What does it take BBN?

I am a huge UK fan.  When I say this, I don't mean I follow men's basketball faithfully.  I mean I follow any UK sport I can.  I watch men's basketball faithfully, but also women's basketball and football.  I also catch softball, baseball, volleyball, cheerleading and the rifle team any time I can.  I have watched some soccer games, specifically women's during their tourny run this year (thanks to the SEC network) and gymnastics.  I will cheer for UK in any sport and follow final scores - even if it is a sport that doesn't always hold my interest.  I don't know all the "intricate" rules of every sport but I have grown up playing basketball, trained as a referee and coached youth leauge.  I know basketball better than any other sport.  I don't just enjoy basketball - I love it.  

All of this background is to preface the statement - as much as I know Coach Cal knows more.  That is why he is paid the big bucks.  After 2 games, where UK men's team did not play their best, so many couch coaches are weighing in on what needs to be done to "fix it".  What are we fixing?  Our beloved team is 15-0.  What more do we want?  How much better can it be?  Somehow, we have lost the idea of being a fan and just enjoying the special ride of this season.  

Every fan base has them, but the worst of BBN is rearing their ugly heads.  They believe, for some reason, they know more about what this team needs than Coach Cal and his staff.  I am absolutely sure Cal, Robic, Kenny Payne and Slice are reviewing the message boards to see what sort of suggestions fans are making so they can implement ideas!  BBN - JUST STOP IT.  Sit back and enjoy the ride.  If  you loose sight of where we are just remember the Billy Gillespi days - when we lost to Gardner Webb.... in Rupp.  

Finally, if you want to criticize Coach Cal, well he has big shoulders and he gets paid well enough to take it while he's crying into his millions.  What I can't believe is the people that want to criticize the players.  These are 18-20 year old guys!!!!  They are not paid to take your crap.  These guys are good kids who practice hard, go to class, make some of the best grades any UK men's basketball team has ever earned (remember the Rick Pitino days when the walk ons were just there to raise the team GPA).  They do all this while staying out of trouble, being gracious to fans and doing community service projects. Most of us, don't do half of what they do but some still belive they have the right to criticize these guys.  If you have that kind of time, maybe it's time for you to find a community service project to  fill all that free time.

Again, remember this team can be REALLY special.  Just enjoy the ride!!!   

Public Service or Political Party Agenda

With my last post about keeping the political references out of Dancing with the Stars, then listening to the news and all the Senators and Representatives pulling stunts to forward their political party instead of the country got me thinking.... When did our government become about representing a political party and not about representing the citizens of this nation?

I have always believed that voting to elect our local, state and federal leaders is my civic duty.  From the time I turned 18 and received the privilege, I have voted.  However, in my adult lifetime it has been a choice in the "lesser of 2 evils" more times than not. 

Currently, I see VERY few of our elected officials, specifically at the federal level, who understand that being elected to office is a privilege and it is just as much as call to SERVICE as any soldier in our armed services.  My question is have we lost the definition of service along the way, or are the elected officials serving their political, personal and lobbyist agendas instead of the very citizens who elected them?

I have never believed in all of the principles from either political party.  I have always selected the candidates receiving my vote by the information they provide about their platforms during the election.  I have always believed our 3 branches (well 2 based on how citizens can vote) should be balanced between the political parties. 

Lately, however, the war between the democrats and republicans has taken on a civil war feel.  Actually, it's more like a prank war for rival high schools because I have yet to see adult behavior from either side.  The current motto is to stop each other.  Creating a stalemate between the political parties is not service to citizens of this great nation who are suffering while we wait on the winner of the pissing contest!!  Service is about sacrificing of oneself, including ego, for the betterment of many.  I haven't seen a sacrifice from our current leaders - Democrat or Republican so maybe our leaders need a hard reminder of the definition of service and who they are serving.

I recently heard that congress had failed to pass an extension on the unemployment insurance for the almost 10% of the population who is without work.  Democrats have failed, in the last 2 years, to move the economy in a direction of creating jobs.  I mean creating jobs, not putting on the tourniquet to stop loosing jobs.  Republicans wonder where more money will come from to pay these benefits.  However, I have to wonder why the same congress that could pass legislation to save Wall Street and the Auto Industry can't save the citizens.  Call in the loans to Wall Street and GM, since they failed to create sufficient employment for people and pay their unemployment.  Sorry CEO's - there will be NO bonus until you make an actual profit, which includes repayment of all loans.  Reference Webster for the definition of profit if you need additional help.   This is only one example from this week; there is also tax cuts, an immigration issue, health care, and many more where political party lines have been drawn. 

This all leaves me wondering, how do we elect people, willing to give up their "power" and "ego", wanting to improve this country for it's citizens?  Obviously, many voters were over the antics of the current group so many new folks were elected earlier this month.  The only thing is that I think it may make the situation worse. There is already "trash talk" from the rival schools (Oops - I mean political parties) about making life difficult for the other.  Suggestions on how we get the message across that this doesn't serve the majority of the voters? 

How do we get elected leaders who understand what it is like down here in the trenches?  People who are unemployed, who have lost life savings, who wonder how they will send children to college, who think they will never be able to retire.  How do we get the point across about the top issues in our lives?  Why is it such a hard concept to understand; service is about work to protect the well-being of those who elected you to office?  Don't be so arrogant as to believe we are to stupid to know what is good for us.  When do we break status quo, special interest groups, and the political party "red rover game" getting this nation in a forward motion for its citizens again?

Can't Believe People's Reaction to DWTS this season!!!

I have been away for some time.  So many things have hit my mind to add here, but I was in the middle of other projects so I didn't get out my laptop.  However, I have some time tonight and I am truly appalled. 

I am a big fan of the show Dancing With The Stars.  I have watched for quite some time now.  Through the years there have been many "stars" on the show that I liked, several I didn't like, and some I had NO idea who they were until they competed on this show.  I, however, have always looked at it as a form of entertainment; not a statement on our life.  Although it is firmly added to our "pop culture".

First of all, there have always been fan groups backing a certain star, especially when it came down to the finals.  There have been comments made about some stars having specific dance experience and the fairness of including them in the competition.  The last couple of seasons, there discussions regarding if the "stars" were really "stars".  Obviously some "stars" are only asked to compete for the potential ratings they will bring.  We've all loved to specualte on the single pros and stars having off screen love affairs, and been overly interested in the ones that actually do become couples.  Was the chemistry between Chad and Cheryl really just for show? :)

However, this season I think we are seeing a new level of hatred from the public.  It is WAY beyond what is necessary for people (even if they are stars) to endure.  First, these stars come with a certain amount of following, that is why they are asked to be on the show.  Stars then pick up/loose followers based on how they do during the competition and the personality they project.  Now, some of the personality projected to the fans is based on what the producers display from the clips taken during rehearsals.  They have the ability to edit comments and situations to show what they want to show about a star.

I had my favorites this year.  I am a child of the 80's.  I wore out my cassette tape of the Dirty Dancing soundtrack (then later bought the CD version) and still love that music today; so Jennifer Grey was an early favorite for me.  I've gotten sick of the "feel sorry for me" but I do enjoy her dancing.  I thought Rick Fox was great going into the season and was disappointed when he left.  I have always respected the player and mostly the person Kurt Warner is, so I was rooting for him.  I thought he was a true gentlemen at elimination; sad as it was.  Brandy, well, I always liked her music and figured she would do well.  I saw her drive and determination.  I became worried that comments made by her and Maks on Twitter would affect her following.  I mean we all grew up with Mama Brady, so can you really cheer against her, but I never really believed she would win and most of her fan base isn't the people calling/texting and logging on.  I was hopeful that Bristol Palin would get to show she has her own personality and not be judged by the those who hate her mother.  I never believed she would make it this far, and was just impressed she wasn't the first to go home, because she wasn't the worst of the 11.  David Hasselhoff - well, I really didn't know what to think about him other than I was sure it would prove interesting.  Michael Bolton was an intersting choice and I was just suprised that he was agreeing to participate.  I had heard of the remaining contestants but didn't really know much more then their name and why they had some level of fame.  I have, however, come to enjoy Kyle's performances and really thought Audrina had some ability, but didn't really get compelled to vote for her.

First, Tom tweets after voting in week 1 that he was suprised by the star that would be leaving.  Well, I wasn't because "The Hoff" was without rythm, grace, or fans that would vote for him.  People just didn't like him after the drunken cheeseburger video.  The next week Bruno goes off on Michael Bolten.  DWTS producers ate up the buzz it created and, therefore, Bruno was not required to apologize.  However, the world saw that Michael Bolten has tremendously more character in his little finger than Bruno has by bailing out a DWTS results show.  His performance was beautiful.  Let's not forget the whole "Boo Gate", when people thought Sarah was being booed.    A couple weeks later the controversay over Bristol starts when Florence, Audrina, Rick, Kurt, and Brandy were all eliminated before Bristol.  Then there was the disagreement in scoring by Maks and Carrie Anne that was thrown in there too.

Now, the haters are alive and well.  Claims that Sarah Palin is buying votes for her daughter.  Seriously?!?!  Do people really think Sarah has that much money or power?  I am PRAYING that the voting has nothing to do with political party.  I am sickened that there is more converstaion over Bristol's dancing than there was over electing representaives to congress that will improve this nation (regardless of political party).  The sad thing is that as Bristol has lasted in the competition it has gotten worse and the worse it gets the more determined her supporters are.  Also, let's not forget, at this stage of the show the pros have a following too.  I believe Jimmy Kimmel is an jack@$$ for trying to get one of the celebs (star or pro) to say something bad about Bristol and/or the Palin family on his show. 

All of this was just sad until last night.  I follow some of my favorite stars and pros on Twitter.  I read tweets to Erin Andrews stating that her comments caused Brandy to loose and that she was the worst thing that had ever happened to Maks.  I saw tweets to Louis Van Amstel that harrassed him for his lack of support to Bristol.  I saw political statements made to Carrie Anne about hatred for Bristol.  I saw tweets to Mark Ballas that were nothing but HATE aimed at him because he is Bristol's partner.  Some guy in WI shot his TV - at least this guy is diagnosed bi-polar and has that to explain his behavior.  This is UNCALLED FOR!!  People are looking for a reason to be offended. I even had some random person cuss at me on Twitter for saying I didn't like all the bullying being passed around the internet about DWTS. I can't imagine how these people truly under attack feel.  They are being attacked personally because of a dancing show!!! 
So people, DWTS is TV.  Accept that.  Watch and vote for your favorite.  The producers assemble a cast of people with all levels of dancing experience and fan following in hopes of good ratings. Each week someone is voted off the show, mainly based on fan vote.  If you don't like what is on the show, CHANGE THE CHANNEL.  It is not necessary to believe that Sarah Palin is rigging the vote or that DWTS is any way affilitate with either political party.  If memory serves me all of the major news affiliates, including ABC, were decidedly Obama in the 2008 elections so I think they have some fondness for democrats too.  Believing that they are suddenly for republicans is just weird.  It isn't about our government - it's about entertainment and ratings and ABC executives making money.  The producers of DWTS may rig votes for ratings, but I think Sarah Palin is more focused on getting Tea Party represetatives into public office (and not always the best idea in my opinion - that means you Rand Paul). 

I am saddened that we live in times where people are attacked for doing their jobs (sorry Mark), for who their friends are (sorry Erin), and who their family is (sorry Bristol).  I think all of the stars who agree to do this show deserve respect because they lay themselves on the line and give up their lives for our entertainment.  They go through a physical and emotional journey, especially if they truly compete to win.  People need to GET A GRIP!  Get fired up about getting the economy out of the toliet, demand that companies quit paying big bonuses to executives for meeting budgets by laying off employees, and follow God and the Bible with the same conviction you do DWTS.

Introducing Me

Introducing Melissa...

I am a 36 year old single, southern woman living in the Great Smoky Mountains.  I've got southern manners, but am far from a southern belle (I didn't grow up in a family with enough money for that).  I have an Materials Engineering degree from the Univeristy of Kentucky, but am currently unemployed.  I am a Christian, which means I admit I make mistakes and need God's beautiful Grace, not that I believe I'm better than anyone.  I have very strong opinions about the things affecting my life, but don't expect that everyone should agree with me.

I find the TV and movie depictions of 30-something single women to hold little truth to the life I actually live.  I am not living a life of high fashion, expensive apartments/flats, and continuous dates with the wrong guy.   Instead, I'm focused on my family, friends and whatever is the topic of the moment in my life. 

This blog is about my opinions of things that happen in MY everyday life.  I have stayed away from posting such things on the internet in the past because, well frankly, once it is on the internet you can't take it back.  However, lately, I have come to the realization that my opinions are just that - MINE.  Some people will agree with my opinions and please feel free to comment.  Others will disagree with me, if you do, please be so adult as to have actual examples or facts to support your arguments.  If you don't have anything constructive to add, please feel free to stop reading my blog and start your own with YOUR opinions.  It is what makes the internet and the good ole' USA great - we all get to think for ourselves. 

Now, I am starting this to get my views "out there" and it will allow anyone who cares to read this blog the opportunity to get to know me.  I don't have a mission, just some thoughts....  First and foremost, don't take this or life too seriously because, as I well know, things can change in an instant.  This blog is NOT the most important thing in my life, it is just an outlet.

Topics you will see on this blog: manners or lack there of by other people in my everyday life; college sports, I am a HUGE University of Kentucky fan, job-hunting and working, current events and anything else that is processed through my brain on any given day......

Now, let the fun begin.....