Flooding in Ireland...

From: Tim Pynes

If this doesn't tug at your heartstrings nothing will. We've all

seen the faces of those ravaged by the floods of Sri Lanka and

New Orleans....

This "award-winning" photograph of the recent floodwaters rising

in Ireland captures the horror and suffering there.

Keep these people in your thoughts and prayers...

3 long awaited words for Irish fans

GOOD DEFENSIVE RECRUITING

I am loving Corwin Brown already.

According to this article, he is finally creating a defensive
recruiting scheme to balance out the offensive juggernaut.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/NDSports02/706260423/-1/NDSPORTS/CAT=NDSports02

--
Brian Rants
---
"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path
and leave a trail."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

East Coast: Fish, waves, history...and of course beer

My lovely tour of the east coast continues. May try to add some pix later...for now here is some of the fun stuff we are doing.

PHILADELPHIA

I had no idea how much history I would discover in Philadelphia. Call it brushing up on American History.

The oldest residential street in America (early 1700's), the building where the first Continential Congress drafted letters to King George about taxation without representation, cobblestone streets...amazing. I HIGHLY recommend getting the tour in a horse drawn carriage. The drivers know amazing facts about the history of the different buildings.

I also met some lovely beers.

Beers
City Tavern: this is where Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Ben Franklin would put down a cold one after a long day planning the revolution....amazing!
- Thomas Jefferson Ale: a hoppy amber ale...a bit too hoppy for my liking. Enjoyed it nonetheless, especially since this was Tommy Boy's actual recipe!
- Martha Washington's Summertime Ale: a very nice, light summertime ale...delicious

RHODE ISLAND

The beautiful Block Island, Narragansett beaches, buildings from the 1700's, New England architecture, seafood...and great time with family.

Rhode Island is like getting out into the country...except it is by the ocean. Very nice.

Beers
- Newport Storm: a nice smooth ale...I prefer a little more bite like a Fat Tire, but I would definitely get it again.
- Narragansett Lager: it was nice. Not a huge lager guy, but I would drink this again.
- Dogfish IPA (something like that): man, I can't stand IPA's. This was again confirmed.

New Jersey

I'm in a New Jersey rest station, and they are playing Bon Jovi.

Perfect.

Did you know you can't pump your own gas in NJ? Maybe just this
station...but it is NJ law.

--
Brian Rants
---
"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path
and leave a trail."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Preemptive Strikes

Pondering the morality of a "preemptive strike," as performed by our nation under this administration.

Being a crime novel enthusiast, I thought of the example of police protocols.

Imagine if a police involved shooting occurred, and a man was killed. It turned out the man was unarmed, and allegedly did not even make a movement to reach for a weapon.

When interviewed by Internal Affairs, the policeman said
- This man had tried to shoot a cop before (predicting future actions based on past events)
- He was a known coke-head, and a menace to his neighborhood (unstable influence in his region)
- He had a mean look on his face and was cussing me out (was taking an enemy-like stance)
- Everything we know about the man leads us to believe he would try to shoot at a cop at some point in the future again

So based on those facts, the policeman concluded it was best to kill him now.

That would cause riots in about 14 cities.

Just food for thought.

--
Brian Rants