My FAVORITE college sports teams!

After many years of pondering, I have now come up with a favorite college sports team in Texas…

The University of Houston!

Other favorites include:

University of Louisiana-Monroe (I was born in West Monroe)

Louisiana State University (again, being born in Louisiana, I sort of have to)

University of Kansas (I lived in Kansas from 1974 until 1981 and have very fond memories of the Sunflower State)

Others I’m partial to include:

University of California at Los Angeles (I love the colors and my Dad grew up in the Los Angeles area)

University of Oregon (I love ducks. ‘Nuff said.)

University of Florida (I went to college in Florida and I like their color scheme)

Rick Waggoner stepping down as GM CEO

Interesting news, indeed.

Apparently, this was a condition for GM to receive more in government loans. That being said, my sympathy for Waggoner is minimal. GM is a sinking ship whose captain and lieutenants continue to ignore what needs to be done while still relying on stupidity to keep things afloat. It’s like a man whose bad cough is from lung cancer, but instead of getting chemo and possibly removal surgery he chooses to just use cough syrup instead.

An Ode to Northern Exposure, Star Trek: Voyager

Since I spent 1991 to 1995 in a conservative Christian college and then 1996 to 1997 in the Army where I didn’t have direct access to a television on a daily basis, I missed out on some great television shows. Right now on Netflix, I’m watching Northern Exposure. Through my son’s account, I’m also watching Star Trek: Voyager. I deeply regret not watching these shows when they were on the air. Yes, it’s great to have the DVD option of skipping through boring commercials and not having to wait the next week or next season to find out what happens next, but there’s something about getting to see it when it’s current and on television.

Of course, Dr. Joel Fleischman, Maggie O’Connell, Captain Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay aren’t real, but you know it’s a brilliant show when the actors play the parts so well that they seem real. When the show’s off the air and you wonder, “I wonder what Dr. Fleischman/O’Connell/Captain/Chakotay are doing now?”

I’m now on Twitter

Am taking it nice and slow since I don’t really know what it’s all about. At this stage it’s more of an experimentation. I remember the first time I went on Myspace I deleted my account because of all the adult spam I received. Even now, I use Myspace mostly for professional purposes. There are some bands that I deal with as a journalist, and the best way to reach them is through Myspace.

What will happen to Phil Spector?

The jury’s deliberating in his second trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. The first trial resulted in a 10-2 hung jury, 10 for conviction and two for acquittal.

Now, he’s being tried on second-degree murder charges. The jury also has the option of convicting him of involuntary manslaughter.

Here’s what I think will happen:

1) He’s acquitted and then quietly settles out-of-court on a wrongful death lawsuit brought on by Ms. Clarkson’s family.

2) He’s convicted of second-degree murder and then goes to either a country-club prison or house arrest and then quietly settles out-of-court on a wrongful death lawsuit brought on by Ms. Clarkson’s family.

3) He’s convicted of manslaughter and gets probation and, yes, then quietly settles out-of-court on a wrongful death lawsuit brought on by Ms. Clarkson’s family.

Do I think he’s guilty? Heck, I’m still trying to grasp the “wall of sound” concept.

My condolences to the family of Ms. Clarkson.

Several mysteriously shown the door at GM’S Grand Blanc WTC plant

An anonymous source tells me that yesterday, March 26, about 18 or so people at General Motor’s Weld Tool Center in Grand Blanc, Michigan, received taps on the shoulder. Their services were no longer needed, and they were escorted out. Their personal belongings left behind, ostensibly to be shipped to them later.

This source (don’t bother asking who) also told me that several of those let go were good employees who actually knew what they were doing.

GM has had this disturbing habit lately of getting rid of its good workers but practically fighting to the death to protect those who are useless.

For more on this subject, check out this recent column of mine.

Blogging about sports

I might be doing that here for the time being as well. I had been blogging at one site, but when I’d type the screen would fade to one of those absolutely annoying advertisements. You know me–a restless person who absolutely hates being halted. So, here it goes:

…Thanks for the memories, Curt Schilling. My only regret about your career is that when you pitched for the Houston Astros, you had to deal with inept ownership. If not for the hapless ways of the late John McMullen, Houston might have a World Series title. But then, if you had stayed in Houston, you probably would’ve fallen under the Nolan Ryan curse: lots of strikeouts, low ERA but terrible win/loss record due to no run support. Thank you for helping the Red Sox end their curse…

…Houston Astros manager Cecil Cooper said recently the Astros would win 90 games this season. I say Cooper is one heck of an optimist.

Yes, maybe the ‘Stros will surprise us all. They have some solid veterans, but I worry about their bullpen, their starters and their hitting. Seems like the best remedy for a pitching slump the past few years in baseball is to pitch against someone wearing an Astros uniform.

Or maybe Houston figures they can blind opponents with their ugly uniforms…

…Jim Rice’s Hall of Fame induction is horribly overdue. I don’t understand how Rice squeaked in in the final year of eligibility while the very-overrated Ozzie Smith gets in easily in his first year. Congrats, Mr. Rice. You deserve it.

A “notice” from the IRS

I received this message recently:

noreply@irs-usa.com

Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 4:16 PM
subject Notice from Department of the Treasury

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity
we have determined that you are eligible to receive
a tax refund under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax refund value is $189.60.
Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days
in order to IWP the data received.
If u don’t receive your refund within 9 business days from the original IRS mailing date shown, you can start a refund trace online.
If you distribute funds to other organization, your records must show wether they are exempt under section 497 (c) (15). In cases where the recipient org. is not exempt under section 497 (c) (15), you must have evidence the funds will be used for section 497 (c) (15) purposes.

If you distribute fund to individuals, you should keep case histories showing the recipient’s name and address; the purpose of the award; the maner of section; and the realtionship of the recipient to any of your officers, directors, trustees, members, or major contributors.
To access the form for your tax refund, please click here

This notification has been sent by the Internal Revenue Service, a bureau of the Department of the Treasury.
Sincerely Yours,

John Stewart
Director, Exempt. Organization
Rulings and Agreements Letter
Internal Revenue Service

Suffice to say, this is not from the real IRS. They don’t contact you over e-mail like this, and I’m certain official correspondence would have a lot less typos.

Responding to reader comments

One thing I’ve learned in my adult life is knowing when it’s appropriate to responde to reader feedback and when it’s not. I remember having an acerbic exchange with the fan of a country music star; the fan was upset about my singling out her hero, who’d been arrested for DWI. She accused me of self-righteousness. What’s sad is the column focused on Jacqui Saburido, who received horrible burns resulting from being hit by a drunk driver. The star was mentioned in passing, but that’s what her angry letter to me focused on.

There are also those who’ve taken issue with my criticism of Sean Penn (who, to paraphrase columnist/blogger/attorney Debbie Schlussel, is showing more and more each day he wasn’t doing much acting when playing Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High) and President Obama.  One reader even told me I was gay, which was as laughable as it was beneath contempt. In retrospect, I regret responding to his diatribe.

More recently, a reader was upset about a column of mine where I encouraged people to study Asian languages. As I read this letter writer, all I could think was that their reasoning was so jumbled and so confined that it simply wasn’t worth my time to respond.

Isn’t that the way to irk someone the most–by ignoring them?

Memo to Buffalo Bills: Good luck with Terrell Owens

You’re going to need it. Lots of it.

And, by the way, lose the navy blue. It clashes with the royal blue.