Just Thinking Out Loud: Look at me!

Everyone laughs at you (behind your back) for taking your laptop to Starbucks.  It's a desperate cry for attention that concurrently announces your adherence to all things trendy.  It's unnecessary and lame.  Don't do it.

Iconic Shot: The 1956 Tennessee Volunteers

Ending the year ranked #2 in the nation behind an Oklahoma Sooner team in the midst of what would become a record 47-game winning streak (from '53-'57), the '56 Vols won the Southeastern Conference championship and finished with a 10-1 record.

Featuring a native son at tailback, Johnny Majors (#45) finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy behind Notre Dame's Paul Hornung.  It marks the only time in the award's 75-year history that a player from a losing team has won the coveted award (the Fighting Irish went 2-8).  Over 50 years have passed, and many among the Volunteer faithful remain less than pleased about the snub.

And another for good measure...

A two-time Southeastern Conference MVP as a player, Johnny Majors led the Pittsburgh Panthers to a national championship as head coach in 1976.  He returned to his alma mater the following year, ultimately compiling a .645 winning percentage en route to three SEC titles and victories in seven bowl games.

This picture from 1982 (source unknown) is from the Vols' 35-28 victory in Knoxville over Paul "Bear" Bryant and the Alabama Crimson Tide.  It was the first win for Majors in six tries against the legendary Bryant, who retired at season's end and died the following January.

On This Day in History: Happy birthday, Mickey

326 – The original St. Peter's Basilica is consecrated.  The one that currently stands in its place was dedicated on this day in 1626, exactly 1,300 years later.

1307 – Arrested for not bowing to an oppressive Austrian overlord, a Swiss man named William Tell is offered to be freed if he successfully shoots an apple from atop his son's head.

The Vogt, as the overlord was also known, noticed that Tell had removed two bolts from his holder before the shot instead of one.  Asked why, Tell replied that if he had killed his son, he would have used the additional bolt on the bailiff himself.  In the end, Tell's defiance sparked a rebellion that eventually led to the formation of a Swiss Confederation that lasted nearly 500 years.  Always the hero, Tell died in 1354 while trying to save a child from drowning in the Schächenbach river in Uri, Switzerland.

1493 – Christopher Columbus becomes the first explorer to spot the island known today as Puerto Rico.  He landed the next day.

1928 – Steamboat Willie, the first fully synchronized sound cartoon, is released by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks.  Consequently, today is also considered Mickey's birthday by the Walt Disney Company.

1978 – Jim Jones, a practitioner of "apostolic socialism," led his Peoples Temple cult to a mass murder-suicide by drinking Kool Aid poisoned with cyanide, among other things, in the South American nation of Guyana that claimed 918 lives, including more than 270 children.  Hours earlier, Congressman Leo J. Ryan (D-CA, 11th district) was murdered by members of the cult.

1988 – President Ronald Reagan signs a bill into law allowing the death penalty for drug traffickers.  Ronnie didn't f--- around.

1999 – A 59-foot structure intended for use in the Aggie Bonfire at Texas A&M, so large that it normally required four weeks to complete, collapses at 2:42 a.m.  Traditionally built in each of the previous 90 years prior to the annual game against their chief rival, the University of Texas, 12 people were killed and 27 were injured.  As a result, bonfire festivities would not resume for three years.

Picture above © The Long Now Foundation

Southern Defenders Series: John C. Breckinridge

Considering the Southern theme that develops from time to time, I have come to realize that the best way to view the South is to possess and better understanding of her defenders.  Hence a new feature of summaries about the Southland's finest has come to fruition:

Born into a prominent Kentucky family, John C. Breckinridge graduated from Centre College in 1839 and attended Princeton soon thereafter, earning admission to the bar in 1840.

Upon serving with the 3rd Kentucky Volunteers during the Mexican-American War, Breckinridge made his way to Capital Hill in 1851 and undertook two terms as representative of Kentucky's 8th congressional district.  Having declined an ambassadorship to Spain, he eventually served as Vice President alongside President Franklin Pierce.  At age 36, John Cabell Breckinridge was, and remains, the youngest Vice President in American history.

He took a seat in the Senate at the outset of Abraham Lincoln's first term, but his nine-month stint abruptly ended when he was expelled for vocally supporting the South's secession, as had 10 other Senators before him.  Subsequently landing a commission in the Confederate Army, Breckinridge broke with his State when the Kentucky Legislature initially voted to remain with the Union.

As commander of the 1st Kentucky Brigade -- nicknamed the Orphan Brigade because of the men who felt abandoned by the government of their home State -- Major General Breckinridge led his troops valiantly throughout the Western Theater, beginning with the Battle of Shiloh (near Savannah, about an hour from Memphis) where he was wounded in action.

After the War, Major General Breckinridge personally oversaw the preservation of both the government and military archives of the Confederate States.  And by doing so, he ensured that a full account of the Southern war endeavor would be preserved for future generations.  In fact, all that I've just written was made possible by the efforts of John C. Breckinridge: American Representative, Senator, Vice President, and Confederate General.

TEC's College Football Top 10, Week 11

Your humble purveyor has some decisions to make.

Despite having dominated every team up to last Saturday, the top-ranked Ducks struggled mightily against an average Cal team that possibly won't make a bowl game for the first time in eight years.  But is Boise State's less-than-surprising 38-point victory over a four-win Idaho squad enough to overtake Oregon for the #1 position?

Despite the increasingly volatile Cam Newton situation, should Auburn jump into the top three because Texas Christian didn't put away a respectable San Diego State team until the very end?  Is Wisconsin's impressive 83 points against lowly Indiana, a game in which every Badger played, enough to stake their claim in the top three as well?

The answer to these questions, at this moment, is no.  Because every possible argument can be made for each contending team, and because there were no major upsets, there is no reason to change the rankings from last week.  But a considerable shakeup can be expected as the regular season draws to a close.  Stay tuned.
 

Rankings as of November 15, 2010

#1  Oregon (10-0), 670 pts.
#2  Boise State (9-0), 655 pts.
#3  Texas Christian (11-0), 620 pts.
#4  Auburn (11-0), 605 pts.
#5  Wisconsin (9-1), 530 pts.
#6  Stanford (9-1), 505 pts.
#7  Louisiana State (9-1), 410 pts.
#8  Ohio State (9-1), 375 pts.
#9  Nebraska (9-1), 325 pts.
#10  Oklahoma State (9-1), 305 pts.

Carried off by his team last Saturday upon earning South Carolina's first ever berth in the Southeastern Conference championship game, Steve Spurrier is as colorful as he is successful.  Prior to his arrival in Columbia, Darth Visor won six Southeastern Conference titles and the 1996 national championship at the University of Florida: the school at which the Ol' Ball Coach was originally a two-time All-American quarterback and recipient of the Heisman Trophy in 1966.

There's a bitter sweet irony in the Tennessee Vols' longtime antagonist being hoisted by the visiting team on the field in which he initially garnered so much success.  But it wouldn't bother me to see the Gamecocks beat Auburn on December 4, either.  Photo © Associated Press

Sunday's Quote: Defending the (seemingly) indefensible

Yesterday I came across an individual (online) who chose to rail against the placement of the Confederate flag on the grounds of the State capital in Columbia, South Carolina.  Here's my response:

"When someone can adequately explain why such an appreciable uprising of mostly underprivileged, non-slave-holding Southerners would even consider battling against their brethren of the logistically superior North to maintain a slavery establishment perpetuated by the wealthiest 6% of the Confederate populace (according to the U.S. Census of 1860), then, and only then, are you able to convince any thinking individual about the malignancy of the Southern Cause.

"Those who fly the Confederate banner to demonstrate a hatred of anyone do not require a symbolism to exhibit their disdain.  If the Confederacy had never existed, they would still hate.  And let's be especially real about this -- heavy racial issues persist to this day in New York City, Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Detroit, stretching all the way to Los Angeles and many points in between.

"Because all arguments against the flag eventually make their way back to a matter of slavery, let us not overlook the fact that human servitude is a phenomenon that has existed on practically every corner of the planet for nearly 4,000 years.  In fact Free the Slaves, a human rights lobby group in Washington, D.C., claim as many as 27 million slaves exist in the world right now.  Yet it's the South that is hit with the inclusive liability of all racial matters while practically all others, past and present, are given a collective pass.

"Eliminate the Confederate flag, and you accomplish nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  Convince yourself otherwise if you like, but your energy is better served in other capacities.  God bless."

-- Me, just yesterday responding to the impassioned plea of an anti-Confederate activist.  I have opted to identify neither the person, nor the website, as my innocuous rebuttal was removed just hours after it was posted.  Presumably he accepts comments from like-minded individuals only.

Soldiers of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division during Operation Moshtarak somewhere in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan.

Just Thinking Out Loud: Judging a classic

Having initially committed to read through a select list of transcendent classics, I opted to challenge myself by starting with a book that resists definition.

Included on TIME's list (something they do well) of the 100 best English language novels from 1923 to present, Gravity's Rainbow is commonly regarded by a variety of know-it-alls as both Thomas Pynchon's magnum opus and as the greatest postmodern work of 20th century literature.  Yet having plowed through the first 100+ pages, it has become difficult to invest myself any further into the semi-apocalyptic adventures of Slothrop, Pirate, Roger Mexico and Jessica, among many others.

So what am I missing here?

Perhaps the famously reclusive Pynchon gets his kicks by making intellectual schlubs like me feel that sense of inferiority for which it seems he strives with every word he writes.  But the original criticisms of this largely celebrated work -- "turgid," "overwritten," "obscene," etc. -- appear valid as well.

The mention of such an iconoclast can become a divisive topic.  So much, in fact, that the Pulitzer board eventually overturned its own decision to award Pynchon their prize for fiction in 1974.  It wasn't the first time (it was the eighth such occurrence in nearly 60 years), but it remains the most prominent episode by which the impact of this book is most adequately conveyed.  And that, by all accounts, is exactly how Pynchon prefers it.

Iconic Shot (sort of): This isn't very nice of me, but...

Although someone skilled in the manipulative art of Photoshop was trying to make a rather humorous statement with a creation that has since made the rounds all over the Internet-connected world, a relatively well-known picture of Princess Letizia of Asturias (left) and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Wife of the President of the French Republic (her official title), was meshed with a completely separate shot taken of First Lady Michelle Obama when all three were in Spain making formal visits in April 2009.

Authenticity is preferable, especially in regard to the worldwide praise Mrs. Obama has garnered for being the most notable White House fashionista since Jacqueline Kennedy.  Yet the underlying point of this contrivance, however sophomoric, is anything but lost on the humble purveyor of this blog.

How 'bout some negativity

An assessment of issues that thrust the GOP to handsome Congressional gains last week was postponed to gauge the fervent and innumerable retorts made on behalf of the Left's embattled Chosen One.  The finished piece will be out soon enough, but in the meantime I thought sharing some humbling statistics from the November 7 edition of The Commercial Appeal (via the Associated Press and Harper's Index) would be in order:

-- According to the latest government figures, compiled two years ago, an astonishing 73% of Black, 66% of Native American, 53% of Hispanic, 29% of White, and 17% of Asian babies are born to unwed parents.

-- About 10 million American adults, 1-in-31 to be exact, are either incarcerated, on probation, or on parole.

And perhaps most sadly...

-- There has been a 37% increase in the number of buttock-augmentations since 2008.

TEC's College Football Top 10, Week 10

Last Saturday's highly touted battles of top ranked schools didn't play out as most likely anticipated, as Texas Christian drilled Utah in Salt Lake City and the Crimson Tide were shocked in Baton Rouge by a Louisiana State team that seemingly the entire nation has expected to implode since the start of the season.  And that's why we love college football.

Along with LSU's re-entry, Oklahoma State enters the top 10 for the first time this season after an impressive win over a very solid Baylor squad.  And for those questioning Boise State's #2 ranking, which places the Broncos ahead of both Auburn and Texas Christian, do not overlook the fact that BSU received more first place votes in the latest Associated Press poll than both of the aforementioned 10-win teams combined.  Please believe me, the Broncos are worthy.
 

Rankings as of November 8, 2010

#1  Oregon (9-0), 670 pts.
#2  Boise State (8-0), 655 pts.
#3  Texas Christian (10-0), 620 pts.
#4  Auburn (10-0), 605 pts.
#5  Wisconsin (8-1), 530 pts.
#6  Stanford (8-1), 505 pts.
#7  Louisiana State (8-1), 410 pts.
#8  Ohio State (8-1), 375 pts.
#9  Nebraska (8-1), 325 pts.
#10  Oklahoma State (8-1), 305 pts.

Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead (left) celebrates with wide receiver Brandon Kinnie after scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the overtime of their eventual 31-30 victory at Iowa State.  Photo by the Associated Press

Sunday's Quote: The duality of manhood

We don't appreciate our heroes for being paradigms of chastity and virtue.  We revere them for inspiring us to the point that overlooking their imperfections, however numerous, becomes reasonable.  A new favorite writer of mine expanded on this point in the most recent edition of Esquire:

"This magazine recently commissioned a survey of twenty- and fifty-year-old American men, and when asked to name the coolest man in the country, both groups chose [Clint] Eastwood by a wide margin.  The guys born in 1960, the ones who grew up growling, 'Feeling lucky punk?' to their friends, make sense, but the ones born in 1990?  How did they end up picking the old guy from 'Space Cowboys' over Clooney and LeBron?

"The answer is simple, really: During all the real and imagined crises of American masculinity that the past half century has coughed onto our screens, Eastwood has been the one stable figure in the midst of the darkness and the turmoil, a man entirely apart from the boring and draining established types that have dominated movies for four decades -- macho pigs, lovable schmucks, merry pranksters, and impossibly cool hipsters.

"Eastwood's endurance is the endurance of saints, and what he embodies more than anything is the definitive virtue for American men both then and now: restraint.  He rides the line between his own terrible desires and the world as it is with the grace we all aspire to."

-- from "Why is Clint Eastwood Still the Man?" by Stephen Marche; Esquire, November 2010 (with the ravishing Minka Kelly on the cover)

Just Thinking Out Loud: Rock

The older I get, the more I appreciate Dave Matthews Band's first three albums, Stone Temple Pilots' first four albums, Metallica's first five albums, Van Halen's first six albums, and The Beatles' last six albums (minus Yellow Submarine, which doesn't really count anyway).

Iconic Shot: Wartime leaders

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A sculpture by Lawrence Holofcener depicting a jovial moment between British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, located on New Bond Street in the Westminster borough of London, England.  © André Leroux

Did You Know (or Care): Helmet history

Being that I'm a random fact/trivia buff, here's a new feature I should have added a long time ago:

Although the University of Michigan football team is noted for its throwback "winged" helmet design, the original pattern debuted in 1933 by UM's cross-state rival, Michigan State.  Princeton followed two years later, and Michigan adopted the design by which the Wolverines are best known in 1938.

At least 10 colleges (in various divisions) and dozens of high schools throughout the nation currently feature the same iconic design on their helmets today.

TEC's College Football Top 10, Week 9

Last weekend's match-ups were as entertaining as they were unsurprising, and the top four remain in place as a result.  Several key games will be played next weekend -- Utah vs. TCU & Alabama vs. LSU, among others -- that will undoubtedly impact the upper echelon.  Dropping from the top 10 are Michigan State and Missouri, while Nebraska and Stanford enter the rankings for the second time this season.
 

Rankings as of November 1, 2010

#1  Oregon (8-0), 680 pts.
#2  Boise State (7-0), 655 pts.
#3  Auburn (9-0), 640 pts.
#4  Texas Christian (9-0), 565 pts.
#5  Utah (8-0), 555 pts.
#6  Alabama (7-1), 470 pts.
#7  Wisconsin (7-1), 430 pts.
#8  Ohio State (8-1), 370 pts.
#9  Stanford (7-1), 325 pts.
#10  Nebraska (7-1), 310 pts.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck rushes for a 51-yard touchdown in the first quarter against Washington.  The Cardinal defeated the Huskies, 41-0.  The men from Palo Alto are definitely for real.  © Otto Greule, Jr./Getty Images

Sunday's Quote: Return to Oxford

Galvanized by the prospect of drawing awareness to the University of Mississippi's self-inflicted mascot debacle, I wedged myself out of bed Saturday morning after another grueling shift at the Hub and visited Ole Miss for the first time since last March to join a contingency of like-minded individuals bent on keeping the memory of Colonel Reb alive.

Gameday in Oxford is a special experience.  Especially in October.  Loyalists by the tens of thousands have pilgrimaged to The Grove for generations, almost without regard to the Rebels' historically inconsistent gridiron performance, in the interest of assembling with their fellow Southerners to extol the insular attributes of all that sets Ole Miss enthusiasts apart from everyone else.  Heck, they revel in it.

Who the hell are we? ... Ole Miss, by damn!

The campus atmosphere is infectious from the moment you arrive.  And this, in part, is central to why many object to the banishment of their mascot -- a symbol that both embodies a regional vibe and externalizes certain idiosyncrasies that go far in transcending the obstinance of the past.  In essence Colonel Reb, over a period of decades, became the principal emblem of what draws so many thousands to Ole Miss in the first place.

Some people take issue with that.  Some say that the depiction of what appears to be a plantation owner -- that was never official, by the way -- has no place in the 21st century.  Indeed considerable efforts have been made to either rewrite, or erase the past altogether by redefining that which makes Southerners who they are.  Evidently those opponents are unaware of how that favor, as it were, could be returned at least threefold.  But I digress.

Because the Colonel has been dismissed by the very individuals who should have been front and center to defend him, the forced acceptance of inessential change amid this era of hypersensitivity has left many to consider the cultural wax and wane, unwanted by most, that assuredly lays ahead.

The future, of course, is unknown.  And while the uncertainty is pervasive, it never takes away from the moment.  Not at Ole Miss.  Last Saturday, amid the inviting scenery and perfect weather, a near-record crowd marched in unison out of The Grove, through Whiskey Alley, and onto Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to watch the Rebels battle the top-ranked Auburn Tigers.  And for just a little while, everything was alright -- even after Ole Miss fell, 51-31.

The rally I was told about, for the record, never came to fruition.  But that was irrelevant because I was in Oxford, and simply being there was enough.  The ambiance, all by itself, makes the 75-mile trip worthwhile.  As a wise man once said, Ole Miss is mood, emotion and personality. ... The University is respected, but Ole Miss is loved.

That, too, could be said for its retired Colonel.

"...in Oxford lies, as promised, the most magical place on all of God's green, football-playing Earth: the Grove.  A school of red and white and blue tents swimming in a shaded 10-acre forest of oak trees, floating in an ocean of good will and even better manners ... Yes, they drink bourbon and eat boiled peanuts and finger sandwiches from sterling-silver platters and serving dishes arranged by caterers and frantic moms on elaborate tabletops.  They partake in front of flat-screen TVs with DirecTV, underneath chandeliers and amongst intricate candelabras and ornate flower arrangements. ... Because that's what the Grove really is: a place for adults.  A secret place run, governed and funded by grown-ups.  Sure, the students drink their booze and scarf their food.  But they also lug the tents in at 4 a.m. (often for $100 or more).  It's as if the Ole Miss'ians have swindled their Li'l Miss'ians into attending only so they themselves have an excuse to come back."

-- Sports Illustrated; September 27, 2004

List Fest: Greed kills

Amid losses totaling as much as $400 million, the National Basketball Association is considering a number of potentially drastic measures to keep the league from financial collapse.  The following is a list of 25 places where Commissioner David Stern can begin the inevitable cuts:

Highest NBA salaries, 2010-2011

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, $24.8 million
 

2. Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic, $20.5 million
 

3. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics, $18.8 million
 

4. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, $18.7 million
 

5. Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks, $18.3 million
 

6. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, $17.8 million

6. Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz, $17.8 million
 

8. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards, $17.7 million
 

9. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets, $17.6 million
 

10. Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies, $17.4 million
 

11. Vince Carter, Orlando Magic, $17.3 million

11. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, $17.3 million
 

13. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets, $17.1 million
 

14. Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks, $16.8 million
 

15. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, $16.5 million
 

16. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, $16.3 million
 

17. Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets, $16.0 million

17. Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers, $16.0 million
 

19. Predrag Stojakovic, New Orleans Hornets, $15.3 million
 

20. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets, $14.9 million

20. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz, $14.9 million
 

22. LeBron James, Miami Heat, $14.5 million

22. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, $14.5 million
 

24. Jason Richardson, Phoenix Suns, $14.4 million
 

25. Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls, $15.0 million

Sources: Altius Directory & The Wild Investor

From My Own Camera: Shelby County sunsets

Again, I'm not a professional.  But I try.  And please note, the bottom half of each shot was originally sharper than it now appears.  Overall, however, I think they turned out relatively well.
 

(click to enlarge)

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Just Thinking Out Loud: Brutality pays (every Thursday)

As one would likely assume from the pure joy upon my countenance, I've been working the night(mare) shift at the FedEx World Hub in Memphis, Tennessee since mid-2005, during which time I can recall having a scant three "good" nights.  Considering the past five years and three months, this means that my colleagues and I are afforded a "good" night at work once every 21 months.

"Hey Adam, why don't you just get another job?"

That's a great question.  In fact, that's possibly the deepest and most profound question anyone has ever asked.  I wish I had thought of that because you make it sound so simple, as if new employment grows deep within a magical forest where bushels of one hundred-dollar bills have just come into bloom.

As luck would have it, this otherworldly place also happens to be located next to a charming little village, unmarked on any map, that's populated with nothing but beautiful women who are only too happy to fulfill your every wish.

The stark reality of the matter is exceedingly more brutal.  Although unemployment trends over the past several years (or more) should have me grateful to have a job at all, the long-term effects of earning a paycheck in the most overtly demanding work environment I've ever experienced, by far, has me -- like so many others -- searching high and low for a miracle that just is not there.

TEC's College Football Top 10, Week 8

Boise State has the stuff to remain #1, but keeping Oregon from the top spot amid the Broncos' bye week (not to mentioned the Ducks' 47-point win over UCLA) is simply impossible.  Missouri enters the top 10 for the first time and Ohio State re-enters, while Oklahoma and Louisiana State drop out.

Rankings as of October 25, 2010

#1  Oregon (7-0), 680 pts.
#2  Boise State (6-0), 655 pts.
#3  Auburn (8-0), 640 pts.
#4  Texas Christian (8-0), 575 pts.
#5  Michigan State (8-0), 545 pts.
#6  Utah (7-0), 470 pts.
#7  Alabama (7-1), 440 pts.
#8  Missouri (7-0), 365 pts.
#9  Wisconsin (7-1), 320 pts.
#10  Ohio State (7-1), 310 pts.

Navy's John Dowd, Doug Furman and Brady DeMell jump into the stands to celebrate with their fellow Midshipmen after defeating Notre Dame, 35-17, at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  After losing a record-setting 43 consecutive games to Notre Dame, Navy have now won three of their last four against the Fighting Irish.  © Getty Images