Originally, I just tweeted (g8rgrad) about this subject... but felt it was more deserving of a larger forum.
I'm just very disappointed with Rihanna's new video, "Rehab." Don't get me wrong... the song is tight. However, I must note that the music video makes no sense, and the use of Justin Timberlake as a "featured" participant is a waste.
Timberlake = exceptional talent. He has done what very few artists have been able to do.... crossover mediums, audiences, genres, stereotypes to keep selling and creating music for almost two decades.
From boy bands (loved 'N SYNC!) to movies (pretty good performance in Alpha Dog) to hosting gigs like the ESPYs and SNL to performing all over the world, there is little that JT doesn't do well.
So, I bought in when so much hype surrounded his collaboration with Rihanna on this song. Pictures of the video shoot were leaked early. Radio stations were abuzz about the fusion.
Reality is - Timberlake had one line in the song (four words total), so for me, this was a total waste of his talent and his ability to turn a hot track even hotter.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
A New Urban Era
Okay Okay... So the boys in Orange and Blue prevailed over the Cocks. Actually... it was a beat down of epic proportions with a 56-6 rout of the squawkers. The Gators successfully handed Spurrier his worst loss... EVER.... in what has recently become typical Urban fashion reflective of the ol' ball coach himself.
With outstanding defense and special teams, the offense was put into great field position to start cranking out scores, and the Gamecocks just couldn't stop the bleeding, or turnovers, or Percy Harvin, or Brandon Spikes or Tim Tebow.
I was in the Swamp back in the day when we would hand the opposing team 60, 70 and sometimes 80-point losses. 
Six SEC titles and one national championship.
Besides his own personal success as a Heisman Trophy winner, that is the legacy Steve Spurrier left behind at the University of Florida.
After Spurrier resigned in 2002 to coach in the NFL, the Zooker officially took over (we like to call these the dark years), and Florida football turned mediocre.
For the next three years, the "fun n' gun" was made to look more like "run n' done." Three seasons compiled records of 8-5 (2002), 8-5 (2003) and 7-4 (2004). The Swamp was no longer one of the most feared stadiums in college football as the Gators became accustomed to losing at home. In these three years, the Gators lost more home games than in the 12 seasons under Spurrier.
Many of the losses were a result of the “Z” factor. Ron Zook was famous for taking over the lead in the first half, and then trying to protect the lead for the rest of the game by playing zero offense. He would run it up the gut and just try to run out the clock. Unfortunately, other teams started to notice this trend, and they started to capitalize on it. Hence what led to the Zooker’s demise.
One positive that came from the Zook-man: He was a great recruiter. The 2006 national championship team consisted of 22 starters who were recruited to Florida by Zook. Impressive.
But not as impressive as the Gator’s new Urban Meyer era:
SEC champions – 2006
National champions – 2006
Heisman Trophy quarterback – Tim Tebow
SEC East champions – 2008
If the Gators beat Bama, another SEC championship lurks around the corner, and then on to possibly a third national title in school history… second under Urban.
Enough said.
With outstanding defense and special teams, the offense was put into great field position to start cranking out scores, and the Gamecocks just couldn't stop the bleeding, or turnovers, or Percy Harvin, or Brandon Spikes or Tim Tebow.
I was in the Swamp back in the day when we would hand the opposing team 60, 70 and sometimes 80-point losses. 
Six SEC titles and one national championship.
Besides his own personal success as a Heisman Trophy winner, that is the legacy Steve Spurrier left behind at the University of Florida.
After Spurrier resigned in 2002 to coach in the NFL, the Zooker officially took over (we like to call these the dark years), and Florida football turned mediocre.
For the next three years, the "fun n' gun" was made to look more like "run n' done." Three seasons compiled records of 8-5 (2002), 8-5 (2003) and 7-4 (2004). The Swamp was no longer one of the most feared stadiums in college football as the Gators became accustomed to losing at home. In these three years, the Gators lost more home games than in the 12 seasons under Spurrier.
Many of the losses were a result of the “Z” factor. Ron Zook was famous for taking over the lead in the first half, and then trying to protect the lead for the rest of the game by playing zero offense. He would run it up the gut and just try to run out the clock. Unfortunately, other teams started to notice this trend, and they started to capitalize on it. Hence what led to the Zooker’s demise.One positive that came from the Zook-man: He was a great recruiter. The 2006 national championship team consisted of 22 starters who were recruited to Florida by Zook. Impressive.
But not as impressive as the Gator’s new Urban Meyer era:
SEC champions – 2006
National champions – 2006
Heisman Trophy quarterback – Tim Tebow
SEC East champions – 2008
If the Gators beat Bama, another SEC championship lurks around the corner, and then on to possibly a third national title in school history… second under Urban.
Enough said.
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Florida Gators vs. Spurrier
The Ol' ball coach, formerly from the Swamp land, will roll into Gainesville tomorrow to face the Mighty Gators in what could be his biggest upset to date for SC.One word to describe Steve Spurrier - Scrappy.
The man never gives up, never surrenders, hates to lose and would love, more than anything, to knock the Gators out of contention for a national title run.
I was at the game in 2006 when Spurrier and his Gamecocks almost dashed the Gators' hopes of making it to the SEC title game and then on to the national championship. All I can say is... we were scared to death, and it was ugly.
The Gators came into that game ranked No. 6 in the country, South Carolina was unranked at the time.
Florida, like in so many games already that season, struggled. The Gators failed to score in the first quarter, only to come back and tie the game with a 21-yard pass from Chris Leak to Dallas Baker with less than two minutes on the clock, making the score 7-7 going into the half.
Third quarter, nothing.
Fourth quarter was an ol' fashioned shootout from the Wild Wild West. The Cocks hit a 47-yard field goal to kick things off (no pun intended!), but then the Gators answered with a field goal of their own to tie the score at 10.
But it was the Gator's special teams that made the difference in this game.
South Carolina scored a touchdown with eight minutes left, but the Gators' special teams unit blocked the extra point. Score 16-10.
Florida responded by driving 80 yards, scoring a TD off of a 12-yard run from Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Score 16-17.
South Carolina wasted no time to get in field goal position with almost no time left on the clock. All they needed to do was land a 48-yard field goal. The ball was kicked and as time expired, Florida's defensive end, Jarvis Moss, blocked the attempt... handing SC a 16-17 loss.
All in all, South Carolina left seven points on the field. Florida blocked three kicks, one PAT and two field goals.
Watch for Spurrier to put up a scrappy fight on Saturday, but Florida's special teams should be the game changer as the Florida Gators take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Swamp at 3:30 p.m. EST on CBS.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Speed Dating Hooks Up Available...
Not so fast, my friends! (Lee Corso reference for those of you who don't know.) You thought I was going to say hot singles? Okay... or just average-looking singles who are still on the prowl?
Speed dating is actually coming to Tampa... in the form of a MommyMixer - hooking moms up with babysitters.
So moms, go ahead and plan that holiday shopping trip. Make some time for that special someone in your life. And if you already don't have one, get to this mixer and pick out your new babysitter!
Happy hunting!!!
Speed dating is actually coming to Tampa... in the form of a MommyMixer - hooking moms up with babysitters.
So moms, go ahead and plan that holiday shopping trip. Make some time for that special someone in your life. And if you already don't have one, get to this mixer and pick out your new babysitter!
MommyMixer was developed by Mary Sullivan Cooper, a working mom who has three kids, in 2003. Now the company offers the service in 32 cities across the country, and hopes to launch in Canada next spring.
Tampa will host its first MommyMixer on Sunday, Nov. 23, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at You Do the Dishes, a pottery studio and coffee house at 15357 Amberly Drive in Tampa.
Happy hunting!!!
Sweet with Sugar and FAR from Flatt
Major SHOUT OUT to Sugarland!!! Winner of Song of the Year for "Stay" and Vocal Duo of the Year at the CMA Awards.LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. And LOVE LOVE LOVE Sugarland!
Check out the music video here.
Major SHOUT OUT to Rascal Flatts for winning Vocal Group of the Year at the CMA Awards.Love their music; Love them in concert.
Click here for a listing of the group's albums.
Delayed Pickens
Before this election was decided, a man by the name of T. Boone Pickens rose through the chatter with a real plan and REAL money to solve the energy crisis.
While the politicians talked about change, billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens WAS the change.
During the campaign season, Pickens blasted the airwaves with commercial after commercial citing his plan to build wind farms, which will produce 20 percent of our nation's electricity and allow us to use natural gas as a transportation fuel. His plan claims to replace more than one-third of the foreign oil imports within 10 years.
But recent reports reveal Pickens is delaying his massive Texas wind project, citing a drop in natural gas prices and tightening credit market.
This should only be a temporary setback.
While the politicians talked about change, billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens WAS the change.
During the campaign season, Pickens blasted the airwaves with commercial after commercial citing his plan to build wind farms, which will produce 20 percent of our nation's electricity and allow us to use natural gas as a transportation fuel. His plan claims to replace more than one-third of the foreign oil imports within 10 years.
But recent reports reveal Pickens is delaying his massive Texas wind project, citing a drop in natural gas prices and tightening credit market.
This should only be a temporary setback.
Pickens' wind farm in Texas, known as the Pampa Wind Project, was slated to be the largest wind farm in the world. Generating 4,000 megawatts of electricity, it is enough to power 1.3 million homes.
A spokesman for Pickens said turbines for the first phase of the project, 1,000 megawatts of power, are still being purchased. The first phase was slated to come online in 2011, but now it is no longer clear when this will happen.
Pickens = a patriot. Although you do have to give some credit to his gargantuan bank account.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Palin for president in 2012... For real?
Sarah Palin told reporters today on her way to Miami for the Republican Governors Association annual conference that she is considering a run for the White House in 2012 or beyond.Seriously?
She told a FOX reporter the following:
"Don't let me miss the open door. Show me where the open door is and even if it's cracked up a little bit, maybe I'll just plow right on through that and maybe prematurely plow through it, but don't let me miss an open door. And if there is an open door in '12 or four years later, and if it is something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me, then I'll plow through that door."
I can't, in good conscience, support a run for the White House in four years, when I feel like she lacks what I accused Obama of lacking.... experience. She is simply unqualified to be the next commander in chief of the U.S. in 2012.
On top of that, her image is in need of major repair. From the McCain camp's botch job of her rollout to how she was handled/treated/trashed by the media, it is evident that this hockey mom of five is not ready for a presidential fight to the finish. At least not in 2012.Her family has also endured much ridicule over the last few months. Palin should take this time to regroup and rededicate herself to serving Alaska instead of prepping for a four-year run with hopes of serving the entire country.
Then again, if she can pull this off, it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong about something!
Check out the latest Palin interview Wednesday, Nov. 12, with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on the Situation Room at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Are you a rude person? I am!
While I was standing in line to vote for two hours, a guy in front of me decided to light up a cigarette. Now if you knew me, you would know that I CANNOT STAND cigarette smoke. I proceeded to step out of this long line, stuck my face in my shirt to breathe and waved my hand profusely over my face to blow the smoke away... just so this guy would get the picture. RUDE.
Did you know that 88 percent of Americans think rudeness is a serious national problem? But 99 percent of those same people do not think they are part of the rude bunch.
Jerry Seinfeld was recently interviewed in O Magazine where Oprah asked about his biggest pet peeve. It just so happens to be a lack of civility.
Seinfeld's top three grievances:
ny of you, have been guilty of all three of these points before. The trick is to pay more attention to your own behavior. You may not even know you are acting this way, so ask family and friends to help you recognize when you fail to tip a server properly, inflict road rage on others or get carried away with cell phone minutes in public.
After all, life really is too short to sweat the small stuff.
So, how rude are you? Take this quiz to find out.
Did you know that 88 percent of Americans think rudeness is a serious national problem? But 99 percent of those same people do not think they are part of the rude bunch.
Jerry Seinfeld was recently interviewed in O Magazine where Oprah asked about his biggest pet peeve. It just so happens to be a lack of civility.
Seinfeld's top three grievances:
- Cutting people off on the road
- Cell phone abuse
- Interrupting while someone is talking
ny of you, have been guilty of all three of these points before. The trick is to pay more attention to your own behavior. You may not even know you are acting this way, so ask family and friends to help you recognize when you fail to tip a server properly, inflict road rage on others or get carried away with cell phone minutes in public.After all, life really is too short to sweat the small stuff.
So, how rude are you? Take this quiz to find out.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Civil Rights Violation? You Decide.
Marriage: Defined as a union between one man and one woman. This is how 27 state constitutions read - prohibiting same-sex marriage.
California, Arizona and Florida all passed proposed amendments on the November ballot. The amendment passed in California with 52.5 percent of the vote. In Florida, the effort passed with 62 percent in favor.
But I have to ask... is this a civil rights violation?
Many will argue that it is not. They will say that our founding fathers intended for unions to only be between men and women. They will say that is the way it has always been, so that is the way it should always be. But with all due respect to our founding fathers, we do not live in the 1700s.
Civil rights is defined as rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and by subsequent acts of Congress, including civil liberties, due process, equal protection of the laws and freedom from discrimination.
The 13th amendment refers to slavery, but the 14th amendment, in my opinion, clearly demonstrates a current violation of this right.
14th amendment, section 1 - No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Freedom from discrimination.
Do I believe marriage should be defined as only between one man and one woman? No... because it isn't my place to tell others how to live and who to live with. This definition discriminates against those who choose an alternative lifestyle. This definition violates the very rights everyone is entitled to under the Constitution.
Whatever one's opinion is on the subject, it shouldn't determine someone's rights. Agree with it or not, no one has the right to tell others how to live their lives or who to choose as a partner.
We are afforded the freedom to say what we want, to practice the religion of our choice, to carry fire arms if we choose to do so, to assemble peacefully... and every man and woman should be afforded the right to marry as he or she sees fit, without discrimination.
California, Arizona and Florida all passed proposed amendments on the November ballot. The amendment passed in California with 52.5 percent of the vote. In Florida, the effort passed with 62 percent in favor.
But I have to ask... is this a civil rights violation?
Many will argue that it is not. They will say that our founding fathers intended for unions to only be between men and women. They will say that is the way it has always been, so that is the way it should always be. But with all due respect to our founding fathers, we do not live in the 1700s.
Civil rights is defined as rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and by subsequent acts of Congress, including civil liberties, due process, equal protection of the laws and freedom from discrimination.
The 13th amendment refers to slavery, but the 14th amendment, in my opinion, clearly demonstrates a current violation of this right.
14th amendment, section 1 - No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Freedom from discrimination.
Do I believe marriage should be defined as only between one man and one woman? No... because it isn't my place to tell others how to live and who to live with. This definition discriminates against those who choose an alternative lifestyle. This definition violates the very rights everyone is entitled to under the Constitution.
Whatever one's opinion is on the subject, it shouldn't determine someone's rights. Agree with it or not, no one has the right to tell others how to live their lives or who to choose as a partner.
We are afforded the freedom to say what we want, to practice the religion of our choice, to carry fire arms if we choose to do so, to assemble peacefully... and every man and woman should be afforded the right to marry as he or she sees fit, without discrimination.
All Hail a Stranger at the Helm
He launched a new Web site (change.gov) touting the theme that has been the focal point of every campaign he has ever run. Inauguration tickets are going for over $20,000 a pop. He is being hailed as "vindicating the black folk" and the "next great savior" of this nation who promises to provide health care for all, lower taxes and pay all mortgages... but how much does America really know about our next president?
Young voters under 30 have no problem admitting allegiance to Barrack Obama, but when asked why... when asked what issues attract them to this candidate, they have no answers.
Why did so many vote for a man we know so little about? The answer is easy. Because the alternative MUST mean more of the same.
Forget the difference in voting records or bucking party lines. Forget disagreeing with the commander in chief over key issues concerning matters of national security and foreign affairs.
Forget truths.
Let's just promote a man to the highest office in the land with one of the thinnest resumes on record. Let's just hand him the white house when he hasn't even served one full term down the street. Let's use race over qualifications and experience to determine who will lead this nation during one of our most difficult times in recent history.
This was an interview for a job. Plain and simple. If Americans viewed this election objectively, examined voting records equally and cast their vote for the person with the right experience and relationships to pull this country out of its current hole, we wouldn't be crying in the streets about redemption.
Young voters under 30 have no problem admitting allegiance to Barrack Obama, but when asked why... when asked what issues attract them to this candidate, they have no answers.
Why did so many vote for a man we know so little about? The answer is easy. Because the alternative MUST mean more of the same.
Forget the difference in voting records or bucking party lines. Forget disagreeing with the commander in chief over key issues concerning matters of national security and foreign affairs.
Forget truths.
Let's just promote a man to the highest office in the land with one of the thinnest resumes on record. Let's just hand him the white house when he hasn't even served one full term down the street. Let's use race over qualifications and experience to determine who will lead this nation during one of our most difficult times in recent history.
This was an interview for a job. Plain and simple. If Americans viewed this election objectively, examined voting records equally and cast their vote for the person with the right experience and relationships to pull this country out of its current hole, we wouldn't be crying in the streets about redemption.
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