What a freaking nightmare.
You know the plot about something of value causing nothing but misery? Well, I have now experienced it.
Let’s start at the beginning.
I was one of the few Giants season ticket holders to be offered Super Bowl tickets. My immediate reaction was to refuse the tickets and remain safely at home to watch the game.
There were two problems with this reaction. The first is that it is difficult to have something of value without trying to get some advantage out of it. I suspect that’s simple human nature. The second problem was that everyone else was of the opinion I should go.
I looked around at Super Bowl travel packages. They ran around $5,000 per person not including the $900 ticket price. That means, for two, we’re talking about $12,000. That was not going to happen.
So if you don’t go, everyone says sell them. The problem with this is, unless you know someone to sell them to, putting them up for sale involves a bit of a process. A process that can’t begin until you have the tickets in hand and I wouldn’t have them in hand for almost a week. That leaves a fairly short window in which the tickets can sell. The reality is you risk $1,800 to make about $2,000 which is clearly just not worth the grief.
That leaves one with refuse the tickets or go.
Then there is the question of who goes with you? There is no good way to resolve that question. My resolution was actually the result of a misunderstanding on my part. But, once it was in place, I stuck with it. That disappointed someone else that I didn’t mean to disappoint, but it is what it is. No matter what I did, someone would have been disappointed.
So now I’m apparently on my way to Indianapolis. Or at least I have an $1,800 cashier’s check that I’m shortly going to take to MetLife stadium in an attempt to retrieve the two tickets. I also have something of a Rube Goldberg set of travel reservations that are going to run me around $1,700 dollars.
It’s going to be, on Saturday, fly from Newark to Chicago to Louisville. In Louisville, pick up Hertz car and drive to Seymour Indiana. Stay overnight in Seymour and then, on Sunday, drive about an hour to Indianapolis. Find stadium, find place to park, go to stadium, watch game, find way back to car and drive back to Seymour. Finally, on Monday, reverse the flights going from Louisville to Chicago to Newark.
With my luck the Giants will completely lay an egg and Monday’s paper will read something like “Worst Super Bowl in the History of the Game.” Watch Brady throw seven touchdown passes so I can be thoroughly miserable the whole trip back wishing I had my $3,500 dollars back.
I was miserable all week because I couldn’t decide what to do and I’m still miserable because I disappointed someone and now, once I get the tickets, assuming that doesn’t go wrong somehow, I have to worry about the safety of the damn things until the game.
I now know how Frodo and Bilbo felt about that stupid ring.
I should have had the courage to stick with my initial reaction. More to follow on this I’m sure.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Fidel has it Right
Now I don’t agree with Fidel Castro on a lot of things but I have to give the devil his due. Castro was absolutely correct when he said about the Republican primary contest:
"The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is — and I mean this seriously — the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been."
And that’s after two of the biggest lunatics, Bachmann and Cain, have been ousted.
"The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is — and I mean this seriously — the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been."
And that’s after two of the biggest lunatics, Bachmann and Cain, have been ousted.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
South Carolina
Newt Gingrich’s win in South Carolina throws things up in the air again doesn’t it?
It wasn’t just a win either. It was a big win. Gingrich finished with 40.4% of the vote, followed by Romney a distant second with 27.8%, then Santorum with 17% and, bringing up the rear, Paul with 13%.
The win almost instantly impacted Florida where, in the latest round of polls, Gingrich has taken a 7.4 point lead over Romney with Paul and Santorum way back.
Hey, fight it out guys. The longer this goes on the better things get for Obama.
A Gingrich nomination might be the best thing for the nation and the Republican Party. There’s nothing like a crushing defeat to help you straighten your act out and the Republicans seriously need to straighten their act out.
It wasn’t just a win either. It was a big win. Gingrich finished with 40.4% of the vote, followed by Romney a distant second with 27.8%, then Santorum with 17% and, bringing up the rear, Paul with 13%.
The win almost instantly impacted Florida where, in the latest round of polls, Gingrich has taken a 7.4 point lead over Romney with Paul and Santorum way back.
Hey, fight it out guys. The longer this goes on the better things get for Obama.
A Gingrich nomination might be the best thing for the nation and the Republican Party. There’s nothing like a crushing defeat to help you straighten your act out and the Republicans seriously need to straighten their act out.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The NFL Championship Games
Sometimes football games are won, and sometimes they’re lost. Sunday we saw two games lost.
That’s not to take anything away from the winning teams. You have to be in the game to take advantage of the breaks when they come.
First it was the Ravens, trailing the Patriots by 23-20, driving in the final seconds of the AFC Championship game. Joe Flacco put the ball into the hands of wide receiver Lee Evans in the end zone for what could have been the winning touchdown only to see the ball stripped by Patriots defender Sterling Moore. Two plays later kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 32 yard field that could have sent the game into overtime.
The missed field goal was actually on coach John Harbaugh. Rather than calling time out in order to give the field goal team time to set up, the whole play was rushed. It was obvious watching that Cundiff wasn’t ready to kick the ball and the result was he missed. End of game, the Ravens go home and the Patriots go to Indianapolis.
A rain drenched, old fashioned, smash mouth defensive battle in San Francisco followed. In a game that made it feel like the 1980s, the 49er’s and Giant renewed a rivalry from two decades ago. The 49er’s defense dominated the second half. Eli Manning spent more time on the ground than standing up as the Niners sacked him six times and seemed to knock him down on every play.
But Eli and the Giants soldiered on.
Finally, with the 49er’s leading 14-10, a punt bounced off of punt returner Kyle Williams knee and was picked up by Devin Thomas. The bounce was missed by the refs and Tom Coughlin had to challenge. Amazingly they got it right after review and a few plays later Manning hit Mario Manningham to give the Giants a 17-14 lead. The Niners tied it at 17-17 and then began the punting duel.
Neither team could score and the game went into overtime.
The punting duel continued until Jacquian Williams managed to strip the ball from punt returner Kyle Williams and Devin Thomas was Johnny on the spot again to set up the Giants at the 49er’s 29 yard line. A couple of snaps later Lawrence Tynes kicked the Giants into the Super Bowl for the second time in OT with a 31 yard field goal.
You have to feel sorry for Kyle Williams. He wasn’t even the 49er’s regular punt returner and to have to return punts in the cold, windy and rainy Candlestick Park was a tough assignment. I was really impressed with the 49er’s defense. They should come into next season with a chip on their shoulders about a mile wide. I’m betting on them now to be in Super Bowl XLVII.
So the Giants leave behind another stadium full of broken dreams and head for a rematch with the Patriots in Eli’s brother Payton’s home field in Indianapolis. The Patriots can get revenge for Super Bowl XLII or the Giants can frustrate the Patriots again. I’m not even going to try and analyze this one since I clearly suck at it finishing a dismal 4-6 for the Play-offs. Besides, the NFL has clearly succeeded in making the games about as unpredictable as possible. You might as well flip a coin.
As a Giant’s season ticket holder, and by winning a lottery, I have the opportunity to buy two tickers to Super Bowl XLVI at $900 each. I almost choked when I saw the price. And that doesn’t include getting to and staying in Indianapolis.
With the understanding that this will mostly likely be my last chance to attend a Super Bowl, I’m thinking about it. Maybe if the game was in a warm venue I might be tempted. But Indianapolis?
Practicality will probably win and I’ll pass. I may try to sell the tickets but I’m wondering if it’s worth the effort. More to follow on this I’m sure.
That’s not to take anything away from the winning teams. You have to be in the game to take advantage of the breaks when they come.
First it was the Ravens, trailing the Patriots by 23-20, driving in the final seconds of the AFC Championship game. Joe Flacco put the ball into the hands of wide receiver Lee Evans in the end zone for what could have been the winning touchdown only to see the ball stripped by Patriots defender Sterling Moore. Two plays later kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 32 yard field that could have sent the game into overtime.
The missed field goal was actually on coach John Harbaugh. Rather than calling time out in order to give the field goal team time to set up, the whole play was rushed. It was obvious watching that Cundiff wasn’t ready to kick the ball and the result was he missed. End of game, the Ravens go home and the Patriots go to Indianapolis.
A rain drenched, old fashioned, smash mouth defensive battle in San Francisco followed. In a game that made it feel like the 1980s, the 49er’s and Giant renewed a rivalry from two decades ago. The 49er’s defense dominated the second half. Eli Manning spent more time on the ground than standing up as the Niners sacked him six times and seemed to knock him down on every play.
But Eli and the Giants soldiered on.
Finally, with the 49er’s leading 14-10, a punt bounced off of punt returner Kyle Williams knee and was picked up by Devin Thomas. The bounce was missed by the refs and Tom Coughlin had to challenge. Amazingly they got it right after review and a few plays later Manning hit Mario Manningham to give the Giants a 17-14 lead. The Niners tied it at 17-17 and then began the punting duel.
Neither team could score and the game went into overtime.
The punting duel continued until Jacquian Williams managed to strip the ball from punt returner Kyle Williams and Devin Thomas was Johnny on the spot again to set up the Giants at the 49er’s 29 yard line. A couple of snaps later Lawrence Tynes kicked the Giants into the Super Bowl for the second time in OT with a 31 yard field goal.
You have to feel sorry for Kyle Williams. He wasn’t even the 49er’s regular punt returner and to have to return punts in the cold, windy and rainy Candlestick Park was a tough assignment. I was really impressed with the 49er’s defense. They should come into next season with a chip on their shoulders about a mile wide. I’m betting on them now to be in Super Bowl XLVII.
So the Giants leave behind another stadium full of broken dreams and head for a rematch with the Patriots in Eli’s brother Payton’s home field in Indianapolis. The Patriots can get revenge for Super Bowl XLII or the Giants can frustrate the Patriots again. I’m not even going to try and analyze this one since I clearly suck at it finishing a dismal 4-6 for the Play-offs. Besides, the NFL has clearly succeeded in making the games about as unpredictable as possible. You might as well flip a coin.
As a Giant’s season ticket holder, and by winning a lottery, I have the opportunity to buy two tickers to Super Bowl XLVI at $900 each. I almost choked when I saw the price. And that doesn’t include getting to and staying in Indianapolis.
With the understanding that this will mostly likely be my last chance to attend a Super Bowl, I’m thinking about it. Maybe if the game was in a warm venue I might be tempted. But Indianapolis?
Practicality will probably win and I’ll pass. I may try to sell the tickets but I’m wondering if it’s worth the effort. More to follow on this I’m sure.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Perry Quits
So after much initial fan fare, another of the GOP lunatic fringe throws in the towel.
Perry ended his presidential bid and endorsed Newt Gingrich. That leaves three little ducks left, Romney, Santorum and Newt and one space cadet, Paul.
In the meantime, the final count in Iowa actually has Santorum winning by 34 votes which makes an interesting historical footnote, but probably isn’t going to help him much now.
Perry ended his presidential bid and endorsed Newt Gingrich. That leaves three little ducks left, Romney, Santorum and Newt and one space cadet, Paul.
In the meantime, the final count in Iowa actually has Santorum winning by 34 votes which makes an interesting historical footnote, but probably isn’t going to help him much now.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Huntsman Calls it Quits
Jon Huntsman has apparently decided to drop out of the GOP race and has thrown his support to Mitt Romney.
That leaves only Santorum, Gingrich, Paul and Perry in the lists opposing Romney. Perry is rapidly working his way toward buffoon of the decade everytime he opens his mouth and Gingrich appears to be pissing everyone off so that sort of means that, realistically, only Santorum stands between Mitt Romney and the GOP nomination. As for Paul, it's only a matter of time before even the dense U.S. electorate figures out that he's orbiting Alpha Centauri.
Having Santorum in your way is sort of like a paper curtain trying to slow down a runaway freight train.
I don't see this seriously going beyond Florida. There may be some die hardism but Romney, barring some catastrophe, appears to have it wrapped up.
Then we can move on to the main event.
Romney can beat Obama. He and Huntsman were the only Republicans that realistically could. I have two problems with Romney. First, has has Robert Bork as an advisor on judicial appointments and I don't want anything to do with anyone that Robert Bork thinks should be on any judicial bench in the country.
Bork is no friend of the First Amendment and would cheerfully scuttle not only the accepted meaning of the Establishment Clause but also Freedom of Speech. In December 2005, Bork wrote an article in the National Review calling for government censorship of popular culture, including television, film and music. In a wonderful application of the principle of “newspeak” Bork declared that "liberty in America can be enhanced by reinstating, legislatively, restraints upon the direction of our culture and morality.”
My second problem with Romney is his supposed embrace of Mormonism. To my mind Mormonism is demonstrably false. Archeology and Genetics both strongly indicate this with literally no compelling counter argument that I am aware of. To call it a cult is to give it more than its due. It was, and continues to be, a con job thought up by a third rate con man.
The 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of religion. Romney can believe anything he wants. But I'm also free to think what he believes indicates a lack of adequate skeptical thinking. We don't need another Bush who knows what's right regardless of what the evidence says.
That leaves only Santorum, Gingrich, Paul and Perry in the lists opposing Romney. Perry is rapidly working his way toward buffoon of the decade everytime he opens his mouth and Gingrich appears to be pissing everyone off so that sort of means that, realistically, only Santorum stands between Mitt Romney and the GOP nomination. As for Paul, it's only a matter of time before even the dense U.S. electorate figures out that he's orbiting Alpha Centauri.
Having Santorum in your way is sort of like a paper curtain trying to slow down a runaway freight train.
I don't see this seriously going beyond Florida. There may be some die hardism but Romney, barring some catastrophe, appears to have it wrapped up.
Then we can move on to the main event.
Romney can beat Obama. He and Huntsman were the only Republicans that realistically could. I have two problems with Romney. First, has has Robert Bork as an advisor on judicial appointments and I don't want anything to do with anyone that Robert Bork thinks should be on any judicial bench in the country.
Bork is no friend of the First Amendment and would cheerfully scuttle not only the accepted meaning of the Establishment Clause but also Freedom of Speech. In December 2005, Bork wrote an article in the National Review calling for government censorship of popular culture, including television, film and music. In a wonderful application of the principle of “newspeak” Bork declared that "liberty in America can be enhanced by reinstating, legislatively, restraints upon the direction of our culture and morality.”
My second problem with Romney is his supposed embrace of Mormonism. To my mind Mormonism is demonstrably false. Archeology and Genetics both strongly indicate this with literally no compelling counter argument that I am aware of. To call it a cult is to give it more than its due. It was, and continues to be, a con job thought up by a third rate con man.
The 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of religion. Romney can believe anything he wants. But I'm also free to think what he believes indicates a lack of adequate skeptical thinking. We don't need another Bush who knows what's right regardless of what the evidence says.
The Championship Games
Ok, I only got one out of three of the Divisional Games right. I was right about defense but I should have figured the Giants rather than the Broncos.
The only game I got right was the Ravens over the Texans. The one that surprised me the most was the 49ers taking down the Saints. Drew Brees looked unstoppable in the previous two games. As for the Giants and Packers, clearly the Packers were rustier than I thought.
So now what? The only way I can make things worse is to go 0-2 which I figure I have a pretty good shot at.
Let’s make it short and sweet. I like the 49ers and the Patriots.
The only game I got right was the Ravens over the Texans. The one that surprised me the most was the 49ers taking down the Saints. Drew Brees looked unstoppable in the previous two games. As for the Giants and Packers, clearly the Packers were rustier than I thought.
So now what? The only way I can make things worse is to go 0-2 which I figure I have a pretty good shot at.
Let’s make it short and sweet. I like the 49ers and the Patriots.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
New Hampshire
Romney wins handily amassing 39.3% of the vote and matching the combined total of Ron Paul, in second with 22.9%, and Jon Huntsman in third with 16.9%.
Gingrich and Santorum ended up basically tied for 4th with 9.4% of the vote. Perry didn’t even show up, preferring to concentrate on South Carolina, and had only 0.7% of the votes.
If he wasn’t there before, Romney is now in position to end this fiasco early. The latest poll showed Romney with a 10 point lead over Santorum and Gingrich and 20 points over Paul. I doubt Romney’s win yesterday is going to cause an erosion in those numbers.
I expect Romney to win South Carolina with Santorum second. I also expect Perry’s campaign to end after another dismal showing. As for Gingrich, who knows?
Gingrich and Santorum ended up basically tied for 4th with 9.4% of the vote. Perry didn’t even show up, preferring to concentrate on South Carolina, and had only 0.7% of the votes.
If he wasn’t there before, Romney is now in position to end this fiasco early. The latest poll showed Romney with a 10 point lead over Santorum and Gingrich and 20 points over Paul. I doubt Romney’s win yesterday is going to cause an erosion in those numbers.
I expect Romney to win South Carolina with Santorum second. I also expect Perry’s campaign to end after another dismal showing. As for Gingrich, who knows?
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