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Baseball
3/3/2008

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Low time for Michigan sports fans

John Bottrell

The tigers won last night, but so did the Yankees. That officially eliminates the Tigers from any chance of making the playoffs this year.

There is good news and bad news coming from Ford Field this year. The good news is that the offense is awesome. the bad news is the defense allowed 56 points the last game.

Will the Lions ever put a good offense and a good defense on the field in the same season.

The Detroit Shock went a long way this year, but they lost in the finals. It was a great season, just a bit short for the 2006 champions.

Did you know that about the Shock?

The Michigan Wolverines season ended in a game one defeat to... a high school team?

Even if they weren’t slaughtered in game 2, Michigan had no chance of winning the national championship after "the worst loss in NCAA history."

Sure, they still have a chance at a Big Ten title, but what good is that if there are no NCAA football playoffs?

The Pistons and the Redwings all made it to the playoffs this year, and both were expected to go all the way, and, once again, they both disappointed.

So, my question for you is, are the Tigers, Pistons and Redwings good, are they simply over-rated, or do they simply have good regular season records because of the lopsided schedules in sports now-a-days?

9/28/2007 6:36:57 AM

Tony Bottrell

John - I think you were wrong to write this article. I bet there are 49 states out there that wouldn’t mind having the success Michigan has had recently. All of our sports teams are now up (and 3/4 at the time of this article). uOFm football is always at the top. MSU basketball is always up there. I really don’t think you can complain that the Pistons didn’t make the Finals, or the SHOCK didn’t win it all this year (thought they just won in 06). So There!!!! Though I 100% agree that we need an NCAA Football Playoffs

11/7/2007 8:11:43 AM

Tiger All Stars

John Bottrell

It looks like the Tigers are going to have three starters in the All Star game, with the potential of four if Leland picks Verlander to start in San Fransisco.

Ordonez, Polanco and Rodriguez are tops in their positions. Ordonez deserves to start, and so does Polanco, but Rodrigues will get there by popularity alone. Then again, he is still the best defensive catcher in the game.

I was surprised to see that Inge is 3rd in 3rd base voting. And, considering this is a down year for 3rd basemen other than A-Rod, I wouldn’t be surprised if Leyland picks Inge as a backup.

Guillen probably will make the team too, unless Leyland is feeling really generous. He’s the only other offensive player who definitely deserves a seat on the All Star bench. He’s currently #2 at short behind Jeter.

As far as pithers, I’m confident Leyland will pick Verlander and Bonderman. One of whom could start.

It’s an awesome time to be a Tiger fan right now. Anb, with Miller, Zumaya and Mabin up and coming, we should be well represented into the distant future.

6/27/2007 9:20:03 PM

Tiger Fever

Tony Bottrell

It’s officially begun for me. I am not glued to the TV set for every Tiger game I can watch. What a season it’s becoming - with 15 run efforts, 2 players batting over .350 in late June, Verlander no-hitter, and as of June 20, they’re now tied for first with the Indians!

And what a season in baseball. The bonds disaster that we’ll all be forced to witness, AROD having his best year, and approaching 500 home runs (and to be the youngest to get it). Baseball is better than ever!!!

6/20/2007 8:24:37 AM

Tony Bottrell

Yes. My first memory of baseball cards was getting four packs for a buck.

7/15/2007 1:22:34 PM

John Bottrell

I hear you there. Remember when we used to collect cans and bottles and buy 8 big packages of cards for only $2.00?

6/22/2007 8:12:42 PM

Tony Bottrell

Too bad baseball cards are so expensive these days. I’d like to start collecting this roster’s cards.

6/22/2007 7:10:16 PM

John Bottrell

It’s also neat watchin Ordonez’s average going up and up and up. If this team gets its bullpen together, there will be no stopping them.

6/21/2007 4:11:58 PM

Baseball 2007

Richard Frea

It was a dream come true watching my two favorite baseball teams in the post-season last fall.

The Detroit Tigers had the best pitching staff and the New York Yankees the best offense. And, as history has shown many times, the best pitching staff won.

Pending any serious injuries, I predict the same two teams will meet again in this season’s post-season

One of these two teams will win the 2007 World Series.

Your thoughts???

3/28/2007 8:46:39 AM

John Bottrell

These Detroit Tigers are for real. They remind me a lot of the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s.

I don’t know if they will win the World Series, but they will be very competitive for many years to come.

I think they made the right decision by building a pitching park, hiring the best scouts, and drafting pitching.

The team that scares me the most is not the Yankees, but the Minnesota Twins. They are another small market team, but seem to push all the right buttons year after year.

3/28/2007 8:54:30 AM

The Pistons are looking like champs again

Richard Frea

With the addition of Chris Webber, it looks like the Pistons are in a good position to go deep into the playoffs again this year.

Last year the Pistons had the best record going into the playoffs and lost, while Miami barely scraped into the playoffs and won it all. One of the main reasons Miami won was because they didn’t worry so much during the regular season if they lost a game here and there, and were more interested in resting there starters, preparing them for the playoffs.

The big mistake Flip made last year was that during the regular season he used only the five All Star starters nearly every game. Sure he won tons during the regular season, but come playoff time, and playing against all the best teams, those guys quickly got tired -- and ultimately got beat.

Flip Saunders seems to have realized this, and has been resting his players this year. Plus, he’s been using his bench a lot more, creating depth that will definitely be needed in the playoffs.

Dallas and Phoenix can battle it out all they want for the best record, but that record doesn’t mean a whole hell of a lot come playoff time, especially now-a-days when the regular season schedule is so imbalanced.

What do you think?

2/25/2007 9:42:11 PM

Richard Frea

Well, Dallas and Phoenix did end up challenging each other for the best record, and now they are both out of the playoffs.

The Pistons are now 2-0 over the Cavs, and the Spurs are 2-0 over the Jazz. Looks like we will have a Spurs-Pisons Championship rematch.

With the unballanced schedules and a salary cap, having the best record during the regular season no longer guarantees success in the playoffs.

The Pistons-Cavs, Spurs-Jaz have make me look like a good NBA analyst -- at least this one time.

While I consider myself a Piston fan, I predict the Spurs again in 7.

5/25/2007 1:29:37 AM

Richard Frea

Now Chanucy is miraculously healthy, and Hammilton is conveniently on the DL. Sheed gets another penalty and misses another game. It’s looking like the team will be well prepared for the playoffs.

3/26/2007 5:41:04 PM

Richard Frea

To go along with what I wrote above, Chauncy Billips is conveniently injured right now. He should be well rested for the playoffs.

3/21/2007 11:34:57 AM

Tony Bottrell

All I know is that they’re finaly fun to watch again. That stretch when they were starting Muhammad and Murray were brutal.

Oh thank heaven for Webber!

I wonder if Dumars knew this would happen all along, and that’s why he signed such a poor replacement to Ben in the first place....hmmmmmm

2/26/2007 11:38:41 PM

The Pistons are looking like champs again

Richard Frea

With the addition of Chris Webber, it looks like the Pistons are in a good position to go deep into the playoffs again this year. Last year the Pistons had the best record going into the playoffs and lost, while Miami barely scraped into the playoffs and won it all. One of the main reasons Miami won was because they didn’t worry so much during the regular season if they lost a game here and there, and were more interested in resting there starters, preparing them for the playoffs. The big mistake Flip made last year was that during the regular season he used only the five All Star starters nearly every game. Sure he won tons during the regular season, but come playoff time, and playing against all the best teams, those guys quickly got tired -- and ultimately got beat. Flip Saunders seems to have realized this, and has been resting his players this year. Plus, he’s been using his bench a lot more, creating depth that will definitely be needed in the playoffs. Dallas and Phoenix can battle it out all they want for the best record, but that record doesn’t mean a whole hell of a lot come playoff time, especially now-a-days when the regular season schedule is so imbalanced. What do you think?

2/25/2007 9:41:09 PM

IF ONLY (paulettea)

paulette stewart

IF ONLY IF ONLY, TIME COULD BE TURNED BACK, If only, we met another time, another place, If only, we were what we are now, then, If only are the words of REGRET. Dreams conceived in youth, Blazing passion, Idealism,Understanding, Perception, Tunnel with a glimmer of light, Seeing only in part, Following our naive hearts, Age is the season of winter, Summer has passed. Do we change time? Make the most of today, Learning, enjoying now, Do we live with decisions? Made in bliss Gods kisses fell on youth, Do we make the path anew?WherT Receded,faded dreams, Passion, Idealism an ember, Understanding dormant hidden, Deep in soil, a bulb of ages ’ heart, Perception the winter rains. Winter is cold, long, wearying, Winds blasts blows wind of life changes, Snow covers, deadens life’s passion, Conceived dreams in youth, Oblique, Once in Summers youth, Shone, crystal, crisp, Fireworks in the starry night, Lighting the dark, Life. Where were you when I was aflame in Passion? Where were you when i Dreamed of a Passion? A tidal wave, shaking my soul, Earthquake ripping my mediocrity apart, Tornado making the normal null in void, Another time, another person, A lifetime ago, If Only are the words of regret.

7/9/2006 1:25:58 AM

Tough Times

Joey Kramer

I’ve had a rough couple months. Appears that a lot of you have been there often. Thought it would be funny if you chimed in and challenged eachother to who’s got it the roughest.

6/20/2006 10:07:46 PM

Tony Bottrell

I just parked in Birmingham to study at a coffee shop and I have to run out every 50 minutes to put more money in the meter.......

OK Dave, I think you win.

7/3/2006 3:10:14 PM

David London

Well, Joey, how about this. My lily-white, caucasion sister keeps complaining about being pulled over for being "black" and my mom is still smoking after the docs cut the cancer from her kidney that they only found because of an MRI after she got in a Harley, yes as in Harley-Davidson, accident when an old lady pulled out in front of her chopper, all this while I’m working two jobs to pay for daycare for my son who’s grandma/babysitter just broke her hip while dancing the twist at a wedding and now that he’s in daycare, he’s contracted every disease known to man (it seems) and he’s pushing 104.5 temperature, and the one thing I wanted to do to blow of steam was go to a Nine Inch Nails concert but my former-lesbian, ex-addict sister (the nice one) didn’t show up on Sunday and I thought she was dead in her house in Detroit and I couldn’t even call because both of her phones were shut off and I just had to wonder if it was going to end like my friend Tim who was found dead in the closet of a crackhouse covered in gasoline with a noose around his neck, but apparently had died from an overdose. Oh, and did I mention the US Army wanted to Court Martial me because they thought I was gay because once, and only once, I sat on the same couch as another guy in Kentucky and down there, that’s obviously all the evidence you need to prove gayness. Oh yeah, and a cult leader/crackhead from Detroit wants me and my family dead for breaking out my kidnapped sister and niece from his gun and drug filled compound. Who’s next?

6/30/2006 12:29:37 PM

What if it’s not your God?

David London

There’s a question about belief that has bugged me for a long time. It goes like this:

What if you found out, with absolute certainty, that there was a God, an Almighty Creator, Divine Architect?

Now, what if it isn’t your God? What if it’s someone else’s God? Vishnu, Shiva, Allah, the Flying Spaghetti Monster. What if you could prove there is a God, but it’s not yours and the God you believed in doesn’t exist? What would you do?

Seriously, I’m dying to know this one, cuz I can’t answer it myself. It’s always intrigued me. Would you drop all your deeply held beliefs and go worship the real one? Would you deny it, knowing your lying to yourself? Would you tell others? What would you do?

5/19/2006 12:01:04 AM

paulette stewart

I am sorry this is a tardy but I just wanted to make a small comment regarding your thoughts David on morals where they come from and also a little comment on another article regarding God. Firstly in regard to morals I think there are several things that form a persons moral code, one being upbringing, along with life experiences which partly form our belief system plus I believe we all have a inate conscience and we are born with this we automatically know what is good or bad. Now this conscience is heightened or dampened by what we end up believing and doing. If for e.g. a person who continues to murder he will finally become someone with no conscience as he with time deadens that inner voice of right and wrong to where it becomes normal and natural to murder he feels no remorse. I also believe personality comes into this also. I agree with you David no one is good. I think we are all capable if circumstances of doing great evil and equally we are all capable of doing something noble. Paulettea.

7/9/2006 1:20:43 AM

David London

Well, Ken, that leads to yet another debate: if God exists and created Man and handed down a bunch of rules, can there be moral and ethics apart from God? If you truly believed that God is good and all loving, but then he asked you to do something you KNOW is wrong, well, what then? Does that A) mean he’s not good and loving, or B)that our morals and ethics derive from something deeper (like perhaps a half million years of social interaction), or C) that it doesn’t matter what the hell we think, cuz what god says is what goes and if we gots to hate them queers, then dad’gum, weez gonna hate em?

The most interesting test of this comes from the story of Abraham. Remember when God tells him to kill his son, for no apparent reason other than to prove his unquestioning faith (he did that alot back then), but then sent his angel to stop Abraham. What if he didn’t send that angel? What if the angel got stuck in traffic or hung up on a tree somewhere? If Abraham slit his sons throat to prove a point to God, would that be okay? Is that cool with every one? If not, and God order a hit like an angry gangster, then murder should be okay. According to the bible, murder’s only bad cuz God says so. If he now says it’s okay, then it’s okay, right? No? If it’s not alright, that means we have morals and ethics beyond what God says and they must predate him telling us, huh? The case is that we’ve had those Commandment as a people longer than we’ve worshipped this particular god (just read early Sumerian and Egyptian social rules). So, if we had all these rules to govern us as a people and have had them for about a half million years or so, what did the bible add that we didn’t have before?

Fear?

6/4/2006 9:38:44 PM

Ken LaFleur

To your original question, I’m an agnostic. My deeply held beliefs are that god is bigger than any one religion, and that no religion has it right. If I knew for absolute certainty that one particular religion had it right... I guess it would depend on which religion we’re talking about here. The Jews view god as more of a partner and someone they can argue with. The christians... well... that even depends on WHICH christians. They range from more of the Jewish model, all the way over to the hellfire spitting vengeance god. The hindus... they got more than one ;) What would that God ask of me? I guess it would depend on that. My deepest spiritual beliefs are humanistic. I believe in the inherent dignity and worth and respect for all living beings. I wouldn’t follow any god that would want me to turn my back on that basic moral concept. For instance... if God told me homosexuality is a sin and that I needed to campaign against it, i’d tell God to go fuck himself ;)

5/26/2006 9:14:55 AM

Joey Kramer

nobody is going to hell.

5/23/2006 12:40:03 PM

Samantha Groom

"I think those people would be fine. I think those who use God to further their own greedy, selfish ends would be fucked."

David, I absolutely agree, which led me to believe if people never really found out the truth, I doubt it would change that much of what’s already going on. The do gooders would continue to do good and the others, welll...the really vindictive part of me is near gleeful at the thought of the fundamentalists and the looks on their faces when they found out what was going on.

5/20/2006 8:19:12 PM

David London

Personally, I don’t think our morals and ethics come from religion anyway. Religion just happened to be a convenient vehicle for getting people to comply. If you want evidence, just look at those things that all different cultures and religions come up with that are the same, throw out the dogma and myth, and you have the basis for human cohabitation: Be good and just, treat others as we wish to be treated, don’t kill, don’t take what’s not yours, look out for each other, and if at all possible, don’t eat each other. If a group of kids were dropped on an island, chances are they’d come up with all of that in a generation or two. No gods. No saints. Just logically rules for living together.

People aren’t good because some invisible man says so. Those people who are good in the name of god would be good either way, even if they’d never heard of god. Just cuz they believe they’re doing it to please an invisible man doesn’t make them any less good in my eyes. I think those people would be fine. I think those who use God to further their own greedy, selfish ends would be fucked.

5/20/2006 4:11:24 PM

Samantha Groom

Well, for some, God is a non-caring apathetic thing that did just that; flung a wad of life matter out there and went back to his vacation like any student that wrote the paper just to get the assignment completed, not giving a swat for quality or grade. Not that I would, ahem, know what that’s like, I’m just saying...

OK, good question. If God is just an apathetic, wife beater wearing pothead, then one could argue what’s the point of stressing about what happens after you die? And why even bother paying homage? And wouldn’t the atheists be all, "See! We kinda told you so!"

There’s always a chain of command. Could you file a grievance with one of the saints or apostles or something? Could God be relieved for cause? I’ve always had visions since I was a child of "Heaven" really just being one big board room where all the world’s various deities are in an eternal meeting, constantly making decisions about how the world is going to be run. This particular quandry sounds dangerous. They’ve just run out of coffee and the donuts are stale. Heaven help us indeed.

But I’m the only one who knows, huh? Well, chances are, I think, that if I tried to announce it to the world, I’d just be locked up or shot like the rest of the loonies. However, I’m not sure that there would really be any harm in letting people just go about their ways and lives. People do a lot of dreadful things in the name of God and one could think we would then have a better platform from which to say, "Look! He doesn’t care, OK? So just go home and have some tea, for chrissake!" But I wonder what effect it would have on the folks out there who do tremendous amounts of good, in or out of the name of God. Would they be do disheartened that they would stop, having lost all faith and simply despair? Or would they continue their good works because the human side of them that had developed and grown into the idea of compassion that they were standards of legitimate, pure light that couldn’t be dampened no matter what or who was listening? I think of someone like the Dalai Lama and imagine him just smiling, shrugging his shoulders and saying, "Well, nevermind. The compassionate heart is a thing we can still nurture and teach." And he would go back to his tea as well.

Must be thought on some more. What do you think?

5/20/2006 3:03:35 PM

David London

Alright Sam, try this one on. You’re the only one who knows. You can ask all the questions you want, but IT doesn’t answer, at least not directly. You may as well not be there. You see, what if you found out that the actual god, creator, watchmaker, whatever, was completely and utterly apathetic to IT’S creations? What if, once created, IT’S elaborate contraptions were set off spinning through the universe and IT never gave them a second thought?

One of the inherent beliefs of every single religion is that their god cares. Everyone believes their god is listening. Many believe that their god drops what he’s doing and runs around following up on every piddly little request one can spit toward the heavens. But what if you and only you knew that the creator was real, that all others weren’t, and that one out there was simply and utterly uninterested in a small, frail, bipedal simian species on a far-flung rock in a nondescript section of a boring galaxy? What then?

5/20/2006 1:44:35 PM

Samantha Groom

Oh, what I think I was getting at before my train got derailed was something along the lines of this one God-ish Being proving that he/she/it is indeed worthy to worship. I have family members, but I don’t necessarily like them all. If this Godly being made us, that doesn’t necessarily imply inherent loyalty. And I’m not even talking as a person who’s had terribly tragedy befall me where I’ve shaken my fists at the sky and screamed, "Whyyy!" I imagine those folks would have a few things to say to this God let alone their loyalty issues. It’s the age old question (Goodfellas, I think); is it better to be respected or feared? Is this God going to be a big, scarey clown-face God or is he going to be like Ted Nugent; passionate, life loving, but steadfast in the rules of nature and have long shaggy hair and a gun collection for some occasional doling out of Divine Justice? Would I want a God who’s a tyrant or more like a strict, but ultimately loving parent? I can’t answer this question either, really. But, oh, the possibilities.

5/20/2006 12:40:56 AM

Samantha Groom

First few initial responses:

1. If Mr./Mrs. Almighty has finally decided to come out of the closet, one must ask a few questions. (I’m going to assume that one would be allowed to do so, seeing as how this Divine Figure has opened up the options of choice - and just because I want to.) Why now? Why here? And what the fuck have you been doing that last few bizillion years?

2. The same thing that made me question my drill sergeants comes up. "OK, little Mr./Mrs. ’Ooo! Look at me! I’m God!’ No, no, no, you don’t get to give me that choice, OK? See, you, YOU my friend have a lot of explaining to do. Now, stop, don’t even give me the ’I’m the supreme being and above all of your mortal questioning. I have a reason and plan for everything’ bullshit because if you do, you need to spill it, alright? There’s a lot of shit gone down since you easy baked this ball of clay and I think a tad bit of accountability is in order."

3. I also imagine that if this God-thing does make Its Holy Self known, (and I’m going SciFi on this one, watch out), then there must be a weakness! Is this God like the Jabberwocky or like David Bowie in "Labyrinth" or the commercial mascots that destroyed Springfield on "The Simpsons?" What if (and how neatly does this tie into our little chat on belief?) we just turned our collective back and stopped believing in this being, that being, or any being? Would hell be rained down upon us just out of spite or because there are going to be those who will refuse to believe solid proof no matter what and they’ll perish anyway? (I’m talking about the people who think that the Holocaust was a hoax and that we never really did land on the moon.) "Some men, you just can’t reach." See, you start off your chat with God by asking, "So, where’you from?" And you will either be told or smote in a rightgeous way.

More to ponder on. Good question again, David. Want to rant more, but thoughts are starting to get scattered. There’s just too much to imagine! I can think of loads of things for this situation. How about a Holy Tribunal where God is held accountable (or at the very least, forced to answer all questions under oath...to whom can be figured out later). Good, fun things to think about...

5/20/2006 12:29:18 AM

David London

Let’s make it interesting. The God you now know exists is the real one and yours was made up. And now this new God says to you, "You’ve been fooled all this time. I’m the one true God. Do you take me as your God and live for eternity in a heaven-like place, or do you deny me a burn forever in a pit of fire?" It’s your choice. Do you give up all your beliefs, abandon your God you’ve always believed in, and avoid an eternity of torture? Or do you deny the new one, cling to your old one, and accept your afterlife in hell?

5/19/2006 12:06:57 AM

What Do You Believe?

David London

I found a book with the title of "What Do You Believe But Cannot Prove?" and it made me think for a moment about about belief. I’ve long said faith is that which sustains us in the absence of evidence. Belief in something you can’t prove is faith in your own ideas over those of others. So, what is it that you believe, but can’t prove? Magic, tarot, talking to the dead? Flying angels with fluffy wings who do nice things for undeserving people? Big Foot? The Electoral College? Big Bang or black holes? What is it that you believe in, but couldn’t prove to a rational non-believer? Not why, but what. Tell me.

5/4/2006 7:12:16 AM

Ken LaFleur

I agree with you 100%, David. I was speaking more in a general sense. Of course any kind of dogma or viewpoint if taken to extremes can be very harmful. Thus why I spoke of realizing that we are all in the same boat, and that no one has the "real" answer of who or what God is... we just have our best guess and our faith. Although I don’t know if it is true that "most people" use their belief as a justification that they are better than others. At least not any more than they might use, say, wealth, intelligence, or fashion, or any number of things to elevate themselves above their fellows. I daresay that, paradoxically, there are even people that use their open-mindedness and sense of themselves as being accepting of others as justification that they are better than others who do not have that same mentality. :)

5/12/2006 12:09:44 PM

David London

I cannot stress this one point enough, Ken. Belief in some higher purpose or divine being is wonderful for helping pass on cultural values and it’s a great way to cope with the seemingly random and chaotic nature of life. That said, I disagree with the "nothing to lose, everything to gain" quote. Especially given our documented past. If it were just a grandma and her hymnals or a missionary working in Africa, I’d agree. The problem is that, historically, that very belief, the belief in "MY" god, not just "A" god, is what has lead to hatred, fear, racism, slavery, torture, and war. At its core, belief in a specific god implies rightness on your part and apparent wrongness on the part of others. If everyone were right too, then there’s no objective truth, only vague hippy platitudes about harmony and brotherhood. If your god is the one, then mine must not be the one. Throughout human history, this has been the launching pad for all those nasty, brutish things we loath today. The root of all racism is the belief that the "other" is less than us, less than human, for they’re different, just look at them, they worship a fake god, not like MY god. MY god told us that WE are the chosen ones, not them. See? Almost all of the major human rights violations in our past stem from that kind of thinking. Look at 9/11. They thought THEIR god was right and ours was fake and theirs would reward them. Same with the Crusades, and Iraq for that matter if Bob Woodward is to be believed.

Belief is fine if it guides you toward a life of compassion and understanding. The problem is, that’s the minority. Most people use that belief as a justification for believing that THEY are better than THOSE people. Cuz their god says so.

5/10/2006 10:11:15 PM

Ken LaFleur

IMHO i think the best we can aspire to in our religious beliefs is a synthesis between faith, critical thinking skills, and common sense. As a man of science myself, and one who understands quite well the importance and limitations of scientific methods; I have struggled at times with my religious and spiritual beliefs. IMHO, one can cling to Atheism and science as a religion in itself, and thus blindly ignore the importance of things that can not be quantified by science... namely... human emotions, and conscious thought. I do think it important that whatever your religious inclinations, be it Atheism (well.. lack thereof in that case), Christianity, Buddhism, etc.; the important thing is to realize that we’re all in the same boat: we’re all just guessing at the true nature of things and guessing in a way that makes sense to us based upon our experiences. What is that quote? I’m going to mangle it, but it’s something like, "Realizing your ignorance is the first step towards true knowledge".

David is right, whether religion ultimately is true or not, it is very beneficial. From a pragmatic standpoint, you stand nothing to lose by belief and everything to gain... so long as you retain your critical thinking skills and realize that ultimately we humans are responsible for our own actions.

5/10/2006 12:06:09 PM

David London

Samantha, you’re absolutely correct. As a matter of fact, recently published white papers on neuroscience suggest that belief in some higher being or purpose may actually be ingrained into the human brain. They suggest that it’s a surprising, but pervasive byproduct of our ability to process abstract concepts and thoughts.

Every group of people throughout our history has believed in some higher power greater than themselves, and recently (as in within the past 4000 to 8000 years, that power is invisible, humanoid, and likes to meddle in the affairs of humans. I always thought that part was a cop out, since it’s just so easy to dismiss anything you can’t explain by saying "oh well, the invisible guy in the clouds musta done that."

I don’t think we can NOT believe in something like a god or diety. So long as those beliefs are benign, then nothings wrong with it. It’s when one person’s belief in an invisible cloud man culminates in the killing, torture, or subjugation of a person who believes in another invisible cloud man that it becomes a problem. Belief is fine. It’s often healthy. It’s inescapable. What is not healthy is the belief that I’m right cuz my invisible man says so (invisibly and without evidence) and you’re wrong and your invisible man doesn’t even exist and I’m better and more deserving than you cuz my invisible man says so and he told someone thousands of years ago and they wrote it down in this poorly translated book. Take a look! It’s all in there. It’s obvious your wrong, so don’t fight it. The invisible man is all powerful and will smite your ass if you disagree with me.

5/9/2006 11:10:09 PM

Samantha Groom

Not to sound all coffee house deep, but I think I would also have to say that I believe in belief. What I mean is, I believe that everyone believes, nay, must believein something. It might be the obvious; God, Science, elves, Han fired first, the snow leopard, etc. or it could be something a little less tangible like believing that all men are inherently good or evil.

If we think about the structure of belief, maybe we can start with myth, the story that someone, at some point in history, devised as a means of explaining an event or an existence. This kinda ties into your belief in inherent creativity, David. Somewhere a story began as a means of explaining why there are thunderstorms, why there are volcanoes, why the sun goes away and comes back, why the moon and stars can’t just sit still for a damn minute. And so was born years and dynasties and empires built on the belief that these myths helped create. Then another explanation came along and so some people changed their minds because maybe that idea made more sense. Others stuck with their first decision. Not a problem (well, theoretically, anyway, don’t even break out the history books). Anyway, no matter how things kept changing, the one constant was belief. Sometimes it was forced upon people, sometimes not, but they all believed in something.

I just believe that no matter how empty life gets, whether you’re in the middle of a divorce, just lost a loved one, or are being held by terrorists, that on some level there is an amount of belief in

something.

I have to believe that, otherwise, I believe I would despair.

5/8/2006 12:18:11 AM

Ken LaFleur

I agree with you Sam. I think Fate provides you with opportunities, (whatever your views on what ’fate’ is... be it a higher power, or mere chance and the ability to see it), but we must seize those opportunities and make use of them.

I might be considered a "fence-sitter" in the respect that I believe strongly in faith and spirituality, but also equally strongly in sound science and critical thinking. True faith, I think, is knowing full well that what you believe may be wrong (ie existance of God), but trusting in yourself and the universe enough to believe anyway.

5/7/2006 8:45:35 PM

Samantha Groom

I believe in a combination of Fate and being captain of your own destiny. I may sound like a fence sitter, but it has been my experience that all the praying, all the spell-working, all the focusing and meditating and energy directing isn’t going to do a thing for you if you don’t take some affirmative steps on your own. I’ve just gone through a rough period of poorly-paid work and unemployment. Did I pray to the gods to help me out? Sure. But does that mean I didn’t drag my arse out of bed and fill out applications or send out my resume until I was blue in the face? Not just no, but hell no. I guess you could say I’m a firm believer in the old adage that, "God helps those who help themselves." With enough faith and hard work, I believe you can get what you want and need. It may not be immediately, but it will come. I can’t prove it for you, but I have proof enough for myself. Does that count?

Karma rules.

5/7/2006 1:44:39 PM

Joey Kramer

i’ll tell you what i don’t believe in. relgion. it is the STUPIDEST thing ever convieved, and has made a fool out of BILLIONS!!!! if you’re ten and still believe in santa clause, you get made fun of. if you’re 50 and believe in spirits...you’re respected. that is some funny, twisted shit. religion is so dumb.

5/4/2006 11:28:29 PM

Ken LaFleur

I believe in love, baby. I believe in some form of some kind of higher power. I believe in reincarnation. I think that we’re here on this earth "being but for a little while in spite of our best overseeing" in order to learn our lessons and take it to the next life. i believe it’s past my bedtime... peraps i’ll write a little more later. I believe I shall.

5/4/2006 10:09:22 PM

David London

Personally, I believe that creativity is ingrained in the human psyche. I believe that somehow we have the need to create built in to our gray matter. Every culture in human history, no matter how small, has produced song, dance, art, music, instruments, jewelry, comedy, stories of love and heroes, and poetry of some kind. I believe that the things that transcend boundaries and time are, but their very nature, ingrained in humans and are a basic a need as food and water and shelter. Of course, I can’t prove that, but this site wouldn’t be here were it not true.

5/4/2006 9:02:24 AM

The Uknown (Dedicated to my dear friend Lyn Henderson)

paulette stewart

Look into my eyes, Do you see unexplored depths? Frightening...... aren’t I........ in my infinity, power, passion, moods? Run from me, hide, play if safe, danger lurks....... Unknown life flows through my veins, Today I am serenity, Bathe, soak, Play with me on my surface, Let me tickle, brush your toes. Tomorrow........ I’m raging, thrashing crashing, swamping, overpowering, Now you watch while I am in pain, Or hide from me, Play it safe, Talk of surface things. My eyes display my moods, Sometimes Grey. sometimes blue. The stin........ murky shadows, Tangled webs, Uninvited visitors I delight, Yet cause fear........ ****for those shadows are mystery, danger, even death could be my fate. Fling them for all to see, admire, enjoy, Carnage, pain, I also spread. Simplicity you cry out, please simplicity, Let me take my ease, No pain, no searching, Sometimes connecting, sometimes distancing. Complexity I am as well as simplicity, Accept as I am, I cannot be what I wasn’t created for, Only a greater power can change my destiny. Who am I you ask? I AM THE SEA. I read once in a book where a person said this, Why am I afraid to tell you who I am? "Because you mighten like who I am." I think the hardest yet most rewarding, freeing, intimate thing is to be transparent.

4/24/2006 1:42:58 AM

Tony’s new job

Dan Wrzesinski

By the way, Tony. I know you’re going to do just fine. The guys who promoted you wouldn’t have done so if they didn’t think you were capable. Ever notice how every new job you start you find yourself wondering, "how the hell am I going to get used to this?" But over time, you usually do. And you may even find yourself thinking, "How on earth did I ever think I couldn’t learn to do this." You’ll be fine, bro. But good luck anayway!

4/18/2006 7:29:01 PM

Dan Wrzesinski

EeerrrR! I meant Blog! BLOG!! Not blod. Or, wait....maybe I did mean blod. Hmmm....

4/18/2006 7:25:07 PM

See Dave London’s "A Primer on the 21 Century War"

Dan Wrzesinski

I tried to blod a response to Dave’s question, but it wouldn’t post. See Dave’s recent article’s comments. Please...

4/18/2006 7:23:33 PM

Tony’s New Job

Tony Bottrell

I start a new position next Monday. I’m starting to freak out. I’ve been working the same type of job for seven years (making web sites such as this baby). The change is on my own terms. Why would I do this? I have no freakin clue. I’ll keep you up to date here whether or not this was the stupidest decision of my life. In the meantime, Feel free to tell me everything will be OK.

4/17/2006 9:39:13 PM

paulette stewart

Tony Hi! I think the old saying is true, A change is as good as a rest. I wish you all the success in your new job, glean all your can, and enjoy your fresh green yummy pastures. Paulettea.

4/24/2006 1:37:23 AM

The Coming War

David London

Alright, I know I tend to lean toward politics a lot, but this one is warranted. Whether you believe me or not, the US is going to invade the nation of Iran here pretty soon and pretty depressed about it. The warnings are going out and no one in the press is connecting the dots. It’s painfully clear to those who look at the arc of history and then just draw that line out one more notch.

So, here’s my question: Just how far down the road to American Empire do we have to march before everybody gets pissed and gets up off their couch and does something about it. Seriously, how many damn countries can we invade before the citizens of this nation take action? 3? 5? 10? How many innocent civilians have to die before we give a flying shit? 100,000? Oops...we past that one last year. How about a quarter million? How about a cool mil? I’m being completely honest here. How many dead before we get upset about any of this? Anyone care to answer?

4/6/2006 11:09:44 PM

David London

There’s no way to sum up American foreign policy in a blog, nor will the minutia of neo-liberal economics make for good reading here, but I’ll try a really quick summary here. None of this is made up and if I had time, I’d provide links to the individual stories: Within 10 days of taking office, George Bush and his Cabinet laid out plans to invade Iraq and take out our one-time friend and arms-deal recipient, Saddam. The argument for invading Iraq extends back to fall of communism in the early 90’s. Without an arch-enemy, a laid out a strategy that would cement US hegemony in the world after the Cold War. They specifically stated that we, as the sole remaining superpower, let this chance slip away, or we could use all means necessary to institue US global hegemony. They called it Pax Americana, after the Pax Romana declared by the Roman Empire. Pax Romana, essentially, is world peace through absolute Roman rule.

For some reason (I wasn’t invited to their meetings), they chose Iraq as the first target of this imperial grand strategy, and it was chosen far before the 2001 terrorist attacks happened. The attacks were an assault on a great many things American, but the response (after toppling the Taliban) was a canned reaction that had been planned for a long time. The Office of Special Plans was created within the Pentagon to focus solely on Iraq war planning and the large-scale propaganda campaign that would be needed to convince the American public to go along with an illegal, unprovoked invasion of another country. Obviously, it worked, albeit only on half of the American public, and none of the rest of the world. If you believe that a country is made up of people and not simply the sitting government, then not a single country on Earth backed in the invasion of Iraq. The so-called coalition of the willing was made up of countries whose own people railed against the idea, but the governments backed the US anyway. The Iraq War is the only war in history that was protested BEFORE it started. That’s how much anger there was over the idea.

Now the root of the problem is obvious. The entire world, barring the few remaining indigenous tribes, relies entirely on the liquified remains of long dead organic material. The last remaining large oil reserves on the planet that aren’t buried under tundra are all in the Middle East. After the US reached peak oil production in the early 70s, the oil cartels looked for other sources. Namely, the Bush family, their friends, and their close, close allies, the Imperial Saud family (for whom Saudi Arabia is named after). The problem with that arrangement is that the two most holy sites in all of Islam are Mecca and Medina and both are in the currently US occupied nation of Saudi Arabia. Our troops were built up there in 1991 during the Gulf War and permanent military bases were built to protect our assets (oil). On 9/11/01, mostly Saudi radicals flew planes into our buildings, thereby starting the clock on a large-scale pullout from Saudi land. But, we still need bases in the region to secure our most crucial resource, so the next best place is Iraq.

So, just in case someone out there thinks the whole oil connection is a farce, let me pose this. There are, at present consumption levels, only about 30-40 years left of usable oil left on the planet. That’s not taking into account India and China that are coming online as full-scale consumer cultures. If those countries make the gains they’ve been making, it’ll be more like 15-20 years of oil. Oil is the central pivot point of all the world’s economies at the present. It’s not just cars. It’s the trucks that deliver goods, the vehicles that deliver needed services, the planes that fly business travellers around, the ambulances, the firetrucks, the giant ships that get you your cheap WalMart goods, the ships that bring you food from other countries...everything. Looking ahead, as that oil dwindles in the next few decades, who will get it? That answer is easy. The ones with the biggest guns. When it comes down to it, we will and are using our military might to secure our most needed asset. We don’t want to steal the oil, we just want to buy it all for ourselves and deny others access to it when it becomes scarce. It all comes back to oil and our ability to project our power around the world. Those two are intrinsically linked and are currently and beautifully embodied in our Commander In Chief. A blue-blood, rich oil man with deep ties to the military-industrial complex and foreign oil producers and a penchant for invading other countries without provocation.

4/16/2006 10:54:53 AM

Samantha Groom

If it means anything to you, I was worried about this situation in a bad way from day one. On September 11, I said to myself and anyone within hearing distance, that this whole thing was going to turn into a desert camoflage version of Vietnam. We can’t tell our "enemy" apart from our "ally" because where we are fighting, the bad guys don’t do us the favor of wearing a different color uniform and staying out on the open battlefield where we can see them. The police action in Vietnam lasted ten years. The Iraq "war" is now pushing six years. I’m nervous, quite scared, actually. I’m not scared about being asked to my uniform on again, but I’m done with seeing the people I worked with and had cook-outs with and shared laughs with talking about being fired at like it’s nothing bigger than a car splashing mud on your new shoes. I feel like Alan Alda on all those years of MASH when I see kids with limbs missing that looked like they lied about their age to get in the Army.

I love history. I especially love the ancient history that stems from the part of the world that holds the key to our development as a civilization. I mean, these people invented math and writing. So, I’m terribly sad to think of a record of history that is being destroyed because it seems that no one can see beyond their differences.

The tribes and various ethnic groups that are doing all of the in-fighting and making the set up of a new government are still arguing and holding grudges over disagreements that were started before the time of Christ. I have always doubted that some little 226-ish year old country is going to have the credibility to go in there and say, "Alright, everybody. Chill. Just do it like this and it works, see?"

Empires come and go. Just ask China. Is the world any better off for it? I don’t know. What’s the answer? I don’t know that, either. I just want my friends out of harm’s way. Am I upset? Absolutely. I will say that I’m grateful to the retired generals who are now speaking out because under the yoke of military service they were forced to remain silent and loyal to the President. I think something is happeneing, David. I sincerely do. I don’t think the American people will be put up with it for much longer.

4/15/2006 8:48:18 AM

paulette stewart

Hi! In answer to your excellent question David, these are my thoughts. I think when the U.S.A ignored the United Nations and decided to go ahead and attack Iraq, they made a decision that said several things, 1. We are a law unto ourselves, that we are the Saviours to the world, that we are the only nation that cares. In doing so they put themselves out of contact with nations that do care, and maybe had some answers to if it was truely about initially they claimed the reason for attacking Iraq was to stop terorism with time could have worked. They also become a lone vigilante nation in doing so set an example to all other nations if you dont like something or think our way we can do what we like so in other words they became similar to the nation they were condemning. I think the U.S.A heart basically is good but I feel its proud, and has set a nation on a course which will take people with great courage to admit they were wrong and stop. Now this is just my thoughts and your are very welcome to disagree on them. Paulettea.

4/13/2006 1:43:50 AM

Tony Bottrell

I sure am starting to question things, second guessing if we need to be in Iraq, wondering, in hindsight, whether we should have gone in...yes, I worry about that. Whenever a ONE life is loss in war, you can’t help but worry about whether we are doing the right thing.

Unfortunately I’m too uneducated to know. My opinions are mostly based on word of mouth, which gets twisted ten times before it gets to me sometimes.

But to answer your question, I am starting to get off the couch and worry.

4/7/2006 1:54:24 PM

Risky Business

David London

There’s a risk in doing anything nowadays. You take risks getting up and going to work, flying on planes, assuming your job is secure. We take risks as part of our daily life. It’s easier when you’re single and young and your actions only effect you. But what about when you get older, and get married, and have kids. Those risks get harder to take. So, what do you do when faced with a big risk that could pay off huge, but on the other hand, you have a wife and a kid and a house and cats and a mortgage? Do you do what’s safe? Stay the course? Never move outside your comfortzone? Or do you leap, take that risk, come what may, and bet it all? What do you do?

3/16/2006 1:29:19 PM

Tony Bottrell

Dave, I just took a risk.

4/4/2006 1:20:08 PM

Gautam Goswami

I take a ’Calculated Risk’ ! As the saying goes ’When the going gets tough, the tough get going’. So for that period of transition, from what you were before the leap, and what you are after it, you have to step out of your comfort zone. Without taking a risk, you have to be real lucky to taste success.

3/31/2006 7:06:24 AM

If Only (Paulettea)

paulette stewart

IF ONLY, TIME COULD BE TURNED BACK, If only, we met another time, another place, If only, we were what we are now, then, If only are the words of REGRET. Dreams conceived in youth, Blazing passion, Idealism,Understanding, Perception, Tunnel with a glimmer of light, Seeing only in part, Following our naive hearts, Age is the season of winter, Summer has passed. Do we change time? Make the most of today, Learning, enjoying now, Do we live with decisions? Made in bliss God’s kisses fell on youth, Do we make the path anew? Receded,faded dreams, Passion, Idealism an ember, Understanding dormant hidden, Deep in soil, a bulb of ages ’ heart, Perception the winter rains. Winter is cold, long, wearying, Winds blasts blows wind of life changes, Snow covers, deadens life’s passion, Conceived dreams in youth, Oblique, Once in Summers youth, Shone, crystal, crisp, Fireworks in the starry night, Lighting the dark, Life. Where were you when I was aflame in Passion? Where were you when i Dreamed of a Passion? A tidal wave, shaking my soul, Earthquake ripping my mediocrity apart, Tornado making the normal null in void, Another time, another person, A lifetime ago, If Only are the words of regret.

2/28/2006 7:15:01 PM

Food For Thought

Tony Bottrell

Does American Really need a Fat Tuesday?

2/28/2006 8:48:27 AM

David London

Yes! What else would come between our Fat Monday and Fat Wednesday?! Then Fat Thursday, Fat Saturday, Fat Sunday would be lonely. Besides, it makes Drunken Friday feel better about itself.

3/1/2006 11:46:02 PM

Belief

David London

What do you believe in? Belief and Knowledge are two seperate things. You may KNOW that the sun comes up in the morning, but you can BELIEVE that it’s a god dragging it into the sky with a chariot. Things you can prove, you know. Things you can’t, but you still cling to, you believe in. Belief is necessary, since we can’t know everything, but of far is too far? Do you believe in UFOs? Aliens? ESP? Voodoo? Tarot readings? Neoliberal economics? Spreading democracy through military occupation? Bigfoot? God? Tell me what you believe. I mean REALLY believe in!

2/22/2006 11:20:48 PM

paulette stewart

A good question David. People use this word like the word love. We love apples and we love clothes when we really mean we enjoy those things immensely. I think beleif has two parts to it, firstly a mental accension to a idea, concept or philosophy. Secondly it then has the next part where it becomes a knowledge a reality that belief has become truth to the person concerned. If it doesn’t move onto the second stage its nothing more than a idea, a thought, a theory. Do we have to see something with our eyes to know its true.? No I don’t believe we do. I think we dont see the wind but we know its exists as we see its evidence at times in storms and we feel it on our skin. We know something beyond mind and sight, we know if someone likes us from the first moment sometimes when we meet someone. To be absent of belief is not to exist in my mind. For argument sake to say you dont believe in anything automatically means you have a belief unknowling or knowingly we all live out of our beliefs. Paulettea

2/27/2006 5:42:22 AM

Tony Bottrell

Sadly, I pretty much only believe in what I see. UFOs are fun to read about, but it doesn’t really make sense when you think about it. Ghosts fascinate me. I’d like to think they exists...well, ghosts are depicted as pretty damn miserable and desolate, so maybe I shoudn’t.

2/23/2006 12:01:01 AM

David London

I personally believe in internal energy, a vital lifeforce, chi, for the Kung Fu crowd. I believe we have more than 5 senses, but the others revolve around the perception of this energy and are not quite developed. I believe that, with practice, anyone can manipulate their own energy and use it for whatever purpose they so choose. I’ve practiced Chi Gong long enough to see shit that I just can’t explain, stuff I can’t know, but I sure can believe in!

2/22/2006 11:25:50 PM

Terrorism.

paulette stewart

TERRORISM. Seducing, compelling, emotive,fluctuating, flowing, laced cocktail of hypocrisy. Oracles of patriotism passionately spouted. Flags adorning tables, roofs of buildings cars, veranda’s of homes, A nation encompassed in patriotism, God Bless America. Grief a waterfall, Loss an infinity of stars, Anger tidal waves , beating of breasts, Cries for justice for the loss, pain, being kicked in the gut. Pride nests upon the shelf like dust, Rears her head hissing, Who do they think they are doing this to? The greatest power in the world. Eradicate varmints of evil, Beating of drums, War dances, cries begin, Terrorismmmmmmmmmm. (This came out of the evil thing of September 11th, we must never forget the horror and this event however we must not react out of hatred, or revenge we need to fight against terrorism in a wise way, or else we become like them.)

2/14/2006 7:03:44 AM

paulettea’s original works

paulette stewart

Welcome to all I pray that you will enjoy,be inspired and challenged. I am from South Island New Zealand aged 49 years old and married with two beautiful daughters 22 and 20. I am an Ordained Minister, Counselor,artist/ writer.

2/12/2006 7:50:54 AM

Joey Kramer

Waiting for your next entry, Paulette (:

2/13/2006 4:47:43 PM

David London

Glad to have you, Paulette! Minister, huh? I’ll be asking your opinion often then! Religion and faith seem to pop up a lot in my columns. I’m looking forward to a fresh perspective.

2/12/2006 11:16:54 PM

Tony Bottrell

We’re very excited to have someone outside the States on this site. Look forward to reading your columns.

2/12/2006 12:42:17 PM

If I had a thousand dollars

Tony Bottrell

If someone gave you a thousand dollars and said you had to spend it by the end of the day, what would you buy?

2/4/2006 11:43:19 AM

paulette stewart

Well its easy for myself this question, I would buy a ticklet to New York and for awhile soak the art world up. Paulettea

2/14/2006 7:00:08 PM

John Bottrell

I’d go on a cruise, and Tony can easily entertain my kids for $999.

2/10/2006 3:44:44 AM

Tony Bottrell

I’d definetly give some to the poor. Haven’t figured out what I’ll do with the other $999 though....maybe a piano and a basketball hoop.

2/7/2006 8:54:20 AM

Tony Bottrell

2/7/2006 8:51:10 AM

David London

I’d like to say I’d give it a homeless guy or donate it to the Red Cross, but I’d probably buy computer hardware or a guitar with it. And then I’d take my good friend Tony out for a beer!

2/4/2006 10:01:37 PM

Most embarrassing date ever

Tony Bottrell

Care to admit to your most embarrassing date experience ever? Most humiliating strikeout? Blind Date gone awry?

1/24/2006 1:42:52 PM

paulette stewart

Good question Tony. Well I guess this counts as a date, I was at my nephews 21st or something like this, and dancing with my date for the evening (Smiles my husband) and we will slow dancing to the music and all of a sudden I had this frightening feeling come over I realised my panties yes my panties elastic was lose and they were falling down onto the dance floor. They landed down on the floor round my delicate embarrassed ankles. Now my wonderful date saw this damsels plight he swoop4ed down like an eagle and picked them up putting them into his trouser pockets as we carried on dancing. Yes this is a true story. lol Paulettea

2/14/2006 6:57:53 PM

Jessica Barnes

I went on a blind/internet date and it ended up being another girl. Her name was Bobby.

2/1/2006 3:54:43 PM

David London

Never, ever take your new girlfriend with you to a wedding for someone she doesn’t know...and you just happen to be the videographer and an usher and are sitting at the head table and leave her with a table of drunken rednecks all night.

1/25/2006 11:04:13 AM

Alex Spawr

Well, I think it was funny, of course, but other people might have had the decency to be at least somewhat embarrassed. I, well, didn’t.

It was the first time I was dating my girlfriend (back in high school), we went to dinner for homecoming. It was a decently nice restaurant, and I got some sort of pasta with calamari on it. And it wasn’t just the ring kind; it had the little baby ones, too.

Well, back in the day, she was a vegetarian. I’ve always been a meatatarian. I forked one of those little baby ones and held it up and said something to the effect of "Hey! This used to be a live little baby squid! Cool!"

Yeah, the look on her face said it all. There was disgust and repulsion (when you look up redundant in the dictionary, it says see: redundant) all over it, and I was definitely trying to ice skate up hill after that.

Guess it all worked out, though. We broke up a month or so later.

1/24/2006 11:43:33 PM

Tony Bottrell

Mine would have to be my first date with the better half - when I put on the charm and walked her to the car and smoothly attempted to open the door for her...which was locked, as well as all other doors...with the key in the ignition...and with the lights on.
We spent our first valentines day together flagging down a cop to let us in.

1/24/2006 1:45:22 PM

So, why do you write?

David London

Obviously, you’re here because you write stuff. It’s a creative writing web site. But why do you write? What drives you? Why do it if only 5 people see it? Is it a compulsion? Catharsis? Creative release? Tell me why you write and why you started. I’m interested to know.

1/17/2006 1:05:20 PM

Aimee Bingham

Writing is so much a part of me, I write for the same reason I breathe I have to

4/8/2006 8:41:32 PM

paulette stewart

I guess for a few reasons. I think I can only speak for me, so my belief is that we are all creative there is a part within each of us due to the fact I believe we are made in the image or God who is a creative being, this creative part in us will be larger or smaller according to each individual. Thus we all have this inner need to express, create something. I as a child was a very imaginative, dreamy book worm sensitive type. My world of fantasy was safe and here I could be anything or anyone I wanted and the world was kind. I invented stories, amazing adventures with my dolls and acted them out with my younger sister. My mother fostered a deep love for beauty, arts and sent myself to ballet as I was mad over it here my perceptive teacher realised I was more suited to speech and drama and recommended the local teacher. For many years I trained in this and it formed a deep love for words, for poetry, for writing. For a long time after that I never wrote again as I went through years where I denied this wonderful part of who I was . I thought it wasn’t important and tried to live life without expressing this part of myself. However through circumstances in my life I was driven to examine my heart, my life, and out of desperation I wrote two small poems that changed my life till where here I am writing this. I write as I love it, its me, its a voice for those who cant speak for themselves its magic and beauty and there isn’t enough of that around.

2/14/2006 7:14:17 PM

John Bottrell

Likewise, I think people pine to not be forgetten once they have moved on from this world. Writing can help here too.

2/10/2006 4:03:36 AM

John Bottrell

I think most people long to leave a mark on the world, an indellible impression; and what better way than via writing.

2/10/2006 3:56:05 AM

Lauren Roseman

Why do I write? Gives me somewhere to escape to, a mental vacation minus the free cheap wine and peanuts. Sometimes the only sense you can accomplish are words on paper.

2/4/2006 8:48:08 PM

David London

You’re name is appropriate for someone who doesn’t exist, given the Phlogiston was the disproven, hypothetical element given off when burning a substance...and ether is an equally disproven, hypothetical substance thought to be the medium in which electromagnetic waves were disturbances. Then again, with the mounting evidence for dark matter in the universe, ether doesn’t sound so far fetched.

From a quantum physics angle, you don’t exist due to the elements that make up your body are always in flux and eternally disintegrating, not to mention the sub-atomic quirk matter winking into and out of this universal plane every nanosecond. On an existential angle, you don’t exist because you can’t prove that anything apart from your own self-awareness is "real" and therefore, you may or may not be part of your perceived universe. Apart from that, there’s no scientific method for disproving the non-existence of a thing, such as God. You’re not God, are you? If you ARE, I’ve got some questions about genetic variability and speciation with the genus level of certain organism. And what were you thinking with that platypus?!

1/20/2006 1:35:27 PM

Phlogistic Ether

I don’t write, because I don’t exist. And if you can tell me why I don’t exist, I’ll be impressed.

1/19/2006 7:12:30 PM

Joey Kramer

I have no idea. I guess I’m just a nerd.

1/19/2006 11:18:43 AM

David London

Ha ha! You should call your masterpiece "The Apple of Destiny" and then you can make up the rest and get on Oprah’s book club.

1/18/2006 9:25:47 AM

Tony Bottrell

funy you asked. I wus running like mad one day at the age of twelv and got so tired that I passsed out beneeth an apple tree. I was awoken wen an apple fell on my head and craked in two. When I openned the apple therre was a note and it sed that my stories wood save the world ssum day. So I naturally ran home and strted writing vigerisously.
As it would be, while I ran a way from that very tree, I saw zat the best story riter in my class was just about to sit down underneaeth that very tree.
I ofen wunder if that aple wus ment for him and knot me. I gues wel’l never no.....

1/17/2006 2:27:57 PM

John Bottrell

The #1 reason I write is because deep in the core of my right brain is this burning passion to spin a tale, and, in the process, perhaps share some of the knowledge I’ve obtained in this wonderful journey through life.

It doesn’t matter to me if anybody ever reads my work, for I’ve already reaped the greatest reward: listening to my 7-year-old son spin his own stories. I like to think I had something to do with that.

1/17/2006 1:54:20 PM

David London

Okay, I’ll go first. First and foremost, I write because I feel like I have something to say. It gives me a voice in this world where I may not have had one before. Ever wonder why blogging caught on so quick. It’s all about voice. Ever wonder why rockstars and movie actors mouth off when they’ve gotten big enough? The now have a voice. I think we all want to be heard, even if what we have to say is useless and irrelevant. Then again, if life is truly about the mundane and profane, then the little stuff IS what counts. So I write in hope that my words will ring true to someone else out there who may not feel they have a voice, who feels the same but can’t articulate it. If any good comes of it, all the better.

1/17/2006 1:09:18 PM

Kobi vs. James

Tony Bottrell

According to espn sportscenter and yahoo.com sports, there was a 1-on-1 match last night between Kobi and Lebron James. I was given false information yesterday that there were a couple of nba teams facing off. But I was wrong. Apparently Kobi won the 1-on-1 match 99-98.

1/13/2006 10:22:39 AM

Suggestion Box

Tony Bottrell

Somehow this site has been up for over 4 1/2 years. Don’t ask us how...but if you’re willing to share with us your thoughts on improvement, please submit any ideas you have below. Perhaps you’d like to see more features, less newsletters....have at it.

1/9/2006 8:39:58 AM

Tony Bottrell

by the way, if you’re suggestion is that you’re unable to login, use the blog tool or submit articles, please email info@itwillfail.com

1/10/2006 3:07:04 PM

Joey Kramer

I’d like to see more reasons to write more often, like a topic a day to write on or something. Thanks.

1/10/2006 8:50:54 AM

John Bottrell

I’ve been unable to find a writing website with a layout as nice as this one. My only suggestion at this point in time would be to have more general themes that would appeal to a larger audience and broader interpretations.

1/9/2006 4:51:21 PM

David London

Obviously, I’m biased (since I designed the damn site). I want to know if people can find everything well and if things are laid out logically. Don’t hold back people. Tell Tony everything!

1/9/2006 1:35:24 PM

When is it okay to lie?

David London

In the wake of Chinese chemical spills and political scandals and illegal spying campaigns, I want to know what you all think about lying. We’re all guilty of it, either to our spouses, kids, boss, total strangers, and especially family members. We lie to make people feel good or to hide something we did or didn’t do. We lie about Santa and the Tooth Fairy. Sometimes people lie about wars, but that’s another story. When is okay to lie to someone? When is it alright to perpetuate a lie? Would all truth, all the time be better, or would it just muck things up? Tell me what you think...but don’t lie about it!

1/3/2006 7:03:31 AM

Tony Bottrell

Great blog, Dave. I think white lies are usually acceptable. Like, for example, let’s say you run over someone’s dog. If you’re able to run to the vet and replace it with a convincing match, by all means, lie. Unless that Dog was your mother’s. Never lie to your mother!
Oh. and don’t forget to wash your car.

1/3/2006 8:23:06 AM

When is it okay to lie?

David London

In the wake of Chinese chemical spills and political scandals and illegal spying campaigns, I want to know what you all think about lying. We’re all guilty of it, either to our spouses, kids, boss, total strangers, and especially family members. We lie to make people feel good or to hide something we did or didn’t do. We lie about Santa and the Tooth Fairy. Sometimes people lie about wars, but that’s another story.

When is okay to lie to someone? When is it alright to perpetuate a lie? Would all truth, all the time be better, or would it just muck things up? Tell me what you think...but don’t lie about it!

1/2/2006 1:47:59 PM

Merry Christmas everybody

John Bottrell

I’m sure that we can all agree with and appreciate our Congressmen setting aside this day as a National Holliday to allow us time to spend with our families and, most important, celebrate the birth of our Lord.

Sure our traditions come from mixed backgrounds, but the purpose of the day is noble: to provide us with a purpose in life and keep us on the path to a fulfilling and successful life.

Merry Christmas everyone.

12/25/2005 10:19:55 PM

Great messages through strange Media

Tony Bottrell

I’ve been taught some great lessons from the strangest avenues. Here’s mine. Go ahead and share yours:
1. In High Fidelity, a confused, philander helped me get over my commitment problem
2. SAW taught me that you don’t appreciate the great things you have till their taken away from you (as getting brutally tortured and senslessly murdered always tends to do)
3. And SouthPark, as profane as it seems teaches a great lesson each episode about how stupid adults are, like how a kid saying the ’f’ word pisses a parent off more than a kid hitting someone.

12/22/2005 8:35:40 AM

I’ve learned that people will eat anything you leave out in a break room, even if it’s 4 hour old pizza. I’ve also learned that 4 hour old pizza makes you poop for days after you eat it. Don’t ask how I know both of those things...

12/22/2005 8:47:54 PM

Here Here...Xmas is just another day

Dan Wrzesinski

I do find that interesting. I think I’ve heard that before in a religion class in High School. There’s a great book out right now called "Misquoting Jesus: The story behind who changed the Bible and why." by Bart Ehrman. I asked my wife to get it for me for Christmas. How perfect is that?! I like Jesus and all, but I prefer to know the truth about the man instead of mindlessly subscribing to some fairy tale doctrine with no proof of its validity. Did anyone see The Colbert Report on Comedy Central last week? There was a hilarious bit that completely dismantled the story of Santa Claus too. Between Santa and Christ, I don’t know which story has been perverted the most over the years! It just goes to prove you can’t believe every history lesson you hear. I’ve heard Christopher Columbus was an Indian rapist, Abe Lincoln was gay, and George Washington grew acres upon acres of pot. Does anyone know if that’s true either?

12/20/2005 5:26:30 PM

Tony Bottrell

Excellent! Seriously, that’s what I needed to hear. That’s very uplifting. That and another cup of coffee would start the morning off right - which I’m out of. Damnit! I need more coffee!!!

12/22/2005 8:20:33 AM

David London

Truth in history: Lesson 1

The fighers of the American Revolutionary War decided to take their lives and their freedoms into their own hands, cast off the allegance to the King of England, and took on the largest, most advanced Army in the world. They fought and died for the cause of liberty, freedom from oppresion, and what they believe were unalienable rights of man. They won and very, very smart, pretient men got together and came up with a system of government so radical that it put governance in the hands of the people. They made a Constitution that, if followed, would protect the people from tyranny and oppression forever.

That was real and that’s what it all comes down to. We are free because our forefathers demanded freedom. That’s pretty uplifting no matter how you look at it!

12/22/2005 8:09:02 AM

Tony Bottrell

you guys are starting to depress me.... I guess I can’t argue against anything your saying cause I don’t read anymore. But maybe you could cheer me up and tell me something my history books were right about. Let me guess, Washington was really a Russian, transexual spy.

12/22/2005 8:01:34 AM

David London

Amazon search for "The Jefferson Bible" and check THAT out. It so happens that Thomas Jefferson was so infuriated with the hypocrisy of the Christians of his day that he stripped away all the divine elements and miracles from the gospels and just cut and pasted the rest. It is, essentially, the teachings of Jesus, not the deification of him.

Oh, and Columbus never actually met an Indian, but I wouldn’t doubt that he bedded a few Carribean natives, Abe Lincoln wasn’t gay, but he was clinically depressed, and Washington didn’t grow pot as much as he harvested hemp. It’s a great crop that we’re too dumb to grow anymore. He didn’t chop down any cherry tree, nor did he have wooden teeth. Oh, and the Vikings and the Chinese stumbled on America first, with the exception of the several million natives already living here, and America isn’t named after Amerigo Vespuci, the map maker, but after a Norse word given to it by the Vikings.

Oh, and Saint Nicholas was way more powerful than Jesus in his miracles. Look it up. St. Nick could stop hurricanes AND walk on water!

12/21/2005 10:30:43 PM

Naked in School cover is awesome

Joey Kramer

just so you know.

12/20/2005 10:40:23 AM

David London

Ha! I just noticed the guy eating the hotdog! Genius!

12/21/2005 10:32:18 PM

Jesus was a Virgo

David London

Does anyone else find it remotely interesting that Christmas just happens to fall on the pagan holiday worshipping the winter solstice? Or that if Jesus was actually born during the census (the reason they were in Bethlehem instead of Nazareth), he would have been born in September? Or why we still put pagan idols in our homes, such as pine trees and holly and Yule logs? I love Christmas and always will, but I think all the fuss about defiling Christmas is just plain funny, especially since December 25th has nothing to do with Jesus at all and more to do converting ancient pagans to an upstart religion a few thousand years ago. Anyone with a history book and healthy dose of logic can point out the gapping contradictions in the wintry Christmas tale. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate, but for God’s sake, can we all just stop pretending it’s a sacred day?

12/19/2005 11:08:05 AM

Tony Bottrell

Dave, I’ll answer your question. Why do we keep pretending it’s a sacred day? Well, because the church says it is. That’s why. It’s that simple.

12/20/2005 9:22:54 AM

David London

I know I sound like a prick when I write these, but I’m actually trying to spur debate of some kind. It obviously doesn’t seem to work.

12/19/2005 6:54:49 PM

i posted this

Mike Murphy

Craiglist: To The People Who Stand Up In The Stands During Wings Games on TV: Reply to: pers-115857875@craigslist.org Date: 2005-12-05, 3:57AM EST Dear People Who Stand Up In The Stands and Wave During Wings Games on TV, When the camera follows the puck deep into the right-hand zone, you stand up and wave to the camera, taking up the bottom foreground of the screen. Please stop doing this. It distracts me, embarasses you and (worst of all) blocks the view of the people sitting behind you. If you really want your friends at home to know you’re at the game, call them and tell them. That way, you’ve restricted your annoyance to the people around you. You do not look cool - particularly in the red and white Cat-in-the-Hat getup. Acting uncool makes you even worse. If any of you out there sit near people that do this, please turn them in to the usher (at best) or spill beer on them (at worst). It’s what I would do if I were in your shoes. Again, please stop. You’re really annoying. Stop. Stop."

12/6/2005 6:17:43 PM

Tony Bottrell

I’m just disturbed by the whole cat-in-the-hat hat thing. Are these grown men wearing this? And how old were they before they finally moved out of momies house? Or do they still live there? And are they still being bathed. Stop wearing those stupid hats! oh, and do mike a favor and sit down.

12/7/2005 8:32:29 AM

The Last First

David London

How’s this for make believe? In my lifetime, I hope I see the last "first" in a headline. You know the "firsts" I’m talking about.

  • First Black Man In Space
  • First Woman President
  • First Asian Hockey Player
  • First Scandal-Free Election
    I want to see the end of those. When there are no more events worth noting simply because someone other than a white male did it. I can’t imagine how long it will take, but I can imagine that day. Now, that’s daydreaming. A day when we would be judge by the content of our character, not the color of our skin. When our politicians are smarter than our smart bombs and more guided than our guided missiles. When women do not have to prove that they are worthy of respect. When there is no such thing as a minority group. That’s my make believe. A world so cross-bred, well-fed, and interconnected that we are all just humans and not the silly classifications we slap on each other.

    12/5/2005 11:54:11 PM

    • happy thanksgiving, IWF

    Joey Kramer

    I’m thanksful for no school

    11/26/2005 9:21:09 AM

    Tony Bottrell

    I’m thankful Destiny’s Child has finaly split up.

    11/27/2005 11:29:57 PM

    David London

    I’d be thankful if I could go BACK to school!

    11/27/2005 1:02:59 PM

    Call Your Mother

    David London

    Seriously, call her. Now. I don’t care if it’s late. Tell this guy you sorta know on the web just found out his mom had cancer, but through some strange twist, they found it quick and got it out and she’s going to be okay. If that ain’t a good enough reason to call your mom and tell her you love her, I don’t know what is.

    You’re still here? I said go call her! I’m not kidding. Make up a story, I don’t care. Just tell her you don’t know what you’d do without her and then tell her everything you’d tell her if you found out she had a terminal disease. But do it now, before she has one.

    Now go. Stop reading this! There’s one a few submissions anyway. You’re probably done by now. Go!

    11/20/2005 11:32:46 PM

    Tony Bottrell

    Well, actually, I never had any sports injuries till after highschool - however, I think the first couple broken bones went on her credit card. OK fine, I’ll call. But I’m waiting for peek hours.

    11/21/2005 10:00:26 AM

    David London

    It depends. Did you say "I love you, mom!" when you hung up? Did you say "I realize you struggled for four hours during child birth with me, then put up with years of changing poopy diapers, and then another ten years of me being a screaming little kid, then put up with another decade of teen angst and sports injuries, and finally, now that I’m a successful, married, working man, now I realize how much I took you for granted?"

    11/21/2005 9:58:52 AM

    Tony Bottrell

    Does it count if I called her this morning to get somebody elses number?

    11/21/2005 8:10:02 AM

    David London

    Despite all my spelling errors and word omissions, I’m still serious. Call her. Now. Why the hell do you even HAVE a cell phone if not for this?!

    11/21/2005 7:28:24 AM

    Congrats to Kwame

    Tony Bottrell

    Let me be the first to congratulate him and