Manny Math

All the Queen's Horses

In the Park's house we have a problem. For over a year now Josie has been "horse crazy" and you can see for yourself the resulting herd. The Josie horse inventory reads as follows: 2 stuffed giant horses, 3 stick horses, 17 My Little Ponies, 3 knock-off My Little Ponies, 4 doll-sized stuffed horses, 10 felt miniatures, 4 assorted plastic horses, 23 action figure size horses, 1 talking Eeyore, 2 zebras, 1 donkey, 5 plastic horses of unknown origin, and 6 ponies of happy meal/fast food quality. Everyone should know what not to get her for Christmas.

Chicks in the Pits

The ladies don't look any dumber than the NASCAR boys when they argue. There is much less profanity but more towel slapping. My favorite line is from Danica, "It's not your fault that your slow."

Hope Your Cash is Stashed in the Caymans

It has been a bad few months for some very wealthy people hiding money in Lichtenstein. Disgruntled LGT Bank employee, Heinrich Kiebler downloaded all their private accounts. Then Mr. Kiebler sold the list of investors to the US government and twelve other countries. In addition to money from the sale Mr. Kiebler stands to earn 30% of all tax revenue collected from the hidden accounts. In the wake of the Kiebler incident, UBS the largest bank in Switzerland, announced this week that they would no longer be helping American investors evade taxes through offshore accounts.

UBS has an estimated 19,000 U.S. clients with a combined $17.9 billion in accounts "that have not been disclosed to U.S. tax authorities," according to estimates given to the Senate panel by the bank and Bradley Birkenfeld, a former UBS banker.

I'm afraid that upsetting many of the richest people in the world will not end well for Mr. Kiebler. Enjoy your money, hide well, and have someone else start your car.

T. Picks' Plan for Our Energy Problem

Can we get 20% of our energy from wind?

Detour.......

The family and I returned from a High Point, North Carolina this past Sunday. Our typically fast moving "Team Parks Travel System" was derailed by a chemical spill near Crossville, Tennessee. Interstate 40 was shut down for roughly 100 miles forcing the family to detour on a small winding two-lane road (Tennessee 62). Traffic finally resumed yesterday morning after being shut down for roughly 36 hours. The detour probably added an hour to our travel time but did afford us the opportunity to see scenic Morgan County, Tennessee.

Astro-Not

After much internal debate I have decided to reassign my MLB fandom. As long as I can remember watching baseball, I have been a fan of the Houston Astros (the city of my birth). My earliest memories of watching the team come from the 1981 NLCS vs. the Phillies. At the age of thirteen I avidly followed the 1986 team to a Western Division title. During my two summers in Europe I made daily trips to the local sports book to check the previous day's game results. In 2005 I stayed up late nights watching them get swept by Chicago White Sox. It is therefore with great difficulty that I have decided to go in search of a new team with which to dedicate my loyalties.
So why am I jumping off? The past two season have seen the departures of two Astro icons, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. I grew up pulling for both guys for the better part of 16 seasons and watching games without them leaves me a little empty. The guys who have been brought in are not exactly solid citizens, or honest, or clean. The final and most practical reason for my disassociation is the geography. Probably not going to load the kids in the car and make the 14 hour trek for a 3 game set with the Brewers.

I’ll need a new team.

Not OK in Oklahoma

A couple of stories have hit the press in my home state that will significantly detracted from our cosmopolitan image. The first story diminishes the Sooner State's reputation as a tolerant, inclusive, and diverse community. The second story will surely hurt someone's career as "crimes against nature" shows very poorly on a resume. Warning: the second story is very disturbing.

Getting Ripped

Phillip Fulmer only needs eight wins a season to get paid.

Houston columnist divorces his team for a younger, hotter, better team.

Indains fans are ready for Browns training camp.

I'm all about saving energy.....

Utah comes up with the best idea ever in an effort to use less energy. If this becomes a nation wide movement I will give every bike riding LDS missionary I see a cold beverage. Please let this happen!!!!

A Very Hot Potato in Houston

A very sensitive situation in Houston regarding illegal immigration. I've atttached the 911 audio below.

Link Dump

The most annoying traditions in college football.

The Toughest 25 places to play in college football.

Chris Everett and Greg Norman got married this weekend. The 2 million dollar wedding was a bargain compared to his 100 million dollar divorce in 2006.

The greatest rivalry in the NBA spilled over into the stands.

Link Dump

I was wrong to mention Alabama's sins yesterday.

My community in Tennessee has its own problems also.

The University of Kansas objets to you using the word "Kansas."

Does Matthew the chimp deserve human rights?

Link Dump

Update on the possibility of an SEC network.

Pac-Man Jones (Adam), this is your life.

Swing states for 2008.

The worst story of the week (courtesy of Alabama).

More solid citizens in Alabama.

Back from Texas

The family and I returned from a week in the Dallas Fort Worth area Sunday. It had been several years since I had visited the DFW Metroplex and was impressed at how fast and large it has grown. Growing up my family traveled to Dallas for Thanksgiving with my aunt and uncle who lived in the suburb of Rockwall. At that time Rockwall was a new community on the eastern fringe of the metropolitan area.

While entering Dallas last week I noticed that mass urbanization has spawned a new bedroom community (Royse City) roughly 5 miles east of Rockwall. It would appear that the Metroplex adds a new suburb every 20 years. I am anxious to see what effect $4.00 per gallon has on our sprawling American cities. Will people continue to make the long commutes? Will large urban areas expand their mass transit systems to the suburbs? My gut tells me that Josie and Jenna will be taking a bus or train to Cool Springs when they are in high school.

A couple other observations from Texas…..
1.) Having an enormous facility to play high school football is apparently a significant priority in most Texas communities.
2.) Texans like Texas. I got my hair cut at a barber shop in Lancaster , Texas. One whole wall of the barber shop was decorated from floor to ceiling in Texas themed art. There was the Texas flag, barbed wire in the shape of Texas, and of course the “God Bless Texas” slogan was inscribed on several crafty knick-knacks.
3.) I went running three times during the trip. Twice I wore Sooner gear. During those two runs all oncoming traffic with Texas tags had to pull off to the side of the road until I had passed. They were worried that this or this might happen. During years which the Sooners defeat the Longhorns, OU fans are also permited to speed, litter, and cut in line while in the state of Texas.

It was a good trip for "Team Family" as well. We made the 696 mile trek in 12:03 going out and 11:46 coming home.

All Aboard!!!!

Hockey is for Lovers

Watch the upper right hand corner of the screen.

I Could Do This

My Favorite Golfer

This clip is almost a year old but still pretty funny.

The Crackhead Leprechaun

Jack Trice

I found this story in an espn.com feature on Black History Month. Jack Trice was the first black football player at Iowa State in the early 1920's. He died at the age of 21 as a result of injuries suffered in a game against Minnesota in 1923. Whether those injuries were the unfortunate natural byproduct of a violent game (football was much more violent then) or he was targeted because of the color of his skin is unclear. I think you will enjoy the article.

"This is really disgusting"

The video below is from Wednesday's congressional hearing on Roger Clemons alleged use of steroids. Congressman Dan Burton from Indiana uses his platform to verbally asault the moral character of Clemon's former trainer Brian Mcnamee. Burton uses all of his allotted time to disparage and discredit Mcnamee. It turns out Mr. Burton has some skeletons of his own.

Gophers New Stadium

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are stepping up in the world of college football. Their new world-class stadium will have all the bells and whistles of any modern facility. I have my doubts that Minnesota will be a great place to watch outdoor football in November. Wonder what the Vikings will think playing in their outdated stadium just miles away? Can you say Los Angeles Vikings? AD in LA?

19 & Oh-No!!!!!

The 19-0 Patriots shirts and caps that were suppose to be worn after the Super Bowl found a home this week. The shirts look much better on the kids than they would have on Tom Brady or Bill Belichick.

Predictable (but funny) Blooper

Do not let your wife get near Chris Berman

Chris Berman (I'm not a fan)

I never liked the guy before this little episode (linked below) hit youtube and I certainly have no use for him now. If you would like to see his outburst and are one that is not offended by harsh and profane language, you can view it here. If you want to read more about Chris Berman, the father and family man, you can click here.

Their fans are "Brave" also

This video is a testament to what can happen when guys drink too much and consult with equally intoxicated friends.

Who wouldn't like to play in Big East?

Dana Jacobson - Outrage of the Day

“Reportedly Intoxicated”

Hansbrough Dunks on Herman Munster

Kobe, White Guys, and Hoops