A Primer on Damage Control, With Joe Paterno As Example


Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was in the news when it was announced he had a "treatable form of cancer." Treatable is the key word here.

The news tip came from a family member, the news report stated.

Fired from Penn State in the wake of a sordid scandal involving the football program, the 84-year-old was the subject of controversy anyway due to his advancing age in holding such a high-level coaching position.

Damage control enters in here.

I say there was no chance concerning the information about his "treatable" cancer becoming public news if the scandal had not unfolded. All efforts from family to make it appear the coach was healthy and in good shape would have been made to support his staying on as head coach.

But, considering the dent made on his legacy with the firing, why not deflect and distract from that and create a little sympathy for Paterno?

Why not, indeed.

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Be Aware Of Pit Bulls

Pit bull awareness program?

It's a program designed to inform the public that pit bull dogs are loving, carefree little bundles of joy. That's what we should be aware of.

I'm aware that it is not collies, German shepards, boxers and so on tearing up the faces and mauling children in urban neighborhoods.

Sure, the owner has a responsibility, too. That is the problem. Pit bulls seem to be a breed attracting the lowest common denominators. Couple that with the fact pit bulls are what they are. Safe breeds? Sure, if, like lions and tigers, they are kept in secure cages I imagine they are harmless.

Don't count on owners doing what is right with their pit bulls. Be aware of that.
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Reba McEntire A Discredit To The Okie Nation

Homosexuals are almost exclusively democrats in the polling booth. The most liberal of democrats.

That's because they feel more protected in the "anything goes" philosophy of the democrats. Democrats are on the wrong side of everything.

Enter socialist pinko, fag liberal, Hollywood actor, Ed Asner, along with singer Reba McEntire. With McEntire you would think she would be an exact opposite of Asner.

As a country person myself, I have always been embarrassed to hear McEntire sing. Even in song, her horribly raw, uneducated, hick accent comes out.

I held some sympathy for her and tried not to judge her or think badly of her for how she talks or sounds. Now, I have no regard for her whatsoever. She has swayed so far from her conservative roots in choosing Asner to appear in her song video, "Somebody's Chelsea," she deserves no sympathy.

With McEntire apparently having a brain the size of an acorn, ignorance really is bliss.

It just shows again that money and fame cannot buy brains.

Wrong-headedness is an asset only at wrong-headedness conventions.

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When Undercoating With Aluminum Paint Was The Thing
By Bryce Martin

Vehicles in the 1950s were highly susceptible to rust and corrosion because of the change from a separate chassis frame made from thick steel to a uni-body construction with shaped panels. The less thick steel and a different composition, together with ice-melting chemicals, mainly salt, led to rapid corrosion problems.

Orbie Martin jumped at the opportunity to solve the problem for car owners.

Undercoating, using aluminum paint. It was the new thing, the business to get into.

He bought a compressor, barrels of aluminum paint, hoses and sprayers, a paint hood, and went into business, operating at his residence and as a mobile unit.

I stopped by one day on a neighborhood walk and he was at work in front of his outbuilding. The large four-wheeled, towable compressor ran on either gasoline or diesel, I'm not sure which, and was noisy. A silvery mist spewed from underneath a car he was spraying. I watched for a spell from the edge of the road. Orbie rose from his stoop, quit spraying and stood up. He looked like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz.

The silvery paint stood out so well I could see a glimpse of the chassis. It was an area I would not have noticed otherwise. The paint might have helped with slowing or preventing of rust but it failed in overall eye appeal.

In a few weeks, Orbie's paint spraying equipment disappeared and he was involved with a hot, new profession inside his outbuilding: repairing televisions.

"He might be on to somethin'," my Grandfather said. "They make 'em to break so you'll have to buy their parts to fix 'em."
...

Interview With Myself

Greatest achievement: "Knowing not a penny of mine has ever went to any of the Kardashians."

Favorite breakfast: Eggs over medium, homemade corned beef hash, buttered toast, and OJ.

Favorite sandwich: Grilled kielbasa with Swiss cheese and mustard on rye bread.

A "Last Meal" request: Ham and noodles, chocolate covered graham crackers and peppermint ice cream.

(I start going downhill about here)

Favorite book: "It's been so long since I actually read a book I couldn't say."

Favorite singer: "I've heard so many recordings nobody stands out any longer."

Favorite color: "I probably had one at one time, or thought I did, but now I like them all."

Favorite author: "Shakespeare, but it has been so long since I read him I couldn't tell you why, except he was the best."

Thanks.

You're welcome.

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Chris Johnson Is Done

It can't be the line every time.

Chris Johnson has nothing. Eyes do not lie. They said O.J. Simpson could not have done such a thing because he had so much going for him. We had no eyes to see it happen, but we knew it was true. With Johnson there is no mystery. We can see it. They say it can't be because he's still young and this is just his fourth year. See it, believe it.

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Welcome To Hell You Ignorant Bastard

The one good thing about Middle East suicide bombers is knowing they will never again repeat their performance, and they are going directly to Hell.

Make that two good things.

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Yahoo! Top Stories

Expert Says Jackson Likely Addicted To Pain Med


Ya think?

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I Never Was a Weeper
By Bryce Martin

Coming 'round homeward bound
Humped over like a wraith
Sakes alive, show some drive
You got me on that
Speak loud, thundercloud
Just go on shrug it away
ledger entry, elementary
It's so easy to say

(1st chorus)

Left without a dime in hand
Knowin' what lie in store
You know I never was a weeper
Just didn't care anymore
Never was I a weeper
Just didn't care anymore
Never had a chance, Becky said
Some said I would be all right
Woolly worm, a weather term

Silent ran the stream
Pitcher's mound, homeward bound
Checking out the seams
Crow's nest, reinvest
Still wearin' old dreams

(2nd chorus)

The days all pass so fast
Meet myself comin' and goin'
Got black under my eyes
A hard look is my disguise
Don't nobody think I'm nice

(bridge)

Workin' gratis, desert stratas
Becky was surely right
Seein' from her big armchair
Across the miles from her way
Wheat jeans, any means
Bringin' home the skin

Sleeping' through nightmares
Devil invades my sleep
Up in the late afternoon
My body so out of shape
Drinkin' again at the Duck Inn
Is it romance, not a chance
Still I'm back home again

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How Much Does She Weigh Now?

I can just imagine watching some Sunday morning weekly wrapup television show -- opening with the sun coming over the horizon and birds chirping in the background -- and a Walter Cronkite voice informing us of the important news of the past week:

"Ricki Lake celebrated her top-scoring 23 points and 12 inches of weight loss; Rob Kardashian celebrated being a better dancer than his sister Kim; and Chaz Bono celebrated just getting through his routine on "Dancing With the Stars."

There is no reason to imagine.

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Yahoo! headline:

Cain says he nearly quit campaign before Florida straw poll

To avoid the inevitable he should have quit before the Florida straw poll.

Further, now I understand why there are as many "undecideds" just days before presidential elections. There are people now thinking (thinking?) Cain is a winnable candidate. Just as bad, way too many think Michele Bachmann is legit.

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Seinfeld will have no problem having weird kids

Lead paragraph, Yahoo!:

Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld say they don't want their three kids to be too straight-laced. Being weird is not bad.

Do I get in trouble here by saying what we all know to be true, that Jews control the TV and film industry? I guess the PC crowd would say I should not say such a thing because it might foment anger and bad feelings, true or not.

Well, I'm saying it. They do. Look at TV commercials. Look at TV shows, films. Okay, I said that all ready.

So, who cares what Jerry Seinfeld has to say about his kids? His wife even less.

Jerry Seinfeld is a Jew and his kids are Jews and they can be weird or straight and the other Jews running things will open what doors are necessary to set them up however they like.

The kids will have no problem being like how Jerry Seinfeld wants them. In becoming weird, they have the perfect template to follow: a flaming liberal.

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Climer Needs Pasturing
By Bryce Martin

Tennessean click-on article:

David Climer: Titans' turnaround confounding

Here it is only the second week into the NFL season and Tennessean columnist Climer is calling a Titans win "confounding" simply because they were not picked by most so-called experts to win a game they won.

It might even be a stretch to call it a mild upset, being this early in the season.

The fact is it happens every week in the NFL, and more than once each week. It has happened so many times to the Titans that the Titans would have to be totally wretched in upsetting a three-touchdown favorite. Now that would be confounding.

It is just more proof that writing a regular sports column is too much for Climer. I figure Climer did not write the headline, but in this case the headline fits his piece.

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He's Ugly, Too

Eagles clipboard holder Vince Young says an impersonator is trying to ruin his name.

Pause.

I'm amazed that Young would flatter himself so. The impersonator would seem to have much competition with Young on that one.

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How About 'Mushbrain World Dunce'?

Has this Ron Artest fellow the slightest clue?

Metta World Peace. He changes his name and that's it?

Real catchy. I see all kinds of possible angles. Sure.

World Peace is the last name. Artest said he wanted to inspire youth with the name Metta because it is a Buddhist word that means kindness.

Sure, like most of our black youth (that's who he really means when he says youth) are Buddists. And "Metta," now that is a real easy word for the youth he has in mind to grasp.

Please, get this man some oxygen.

Galena: A Once Was Time

There was a time in Galena Quiet main street was paved with red bricks. Skies were a wonderful blue Even as the air smelled of lead From our smelter smokestack. A cowboy double feature at The Maywood Theatre With a cartoon in the middle All for a quarter. Saturday days sidewalks were busy at The Golden Rule The big door open at the fire station. A tall standpipe towering in the distance Boys on bicycles with chunks of found lead and marbles in their pockets. Older boys going home after a day of cutting cattails Their girlfriends ironing clothes for the night's drive-in movie. Families with last names going way back to boom lead mining times Settling in for an evening at home Watching TV and snacking on homemade divinity with pecans. The evening cool and talk happy and polite Great sleeping weather.

There was a time... in Galena

--By Bryce Martin

Too Typical

Headline: Filmmaker Michael Moore coming to Vanderbilt

Of course he is.

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Make Up Your Mind, Catholics

A Catholic high school football team made the news recently when it chanted to the other team, "We've got Jesus."

That was deemed inappropriate.

Myself, I am confused. I thought they had Mary.

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Where Politicians Are Concerned, Apathy Is A Good First Step
By Bryce Martin

It would be humorous if not so tragic.

The fact that we can close post offices, parks, train stations, libraries, and numerous other facilities and programs that we actually have a use for and, in some, find joy, all in the name of not having the money to support them.

Yet, all that money it would take for us to keep those items and others operating is being spent a thousand times fold in billions and billions of dollars sent to countries where the money goes directly into the elite and the dictators' pockets and not to the people and the projects they were meant to aid. Billions more on totally useless, political boondoggles and on and on.

Kicking the bums out will do no good. More bums will just take their place, as always. Let's just not show up and vote. None of us. Sure, offices will be filled, by default if no other way. But that would serve as the warning.

The first warning.

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Vandy Coach Meets Insanity Definition

You've heard the definition of insanity. Making the same mistake over and over, expecting a different result.

By that definition, Vanderbilt head football coach James Franklin is certifiably insane.

His senior quarterback, Larry Smith, has not completed even 50 percent of his passes in the past two seasons. He has thrown more interceptions than he has touchdowns. When Vandy beat a weak Elon eleven in its season opener, Smith was his usual self.

After the game, Franklin did say he would like to have seen Smith have a better completion rate, as if that was something a little more practice could remedy.

That is insanity.

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NFL 2011 Week One Prediction

Titans 27, Jaguars 17
Chris Johnson, just over 200 rushing yards
(However, in his next 2 games his rushing totals will border on pathetic. The competition? No, the odds.)
...

Same Old Vandy, Same Old Larry Smith
By Bryce Martin

Sure, Vanderbilt romped over Elon. But it means nothing. They should have, even as Vandy they should have.

The most telling thing about the game for Vandy's prospects this season was not the lopsided win, but the "play" of quarterback Larry Smith. Even against a plushpillow like Elon, Smith was his usual inept self.

In 2009 and in 2010, his completion percentage was under 50 percent. It was not uncommon for him to have games where he passed for less than 100 yards. Against Elon, he was his usual self, completing less than half his passes and racking up a piddly 120 yards in the air.

Remember, this was Elon.

I was pretty much on board with new coach James Franklin until I saw he was starting the season with Smith. I can now see I was wrong to expect much, not with a head coach who is no better judge of talent than he has shown in picking Smith to run his offense.

Same old Vandy? Sure, as long as you have the same old Larry Smith as your quarterback.
+++
Poor Vanderbilt.
A bunch of future lawyers and doctors trying to play football. No wonder they lose all the time. Right?
Wrong, at Vanderbilt, 35 of 59 football scholarship players surveyed major in one subject: human and organizational development.

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Forget Jerry Lewis, Awready
By Bryce Martin

Jerry Lewis was, and is, an ass, and I imagine at this stage late in his life will remain thus.

The namby-pambies in Hollywood -- those crying over his being dumped as the longtime charity telethon host -- want us to overlook that and have us believe that all his good charity work trumps his nasty behavior over the years to those who have had to work with him.

The fact is, if he had anything going for him resembling a career after the 1960s, he would not have been doing the "charity" work, for which he was paid handsomely.

I'll never forget this from a Los Angeles radio man back in the 60s commenting after reading the news about how much money that very first telethon brought in: "If everyone who doesn't like Jerry Lewis would have sent in a quarter, they would have raised twice as much money."

France hasn't even came to his rescue (Drum roll, please).

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Manning will definitely start

Nashville sports media -- Terry McCormick, anyway -- are saying newly signed Colts QB could start season opener if Peyton Manning not ready.

Please. What weak insight.

Manning will start. No way would he jeopardize his consecutive game streak by not starting. He does not have to be "ready" to start. If after a short time behind center he exits for Collins, so what? He still has his streak and that much more time to get better.

Forget about him not wanting to take a chance on getting hurt. He won't get hurt in the short amount of time he would allow himself.

"Collins could start." C'mon, turn in your sports writing credentials.

Fantasy Sports, Anyone?

Why would anyone play fantasy sports?
That's rhetorical, for me anyway.
I can theorize all the reasons why anyone would, and it still brings me back to the same question: Why would anyone play fantasy sports?
It sounds like some absurdist idea Harold Pinter might have came up with.
I did hear one individual say it helped to keep him up with what was going on.
For me, I call that reading and using my memory.
I hope I never find out the real answer. It would have to be scary.

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Peyton Manning is not popular everywhere

It's way, way too typical. In sociology, it is called ethnocentrism. Look it up.

When the few Titans game tickets still left at the beginning of the season, those not consumed by PSL holders, go on sale, the first game to sell out is the home tilt with the Colts. Reason? Former Vols QB Peyton Manning.

Reason: ethnocentrism. Again, it is so typical as to be laughable. Other than in a pocket of Tennessee, the rest of the country does not give a twit about Manning. I'm not so sure even all the Tennesseans do. I suspect they subconsciously think it is an Event because of Manning (it is not) and they want to be a part of the big spectacle.

Manning, even with all of his NFL achievements, is not even that well known by average fans in other NFL cities. Believe me, he's not. Nor is Chris Johnson for the Titans, for that matter. Most fans root for their home teams, but know little about the majority of the players on that team, and even less about such as Manning.

Others who vaguely know of Manning are turned off by his looks, his large head. It's a fact.

Too typical. I'm smirking now, realizing these people think we care.

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Cortland Finnegan a Cop-Out Artist

Cortland Finnegan gets mad at Titans brass, goes into a snit and becomes a no-show.
Brass wonders where Finnegan is, can't contact him.
Media duly reports actions of Finnegan and brass.
Public sides with brass.
Finnegan reappears like a twit (using a tweet, no less) to take the easy out and blame the media.
Finnegan has a weak case in blaming the media. The brass back the media stance.
Great human, team leader, and upfront guy he is not.
Blame this.

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Oprah benefits from her "generous" giving

AP) — Film academy president Tom Sherak is coming to Oprah Winfrey's defense.
Sherak says Winfrey is "one of the most philanthropic performers in the world" and thus deserving of the academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Of course she is, duh.

It's simple. It's routine for big wage earners. The more money you make the better off you are financially to donate to charity at a rate that gives you your best return. In other words, she benefits greatly for her "philanthropy."

That's the real story.

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Jillette, a razor-sharp liberal

Who cares what Penn Jillette has to say, other than other liberals? He didn't like Miss Tennessee's answer about burning qurans in a recent beauty contest segment. Worse, he said he was glad she did not win because of her answer. That would be an expected response from someone such as Jillette, a pony-tailed, foul-mouthed, obscene, vulgar, godless individual, a typical Hollywood lefty.

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Even More Gall, This Gal

Hanoi Jane Fonda and Oliver Stone have a lot in common, when it comes to revisionist history. Understandably, they're both liberals, which gives them a natural bent for such things.

Fonda, speaking recently about her sordid and sorry-ass past regarding our fighting men in uniform, said a myth about her has been created, "I love my country," she said.

I see no need to dispute her claim. I am just wondering which country she had in mind.

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Some Gall, This Gal

gall definiton: Casey Anthony.

From the News of the Day corner. Casey Anthony is appealing her lying convictions.

Here's a mom whom any reasonably perceptive person knows killed her infant daughter, and who now wants to go through the rest of her pitiful life not being tagged as a liar.

In deference to your deceased daughter, accept some blame -- as little as it is. Being tagged a liar from here on out is the least of your worries. It is way past any attempt at image repairing.

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Bumper Sticker

HONK IF YOU LOVE GOD
TEXT AND DRIVE
IF YOU WANT TO MEET HIM

...

Mendenhall removes all doubt regarding his ignorance

The first thing I thought of when I heard about Rashard Mendenhall's incredibly ignorant comments regarding Bin Laden, reactions to his death, and the Twin Towers massacre, was what college he attended. Illinois. That must be really embarrassing to the university. If I had attended that college, I would be ashamed that someone that ignorant was even allowed entrance. Mendenhall likely doesn't believe we went to the moon, either.

Mendenhall did not express an opinion. He expressed his pathetic ignorance.

Will wonders never cease.

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Vince Young and How He Throws the Football
By Bryce Martin

The first thing you notice about Vince Young throwing the football is that he has an odd delivery.

The beat writer for the Titans, Jim Wyatt, was the latest (today) to describe it as a "sidearm delivery." That's not the first time Wyatt and a host of other journalists have used the same description.

And it is obviously wrong. I say obviously because anyone who knows anything about baseball (something you would think sports journalists would know) can equate and compare it to a pitcher's delivery. Wyatt, and the others, are seeing something, but they do not know what.

Young does not throw sidearm, or even three-quarters, which is between straight overhand and sidearm. His release point is early -- too early. Brett Favre, on occasion, threw the closest I have seen to sidearm. It's an obvious difference.

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It's all about the numbers when it comes to greatness
By Bryce Martin

I hate it when I call in to talk radio shows. I hate it just as bad as when I write a letter to the editor. I never do it, however, as a response to obvious claptrap. I have my scruples, yes siree, Bob.

In both calling and writing on these occasions, I feel afterward that no matter how profound or cogent my comments, I have still lowered my mental self to that of the average call-in cretin or reader retard. The morning after comedown is real.

I guess I do it because I feel that a little dash of profound and cogent has its place.

I recall a few years back when I called in and told George Plaster, who was blasting Dennis Rodman the person, that I had just came to realize that Rodman would be the only NBA player in history to make the NBA Hall of Fame who was never on one of its league's all-star teams. Plaster went through that one like a dose of salts through a widder woman. As if my comment had been that of just a regular caller. An example of a regular caller would be one who wondered why the Titans didn't try to grab Tee Martin when he was carrying a clipboard for whatever NFL team it was who mistakenly drafted him.

The fact that Plaster could not fathom such a thing tells you all you need to know about him. It's all about numbers. Comparative numbers. Numbers reached in a short amount of time trump those that take longer to accumulate.

During the last pre-Super Bowl coverage, on The Zone's 3HL program, one of its hosts remarked that a victory by the Pittsburgh Steelers' QB Ben Roethlisberger would ensure his entry into the NFL Hall of Fame. Surprisingly, I heard the same comments from some national commentators. Not a chance. Why? He does not have the numbers. He's not even close to having the numbers. The numbers are always regular season totals. When those numbers are close to HOF standards, then post-season numbers help tilt the decision for HOF legitimacy. There is no rule on this. It's just something you figure out on your own when you are profound and cogent.

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WZTV FOX 17 :: Newsroom - Top Stories - Independent movie "Deadline" starring Eric Roberts shoots in and around Nashville

WZTV FOX 17 :: Newsroom - Top Stories - Independent movie "Deadline" starring Eric Roberts shoots in and around Nashville

Two-syllable Word (Mun-Chak) Still a Problem

The list keeps expanding.

Bud Adams, the Titans owner who has had Mike Munchak under his employ for nearly 30 years, has joined in along with TV sports reporter Dawn Davenport.

Both Adams and Davenport are the most recent -- for these ears anyway -- to mispronounce Munchak's simple two-styllable surname. It's as spelled -- Mun-Chak, not Mun-Chek.

Amazing, but even more amazing is that Davenport's bosses do not seem to notice. As for Adams, he must have all yes-men on his payroll.

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Munchak Not a Household Word With Nashville Media
By Bryce Martin

It's Munchak (pronounced Mun-Chak).

That's a sort of joke. I recall a long time ago in an Associated Press feature on Dolphins running back Larry Csonka. It read, in part: "Larry Csonka (pronounced Csonka)." Humorous, for me, at least.

Now, in Nashville, Mike Munchak, who has been with the Titans forever and who is still fresh in the mind from his Hall of Fame induction clips a few short years back, is in the glare of local media since he may become the Titans' next head coach.

Some local sports media treat the guy as if they had never heard his name before, as if he had one of those Eastern bloc names it will take time to get used to.

TV's Rudy Kalis, who has been in sports broadcasting in Nashville even longer than the time Munchak has been here, did a long piece on him Super Bowl night (after the game) and referred to him throughout as "Mun-Check," is in Frank "Wy-Check."

Previous to that, 104.5 The Zone's Clay Travis yammered on in his analysis of how "Mun-Chuk" would fit or not fit in as head coach of the Titans. The insightful Travis was corrected by one of his cohorts (finally) and Travis responded in his usual manner, blaming it on a language inequity. By now, he is probably alibiing that he was just kidding all along.

Amazing stuff (pronounced stuff).

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Nashville Sounds slighted... again

"The first Nashville professional sports head coach change."

That's how Kevin Ingram of 104.5 The Zone keeps referring to Jeff Fisher's departure from the Titans.

I don't care how long Ingram has been involved with sports, this one misstatement is enough to decertify any credentials he might have earned otherwise.

Seriously, it is.

All it does is add to the misguided notion that minor league baseball is "semi-pro."
Minor league baseball is professional baseball, period. There is no semi.

The Nashville Kats, an arena football league entry, was also a professional sports team. Again, not semi. Call it a minor sport, behind the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, but it was a professional team, and like the Sounds, coaches and managers came and went long before Fisher left.

Not only does Ingram say it on air, none of his on-air colleagues correct him.
It's inexcusable. It's Cris Collingworth always referring to Matt Hasselbeck as "Hasselback."

Charlie Louvin Likely a Mystery to Channel 4 and Elsewhere

Watching the twosome of Tom Randles and Demetria Kalodomis on TV's Channel 4 newscast regarding the death of country music great Charlie Louvin, I couldn't help but speculate that Randles had not clue one as to whom Louvin was, yet he had to sell his half of the back and forth with a stern countenance.

Of course, Randles nor anyone else in his capacity is not expected to be familiar with the names of all the entertainment personalities. As for Louvin, the fact is even most of those who consider themselves country music fans are not familiar with the Louvin name either. I can say that without speculation.

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Is lead the killer it's made out to be?
By Bryce Martin

Galena is the name of my home town. Galena means lead. My home town had the largest lead smelter in the world, starting around a hundred years ago.

"Long-term exposure to lead dust poses a health risk, particularly to young children."

I've heard that.

A killer tornado blasted the old home front over the past weekend. In the region, typical summer dust devils traditionally blew dust off mountains of mining waste, known by locals as chat piles.

We breathed it.

Still do.

The most recent tornado destruction in the region, and perhaps deadliest of all, that fairly well put Picher, Okla., to waste for good, was making news in stories and headines nationwide and alarming EPA people as to what extent it hasd stirred up ancient lead dust to wreak its own kind of havoc in the wake of front-end tornado damage.

I would surely imagine that breathing and taking into the body by other means elements of lead ore would be harmful to the body and, as most anything else, there are always exceptions. The exceptions might explain why at least three people from Galena that I am aware of have lived to be 100 years old, and many more have lived well into their 90s.

While I would not expect research later on to indicate that breathing lead dust over a long period of time is beneficial to a human being, I have to wonder if it is truly the menace it is made out to be by today's standards, where even a flake of lead paint on a child's toy causes an uproar.

My Galena is in Kansas. Other Galenas exist in Missouri, Illinois, and elsewhere, but mostly in the geologic lead belt that supplied lead ore turned into bullets for most of the rifle munitions used in World War II. Other Galenas have different names, such as Picher. There are, in fact, hundreds of towns not named Galena in roughly a six-state area that could have been thus named.

I knew her as Norma Thompson in the 1950s when she was my music teacher. She died at age 100 on October 20, 2003, in Oswego, Kan. With a zest for life, she taught vocal music appreciation and stressed such things as inflection and proper breathing while vocalizing. She didn't live all her wonderful years in Galena, but she was in the immediate region all that time, breathing in the times, if you will.

Questions remain after all these years. Why do some suffer and die from lead exposure and why do others just as touched go on to lead long and normal lives?

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Climer Still Slouching Toward Clicheville

After justly criticizing The Tennessean's David Climer in a January 14 mention here for hanging his tired observations on cliched hooks, he continues undaunted along his merry, inept way.

In January 16, and 18, columns, he went back to back with "upon further review." Soon, he can write an entire column of nothing but worn-out phrases and then repeat it in all future columns.

January 21: he sunk ever lower to revive one of his favorites: "rearranged deck chairs on the Titanic."

Clever guy.
...

In Other News...

Headlines that make me want to ask this: Why? What's the point?

Millions Join Bangladesh Muslim Festival
Need I explain.
+++

Travolta And Kelly Preston Introduce Baby Benjamin
So he can grow up to be a scientologist?

Nashville In The Snow

Gives us our daily sibilance:

Salt sent south soothes snow season's stalled semis snafu

David Climer is worst sports columnist ever
By Bryce Martin

Jim Murray was one of the best newspaper sports columnists ever. A key feature of his regular col'yums for the Los Angeles Times was his regular use of hyperbole. English professors would have given him low marks for that, but who reads English professors.

Wells Twombly's name as a byline was probably better than anything he could write while covering sports in California's Bay area.

David Climer's constant use of cliches, not just cliches, but the tiredest of the genre, ranks him at the bottom of sports writers I have read.

It's bad enough that Climer's columns are not fresh, or even attempts to be fresh, but just rehashes of events and opinions that other writers have labored to write. The great sports writers are few. Those who are not great but considered good at least attempt to find a fresh angle to pursue.

But, that is not the main complaint.

Case in point, from Climer in the January 14th Tennessean while writing about Vanderbilt basketball: "ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION."

I put it in all caps because that is how it reads to me. It screams out. That's because Climer has never written a column without using that tired phrase (How's my Jim Murray hyperbole doing?).

Try this. On your computer, go to Google and in the web search slot type in "addition by subtraction" -- space -- then "David Climer" and you will see what I mean after you click in your search.

I realize the average reader does not have much of a background in English or journalism and will not notice such things. Count his editors in that category as well.

Climer has four other overly-tired cliches he regularly uses. I have seen all five in one column.

I don't know how he even holds a job as a columnist. It's certainly not due to his writing skills. It's sad to think it might be that he gets by because his reading audience is too dumbed-down to notice. His editors, too.

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Derrick Mason -- Hall of Fame career
By Bryce Martin

If it was possible to catch a football thrown in his direction, Derrick Mason would nearly always snare it. He was clutch and seldom missed a snap of playing time while with the Titans. In his 14 years in the NFL, he has missed just six regular season games.

I have kept up with his numbers since he left to join the Ravens. He is nearing Hall of Fame numbers.

He has some things against him: never being a top ten MVP vote getter, a lack of Pro Bowl nods (2), and other categories outside his actual accomplishments on the field. The fact that many consider him the best route runner in the NFL has to be considered.

I recently made my assertation based on who is in the hall with similar achievements at the wide receiver position. I knew Art Monk would be in that category and so I looked up Monk's numbers, since that is what got him in the HOF and is ultimately the decider for anyone.

Numberswise, Mason has played in 218 games to Monk's 224. That helps to compare since the total number of games is relatively equal. Mason has 830 less receiving yards, 12,721 to 11,891, and two fewer touchdowns, 68 to 66. It is very likely Mason will eclipse Monk in those prime production numbers next season.

Mason also has an intriguing and unreported string going. He had 61 total receptions this season, making it 11 years in a row he has had at least 60 receptions. The record holder in that category? Jerry Rice? Randy Moss? Raymond Berry? No, tight end Tony Gonzalez set the mark this season with 12 successive years of at least 60 receptions. Mason is breathing down his neck on that one.

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