GIVE THANKS

1 Thessalonians 5:18 | [In] everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Thanksgiving Day

1. A Time of Feasting –

Turkey and dressing – oh, I love turkey. Can’t you just taste it? Do you like the white meat or the dark? White meat is okay – I can eat it – but personally I like the dark meat — (mom would always give me a whole turkey leg when I was young – What Great Memories!).

Of course you must have all the fiixins’ – such as potatoes: mashed-boiled-baked or perhaps you prefer sweet potatoes. Green beans, peas, corn, squash, rolls and butter or gravy, slaw, salad, deviled eggs, tomatoes, green onions, and cranberry sauce. Now who pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, cherry pie – Face it, Thanksgiving must have some kind of pie. — All of these different types of favorites and I am sure your family could add many more traditional favorites for your Thanksgiving Day. Makes one hungry just thinking about it.

2. A Time of Activities | Resting –

Thanksgiving Day is often one of the few times that whole families can get together.

Many watch TV for parades in the morning and football in the afternoon. Sometimes board or card games are played and if there are enough young people and those young at heart maybe a game of touch football will start up or when relaxing various discussions are made – often concerning religion and politics (which can get heated). No matter whatever the day brings it is usually a good time for family ties to be strengthened.  

3. Unfortunately Not an Overtly Religious Time -

a. Aside from the pre-dinner prayer, Thanksgiving Day is not an overtly religious celebration today in America.

b. To most Americans Thanksgiving Day is now Turkey Day (as some affectionately call it) = a day to EAT – RELAX – have FAMILY time.

A Day of Thanks

However, today – Thanksgiving Day – for Christians should be viewed as a special time. A time in which “[In] everything [we] give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I. Give Thanks – In everything …

[In] everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The Gk. here for give thanks is a second person imperative verb meaning that you (the implied subject) are commanded to do the action of the verb to give thanks in everything.

Psalm 106:1

Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Thank God for He is Good – Merciful forever:

1. Home | Family – still a functioning unit – a place to go for comfort and love

2. Well-being – one’s health lies in the hands of the Great Physician

3. Salvation | Christ – synonymous with one being born-again

4. Church – a sanctuary from the world | place to worship, learn, and serve God

5. God – has revealed Himself as Creator | Sovereign | Redeemer

Thank God for His Grace during Times of trial

1. Job – The Lord gives and takes away – Job 1:21

2. Paul – rejoiced though in chains – 2 Tim. 2:9

3. Peter – to be sifted through as wheat (Lk 22:31-32 – cf. 1 Peter 5:6-8)

4. Hall of Faith – Hebrews Ch. 11

NOTE:  No matter the situation – struggles – trials – testings — good times or bad — the believer has no excuse to be unthankful. For as seen here in the text – we are commanded by God to Give Thanks in everything.

II. Give Thanks – This is the will of God … for you 

[In] everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 2:13

It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Romans 8:28

We know all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let you your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

NOTE:  Know this – God is sovereign and there is nothing that takes place in your life that He is not aware of | Daniel 4:34-35; Psalm 139:7-8; Acts 17:26.

III. Give Thanks – In Christ Jesus

 [In] everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

In His Name

Eph. 5:20

[Give] thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 14:13

Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

NOTE:  Ask in Jesus name … the Father is glorified in the Son  –  All fathers rejoice in the work of their son – God is no different for His glory is Jesus His Son!

IV. Salvation

Ephesians 2:1-10

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Romans 10:13

For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be heard.

Give Thanks – for you have been delivered from the evils and despair of this world  –  born-again into the everlasting kingdom of God – all because of the only name given under heaven whereby men must be saved – Acts 4:10-12 | John 14:6.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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If you ever wondered...

Les Nessman: I’m here with hundreds of people who have gathered to witness what has been described as perhaps the greatest turkey event in Thanksgiving Day history. All we know for sure is that in a very few moments there are going to be a lot of happy out here. Now the crowd is…
[passers-by gawk at Les]
Les Nessman: the… the crowd is uh… curious but well behaved. And I think I hear something now. Uh… The crowd is moving out into the parking area. And… oh yes! I can see it now. It’s a… it’s a… helicopter and it’s coming this way!
Andy Travis: A helicopter?
Les Nessman: It’s flying something behind it and I can’t quite make it out. It’s a large banner and it says H A P P Y… T H A N K S… giving… from W… K… R… P! What a sight, ladies and gentlemen. What a sight. The ‘copter seems to circling the parking area now. I guess it’s looking for a place to land. No! Something just came out of the back of a helicopter. It’s a dark object, perhaps a skydiver plummeting to earth from only two thousand feet in the air… There’s a third… No parachutes yet… They can’t be skydivers. I can’t tell just yet what they are but… Oh my God! They’re turkeys! Oh no! Johnny can you get this? Oh, they’re crashing to the earth right in front of our eyes! One just went through the windshield of a parked car! This is terrible! Everyone’s running around pushing each other. Oh my goodness! Oh, the humanity! People are running about. The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement! Folks, I don’t know how much longer… The crowd is running for their lives. I think I’m going to step inside. I can’t stand here and watch this anymore. No, I can’t go in there. Children are searching for their mothers and oh, not since the Hindenberg tragedy has there been anything like this. I don’t know how much longer I can hold my position here, Johnny. The crowd…
Dr. Johnny Fever: Les? Les? Les, are you there? Les isn’t there. Thanks for that on-the-spot report, Les. For those of you who’ve just tuned in, the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys. Film at eleven.

There are many classic television shows, but none better than “Turkeys Away” on WKRP in Cincinnati.  Sorry Charlie Brown.  Nice try Friends. 

No Thanksgiving is complete without the spectacle of Les Nessman describing the humanity of the legendary WKRP Turkey Drop.

Now, thanks to Hulu, you can watch this classic episode in its entirety on-line.

JUST CLICK HERE AND ENJOY!

Happy Thanksgiving from GonzoGeek.

if i ever hear someone knock on this album, i have proof that the someone in question isnt a metal fan. or at least not the metal i listen to.

when Iron Maiden teamed back up with Bruce and Adrian to write and record their ‘comeback’ album ‘Brave New World’, metal elite everywhere started getting ready to hate it. as a result the three albums the band has put out since their comeback have gotten the usual ‘oh they are old now’ reviews and unnecessary hatred that is expected. normally for a band of Maiden’s stature it is ok with me that “fans” dont like their newer stuff, because the truth of the matter is that usually older bands lose that flame. but here, on this album, and the follow-up, ‘A Matter of Life and Death’, it actually makes me angry.

this album is a solid slab of amazing heavy metal songwriting. songs like Rainmaker, Montsegur, Face in the Sand, and Journeyman, are flag waving metal masterpieces. Steve Harris, metal’s resident master of bass playing plays his fingers right off. the triple guitar attack of Adrian, Dave, and Janick is enough to make air guitarists everywhere throw the backs out headbanging. Nicko is a gigantic drummer. both in size and sound. his playing is ferocious and refined all at once. he slides into Steve’s bass lines like he was born to play along. and on top of it all, the unmatched voice of metals single best tenor. Bruce Dickinson is arguably the ‘best’ singer in metal history. and it is a known fact that the male voice is at its peak during the ages of 40-55. this album was recorded right in that ark. and it shows.

everything comes together perfectly in the songs ‘Dance of Death’, and ‘Age of Innocence’. these two songs are among Iron maiden’s greatest achievements. their passion and brutal strength pull them up to be truly rousing spiritual songs.

this album is criminally underrated. if you like metal, heck, if you like singers, then this is an album you need.

make your way over to amazon and pick up a copy for a few bucks HERE.

In recent times a lot of reasons our country from the famous actor Bruce Wills Hollwood’un our country should be begenmiş. Frequently visited our country also think it provides a good introduction contribution. I watch a lot of film bruce wills begeniyle especially “Last Man” movie in the scenarios I play with the quality of the player also proved. Of our country from a very smart presentation Bruce Wills old wing was no longer looks like one of our volunteer ambassadors.

So that the man in the country that even the participation in the political subject matter and can be stuffed Turkey offered to the public. This is Bruce has sympathy in the country indicates that nature.

Avea By in Istanbul Fashion

Istanbul in Turkey on October 26, 2009 by Avea Fashion nedenide been developed. Wills family who will stay 2 days in Istanbul hotel Ritz Carlton hotel chose Incentives. Which will remain in the presidential suite at the hotel more often Wills hopefully begin to come to our country.

Countries face as a presentation of course Bruce Wills is an excellent decision. Wonderful weather in the real world of film, that he respected that the people of the world in style with the billions of won begenisini any.

Can introduce us to Hollywood. Bodrum and the surrounding desert is still the manager, who thought it to Hollywood with Turkey and to be the cradle of civilization to tell the most beautiful in the suit would Wills’e Bruce.

For Turkish : http://www.tatilde.org/bruce-wills-turkiyeyi-sevdi.php

Welcome once again to a recap of our weekly finds from around the internet.

As always, we begin our journey by fortifying ourselves with a piece of cheesecake.  This week, at Chris’ request, that cheesecake is Padma Lakshmi, the host of Top Chef on The Food Network.  I have to be honest and say I’m curious to see what kind of traffic the combination of cheesecake and Padma Lakshmi drives.

Padma’s geek credentials are strong.  Besides her work on The Food Network, she has been a runway model, the love interest in an EELS music video, Sean Bean’s nemesis in Sharpe’s Challenge and, perhaps most importantly, an alien princess on Star Trek:  Enterprise.

It’s good to be Scott Bakula.

Oh, and she was married to Salman Rushdie.

On with the links.

1. Chicago Tribune columnist literally eats his words re:  Bulls C Joakim Noah.
2. Between Two Ferns with Zack Galifanakis, the best talk show EVER schools Conan.
3. The 100 Greatest Quotes from The Wire.
4. Newsweek presents the decade in 7 seconds.
5. Smart guys fight over football; Malcom Gladwell puts the hurt on a reviewer over QBs and draft status.
6. A trailer for a movie where Manny Pacquiauo fights a giant crab.
7. College football play of the year from Bethel College in Kansas.
8. Commonsense?  Conservatism?  Verbal tic?
9. Microsoft blows a software rollout?  No way!
10. Stephe’s a Trekkie…ummm…Trekker.
11. E*Trade baby outtakes.  Funnier than you think.
12. Calibrate.
13. Bacon Envelopes.  Thank you science.
14. Humorous bailout rant.
15. Existentialism.
16. Interview with Lemmy.  \m/
17. Robot band.
18. Rescuing the horns for metal.  See above.
19. That’s both gross and wrong.  More wrong, but still gross.
20. More cryptozoology.
21. Our obligatory Twilight link of the week.
22. And I’ve read two.
23. And I drafted two.
24. I’m pretty sure the word you’re looking for is treason.
25. Disturbing XBox 360 story #1.
26. Disturbing XBox 360 story #2.
27. NO!  REALLY!
28. And, finally, Jon Stewart once again delivers the truth.  This time about Nancy Grace.

The Chemical Wedding is the fifth studio album by English heavy metal singer Bruce Dickinson. It was released on July 14, 1998 (see 1998 in music) through Sanctuary Records, and included the single “Killing Floor”—release only in Japan. The album draws some inspiration from the works of William Blake – of whom some paintings are featured in the artwork, as well as both sung and spoken excerpts from Blake’s prophetic works – although the name of the album and its title track derive from the Rosicrucian manifest the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz. As with the previous album, it featured Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith, former (and once again current) bandmate of Dickinson.

Tracks

Original track listing

1. “King in Crimson”
2. “Chemical Wedding”
3. “The Tower”
4. “Killing Floor”
5. “Book of Thel”
6. “Gates of Urizen”
7. “Jerusalem”
8. “Trumpets of Jericho”
9. “Machine Men”
10. “The Alchemist”

2005 extended edition bonus tracks

11. “Return of the King”
12. “Real World”
13. “Confeos”

Genre: Heavy metal

More @ Wikipedia

Buy on Amazon: The Chemical Wedding

National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action presents Weekly PPV #9 8-14-2002
From: Nashville, Tennessee

NWA-TNA Opening Video

NWA-TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Ron “The Truth” Killings makes his way down to the ring. Truth proclaims the TNA arena as his house and renames the arena as the “TNA Asylum”. Killings says he became a legend following his win over Ken Shamrock last week. Killings says that in the WWF he couldn’t make the same mistakes as the other wrestlers, because he is African American. Truth says he isn’t using the race card, although he clearly is. Truth says he took advantage of a opportunity and became a damn legend. Jeff Jarrett comes out and cuts Truth off and calls Truth “Walt Disney”. Jarrett brings up reverse discrimination against him. Jarrett says Truth was given his shot while he has been screwed over constantly. Jarrett wants Truth to give him a shot, tonight. Truth tells Jarrett to come down to the ring if he wants the shot strap. Jarrett stops because Bill Behrens music hits. Behrens looks like a complete fool with a cowboy hat and security guards. Behrens says he is the new sheriff in town. Behrens says that Truth and Jarrett will not be sanctioned by the NWA and will not be for the championship. Jarrett threatens Behrens and is attacked from behind by…. Brian Lawler! Lawler attacks Jarrett on the announcers table. In a hilarious moment, Lawler tries to take a fans chair, but the fan will not let him have it! Jarrett and Lawler have a pull apart brawl for a few moments. Lawler says “I know it was you Jarrett, I know it was you.”

Mike Tenay, Don West and Ed Ferrera promote the show. They mainly hype up the main event. Apparently something happen earlier today between Lynn and Styles. Low KI will also be facing the Flying Elvises in a elimination match.

Opening Contest: Kid Kash/Shark Boy/Slim J versus Spanish Announce Team (Maximo’s/Amazing Red)
Slim J is only seventeen years old and is a Marshall Mathers wannabe. Kash with the early offense for his team controlling both Maximo Brothers. Kash with a springboard dropkick and a slingshot hurricanrana to the floor on Joel Maximo. Jose with a suicide dive on Kash. Shark Boy with a somersault splash on Joel. Slim J with a moonsault taking out the Maximo’s and Shark Boy. Amazing Red with a somersault dive of his own. Kash with a springboard somersault dive taking everyone out. Maximo’s with a Boston Crab/chin lock combo on Slim J and Shark Boy with Amazing Red dropkicking Slim J right in the face. Kash with a top rope body slam on Amazing Red that was awesome. Slim J misses a sick springboard Phoenix Splash. Kash with a double springboard hurricanrana and a tornado DDT on Joel for a near fall. Shark Boy with the Dead Sea Drop on Red for a near fall. Double under hook into a brain buster by Kash on Red for a near fall. Spanish Fly and the Infrared on Slim J to give the SAT the win.

Backstage, Goldylocks is with the Dupp Brothers. Stan tries to get Goldylocks to touch his penis but Goldylocks hits him in the penis. Bo shows Goldylocks their outhouse that is full with crap.

Miss TNA Bruce comes out and is given a microphone. Bruce thanks the fans for making his reign as Miss TNA very enjoyable. Bruce is convinced that all the men are fantasying about what they could do to Miss TNA. Bruce says that if someone can beat him, he will pay them $5,000. Bruce begins to scan the crowd to see who will face him. Bruce says you have to have more than one tooth. Bruce says Athena isn’t a woman. Jeremy Borash goes over to a clearly planted woman and she signs a release to fight Bruce.

Second Contest: © Bruce versus A Fan
(Miss TNA Crown)
The lady takes Bruce down with a spear and a scoop slam. She follows up with a leg drop and sends Bruce over the top to the floor. She goes for another scoop slam in the ring, but Bruce rolls her up and retains his title.

Backstage, Goldylocks is with Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett says he didn’t do a damn thing to Brian Lawler. Jarrett will continue to play the games until the belt is his belt. Jarrett mentions crap, and proceeds to grab Bill Behrens who is taken a crap, and shoves him into the wall. Bo Dupp bumps in Teo and says that they will settle things in the ring tonight.

Third Contest: Malice versus Don Harris
(Last Man Standing Match)
The New Church has been barred from ringside. Harris with a side walk slam early on, but doesn’t bleed like he did last week following the move. Harris with couple of vicious chair shots. Malice throws powder into Harris’s eyes to gain control. Malice has been busted open from the chair shots. Malice continues using the powder and nails Harris with a chair shot on the floor. Malice gets a chain, but Harris stops Malice and chokes Malice with the chain and follows up with a clothesline with the chain. Harris sets up a table on the floor. Malice plants Harris with a power bomb in the ring. Harris blocks a choke slam attempt with a DDT. Malice with a middle rope back suplex through the table. Harris gets to his feet and wins the match.
After the match, Harris puts out his fist and Malice fist pounds Harris.

Backstage, Goldylocks is backstage with the Dupp Brothers. Stan is freaking out because he is afraid of midgets. Bo says that he will take care of everything.

Fourth Contest: Teo versus Bo Dupp
(Dupp Cup)
Teo nails Jeremy Borash twice and gets a early lead. Teo with a chair shot and trash can lid shot. Teo has a 4 ½ point to nothing lead. Stan screams like a pussy so Bo has -5 points. Bo hits Teo with three weapons brought by fans so get to -2 points. Bo sends Teo through a piece of plywood to get to -1 points. Stan touches Don West to get 3 ½ points. Stan goes to the ticket lady and suffers the same fate as he did last week. Puppet the Psycho Dwarf comes out of the out house and nails Bo with a kendo stick. Teo puts Bo’s head into the toilet and wins the match and cup.

A video promoting the recent happenings between Monty Brown and Elik Skipper is shown.

Before the next match, Skipper dares Brown to bring his “chicken shit ass” out to the ring to get his ass kicked.

Fifth Contest: Elik Skipper versus Monty Brown
(Detroit Street Fight)
Skipper tries to attack Brown from the entrance ramp, but chooses the wrong side and Brown attacks Skipper from behind. Brown takes his shirt off and chokes Skipper over the top rope. Skipper chokes Brown with a chain and sends Brown into the guard railing. Skipper with a nice slingshot spinning body splash on Brown on the floor with a trash can on top of Brown which only gets Skipper a two count. Brown battles back and finishes Skipper off with the Alpha Bomb onto the trash can.
After the match, Brown celebrates his win and signals for the belt.

Backstage, Goldylocks is with the Flying Elvises. Yang and Estrada do much of the talking while Sonny Siaki has his back turned and facing the wall. Siaki chimes in and puts down Elvis. Siaki tells them if they want to idolize someone or look up to someone, they should idolize the one and only Sonny Siaki.

Sixth Contest: © Low KI versus The Flying Elvises
(Four man Elimination Match NWA-TNA X-Division Championship)
Siaki starts the match with KI and manages to block a hurricanrana into a nice power bomb for a near fall. Estrada enters and connects with a standing shooting star press on KI for a near fall of his own. KI gets his knees up to block a springboard moonsault. KI with several kicks and soon locks Estrada in a dragon sleeper while in the ropes. Estrada with a nice slingshot split legged moonsault but Siaki pulls Estrada off the cover. Yang with a spinning leg lariat off the middle turnbuckle. Estrada tags in to replace KI and goes at with his own teammate Yang. Estrada takes Yang out with a somersault splash on the floor. Yang locks in a Boston Crab and Estrada taps out, although Yang went backward too much and botched the first elimination. Yang goes for the Yang Time, but Siaki crotches him on the top rope. KI finishes Yang off with the KI Krusher 99. Siaki with a impressive Samoan Drop after lifting KI up in the air. Siaki comes off the ropes but Yang kicks Siaki and KI rolls Siaki up for the win.

A video with Goldylocks interviewing Jerry Lynn in his car is shown. Lynn drives over to a shop and attacks AJ Styles who is leaving the store. Lynn places Styles in a bathtub outside of the building and says Styles will respect him.

Disco Inferno makes his way out for Jive Talking. Inferno says he doesn’t have a wrestler as a guest but rather a movie star. Inferno introduces Dean Baldwin. Naturally, Inferno asks about the bigger named Baldwin brothers. Inferno wants to know the dirt about his brothers love life. Brian Lawler comes over and says he doesn’t care about anyone but Jeff Jarrett and what he did to him. Dean Baldwin wants to know who Lawler is. Dean says that Lawler wants a autograph. Lawler proceeds to nail Dean with a right hand and ruins the set. Inferno says that next week he is going to have a huge TV star.

Backstage, security throw Brian Lawler out of the building.

Backstage, Goldylocks with the Dupp Brothers. Stan is rambling and saying that he is leaving NWA-TNA because of midgets. Bo is heart broken and doesn’t know what he can do.

Main Event: Jeff Jarrett/Ron “The Truth” Killings versus © AJ Styles/Jerry Lynn
(NWA-TNA Tag Team Championships)
Jarrett and Killings work on Lynn early on as Styles hasn’t made his way down to the ring. Styles makes his way down about thirty seconds into the ring and cleans house. Lynn goes to hit Styles but Styles ducks and Lynn clotheslines Jarrett. Styles and Jarrett battle in the ring while Killings and Lynn brawl on the floor. Styles with a springboard moonsault taking Jarrett out on the floor. Lynn with a middle rope bulldog on Killings for a near fall. Jarrett with a sit out scoop slam on Lynn to gain control for his team. Killings with a scissors kick on Lynn for a near fall. Lynn is controlled for a few moments until he plants Killings with a tornado DDT off the middle rope. Styles and Jarrett get hot tags and styles nearly connects with the Styles Clash but Killings gets involved. Styles knocks the referee out after coming off the ropes and falls to the floor. Lynn has Jarrett pinned following a reverse DDT but their isn’t a referee. Lynn spikes Killings with the cradle pile driver but Jarrett attacks Lynn and connects with the Stroke. Styles with the Spiral Tap on Killings. Another referee comes down and both referees count a three count.
After the match, Bob Armstrong comes down and immediately says the belts are held up. Armstrong also announces that Killings must defend the Heavyweight Championship against Monty Brown next week. Armstrong turns his attention to Lynn and Styles. Armstrong says that they will fight next week. Lynn wants a Falls Count Anywhere match. Styles a No Disqualification Match. Though, NO DQ is involved with a Falls Count Anywhere match. Armstrong says that next week Styles and Lynn will fight in a two out of three falls match. The first two falls will be No Disqualification and Falls Count Anywhere with the third fall being a ten minute iron man match. Bob Armstrong says that he has a surprise for Jarrett’s challenge next week.

Don West screams while promoting next weeks show. Apparently Sonny Siaki and Jimmy Yang will do battle in a two out of three falls. So, we will get two of the same matches on the same show. Brilliant.

Mike Tenay cuts Jarrett off and we go backstage where Lawler re-enters the building and chokes Jeff Jarrett while saying “I’m going to kill you.”.

My Take: I’ve been liking Truth’s promos as of late, but he was rambling and repeating the same things he has been saying for the past month. Behrens is a goof and I couldn’t take him seriously which was the clear attempt by his actions but I didn’t like it. Lawler attacking Jarrett was confusing. Is this an attempt to turn Jarrett into a baby face, possibly? Curious to hear what Jarrett may have done to Lawler. It took nearly twenty minutes to get actual wrestling this week. That’s not good as I don’t see people wanting to pay for promos. The opening bout was quite exciting and a fast pace contest, but since it was nothing but high spots it wasn’t great or anything. Hopefully Kid Kash will be in TNA for awhile. The female fan for the miss TNA crown match was good for the first fifteen seconds. After that, the match was repetitive and boring. I find it weird that Malice lost the match following his own offense move through the table. The match was uneventful and had a lot of similar moves from their match last week. The Dup Cup matches should never go beyond three minutes of action, especially with Don West screeching. This must be a hardcore wrestling edition for TNA. Not quite sure a street fight stipulation needed to be used for Brown/Skipper. Their match wasn’t really anything special anyway and Skipper wasn’t able to do his usual routine of impressive moves with a limited Monty Brown. The X-Division fatal four elimination match was a solid encounter. Siaki appears to have officially separated himself from the goofy gimmick with Estrada and Yang. TNA couldn’t get any celebrity bigger than Dean Baldwin? Dean has a celebrity name, but isn’t a celebrity if you ask me. Jive Talking was pretty lackluster this week though Inferno plays the heel well. Looks like the Dupp Brothers will no longer be in TNA, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Typical bogus finish to the main event. Usually with a finish like that a tournament will take place to crown new champions and were only nine weeks in. Hopefully Bob Armstrong gets a good surprise to fight Jeff Jarrett. Styles/Lynn should be good next week. Though, I’m sensing Monty/Killings will be lackluster because of Brown. The ending was once again centered around Jarrett. Lawler saying he is going to kill Jarrett must mean that Jarrett really screwed him over. That surprise is something that has me anxious to see what happens next.

Una volta ho sognato il paradiso. Avrò avuto vent’anni. Me lo ricordo ancora perché il mio inconscio ebbe il merito di non accontentarsi della
solita rappresentazione del paradiso fatta di nuvolette, santi barbuti con la tunica e gente con l’aureola, ma preferì virare verso lo
sperimentale. Quello che sognai ero un luogo senza consistenza, abitato da ombre luminose che sapevi essere stati persone, ma che non ne avevano più le sembianze; erano piuttosto entità che emanavano luce e pace. Il paradiso che sognai era così: non un posto, ma una sensazione di pace assoluta. Quello che ho visto fuori dal Madison Square Garden alla fine della seconda di due indescrivibili serate è la cosa che più si avvicina a quel sogno. Nel piazzale c’erano persone che si muovevano senza toccare terra ed emanavano una sensazione di quieta e assoluta pace. E non c’erano parole, perché nessuno riusciva a proferire verbo. Ho incontrato anche dei mailer, ci siamo guardati negli occhi e in quelli c’era lo specchio di come ci sentivamo, ma nessuno aveva nulla da dire. O meglio, non aveva nulla che riuscisse ad esprimere. Ci siamo guardati e quello è bastato per dire: sì, ho capito, sento la stessa cosa. Ora, a più di una settimana di distanza, dovrei e vorrei descrivere
queste due serate, ma l’impresa sembra ancora titanica. Come se nulla di quello che ho provato fosse riducibile in parole. Ed è così, infatti.
Ci proverò lo stesso.

PRIMA SERATA
La descrizione più calzante per questo primo concerto non è mia, ma della mia futura moglie. Uno dei mille motivi che fanno di questa
meravigliosa donna la mia anima gemella è la sua innata capacità di guardare il mondo con gli stessi occhi dell’Holden Caulfield di The
Catcher in the Rye: non vede il primo e più ordinario aspetto della realtà, ma il suo significato nascosto in terza o quarta fila. E’ una di
quelle rare persone che capisce benissimo che quando ti fanno un regalo, sotto sotto ti senti un po’ triste. Una di quelle persone che quando
vedono il laghetto di Central Park non possono fare a meno di chiedersi che fine fanno le papere che vi sguazzano quando d’inverno quello
specchio d’acqua diventa ghiacciato. Una di quelle persone per cui la realtà nel suo significato più evidente è terribilmente noiosa e che
quindi riesce a leggere nel mondo ciò che sfugge a noi comuni mortali. Grazie a questa dote, la mia Silvia è capace di uscirsene con frasi che
definiscono perfettamente un momento che nessun altro è capace di descrivere. E di inchiodarlo al muro con tre semplice parole.
Ed è così che nel bel mezzo dell’esecuzione di The wild, the innocent & the E street shuffle si è voltata verso di me e ha detto: “questa è un’allucinazione” Non era un’iperbole, non era nemmeno una domanda gioiosamente ironica, ma una semplice, dovuta constatazione. Mi stava informando di un fatto di per sé evidente: quella era un’allucinazione. Non aveva nulla di reale, né di palpabile. Quello cui stavamo assistendo era stato fabbricato con la materia di cui sono fatti i sogni. Il Garden si era sollevato dalle sue storiche fondamenta ed ora fluttuava da qualche
parte in un luogo che non esiste, tra l’isola che non c’è e il paese delle meraviglie. Noi eravamo lì, ma lì non era da nessuna parte.
Ho iniziato a sognare ben prima di ascoltare per la prima volta The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. Ho sognato luoghi e persone
che non c’erano sin da quando mi ricordo. Quel disco però diede un ordine e una cornice a tutta la mia fantasia. Parlava lo stesso
linguaggio, diceva le stesse cose, ma lo faceva meglio. Conoscevo già Spanish Johnny, ma non sapevo che quello fosse il suo nome. Ero già
stato mille volte in un posto come lo shore, ma ora quei luoghi avevano una consistenza. Non ero mai stato a New York, ma in fondo avevo sempre saputo come si doveva camminare per le sue strade. Quel disco mi dimostrò che al mondo c’era qualcuno che sognava nello stesso modo in cui lo facevo io. Una cosa che, a quattordici anni, mi diede un regalo unico e inestimabile: mi fece sentire meno solo.
Sono passati 25 anni e la mia fantasia non è più viva e invadente come a quel tempo; ma se voglio ricordare come sognavo allora, quale sapore e
profumo avesse la mia fantasia, mi basta riascoltare quel disco. E’ tutto lì, incapsulato in sette canzoni e lo sarà per sempre.
Essere presente all’esecuzione di Wild & Innocent ha avuto quel sapore e quel profumo, ma anche una strana forma di evanescente concretezza che solo i sogni possono avere. E’ stato come entrare in un luogo che dovrebbe essere negato ai mortali.L’unico modo che ho per descriverlo è questo: avete presente quel meraviglioso pezzo di Incident “Johnny was sittin’ on the fire escape watchin’ the kids playin’ down the street”? E’ un passaggio fantastico, c’è tutto il talento di scrivere in maniera cinematografica che aveva lo Springsteen di quegli anni. Vedere quella scena non è solo semplice, è inevitabile. Ma quella sera non si trattava solo di vederla; quella sera era come essere all’angolo di quella strada. Alzavi lo sguardo e vedevi Spanish Johnny sulla scala antincendio, lo abbassavi e vedevi i ragazzi. Avresti potuto anche parlarci, avresti potuto abbracciarli. Eri lì, con loro. Eri sullo shore mentre un ragazzo diceva addio a Sandy. E poi eri al circo, e accanto a Catlong che singhiozzava e sotto la finestra di Rosie e sulla Cadillac con Billy. Eri parte del contorno in cui si muovono i personaggi di un’opera d’arte e ballavi, camminavi, soffrivi e ridevi con loro. Ora, io potrei anche continuare e raccontarvi di come Bruce abbia incastonato quelle sette gemme sul palco, una dopo l’altra. Potrei parlarvi di come la sezione fiati ha fatto saltare il tetto del Garden su Kitty’s back o di come la sezione d’archi abbia portato New York City Serenade fino ad un livello di bellezza francamente insostenibile. Potrei dirvi e raccontarvi di quell’infinito, meraviglioso assolo alla
fine di Incident, o del passaggio tra questa e Rosalita. Potrei descrivere tanto e alla fine non dirvi niente. Sarebbero solo fatti, e
quella sera si è andati ben oltre. Una volta chiesero a Foreman se Muhammad Ali fosse il più grande pugile di tutti i tempi. Lui rispose secco: “No. Lui era più grande della boxe.” L’esecuzione di The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle è stata più grande della musica.

SECONDA SERATA
Miglior concerto di sempre.
Ok, è un’opinione e come tale personale. E in fondo vale solo per i concerti che ho visto. Però questo show è talmente in cima alla mia
personale classifica che, come si suol dire, il secondo è arrivato terzo. Faccio anche fatica a immaginare che possa esistere qualcosa di
meglio di questa serata. Ve lo scrive uno che non mette The River nella sua sacra triade di dischi di Springsteen preferiti. E’ stata una serata perfetta che ha lasciato davvero senza parole. Parole che mi mancano anche al momento. Sono tornato solo ieri da New York, ho aperto la posta, ho letto tutti i messaggi di bruce_it e ho trovato un unico reportage. Eppure di mailer presenti ce n’erano parecchi. La cosa non mi ha minimamente sorpreso. Non sapevamo come parlare di questo concerto là fuori, appena terminato e non sappiamo come farlo ora. Posso solo dirvi quanto già detto all’inizio: ci sentivamo in pace, felici, esausti. Il modo in cui ti senti quando i grandi sogni si realizzano. Insegui per una vita il concerto perfetto e ti convinci che non esista e che va bene così, perché il bello è nella ricerca. Poi un giorno il concerto perfetto ti colpisce in piena faccia e tu rimani lì, con lo sguardo illuminato, un’espressione tra il commosso e l’ebete ed una pagina bianca in cui dovresti raccontare cosa è successo, ma non hai una singola buona parola per farlo.Tutto ciò che posso fare, perciò, è lasciarvi con una serie di immagini
di queste due serate. Solo cose che ricordo. Non sono un racconto, ma mettendole tutte assieme forse sapranno darvi un’idea di quello che è stato:
- Bruce che si inginocchia sul finale di Fade away. Bruce che allontana
sempre di più il microfono dalle labbra fino a che senti l’ultimo “I
don’t wanna fade away” urlato direttamente dalla sua voce, senza
amplificazione, nel quasi silenzio dei 20.000 del Garden
- Il rumore di 20.000 mascelle che cadono all’unisono quando entra la
sezione d’archi in NYC Serenade
- Bruce che canta Crush on you e sembra chiedersi “ho davvero scritto
questa cosa?”
- Lo sconvolgente, inenarrabile, selvaggio e primordiale muro di suono
prodotto dall’E street band su Crush on you
- L’improvvisa certezza che la convenzione di Ginevra debba dire
qualcosa a proposito di un concerto che inizia con Thundercrack e
finisce con Higher and higher
- L’intero settore 338 che, tutto in piedi, canta la più commovente
Sandy che abbia mai ascoltato
- L’intero settore 338 che zittisce con inaudita violenza due donne che
interpretano NYC Serenade come un buon momento per parlare delle
caratteristiche dei rispettivi cellulari.
- L’intero Garden che alla fine di Wreck on the highway si alza in piedi
per tributare un ammirato e infinito applauso al capolavoro lungo venti
canzoni cui hanno appena assistito
- Bruce che la seconda sera su Higher & higher trascina con se i coristi
fino al palchetto centrale dietro al pit
- Le fan che con un golpe danzante si appropriano di suddetto palco su
Dancing in the dark
- Bruce che dice “so, here we go, this is The wild… the innocent…
and the E street shuffle”
- Il ruggito incontenibile del Garden alla fine di NYC Serenade e Bruce
che lo accoglie quasi spaventato
- Il Garden che “canta” l’inizio strumentale di The price you pay,
neanche fossimo a Milano
- Bruce che canticchia la melodia di Sweet Soul Music a Curt Ramm e Curt
Ramm immediatamente esegue
- Bruce che pur di non far finire Sweet Soul Music prova a inventarsi le
parole
- Bruce che alla fine di Wreck on the highway chiama Roy, Max, Garry,
Clarence e Steve a prendere l’ovazione del Garden: “These are the guys
who recorded the record. And Phantom Danny Federici”
- Nils che, dieci passi più dietro, è quello che applaude più convinto
in tutta l’arena
- L’italiano che entrando al cesso mi guarda, agita il pugno e urla “sto
per cagare al Garden!!!”
- Bruce con le maracas su I wanna marry you
- Il Garden che canta The river
- Miami Steve Van Zandt, l’unico essere umano cui dovrebbe essere
concesso di fare i cori in una canzone di Springsteen
- I can’t help falling in love with you, così, dal nulla
- Il finale infinito di Higher and higher la seconda sera, con Bruce che
balla scatenato e sembra l’uomo più felice del mondo
- Bruce che non è l’uomo più felice del mondo, solo perché io lo sono
più di lui a vederlo ballare a quel modo

And a large orange drink!

It seemed simple enough. 

I pulled into the drive thru of a local establishment for a breakfast sandwich and a caffeinated beverage this morning.  No big deal, right?

Wrong.

What happened next isn’t necessarily atypical, but it was a glaring example of how customer service is dying.

The woman in the drive thru repeated the beverage portion of my order and then began to do the same with my sandwich.  Then, she abruptly stopped and told me to drive around.

Odd.

I pulled to the window and paid.  I got my order and drove around the building toward the exit.  Some little voice in the back of my head told me to check the order.  I did.

It wasn’t even close.

What I ordered was a bisquit.

What I got was a taquito.  Or more appropriately, a breakfast taco.

How did she get “taquito” from “biscuit?”  I don’t care how bad the language barrier is, that’s not even close.

Which I guess brings me to the crux of my rant.

I’ve worked in a drive thru.  Its a pretty thankless job so I tend to give those folks a break most of the time.  However, this isn’t the first time this same woman has done this to me.  The only difference was that this time I checked the bag before I was too far gone.

The fault lies with the manager.  The audio capacity of the basic drive thru is akin to that of a tin can phone and a piece of string.  The person you put in the hole is at a disadvantage to begin with.  Why would you make it worse by putting someone who doesn’t have a secure grasp of the language in the drive thru.

Of course, the fact that the manager had the same issues, only from a different continent, when I went in to get the problem corrected told me all I needed to know.

Yes, I asked for my order to be fixed and the manager got it wrong too.

It took me three fucking tries to get a “sausage biscuit with cheese.”

Customer service people, you have GOT to do better.  If you don’t understand me, ask me to repeat myself.  I don’t mind.  It’ll be better for both of us.  Trust me.

Don’t make me shout “no huevos cabron” into the tin speaker as my co-workers suggested.  That’s only going to piss me off.

Do your job and I’ll be very pleasant.

Mess up my breakfast order again and I’m gonna go Mike Tyson on someone.  I’ll already be hungry.

Thank you and please come again.

Was half price being Paknsave’s Cheap as Tuesday.

Births:

Freddy a brother for Lily

Deaths:

Bruce Douglas

Alexander Robert

Stanley Joseph

Bruce

Geoffrey

James Ritchie

Leo Ward

John James Patrick

Paul Frank

Charles Robert

Gordon Francis

Trent Cody

Quentin

Noel Joseph

Christopher

Janet Ida

Hilda May

Margaret May

Margaret Joyce

Joyce Lillian

Patricia Irene

Margaret

Winifred Jean

May

Patricia Maud

Joy Myrtle

Yvonne Margaret

Dora Winifred

Mary Evelyn

Hazel Isobel Florence

Doris Margaret

Get out the makings for some gingerbread men as this week in the Incline MLS is S-L-O-W as molasses.

New Listings:  Total of 10 new listings, 4 condos, 3 PUDs or Planned Unit Developments and 3 Single Family Homes.

Price Changes:  Total of 13 price changes with 12 reductions and 1 increase.  Not sure what kind of market 910 Harold thinks we are in, but a $100K price increase is quite substantial.  The price reduction on 868 Rosewood Circle is a great deal and has been added to our Hot Buy List.  The upgrades on this are incredible and what a great price for like new.  Also the condo on Oriole dropping to $280 and change for 1700 sqft is fantastic.

Escrows:  Only 2 new escrows this week both in Single Family Homes.  Of these new escrows 1011 Apollo goes back into escrow, originally listed upwards of $1.5Mil and now down to $1.1 and change.  Also, 660 Tumbleweed listed at $849K is in a release clause which means they have to sell something else in order to buy this property.  Sometimes a long shot and sometimes it works out GREAT!  Good luck.

Sales:  Total of 4 sales, 1 PUD and 3 Single Family Homes.  We cannot believe it!  907 Tyner actually got $1.1Mil, this house had a crazy floorplan, but some incredible views.  We cannot wait to see what they do with it!  Vision!!!

Market Rejections:  This week 13 properties were rejected by the market.  6 condos, 2 PUDs and 5 Single Family Homes.

View all the Hot Buys in the Market right here!

from: OPG

Community resistance to hosting public need facilities such as power plants and landfills is nothing new. Governments historically have gone into communities and imposed these public need facilities on helpless citizens. Sometimes governments succeed in stifling community opposition but in other cases, communities band together to reject the proposal as was the case with the European and American multi-billion dollar nuclear waste storage plan. The same will likely apply to the storage of nuclear waste in Canada. Or will it?

The Canadian Government has opted to address the storage of nuclear waste by working with the public. On behalf of the Canadian Government, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) was tasked with developing a site choosing process which will comprise of two major components: a willing host community and a good geological site with a steady rock formation where groundwater is not easily available. NWMO is working with organizations and individuals on important principles and elements for a fair process to identify an informed and willing community to host the storage facilities.  Interested communities are invited to volunteer themselves as a potential host community. It seems that the Canadian Government is willing to cooperate and ask rather than tell. Additionally, the Canadian Government has asked NWMO to work with the host community for 8 to 10 years to discuss concerns and issues regarding storage of nuclear waste.

An aside: Canada has more than two million high-level radioactive bundles of nuclear waste that needs to be stored for approximately 10 000 years. It will cost between 16 and 24 billion dollars just to construct the storage facility. While ample research has been done to ensure safe storage of nuclear waste no one really knows what will happen within the next 10 000 years, or even the next 100 years for that matter. So who should bear the potential unknown risks of storing nuclear waste? While the Canadian Government is putting emphasis on identifying a willing host, aboriginal communities appear to be targeted. NWMO has specifically identified aboriginal consultations as a separate component of implementing a nuclear waste storage plan. Is this a good thing? Are we honourably trying to better educate and consult with aboriginals? Or are we simply trying to entice certain communities who are in desperate need of money and job opportunities? Both of which will be made available to communities who host nuclear waste. Just a thought to consider…

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/08/19/f-nuclear-waste-storage-options.html

http://www.nwmo.ca/

Welcome once again kids to our weekly recap of our myriad journeys through the internet.

This has become a highlight for all of us and we’re hoping you’re enjoying the links as much as we’re enjoying compiling them for you.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this week’s cheesecake.  The lucky lady this week is Julie Bowen currently starring on ABC’s breakout hit, Modern Family.  This is far and away the funniest new show on television and you’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not watching it.  You may also recognize Julie from Boston Legal, Happy Gilmore or, most of the GonzoGeek staff’s favorite, Ed.

Stephe and I originally had Julie slated for cheesecake duty a couple of weeks ago, but had a hard time finding the appropriate picture.  We’re sure glad we waited.  I bet you are too.

Quick piece of Modern Family trivia.  According to Wikipedia, Ed O’Neill, who plays the family patriarch, Jay Pritchett, is  a black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.  You don’t mess with Al Bundy kids.

On to the links.

1. Rock beats scissors.  Pelican beats Bugatti.
2. Dokken Radio.  Rhymes with Rokken Daddio.
3. All you gotta do…
4. Copying Risky Business is risky business.
5. In honor of the Sam Kinison concert DVD I found at Big Lots today for $6.
6. America (sadly) asked for it:  More Seth McFarlane than you can handle.
7. Super Dave Osborne on The Tonight Show – dick jokes and nut shots.
8. The trailer for Kick-Ass kicks…well…ass.
9. Will the Inglorious Basterds ride again?  Will they learn to spell?
10. Yo Sherlock!  Esquire interviews Robert Downey, Jr.
11. Evil Dead heading back to theaters in 2010.
12. And you know Ash will come armed…or handed.
13. Murderdeathkill!
14. Carrie Prejean threatens to walk out on Larry King.  Yeah, like she’s the first 20ish blonde to do that.
15. And she wasn’t having sex in that video.  Wow!  Even she can’t stand to be in the same room as her.
16. This one if for John.
17. Only if the swirls make a trio of 6’s.
18. Colts.  Patriots.  Sunday Night Football.
19. I want mine to be adorned with Hourman.
20. Take not girls.  Not all vampries are sparkly and sweet like in Twilight.
21. I blame Justin Long.  Wait!  Was that two Ed references this week?
22. Even Fox News is fact checking Sarah Palin now.
23. ED HAT TRICK!
24. Sean Hannity admits Jon Stewart was right.  In a related story, Hell freezes over!
25. He wasn’t extorting.  He was pitching.
26. Spider-Man 4 villain rumorsssss.
27. The Mayans weren’t the only ones to prophesy the end of the world.
28. David’s Iraq deployment blog.
29. And finally, something for all you golfers out there to put on your Christmas lists.

Il resoconto del concerto tenutosi a Cleveland, il 10 novembre, riportato su www.pointblankmag.com sembra presagire uno stop per la E-Street Band. Queste le parole di Bruce alla fine del concerto: “Avete visto, per l’ultima volta almeno per un po’, la leggendaria E-Street Band”. Una frase che i fans non avrebbero mai voluto nè leggere nè sentire. Che al termine del Working on a Dream Tour, la “leggendaria” si prendesse un periodo di riposo era nell’aria, ma gli interrogativi sono tanti. L’età avanza per tutti i componenti della band, ma certamente Bruce non si fermerà. Probabile una “versione ridotta” della E-street band, oppure un anno in studio per registrare un nuovo album di cui Steve parlò alcune settimane fa.

Questa la set list di Cleveland, 10 Novembre 2009

Wrecking Ball
Prove It All Night
Hungry Heart
Working On A Dream

Born To Run
Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Night
Backstreets
Born To Run
She’s The One
Meeting Across The River
Jungleland

Waiting On A Sunny Day
Raise Your Hand
Red Headed Woman
Pink Cadillac
Back In Your Arms
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Badlands

Hard Times
No Surrender
Bobby Jean
American Land
Dancing In The Dark
Can’t Help Falling in Love
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
Rosalita

Backlash Against Moozlem on Schedule

The Islamophobes have been praying to cash in on the Ft. Hood Shootings, hoping that it will result in a backlash against Muslims.  It seems this backlash is right on schedule: Jason D. Bruce, a Marine reservist, physically assaulted a Greek Orthodox priest, mistaking him for an Arab (and thus a terrorist, since we all know that Arab = terrorist); the Tampa Bay Times reports:

Tampa police: Marine reservist attacked Greek priest he mistook for terrorist

By Alexandra Zayas and Demorris A. Lee, Times Staff Writers
In Print: Wednesday, November 11, 2009

TAMPA — Marine reservist Jasen Bruce was getting clothes out of the trunk of his car Monday evening when a bearded man in a robe approached him.

That man, a Greek Orthodox priest named Father Alexios Marakis, speaks little English and was lost, police said. He wanted directions.

What the priest got instead, police say, was a tire iron to the head. Then he was chased for three blocks and pinned to the ground — as the Marine kept a 911 operator on the phone, saying he had captured a terrorist.

The “Arabic [sic] looking” victim ended up in the hospital, and Jason D. Bruce “pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery.”  When he learned that the priest was a not an Arab infidel but a God-fearing “Greek Orthodox priest,” Bruce “teared up.” Oopsie doopsie.

Hat tip: ThinkProgress.org

Tonight we begin the quarter finals.  There are only 8 fighters remaining.

Tonight’s fight is between Roy “Big Country” Nelson and Justin Wren.

Wren impressed me in his first fight by submitting UFC veteran Wes Sims in the first round.

Tonight he takes on a much tougher opponent in Nelson.  Nelson’s physique belies his abilities as a fighter, but he still hasn’t impressed Dana White.

Other happenings?

Matt Mitrione may have a concussion after his fight with Scott Junk.  OR, he might be faking it like he did the arm injury before his fight with Junk.  The house is pretty divided.  Dana White paid a surprise visit to the house to check on Mitrione.

The talk turns to who would replace Mitrione if he isn’t cleared to fight in the quarter finals.  Everyone seems to think the spot should go to Kimbo Slice.  Granted, he’s the biggest name among the eliminated fighters, but it was Scott Junk who went three brutal rounds with Mitrione two weeks ago.  If I was junk and Kimbo got the call ahead of me, I’d be pissed.  I’m just saying.

Team Rampage filled Rashad’s car with chickens (or “cocks” if you’re 12) because, well, I guess they don’t have much to do with only 1 fighter in the quarters.

Let’s go to the octagon for the match.

Wren comes out throwing.  Nelson doesn’t know what hit him, but it was several strong punches from Wren. Wren absolutely owned the first round.  He pounded Nelson mercilessly.  It was only a clench in the cage that saved Nelson from getting knocked out in my opinion.

The second round was not as clear cut.  Wren was exhasted and missed some big punches.  Nelson picked his spots and mades some good punches and kicks.  By the time the second round was over, Wren could barely hold his hands up.

Everyone in the gym was expecting a third round.

They didn’t get it.

To everyone’s surprise it was announced that the judges had reached a decision.  If I’d been Roy Nelson I would have been worried.

But despite Justin Wren’s clearly superior first round, the judges somehow gave the fight to Nelson.

JUSTIN WREN WAS ROBBED!

That fight should clearly have gone to a third round.  Its also entirely possible Wren would have gotten knocked out in that 3rd round, but he at least deserved a shot.

So, Roy Nelson is in the semi-finals and Justin Wren’s season is over.  That being said, I think his showing on TUF will get him some more looks by the UFC.

Next week its Brendan Schaub against Jon Madsen.  That one should be interesting.

The phase of the library reorganization affecting me is getting close to ending. All of the LSA3 canvass rankings have to be in by Friday at noon. Then they’ll be slotting us into the jobs according to our seniority and how we ranked the positions. We’re all tired of this whole process. Months ago a person dared to ask if they could make plans for Christmas. That person was told not to make any plans involving going anywhere because their package of hours would most likely be changed, and we’d be in our new jobs by early December. Now they’re saying we’ll be in our new jobs around the middle of February, just in time for the 2010 budget which will need us to lose more hours and we’ll do this all again next year. Well, I say we’ll do this again, but I’m not planning on being here. But still.

Winnipeg Public Library employees are being jerked around a lot, and for some reason our union doesn’t give a shit. Our union reps and management speak with one voice, telling us how much better this is than how they did it 20 years ago. I was told our only option is to elect someone else to city council because CUPE doesn’t have any political capital outside of the clean water campaign or some such thing.

And then there’s the madness of our department with Harriet and her lack of knowledge how anything in her department works. I skipped a step in a laborious task she gave me last week because it was unnecessary and would have added on an entire afternoon of work. When she found out she got me on the phone to tell me “when I ask you to do something I expect you to do it or things will be confusing” and I had to redo it. Bruce helped and it turned out that my method had produced no catastrophe. I went to tell her that that work had not needed to be done and explained why I did it the way I did and how I knew it wasn’t a problem. The explanation passed right over her head because she doesn’t know anything about how anything works in the library. And she refuses to learn. She takes pride in the fact that she doesn’t have the qualifications that would allow her to do certain tasks. Of course, her job is safe.

It’s funny how part of my reason for going to library school is spite. This whole WPL system has so much crap in it, it’s impossible to look at it and not see how things could be better. And none of us can do anything about it.

I like working in libraries but man, the Winnipeg Public Library treats its staff like shit. I cannot wait to leave. And I’m lucky I’m so low in investment in the system and that I have somewhere to go. If I was a career (non-librarian) employee of the WPL I have no idea what I would do. Hooray for still having choices in this world.

And man would it ever suck if no library school accepts me.

Com’era già noto a tutti, Bruce Springsteen ha origini italiane,ma purtroppo non si sapeva ancora con precisione da quale zona provenisse….. Finalmente grazie a ricerche effettuate presso gli archivi comunali di Vico Equense sulle origini della famiglia Zerilli, alla quale appartiene Adele, la madre di Bruce si può affermare con grande orgoglio che nelle vene di Springsteen scorre sangue napoletano. A riprova di tutto questo,in primavera sulla stampa locale è apparso un breve articolo di M. Verde. D’altra parte il 20 luglio dopo il concerto romano di Bruce, mammà Adele si è recata proprio a Vico Equense per un saluto ai parenti.

Sappiamo che il nonno paterno di Bruce era 50% olandese (lignaggio di Springsteen) e 50% irlandese (lignaggio di O’Hagen) e la sua nonna paterna era 100% irlandese (lignaggio di Mc Nicholl). Pochi sanno tuttavia che entrambi i nonni materni di Bruce (lignaggio di Zerilli) erano italiani. Quindi, sebbene “Springsteen” sia un cognome olandese, la discendenza di Bruce è per il 12,5% olandese, 37% irlandese e 50% italiana.
Infatti il suo nonno materno, Antonio, era nato a Vico Equense (Napoli) e apparteneva a una famiglia che viveva lì da circa 40 anni
.Zerilli è un tipico cognome siciliano, diffuso specialmente a Trapani e a Palermo. Potrebbe derivare dal termine greco” xeros”, che significa “asciutto – arido”, in riferimento forse alle caratteristiche del luogo di origine.
Andrea Zerilli, trisavolo di Bruce, era nato a Palma di Montechiaro (Agrigento, Sicilia) e nel 1852 nella Parrocchia dei Santi Ciro e Giovanni sposò Rosa Veniero, nipote di Luigi Serio (1744), poeta e patriota. Nella sua gioventù, Serio ottenne la fama di eccellente improvvisatore lirico, che gli procurò incarichi di poeta di corte, revisore di opere teatrali e la cattedra di Eloquenza presso la nostra Università nel 1771. Durante la Repubblica di 1799, Luigi Serio fu uno dei più ferventi patrioti, esperienza da lui stesso documentata nel suo “Ragionamento al Popolo.” Il 13 giugno, quando le truppe del Cardinale Ruffo entrarono in Napoli, Serio si precipitò a combatterle sul ponte della Maddalena e, secondo Coletta, morì sulle rive del fiume di Sebeto.
Andrea Zerilli nel 1858 conduceva un Caffè o una trattoria in Piazza Fontana (Largo Fontana) in Vico Equense. Nel 1883, era tesoriere presso l’Istituto femminile di SS. Trinità e Paradiso, ufficio che sarà ereditato poi da suo figlio Raffaele. Sappiamo anche che Andrea era un appaltatore del Dazio in Vico Equense e in Massalubrense. In Vico era inoltre direttore dell’Ufficio postale. Quando la sua famiglia si ingrandì (cinque bambini, quattro nuore più di venti nipoti) Andrea comprò un suolo dove costruì un edificio in cui vivere tutti insieme e spostare il suo “Gran Caffè Zerilli.” Nel 1897 tutti gli appartamenti furono venduti eccetto il negozio. Andrea morì in Vico Equense il 27 agosto 1901 (all’età di 74 anni) e sua moglie il primo dicembre 1912 (all’età di 81 anni).
Il suo terzogenito, Raffaele, sposò Raffaella Aiello dalla quale ebbe un figlio nel 1887 e cinque figlie tra 1885 e 1896. Il maschio fu chiamato Antonio ( che sarà il nonno di Bruce) e morirà in America nel 1977. Infatti la famiglia di Raffaele emigrò in America tra la fine di 1800 e l’inizio del 1900. Altri parenti del secondogenito di Andrea, Francesco, andarono in America nello stesso periodo tranne due figlie che lasceranno l’Italia negli anni ‘20.

Sappiamo che Antonio era un avvocato, si sposò ed ebbe quattro figlie; la più giovane era Adele Ann che sposò Douglas Frederick Springsteen, morto nel 1998. Dal loro matrimonio nacquero tre bambini: Bruce (23 sept. 1949), Virginia (“Ginny” 1950) e Pamela (1962).
Se ci potevano essere radici anche italiane in un personaggio così “speciale” come Bruce … non avrebbero potuto essere che napoletane

Posted by Audiegrl

Marine reservist Jasen Bruce charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

St. Petersburg Times/Jamal Thalji—A Marine reservist armed with a tire iron beat and chased a man he thought was an Arab terrorist and even called 911 to say he was detaining the man, police said.

But the man he assaulted was actually a Greek Orthodox priest visiting from overseas who spoke limited English, police said.

That’s why police arrested reservist Jasen D. Bruce on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Police said they’re also investigating whether Bruce, 28, committed a hate crime.

The incident took place around 6:35 p.m. Monday, police said. The priest, Alexios Marakis, 29, is from Crete, Greece. He is visiting St. Nicholas Greek Cathedral at 17 E Tarpon Ave. but police said he was in the Westshore area to bless another retired Greek priest.

Lance Cpl. Jasen D. Bruce, seen with his wife Nichole, is accused of attacking the Rev. Alexios Marakis, 29, of Crete, Greece.

But Marakis apparently got lost and exited northbound Interstate 275 into downtown Tampa, police said.

The priest followed several cars into the Seaport Channelside Apartments on Twiggs Street. He got out of his car and asked Bruce for help.

Instead of offering help, Bruce struck the priest on the head with a tire iron, police said.

He then chased the priest for three blocks to the Madison Avenue and Meridian Avenue, police said, and even called 911 to say that an Arabic man tried to rob him.

Bruce said he was going to take the Arab into custody. When police arrived, Bruce told them the victim was a terrorist.

The priest was taken to Tampa General Hospital. There, a translator helped Marakis speak to police.

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The Rev. Alexios Marakis, 29, of Crete, Greece, is carried to an ambulance after being beaten

SunCoastNews/Josh Poltilove—In a 911 call, Bruce made a derogatory comment about a man he said was a terrorist and was trying to rob him and had grabbed him in a sexual manner, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

When officers arrived, police say, Bruce told them he heard the man say “Allahu Akbar” – Arabic for “God is great.”

“That’s what they say before they blow you up,” Bruce said, according to police.

But at a news conference today, Bruce’s attorney said his client didn’t understand what Marakis said.

“Lance Cpl. Bruce defended himself with the full legality of the law for being sexually attacked and potentially robbed,” lawyer Jeffrey Brown said.

Bruce, 28, faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was released on $7,500 bail.

McElroy said Bruce “teared up when we told him that (Marakis) was a Greek Orthodox priest and not a terrorist.”

Rev. Alexios Marakis at St. Gregory the Theologian Parish in Mansfield, MA 2007

Marakis, 29, was treated at Tampa General Hospital and released. He told investigators he’s visiting St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs.

Marakis declined to comment today, saying he does not speak much English. The Rev. Michael Eaccarino of St. Nicholas said Marakis is doing well.

Before deciding whether the incident qualifies as a hate crime, police will determine whether Bruce’s motive was based on a belief that Marakis was Arabic.

The Marines Reserve will wait for the investigation to conclude before taking any action, an official said.

In 2007, Bruce was accused of pushing a tow truck driver in the back and chest when his Jaguar was about to be towed, records show. Bruce told police the truck driver had grabbed him to stop him getting in his car.


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The show opens right where my DVR cut off last week, with Rampage Jackson destroying the locker room door after Matt Mitrione beat Scott Junk by decision and put Team Rampage down 0-7.

Then we gear up for this week’s fight, the final of the first round. 

I have to admit I’ve been looking forward to this one since they showed Marcus Jones sparring several weeks ago.  Jones, a former NFL first round pick, is raw but dedicated. 

His opponent, Mike Wessel, has largely been a non-entity in the house so I don’t have a real feel for him.  Wessel tells us that his wife is battling cancer while he’s trying for a slot in the UFC.  That’s dedication on both of their parts.

We get another confrontation between Darrill Schoonover and Rampage.  Rampage offers to make amends with “Titties” before feeling him up.  Schoonover nearly snaps.  Rampage may be playing with fire.

A practical joke in the house leads to Marcus Jones going nuts.  I have to say, if you’re going to be part of the UFC I think you should have a thicker skin than that.  If “sucks balls” is more than you can handle, then maybe this isn’t for you.

Of course, come fight time, maybe I’ll be wrong.

Jones is huge.  I don’t honestly like Wessel’s chances.

Turns out, I’m right.

Rampage calls Jones’ style “Frankenstein style.”  That’s pretty apt as Jones simply manhandles Wessel, picking him up and throwing him down like a rag doll.  Jones then locks in an armbar from out of nowhere that had Wessel screaming that he gave up.

TEAM RAMPAGE FINALLY WINS! 

Final first round tally Team Rashad 7.  Team Rampage 1.

After the fight, Rampage, Rashad and Dana White meet with the 8 remaining fighters to find out who they would like to face in the quarter finals.  Then the three of them meet and decide on the matchups.

They are announced as:

• Roy Nelson v. Justin Wren
• Brendan Schaub v. Jon Madsen
• James McSweeney v. Matt Mitrione
• Marcus Jones v. Darrill Schoonover

Dana White tells the camera he let Rampage pick the fight for his one guy, a decision that did not sit well with Rashad.  No surprise he picked Schoonover.  So we have the monster taking on the serial killer in a vendetta fight.  That should be interesting.

Based soley on what I’ve seen so far, here are my picks for the next round

• Roy Nelson
• Jon Madsen
• James McSweeney
• Darrill Schoonover

Too bad for the locker room doors at the UFC training facility.