Well, now we know why that guy ran on to the field during the EagleÂ’s game against the Packers on Sunday. He was spreading his motherÂ’s ashes, since she was an EagleÂ’s fan.

Christopher Noteboom, of Tempe, Ariz., ran onto the field holding a plastic bag, leaving a cloud of fine powder behind.

As he reached the 30-yard line, he dropped to his knees, made the sign of the cross and laid down on his stomach. Security personnel reached him moments later and he offered no resistance as he was escorted from the field.

The 33-year-old Noteboom, a native of Doylestown, said his mother died of emphysema in January 2005, shortly before the Eagles' Super Bowl appearance.

"She never cared for any other team except the Eagles," Noteboom told WPVI-TV after he was released from custody Monday. "I know that the last handful of ashes I had are laying on the field, and will never be taken away. She'll always be part of Lincoln Financial Field and of the Eagles."

Noteboom, a bar owner in Arizona, was charged with defiant trespass. He has a hearing scheduled for Dec. 27.

"It's bizarre, but we have a zero tolerance for people who run on the field," Police Inspector William Colarulo said. "We especially have a zero tolerance for people who run onto the field and dump an unknown substance in a stadium full of people."

Eagles spokeswoman Bonnie Grant said the team has declined requests to spread ashes on the field.

You know, if they changed their minds on allowing human remains to be spread around the field, perhaps they could assign such duties to Terrell Owens – I hear he isn’t working right now.

Posted by: Greg at 01:29 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 291 words, total size 2 kb.

Ordinarily, I would have deep admiration for any performer who announced plans to boycott Red China over the torture and cruelty that regularly occurs in that country. After all, that regressive dictatorship oppresses nearly one quarter of humanity, and the world ought to make their liberation one of its priorities.

Unfortunately, Sir Paul McCartney doesnÂ’t give a crap about the lack of human freedom in China. HeÂ’s refusing to perform there because of the killing of dogs and cats for fur.

The ex-Beatle was given a preview screening of undercover footage taken in a fur market in Guangzhou, southern China.

Dogs and cats are shown being thrown from the top deck of a converted bus onto concrete pavements.

In another piece of footage, cats are seen squirming inside a sack before being thrown into a vat of boiling water.

Smiling, laughing workers are also filmed senselessly beating the animals to death.

The report, which was filmed by an investigator linked to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) campaign group, will be shown on Monday night on the BBC's Six O'clock News.

Sir Paul and wife Heather were close to tears as they watched the undercover report.

Sir Paul told the BBC: "This is barbaric. Horrific. It's like something out of the dark ages. And they seem to get a kick out of it. They're just sick, sick people.
"I wouldn't even dream of going over there to play, in the same way that I wouldn't go to a country that supported apartheid.

"This is just disgusting. It's just against every rule of humanity. I couldn't go there. If they want to consider themselves a civilised nation they're going to have to stop this."

So let me get this straight. The political oppression and general violations of human rights that occur on a daily basis in Red China and which have been known for years are not sufficient to get McCartney to stand up to the butchers in Beijing – but cruelty to animals put the Communist dictatorship beyond the pale.

Sir Paul – where are your priorities and sense of proportion? Why are animals more important to you than human beings?

Posted by: Greg at 10:16 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 368 words, total size 2 kb.

As long as they pay him, the Philadelphia Eagles can deactivate loud-mouthed lockerroom malcontent Terrell Owens if they feel it is in the best interests of the team. Owens has no right under the NFL collective bargaining agreement with the players to actually play football. So says the mediator in Owens' grievance case against the Eagles.

For conduct proven to be a "destructive and continuing threat" to his team, an arbitrator ruled Wednesday that the Eagles were justified in suspending their All-Pro receiver for four games — and are within their rights to deactivate him for the rest of the year.

The Eagles will now look to trade or release Owens before next March, when he's due a $5 million roster bonus.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch wrote in his 38-page decision that there was "no violation of the labor agreement inherent in the club's decision to pay Mr. Owens, but not to permit him to play or practice due to the nature of his conduct and its destructive and continuing threat to the team."

Well, T.O -- sit home and count that cash. Oh, and don't expect to get picked up for next season, especially since not even my hapless Houston Texans are willing to put up with your crap for a chance to becoem a winner. Your skills simply do not overcome your personality defects.

Posted by: Greg at 10:40 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 231 words, total size 2 kb.

I've got season tickets for the Houston Texans, so I would be glad to see Bob McNair's franchise do just about anything to improve fromthe dismal 1-7 start that we have seen this year.

But signing Terrell Owens is something that would make me walk away fromt eh four-season-old franchise. He is a malignant influence upon the game of football.

So it is with great relief that I read this from the Houston Chronicle.

Texans owner Bob McNair would love to have a chance to acquire a lot of NFL players to help solve his problems, but Philadelphia receiver Terrell Owens is not one of them.

During a break in preparations for Sunday's game at unbeaten Indianapolis, McNair was asked if he would consider signing Owens once Philadelphia has washed its hands of him.

"He's almost dismantled the Eagles; why would you wish that on us?" McNair said with a laugh. "I've already got enough problems."

The Texans are 1-7 and in need of help at a lot of positions, but McNair wouldn't consider the controversial Owens, who has been suspended for four games by the Eagles and was placed on the reserve/suspended list Wednesday.

Owens is hoping an independent arbitrator will rule that he can play this season — if not for the Eagles then for another team.

"Some things can overcome talent, and he's figured out how to do that," McNair said. "Football's a team sport, and when a player thinks he's more important than the team, it's just not going to work."

Amen, Bob. The last thing we need is the arrival of T.O. and his Circus of Self-Promotion here in Houston.

Posted by: Greg at 11:21 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 283 words, total size 2 kb.

Well, well, Terrell – I see contrition comes late, and only after you’ve been told that the Eagles plan on sidelining your sorry, self-centered, arrogant butt for the rest of the season. No TV time, no on-field heroics, not highlight reels for you, not unless you can get yourself back into the good graces of Coach Reid, your teammates, and the Eagles management.

In your statement, you almost sounded sorry for your words and actions.

"I fight for what I think is right. In doing so, I alienated a lot of my fans and my teammates," Owens said, reading a statement outside his house outside Philadelphia.

No, letÂ’s tell it like it is. You fight for Terrell Owens, for his press clippings and his personal satisfaction. Right has nothing to do with it. After all, we all know that Andy Reid is a straight-shooter, and look at what he said.

The decision resulted from "a large number of situations that accumulated over a long period of time, during which Terrell had been warned repeatedly about the consequences of his actions," Reid said.

Wanna know what you can do to make yourself beloved among fans and make it clear you are willing to sacrifice for the team? Here it is – demand that the team renegotiate your contract. Insist that you will not take a penny OVER the league minimum for the rest of the season. Demand that the contract drop any and all incentive bonuses beyond those tied to TEAM accomplishments, such as playoff and Super Bowl appearances. Include a gag order on yourself until training camp next year. In other words, make an entirely self-effacing move to show that you are really all about the game, not all about T.O.; prove to us that you recognize that you recognize that the game is more important than any one player.

Maybe then you will convince some of us that you are worth caring about or cheering for. Otherwise you will just b one more piece of rubbish cast by the roadside – talented, but too unstable and self-important to fit on the playing field with 10 other guys in the same-colored jersey.

Posted by: Greg at 01:35 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 370 words, total size 2 kb.

If a hacker did this, there would be jail time involved. SonyÂ’s installation of malicious and dangerous code on computers without disclosure merits similar treatment.

Earlier this week, computer security researcher Mark Russinovich published an analysis showing that some new Sony CDs install software that not only limits the copying of music on the discs, but also employs programming techniques normally associated with computer viruses to hide from users and prevent them from removing the software.

Russinovich's findings -- posted on the Web site (http://www.sysinternals.com/) that he runs with another researcher -- indicated that the CDs in question use software techniques that behave similarly to "rootkits," software tools that hackers can use to maintain control over a computer system once they have broken in.

He found that traditional methods of uninstalling the program would not work, and that attempts at removing it corrupted the files needed to operate his computer's CD player, rendering it useless.

Sony spokesman John McKay said the technology has been deployed on just 20 titles so far, but that the company may include it on additional titles in the months ahead.

Did you get that – Sony has knowingly installed programs that are hidden and which damage your computer if you try to play some of their CDs. Not only that, they plan to keep installing it, even knowing that attempts to remove the programs will destroy your computer. That arrogance is criminal, and merits prosecution.

Posted by: Greg at 02:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 244 words, total size 2 kb.

Well, they finally did it. The Houston Texans eked out a win over the Cleveland Browns.

The Houston Texans are winless no more.

They didn't find the end zone after their first possession today, but managed to eke out an ugly 19-16 win over the struggling Cleveland Browns and break a seven-game losing streak.

Kris Brown kicked a 40-yard field goal, his fourth of the day, with 2:45 remaining, to give Houston (1-6) the come-from-behind win. The winning kick was set up by a 63-yard kickoff return by rookie Jerome Mathis.

Houston's losing streak spanned back to a 22-14 loss to Cleveland in last season's finale. The loss is the third straight for Cleveland (2-5).

I'll telly you what -- the "Back Row Crew" in section 541 was pleased -- even if it was not the prettiest ballgame we have ever seen. While the hopes of a perfect 0-16 seqason were dashed, we have to console ourselves with the knowledge that a 10-6 season is still a methematical possibility.

Oh, and the consensus in our car was that Jerome Mathis is on his way to becoming the fan favorite. He is the "little engine that could" sort of player who made a couple of big plays that set up the success the rest of the team had.

By the way -- about those jerseys. Since you missed us today, we'll look for them on November 20 when you play the Chiefs.

Posted by: Greg at 11:37 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 253 words, total size 2 kb.

I got an interesting phone message at home today.

It was from Dunta Robinson of the Houston Texans.

He was just calling to remind my wife and I how important we are to the team and that we really need to make it to the game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Dunta tells us it helps give the winless Texans a "home field advantage".

Our seats in the back of section 541 have been filled every game this year. We've cheered, even as we have watched some pretty weak football. We plan on making it to Reliant Stadium for the rest of the games -- even if the ultimate outcome is an 0-16 season. We will probably even renew our season tickets for next year, finances permitting.

A couple of wins would be nice at this point -- or at least a couple of games in which the Texans at least appear to be an NFL franchise. An offensive line to protect our quarterback would be a good move. If you want to really wow me personally, you could have Toro deliver a couple of jerseys to my wife and I -- sizes 3XL and 4XL, please, since we both like to wear them a bit big. But the key thing for me is that you improve the quality of the product on the field over the long term, starting in the short term.

But please understand one thing. I am a fan, and i will support this team. I may not be one of the maniacs in the Bullpen, and I may not be one of the folks with the dough for a luxury box, but I am there because I love the game and am willing to be loyal to a team that has gone the extra mile to make the experience of an NFL game a positive one. I have yet to deal with a member of your organization that has not done that -- and I can only point to positive experiences with stadium staff since some of the first-season glitches were resolved.

Still, the best thing you can do for me is improve.

Oh, yeah -- and those jerseys.

Posted by: Greg at 04:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 375 words, total size 2 kb.

At last, the Houston Astros make the World Series.

And after a season that began 15-30, no less!

Finally. After 44 years of waiting.

The Astros reached the team's first World Series with a 4-2 NLCS series victory after dominating the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 in Game 6 tonight.

Houston leads 5-1 tonight after Morgan Ensberg singled in Craig Biggio for a seventh inning score of 5-1. Adam Everett's suicide squeeze scored Chris Burke in the sixth inning for a 4-1 lead for the Astros.

St. Louis' only score came on pinch-hitter John Rodriguez's sacrifice fly to center, scoring Mark Grudzielanek in the fifth inning to cut Houston's lead to 3-1.

Earlier, Jason Lane's solo home run in the fourth inning gave Houston a 3-0.

Tonight's scoring opened when St. Louis starter Mark Mulder's wild pitch allowed Brad Ausmus a run in the top of the third. Next up was Craig Biggio who singled in Adam Everett for a 2-0 lead.

Houston sent Roy Oswalt to the mound against lefthander Mulder.

Houston fans have watched the Astros get close many times, moving within one victory of the World Series in 1980 and again last year. The 1986 Astros also came close, although that club didn't have the NLCS lead the 1980 and 2004 Astros lost.

In the franchise's 44th season, Oswalt and Co. provided the ending nobody could have expected in June. They gave the city of Houston the celebration it expected Monday night, last year and in 1980.

Hurrah, boys -- I wish you the best.

And on a sadder note, farewell to Busch Stadium from this former St. Louisan.

Posted by: Greg at 04:28 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 281 words, total size 2 kb.

Maybe those helmets were a sign that the Minnesota Vikings are a horny bunch. Consider this story about a recent charter cruise involving a number of players from the team.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Department is investigating allegations of criminal sexual conduct by Minnesota Vikings players after a boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka turned into an out-of-control party that included lap dances and sexual acts, an attorney for the charter boat company said Tuesday.

Stephen Doyle, a lawyer representing the owners of Al and Alma's, a company that charters cruises on the lake, said cornerback Fred Smoot and another Vikings player, whom he declined to name, reserved a charter for a night-time excursion Thursday.

"From our end, I don't know the name of the other primary person, but we turned over to the police today documents that show signatures or credit cards or whatever was associated with closing this deal," Doyle said.

A woman called Mound police Thursday night to report "possible prostitution, drugs and live sex acts" on the two boats. According to the police report, the woman said she and her brother's girlfriend served as hostesses on the boats.

Doyle said he didn't learn details of what allegedly happened until he met with six of the eight crewmembers Tuesday.

Doyle said about 90 people were on the two boats. According to a Vikings player who spoke on the condition of anonymity, about 15 Vikings players were on a charter as part of what he described as a "team event." The player said he was unaware of any sexual acts and that the cruise lasted less than 90 minutes.

Doyle said he believed it to be a tradition for Vikings rookies and first-year players to take their teammates out.

Upon returning to the dock, the player said, there were no police officers present and he did not know of any problems on the boats.

It could be really interesting to see how this situation all plays out. After all, isn’t this just about sex, and isn’t there a need for us to all just move on. After all, who hasn’t had drunken public sex with a prostitute on a boat? Everyone does it – sort of like getting oral sex from a subordinate in the office and lying to your spouse and the American people.

Posted by: Greg at 02:02 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 392 words, total size 2 kb.

Well, this certainly settles matters. Gwyneth Paltrow has spoken on the policies of George W. Bush and found them wanting.

"I've always been drawn to Europe. America is such a young country, with an adolescent swagger about it," she said.

"But I feel that I have a more European sensibility, a greater respect for the multicultural nature of the globe. And it's a strange time to be an American now."
"I feel like we're really in trouble. I just had a baby and thought 'I don't want to live there.' Bush's anti-environment, pro-war policies are a disgrace."

I mean, what is the purpose of having any further discussions on the issue. After all, AmericaÂ’s most prominent and revered political commentators pointed out the obvious some years ago.

Actors – is there anything they don’t know?

Thank you, Homer Simpson, for helping us understand why we should heed Ms. PaltrowÂ’s sagacious utterances.

Posted by: Greg at 11:38 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 159 words, total size 1 kb.

1 You're right, of course, but, for whatever reason, stupid people want to know what celebrities think, wear, etc. I'm just glad that Paltrow is insightful enough to realize how bad Bush is.

Posted by: Dan at Mon Sep 19 15:44:07 2005 (aSKj6)

2 If ole Gwynnie is so smart, why isn't she President? If Europe is so mature, smart, and good, why aren't any of their countries superpowers?

Europe abounds with racism. I've got clients in England, France, Belgium, and Germany with whom I interact on a regular basis, and they're going insane with immigration. They hate it and they hate the immigrants. Racist jokes abound.

CRIPES but these people are completely stupid.

Bartleby

Posted by: Bartleby at Tue Sep 20 04:14:19 2005 (lkCzp)

3 Why would she want to be president? Doesn't pay as much as being an actress, and you don't get to work with Jude Law.

Posted by: Dan at Tue Sep 20 04:26:58 2005 (HBqfk)

4 She, and many others in Hollywood, are (here comes the phrase of the day) "Stuck On Stupid."

Posted by: reverse_vampyr at Wed Sep 21 07:25:37 2005 (Ns5kk)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

I donÂ’t blog from Dear Abby often, but this letter is just too much.

Dear Abby:

I am 62 and my husband is 93. Our next-door neighbor, "Sam," likes to expose himself. Other than that, he's a good neighbor and always ready to help out.

One day, a couple of my women friends were over visiting, and Sam stood in his doorway naked as a jaybird, waving at them. Mostly, he does this when my husband has gone inside the house.

His behavior worries me. If anything should happen to my husband, do you think Sam would try to force himself on me? Could he attack me and try to rape or murder me, or is he just a nice guy who likes to expose himself, and not the least bit dangerous?

I don't want to be a bad neighbor, and I don't want my name revealed, but this neighbor is really making me uneasy. Should I report what he's been doing to the police?

SCARED in Hawaii

Have we really reached the point in this society where we worry about being “impolite” if we call the police over someone exposing themselves? Sure, nudism may be a valid alternative lifestyle, but the limits are reached when you stand in your doorway naked for the public to see. And I wonder – would she be so hesitant to act if it was her 12-year old granddaughter (or grandson) who he waved at naked?

Posted by: Greg at 12:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 248 words, total size 1 kb.

When I have taught English, I’ve used the film version of To Kill A Mockingbird. I did so again this past summer, and once again enjoyed the masterful acting of Brock Peters as Tom Robinson.

He passed away today.

Actor Brock Peters, best known for his heartbreaking performance as the black man falsely accused of rape in "To Kill a Mockingbird," died Tuesday at his home after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 78.

Peters was diagnosed with the disease in January and had been receiving chemotherapy treatment, according to Marilyn Darby, his longtime companion. His condition became worse in recent weeks.

He died peacefully in bed, surrounded by family, she said.

Peters also had a special place in my heart because of his appearance in two of the Star Trek films.

May he rest in peace, and may those who loved him find solace at this sad time.

Posted by: Greg at 12:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 152 words, total size 1 kb.

When I have taught English, IÂ’ve used the film version of To Kill A Mockingbird. I did so again this past summer, and once again enjoyed the masterful acting of Brock Peters as Tom Robinson.

He passed away today.

Actor Brock Peters, best known for his heartbreaking performance as the black man falsely accused of rape in "To Kill a Mockingbird," died Tuesday at his home after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 78.

Peters was diagnosed with the disease in January and had been receiving chemotherapy treatment, according to Marilyn Darby, his longtime companion. His condition became worse in recent weeks.

He died peacefully in bed, surrounded by family, she said.

Peters also had a special place in my heart because of his appearance in two of the Star Trek films.

May he rest in peace, and may those who loved him find solace at this sad time.

Posted by: Greg at 12:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 156 words, total size 1 kb.

I read the Harry Potter books for fun, and to know what my students are reading. IÂ’ve made a point of not delving into deeper political meanings.

Fergus Cullen, though, offers a conservative critique of the books.

I'LL ADMIT to liking the Harry Potter books, but I can't suspend disbelief any longer. The kid lives in the realm of big government, and it's interfering with my enjoyment of the Half-Blood Prince. Consider these facts about life in the wizarding world:

Huge government bureaucracies: Every time another department within the Ministry of Magic is mentioned, I wonder if the real threat to Harry's liberty is Voldemort or the Leviathan government, which has a branch overseeing all aspects of wizard daily life. There's the Improper Use of Magic Office, the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, even the Department of Magical Games and Sports, which may be needed to investigate steroid use among Quidditch players.

Wait until you hit the punchline.

Posted by: Greg at 02:57 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 169 words, total size 1 kb.

I guess the premise sounds interesting, but given who is behind it, I'm somewhat concerned.

Ben AffleckBen Affleck is in talks to create and write "Resistance," a potential drama series about a second American Revolution that he'll exec produce with Live Planet partner Sean BaileySean Bailey.

Separate from the deal for "Resistance," Bailey has inked a new two-year, seven-figure pod deal that will keep him at Touchstone TelevisionTouchstone Television though 2007. While Bailey remains a partner in Live Planet, the Touchstone pactpact is for his solo services as a scribe and producer.

As for "Resistance," project marks the first time Affleck will go it alone writing a pilot, and comes on the heels of his deal to script and direct "Gone, Baby, Gone". Affleck and Bailey co-created the 2002 Alphabet reality/drama hybrid "Push, Nevada."

"Resistance," to be produced by Touchstone and Live Planet, will be set in the not-so-distant future, imagining a United States that's been divided into separate countries following a pair of catastrophic terror attacks.

Ensemble skeinskein will follow a band of modern patriots who are attempting to bring back the Bill of Rights and reunify the country. One person familiar with the pitch said the show ultimately will be a hopeful hour because of its pro-democracy bent.

Now this sounds like something I would watch. But do you want to make a guess who the "bad guys" are going to be? I doubt they will be swarthy fellows named Muhammad and Akbar. I suspect that more than a few will have the title "Reverend", and that none will be "Imam".

But then again, I could be wrong. Affleck might actually make a real, honest-to-God patriotic show about in which folks try to restore teh Constitution as written, not as modified by the liberal courts of the last seven decades.

Posted by: Greg at 02:16 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 312 words, total size 2 kb.