What We Thought of Saddam Before 9/11/01

Another interesting bit of old news I stumbled across while not looking for it. Here is a video clip from two separate interviews in which Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice state that Iraq is not a threat to the U.S.

I think the most interesting part of that clip is Colin Powell's use of the phrase "weapons of mass destruction." Back then it was mostly a military and intelligence term; since then it's been the center of the worst told lie in American history.

One interesting angle this takes on, though, is the conspiracy theory that the Bush administration knew beforehand of the events that were to transpire on 9/11/01. If they really knew of the attacks beforehand, would they really have gone out of their way to tell the American people and the world that Iraq was harmless? For that matter, if the Bush administration truly had Saddam in its crosshairs since Inauguration Day '01, would they make these statements? Is this all just red herring? At this point, who cares? The bottom line is we're occupying a country that was never a threat, imposing democracy as if it was our job. If the people want democracy, let them revolt.

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¿Falta de Calidad?

Hoy leyendo la pagina de Remolacha.net me encontre con un articulo que lo halle embute sin leerlo, porque antes de haberse escrito ese articulo ya yo lo habia descalificado de pura mentira.

Me refiero a este articulo del Diario Libre donde los directores de programacion de las emisoras de Santo Domingo culpan a la falta de material bueno suficiente.

Ya he dicho que en el merengue no hay falta de calidad; es falta de apoyo. Pero este articulo no se trata solo del merengue, sino de toda la musica criolla: bachata, merengue tipico, balada, reggaeton, rock, etc. Las emisoras de la capital tocan muy poca musica criolla de cualquier genero.

Tambien dijo el director de programacion de una emisora que la falta de baladistas Dominicanos al aire es debido es por falta de apoyo de un sello discografico. O sea, lo que ha dicho es que no tocan por falta de payola. No se como son las leyes en Dominicana, pero en los Estados Unidos no es requerido que un artista sea firmado por un sello discografico para sonar en la radio.

Dijo Junior Sosa, director de KQ 94, "Yo diría que no tenemos suficiente material bueno, para hacer una programación de 24 horas, basada sólo en nuestra música." Sera un milagro que logran las emisoras del interior. Yo, que vivo en los Estados Unidos y tengo 10 años que no he podido volver a mi paisito, se que La Super Regional de Santiago tocan merengue tipico y bachata casi exclusivamente, y el unico tema que se repite es "El Hit de la Hora." O sea, que solo en dos generos criollos tenemos suficiente material para programacion de 24 horas.

Dijo Teo Veras, "Hace mucho que el merengue está de capa caída porque no tiene letra, son sonidos, son disparates lo que hay hecho; es letra de merengue que nadie entiende." Eso suena mucho a unas palabras atribuidas a Jorge Mier, director de programacion de La Mega 97.9FM en Nueva York: "... la música dominicana no sirve, que alli se ponen los merengues porque no le queda otra alternativa..."

Parece que el merengue esta pasando por segunda vez lo que los otros generos del mundo solo tienen que pasar una sola vez: la aceptacion de la mayoria del pueblo. Pero lo que tienen que entender estos directores que privan en ser los jueces de que es bueno y que esta pegao' es que hay que tocar lo que pide el pueblo. A lo que tu le dices "disparates" en las discotecas lo piden con frecuencia. Con una falta de apoyo asi, no es ninguna sorpresa que los Dominicanos somos casi completamente ausentes en nominaciones a galardones de musica latina. Si nosotros mismos no nos respaldamos, ¿quien lo hara?

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Video: Alfonso Soriano Logra Entrar al "Club 40-40"

El sabado pasado, 16 de septiembre, Alfonso Soriano logro entrar al exclusivo "Club 40-40." En la primera entrada del partido entre los Nacionales de Washington y los Cerveceros de Milwaukee, Soriano se robo segunda base para su cuadragesima base robada, acompañada por sus 45 quadrangulares y hacerse el cuarto pelotero en la historia de las Grandes Ligas en llegar a 40 jonrones y 40 bases robadas en la misma temporada.

Aqui les traigo el video clip del momento y de la ovacion que le hicieron los fanaticos presente.

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Why David Ortiz Doesn't Deserve the MVP This Year, Either (and Who Does)

On Sunday, Sept. 10, David Ortiz said to reporters that he believes that his team's fall from playoff contention shouldn't affect his candidacy for MVP this year. He made reference to the fact that Alex Rodriguez won the MVP award in 2003 despite his Texas Rangers finishing 25 games out of first place in the AL West that year. "...[S]o now they can't play that BS anymore, just because your team didn't make it," Ortiz said.

Valid point. Won't get him anywhere, though.

I decided to analyze the 2003 AL MVP to see if I could figure out exactly why A-Rod won in '03. I had a hunch I already knew. I was right.

The truth is, in 2003 there weren't too many other hitters putting up gawdy numbers. In the Triple Crown categories, Boston's Bill Mueller posted the American League's best batting average at .326, Alex Rodriguez took the home run crown with 47, and Carlos Delgado knocked in 145 RBIs.

Based purely on offensive numbers, Carlos Delgado should have won the MVP. In '03, he hit .302 with 42 HRs and 145 RBIs, compared to A-Rod's .298-47-118. Delgado's Blue Jays also finished better in their division race (86-76, 15 GB) than A-Rod's Rangers (71-91, 25 GB). Then why did Delgado finish second?

Defense. By virtue of playing a position that's more physically demanding and historically lacking in offense (especially power numbers), Rodriguez won the MVP just for being the phenomenon he's been all his career. To add to his legitimacy, he won the AL Gold Glove Award in 2003 as well.

Which is why Papi won't win the award, again. As long as there's someone out there putting up even remotely similar numbers (do NOT read, Derek Jeter), a DH will not win an MVP. You can expect this to remain true until at least 2009, when Edgar Martinez becomes eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame.

David Ortiz should be more upset about finishing fifth in MVP voting in 2003, behind Shannon Stewart. That year, Stewart was credited with being the spark plug that helped Minnesota win the Central. He was indeed on base a lot, but that's about it

So who does deserve this year's AL MVP? Well, Ortiz got it right there. It's a toss-up among Jermaine Dye (White Sox), Paul Konerko (White Sox) or Justin Morneau (Twins). Also getting heavy consideration are Minnesota's Joe Mauer and Johan Santana. My vote goes to Santana. Entering today, Santana is 18-5 with a 2.75 ERA and 230 Ks. In the pitchers' Triple Crown categories, Santana leads all three in the Majors. That's right, his ERA and strikeouts are better than any other pitcher, regardless of the DH. And the truth is, regardless of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau's offensive numbers, without Johan Santana the Twins wouldn't be in prime position to take over the lead in the AL Central division race. Especially with Francisco Liriano missing a month of action with pain in his left elbow. That is the definition of an MVP.

I'll leave you with this article written shortly after the MVPs were handed out in 2003. It discusses the controversy that usually surrounds MVP and Cy Young voting, and it explains that the debate over what the definition of an MVP is (or should be) should be dead, because since 1999 there has been an award honoring the top hitter of his league. At the same time, this should squash all talk of pitchers not deserving MVP honors because "they have their own award."

Be eazy my people.

BruGz®..

iz..

out..

1....

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