Here we go

Here we go remebering the past football season in which the Pittsburgh Steelers - the wild card team that everyone - including myself thought they were out of the playoffs at week six came back and won the Superbowl to become world champions! How did they do it? Well here are are the top ten reasons why the Pittsburgh Steelers won the NFL Championship.

X. Smith, Faneca, Hartings, Simmons, and Starks weigh a combined 1,572 pounds, while the Seahawks’ puny offensive line weighs a pathetic 1,534 pounds.

IX. Other teams are so distracted by Troy Polamalu's incredible curls that his unbelievable plays are overshadowed by his unbelievable hair—giving him something similar to the element of surprise.

VIII. Willie Parker, although not the league MVP, might be the toughest running back in the NFL, having raced against bulldogs in his youth, and having gotten so much production from his 5 foot 10 inch, 209 pound frame.

VII. Hines Ward who had excelled at three positions at the University of Georgia and who has passed Gubernatorial Candidate Lynn Swann on the Steelers’ all-time receiving list, has done it all with a smile (a few tears) and a mother who never gave up on him even though, for a time, he resented her.

VI. Legendary broadcaster Myron Cope has said about Antwaan Randall El that “the man could dodge raindrops,” knowing this, Coach Whisenhunt forces others teams to question just what in the heck the former Indiana quarterback turned wide receiver is going to do out there.

V. Joey Porter is so tough that he was once shot in the buttocks and had the bullet lodge in his thigh, but he was still back on the field in Cincinnati within a month jawing and giving people "The Boot" again.

IV. Larry Foote, who chose his hometown University of Michigan over UCLA, Colorado, Nebraska, and Tennessee, will be stomping “Foote's Foot” harder than ever before.

III. Nose Tackle, Casey Hampton (who is supposedly 325 pounds) cannot be blocked by a single person of the offensive line—or the buffet line, for that matter.

II. Bill Cowher, who after suffering multiple playoff loses with the likes of Neil O’Donnell, Kordell Stewart, and even Tommy “Gun” Maddox, likes the attitude of young gun 26-4 Ben Roethlisberger who has dedicated the game to his grandfather and the Steelers fans in uniform over seas.

I. In what some suggest might be his last season, Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, listed at 255 pounds, who runs like bowling ball, is back home in Detroit where he has received the key to the city and where he intends on adding an NFL Championship to his list of accomplishments, which already includes being given his own holiday, bowling a 300 game, and learning ballet.

A true story, can you believe it?

(KDKA) MT. LEBANON ~ The top 25 list of girls at Mt. Lebanon High School is still the talk of the town. KDKA's Marty Griffin says the list has a lot of people angry.The list suggests that some girls are on drugs while it makes fun of other girls for their ethnicity or sexual promiscuity. One parent who did not want to be identified told Griffin, "It is raunchy, vulgar, obscene, degrading and defamatory. I know its criminal."The parent says he knows the person who wrote the list has committed the crimes of harassment and ethnic intimidation. He believes many of the girls on the list could successful prosecute a defamation action against the perpetrator or the school district. Police however do not believe there has been a crime committed. They believe the author of the list should apologize. The school board has sent a letter home to parents saying the list is deplorable. The board says it is taking this situation very seriously. ~ Whatever happen to the term "boys will be boys."

Read a book

Upon reading Sara's blog I realized I have not read a book in ages except required text books but those do not count as I really do not read them - i skim them through them for the important parts that will be on a exam. Anyway the reason of this post is this, upon reading Sara's blog I was ashamed for my lack of interest in reading so before the end of this year I shall read one of the following books:

10."My Plan To Find The Real Killers" by OJ Simpson
9. Everything Men Know About Women (I need to perfect my ability to pick up womend)
8. Everything Women Know About Men (A good hunter should know his prey)
7. "Things I Wouldn't Do for Money" by Dennis Rodman
6. Al Gore: The Wild Years (He would of made agreat Presz!)
5. Amelia Earhart's Guide to the Pacific Ocean
4. Career Opportunities for Liberal Arts Majors
3. Detroit - A Travel Guide
2. Different Ways to Spell "Bob"
1. Dr. Kevorkian's Collection of Motivational Speeches

Or perhaps I should read something educational like Ethiopian Tips on World Dominance

Note to self: Don't read blogs well at the bank, reading one such blog that showed a very attractive blond's boobies put me on a report for visiting a questionable web-site?!

The letter, A Kat, Big Brother, and Spider

The weekend was great! To begin with a got a letter from Point Park explaining that the master program that they have has had some changes made to it and they wanted to make me aware of it. You see when I graduated from Point Park their master in education had two programs - the first was if you wanted to teach at the college level and the second was if you were already a teacher and wanted to progress to the administration level. Anyway Point Park add a third - new teacher certification. It's basically the same program at Duquesene except it will be a great deal less money! I emailed the one advisor and explained my current course and what I would need, basically the courses I took at Duquesene will transfer over and the total number of credits needed to have the master is 27 ... I liked Point Park University. This was the letter I spoke of in my title the Kat is my thoughts on adopting a cat from animal friends. Anyone have anything to say about that? I would prefer a dog but I am never home to take care of it, a cat does not really need people to survive besides my landlord probably would accept a cat over a dog in my flat. Now on to big brother ... I was hanging out with my brother Saturday, we ened up at Saddle ridge and had a wicked good time! I also was hanging out with Jason, Dave and Anthony whom has the nick name of Spider it seems as if Anthoy is moving tomorrow morning to Las Vegas. He is out on non-financial bail and from all indications is not going to do any time so he applied and got a job at the Ballagio casino writing sports book he told me to tell everyone "whats up and you know how he do!" That is all I got to say at this time - it was brief and to the point so for now peace out.

Horoscope

Daily Horoscope by Astrology.com Saturday April 22, 2006


Aquarius
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's hard to think about these changes with any kind of calm, but try to think about the long term. Not only will you benefit (and possibly profit) from them, but you'll also love where you end up -- eventually.

Previous Day | Next Day

Another beautiful day

Another beautiful day in Pittsburgh ... the weather is so nice but there are suppose to be clouds rolling my way and speaking of clouds ... it appears that much of southwestern Pennsylvania is in store for partly to mostly cloudy skies through most of the weekend. There's even a small chance of a thunderstorm and that thunderstorm could begin as early as Saturday morning and last through Sunday. Rainfall amounts will not be very light but the day is beautiful and this evening will be - great! Yep big plans tonight so for now peace out!!!

Re-awakening

Having unpacked from my move I have discovered the many books I have collected over the years on Ireland ... yes tis' true I am a history buff! I enjoy reading about anything that is Irish so this afternoon well on break I did some research on Irish legends, all are interesting so for those that have a wee bit of Irish in them enjoy!

The Mythological Cycles

Ancient Irish history and legends have come down to us through history thanks to the diligent chronicling of the early Christian monks. The best record of the rich Celtic mythological tradition is contained in the four cycles drawn up by twelfth century Christian scribes: the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle (also known as the Red Branch Cycle) and the Fenian or Fianna Cycle, and the Kings, or Historical Cycle. Irish myths were probably recorded in the eighth century or earlier, possibly written by the Druids in Ogham. There are few surviving examples of Ogham because this writing was primarily done on bark, or or wands of hazel and aspen. However the legends of the early Celtic people were also passed down through the tradition of storytelling, and it was from this source that the Monks gathered their colorful tales. The early medieval monks rewrote the oral stories in a style that was designed to be read aloud to noble or royal households. When they set themselves the task of constructing a pseudo-history of Ireland, they also recast the ancient myths and legends into a Christian mold. In doing so, they demoted the old gods to mortals, and rewrote the sagas into an almost indecipherable maze of conflicting events. Fortunately, there are a number of manuscripts which have survived fairly intact, and there are many others not yet translated into English. The Lebor Gabála or "Book of Invasions" is one of a number of manuscripts from which our knowledge of Celtic pre-history is derived.

Mythological Cycle

Ó hÓgáin gives an account of the Mythological Cycle, a collective term applied to the stories in Irish literature which describe the doings of otherworld characters. The central theme was concerned with the successive invasions of Ireland by supernatural clans. These series of invasions are described in the Lebor Gabála or Book of Invasions.
The early supernatural inhabitants of Ireland included the Partholonians, the Nemedians, the demonic Fomhóire and the Fir Bholg, the divine Tuatha Dé Danann, followed by the Milesians.
The Milesians, lead by the Sons of Mill, were the fictional but first human ancestors of the Irish people. They defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann at the battle of Tailtiu, after which Ireland was in their possession. They divided it into two parts, with Éireamhóin ruling in the north and Éibhear in the south.

The Fenian Cycle

The main occupation of the Fenian Cycle is hunting. The Fenians, or Fianna, were a legendary band of heroes who defended Ireland and Scotland and kept law and order. Their leader was the mythical Fionn mac Cumhaill. Fionn mac Cumhaill was the truest, wisest and kindest of the Fianna. He had two sons, Fergus of the Sweet Speech and Ossian, who is credited with a series of poems known as the 'Ossianic Ballads'. Ossian went to the Land of Youth with Niamh. His mother was Sadb, who was changed into the shape of a deer by a druid. The warrior Caoilte was Fionn's right hand man, and he is reputed (in the monks' retelling of the ancient tale,) to have extolled the virtues of the Fianna when conversing with St. Patrick in the 'Dialogue of the Elders'. Other notable Fenians include Oscar, the greatest warrior, Conan, Goll mac Morna, and Diarmait O'Duibhne, who eloped with Fionn's betrothed, Grania.
The tales of the Fianna are heroic and fantastic, incorporating much interaction with the gods.

The Ultonian Cycle

A large body of heroic tales in Irish literature describe the activities of the Ulaidh, an ancient people from the whom the province of Ulster got its name. The central story in the cycle is called Táin Bó Cuailnge: The Cattle Raid of Cooley.
The Cattle-Raid of Cooley is the central epic of the Ulster cycle. The saga begins as Queen Medb of Connaught amasses a large army in order to gain possession of a magnificent bull belonging to Daire, a chieftain of Ulster. As the men of Ulster are afflicted by a debilitating curse, the seventeen-year-old Cuchulain must defend Ulster single-handedly. The battle between Cuchulain and his friend Ferdiad is one of the most famous passages in early Irish literature.
Cúchulainn was Ulster's greatest hero. His father was said to be the sun god Lugh, and he trained in arms under the formidable warrioress Scathach. His greatest deeds are told in the Tain.

Springtime

It is still spring, but it feels like summer. For me, it is symbolic of a lot of things. A time for growth, change, renewal...you know all that jazz. So it's nice... I guess I don't have to much to say, I have not had much to say since starting this blog. I feel as if I am now censoring my thoughts and not expressing it as in the past what I wrote had a adverse effect on peoples attitudes. Today I'm kinda taking it easy... probably gonna head over to the ball field and practice because I need it and later on in the evening I am going to clean around the house and that's about it... oh, perhaps much later I will visit Dee's Cafe ... I need to finish my final term paper. Well that is about it for now so i am going to signoff for now. I'll keep you posted about everything. I think it will be very busy this coming summer - I may even be going back to Costa Rica!

What are your plans?? And also you like the color scheme of this blog? I wanted a more spring like color, a more cheerful color...

Tuesday

- Back into the grind. All I really want is a nap. I am dog tired. The kind of tired where everything I do seems to be in slow motion. There's a fog surrounding my mind, too. This is a bad sign.
- I really need to start my semester-ending research paper.
- I think I'm still full from eating so much on Sunday.
- If I hear James Blunt or Daniel Powter one more time, I'm going to scream.
- I joined a softball team and my softball team lost a girl to a back injury, but I've already thought about the replacement girl with a co-worker. I text-messaged the coach on Monday and explained this girl is looking to play co-ed softball with the team. I'm excited. She's so nice :)
- It's been 5 years since the dawn of alternate reality gaming. Unreal. And it's only getting bigger... AND dummer with each new show...
- Podcast of the day: The Baseball Prospectus Radio Podcast. Baseball by the guys who have ushered in a new era of baseball analysis.

Happy Easter

This is another favorite, from Neal A. Maxwell, of whom Hugh Hewitt is a great admirer.

The gift of immortality to all is so choice a gift that our rejoicing in these two great and generous gifts should drown out any sorrow, assuage any grief, conquer any mood, dissolve any despair, and tame any tragedy. Even those who see life as pointless will one day point with adoration to the performance of the Man of Galilee in the crowded moments of time known as Gethsemane and Calvary. Those who now say life is meaningless will yet applaud the atonement, which saved us all from meaninglessness. Christ’s victory over death routs the rationale that there is a general and irreversible human predicament; there are only personal predicaments, but even from these we can also be rescued by following the pathway of Him who rescued us from general extinction. A disciple’s “brightness of hope,” therefore, means that at funerals his tears are not because of termination, but because of interruption and separation. Though just as wet, his tears are not of despair, but of appreciation and anticipation. Yes, for disciples, the closing of a grave is but the closing of a door that will later be flung open. It is the Garden Tomb, not life, that is empty!

"Those who now say life is meaningless will yet applaud the atonement, which saved us all from meaninglessness." I love that, Happy Easter everyone.

RESET

Is the ugliest four letter word that is a five letter word...

Pittsburgh Pirates go deep four times to drill Dodgers, 9-5

Craig Wilson will look someone dead in the eye when he says he takes no issue with his place on the Pirates' bench.

Do not believe it.

Not for a minute.

Certainly not after he twice smashes two-run home runs to transform a game almost single-handedly, as he did last night at PNC Park to overturn the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-5, before 13,237.

149 more days until The Superbowl Champions Pittsburgh Steelers play again ...

TV

There is one certainty in the TV industry. That programmers are going to be wrong 95 percent of the time. Lost, Desperate Housewives, American Idol had all been passed on by networks. Other shows have been cancelled on one network, prospered on another. Shows that have done well in one time slot, have failed in another and vice versa.

So riddle me this batman. If creating a hit TV show can be so uncertain that it’s success or failure can vary by timeslot and/or network, how difficult will it be to create a hit in a purely video on demand world ? And are you up to that challenge?

Homer

My 1st baseball game was, at that time Three Rivers Stadium, and I was about 6 and the only things I remember about it was that our seats were in the lower deck in right field and I damn near choked on a hotdog when something happened and the crowd jumped up cheering and startled me with a mouthful of hotdog. I attended many games at "Three Rivers" and was saddened when the team threatened to leave Pittsburgh if they did not get a new ball park. Three Rivers was a dual purpose stadium that was used for both football and baseball. It had to be one of the worse major league parks for fans and the ugliest. The best seats I ever got were on the railing, upper deck, just past the third base coaches box. EXCELLENT seats can be found just about anywhere now in PNC Park. Now at PNC Park Stadium you were up close to the action and the players and now a favorite memory of mine will be the aroma of cigars, fresh peanuts and steaming ball park hotdogs drifting in the wind from inside the ball-park. I was walking back home from work and my new commute takes me past PNC Park. Can the Pittsburgh Pirates duplicate the Pittsburgh steelers achievement and win the world series? Probably not as they are already off to a five game losing streak and judging by the crowds leaving the game early today it shall soon be six defeats and zero wins but then again people counted the Steelers out and the "wild cards" proved us all wrong.

Another fond memory was first learning that old time song …

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

A fresh start

I have made many mistakes in the past year of my life to many to list here and I have no intention of repeating those mistakes but an ingenious-spiritual professor of mine, Art Marino, has the ability to shift people out of old, crippling emotional patterns with the simple suggestion: "That was Then. This is Now."

This simple statement of truth reminds me that my pain and suffering occurred in the past--and brings me into the present to see if the experience is actually still occurring. And, in fact, that old experience of life is never occurring in the present--unless I drag it into the Now. That is, unless I unconsciously re-generate the expected, habitual past experience into the present moment.

A required text book written by Harry Palmer whom I shall now call The sage, expresses it, "The past only exists to the degree we re-create it in the present." I often set myself up for this unconscious carry-over by saying things like, "Oh, why is she always so negative around me!" But does she "always" have to be pessimistic? What if I approached her today with the willingness to be open to the possibility that he may be different, new, fresh? What might happen? Whats the point I am trying to make?

The Prison of the Past

In study after study, researchers have found that when one schoolteacher is told a new group of students is "intellectually challenged," those students will test very low on objective exams. When a different schoolteacher is told the same students are "geniuses," those same students will test very high on objective exams in her class.

What's Up with That?

My experienced expectations. I cruise the road of life projecting my beliefs ahead of ME, only to arrive exclaiming, "Oh, wow. It's just as I anticipated!"

Who Am I?

The same unconscious dynamic occurs with my own self-image! If I've come to believe that I am not artistic, then I continually prove it by seeing my creations as crude, uninspired or amateurish. If I've already decided I am not "athletic," then I am not surprised when I don't catch the ball. If I am not a "dancer," I trip on my own feet.
As long as I can recall, I've never been a "morning person," so, "God, I'm tired this morning. I just can't wake up. You know what I mean?"

The Filter of the Past

My unconscious beliefs about myself act as a filter, only letting in those perceptions of myself that "fit" my set image of ME. If I should accidentally happen to do anything "out of character," I either won't even perceive it--or we'll rationalize it away as an aberration, a fluke, a one-time chance occurrence. And I even solidify the past by exclaiming, "That's not me! I don't know how that happened. I'm not usually like this. Please excuse my behavior." I even apologize for being spontaneous and inventive! Disguised as "facts" these unconscious old beliefs filter our perception of every event, distorting reality to fit into my rigid, preconceived framework. Lord, save me!

The Truth Will Set Me Free

The liberating truth about these self-convictions is that they are totally arbitrary. My limiting beliefs about myself are only past experiences that over time have become so-called fact. These "facts" are only old personal perceptions that I have come to believe are "the way I am."

The Maintenance Project

I refer to this unconscious perpetuation of past experience into the present as the "Maintenance Project." And, boy, does it take a lot of energy to sustain a improved "Official Self-Image."
Whamee! The realization hits me like a Mack truck. I see that I am I good person! But now that energy all goes into preserving my belief system about myself and my world--my own "Maintenance Project." I've bought into the notion that I'm not popular, not weel liked and can't do the things because I am not above average joe. Unconsciously, I'm invested in being right about my beliefs about me, and having less and less energy as I grow older. Hello?! Why would I want to do that?

The Poison of My Position

Should I really care that much about my beliefs in my own limitations? Is my dogged defense of my old, restricted "self-image" making me any happier--or the world any better?
What is the personal cost of my "Maintenance Project?" Greater than the 2006 U.S. Defense Budget? Probably! Are my justifications for my old ideas of ME really just rationalizations? Or worst, simply old habits that I am unconsciously keeping alive? Is my arguing for limitation ... or possibility?

Unmask the Bandit!

Unmask the bandit that has stolen my personal power and joy. Expose these "facts of life" for what they really are--fantasies of an adult who has forgotten who wrote the script of life. A grown-up who can no longer live life unrehearsed. A "mature" big person who has lost the ability to play and create fresh in the moment.

Be the Master of My Own Fate

Being the master of my own self is having a real choice about what beliefs--and therefore what realities--I choose to empower. By becoming aware of the unconscious beliefs that are creating my own reality, I then give yourself the conscious choice of which beliefs you want funding my reality. I can withdraw creating energy from the unconscious limited self-images that no longer nurture my happiness. When I take back my power from old, restricted ideas of who I am, I can create and evolve in any way at any rate I choose. I am free to invent anew and unfettered. I become the Conscious Creator of my own destiny.

Re-tell Your Story

Starting a fresh dialogue with the Universe about what it means to be me in the form of this blog. Energize new personal stories--and realities. Envision--and then experience--fresh, different ways of expressing my unique spirit. Create a new vision of ME that is more alive, resourceful and self-compassionate.

Options Abound!

Opt out of beliefs--and realities--that don't serve me and never have. Opt into beliefs--and realities--that do serve my deepest aspirations.
Create a future from present passion, not from past perceptions. I don't have to let my past experience get in the way of my present happiness. Awaken to fresh choices, options and solutions I never saw before. Re-seed a renewed sense of peace, well-being and wholeness. I must Master the Present--and to enjoy the future!

Victor Hugo wrote, "There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come." What ideas have come just in time to break you free of your self-imposed prison? What ideas will you allow today to lift your spirit into a new world, a fresh start?