It seems that sports have caught my fancy at this point. The Yankees look a LOT better (though granted it is against teams they are supposed to BEAT) than they did early in the year.

I am still TRYING to get over the BIGGEST choke in sports history and the fact that the LA KOBES choked themselves out of the playoffs. I am a Lakers fan but I don't approve of what Kobe the GM did to my beloved Lakers. Mitch Kupchak and Jerry Buss are GUILTY too. Shaq and Phil should have gotten PAID and if they had to they could have drafted a shooting guard or kept Kareem Rush and let him start. Well there is always next year I suppose.

Congrats to the Bucks for getting the first pick in the NBA Draft this year and also the Red Sox and Patriots for winning World Titles this past year (even though as a Yankees and football Giants fan it pains me to acknowledge so). You have all done well; now if only the Bucks don't pull a Portland (by drafting Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan) or a Charlotte (drafting and then trading Kobe Bryant). Pick well because there is no one who deserves to go Number 1, lol. Marvin Williams is too green (he should have stayed at Chapel Hill another year to show what he could do as the main option), Andrew Bogut is too soft (he was manhandled by Kentucky and Oklahoma) and no one else merits consideration except for Chris Paul. The Lakers should look at Sean May, Channig Frye, Ike Diogu, Raymond Felton, or Chris Taft. They should also consider Ronnie Turiaf from Gonzaga who is an excellent rebounder and defender at the four. Lamar Odom needs to be able to get back to the three where he is effective (as long as Kobe can finally PASS the ball) and they have enough picks (three in the top 40) to pick up a PG, C, and PF to fill their needs.

Enough with sports and on to the SW Universe. I am looking forward to seeing Episode III (before you criticize and chastise me realize that I am working overseas with the men and women of our United States Army in Eastern Europe and we won't have the movie at the base theatre until after I get back on vacation in June) and watching a great series come to an end (from the movie standpoint). I also am looking forward to the TV series and whatever else GL may have to offer us from his quintessential mind. I am a huge fan of the dual bladed lightsaber and feel that the determination and discipline to undertaking the training to learn lightsaber combat with this weapon is well worth it. I would like to know why GL never discussed or mentioned Prestige Classes (Jedi Watchman and Weapon Master as well as Sith Assassin and Maurader) beyond those of Sith Lord/Jedi Master. I would love to have seen the other classes at some point during the PT. I love the newer SW Games but would love to have more space based combat in them. The only thing better than strapping into a TIE Fighter/Bomber/Interceptor or X/Y/A/B-Wing would be lightsabers and lightsaber combat. I for one am blessed to have had the experience of SW in my viewing lifetime.

Congress has drawn my ire on more than one topic the most significant of which is how little they have done to protect consumers personal information from Identity theft by not punshing the databank centers that compile and trade the info to each other for advertising and marketing placement. My take is that since they haven't had the "luxury" of spending hundreds to thousands of dollars to clear their credit reports of fradulent activity that they could care less about it. Funny that they can be kept in office and give themselves raises for being incompetent (and they have all had their moments believe me) yet little guys like us (the average consumer and worker) always get the shaft and get fired for even the littlest divergence from ethical/sound/fiscal behavior. Business CEOs are the same too. They are allowed to retire (in most cases with full benefits) for a lack of judgement (even though we know they knew full well what they were doing) while we get unemployment and may never be able to get a comparable job again. I hate to ramble and be so opinioned but that is part of our human nature.

Random factoid: Did you know that in 1943 a Naval mechanical engineer by the name of Richard James invented the Slinky? He wanted to develop a spring that would keep sensitive on-board instruments (in US naval vessels) steady while at sea. I saw it on the Armed Forces Network Spectrum channel yesterday. They always give military facts and history during programs (since they can't show Stateside commercials during programs).

My apologies to those in the Northeast where it is raining. It reminds me of when I was stationed in England during my USAF days, lol.

Well goodbye all and I'll see you tomorrow! Enjoy and please don't beat me up too bad, lol. I love debate but we can agree to disagree and stay friends can't we?