Balloon Boy and The Great Hoax

A 6 year old boy, ironically named Falcon, flew off into the horizon a couple of days ago in a helium balloon.  Or so his father would have you think.

Xpinionated is of the opinion that this was a big fat hoax.  One for which Daddy Henne should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  It is no coincidence that there was a recording of the balloon as it floated off.  It is no coincidence that the family was part of a reality show (Wife Swap) and the Richard Henne has been shopping a reality show about a crazy family.  It is no coincidence that Richard Henne was the one to call the news stations and the FAA.

It looks like this guy is simply an attention whore of the worst kind.  One that would employ his kids (ahem Kate, Jon) in his selfish efforts to get a cheap buck on 15 minutes of fame.  Hell, even the kid said, ‘It was part of the show’.

On the Early Show this morning, Richard Henne placed a sign on his front door saying ‘No more interviews.’  Minutes later he comes out to announce that he would like to hold an impromptu press conference on his front lawn at 10am….with a big announcement he says.

Unfortunately, our media, in its desperate quest for the next big story, will follow up on his press conference.  We will read, listen, watch, and discuss.  And though I doubt Henne will pimp this out into a reality show, he will have at least had his 5 minutes of fame…….

Documentary Hypocrisy

It was announced that Michael Vick’s life will be made into an eight part mini-series on BET.  Needless to say, this has raised the ire of the anti-Vick crowd.

“People who abuse animals don’t deserve to be rewarded,” PETA’s Dan Shannon said in a statement. “They shouldn’t be given multimillion-dollar contracts . . . or given the privilege of being a role model.”  But directors who drug and rape 13 year old girls should serve no time and live happily in Europe while receiving Academy awards and industry praise?  I wonder which crime our soceity considers worse……

Two points before I go:  1) Most of the more serious serial killers (of humans) have had documentaries, movies, books, etc made on their life.  2) It’s on BET which automatically limits it’s audience by quite a bit.  Personally, I don’t think it’s a good move for Vick at this point in his life.  Time heals.  There are going to be a certain set of the population that will thrive on the negative aspects of his life forever.  But the general population will not necessarily forget, but will move on.  By making a movie, you’re just keeping the negative in the limelight.

And while I’m talking about Vick, let me make something ridiculously clear — specifically to my fellow Georgians.  I understand your dislike of Michael Vick in terms of the affect his crimes affected your precious (when they are winning) Atlanta Falcons, but please do not misdirect your anger at Virginia Tech.  Vick did nothing at Virginia Tech.  He was a student athlete with a clean record (yeah maybe not so much for his brother but that’s not the point here).  So when you see me rolling in the Mag rockin’ my Hokies flag, don’t glare at me like I killed your dog.  After all, we don’t hate Ohio State University because Jeffrey Dahmer was a student……

Redskins Fan Farewell? Not a goodbye though!

Years ago, my mom made an announcement that I couldn’t fathom, couldn’t wrap my head around.  She said that she was no longer a Washington Redskins fan.  I don’t recall what game or moment prompted the dissolution of the relationship between my mom and the only team my immediate family shared (barring my sister who could care less), I simply remember not being able to comprehend a member of my football watching family not being a Redskins fan.

FlashForward like ABC to find me sitting here realizing that I no longer have the fire in me to cheer for the Redskins.  Too many years of mismanagement have led to too much  heartbreak.  It’s like I have battered fan syndrome.  And I keep coming back for more.  The Snyder years have been marred by inconsistency of the worst kind — the inconsistency that leads to a sliver of hope.  Hope for either the next game or the next season.  Only to be slapped down by the angry villain that is reality.

As of right now, I’m still a Redskins fan.  I have to be.  I’ve spent far too many years, too many beers, too much money, too much passion, and too many good times not to be a Redskins fan.  Not to mention, those that know me know that I have a pet peeve for people that switch teams, that don’t sweat out the bad times.  I can’t be those that I talk about and sleep through the night.

However, I will not be investing my passion, not this season anyway.  Yeah, I know, if there’s some miraculous turnaround I’ll have to eat my fair share of crow.  But here’s the thing, I used to get excited for the Redskins games, even in the Brunell years when I knew anything thrown over 5 yards was considered a deep pass for our crew. The Spurrier years held their own kind of disappointing magic as I just knew that somehow things would come together under the ol’ ball coach. Each little era held something.  Now, not so much.  Watching virtually every team in the league get better in some way and seeing absolutely nothing in terms of progress at FedEx field leaves one depersonalized from his team.  I can’t even build up the passion to hate Jim Zorn.  I think he’s a horrible coach but I no longer seem to care enough to tell him how bad he is.

So for 2009, I’m done with the Redskins.  I’ll watch their games if their on or follow the scoreboard online. And I truly hope they can turn this thing around.  But I’m not spending any time thinking about it.  I’m definitely not spending any money on it.  When they come to Atlanta this year, I won’t be there like last time.  I don’t have that kind of free time for something I half-heartedly believe in.  I’m certain my passion will come back one day (when Snyder sells, or becomes a deaf-mute), but for right now my focus will be the Hokies.

The Sucker….Punch

If you’re any kind of sports fan, you’ve probably seen Boise St DE Byron Hout get remixed by LeGarrette Blount.  LeGarrette Blount has since been crucified publicly and nationally — and deservedly so.  There was also a latent backlash at Byron Hout.

I will admit that when I first saw the punch, I was pleased.   I know this may anger some but quite frankly, let’s look at this from the perspective of 5 seconds before the punch.  A deflated, embarassed, and probably still emotionally charged young man is walking off a hostile field in the midst of those that defeated him.  Another young man walks up, taps him on the shoulder to get his attention, and taunts him.  Was MMA’ing him the best decision?  Definitely not.  Was it a reaction, an instinct?  Probably.  But what’s lost in this is why did Hout feel the need to rub it in his face?

The presumed logic is that since Blount spoke the words ‘We owe this team an ass whooping’ earlier in the week the mouthy Blount should have expected some backlash.  However, Blount’s statement was in reference to last year’s game where two Oregon player were hurt and taken out of the game on arguably dirty plays.  So for him to state that we owe a team an ass-whooping, in that context, isn’t taunting. It is a reference to what many feel was dirty play last year.

All this is to say, the punch that sent Hout’s spit flying was actually dirty repaying dirty.  Unfortunately, this could very well end Blount’s football career.  For what it’s worth, Blount had been suspended earlier in summer workouts for his aggression so he is no angel in this matter.  But for such an unnecessary event to happen and quite possibly ruin this young man’s chances at doing and succeeding at his life’s goals, well, that is the real tragedy.  Hout was Sucker punched indeed, but he was also a sucker and deserved the punch.

I wonder if the public’s reaction would be the same if say Terrell Owens taunted Brian Urlacher and Urlacher hauled off and punched Owens when he wasn’t looking?

Warmth

My wife and kids went to Florida Sunday for a mini vacation.  Due to work obligations, and the fact that I didn’t want to drive to Florida so I could be stuck in a house working while everyone one else was upping their vitamin D intake, I stayed in Georgia.  I thought I would take advantage of the empty house by living pseudo-bachelor.  Work during the day, drink during the night.  All that I really did was learn that I’m no longer the drinker I once was.

Then came the trip back for Mrs. Xpinionated.  Natalia apparently had had enough of car travels and pitched a holy fit for 70% of the drive by my estimations based on phone calls from a slightly more than exasperated Mrs. Xpinionated.   To ease the situation, I drove out to meet my wife and take the fed up little angel.  As luck would have it, construction forbade us to meet as planned and as she headed north, she passed right on past her knight in slowing traffic.

Anyway, after miles and miles of dashed lines, we make the switch.  And their was this warmth in me.  Just seeing my little girl, then seeing the half smile of recognition on her face melted me.  She could have cried the rest of the way home (she did not) and I wouldn’t have cared a single bit.

F

Later, as I’m taking my son out of the car in the sleepy kid fashion where every body part is virtually dead weight, he barely opens his eyes, smiles, and hugs my neck.  I felt so loved right at that moment.  He then fell asleep on my shoulder with a smile on his face.  I put him to bed and he wouldn’t let go of my neck. . .  and I didn’t want him to….

Cowards

Explicit Language below

Yet another gunman goes off killing people who had nothing to do with his woes.  Gun advocates wonder why folks are in favor of tougher gun control?  Because it is still apparently too easy to get guns and shoot innocent people because “you’re lonely”.

As it appears to me, this guy could have easily ended his own existence if he felt his life was so horrible.  I’m not an advocate of suicide, but I get pissed off at murder-suicides — particularly murders of people you don’t know, that don’t know you, that have absolutely nothing to do with your pity party, and just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Instead of ending your life, you want everyone to know how sad you were, how picked on you were, how completely unable you were to cope with life.  Fuck you!

I want to be able to go to the gym and not worry about the poor guy that can’t get a date shooting the place up.  Here’s an idea, stop blogging about your preparations to kill and try to meet some live people somewhere.  Or, talk to a psychiatrist see if there’s some social issue you’re having (which apparently there was).   Or talk to a coworker.

I am refusing to place the names of these gunmen on my blog for the simple reason that to do so would give them the fame for which they killed.

I believe we need stricter gun laws in this country.  I know the right to bear arms is a constitutional right.  But, honestly, the doctrine was written when regular citizens were taking up arms against armies of foreign countries…so yeah it made sense then.  Now, not as much. Until gun advocates can come up with a way to limit guns getting in the hands of unstable people (and I don’t have a solution myself but then again guns taken from everybody would be fine by me), then I think we need to limit guns as much as possible.  Guns don’t kill, people kill.  But they would do it a helluva lot slower if they didn’t have the gun!

Racist vs Prejudiced

The post-racial harmony America was expected to bask in after President Obama was elected has fallen under a cloudy cover.  The latest story that caught my eye was concerning the Boston police officer who referred to Henry Louis Gates and/or Gates’ actions as a ‘banana-eating jungle monkey’ in a mass email. . .  three different times.  In any case, the result was administrative leave for his words, something mass emails can do; especially if you’re silly enough to send them to members of the National Guard and the BOSTON GLOBE!

As expected, he later stated that he was not racist and he has friends with race qualities yada yada yada.  The thing is, he was right.  He’s not racist, he’s prejudiced.  In fact, most of us are prejudiced to some degree.  But that’s not my point here.

My point is we throw the word racist around quite often when in fact we mean prejudiced.  In order to be racist, you must have power over someone or some aspect of their being.  A boss can be racist. A boss can fire you because he does not like that you’re Scandinavian.  A politician can be racist.  Enforcing policies that keep, say, the Native American trapped on a reservation.  And yes, a police officer can be racist as well.  However, in terms of what this guy did his actions were prejudiced.  He used a racial slur to insult and influence but ultimately his email held no power over anyone else’s actions.

With that said, I am not surprised it was a Boston police officer.  I am surprised that they gave this guy a gun but not for the reasons you might suspect.  My surprise arises from the fact that his decision making in sending a strongly worded email to THE BOSTON GLOBE under his real name identifying his real job and not seeing the consequences makes me wonder who exactly he would be helping with a firearm in public. Officer, at least go to the library and create a fake email account…did you think the Globe would keep it all hush hush for you?

Back to my point, we throw the word racist around because it is seen as much more damaging to reputation and character.  Prejudice implies a pre-judging with a possibilty of changing.  In effect, it’s admitting having opinions about a something or a group of people without having any hard facts to back them up.

Racist, on the other hand, is a principle.  It’s a belief in some form of superiority based on something no human even gets to choose for themselves, race and/or skin color.  It implies a lifestyle almost.  There is little to no hope of change for a racist save for a life-changing event, and even then it’s not guaranteed.

So the public, the media, and the leaders throw around the word ‘racist’ any time they can. It stirs the pot, moves the food around the plate, but it’s not really accurate (much like my ‘moves around the plate’ analogy).

Xpinionated’s Greatest Hits

Due to my own need to reassure myself of my greatness, I happened to realize that the special Xpinionated’s Greatest Hits section was still linking to my old site that has passed on. Dead links be damned. Xpinionated’s Greatest Hits has been restored…enjoy or detest….whatever

At least it’s not my tax money . . .

Masssachusetts congressman Richard Neal is concerned. The White House may very be outsourcing it’s beer for the historic Obama-Gates-police officer a letter stating an all-amAmerican  (as he has become affectionately known) happy hour event planned for the near future. President Obama’s beer choice is Budlight, now owned by the Belgian company that produces the fine Stella Artois libation. Mr. Gates and Mr. Police officer will be enjoying Red Stripe or Becks, and Blue Moon respectively.

But not if Congressman Neal has a say so. Apparently he has penned a letter to the White House suggesting an All-American beer…Samuel Adams.

Wait, he took the time to do what?  And on the taxpayer’s dime?  Or at least the Massachusett’s taxpayer’s dime….As if the entire White House Happy Hour episode wasn’t enough, now we have other branches of government worried about beer.  If they are that bored, why don’t they work on getting a college football playoff.  Or jobs for the unemployed…not necessarily in that order of course..

Owens mouthing off again. . .correctly?!?!

Terrell Owens stepped up to the plate in opposition to an extension of Michael Vick’s suspension this morning.  Owens argument is simply that Vick should be allowed to play immediately should he be picked up by a team, and I concur.  Though I’ve never been an opponent of Terrell Owens, except when he played for the Cowboys (I’m a Skins fan, it’s part of the membership), I never thought I would actually agree with much that he said publicly.  But with this I am in agreement.

Michael Vick committed a crime.  To many, a grotesque and heartless crime.  Michael Vick served his time. He’s lost two years out of his career (by his own hands admittedly) in a profession where every single year is to be cherished given the lack of pro football career longevity.  On top of that, his fortune is gone.  The money he made, not from his criminal deed, but from his talent is no longer.  Lastly, he has no one he can trust as his so-called friends bailed on him as soon as possible.  At this point, outside of his family there is no one Vick can (or should) fully trust.

Now I don’t want to make Michael Vick out to be a victim here.  Like I stated, he willfully chose to commit a crime.  My point is simply this, how many other ex-cons are officially prevented from returning to their livelihoods (if they had one as many turn to crime due to lack of a constant livelihood) when their crime had absolutely nothing to do with their job.  It would be one thing if Vick had gone to jail because of an NFL gambling ring that he financed.  But that’s not the case.  From the standpoint of his job, he did nothing that would suggest his job should be permanently taken from him.  Those that suggest otherwise are speaking from a purely emotional standpoint.

I understand some American’s obsession with dogs.  In no way am I condoning what he did.  But after two years in prison, and not a ‘Martha-Stewart-I-am-a-famous-person celebrity prison — but Leavenworth, his debt to society has been paid.  If not by his prison sentence, then by his financial loss.  If not by his financial loss, then by his personal losses.