Tami’s Neighborhood

So I am sitting here at my kitchen table watching the SEC championship game on my beautiful TV with my amazing HD cable and is watching a pretty decent game. It isn't as enjoyable as it could be, seeing that I don't like either of the teams playing in the game (I dislike Tebow and Florida is #1 hated team of Georgia and I can't stand Alabama fans because they think the Crimson Tide are God's gift to earth). One thing that I have posted about before on Facebook is that I won't pull for an SEC team against somebody else because they are an SEC team. For some reason, I don't have pride in conference, I have pride in my teams. It is like me being happy if the Saints win the Super Bowl (which they won't) because they are in the same division as the Falcons...you just don't do that in any other sport. So when I say I don't have an SEC hat, I hope both Florida and Alabama lose, though I know one has to win. Here is what I want, as a selfish fan that pulls for my own team(s) and interests: I don't care who wins the Florida/Alabama game. I know I will be annoyed either way with the fans of whichever team wins. I want either Texas to win the Big 12 championship and win the National Championship (though I hate the Horns) so people can shut up about the SEC, or Texas lose and have TCU make it to the national championship game and then have the winner of the SEC pound, and let me say POUND the snot out of the horned frogs because I am tired of hearing how good these non-BCS teams are. I am a football purist in the since that I don't want to go to a playoff and you should have to play good teams to be ranked high. TCU had one good victory against Clemson, but their top 5 games aren't comparable to the top 5 games of either Alabama, Florida, or Texas and doesn't deserve to be in consideration for the national championship. If you play a weak conference schedule, then you have to play the big boys for your non-conference games. Not fair? Deal with it. See college basketball in that aspect. In regards to playoffs, what is a playoff really going to do for you this year (or any year)? You have 8, maybe 16 teams in this playoff. What happens if Texas, Alabama, and Florida lose and a team like Georgia Tech or Oregon go and win the National Championship. Do you really think they deserve the national championship? No. And if they would make it then the ratings would be crap for the national championship game. Leave it the way it is. Is it perfect? No. But you aren't going to ever get a perfect system. Bowls are good because of tradition and more importantly, money. So have fun watching the SEC championship game, but just know I am not going to pull for a SEC just because they are in the SEC. 

FACT

The earth’s climate has constantly gone through periods of warming and cooling.

Scientists have extracted ice core samples from Antarctica dating back 650,000 years. Using these samples, they have been able to estimate temperatures in the past. (Fig. 1.) The recent warming trend is not outside the range of natural variability. The latest scientific data, in fact, suggests that we may be entering a period of global cooling.

 

FACT

CO2 is likely not the major cause of global warming.

The same Antarctic ice core shows a relationship between CO2 levels and temperature that’s the opposite of what environmentalists would expect: temperature changes precede increases in CO2 by 100 to 1000 years. Even if carbon dioxide was the cause, there isn’t much we could do about it. Man made CO2 accounts for a very small percentage of atmospheric CO2. (Fig. 2.) There is a much stronger correlation between solar output and global temperatures. Solar output is influenced by radiant heat energy and solar winds, both of which appear to have natural cycles.

 

FACT

There is not a scientific consensus that man is the primary cause of global warming.

A group of scientists and researchers recently gathered in New York to sign a declaration stating that there is no convincing evidence to suggest that CO2 emissions from modern industrial activity cause climate change and called upon world leaders to abandon all efforts to reduce emissions. Over 31,000 scientists have signed a petition stating that there is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of greenhouse gases activity is causing global warming. And John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel, calls global warming the “greatest scam in history”.

 

FACT

Proposed global warming “solutions” will not make a difference and will have tremendous costs, especially on the poor.

There is no scientific proof that proposed global warming “solutions” will have any impact upon the climate. These proposed “solutions” rely upon extremely intrusive government controls designed to reduce our energy consumption, thereby significantly increasing the cost of energy and the price of nearly all goods and services produced within our economy, as businesses pass these costs onto consumers. The poor would be the hardest hit by increases in gas, utilities, food and other essentials.

 

FACT

History shows that periods of warming have been healthier for mankind.

Global warming alarmists warn of cataclysmic changes including dramatic sea level increases, fierce storms and devastating drought. But history shows a different story. During the Medieval warm period which was warmer than today, there were record harvests, few major storms, and a thriving of the human population. Many of the pre-dictions of the alarmists have been shown to be false.

 

For the latest on climate change, visit: GLOBALCLIMATESCAM.COM

                                                                             Prepared and paid for by Minnesota Majority

 

Figure 1. Antarctic ice core sample temperatures in Celcius.

Figure 2. Global Carbon Flows and Sinks in billions of metric tons.

 

Click here: GlobalClimateScam.com to see the entire 95 minutes speech, to read the treaty, and to sign the petition to stop it!  We must act!  We must be vigilant!  Spread the video!  Spread the truth!

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations."  Psalm 100:4-5 (NKJV)

 

I posted this scripture last year, but it is worth repeating.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

So I have been in the process of reading The Education of a Coach by David Halberstam, which is the biography about Bill Belichick. I have always admired what he has done, but after reading this and learning more about him, I without a doubt think that he is the greatest coach of my generation, and possibly of all time. This isn't just NFL coaches, this is coaches in every sport. Last night, all of my feelings were only solidified even more. Many people are calling Belichick stupid and that he made a bad call to go on the 4th and 2 in the Sunday Night Football game against the Colts. I completely disagree. He made the ballsiest call ever and it wasn't because he was reckless, it was because he is confident in his team. You have racked up over 375 yards of offense in the game, and if you get two more yards, you win the game. Simple as that. If Faulk gets the spot, game over. I know I live in Tennessee, where it is Colts fans-via-Manning (which I hate), but you got to say that the spot that they gave Faulk was at least questionable. If the Patriots have a timeout, it might have been overturned. I don't want to hear that Belichick didn't trust his defense. He trusted his defense enough that he would go for it on fourth down and give the ball back to Peyton Manning on the 30 yard line with 2 minutes left. That isn't a fear of his defense, that is saying "If we don't get this first down, I have confidence in my D." I don't care if I would have to play for the minimum, I would play for Coach Belichick any day and not question anything that he does. He is the smartest, most hardworking coach. Plus, I love his press conferences.

A spoof on the PC/Mac commercials.

For the wife who says, “It’s hot dogs tonight.”

Because she is home with me and not out with someone else.

For the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato,

Because he is home with me and not out at the bars.

For the teenager who is complaining about doing the dishes,

Because it means she is at home, not on the streets.

For the taxes I pay,

Because it means I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party,

Because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug,

Because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work, 

Because it means I am out in the sunshine.

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing,

Because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining I hear about the government,

Because it means we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot I found at the far end of the parking lot,

Because it means I am capable of walking, and I have been blessed with transportation.

For my huge heating bill,

Because it means I am warm.

For the lady behind me in church who sings off key,

Because it means I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing,

Because it means I have clothes to wear.

For too much e-mail,

Because it means I have lots of friends who are thinking about me.

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,

Because it means I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours,

Because it means that I am ALIVE!

COOL!

 

 

 

 

 

I know what I'm going to go see over the Christmas holiday!

 

This video is long (1 hour 20 minutes), but is worth watching.  It is also a couple years old.  The Kyoto Treaty is dead, and we have a new President.  But the new President's Global Government agenda is even more radical than past Presidents, and I have no doubt that he will sign the Copenhagen Treaty which is 10 times worse for the US than the Kyoto treaty was.  Please be diligent.  Do not allow your Senator to ratify the Copenhagen Treaty in December of this year!  Call him/her!  Stay on them!  Stop them from destroying our country and our freedom through global warming propaganda!  Please share this information with everyone you can!

Another good reference for arming yourself against the GW radicals is this: Not Evil Just Wrong.  It is an excellent and informative video about the true human cost of this hysteria.  It was created by two former liberals who believed the Green-Peace-type environmental hype, until while making a documentary on the "evils" of mining and free enterprise they saw the actual devistation brought to poor communities by the activism of radical environmentalists.

My first trip to St. Louis ever began when my friends Kyle T., Ben G., and Shannon H. came up to my apartment in Jackson around 11pm so that we could sleep and then leave together early in the morning to go to St. Louis for the Brand New concert. The day started with us going to sleep around 2am and then proceeding to wake up at 6:30am and leaving by 7:15am. (We would have left by 7, but Kyle wouldn't wake up and take his shower, but I digress.) We got some breakfast at Chick-fil-a and then we got on the road. We stopped at a Target/Starbucks and they got some drinks and Kyle bought me a blueberry muffin. [Note: I am reliving all the memories, so if there is something random and trivial such as mentioned blueberry muffin, don't judge...it's my memory] We made it to St. Louis in good time arriving around 11:30-11:45 if I can remember correctly. We had found out that if we get there early and bought something at the coffee shop that was adjacent to the concert venue, we would be able to get in early. We all purchased a drink or something cheap and we got our bracelet to get in early. We were numbers 13-16, which was awesome. We headed up the street to where we also had heard that they were going to be doing an acoustic show that afternoon at a local record store. We found out that we had to buy either the CD or the vinyl version of Brand New's new album, so we all got the vinyl and another bracelet to get into the acoustic show. We were hungry, so we then went to a local eating place called Blueberry Hill. It was very cool, good food and great atmosphere. After lunch, Scratch that, I can't believe I forgot to mention something. So we are walking down the street and we see on the other side of the road riding bikes were Jesse Lacey (Lead singer of Brand New) and Andy Hull (Lead singer of Manchester Orchestra, who was one of the opening bands for Brand New). So we saw that they had gone into a game store and we (let me rephrase that, Kyle and Ben) wanted to go meet them so we all went into the store like loser fans. We acted awkward for a minute and then Kyle walked over there and shook their hands and introduced himself. Andy Hull was a total jerk and blew him off, which Jesse Lacey did as well, but after further evidence gathering, which I will share later, we realized he didn't do it on purpose and is not, in fact, a jerk. I will never buy a Manchester Orchestra cd because of Andy Hull being a jerk, though I acknowledge that he is a great musician and performer. Now back to after we left Blueberry Hill. We were walking around and we saw a cameraman and a reporter chick walking down on the other side. We crossed over and they asked us if we wanted to get interviewed. We were asked how we thought the St Louis Blues (NHL) were going to do this year. Seeing that none of us are from 4 hours of St. Louis, I made up an answer which made the girl happy and we went on. (It was funny because I asked her if Chris Pronger was still on the team, which I found out that he hadn't been on the team in a couple of years...whoops, sorry that I don't pay attention that much to the NHL) So the acoustic show at Vintage Vinyl was at like 4, so they were letting people in at 3:30, so we didn't want to go do anything, so we just hung around and Shannon and I started the line about 2:30 for the show. So we were the first couple in and all four of us were on the front row about give-or-take 5 feet from where they played. It was a decent set. They seemed like they had just woken up from a nap, so it was a little rough, but still very, very cool.

There is a video of the song "Jesus Christ" from the acoustic show, which we were standing to the right of the guy that is on the front row. After the show, they were signing autographs, so each got our vinyls signed by all of them. It was really cool. They were nice and when Kyle got up to Jesse Lacey, Jesse Lacey smiled and said "how you been" to him, which was funny and nice at the same time. We had to jet from Vintage Vinyl back to The Pageant where the concert was going to be. Like literally, I ran 5 blocks in as dead sprint as I could possibly go. We got in line and went in and go on the second row down in the pit. It was an awesome location, like literally one person was in front of us in the middle of the stage. The stinky part was that we had to get there so early to get such good places, so we had to wait an hour and a half before the first band played. We got to know some of the people around us, which was cool. Sypris was the opening band. They were decent. Kyle and Shannon liked them a lot more than me. I think the lead singer (who was a female) was drunk, but whatever. Manchester Orchestra was next. I knew of them because they are from Atlanta and when I was back home, I was in the "scene" somewhat. (I saw Cartel like at skateparks and small venues before they became really big.) Man Orch was pretty good. I dislike Andy the lead singer (see above) so it wasn't awesome, but they were really good. Then...BRAND NEW! They were awesome, though more screamy than I expected them to be. They looked exhausted, but they gave a really good show. Here was the set list if you really want to know, which "You Don't Know" was their opening song. Here is somebody's video for it, which you can see our hands in the air right below the microphone when the song gets going.

It was awesome down in the pit until it became pretty much dangerous for the fact that dumb people in the back of the pit began pushing forward. You were so close to people that you like couldn't breathe. I had to spend half my time keeping my balance and bracing myself and could barely enjoy the songs because I was afraid if I fell, I would get trampled. We left to the back of the people around the 6th song. At some point, we did see one girl get carried out of the pit, so it was pretty crazy down there. After the show, we really wanted to get White Castle, just because of the fact that I have never eaten at White Castle before. We almost died getting there, with Ben driving we almost had 2 head on collisions when he decided to first, try and go down a one way street the wrong way and second, correct his mistake by going in the other lane on a two way street. We walked in to the White Castle, which it smelled and was nasty, so we scratched that idea. We drove past Busch Stadium and the Gateway Arch (The Gateway to the West) going out of town and we stopped and ate dinner/supper at Waffle House (mind you, it was after 11:30, so (a) it was the perfect time to eat there and (b) we ate dinner at 11:30...). We decided to drive back to Jackson/Henderson because Ben had an 8:30 class (which he proceeded to skip this morning), so we left St. Louis around 12:30. I drove so Ben could sleep, Shannon napped a little bit and Kyle was a trooper and did his best to stay awake with me, though I would sometimes ask him a question and he would fall asleep before he could answer it, which was really funny to watch. I (being the safe person that I am) stopped twice and took two 30 minute catnaps, but otherwise, it was a crazy, late drive back. After we got on the road after my second nap with about 2 or 2 1/2 hrs left, Kyle and I decided to just shuffle the iPod and jam out to every dumb song we could find. We found a lot of dumb songs, which Shannon woke up and joined us, but I think by far my favorite song was "Burn" by Usher. I really didn't know that Kyle was such a huge Usher fan. We had fun. Got back to my apartment around 5:15 and back to Henderson around 5:45am. I actually was listening to Mike & Mike on the way to Henderson. I have never listened to sports radio that early in the morning. It was a crazy awesome trip. I am sure I missed a number of laughs, but I wanted to write down all that I could remember. Brand New is great in concert, and our trip to see them was one that I will remember forever.