| |
|
Friday, July 4, 2008
6:53:55 AM PDT
Feeling Happy
Happy Fourth to Y'all
232 Years of Independence!
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
Go out and celebrate the U.S.A. today. Freedom should never be taken lightly.
Have a happy Fourth of July Y'all!
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
|  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
Monday, June 23, 2008
6:46:32 PM PDT
Feeling Annoyed
What a Shaq-Ass
You may or may not like Kobe Bryant for any number of reasons, but I am getting so tired of hearing from Shaq with all of his disrespecting rhetoric. This video speaks for itself, watch it til the end and let me know what you think.
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
5:13:46 PM PDT
Did You Hear a Two Minute Warning George?
George Carlin 1937-2008
Welcome to Phil's Obituary Corner! Seems like that is all I have been dealing with on here lately but so many people have been passing away and now the second with a heart attack George Carlin. I'm sure his heart wasn't as good as it could have been had he laid off those drugs all those years.
I remember seeing him a couple of times in person. The first time was at the Universal Amphitheater, now the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal Studios. That was when he was in his hey day and his jokes made you just about bust a gut. I wonder if God give him the two minute warning that he described in one of his earlier routines . . . that would sure be a trip if he did. I did see him a few years ago in Vegas and his act was stale and he seemed bitter. We enjoyed his warm up more than him. Anyway, rest in peace George and be sure to discuss those seven words that you couldn't use on TV with the man upstairs.
I will leave you with some Carlin quotes that I have come across.
At a formal dinner party, the person nearest death should always be seated closest to the bathroom.
Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?
I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I'm listening to it.
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
Sunday, June 22, 2008
7:41:46 AM PDT
Feeling Sad
Scott Kalitta
It seems like every week I come here and report upon the death of someone. Scott Kalkitta's death was violent yesterday. Safety improvements to the end of the track where his fiery car smashed in the wall have to upgraded. Saying that, the NHRA race today in Englishtown, NJ will have a cloud over it. My condolences go out to the Kalitta family who will miss Scott sorely. If you'd like to send condolences click this link Rest In Peace, Scott
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The NHRA said the 46-year-old Kalitta -- the 1994 and 1995 Top Fuel season champion who had 18 career victories, 17 in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car -- was taken to the Old Bridge division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
Kalitta's Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when it burst into flames.
The Palmetto, Fla., resident started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982. His father, Connie Kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as "The Bounty Hunter," and his cousin, Doug Kalitta, also drives competitively.
One Of The Best
The NHRA community lost one of its best men on Saturday. Here's a look at Scott Kalitta's career accomplishments.
Kalitta's NHRA Career
|
|
| Races |
334 |
| Wins |
18 |
| Runner-Up |
18 |
| Round W-L |
285-271 |
| No. 1 Qualifying Pos. |
20 |
"We are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Kalitta family," the NHRA said in a statement. "Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win, becoming a two-time series world champion. He left the sport for a period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form. ... He will be truly missed by the entire NHRA community."
Kalitta had most of his racing success in Top Fuel, highlighted by his series titles in 1994 and 1995. He retired from racing in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for a 10-race campaign in 1999. He sat out three more seasons following that brief stint and then returned again in 2003, joining cousin Doug as a second driver for the family's two Top Fuel dragsters.
Kalitta started his pro career in Top Fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to Funny Car in 1986 for his first full season of competition. He returned to that category full-time in 2006.
One of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to win in both premier nitro categories, Kalitta's last victory came in Chicago in 2005 in Top Fuel. He had a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Chicago, his 36th career NHRA final-round appearance.
He's survived by his father, wife Kathy and sons Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.
NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski -- a native of Rochester Hills, Mich., about 20 miles away from Kalitta's hometown of Mount Clemens -- learned the news from a television report.
"That really hits close to home," Keselowski said after winning the pole position for Saturday night's race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis. "[He was] a friend of my family's, and I send my thoughts and prayers out to him. That's tough to hear."
Last year, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen died after an accident in a testing session at Gainesville, Fla.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
Friday, June 20, 2008
5:59:21 PM PDT
Feeling Chillin'
Mucho Caliente Aqui!!!
110
That is the number of the day here in good ole Santa Maria, CA. That was the temperature and it was a record high. Now, when you live here in Santa Maria there is generally no need for an air conditioning but it sure would be nice right about now. The building at work was miserable all day. You know when you leave a bottle of water in your cup holder of your car and come back later only to find it is hot enough to brew tea? Well, my water bottle on my work table this afternoon was approaching that status literally. And here I was complaining about the 100 degree temp we had yesterday. I feel at this moment like I am in Phoenix or near Kendra in Palm Springs.
 We purchased tickets the other day to go and see Carrie Underwood with Little Big Town in Bakersfield in the middle of November. Should be a good show. I would say to Allison she ought to be jealous but that silly chick saw her with Keith Urban not too long ago. I'm sure she may want to go see her when she goes to the Nokia Theatre in LA in November as well. I want to pass along a get well message to Angie who injured her poor back when she was thinking she was fifteen years old and diving off of high boards last week. Get well soon chick.
Anyway, hope Y'all have a great weekend.
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
7:20:57 PM PDT
Feeling Smart
Time For Tolerance
I wanted to touch on a subject tonight that is a bit controversial in nature to many out there including some of you I'm sure.
In California recently a law was struck down preventing marriages between people of the same sex. It was discriminatory in nature. Of course the definition in many people's minds of marriage is between a man and a woman, not a man and man, or a woman and a woman. I must confess that maybe in my youth I found such unions revolting and unchristian like.
Today I'm happy to say that I am no longer as close minded as that and I accept people's love for one another as a good thing. I mean, us heterosexuals haven't done such a good job at protecting the sanctity of marriage with all the divorces here in the United States. I believe tolerance and acceptance are two very important things in society and all too often these are thrown out the window in lieu of hatred and disgust. When faced with this I think the positive of allowing anyone to marry someone they want is much more the correct thing to do than to disallow love people feel for each other.
Why bring our negative feelings into play when deciding whether or not gay marriage is acceptable? I mean, many of us think freedom of choice is acceptable when it comes to abortion and don't consider it a crime against god but two people in love that happen to be the same sex is a total abomination to all mankind. Maybe God does not like homosexuality but the bible also tells us to love thy neighbor and to also allow vengeance to be his if he so chooses. So why do we feel so strongly about this subject? I must confess, that question has me baffled these days. In a world full of hatred and negativity what is so wrong aboutpeople wanting to share their love? To me nothing.
Again you may feel differently, but ask yourself this . . . Is denying someone the right to choose who they want in life any of our business? Do we really have the right to tell others how to live their life? Invoking religion into this goes against the foundation of the constitution such as it is. The constitution was formed by mostly Christian men but they never wanted to infringe upon the rights of others and all men were supposed to be created equal, well that is except the blacks at the time. Oh yeah, and women who weren't allowed to vote. But those issues were rectified in the by the Civil War and the 19th Amendment to our constitution.
So why prevent love in our much more open society today? I see no reason to not allow gay marriages. It is legal in Massachusetts and here in California for the time being though a ballot measure is coming up in November I hear. Tolerance is so important today in getting along and spreading happiness in love. Lets turn out negativity and hatred and replace them with love and acceptance.
I welcome your comments thoughts and views.
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
Sunday, June 15, 2008
9:59:56 AM PDT
Feeling Rejected
Sperm Donor Day 2008
This is my annual entry.
What has changed since last year at this time. Well, in a nutshell, nothing. I have not received a Father's Day card for the third straight year. Let me tell you, that really pains me to the core. To have a child out there that won't even acknowledge you isn't anything I would wish on you. It's been nearly two years since I've physically seen my daughter or talked to her on the phone.
I don't write these entries for sympathy and for Y'all to tell me it will be ok and that she will come around someday. As each moment, week, month, year goes by I feel more pain and at the same time feel more distant from her. I am almost at the point that where I am ready to write off any future relationship with her. I don't know who she is or what she is all about, I am just left with those words she last told me when I asked her the first year why she didn't send me a Father's Day card and her answer was a "I have my reasons" retort. She would not elaborate any further. I have no doubt that the influence of the ex and her family has jaded her probably for life against me, it gets to the point then when your daughter, who will be 17 next month, needs to grow up a bit and take charge of her feelings and if she truly feels animosity towards me then so be it. Don't come to me ten years from now and expect for me to be too welcoming.
Emotional pain, that is what I feel from the past 12 years since I divorced my first wife, has always been a part of my psyche and it certainly isn't a pleasant feeling to have especially on a day such is this. So I say, since I have not been, nor will I ever be a true father to any child, that is why I refer to this day as Sperm Donor Day. The pain is immeasurable and I'm about to tear up right now so I am going to end this pointless entry.
So I guess to all of you that have or had good relationships with their dad's I sincerely hope that you honored him or will honor him in every way shape and form on this day because if you don't it will find him with pain inside whether you realize it or not.
Previous Sperm Day Entries.
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
Friday, June 13, 2008
8:39:30 PM PDT
Feeling Sad
Tim Russert
Today we lost an honorable newsman, a person that wasn't afraid to ask the politicians the tough questions. This man will sorely be missed on Sunday mornings. Rest in Peace Tim.
Influential NBC journalist Tim Russert dies of apparent heart attack
AP
Posted: 2008-06-13 22:20:44
WASHINGTON (AP) - Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as one of America's most prominent U.S television journalists, died of a heart attack Friday in the midst of a presidential campaign he had covered with trademark intensity.
Praise poured in from the biggest names in politics, some recalling their own meltdown moments on his hot seat.
Russert, 58, was a political operative before he was a journalist. He joined NBC a quarter century ago and ended up as the longest-tenured host of the influential Sunday political talk show "Meet the Press."
He was an election-night fixture, with his whiteboard and scribbled figures, and was moderator for numerous political debates. He wrote two best-selling books, including the much-loved "Big Russ and Me" about his relationship with his father. He was NBC's Washington bureau chief.
President George W. Bush, informed of Russert's death while at dinner in Paris, saluted him as "a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."
NBC interrupted its regular programming with news of Russert's death and continued for several hours of coverage without commercial break. The network announced that Tom Brokaw, the former long-time anchor of NBC's nightly newscast, would anchor a special edition of "Meet the Press" on Sunday, dedicated to Russert.
Competitors and friends jumped in with superlative praise and sad recognition of the loss of a key voice during a historic presidential election year. Known as a family man as well, he had been named Father of the Year by parenting organizations.
Brian Williams, who currently anchors NBC's newscast, mourned his loss, calling him "aggressively unfancy."
Bob Schieffer, Russert's competitor on CBS' "Face the Nation," said the two men delighted in scooping each other.
"When you slipped one past ol' Russert," he said, "you felt as though you had hit a home run off the best pitcher in the league. I just loved Tim and I will miss him more than I can say."
NBC said Friday evening that Russert died of a heart attack. Russert's internist, Michael A. Newman, said cholesterol plaque had ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis.
Newman said an autopsy showed that Russert had an enlarged heart, NBC reported. Russert had been diagnosed with asymptomatic coronary artery disease, which he was controlling with medication and exercise, the doctor said.
Russert, of Buffalo, New York, took the helm of the Sunday news show in December 1991 and turned it into the most widely watched program of its type in the United States. His signature trait was an unrelenting style of questioning that made some politicians reluctant to appear, yet confident that they could claim extra credibility if they survived his grilling intact.
"I can say from experience that joining Tim on "Meet the Press" was one of the greatest tests any public official could face," said Rep. John Boehner, the highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. "Regardless of party affiliation, he demanded that you be straight with him and with the American people who were watching."
Russert was also a senior vice president at NBC, and this year Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
He had Buffalo's blue-collar roots, a Jesuit education, a law degree and a Democratic pedigree that came from his turn as an aide to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York.
Lawmakers from both parties lined up to sing his praises after his sudden death.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said Russert was "the best in the business at keeping his interview subjects honest."
"There wasn't a better interviewer in television," Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential contender, told reporters in Ohio.
Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama's rival for the White House, hailed Russert as the "pre-eminent journalist of his generation."
Carl P. Leubsdorf, president of the Gridiron Club, an organization of journalists, said, "It was a measure of the degree to which Tim Russert was respected in the journalistic world that he was the first broadcaster elected to membership in the Gridiron Club after the rules were changed in 2004 to end our century-old restriction to print journalists."
Said longtime colleague Brokaw, the former NBC anchor: "He'll be missed as he was loved - greatly."
The network said on its Web site that Russert had been recording voiceovers for this Sunday's "Meet The Press" when he was stricken.
He had dozens of honorary college degrees, and numerous professional awards.
He won an Emmy for his role in the coverage of President Ronald Reagan's funeral in 2004.
He was married to Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine. The couple had one son, Luke.
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
Saturday, June 7, 2008
2:47:29 PM PDT
Feeling Sad
Jim McKay
I would be remiss to mention the sports broadcasting world lost a great individual today. This man was synonymous with ABC's Wide World of Sports on Saturday afternoons and the Olympic games in which he became a news reporter when the Israeli team was held captive during the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, Germany.
JIM MCKAY-- 9/24/21-6/8/08-- Age 86
Born James Kenneth McManus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 24 September 1921. Educated at Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland, B.A. 1943. Married: Margaret Dempsey, 1948; children: Mary Edwina and Sean Joseph. Served in U.S.Navy, 1943-46. Reporter, Baltimore Evening Sun, 1946-47; writer-producer-director, Baltimore Sunpapers' WMAR-TV, 1947-50; variety show host, sports commentator, CBS-TV, 1950-61; host, ABC Wide World of Sports, 1961-80; television commentator, all Olympiads, 1960-88; founder and chair, "Maryland Million" Horse Racing Program, from 1986. H.H.D., Loyala College, 1981. Recipient: 13 Emmy Awards; George Polk Memorial Award, 1973; Federal Republic of Germany Officer's Cross Order of Merit, 1974; Olympic Medal, Austria, 1977; Thoroughbred Breeders of Kentucky Engelhard Award, 1978, 90; honorary; Maryland Racing Writers Humphrey S. Finney Award, 1985; named to Sportscasters Hall of Fame, 1987; National Turf Writers Award, 1987; Peabody Award, 1989; U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, 1989. Address: ABC Sports, 47 West 66th Street, New York, New York 10023, U.S.A.
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
7:43:19 AM PDT
Feeling Mellow
Just Another Weekend
Well, another weekend is here again. Two days off and lots of racing to watch today and tomorrow. There's Nascar, Drag racing, IRL and of course the third leg of Horse racing's triple crown. Will Big Brown become the first triple crown winner in 30 years? We will find out today. Then there is game two of the NBA finals tomorrow night. I'm crossing my fingers the Lakers bounce back and split the two games in Boston before coming home.
We went to see the new Indiana Jones movie yesterday. I worked a half day so we went and saw it. Let me tell you, I was disappointed in the very weak story line. To me, this is by far the worst movie out of the four. It's one of those movies you have to see if you like Indy but it isn't one that you will want to see again or even buy it when it comes out on dvd. We should have gone and seen Sex in the City instead . . . maybe could have gotten a thrill or two there. LOL
Spring is almost over. Two weeks from now Summer will officially be here but by the looks of things many of you back East have Summer at your doorsteps right now.
I think the summer driving season is going to take a hit as well as the flying anywhere for vacation industry will too with these high gas prices that are seemingly going up without an end in sight. And still our government can care less about the economy. Yep, they are predicting $150 a barrel oil prices by July 4th. Can you say $5 a gallon at the pump . . . I knew you could.
Looks like Hillary will be officially endorsing Barrack Obama today as she is dropping out of the race for President officially. I saw a rumor on the internet yesterday that Barrack's wife was once with Louis Farrakan and she was using racial slurs aimed at Caucasians. The term "whitey" was used. Not sure if it is true because no tape exists. Could just be a smear campaign but who knows, without proof it is just rhetoric.
Well, that is about all for this Saturday. Hope Y'all have a fantastic weekend and be sure not to do anything I wouldn't do. 
Written by imgr8phil
Permalink
| Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments: Add your own
|
