Soda Blog

Lucky

How did I get so lucky?

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Just moments after being searched by
U.S. Marines on Tuesday, God became
angry and smote them.

Saddam who?

While I wasn't 100% behind this conflict, for various reasons (such as, like in our conflict with the Taliban, Congress never declared war), I won't be shedding any tears for Saddam Hussein.

Left to right: A giant statue of Saddam Hussein is brought down; a portrait of Saddam still hangs on a burning building; a man swings a hammer at the base of a Saddam statue

Jayhawks

I've always found this amusing.

The story, as I recall it, behind this photo is this: all the people in the photo were anti-slavery "Jayhawks", people who believed in the anti-slavery movement so much that they raided Missouri slave farms, looted them and set the slaves free. The man sitting in the center of the photo had been captured by Missouri pro-slavery forces (who were also wont to perform border raids against the anti-slavery Kansas Territory side); however, when this picture was taken, he had just been rescued in a raid by the men standing behind him.

Origin of the nickname "Jayhawks":

"The University of Kansas is home of the Jayhawk, a mythical bird with a fascinating history. Its origin is rooted in the historic struggles of Kansas settlers. The term "Jayhawk" was probably coined about 1848. Accounts of its use appeared from Illinois to Texas. The name combines two birds--the blue jay, a noisy, quarrelsome thing known to rob other nests, and the sparrow hawk, a stealthy hunter. The message here: Don't turn your back on this bird."

"During the 1850s, the Kansas Territory was filled with such Jayhawks. The area was a battleground between those wanting a state where slavery would be legal and those committed to a Free State. The factions looted, sacked, rustled cattle, stole horses, and otherwise attacked each other's settlements. For a time, ruffians on both sides were called Jayhawkers. But the name stuck to the free staters. Lawrence, where KU would be founded, was a Free State stronghold."

(from KU Traditions)

History repeats itself

Datline 1991:

• Mr. Bush is President of the U.S.
• The U.S. is in a conflict with Iraq
• KU plays the NCAA Championship game, and loses - due mainly to missed free throws.

Datline 2003:

• Mr. Bush is President of the U.S.
• The U.S. is in a conflict with Iraq
• KU plays the NCAA Championship game, and loses - due mainly to missed free throws.

Coincidence?

Regardless, here's a Rock Chalk Cheer to my alma mater, KU:

    Rock Chalk Cheer (mp3 - 532K)

Note that a stadium full of people doing this cheer is MUCH more effective... and honestly kinda creepy.

Kansas vs Syracuse

I don't usually follow sports very much;  some would say I don't follow it at all. But I always feel good for some bizarre reason when my college alma mater, the University of Kansas (KU), has made it to the championship game in men's basketball. And this year is no exception, having beaten Marquette 94-61 on Saturday.  Dick Vitale, that wacky guru of NCCA Basketball that comes out of the woodwork during college basketball season, predicted on the Bob & Tom Show that Kansas will win it all.

The last time Kansas was in the national championship game was in 1991. I was still in college at the time, and I entered a basketball bracket pool, choosing Kansas as the ultimate winner against Duke University. Oddly enough, although I didn't know anything about the sport, the teams, etc. it was indeed Kansas vs Duke in the final game, I was poised to win a nice sum as I sat somewhat comfortably in first place in the pool going into that final game. However, Kansas choked and allowed Duke to win, mostly due to missed free throws by team KU. Duke winning allowed several other people to edge ahead of me in the pool, and I dropped to fourth place - winning nothing.

I don't have any money on this one, but I still hope for a KU win tonight.

GO JAYHAWKS!

Wedding plans changed

Melinda and I are getting sick and tired of keeping two households. We dont like being away from each other at night. And, generally speaking, we can no longer stand being not married. So we've moved up the wedding date!

It is now to be held on July 19, 2003 (incidentally, that's exactly 18 months from the day we met).

Bob & Melinda's Wedding Page