2.255: Pitch Notes (03.07)

Recent Results:

Manchester United 1:0 Watford

Barclays Premier League | Tuesday, 1 March 2016 | Old Trafford

USWNT 1:0 England

#SheBelievesCup | Thursday, 3 March 2016 | Raymond James Stadium

West Bromwich Albion 1:0 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League | Sunday, 6 March 2016 | The Hawthorns

USWNT 1:0 France

#SheBelievesCup | Sunday, 6 March 2016 | Nissan Stadium

Seattle Sounders 0:1 Sporting Kansas City

Major League Soccer | Sunday, 6 March 2016 | CenturyLink Field

Notes:
I am sensing a pattern developing in regards to the scoring prowess of the clubs and teams I support.

In regards to Manchester United, the week started off satisfactorily with a 1:0 win against Watford, who could have easily won the match if Odion Ighalo had successfully put away any of the scoring chances he created against a makeshift backline composed of a senior team debutante, an undersized Dutch center back whose best position is probably a central defensive midfielder, a recovering Argentinian just one game removed from missing about a month of action, and...I am guessing another young defender that was selected to demonstrate Louis van Gaal's proclivity to select and "develop" young talent.  I could easily chalk up the feelings of elation and euphoria over this underwhelming victory against a bottom-half side courtesy of a brilliant free kick from Juan Mata to the fact that (1) a similarly built side had just defeated an Arsenal side that was challenging for the league title and (2) Manchester United had just won its fourth consecutive match heading into a weekend match against another bottle-half side.

Of course, the match against West Bromwich Albion went awry early as, of all people, Juan Mata picked up a second yellow card within the first 26 minutes of the match thus leaving the side having to defend itself for 65+ minutes with only ten men.  Unsurprisingly, Manchester United was frantic in the first few minutes immediately following the Mata send off, but they eventually settled back into the game and even created a couple of opportunities prior to the break.  The second half found Manchester United on their backheels for a good portion of the half as they struggled with trying to find the right balance between attacking and defending.  In my opinion, Carrick did not look up for the match as he appeared out of step with the bevy of unfamiliar faces that now occupy the Manchester United side and he should have been substituted for Morgan Schneiderlein.  Schneiderlein did make an appearance in the match, but it was at the expense of Ander Herrera and Memphis Depay come on for Marcus Rashford during the latter stages of the match.  Of course, the decision to go with Carrick over Schneiderlein was not the biggest issue for Manchester United; it was Daley Blind.

I am sorry, but I cannot understand the continued reliance on him to play at a position that he is clearly not suited to play.  It was Blind's failed marking on an Albion forward that allowed said forward to freely receive a cross into the goalkeeper's box and slot away the match winner.  Then again, would any of Manchester United's available center backs fare better in the situation?

---------- || J+30 || ----------

Major League Soccer is back!  And the opening matchday was filled with exciting results with the exception of the Sporting Kansas City (SKC) match against Seattle Sounders; this matched ended a 0:1 result for SKC despite SKC playing the entire second half with a man advantage.  Also, SKC's came courtesy of a debuting center back's long range shot that skidded on Seattle's artificial surface under the outstretched arm of a diving Sounders goalkeeper.  In my opinion, SKC's back line looked solid despite Ike Opara's absence due to injury and Peter Vermes's decision to select Amadou Dia over Seth Sinovic at the left fullback position.  On the other hand, the midfield was definitely missing the creative playmaking abilities of Benny Feilhaber who did not travel with the side to Seattle because of an injury and the forwards failed to create a threatening presence to put the Sounders on their back line.  I believe that the midfield will sort itself out once Benny and Brad Davis (and Justin Mapp) return from injury, but it is the SKC attack that worries me most about the current side.  I am a supporter of Dom Dwyer, but there are moments in a match where he simply disappears for long stretches.  If Dom is our lone attacking threat, then we should be worried because while I fully believe he is capable of putting in another 15+ goal season; who will provide the cover when he needs a break?

Of course, this is only the first match of the season and I am pleased with the victory--SKC's MLS-leading thirteenth opening day win--despite their inability to put in more goals against a 10-man side.  There is still plenty of room for improvement.

---------- || J+30 || ----------

Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to catch either of the U.S. women's national team (USWNT) matches because (1) I was unavailable for their opening match of the #SheBelieves Cup on Thursday and (2) Sunday's match was only available via ESPN 3 and if given the choice of watching a match via online stream or satellite; I will choose satellite because my ISP is horrid and I would not be able to enjoy a consistent, high-quality stream.

All I noticed is that the USWNT left it late in both matches before claiming the wins.  But, I will chalk it up to the fact that the side is most likely featuring a few more "fringe" players in order to provide these players a chance to stake their claim for a spot on the Olympic team roster.

Anyways, that is it for the first edition of Pitch Notes.  Like SKC, there is still plenty of room for improvement, but there is still plenty of time to improve.  Until next time:  DFTBA.

2.254: WTF Donald Trump?

WTF Donald Trump?

Before I begin, I want to state that the opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone.  I would also like to state that nothing you read in this post will be groundbreaking or new.  In fact, you could say that the opinions expressed on the matter will be a rehashing of many of the same arguments that have already been used to attempt to discredit and delegitimize the candidacy of Donald J. Trump.  Regardless, he is the flavor of this Presidential election cycle and the presumptive Presidential nominee of the Republican Party and I want to express my opinions on this matter and then move on.

First, the man is the Presidential nominee equivalent of a circus sideshow.  Similar to the "Bearded Lady" or "Lizard Man of Bangladesh", Trump is a freak that piques our interests for a moment because there is a man shouting through a bullhorn:  "Come one, come all and see the freak of 2016 GOP Presidential nomination cycle!"  Only Trump is the freak and the man on the bullhorn that continuously shouts and yells at passersby to look and pay attention to him.  And if merely shouting through a bullhorn were not enough to garner your attention, then he will scream random lines of utter nonsense that, for one reason or another, intrigues someone ignorant to believe he makes sense.

Do you have a fear the illegal immigrants are out to steal your job?  Then Trump will say that he is going to build a wall (paid for by the Mexican government) along the southern border of the country.

Do you have a fear that Muslim jihadist will attempt to terrorize your favorite gentlemen's club?  Then Trump will tell you that he plans to ban all Muslims from entering the country while forcing Muslims already in our country to prove their loyalty to our country by registering their presence with the federal government.

Do you have a fear that your small hands will be seen by others to mean that you have a small penis?  Well, Trump will ensure you and millions of other Americans watching the most recent GOP Presidential Debate that his small hands (and thus, your small hands) do not mean he (you) has a small penis.  In fact, he will prove this point by clearly stating that he does possess a large penis.

So, seriously, WTF?  How has political decorum been denigrated to the level of immature teenagers?  Because we have allowed this occur through (1) the media's obsession with his crass, built-for-reality-television persona, (2) the public's shift in regards to the value of intellectual discourse, and (3) the GOP's ineptitude in smothering the issue long ago.

Of course, I would be doing an injustice if I did not include this clip from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver:

2.252: Things Ahead

Do you remember when I expressed my desire to reorganize this site?

Well, after two months of nothing substantive, I believe I finally have something tangible to share with you.

After a spontaneous but intense brainstorming session last night, I believe I finally have a basic framework for organizing the thoughts in my head into coherent and publishable posts.

Starting Monday (7 March 2016), I will begin publishing a series of new regular columns to this site. Here are some of the new (and not-so-new) columns I hope to introduce over the next week:

Pitch Notes

I love the game of soccer!  It is an incredible game that elicits a level of passion amongst its supporters that is unmatched by any other sports' supporters.  And while the game on its own is able to conjure feelings of immense joy and intense pain, these feelings are amplified when a supporter of the game directs he/her passion toward their national team or a domestic league club.  For me, my passion and support lie with the United States men's and women's national teams, Manchester United, Sporting Kansas City, and Atlanta United.  Pitch Notes will be a column dedicated to these clubs and teams focusing on recent results and current news related to each of these sides.  As of now, the plan is for Pitch Notes to be a weekly column that will publish on Mondays.

Random Thoughts and Quick Blurbs

Okay, neither one of these columns is new, but I am resetting the counts for both columns (even though neither column had more than two previous entries) because I want to and if The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl can have two Issue No. 1s in the same calendar year; why can't I?  Anyways, both columns will retain basically the same format as before though I may change the number of topics to discuss for both columns.

Smash the Stash

I love comics and I try to collect comics (finances-permitting), but I have a terrible habit of letting purchased comics fall by the wayside and before I know it; I have a massive queue of comic books I have yet to read.  Anyways, Smash the Stash is a column dedicated to helping me smash my queue of unread comic books and graphic novels.  Each week I will read a few issues (or all the issues I possess) of a series and I will share my thoughts on the individual issues.  Please, keep in mind that (1) my backlog of books goes a couple years back so many of the issues I read will have been released months (even years) ago and (2) I have no clue about the intricacies of the comic book industry so do not expect an expert opinion on any of the issues I write about in Smash the Stash.

For now, that is what I have and am willing to share, but rest assured knowing that I have few more ideas for regular columns for this site.  I am simply trying to hash out the ideas some more to ensure I am satisfied with them.  So look forward to some new content soon, but until then:  DFTBA!

2.251: Desperate Times

I am desperate.

In fact, I was so desperate that prior to writing this post, I was writing a desperate plea seeking “divine intervention” from whatever divine entity that would grant my request to be offered the position I interviewed for on Monday.

But, I stopped myself.

I stopped myself because (1) I know that it would be pointless, (2) I was creating an excuse (albeit, an implausible and ridiculous excuse), and (3) I was entering into the mindset that I am incapable of achieving goals on my own (i.e., I was devaluing myself).

If you could not figure it out, I struggle with issues of confidence, esteem, and self-image.  It is a problem that has plagued me my entire life and it is an issue that I must contend with on a daily basis.

I know that I am more than capable of not only filling the position I interviewed for on Monday but excelling at the position.  And yet, I find myself constantly short-changing myself and tapering expectations because of my previous failures.

I have to remind myself that I did my best and if I am not offered the position, then it is their loss. And I have to remind myself that there is a lesson in everything—successes and failures—and that one must always keep learning.

I know that there will be moments when I am overcome with anxiety and doubt, but during these moments; I have to remember that I am better today than I was yesterday and that I will be better tomorrow than I am today.

I made a commitment to be a better person this year and the years to come and while I will falter and be tripped up by hurdles, I can only move in one direction:  FORWARD!  I do not need “divine intervention” because everything I need is in me and what I lack today can be learned tomorrow.

Now, I am not attempting to degrade the individuals of faith that pray for divine intervention because if it gives them solace; who am I to judge?  Personally, I must learn to find solace from not only myself but from the experiences I encounter every single day.

DFTBA

2.250: More on Interviews

I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead of me.  Of course, the excitement could easily turn into bitter disappointment depending on the decisions of others.  Yesterday, I wrote about my disdain for interviews and I stand by opinion, but I will say that I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to even interview for a position.  The past four months have not been fruitful and I am on my last legs or to put things bluntly:  I desperately need a job by the end of the month or I am going to be hurting financially.  As for the interview that elicited my post from yesterday, I will admit that it did not go to plan.

This is not to say that it went poorly--I still firmly believe that I was able to exhibit my capabilities and knowledge; I simply wish that I had been able to articulate my points in a clearer manner.  I tried to be as casual as possible, but my nervousness shined as clear as the sun.  I attempted to be as honest and truthful in my responses as possible, but there were moments in which I came off as being too blunt.  (Another fine example of when "keeping it real goes wrong".  Please pardon The Chapelle Show reference, I still live in the early years of the 21st Century.)

Another point of personal contention was my inability to articulate points and avoid the use of filler words or noises in my responses to their inquiries.  I understand that the use of filler is commonplace in everyday conversations, but within the context of an employment interview, filler words can be an indication of unpreparedness and shine negatively upon a candidate for a position.  Of course, I have always been a more articulate writer than a speaker, but face-to-face conversations are incredibly difficult to avoid.

Anyways, I wish I had placed a greater emphasis on my actual experiences and skills rather than stray off into tangents.  But, as I said earlier, I may have done better than I believe.  What has been done is done and there is little else one can do about it now.  I can only hope that I am given strong consideration though I have been trying my best to taper expectations.

2.249: I Hate Job Interviews

I hate job interviews and I am certain that I am not alone.

I understand their "importance" in the hiring process, but I am so incredibly bad at speaking with strangers that interviews serve as more of a detriment than as an opportunity to showcase my qualifications and skills.

I have always suffered from anxiety when it comes to speaking with strangers.  Whether it is a job interview or when I have to address the public, I become overwhelmed with anxiety and my body becomes stiff and my brain grinds to a slow halt.

The only time I ever feel "relaxed" when speaking with a stranger or an audience is when they are laughing because I am acting "outside of myself" and behaving like an idiot.  It is my coping mechanism, but I am rarely in a situation in which such behavior is tolerable.

And a job interview is definitely a situation where behaving like the village idiot is not tolerated.  So, I suffer and my chance at being offered the position suffers.

I know in my mind that I am capable of amazing things if I am left to my own devices and that is why I have always preferred working "behind-the-scenes" and avoiding the spotlight.  This is why I could never be an actor (also, I lack the talent) or a public office holder.

I hate job interview, but until I am able to create an opportunity for me to be my own boss; I am stuck.

2.246: Wanted: Good Luck

Single, Asian Male Seeking Positive Vibes and Lots of Luck

Hello Universe,

I'm John and for most of my life, I have been a miserable individual that has been stricken with a string of negative karma and terrible luck, but I'm looking for a change if not long-term, then at least, short-term and specifically, in regards to an important life event that will be occurring on Monday.

People that know me will say that I can come off as arrogant, but I prefer to spin it as confidence though in reality; it is a facade.  The fact of the matter is this:  I'm a horribly self-deprecating individual with low self-esteem that is only capable of building himself up at the expense of tearing another down.

Yet, despite this major character flaw, I am intelligent and knowledgeable in regards to a number of topics.  I am also a law-abiding citizen with healthy respect (or fear) of authority figures that attempts to do as little ill-mannered actions as possible.  I am firm believer of the idea of treating others how you wish to be treated

So, Lady Luck or Karma, if you are looking to bestow upon someone your good grace, then I would be overjoyed to accept.

2.245: Quick Blurbs 001

I am going to try something different today.  If the title of this post did not already give it away, I am calling this new writing format, Quick Blurbs.  Basically, I pick between three or five (I will pick a more precise number at a later time) current topics and I have fifty words or less to express my opinion on the topic.  Now, I am seeking a source for determining what "hot" current topics to discuss, but I will figure that out as well at a later time.  For this initial Quick Blurbs, I will be drawing the topics from Facebook's Top Trends:

Screen Captured on 02/26/2016

Topic #1:  Cheryl Tiegs Hates Full-Sized Women

Honestly, who cares what Cheryl Tiegs thinks?  She had her time and if her time did not permit her to have a waistline over 35-inches, then too bad.  But for anyone to come out and attempt to criticize another person because they are comfortable in their own skin is lame.

Topic #2:  More Stupid $#!+ Comes from Raven-Symone's Mouth

If Raven-Simone wants to move to Canada because a Republican is nominated for President, then let her leave.  Clearly (or at least, I hope), she meant to say that if a Republican is elected President, but she is notorious for saying really stupid stuff (like a human being).

Topic #3:  A Rated R Dawn of Justice Blu-Ray/DVD Release?

If I actually purchased blu-rays, I would still have no interest in purchasing Dawn of Justice.  I rarely re-watch films much less purchase them so this announcement means nothing to me because I believe the film is going to be bad.  I am waiting for Suicide Squad.

Topic #4:  Ariel Winter's Smaller Breasts

Good for Ariel, but who is this person?  Again, if you feel comfortable with your body, then more power to you.

Topic #5:  #FreeKesha

I could go on a much longer rant about this situation, but I am not allowed.  If Sony were a person (and according to Citizens United, it is a person), then I would implore it to have a shred of decency and #FreeKesha.  Why torment her?

And there you have it, my first ever Quick Blurbs.  Personally, I enjoyed this format though I am distraught by what is considered important enough to be "trending".  I hope to do more of these in the future as well as more Random Topics, but until next:  take care and DFTBA!

2.244: Liga MX > MLS?

I voted today and I voted for...HA! GOT EEM!  But, seriously, it is not difficult to figure out which candidate received my vote.

Anyway, I have spent the past two nights watching (or trying to watch) the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.  To be honest, I do not normally watch these matches because the matches typically pit Liga MX sides either against one another or against another side from Central America, but this year's quarterfinals are different; this year's quarterfinals feature FOUR Liga MX versus MLS matches.  Well, that was the angle MLS and most American soccer pundits decided to use in promoting the matches.  Unfortunately, it did not pan out as MLS had hoped as DC United fell 2:0 to Queretaro, Seattle Sounders twice floundered their advantage and had to settle for a 2:2 draw with Club America, Real Salt Lake also fell 2:0 to Tigres, and the Los Angeles Galaxy played to a scoreless draw against Santos Laguna.  Sadly, it is the scoreless draw from the Galaxy-Santos match that was the lone bright spot from an otherwise dim series of results, but even then, the Galaxy face an uphill battle to either win or draw against Santos away.

As for the remaining MLS sides, they face far more difficult tasks heading into their respective second leg matches:

DC United:  Yes, they will be at home for the second match of a two-match series, but they will not only need to score at least two goals (to even the aggregate score and force extra time and then penalty kicks) and not concede an away goal and given their performance during their first leg away in Mexico; it does not look promising.

Seattle Sounders:  Despite the draw, the Sounders face an even more difficult situation than DCU or RSL as they will need to head into Estadio Azteca and win.  Conceding two away goals to one of Liga MX's perennial powerhouse clubs has pretty much sealed the Sounders' fate.

Real Salt Lake:  See DC United

Now, there will be a number of articles published and discussions held over the next few days about why MLS continues to struggle in the region's premiere club tournament, but most of these articles and conversations will simply be regurgitating the same basic points:

1) Fitness Levels.  During the quarterfinal knockout stages of the CCL, Liga MX sides are well into their professional seasons while MLS teams are in their preseason.  For MLS supporters, the preferred method of remedying this issue would be to shift the tournament's schedule to begin and end within the same calendar year as opposed to using the FIFA club calendar.  Of course, there are detractors that believe MLS should be the ones to shift its schedule to match many of Europe's top domestic leagues.

2) Available Resources.  When it comes to club budgets, there exists a massive gap between Liga MX and MLS.  In Liga MX, all clubs are owned by private individuals or ownership groups that are permitted to spend as much as they are willing to spend on the purchase of players and their wages.  Meanwhile, MLS teams are severely hampered by the league's salary cap that is the result of the league being a single-entity organization in which the league owns the clubs and players while individuals invest in teams.  I saw a great tweet that made reference to the fact that even MLS teams "with cash" are forced to sell some of their top talents to Liga MX sides because they are unable to fit the player's wages under the salary cap while Liga MX sides do not share this worry.

There are plenty of other points to be made, but it is late and I have to be up early. So, take care and DFTBA!

2.236: Random Topics 002

Sorry, but I have not been feeling too creative today.  I have had a number of things on my mind and I have been unable to focus on coming up with an original topic to discuss.  So, here we go:

Topic #1

What you ought to know about One Punch Man.  Basically, OPM is the best anime series I have in some time, but I have not been watching much anime in recent years despite volunteering at an anime convention.  OPM is a fun series that features insane, over-the-top action sequences, easy to grasp humor, and heart-warming moments.  So, if you like that sort of thing, then you should check it out.  And now that I have mentioned it, I may go back and watch it again because I originally ran through the series on my iPhone.

Topic #2

What my dog taught me about finding comfort in simple things.  I have had many dogs in my life.  And the thing I love most about dogs is the fact that they are able to find such joy in simple things like finding the perfect shaded spot, eating almost everything that is thrown your way, and never worrying about human issues like debt.  Dogs are not high maintenance and they are loyal to the point of incurring personal harm, unlike cats.  Honestly, simply writing about dogs makes me miss my last dog.  She went missing around the turn of the year and I feel that I may have had a part in her disappearance.

I am going to stop it with two topics this evening because (1) I am getting tired and (2) the third topic I generated would require more brainpower than I am willing to commit at this moment.

2.235: Random Topics 1(?)

I am struggling to identify a topic to discuss for this post so I have decided to use a random topic generator to help inspire me tonight.  Here we go:

Topic #1

Oh, the irony.  I suppose one of the things I do to "beat" writer's block is to use random topic generators like "The Blog Post Ideas Generator" found at BuildYourOwnBlog.net.  To be honest, I am not entirely sure just how "random" this particular topic of discussion is, but it is a start and I am writing.  Success?

Topic #2

Since I am an expert at spotting the latest and greatest new trends, I am going to let you in on the next big thing.  Are you ready?  Here we go:  Funemployment!  Now, I know that there are some of those that are confused, but allow me to elaborate.  Funemployment is when a competent individual that actually fulfills the duties and responsibilities of his position is unjustifiably terminated from his position because small, petty individuals are incapable of handling opinions that are different from their own opinions.  Funemployment is fantastic!  It affords the funemployed countless hours to draft posts for blogs, tolerate ungrateful and despicable trolls that try to pass themselves off a relative, and wonder when and where one's next paycheck will originate.  Of course, I should warn you, funemployment is not for everyone, but if you want to earn hipster status; it may be the trend for you.

Topic #3:

To be honest, I am not sure how I am supposed to word this phrase (or question) regardless I am going to with the following:  Why I love to blame others for my shortcomings.  It is a simple answer: it is because it is typically someone else's fault.  I accept blame for my termination at the library, but I would be lying because who expects to be terminated from a position at which he excels and he goes above and beyond the call of duty?  Not me.  I could say it is my fault that I am seen as a poor older sibling for failing to care and support a troll, but why should I be expected to have any tolerance for an individual that cares little of himself and nothing of others?  Look, I am not a blameless individual.  I am at fault for a number of things (e.g., my aunt's income tax returns) though in many cases I still attempt to lay blame at the feet of others, but I know that I was wrong and it eats at me. I lose sleep at nights because of some slight I may have made at another, but I have come to realize that there are times when it is someone else's fault and I refuse to accept blame or lose sleep for it.

-----| J+30 |-----

I will admit that this approach to writing was good and I may utilize it more in the future, but I still intend on coming up with topics on my own.

2.231: Internal Politics

The Presidential primary election in Georgia is just over a half-month away and I still have not decided which candidate will receive my support and vote.  On Facebook, the majority of my "friends" are "click-and-share conservatives" (individuals that "share" contrived anti-Obama / anti-liberal headlines without taking a moment to see if the article has any basis in fact) that support either Cruz or Trump, but amongst my fellow liberals; there exists a steep divide between those who are "with [Hillary]" and those who are "feel[ing] the Bern".  And to be frank, I have observed the interactions between the two groups of supporters and it is discouraging.  The latest example of this degenerative banter amongst the two supporters groups centered around statements from Georgia Congressman and Civil Rights icon, John Lewis.  In his statement expressing support for Secretary Hillary Clinton, Congressman Lewis called into question Senator Bernie Sanders's participation in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s:

"I never saw him, I never met him. I was chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee for three years--1963 to 1966. I was involved in the sit-ins, the freedom rides, the March on Washington, the march from Selma to Montgomery. I directed the board of education project for six years. I met Hillary. I met President [Bill] Clinton."

Of course, every man is entitled to his own opinion, but given the amount of vitriol directed toward Congressman Lewis from supporters of Senator Sanders; it appears one's loyalties can cloud one's judgment and cause a normally rational individual to react ignorantly.  First and foremost, I have an immense respect for Congressman Lewis because of his role in the Civil Rights movement; the man literally had his skull cracked during the Selma march.  Congressman Lewis stood side-by-side with Dr. King and other luminaries of the movement and confronted the harassment, the threats, and the violence head on.  Congressman Lewis is the sole individual still alive that spoke at the March on Washington. It is one thing to simply disagree with Congressman Lewis about the candidate he has chosen to support, but it is an entirely different matter when an individual attempts to diminish his role in the Civil Rights movement, proclaim that he is a shill for the establishment (Congressman Lewis has been fighting the "man" for longer than many of his detractors have been alive), and insult his intelligence because he supports a candidate that is not your candidate. These individuals should be ashamed of their behavior. Yes, you are entitled to your position and you are free to voice your opposition, but when you hurl juvenile insults and profanities at a great man like Congressman Lewis; you have crossed a line.  Now, before I step too much further into the mire, let me simply say that this is merely an example of the sort of nonsense I have observed from both, the Clinton and Sanders, camps and it is disheartening.

It is one thing to engage in such behavior toward members of the Tea Party contingent of the GOP, but to act in such a manner toward members of the same party is harmful.  It is my hope that at the end of the nomination process, supporters of the non-nominated candidate would support the DNC's Presidential candidate despite one's initial beliefs.

2.229: Status Update and More

As some of you may or may not know, I have been unemployed for about five months now.  Initially, I joked about my predicament going so far as to call it "fun-employment".  At the time, I found comfort in the following assumptions: (1) I would easily find a new job, especially, because there was open position at a local library that is managed by the same individual that hired me at my previous library position and (2) if I did not get the position; I would be eligible for unemployment benefits.  Of course, neither of these things worked out:  I did not even receive a call in for an interview while an acquaintance of mine (a former part-time library co-worker that I actually trained) did receive an interview request (which he turned down because he had already accepted another position at the local state prison) and I was refused unemployment assistance because it was determined that I was at fault for my termination despite the fact that I was not afforded a proper opportunity to explain my side of the story (the Department of Labor reviewer made it clear through her tone and persistent requests for terse responses that she had no interest in hearing my case and had already determined how she would side).  I will not lie about the fact that I am still bitter about both incidences, but there is no point in continuing to dwell upon my past errors in judgment.  Rather, I have decided to take an opportunity to simply say that the search for employment continues and while the pace at which I am submitting applications and resumes is well below what one would expect from an individual in dire straits; I can only hope that something turns around for me sooner rather than later.

To be honest, I am uncertain of why I am writing this post aside from perhaps providing an update on my situation.  This is not a plea for pity because I have no desire to be pitied by anyone.  Instead, I believe it is simply a matter of me wanting to write and having nothing better to write about.

-----|| J+30 ||-----

Now, in a completely unrelated note:  Have you had an opportunity to see the new Columbus Crew kits?  Well, here it is (as modeled by MF Tony Tchani, left, and FW Kei Kamara, right):

SOURCE: Twitter | @TonyTchani23

My initial reaction:  "Wow, what a bold...choice?"  First, let's take a moment to commend the designers of this kit for attempting something different, but let's also take a moment to say that this design was a nice gesture that was executed horribly.  The kit is dubbed as the "For Columbus" kit and the designers drew their inspiration from the city of Columbus's flag, but at some point during the creative process; the designers decided to have one too many adult beverages and this led to a hangover that was never fully remedied.

Also, in one more soccer kit-related note (or more accurately, inquiry):  Who decided that it was a good idea to have New York City FC's secondary kits share a color scheme that is similar to that of the New York Mets?  I only ask because I could have sworn that NYCFC played its matches at Yankee Stadium.  Again, I'm curious.

2.228: (Unaffordable) Footy Swag

I don't often venture into the realm of fashion because I'm one of the least fashionable individuals you'll ever meet despite my personal fantasies of being named "World's Sexiest Man" by whatever magazine hands out that title.  But, I'm not discussing solely fashion, I'm discussing soccer fashion. On Sunday, the MLS club I currently support Sporting Kansas City released its secondary kit, here have a look:

SOURCE: Sporting Kansas City | www.sportingkc.com

Personally, I like it.  It's a simple design featuring alternating horizontal stripes of various width and shades of blue.  For me, a good soccer shirt is a shirt that could be worn in everyday situations without looking like a wanker.  Of course, this shirt will be priced out of my price range initially because everything is out of one's price range when you're unemployed, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to add this shirt to my collection of socially-acceptable, wearable soccer tops  Also, another positive with this top is how the corporate sponsor sits inconspicuously across the chest, drawing little attention unlike some shirt sponsorships and their logo placement (i.e., I'm looking at you Chevrolet).

2.227: Keep Dabbing!

Do you remember toward the end of 2015 and the start of 2016 when I said that I would be embarking on a journey to discover my one true focus?  Well, I failed or, more accurately, I failed to document it.  Now, I'm not saying that I embarked upon some sort of spiritual journey; it was more of an epiphany.  But, I have figured it out!  From here on out, I'm going to write about whatever I feel like writing about at the moment.  Of course, I'm going to say it right here and right now that a large number of my posts will be related to sports, but there will be moments when I feel like discussing books and films, cooking and dining, or politics and current events and I will write about these topics at will.  I realize that I am an incredibly complex and complicated individual and to attempt to define myself with a handful of descriptions is impossible.  So, I'm embracing the complexities, accepting the complications, and rolling with the punches to write about what I want to write about and when I write about them.

In fact, I'm going to start right now by discussing the relentless and unwarranted persecution of Cam Newton by sports journalists and football "purist" (or more accurately, racists).  I'll start by saying that Newton is the quarterback for the NFL team I support: the Carolina Panthers.  I'll also add that starting point for this particular post stems from last night's (7 February) Super Bowl post-game press conference in which Newton abruptly left the podium after being continuously questioned about his performance in the Panthers loss to the Denver Broncos.  The first bit to aggravate me was a retweet from Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods notoriety of a tweet from Rob Lowe:

Wow. What a press conference from Cam Newton. So gracious!So classy! So humble! What an example to kids! Just like Peyton. #dab #SuperBowl

— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) February 8, 2016

So, here's the issue I have with this retweet and the series of tweets that followed on Zimmern's account:

1)  The belief that professional football players are required to provide a full account of their actions immediately following a game, especially, players on the losing team.  Journalists (or more accurately, pundits) and certain types of fans are always demanding authenticity and honesty from professional athletes and yet when professional athletes provide them with this authenticity (e.g., Cam walking out of the press conference because [and I am only speculating] he was emotionally hurt from having his worst performance of the season during the most important game of the season) they are quick to judge him as being classless or acting like a "spoiled brat" because Cam choose not to play nice with them.  Of course, the response to such a realization is that Cam is a professional player that is paid millions of dollars to play a game and he should understand his responsibilities and his position as a role model.  Sure, I could accept that argument if I accepted the belief that professional football players are merely overpaid assets within NFL's corporate structure, but I don't accept that premise because Cam and every other player in the league are human like me. Professional football players are human and they possess the same emotions that all other humans possess. So, for pundits and fans to expect otherwise from players is disingenuous, but that's not what is really desired, is it?

2) And this brings me to my second issue with Zimmern's tweets (by the way, please don't mistake this post as an attack on Zimmern as I really do like him and his show; it's just that it was his tweets I saw first): the idea that Cam shouldn't be allowed a passed because no one else "gets a pass".  To be honest, that's absolute (pardon my language) bullshit.  People, especially, celebrities get "passes" all the time. For example, a celebrity behaves irrationally (or in some instances, illegally) and yet after a few stints in rehab and a major public relations overhaul; all is forgiven and they go back (or continue) to make millions.  No one expects or should expect a person to have to be subjected to intense scrutiny immediately following one of the most difficult moments of their life; we typically "give them a pass".  And if for some reason one were to find himself in such a situation, then it would be reasonable to believe that he is well within his right to not be very cooperative with his interrogators, right?  So, why is Cam or any other professional athlete expected to behave in a manner that's any different what would be expected from ourselves?

3) And finally, Zimmern tweeted about how Cam asked for respect and that because Cam asked to be respected he is unable to "have it both ways" when he refused to subject himself to pointless scrutiny immediately following a loss in the Super Bowl. First, the issue is that Cam should have never had to ask for respect in the first place.  Let's be honest, did Peyton Manning have to ask for respect?  Did Tom Brady have to ask for respect?  And now let's be brutally honest, did any of Cam's successful white quarterback peers have to ask for respect?  I believe the answer would be:  "No."  Cam's white counterparts were immediately given widespread respect from the media following their successes whereas Cam has had to time and time again prove himself to the media despite his record-breaking on-field performances, his spectacular feats of athleticism, his unbridled joy and passion for a game that will undoubtedly shorten his lifespan and diminish his mental and physical faculties, and his caring and giving personality that his brought immeasurable to happiness to children.  One would believe that such acts and behavior would lead to immense respect from others but instead, Cam receives grief for his touchdown celebrations, criticism for fathering a child out of wedlock, and outrage for his immaturity because he has chooses to have and express emotions.

I have nothing but love and respect for Cameron Newton and it's not only because he's the quarterback of the professional football team I support, but because he's earned it.  Keep dabbing Cam and I'll #KeepPounding along with the rest of the Panther Nation.

2.222: Dying Inside

I am unable to put into words the amount of hatred I feel towards COVER LETTERS!  My god!  What is the point?!  Am I really going to miss out on a job because I am incapable of regurgitating my resume into a block-style letter format?

From the countless asinine tips from professionals to the vast multitudes of bland and generic templates for every industry known to man except for the one position I need, cover letters are redundant, ridiculous, stupid, and useless.  What does a cover letter offer that a resume does not or, better yet, a generic application of employment form?

Do hiring manager actually sit down and read any of these letters?  Honestly, the idea that an individual would rather read a cover letter over a bulleted list of professional experiences and academic achievements is baffling.  And yet, here I am--struggling to put together a series of words into a paragraph of sentences that will astonish yet not overwhelm, demonstrate confidence while exhibiting humility, and be dynamic yet not too over-the-top.

Read that last sentence again (I will wait) and reach the same realization that I reached many moons ago:  cover letters are contradictory pieces of garbage that serve the sole purpose of confusing rational individuals for the amusement of human resource managers and hiring managers.

I am honestly at the point of simply saying "FUCK IT!" and just writing whatever comes to mind (very similar to what I am doing at this moment), but I cannot.  Why?  Because I really need this job and I really want this job and because I have been conditioned to jump through hoops like a circus monkey in order to earn a treat.

If they want a cover letter, then I will give them a cover letter.  But, by god, if I am ever in a position in which I able to make hiring decision, then you can damn well believe that cover letter will NOT be necessary because despite being an asshole most of the time; I can be a nice guy too.

2.220: No Place to Hide

Tonight marks the beginning of the end of what has become a nearly two-year election cycle.  The Iowa caucuses took place tonight and as I draft this post, Ted Cruz of Canada has been declared the victor on the GOP side while the race between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont remains neck-to-neck on the Democratic side with Clinton maintaining an advantage of less than half of a percentage point.  I could make the focus of this post politics, but there is plenty of time for punditry down the line instead I am going to speak about something more significant; my grandfather.

Today marks my grandfather's 85th birthday (that we are aware of) and as I sat on the couch across the room from him, I wondered about (1) would I make it to 85 and (2) would I want to make it to 85?  I understand that in the grand scheme of the universe, 85 years is a speck of dust in comparison to the unfathomable expanse of time (and I am being incredibly generous).  Regardless, I figured the answer to both of my questions would be a resounding NO!  For starters, I am morbidly obese, suffer from gum disease, poor eyesight, poor hearing, and likely, suffer from undiagnosed diabetes.  Of course, the aforementioned are only things that I am physically aware of and do not even include the mental frailties that reek havoc on my psychological health (e.g., depression).  But, I have gotten side tracked and gone off on a tangent.

My grandfather, despite his current appearance, is an interesting individual.  While he may only have 1.5 legs and dialysis tube protruding from his abdomen, his mind remains sharp and he is able to recall things that most people have long forgotten.  On top of his remarkable memory, he remains sharp though his physical handicaps make it appear as though his mental faculties have diminished as demonstrated by his ability to maintain a witty rapport with his children and grandchildren.  Anyways, I am at my limit for the day (time-wise), but my grandfather is an awesome individual and may he have many more birthdays after today.

2.218: The Follow Up

The following is a continuation from my previous post.

Tuesday:  I travelled alone on Tuesday.  I had lunch at Natalie-Jane's Restaurant's "new" location in town and had the Natalie-Jane Burger (smaller than I remembered but delicious nonetheless even though the burger was cooked beyond my medium preference) coupled with a pasta salad (also delicious and a surprisingly good compliment to a burger).  During lunch, I decided on whether or not to go to the Academy Sports & Outdoors in Anderson, SC or Gainesville; I choose Gainesville.  But, why Anderson?  Anderson was an option because I was in the market for some new Carolina Panthers merchandise and I had serious doubts about whether or not a sports store located in the same county as the Atlanta Falcons training facility would carry apparel from a division rival; my doubts were correct.  While I was unable to locate any Panthers apparel, I did manage to find some new shoes: the Nike Downshifter 6 (for $39.99 + tax).  After I finished at Academy Sports, I checked out the Hobby Lobby because I had nothing better to do and it was located in the same shopping centre. When I was finished at Hobby Lobby, I stopped by Ross Dress for Less, Hibbett Sports, and Marshalls (in that order).  Surprisingly, the tripped kept me occupied for much longer than I thought it would.

Wednesday:  It was another solo day of travelling.  For Wednesday, I drove to the Tanger Outlets in Banks Crossing where I browsed the Lids, VF, and Nike stores as well as a discount book store. At Lids, I saw a couple of Atlanta Hawks knit caps that were advertised 2 for $20 though each knit cap sold individually for $29.99 so it may have been a mistake.  After I finished at the outlet mall, I stopped by the faux Krispy Kreme Doughnut store for an original glazed doughnut and a raspberry filled doughnut.  I call it a faux Krispy Kreme because the store does not make its doughnuts on-site. Doughnuts are shipped in from either another store or from a centralised facility and simply reheated on-site, which makes for an odd tasting doughnut because it sits in the cooking oil twice.

Thursday:  It was an early and long day that started with a 7 AM alarm.  At 8 AM, I arrived at my grandfather's house to accompany him and my aunt to a 9 AM medical appointment in Gainesville. While I waited for my grandfather and aunt to conclude their appointment, I visited Lakeshore Mall and Target.  The appointments were done at about 10:30 AM and we headed home though our original plans included lunch at Niko Niko Sushi in Buford, but my grandfather had vomited while waiting for the physician and he was feeling poorly at the time.  As we were heading home, my aunt decided that she would take me out for lunch if we could convince my mother to watch my grandfather while we ate; we did and we picked her up at the house.  When we returned to my grandfather's house, I napped while my aunt drained fluids from my grandfather.  By the time all of the fluids were drained, my grandfather was feeling better and was up for some lunch.  So we convinced my mother to join us and we had lunch in Niko Niko.  We eat a lot whenever we go and this day was no exception.  We had tempura calamari, shrimp and vegetable tempura, pork gyoza, tofu and vegetable soup, two Flying Dragon rolls, a Rainbow roll, and a Fiesta roll--all of which was delicious!  Following lunch, my aunt and mother wanted to do some shopping since we will be celebrating my grandfather's birthday this weekend (his birthday is on February 1) so I took them to Assi Plaza in Suwanee (according to the sisters, it was smaller and more expensive than the Pleasant Hill location) and the Great Wall Supermarket in Duluth.  It was a long day that ran from 8 AM until about 6 PM.  But, I was not done because while we were heading down to Buford for lunch, my other aunt called asking if I would accompany her to have her taxes prepared at a (shady) tax preparation office.  Instead of taking her to see the shady tax preparer, I tried my hand at preparing her taxes via TurboTax; I was successful and I saved my aunt $200.  I was so proud of my success that when I finally returned home, I prepared my mother's taxes.

Friday:  I spent much more time at home than I would have liked, but a 2:55 PM Manchester United FA Cup fixture will cause such an issue.  By the way, Manchester United won!  After the match, I had dinner at Burger King and headed to Gwinnett for another Atlanta Gladiators game; they lost.  On the way home, I stopped by Krystal in Oakwood for my second meal of the day.

Anyways, this concludes this portion of the week.

2.216: Keeping Busy

Note:  There is a difference between being "busy" and being "productive".

On Sunday, I travelled to Gwinnett County where I ate lunch at a "hole-in-the-wall" Cantonese barbeque restaurant located in the food court of the Great Wall Supermarket.  I was craving dim sum but ended up eating soy sauce chicken over rice (on the recommendation of a Yelp! review and because I was not sure about how to order dim sum).  The chicken was mediocre and I left disappointed with the joint despite its strong Yelp! reviews.  Afterwards, I made my way over to Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe in search of a Nutella Danish that I tried during a prior visit; it was sold out.  I settled for a curry chicken bun (sweeter than I prefer for a savoury item), a Nutella chocolate bun (solid with just a tad too much chocolate filling), a hazelnut Nutella doughnut (I have a thing for Nutella and this did not satisfy my craving with its dried-out dough), and a Sweet Hut milk tea "topped" with honey boba pearls (delicious though I wish I had ordered either the strawberry or taro milk tea instead of the Sweet Hut specialty).  Following my solo escapades into Cantonese dining and Nutella-based sweets, I met up with my friend Louis at Taco Mac in Duluth to watch the conclusion of the AFC Conference Championship game and most of the NFC Conference Championship game; I had an enjoyable time though my food was not-so-delicious.  I was still filled with my soy sauce chicken from earlier so I only ate sweet potato fries (a disappointment for the second time--I forgot I had tried the fries before) and an order of the "oven-baked" mac and cheese (a terrible idea--the mac and cheese came out cold and bland).  After Taco Mac and the triumph of the Carolina Panthers, Louis and I stopped by Steak 'n' Shake for milkshakes and I had the Nutella milkshake because why would I not?

On Monday, I was called into duty by one of my aunts early in the morning.  Initially, I was to watch my grandfather and wait for the delivery of his kidney dialysis fluids while my aunt went to rotate her tires and have one of the tires patched (nail).  Instead, I went to the tire repair shop while she remained with my grandfather.  The shop was quick and I was in-and-out in under an hour, which afforded me the time to stop by Chick-fil-A for breakfast.  As I was returning to the house, I received a phone call from another aunt asking if I would accompany her to her workplace to complete her application for temporary unemployment benefits.  Afterwards, she, my little cousin, and I had dinner at a local Chinese buffet--the selection is small, but the fried chicken wings are delicious--where I was reminded of how I loathe eating out with small children.  Following lunch, I swung by the house to pick up my mother and I returned to my grandfather's house to continue waiting for the medical supply shipment while he, my mother, and my aunt travelled to Gainesville for a medical appointment.  To kill the time, I read some comics, eat the treats I purchased from Sweet Hut the day before, and rubbed one out to a video of this incredibly attractive Thai woman being pounded by some sleazy white dude; I have very little shame and I am feeling bold this evening.  Anyways, the shipment never arrived, but I did complete an application for a position in Marietta.

I could go on, but I will not because I am tired and the vision of me beating off seems like a good spot to stop.

2.215: The Body Politick

I removed myself from politics following the historic campaign season of 2008.  I say that I moved away from politics because I became wary of the competitive and cut-throat political environment, but that is not the whole truth.  The main reason I left politics is because I was an immature idiot that lost his virginity to the wife of a county committee chair who, at the time, I considered a friend.  That is right--I was a party to an extramarital affair with a woman over a decade my senior and I could no longer face the man I once considered a friend.

There are times when I reflect upon what I missed out on because I could not overcome my desperateness to lose my virginity and I wonder:  "Was it worth it?"  Sadly, I would answer that it was worth it because (1) I was no longer a virgin and (2) I wanted her.  Yet, at the same time, I regret my decision and all of the consequences that came from it.  If I had been able to resist the urge to engage her in escapades, who knows what may have happened in my life?

Anyways, I wanted to get this off my chest (somewhat).  As for politics, I suppose it is not too late to reenter the fray, but the question I must answer is whether or not I actually want to return to that world.  As of now, I do not have an answer.

2.213: #KeepPounding

I was going to write about the latest Atlanta United news:

- Atlanta United's affiliate partnership with USL side Charleston Battery

- Construction of the Mercedez Benz Stadium delayed three months

- Atlanta United signs its first player in club history

I was going to write about all of these topics, but I did not want to have to put my own foot in my mouth if I made an incorrect (or ill-informed) statement.

Instead, I will talk about another sports-related topic:  Super Bowl 50.  Primarily, I want to discuss the Carolina Panthers and their remarkable run to the Super Bowl.  As a long time Panthers supporter (who did stray off the path along the way, but eventually found his way back home), I cannot express just how proud I am of this team.  From the 15-1 regular season record to its remarkable performances during the NFC Playoffs (minus the second half of the Seattle Seahawks game), the Panthers have proven themselves worth of their own success despite the naysayers and the haters.  When the Panthers were still undefeated, the pundits called the Panthers "the worst 14-0 team in NFL history" while singing the praises of the Seahawks, the Arizona Cardinals, and the New England Patriots.  In fact, it was not until the Patriots lost its second-straight game that the Panthers claimed the top spot in the ESPN NFL Power Rankings and then after the Panthers fell to the Atlanta Falcons; the Panthers fell behind the Cardinals despite having lost only one game.

And now, even after securing their position in the Super Bowl in dominating fashion, a 49-15 win over the Cardinals, the headlines coming out of Conference Championship weekend are about Peyton Manning and whether or not the Super Bowl will be his last professional game and whether or not he can go out a champion.  But, that is okay because the Panthers and members of the Panthers Nation know what we have and we know that we have the ability and the talent to cap off an incredible season with a Super Bowl win.  Actually, before I progress, I do want to step back from the notion that the media is ignoring the Panthers completely.  I am wrong in making such an assertion because there is one Panthers-related topic that the media relishes in discussing:  Cam Newton.

Source: nojillnolife.tumblr.com

From Newton's on-field celebratory dances to the off-field birth of his first child with his longtime girlfriend, the media loves to criticize Newton in a manner that one would never see towards Manning or Tom Brady.  Now, I am not going to defend Newton because it is unnecessary; Newton has defended himself time and time again in a more impactful and tactful manner than I can even imagine.  What I will say is this:  if an individual can easily seat at his keyboard and attempt to tear down a man with such an incredible zeal for the game and love for his community such as Newton, then there is no convincing that person otherwise because his heart is filled with such vitriol that it is beyond redemption.

Source:  USA Today Sports Images (?)

In conclusion, I am looking forward to the Super Bowl this year and I look forward to seeing Cam and the Panthers lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy *knocks on wood*.  Until next time, DFTBA!

2.202: Stacks of Cash

I have no clue what I am going to write about this evening because my initial topic, the demise of the Atlanta Silverbacks, is old news.  I considered a personal piece discussing my opinions and thoughts on the Atlanta Silverbacks organization, but I realized that I no connection to the club.  Yes, I had been to a handful of matches during their most recent stint, but I had not been to a match since Soccer Bowl 2013 (now called “The Championship”).  So, I decided against writing about another topic of which I held little familiarity.  Instead, I will say this in regards to the situation:

It is always terrible to lose a professional sports organization because it creates a feeling amongst supporters that we did not do enough to save our club.  But, the reality of the matter is that professional sports organizations are businesses and businesses with poor management (or no management in the case of the Silverbacks) will fail.  As followers of professional sports, the best course of action is to lament briefly and move on to another club.

On another note, Major League Soccer (MLS) held its Super Draft today and Sporting Kansas City (SKC) selected with the eleventh overall pick of the Super Draft:

😎 #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/EaV00MYpUZ

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) January 14, 2016

Actually, SKC traded the pick to DC United in exchange for an undisclosed amount of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM—a financial mechanism devised by MLS to lessen the actual impact of a high-waged, non-Designated Player’s salary on the club’s salary cap figure).  Of course, saying your club has selected a table full of stacked cash is much more entertaining.

Anyways, I have been having a good day despite my Friday evening plans being canceled (Get well soon BH’s granny!). So, good evening and DFTBA!

2.201: Panic!

Today, I will be discussing sports.  Specifically, I will be discussing soccer (or football).  Let's begin:

Yesterday, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and West Ham United had Premier League fixtures.  The first two United clubs, Manchester and Newcastle, faced each other at St. James' Park while West Ham traveled to Bournemouth. I mention this because of a humorous tweet I read that said:

What we're going to learn from the upcoming scoreless draw between @NUFC & @ManUtd is that West Ham is the best United in the @premierleague

— Jimmy Conrad (@JimmyConrad) January 12, 2016

Well, the Manchester United match against Newcastle United did not end in a scoreless draw rather it was 3:3 draw, but West Ham did defeat their opponents, Bournemouth, 1:3. So, Jimmy Conrad was (sort of) correct, at least, on this day. But, the Manchester United draw at St. James' Park is part of what I wanted to discuss because while a six-goal draw away from home is nothing to feel entirely bad about; it is the manner in which the draw occurred that is disappointing.

For starters, Manchester was ahead of Newcastle on two different occasions.  First, Manchester went ahead by two goals (Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard) before conceding two goals to Newcastle. Then, Manchester went ahead with eleven minutes remaining in regular time courtesy of a beautiful strike from Rooney before conceding the equalizer in extra time.  To pile on the misery, Manchester had more than their fair share of chances to seal the match and earn the full three points, but Lingard soared an open shot over the crossbar from within the goalkeeper's box and Marouane Fellaini drove a free header directly into the arms of Newcastle's goalkeeper.  Also, did I mention that Newcastle is currently in next to last place (nineteenth) in the Premier League?

Yesterday's result is only the tip of an ever-growing iceberg that threatens to sink Manchester United's chances for a Premier League title or a Champions League position. In Manchester United's last six league matches, Manchester has won one match while drawing two and losing three!  During this stretch, there has been ongoing speculation about the job security of manager Louis Van Gaal. Initially, I was in the "Keep LVG" camp unless Manchester United could secure Pep Guardiola as their new manager, but I am having second thoughts about my position and it is because I see little, if any, improvement.

I will say this about the position of Manchester United manager (because I have not really said much of anything so far); Manchester United should not hire Jose Mourinho.  I do not care about his desire to manage Manchester United, I do not care about his overall track record of success, and I am saying this as an admirer of the man.  Jose Mourinho is notorious for wrecking team chemistry, employing boring tactics, and neglecting youth development (i.e. the "Special One" comes with serious baggage).

Now, having made this statement, I am aware of the reports strongly linking Guardiola to rivals Manchester City.  So, what happens if Manchester United are unable to get Pep?  First, you terminate LVG's contract at the end of the campaign because Manchester United cannot sit idle while their city rivals continue to make progress.  Then, Manchester United need to make a decision concerning Ryan Giggs.  Will Manchester United's board throw Giggs straight into the fire with incredibly limited managerial experience?  Personally, I would prefer Giggs to take a position at a lower-tier club, but I will admit that it would be strange to see a Giggs-less sideline at Old Trafford.  If not Pep or Giggs, then who?  Frankly, only one name comes to mind:  Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid. Simeone has the proven himself a more than capable manager--challenging the two pillars of Spanish football on a consistent basis, winning La Liga, winning the Copa del Rey, winning the Euro League, and reaching the finals of the Champions League.  While I would still prefer Pep, I would have no qualms with Simeone receiving the nod.

Anyways, I have "discussed" Manchester United for longer than I had planned and I actually had some other topics I wanted to discuss (e.g. the end of the Atlanta Silverbacks), but I think I will hold off on any further discussion because this post has gone on for too long.  SEE YA AND DFTBA!

2.199: Sleeping Struggle

Another early post--this could turn into a habit, but I doubt it.

First, RIP David Bowie. I'm unfamiliar with his works beyond his major hit tracks, but those tracks were incredible and I have only the utmost respect for the individuals that choose to create their own path rather than follow the crowd.

Second (and more to the point of this post), a thought: "Some people never learn while others will never make the effort." Or a more familiar:

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice (and then a third time and a fourth time and for good measure a fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth time), shame on me for deliberately choosing to remain fucking ignorant!

So, my mother did it (like I and everyone else I knew she would), she bailed out the good-for-nothing, remorseless piece-of-shit. She did it yesterday and my only consolation is that I had no involvement--I wasn't even present--when she made yet another mistake clouded behind the precept of motherly love and obligation. I knew the moment she came into contact with him, it was over. Over in the sense that my lonely struggle to protect her from not only him but herself was done and over in the sense that I have lost a great deal of respect for her in that she would foolishly place others in this family at harm. Honestly, the piece-of-shit is a lowly drug pusher with a chip on his shoulder and the intelligence of a middle schooler. That sort of combination is terrifying in the sense that this piece-of-shit is incredibly likely to act out in a way that'll lead to pissing off the wrong people--the sort of people that can be just as remorseless but also incredibly ruthless. 

It is with a great deal of remorse that I must say that I have lost so much respect for my mother and that damage she willingly inflicted upon myself and potentially others may be untenable. I truly loathe this feeling, but I cannot with good conscious believe in her anymore. I made a promise to myself to try and be more positive and avoid the negative, but this situation makes it clear that I'm only making more difficult on myself if I choose to continue on this path.

2.198: A Party of Two

So, that holiday party I mentioned in my last post...not quite what I had planned. For starters, I'm not a social creature so to enter a social environment alone is terrifying to me. So because I was going to meet up with Mark, I made the choice to arrive late thinking that a 6.5 hour get together would not really pop off until a couple hours after the announced start time...WRONG! By the time Mark and I arrived, dinner had been served and the tables cleared. My primary consolation was the free Starbucks Pike Roast coffee that I had three cups to drink. I mean it was nice to get away from the house and it's always nice to hang out with a good friend, but he and I could have done that and I could have avoided the nearly 1.5 hour drive in wet conditions. I know that it is our own faults but would it have hurt them to splurge on a few snacks? Well, I cannot blame the organizers for our tardiness. It was nice to see a few familiar faces even if we only chatted for a few minutes and it is always a pleasure being around people with similar interests even if I am behind the times in regards to anime. Also, I did stop by a Taco Mac on the way back and their wings are still delicious though their ranch dipping sauce is kind of bleh--I prefer bleu cheese and that is what I got but the waitress gave me a cup of ranch too. Anyways, I've no plans for the next few days, which means I am stuck at the house with no Internet until tomorrow when I finally force my ISP to finally give me a new modem and my thoughts (which is always a dangerous situation). Also, I'm late on my student loan bill because I couldn't fax my request for forebearance to the loan company (issues with their lines not mine since I was using an online fax service). But, I will continue to try and better myself despite the feeling that everything is out to prevent that from occurring. GOOD BYE!

2.197: Party Rocking

I'm posting earlier than usual (still Internet at the house) because I may or may not be around to post at my usual time because Mark, my friend from yesterday, and I are planning to attend a "holiday" party that's being hosted by the anime convention that we volunteer at. I'm not much for "partying" or socializing with people I'm unfamiliar with, but I could definitely use a getaway from all of the bad stuff that's been happening recently. Anyways, that's what I'm hopefully doing and why I'm posting now. Also, I spoke with my ISP and they said our new modem should arrive today, but they also said it would be 2-3 days from Monday. At least, they're giving us a $10 credit for not having access to service for the past week. SEE YA!

2.196: Roadtripping

When I get bored, I drive...alone. But, from time to time, I have company and that's nice. Today, my companion was my former coworker, Billy. Basically, I took him comic shopping and we grabbed lunch at Sugarloaf Mills--my lunch was not very good but I expected that to be the case. We only ate there because we were meeting another friend, Mark. Anyways, I am tired and going on about four hours of sleep. Good night!

2.195: Not in 2016

My past few posts (mainly, my last post) are not what 2016 is about for me. 2016 is about positivity, being better and leaving all of that negativity behind me. If you're about that lifestyle, then I'm not about you and you see yourself out the door--SEE YA! Now, getting back on track--I'm still without proper a Internet connection, but I'm making it work. As for today, I got a haircut, ate at Five Guys with my dad, and I dropped by my grandpa's house. As for narrowing the focus of this site, I'm still working on it. Anyways, I'm looking for to more good stuff and less bad stuff in the year ahead. GOOD NIGHT!

2.193: Avoiding Trouble

I am avoiding a problem.

I made references to this problem in my last post and despite saying I would let this problem go; it is eating at me and I need to say something.

First, my mother's other son is currently in jail. He was arrested on January 1 on possession charges.

On January 2, I took my mother to get her car (which he had taken for his own use over two months ago) from the impound lot (cost: $125).

On Sunday evening, he attempted to contact my mother via a collect call; he failed because my mother's English is limited and she did not know how to accept his call (which would have cost her more money). At this point, I used I blocked the 800-number of the collect call as well as the county jail's number on her phone--so no more calls from him (at least, not to her phone).

Yesterday (January 4), he called my phone and left a message to tell my mother (and father) to come get him out of jail. I deleted the voice mail and blocked the number on my phone. Later,I received a text message from an unknown number telling me that he had asked me to tell my mother that his bond had been set at $10,000 (yes, you read that right). I have not told her or my father yet, but I did speak with my aunt and uncle about it and I'm sure if I do not say something to her soon; she will hear it from them. I have chosen not to tell her about the bond (or bail) yet because I know that despite her initial protests and statements saying she would leave him in jail; she does not have it in her to remain stern. And I have not unblocked the phone numbers I have blocked on her phone yet because I know that once she speaks to him, he will (1) make it known that I have been withholding information (though I have a certain degree of deniability) and (2) manipulate my mother into doing something she (nor anyone in our family) cannot afford to do; bail him out.

If you cannot tell, my mother's other son is the cause of my current misery and unbeknownst to my mother; he is the cause of our family's troubles. If it were up to me, he would remain in jail until his court date at which time he should be sentence to the maximum sentence and, perhaps, rehabilitation. This is first drug offense though he has been involved in the business for years, but this is not his first run in with the law.

His initial incident was disturbing the peace related violation as well as a few other misdemeanor traffic violations though law enforcement could have easily popped him for possession of an unregistered firearm. My father at the insistence of my mother bailed him out.  He had his driver's license suspended for a year though he still chose to drive.

The second time came the very weekend after receiving his driver's license back from suspension. He was popped for DUI and underage consumption. I believe his father bailed him out this round though it could have easily been my mother again. I believe they suspended his license again and placed him on probation.

These are the incidents that I'm aware of though I'm actually pretty certain that there was another incident. Oh and let's not forget the most recent incident with the 14 or so dogs in which city code enforcement very nearly had him arrested when he decided to aggressively protest the citations handed to him. This particular incident cost my mother $600 in fees for removing the dogs from our property and it could have been much worse if they had decided to arrest the property owner, my father. Also, the citations he received totaled $1000, which he would have had no means of paying because he refuses to find work. So that would've been another $1000 out of my mother's hands.

I do not have to say it because the evidence speaks for itself: he is a remorseless menace that will intentionally harm my mother because of her misguided beliefs about her role as a mother.  There is one thing to lend a helping hand to a child that has gone astray, but it is an entirely different thing to simply enable the problem child. At some point, she has to stop to herself and realize that he has to take some responsibility and learn the hard way.

Anyways, I have this out there to give some insight into the issues in find myself dealing with and why I have to work so hard to do what's right for me. To do what makes me happy and seeing my mother get used does not make me happy, especially, when it is a family member abusing her kindness and generosity.

2.192: No Net, No Problems?

Okay, I'm lying. There are a few problems but I'm still posting (via the Blogger's horrid iOS app) and I can go to my local library and knock out my Code Academy lesson for the day. Anyways, DSL will be down for a few days while I wait for a new modem to arrive. For now, I'm going to keep this short and just say that people need to know just how serious I am about cutting out the negative elements in my life. In the short-term, it is going to cause me a ton of grief because I am going to feel guilt-ridden about cutting someone or something out of my life, but I cannot be beholden to the sort of torment that is brought about by its or their presence. I am trying to do better in 2016 and in order to be better, I have to surround myself with positivity. That's all for tonight--have a good one!

2.191: Today's Silver Lining

Today has not been easy.  The growing unrest caused by the arrest of my mother's other son is creating tension between my parents and me.  I wrote about this on a more personal medium and I will leave it there because that does not help me become better and it allows the negativity I am trying to weed out of my life to further seep in.  Instead, I am going to focus on the positives of today and I will start by sending a shout out to the Carolina Panthers!

The Carolina Panthers finished the regular season with a 15-1 record following a 38-10 thumping of divisional rivals, Tampa Bay.  The win clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs for the Panthers, which is always a nice perk to have during the postseason when all of the games are "win or go home".

Aside from the Panthers, I want to shout out the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills for playing an excellent game in which the Jets lost not only the game but their chance at clinching a playoff berth. The Jets' loss coupled with a win by the Pittsburgh Steelers against the hapless (and now, coachless and GM-less) Cleveland Browns meant the Steelers secured the final spot in the AFC playoffs.

And one more shout out to the New Orleans Saints for beating the Atlanta Falcons.  You can call it schadenfreude if you want, but I love seeing the Falcons lose and this loss is, even more, satisfying because it came a week after the Falcons shattered the Panthers' hopes of making history and becoming only the third team in NFL history (and the first in NFC history) to finish the NFL regular season undefeated.  Of course, the Falcons loss at the hands of the Saints serves as a stinging reminder of just how poorly the Panthers played last week that they would lose to such a poor team.

In a non-American football note, my beloved Manchester United finally (finally) ended their eight-match winless skid on Saturday when they defeated Swansea City, 2-1, courtesy of a beautiful back heel from captain Wayne Rooney, who also ended a goalless skid as well as put himself into second place for all-time goals scored in Premier League history and for Manchester United.  Congratulations Wayne!

2.190: Limitless Optimism

For 2016, I am going to try and focus my writing more.  In the past, I have typically written about nothing in particular.  In one post, I may vent and express personal outrage about something that has happened in my life while in another post; I would review (or try to review) a book, film, or television series.  In other words, I was all over the place in my writing and yet nowhere at all or to put it bluntly; I was clueless (or without purpose).

Over the next few weeks, I intend on expanding upon the Finding My Passion series of posts, but I am hellbent on identifying one to three topics in which I will focus most of my writing on in 2016 (or until I turn 33).  But, for now, I will continue expressing personal observations and writing about the technical aspects of this journal because this site is a personal archive of opinions and thoughts.  And who knows? This could be a good thing!

By the way, if you were wondering about some of the topics I am considering focusing on, here is an abridged list:  books, comics, films, music, sports, television, politics, gaming, anime, social issues, searching for employment, food, social media, and much more.  It is unnecessary to say it, but I have a lot of things to consider and not much time to consider it.  Wish me luck!

2.189: 2016

Hooray!  Happy 2016!

In 2016, I resolve to be more positive, to be less negative, and to do better every single day. 

I know that these goals sound vague and that is the point.  For 2016, I have made the decision to focus more on my mental and emotional health and it starts with embracing goodness and extracting darkness.

Of course, I will still set tangible goals, but my overarching resolutions for the new year is to take care of my mind because a sound mind leads to a sound body (and vice versa).

So, in the final few minutes of the first day of 2016, I wish you a Happy New Year!