Rob Monti,
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Some thoughts on recent events in rapid-fire succession:
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Some thoughts on recent events in rapid-fire succession:
- McCain's campaign suspension. Unorthodox, bold, smart. McCain's certainly a risk taker -- even though I've found his politics odious at times, I also find it refreshing that he's willing to think and act outside the overly scripted, focus-grouped, poll-driven box that is modern American politics. Doubtless McCain's camp brooded over the political calculus of temporarily dropping his campaign, but I think it says something meaningful and positive about McCain that he was willing to do it in the first place. Plus, he's once again put Obama on defense; all he could do was react. And I don't think his reaction has been terribly smart so far. If Obama appears at tomorrow's debate alone, he will look like an ostentatious stage hound fiddling while Rome burns. I think it really does have the potential to be the death knell of his campaign.
- The mortgage bailout. I have to admit that I don't fully understand the crisis. But my reaction has been along these lines:
- Where do these governmental incursions into the market end? What happens if the U.S. automobile industry starts to tank? Or the airlines? Do we have to bail them out too? Where does it end? We're on a slippery slope of socialism here, and one need only look to the historical example of the former USSR to see how well that works.
- Besides, as a taxpayer, I don't want to be on the hook for business failures I have no control over. Nor do I want to be on the hook for the unrepentant malfeasance of politicians, bureaucrats, and Wall Street fat cats.
- Speaking of bureaucracy, the idea of giving Henry Paulson -- an unelected official -- a blank check for $700 billion to use at his discretion seems like lunacy. Our national debt is already $6 TRILLION. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac already put taxpayer dollars on the line because they are GSEs (government-sponsored enterprises) that borrow heavily from foreign investors to do business. I resent the fact that Paulson et al (President Bush included) are out there fear-mongering, telling us that we have no choice but to further compound the taxpayers' outlay or face economic meltdown. Isn't bureaucratic incompetence and corruption partly to blame for this mess in the first place?!? Sorry guys -- the economy may be having problems, but I'm skeptical about the Chicken Little approach. If we need a solution, I'd prefer a thoughtful, non-Marxist one to the put-the-taxpayer-in-a-hammer-lock variety.
- Planning to start my interaction with Gary Grieg's defense of Lakeland soon -- stay tuned!
- On a lighter note, I really enjoyed LSU's comeback at Auburn on Saturday. Looking forward to seeing them develop over the rest of the season. It's going to be a great ride again this year. Geaux Tigers!
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: 2008 election, Barack Obama, John McCain, LSU
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Pass the gumbo -- it's party time!
Image courtesy LSUSports.net
'Nuff said.
'Nuff said.
Labels: 2007 National Champions, LSU, tigers
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Frivolity digest
Okay, I need to get some frivolous, silly things outta my system -- and then I promise to get down to business on some serious issues that I need to talk about.
So, here we go:
Frivolity Item #1
#3 LSU dodged another bullet tonight by beating #17 Alabama inside the last two minutes of the game. This is the fourth time in a row that an LSU game has gone down to the wire, and the third game this season that LSU came from behind in the 4th quarter to win. I can't take many more of these photo finishes!
Stat of the game: LSU was penalized 15 times for a whopping 149 yards. This is the second time this year that LSU has been penalized for over 100 yards. That's gotta stop.
Arizona State lost tonight, which helps us out. Boston College's loss to Florida State will help us out even more. We should advance to #2 in the BCS this week.
So, for now, LSU's hope still burns bright for the SEC and national championship games.
Frivolity Item #2
I've gotten sucked into Fox's "The Next Great American Band." They have an interesting diversity of bands (even a bluegrass act!), so I'm curious about how the voting will go from week to week. I've been surprised.
Here's a quick run-down of the bands that performed for week 3 and the bands that were voted off -- with (candid, brutally honest) editorial comments from yours truly:
Frivolity Item #3
What a cool device:
The Aqua Skipper
I want one!
Frivolity Item #4
A hilarious commercial about turkey. This had me rolling:
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Okay, I need to get some frivolous, silly things outta my system -- and then I promise to get down to business on some serious issues that I need to talk about.
So, here we go:
Frivolity Item #1
#3 LSU dodged another bullet tonight by beating #17 Alabama inside the last two minutes of the game. This is the fourth time in a row that an LSU game has gone down to the wire, and the third game this season that LSU came from behind in the 4th quarter to win. I can't take many more of these photo finishes!
Stat of the game: LSU was penalized 15 times for a whopping 149 yards. This is the second time this year that LSU has been penalized for over 100 yards. That's gotta stop.
Arizona State lost tonight, which helps us out. Boston College's loss to Florida State will help us out even more. We should advance to #2 in the BCS this week.
So, for now, LSU's hope still burns bright for the SEC and national championship games.
Frivolity Item #2
I've gotten sucked into Fox's "The Next Great American Band." They have an interesting diversity of bands (even a bluegrass act!), so I'm curious about how the voting will go from week to week. I've been surprised.
Here's a quick run-down of the bands that performed for week 3 and the bands that were voted off -- with (candid, brutally honest) editorial comments from yours truly:
| Sixwire | They had some intonation problems in their background vocals, but otherwise they're tight. With the possible exception of Franklin Bridge, I like their originals the best. They should end up being of the finalists. | |
| Tres Bien | Definitely a throwback to the 60's. I thought they were sloppy and trite last week, but this week they were much better. In an age when the music industry is overrun with over-produced pop tarts sporting questionable talent, I find Tres Bien's sound refreshing. In some ways, they are the most daring band on the show in terms of background vocals, and they do them well. | |
| Franklin Bridge | This group is my favorite. Their music is actually stimulating, due to the complexity of the orchestration and rhythmic schemes. They can pull that off because of their technical prowess as musicians. They have the best original of any band in their song, "Incredible." The judges made a number of pedantic comments about their music being too complex. Sorry, but playing to the lowest common denominator is what's wrong with the music industry. If dumbing your act down is what it takes to have a hit, I say forget it. | |
| The Clark Bros. | Along with Sixwire and Franklin Bridge, this is one of my favorite groups. Strong, versatile musicians, tight vocals, and great music. They deploy dynamics as or more effectively than Franklin Bridge, and they emote through their music better than any other band. | |
| Light of Doom | Ugh. This is the one band I CANNOT stand. I want them voted off. NOW. If I had my way, they wouldn't have returned this week. I complained earlier about the judges making pedantic comments; Light of Doom is the pedant's choice in the competition, and that's putting it politely. Sure, they're good for 13-year-olds, but at this point they're Ratt or Guns-n-Roses wannabes. Maybe when they mature a bit more, they'll have something more original to say. | |
| The Muggs | They were one of my favorites, but they stunk it up this week. And they had the worst attitude toward the constructive criticisms of the judges, which I found disappointing. Their cover of Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" was plain awful. They may not survive after this week. | |
| Rocket | Ho-hum. Nothing against girl bands, but these ladies are too much of a mix of apoplexy and banshee for me. They only operate in high gear and at fast tempos, and it always feels like the gears are going to come flying out of the machine at any moment. Girls, please learn to calm down. If it were up to me, they would have been voted off already with Light of Doom (ugh). | |
| Dot Dot Dot | The Cure meets K.C. and the Sunshine Band. I can't help but like this group. They're fun in an 80's sort of way. They definitely have their own style and sound; as far as presentation goes, I think they have the most character and cohesiveness as a group. | |
| Cliff Wagner and the Ol' No. 7 | The bluegrass act survived! What a pleasant surprise! I don't particularly like bluegrass, but I've been rooting for these guys just because they're different. Their cover of Elton John's "Honky Cat" was fantastic, and more fun than anything else I heard this week. They're much more versatile as musicians than you'd think. I hope they stay in the competition a long time. | |
| Denver and the Mile High Orchestra | Another pleasant surprise! I'm rooting for these guys because nothing beats an awesome horn band. The problem is that this band has yet to really open it up. Tame, safe performances so far, which is why I'm surprised they weren't voted off. I wanna hear some people wail on their horns. Their cover of "I'm Still Standing" was more like it -- a good performance. | |
| The Hatch and The Likes of You | Both these groups were voted off. I'm not surprised, although I think both bands were better than Rocket and Light of Doom (ugh). The Hatch's lead singer made a snide, undeserved comment about how Denver and the Mile High Orchestra only survived because 300 people in Nebraska liked them, so good riddance. The Likes of You is like Hootie and the Blowfish with falsetto singing -- not overly original or inspiring. |
Frivolity Item #3
What a cool device:
The Aqua Skipper
I want one!
Frivolity Item #4
A hilarious commercial about turkey. This had me rolling:
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: humor, LSU, miscellany, The Next Great American Band, tigers
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Take that, ya bunch of turkeys!
The MonT-SteR takes a moment to revel in the out-and-out spanking of Virginia Tech that was FIVE l-o-n-g years in the making. The LSU Tigers crushed, demolished, dominated, embarrassed, vanquished, pasted, and generally wiped the field with the vaunted Hokies in Baton Rouge. At last! Satisfaction at last! MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAAaaaaa!! Gloating, you say? Yes, maybe a bit, but in Christian love, of course. ;)
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
The MonT-SteR takes a moment to revel in the out-and-out spanking of Virginia Tech that was FIVE l-o-n-g years in the making. The LSU Tigers crushed, demolished, dominated, embarrassed, vanquished, pasted, and generally wiped the field with the vaunted Hokies in Baton Rouge. At last! Satisfaction at last! MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAAaaaaa!! Gloating, you say? Yes, maybe a bit, but in Christian love, of course. ;)
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: football, Hokies, LSU, tigers, Virginia Tech
Monday, November 27, 2006
Hold that Tiger...
Well, friends, if you're not a complete tMR noob, you know that The MonT-SteR REPORT loves the LSU Tigers football team. This is advantageous for two reasons:
Why do I bring this up? The Tigers beat #5 Arkansas this past Friday in a wild game that was lots of fun to watch; with a little help from Notre Dame and WVU meltdowns this weekend, the Tigers improved their standings in the coaches' polls and the BCS rankings. The Tigers now stand universally at #5, and their chances of going to a high-profile BCS bowl like the Orange or (dare I say it) Rose Bowl are now very good. Now, we wait and see how things unfold to find out where LSU will play.
I've never been much of a sports fan. It wasn't until I married into an LSU family that I even had any interest in following a team. There are far more serious fans than me out there, but this former Marylander has enjoyed adopting LSU as "my team" and rooting for them.
As they say down here in Baton Rouge, "Laissez les bon temps roullez!"
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
P.S. I have learned from my father-in-law that the Virginia Tech Turkey Brigade will pay a visit to Death Valley next fall to play the Tigers at home. Ah, sweet revenge! TIGER BAIT! TIGER BAIT! TIGER BAIT! TIGER BAIT!
Well, friends, if you're not a complete tMR noob, you know that The MonT-SteR REPORT loves the LSU Tigers football team. This is advantageous for two reasons:
- The in-laws are all LSU grads and don purple and gold every week during college football season. I fit right in (actually, if I'm honest, I'll admit that I became an LSU fan because of their influence. When in Rome...).
- It also rescues me from the indignity of being called a "green weenie," which apparently is what I'd be if I ignorantly rooted for a bunch of scrubs like Tulane instead (other LSU fans will recognize and appreciate the high level of indoctrination exhibited by that statement).
- I am not a noob.
Why do I bring this up? The Tigers beat #5 Arkansas this past Friday in a wild game that was lots of fun to watch; with a little help from Notre Dame and WVU meltdowns this weekend, the Tigers improved their standings in the coaches' polls and the BCS rankings. The Tigers now stand universally at #5, and their chances of going to a high-profile BCS bowl like the Orange or (dare I say it) Rose Bowl are now very good. Now, we wait and see how things unfold to find out where LSU will play.
I've never been much of a sports fan. It wasn't until I married into an LSU family that I even had any interest in following a team. There are far more serious fans than me out there, but this former Marylander has enjoyed adopting LSU as "my team" and rooting for them.
As they say down here in Baton Rouge, "Laissez les bon temps roullez!"
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
P.S. I have learned from my father-in-law that the Virginia Tech Turkey Brigade will pay a visit to Death Valley next fall to play the Tigers at home. Ah, sweet revenge! TIGER BAIT! TIGER BAIT! TIGER BAIT! TIGER BAIT!
Labels: Hokies, LSU, tigers, Virginia Tech
Saturday, November 05, 2005
The Humbling of the Hokies
Long-time readers of tMR will recall that there is no love lost between everybody's favorite MonT-SteR and those turkeys up in Blacksburg, otherwise known as the Virginia Tech Hokies.
All I can say is, "Thank you `Canes!"
Hey, when you have a stupid turkey as your mascot, you're just asking for some major come-uppance.
Now, the come-uppance will be complete if 1) Virginia Tech drops to one place below LSU in the BCS standings, 2) LSU beats Alabama next week, 3) Virginia Tech and LSU face each other in a bowl game, and 4) LSU STOMPS ALL OVER THEM to avenge the 2001 game they lost to Virginia Tech because the crummy Hokies cheated by adding a game to their schedule before the LSU game (which was contrary to the agreement between the two schools).
All wishful thinking, I imagine. But it's fun to dream. In the meantime, I can relish the fact that the Beamer Brigade got their lunch handed to them by Miami (turkey sandwiches, of course).
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Long-time readers of tMR will recall that there is no love lost between everybody's favorite MonT-SteR and those turkeys up in Blacksburg, otherwise known as the Virginia Tech Hokies.
All I can say is, "Thank you `Canes!"
Hey, when you have a stupid turkey as your mascot, you're just asking for some major come-uppance.
Now, the come-uppance will be complete if 1) Virginia Tech drops to one place below LSU in the BCS standings, 2) LSU beats Alabama next week, 3) Virginia Tech and LSU face each other in a bowl game, and 4) LSU STOMPS ALL OVER THEM to avenge the 2001 game they lost to Virginia Tech because the crummy Hokies cheated by adding a game to their schedule before the LSU game (which was contrary to the agreement between the two schools).
All wishful thinking, I imagine. But it's fun to dream. In the meantime, I can relish the fact that the Beamer Brigade got their lunch handed to them by Miami (turkey sandwiches, of course).
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: Hokies, LSU, tigers, Virginia Tech
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Geaux Tigers!
The LSU Tigers are on a roll! They beat Auburn 31-7 yesterday, and last weekend they defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks handily by a score of 33-7. Virginia Tech may have the cheesiest team name ("Hokies") and mascot (a giant, goofy-looking turkey), but I can't decide whether South Carolina gets the award for the Most Ridiculous or the Most Unfortunate mascot: "Cocky" the Gamecock. They should probably get both awards. Hint to new universities that are thinking about fielding a NCAA football team: Poultry and other fowl do not usually make for good team names and/or mascots!
The MonT-SteR was privileged enough watch the Gamecocks get stomped into gumbo live and in person with Mrs. MonT-SteR's family. We had a blast at the game. The only problem was that Christi and I were seated on the end of a row that EVERY PERSON IN THE STINKIN' STADIUM WANTED TO WALK THROUGH TO GET TO THEIR SEATS. So this is how I spent most of the game:
Despite the unceasing repetition of stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, stand... (you get the idea), it really was a great deal of fun. Not only was it nice to watch LSU win, but the opposing team's cheering fans were good sports about the whole thing. You Gamecocks may have a lame mascot, but you're a lot better behaved than your poultry counterparts in Blacksburg. When we went to Lane Stadium to see Virginia Tech play LSU last year, Tech fans were as rude as can be. The Hokies defeated LSU that day, which I wouldn't usually care all that much about. But the Hokie fowl behaved foully, and The MonT-SteR has nursed a grudge against that bunch of turkeys ever since. I daresay that the recent poultry-posterior-punting they got at WVU was just recompense. HA!
ALERT: The MonT-SteR is about to take a trip down memory lane. Proceed at your own risk!
The first college football game I attended was a University of Maryland game. My dad and I went together as part of a 4-H field trip when I was a kid. A wry smile usually plays across my face when I think of it. Despite the fact that I played football all the time with friends in the neighborhood, my understanding of it was limited to one simple rule: Clobber the guy with the ball when your side doesn't have it. The intracacies of off-sides, downs, penalties, and the line of scrimmage completely eluded me. Thus, once I was seated at the game with my dad, it took me nearly 3 quarters of play to overcome my embarrassment at not having the slightest idea what was happening on the field and ask what the devil was going on. Dad tried to give me a crash course on the basics of football, but it didn't take. So rather than ask for further clarification (a prospect leading to even more embarrassment) I watched the entire football game in utter confusion and bewilderment.
"So, Rob," you ask, "did you ever figure football out?"
Yeah, more or less. I was probably 14. Pathetic, huh?
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
The LSU Tigers are on a roll! They beat Auburn 31-7 yesterday, and last weekend they defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks handily by a score of 33-7. Virginia Tech may have the cheesiest team name ("Hokies") and mascot (a giant, goofy-looking turkey), but I can't decide whether South Carolina gets the award for the Most Ridiculous or the Most Unfortunate mascot: "Cocky" the Gamecock. They should probably get both awards. Hint to new universities that are thinking about fielding a NCAA football team: Poultry and other fowl do not usually make for good team names and/or mascots!
The MonT-SteR was privileged enough watch the Gamecocks get stomped into gumbo live and in person with Mrs. MonT-SteR's family. We had a blast at the game. The only problem was that Christi and I were seated on the end of a row that EVERY PERSON IN THE STINKIN' STADIUM WANTED TO WALK THROUGH TO GET TO THEIR SEATS. So this is how I spent most of the game:
The MonT-SteR sits, quietly engrossed by the color and pageantry of the athletic contest playing out before him, when a couple begins the long trudge up the stadium steps
The MonT-SteR: (muttering to self) Oh, man -- here come some more.
The MonT-SteR sighs with mingled impatience and resignation as the couple arrives at his row. They look and point, nodding to one another in apparent agreement that this is the right spot. With mildly sheepish looks on their faces, they turn their gazes upon The MonT-SteR and his wife.
Random couple clad in yellow and purple: Excuse us, please.
The MonT-SteR stands, his knees shrieking in protest, as this is the 100th time he has needed to stand up in this manner. The couple awkwardly squeezes by, bumping up against The MonT-SteR and his kin further down the row.
Random couple clad in yellow and purple: Sorry, sorry....
The MonT-SteR: That's okay. We're used to it by now.
Despite the unceasing repetition of stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, stand... (you get the idea), it really was a great deal of fun. Not only was it nice to watch LSU win, but the opposing team's cheering fans were good sports about the whole thing. You Gamecocks may have a lame mascot, but you're a lot better behaved than your poultry counterparts in Blacksburg. When we went to Lane Stadium to see Virginia Tech play LSU last year, Tech fans were as rude as can be. The Hokies defeated LSU that day, which I wouldn't usually care all that much about. But the Hokie fowl behaved foully, and The MonT-SteR has nursed a grudge against that bunch of turkeys ever since. I daresay that the recent poultry-posterior-punting they got at WVU was just recompense. HA!
ALERT: The MonT-SteR is about to take a trip down memory lane. Proceed at your own risk!
The first college football game I attended was a University of Maryland game. My dad and I went together as part of a 4-H field trip when I was a kid. A wry smile usually plays across my face when I think of it. Despite the fact that I played football all the time with friends in the neighborhood, my understanding of it was limited to one simple rule: Clobber the guy with the ball when your side doesn't have it. The intracacies of off-sides, downs, penalties, and the line of scrimmage completely eluded me. Thus, once I was seated at the game with my dad, it took me nearly 3 quarters of play to overcome my embarrassment at not having the slightest idea what was happening on the field and ask what the devil was going on. Dad tried to give me a crash course on the basics of football, but it didn't take. So rather than ask for further clarification (a prospect leading to even more embarrassment) I watched the entire football game in utter confusion and bewilderment.
"So, Rob," you ask, "did you ever figure football out?"
Yeah, more or less. I was probably 14. Pathetic, huh?
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: Hokies, LSU, tigers, Virginia Tech
