but she continues to be around and enthusiastic about
getting her daily treat. She still tends to stand in the corner, parallel to the wall and pant. I've never known her to be so listless. Her brother
contracted parvo and died about three years ago. Every day for several weeks I would pick her up and carry her around whispering in her
ear: "Don't you go and get sick on me." She didn't, and she avoided the parvo epidemic that took three of my babies.
August 30 (Thursday)
The local radio pundits are bemoaning the fact that Mississippi State is going to get pounded by LSU in tonight's college football season
opener. They talk like little kids ("My dad can beat your dad.") How long have they been watching college football? Yes, I am a big time LSU
fan (LSU class of 1990), and yes, LSU has pounded Mississippi State lately, but I've been following college football long enough to know better
than to think that LSU is naturally going to run anybody out of the stadium on the first game of the season. LSU can pound people on
defense, yes, but defense does not generally score points. So LSU's offense will have to show up if the Tigers are going to "pound" the
bulldogs. As I said before, I say LSU wins tonight by no more than 9 points.
August 31 (Friday)
Well, it ended 45 to 0. However, LSU did score 38 points off of turnovers. If you take away those six interceptions and one fumble, LSU does
not win in a rout. I picked LSU to win by no more than 9 points, but you cannot predict turnovers. I am an LSU fan, and I am not disrespecting
my own team--hey, geaux Tigers!; however, Mississippi State looked very respectable, except for those very costly turnovers. Their defense
looked great, and their running offense looked pretty good, also. Henig threw six interceptions, but when he was able to get his feet under him
he did throw some good passes.
| August 2007 |
