swfong

Maybe this is hiding in plain sight, but if anyone knows the history of spitters, scuffing, and cutting casings, one does not just hakk-a-lugie while standing on the mound. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/10/20/2009-10-20_mlb_clears_mariano_spitball.html

My racial views? You mean, my belief in a colorblind society where every individual is treated as a precious human being without regard to his race? Where football players should earn as much as they can and keep as much as they can, regardless of race? Those controversial racial views? - Rush Limbaugh, in defense of his ejection from a potential NFL ownership group Would this be fair if two runners lined up at the start, but one drove to the stadium and the other ran there?

About a week after it was announced that Rush Limbaugh was part of a possible NFL ownership group, he was ejected from this group after many complaints from players and even one team owner. No one should be surprised that Limbaugh did not make it very far as a NFL team suitor. The controversy he has initiated, including when he was a commentator on the NFL for ESPN, makes him a magnet for criticism and unwanted attention for the private negotiations involved with any billion dollar purchase. Specifically about the comments he has made over his career, it is clear that is extremely popular with many conservatives. He has made statements about blacks which were many found to be offensive. However, Limbaugh offers opinions, not fact. He institutes no policies or laws. His business has only one employee. He can say whatever he feels like, and the only variable is the size of his audience. And his audience, an estimated 13 million daily, is minuscule compared to the NFL watchers. For ...

I hate driving to work to begin with. I have a fairly long commute, 35 miles out of San Francisco to the heart of the Silicon Valley. Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic just makes me feel like an idiot, considering my alternatives like public transportation or my motorcycle However, on a rainy day, there is only one option for me: the bicycle to the train. I am a regular bike commuter on the Caltrain, the commuter train which runs from San Francisco to San Jose, although I take it infrequently over the summer when I either ride my motorcycle or drive to some remote mountain biking trail. Other bike commuters notice on the rainiest of days, I always ride to the train. It seems pretty obvious to me: the highways become a huge mess, particularly in this area where rain rarely falls but when it does, it is a deluge. Today was going to be especially nasty considering this is the first rainstorm of the year and it is a doozy: an expected 10 inches in some areas and 25-50mph gusts every...

I am still a long ways from finishing it, but it is dual tale of a very unique man, NFL player turned Army Ranger Pat Tillman, and a retelling of the Afghanistan/Iraq Wars. As inspiring as Tillman's story is, the manipulations behind the truth of both wars by the Bush Administration is enraging, even 6 years after the start of the Iraqi War, 8 years after the invasion of Afghanistan, and after the failure to prevent Sept 11th from happening despite several warnings.

When I'm at work, I avoid stepping out of my building. I'm perfectly satisfied sitting in front of my computer typing code for 8 hours straight. My co-workers will tease me because how how I avoid direct sun and prefer to eat inside the cafeteria. They always say, "Let's eat outdoors", and I always refuse. I came to a realization today: my co-workers want to be outdoors. I want to be outside. 24 hours ago, I was standing on the bridge over Pauley Creek. The rest of my crew decided to ride Big Boulder, so I was descending alone. It was cold out, in the low 40's, and overcast the whole day. A few snowflakes fell when I reached Butcher Ranch and by the time I made it First Divide, it was a steady rain. A day like yesterday forces you to drop your conceits. There is no one out there to impress. With a chill mountain wind, the rain on your face, and another 15 miles before you reach town, it also feels like no one is out there to help you either. You have go...