Weekend watchdog

Last year, Father's Day was a sports feast for dads. This year, you get to add the World Cup to the weekend mix.
The United States plays its second game Friday, meeting Slovenia at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN. That's the group leading Slovens after the first batch of matches. Germany meets Serbia to open the day at 7 a.m., then England meets Algeria at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Will the Brits be able to keep up with the Yanks in group play?
Saturday opens with the Netherlands vs. Japan at 7 a.m., then it's Ghana vs. Australia at 9:30 p.m. ABC gets to show Denmark against Cameroon at 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, you've got Slovakia vs. Paraguay, then Italy against New Zealand in the morning on ESPN. ABC has favorite Brazil going against Ivory Coast in its afternoon slot.
By the next weekend, the group play will be done and it's off to the single-elimination round of 16.
Golf dads will be focused on the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. NBC will be on the air 3-5 p.m. Friday, while ESPN has coverage from 1-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
Saturday, NBC is on from 4:30 p.m. and through prime time. The final round is on from 3-9 p.m. The College World Series kicks off Saturday in Omaha, and don't feel too bad Virginia fans - only three of the top eight seeds advanced to the final eight.
TCU meets Florida State Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN to open the festivities, then it's Florida-UCLA at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oklahoma meets South Carolina at 2 and Arizona State faces Clemson at 7 p.m.
The Nationals host the White Sox this weekend, with games Friday and Sunday on MASN. FOX has picked up the Saturday afternoon game for its package. Other areas will see the Dodgers at Red Sox or Twins-Phillies. TBS will show the Yankees and Mets Sunday afternoon, with Dodgers-Red Sox being ESPN's Sunday night game.
The Orioles conclude a west coast swing with a weekend at San Diego's Petco Park on MASN2.
NASCAR gets a late start, with TNT's coverage from Sonoma starting at 3 p.m. The Nationwide drivers are in Wisconsin Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Indy cars are in Iowa, with Versus coverage starting at 1:30 p.m.
Comcast offers the Washington Mystics facing Chicago Saturday at 7 p.m.
For something different, the Red Bull Air Race will be seen on Comcast Sunday at 2 p.m.

Back in the saddle again

It's a bright sunny day in Fishersville. Looks like the technical difficulties have been resolved, with just a few casualities (how do I put the roundup of roundups together again?)
Thanks for those who expressed concern.

Dog days of summer

Has your traffic gone to the dogs since Memorial Day? Do you check your Sitemeter and cry?

Hang on baby, September's coming.

Then Election season, when the main people crying will be Democrats.

Ready for the World Cup?

ESPN has a neat feature on Pele's goals in the 1958 World Cup final.
The first goal was great. Here's a brief clip, but check out ESPN for the slow-motion and better clarity.

Weekend watchdog

It's an event held every four years, but this time it's unique.
The World Cup comes to Africa for the first time in its 80-year history, and host South Africa opens play against Mexico Friday at 9:30 a.m. Uruguay takes on France at 2 p.m.
The United States team has its first contest Saturday at 1:30 p.m., facing on England on ABC. Earlier in the day on ESPN, it's South Korea vs. Greece at 7 a.m. and Argentina-Nigeria at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, the day begins with Algeria vs. Slovenia at 7 a.m., then Serbia vs. Ghana. ABC brings Germany against Australia at 1:30 p.m.
Play continues daily through the opening round, with the final set for July 11.
The NBA Finals continue with Game 5 Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC. Then it's back to L.A. to decide this year's basketball champion.
The NHL season is over, but minor league hockey continues. Comcast will show Game 5 of the American Hockey League's final - Hershey at Texas - Friday at 8:30 p.m.
It's time for interleague play in baseball. The Orioles start a series with the Mets on MASN, while the Nationals visit the Indians on MASN2.
Nationally, the battle of Chicago between the White Sox and Cubs gets the national attention on FOX Saturday and ESPN Sunday night. The Red Sox and Phillies are the other FOX offering, and the game featured on TBS Sunday afternoon.
College baseball is down to the Super Regional level, with eight series determining the eight participants in next week's College World Series. Virginia hosts Oklahoma, playing Saturday at 3 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m. on ESPN and Monday (if necessary) at either 1 or 7 p.m.
The ESPN family of networks starts the fun Friday afternoon with Vanderbilt-Florida State and Texas against TCU on ESPN2. Florida faces Miami at 7 p.m. on ESPN, then it's UCLA and Cal State-Fullerton on ESPN2 at 10:30 p.m.
The best available games will fill the time slots Saturday and Sunday, with four finals possible on Monday.
NASCAR heads to Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m., while the Nationwide racers are in Kentucky Saturday night at 7:30 on ESPN.
The PGA tour is in Memphis for the St. Jude's Classic. CBS has coverage Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Mystics host the New York Liberty Saturday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.
Saturday afternoon, ESPN2 offers Major League Lacrosse at 3 p.m. (Denver vs. Boston) and women's pro softball (Chicago vs. Florida) at 5 p.m.

Another fun video

I've enjoyed this video on CMT recently. Watch out for those angry women.

Jaron and the Long Road to Love   More CMT Music   More CMT Music Videos

Take a number

Doug Ross lets you know the top 10 rejected Obamacare slogans.
I'm sure there were more than 10.
h/t Wyblog

Counter-productive, much?

President Obama talks about kicking butts early in the week.
BP's stock tanks.
Reminds me of a pirate sign I saw at the beach last summer.
"The beatings will continue until morale improves."

Palate cleanser

Would you rather think of Sarah Palin or Helen Thomas?
Thanks, lefties, for the new distraction in political discourse.

Tied in nots

Contentions blog at Commentary Magazine rounds up the news of the day.
Including a sentence I would not expect to see.
Not only Andrew Sullivan is obsessed with Sarah Palin’s breasts.

More Obama job losses

ESPN is closing it's ESPNZone restaurants in Baltimore, Washington and three other cities.
Jobs will be lost until new tenants can be found.
The Baltimore Sun article was written by a college colleague of mine. Her job seems secure.

Some cheer with your lousy money news

I heartily endorse this post at Ace of Spades.
I take my recessions like I take my vanilla cones from Baskin-Robbins: double-dip!
Now I'm looking for a nice cave to hide in.

Guess my nephew has to shave now

Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks for winning the Stanley Cup.
My nephew, who turns 16 later in the month, had not shaved during the Flyers' playoff run.
My brother sent me a photo over the cell phone between the second and third period. Will there be pictures of a clean-shaven face?
UPDATE: Email confirmation that he shaved Thursday night.

Texas cheerleaders on ice

When I did an internship with the Baltimore Skipjacks in 1983, they were the southern-most team in the American Hockey League.

The league has expanded quite a bit since then, now including a team from Austin, Texas in the league final.

Which means Texas girls like Sarah rooting on an ice hockey team.

8-3 is a pretty good record

Washington Nationals fans would be estastic if Stephen Strasburg had an 8-3 record later this summer.
That's Sarah Palin's record of endorsements so far this campaign season.

Summer vacation, day one

The boys have been out of school for just over 24 hours.
They are already saying they are bored.
Along with:

• Let's go to a movie.
• Let's go to the store and buy something for us. (the oldest turns 13 in four weeks).
• Let's see if a friend can come over.
• Can I have some ice cream?

Let's see if I can make it until Aug. 17.

I pity the fool

Instapundit links a commentary on the best movies from TV series.
The list of bad movies would be too long to read until you take a week of vacation.

Ya win some, ya lose some

Anybody find a pattern in Tuesday's Republican primaries?
Establishment candidates won in Virginia congressional races.
Establishment candidates got killed in South Carolina and Nevada - usually two of the first presidential primary states.
Less than four months until Election Day. When some of our questions may be answered.

Rusty robot

Mind Numbed Robot tries to crank out a great post, but finds the gears are rusty.
He's someone who could be helped by a dip in the Gulf of Mexico right now.

How do you kick your own butt?

That's my question for President Obama.
Don't care if his quote was presidential or not. After 50 days, the president is not a bystander.
If he can't kick his own butt, others will do it for him.

Look who's cracked

Yankee Phil is running for a spot on the board of directors of the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative.
Coarse Cracked Corn doesn't like the idea.
I have to defend Phil, since he's busy tonight - at Boy Scouts.
But since Cracked Corn links Phil's old site - silent these last 12 months - I'd say the opinion is worse than the linking skills.
Good luck in the voting Thursday, Phil.

New Jersey birthday boy

Chris at Wyblog gets help from his daughter to celebrate his birthday.
Don't get too close.

Do you see what I see?

A great joy of the blogosphere is getting to directly read what someone with totally different viewpoints thinks.
Blue Virginia sees President Obama as tough.
Others see a whiny baby, unhappy things aren't going his way.
It's all in perceptions and preconceived notions. You look for what you want to see.
But how come the smartest, most powerful President ever keeps getting bested by George W. Bush and the oil companies, Republicans in Congress and public opinion?
Gee, I wrote about it last March and the Other McCain picked it up.
"Right now, the majority of the American public sees President Obama as a Jackie Robinson symbol of hope and change. But conservatives have seen his flaws. He can't hit the curve ball. He can't field his position. He's a utility infielder, not an All-Star or Hall of Famer."

School's out - for 10 weeks

Augusta County schools closed for the year at 1 p.m.
Is it August 17th yet?
(for some reason, the students and teachers didn't like me saying that to them today).

Interesting economic indictator

I used to live in Georgetown, S.C., which is in-between Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
And which will not have a new car dealership for the first time in 85 years.
Jeepy Ford is ending his contract with GM.
He does have one of the great car names, doesn't he?

Watch for falling naked ladies

Hopefully they won't need a sign for that in Myrtle Beach.
Fortunately, she was thrown from only a second floor balcony. And she received medical treatment after the incident.

Stop the spill or I'll hold my breath

I guess that's what's next for President Obama, after saying he's looking for an "ass to kick."

Steyn sums it up

Mark Steyn on Helen Thomas' farewell -
A guy with a flip camera just took out one of the most storied names in American journalism.
'Nuff said.

A non-PC bumper sticker

American Power displays a bumper sticker from the pro-Arizona rally Sunday.
You know which side he stands on.

Helen Thomas, Barack Obama and me

We were all born on August 4.
I may have to change my birthday.