World Marks 50 Years Since the Day the Music Died

"And good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing this'll be the day that I die."

Those are the words of Don McClean, penned for the day a plane carrying Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper went down into a snow covered field in Iowa. Valens was only seventeen and Holly twenty-two. It will be 50 years ago this Monday.

In the half century following their deaths, Holly holds out as the most resilient of the three in the world's collective conscious. Songs have been written about him and everyone has sung his songs.

If you want to go by and pay your respects, the crash site is a five-mile drive from Clear Lake, Iowa and a half-mile walk off the road. It's on private property so don't get shot.

There is a memorial there with a small cross, a thin metal guitar and records. People leave flowers during the summer. Buddy Holly. Taken at such a young age, yet still one for the ages.

Kim Jong-il's Son Says "Please"

Of the few people in the world I might wish death upon, Kim Jong-il ranks right up there at the top. And it has little to do with the bad haircut.

Sure, it's a problem, but the sordid state of affairs in bass-ackward North Korea, where you can't check your email, much less your Blackberry, is beyond rapprochement.

Oh, and sometimes there's no food.

The good news is that the old man is dying, and eldest son Kim Jong-nam looks to be heir apparent to the kingdom of gnome.

He was spotted by Chinese reporters at the airport in Beijing last Saturday. When asked about his father's health Jong-nam said, “It is a principle not to comment on the health of a figure like my father, so please understand that I cannot tell you anything even if I have such information."

The son is showing potential. Kim Jong-il has never said "please."

And unlike daddy, the 38-year old son is not afraid to fly. Which speaks to the progressive contrast with a father who refuses to get on an airplane, one time taking 24 days to travel to Moscow by train.

Another thing: Father Kim is obviously delusional to the dire problems in his country, Jong-nam seems readily aware --he lives in Macau. There no doubt for the beaches, not to gamble away what little money his North Korea has.

Well, nobody's perfect. I'll take the lesser of two primevals.

Getting a piece of peace: Arab-Israeli Porn site growing popular

Add this to humanity's endless supply of fantasy: sex with the enemy! There is a new porn site featuring pictures and video of Arabs and Israelis having sex.

Achieving compromise with compromising positions. Giving new meaning to the Gaza "strip." Moses parting more than just the sea. Ok, enough.

As a good journalist I investigated. Looks to be a couple of guys grabbed a Handy-Cam and went at it with girls from a local cafe.

No estimates as yet on the popularity of the site, but they got a nice blurb this month in Playboy. The clicks are probably rolling in.

Perhaps George Mitchell should hold this up as evidence of warming relations between Arabs and Jews.

Obama of Arabia: Quick to get sand in his shoes

Anyone who ever mused on being president after a few cocktails has said, "I will just get on TV and tell it like it is." Barack Obama is doing it soberly. With the rhetoric of a man who, unlike Bush, does not sound like he was briefed minutes before an interview.

And with a sense for symbolism the new president held his first formal interview on Saudi-based network Al Arabiya, in an effort to disarm those in the region that demonize the U.S.

Where anti-Americanism amounts to an all new religion. Especially after eight years of gas and matches and cowboy rhetoric.

Obama instead spoke of broad partnerships: "It is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what's happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan. These things are interrelated."

No offense former prez George, but I can't picture you putting together a sentence that well.

Perhaps the most compelling sentences Obama spoke during the interview were those saying that he will personally address the Arab world in a speech delivered within an Arab city --in his first 100 days.

Who is this man?

In measured prose he was quick to praise the Iranian and the historical prominence of Persian culture, but was then emphatic about his unwillingness to take any of their leader's shit.

And Obama's motions towards Al-Qaeda are unique. Though no doubt helped by being anyone but Bush, Obama's open gestures leaves them little to attack rhetorically.

It is interesting watching him taking his logical lawyerly approach to language at hand and selling it in the international marketplace of ideas. Al Qaeda will eventually have to answer to the public. And as Obama said inauguration day, "You will be judged for what you create, not what you destroy."

Judging by the Al Qaeda posture as late, Obama has them shaken ideologically.

An interesting post game thought: How would McCain have handled it were he president? Though we will never know, I would be surprised if he opened a new dialogue so well.

Leaving America

Thirty days done up and gone by. Back to the East. Will be back here at my bloggin' duties soon thereafter.

Obama takes oath again, but is going to hell anyway

As conspiracy theories ran wild that Chief Justice Robert's and Barack Obama's flubbing of the oath nullified presidential legitimacy, the prudent minded "President-Almost" set things right by doing it one more time in the White House.

Now there is a stir of debate about the legitimacy of the second oath because there was no Bible present. For those of you prone to cliche' this is where you should say, "Get a life." As for myself, I am glad he didn't swear on a bible. The whole concept of swearing on a book of bronze age myths is bizarre anyway.

President O is now one of only two god forsaken presidents. John Q. Adams took the oath on a book of law.

The First Flub

The Second "Flub" (audio only)

Say good night Georgy.

Why I love the Chinese government. And why I hate it, too

What I love about China is that when it comes to the rule of law, they don't play.

By now most of you've heard that the two primary culprits in the melamine scandal have been given death sentences. Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping ran a workshop that allegedly was China's largest source of melamine used in the tainted dairy products. Six babies died and nearly 300,000 were sickened. Economies also suffered in the wake as food makers across the globe rushed to get melamine products off the shelf.

Off with their heads!

While you might bristle at my callousness, I think the Chinese government has little choice in cases like this. They are set with the difficult task of managing a country of 1.4 billion people hungry for money they have never had before and which is flowing in like water.

The Chinese philosophy is no different than that of America in the old west --when stealing a horse would cost you your life. Citizens in that era were faced with the prospect of getting rich quick, and the government had to do what it could to keep the populace in check. We evolved out of that into being a bit more forgiving of human error --hell, steal a car these days and you get a slap on the wrist.

China is not yet willing to be so lenient. Even the vice mayor of Beijing recently got the death sentence for corruption --he accepted $1 million in bribes from Olympic contractors.

The Chinese don't play.

It is estimated that China offed about 10,000 people last year through the criminal courts. The number sounds exorbitant, but when looked at in per capita measurement it is not that much higher than the U.S. --running at a rate of .07 per 100,000 people compared with America's .02. Interestingly, China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the United States account for 91% of the worlds death penalty cases. The good ol' U.S. is in some pretty shabby company, eh?

Now here is the what I hate about China.

Although footage from the trials was aired on state television, only a few hand-picked journalists were allowed to attend. Parents of the poisoned children also were kept out, and at least two were detained today in Beijing in an attempt to prevent them from traveling to Shijiazhuang for the sentencing.

If you are going to use the state as an instrument of death, the people should be fully vested with information of what is going on.

Another thing that stinks: If you read my post in late October, several government officials took great strides to cover up the melamine threat when it was discovered in early August so as not to tarnish the Olympics. They went far as to threaten editors if they ran the story.

While I am glad that the hand of justice reached the vice mayor of Beijing for the err of his ways, I think it wrong that those officials who hid the melamine threat --which increased the impact-- are getting off with no punishment at all.

China offers us an interesting view at a giant country that was a member of the third world only 15 years ago trying to evolve into a "civilized" nation. It will be curious to see how it does so in the years to come.

If it is any consolation, the vice mayor will have his sentence reduced to life in prison if he displays good behavior over the next two years.

Look forward to your thoughts.

Obamania isn't everywhere, but maybe with time

Going.com has got a very cool graphic on their site today that shows what must be nearly all of the world's newspapers with Obama beaming out from the front pages. The planet is fascinated with the incoming U.S. President like no other time before, as his approval ratings soar across the globe.

But, what about America? Even though Michael Jackson gave it his best shot, we are not the world. And while the media was all sunshine and the second-coming yesterday, many Americans outright detest the idea of Obama being in the White House.

Case in point: When I was in Florida last week visiting family, I stopped for a smoke outside the Barnes and Noble in Orlando. Two guys in their mid-thirties were sitting there on the bench talking Obama. They were the prototype white-cracker inbreeds I knew all to well from my many years living in the redneck swath of central Florida. I inserted myself into the conversation just for the fun of it.

"So how about that Obama?" I asked.

The taller of the two looked up. "He ain't even a fucking American as far as I'm concerned."

"What? Because his dad's from Africa?" I asked, sheepishly. "I guess you don't care too much for Africa, huh?"

"Oh no, I love Africa. Its the only place in the world where there are millions of niggers killing niggers."

I had no rejoinder to that other than a nod. I thought about taking him around back and castrating him with a broken bottle to avoid future generations of tainted seed, but as he pedaled off on his ratty little Schwinn I hoped the narrow bike seat would impede his seminal flow.

This sort of interaction wasn't unusual in the 10 days I spent in Florida and in Alabama. I heard everything from "Obama is the Anti-Christ," to "Blacks are going to take over the country," along with other assorted nonsense --like jokes saying that Obama will turn the Rose Garden into a watermelon patch.

But worry not, gentle reader, there is actually a bright side: Nearly all of those I spoke to that were weary of, or downright hated the idea of an Obama presidency, thought that Sarah Palin was a complete moron. And that is indeed the ray of hope to be gleaned from the the otherwise darkened intellect of their minds.

One thing you have to understand about the south is the vicious circle that the blacks and white there are in. Just as countless observers have mused that the Obama election will offer a great role model for black Americans to aspire to, by the same token he will show racist white Americans that a black person is well worthy of their respect and, well... is actually a person.

Like it or not, the fact is that whites have been suppressing blacks for generations; so it stands to reason that many blacks, denied basic human integrity, will have often have little in the way of admirable behavior. Or as Chris Rock put it, "There are black people and there are niggers."

Accordingly, I can assure you, there are white people and their is white trash. And apparently they hang out in front of the Barnes and Noble in Orlando smoking cigarettes. They are also in offices and churches, hospitals and schools, talking amongst themselves about the dangers of Obama.

As grim as it sounds, I am fully confident that with time Barack Obama will win their respect and little by little age old prejudices will be set aside. While black leaders such as Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice and Clarence Thomas have made inroads into the worried white intellect, they did so with the caveat that they were conservative Republicans.

Yet, barring any major catastrophes, I am optimistic for a future where racist preconceptions will be erased and conservative whites will hate liberal leaders such as Obama not for the color of their skin, but solely for their political philosophies.

A morning of election coverage: The inauguration of Barack Obama.

On holiday visiting my folks, I awake at 6:41 A.M. Pacific Standard Time and somehow manage to find CNN with my father's 3 remote controls.

David Gergen is talking about how America should be thankful for such a "peaceful transition of power." And yet the image on the screen is of Obama getting out of the most heavily armored limousine in the world.

I switch over to FOX. They are talking about the cordiality of the outgoing Bush towards the incoming Obama and then slam Clinton for not being so kind. Even CNN's Gergen jokes earlier that Clinton was "holding onto the curtains."

"While it is not supposed to be about race, it is inescapable," a FOX corespondent notes, pointing out that until 22 years ago when a statue of MLK was placed in the Rotunda there was no significant representation of African Americans in the capital. Other than the common folk, I suppose.

I scan for BBC. Can't find it. Back to FOX. Correspondent in the crowd interviewing delegate from the Virgin Islands holding an OBAMA license plate. After a few questions and answers about his journey to the inauguration, correspondent asks if it is a real license plate and quips, "I just want to make sure you are not breaking the law."

Back to the FOX anchors and a shot of Dustin Hoffman. The term "Hollywood Types" is tossed out in less than ten seconds. Ahhh, FOX.

Back to CNN. Gergen deploying his favorite line, regardless of the occasion, saying, "I don't think I recall something such as this," for the umpteenth time, while Wolf Blitzer cringes. I top my coffee off with Bailey's --88 minutes 'til oath.

Back to FOX as a commentators says, "We do know he (Obama) is quite inspiring to those who believe what he is talking about." Geez.

Following a coffee in the Blue Room between the incoming and the outgoing presidential couples, Michelle O and Laura B, come out together. Michelle O, is a freakishly Michelle Wie kind of tall woman next to Laura B.

Cheney is wheeled out in a wheel chair. Supposedly his wife asked him to move a box earlier this week and he threw out his back. I smell gunpowder.

Bush and Obama emerge from coffee. Look to be no spills on their clothing. Obama has a serious look on his face and Bush has that classic grin and that jerking laugh where his shoulders jump up and down like he is trying to get dandruff off his shoulder without using his hands. I realize I will miss Georgy-boy for his unprecedented presidential entertainment value.

There is a certain majesty to this moment, engaged in a peaceful transfer of power. I am reminded, I am not in Zimbabwe. A little sip of Baileys and a toast to Mugabe slipping in the shower --a place I have yet to see this morning as I wallow in my filth in the light of political history.

As the motorcade carrying Bush and Obama takes a bipartisan route down the center of Pennsylvania avenue, FOX tells me that security is at an all time high. All of the overhead traffic lights have been taken down, the trash cans have been removed, as well as the mailboxes. Manhole covers have been welded shut. I hearken back to talk of the peaceful transition and Reagan's view that there is only "peace by strength." Bring on the Howitzers.

Interestingly, Jefferson was the only president to ever walk the full route. I guess with such a long run for president they are too tired to walk?

The Justices are introduced. Chief Justice John Roberts, who will swear Obama in, leads them, followed by the others including Clarence Thomas --who I forgot was black.

Roberts, who was appointed by Bush will be watched closely. As Barack O. was one of the 22 Democrats to vote against his confirmation. Will Roberts go for a sucker punch before it is considered a presidential crime?

CNN's Wolf Blitzer says that this "could be" the most watched television event in world history. Cool, but I have Baileys and matching socks. America is truly great.

Former Vice Presidents come through the entrance to the podium area. Dan Quayle still has that foolish boyish grin. I see Al Gore wearing a heavy coat as the earth around DC has significantly cooled. Tipper is at his side. I start humming "Darling Nikki" by Prince.

Now the former presidents. Jimmy Carter looks great. Need to add peanuts to my diet. Here come the Bush Daughters. I take a sip of Baileys in their honor remembering their alcohol consumption during the early years of the Bush presidency and all of America's in the latter part.

The First Lady of Soul, Aretha Franklin comes out. A part of me hope she skips the National Anthem and instead sings, "Think."

There's Bill and Hill. Hillary looks a little upset. She was supposed to be confirmed by the Senate today but a sole Republican, John Cornyn from Texas, decided to hold it up until tomorrow. Ouch.

Crowd looks diverse but mostly black. Since Obama is half black, half white should the crowd reflect that? I notice his color is similar to Baileys and Coffee. Cheers.

Here comes Georgy-Boy. I am waiting for the crowd's reaction. Seems mixed. But can't get down on the man today. What's done is done. Cheers to George W. Bush. Who would have wanted that job?

Here comes Barack Obama. Very serious look on his face. The anticipation must be eating him alive. Looks confident in his burgundy power tie. He is announced, finally he smiles, a million little American flags wave. He looks good. Presidential.

Shot of the crowd: Elderly white woman standing next to young black woman in hip hop garb. Both chanting "O-bama! O-bama!" Wild stuff. Did my alarm really go off or am I in a REM sleep delusion?

"The world is watching today for this peaceful transition of power," says Senator Diane Feinstein from the podium. I remember when she was the mayor of San Francisco. My how far she's come. A future transition for her to the Oval Office? Her husbands $600 million Army contract could cause problems.

Rick Warren makes the call to prayer. Excellent prayer. My first tears shed. Wonderful words. As much as I criticize religion, one hell of a prayer, except the end about us all being "one day accountable to god." And he had to work Jesus' name in there, didn't he? What about Buddha and Mohamed or even Zeus? America still has a way to go in erasing her prejudice against other deities. At least we have a Baileys-colored president. Little by little.

Then an angel appears. Aretha. She nails "My country 'tis of thee," with a nice little group of backup singers. Someone should have talked to her about that nutty hat though.

Biden takes the oath followed by a performance by Iztak Pearlman, Yo Yo Ma and Anthony McGill. I am surprised to see a black McGill. At one point in my youth, I thought I was the only one.

Onto the oath. Justice Roberts fumbles the opening line and Obama the second line. For Roberts, who is supposed to be well versed in the Constitution it is a bit awkward, but it is nice to see that Obama is indeed human! And now the President of the United States of America. In the distance they fire several howitzers. Once again emphasizing the peaceful transition of power. Boom.

Obama starts his speech. Thanks Bush. Then gives a solid delivery with veiled criticisms of Georgy-Boy, who shifts in his chair and seems to bristle. Fair enough.

The line I liked best in the speech: "Starting today we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin the remaking of America." Has a Jay Z-esque feel to it. Nice.

All done. He's in. Best of luck to the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama.

I am going back to sleep.

Is Obama the Dark Knight sent to save the "shining city upon the hill"

Way back when, in 1630, Puritan preacher John Winthrop christened America, then known as the "New World," as the "shining city upon the hill."

As with so many leaders through the ages Winthrop's inspiration sprang forth from the "word" of god. In this case, the Bible, Matthew 14:5 which reads, "you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."

The idea that America is the one hope for a benighted world mired in a journey through the darkness has long been a favorite trope of politicians. And "the shining city upon the hill" quote has found its way into the speeches of JFK and most famously Ronald Reagan. Even Sarah Palin evoked the words during the 2008 vice-presidential debate and later campaign speeches.

But with Obama taking office following the 8-year debacle that was Bush, one could say that he is taking helm of the shining city upon the ill.

Much is expected of the man and the ubiquitous feeling of "hope" the chosen vehicle with which people are counting on him to get up that hill and restore the supposed beacon shining forth from America out into the world.

When Obama steps to the podium and places his hand upon the same bible used by Abraham Lincoln when he took the oath during the troubled times of a nation divided, the whole world will look on in starry-eyed wonder, wondering whether or not he will live up to the enormity of expectation.

While I am a fond fan of conjecture, I am going to sit this one out and just enjoy tomorrow's Obama show. Where he leads us from there no one knows. It is surely open for debate as to whether America is indeed a much needed beacon in the night, but one thing is for certain: All the hopes, the dreams and the aspirations of an entire country and much of the world will at once focus on one man, in one place at one time tomorrow at noon.

And though some will have their doubts, most all of us will for a little time get that warm feeling inside. Tears will be shed, and hugs will abound. And for even the briefest of moments that feeling of hope will indeed rise up. That feeling that helps us keep going even in the midst of the darkest hour.

Best of luck President Obama.

Flashback one year ago: Obama's Top Ten Promises on Letterman

Will he keep them? Or is he just another lying politician like da rest of dem bums? Only time will tell, but don't hold your breath. Well maybe you should; lest ye smell the stench of a blogger to lazy to write an entire post today whilst in the midst of vacation. See ya in a couple of days.

January is Stalking Awareness Month

After initially confusing it for a celebration of upright plant life, I realized this was actually the month when we take note of those amongst us in America who just don't know when to give up: The Stalker.

I Wikied "stalker" and learned that: "The perpetrators may or may not have malicious intent. Stalkers may even have a sincere, but misguided belief that their victims love them, or have a desire to help the victims."

Almost has a Hallmark moment feel to it, but all joking aside, stalking is a serious problem. While I know several men who long for the day when a woman stalks them, it is most often a grave nuisance and, at times, life threatening.

According to national statistics more than 1,000,000 women and 400,000 men are stalked everyday. Stalking was first criminalized in 1990 in California, and within the next three years every state in the Union had classified stalking as a criminal offense.

Social scientist break stalkers down into these categories:

Rejected stalkers - These are the folks who have been 86'd by the target and feel a strong desire to avenge that "wrongful thinking."

Resentful stalkers - The resentful stalker is motivated mainly by the desire to frighten and distress the victim. Probably for being rejected. Could've just merged it with the first category.

Intimacy seekers - Suffer the delusion that the target is their "soul mate" or some other romance novel personification of "meant to be."

Incompetent suitors - Most often lacking any game whatsoever in the area of amour, yet feel a sense of entitlement to an intimate relationship. Their victims are most often already in a dating relationship with someone else.

Predatory stalkers - The most dangerous of the lot. Those that spy on the victim in order to prepare and plan an attack – usually sexual – on the victim.

If you or someone you know falls under any of these categories, or you yourself feel that you have become the Sun in someone's otherworldly behavioral orbit, please call the national stalker hot line at 1-866-689-HELP. If they can't help, then contact me. I will organize a posse and we will string the son-of-a-bitch up quick like.

And remember: When you were a kid and they told you, "Winners never quit and quitters never win," that doesn't apply to all areas of your life.

Obama off to bad start: Jonas Brothers to play inauguration

The "message of hope" is looking more like the "message of rope" --with which I will hang myself rather than sitting through the Jonas Brothers performing at the presidential inauguration concert.

Have we no sense of symbolism amidst one of the most symbolic swearing ins in American history? And Miley Cyrus? Geez.

Come on Mr. President Elect. America is filled with truly talented musicians, why not trot out our best and brightest? What about someone like Ben Harper? Wouldn't he fall more in line with the starry-eyed optimism that you rode to the White House? Instead you go with someone like Jay Z.

There is a fine message to send to the world. I like Jay Z, but shouldn't we lay off his standard theme of money, greed and bitches, since that (minus the bitches) was exactly what got us into the financial mess we are in? Oh, wait, that's right --the mess we are in is the primary reason you got in to the Oval Office. My bad. Let's hug it out.

It isn't so dire, I suppose. Stevie Wonder is gonna be there, John Cougar Mellencamp, John Legend, The Boss and U2 --wait, they aren't even American. Oh well, We are the World.

According to officials from the Lincoln Center, which will host the 2-hour concert, none of the artists will be performing their original songs. While that is good news to my ears regarding the Jonas Brothers, I can't imagine not hearing Stevie sing "Higher Ground," or JCM doing "Little Pink Houses," and of course, The Boss' "Born in the USA."

I say put a boom box at center stage and play Credence Clearwater Revival's greatest hits. Fogerty's words came to mind when I saw the Jonas Brothers topping the bill. "There's a bad moon on the rise."

It's all over now Baby Bush

When George W. steps down from the podium this morning following his final press conference, you can be certain that he will be the most relieved man in the world. He will have that look on his face as if a surgeon has just informed him that his life-ending illness was misdiagnosed and he would in fact live a long, normal life, with both testicles intact.

And upon finishing that final press conference he will take the path from the podium to the door --which will hopefully be unlocked. And, once passing through, he will be applauded on the other side by his staff; Laura will give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek; he will say a few words, and then walk through the West Wing on into the Oval Office as those left clapping behind him scurry back to their desks to send out more resumes.

Once in the Oval Office, Georgy Boy will close the door behind him, ask to have a few minutes alone, just him and the room. He will walk over to his desk and notice several men huddled there behind, installing the Internet connection needed for what will be the first computer ever on the desk of a U.S. President.

He will joke with the service men as they finish up and leave. Once they've gone he will look around and take it all in. Look at the chair at the head of the two couches where he co-hosted many a meeting with Dick Cheney. He will wonder to himself, for a moment, whether he should have been more assertive, whether he could have done more to reign Dicky Boy in. The thought will fade from his mind. Nothing he can do about it now.

He will then run his hand along the edge of the desk, feeling the smoothness of the grain against his palm, until it reaches the place where the service men placed the mouspad and the mouse. He will jiggle the mouse a bit, maybe even make shooting noises as if he was aiming a laser gun at Osama bin Laden.

The screen will alight and prompt him to enter a password. He will. But it just won't work.

NCAA should have stopped Tebow's religious display

If you saw Tim Tebow last night in the Florida Gators' victory for the national championship with the Biblical verse "John 3:16" emblazoned on his face for national television, you had to wonder if the NCAA stands for the "National Collegiate Athletic Association," or the "National Christian Athletic Association."

They should have never let him go on the field like that.

It is not the first time. Tebow has suited up with other Biblical verses written under his eyes and the NCAA has done nothing about it. But if a Muslim, a Jew, a Buddhist or an atheist were to hit the field promoting their religion or lack thereof, the proverbial shit would hit the proverbial fan. Prodigiously.

There is the saving grace that at least Tebow comes off as a doofus when speaking on camera --which a great majority of religious provocateurs of any faith generally do.

Once again, the gods show a lack of ability to divine the right pitchman from the wrong pitchman. Nothing new there. But when a century old institution like the NCAA endorses it by allowing it to happen, that crosses the line.

Religious faith should be a personal thing. Keep your god to yourself in America. Even the Founding Fathers --Thomas Jefferson most notably-- were highly critical of the actual sanity of Christians. In short: this is not, as many attest, a country founded on Christianity.

Jefferson once wrote: "The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter"

Interestingly. the first country to recognize the U.S. as a sovereign nation was Morocco --a Muslim nation. In the first treaty with the Moroccans, the U.S. government was quite explicit that America was not a Christian nation. It was founded on secular terms.

This is not about me condemning faith. This is about the right place and the right time for expressing those views. And since the NCAA is supposed to be a non-partisan, educational entity, they should not allow expressions of faith to take place within their domain --the field.

And seriously, when Tebow thanks "god" for victory, is he saying that his god loathes the other team so much that he forced them to lose?

I look forward to your comments.

Go Gators! Back home in Florida for the game.

As some of you may know, I am in Florida for 10 days visiting friends and family. And what great timing to be back home in the Sunshine State with the weather in the 70's, old Live Oak trees everywhere dangling their clumps of Spanish Moss, and the Florida Gators on the tube tonight for the national championship. Life is good.

I have a long history with the Gators. My family first moved to Gainesville from Maryland when I was six years old. My father was going back to school at the University of Florida, so we lived in "married housing" on campus.

One Saturday I was playing out in the yard when I heard this immense roar. I ran inside half crying to my mom. She said, "Don't worry, it's just the Gator game!" Little did I know that the stadium was only a few blocks away.

Our neighbor in married housing was an offensive lineman for the Gators. One day he took me to practice and the head coach at the time, Doug Dickey, gave me a Gatorade --which was invented at the University of Florida in 1965-- from the team cooler. Ever since then I was hooked on Florida football, but living abroad these past few years I haven't had the chance to see them play much. Well, all that changes today --I am MF-ing here!

My brother and I are going to go redneck style: Put the TV in the back yard, drink mass Budweisers, eat greasy food and cheer the boys in orange and blue. Gonna get crazy. I hope his wife doesn't make us stay out there all night.

Many a good Gator memories (even when they really stunk) have come and gone over the years, and I am looking forward to adding one more this evening when the Gators whip up on the Oklahoma Sooners.

Their victory has been preordained. As the bumper sticker says here in Florida: "God must be a Gator. Because the sun is orange and the sky is blue."

Five former presidents meet. Are we screwed?

When I first read that Presidents Carter, Bush, Clinton, Bush and soon to be president, Obama, were meeting at the White House, I immediately imagined the worst. Usually former presidents only gather for anniversaries or funerals.

Since there are no anniversaries to celebrate, I wondered if this was a funeral in honor of the dead American economy with no hope of resuscitation. Not to be Chicken Little, but the thought did cross my mind.

Then, when I saw Jimmy Carter grinning that grin, I felt some sense of comfort. Among the men there in the Oval Office today, Carter is the only one that I place some measure of trust. He is by far the best post-president president. Sure, Clinton has his charity that collects millions of dollars for the impoverished and diseased ridden, but it comes off as more of a glamor show of the charity elite.

Carter, on the other hand, is out there rolling up his sleeves and building houses for humanity. Gotta respect that. And there he was smiling along side the others. The fact that his countenance wasn't grim gave me a sigh of relief that we are not in fact screwed. Then again it could be senility --a reasonable assertion with Carter ever since he told Playboy magazine that he had "lust" in his heart during the 1976 presidential campaign. I digress.

Ever the cynic, I still wonder. Although this could just be Obama being Obama; a man who --for the moment at least-- seems sincere in his quest to garner as many differing opinions as possible and then making the decision he feels best suited for the situation.

Then again we could be screwed.

Ben Affleck has his second daughter! Who cares?

Wow, great, oh boy! Ben Affleck and his wife Jennifer Garner are the parents of yet another little bundle of Hollywood joy.

Why do I care? I don't. But, as I am back in America on holiday, I can't help but notice all of the "news" on the newsstands jumping out at me.

The big thing now on several covers is the all consuming debate of which celebrity looks worse in a bikini. Some of the photos (thankfully none of Affleck) are quite riveting, most certainly eye catching, and have led me to conclude that if I am learning anything from my trip back to the states it's that cottage cheese is not just for breakfast anymore. It is open game on the magazine cover parade --where your cottage-cheese-ass becomes fodder for millions of aspirants waiting on grocery lines with their cart full of calories.

And there's the "Second Annual Best and Worst Celebrity Diet List," where Oprah took a harsh lashing from the critics while Britney S. has been resurrected from celebrity death to the queen of successful dieting --a role model for us all. Wasn't she in hot water just last year for abusing her children by not feeding them enough or some other egregious offense like poor hygiene? Attention span, attention span, redundant, redundant... oh yeah. That's right!

My observations are nothing new. This complaint has been lodged by us all as we flip through the lurid pages with utter joy while waiting our turn to have our Hersey Bar scanned. And while I too am a closet lover of celebrity cheese in all its varied forms, it occurs to me that their used to be Time and Newsweek magazines at the checkout line and that I used to sometimes flip through those as a boy. And that there used to be some limit into how far the media would intrude. But wait, did you hear? Ben Affleck had another daughter!

Wow. America. Truly the greatest country on earth.

The Week We View: January 4th

-The Chinese government is cracking down on pornography. Government agencies will work on a campaign to "purify the Internet's cultural environment and protect the healthy development of minors." Does this really make sense in a country with that many people? If they can really manage to stamp out pornography, look for China's population to triple over the next 50 porn-less years.

-In honor of the passing of George W's presidency, AP News released a list of the top "Bushisms" from the past 8-years. My favorite, from 2004: ""Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." I, for one, will miss you, Georgy Boy. Thanks for your service.

In fairness to Bush Boy, Democrat Caroline Kennedy is not much better with the English language. How about this lovely piece of prose from the daughter of JFK: "You know, I think, really, um, this is sort of a unique moment, both in our, you know, in our country's history and in, you know, my own life, and, um, you know, we are facing, you know, unbelievable challenges." She said, "you know" 30 times in a two and a half minute speech. You know?

-Looks like Al Franken is going to get the seat in Minneapolis. This after a grueling recount showing that of the 3 million or so ballots cast, 225 of them liked Al Franken better --or simply marked the ballot wrong. Democracy in action, baby.

-Sad to see that Apple's Steve Jobs is suffering from health problems. Few men have had more influence on our lives when it comes to technology. This could be the final showdown between Bill Gates and Jobs as one of them goes to find out whether god uses Mac or PC.

-Scientist at the University of Arkansas will begin testing a breast cancer vaccine. Nice to see such promising developments coming out of Arkansas; a state whose motto is: "Well, at least we're not Mississippi!"

-Geez... you gotta feel for John Travolta. His 16-year-old son, Jett --who has a history of seizures-- had one over New Year's and died when he fell and cracked his head on the bathtub. Tragic way to start year.

-For the first time in several months a noted but little known blogger took a few days off over the new year. Why this is news I am not sure, but there it is.

-The U.S. Army announced it will relax weight restrictions on new recruits. Upon hearing the news there was a mad rush by high school boys to Taco Bell looking to ensure they exceeded the new requirement.

-Former president and father of the future former president, George H.W. Bush is pushing for his other son, Jeb Bush, to be the next president. While I think Jeb would do much better than his brother, doesn't George Sr. seem a tad greedy? One son is well above the quota, I'd say. The elder Bush had a great line during the interview, "Just because you're an old guy, you don't need to sit around sucking your thumb drooling in the corner." Who gave him that idea?

-A bit more controversy leading into the inaguration as to whether Rick Warren will invoke the name of Jesus Christ during the prayer. There was criticism and even a law suit when the name was invoked during the 2001 swearing in of George W. While I certainly do not want to hear it at the swearing in, I do expect to hear the name from Barrack Obama when he realizes what a mess he is inheriting.

-And finally, a woman in London gave birth on the subway. Though the baby can't speak yet, I was hoping to get her take on the state of economic affairs. Did she in fact see any light at the end of the tunnel?

Day 2: The world is still here

I am happy to report that the world is still here. While you are there, I am here and everyone is wherever, at least we can safely say that we are all somewhere on the second day of 2009.

The doomsayers, will have to wait a few more days, months, years or at least until I have exceeded my credit limit.

I am on vacation now in California visiting my family, and will head to Florida next week for 10 days of the same. Haven't been in the states for 2 years after having been in Asia, writing, teaching and spending way too much time blogging.

Things are a bit different than when I left. My father lives in Cupertino, which is in the center of Silicon Valley. The most noticeable change here is that there are many more Chinese in the neighborhood than before. My brother says they are about 50% of the total population now. They come to Cupertino for the good schools and engineering jobs.

The place is much quieter and much cleaner than I remember. Talking to some of my old friends (mostly white folks and Mexicans) I can hear a bit of disdain in their voices for the Chinese "occupation." I laugh and say, "Well, this place was run down before. You should be thankful the Chinese have come in and cleaned the place up!"

A look of despondence washes over their face at the truth of the statement.

In the 60's many American urban areas experienced what was known as "White Flight." White folks uncomfortable with the increasingly diverse cities, fled --along with their money-- to the outskirts of town. Now they are leaving because they can't afford to stay, as the influx of foreign money has driven the housing prices up.

And the Chinese want nothing to do with the native white folks. They have their own stores, their own places of worship, and their own little world in which they feel little need to associate with the natives.

Ahhh, the sweet irony. Seems so similar to the Europeans going west, pushing out the Native Americans. What was then going around is now coming around.

To those of you who made it through the year and to those of you who didn't wherever you are...

Happy New Year~