Lang Wiseman: Random Thoughts

Josh Hamilton -- "I'm proof that hope is never lost."

2010-10-29T07:32:00.001-05:00

The personal story of Texas Rangers centerfielder, Josh Hamilton, is quite powerful. He overcame drugs, alcohol, and a life of destructive personal choices to resume his baseball career and make himself into an All-Star and propel his team into an unlikely spot in the World Series. As he describes it: "I'm proof that hope is never lost."

More on his story at ESPN.com by clicking here.

More on his personal journey in his own words in the video:

Political Math | Movie Quiz

2010-10-28T10:19:00.000-05:00

This amazing math quiz can predict which of 18 famous movies is your favorite:

Pick a number from 1-9
Multiply by 3
Add 3
Multiply by 3 again
Now add the 2 digits together
Find the number in the list below to reveal your favorite movie

Movie List
1. Gone With The Wind
2. E.T.
3. Beverly Hills Cop
4. Star Wars
5. Forrest Gump
6. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
7. Jaws
8. Grease
9. The Defeat of Obama in 2012
10. Casablanca
11. Jurassic Park
12. Shrek
13. Pirates of the Caribbean
14. Titanic
15. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
16. Home Alone
17. Mrs. Doubtfire
18. Toy Story

(Hat tip to Abby Braddock!)

Friday Quotes

2010-09-24T10:01:00.000-05:00

"Speak only if it improves upon the silence."
-- Mahatma Gandhi

"I reject your reality and substitute my own."
-- Mythbusters

"Nobody spends somebody else's money as carefully as he spends his own. Nobody uses somebody else's resources as carefully as he uses his own. So if you want efficiency and effectiveness, if you want knowledge to be properly utilized, you have to do it through the means of private property."
-- Milton Friedman

Charity -- Liberal Style...

2010-09-22T09:25:00.002-05:00

Interesting post over at The Munchkin Wrangler blog: Fueling Your Private Jet with Pure Hypocrisy

Bono’s charity, ONE, is the poster child for feel-good limousine liberal activism. In 2008, they took in $14 million in donations, and disbursed a mere $184,000 (or 1%) to charities. A whopping $8 million (or 57%) of those donations went to executive and employee salaries. Meanwhile, ONE spends a bunch of cash sending expensive schwag to New York newsrooms to make them help convince the government to cough up $6 billion of taxpayer cash to fight AIDS and tuberculosis in Africa.

That’s the Berkeley Way right there: take in donations, take a sixty percent cut for yourself off the top, and spend most of the rest on stuff on Starbucks coffee and Moleskine notebooks to woo reporters. ... Now, I’m not slamming charity here. But what Boner and the other limousine liberals just like him are practicing isn’t charity. It’s self-congratulatory (and lucrative) grandstanding.

One percent actually went to charity? Seriously?

(Hat tip to my friend Michael Silence over at the No Silence Here blog.)

Some of my earlier blog posts on this general subject:
Pretend Charity and Generosity
Giving Away Other People's Money Doesn't Mean That You're Generous

Shakedown: Political-Style

2010-09-16T12:46:00.001-05:00

Below is the text of a voicemail left by Democratic Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Listen to the audio and read a breakdown of the legal/ethical issues implicated by clicking here.

This is, uh, Eleanor Norton, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Uh, I noticed that you have given to uh, other colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I am a, um, Senior Member, a twenty year veteran and am Chair of the Sub-committee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. I’m handling the largest economic development project in the United States now, the Homeland Security Compound of three buildings being built on the uh, old St. Elizabeth’s hospital site in the District of Columbia along with uh, fifteen other, uh, sites here for, that are part of the stimulus.

I was, frankly, uh, uh, surprised to see that we don’t have a record, so far as I can tell, of your having given to me despite my uh, long and deep uh, work. In fact, it’s been my major work, uh, on the committee and sub-committee it’s been essentially in your sector.

I am, I’m simply candidly calling to ask for a contribution. As the senior member of the um, committee and a sub-committee chair, we have (chuckles) obligations to raise, uh funds. And, I think it must have been me who hasn’t, frankly, uh, done my homework to ask for a contribution earlier. So I’m trying to make up for it by asking for one now, when we particularly, uh, need, uh contributions, particularly those of us who have the seniority and chairmanships and are in a position to raise the funds.

I’m asking you to give to Citizens for Eleanor Holmes Norton, PO Box 70626, DC, 20024. I’ll send you a follow-up note with appreciation for having heard me out. Thanks again.

Nothing short of old-style political shakedown.

Is the political culture so far gone that we fail to see any lines at all anymore? Or that it's become such an engrained way of life that a United States Congresswoman apparently has no hesitation in leaving a message like that (i.e. evidence) on somebody's voicemail?

According to the Wall Street Journal today, even the lobbyists are "privately complaining about getting undue pressure to contribute to House Democrats, who are frantically dialing for dollars to save their House majority."

I mean, even the lobbyists are now complaining? Wow...

Unbelievable! 1 ft Square Surgical Sponge Left in Patient!

2010-09-15T14:22:00.001-05:00

This type of thing DOES happen from time to time, folks. It's not just trial lawyer boogeymen, make-believe type stuff.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Enjoy Every Moment With Your Kids

2010-09-14T17:36:00.000-05:00

Thinking about my sons today...

"The days are long, but the years are short."
--from The Happiness Project blog

Watch a short video here.

Recall my "marble jar" blog post here.

Another good blog read: How to Be Happier: Ten Tips for Being a More Light-Hearted Parent

What 14 Stitches in Your Fingers Looks Like (warning: photos)

2010-09-12T15:30:00.000-05:00

I went camping with my son Luke this weekend with our church youth group. While playing a game in the dark, I started to fall near a little ditch and reached up to grab something to steady myself.

Well.....that "something" turned out to be a jagged piece of metal!

Lots of people have asked, so I've included some post-stitches photos from the ER, as well as some answers to some of the most common (and inevitable) questions:

Did it hurt?
Absolutely! Although the 6 pain block shots (2 at the base of each finger) were the worst part.

Did it bleed?
Like a stuck pig.

How many stitches?
14 total -- 4 on the middle, 5 on the ring (in 2 spots), 6 on the pinkie.

How long will the stitches be in?
2 weeks

Can you type, drive, etc.?
I'm hampered and slowed a bit, but I can do everything pretty well except type. So I apologize in advance if I have a hard time responding to Emails, messages, etc.

Thanks to everyone at camp for being so helpful, especially Ty Jones for taking me to the ER and hanging out with me for a few hours. It made for a memorable weekend, and the kids loved seeing the stitches! My new nickname is Frankenfingers!

Interesting Post-Election News Coverage of the Republican Sweep

2010-08-17T15:45:00.000-05:00

Here are some links to some interesting articles following the local elections:

Post-Election, Political Leaders Talk Turnout (The Memphis Daily News: Monday, August 16)

Shelby County GOP chairman Lang Wiseman said the discussion begins and ends with who was on the ballot.

“It just wasn’t even close,” Wiseman said. “Five of the Democratic candidates had already run for that very same office and lost. They’d already been rejected by the voters once.

“Two of them had actually been in that office and were booted out by the voters,” he said, a reference to Democratic contenders Shep Wilbun and Minerva Johnican.

Dem Leaders Prepare for Legal Challenge (The Memphis Daily News: Friday, August 13)

Meanwhile, local Republican Party chairman Lang Wiseman said he, too, has concerns about the voting problems. He heard from Republicans on Election Day who had similar problems.

“Of course, this is what you expect the Democrats to say. What else do they have to hang their hat on at this point?” Wiseman said. “But it’s a serious issue when there’s a glitch like that. It shouldn’t have happened. And they need to get to the bottom of why it happened. It’s not something that should be tolerated.”

Wiseman drew a distinction, however, between the problems voters had and the problems even some Democrats have conceded stem from a low turnout for a slate of candidates that failed to excite enough of the Democratic base.

“Let’s address the (voting) problem for what it was. Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Wiseman said. “But let’s not say the sky is falling because we all know it is not. … At the end of the day, people voted.”

Back From Hiatus

2010-08-10T13:55:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a while because I've spent every spare ounce of creative effort and time working on the recent elections. What a month! I can't even begin to describe how gratifying the experience has been!

Anyway, I'm sorry for the extended time off, but my goal is to get back in the groove of regular blogging over the course of the next few weeks. As you might expect, I have some thoughts about the elections, the strategies employed, the outcomes, and the post-election "analysis" by many of the so-called pundits and newspaper reporters -- much of which is disappointingly superficial and racially charged. And therefore ultimately way off base.

As I gather my thoughts, I wanted in the meantime to share a couple of quotes/thoughts that have been on my mind in recent days:

‎"I love it when a plan comes together." -- John "Hannibal" Smith, The A-Team

Oldest coaching ploy in the book: When you get outcoached, and your team gets outplayed...distract the fans by yelling at the refs.

Hilarious Lawyer Commercials

2010-06-29T07:53:00.000-05:00

Check out the lawyer commercials over at the Wiseman Bray Law Firm Blog.

Apparently some of those guys don't have enough sense to know that they should be embarrassed.

Best. Candidate. Commercial. Ever.

2010-06-28T13:52:00.000-05:00

This is one of the funniest spoofs I've ever seen:

Hat tip to Michael Silence over at his No Silence Here blog.

"The Dad Life" -- Video (this is pure awesomeness!)

2010-06-23T07:22:00.001-05:00

A while back I uploaded The Swagger Wagon spoof rap video. Well, here's another awesome video about The Dad Life.

Be sure and send a link to all your favorite Dads out there as a belated Happy Father's Day wish.

Hat tip to my friend April Mollerberg for sending me the link to the video.

[If you're viewing this blog post on Facebook, you will need to click below on "View Original Post" to view the video.]

Quotes on Leadership

2010-06-20T07:47:00.001-05:00

"I am more afraid of an army of 100 sheep led by a lion than an army of 100 lions led by a sheep."
-- Talleyrand

"Outstanding leaders appeal to the hearts of their followers - not their minds."
-- Unknown

"The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves." -- Ray Kroc

Awesome Quotes -- Success (Part II)

2010-06-17T22:48:00.000-05:00

"Sometimes our best is simply not enough.... We have to do what is required."
-- Sir Winston Churchill

"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do."
-- Henry Ford

"Talk does not cook rice."
-- Chinese Proverb

Awesome Quotes -- Success (Part I)

2010-06-17T11:47:00.000-05:00

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
--Unknown

"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."
-- John Wooden

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
-- Thomas Edison

Quotes Worth Reading

2010-06-16T07:20:00.000-05:00

"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body."
-- C.S. Lewis

“Because how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
--Annie Dillard

"If you haven't found something worth dying for, you aren't fit to be living."
--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How to Detect Non-Answers

2010-06-15T09:22:00.000-05:00

I posted over on my law firm blog today (blog.WisemanBray.com) about an interesting legal article regarding How to Detect Non-Answers. It's designed as a tip for trial lawyers who cross-examine witnesses in deposition or at trial, but after thinking about it, I realized how the exact same principles apply in the political context -- particularly as you watch certain politicians being interviewed on the Sunday morning national news shows.

Check out the post and see how many examples you recognize.

Become a Human Lie Detector

2010-06-14T07:10:00.021-05:00

An interesting blog that I regularly follow is The Art of Manliness (AOM) -- lots of interesting posts/articles about a wide variety of interesting and sometimes even off-the-wall topics.

A recent post caught my attention titled: Become a Human Lie Detector: How to Sniff Out a Liar. As a lawyer who deals with lots of witnesses, sniffing out a liar is sometimes a necessary job skill.

(As an aside, I included a post on my firm blog recently that drew considerable comment regarding whether to explicitly call a witness an outright liar on the witness stand-- you can view it by clicking here.)

Anyway, here are a few tidbits from the AOM post/article:

Catalog a Subject’s Pacifiers -- The key to detecting deception is to recognize when people are uncomfortable. Generally, people who are being honest feel comfortable, while people who are lying feel stressed. Pacifiers include things like face touching, rubbing the back of the neck, lip pursing, hair stroking, playing with jewelry, etc. Once you figure out a person’s pacifiers, you can use that info to gauge their comfort and discomfort around certain topics.

Establish a Behavioral Baseline -- Maybe somebody rubs the back of their neck all the time, not just when they’re lying. So in order to gauge someone’s level of comfort or discomfort, you need to establish a baseline for their behaviors. That way you’ll know when they deviate from it.

Get the Person Relaxed -- Get your subject relaxed and comfortable with you. Make small talk. A person will express their comfort with their body language. They’ll lean in closer to you, they’ll open up their suit coat, they won’t have folded arms, and their feet might be bouncing underneath the table. After you have the person relaxed, you can start asking the important questions. As you discuss certain topics, look for the pacifiers you identified earlier to reemerge.

Ask Specific, Non-suspicious Questions -- Knowing the signs/pacifiers is necessary, but not sufficient. You must also know what questions to ask and how to ask them -- i.e. in a cool, detached, and non-judgmental way. If you go at a person NYPD Blue style, you’re bound to taint the subject; even an innocent person will act nervous if they’re accused of lying or feel pushed into a corner. So be nonchalant about the whole thing. You might even be surprised what comes out of a person’s mouth when they think you’re not suspicious of them.

Look for Other Signs of Deception -- things like Synchrony; Little or no movement; Lack of emphasis; Palms; and Eye direction. Click on the AOM post for more specific information on these items.

Trying Out a New Design Template

2010-06-13T09:08:00.002-05:00

I decided to try out a new blog design template.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

SEC Expansion Talk

2010-06-11T11:37:00.000-05:00

Couldn't say it any better, so I'll just cut and paste from my friend Michael Silence -- in fact, I'd recommend that you regularly keep up with his No Silence Here blog. It's a very informative and entertaining mix of news, politics, and sports. You should add it to your RSS feed.

News roundup of potential SEC expansion

from No Silence Here by MICHAEL SILENCE

Report: Heupel says OU heading to SEC
FSU, Miami in SEC? Conference realignments could have stunning implications
Report that SEC has invited Hokies "all rubbish"
New alliances, league affiliation ready to reshape college sports ...
Conference realignment: Texas A&M posturing
Conference Realignment Chronicles :: Report - Big 12 Done, Pac-10 Invitation Expected for Texas Tech
There is hope within the department that Currie, who worked at Tennessee before coming to Manhattan, can use his contacts in the Southeastern Conference to the Wildcats' advantage should that league expand.
Florida Football Blog On Southeastern Conference expansion
On Southeastern Conference expansion: Add Texas, Texas A&M, Miami and Florida State
SEC tempting, but Hokies wise to stay put

Gubernatorial Debate: Legal & Judicial Issues

2010-06-09T09:01:00.003-05:00

The 4 major gubernatorial candidates took part in a forum at the 129th Annual Tennessee Bar Association where they specifically addressed certain legal and judicial issues facing the State of Tennessee, including things like judicial selection, election of the Attorney General, and damage caps.

The Tennessee Bar Association has a great chart outlining the candidates' positions the various legal/judicial positions. Click here to go to the TBA site page.

[For the record, I've also posted extensively on several of these issues -- for example: click here, here, here, here, and here for posts on judicial selection, and here, here, and here for posts on tort reform.]

....Reminded Me of a Couple Good Quotes

2010-06-08T09:43:00.000-05:00

I was "talking" to someone last night at a political function and 2 of my favorite quotes sprang to mind:

"Crazy people don't know they're crazy -- that's what makes them crazy."
"While you can certainly tell a lot about a man by who his friends are, you can often tell more by who he keeps as his enemies."

Pau Gasol -- Has He Lost His Mind?

2010-06-05T16:01:00.001-05:00

Pau Gasol plays well in Game 1 of the Finals and now all of the sudden he's qualified to talk smack to Kevin Garnett? Has Gasol lost his mind?

Here's what he said:

"On Kevin's part, he's also lost some explosiveness," said Gasol, who had 23 points and 14 rebounds. "He's more of a jump shooter now you could say, comes off the lane. Before he had a really, really quick first step and was getting to the lane and he was more aggressive then. Time passes and we all suffer it one way or another, but he's still a terrific player, a terrific competitor, and he's going to bring everything he's got. You can count on that."

Is the guy nuts? I mean, challenging a warrior of KG's stature like that?

Or was Pau just being honest? Even maybe just offering an accurate assessment?

Perhaps. But since when is it smart to be completely transparent when it comes to critiquing your opponent? Especially when it comes to a warrior like KG who still has plenty of mojo left in the tank.

For his part, KG was NOT amused.

His response? A stoic "I have no comments for his comments." But it was really the next part of the KG's comment about Gasol that was most telling: "For what? Who is he?" With emphasis on the word "he" -- check out the video here.

If I were Pau, I'd bring my "A" game tomorrow. He's gonna need it.

White House Reporter, Helen Thomas: Sad

2010-06-05T15:41:00.000-05:00

You've probably already seen the video of the racist-tinged rant by Helen Thomas, a longtime fixture in the White House press corps. I first saw it over on the No Silence Here blog and could hardly believe my eyes and ears.

Among other ridiculous things, Thomas said -- at a White House Jewish Heritage Celebration, no less -- that the Jews should "go back home" to Poland and Germany.

Really? This coming from a respected and supposedly well-informed member of the media who serves as a filter of information from the White House?

More than anything, it's sad. But where's the outrage by her friends in the media? She's been parodied and made fun of, but if she were from Fox News, or had a reputation for being conservative, she'd be getting absolutely pilloried in the press.

Oh well....

Here's the video:

John & Nellie Wooden -- A True Love Affair

2010-06-05T08:24:00.000-05:00

If you have 3 minutes, go check out the ESPN video about the love letters Coach Wooden wrote to his late wife each month for the past 24 years following her death.

The Woodens were married for 53 years, and as Coach Wooden explained it, he "missed her more than ever and his love was still there," and he was merely "keeping his promise that there'll never be another."

Now that's a love story.

Quotes -- John Wooden Version

2010-06-05T08:18:00.002-05:00

Coach Wooden was an amazing man with a refreshing, unique outlook on life. And sport.

Here are few of my favorites:

"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

"Never mistake activity for achievement."

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything."

"Ability is a poor man's wealth."

"Be prepared and be honest."

"The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team."

Click here to read more famous Woodenisms.

It's Official! You and I Now Owe Over $13,000,000,000,000.00

2010-06-02T16:10:00.000-05:00

Well, it's official according to the U.S. Treasury Department. As of yesterday (June 1, 2010), the national debt surpassed the $13 trillion mark. (Up over $50 billion from the day before, mind you. And, yes, that's billion with a "B.")

Wow.

Hit the link and just take a second to let all those digits sink in.

Wow.

"Every day, every student, college bound." -- Does this really make sense?

2010-06-01T14:32:00.000-05:00

Every day, every student, college bound." -- from the walls of Richland Elementary School in Memphis.

Sounds like a laudable goal, right? But is it really?

Regular readers know that I posted a couple of weeks ago asking the following question: Is College Really for Everyone?

Well, almost on cue, a guest editorial appeared in the Memphis Commercial Appeal this past weekend titled College May Not be Next Best Step, relying on much of the same data and information. The editorial is worth a quick look.

Memorial Day

2010-05-31T08:11:00.000-05:00

Despite all of its warts, and despite all of its troubles, America is the greatest land of freedom and opportunity the world has ever known. It is without equal. And we owe it all to the those men and women, and their families, who have sacrificed so much to preserve our liberty.

Thank you to all of the veterans and soldiers -- we owe you a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid.

Say What?! Gangs & College Grads? Drugs & NBA Players?

2010-05-28T06:01:00.003-05:00

One day. Two different news stories. But one common theme -- disturbing.

Apparently, there are some aspects to the gang and/or drug problem that I obviously just don't fully fathom. I mean, what would possess a college student on the verge of graduation to feel compelled to join a violent street gang? Or an already-millionaire athlete to get mixed up in the drug trade?

How can we effectively combat gangs, drugs, crime, and violence if education, wealth, and/or the promise of economic mobility don't appear to prompt better life decisions? Hopefully, these cases are anomalies, but it does raise some serious questions that bear exploration.

Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph Linked to Indianapolis Drug Probe
A spokesperson for the Indianapolis police department confirmed that although no warrants have been issued for Zach Randolph as of this morning, the Memphis Grizzlies All-Star forward could face further questioning as part of an ongoing drug investigation.

According to an affidavit for probable cause, a "confidential creditable and reliable informant" said Randolph, who recently completed his first season with the Grizzlies, provided individuals in Indianapolis with marijuana, vehicles and a residence.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Student Dies After Gang Initiation Beating in Memphis
A University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff senior died after he was severely beaten as part of his initiation in the Bloods street gang, according to Memphis police.

Saulsberry submitted to the beating without fighting back per gang rules, said police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph. He was barely conscious at the conclusion of the fight and was breathing with difficulty.

Saulsberry, who had no previous arrest record or known gang affiliation, would have been eligible to graduate in December, according to university officials.

Interesting Article -- Theories of Change

2010-05-27T06:01:00.003-05:00

I ran across an interesting article by David Brooks in the NY Times titled "Two Theories of Change" that made up the Enlightment -- subtle threads of pure reason vs. reason informed by sentiment/emotion/history.

Some excerpts:
These two views of human nature produced different attitudes toward political change, articulated most brilliantly by Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke. Their views are the subject of a superb dissertation by Yuval Levin at the University of Chicago called “The Great Law of Change.”

****

Paine saw the American and French Revolutions as models for his sort of radical change. In each country, he felt, the revolutionaries deduced certain universal truths about the rights of man and then designed a new society to fit them.

Burke, a participant in the British Enlightenment, had a different vision of change. He believed that each generation is a small part of a long chain of history. We serve as trustees for the wisdom of the ages and are obliged to pass it down, a little improved, to our descendents. That wisdom fills the gaps in our own reason, as age-old institutions implicitly contain more wisdom than any individual could have.

****

Burke also supported the American Revolution, but saw it in a different light than Paine. He believed the British Parliament had recklessly trampled upon the ancient liberties the colonists had come to enjoy. The Americans were seeking to preserve what they had.

We Americans have never figured out whether we are children of the French or the British Enlightenment. Was our founding a radical departure or an act of preservation? This was a bone of contention between Jefferson and Hamilton, and it’s a bone of contention today, both between parties and within each one.

****

The children of the British Enlightenment are in retreat. Yet there is the stubborn fact of human nature. The Scots were right, and the French were wrong. And out of that truth grows a style of change, a style that emphasizes modesty, gradualism and balance.

Very interesting.

SEC Expansion

2010-05-25T11:07:00.002-05:00

I must admit that at first I really didn't appreciate the nuances of all the conference expansion talk. After delving into it a bit, it makes a little more sense -- particularly about how dangerous it is for the SEC to sit by and think that it's just naturally always going to be the big boy on the block.

The name of the game is revenue, exposure, TV markets, and physical footprint of the conference. And the danger is that the conferences are playing a net zero game -- i.e. what the Big Ten gets comes at the expense of the other BCS conferences -- both directly (by actually poaching teams from other conferences) and indirectly (by increasing its leverage at the negotiating table with TV networks for finite dollars to be spent on TV contracts).

In other words, we may be entering an era of "Grow or Die."

Below are some interesting thoughts and links about SEC expansion:

+ Why the SEC Should be Working Now on Expansion (from MrSEC.com): this is a great article pointing out the dangers -- both short-term and long-term -- inherent in a "wait and see" type of approach:

None of this is to say that the SEC must expand right away just for the sake of expansion. But it is to say that the league needs to be considering anything and everything, including quick expansion.

Everything should be on the table right now. Not in two months, now. And if the Southeastern Conference feels that Move X would benefit the league long-term, then by all means, it should make Move X before anyone else has a chance to.

Things can change quickly in this world. If you don’t believe the SEC could go from the top dog to the runt of the litter, you’ve not been paying attention to just how quickly they can change.

Ten years ago newspapers were still powerful and successful. Ten years ago all 12 SEC schools had different football coaches.

And ten years ago you’d never heard of Twitter, Facebook, iPods, or some group of militants called the Taliban.

Things change quickly. Mike Slive and the SEC’s presidents need to keep that in mind.

+More Teams means Less (from Arkansas News): Pointing out how an expanded conference would wreak havoc on SEC scheduling and existing "must-keep" interdivisional rivalries like Tennessee/Alabama and Florida/LSU.

+SEC Commissioner Reportedly Meets with CBS Regarding Expansion

+SEC Commish Talks Texas

Interesting Analysis of Zach Wamp's Med Pledge

2010-05-24T10:56:00.000-05:00

Zach Wamp became the first (and possibly the only) gubernatorial candidate to sign "the Med pledge" that was authored by the Shelby County Commission. The pledge involves the Shelby County Regional Medical Center, which provides (and consequently pays for) proportionally more indigent care service than it receives back in funds from the State by way of the feds. The County Commission saw what was perhaps an opportune set of circumstances given Shelby County's large percentage of voters in the upcoming gubernatorial primaries, and its members seized upon the idea of seeking a pledge from the candidates to fix what most people recognize is a seriously flawed funding formula.

Jackson Baker has a nice online piece about the Med problem generally, and specifically about the political ramifications of Wamp's decision to make the pledge. Likewise is a post by Tom Humphrey from the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Obviously, the pledge has been lauded in Shelby County, where it is estimated that 16-20% of all Republican primary votes will originate. Elsewhere, the pledge has been less well-received. Lt. Governor and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey reportedly described the move as "irresponsible political pandering." Further, Greg Becker, president of the Tennessee Hospital Association, stated that "[t]o single out the Med, I think, is just a dangerous situation because it will absolutely split the (hospital) industry, and it’ll start a war in the legislature to be sure.”

From Jackson Baker:
In short, as virtually all local officials have maintained, regardless of party or their position in the sphere of government, the Med is being short-changed. .... Already the other gubernatorial candidates have reacted to Wamp’s bold move by proposing a variety of summits and further discussions to find some other formula for the Med than the one-to-one payback method. Whatever the realities, Wamp stands to gain politically in Shelby County, which by some estimates generates a fifth of all Republican primary votes. Last Wednesday’s press conference, which was attended by Democratic commissioners Sidney Chism and Steve Mulroy as well as several Republicans, was deemed non-political, but a move is afoot among the GOP commissioners to endorse Wamp as a body.

From Tom Humphrey, citing to yet another article in the Tennessee Journal:
All other major gubernatorial candidates - Republicans Bill Haslam and Ron Ramsey, along with Democrat Mike McWherter - have balked at signing while offering generic declarations of support for the Med, an institution that is something of a novelty in Shelby County by having broad bipartisan backing in a time of troubles.

For the complex fiscal ramifications, which apparently have something to do with balking by candidates other than Wamp, you'll have to subscribe to the Journal. They defy brief explanation and lifting Ed's analysis would be inappropriate for blogging.

But here's an excerpt on the political stuff:

Wamp's move will pay off if it generates more support in Shelby County than it costs him elsewhere. The danger is that voters in other parts of the state will see him as pandering to Mayor Ford and Memphis or worry that their own hospitals will lose out.

The press release his campaign issued in Memphis Wednesday did not go out statewide, though a news story about the event was included in an e-mailed campaign update that was sent out Thursday.

Of course, his opponents can call attention to the matter in other parts of the state. And Wamp can call attention in Shelby County to what they're saying if they do.

Regardless of how the pledge plays out in the campaign, it could be a bigger problem for Wamp if he wins.

I'd be interested to know your thoughts. Good idea? Or just political pandering? Will it be effective? Is it justified?

Is College Really for Everyone?

2010-05-17T06:23:00.002-05:00

A thought-provoking article appeared in the New York Times the other day questioning whether we should really be pushing everyone towards college, and even wondering whether it might actually be a hindrance for some. Less than 50% of those who start college will actually graduate, which means there are thousands and thousands of people each year who leave school without a degree. Not only will those people oftentimes be saddled with significant student loan debt with nothing to show for it, but they'll also have wasted valuable time/money/opportunities that could have been spent pursuing a vocation elsewhere.

A sample from the article:

College degrees are simply not necessary for many jobs. Of the 30 jobs projected to grow at the fastest rate over the next decade in the United States, only seven typically require a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Among the top 10 growing job categories, two require college degrees: accounting (a bachelor’s) and postsecondary teachers (a doctorate). But this growth is expected to be dwarfed by the need for registered nurses, home health aides, customer service representatives and store clerks. None of those jobs require a bachelor’s degree.

Professor Vedder likes to ask why 15 percent of mail carriers have bachelor’s degrees, according to a 1999 federal study. “Some of them could have bought a house for what they spent on their education,” he said.

It may be a politically difficult discussion to have, but our policymakers need to engage this issue. The current, politically correct trend in education is to try to crowbar every single high school student onto the college preparatory academic track -- whether he/she is really suited for it or not. However, we may have allowed this pendulum to swing too far. In Tennessee, for example, many of our college graduation rates are horrendous (10% within 4 years at the University of Memphis: 24% within 5 years; and 38% within 6 years), and yet we continue to pour millions of dollars of lottery money into higher education at the expense of steering kids to vocational schools where they can learn valuable, profitable, and extremely respectable skills -- e.g. in the computer or health sciences fields which can bolster an economy and a lifetime of earnings.

While it is absolutely vital to make sure that qualified kids have every available opportunity to obtain a college degree, we cannot allow ourselves to set up less-qualified kids for failure -- and effectively deny them better and more practical opportunities -- simply because it makes us feel better collectively to pretend that we want to afford everyone a ticket to the good life. Indeed, on the flip side, our "generosity" can exact a high price from those very same kids.

Of course, the devil is always in the details -- the how's and the when's and the what's. And I admit that I certainly don't have all of the answers (or even some of them). However, we do need to engage this issue and quit wasting money and human capital by not steering people and resources to their most productive uses.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

[Thanks to my friend, Philip Cummings, for linking me to this article.]

Creative Use of Technology - text4baby

2010-05-12T14:46:00.000-05:00

Infant mortality is a problem in Memphis. In fact, it's double the national average.

As Dr. Manoj Jain observes in his column in the Memphis Commercial Appeal, however, "[t]he problem is not that we have poor health care in Memphis. In fact, we have excellent neo-natal units at the Regional Medical Center and area hospitals. The problem is that many of our expectant mothers don't take proper care of themselves during their pregnancies. They drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and do drugs. More so, they don't go for prenatal visits. No high-quality health care system will solve these problems."

But -- as Dr. Jain points out -- "what may help is social innovation."

Sonal Shah, the diretor of the newly opened White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, was in Memphis last week discussing a possible new solution to an old problem -- text4baby.

text4baby is a system where "expectant mothers receive frequent free text messages on their cell phones during their pregnancy and until the child's first birthday. For example, the expectant mother in the room in her third trimester would receive a message -- 'A seat belt protects you & your baby. Shoulder belt goes between your breasts & lap strap goes under your belly (not on or above). Wear it every time.' She would get other messages about the risk of smoking, alcohol and drugs. During the first year of her child's life, the mother would get messages about vaccination and child nutrition."

It's an interesting -- and inexpensive -- concept worth exploring. Technology can be a wonderful thing if leveraged effectively.

[P.S. Don't let anyone ever say that I didn't give the Obama administration credit where credit is due. :) ]

Good Quote

2010-05-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

"When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in confederacy against him."

-- Jonathan Swift

Latest Democrat Campaign Slogan: "Hold Your Nose and Vote for Us"

2010-05-11T07:43:00.001-05:00

I rhetorically asked in a recent blog post and Facebook update whether local Democrat candidates were really the best that the Democrat Party had to offer the citizens of Shelby County.

Well.....apparently so. And apparently they even realize it themselves -- hence the new campaign theme:

"Hold Your Nose and Vote for Us!"

Inspiring isn't it?

From Jackson Baker's most recent column in the Memphis Flyer:

It is understandable — if a tad abrupt — that a spokesperson for one of the two major parties in Shelby County should dismiss the other party’s freshly minted nominees for county offices as “duds.”

That’s what Shelby County Republican chairman Lang Wiseman, extolling his own “great candidates,” had to say at a post-election GOP rally concerning the Democratic victors in May 4 primary voting.

What is less customary is that such a spokesperson’s opposite number — in this case, Gale Jones Carson, one of two campaign co-chairs (the other is Dave Cambron) for the August 5 general election — should be advising Democratic cadres at a post-election rally to “hold your nose” and vote for all her party’s nominees “whether you like them or not.”

****

Carson, a former Democratic chair who, from time to time, had taken her share of hits from party rivals, underscored the point: “Y’all know all the people that stepped on me over the years? I just walked in there and pulled that lever for them.”

Say what?

Republican Unity Rally -- May 6th at 7 pm

2010-05-06T08:49:00.000-05:00

For Cool Parents Only -- The Swagger Wagon

2010-05-04T09:36:00.003-05:00

UPDATE: 5/04/2010, 11:30 am: Here's a site for all the cool parents to convert the YouTube video to an iPod file so you "bump" Swagger Wagon in da school pickup line - http://tinyurl.com/swfile
________________________________________________

This is one of the funniest and most creative videos I've seen! I'm gonna have that beat in my head all day now...

[If you're viewing this blog post on Facebook, you will need to click below on "View Original Post" to see the video.]

Get Out and Vote Today, May 4th (Precinct locator link included)

2010-05-04T07:14:00.000-05:00

Today is primary election day in Shelby County, so be sure to get out and vote! Click here to find your precinct location and get to a poll sometime between 7 am and 7 pm.

Turnout during early voting was fairly dismal (5%), which is usually a pretty good indicator that election day turnout will likewise be disappointing. On top of that, the flood displacement in Millington and Northwest Shelby will further depress turnout in that area.

Having said that, the Republican share of turnout during early voting has improved compared to recent years! Our message of integrity, accountability, and fiscal responsibility is catching on, while the Democrats think such things are "pointless." Indeed, they continue to offer the same ole' candidates with the same ole' legal and financial woes that we've seen paraded through the news year after year -- criminal arrests, bankruptcies, and lawsuits.

Enough is enough. Get to the polls and make your voice heard today!

Candidate Background Checks -- Excellent CA Editorial

2010-04-24T09:21:00.005-05:00

I posted yesterday about the background checks we ran on local Republican candidates, and the challenge we issued to Democrats to follow suit.

Today, the Memphis Commercial Appeal ran an excellent editorial on the issue. It reads as follows:

The Shelby County Republican Party is performing a beneficial service for voters by posting the results of background checks it ordered on candidates running in the May 4 Shelby County primary as Republicans.

It may be that GOP hopefuls happen to look better on background checks than Democrats this election season.

But if that's the case it would not detract from the useful information voters could glean from the reports, which can be found on shelbygop.org.

Democrats should be willing to follow suit. A good idea is a good idea, no matter who thought of it first.

Shelby County Democratic Party chairman Van Turner's description of the exercise as "pointless" seems puzzling.

With Shelby County's recent history of political corruption, epitomized by the Tennessee Waltz FBI sting of 2005, voters would be expected to place a high priority on such issues as criminal convictions.

Voters also have the right to know if candidates have been faced with bankruptcies, foreclosures, tax liens and judgments, which are also listed on the background check reports.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence from recent history that financial problems place public officials at greater risk of succumbing to the temptations posed by access to public resources.

These are certainly not the only factors in assessing a candidate's suitability for public office, but they should be high on the list.

Shelby County Republican Candidates -- 100% Clean Bill of Health

2010-04-23T10:29:00.000-05:00

Below is a press release that was issued yesterday by the Shelby County Republican Party concerning background checks that were conducted on the Republican candidates for county offices. All of the participating candidates came back with a 100% clean bill of health.

In the press release, I challenged my good friend, Democrat Party Chairman Van Turner, to conduct the same type of background check on Democrat candidates. However, I read this morning where Van responded by saying that background checks on Democrat candidates would be "pointless."

Well, in light of the parade of criminal indictments of elected officials in Memphis and Shelby County over the past few years, I hardly think it's pointless. To the contrary, I think it's unfortunate that the Democrats would take such a seemingly nonchalant approach to the notion that we need higher standards and more accountability in these troubling times. Not less.

Our community is in crisis, and this is no time for business as usual in Shelby County.

My New Quilt

2010-04-18T14:03:00.003-05:00

My grandmother (Betty Jones) has a unique gift for sewing and quiltmaking, and I just happened to mention several months ago that I had a bunch of sentimental t-shirts, jerseys, and sweatshirts from my old ball-playing days that I wanted to keep, but that I wasn't really sure what to do with them.

Well, she came up with the perfect solution! She turned them into a quilt that'll be a keepsake I'll treasure forever:

She was even able to take some game-action photos and have them somehow imprinted on the material:

Here's the cool "basketball backing material" she found:

And finally, this is perhaps my favorite part:

Thanks, Granny. You're the best! I love you!

The Obama Bill: Priceless

2010-04-17T12:41:00.004-05:00

* A failed “stimulus” bill – $862 billion

* Government-run health care – $2.5 trillion

* FY 2010’s bloated spending bill – $450 billion

* General Motors bailout – $36 billion

* Chrysler bailout – $11 billion

* That feeling you get when you realize that despite all the taxes you pay, there is $12 trillion in federal spending that has yet to be paid for..........PRICELESS!!

(Courtesy of the RNC)

Drunken Sailor Takes Offense!

2010-04-17T07:36:00.000-05:00

'Nuff said...

(Hat tip to Michael Silence over at the No Silence Blog.)

It Was Only a Matter of Time: Butler Under NCAA Investigation

2010-04-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

Friday, April 9, 2010
Butler Hoops Team Under Investigation - AP

INDIANAPOLIS--Butler's run in the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Game may be tarnished after reports surfaced today that all 13 players on the roster are being provided excellent educations in an effort to help them find good jobs after they leave the school. "It's important to remember that right now these are only allegations -- allegations that we are looking into," said NCAA president James Isch. "But, obviously, if true, this would be very disappointing. The NCAA has certain expectations and standards. It's not fair for players at one school to be given excellent educations while athletes at other member schools receive basic, remedial instruction that is worth far less." According to documents seized from the school's registrar's office, Butler players have received an education worth $38,616 per year totaling more than $150,000 over a four-year career.

Compare that to a player at a school like the University of Kentucky where tuition is set at $4,051 -- but with an actual market value far below that. “We don't want to say too much until these reports are confirmed," said Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari. "But we're talking about almost $140,000 difference in education per player -- and that's even if my players stayed four years or graduated, which many of them do not. Then these Butler players are reportedly stepping into good jobs after graduation while my kids, if they don't make the NBA, have absolutely no job prospects or life skills. It's far from a balanced playing field. They are buying the best players by giving them a high-priced education."

In addition to the allegations that they were given an expensive education, many Butler players have been spotted around campus holding books, studying and engaging in interesting conversations. Others have been seen with people who are known to not be tutors. Butler center and Indiana native Matt Howard, a finance major with a 3.7 GPA, denied allegations that the Bulldog program is cheating. "The discourse on this matter is fatuous and inane," he said, implicating the program further.

[Thanks to my friend Nick Lunn for forwarding the joke to me. That last line is hilarious.]

Enough Tiger Already...

2010-04-12T11:15:00.004-05:00

Can we please get back to regular programming now? Please? Can things get back to normal where I can pick up a newspaper, turn on the TV, or listen to sportstalk radio with having to hear about Tiger 24/7?

The guy has shown himself to be a first-class prima donna and self-centered lout who has very little, if any, respect for women. I mean, good luck getting his life back together and all that other politically correct stuff you're supposed to say. But enough already!

You'd think from all the coverage that we're all supposed to feel sorry for the guy. I mean, are we really operating under some assumption that Tiger didn't voluntarily do this to himself? Or that he was unaware that what he was doing was wrong? Or that he just couldn't help it? Over, and over, and over, and over again?

To be sure, America is the land of second chances. Almost instinctively, we collectively yearn for the underdog, and for people to triumph over their personal demons. My faith also tells me that redemption is a powerful force for those who genuinely and contritely seek forgiveness. And to that end, I do sincerely hope that Tiger gets things turned around. If only for his kids' sake.

But about that second chance -- can't we at least wait until the first chance is finished before we start champing at the bit on giving him a second one? I mean, it's been barely 4 months, right? Do we really think the guy has changed his entire emotional approach to life and family and priorities in just a few short months? And do I really need to see each and every second of the Redemption Tour play out on national TV?

Give me a break.

And let's not pretend as if Tiger is some unwitting pawn in this media process. Or that all he wants to do is play golf and be left alone, as if people are somehow prying into his private life as cultural voyeurs.

Back a number of months ago, there might have been a legitimate debate over whether this whole womanizing business was simply a private matter and none of anybody else's business. I didn't really buy that argument (for all the reasons outlined in Clay Travis's excellent piece Tiger Woods: The Greatest Sports Marketing Swindle Ever), but you could at least still make the argument with a straight face.

Well, that all changed this past weekend with the Nike ad invoking the voice of Tiger's deceased father.

Many people lauded the ad. I personally thought it was creepy. Even more than that, though, it put the nail in the coffin on this whole "just leave me alone, it's a private matter" argument. Indeed, you can't have it both ways in life.

What the ad made clear is this: Tiger isn't about just playing golf. And he isn't about being left alone. Tiger is -- still -- first and foremost about selling Tiger. And apparently that includes the whole Tiger. Even to the point of explicitly making a few bucks off his private troubles (at the expense of his wife and children) before he's even out of the woods yet. While using the voice of his dead father.

Sorry, but that's just downright creepy from where I sit.

Are We Raising Kids to be Defenders or to Stand on the Sidelines?

2010-04-10T11:10:00.002-05:00

I saw this thought-provoking blog post by Brett Trapp that I had to share. It's about raising kids, but it also applies to adults as well.

It's written from the Christian perspective, but the point is valid no matter what your beliefs. Are we content to selfishly stand on the sidelines and avoid making waves? Or are we willing to stand up for what's right when needed?

I heard a quote once from an otherwise silly and forgettable movie, but the quote stuck with me:

"You don't just fight the fights that you can win. You fight the fights that need fighting."

Anyway, here's the article. (My apologies to Mr. Trapp for reproducing his post here in its entirety, but the whole thing was too good to cut anywhere.)

Are We Raising Defenders?

My friend Philip Cummings in Memphis tweeted an article this week that’s just been haunting me. It was about a teenage girl in Massachusetts who killed herself after being bullied at school. And when I started Googling around, the rabbit hole just got

Deeper…

And deeper…

Then really deep.

Articles like this make me wonder. Did anybody stick up for these kids? Did anyone step in front of the bullies? Was there even one gritty 16-year old boy who took a stand.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I have to think not.

When I’m a Christian parent, I’ll teach my kids right and wrong, but I hope I also teach the other side of the Gospel—the side that values justice over passivity, steely resolve over blithe compliance, and action over inaction. I don’t want “polite, moral, and preppy” to be my child-rearing end-game.

“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.” – Ps. 82:3

I don’t know…maybe Christian parents care more about their kid being sweet and smart and athletic and popular than being a defender of the weak?

We’ve trained our boys to be polite and compliant. That’s well and good. But why are so few willing to “defend the cause of the weak and fatherless?” I guess that’s what happens when you teach kids about “conflict resolution” when what they really need is training in conflict engagement. “Resolution” is the language of flight; “engagement” is the language of rushing in.

I hope and pray some day that I have a son and that he feels as strongly about defending the weak as he does about sports or video games or moral issues. I hope I raise a boy who’s a football star; I really do.

But more than that, I pray I raise a kid hellbent on justice and truth and taking a stand.

And maybe one day, as a skinny 15-year old, he’ll get suspended from school because he shut up the biggest, baddest bully on campus.

I think that’d be cool.

He’ll have a proud, teary-eyed dad waiting on him when he gets home. And we’ll load up the mini-van and take the whole family out to dinner to celebrate.

A future dad can dream can’t he?

And here's one of the comments to the article (making a point about King David) that I thought was worth mentioning:

I’m with you Brett! David was a sensitive, loving man of God … but he was also known as THE warrior of his time. Christian men should have a complete personality that represents ALL of God’s character, that is, both the Lion and the Lamb.

Thanks to my friend Philip Cummings for tweeting the link to this article.

What if old video game characters came to life? (Awesome Video)

2010-04-09T11:49:00.002-05:00

Video games attack New York!

I especially liked the Tetris and Breakout parts.

PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN. - une vidéo Art et Création @ Yahoo! Video

[If you're viewing this blog post on Facebook, you will need to click below on "View Original Post" to see the video. Or you can click here.]

Hat tip to my brother for sending me the link to the video.

Who Needs an iPad When You Can Have the oPad?

2010-04-06T14:01:00.001-05:00

Love this video. Hilarious.

(Hat tip to John Scott over at the Right at Home blog.)

If you're viewing this blog post on Facebook, you will need to click below on "View Original Post" to see the video. Or you can click here.

Awesome Quote from Thomas Sowell

2010-04-05T10:26:00.000-05:00

"When you want to help people you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear."

A good reminder that much of the "help" from Washington isn't really always about help. Often, it's actually about POWER. That is, it's about securing loyalty, fealty, and a recurring need for the "help" -- which, in turn, corresponds to a recurring need for the "benevolent" politician.

Stirring the Pot - UK Style

2010-04-04T15:38:00.000-05:00

To answer the question I've been inundated with over the past week, my "Coach" Cal inspired blog posts generated almost 10,000 hits, made the rounds on the message boards at Kentucky (2 of them), Tennessee (likewise), Vandy (1), and Memphis (1), and was linked to at least 10 times on different blogs, etc. I'm also told by friends that it was read on-air on at least 2 different out of town sports radio shows.

Funny how passionate people can be about their teams and their coaches. Although perhaps the greatest irony is that a few of the UK guys who blasted me online actually friended me on Facebook and Twitter, and we ended up having friendly (online) laugh about the whole thing.

Don't get me wrong, though. New friendships aside -- Cal is still a horrible bench coach...

(Although if if makes UK fans feel better, I think Texas Coach Rick Barnes gives Cal a serious run for his money in the "does less with more" department.)

Anyway, here's a list of the blog posts all in one place for those of you who are interested. The back and forth in the comments is worth a read.

Calipari Blows It ...... Again (Sunday, March 28, 2010)

Update: My blog Post on Calipari (Tuesday, March 30, 2010)

My Love Affair with UK Fans (Thursday, April 1, 2010)

Hope is a Powerful Thing: "Sunday is Comin' " (Video)

2010-04-04T11:39:00.001-05:00

"Good people don't go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven."

I had to share this video from our Easter church service this morning. Hope is indeed a powerful thing!

[If you're viewing this post as Note on Facebook, click on "View Original Post" below in order to see the video. Or click here.]

Interesting Obituary of my Great-Great-Great Grandfather

2010-04-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Below is a copy of the obituary my mom found for my great-great-great grandfather, Frederick James Floyd, who was a Federal (i.e. Union) solidier in the Civil War in the 6th Tennessee Cavalry, Company B. He was later a Justice of the Peace in the Selmer, TN area. None of which I knew until I read the obit.

The photo is of the tombstone of my other great-great-great grandfather, Samuel L. Walker. Apparently, judging from the inscription on the tombstone, my grandfathers rode together in the same Federal cavalry unit.

Key Congressional Finding: Islands Apparently Do Not Float (Unfortunately NOT an April Fool's Joke)

2010-04-01T14:23:00.000-05:00

I wish this post was an April Fool's joke. But it's not. This is actual footage of Rep. Hank Johnson (Democrat - GA) from a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week.

The Committee was considering future development of the island of Guam (a U.S. Territory) to accommodate expansion of the U.S. military presence there, prompting Johnson to remark about his fear that "the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize."

Capsize? An island? Really?

Watch the video. The military officer who was being questioned was stunned for a split second, but then calmly gathered himself and simply replied: "We don't anticipate that."

So who's right here? I mean, this is a serious issue. Are islands merely floating on the surface of the ocean, or are they somehow connected to the earth? It is no doubt a question that has confounded scientists for decades, right?

Fortunately, I just read in one of the respected D.C. newspapers that covers politics and Congress the (The Hill), that it is safe to assume that "like other islands, Guam is attached to the sea floor, which makes it extremely unlikely that it will tip over, even if there are lots and lots of people on it."

Whew! Now I feel a little better...

Come to think of it, though, that explains perfectly why all those tropical islands just happen to be in the same place every time one of those cruise ships pulls up.

The sad thing is that these same guys are the ones who determined the fate of 1/6th of the entire country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the healthcare debate a few weeks ago.

UPDATED AGAIN: My love affair with UK fans

2010-04-01T11:20:00.002-05:00

Stirring the pot....

For those following the saga, my blog posts about Calipari (here and here) have gone viral in UK country. A few more links to message boards and UK blogs popped up (examples here and here), and so the traffic here on my blog is still hot and heavy.

The most interesting and fun part is the back-and-forth I get to have with the UK fans in the comment section of my blog, so be sure to check that part out if you have the time. (I wish I had the time to respond to each and every point/comment, but somebody has to work here at Wiseman Bray PLLC to keep the lights on.)

Surprising, there are a few UK fans who actually agree with me wholeheartedly, although most of the ones who fall into the "agreement category" limit themselves to my analysis of the WVU game and aren't ready yet to throw Cal under the bus completely.

Most of the comments, though, are just pure fun to read. They're filled with insults (of me, my basketball career, my legal abilities, UT, Vol players, Bruce Pearl -- you name it), as well as contain a bit of armchair psychoanalysis of me (which I should be thankful for, I suppose, because at least I didn't have to pay for it.).

But as I wrote in response to at least one of the more intense insults:

As an aside, I should note that ... ignoring the substance of the debate and resorting to a personal attack is equivalent to conceding my points -- indeed, it's akin to the type of intellectual "prowess" that prompts a moron to yell back "Yo momma" when their brain freezes up in the face of an argument they can't quite comprehend or overcome.

Anyway, there's all sorts of good conversation topics in there about, among other things: Cal's knowledge (or lack thereof) concerning Rose's SAT score situation; the (in)significance of the NCAA initially clearing Rose to play; the crazy assertion that Cal's ability to dodge the NCAA reflects a level of intelligence proving that he's got what it takes to be good bench coach; my lack of journalistic skill (which is funny since I'm not a journalist); and Cal's affinity (or lack thereof) for one-and-done players.

Just to name a few.

[Aside: in the vein of that last topic on one-and-done-ers, the latest reports now have ALL of the UK freshman going pro (along with Patterson, presumably), leaving UK with 9 scholarship holes to fill for next year. Wow.]

Good stuff all-around. Take a look if you're interested. I may or may not have time to respond, but I'll get to as much as I can, time permitting.

Ain't this fun?

Update: Video Invite to Networking the Dream Event

2010-03-31T13:46:00.001-05:00

In my earlier post today I noted my appearance tomorrow at the MLK-inspired event: Networking the Dream.

Here's the video invitation:

[If you're viewing this as Note on Facebook, click "View Original Post" below in order to see the video.]

Event: Networking the Dream

2010-03-31T08:25:00.001-05:00

Please join me tomorrow night where I'll be on a panel discussing current events through the lens of several concepts/ideas urged by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[If you're viewing this as Note on Facebook, click "View Original Post" below in order to see the image.]

UPDATE: My blog post on Calipari

2010-03-30T11:34:00.004-05:00

UPDATED: 4/1/2010; 11:21 am: Click here for my latest post stirring the pot on the Cal saga

________________
On Sunday, I wrote a blog post critical of John Calipari entitled Calipari Blows It.....Again. A couple of UK-themed blogs and message boards picked up on the post and linked to it:

Needless to say, my post was not well received in UK-country. I got over 2,750 blog hits in less than 24 hours, and a few of the UK homers left some "nice" comments on the message boards, and even on my blog. (Which I thoroughly enjoyed.)

Their criticisms generally fell into a few categories:

Cal isn't the only attention-hound of a coach
Bruce Pearl is worse
UT would be glad to have UK's season/players/etc.
Lang Wiseman was a horrible basketball player; he's old and doesn't know "modern" basketball; he's an idiot; and/or he can't possibly know anything because he's not a coach
Lang Wiseman doesn't like Cal personally so his opinions/observations are invalid
The NCAA never directly sanctioned Cal so he's obviously a good guy
Coach Cal didn't miss the shots; his players did

Interesting, huh? But notice anything missing?

Well....how about a substantive response to my underlying observations? Indeed, it's not really an response or argument to merely change the subject (Pearl, UT, etc.) and/or attack the writer (his knowledge, his motivations, etc.).

To reiterate:

Cal had at his disposal the upcoming #1 pick in the NBA draft (Wall); the #2-4 pick (Cousins); a lottery pick (Patterson); a top 15 pick if he comes out (Bledsoe); and a host of other HS All-Americans. There's simply no excuse for not winning a National Championship with those players. How many people out there truly believe that any of the following elite coaches wouldn't win it all with those players: Tubby, Pitino, Pearl, Boeheim, Williams, Self, Donovan, Coach K, Izzo, etc.?

Cal made no adjustments late in the game to give his players a chance to win -- at least not any useful ones anyway (see below). He looked totally lost and bailed on his players. He didn't even use pressure defense when WVU's primary ballhandler -- indeed only ballhandler (Mazzulla) -- went out of the game with foul trouble.

Cal has no idea how to attack a zone. You miss 20 three-pointers so the solution is to go to a 4-out offense when you have the overall biggest team in the nation? Even us basketball players from the stone age know that isn't the answer. (This phenomena is not new for Cal. His teams had "zone phobia" at Memphis, too.)

Without a doubt, a 35-3 campaign with an SEC Championship and Elite Eight was a great season by most standards. At UT, we absolutely loved it. But a program with the history and tradition of UK didn't pay Cal $30+ million and buy his #1 recruiting class full of NBA lottery picks just to rack up regular season wins and go to the Elite Eight. The UK fans are still in the honeymoon phase so they're willing to cut some slack at this point. It's understandable. Remember, though, that UK fans are the ones who hated-on Joe B. Hall for years and ran Tubby off, too -- the point being that Elite Eight finishes with that sort of talent isn't the type of thing which creates job security or love at a place like UK.

The closest thing to a substantive response is the argument that the players play the game, not the coach. Or that you can't really count on anything when you have freshmen leading your team (although with that logic Cal will always have a built-in excuse since he relies heavily on the one-and-done player). And while I understand those sentiments, I just don't buy into them in this situation because Cal didn't put those players in the best position to win. Admittedly, it may be the case that nothing he might have tried would have worked on that particular day at that particular time. It happens. Players and teams have horrible days where nothing works. But don't you at least deserve to know for certain that nothing would have worked? As in, because you actually tried it and so you know for certain that it actually failed? Don't you pay a guy $30+ million to make sure that he squeezes every last drop out of your team? Does anyone really believe that that happened?

If you do, then great. Personally? I don't. And we can agree to disagree if necessary. I won't lose any sleep over it.

As for Cal the person, UK folks can believe what they want. Really. It makes no difference to me. Remember: I didn't post my thoughts on their message boards or try to persuade them not to like Cal. They came looking for my opinions on my blog. Don't like like 'em? Then don't read 'em. Love Cal? Great. In fact, it sorta gives me a kick to know that he's at UK laying the foundation for later NCAA sanctions.

As for me, I don't care for the guy. And I'm obviously not alone. Just go ask Bobby Knight. And read the stories I linked to on my blog here and here. Has the NCAA ever sanctioned Cal directly? No. But does that mean he's somehow innocent, or a great guy? Of course not. To the contrary, he was the captain of two different ships which set records and went to the Final Four....although actually they didn't....at least officially anyway. It might be safe to say that no one has ever been as good at cozying up to the seedy side of sport while at the same time pretending to be so much better and far above it all. I watched it firsthand while he was here in Memphis. (And mind you, Memphis isn't even "my" team.). The problem with Cal's distancing of himself from all things questionable is that you can't have it both ways in life -- i.e. you can't really sell yourself as the consummate mastermind/button-pusher/wizard-behind-the-scenes and yet plead ignorance when it all goes bad.

All that being said, none of it really matters at the end of the day (my opinion, that is). Cal does do some good things in the community. He's a great recruiter and motivator. He wins lots of games. He goes to Final Fours (sort of). And by all accounts he's loyal to "his" people. As I said above, in many ways I think Cal being at UK will ultimately be good for my school, and for the rest of the SEC in the meantime.

Are the UK fans understandably in love with him and willing to look past his shortcomings (i.e. make excuses)? Of course. What else can be expected at this point? Heck, we UT fans will be the first to tell you how easy it is to caught up in the irrational, knee-jerk defense of an arrogant, dynamic, motormouth of a head coach.

So check back with me in a few years -- assuming, of course, that Cal doesn't bolt for the Nets this summer and you find your own new reasons to dislike him. I won't even say "I told you so."

Calipari Blows It.......Again

2010-03-28T08:36:00.003-05:00

UPDATED AGAIN: 4/1/2010; 11:21 am: Click here for my latest post stirring the pot on the Cal saga

UPDATED: 3/30/2010; 11:37 am: Click here to see my new post in response to some of the attention my original post (below) received on the UK message boards

_________________________

Regular readers know that I don't care much for John Calipari. He's a know-it-all, cheating, attention-hound, bully of a man who -- quite frankly -- couldn't coach his way out of wet paper sack.

Don't get me wrong. The guy is a great recruiter. And a great motivator. But he's awful with the X's and O's. He has no vision or ability to put a plan together to beat a good team/coach, or to make any useful in-game adjustments whatsoever. Coming down the stretch last night in the West Virginia game, he looked totally lost and out of his league. It was the exact same look on his face in the last 2 minutes of the National Championship game against Kansas where he blew a 9 point lead while coaching at Memphis.

Players sense that panic. They sense the fear and desperation -- the I'm-not-sure-what-to-do-next look -- and they react accordingly. I mean, can you imagine? Here's a guy who yells, screams, bullies, and micromanages each and every aspect of the game from the sideline 99.9% of the season up to that point. In fact, he does it so much that his players often end up yelling back at him in the huddle out in front of God and everybody.

But as the clock wound down last night on the most important minutes of the most important game, Cal had.....nothing. It was as if suddenly he went mute. Indeed, if you watched closely, there were significant moments when the always-standing, always-shouting Cal was sitting down -- yes, sitting! -- while the game played out. He bailed on his players. Although, mind you, it wasn't intentional -- he just didn't know what to do. He was lost.

The guy can't figure out a zone? He's a college coach for goodness sakes. He gets paid millions of dollars, and best of all he gets to attack a zone with 4 guys who are projected in the top 15 picks of this year's NBA Draft! Are you kidding me?! How do you not win the National Championship with that team, much less not even make the Final Four?

The guy apparently doesn't know that a guy should flash to the high post and/or the short corner, which are the most vulnerable parts of a zone defense. Or to overload one side. Or to send cutters through to make the defense shift. He apparently also didn't think to try to simply avoid the zone altogether by turning on the full-court pressure defense to generate some easy buckets, force tempo, and prevent the number of times WVU had the opportunity to even set up their halfcourt zone defense. Which is crazy given the horses he has (or rather had) on that team.

Apparently Cal isn't very good at math, either. I mean, after your team gets to its 20th 3-point shot with no success, don't you think you call timeout and say something along the lines of: "Hey guys, this long-range shooting thing ain't working out so well today, so no more outside shots. We've got 3 huge post guys -- in fact, 2 of 'em are gonna get drafted in the top 10 in a couple of months -- so let's pound the rock down inside to those guys and get some rhythm going."

But even apart from Cal the coach is Cal the man. I had the opportunity to watch the guy up close for years while he was at Memphis, and basically, he's a fraud. He holds himself out as this wonderful, selfless saint of a man, and lots of folks buy it. Including most of the national media types. He's good. But where the rubber meets the road on a day to day basis, he's nothing more than an arrogant, selfish bully -- to the fans, to the local media, and to anyone else (i.e. the "miserables" as he calls them) who dare to disagree or question him.

The way he left Memphis is unconscionable -- not that he left, but the way he left. I'll never forget the image of him holed up at home for the weekend "struggling" with his decision while Memphians -- ironically, looking back -- fawned all over him, begging him to stay while giving him just enough time to shore up his position with recruits before bolting out of town with them. Unconscionable.

All in all, the the UK debacle from last night couldn't have happened to a better guy. I could go on and on but here are some links to a few articles that say it better than I ever could:

Slate.com -- The Sleaziest Coach in a Sleazy Game (favorite quote regarding Calipari's mafia-don-like ability to leave destruction in his wake while managing to escape unscathed personally: "[T]he man is a master at walking between the raindrops."]
CBSSports.com - Spring Clean: Somehow, Dirt Doesn't Stick to Calipari
Commercial Appeal: Memphis' Rooting Interest: Anybody But You-Know-Who

Update: Schoolhouse Rock....Biden Style

2010-03-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

Last week, I posted the Schoolhouse Rock video. Well, here's the updated version.....Joe Biden style.

Even my Dem friends have to admit: the video IS funny! The guy who did the voiceover got it perfect.

(If you're viewing this as a Note on Facebook, click the "View Original Post" button below to view the video.)

(Shout out to Betsy Carnesale for sending me the video!)

Deem & Pass? I don't remember that from Saturday mornings... (video)

2010-03-17T14:22:00.000-05:00

I think some of our Congressional Democrat friends need to get back to the Saturday morning basics. It's really not that hard to understand:

(If you're viewing this as a Note on Facebook, click the "View Original Post" button below to view the video.)

The NCAA Idiots - I think I figured out why UT got screwed

2010-03-15T09:50:00.001-05:00

The Vols' resume:

RPI = 13
Defeated #1 overall seed (Kansas)
Defeated #2 overall seed (Kentucky)
Season-long Top 20 ranking

Apparently that translates to a #6 seed in the NCAA Tourney, which numerically corresponds to a ranking of somewhere between 21 and 24 -- which is lower than UT was ranked at any point in the entire season!

But I think I may have figured out why. Consider these comments from Selection Committee Chair Dan Guerrero discussing why they picked Kansas as the #1 overall seed as opposed to Kentucky:

"We just felt that Kansas had a fantastic season during the course of the year," NCAA Division I men's basketball committee chairman Dan Guerrero said. "They played a lot of away games in the top 50. They had no losses, obviously, in the top 50 as well."

Say what? No losses in the top 50? Really? I could've sworn that I saw UT beat them on national TV.

Well, I guess now we know why UT didn't get credit for having beaten the overall top seed -- the Selection Committee apparently wasn't even aware of it!!

Malapropism: "For all intensive purposes..."

2010-03-14T13:19:00.000-05:00

From Wikipedia: "A malapropism (also called a Dogberryism or acyrologia) is the substitution of a word for a word with a similar sound, in which the resulting phrase makes no sense but often creates a comic effect."

One of my "favorite" malapropisms? "For all intensive purposes..." Heard it at church just this morning from the pulpit -- drives me crazy at times.

The phrase is correctly stated as follows: "For all intents and purposes..."

More info on the history of the phrase here.

Just add your name and pass it along...

2010-03-09T08:19:00.001-06:00

From a funny Email going around:

___________________________________
From: Lang Wiseman
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2010
To: You
Subject: Don't break this chain!!!

As a rule, I don't pass along these "add your name" lists that appear in e-mails, BUT this one is really important!

It has been circulating for months and has been sent to over 300 million people. We don't want to lose any names on the list so just hit forward and send on.

Please keep it going!

To show your support for Obama's health care reform,
please go to the end of the list and add your name:

1. Nancy Pelosi
2. Harry Reid
3.

Is it just me...

2010-03-08T08:41:00.000-06:00

I couldn't care less about the Oscars. Is it just me?

Maybe I'm turning into a crotchety old man, but watching a bunch of (for the most part) spoiled, know-it-all, self-absorbed hollywood-types pat themselves on the back? Thanks but no thanks...

Opportunity for an eBay Bargain!

2010-03-06T07:47:00.001-06:00

Get it while you still can! (Note the astronomical asking price -- haha!)

Life Math -- Solving a Problem vs. Picking a Fight

2010-03-04T12:58:00.002-06:00

Sometimes the difference between solving a problem vs. picking a fight is as simple as the difference between addressing things like an adult vs. like a middle school girl angling for the homecoming queen vote.

Now...on to the math:

Solving a problem = being man enough to simply make a call to try to come up with a solution

Picking a fight = jumping to conclusions + spreading distorted info + actively soliciting dissent

[Life Math is a regular series which includes reader submissions. So let me hear your ideas! Make submissions and I'll publish some of the more creative ones and, of course, give you appropriate credit. You can send them to me at langwiseatty at AOL.com. Of course, use normal Email nomenclature with the @ symbol -- I spelled it out that way only to avoid auto-spammers.]

Democrat Temper Tantrum on Healthcare (Lest We Forget Their Position on the Nuclear Option)

2010-02-28T12:05:00.002-06:00

Now that support is dwindling for Obama and the Democrats no longer have a filibuster-proof Senate, there's been talk that they might try to ram the Obama healthcare plan down the throat of the American people despite hundreds of years worth of Senate voting rules and precedent.

The issue is whether the rule on Senate filibustering should be cast aside in favor of a simple majority vote. Historically, based on Senate procedure, you have to have 60 votes instead of a simple majority to get anything accomplished -- the idea being that the founding fathers set up the Senate to serve as a crucial check on what is referred to historically as "the tyranny of the majority."

Well now that their beloved healthcare takeover is in jeopardy, the Democrats don't want to play by the rules anymore. Indeed, the Democrats are suggesting that instead of abiding by the will of the people as expressed by Senate rules that have existed for hundreds of years, they might just instead change the rules to suit their needs -- the argument being that requiring 60 votes is anti-democratic.

Theoretically-speaking, I admit that it's an interesting debate. Indeed, I understand and sympathize with both arguments about whether our system is better served by a 51 versus 60 vote requirement.

But that's not what this is about. This is about hypocrisy -- plain and simple.

If this whole debate sounds eerily familiar, that's because it is. Indeed, the Republicans tried the exact same thing barely 5 years ago when they considered changing the rules to get around Democrat opposition to some of the judges appointed by President Bush.

Back then, the Democrats went absolutely ballistic, excoriating Republicans for even considering the idea. They warned that it would create a "constitutional crisis" and infamously dubbed the idea the "Nuclear Option." The idea was described by at one prominent Democrat as the equivalent of a "temper tantrum."

Take a look at this short video of people like Obama, Hillary Clinton, Biden, and now-Majority Leader Harry Reid railing on the idea of the Nuclear Option (if you're viewing this Note on Facebook, click on View Original Post below to see the video.):

Interesting, huh?

Can you say hypocrisy? Or temper tantrum?

Back in 2005, the Republicans ultimately backed away from the idea -- as they should have. Which is exactly what the Democrats should do in connection with this healthcare bill. Indeed, you can't rightly base your support or opposition to the use of the Nuclear Option based merely on whether it's you or the other guy who happens to be the one trying to use it at the time.

If a change of this magnitude is to be debated at all, it needs to be debated in the cold light of day solely on its own merits, and without judgment clouded by specific legislation or short-term political gain hanging in the balance.

History judges hypocrites. And what goes around almost always comes back around.

Comments on Yesterday's Healthcare Post

2010-02-26T08:24:00.000-06:00

Readers and Facebook friends offered some interesting thoughts and comments on my healthcare blog post from yesterday. Instead of trying to summarize them, I've simply cut and pasted them below:

Matt W. said...
Thank goodness somebody is finally talking about the tax deductibility of premiums paid into individual health plans. The idea of health insurance being tied to an employer is very outdated. Opening this tax deduction is one step closer to people taking more fiscal responsiblity for their own health care.
Feb 26, 2010 8:03:00 AM

Michael Parks -- It's going to sound very looney but I think that healthcare would eventually be more affordable if we DIDN'T have health insurance. Health care corporations will keep raising their costs based on what they think insurance companies will pay. Ins co.'s will just raise our rates to make up the difference. Very vicious cycle. I know it sounds crazy but if medical costs were based on what people could actually afford to pay (out of pocket or short term payments) instead of what insurance companies can pay, we'd see the actual cost of health care drop. Sorry if this is way out in left field, Lang but it's just a thought I had yesterday when delivering to a veternarian's office. I'm interested to hear your opinion, but I hope I don't sound like an idiot.
Yesterday at 11:06am

Kimberley Eppes -- @ Lang, "Hear hear!"
Yesterday at 11:26am

Kevin Smithers -- Michael, your thoughts hit home with me... isn't true capitalism based on supply, demand and what the market will bear?
Yesterday at 11:31am

Michael Parks -- You're right. And I'm in favor of capitalism 100% Just wanted to put it on the table and see what the responses were.
Yesterday at 11:43am via Email Reply

Lang Wiseman -- @michael -- not crazy at all. one of the problems inherent in any insurance system is the issue of what's called moral hazard. basically, whenever you have a system where payments are made by a third party you disrupt the incentives for the consumer to be cost conscious about the doctor they choose, for example. basically, there's a spectrum involved. on one end, consumers pay directly dollar for dollar (i.e. your idea of no insurance). you can bet that everyone will shop the heck out medical services and create a robust market for care and expertise, etc. on the other end of the spectrum is absolute coverage for everything, no questions asked. that system has no disincentive for consumers to care one iota about rationing their own care for only those things that are really needed, to plan, to live healthier, or shop for the best price and there's the middle -- attempts to reduce the problem or moral hazard by "re-incentivizing" consumers. this is accomplished in varying degrees by things like co-pays, deductibles, paying percentages of treatment costs, etc. The idea is that those items at least make the consumer stop and think, for example, before rushing out to the doctor or demanding expensive tests for things that don't really require it. part of the problem is that we don't have a robust market for "unbundled" services. for example, no one really wants to "go naked" with no coverage at all (as you suggest), but something close would be having a catastrophic-only coverage plan with a significantly high deductible if you want (say $25k or $50k). or something with a really high co-pay ($500). those alternatives would be much more inexpensive than cadillac plans because you'd be paying for the day to day stuff that you could shop around for, just refuse to use unless really necessary, and create an incentive to simply live healthier (exercise, get enough sleep, eat better, not smoke, not drive recklessly, etc.). rates could also be tied to lifetstyle like life insurance, which would further incentivize behavior. bottom-line, we don't necessarily have an "insurance problem" so to speak. which is the problem with washington-speak. they want to supposedly lower costs simply by adjusting and transferring around who pays for what. what we have is a health and consumption problem, and the policy debate in washington doesn't really address either one. unless something changes to create incentive to live healthier and/or reduce unnecessary consumption of health resources, then everything is still gonna cost the same. just different people paying for it. we've got to realisitically "bend the cost curve" as they say -- and simply shifting the burden accounting-wise doesn't even address the problem.
Yesterday at 11:59am

Jason G. Whitworth -- The simple, obvious solution is govt reinsurance of private ins policies to cover catastrophic expenses. The govt reinsures the private carrier for expenditures over $X per year per patient. (fill in X for however much you want to budget - use $50K for an example) To qualify for reinsurance, the underlying policy is required to have minimum $1,000 deductible and 10% co-pay. (you could stagger these upwards with means testing to make the money go farther) Benefits: (1) Injects market forces to put downward pressure on costs. (2) Requires personal responsibility ["skin in the game"] since people would have to purchase the underlying coverage and pay the deductible and co-pays to obtain the benefits of reinsurance. (3) It would also be fair to spread the risk of catastrophic illness and expense to the entire population. (4) The plan is flexible - if it experiences cost overruns, then you just raise the level where reinsurance kicks in. (5) Employers would find it more affordable to provide coverage to their employees at lower cost, which (6) eliminates the perverse incentives for people to make less in order to qualify for public assistance. (7) These policies would be so much more affordable that they would drive others out of the market, transforming the industry.
Yesterday at 3:12pm

Jason G. Whitworth -- I have asked some "experts" from various think tanks about this. The Lefty ones hate it because it does not provide universal first dollar coverage, i.e. the "skin in the game" provision, nor does it do away with private carriers. The Righty ones don't like it because they think it will be the start of a slippery slope to full govt coverage. But I think this could be prevented if the legislation permanently fixed the minimums as factors of the median national income. Example, X >or= 1.5(median income); Deductible >or= .04(median income). The numbers would have to increase with income. The AMA includes reinsurance, along with other measures, as part of their recommendations for overhaul.
Yesterday at 3:47pm

Jason G. Whitworth -- But then what do I know, I'm just a trial lawyer pretending to be a healthcare expert!
Yesterday at 3:47pm

Jason G. Whitworth -- The second part of my plan would be to increase supply. Medical providers are extremely good at maintaining incredibly high barriers to entry under the guise of protecting the public, which in reality are to keep out competition. It would be a fierce political battle, but we would benefit from tearing some of them down to more reasonable levels, such as expanded powers for FNP's and PA's. We could also subsidize medical education by reimbursing the cost of tuition once a physician obtains his license to practice. We could subsidize new medical schools. We could remove the anti-trust exemption for state-chartered hospitals that allow them to engage in various unfair competitive practices, etc, etc.
Yesterday at 4:02pm · Jason G. Whitworth There are many, many "third-way" options besides turning healthcare over to the govt so that they can ration it out as they see fit, namely to benefit their political constituents.
Yesterday at 4:05pm

Lang Wiseman -- @jason -- very interesting ideas. i think we're saying the same thing philosophically -- i.e. that you have to change the incentive structure on both the supply side and the demand side in order to bend the cost curve. all i hear now from washington are ways to change how and who pays for what we already have -- it's just crass political warfare pitting people against one another. which just won't work to solve any underlying issues, and will actually end up costing more.
Yesterday at 4:35pm

Some Healthcare Policy Options

2010-02-25T10:16:00.000-06:00

I've blogged extensively on the topic of healthcare. You can find a summary with various links here.

In the spirit of the Healthcare Summit going on today with the President and Republican members of Congress, I thought I'd provide a couple of links with brief summaries of commonsense alternatives to a government takeover of healthcare:

A 5 point position paper by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research
An article on RealClear Politics authored by Tom Coburn, among others

In my opinion, one of the major problems with our healthcare policy is anachronistic tax policy that encourages healthcare coverage to be employer-based. Indeed, the cost of health insurance is 100% deductible as a business cost to employers, whereas the same cost is not fully deductible to an individual, and in most cases ends up not being deductible at all.

On the surface, employer based healthcare coverage sounds good -- you get a benefit from your employer. However, this tax policy is grounded in a bygone era when people worked at the giant corporate factory for 50 years and then retired.

In today's world, people change jobs on average 6-8 times by age 40, and oftentimes with gaps in between jobs. This creates portability problems and gives rise to pre-existing condition issues when changing back and forth between health plans.

Moreover, the healthcare "benefit" received from an employer is nothing more than a wage in disguise. The only difference is that for that portion of your wage, the employer is basically taking it and deciding when and how to spend it for you.

The economy is different now too. Many people are self-employed or work at small businesses. Those people are simply out of luck when it comes to finding affordable coverage, which is compounded by the fact they don't get to deduct their private healthcare plans.

By simply putting deductibility on equal footing, the market for individual coverage would become more robust and competitive. People could take those same healthcare "wages" from the employer and simply purchase their own individual coverage -- coverage that wouldn't depend on where they work.

The self-employed, small-business employed, and/or temporarily unemployed would obviously benefit directly from tax deductibility of purchasing their own coverage, as well as reduced rates resulting from a more competitive market for individual insurance coverage.

Vols vs. Gators - Remembering Games Past

2010-02-24T15:50:00.000-06:00

Great blog post yesterday from Mike Strange at the Knoxville News-Sentinel in lead-up to the Vols|Gators game last night. He detailed hard wins are to come by at Florida in recent years -- except, that is, for Bruce Pearl, who has as many wins at Florida in 5 years than in the previous 15 years combined.

One of those old wins came back in 1991 that I remember well -- the day the first Gulf War broke out:

From there you have to go back to 1991, which was a memorable night in an otherwise unmemorable season. Shortly before tipoff word spread that the U.S. had launched Desert Storm, the aerial bombardment that set up the invasion of Iraq. Both teams had players who were worried about friends and relatives serving in the Middle East. The Vols held a pregame and a postgame prayer. The game was a thriller. Tennessee's Lang Wiseman went to the stripe with 7 seconds on the clock and UT leading 68-67. He made both free throws and the Vols won 70-67. Afterward, Wiseman downplayed his heroics, saying, "I wasn't dodging any bullets.'' The press corps filed our stories then headed to a sports bar, only we watched the war on CNN rather than hoops highlights on ESPN.

Stay tuned... (plus a Friday quote)

2010-02-19T08:57:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the extended break in posting. I haven't written anything this past week due to being swamped with political duties leading up to the election filing deadline that passed yesterday at noon.

Having said that, I'm generally excited (and relieved) about the Republican field of candidates who stepped up to the plate and have offered themselves for public service. I think once you have a chance to review the relative qualifications of the candidates, it will be clear that we've offered people with the skills and experience to actually do the job of governing -- not just political hacks looking to cash in on their service and loyalty to a particular Party.

In any event, I plan to have some posts in the next few days about the status of things such as Joe Ford's flip-flop on his pledge not to run for County Mayor, issues brewing on the consolidation front, and others.

Stay tuned.

In the meantime, here's a Friday quote:

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."

--Thomas Jefferson

Friday Observations

2010-02-12T06:46:00.001-06:00

A couple of thoughts I had this week that I figured I'd share:

Genuine leadership is the stuff of true power and influence. Raw power seized for its own sake is fleeting and unstable.

Children deserve our unconditional love, but not necessarily our unconditional support in all things. There is a careful distinction to be made between the two, and a wise parent would do well to heed it.

Dickinson Quote - Taking Care of the Small Things

2010-02-12T06:36:00.000-06:00

"If you take care of the small things, the big things take care of themselves. You can gain more control over your life by paying closer attention to the little things.”

~ Emily Dickinson, 1830 – 1886

(Thanks to Abby Braddock for sending me this quote.)

Kentucky Fans Apparently Still Hate Me...

2010-02-11T10:54:00.000-06:00

....at least according to this Kentucky internet message board thread discussing the most hated Vol basketball players of all-time.

Apparently, I'm still "getting some love" from those guys. But I guess I should take that as a compliment, right? Ha!

The World Belongs to Those Who Hustle

2010-02-08T09:33:00.005-06:00

There's an awesome post today over at The Art of Manliness Blog about hustling:

“Things may come to those who wait…but only the things left by those who hustle.” (Abraham Lincoln)

Looking at the men that I admire from history, they all have one thing in common: they were hustlers. Theodore Roosevelt accomplished an insane amount of work because he lived the strenuous life, i.e. hustled. Thomas Edison patented thousands of inventions and perfected the light bulb because he spent all day hustling. Frederick Douglass was an orator, diplomat, newspaper editor and author because he hustled. And pretty much every self-made man has the same story.

The interesting thing is a lot of these great men who succeeded through hustling weren’t born with natural talent or abilities. In fact, they were usually dealt a crummy hand from the beginning of their life. T.R. had a sickly disposition that weakened him as a child and plagued him the rest of his life. He had to hustle more than others to gain and maintain his vim and vigor. Edison was smart, but there were plenty of other men out there who were smarter. He just worked harder than the naturally smart guys and then hired them to work for him. And Frederick Douglass was born a slave, lived in a time of extreme racism, and yet still beat the odds because he hustled.

Here’s the deal. Most of us are average. Average intelligence, average athleticism, and average looking. And most of us have had some setbacks in our life that can serve as a disadvantage. In short, we’re pretty much on the same playing field as millions and millions of people. And yet despite our average minds and builds most of us believe deep down that we are destined for something extraordinary, that we’re special. But most men really aren’t. But not because they’re average. Because they won’t hustle to get what they want.

A man’s reasons for not hustling run the gamut from laziness to fear of failure. I think a lot of time men think, “I want what that guy has but I just don’t have his x, y, or z.” But while we don’t have any control over the number of natural talents and gifts we were born with, we do have complete control over how much we can hustle. You can’t control where you were born, how crappy or nice your parents were, or how homely or handsome you are. But nobody determines how hard you hustle but you. Wherever you are in life, you can hustle to get where you want to be.

So let's assume that all of the excuses are true -- you're not smart enough, or tall enough, or good looking enough. Or maybe you don't have the right last name, or don't come from the right side of the tracks. Does that mean you give up? Or just resign yourself to failure?

Hardly. Go get your hustle on. I mean, by definition, you've got nothing to lose, right? In fact, maybe you're ahead of the game in a sense. At least you know what you're up against even before you get started.

To borrow from the TAM Blog again:

A lot of [guys] think “showing up” constitutes real effort, and that the chips of their dreams will magically fall into place. .... These guys will never understand a very important truth: the world belongs to hustlers.

Now, I’m not talking about hustling in the pulling-a-scam-on-the-naive-newbie sense. (Although it never hurts to have a little Fast Eddie swagger). I’m talking about the work-your-ass-off-while-your-competition-plays-Rock Band kind of hustling. Hustling = doing whatever you have to do, for however long you have to do it, until you reach your goal.

[Click here for a previous, related blog post about Mark Cuban's work ethic/philosophy.]

Stuff That Drives Me Crazy....Common Grammatical Errors

2010-02-06T07:05:00.000-06:00

This post over at the 11 Points blog nails several common grammar errors! Of course, the errors are now so ingrained in everyday parlance that the correct usage is what ends up sounding awkward at times.

Some examples:

Try and. As in -- I will try and make it to the store on time on my way home. The correct phrase is "try to."
You've got mail. Thanks AOL. Do you really mean "You have got mail?" The correct usage is "You have mail."
Could care less. If you "could care less," technically, that means you DO still have some modicum of caring left toward the subject. "I couldn't care less" is correct. (I've already devoted an entire blog post to this one previously.)

(Thanks to my friend Josh Wayman for sending me this link.)

Math of Life (9 year old sleepover version)

2010-02-06T00:26:00.002-06:00

3 nine year old boys at a sleepover = LOTS & LOTS of noise

3 nine year old boys at a sleepover = LOTS of Capri Sun consumption

3 nine year old boys at a sleepover = LOTS of whispering about girls

3 nine year old boys at a sleepover ≠ anything resembling a sane bedtime

3 nine year old boys at a sleepover = wouldn't trade it for anything

Learning Flexible Optimism

2010-02-04T07:39:00.004-06:00

I ran across a motivational blog post over at the Art of Manliness site about overcoming "learned helplessness" using the concept of "flexible optimism" -- i.e. learning how to make that delicate balance between being able to overlook and overcome things beyond your control vs. still accepting and taking responsibility for your life.

You were an awesome boyfriend, but still got dumped or a wonderful husband who still got cheated on. You’ve always been a good person, but your father died when you were in college, while the jackasses out there still get to go on fishing trips with their dads. You put your heart and soul into your job, but got passed over for the promotion. You worked your butt off in law school, but you still can’t find a job.

When these kinds of things happen, you lose an important sense of control over your life; you stop believing you’re the captain of your destiny. You followed the rules, but you still got screwed. You feel disillusioned, and it becomes easy to develop a jaded, passive “What’s the point?” philosophy that informs all areas of your life.

But having such an experience doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop “learned helplessness.”

Sounds hokey, but it's really an interesting article about scientific research and just good ole' common sense. Click here to read more about "learned helplessness" and "flexible optimism."

Mark Luttrell for County Mayor

2010-02-03T09:20:00.000-06:00

Here's the content of a press release that went out yesterday:

Leadership You Can Trust
Our County faces tremendous challenges -- billions of dollars in debt, an under-educated workforce, lack of trust in public officials, and a sense that our best days are behind us.

Turning all of that around requires solid, trustworthy leadership. It requires someone who can heal our divides, bring honor to our government institutions, govern with fiscally conservative principles, and bring out the best in all of us.

For months now we have been searching for such a candidate, and today he stepped forward to stand in the gap.

Sheriff Mark Luttrell.

Mark has demonstrated unfailing integrity and an ability to earn the trust of a large majority of voters across partisan, racial, and geographic divides. He has kept his promises, including taking a county jail on the cusp of federal takeover and transforming it into a model institution. He was even recognized by his peers as THE best Sheriff in America.

If such a man can accomplish all of those things from the Sheriff's office, just imagine what Mark can accomplish as Mayor in these trying times.

This task won't be easy, and it will require all hands on deck. If you want real change, you will have to stand up and fight for it. So be ready. In the coming months, we will be asking you to organize your precinct, become a dues-paying member, join or start a Republican club, and contact voters to remind them about the election.

This is our moment – our opportunity to move this community forward – and we couldn't have asked for a better standard-bearer than Mark Luttrell to get the job the done.

Lang Wiseman
Chairman

Tipping Points...Waiter/Waitress Style

2010-02-01T09:41:00.000-06:00

There were a couple of letters to the editor today in the Memphis Commercial Appeal about tipping. Basically, the letters were from a couple of Memphis-area waiters complaining that many diners tip too low (i.e. at old-world standards like 10%, or not at all).

So my question is this - what do you think about the following:

What is your standard percentage tip for good/great service? 10% 15%? 20%? More?
What is your standard tip for run-of-the-mill service?
What do you do when service is below-average/bad?
What about pizza delivery guys/gals?
What about restaurants where you merely order from the counter?
What about takeout?

To get the ball rolling, here are my own answers:

20% minimum
20% generally
10-15%
$2 minimum, depending on the size of the order
$0
$2-3 depending on the size of the order

Having been a waiter back in my high school days, I have a soft spot in my heart for waiters/waitresses. It's a much tougher job than most people realize. Anyway, I'd be interested to know what people think. I've always been unsure about how to handle 4-6 and would welcome thoughts and ideas, particularly from any waiters/waitresses out there.

Quote: C.S. Lewis

2010-01-31T07:29:00.000-06:00

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
-- C. S. Lewis

Obama, Kentucky Basketball, and The Sidam Touch...

2010-01-27T10:36:00.001-06:00

A few years ago, my brother Matt and I coined the phrase "The Sidam Touch" after watching our previous IT guys seemingly screw up every computer they touched in our office. Time after time after time after time. We even both submitted it the Urban Dictionary and got it published:

The Sidam Touch (pronounced "sī-dam")

The opposite of The Midas Touch, which turns everything to gold. The Sidam Touch breaks and or ruins everything. Ex: "Don't call the IT guy to fix your computer, he always makes it worse. He's got The Sidam Touch."
The opposite of the Midas Touch. Ex: "He screwed up yet another project. That idiot has the Sidam Touch."

Well, it seems like Obama is cursed with The Sidam Touch:

Goes to Virginia to "help" the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Creigh Reeds. He loses.
Goes to New Jersey to "help" the incumbent Democratic Governor, Jon Corzine. He loses.
Goes to Massachusetts to "help" Democrat Martha Coakley. She loses to Scott Brown in a race that garnered national attention and destroyed the Democrats' filibuster-proof Senate.

Well, yesterday he called the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team -- who had just ascended to #1 ranking less than 24 hours prior -- to thank them for the money they raised in connection with a Hoops for Haiti Telethon.

And what happened? The Wildcats go out and promptly lose to South Carolina that same night.

The Sidam Touch strikes again.

Maybe we should start calling it The Obama Touch. (And hopefully we can work it out so that Obama comes to Shelby County to help out some of the Democrat candidates in our countywide elections this year.)

[UPDATE: It was correctly pointed out by a reader that "Sidam" is not technically "Midas" spelled backwards. Which is true. But it's the best and closest play on the word Midas that we could come up with -- "Sadim" just didn't sound as good.]

Be An Answer on Someone's Quiz

2010-01-24T13:35:00.000-06:00

Take these 2 quizzes for some perspective on life:

Quiz #1:

Name the five wealthiest people in the world.  
Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
Name the last five winners of the Miss America. 
Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. 
Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How’d you do?  I guessing not very well, despite the fact that we’re talking about world-class accomplishments and achievers.

The point? Applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.   

Quiz #2:

List a few teachers who aided your journey through school. 
Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. 
Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

The lesson? The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.

Make it a point to be an answer on somebody else’s Quiz #2.

(This is an adaptation of a piece commonly attributed to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. Apparently, though, he isn’t really the author, although it really doesn’t matter. The point is still a good one.)

Something for the Tort Reformers to Think About

2010-01-24T07:10:00.000-06:00

MSNBC reports that a Minnesota doctor was recently disciplined for removing the wrong kidney of one of his patients, and also for mistakenly taking a biopsy from a patient's spleen instead of his kidney (you'd think those two organs might look a little different wouldn't you?).

Fortunately, this sort of gross error is relatively rare. But it DOES happen -- in fact, more often than we care to realize. Indeed, the "evil trial lawyers" certainly didn't make this event up. It happened.

In fact, the National Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 98,000 deaths -- yes, deaths -- occur each year as a result of preventable medical error. This number does not include "mere" non-death injuries, nor does it include non-hospital related events.

So how about those arguments for arbitrary caps on the amount of damages? I mean, how much is your kidney worth?

Oakland Mayoral Election -- The People Win!!

2010-01-22T10:58:00.001-06:00

Regular followers know from previous posts that our firm represents Oakland, TN mayoral candidate, Scott Ferguson, in connection with the challenge of the results mayoral election. Previous posts can be found here, here, here, here, and here.

Well, the Court issued its formal Order finding that at least 23 people were improperly granted access to the ballot despite not living with the town limits of Oakland. Since the margin of victory was only 15 votes, the Court ordered a new election to be held on March 30, 2010.

This is no small victory - indeed, election cases are extremely difficult to win. The real winners, though, are the citizens of Oakland who will now have the right to determine for themselves who will govern their Town.

Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Final Decree

I'll Be Speaking At The League of Women Voters Event on Monday

2010-01-22T10:03:00.000-06:00

The League of Women Voters will meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave., Room C.

The topic of the meeting will be “Visions for 2010 and Beyond.”

Van Turner, chairman of the local Democratic Executive Committee, and Lang Wiseman, chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, will speak.

Governmental Flow Chart - Cartoon

2010-01-21T13:10:00.000-06:00

Harold Byrd Decides Against County Mayoral Run

2010-01-21T09:34:00.001-06:00

Below is a copy of an Email/Release currently making the rounds from apparently now-former Democrat mayoral hopeful, Harold Byrd.

I've known Harold and his family for many, many years. He's a good man who has done great things for this community. We all look forward to his continued service, albeit as a private citizen.

____________________________________________
From: Harold Byrd
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:48:07 -0600
To: undisclosed-recipients::
Subject: SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR 2010

MEDIA ALERT
FROM: HAROLD BYRD
CONTACT: 901-484-1210
EMAIL: hbyrd@bankofbartlett.com

PRESS RELEASE FROM HAROLD BYRD:

AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION, I HAVE DECIDED TO WITHDRAW MY NAME AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR FOR THE 2010 ELECTION.

MY LIFE HAS BEEN GREATLY BLESSED WITH A STRONG, LOVING & SUPPORTIVE FAMILY AND A LEGION OF CLOSE FRIENDS. THROUGHOUT MY YEARS IN ELECTED OFFICE AND COMMUNITY ENDEAVORS, MY FAMILY & FRIENDS HAVE SELFLESSLY, GENEROUSLY, AND CONTINUALLY GIVEN THEIR TIME, EFFORTS, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT ON MY BEHALF. MY ELECTION AT AN EARLY AGE TO THE TENNESSEE STATE LEGISLATURE AND YEARS OF ACTIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE OTHERWISE. I AM ALSO BLESSED WITH GOOD HEALTH AND TO BE A PART OF A STRONG & CONTRIBUTING COMMUNITY BUSINESS.

THE ENCOURAGEMENT I HAVE RECEIVED REGARDING A MAYORAL CANDIDACY HAS BEEN HEARTWARMING & OVERWHELMING. THAT HAS MADE MY DECISION TO FOREGO A RACE AT THIS TIME AN EVEN MORE AGONIZING ONE. HOWEVER, THE PERSONAL ECONOMIC SACRIFICES REQUIRED ARE NOT PRUDENT FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY OR MY FAMILY AT THIS TIME. IT HAS BEEN A LIFELONG PASSION & JOURNEY TO BE A COALESCING & PIVOTAL FORCE FOR PROGRESS IN EDUCATION, RACIAL HARMONY & ECONOMIC PROGRESS.

THAT PASSION JOURNEY WILL CONTINUE BUT AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN RATHER THAN AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

Scott Brown Started Locally - You Can Too!

2010-01-20T06:29:00.003-06:00

What happened here can happen all over America"
-- Senator-Elect Scott Brown (R-MA)

Let's make it happen in Shelby County!

We are greatly inspired by Scott Brown's historic victory last night in Massachusetts! Thanks to the work of a principled candidate and dedicated volunteers, there is living proof that even in the most Democrat-leaning areas of our country, a strong candidate with conservative principles can win the peoples' trust.

In our own backyard, there are a number of pundits who say that our county is too Democratic for Republicans to win. In fact, Massachusetts is substantially more Democratic-leaning than Shelby County is -- and we've got some candidates with the same grit and determiniation that propelled Scott Brown to victory who will be asking for your support over the coming months.

We're asking you to Raise Your Voice

This year we are going to be asking you to stand up and "Raise Your Voice" by taking extra steps to bring about conservative change in our community.

We know that many of you faithfully pay attention to what is going on in Congress, but what about the State Legislature or the County Commission? It is a wonderful sight to see so many of you volunteer for a conservative Presidential candidate, but why not show the same level of interest in a conservative member of your own School Board?

Scott Brown might not have made it to be the "41st vote" against ObamaCare if it were not for local volunteers and contributors who first helped to elect him to be Property Assessor, City Councilor, State Representative, and State Senator.

Now is the time for you to act:

We need for you to personally support our efforts to help you and your neighbors raise their voices for conservative principles.

You can become a dues-paying member of the Shelby County Republican Party
You can join us for our annual Lincoln Day Gala and hear from RNC Chairman Michael Steele
You can make a donation to our "Raise Your Voice" fund to develop our Precinct-by-precinct organization program
You can become a community organizer for your precinct (Stay tuned for details)
You can run for office. There are numerous "mini-Massachusetts" in our county where liberal Democrats have faced no opposition on the ballot. If you have the same courage that Scott Brown had to fight the Democrat machine - let us know. (901) 682-3335 or HQ@ShelbyGOP.org

When Scott Brown said "What happened here can happen all over America" in his victory speech, he was sending us a message that we can rise to the challenge just like he did. Take his words to heart and lets keep the momentum going!

Anti-Death Penalty Movement Wooing Conservatives

2010-01-19T11:08:00.000-06:00

Interesting AP article in the Chattanooga paper titled: Anti-Death Penalty Movement Wooing Conservatives

Hat tip to Michael Silence.

Kiffin: Good Riddance....Scumbag

2010-01-13T11:58:00.004-06:00

I thought it was a joke at first, but as my phone continued to light up with calls, emails and texts, I realized that sadly it wasn't. And so now the great boy wonder is gone. Just like that.

At this point I'm still in shock. I wanted to put together a coherent piece about the whole thing, but the best I can come up with at this point is a series of thoughts:

• "Football is business, and business is business." What an absolute load of crap! "Business" is not a code word for the idea that anything goes. It's not a free pass. Every single day businessman all over the country pass up opportunities to take unfair advantage of situations and people in order to get ahead. In fact, things like character, integrity and ethics count most precisely when it takes personal sacrifice to do the right thing.

• "How can you blame Kiffin? It's his dream job." Well, he's an adult. And guess what? Adults don't always get to do exactly what they want to do, when they want to do it. And besides, it's not necessarily what Kiffin did, but rather the timing of it, and how he did it.

• "Like what? All coaches do that. You have to expect it." You mean expecting things like leaving their programs less than 3 weeks from signing day? And then having your top assistant (Orgeron) call recruits on a UT issued cell phone -- including, mind you, recruits who are already on UT's campus for early enrollment -- to try get them to leave and go with you to USC. And then playing dumb and acting like you don't know he's doing it?

• "It's a dog eat dog world. What did you expect them to do?" I'm currently reading a book about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird (When the Game Was Ours), and there's a passage in the book about how Michigan State changed coaches on the eve of Magic Johnson joining the program. He was understandably upset, but the assistant who recruited Magic (and who was moving on to another job at another university), specifically called Magic to put his mind at ease about keeping his commitment to Michigan State. Maybe it's just a sign of the times now, but that's integrity and class. By comparison, Kiffin apparently decided to adopt the John Calipari approach to coaching transition -- and, friend, when you find yourself in the company of the likes of John Calipari, it's time to take a long, hard look in the mirror.

• "You're just a sore loser - sour grapes." You're $%& straight! And now we're the laughing stock of the SEC, and it's all Kiffin's fault. You think our rivals would be laughing this hard if Kiffin hadn't gone around shooting his mouth off all year? I mean, the guy basically wrote a bunch of checks that we ain't gonna be able to cash because he drained the accounts while we weren't looking. And let's not forget that Kiffin was damaged goods when UT gave him a chance to redeem his reputation and prove himself. That's gotta count for something. I mean, a single year? Is there no loyalty at all? Even on a personal level? I mean, letting players and coaches find out that you're leaving on ESPN? Are you kidding me? You had time to call recruits to "let them know" before you even let the kids and coaches know who are already on your team?

Bottom line: At the end of the day, Kiffin was (and is) an irreverent and pompous jerk. But he was our irreverent, pompous jerk and so most of us were willing to look the other way and ignore that squeamish feeling in the pit of our collective stomach whenever he would act out like a 7th grader. So it's partly our own fault. We wanted to believe it, and so we did.

But as details start to trickle out about Kiffin the man, I think we're all beginning to see that his irreverent attitude wasn't really the contrived media strategy we all hoped and convinced ourselves it was. Turns out, he was basically a jerk through and through. In fact, at least according to writer Clay Travis, it appears that at least in private his irreverence and disdain extended even to the very core traditions of what it means to be a part of the Tennessee program itself -- which I think is unforgivable. And for that reason, I say good riddance.

Here's to hoping that the NCAA investigation pounds USC and the wonder boy into oblivion.

Wiseman Bray PLLC -- Client Video Testimonial

2010-01-12T14:42:00.000-06:00

One of our New Year’s Resolutions at my law firm is to use video testimonials as part of our website marketing. We think our former clients are in the best position to relate their experiences for the benefit of folks out there on the web looking for an attorney.

Well, we just finished filming and editing our first video and want your input. So tell us what you think about the video: Do you like the idea? Why or why not? Is there something we could do better as we move forward and film more?

Vols | Kansas Postgame Wrap-up (My 2 Cents)

2010-01-11T12:37:00.002-06:00

What an incredible game! At one point in the second half I looked up and saw 3 non-scholarship players on the floor at the same time against the #1 team in the nation -- what a gritty, hard-fought, and determined effort! I'm so proud of the guys who fought and scrapped their way to such a momentous win for our program! What heart and determination!

I told lots of folks last week how I thought the team might actually be better off after the dismissal of Tyler Smith and the suspensions of Goins, Williams, and Tatum -- at least over the short term anyway. From the outside looking in, we seemed to have lost that hard-working, blue-collar mentality that seems to flourish in the Pearl system. You know -- that edge. That hunger. That underdog, chip-on-your-shoulder, we'll-prove-you-wrong mindset.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I've always liked Tyler Smith -- he was an absolute warrior at times on the court. The other kids -- not so sure about them -- but my point here is not to throw any of them under the bus. Indeed, generally-speaking you'd rather have MORE talent on your team as opposed to less.

But this year seemed different, though. It was almost like we had "arrived" but that some of the guys weren't dealing with stardom and success very well. Tyler seemed disinterested for lack of the better word. And suddenly, the on-court play began to look as though being "cool" seemed more important than taking care of business and playing with a sense of urgency. They're just kids, mind you, but the body language and chemistry just didn't look right. It looked like the guys were counting on "out-talenting" other teams rather than simply outworking 'em. And our team looked way too deferential to Smith on the court -- as if they were always waiting for him to do something. While they stood. And watched. And waited. And then waited some more.

And Tatum? This is the same kid who put out a Twitter message two weeks ago saying that "Knoxville is boring" -- I mean, are you kidding me? I almost flipped out when I saw it. Boring -- in the middle of the basketball season? How much more exciting does life for a basketball player get? And how's that for negative recruiting fodder for other programs! (I guess maybe he was just trying to spice things up a little with the joyride.)

In any event, there's nothing like a little wake-up call to put things back in perspective and see what you're really made of. I mean, those kids yesterday clearly get it. Pearl obviously did a masterful job last week. The kids looked and sounded like they understand that wearing "Tennessee" on your chest is an honor and a privilege that demands your respect and sacrifice. Check out the video of the postgame lockerroom speech and celebration (click on featured video on the right tab). I loved seeing the guys during the postgame celebration tug at the "Tennessee" on their uniform.

But now comes the hard part -- i.e. sustaining some semblance of that same level of commitment and heart over the course of a grueling SEC schedule with a shorthanded roster. Maybe some of the suspended guys will have learned a lesson and find their way back on the team. I hope they do. But only if they understand what it means to represent the University of Tennessee.

In the meantime, Coach Pearl is at his best in an underdog role with blue-collar kids who who want to work hard, sacrifice, and play with heart. I suspect we might see a little more magic before it's all over.

Kris Allen Song: Live Like We're Dying

2010-01-10T07:58:00.000-06:00

Great song with a great message:

Lyrics:

Sometimes we fall down and can’t get back up
We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough
How come we don’t say I love you enough
Till it’s to late, it’s not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won’t come
We could make a feast from these crumbs
And we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you
What would you wish you would’ve done

Yeah… gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbyes
Should be so careful who we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution
There’ll no one on the line

We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying oh - like we’re dying [x2]

We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live - like we’re dying

We never know a good thing till it’s gone
You never see a crash until it’s head on
All those people right when we’re dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it’s gone

Yeah… gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start livin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying oh - like we’re dying [x2]

We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying
Live like we’re dying

Majority Leader Reid's Racist Comments - Wonder If We'll See Consistency from Democrats?

2010-01-09T13:21:00.003-06:00

Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is apparently a closet racist according to some media reports coming out today. Read here and here.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) apologized today for referring to President Barack Obama as "light skinned" and "with no Negro dialect" in private conversations during the 2008 presidential campaign.

"I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words," said Reid in a statement. "I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans for my improper comments."

Guess that holier-than-thou act Reid has working all the time is just a charade.

Anyway, an apology by Reid is a good start. But I wonder whether the Democrats will take one of their own to task and demand his resignation like they certainly would if Reid was a Republican?

I guess we'll see whether the rhetoric matches the reality.

I Think Coach Lang Had Money on that Game...

2010-01-09T08:58:00.000-06:00

I coach my son's 10-under basketball team, and we won a close game last night. Afterwards, the mom of one of other kids on the team relayed to me the following exchange she had with her son:

Kid: "Mom, I think Coach Lang had money on that game."
Mom: "What? Why do you think that?"
Kid: "Because he kept telling us that we couldn't afford to foul."

True story.

Top 100 Dunks

2010-01-07T14:42:00.001-06:00

Not sure the rankings are accurate, but some of these dunks are UNBELIEVABLE! The acrobatics of the dunk-contest dunks are unreal, but I still like the in-game dunks best (particularly check out the ones at around 65-80 rank). To pull off what some of these guys do in the heat of a competitive game -- I'll take that over a dunk contest any day.

Enjoy!

(If you're reading this on FB, click on the "View Original Post" to see the video. Also, thanks to my friend Sal Toor for forwarding the video link.)