Robert Mugabe over the past few weeks or so has been garnering plenty of news headlines & of course for all the wrong reasons: he's been riding roughshod over the opposition & those folks who are vocal in saying that they are anti-Mugabe through & through.
If I've heard rightly, he has also said that he'd rather die in office. Just imagine that: someone that relentless in his determination to stay in power saying that he'd keep his position 'til last!! But with Zimbabwe's dictator & a half, his singleness of purpose is frighteningly clear: what he's trying to tell us is that he's keeping his precarious foothold over his nation up to his death & if anyone has an issue with what he just said, they'll have to answer to his cronies in the ZANU-PF party who are more than happy to re-educate the opposition.
In a country already bedecked with suffering & misery, it is no surprise that this latest spate from Mugabe is just one tip of the iceberg among many addressed already (e.g. by the United Nations). As anyone worth their salt knows by now, Mugabe's antics over the years have gone from bad to worse & for the past week or so they've been downright horrible. The very man whom so many Zimbabweans looked up to as a savior & redeemer is now no more than a pariah, persona non grata, a heartless, callous figure with no regards to life or death...Seriously, Mugabe deserves to be shunned for all his actions over a majority of the 28 years he's been in power. We've seen it all before from the likes of men such as Charles Taylor & Idi Amin: their relentlessness to stay in power not only made suffering & despair inevitable but with both the loss of innocent lives as well.
But it will soon be a matter of time before Mugabe will be brought to heel for all the hurt he has caused his land. And as for him wanting to die in office? Many folks who are sincerely & fiercely anti-Mugabe sure hope that he doesn't stick around that long or hope that one day he will have to answer for every flagrant action of violence, etc. he & his ZANU-PF clowns have resorted to over the years to cow the opposition back in line.
Oh, & one more thing: one way or the other, he'll have to step down from his autocratic perch even if this means doing it by force.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Another Mugabe meltdown
Just when we thought Zimbabwe would get past the worst of their troubles & find someone who could unseat Robert Mugabe for good, fate had other plans in store.
The first & foremost plan naturally came about courtesy of the man himself: Mugabe like all the other times before got the upper hand on his opposition in the election & his gang of spooks (otherwise known as the ZANU-PF party) in some way or other saw to it that the old man wouldn't go down so easily. Now his most formidable opponent, Morgan Tsangivarai, is in hiding & a whole nation is up in arms over the new direction (as if there was anything new to it) this latest turn of events has taken them.
The UN said it best: getting a fair presidential vote in Zimbabwe is impossible. It's not a stretch, it's not difficult. It's impossible - but then again, it was impossible to get a fair, worthwhile vote of any kind in previous elections. And Mugabe's stiff-arm tactics of cowering the political opposition & those who have bones to pick with him via violence aren't helping matters one iota.
Politically, the whole situation is unstable & equally unpredictable as well. Just when we thought the opposition would finally dethrone the biggest dinosaur ruler on the block, we're greeted with nothing but false hopes & one of the most feared dictators around, with an arrogant, contemptuous mug, saying, "I'm not going away anytime soon so deal with it." Add to the fact that his gang of spooks are using violence & threats to cow those folks who are anti-Mugabe back into place & we've got an environment where winner takes all.
But how does the winner take all when you can't get off a fair vote?
In Zimbabwe, & in Mugabe's personal philosophy, the answer is deceptively simple: use the aforementioned violence & intimidation as a vehicle to make people know that you are the man & whether you stay in power or not depends on them voting on you & you alone. For Mugabe, who has sensed his enemies have been laying in wait for his downfall for quite some time, the worst of his fears is forfeiting his autocratic position over the very nation he was supposed to lead to brighter & better days. At the same time, another of his fears is having to explain himself to the UN for a variety of reasons: human rights abuses & violations, wanton mismanagement & mishandling of the nation's economy, & if that's not enough, not giving the opposition parties a fair & just say in the direction they want to take Zimbabwe. So what does he do in a situation like this? Rig the votes, target his worst critics & also those who have an issue with the way he's running the show in hopes that he can stay in power for another few years - if he's fortunate enough to live that long.
A short while ago, we felt that Robert Mugabe would be on his way out & a more competent successor would step in, realizing that any righting of his predecessor's past wrongs would be a daunting task & a very daunting one indeed. The elections gave us a sense of hope & reassurance of that in spades. After seeing this man totally obliterate the economic & political framework of his own country for almost three decades, we deserved to be hopeful & confident that the tables would turn in the opposition's favor for once.
The tables have turned, rightly said. But now things are in Mugabe's favor & who knows how many Zimbabweans are seething with discontent & rage - as well as those countless others who care wholeheartedly about the affairs of this southern African nation - at this latest development which could best be summarized in two sentences:
In the world of Bobby Mugabe, all isn't fair. Not even a vote.
The first & foremost plan naturally came about courtesy of the man himself: Mugabe like all the other times before got the upper hand on his opposition in the election & his gang of spooks (otherwise known as the ZANU-PF party) in some way or other saw to it that the old man wouldn't go down so easily. Now his most formidable opponent, Morgan Tsangivarai, is in hiding & a whole nation is up in arms over the new direction (as if there was anything new to it) this latest turn of events has taken them.
The UN said it best: getting a fair presidential vote in Zimbabwe is impossible. It's not a stretch, it's not difficult. It's impossible - but then again, it was impossible to get a fair, worthwhile vote of any kind in previous elections. And Mugabe's stiff-arm tactics of cowering the political opposition & those who have bones to pick with him via violence aren't helping matters one iota.
Politically, the whole situation is unstable & equally unpredictable as well. Just when we thought the opposition would finally dethrone the biggest dinosaur ruler on the block, we're greeted with nothing but false hopes & one of the most feared dictators around, with an arrogant, contemptuous mug, saying, "I'm not going away anytime soon so deal with it." Add to the fact that his gang of spooks are using violence & threats to cow those folks who are anti-Mugabe back into place & we've got an environment where winner takes all.
But how does the winner take all when you can't get off a fair vote?
In Zimbabwe, & in Mugabe's personal philosophy, the answer is deceptively simple: use the aforementioned violence & intimidation as a vehicle to make people know that you are the man & whether you stay in power or not depends on them voting on you & you alone. For Mugabe, who has sensed his enemies have been laying in wait for his downfall for quite some time, the worst of his fears is forfeiting his autocratic position over the very nation he was supposed to lead to brighter & better days. At the same time, another of his fears is having to explain himself to the UN for a variety of reasons: human rights abuses & violations, wanton mismanagement & mishandling of the nation's economy, & if that's not enough, not giving the opposition parties a fair & just say in the direction they want to take Zimbabwe. So what does he do in a situation like this? Rig the votes, target his worst critics & also those who have an issue with the way he's running the show in hopes that he can stay in power for another few years - if he's fortunate enough to live that long.
A short while ago, we felt that Robert Mugabe would be on his way out & a more competent successor would step in, realizing that any righting of his predecessor's past wrongs would be a daunting task & a very daunting one indeed. The elections gave us a sense of hope & reassurance of that in spades. After seeing this man totally obliterate the economic & political framework of his own country for almost three decades, we deserved to be hopeful & confident that the tables would turn in the opposition's favor for once.
The tables have turned, rightly said. But now things are in Mugabe's favor & who knows how many Zimbabweans are seething with discontent & rage - as well as those countless others who care wholeheartedly about the affairs of this southern African nation - at this latest development which could best be summarized in two sentences:
In the world of Bobby Mugabe, all isn't fair. Not even a vote.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Stepping Up
In the Greek community, when it comes to alumni involvement, it seems that some fraternities are finding it hard to come by. If that's not enough, some alumni just don't realize how much of a difference they could make just by stepping in at the right time (or should I say, any time at all). And yet there are other alumni, who willingly want to get involved & rediscover their love for the chapter again, who are at a loss to know how they can get involved: "What can I do?"
There's always hope. Whether it's a Chapter Advisor, a Mentor, aiding in a chapter colonization or doing work as an Alumni Ambassador, the possibilities of volunteering are endless. It may be a daunting task at times but don't take it as stressful though: any alumni's chances of reaping immense rewards just by volunteering are if not outstanding, pretty flipping awesome. Seriously, you don't have to rip into the undergrads to make your presence felt: with an understated presence, a watchful eye, a caring heart, the undergraduate brothers can see alumni in a different light - as duders who actually care about the chapter & want to see good things happen. Not just that, but the undergrads may also provide the alumni with a spark to re-invigorate their love for Sigs/SAE/SigEp/etc. & all this because they took time out of their hectic schedules to stay involved.
True, some chapters are suffering from a shortage of "gray hairs," or older alumni. If that's not enough bad news, some chapters have alumni who aren't exactly eager to see changes & improvements where they are sorely needed. Which brings us to then & now: the prevailing cultural mindset of the alumni's day butting heads with the present: "Oh, we've always done these things in the past; it was all part of our house tradition," "It's just tradition; why try to fix something that isn't broken to begin with?" "Hazing back in our day was harmless; nobody got seriously hurt or anything like that..." If I heard such observations as the ones I just wrote, I'd draw those alumni aside & tell them, "What you think was right back in your day is wrong in 2008." The times have changed & with them the pledging/membership programs as well; to think that they should be left as is - complete with hazing, unnecessary obligations of any kind - is saying that reform or change is irrelevant. Any fraternity alumni worth their salt knows/is fully aware of this; on such occasions, they need to step in & make their voices heard - not in an imposing way but in an understated manner.
The recurring question, "What can I do?" is one with many answers for any given Greek alumni. But once the pieces fall back into place, once the passion for their respective fraternities returns with a vengeance, once their fellow alumni open their eyes to the endless possibilities which volunteering provides in spades, one answer is consistently clear: There's a lot that can be done. There's always a chance to get involved & remain involved. There's always the opportunity to step up & make the impact, that difference for the greater good of not just your own chapter but the whole organization in the process.
It's up to you on when to take that step though.
There's always hope. Whether it's a Chapter Advisor, a Mentor, aiding in a chapter colonization or doing work as an Alumni Ambassador, the possibilities of volunteering are endless. It may be a daunting task at times but don't take it as stressful though: any alumni's chances of reaping immense rewards just by volunteering are if not outstanding, pretty flipping awesome. Seriously, you don't have to rip into the undergrads to make your presence felt: with an understated presence, a watchful eye, a caring heart, the undergraduate brothers can see alumni in a different light - as duders who actually care about the chapter & want to see good things happen. Not just that, but the undergrads may also provide the alumni with a spark to re-invigorate their love for Sigs/SAE/SigEp/etc. & all this because they took time out of their hectic schedules to stay involved.
True, some chapters are suffering from a shortage of "gray hairs," or older alumni. If that's not enough bad news, some chapters have alumni who aren't exactly eager to see changes & improvements where they are sorely needed. Which brings us to then & now: the prevailing cultural mindset of the alumni's day butting heads with the present: "Oh, we've always done these things in the past; it was all part of our house tradition," "It's just tradition; why try to fix something that isn't broken to begin with?" "Hazing back in our day was harmless; nobody got seriously hurt or anything like that..." If I heard such observations as the ones I just wrote, I'd draw those alumni aside & tell them, "What you think was right back in your day is wrong in 2008." The times have changed & with them the pledging/membership programs as well; to think that they should be left as is - complete with hazing, unnecessary obligations of any kind - is saying that reform or change is irrelevant. Any fraternity alumni worth their salt knows/is fully aware of this; on such occasions, they need to step in & make their voices heard - not in an imposing way but in an understated manner.
The recurring question, "What can I do?" is one with many answers for any given Greek alumni. But once the pieces fall back into place, once the passion for their respective fraternities returns with a vengeance, once their fellow alumni open their eyes to the endless possibilities which volunteering provides in spades, one answer is consistently clear: There's a lot that can be done. There's always a chance to get involved & remain involved. There's always the opportunity to step up & make the impact, that difference for the greater good of not just your own chapter but the whole organization in the process.
It's up to you on when to take that step though.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Crying Out A River
Iowa has experienced some of the worst flooding ever recorded since the Great Flood of 1993.
No, the flooding over there could easily surpass the totals from 15 years back.
In terms of railroad traffic, the major flooding cramped enough folks' styles, whether it be local industries or the small town farmers' co-op. Iowa Interstate (ex-Rock Island), Iowa, Chicago & Eastern (ex-Soo Line & Milwaukee Road), Union Pacific & Burlington Northern Santa Fe (which runs through the southern part of the state) each got hit hard in their own ways. From bridge washouts to major standing water, rail traffic last week took a major hit (as well as plenty of detours).
The situation with railroad operations is slowly but surely returning to normal in the southern & central parts of Iowa but downstream along the Mississippi, we're bracing for the worst, not only in places like Fort Madison & Burlington but also down the river in Missouri & Illinois. Freight users there know they've got their work cut out for them in regards to getting materials from point A to point B; detouring for the past week has been commonplace beyond belief. Yet BNSF, UP, IC&E, as well as IAIS have been up to the task, assessing their losses as they go & not slouching around in getting repair work done. Not only that, each of these railways has made the effort to work their way around majorly flooded areas - this isn't to say that their formulations have been easy but they've gotten the job done.
Our only hope is that the floodwaters will recede; enough folks are suffering as it is. I'm not solely talking about the railroad corporations who are dependent on their trains to get grain, coal & other whatnot to their respective destinations. I'm talking about the residents of small towns on the Iowa, Mississippi & Cedar Rivers, whose lives (& possibly their whole communities) have been greatly affected by the flooding, which to them is 1993 revisited with a vengeance.
In the Midwest, flooding has been the topic of the day for the past couple of weeks; one hopes that things let up before any more damage has been done. 15 years after the last Great Flood, one only hopes that the flooding draws to a close soon. But when?
No, the flooding over there could easily surpass the totals from 15 years back.
In terms of railroad traffic, the major flooding cramped enough folks' styles, whether it be local industries or the small town farmers' co-op. Iowa Interstate (ex-Rock Island), Iowa, Chicago & Eastern (ex-Soo Line & Milwaukee Road), Union Pacific & Burlington Northern Santa Fe (which runs through the southern part of the state) each got hit hard in their own ways. From bridge washouts to major standing water, rail traffic last week took a major hit (as well as plenty of detours).
The situation with railroad operations is slowly but surely returning to normal in the southern & central parts of Iowa but downstream along the Mississippi, we're bracing for the worst, not only in places like Fort Madison & Burlington but also down the river in Missouri & Illinois. Freight users there know they've got their work cut out for them in regards to getting materials from point A to point B; detouring for the past week has been commonplace beyond belief. Yet BNSF, UP, IC&E, as well as IAIS have been up to the task, assessing their losses as they go & not slouching around in getting repair work done. Not only that, each of these railways has made the effort to work their way around majorly flooded areas - this isn't to say that their formulations have been easy but they've gotten the job done.
Our only hope is that the floodwaters will recede; enough folks are suffering as it is. I'm not solely talking about the railroad corporations who are dependent on their trains to get grain, coal & other whatnot to their respective destinations. I'm talking about the residents of small towns on the Iowa, Mississippi & Cedar Rivers, whose lives (& possibly their whole communities) have been greatly affected by the flooding, which to them is 1993 revisited with a vengeance.
In the Midwest, flooding has been the topic of the day for the past couple of weeks; one hopes that things let up before any more damage has been done. 15 years after the last Great Flood, one only hopes that the flooding draws to a close soon. But when?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Not On My Watch!!
If Michael Jordan were around to play another NBA Finals game, he wouldn't have allowed his team to get clobbered so handily. Same with Bird or Magic.
Kobe Bryant had a chance to bring back lots of luster to the Lakers legacy, a sign of redemption after last summer's meltdown with his GM, teammates, etc. And he had a chance to bolster his image as one of the more elite players in the NBA if he could just grab another championship.
But after the Lakers got hammered by almost 40 points last night, once more I'm having my doubts about the man. Just when his team needed him the most, Kobe was MIA. Could you imagine #23, Bird, or Magic tucking tail between their legs & running off when the game's on the line & their teammates are looking for a fearless leader to pull them through? Well, neither Jordan, Johnson, or Larry ever envisioned themselves playing the role of cowardly lion when the chips were down. Or should I say that they never pulled a disappearing act when it came to crunch time.
However, we can't say the same with Kobe, not after what we saw last night. In what was considered a crucial, do-or-die game, he was a complete nonfactor: he couldn't score to save his life or his teammates for that matter. And whenever he had the ball, there was always an imposing sea of white & green jerseys moving in for the kill, imposing their will like none other as if to say, "This is our home turf!! We must protect this house!!" Could you see any of those aformentioned stars from yesteryear allowing the opposition to run roughshod over them? Not in their day & certainly not on their watch.
But it happened to Kobe, just as the Lakers were re-emerging as a force to be reckoned with. All of the comparisons to #23 can be thrown out the window: he doesn't have Scottie Pippen to help things along (Scottie was Jordan's trusty sidekick for an eternity in Chi-Town). He may have a reliable supporting cast of teammates (e.g. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom) who can score when the need arises, but they're not even remotely on the same page as Pippen was while he was part of the Bulls' hoops dynasty. Kobe's got a cast of softies, stiffs...whatever you want to call his teammates, that's the tag which they're receiving.
Then again, his teammates were looking for a leader last night & Kobe was nowhere to be seen. What would Jordan do in a situation like this? Well, he would've imposed his presence in spite of & despite the odds the opponent put in his way. And he made some of the most brilliant shots ever to grace an NBA highlight film: these shots BTW served as daggers to the heart to finish off teams (as well as who knows how many NBA Finals) who thought they had the upper hand on him.
And I'll tell you this: he sure wouldn't have let the Celtics walk all over him like they did on poor Kobe, whom I felt didn't put up a fight when he (& the Lakers in general) direly needed to.
Kobe Bryant had a chance to bring back lots of luster to the Lakers legacy, a sign of redemption after last summer's meltdown with his GM, teammates, etc. And he had a chance to bolster his image as one of the more elite players in the NBA if he could just grab another championship.
But after the Lakers got hammered by almost 40 points last night, once more I'm having my doubts about the man. Just when his team needed him the most, Kobe was MIA. Could you imagine #23, Bird, or Magic tucking tail between their legs & running off when the game's on the line & their teammates are looking for a fearless leader to pull them through? Well, neither Jordan, Johnson, or Larry ever envisioned themselves playing the role of cowardly lion when the chips were down. Or should I say that they never pulled a disappearing act when it came to crunch time.
However, we can't say the same with Kobe, not after what we saw last night. In what was considered a crucial, do-or-die game, he was a complete nonfactor: he couldn't score to save his life or his teammates for that matter. And whenever he had the ball, there was always an imposing sea of white & green jerseys moving in for the kill, imposing their will like none other as if to say, "This is our home turf!! We must protect this house!!" Could you see any of those aformentioned stars from yesteryear allowing the opposition to run roughshod over them? Not in their day & certainly not on their watch.
But it happened to Kobe, just as the Lakers were re-emerging as a force to be reckoned with. All of the comparisons to #23 can be thrown out the window: he doesn't have Scottie Pippen to help things along (Scottie was Jordan's trusty sidekick for an eternity in Chi-Town). He may have a reliable supporting cast of teammates (e.g. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom) who can score when the need arises, but they're not even remotely on the same page as Pippen was while he was part of the Bulls' hoops dynasty. Kobe's got a cast of softies, stiffs...whatever you want to call his teammates, that's the tag which they're receiving.
Then again, his teammates were looking for a leader last night & Kobe was nowhere to be seen. What would Jordan do in a situation like this? Well, he would've imposed his presence in spite of & despite the odds the opponent put in his way. And he made some of the most brilliant shots ever to grace an NBA highlight film: these shots BTW served as daggers to the heart to finish off teams (as well as who knows how many NBA Finals) who thought they had the upper hand on him.
And I'll tell you this: he sure wouldn't have let the Celtics walk all over him like they did on poor Kobe, whom I felt didn't put up a fight when he (& the Lakers in general) direly needed to.
(no comment)
39 points.
39 stinking points.
But hey, such is life when you're playing in the NBA Finals & the Boston Celtics knew that better than anyone else out there when they dismantled the Lakers in grand fashion back @ Beantown.
Not only have the Celtics brought back some luster & glory which has been MIA for the past two decades; they've given us some notes of reassurance as well - that New England is not just Red Sox territory or Patriots territory. With the Celts grabbing the championship goods last night (& in rather convincing fashion!!), the whole region is thinking green once again, that is to say, they've renewed their love for one of the NBA's more formidable hoops dynasties ever to roam the face of the earth.
For Los Angeles to come in & beat Boston on their own home turf seemed like a chore & a half, especially when the home team for the whole postseason has been dominant beyond belief. And to extend the series, Kobe & company would have to be at the top of their game in a rather hostile environment. But no, it wasn't meant to be: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett & gang stuck to their philosophy of "We must protect this house!!" rather adamantly & now Beantown is going to do some major celebrating, the likes of which they haven't experienced for an eternity.
Sure, they've done lots of living it up after the Red Sox won it all in last autumn's World Series. But this time, the celebrating is going to be rather special, given the fact that the Celtics haven't been able to pull off such a feat of this kind since the days of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish...need I say more? For well over two decades, Celtics fans have had to wait for this moment of glory to arrive (& endure plenty of floundering lineups over the years since their last championship). But the wait is now over & the smoke has finally cleared in Beantown; Boston has shown us after last night that their city is not just famous for Fenway Park & them Red Sox. It's home to a regained dynasty, one which hopefully will endure for seasons to come.
39 stinking points.
But hey, such is life when you're playing in the NBA Finals & the Boston Celtics knew that better than anyone else out there when they dismantled the Lakers in grand fashion back @ Beantown.
Not only have the Celtics brought back some luster & glory which has been MIA for the past two decades; they've given us some notes of reassurance as well - that New England is not just Red Sox territory or Patriots territory. With the Celts grabbing the championship goods last night (& in rather convincing fashion!!), the whole region is thinking green once again, that is to say, they've renewed their love for one of the NBA's more formidable hoops dynasties ever to roam the face of the earth.
For Los Angeles to come in & beat Boston on their own home turf seemed like a chore & a half, especially when the home team for the whole postseason has been dominant beyond belief. And to extend the series, Kobe & company would have to be at the top of their game in a rather hostile environment. But no, it wasn't meant to be: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett & gang stuck to their philosophy of "We must protect this house!!" rather adamantly & now Beantown is going to do some major celebrating, the likes of which they haven't experienced for an eternity.
Sure, they've done lots of living it up after the Red Sox won it all in last autumn's World Series. But this time, the celebrating is going to be rather special, given the fact that the Celtics haven't been able to pull off such a feat of this kind since the days of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish...need I say more? For well over two decades, Celtics fans have had to wait for this moment of glory to arrive (& endure plenty of floundering lineups over the years since their last championship). But the wait is now over & the smoke has finally cleared in Beantown; Boston has shown us after last night that their city is not just famous for Fenway Park & them Red Sox. It's home to a regained dynasty, one which hopefully will endure for seasons to come.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Current Playlist #9
Caural, "Sending You Colors," Mirrors For Eyes
Caural, "I Won't Race You," see above
Joy Division, "Disorder," Unknown Pleasures
New Order, "Weirdo," Brotherhood
The Cure, "Like Cockatoos," Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
The Cure, "Just Like Heaven," see above
Roxy Music, "My Only Love," Flesh + Blood
Roxy Music, "Over You," see above
The Sea and Cake, "Crossing Line," Everybody
The Sea and Cake, "The Argument," The Fawn
Caural, "I Won't Race You," see above
Joy Division, "Disorder," Unknown Pleasures
New Order, "Weirdo," Brotherhood
The Cure, "Like Cockatoos," Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
The Cure, "Just Like Heaven," see above
Roxy Music, "My Only Love," Flesh + Blood
Roxy Music, "Over You," see above
The Sea and Cake, "Crossing Line," Everybody
The Sea and Cake, "The Argument," The Fawn
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Worst of the Worst
If anyone wants to know who the worst of the worst dictators are in the world today, one could do worse than to overlook these monsters (I dare not call them men or much less dictators):
Robert Mugabe.
If there is one person I cannot stand, it would be Zimbabwe's dinosaur ruler (he's held on to his position for 28 years!!). Here's just a small laundry list of things which have gone wrong to the nation since he knocked the British out of the picture back in 1980:
(1) Unemployment has been rampant (roughly 80% or so);
(2) The economy has been abysmal, especially in terms of inflation (which has skyrocketed to 8000%);
(3) Food supplies & other basic necessities have been hard to come by, even more so over the past couple years;
(4) Anyone who has a bone to pick with Mugabe, especially if it's one of the who knows how many opposition parties operating in Zimbabwe, faces plenty of repercussions later.
Believe me, & some of my posts on Mugabe are proof of this, he's not someone I'd want running the United States, much less his next door neighbor South Africa. He's run the country clear into the ground politically & economically & what's worse, chances are he won't give up his spot as president anytime soon...These are trying times back in southern Africa for sure.
Kim Jong-Il.
Not only does North Korea boast one of the most repressive dictatorships around (courtesy of Messr. Jong-Il); its repressive tactics also make North Korea one of the bleakest & most isolated nations around. As far as mass communication goes, forget it: the only communication which is supplied in spades is government propaganda. How about justice? Well, you'd be hard pressed to find any here: the system of collective punishment is harsh beyond the pale (3 generations of family members being punished for a crime only one of their own committed? Come on folks!!). Roughly 200,000 North Koreans are detained in labor camps & anyone who has plans to leave the country realizes that escape will be a major stretch.
Behavior-wise, Jong-Il reminds me of Idi Amin - he's right up there with that monster, in fact. If there is an extreme warning sign to look for in this man, it's the fact that he's allowing his mental health issues to color his political views & philosophies - one premise for why he's one of the more dangerous dictators around today.
more to come later...
Robert Mugabe.
If there is one person I cannot stand, it would be Zimbabwe's dinosaur ruler (he's held on to his position for 28 years!!). Here's just a small laundry list of things which have gone wrong to the nation since he knocked the British out of the picture back in 1980:
(1) Unemployment has been rampant (roughly 80% or so);
(2) The economy has been abysmal, especially in terms of inflation (which has skyrocketed to 8000%);
(3) Food supplies & other basic necessities have been hard to come by, even more so over the past couple years;
(4) Anyone who has a bone to pick with Mugabe, especially if it's one of the who knows how many opposition parties operating in Zimbabwe, faces plenty of repercussions later.
Believe me, & some of my posts on Mugabe are proof of this, he's not someone I'd want running the United States, much less his next door neighbor South Africa. He's run the country clear into the ground politically & economically & what's worse, chances are he won't give up his spot as president anytime soon...These are trying times back in southern Africa for sure.
Kim Jong-Il.
Not only does North Korea boast one of the most repressive dictatorships around (courtesy of Messr. Jong-Il); its repressive tactics also make North Korea one of the bleakest & most isolated nations around. As far as mass communication goes, forget it: the only communication which is supplied in spades is government propaganda. How about justice? Well, you'd be hard pressed to find any here: the system of collective punishment is harsh beyond the pale (3 generations of family members being punished for a crime only one of their own committed? Come on folks!!). Roughly 200,000 North Koreans are detained in labor camps & anyone who has plans to leave the country realizes that escape will be a major stretch.
Behavior-wise, Jong-Il reminds me of Idi Amin - he's right up there with that monster, in fact. If there is an extreme warning sign to look for in this man, it's the fact that he's allowing his mental health issues to color his political views & philosophies - one premise for why he's one of the more dangerous dictators around today.
more to come later...
Still Standing
After a second-half meltdown which cost them a 21-point first quarter lead & eventually Game 4, Game 5 for the Los Angeles Lakers - on their home turf, no less - was a very big deal indeed. What with the series on the line & a determined Celtics squad who wanted to take out Los Angeles on their home court (as if!!), Game 5 was definitely do or die for Kobe & company.
And the Lakers made the most of their chances to keep the series alive after last night's gut-it-out win over Boston. Not only is Los Angeles back in the swing of things, but they're also looking for redemption as well, when you stop to think on how badly they choked in Game 4 (& at no other place but the Staples Center...eeks!!) This isn't to say that Game 6 will be a cakewalk for either team: With the Lakers, though, going out on the road & pulling out a win on the East Coast is going to be a major stretch. Add to the fact that no team in NBA Finals History has ever claimed the hardware outright after falling into a 3-1 deficit & you've got lots of reasons to worry about how things will turn out on Boston's home turf.
This isn't to say that all is lost now that Boston is resuming its homestand; anything can happen in a crucial game of this magnitude. But if Los Angeles wants to tie things up in this series, they need to play selflessly, aggressively, with fire in their eyes; of course the Celts know Kobe is a fearful presence on the court a la Lebron James or Michael Jordan but let's face it: the Lakers can't rely on Kobe to do it all. As we've already seen, this season his teammates have busted tail to make themselves a reliable supporting cast; if they can help Kobe out just this once, Game 6 could be an interesting one & worth the time in watching.
Los Angeles is still standing...albeit for the moment. If they want to keep their footing for one more game, they've got to be ready to play & winning on the opponent's home court this postseason has been a difficult task but none more so than now.
And the Lakers made the most of their chances to keep the series alive after last night's gut-it-out win over Boston. Not only is Los Angeles back in the swing of things, but they're also looking for redemption as well, when you stop to think on how badly they choked in Game 4 (& at no other place but the Staples Center...eeks!!) This isn't to say that Game 6 will be a cakewalk for either team: With the Lakers, though, going out on the road & pulling out a win on the East Coast is going to be a major stretch. Add to the fact that no team in NBA Finals History has ever claimed the hardware outright after falling into a 3-1 deficit & you've got lots of reasons to worry about how things will turn out on Boston's home turf.
This isn't to say that all is lost now that Boston is resuming its homestand; anything can happen in a crucial game of this magnitude. But if Los Angeles wants to tie things up in this series, they need to play selflessly, aggressively, with fire in their eyes; of course the Celts know Kobe is a fearful presence on the court a la Lebron James or Michael Jordan but let's face it: the Lakers can't rely on Kobe to do it all. As we've already seen, this season his teammates have busted tail to make themselves a reliable supporting cast; if they can help Kobe out just this once, Game 6 could be an interesting one & worth the time in watching.
Los Angeles is still standing...albeit for the moment. If they want to keep their footing for one more game, they've got to be ready to play & winning on the opponent's home court this postseason has been a difficult task but none more so than now.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Home Sweet Home
After falling behind the NBA Finals 8 ball to the tune of 0-2, the Los Angeles Lakers knew that their fortunes could turn around back home. Not to forget Kobe's motivational speech to get his teammates back into competing with Boston in Game 2 & the very fact that Boston couldn't seem to win on the road to save their lives this postseason & voila! they knew Game 3 was a perfect opportunity to turn the tide, to swing the momentum in their favor for once.
And last night, Los Angeles didn't disappoint, winning 87-81 & whittling the Celtics' lead in this Series to 2-1. Not only did they play with fire in their eyes; they also were on a mission, knowing full well that no team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole to win the NBA Championship. The end results can speak for themselves; at the same time, last night's win could serve as the impetus Kobe & crew need to make this a series for the ages if they want it to be.
Speaking of home, the Lakers have been nothing short of amazing in the friendly confines of the Staples Center this season (especially in the playoffs) & the next 2 games should help to back that statement up with a passion. If they're not ready to play & make something of this marquee matchup, the old maxim from The Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home," is just a bunch of empty-sounding gibberish. Kobe obviously knows this. Phil Jackson knows this. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett & Paul Pierce know this. From here on out, it's do or die & may the Los Angeles Lakers make the most of this remaining homestand.
And last night, Los Angeles didn't disappoint, winning 87-81 & whittling the Celtics' lead in this Series to 2-1. Not only did they play with fire in their eyes; they also were on a mission, knowing full well that no team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole to win the NBA Championship. The end results can speak for themselves; at the same time, last night's win could serve as the impetus Kobe & crew need to make this a series for the ages if they want it to be.
Speaking of home, the Lakers have been nothing short of amazing in the friendly confines of the Staples Center this season (especially in the playoffs) & the next 2 games should help to back that statement up with a passion. If they're not ready to play & make something of this marquee matchup, the old maxim from The Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home," is just a bunch of empty-sounding gibberish. Kobe obviously knows this. Phil Jackson knows this. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett & Paul Pierce know this. From here on out, it's do or die & may the Los Angeles Lakers make the most of this remaining homestand.
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Greatest Basketball Player Alive?!
Lil' Wayne may be seen as the greatest rapper alive; others think he's complete garbage & that honor should go to 50 Cent or Jay-Z. But when it comes to who is the greatest basketball player alive in the NBA, the results can be downright equivocal in their own right.
Michael Jordan was, is & always will be my favorite NBA great, no questions asked. Others will say Bill Walton or Charles Barkley. Yet others are going to say that Isiah Thomas is the shizz. OK. Others 'll say, "Oh, Shaq is the greatest player in all of the NBA." There are plenty of players out there & as many folks out there voicing their opinions as to whom is the greatest.
And then we've got Kobe Bryant, a Renaissance Man for the 2008 season. Tim Duncan. Tony Parker. Lebron James. Dirk Nowitzki. Go ahead, throw Mr. Chamberlain, Larry Bird & Magic Johnson in there while you're at it.
Back in the day up to now, anyone could go on a tear as to whom is the greatest basketball player alive ever to roam around in a Bulls/Lakers/Spurs uniform. Kobe might be one of the best players around (& having a pretty stellar season as well BTW) but don't compare him to Michael Jordan or Charles Barkley; he is his own flipping self & that has always been the case. Same with #23: no one could pull off some of the shots he made to put teams to sleep, much less match his athleticism & versatility. Comparing today's stars to the stars of yesteryear seems like a major stretch: sure, their talents, selflessness & commitment to the sport in general may be similar but how the times have changed in styles & this is where their paths diverge considerably.
In the same way, using an analogy in the world of rap music, Lil' Wayne sounds nothing like 50 Cent just as 50 Cent sounds nothing like Ludacris or Kanye. Lil' Wayne is Lil' Wayne; whether or not he is the greatest rapper in existence is a moot point which will raise plenty of eyebrows & contention for sure. Back to the topic at hand: along similar lines, comparing the Mailman (aka Karl Malone) to Pau Gasol is not only comparing apples to oranges; it's also downright wrong, trying to put an upstart on the same page as a seasoned veteran & saying that they've got a lot in common when they don't. And when it comes to determining who is the all-time shizz in the NBA, drawing comparisons which don't need to be made - now that's a recipe for disaster.
When it comes to finding out whom the greatest basketball player alive is, we've got our work cut out for us in a major way. And plenty of detractors, having decided already, saying that Lebron is the best, that #23 is the best, that Kobe is the best, & all the rest are beat down.
One question, lots of loaded answers guaranteed to get you going in no time.
Michael Jordan was, is & always will be my favorite NBA great, no questions asked. Others will say Bill Walton or Charles Barkley. Yet others are going to say that Isiah Thomas is the shizz. OK. Others 'll say, "Oh, Shaq is the greatest player in all of the NBA." There are plenty of players out there & as many folks out there voicing their opinions as to whom is the greatest.
And then we've got Kobe Bryant, a Renaissance Man for the 2008 season. Tim Duncan. Tony Parker. Lebron James. Dirk Nowitzki. Go ahead, throw Mr. Chamberlain, Larry Bird & Magic Johnson in there while you're at it.
Back in the day up to now, anyone could go on a tear as to whom is the greatest basketball player alive ever to roam around in a Bulls/Lakers/Spurs uniform. Kobe might be one of the best players around (& having a pretty stellar season as well BTW) but don't compare him to Michael Jordan or Charles Barkley; he is his own flipping self & that has always been the case. Same with #23: no one could pull off some of the shots he made to put teams to sleep, much less match his athleticism & versatility. Comparing today's stars to the stars of yesteryear seems like a major stretch: sure, their talents, selflessness & commitment to the sport in general may be similar but how the times have changed in styles & this is where their paths diverge considerably.
In the same way, using an analogy in the world of rap music, Lil' Wayne sounds nothing like 50 Cent just as 50 Cent sounds nothing like Ludacris or Kanye. Lil' Wayne is Lil' Wayne; whether or not he is the greatest rapper in existence is a moot point which will raise plenty of eyebrows & contention for sure. Back to the topic at hand: along similar lines, comparing the Mailman (aka Karl Malone) to Pau Gasol is not only comparing apples to oranges; it's also downright wrong, trying to put an upstart on the same page as a seasoned veteran & saying that they've got a lot in common when they don't. And when it comes to determining who is the all-time shizz in the NBA, drawing comparisons which don't need to be made - now that's a recipe for disaster.
When it comes to finding out whom the greatest basketball player alive is, we've got our work cut out for us in a major way. And plenty of detractors, having decided already, saying that Lebron is the best, that #23 is the best, that Kobe is the best, & all the rest are beat down.
One question, lots of loaded answers guaranteed to get you going in no time.
Four score & two decades later
21 years.
21 long, hard years of waiting, waiting, waiting...but the Lakers & Celtics have finally made it back to the NBA Finals.
Over two decades of seeing the best of the best come & go create their own hoops legacies & dynasties (Pistons, Bulls, Lakers yet again, Spurs)
Over two decades of feeling that a matchup of this magnitude would never happen again & if it did it would be once in a blue moon.
But now the wait is finally over & two of NBA's hoops dynasties from way back in the day when Bird & Magic reigned supreme are in the spotlight again. So far, the Celts have the upper hand on Kobe & Los Angeles but that shouldn't deter us from thinking that this could be a series for the ages if L.A. steps their game up back at their place.
21 years. What a long time & yet a long way to go.
21 long, hard years of waiting, waiting, waiting...but the Lakers & Celtics have finally made it back to the NBA Finals.
Over two decades of seeing the best of the best come & go create their own hoops legacies & dynasties (Pistons, Bulls, Lakers yet again, Spurs)
Over two decades of feeling that a matchup of this magnitude would never happen again & if it did it would be once in a blue moon.
But now the wait is finally over & two of NBA's hoops dynasties from way back in the day when Bird & Magic reigned supreme are in the spotlight again. So far, the Celts have the upper hand on Kobe & Los Angeles but that shouldn't deter us from thinking that this could be a series for the ages if L.A. steps their game up back at their place.
21 years. What a long time & yet a long way to go.
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