Tim Kaine Embarasses The Old Dominion

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine just delivered his speech as part of the leadup to the coronation of Prince Barack Hussein Obama. Two nights and two embarassing performances by Virginia politicians. Mark Warner sounded like the obnoxious guy you get stuck next to on a cross-country flight as he recounted the fascinating story of his rise to riches in the cell phone industry. And now Kaine fills the bill of the VERY white guy attempting to sound like a soulful black preacher. It looked more like a bad community theatre parody than a serious speech by someone who was on the short list to be a vice-presidential nominee. Look, I don't expect that we will ever again have a Patrick Henry, George Mason, James Madison or Thomas Jefferson representing Virginia. But, can't we do better than Joe Isuzu and Vanilla Ice?

New Sports Quiz Posted on Sploofus!

If you are familiar with the Sploofus Trivia site, check out my latest quiz there entitled "Defunct Pro Sports Franchises and Leagues." If you aren't familiar with Sploofus, what are you waiting for?? It's a blast! A great diversion, but it can be addictive.

Take my quiz: Defunct Pro Sports Franchises and Leagues

Focusing This Blog Thing

Less than 24 hours in the bloggin' bidness and I am already changing directions. This partcicular blog will focus more on sports, entertainment, and other less controversial material. I've decided to create a separate blog for political ramblings. I've decided some who will appreciate the material on this blog may not share in my sometimes intense political ideas, so I will separate the two. If you do like political hellfire and brimstone, you can click on Edgycater Fixes The World.

My Latest Quiz on Sploofus Trivia Site

If you aren't familiar with Sploofus it is an awesome trivia game site. Check out my latest quiz: "Edible Music Classics."

24 Republican Patriots Doing The People's Work

This is bold. Even the Mainstream Media has had no choice but to cover the group of 24 Republican congressmen who decided to stay in Washington and represent their constituents while Queen Nasty Pelosi ordered the people's house closed and the lights turned out.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/republicans-pro.html

Ultimately, it's simple. This nation has been hit with a rapid increase in the price of gasoline. There is this funny little concept called supply-and-demand that seems to escape the Far Left. If we can increase supply, the price will decrease. House Republicans want to vote on a bill that will allow states to pursue off-shore drilling. That's right, not a demand to drill. Simply allow states to drill if they so desire. I guess Queen Nasty has missed the big B-O's exhortation, "Yes We Can!" When it comes to increasing supply, Democrats are saying "No We Can't!" The real reason Queen Nasty doesn't want a vote is that many Democrats actually are patriotic Americans and not aging hippies who still think communism can work under the right management. A number of patriotic Democrats would do what is right for the American people rather than what Moveon.org dictates. Queen Nasty can't allow that

Oh well, Queen Nasty is doing her job as socialism's leg breaker in the U.S. Congress. Unfortunately, only 24 Republicans have the stones to stand up and be counted. Indiana's Mike Pence is leading the charge and, as always on common sense issues. Arizona's John Shadegg is playing a key role. Our president COULD force Congress back into session, but it didn't seem to occur to him to actually lead on this issue.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-republican-leader-rips-bush-2008-08-05.html

My Baseball Obsession in a Nut Shell (Or is that Nut's Shell)

Where did it start? Probably in the crib. My brother and father were both big fans and played also. As early as I can remember, whiffle ball in the backyard was a regular thing with dirt spots as bases. My brother collected baseball cards and I was into it by the time I was five. In fact, nearly 40 years later I am still collecting. Of course, now values and conditions are big issues but as a kid I would have traded Mickey Mantle for Brooks Robinson any day of the week. Every summer my Mother enrolled me in the library's summer reading program and I read every baseball book I could find.

I can remember visiting relatives in Baltimore when I was a kid and seeing a number of games at Memorial Stadium featuring the great Orioles teams of Brooks and Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, and Jim Palmer. Our family vacations took us to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (the year Hank Aaron returned to Milwaukee) to see the Braves and the Big Red Machine and to Philadelphia to see the Phillies and Expos in the midst of a trip to Amish country. Later, I would return to Baltimore and Atlanta a number of times with friends and made a trip with a buddy to Cleveland to see Nolan Ryan pitch in his final season. In 1998, I took a week long trip with friends that took ys to Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago, Dyersville, Iowa (yes, we played baseball ON the Field of Dreams), Milwaukee, back to Chicago, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Wow! I've made two pilgrimmages to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown--one with my parents when I was 14 and later with friends to see Joe Morgan and Jim Palmer inducted. Unfortunately, it rained and we didn't get to see the induction or the Hall of Fame game for which we had first row seats!

I'm sure my Dad enjoyed seeing my reaction when he took me to Memorial Stadium. He probably remembers when Chicago White Sox outfielder Rick Reichardt threw me a baseball before a game. He took me to a lot of Salem Pirates games in the mid-1970s. The Pirates (now the Avalanche) were in the High-A Carolina League. I'll always remember seeing Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller at the stadium signing autographs. I was 11 and wanted to ask him a question, but wasn't sure what to ask. My Dad suggested asking who the toughest hitter was that he had faced. Bingo! Feller's answer was Tommy Henrich.

Its been the same sort of thrill sharing baseball with my son. At the first Salem Avalanche game he went to a relief pitcher for the opposing team named Joey Dawley gave him a baseball. Later, we went to a number of Orioles games, though his memories are all of Camden Yards. A few years back he and I went on a three-day excursion that took us to games in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

My son has also picked up the love of fantasy baseball. Its a fun diversion and he plays in a few leagues including one with a group of guys I have played with for twelve years. Three years ago, my interest in simulated baseball soared to a new level. I ran across a league called the Legends of Baseball which plays a simulation that allows you to pick any player who has ever played in Major League Baseball (1871-present). It is an incredible simulation and its a lot of fun managing a team and communicating with the other very interesting and intelligent baseball junkies in the league.

Of course, I played a lot of baseball as a kid and have coached the game off and on since I was a teenager helping with the town tee-ball program. I've coached recreation league and junior varsity teams though I am not currently coaching.

As you can see, baseball has been a big part of my life which is why you will see it pop up a lot on this blog (even though I have a feeling politics will be the focus--especially until November).

Introduction to Edgycater's World

OK, right to the point. I'm opinionated. Whether the subject is sports, politics, history, television, movies, music, or the shrinking meat on a Subway sandwich I have an opinion. My long-suffering wife and increasingly-opinionated son usually have to hear the diatribes. It's time to share the wealth! I spent five years in the radio business and m going on nineteen in public education. Baseball is a lifelong passion which I will post about often. History has always been a constant interest as well. After getting out of college, politics increasingly captured my attention. Over the next few days I will explain how all of these interests grew in Edgycater's World.