The International Olympic Committee

Donny: Are these the Nazis, Walter?

Walter Sobchak: No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of.

The I.O.C, They are simply pathetic. They are removing Baseball and Softball from the 2012 Summer Olympic games. Members of the I.O.C have cited the "lack of worldwide participation" as the basis for it's removal. What a bunch of horse shit! Here's what the I.O.C thinks an Olympic sport should be.

"I don't know what sports would come under pressure in 2020. Butit's important that the Committee keeps on the program sports that are popular, attractive to young people, have an element of entertainment and are attractive to broadcasting," -IOC Press Commission Chairman Kevan Gosper

Let us look at some of the adjectives they chose to use here:

Popular, Attractive to young people, entertainment

The I.O.C should have used some of the following to describe future prospective Olympic Sports: Boring, Geriatric, mind numbing, As much fun as dying from Lou Gehrig's Disease. Who in their right mind enjoys watching table tennis, squash (potential for 2012 games), Badmitton, Handball, ect.... The list of wretched games goes on ad nosium. Some of these I would consider to be enjoyable "activities." However Ping Pong should have never been made into an Olympic Sport. The I.O.C sucks. Why can't I watch an Olympic soccer match either? Duderino is totally within his element on this one! I fnd very little in the Olympics to be entertaining.

I'm no nihilist

Duderino, Please forgive me for posting this, but like the title states, "I'm no nihilist." I actually care about something(s).

While perusing these here internets (mainly deadspin) I came across this tribute to the downfall of western society!

Kevin Durant's University of Texas jersey is going to be retired. For those of you who don't follow sports or even care, Kevin Durant entered the NBA darft after playing only his freshman year of college basketball 2007. To his credit he was the concensus college player of the year, but this is goddamn ridiculous. Having your jersey retired is the highest honor that your school can bestow upon their athletes. In this case, they are honoring a, "Student" athlete (I use the term student loosely). Perhaps he should have attended at least a full semester of college, before having this honor bestowed upon him. Maybe I am old fashioned in this way, but it doesn't seem right to me. I feel their are some sort of prerequisites that should be met in order to receive such an honor. Prerequisites, a term that I am sure that he knows very little about. For instance holding records that require a tenure to achieve (all time assist, scoring, steals, ect,..), and I don't know, how about actually being a student. Who thought that this was a good idea? What is society coming to? Having your Jersey retired used to be an honor of distinction, and now it's more of a popularity contest!

Also of note he didn't lead them to a championship either.

Here's the story.

A little concern for your fellow man

I may have to stand alone on this one, but I feel compelled to relay my feelings on this particular matter in a reputable public forum. The matter is, "Train Etiquette." The Duderino, and myself both use the local rail system for our daily commute. If you take the train like Duderino, and myself you will notice that people preoccupy their minds in a number of ways. Here is a list of a few accptable methods, at least in my opinion:

1. Listening,Watching, or Playing your respective portable media device.

2. Reading a newspaper or periodical

3. Sleeping

4. Working/Studying

5. Quietly conversing with a fellow passenger.

These I would consider to be reasonable activities for one to engage in while commuting to and from work. The first 4 are things that one can do in silence, allowing their fellow passengers to not be impeded upon. Conversing with another rider is something that must be carefully done so as not to intrude on those around you. However, I have noticed a tragic increase in the frequency those breaking the unwritten rule of, "silence" while riding on the train by talking on their phones, or allowing their children to scream and cry. Engaging in either of these activities is a blantantly disrepectful to your fellow riders, and displays an air of selfishness, and self-entitlement.

Talking on your cell phone while on the train gets under my skin. The only reason that I want to hear anything about your personal, professional, or any other part of your life is because we are having a conversation! People get absorbed in their calls, and block out eveything that is going on around them. If I have my headphones on, and I can hear you clearly then everyone around you can too. I don't think that anyone really wants to listen to your conversation. If no one around you is on the phone, take the hint.....

Suggestions: Make the call before you get on the train, or after you get off. Learn to use texting, e-mail, or some messaging service.

People use their time on the train to unwind, and a screaming/crying child is a total hinderance to that. Now, I am not a parent and I don't have a grasp on what is means to be a parent. That being said doing nothing, and allowing your child to act out in public is unacceptable. Yesterday afternoon I obeserved a young mother sitting on the train looking as if she had just achieved total enlightenment. She was poised, calm, and without reaction. Her child possibly between the age of 2-4 was screaming and crying. The passenger who sat next to her appeared to have made an attempt to quell this childs tantrum. Did her mother? Nope!!!! Allowing your child to act out in public is direspectfull to everyone who is within earshot. There are public places where this type of behavior is socially acceptable, however the train is not one of them. Teach your child to behave, and be a better parent!

So, in closing I do not expect that this will have any radical impact, but I emplore any riders to be mindful of this. Respect your fellow riders. I hope that we may all take something away from this. I have some over the top ideas for punishing those who defy these unspoken rules, but this is not the time. Perhaps another day.

Ciao

Quote of the Day...

The Dude: Walter, ya know, it's Smokey, so his toe slipped over the line a little, big deal. It's just a game, man.
Walter: Dude, this is a league game. This determines who enters the next round robin. Am I wrong? Am I wrong?