Where would you take a football visit?

With all the recruiting flurry going on with the Cyclones, I got to thinking. If I were a 4 or 5 star football player, where would I want to take my 5 official visits?

If you were some HS senior 4 or 5 star, and you basically could choose anywhere in the country, where would you choose to take a visit? (and I suppose it would depend on what position I played, so that might change matters, but here goes)

I still have my Cyclone blinders on, so of course I would want an official to ISU.

I also have my Thundering Herd blinders, so I'd want to go to Marshall. Winning tradition, and if I wanted to be a big fish in a small pond, in a community that lives football.

I don't consider myself a fan, but I would have USC at the top of my list. I can imagine anywhere I would rather play than at the Coliseum vs UCLA. That is, at least on TV, my favorite college setting. And then to be in SoCal with the nice weather (and those cheerleaders!)

I respect the heck out of Bill Snyder, and the job he has done. I'd probably do a K-State visit.

And it might be a political move, but I'd probably take a visit to a B10 school with my 5th visit. And maybe it is my partiality to State schools, but I might go to Michigan State. I like what they have done, and I would like sticking it to Michigan.

What say you?

Merry Christmas from The Donald

Got a Christmas card today from Donald Trump. Just thought I'd share.

Die Hard is a Christmas Movie

So a family fight will happen on Christmas. I will watch the movie Die Hard. And Vicki will complain about the violence and shooting. But there is no doubt, Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Rather than retype a bunch of stuff, I'm gonna steal some of the below from another blog.

Christmas quotes throughout. a) Holly, "We'll see what Santa and mommy can do?"

b) Difficulties getting into the vault? Hans reassures, "It's Christmas Theo. It's the time for miracles."

c) TRIVIA: What dies Theo say when they finally open the vault? "Merry Christmas"

d) "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring EXCEPT... the 4 assholes coming in the rear in standard 2 by 2 cover formation. "

John delivers a Christmas joke in an elevator. "Now I have a machine gun. HO HO HO!" And the corpse is wearing a Santa hat!

The bad guys await the cops about to enter a back door. Bad guy looks down at the vendors snack bar. Jingle Bells plays.

To set up the climactic ending of the villian Hans, (spoiler alert) McClane uses Christmas wrapping tape to tape a gun to his back.

The end credits roll to the holiday classic, "Let it Snow" and during the open, there is the song "Christmas in Hollis" by Run DMC

And of course, John's wife's name is "Holly".

Good ol' John McClain is just trying to get together with his family for Christmas. And of course he does. Good triumphs over evil. So that is a proper message, Christmas Season or not.

Doh! A Deer

Third time was a charm for our 2009 Chevy Traverse. Two previous deer hits were "no harm, no foul". But last night Vicki pasted a deer just south of the Gilbert road on R38/County Line Road. There is a creek running through there with a bunch of timber. We've seen deer in there many times. Last night, one decided to go head to head with the Chevy. Here is the damage.

So about a year ago, one ran into the side of the car, and bounced off, causing no damage. About 2 years ago, I was driving down I-35, saw one coming, put on the brakes, and just tapped him, causing no damage. So indeed, 3rd time is the charm. The car is still drivable, Vicki and Paige are fine, so that is good.

But I endorse a good deer hunt. Those stupid rats with horns are really annoying and cost a lot of money.

Flight Aware

One of my favorite websites in FlightAware.com. It is a way to track flights. If you know the flight number, you can go that way. You can search by airport, or by airplane type and so on. What I like best is seeing what is above you. Am I the only person that does that?

I look up and see a contrail and wonder, "Where are they going?" On a grander scale, you know there are, depending on the type of plane, 50-400 people up there, each with their own story of why they are going somewhere. Maybe it is for work, maybe it is for a funeral, maybe to go on vacation. Everybody has got a story, and they are whizzing 6 miles over my head at 500MPH.

A while back I had a post a Facebook about some fun I had with searching planes. Normally, I see planes going east/west here in flyover country. Rarely you see planes with contrails going north/south. You will see planes going to MSP, but they are typically lower (if you watch enough, you can tell). But I saw some way up there. Turns out, for planes to Dallas and Houston from Europe and the Middle East, because of the winds aloft, is more efficient for them to go "up and over" the planet, and fly over Iowa. Seems odd, but a flight from Saudi Arabia to Houston is efficient flying over us. They don't have to fight headwinds as much. On the way back, Eastbound, they don't fly over us, because they can get a tailwind and fly more straight east.

So HERE is a link, to what is over us in Iowa. Scroll your mouse over a plane. It will say the

Carrier, flight number, and type of plane

How high they are and their speed in knots

Where they are from and where they are going

You might need to search the site for some of the lingo, but here is one about to fly over me as I post this

DAL 1854 A320, 340 397, KDTW KDEN

That means it is a Delta Airlines, Flight 1854, and an Airbus A320 (picture below), it is at 34000 feet, at 397 knots, flying from Detroit to Denver.

The icons for planes are kinda what they look like. You can see the "heavies". Those are the widebodies, like 767s and 747s. Fun stuff!

Death By Design

Been studying my lines for the dinner theatre I will be in on Feb 19-21. I am playing the part of Walter Pearce, member of the British Parliament in the show entitled "Death By Design". It is similar to many murder mystery dinner shows. There is an odd assortment of characters, somebody gets murdered, and the remaining people all have a motive.

So I have recorded my lines, with the help of my lovely wife Vicki, and have been practicing while I drive around for work.

Here is a promo shot from some other acting troupe that put on the show. I presume my character is the dude in the middle. When I get our promo shots, I'll post some here.

Rog at the Iowa Caucuses

Here is my experience at the Iowa caucuses.... 1980 Not old enough to vote, but my dad took me to the D caucus, where the two leading contenders were Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy. He thought it would get me brownie points with my government teacher. I think he voted for Ted "The Swimmer" Kennedy, but I don't remember. Obviously it scarred me horribly.

1984 I was in college, and didn't go. Loved Reagan, and there was no real caucus anyway, since he was the incumbent.

1988, 1992, 1996 Out of state

2000 I was the precinct chair for Steve Forbes. And we kicked ass! Forbes came in 2nd in Iowa with around 28% I think, with GWBush in first with around 43%. We flipped that in Roland/Howard Township. I think Forbes got 45% here, and Bush about 25%. I think it was my awesome speech for Forbes. Saw a bunch of high school seniors in the crowd. Totally played to them because I figured they weren't overly committed, just there for school. Had a ball.

2004 GWB was incumbent, and because I like the politics stuff, I went to the D caucus. D caucuses are more fun (and unusual). There is a whole viability thing. It's not a straight vote. Instead, a given precinct has X number of delegates to the county convention. Based on delegates, then there is a viability factor, based on everybody getting a delegate, and if they don't, they are "unviable". I went to vote for Joe Liebermann. I thought he had a good handle on Radical Islamic Terror. Unfortunately, I was the only person there for Joe. So Joe was unviable. So candidate teams asked me to join them. That was tough, but I saw some merits in what Dick Gephardt was doing, so I joined up with his team. But there were only 7 or so of us, and we were just outside viability. So Dick was unviable in Roland.

There were 3 other viable candidates. And there was no freaking way I was going to caucus for John F'in Kerry or John Edwards. I would have walked out the door before that. Howard Dean had at least some stuff I could tolerate, so I joined the Howard Dean camp. He was enough to be viable, so I caucused for Howard Dean in 2004. 3 hours later he had his weird scream, and that was that. (which as an aside, I think the media made way more out of it than they should have.) I thought he really wasn't that bad.

2008 I was the Roland precinct chair for Ron Paul. Another stirring speech, and Paul tied for 2nd in Roland with Romney. Huckabee won big in Roland, with close to 40% I think. Romney and Paul were in the 20% I think.

Voting at that caucus was The Enigma. That is the stage name of a guy who is all tatted up, has implanted horns. He was on the X-Files episode with all the circus freaks. Apparently he lived on a farm outside of Roland, with his girlfriend for awhile. Of course, he didn't look like a usual Republican. I saw him, guessed him to be a Paul voter (he was) so I went to talk to him. Nice guy, and had a good chat with him. When I saw him, I thought, "I have to go talk to this guy" Here is his pic.

I shit you not. This guy voted in the Roland/Howard Township 2008 Republican caucus.

2012 I went to vote for Ron Paul, though I was not precinct chair. I think Paul won Roland in 2012.

The R voters of Roland/Howard Township have had a history of voting with the most libertarian Republican. I wasn't here in 96, but I heard Phil Gramm did really well here then. He was maybe the most libertarian candidate then, besides Forbes. Of course Forbes did really well in 2000. And Ron Paul outdid his statewide percentages here in Roland in 08 and 12.

2016. Heavy lean to Ted Cruz, though I may caucus for Rand Paul. My libertarian nature points me to a Paul, but Rand is not as libertarian as his dad. I think Ted Cruz has many libertarian traits, though I would not call him a libertarian. I heard a mention of a return to the gold standard. And he name drops the libertarian idols quite a bit, like Friedmann, Hayek, and Ayn Rand. So we shall see. Good times!

Republican Debate

Watched the Republican Debate last night. Last one before the caucuses I believe. Unless the RNC is worried about Cruz, and need another one to beat on him a bit. If that is the case, they will slam one together. Anyway....

I enjoy watching these debates for the political theatre. I have my leading guy (Cruz), but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy listening to the others, and agreeing or disagreeing with them. My rundown of best to worst performances (not the order I agree on them with)

Rand Paul I thought he came across with some good points, and didn't seem as obnoxious and surly as other debates. Maybe too little, too late, but a good effort. I'm pondering a vote for him in the caucus, even tho I'm pretty solid in the Cruz camp.

Donald Trump Trump was Trump. Touting how he will build stuff, making fun of Jeb, making faces. All the stuff that Trump supporters love.

Chris Christie The guy really shines in these events. Talks a little too much about 9-11 for my tastes. But he definitely comes across as a leader, and take charge guy. Probably would do better in a general election than a R primary/caucus

Ted Cruz Showed a real command of the issues, and carried himself as a no BS kinda guy. However he is in slot #4 because he was really annoying me by not shutting up, and running on.

Jeb Bush He comes off as a reasonable dude. But he sets himself up to get smacked down by the likes of Trump. If he would stop arguing with Trump, he might look better. This country is not ready for Bush 3 right now tho. Not his year.

Marco Rubio He needed to shine to move into top 3 in election results/polling. I don't think it will help in how he performed. Getting in the sparring match with Paul and Cruz is not where he needed to go. He needs the Bush, Kasich, and Christie voters. If he had told his plans, in a Ted Cruz kinda way, it might have helped. Just seemed like he was flailing at times.

John Kasich I think he has a constituency of people not liking the rough and tumble of politics. And he appealed to that. But he did nothing to get himself out of single digits in a R primary/caucus. I sometimes wonder if he should run as a D.

Ben Carson Seems like a good dude. Probably would make a good cabinet secretary. But I just don't see the stage presence to be that person. The debate was more of the same. Americans typically want a president that is larger than life, or can make a great speech, and/or has a certain cockiness. Ben did not show that.

Carly Fiorina She was annoying throughout the whole debate. Right away, dropping the "I'm a woman" card, or whatever it was. I found it offensive, and something I would expect out of Hillary. Then the interrupting and all that. Just seemed desperate to me. Which I suppose she needs to be based on her polling numbers.

M

And since I said I would post some music and music videos, here is one of my all time favorites. And this video and song will be part of my upcoming "Rog's 50th Birthday New Wave Dance Party"

Not the Mayor Blog

I had my Mayor Blog during my 2.25 terms as Mayor of Roland. It still is out there, but I wanted to start something different, as the topics will be slightly different. My Mayor Blog was to pass on info for what was going on in the city. And it was also to put my spin on Roland current events.

So here I am with a new blog.  Kinda been pondering this.  I want to use this to offer my take on various items, but that may be a little more in depth that what can go on a Facebook post.  And I may dabble in political commentary a bit more.  And still possibly comment on the goings on in Roland.

I know a lot of people put political memes and commentary on Facebook.  But I'm starting to find it tiresome.  I have my opinions too.  But when I go to Facebook, I want to see sports photos, Prom pictures, short notes on how people's days are going, comments about a favorite song, and maybe the occasional "I'm here at this great restaurant."

If you post some meme from Rachel Maddow that just nails Donald Trump, to paraphrase Shania Twain, "That don't impress me much."

So I'm not going to start ranting on Facebook.  But I find it invigorating at times to tap out my thoughts.  So here a way for me to do so.  And if you came here to read it, great.  But it isn't necessarily pushed on you, you have to search it out.

So my goal is to record some of my thoughts of the day.  I figure there will be some music videos, comments on sports, the weather, and what I am up to.  So let's see how this goes.  Game on!