Technical Difficulties!

So I apologize for the fact that you CANNOT see the video from the Murtha event... I've now spent 8 hours trying to work on 15 secs of video... and we're nearing the Billy Jack BERSERK scene at any moment now, TRUST me!!

Please bear with me! I'll get it fixed eventually so we don't have the problem for future posts.

Nothing left to do but... smile and don't let the internets get you down!

UPDATE: VIDEO Finally... Murtha Dinner Protesters

I headed over to the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City last night after hearing that a group of protesters were gathering to cause a stir at a dinner honoring Rep. Jack Murtha... and Earmarks!

There was even a 20-foot pig on a trailer driven in from out of state. But unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch a few words with Murtha.

Here's a snip of one of the protesters... And an editorial about the dinner from the Washington Examiner.

4 Ways to Make It Snow

Scooter told me last night that she knows "how" to make it snow - in fact there are FOUR ways to make it snow...

Apparently it WORKS... And it brought snow to DC and the rest of the Northeast!

I highly recommend trying this at home!

WHAT THE ?????

Think the most preposterous article in the NY Times today involved John McCain? Lobbyists? Think Again!

While that article has indeed inflamed many political sentiments, the one that really struck me involved: GOLF!

Now, I'm not a regular golfer (which is why I go surfing in February in Delaware), but even I was shocked to see the NY Times headline: "More Americans Are Giving Up Golf."

As you can read for yourself, the article cites statistical evidence of an actual decline:

The total number of people who play has declined or remained flat each year since 2000, dropping to about 26 million from 30 million, according to the National Golf Foundation and the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.

But then it goes on to suggest that the reasons for this decline are: time management, new family dynamics, and (OF COURSE) the economy.

I call it preposterous not for the actual reporting - that's pretty solid... but hasn't Tiger Woods inspired an entire generation of young golfers?

They say that "about three million golfers quit playing each year." What?!So are they suggesting that we will all be able to go to the Smithsonian Museum someday soon and view odd shaped rods that were once known across America as a bag of "Golf Clubs?"

Or should they have just re-written the headline: BUSH KILLS GAME OF GOLF BY PLUNGING NATION INTO RECESSION.

Let the Gray Lady know what you think about it - TEE IT UP, AMERICA!

Big Tuesday

Remember that great surf classic Big Wednesday?

Well, it wasn't exactly "big" on the Delaware shore yesterday, but my pal Peter and I decided to take a day off and brave the frigid temps of Feb for a few rides...

These waves were mostly "Double-Over-Ankle!" But they seem much bigger when you go head first over the falls and your board shoots up in the air behind you! (If you listen closely, you can hear Peter say, "OHHH" when I eat it!)

Our only casualty of the day: Peter lost a fin - but not to a ferocious and ornery Seagull that terrorized my board!

Check it out!








What did YOU do on your day off?

Update: Laptop Lady

Here’s an update to the Great American Laptop Nightmare:

After being ignored all day by Ms. Campbell yesterday, her attorney finally responded last night:

Ms. Campbell's experience dealing with Best Buy has been difficult and frustrating, resulting in actual loss and potentially severe damages.
Although she believes that this matter is worthy of public attention, her
desire is for resolution that is quick and compensation that is fair.

Then I see her in an “exclusive” interview on the Today Show this morning where we learned WHY she believes the Laptop is worth $54 Million (and worth making a mockery of our DC court system)… “my tax returns were on my personal computer,” she said.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not convinced that a laptop with one’s tax returns is worth $54 million?

Anyone know the technical definition of legal extortion? Is this it?

Which begs the larger question: what WOULD be worth $54 million in a lawsuit?

The $54,000,000 Laptop!

It’s official: you’re nobody in Washington until you sue someone for $54,000,000.00. It’s becoming the hippest form of personal expression here. And that’s not necessarily a good thing for the taxpayers… The Great American Pants Nightmare just got a little company in DC’s Superior Court system – a laptop.

Ms. Raelyn Campbell of Washington, DC brought the enormous suit because they lost her laptop after bringing it in for repairs. She claims that the “Geek Squad” repair department of the Best Buy in Tenleytown failed to admit to her that they had lost her laptop for months until finally notifying her that it had been stolen.

Ms. Campbell says in her blog (where she details her case at great length) that Best Buy unknowingly gave her some money on her credit card for the laptop as well as a $500 gift card for her troubles. You can read more about it at her blog.


Best Buy spokeswoman Nissa French told me this in an email today:

“We know that this customer was offered and collected $1,110.35 for the cost of the laptop and PSP policy; she also received a $500 gift card for her inconvenience. We've done what we can to try to learn about went wrong. We're obviously embarrassed and disappointed that we were unable to resolve this customer's issue. We've tried to resolve this dispute and feel badly that it escalated to a lawsuit. Unfortunately, we are unable to share additional details about this case. More information will be provided in court.”

So here we go again… although this time, Ms. Campbell (unlike Judge Roy Pearson) acknowledges that her figure is “ridiculous” but necessary to get the corporation to “pay attention to me.”

The suit was filed Nov. 16 in DC Superior Court.

Happy $54 Million Lawsuit Day!

Happy Valentine's Day

The origins of Valentine’s Day aren’t fully known, but that didn’t stop Hallmark from capitalizing on a great opportunity to guilt us lucky men folk into spending a few extra bucks on the women we love – and for good measure too – because sometimes we need a little reminder of just how lucky we are to have you!!

The best historical explanation I saw today from Reuters suggested that it probably took its name from a Christian priest named Valentine who was martyred in AD 270 by a Roman Emperor. According to the legend, the priest signed a letter to his jailer’s daughter (his true love), “from your Valentine.”

Today, about 190 million greeting cards will be exchanged and more than 200 million roses will show up somewhere for those lucky ladies.

So as a public service to the “tough guys” out there who claim this day is nothing more than a commercialized holiday… You’re right, pal.

But that doesn’t mean you should be an idiot and forget to do something special for the woman – or women – in your life.

Have a heart. It’s Valentine’s Day!

THE MAYOR v. THE MARINES

You've probably heard about the Marines that were kicked out of Toledo this past weekend when they arrived for scheduled urban tactical exercises?

Well, I took particular umbrage at this story because these same Marines of Alpha Company, 1/24, were the same ones that kept me alive in Fallujah in Nov 2006.

So yesterday, I interviewed their Commanding Officer Maj. Dan Whisnant to find out what the facts were and how he is adapting to the lost opportunity. It's vital to note here that this is a RESERVE Unit - they can't easily reschedule this type of mission-critical training.

In fairness, we invited Toldeo Mayor Marty Finkbeiner to come on the program as well, but did not hear back from his office.

The Mayor's spokesman claimed the decision to give the Marines the boot was based on the premise that "they frighten people."

UPDATE: My sources now tell me that Mayor Finkbeiner is working back channels looking for a way to rectify his national embarassment decision.

I just hope it includes a PUBLIC APOLOGY to the Marines that he sent packing on Friday.

I've also been in touch with local and state leaders who are fuming over this incident.

But while we wait to find out how this story plays out, please take a moment to remember the five Marines that gave their lives fighting for freedom in Fallujah by visiting www.alphaheroes.org.

Sergeant Thomas M. Gilbert, Lance Corporal Jonathan B. Thornsberry, Corporal Jacob H. Neal, Private 1st Class Brett A. Witteveen and Private 1st Class Bufford K. Vanslyke.

CPAC Cat-Nappers

So I headed over to CPAC today with my colleague Elizabeth Prann to check things out for myself (and work on a package for FNC this weekend).

What I did not expect to find at a conference of hundreds of conservative voters busily milling about... were PEOPLE SLEEPING!

Now, Elizabeth is one of the great Greta Gals - and she carries a handy cam... so my merry prankster ways were caught on camera!

Go to Gretawire.com and check it out!!

Happy Friday!

Au Revoir!

Speaking today from the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Gov Mitt Romney bowed out of the Presidential Race… by kicking France in the derriere!

Here’s the best part:

“We face a new generation of challenges, challenges which threaten our prosperity, our security and our future. I am convinced that unless America changes course, we will become the France of the 21st century-still a great nation, but no longer the leader of the world, no longer the superpower. And to me, that is unthinkable.”

Poor Sarkozy, he probably doesn’t deserve it… But man, that really caught my ears! I don’t want to turn in to FRANCE!!

Who knew Franco-Frightening could be an effective campaign tool?

Final note: I got to know the Romney clan a bit this campaign, and the one thing that struck me was just how much his kids love and respect their parents. I think that matters.

SPECIAL FORCES: RESCUE VIDEO

This morning, I had the honor of speaking to Col. Donald J. Bacon, Chief of Special Operations and Intelligence Information, Strategic Communications, Multinational Force Iraq. It was part of the on-going series of the Pentagon's "Blogger's Roundtable" that allows everyday blogging folks like myself to have access to major players at home and abroad fighting the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For the first time in this series, however, we received VIDEO! Col. Bacon gave us two significant videos obtained by our Special Forces: one that depicts the rescue mission on an AQI (Al Qaeda in Iraq) safe house that saved an 11-year old Iraqi boy's life; and the other a compilation of obtained training and indoctrination videos being used by AQI to recruit Iraqi youth.

This video that I have posted is an amazing - and "legitimate" according to Col. Bacon - piece of evidence that Col. Bacon's training of Iraqi Special Forces is having success. Col. Bacon told me also that "there were US advisors who played an overwatch role" but that the men carrying out the mission were Iraqi Counter Terrorism Forces. I also asked Col. Bacon if we could expect to keep our Special Forces in Iraq even after a decision could be made to withdraw conventional forces. His answer was vague as it appears that those considerations are under discussion, but he said it "seemed like a likelihood" to him.

One note about this boy, seen later talking and being re-united with his parents, was that the AQI kidnappers originally asked for $100,000 ransom. When the father explained he could not pay the ransom, they reduced the ransom to $80,000 and told him if he did not pay, then they would behead his son and put his head in their trash can in front of their home.

Lil' Bro Factor

NY GIANTS BEAT PATRIOTS 17-14 TO WIN SUPER BOWL 42... Want to know why?!

Aside from the fact that I am an Ole Miss amluni with Eli Manning... In my opinion, there was a family intangible that made the difference: the little brother factor!

My older brother is both my HERO, my BEST FRIEND and my greatest motivation...

Considering he was always setting the bar higher and higher with his tremendous accomplishments and at the same time ALWAYS there to be my saviour in times of need, he was my big brother.

I believe Eli knew that if he could do the impossible - with less than 2 mins in the game - he could find a way to impress his older brethern role-model... and from that, he had the confidence in knowing he could do it. And he would succeed.

Peyton was often seen in the sky box cheering Eli on... And it's my take that the will to win Big Bro's appreciation coupled with the comfort that comes from a brotherly bond made the difference!

The rest is history...

Congrats, Eli Manning!

You Can't Watch the Super Bowl in Church!

Literally... I read a story today where churches around the country have gotten letters from the NFL alerting them that big screen parties at church gatherings VIOLATES the NFL's copyright!

You know that deep voice at the end of games that reads: "This telecast is copyrighted by the NFL for the private use of our audience. Any other use of this telecast or any pictures, descriptions, or accounts of the game without the NFL's consent is prohibited."

But for Church groups? Who knew!

Now, I'll confess to being a big football fan, but maybe the NFL might want to rethink this one!

Its brassy enough already that the games are on SUNDAYS. God rested on the sabbath, but the NFL decides, let's PLAY FOOTBALL??

I'm just thinking that picking on the good Pastors out there is no way to make the two major events on Sundays in the Fall agree with each other.

So how do sports bars get around it?

They have an exemption.

Maybe churches should too!


(Oh, by the way... I just got back from the future. Game was awesome - Giants won BIG - you're gonna love it!)