The Bosque

The front page of this morning's Philadelphia Inquirer:



Some fans celebrated as expected: getting drunk, setting shit on fire, turning cars over, etc. Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey expected it:

"I know we've had some vandalism events," Ramsey said. "So far, I'm not aware of any people being injured. We have had a couple of cars turned over...It's OK, it's all right. People are having fun. It's all right. We'll be OK...You do the best you can. It's a big city and there's a lot of people out here. You do the best you can to contain it. The vast majority of people...are enjoying this great victory."

Ramsey was police chief when I lived in DC...he's seen a lot, and has always been cool under pressure. And you did expect some fans to go apeshit.

But back to the main story here...the Phils are always on the low-end of the totem pole in Philadelphia sports. And they're one of the worst professional sports teams in history. But not right now. They have a great group of players that played hard all year and earned that World Championship. And the city and its fans deserve it too.

And big props to the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays...what a monster comeback from their 10-year history of sucking. They should be competitive for several more years. And hopefully their fans will stick with them through thick and thin now.

GO PHILLIES!!!

...to appreciate the new Ron Howard film:

I am pleased to announce that April and I are now ministers in the Universal Life Church. We are legally able to officiate at weddings, funerals and other neat religious ceremonies...except circumcision.

Why does this remind me of that Family Guy episode where Peter starts the church that worships The Fonz?

But seriously...based on how I'm reading the law, we can definitely officiate at weddings in Illinois, and probably can in Missouri and Pennsylvania. Whoohoo! And we're legitimate Reverends now...how awesome is that?!

One of our upstairs neighbors is out-of-town the entire month of October, and a neighbor in the building next to us is tending to her plants. That's the foundation of this story.

I noticed early yesterday morning that there was a rotten smell in our hallway, like when you leave your trash in the house a couple days longer than you really should. When I got home last night, it was worse, and I noticed that my neighbor's apartment door was open. April said it had been open for at least 3 hours.

So I called our landlord, and April and I went upstairs to investigate. Everything in the apartment seemed fine--no apparent theft or anything like that. I suspect that the caretaker didn't pull the door all the way closed when she was last there. Our neighbor has done it herself before.

The smell was definitely coming from upstairs. We saw an empty pizza box...maybe that was it? The toilet looked fine. The landlord said he'd come over to check things out.

April then suggested checking the ice box...it didn't seem to be running. So I opened up the freezer...and almost vomited.

I don't know if our neighbor had her electric service suspended or turned her circuit breaker off before she left. And I don't know if she forgot to clean our her fridge (because she's a bit scatterbrained) or if the caretaker did. But the food inside of it was rotting and stinking up the building.

God bless our landlord...he fucking rules! He came over here at 7:00 tonight and cleaned and disinfected the icebox...probably in the dark too.

We love our neighbor, but we might have to kick her ass when she gets back in 2 weeks.

The front page of this morning's Philadelphia Inquirer:

I saw on electoral-vote.com today that Obama has a slight lead over McCain in the polls in North Dakota...and couldn't believe my eyes. A Democrat hasn't won North Dakota in...forever. I had to check a news source from that neck of the woods to see if this was indeed the case.

Sure enough...Obama really is leading in ND right now. From today's Bismarck Tribune, posted in full here because of the short lifespan of online newspaper stories:

A new poll says Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are in a dead heat for North Dakota's three electoral votes.

The Forum newspaper commissioned the poll earlier this month. It says 45 percent of the people who responded favored Obama, and 43 percent supported McCain.

The poll has a margin for error of 4 percentage points, and 12 percent of the people who replied said they were undecided.

Pollsters interviewed 606 North Dakotans who described themselves as likely voters from Oct. 6-8. The work was done by the Public Affairs Institute at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

A Democratic presidential candidate hasn't carried North Dakota since 1964.

At one time Obama had 11 offices in the state and more than 50 staffers. But the staffers pulled out almost a month ago. Earlier polls showed McCain well ahead.

I don't see Obama winning this state in the end, but hey...you never know.

My sleep cycle has been awful lately...I'm probably only averaging 5-6 hours instead of my normal 8-10, plus I'm usually up at least once a night. The missus hasn't been sleeping much better, though one day, she put in a 12-hour rest.

I know why this is happening...my mind handles stress pretty well, but my body goes into fucking chaos. And I hate it. I try to calm down...I try to relax...shit, I take an anti-depressant and a narcotic for pain. But nothing seems to be working right now.

Perhaps it's time to finally take Wolf's long-running suggestion of melanin pills.

...to all my Canuck friends out there!

BTW, the Blues are totally going to beat the Leafs today.

Hey! It's my Rolling Rock birthday! Actually, I hope to be savoring some fine wine in the next couple hours.

Until Thursday, I really didn't want to do shit for my birthday. With the recent events consuming our family, I'm not in much of a mood to celebrate. But after a heart-to-heart with the missus, I realized that I still have to have some joy in these crazy times. And as such, I need to celebrate my birthday.

So...whoo...hoo?

Okay, so it's not going to be a big send up. It shouldn't be...I'm fucking 33 this year. I always have to think about how old I am these days, because the birthdays between 30 and 40 don't really matter. But birthdays are still important...they give us another day to celebrate and be grateful that we made it through another year.

And as crazy as shit is right now, it could be a hell of a lot worse.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

From yesterday's Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul), posted in full here because of the short lifespan of online newspaper stories:

Struggling to contain an emotional fire his own campaign kindled, Republican presidential nominee John McCain spent much of a town hall meeting in Lakeville on Friday trying to cool his supporters' growing hostility toward Democrat Barack Obama.

Responding to repeated questions about Obama's truthfulness and personal background, McCain urged backers at a packed gym at Lakeville South High School to be "respectful" toward his opponent.

McCain found himself in the odd and uncomfortable position of defending an opponent who is pulling away in many polls at the end of a week when he and running mate Sarah Palin stepped up their own attacks against Obama -- often inspiring outbursts at raucous rallies, complete with cries of "terrorist" and "off with his head."

The Minnesota gathering lacked that kind of harshness, but sustained booing greeted many of McCain's attempts to discourage the crowd's fear and anger. Of the 21 questions posed to McCain during 45 minutes of give-and-take, one-third challenged him to take on Obama more aggressively, with a few making incendiary comments.

Late in the town hall meeting, Gayle Quinnell of Shakopee called Obama "an Arab." Taken aback, McCain shook his head and, taking the microphone from her, said, "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues."

After the rally, Quinnell was unrepentant. "You can't trust Barack Hussein Obama because he is a Muslim and a terrorist," she said.

Obama is a Christian.

McCain repeatedly tried to dial down his supporters' antipathy toward Obama. "I will fight, but we will be respectful," he said. "I admire Senator Obama" -- as the crowd booed loudly -- "I want everyone to be respectful. ... I don't mean you have to reduce your ferocity, just be respectful."

...well, a new police chief, actually.

(Full story taken from today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, due to the short shelf life of online newspaper stories)

Daniel Isom grinned shyly through two standing ovations Monday as St. Louis police commissioners gushed about the man they had just named chief.

"We haven't had a lot to smile at here lately," said Chris Goodson, president of the Police Board. "Now is the time to smile."

Isom, 41, brings 20 years of varied police experience and a wall full of diplomas to bear against challenges that include a rising homicide rate and an FBI probe of the department's towing contract.

To pick him, the commissioners reached below three lieutenant colonels vying for the spot — including acting chief Stephen Pollihan — and into the rank of major. There were eight finalists; state law requires a selection from the inside.

The man they pulled out is the city's third black chief and presumably the best educated, with a doctorate and two master's degrees.

"We felt that there was one candidate who had the skills to lead the department in a new direction," Goodson said in an announcement at police headquarters. "We have high expectations, and we will hold Chief Isom to them."

Isom said he will take a more modern approach by decentralizing the decision-making.

"I want to push resources down to the district level in the neighborhoods, so officers can rapidly respond to crime," he explained.

The unanimous selection capped a six-week search caused by the abrupt departure July 25 of Chief Joe Mokwa. He left as the Post-Dispatch raised questions about the relationship between the department and St. Louis Metropolitan Towing, a private company that held the contract for vehicle impounds. The FBI is investigating.

The department has been rocked by other problems in recent years, including money missing from the evidence room, questions about how crime statistics were kept and officers using World Series tickets seized from scalpers.

Goodson said selecting a new chief with no clear ties to the towing investigation was important.

For his part, Isom pledged more accountability. "As a result of the recent investigation, the officers in this department are concerned about the loss in public trust and faith," he said.

Mayor Francis Slay, who joins four appointees of the governor in making up the board that runs the department, called Isom the "clear choice."

Slay said, "He's a strong leader who can get the best of the men and women who serve under his command." The mayor also said, "I know he will not hesitate to speak the truth about crime, what causes it and how to prevent it."

Isom is a lifelong city resident who grew up in the Penrose neighborhood. He and Ron Henderson, the chief before Mokwa, are married to sisters.

Goodson said he expects Isom to sign a contract in the next 30 days. The agreement, the first of its kind here, will outline specific expectations and call for a board review of the chief's performance every six months. The starting salary in the three-year contract, with two one-year options for renewal, is $127,000.

Sgt. Gary Wiegert, president of the 1,152-member St. Louis Police Officers Association, called Isom a "great choice."

"This man has integrity," Wiegert said. "I think what our police department needs right now is someone who isn't corrupt, and we need someone who is a reformer, and we need someone who can bring back respect from the public. Right now, our reputation is in the trash can, and we need someone who can change that."

Eddie Simmons Jr., president of the Ethical Society of Police, a black officers' organization, said he has "no problem" with Isom but had preferred another finalist with more experience, Lt. Col. Reggie Harris.

Simmons said Isom is a careful listener known for bringing studied solutions to problems.

Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Aldermen, called Isom a "competent, capable and qualified person."

Alderman Terry Kennedy, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said, "He understands not just what's on the street, but the social issues that have created the conditions that lead people to commit a crime."

First Ward Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe called Isom's selection one of the first "sane" decisions the Police Board has made.

Police in the field also reacted favorably.

Officer Kevin Hill, who once worked under Isom, said he was "thrilled" at the choice. "He was very accessible, very fair. He has a real quiet air about him, that's not arrogant, but by no means is he a pushover."

Lt. Michael Anderson said Isom is "very, very smart" and "an agent of change."

Anderson added, "He's one of the few guys where I don't think you will find anybody who will say, he mistreated me, he treated me unfairly."

Now...check out Chief Isom's biography (from the same article):

New St. Louis police chief

Name: Daniel Isom

Age: 41

Experience:

— Joined force in 1988.

— Worked in patrol, investigation, training and administration. Commanded internal affairs, the police academy and the 6th and 7th districts.

— Most recently was special projects assistant to chief, working on community-based initiatives.

Education:

— Attended St. Louis University High School. Holds bachelor's and master's degrees and doctorate in criminal justice, and master's degree in public administration, all from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

— Graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Forum Senior Management Institute.

Other roles:

— Adjunct professor at Harris-Stowe State University and instructor at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.

— On the advisory boards for St. Louis University School of Public Service, and New Beginnings C-Star Treatment Center.

— Member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

— Coordinator and coach for the Police Athletic League track and field team.

Family: He and his wife, Virginia, have two children, Alexandria and Daniel.

I'm quite impressed. Chief Isom doesn't seem like your typical rank-and-file kinda guy, but is liked all around. It was time to shake things up down at Tucker and Clark, and I hope Chief Isom is successful.

The things that require his immediate attention: getting the department through the towing scandal and getting our murder rate down.

I've had to make some tough decisions in my life, but the decision that the missus and I made this morning is among the toughest. It easily beats deciding to move to the East Coast, deciding to move back to St. Louis, any job I've quit...I can only think of maybe a couple of other decisions that I've had to make that were tougher than this one.

April and I are temporarily moving in with her mom at the end of our lease, which is up at the end of next month.

April left her job last week...unfortunately, we cannot go into the specifics of the situation, as there may be litigation on the horizon due to what led to her departure. The job market here sucks as usual, and she's just getting nibbles on her resume right now. I'm back in the job hunt as well, but I'm not even getting nibbles. I'm still trying though. And I'm making okay money for now.

The bottom line is...we don't want to wind up like a lot of other Americans right now. We have some debt, but we have some savings and we don't want the former to rise and the latter to fall. We'll save a nice chunk of money living at her mom's, and if both of us can get good jobs, we'll be able to knock out a good chunk of our debt.

This decision just kills me...and I don't think it's so much a pride thing with me. I think it's just that I love our apartment. I partly grew up in this neighborhood, so I have a strong attachment to it. I rented this apartment because it reminded me so much of my Grandma's old place. And then April moved in and she fell in love with the place too. It's just so comfortable and convenient and...just so us.

I am grateful that my mother-in-law is offering us her home--incredibly grateful. But I fucking hate it. Fucking. Hate. It. I suspect that it will be a pretty difficult adjustment for all of us, since April and I have been out on our own for 2 years, April's mom has had her house to herself for a year now and hasn't had a male living in the house since her husband died in '02. Looks like I'm gonna be working a lot of hours in the next few months...a LOT of hours. ;-)

And poor April...she keeps trying to blame herself for all this. And that's just crap. First off, I've supported my wife's decision on the job front since the harrassment bullshit started in July. Secondly, I like to look at this more as a catalyst for change. This shit is gonna suck for a while...but it's all gonna work out. Hell, I even promised her that I wouldn't divorce her. :-)

So, if you could just pray for us and send us positive vibes, that would be super. Ideally, I would hope that we're back on our feet come spring, but for now, I just want to focus on wiping out that debt load (minus our student loans, of course).

Peace.

The Senate passed its version of a mammoth plan to rescue the financial services industry Wednesday night, saying changes designed to protect individual investors and small business owners could be enough to persuade reluctant House members to go along with the plan. (MSNBC)

I believe that something has to be done. I'm no economist, but I can't help but wonder if there is a better way to do this short of saying, "Fuck 'em all!!!"