This is just the sweetest Thanksgiving re-enactment I’ve ever seen. The Pequot War dramatization is darling. If this pisses you off, suck it up. This is the way it happened. These little cuties do a great job so don’t ruin there fun by claiming the Native-Americans just took a bunch of your Christmas cash at Foxwoods.  Now let’s pop open a 2 liter bottle of whiskey and watch it again.

After discussing it ALL MORNING, I came across some information that makes me think I owe “The General” an apology.  We all know that applying statistics to real life can give us great insight on making decisions and that’s what the nerds over at AdvancedNFLstats.com have done.  Turns out that statistically Belichick made the right call!

You can read it for yourself, but summing up: going for it on 4th down is successful 60% of the time.  Odds that Brady and Co. would have converted are much better than the odds that you punt to the Colts and they don’t score (47%).  I know it’s tough to take because there has to be someone to blame for last night, but the stats don’t lie.  Here’s a few others I came across while booking my plane tickets to Indianapolis for the AFC Championship game:

% odds that a cameraman getting too close to Bill Belichick after a devastating loss to the most annoying QB in the NFL will get knocked over by his security:  100%. Check the video:

% odds that the answer to today’s press conference question about whether he now wishes he had punted will be “no”: 100%

% odds that Eric Mangini was jumping for joy when the Colts scored that touchdown last night: 100%

% odds that Lawrence Maroney could gain a third hand in a cloning experiment gone awry and still not be able to hold on to the ball:  100%

% odds that Jet Coach Rex Ryan missed the call by Belichick to go for it last night because he was in the kitchen grabbing a snack:  100%

% odds that our beloved Patriots will bounce back and beat the Colts in the AFC championship:  Call me a homer, but I’m still going with 100%!

In response to Klenginem’s Video, the Star Wars Nerds return fire with this Jam that could put a choke hold on the Sarlacc of The Great Pit Of Carkoon…yo.

Star Wars Gangsta Rap: Chronicles

Do you think we will spend as much time investigating what the FBI, the Army, and the Federal Government knew about Major Nidal Hassan as we have spent focusing on what George Bush and the Government knew about September 11th?  I doubt it.

Senator Joe Lieberman has called for a congressional investigation into the details surrounding the Ft. Hood shootings and it should begin today.  And perhaps the outcome should be new practices instituted to deal with American soldiers of the Muslim faith.  There, I said it. 

Major Hassan himself suggested in 2007 that muslim soldiers should be released as conscientious objectors so they were not forced to fight against their muslim brothers.  In a power point presentation he made at Walter Reed Hospital to his fellow mental health workers, he wrote “we love death more then (sic) you love life”.

Yesterday, on his personal website, radical American Imam Anwar al-Awlaki (who Hassan was communicating with prior to the attacks) called the major ” a hero”, and said the only way a muslim can serve in the US Military “is to follow Nidal” and commit an act of terror.

Is the “War on Terror” a war against Islamic fundamentalists?  And if it is, would it not be best to give muslim’s serving the our military their walking papers?  Awlaki wrote yesterday that “American muslims who condemned the attack have commited treason against their religion”.  If that is so, can we trust that there are no muslims currently serving in the military who take that philosophy to heart and are challenged by the postition their religious beliefs place them in?

If the US were fighting a war on Catholic fundamentalists, would it be wise to investigate catholics serving in our military to determine if they had the resolve to fight against their religion?

Congress must give the military, the FBI and all other law enforcement agencies the go ahead to do away with concerns about Political Correctness, and investigate anyone, of any religion, who appears to be dangerous and might harbor anger against our country.  I would rather someone’s feelings get hurt than 13 brave members of our military are gunned down again.

This morning, as you were being waved through the Weston tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike, did you stop and think about how great this could be?  Imagine every day, instead of sitting in a line of traffic stretching from 128 up to the Mass Pike, you breezed your way into work in a reasonable amount of time to begin your much more productive day?

Because of the accident this morning, involving 3 trucks and a car, State Police made the right call and waved commuters through the tollbooths.  One of the trucks was carrying frozen beef, which certainly makes this incident more tragic.  Turns out, hundreds of fine steer gave their lives, only to have their frozen carcass spread across the highway, because we insist on continuing an antiquated and dangerous tolls system in this state to fund a questionable portion of our transportation budget.  Trying to figure out what that money goes for is like to trying  to figure out if any of this highway beef is gonna end up in my beef and pea pods take out next week.

According to an MTA public audit, the Turnpike takes in about 53 million dollars a year from restaurants, service stations, fines and advertising, etc.  It spends about 21 million on maintenance.  I’m no Rhodes Scholar, but I think that leaves somewhere around 32 million to pay some people to collect the rent, plow the road, answer the phones, etc.  We do not need to collect toll money anymore, and today just proves how easy it could be.

I know there’s a debt issue.  But that’s because for years our politicians used the turnpike like a house, and remortgaged it to build expensive additions like the Big Dig.  We can figure that part out later.  Right now, we should take the frozen beef like a sign from above.  Let’s not waste anymore delicious red meat, or anymore of our valuable commuting time, and close the tolls today.

The average toll collector makes $73,000 a year.  The average firefighter makes $49,820.  That means the guy tending to the accident victims, and cleaning up the site, was making less money than the guy watching him work while the cars passed through his booth.  It’s time to say goodbye to the tolls.  If you want to help make this a ballot issue in 2010, go to closethetolls.org.

As the somewhat annoying parent of two kids who play sports, I get it.  You want your kids to do well; after all, there’s a lot on the line!  We’re talking full-boat college scholarships worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, never mind the general interest we all have in our kids being successful.  And how ’bout the millions in endorsement money that today’s pro athlete can bring home for their hard working parents?  I often imagine that my son, Breese, after a big game in the NFL, will stand up in front of reporters and tell them he is buying his dad that golf course he’s always wanted.

But after the latest incident in Wilmington, I think it might be time to take myself (and every other parent) out of kids’ sports.  During Friday night’s Pop Warner practice behind Wilmington Town Hall, a fight broke out.  No, it wasn’t two overly aggressive kids fighting for a starting running back job.  It was a parent and a coach.  48 year old Michael VonKahle dropped his 12 year old son off 10 minutes late for practice.  The coach, William Reynolds, told the kid to start running.  Mr. VonKahle said his boy shouldn’t have to pay because he got him there late.  What happened next is in dispute, depending on who you ask.  VonKahle made fun of the coach’s weight (I’m guessing he’s more like Wilfork than Welker), the coach shot back.  The two headed off to “settle” the matter away from the kids and Mr. VonKahle showed up at the police station looking like the photo below. Police called an ambulance.

There is no excuse for either one of these guys.  First off, the 12 year old kid was ten minutes late for POP WARNER PRACTICE! I hate to break it to these guys, but this is not the NFL, and these kids aren’t driving themselves around.  You don’t punish a kid because his dad was ten minutes late getting him to practice.  Your name is Bill Reynolds, not Bill Belichick.  And you don’t make fun of a volunteer coach’s weight in front of the kids and then “take it outside” to settle the matter.  And no one should end up in ambulance, headed to the hospital, over a Pop Warner Practice.

I am fortunate because my kids have, for the most part, always had great coaches.  They care about them learning the sport, and sportsmanship, more than they care about winning.  Don’t get me wrong-someone has to win, and I have no problem with that.  But when you have parents and coaches brawling ‘cuz a 12 year old kid was ten minutes late for practice, you have an issue.  The president of the league, Deb Smith, told the Boston Globe that they ”are here to set an example”.  Fine example set by both individuals.  They should both be forbidden from participating in any youth sport again.  It’s supposed to be about the kids.

The Super Group.  It can be an amazing display of musical alchemy(Chickenfoot, Audioslave) or it can royally suck(Asia, Bad English)  In the case of Them Crooked Vultures it’s the former.  Sunday night(10/11/09)at The House Of Blues Josh Homme(Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss), Dave Grohl(Nirvana, Foo Fighters), John Paul Jones(Led Zeppelin) and Queens collaborator Alain Johannes invited us into there spastic spaceship and took everyone in the room on a trip that few may recover from.  The place was already primed by the hype of the musical fiber of each of it’s members.  I mean, LED Fuckin’ ZEPPELIN!  As soon as they walked on stage, the crowd went crazy with fanatical adulation.  Once the music started, it was clear that this was not a nostalgia trip or a pursuit of lucre.  It was four musicians enjoying the challenge of freaking each other out.  The music displayed the style of Messrs. Homme and Johannes’ band.  A schizophrenic, disjointed wall of sound that took many hairpin turns and mood swings.  At times it was like a hall of whirling knives, other times they brought it down to a spacey textural jam highlighted by Homme and Johnnes’ guitar wizardry. 

I love watching Dave Grohl play drums.  I’ve seen the Foo’s a few times and they always deliver with Grohl leading the way with his unabashed rock star antics.  He can pull it off because of his fervent love of what he does.  He injects his enthusiasm into the room and makes it feel like we are all sharing the “Luckiest Guy In The World” vibe.  But when Grohl is behind the drum kit he explodes like a manic octopus.  Mistress Carrie pointed out his resemblance to Animal from the Muppet Band.  All arms and hair flailing with the ever present giant smile.  His epic hammering brought many smiles to his band mates.  That’s what it’s all about:  Joy.  Loving the moment playing with people who push you to new standards. 

A musician of John Paul Jones’ calliber could easily get any gig he wants and go back to his pre-Zeppelin days as a studio mercenary.  Of all the surviving members of Led Zeppelin he has cashed in the least.  Rarely does he re-visit his old bands material, save for the reunion or two.  Last night he was obviously having a blast.  You could see in his face the expression of pleasure of creating something totally different from anything he has done before.  At times the Zeppelin groove worked it’s way into some of the set.  How could it not?  With one of the creators and three guys schooled by his creation.  But it only lasted for a verse or two then quickly changed direction.  There was a Spinal Tap, “Lick My Love Pump” moment when Jones ended a song with a weeping piano coda.  But that was the only instance of cliche.

They played all original material from a supposedly forthcoming album with Homme giving the titles in between.   I think it would be cool if they didn’t release an album and just played shows sporadically.  Keep it mysterious, like a 70’s style super group.  Not wearing out the novelty and excitement of the collaboration.  TCV also win the award for coolest display of weird guitars.  It was a parade of vintage oddities and in Jones’ case strange electric mandolins and a guitar(?) that looked like a piece of alien weaponry from ”Men In Black” complete with multicolored read- out screen on the body.  Very little is known of the future plans of this project.  With 4 talented multi-instrumentalists the possibilities are endless.  Also, with all of their respective bands and projects I would imagine it was next to impossible to make time for it.  I’m glad they did and I hope to hear and see more.

I have attended this event the past two years and it is a great time.  I’m a big fan of chili and the firefighters usually cook up a great batch.  I was fortunate enough to be a judge one year and had a great time(despite paying the price the next morning. Just don’t overdo it)  It’s also a great place to bring the kids on a Saturday afternoon.  It benefits the Providence Canteen which started out as a support service for Firefighters but has now expanded to help victims too.  It’s run on donations so please come out and have some chili and take in the classic cars.  I’ll see you there.

The 3rd Annual Firefighter Chili Cook Off And Car Show

Saturday, Oct. 10th, 12pm-4pm

The Hay-Wagon Restaurant

504 West Hartford Ave, Uxbridge, MA

More info HERE.

The Dalai Lama arrived in Washington DC Monday, and for the first time since 1991, he won’t be meeting with the sitting President of the United States.  White House Press Secretary Gibbs spun the story today, saying that both sides had agreed to postpone a meeting until after The President meets with the Chinese President in November, but that’s bull.

China has been pressuring nations not to accept the Dalai Lama as he journeys around the world to plead for the rights of a Free Tibet.  Barack Obama is merely bowing down to the demands of the Chinese regime, and I really expect no different.  This guy has no sack.

What does surprise me is the hypocrisy of the Hollywood Liberal Machine that fought so hard to get this man elected.  Where is Eddie Vedder, an outspoken advocate for a free Tibet and release of their political prisoners held in Chinese jails?  Mr. Vedder told us in June he was “looking forward to getting some color in the White House”, and as an avowed George Bush hater, certainly was counting on Obama to focus on an issue that he has made his own.  Why don’t I hear Eddie, during his round of promo visits to sell PJ’s new CD, demanding that the President he endorsed meet with the spiritual leader he has stood behind for years?

What about the woman with arguably Hollywood’s most famous vagina, Sharon Stone?  She, of course, famously said that the devastating earthquake in China was “karma” payback for the way China had treated “her friend”, the Dalai Lama.  After endorsing President Obama, she must be mighty disapointed that he is snubbing her little buddy.

The list goes on.  Bono, Michael Stipe, Dave Matthews, Richard Gere.  They all endorsed this President and they have all told us how imperative it is that this nation fight for a Free Tibet.  You know what, I agree.  So I am dismayed that not a single one has called out their President.  I won’t even bother to point out that, if George Bush were doing this….well, you get the picture.

Actually, it must have made Eddie vomit in his bottle of Caymus Special Select, in 2007, when George W. Bush became the only President to publicly meet with the Dalai, in a Rose Garden ceremony, to present him with Congress’s highest civilian honor.  But Bush had the balls.  He didn’t let China tell him what to do.  And for that, on his deathbed, he will recieve total consciousness, which is nice.  Thanks, Dalai.

Hey Eddie….I’m waiting.

Question: Since when did the media start fact checking comedic bits about the President?  Answer: Since Barack Obama is the President being made fun of.

Watch Wolf Blitzer and his CNN cronies disect this past weekend’s Saturday Night Live bit where Fred Armisen, as Barack Obama, details everything he has yet to accomplish.  It’s funny but, CNN wants you to know, not totally accurate.  Can you imagine the panic this skit caused in the halls of the Communist News Network?

Funny, I don’t remember any news outlet fact checking Saturday Night Live in the past, do you?  I don’t remember the New York Times running a piece on Tina Fey’s Sarah Paylin impression and the concern that some of things she said weren’t actual quotes from the Governor of Alaska.  I don’t remember MSNBC breaking down the inaccuracies of a Wil Ferrel George Bush piece so the public knew what the real truth was.  There’s a reason it’s called satire.  When it’s about a Republican, it’s funny, and we all chuckle, right?

Perhaps the crowd laughed Saturday night because they are starting to agree.  And isn’t that what really bothers the left? The bold promises of this President are yet to be fulfilled.  And it looks to me like the liberal media is panicking!