2014 Super Bowl To Be Held in New Jersey

This is a big deal. A Super Bowl in an un-domed stadium in a cold- winter city. It should be interesting.

By Aaron Kuriloff and Dex McLuskey

May 25 (Bloomberg) -- The new home of the New York Giants and Jets will host the 2014 Super Bowl, the first time the National Football League game will be held outdoors in a cold-weather city.

Owners of the league’s 32 teams voted to award the championship game of the most-watched U.S. television sport to the $1.6 billion New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

In choosing the new stadium over bids by Tampa and Miami for a game that organizers say may pump $550 million into the area’s economy, the owners heeded arguments led by Commissioner Roger Goodell that staging the contest in the nation’s financial and media capital outweighed the risk of snow and freezing temperatures.

“I’m absolutely thrilled; very, very happy for New York and New Jersey,” New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch said in an interview. “It’s going to be a great Super Bowl, and it’s a massive boost for New York City.”

Connie Crashes In Lamborghini

Connie apparently broke her back--but not bad enough to put her in the hospital. No news on the Lambo. I wish Connie and Mike all the best. And, I hope that she beats Abel Whats-His-Face this November so she will by my representative.

CORPUS CHRISTI — Republican Texas House District 34 candidate Connie Scott and her husband Mike Scott are recovering from injuries sustained in a Friday night car wreck that left Connie with a broken back.

Mike Scott was driving the couple's Lamborghini onto Interstate 37 near Calallen, when a semitrailer began steering into their lane, Connie Scott said.

Scott, who is challenging state Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, in November, said the trucker apparently did not see their car.

"I yelled, and Mike sped up and tried to miss him and we shot across three lanes and hit the concrete median," she said.

The car slid along the top of the concrete median before landing back on the freeway. Connie Scott was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital-Memorial's trauma unit and later released. Mike Scott, a prominent Republican businessman, refused treatment, but visited a local doctor Monday for X-rays and further testing.

The Scotts were not ticketed. Connie Scott said the injury would not affect her campaign.

How About A Sausage?

This is not the way I want to die. I am glad that the maintenance man made it. Next time you bite into a sausauge and get a piece of something unidentifiable, you might think of this story.

Police: Man Sucked Into Sausage Seasoning Machine

DANVERS, Mass. – Police said a cleaning man was taken to a hospital after being sucked into a machine at a sausage-making company in Danvers. The accident happened Thursday night as the man was cleaning the vacuum-type machine that is used to season the meat at DiLigui Sausage Co. Police said the man's head and shoulders became stuck in the machine after it somehow activated while being cleaned.

Lt. Carole Germano told The Salem News that the man — whose name was not released — was freed from the machine and showed no obvious sign of trauma, but was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the mishap.

Local Baptist Fued

This takes the concept of a Baptist feud to a new level:

CORPUS CHRISTI — A local Baptist preacher and community leader is accused of shooting a preacher from Cuero after a construction contract dispute, law enforcement officials said.

The Rev. Mark Stewart, 49, the pastor at Rising Star Baptist Church, was arrested about noon Thursday in Cuero on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting of John Jackson, 59.

Police were called to a Cuero home for shots fired, police said. Jackson was found walking with a gunshot wound to his right side, Cuero Police Capt. Steven Ellis said.

Jackson accused Stewart of shooting him and told police he was in a blue Dodge truck around the corner, Ellis said.

Jackson was flown to Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial where he remained in fair condition in intensive care Friday, hospital spokeswoman Sherry Carr-Smith said.

Police detained Stewart and another man near where the shooting occurred, Ellis said. Police found two handguns in a nearby field, Ellis said. Police believe one of the guns was used in the shooting. Stewart also was arrested on tampering with evidence. . .

. . . Stewart is free on bail totaling $75,000 Friday, Zavesky said

Attempts to reach Stewart were unsuccessful.

"The facts are sketchy at this point," said Ed Sample, the chairman of the deacon board at Rising State Baptist Church. "We are not dealing with perfect knowledge, so I cannot comment on something I don't know."

Stewart serves as parliamentarian on the Corpus Christi Black Chamber of Commerce, according to the organization's website.

This should be good for Rising Star's attendance.

To read the whole Caller Times, click on the blog post title or copy and paste this: http://www.caller.com/news/2010/may/21/local-baptist-preacher-accused-of-shooting/

PANIC - Dow Stocks Hammered

DON'T JUMP!

Bad day on Wall Street:

Stocks logged their biggest drop of the year Thursday as investors worried about two events coming Friday — a German vote on the EU bailout and options expiration.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 376.36, or 3.6 percent, to close at 10,068.01, finishing at its session lows after the selloff accelerated in the final minutes of trading.

All 30 Dow components finished lower, led by Bank of America [BAC 15.30 -1.01 (-6.19%) ], Alcoa [AA 11.07 -0.71 (-6.03%) ] and GE [GE 16.26 -1.00 (-5.79%) ].

The S&P 500 lost 3.9 percent and the Nasdaq fell 4.1%. The CBOE volatility index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, jumped over 25% and was above 44 at the closing bell, its highest level in over a year.

Never fear. These short-term corrections are great buying opportunities. When we look back 20 years from now, these last few "dog with fleas" years will prove to have been the years when we bought stocks at bargain prices.

Don't get emotional about the crowd sentiment or the current headlines. Think long-term and invest like a contrarian.

Calorie Monster From IHOP

This looks good, too. You can tell I am hungry by my last two posts.

ITEM: Cheesecake Pancakes
RESTAURANT: IHOP
PRICE: $4.99
INTRODUCED: April 26, 2010
REPORT CARD: INCOMPLETE

Two weeks after KFC’s Double Down induced media banter, IHOP launched its own calorie monster: cheesecake pancakes crowned with strawberries, blueberry or cinnamon apple compote, and whipped topping.

To sample this breakfast/dessert, get to an IHOP before June 20. The item is an “LTO” or limited time offer. LTOs are a safer way for restaurants to dangle stunt foods, said advertising exec Carroll. The Double Down also is an LTO.

Where “a true new product” must “build traffic with new customers” and “increase frequency of visits by existing customers,” an LTO only needs to “be consistent with the overall menu offerings,” Carroll said. “If it is, an LTO can build interest in the restaurant’s core products.”

How is the cheesecake pancake selling? When asked, IHOP spokesman Dan Ischy said: “They are popular with our guests and compliment our expansive menu.”

KFC’s Double Down Bet Pays Off

Apparently, the KFC Double Down has been a big hit. I have yet to have the pleasure of eating one:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Meat lovers, relax. But chickens, beware.

KFC says Americans are gobbling down so many Double Down sandwiches that the fast-food chain will offer the bunless, meaty sandwich longer than it had planned.

Originally the sandwich — bacon and cheese surrounded by chicken filets — was to have been available through Sunday.

But KFC said Wednesday that the sandwich will be available now for as long as customer demand remains high . . .

KFC said it has been one of its most successful sandwich launches ever. Later this month, KFC expects to sell its 10 millionth Double Down. They cost about $5.

Some have questioned the sandwiches' nutritional value. The original version has 540 calories and 32 grams of fat, and 1,380 milligrams of salt. A grilled version cuts calories to 460 and fat to 23 grams, but sodium rises to 1,430 milligrams. By comparison, the Big Mac from McDonald's has 540 calories, 29 grams of fat and 1,040 milligrams of sodium.

US House Passes Beer Resolution

Finally, this Congress has done something worthwhile.

POLITICO - While most of Washington was focused on Tuesday's election results, the House was busy doing something else: Passing a resolution about beer.

House Resolution 1297, sponsored by Rep. Betsy Markey, supports "the goals and ideals of American Craft Beer Week."

"We've got quite a number of microbreweries and entrepreneurs that are creating jobs, and we wanted to celebrate that this is a craft," Markey told POLITICO.

"I think beer has been a tradition since this country was founded," said Markey. "We wanted to celebrate entrepreneurship — and good beer!"

Markey is obviously partial to brews from her home state of Colorado, but she won't claim a favorite.

"You can't just have one," said Markey. "It really depends on what mood you're in. Sometimes, I like a light beer — I might want a Skinny Dip — or otherwise prefer a heavier brew."

The real question is: Why would anyone vote against this?

"It does seem like a no brainer," said Markey.

Me and JP

Here is a picture of me and my new nephew, JP.

And here is the latest from his father who has taken 3 days off from work to get accustomed to having a baby around the house.

Been pretty hectic around here the past few days. Finally settling down a little bit. JP is eating more and moved from the black sticky poops to the brownish, yellowish, less sticky poops. Thought you would like an update on the poop situation.

Thanks for the update, Brother Scott. The poops get more difficult as their diet becomes more complex.

Listen to Black Sabbath's "Heaven and Hell"

Click on the blog post title or copy and paste this link: http://popup.lala.com/popup/360569462352739506

Classic Dio!!! Here are the lyrics:

Sing me a song, you're a singer
Do me a wrong, you're a bringer of evil
The devil is never a maker
The less that you give, you're a taker
So it's on and on and on, it's heaven and hell, oh well

The lover of lifes not a sinner
The ending is just a beginner
The closer you get to the meaning
The sooner you'll know that you're dreaming
So it's on and on and on, oh it's on and on and on
It goes on and on and on, heaven and hell
I can tell, fool, fool!

Well if it seems to be real, it's illusion
For every moment of truth, there's confusion in life
Love can be seen as the answer, but nobody bleeds for the dancer
And it's on and on, on and on and on....

They say that lifes a carousel
Spinning fast, youve got to ride it well
The world is full of kings and queens
Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams
Its heaven and hell, oh well
And they'll tell you black is really white
The moon is just the sun at night
And when you walk in golden halls
You get to keep the gold that falls
Its heaven and hell, oh no!
Fool, fool!
Youve got to bleed for the dancer!
Fool, fool!
Look for the answer!
Fool, fool, fool!

Ronnie James Dio - R.I.P

O.K. I admit it. I liked Ronnie James Dio. I especially liked the albums he made with Black Sabbath. He was a true heavy metal musician--not like the under-talented, over-rated, long-haired, dope-infested schleps who tried to imitate him. I dismiss most of his sacrilegious schtick as a marketing ploy to sell music to confused teen-agers and twenty-somethings. In spite of that, Dio played good, hard heavy metal music. He died today from stomach cancer.

Metal legend Ronnie James Dio dead at 67
AP, May 16, 2010 5:00 pm PDT

By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press--Ronnie James Dio, whose soaring vocals, poetic lyrics and mythic tales of a never-ending struggle between good and evil broke new ground in heavy metal, died Sunday, according to a statement from his wife and manager. He was 67.
Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a tour in Atlantic City, N.J. with the latest incarnation of Black Sabbath, under the name Heaven And Hell.
Today my heart is broken," Wendy Dio wrote on the singer's site, adding he died at 7:45 a.m. "Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.
"Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all," Wendy Dio continued. "We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us ... Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."
The statement was confirmed by Los Angeles publicist Maureen O'Connor.

May he RIP.

DUDE

Hurley "Dude" Compilation

Double Birthday Denied

James Patrick couldn't wait till May 15. He arrived healthy and happy about 5:30 PM yesterday, May 14.

I am still a proud uncle. Good job Scott and Big A.

Happy Birthday X 2

I would like to wish two people Happy Birthday for Saturday, May 15. The first person is myself. I will be 42-years-old. The second person is my nephew, James Patrick, who is giving his mother--BIG A--contractions as I type. He needs to stay in there for another 9 hours and 40 minutes so he and I can share a birthday.

A Governor With Guts

Gov Christie calls S-L columnist thin-skinned for inquiring about his 'confrontational tone'

NJ Governor Christie has guts. It is refreshing to see a politician who "shoots straight." Good for him and great for the State of New Jersey. Enjoy the clip.

Billboards of the Month

These two in Minnesota are on I-94 near Albertville (between Minneapolis and St. Cloud) and on I-35 north of Saint Paul.

Hat tip to hotair.com.

Quote of the Month

"Many women who do not dress modesty...lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes." -- Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi, Iranian cleric, after severe earthquake warning in Tehran.

MORE . . .

Sedighi notes that some might ask why there aren't more earthquakes and storms striking Western nations that are "up to their necks" in immorality.

He says the answer is that God allows some of those who "provoke His wrath" to continue sinning "so that they (eventually) go to the bottom of Hell."

Neat fellow! To read the whole article, click the blog post title or copy and paste this: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9FMKGAO0&show_article=1

DEMOLITION

George Clower vows to keep fighting to save the MC even after its been torn down??? Delusional or opportunist?

George Clower, a director with Friends of the Coliseum, a group trying to prevent demolition, said his group won't give up its fight.

"I'm not sure we're going to give up, even when it's gone," he said.

But, he said, they're not sure of their options.

The group still may file an appeal request with the Texas Supreme Court or ask the appeals court for a rehearing. There is another option they're also considering, but Clower wouldn't disclose what that is.

The Texas Historical Commission will consider an application to list the building on the National Register of Historic Places at the state review board's meeting Saturday in Beaumont. Part of the board's consideration is the structural integrity of the building.

Clower said he believes the city is purposely fast-tracking demolition so the designation isn't awarded.

I SAY TEAR THAT PUPPY DOWN.

To read the whole Caller Times article, click on the blog post title or copy and paste this: http://www.caller.com/news/2010/may/12/memorial-coliseum-walls-begin-to-come-down/

Deer Scene from Tommy Boy

Be sure to watch the deer's facial expressions.

Late Night Customers In Tel Aviv 7-11

It must be interesting living in a nation where half of its citizens are either active duty military or in the reserves. I wonder how many convenience store hold-ups take place with late-night customers like these.

SCOTUS Nominee Look-Alike #5

David McComb thinks Solicitor General Kagan looks like Mall Cop.

Very good call, David.

SCOTUS Nominee Look-Alikes #3 and #4

Do you think it would be tasteless of me to compare the SCOTUS nominee to both Chastity/Chaz Bono? (For those of you who don't follow TMZ, Chastity Bono--the daughter, now son, of Sonny and Cher Bono--officially became Chaz last week.)

Got any more suggestions, Scott?

SCOTUS Nominee Look-Alike #2

Brother Scott is quick with the SCOTUS nominee look-alikes. Are Solicitor General Elena Kagan and Comedian Horation Sanz somehow related? Both are from Chicago.

Justice Misery

My brother Scott was quick to point out the uncanny resemblance between President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, to Kathy Bates--the sledge hammer wielding psychopath who broke James Caan's ankles in the movie Misery.

Good call, Brother Scott! The whole confirmation dog and pony show should be about as disgusting as a Stephen King novel.

Shark In Pick Up Truck

Here is a sight we might see driving around Corpus Christi. It is the time of year for big sharks to move into the surf and bays to have their babies.

This story is from St. Petersburg, Florida, sort or our twin city across the gulf.

To read the story, click on the blog post title or copy and paste this: http://www.wtsp.com/news/mostpop/story.aspx?storyid=131709&provider=top

Fish Hook Removal

I have been hooked while fishing before--but never this bad. Enjoy the clip.

"Give Us Your Poor, Your Tired, Your Hungry . . ."

The above sign was being carried at a protest in Phoenix, Arizona.

I am all for legal immigration. Hard-working, entrepreneurial, moral immigrants of all nationalities have made America exceptional. Unfortunately, these values do not seem to be held by many in the contemporary pro-immigration movement.

Sniper Sets New Record With L115A3 Long-Range Rifle

[CLICK PICTURES TO ENLARGE]

A British Army sniper killed two Taliban soldiers from approximately one-and-a-half miles away with his L115A3 long-range rifle. The bullet flight time at this distance from muzzle to target is about three seconds. The story comes from the Times of London:

A BRITISH Army sniper has set a new sharpshooting distance record by killing two Taliban machinegunners in Afghanistan from more than 1 mile away.

Craig Harrison, a member of the Household Cavalry, killed the insurgents with consecutive shots — even though they were 3,000ft beyond the most effective range of his rifle.

“The first round hit a machinegunner in the stomach and killed him outright,” said Harrison, a Corporal of Horse. “He went straight down and didn’t move.

“The second insurgent grabbed the weapon and turned as my second shot hit him in the side. He went down, too. They were both dead.”

The shooting — which took place while Harrison’s colleagues came under attack — was at such extreme range that the 8.59mm bullets took almost three seconds to reach their target after leaving the barrel of the rifle at almost three times the speed of sound.

The distance to Harrison’s two targets was measured by a GPS system at 8,120ft, or 1.54 miles. The previous record for a sniper kill is 7,972ft, set by a Canadian soldier who shot dead an Al-Qaeda gunman in March 2002.

Hats off to the sniper and the folks at Accuracy International--the British manufacturers of the L115A3. Also, congratulations to the two Taliban machinegunners on achieving their martyrdom. It is always soul-warming to see others achieve spiritual goals. I wish them well in Paradise.

The whole article is a must read. Just click on the blog post title or copy and paste this: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7113916.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084

Las Donas and Low Riders

I attended the 2010 Buc Days Illuminated Night Parade. There is no doubt that the entire event gave specators the fullest flavor of Corpus Christi. From the Los Donas debutantes, to the Tina Turner look-alikes, to the oodles of customized low riders--only in Corpus Christi could one experience such a combination of sights. This once-in-a-lifetime experience improves every year

CORPUS CHRISTI -- Thousands turned out for this year's Buc Days Illuminated Night Parade.

After weeks of preparation, the parade route was filled with folks out to enjoy the show. The people with the best spots to see the parade had been camped out since yesterday. The parade started at Buc stadium and ended at Coopers Alley.

Illuminated floats wowed the crowds and several bands from around the area performed.

Michelle Is Going To Be Mad

Michelle is going to mad at Barack. A story about Barry's alleged mistress--a stunning thirty-something campaign aid named Vera Baker--is starting to leak out. As narcissistic as BHO is, I have little doubt the story is true. Furthermore, I have little doubt the Obama-worshipping media will not touch the story until the evidence becomes so overwhelming that they are forced to take action. Then, the press will display the affair as kind of a neat, isolated, cosmopolitan fling not uncommon for progressive politicians.

For now, we will just have to take the Enquirer's scoops:

UPDATED: Reports out of Washington, DC: PRESIDENT OBAMA has been caught in a shocking cheating scandal after being caught in a Washington, DC Hotel with a former campaign aide.

These shocking allegations could topple both Obama's presidency and his marriage to Michelle!

A confidential investigation has learned that Obama first became close to gorgeous 35 year-old VERA BAKER in 2004 when she worked tirelessly to get him elected to the US Senate, raising millions in campaign contributions.

While Baker has insisted in the past that "nothing happened" between them, reports reveal that top anti-Obama operatives are offering more than $1 million to witnesses to reveal what they know about the alleged hush-hush affair.

Among those being offered money is a limo driver who says in 2004 that he took Vera to a secret hotel rendezvous in where Obama was staying.

An ENQUIRER reporter has confirmed the limo's driver account of the secret 2004 rendezvous.

***DEVELOPING STORY***

President Obama may think he is leather jacket cool and "all that" but he better hope Michelle doesn't get a hold of him and drag him out to the White House woodshed.