Bob Costas Dilemna for Tomorrow’s Sunday Night Football Game – Prohibition or Ban Cars?

The NFL is not having a very good week.  This weekend two Dallas Cowboy players were involved in a car accident.  Jerry Brown, 24, was killed while riding in a car with linebacker Joshua Price-Bent.  The car apparently was travelling at a high rate of speed, hit a curb, flipped over and caught on fire.  

Bent was seen trying to help his teammate out of the car when police arrived.  He was brought to the hospital and pronounced dead.  Bent failed a sobriety test.  The exact amount he was over the legal limit is not known at this time, but he has been charged with intoxication manslaughter (never heard of such a thing).  

A tragedy for both men.  Bent faces 20 years in prison if convicted and of course a very young man has lost his life.  My deepest sympathies to his loved ones.  

The dilemma comes does Bob Costas during his lecture to the Sunday Night Football watching public decide to ban cars or bring back prohibition?  

I am not trying to make light of a horrible situation, but this question must be asked.  Professional athletes have a culture of drugs and drinking just as much as a culture of guns.  So with Costas' logic, they must be banned from all society because these individuals can't handle the money, fame, and all the things that come with it.  

Your guess on which it will be? 

Rest In Peace - Andy Williams Dead at 84

A legendary voice has been silenced.  Andy Williams died today after a one year long battle with bladder cancer.  

I love this song, it always makes me think of the elegant Audrey Hepburn.  

A Hero and Icon Has Left Us - Neil Armstrong Dead at 82

God Speed, Mr. Armstrong.

RIP Nora Ephron

I loved this movie and this is my favorite scene.

She will be sleepless no more.

Robin Gibb Dead at 62

Rest in Peace Robin.  You will be missed.  The Bee Gees gave millions of people pleasure and memories from their lifetime of music.  They helped create a soundtrack of a generation in the 70's.  They went way beyond Saturday Night Fever Disco.  Many don't even realize how much they contributed to music over the decades.

Avery Did - Every LIfe has Value

Avery Lynn Canahuati passed away on Monday.  She was a little shy of 6 months old.  She suffered from a rare genetic disorder Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the #1 genetic disorder that causes death in children under 2.  She was diagnosed on 4/6/12.  She lived less than a month after her family received the news.

Her remarkable parents decided to create a "bucket list" for their precious baby.  Instead of crying and cursing God, they decided to give Avery a life as whole as possible.  They had all these dreams for their baby girl; as every parent does.  But they had little time, but they decided to make the best of what they were given.   The most recent blog post announces the death of their precious baby.

Avery Lynn Canahuati 11/11/11 - 04/30/12

Hello everyone this is Avery's father.  Avery passed away yesterday sometime around 3pm due to pulmonary complications related to SMA.  In short, one of her lungs collapsed and she went into cardiac arrest.  I immediately performed CPR on her and was able to bring her back to life, but only for a brief period of time before she passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital.  Avery's passing this quickly came as a complete shock to all of us, as she had just been given a thumbs up at her last doctors appointment only three days ago. While we were aware of the severity of her diagnosis, we never lost hope for Avery and even in her passing, we still have hope for our daughter and all of her friends.  I'm going to share a note Avery gave me back when all of this started, but made me promise not to open until I knew the time was right...Dear Mommy & Daddy:

If you're reading this it's because I've gone to take care of my Uncle Bryant, Nana Carolyn, Papa George, and all my great Grandparents.  I love you veeeeeeeeeery much.  Also, tell Nana & G-Pa I love them too.  In fact, tell everyone who loved me that I love them and I appreciate them caring about me.


When I started writing my blog, I thought I'd only be speaking to my closest friends and family members.  Little did I know soooooooo many people would care about me and while I'm flattered to have so many people who love me, I hope they will also take time to love and care about all of my friends out there with SMA.


You see, I'd never heard of SMA prior to being diagnosed with it, yet there's thousands of my friends out there living with it today and millions of my future friends parents who are unknowingly carriers of the SMA gene.  Without awareness and without a cure, I'm afraid more of my friends are at risk to have their lives drastically shortened by SMA.


When people think of me, I hope they'll also think of all my friends who have been through this and who are going through this now.  But what I really hope for is that when people think about me, they will not waste time sitting there feeling sorry for me, rather I hope they will STAND UP in honor of me and all of my friends (past, present, and future).  And they can do so by spreading awareness and helping to fund a cure for my friends.


To all my SMAns, you followed me, now please follow all of my friends.  


Mommy.  Daddy.  I love you every bit as much as you love me.  And while I'm not here physically, I will forever live in your minds, as you will mine.
Love always,
Avery, Aviator, Aves, Scuttlebutt

For those who don't believe that every life has value, go and look at the pictures that this family took of their sweet girl over the last month of her life.  They went to baseball games, celebrated Easter, got removable tattoos, among many other activities.  Her bucket list.

Avery's short life shows how much love is brought into the lives of a family, even when that child isn't "perfect" by society's standards.  Her family was given a gift.  One that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.  The world has been given a gift because of this family money is being raised to do more research to help bring a cure.  It is too late for Avery, but there is renewed hope for all the Avery's that come later.  They may be able to live longer, fuller lives by the generosity of her family.

To Avery's family, our hearts are with you during your time of grief.  Rest in Peace, Avery.

Grab a box of tissues and read her story.

RIP Mr. Colson - My Former Boss

Chuck "Hatchet Man" Colson has passed away at the age of 80.  Most people remember him for his time in the Nixon white house and his role in Watergate.  I remember him as the head of organization that I once worked for Prison Fellowship Ministries.  


I worked there only as a contractor and very briefly.  But it was a job that had a profound effect on me.  I remember that job and it's employees with great fondness and affection.  It is a charity that I donate to every year.  I believe in the cause.  They help everyone involved in the criminal justice system; the victims as well as the criminals.  They also help the families of those who are in jail.  Children are blameless and shouldn't be forgotten when they are dealing with the difficulties of having a parent(s) in jail.  They are the forgotten victims, but Chuck never forgot them.  Especially at Christmas time.  I happen to be working there during Christmas.  The luncheon that was put on for the employees was lovely, just lovely.  He also took the time to shake the hand of every employee, thank them and wish them a Merry Christmas.  Believe me, no "Happy Holidays" crap.  How many jobs do you know of that have a chapel that you can go and pray anytime you feel the desire?  


The ministry is employs people who are good Christians and are dedicated to the mission of bringing the word of Jesus to prisoners around the world.  They are now the largest prisoner outreach group in the world.  He dedicated his life to helping those in the prison system and the ones they left behind.  He changed many lives.  


At the time many questioned his conversion to the Christian faith.  I suppose that was understandable.  The conventional meme is that he converted while in prison to hasten his release.  This is not the truth.  Yes, I know that you are shocked that the media isn't being honest about a Christian Conservative, but it is true.  Chuck converted before he went to trial, which is the reason that he pleaded guilty.  He accepted responsibility for his actions, did his time, and then proceeded to make a difference in the world after his release.  A difference that will live on, even with him gone.  


Mr. Colson made mistakes, he was a sinner.  He stepped on whomever he needed to step on to help keep Nixon in power.  But he is a true story of redemption, in every sense of the word.  


If you have never read his autobiography Born Again, you don't know what you are missing.  Yes, he was a sinner, but he was also a giant of a man.  


Rest in Peace, Mr. Colson.  I will do what I can to help your legacy live on.  My deepest sympathies to his family on their loss.  

The Tragedy of Trayvon Martin

I was just about to do a post on that poor young man that was shot murdered in Florida.  I happened to read SilverFiddle's take on the incident and there is no way that I could say it any better:


A Stupid Gun Owner is a Dangerous Gun Owner

Responsible gun owners and defenders of the right to self-defense must demand the prosecution of George Zimmerman

Police in the central Florida town of Sanford have said that 28-year-old George Zimmerman says he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense during a confrontation in a gated community. Police have described Zimmerman as white; his family says he is Hispanic and not racist. (US News)

Neighborhood vigilante George Zimmerman murdered young Trayvon Martin.  I don't see how a reasonable person could reach any other conclusion. News outlets are blaming Florida's Stand Your Ground Law, but that's just agenda reporting. 

Nothing in that law green-lights what Zimmerman did. He was flat-out wrong. Criminally wrong. You can’t just go chasing law-abiding citizens down the street at the point of a gun.

Zimmerman told a police dispatcher that the teen was "up to no good" because he was walking through his neighborhood "just walking around, looking about" with his "hands on his waistband."  Does the idiot have kids? That's what teens do!

Zimmerman chased after Martin, complaining to the dispatcher, "These a******s always get away."

Hell yeah!  When a gun-toting man is chasing you, you're going to try to get away. Of course Martin’s going to run. He probably thought Zimmerman was a pedophile or some kind of crazy person. He had every right to run. He also had a right to turn around and “jump” Zimmerman “from behind” (how do you get jumped from behind by someone you’re chasing? Zimmerman is lying.)

When someone chases you down and assaults you, you have a right to fight back. Too bad the kid didn’t end up kicking the dumb bastard’s head in.

Critics are calling for a repeal of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law in the wake of the killing, but that is like calling for the repeal of driving automobiles every time a pedestrian gets run down.

The perpetrator was not “standing his ground,” he was chasing down an innocent young man who was just trying to get back to his house before the second half started. If anything, had the kid killed Zimmerman, that same law would have protected him.

This is a tragedy. It is assault with a deadly weapon and murder. And Florida's Stand Your Ground law needs to stand.  It will protect potential victims from assaults by people like George Zimmerman. 



The Martin family deserves justice for their son.  Mr. Zimmerman needs to be charged and tried.  Let a jury of his peers decide what his punishment will be.  The city/town of Sanford also deserve a new police chief, one that will follow the letter of the law.  This case is screaming for an arrest and he should be doing just that.


Although, I do want make another point that Silverfiddle didn't cover in this, the fact that media is purposely fanning the flames of racism by reporting incorrectly that Mr. Zimmerman is white.  That is not a small point when charges of racism are flying around so freely.    Mr. Zimmerman is Hispanic.  


You should also go and read DaTech Guy's take on this as well.  He makes some very good points too.  The numbers of black on black crime that dont' seem to generate all the outrage that this case is generating.  It is very possible that Mr. Zimmerman had some issues with race.  It is also very possible that he has some issues with aggression and anger management that had nothing at all to do with race.  I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on that until more evidence is presented.  But he needs to be arrested and charged.  Let a jury decide his fate.  


Rest in Peace Trayvon.  

A Warrior Leaves Us - RIP Breitbart

I love my job. I love fighting for what I believe in. I love having fun while doing it. I love reporting stories that the Complex refuses to report. I love fighting back, I love finding allies, and—famously—I enjoy making enemies.

Three years ago, I was mostly a behind-the-scenes guy who linked to stuff on a very popular website. I always wondered what it would be like to enter the public realm to fight for what I believe in. I’ve lost friends, perhaps dozens. But I’ve gained hundreds, thousands—who knows?—of allies. At the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror, and I sleep very well at night.

Breitbart in his own words.  


He was more than just a warrior for the conservative cause.  He was also a son, a brother, a husband, and father.  Let's hope that the left respects those family members in their time of grief and sorrow over the passing of a man too young to die.  


Rest in Peace Mr. Breitbart and thank you for giving conservatives a voice.  You will me missed.  I talked to him briefly while at CPAC just a few short weeks ago. I told him that I bow to his tenacity.  I wouldn't be brave enough to do what he did.  He leaves us with another important lesson, embrace life you never know when it is your time.  

RIP Davy Jones

I used to love watching the reruns of this show.  

Kevin Costner Says Goodbye to Whitney Houston

I didn't watch the funeral, but someone sent this to me.  It was very touching.  He didn't ignore her problems, but he gave her an emotional and very touching send off.  I am sure in the years to come her daughter will listen to this again and remember her mommy and realize that her mother was also seen as more than just an addict that threw her life away by others besides herself. 

He brought back memories for me as well, growing up in a tight knit church community, they are very special memories for anyone who was lucky enough to have that experience as a child. 

Whitney Houston Dead at 48

Whitney Houston was found dead in a hotel room in Los Angeles.  She was only 48 years old.  A very tragic story. 

Whitney had God-given talent and beauty.  She could sing and she could act.  She had the world at her feet when she was only in early 20's. 

Sadly party demons took over her life after her marriage to bad boy Bobby Brown.  It is a real shame she was never able to get her life back on track. 

Reportly she was seen drinking and partying on Friday at the hotel bar. 

May she find the peace she was unable to find in life. 

Etta James Dead

An American treasure has left us.

And of course:

Rest in Peace Etta

Tony Blankley Dead at 63

Tony Blankley lost his battle with stomach cancer today.  He was 63.  Blankley was formerly a D.A., an editor at The Washington Times, Press Secretary for Newt Gingrich, and served in the Reagan administration.  A conservative who understood the greatness of America and wanted to see it preserved.

Newt's response:



Here is him at his best, smacking down liberals:



Rest in Peace Tony.  You will be missed.

RIP Cheetah - Tarzan Chimp Dies

I used to love watching these movies when I was little.

A Sad Day - Christopher Hitchens Dead at 62

My own opinion is enough for me, and I claim the right to have it defended against any consensus, any majority, anywhere, any place, any time. And anyone who disagrees with this can pick a number, get in line and kiss my ass.

I disagreed with Mr. Hitchens on virtually everything.  We had very little common ground.  But, I loved his writing and sharp wit.  


Rest in Peace, you will be missed.   

Steve Jobs in His Own Words

Steve Jobs was a visionary.  But, beyond being a visionary he was a person who understood hardship.  He failed many times, but instead of whining, complaining, and demanding from others, he picked himself up, dusted himself off and got on with it.  Not only did he revolutionize the way we live our lives today, he was inspiration to us all. 

Except for maybe the Wall Street occupiers.  They are demanding from someone else.  Steve Jobs demanded from himself.



H/T to Mommylife

Rest in peace Mr. Jobs.  Your vision will be sorely missed. 

R.I.P. Clarence Clemons

Clarence Clemons was unable to recover from his stroke and passed away today. 

Bruce will never sound the same. 

Enjoy the Sax.

Jane Russell Dead at 89

Jane Russell, the curvy bombshell from the 40's and 50's died today at her home surrounded by her children. One of her most infamous roles was besides Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes and her infamous pin up shot of her posing on some hay.


She was a big supporter of adoption causes and spent the second half of her life working on these issues and getting hard to place children into permanent homes. She also was known for having bible studies classes at home. Hmm, I wonder how popular those would be today?

She wasn't just beautiful and talented, but she had big heart and cared for children. 

Rest In Peace Elizabeth Edwards

Earlier this morning Elizabeth Edwards lost her long battle with breast cancer.  Her cancer returned during her husbands second failed attempt for president. 

She and John separated after the public admission that he fathered a child with his mistress Reille Hunter.  Elizabeth handled herself with grace and dignity after all her husband's dirty laundry was aired.  She also experienced one of the worst experiences a person can; the death of a child.  Her first born son, Wade was killed in a car accident at the tender age of 16. 

She leaves behind three other children, the youngest being only 11. 

Apparently, John Edwards did the decent thing and was with his wife and their three children at her bedside at the end. 

Rest in Peace Elizabeth, and may God watch over your children in their time of grief.