TNA Thoughts 12/22/09

I fear for the future of TNA Wrestling. They've never really been the match for the WWF. They've been more successful than anyone else since WCW, but they've still never reached that next level.

They got a TV deal with Spike, they put out a video game, they signed Kurt Angle, Sting, Booker T, Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, Bobby Lashley, Christian and now they are bringing in Hulk Hogan.

Hogan was going to come in quite a while back, but he backed out when he came to his senses and realized he would be working for Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo, two guys who pretty much tried to humiliate him on his way out of WCW.


A few years passed. Jarrett sold the company, they got their TV deal, went to the six-sided ring, started taping at Universal Studios in Florida.

Then they managed to scoop up Kurt Angle when he hit some problems in the WWE. Then it started going downhill fast. They added a bunch of Vince's cast offs and started pushing them over the guys that they had made.

Yeah, AJ and Samoa Joe held titles, but it was Nash and Angle and Booker T and Sting that dominated.

Now word is that Hogan and Bischoff are going to be in charge.

Word is that they've told the guys to slow down their matches and work in more rest holds.

Word is that Hogan doesn't like the six-sided ring. Word is that Hogan doesn't like the writers and wants to let the wrestlers determine more of the program.

It's a good thing for him that pretty much everyone that was at WCW when it went down in flames is right there in TNA.

I miss the old TNA where a show would be headlined by Sonny Siaki v. AJ Styles for the X-division title, or Amazing Red v. anybody.

That TNA would never be able to compete with Vince on a 1 to 1 basis, but neither will the one that is coming.

Hogan is smart about the business, so are alot of the other older guys, but the business is about what is new and fresh.

I look for AJ Styles to lose the title soon, maybe to Sting, maybe to Ric Flair, maybe to Nash, maybe to Angle. He'll lose it though and then those guys will come in and dominate the top and the company will start to go down.

The ratings will probably be good for that first special, people will tune in to see Hogan for that first time.

Then they'll realize he's almost 60 and can still talk, but doesn't have much to say anymore.

Nobody really wants to see Ric Flair v. Hulk Hogan for the TNA championship. Maybe more people than want to see AJ Styles v. Samoa Joe for the same belt, but the people who will watch the first match won't stick around to see more either.

I wish TNA the best in their new direction, but I'm not optimistic about their chances.

At least I've still got a big stack of shows from the first year and really good memories, just like I do of ECW.

Senator Palpatine (I-CT) Addresses the Media

Republic HoloNet News

NABOO - Facing concern from Senate Democrats, Sen. Palpatine (I-CT) attempts to allay fears he will derail current Health Care Legislation.

"Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen," Sen. Palpatine told reporters Tuesday.

"There are many on both sides of this grand debate eager to turn this dispute into war. It needn't degenerate into so wasteful an outcome. Together, we have the intelligence and the reason to find an alternative solution."

After his refusal to support a public option, Progressive Democrats expressed concerns that Sen. Palpatine's cuts to the legislation would further weaken the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-EN), attempted to calm their fears.

“I have the greatest confidence in Joe Palpatine's ability as a legislator. And he will work with us when this gets on the floor, and I'm sure he'll have some interesting things to do in the way of an amendment.”

Sen. Palpatine also addressed concerns he had strayed from his position in the 2000 Presidential Election.

"I think changing your mind can be a good thing. In 2000 my running mate, Al Gore and I, supported extending Medicare coverage to those 55 to 65. But things have changed in the subsequent 9 years. In 2000 we had a surplus. Now you can see we're totally screwed.

"Also, we didn't win."

Sen. Palpatine went on to express optimism in his newfound Republican alliances.

"It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love the Democrats. I love the Republicans. But I am mild by nature, and do not wish to see the destruction of democracy. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis has abated. And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a Grand Army of the Republicans to counter the increasing threats of the Progressives.

"All the players are now in place. It is time to initiate the end moves. The plan of many long years shall bear fruit at last!"

Apple Grove Pals

My Letter to Obama

Sent via White House.gov

I would like to voice my concern at the possibility of the dropping of a real public option for health care reform in favor of some sort of co-op, or the possibility of no public option at all.

I am from the heart of red country here in Tennessee.

Please do what is right for the country and include a real public option in whatever bill comes out of congress.

The republicans are not going to vote for health care reform.

This is not an issue where half or partial measures will do. If you do not do it now when you can make it happen we will not have the chance for quite some time to pick up where you leave off.

If Roosevelt had just decided to let the nay sayers win and had not established social security and medicare, but had went instead with a co-op to handle those two ends of his agenda we would not still be fighting to keep them today, they would not exist.

Republicans have been doing everything they can to erode public and private support for two of the most successful social programs of all time for the entirety of their existence. If they had their way social security would be privatized and ended and medicare would cease to exist.

These are the people you are FIGHTING and have been FIGHTING on this. They should not be the ones setting the agenda and the implementation.

While I agree that a feeling of mutuality and cooperation in government is important, at the end of the day you guys are the Progressives. You guys are the Democrats. Of course you have an agenda, so do they.

The public option IS the plan.

You promised health care reform, not insurance reform.

Insurance reform is important, but there will be no real Health Care Reform without a public option that cannot be bought out by private interests.

Give the Republicans the tort reform, give them a promise that the public option won't get special deals to undercut the private insurers. Compromise on those things, but give us a public option.

Give us a choice. The other guys aren't going to and never plan on it.

Republicans aren't going to vote for this no matter what, and if they do it's not the bill that you want or that America needs.

I have insurance. I also have a large medical bill that I will be paying on for at least the next two years because I had to go to the emergency room.

If you want me to be able to buy a car, or anything else that will help the economy, make it where I can go to the emergency room if I feel like I am dying and not still be on the hook for what is for me a huge amount even after the insurance pays their part.

Don't placate the people who can't be placated.

Be the President that gives us the next medicare, not just the guy who tried to get the ball rolling, the ball has been rolling for 40 years and hasn't gotten anywhere.

Willie at Riverbend

Is there anyone in music more awesome than Willie? I believe that Roxanne and I turned my sister into a convert at Riverbend.

We ended up with pretty good 'seats' beside the walkway on the right side of the stage. Clear views of Willie and the band.

More to come, enjoy some sounds from the show:

Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain Live at Riverbend, Chattanooga, TN 2009

Willie Nelson - Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away Live at Riverbend, Chattanooga, TN 2009

Willie Nelson - Always on My Mind Live at Riverbend 2009 (MP3)

Willie Nelson - Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground Live at Riverbend 2009 (MP3)

Willie Nelson - On the Road Again Live at Riverbend 2009 (MP3)

Willie Nelson - Hank Williams, Sr. Medley (Encore) Live at Riverbend 2009 (MP3)

Swingin Midway Drive In Report

Well swingin midway drive in fans we had a real humdinger of a show last night. In case you missed it or in case you didn't we had two big flicks last night.

First up we had Star Trek, rated PG. It's a fast action space thing with explosions and that Spock fella that all the kids like.

Next up we had Wolverine, it's a scary one so we all locked our car doors.

We also stopped by the snack bar for some Nachos and Cheeseburgers, and those mmmm-mmmm good tasty french fries.

Don't forget the Flea Market is open every weekend, and Sunday is car load night.

Norm Coleman=Jay?

I realize this has to be a photo that has been around for awhile now, but doesn't he just look like the type of guy that you'd want representing you?

Granted, do you really want Al Franken representing you?

I'm pretty sure I'd rather have Al than this hippy turned Wally Cleaver.

"Most of you covered me, all of you voted for me..."

As I watch the remarks of Pres. Obama from the White House Correspondents' Dinner, I am thinking that some of his jokes may be viewed as slightly controversial by the right.

But I also have to say that we have a pretty funny President. He's got good timing.

He showed it at the Al Smith dinner, and the Roast of Rahm Emmanuel.

It's like Winnie Cooper was writing his jokes (that is the most obscure West Wing reference that I could go with).

GI Joe Warren Ellis Style

So somebody out there let Warren Ellis have pretty much free reign over the GI Joe universe for a new web series to, I assume, somehow promote the new movie.

I don't think this series will be cannon since two characters die in the first episode, and he made Zartan into a hermaphrodite tv pitchman.

I think it's pretty good. Dig the badass Snakeyes.

Part one:

LIBERAL THINKTANKS LEARN TO USE PHONE/TELECONFERNCING

Sweet Mary and Joseph I just learned from Bill O'Reilly that Politico is saying that there is a liberal cabal of people who have daily conference calls where they plan strategies on how to attack people who are against their agenda.

O'Reilly assures me that it is the same thing as Nixon's dirty tricks squad, and that the group contains people linked to the Clinton's and a former CNN (CNN!) reporter with bad taste in hats.

Then he had Carl Rove on who is, of course, an expert on the subject of Nixonian style dirty tricks.

I am unsure whether or not Carl Rove talking about groups of people getting together to plan political strategies and linking that to fascism.

VAST LEFT WING CONSPIRACY

The LABOR/NBC/TIMES/OBAMA conspiracy, O'Reilly assures me, is a serious threat to America.

Rove assures me that there is no such Conservative call that he is aware of, they merely meet every week or to to do the same type of thing, but they, you know, meet up.

I think there is no validity at all to this story since everyone knows that the cool kids all Twitter now, or Facebook. Next they'll be telling us that the liberals have set up a BBS server.

I think we need to ban these "conference calls," as there is no telling what type of horrors may emerge from them. This is the beginning of Communism folks. When people of like minds get together on the phone and talk about things they are of like minds about and how to get that done you might as well just call in Chairman Mao.

Thank you Bill O'Reilly and Politico, thank you for revealing the vast left-wing conspiracy and exposing the cabal at the heart of our current problems!

Zombie Story Part 2

Continuation of Zombie Story.

Wed.


That was fast.

The power went out faster than I thought that it would. It's only been three days and now nothing is working without batteries.

Cells are too.

No phones, no boats, no motor-cars not a single luxury.

I thought I'd have longer than that.

Army helicopters flew over low this morning and I started to go out until I saw them strafe a house down the street. It's still burning.

I think that discretion might be the best course here.

Before the power went down there were still a few stations online. I got to watch as all the news channels but FoxNews went down. They must have some pretty good security there.

The President came on the air and told everyone to remain calm, that she was instituting Marshal Law and that order would be restored soon. Then she gave that little wink and there was no more from her.

That was one day ago.

Today I'm down to a crank powered radio and some candles I had leftover from my brief forays into mood lighting.

I started boarding up the windows and the front door this morning. The neighbors are gone on both sides and I 'borrowed' some supplies. I thought about holing up in one of the bigger houses, but I don't really know them that well and it was pretty creepy in there.

At least there's no blood on the walls in my house...or body parts.


Thu.


Close call today

I was three houses down raiding a pantry when I noticed that the house had a big gas generator in the garage. I was trying to see if I could move it and wasn't paying attention and one of them almost got me.

She bit me on the hand. Took a big chunk out of my left pinky.

I dealt with her.

Stopped the bleeding and cleaned out the wound.

I hope shit doesn't happen like in the movies.



Fri.


I decided to take the finger off below the wound.

Didn't hurt as much as you would think.

Bled alot.

Took alot of Hydros I found next door.

Thank you desperate housewives.

Sleepy.


Sat.


Slept all day. Still no rescue crews. Radio is off the air.

Saw a bunch of them out wandering today. From now on I don't go out without the guns.

I'm learning to work with one less finger. Luckily I'm right handed, but I am going to have to be way more careful out there, there seem to be an unlimited supply of them out there, but there is a very limited supply of me.


Sun.


What if I killed someone who was a survivor like me. Would it make it better if they were trying to kill me first? Would it make it worse if I did it because I was scared? Zombie or not they go down if you shoot them in the head.

Romero had it right. All the newer films are shit.

I wish I could watch a movie.

I wish I could go out.

I wish I could go back to work.

I wish the world would go back to normal.

I wish I could take back what I've done.


Mon.


Today I have company. I found her three houses down. Been in there before, but she says she wasn't there before. Came from town and thought this area would be safe.

She's been running all this time, moving from place to place.

But I found her and now she's safe.

I think she's scared of me. I do look frightening. A week and it's road warrior time. It's a little too cold for assless chaps and animal tails though.

Remember that guys mowhawk and the doll on the pole on his back?

I think that movie was way ahead of its time.

She says she's never seen it.

Probably never will now.

I think she thinks that I'm going to do something to her.

Probably that I tied her up.

I didn't gag her though.

I do enjoy the company.

She won't tell me her name.

If you think about it Will Smith was a pussy in that movie.


Tue.


She tried to get out today.

If she wouldn't do that I might let her loose from the ropes.

I'm doing it all to protect us anyway.

There isn't anywhere else to go.

One week later and it only seems like there are zombies out there.

I have enough supplies in here for a long time.

Most people really didn't prepare for much, but enough of them that lived close to me to keep us going for as long as we need to hole up.

She eats.

I take her to the bathroom.

I'm not barbaric.

I have lots of guns now.

Don't tell anyone, but the postman that lived at the end of the street had alot of porn and even more guns.

It took me about seven trips for each.

Ha-Ha.



Wed.


She's been here long enough that I know she's not going to turn into one of them, but when I took the gag off today, she bit me hard on the arm.

Somebody shot at me today. It bothers me that I don't know where from.

I'm obviously not a Zombie.

Zombies don't wear body armor, or carry guns, or burn down houses.


Thu.


I don' know how she got out, but If I hadn't heard her screaming things would have been much, much worse.

I had to cut off the arm.

It's not any easier to cut off one of your arms.

It doesn't make it any better that it was the left one either.

I took all the Hydros this time, but I have other stuff in the infirmary.

Ha-Ha.


Fri.


It's quieter now with her gone.

I'm wondering if I should burn down the houses on either side of me. It seems like every time I spend the time blocking them up they just get back in.

It's not like they take the day or the night off.

It's just shuffle-shuffle-roar-roar-bite-bite.

I miss pizza, but I don't miss deodorant!


Sat.


Order still has not been restored. A jet flew over today. I think it dropped some napalm a couple of miles down the road. I can still see the fires in the sky.

Maybe I won't be the one that burns everything down.

I don't think there's a rescue coming.

I don't think order will be restored.


Wed?


The girl came back today.

I must be losing it because I went out.

It's getting progressively harder to cut off parts that I am bitten on.

Who would have thought one of them could bite through kevlar?

Now I know. Now I have to figure out how to get around on one less leg.

One thing is, I'm getting really good at amputation.

I could be a medic.

Like Red-Alert.

Like Hawkeye.

Like House.


Later.


I'm getting around alright, but I'm starting to get itchy to run.

No one is coming.

No Army.

No Lions.

I think I'd like to ride a horse.

I think I'd like to play a round of golf.

Inventories aren't that bad.

I would count anything rather than time.

I think I'd like to do anything but sit here and hide.

Do you think a one legged man can outrun zombies?

I think I'm going to find out.



A little later...


The answer to the question is no.

I have a joke for you.

"What do you call a no-legged, one-armed man?"

Give up?

Not even a guess?

ME!

There is no lady. There is no tiger. Only Lieutenant Dan!

Zombie movies usually end badly.

There isn't any way for me to cut off my back, is there?

That's the Point

Worst President Ever

Is it just me, or did Barack Obama not run a campaign of hope and change?

I seem to remember some songs about all that hope and change.

I just would like to know where it is.

I mean, since he's been President nothing really seems to have changed. It still seems to me like GW is still running the country.

I don't think that's much change or hope. I even saw Dick Cheney giving an interview the other day. What's up with that?

I don't know if it is too early in his Presidency, but it might be time to declare Barry "Steve" Obama the Worst President Ever.



******UPDATE********

It was brought to my attention that Barack Obama has not, in fact, assumed the Presidency as of yet and that George W. Bush IS still the President.

So why did we have that big ol three year long election? Is it time to start electing the next one already? Is it like Real World seasons where they film two at a time?

So, I guess all my "criticisms" of "Barack Obama" were not "valid" or "warranted."

"Sorry."