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Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
That's funny, Ponz. I was going to say, last time I watched, they dip them in water so they don't have to chew as much. It's only a matter of time before they have someone do some "pre-chewing" before the contest starts. Kind of like an eating contest fluffer. Regarding online gambling WT, I don't know much about it. But, a few of my friends were into it. And, I wanted to put $100 down against the Spurs in the playoffs. And I couldn't find a site. A few days later, I started reading all these stories about how it's no longer legal, a lot of the sites were being shut down...etc etc. Do you know the details behind that?— July 5, 2008 2:03 p.m.
Two Idiots -- Rush Limbaugh & Brett Favre
Right Said Fred. Well, WT...this might be the first time you don't make very good points. Because, you claim that you dislike Rush, and the reason for you pointing out the "syntax" thing, is so no other idiotic Rush fan could do that to me. That makes little sense. I doubt a Rush fan would be smart enough. It's almost like Imus claiming he made those statements, so that cops would stop "harassing" black people. I'm also reminded of how Sean Hannity once cornered Al Franken. He was in his face, because he said how horrible it was for him to call his book "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot." Hannity wouldn't stop about that. Frankin said, "Well, why was it okay for Rush to show a picture of a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, and say 'This is the 'First Dog' in the White House?" Hannity had no answer for that. He eventually came back and said that Rush claimed his producers did that, not him. Which, makes little sense, because if your producers write/produce something you don't like, as the radio host, you can veto it and not read the copy. So, I'd think a Rush fan would have more to argue with me on why they are a fan, than a misspelling. It's a word I've never had to type out before, honestly. I try to think of titles that do that very thing. That will make people want to click on the blog and read it. I don't really think Favre is an idiot, but a great competitor, and that is what drove him to being as great as he is. I do think, though, when players don't know when to retire...it's a bit insane. Not as much when it's a Willie Mays, who was dropping fly balls...because he was doing it for the money, in a day when athletes didn't always make the money they do now. And, it wasn't as bad when Jordan didn't want to retire. He was a shell of his former self. But, he'd still have the occasional day where he'd score 45 points. And, he was still better than most in the league. But at the end of the day, I wouldn't call him an idiot for one reason -- you don't get concussions, or risk being paralyzied, by playing basketball. If I remember correctly, Favres wife battled some severe cancer. So, keep your health. Spend your millions and millions, and enjoy your life, trying to get rid of the "itch". And with the fans remembering the good times, not with you throwing 3 interceptions a game trying to relieve the glory years. Yes...that doesn't warrant some writer/blogger calling you an "idiot"...but as I said, I did it for a reaction. Much the way Ted Leitner would do things on Channel 8. And many hated him, but he was the first local broadcaster to get signed to make a million dollars a year because of it.— July 5, 2008 10:34 a.m.
Two Idiots -- Rush Limbaugh & Brett Favre
Well, here's what I can't figure out. I clicked your name. I saw that on the Reader website, you have a total of three posts on this entire site. Two of them are right here. The other, on the beach booze ban (in which I'm in complete agreement with you on, and I'm not even a drinker). So, I'm curious. What is it that made you get this fired up? I mean, really...the word "syntex"? We agree on Rush being the double-chin blow hard. Yet, you're that fired up over my use of that one word? None of my other posts did it for you? Not me talking about the Charger guy getting shot? And that is exactly why I...do "flippant shoddiness" in these blogs. My boss pays me well, and I'm very happy doing this. But, I do them right before bed. I'm not going to spend hours writing them. It's a sort of stream of conscious type of deal. Really, how much time does Andy Rooney put into his little rants? He said a few months back on his piece about watches, he asked his producer to bring in all the old watches he had. So, he doesn't even get his own props!! Sorry. Got off track a bit there. The point being...let me assume that 100 people read my blogs. Hey, it's my ego. My scenario. Well, of those people I get 2 or 3 that post in them. On occasion I do a list...like the Best Comedians, and maybe get 20 people (a few of which I recognize as people I know). If all that happens is a few people posting responses, I really don't think that warrants me putting in any more time and research into such an endeavor. Do you? But, when I do a job, I always give 100% (always hated the expression 110%...it really doesn't make sense if you think about it). When I played on the high school basketball team, one season I got a lot less playing time. I cheered my teammates on from the bench. My coach called me aside one day and said how cool he thought it was that I did that. In the past, he'd have players that had horrible attitudes on the bench, and became a cancer to the team. He was glad I was positive, and still worked hard in practice. Sure, there'd be the occasional time I'd wonder why he put Jim in instead of me, but... And yes, there are times I type these blogs at 3:00 a.m. and the next morning or a few days later go over them, and think one wasn't as funny as I thought. Or I see a bunch of spelling errors. Sometimes I go in and edit them. Other times, I don't. But, since you wrote such well-written responses, I have to ask. Why? Why would a person of your intelligence, feel the need to go on with such a battle? Are you someone that submitted something to the Reader once for publication and got turned down? And you're bothered that a writer with such "flippant shoddiness" and bad syntax is published? Are you an ex-girlfriend? What? Or, are you someone that just doesn't get fired up, unless you aren't allowed to drink on the beach, or a writer misspells a word? Enquiring minds wanna know. Good day.— July 5, 2008 1:39 a.m.
Two Idiots -- Rush Limbaugh & Brett Favre
Well played, WT. Please tell me you're just playing devils advocate and aren't actually a Rush fan. You can't possibly think he's a good journalist. And yeah, it was a typo. I don't use spell check on anything. It's easier to just type and print. I let editors deal with the rest. My boss has asked me to give him a daily blog, so I do. I don't then want to spend hours going over it, using spell check, research, or whatever else. If I was making the kind of money Rush is making though, I would surely check my facts. He clearly doesn't. He'll throw out statistics, which are never accurate. Regarding the Favre "itch"...upon reflection, I'm in total agreement with you. My problem was that the reporter/interviewer was going nowhere with the players on the show. So, at least try for humor (which, I guess, my attempt failed). Or at least go in some direction. Say to the players, "I'm sure it's common for a player that retired to have the itch to come back and play. Hell, I bet Dan Marino sits there on Sunday wishing he were out there. As does Y.A. Tittle, and Johnny Unitas, even weeks before he passed away. It doesn't mean it's the safest thing to do. Or the best thing for the team, or for your family. Doesn't he realize that, or consider that?" (WT....you don't know how hard it is for me to refrain from a "Tittle" joke)— July 4, 2008 10:14 a.m.
Mess With the Bull, Get the Horns
UPDATE: This was so funny. It was ruled that Six Flags needs to put a different sign up on the fence that this boy climbed over. Since he climbed one fence that said "Dangerous" and then a second fence, before being in an area that cut off his head...somebody ruled that they needed a sign up that instead read "EXTREMELY DANGEROUS". Ya gotta love this idiotic society we live in.— July 4, 2008 1:56 a.m.
Coffee & Cops
I don't mind MADD giving him that award. Heck, he should get the lifetime award from them. Apparently, on his own time, he followed "drunk" drivers around. The problem is, he'd also follow, and call in, people that WERE NOT drunk (so it came out in court). He also did things that weren't policy policy. I actually like when cops are cleared in shootings. Not just because I have a handful of friends that are cops. But, because I think they have a tough decision. I mean, have you ever watched one of those video shows? You see some crazy person that is pulled over, and you wonder why the cop doesn't just start shooting. They are trying to talk reasonable with a person that is out of it, then that person lunges at the cop and tackles them and is going for the cops gun. It's these types of situations officers are involved in. And, all we do is Monday morning quarterbacking when an officer shoots and is "wrong". To me, if you are pulled over, and don't do things properly, the punishment SHOULD BE, that you could be shot. And, the officer SHOULD BE cleared. Most times. But, not this time. Because, this officer had so many chances to not be in this predicament. And now, he cost someone (taxpayers? insurance? Coronado police department?) millions. So...the only choice left is to fire him. In regards to him having applied to other police agencies and not being hired, I think that coming up is irrelevant. Think about all the past jobs you've had. Think about when you were suspended from school in 9th grade. Should all that come up with your current boss? And besides that...we don't know WHY he wasn't hired. Was he not hired because he didn't pass the pyschological evaluation? Or, was he not hired because they just weren't hiring at that moment? I have a friend that's a teacher, and often times he faces things like that. He's at a different school each year. In job interviews, it sometimes looks bad. So, we can only judge Mankser on this one case. And, on this case, he failed miserably. So, dismiss him. Or, keep him employeed. And, keep docking his pay....until the amount of Foleys settlement is paid off. Of course, then you open a big can of worms, any time someone goes to fight him in court, because he has that negative attached to his name.— July 3, 2008 10:08 a.m.
Collecting Things
Well, my mom isn't like Edith Bunker. If I bought a weird item, her first instinct would be to say "Are you playing another trick on someone?" Plus, it's not like I'm always out with my mom somewhere that it affords me the opportunity to do that.— July 3, 2008 1:47 a.m.
More Craziness in the News
I really, really hope cops are going to be cool with this law. If they see someone driving like an idiot, give them the ticket. If someone is driving just fine, while on the phone, let it go. I heard one cop say that's the way he was going to handle it. Otherwise, he wouldn't be giving "real" tickets. That, to me, was the perfect attititude.— July 2, 2008 9:15 a.m.
What's the first concert you saw?
I saw a Doors cover band called "Strange Daze" at SDSU's "Back Door". I was 13. It was awesome. I was too young to realize the singer was a cheese ball. He had this beard, and some goofy swagger, trying to pull off the Jim Morrison vibe. The guitarist went on to join Wild Child, which is a great tribute band (if you like tribute bands). When I was 14, I talked my friend into driving up to L.A. to see The Guess Who with Steppenwolf. Loved that show. They were coming here, but to the Bacchanal. Under 21 (as Save Ferris sang), so we couldn't get in and had to make the trek up there.— July 2, 2008 12:29 a.m.
Dumpster diving for dinner in North Park
I remember being at a pot luck somewhere about a year ago, and this guy put on his reading glasses. He examined this delicious looking cake very closely. He then asked the ingredients in it. Since I can't cook for crap, I had a girlfriend make it. I had to call her on my cell phone. As she's rattling off the ingredients, he's telling me why he can't eat certain things. One item he's allergic to. Another item, because he's a Vegan. It went on and on, without 15 items he couldn't eat. Since I didn't know the crowd all that well, I merely told him what the ingredients were. What I wanted to say was, "Dude, if you are that picky about what you eat, then it's not everyone elses responsibility to bring a recipe book with them and their dishes. Just don't eat anything that doesn't look kosher or whatever. Stick to the slice of bread and the 2-liter of Pepsi."— July 2, 2008 12:26 a.m.