What I'm Reading 3.31; Easter, Kidney(s) and Steeler stupidity

Quickly approaching is Easter, a holiday once known for Jesus' resurrection but now known for plastic-imitation-chicken eggs and over-sized rabbits.

Funny how Easter - like Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. - is celebrated in varying ways by different families. For instance, I don't hunt eggs anymore, some older people do.

And on fasting; how did it go for you? I gave up meat and I stuck to it. And, I even liked giving up beef, chicken, lamb, weasel, etc. so much, I might not go back.

In Easter news: The Easter bunny may save your life, critics say avoid giving rabbits, chicks as gifts and a list of the largest egg hunts in the U.S.

Away from Easter, a new study finds that many people (including me) would give a kidney for a quick buck.

Airbags on airplanes?

Before you eat from McDonald's again AND more importantly before you buy another 'happy meal' for your kids, take a look at this. This guy is celebrating the one-year anniversary of a happy meal he bought, set out and watched NOT decompose over the course of the past year.

A history maker in our midst, despite what you or I think of him.

Another attack in Russia.

The Obama overhaul of the student loan system could come at a huge benefit to interested parties.

A new version could mean the end of a iPhone-less Verizon wireless network. Good news for me!

Remember all the talk of earmarks? Here is a state-by-state map of earmark allotment.

SPORTS

Things are looking good for the Steelers; first Big Ben, now smokin' Santonio, again.

The University of Conn. women's basketball team has won 76 games in-a-row and are headed to another Final Four.

Aroldis Chapman set to begin season in minors for the Reds. No big surprise.

If you haven't heard about Pat Venditte, check him out. Venditte is an ambidextrous pitcher in the NY Yankees farm system. He got his first spring action yesterday.

Reaching into the vault, Sports Illustrated has the story that proceeded the 1975 World Series.

What I'm Reading 4.19

It seems that eventually spring has to, well, spring. And yet, in light of yesterday's beautiful weather, we end up with what we have today. And it's going to like 'this', until wednesday, at least.

Other than 'what' people talk about when there is nothing else to talk about, there is a lot going on.

Pictures of the new O'maley addition can be seen here at my photostream on flickr. And for future reference, any choice photos i take will be posted at http://flickr.com/photos/nathansheets.

The Onion has a 'first 100 days' post that updates everyday with happenings in the Obama administration. Today's post:

DAY 88: White House senior adviser David Axelrod has to rush home to Chicago when he suddenly realizes he left his car in a two-hour parking zone in January.

And for you other onion readers; the link to our dumb world news.

If you didn't know newsvine and msnbc have teamed up to produce 'The Elkhart Project' focusing on the declinging economy through the eyes of Elkhart, Ind. Elkhart was once a community with large RV production, which has gone by the wayside since the downturn.

An interesting look at America's most endangered rivers.

And more downer news, as malls are reporting a 10-year high in store vacancy.

Did you see, and if you saw, like what you saw, in regards to the iconic Obama painting? You know this one:

Well you can now make a print of yourself just like it, here.

And if you haven't, you know you want to join Twitter. Come on, everybody is doin' it.

A sweet deal on a sweet deal site.

Looking for something good to make tonight? How about Pad Thai. MMMmmm.

Some really choice photos through the MSNBC photoblog.

What I'm Reading 11.17

Beginning my day I always scan the headlines to see what has happened - overnight or abroad.

My most read sources for all types of information include:

MSNBC.com - U.S. and world news
WSJ.com - U.S. and world news
NPR.com - Hourly news summaries and world news
Telegraph.co.uk - Daily Telegraph, London newspaper site for UK and London news
BBC.com - World news
Pal-Item.com - Local News
Thestarpress.com - Muncie local news
ESPN.com
Cnn.com
Redlegnation.com - Cincinnati Reds news and comment
The Lot D - C. Trent Rosecrans Cincinnati sports blog
mlbtraderumors.com - baseball transaction news site

And that is just in one sitting. I often look at all types of sources for news but do not rely much on the information of blogs unless it is a blog that has broken a huge story.

Considering that:

Today I awoke to see that Barack Obama may have to give up his trusty BlackBerry.

And speaking of president-elect Obama, Catholics may have to repent if they voted for him.

The Onion reports the Obama win may have caused a massive void in Obama's most ardent supporters.

The Washington Post takes a look at The Onion and how it came to be what it is.

The Chicago Tribune takes a look at the revival of live albums. I don't know, I've never been a huge fan, but there are a couple I have listened to religiously. Thanks to C. Trent for the heads up. This one, this one and this one I have listened to a lot.

Albert Pujols won the NL MVP. He deserved it hands down. I'm surprised Kosuke Fukodome didn't win though.

Christmas is just around the corner and I will place a few gift ideas in each post - for me or for people you want to actually buy gifts for, if there is such a thing. Like this one.

Mr. Bill, the former SNL turned commercial character might make a good gift.

I just found this story after reading some about The Troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.

America Has Spoken

Yesterday was a day to be proud of our country; with or w/o the outcome.

Awaking at 5:45 to make it to the poll by 6 a.m. to vote, I noticed the huge turnout as many were doing the same thing I was.

"Hear ye, hear ye, the polls are now open," said one election official, as he ushered the first voters into the Kuhlman Center in Richmond, Ind. yesterday morning.

There was a silent bustling anticipation amongst the crowd and it wouldn't have taken a presumptive journalist to notice it. But something about this day was different.

The difference was not bore from the difference in the candidates or the passion people held for their candidate, it was the empathic feeling from people. For once I felt America cared and for once they were showing it.

I waited for 30 minutes to cast my ballot - long enough for me to notice the lack of confusion and haste by the crowd forming behind me.

I watched as all types came to vote and took notice of what American's will be proud of for years to come - when they saw the largest turnout of their time make a difference.

And for many the day ended in disappointment and I'm sure some are angry. But we must move past this and realise that what 'we' did was more powerful than any result.

Whether you are an Obama or McCain supporter, it is time for us all to be Obama supporters because it will be his time to lead us soon and the presidents job is hard enough even with the support of his people.

America spoke and the result in the form of the candidate chosen by its people was heard loud and clear. It is important for us to understand that our government and more importantly, our nation was formed out of what was best for the people, decided by the people.

Last night was no different and without fault, the American people spoke for who they wanted to be its next president and now all we can do is support the choice, if we believe in this country.

I appreciate all who voted for whosoever they saw as the best fit. I applaud the American people and they should be proud of themselves.

Now, lets all show our pride and usher in a new era in American history and make it a time to be proud of.

Petrol below £1 a litre!

I need to write more.

Anyway, here are some things to think about, or rather, read INTO.

Tina Fey said she will stop doing impressions of Sarah Palin if the Republicans win. She also has said she will 'leave earth,' is the GOP triumphs.

And dag-gummit, if I ever missed something I wish I could see. Tomorrow night in Fountain Square the National is playing for FREE! One of my newer favorite bands and I have things to do.

Here are some of the worst gifts for Christmas and I guess anytime you have a need for a decapitated teddy lamp, thanks to Esquire and my friend C. Trent Rosecrans.

AND, bravo to those who received awards for scientific research into some of the fundamental questions in our world. A few of the awards handed out to academics at Harvard University included one researcher who explained what role ovulating played in how much gratuitiy lap dancers received. This article is worth reading.

AND> AND, here are some Logos that have gone terribly wrong!

IN SPORTS

For the first time in 15 years the Phillies will represent the NL in the World Series. Just one half of the sleeper completed Tampa Bay hopes to add the final piece to the puzzle tonight.

Tony Romo might get to spend a little more time with Jessica Simpson and her dogs this week because of a 'bwoken widdle fingey."

You've got to love the Onion for so many reasons including stories like this about T.J.

NEWS

In more important news the DOW is down another 300 points today. This only mean that it may rally 400 tomorrow. And so on and so forth.

And John McCain won the debate last night according to most people on this. But Barack Obama won the debate, here, here and here. Honestly who cares who won, as one of my friends said, why can't we just listen to what each one says and doesn't say.

In British news: Petrol prices are below £1 per litre for the first bloody time in ages! It is down below one quid for the first time in 10 months.

Gobbly Gook

I feel as if theres nothing to write about but here are a few things that have been of interest in recent days.

Upon the election coverage, I am about as sick as anyone can be with it yet I continue to watch. If it weren't such a 'pivotal' time in U.S. history I could care less. However as much as it seems, I haven't put my support behind any one candidate yet. I do have an idea on the entire thing however. Why don't we go back to the way presidential elections used to be. The runner-up, Democrate, Republican. . whatever was the vice president. It would have been like W being president and Al Gore vice president. Wouldn't that be interesting.

But anyhow, here is a true way to track what each senator has done while in office. This site has a record of every vote that has come up and how each senator has voted. You can now see how Barack Obama voted during his tenure in the U.S. Sentate. Or how John McCain voted.

In other entertainment news. . .

Ghostbusters III has been announced by aintitcoolnews.com. Yes, with the original cast. But I'm more excited about this and this.

Oh, and its Bob Newhart's birthday. I love Rescuers and Rescuers Down Under. The golden eage with a 40-foot wingspan is a bit comical however. It's also this his, his, and his birthday.

The first NFL game was last night and it was delightful. However my lone running back did not score. :(

I have been discussing 'minced oaths' a lot lately and for more go here. Trust me on this one, it is worth it. It is rather interesting and it makes me want to say 'Gadzooks' more.

I will touch more on that later.

In other news McCain delivered a heart warming speech last night but it didn't carry the weight of Obama's or Sarah Palin's speech, which was downright entertaining. And with the discovery that she has a degree in journalism from the University of Idaho, I became more of a fan of her last night. Oh and that school is located in Moscow, no this Moscow.

And one last thing, check out Twitter if you get a chance.

Ball State plays host to Navy tonight and it's on ESPN at 8 p.m. Check it out.

Nonsense

Although, I support Barack Obama I do not get caught up in the celebrity-'he said-she said' nonsense. When the Jeremiah Wright fiasco surfaced last month, I held my head not in anguish but in annoyance. And, now as this link has come out, I am wondering how it will hurt John McCain's prospects and image.

Apparently, as you read, The Rev. Hagee, a McCain supporter, and one that has been at his side until recently, said "God, sent Hitler to help Jews reach the promise land," or some other variation of such.

Don't you love how much attention this will get from CNN? And don't you love how politics has become like teenage drama, or better yet professional wrestling?