Warren Sapp - Pro-Bowl; Dancing With The Stars

I am not sure how to start this post. I am writing it because I was inspired by a performance of Warren Sapp. However, It was not Mr. Sapp's performance on the football field which did it. He is obviously one of the greatest talents the NFL has seen at defensive tackle. But what has simply amazed me almost beyond belief is Mr. Sapp's lightness and grace on the dance floor. I recently watched an episode of "Dancing With The Stars" at ABC Network's Online Player where Mr. Sapp and and his dance partner/trainer Kym Johnson performed the Viennese Waltz. It is difficult to express what exactly it was about their waltz by Warren Sapp that inspired me. Perhaps it is not so much "inspiration" as it is enlivening the feelings that I experience when dancing with my wife. Perhaps it is Mr. Sapp's dedication to performing to the best of his ability on this show. Perhaps it is the ability of a big man to appear as though he is floating across the dance floor. Or, perhaps it is simply the beauty and excellence of their performance. Whether one or a combination of these things, I was actually moved to a point that I found tears forming in my eyes while watching. Therefore, I would like to thank Warren Sapp and his dance partner, Kym Johnson, for what they have brought to the dance floor this season. Mr. Sapp has stepped outside his comfort zone to not only bring us some great entertainment, but moments that lift our hearts and encourage us to step "outside the box" and take risks in our own lives. 

ROKU - Customer Service Done Correctly

I am writing this blog in praise of ROKU and one of their employees, "Josh." (I don't think that is his real name.) Although Josh and his associates did not resolve my problem (I solved it on my own), I am very impressed at the lengths to which Josh and members of the technical department went in order to help me. The technical department followed up with a call when Josh said they would. After telling the technical department that I had found a solution, they did not simply close the case. They asked me specifically what I did and took note of it so that they could help others who might be experiencing the same difficulty. But, the story does not end there. Josh called the following day asking if the technical department had called and if my problem had been resolved. AMAZING!!!! Real people providing real customer service, taking ownership of the customer's problem as their own, holding themselves and others in the company accountable; this is what customer service is supposed to be. Thank you, Josh and ROKU! You have earned a loyal customer.

Another Peek Into the EXTREME McCain

During the last presidential debate, when referring to Senator Obama's attempts to include a "health of the mother" provision in a "late term abortion" bill to which he voted "present," Senator McCain had this to say:

"... that's the extreme pro-abortion position - quote 'health' "...

McCain admits that he believes protecting the health of the mother is an "extreme pro-abortion position." PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF THE MOTHER IS AN EXTREME PRO-ABORTION POSITION!" Has the far right finally fallen off the cliff? There is NOWHERE in the scriptures that tells us that we should place a higher value on the unborn than we do on mothers. Anyone who holds such a view, in my opinion, has lost the ability to use the brain that God has given them. What low value does McCain and the religious right place on the life of a pregnant woman faced with the terrible decision of possibly having to end her pregnancy in order to save her own life, be able to care for her current family, or remain a productive member of society? For religious extremists to believe they have the right to control such a personally reserved and agonizing decision for a woman is the ultimate in self-righteousness. Of course, their self-righteousness blinds them to the point of keeping them from judging themselves while they judge everyone else.

4 NETFLIX® Priority Codes Up For Grabs

I just received 4 NETFLIX Priority Codes cards to give away. They are redeemable for another week (until October 31, 2008) for a free one month trial to NETFLIX service. We have been very happy with the service thus far and recently installed the "ROKU Player" that allows you to view some of the movies available through NETFLIX on your TV. The player connects to your television and receives movies from NETFLIX over your broadband service via a connection to your router.

After a few hiccups, we were able to get the service working with our "old" router - a D-link Dl-614+ router. For some reason, the ROKU player was hijacking the IP address of my HP laptop, so I was not able to connect to the Internet when the ROKU player was connected. Updating the driver for my laptop's Broadcom adapter did not help, but updating the Broadcom's WLAN utility did. For some reason the new version of the Broadcom WLAN utility is able to reserve an IP address for my laptop with my router and keep the ROKU player from taking it.

Anyway, back to the NETFLIX Priority Codes - if you are one of the first four people to reply to this post, I will provide you with a code and the URL to activate your free month.

What "BOMB" Will The Republicans Drop?

John McCain made it official:

"I'm the underdog in this race.... I'm behind. I've got to catch up and get ahead. And I expect to do that about 48 hours before the general election."

So, the only question is "how?" If the lead in the presidential race is going to change in a short 48 hours before the general election, what "bomb" does the Republican Party have planned? Will it be an actual bomb - an attack on U.S. soil; a military installation; a transportation hub; a sporting event; etc.? Will it be a financial bomb - the revelation of some imminent financial collapse; the immediate need for the government takeover of a major corporation? Will it be a social bomb - an outbreak of a plague-like disease; rioting in a major city; the "accidental" release of a dangerous chemical or biological agent? Or yet another "Lie Bomb" - another slanderous attack on Senator Obama's character that will come so late in the campaign that Senator Obama will have no time to respond? Whatever it is, we now know the timetable - 48 hours before the general election. You can't say they didn't warn us.

War in Iraq - Clock

2028 Days since the start of the War in Iraq

U.S. Military Casualties since the start of the War in Iraq

(Includes casualties from fighting in Afghanistan)

Deaths - 4790

Wounded - 30802

Visit Anti-War.com

War in Iraq - Clock

2020 Days since the start of the War in Iraq

U.S. Military Casualties since the start of the War in Iraq

(Includes casualties from fighting in Afghanistan)

Deaths - 4786

Wounded - 30680

Visit Anti-War.com

Obama's Secret White Constituency

My hometown has fewer than 3000 citizens. The average income is less than $30,000 per year. The economy is hurting here as it is in most areas of the United States. Recently, I have been trying to gauge how people here will be voting in the Presidential Election in November. Although our county is very strongly Republican, I have heard many people quietly talking about supporting Barack Obama. When I say "quietly," I mean that literally. A few days ago, I got into a discussion with an older gentleman about the Presidential election, and when he began talking about his support of Barack Obama, his voice got very quiet and he became very aware of who was around us. There is a very real intimidation from the McCain supporters that is felt by people who live here. Rather than face public ridicule from those McCain supporters, people are quietly supporting Obama. They are not putting up the yard signs or putting bumper stickers on their cars, yet they are secretly but certainly going to vote for Obama/Biden. I am only guessing, but I believe that this "quiet support" exists in many predominantly white rural communities throughout the country. Obama may not have the majority of votes in these areas, but it may well be enough to give him a commanding victory in November.