Wisconsin Governor Doyle is a Liar

While enjoying the holidays with my family in Wisconsin, I was made privy to Governor Doyle's signing of a bill to increase the state tax on cigarettes by $1.00 (the state tax is already .77 cents), making Wisconsin the 12th highest state for cigarette tax.

Doyle says it's to help further dissuade minors from smoking. If Governor Doyle was REALLY concerned with under-age smoking and the health of smokers, don't you think he'd do something to curb smoking PERIOD? For everyone? Maybe that's not within his powers as governor. Minors aren't supposed to legally smoke anyway - and if they want to smoke they'll get ahold of them. But why blatantly lie to his constituents? The state makes millions of dollars on cigarettes and cigarette smokers. The only reason he's raising the state tax is so his state can reap the benefits from cigarette smokers. He's preying on our addiction.

Nice, Doyle. Wrap your tidy little cigarette tax under the guise of 'helping to cut down minors from smoking'. Why can't you just admit the truth? Oh wait - I forgot...you're a politician first.

Skip Bayless from ESPN's "First Take" & "First and Ten" is a Dick

Google this ass. No one - even other sports commentators - can stand him. He criticized Brett Favre for giving "five" to the ref in yesterday's Packer-Lion game, saying it was uncalled for and that it leaves room for theorists to speculate that refs favor a certain team or player.

Bullshit. It was totally spontaneous. The ref just happened to have his hand in a position where you'd think he was almost offering it to Favre. And Favre - the way he is - just went with it.

Why are we even talking about this? Zip it, Skip. And another reason why I can't stand sports commentators period. Even the ones I like I put up with. Troy Aikman, for example, I like. But during the Cowboys-Redskins game he mentioned that the Redskins were 'putting it to the metal' by still playing their star running back and receiver, Clinton Portis and Santana Moss, That's right, Aikman, you dolt. Even with the lead, why would these players be pulled? They HAD to win the game to get into the playoffs. Duh.

Packers Tame Lions 34-13 / 13-3

Above: Brett asking the ref for some "five" after a TD score, and Below, giving Vernand Morency a low five. This was a particularly great win for us considering the ass-whooping we took from the Bears last week at Chicago. To finish the regular season tying a club record 13-3 in front of the home crowd with seven starters deactivated was gratifying. And to finish with this sort of momentum can only help us going into the playoffs. Brett finished 9-11 for 99 yards and 2 TDs and was pulled with about 9:30 left in the 2nd quarter.

Green Bay will have a bye next week, then it's either the Seattle Seahawks (if they beat Washington), Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the New York Giants in our first game of the playoffs at Lambeau. I'd rather play Tampa 'cause I hate whiney Eli Manning. I don't really care for Jeff Garcia, teh QB for Tampa either so I guess that's a mute point. Plus, Tampa is a warmer weather team - which may mean something or nothing at all. Not sure about Seattle. I like Holmgren, our former coach. We'll see.

I'll be back to summarize the 2007 season - with some stats and my thoughts. Just enjoying the rest of my holiday vacation. Happy New Year.

SI Favre Cover Goes Into 3rd Printing

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Favre fever continues in Wisconsin.

On Friday, Sports Illustrated began selling an unprecedented third printing of its Sportsman of the Year issue in Wisconsin. The Dec. 10 issue names Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre its 2007 athlete of the year. This marks the first time the magazine has done a third printing of an issue, said Karen Dmochowsky, magazine spokeswoman. Brett was on the cover - only the 4th QB ever to be choses Sportsman of the Year by SI.

On a side note, we got dumped on here in Wisconsin - 6 1/2 inches in Waterford today alone. Pretty - but it's cramped my travel plans. Had to nix the trip to Iowa. On a nicer note, found out yesterday that my friend Janis got tickets to the Packer game Sunday at Lambeau when GB hosts the Detroit Lions.

Don't worry - I'll be bundled up. My friend from California, Donovan and Maria will be at the Denver Bronco's game that Sunday - their first visit. GO PACK!! GO BRONCOS!!

Favre #4 No. 1 Selling Jersey of All-Time

For 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Favre has endured and succeeded at football's most demanding position.

This season, Favre has set several all-time records in the National Football League: he has thrown more touchdown passes, thrown for more yards and has recorded more victories at quarterback than anyone else. And last week, he was selected for his ninth Pro Bowl.

And now, according to league officials, the No. 4 Favre jersey is the all-time best-selling jersey in the history of the game. More than Johnny Unitas, more than John Elway, more than Joe Montana. More than any of the other greats who played the game.

League officials, as well as representatives of the NFL players association, who track sales for royalty purposes, regard specific sales numbers as state secrets. But a league official confirmed that Favre's jersey is the No. 1-selling jersey of all time.

Favre Named 2007 United States Sports Academy Male Athlete of the Year

New York (AHN) - Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Packers and Belgian tennis star Justine Henin were named the 2007 United States Sports Academy (USSA) Male and Female Athletes of the Year by a worldwide online vote initiated by Msnbc.com and USAToday.com.

Favre outvoted Tiger Woods and quarterback Tom Brady in the global voting done online. Favre, who is having one of his best NFL seasons, has led the Packers this season and so far recorded 38 fourth-quarter rallies in his career. Favre, 38, has made 61,405 career passing yards and 440 career touchdown passes and still counting.

Thousands of online voters cast their votes from December 1 to 25. The Academy Athlete of the Year presented by Msnbc.com and USAToday.com is the culmination of the Academy's year-long Athlete of the Month program, which recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in sports worldwide.

Christmas Day

"What's to-day?" cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.

"Eh?" returned the boy, with all his might of wonder.

"What's to-day, my fine fellow?" said Scrooge.

"To-day?" replied the boy. "Why, Christmas Day."

"It's Christmas Day!" said Scrooge to himself. "I haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. Hallo, my fine fellow!"

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!

It's Christmas Eve!

It's Christmas Eve - have you been naughty or nice? I've been a little of both. Well, it's too late now to worry about such things as Santa has left the North Pole and is on his way to your home as we speak.

To find out where Santa is right now, go to the NORAD Santa tracker: http://www.northpole.com/NoradSanta.asp

Reality Check's a Good Thing / 12-3

The Packers got killed by the Bears yesterday, 35-7. Difficult game to watch - with family, no less. Embarrassing. But it's water under the bridge now. The Bears swept the Pack this season. Big deal. We're in the playoffs and perhaps the Pack didn't have their heart in the game. Take away the 21 points our traitor punter, Jon Ryan, gave Chicago (useless piece of shit - and this inept moron is from Sasketuwan and played in the Canadian football league!) and the first INT Favre threw early in the game (he had another one but the game was wayyyyy outta reach by then) and it's a 7-6 game -Packers' lead.

Glass HALF FULL, baby. It was one game. I think I'd much rather play the NFC Championship (if we get that far) in Dallas - in a 70 degree dome. What the hell else am I supposed to say? That way our passing game - our strength - will be at its best. It's obvious this Packer team is unsuited for cold weather games (though the 40 mile an hour winds at Soldier Field in Chicago - and not the cold - was really the bigger factor).

I say play our starters for a half then rest them. Nothing be gained by a win against Detroit. Though to see how the Pack handles the weather situation at Lambeau may be helpful during the playoffs. They have a bye and their first playoff game is at home.

Let's hope the wind gusts are nil. GO PACK!!

Next Week = Detroit Lions (7-8) at Green Bay Packers (12-3).

Pro Bowl Results Official - Favre starting QB for NFC

Four Green Bay Packers players were named to the NFC Pro Bowl team. They were: quarterback Brett Favre, receiver Donald Driver, defensive end Aaron Kampman and cornerback Al Harris.

Three Packers were named first alternates: linebacker Nick Barnett, left tackle Chad Clifton and cornerback Charles Woodson. Other alternates include safety Nick Collins, tight end Bubba Franks, running back Ryan Grant, linebacker A.J. Hawk, receiver Greg Jennings, tight end Donald Lee and center Scott Wells. It’s unknown where they were listed on the alternate list.

Why is Bubba on the list? He shouldn't be. He's been injured a lot of the season. And why is ex-Packer Darren Sharper from the Vikings a starter (check full list)? He's an asshole and hasn't had a Pro Bowl caliber year. That's bullshit.

One More Green Bay Packer Note Before I'm Outta Here...

Here's a thought to leave you with regarding my Green Bay Packers.

I wrote a post called That Grinds My Beans on September 26th when the Pack were 3-0. Let me refresh your memory with this excerpt:

"Here's my take on Favre and the Green Bay Packers - this coming from a Wisconsin native and GB fan: I don't know what's gonna happen with my Packers. They look good thus far at 3-0 with no running game. Our starting RB will be entering the mix shortly and that Emmanuel dude we got from the Vikings last year will be playing as well - think he's a receiver. Favre is rated in the top 6 of QBs in most categories. He's been nominated twice for FEDEX Air Player of the Week, chosen by the NFL as the Offensive Player of the week for Week #2...Favre is playing well and having a good time and most anal-ists are noticing this and agreeing. In some power rankings where we were 25, or 26 - we're now 5 or 7. I don't know - but I feel something magical is happening and my gut is usually right."

I'm not saying I told you so - sort of. I'm saying that I was steadfast in my faith for my team - and our QB. I knew Brett wasn't "washed up" as every freakin' critic or fan-from-another-team advocated. Assholes. And I'm not saying we're definately going to the NFC Championship or Super Bowl either. What I AM saying is if we play our game and our opponent plays their game, we can match up against most anyone. Period.

Christmas/Ircink-style

"Christmas time is here,
Happiness and cheer,
Fun for all that children call,
Their favorite time of the year.
Snowflakes in the air,
Carols everywhere,
Olden times and ancient rhymes,
Of love and dreams to share..."

Ahh...I love that song. That Vince Guaraldi Trio tune from A Charlie Brown Christmas. And I love Christmas. This will be one of my last posts before I fly outta LA to go back home to Wisconsin to be with my family (actually I'll be in Chicago for a couple days first to see my friend, Justyna) and I wanted to give you a sneak peak at how the Ircink family celebrates this holiday.

Saturday, it's the annual Pierogi Feast at the Nowak home in Grafton, WI. My dad's youngest sister, Aunt Ev, and her husband, Uncle Bob (he's Polish and pierogi's are a Polish dish) put out this amazing spread of pierogi's and other food stuff.Pierogi's are generally cabbage or potatoes and they're very good. I've missed this event ever since I moved to CA and this year they're having it later. Na zdrowie!

Packer game at the Schmidt's on Sunday - GB at Chicago. We owe them a little payback for beating us earlier in the season (a game we shoulda won). They suck right now so we should trounce them.

Christmas Eve is traditionally just my mom, dad and my brother, Jason - and of course, Molly and Zo, Jas' dogs. It's not a quiet night in the Ircink household, that I can tell you. My mother puts together a spread of food - raw meat on rye, fairy food and other candies, herring, crackers with cheese and salami, meatballs, nuts, etc. And we drink. And smoke (not mom). Christmas Day my Aunt Karen (mom's younger sister) comes over with her family and we basically have a repeat of the previous day.

Throughout the holidays - we listen to classic Christmas albums including The Little Drummer Boy, Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, various Celtic melodies, Mannheim Steamroller, and so forth. My dad will play his electric guitar and I'll play the Irish tin whistle (not the best, mind you). I've included a couple below for your listening pleasure.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y1GPxcxrBkI Bing Crosby White Christmas
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8hkUpW9ZCBQ Andy Williams and his brothers - Winter Wonderland
http://youtube.com/watch?v=667zOcXcV4c Johnny Mathis O Holy Night
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_zMhSjDqvRs Bing Crosby and David Bowie Little Drummer Boy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
http://youtube.com/watch?v=I-zhTP_iCkc&feature=related The Beach Boys with some Christmas music - go to the 1:00 mark
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dZvjPCcHI4g original Little Drummer Boy from the TV show

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6aNUm1ePMDs Have A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives, from Rudolph
http://youtube.com/watch?v=youiekG2UJA&feature=related Silver and Gold - Burl Ives, from Rudolph
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yon2YuXssvo Snow and Heat Miser, from The Year Without a Santa Clause

As far as Christmas/ holiday movies - we watch a few. Below are some of our favorites.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uZieW2F90Is A Christmas Story #1. The following are some classic scenes from this holiday favorite. TNT usually runs it for 24 hours.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UZ6HCcEIURU A Christmas Story #2
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dgx1sSfriIA A Christmas Story - "Ohhhhh, fudge."

http://youtube.com/watch?v=a86VaRTuCaw scene from The Bells of St. Mary's. This movie, as well as Going My Way, are two family favorites. We love Bing - my Uncle Rocky can recite lines from both of these movies. Incidentally, Bing won the Academy Award for Going My Way AND he played the same character in both flicks, Father O'Malley. 'If you ever need a hand - if you're ever in trouble, just dial "O"...for O'Malley.'http://youtube.com/watch?v=iTUKHMlbYGA Swinging on a Star from Going My Way

http://youtube.com/watch?v=o7dY0GOtkv8 A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sims (1951). We Ircink's are Christmas Carol connoisseurs. We've seem them all - Reginald Owen, Henry Winkler, George C. Scott, Albert Finney - all of them. We feel the Alistair Sims version is the finest. Here are two wonderful scenes from it.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5DAib6LwKAQ Another excerpt from A Christmas Carol (1951)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BVk6JKDa3zI Norelco Santa

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8jEnTSQStGE 1984 Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? Classic, particularly with my college group of friends. Tom, wanna lead us on this one?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KuP0KP2oPZ0 Classic Miller Beer Christmas commercial
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Izh6zrgMXk0 Budweiser Christmas commercial

Where will you be spending Christmas? Wherever you're at, I hope it's filled with warmth and the fellowship of family and friends. And from the Ircink family - Jim, Dee-Dee, Jeff and Jason, and Molly and Zo (the dogs) - and from our home in wintry Wisconsin, we wish you a Very Merry Christmas. And peace.

"Chicago Conspiracy" & "HAIR" - Flashback to 1968 and TWO Kick-Ass Theater Reviews

I didn't plan this on purpose, but this weekend was 1968 all over again. I saw two wonderful theater shows - Chicago Conspiracy, based on the 1969-70 Chicago Seven trial which covered events that took place in the summer of 1968 during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and the smash musical, HAIR, which premiered on Broadway in 1968.

HAIR at The Met in Hollywood.

The "Tribe" - and Michael Butler, original producer of HAIR on Broadway.

Lee Ferris (Berger), James Berry (Claude) and Johanna Unger (Sheila).

"Claude" - looking like the torn, confused hippie he is.

If you haven't read this in previous posts, I'm a former Tribe member...Iowa Tribe/1995. Click on these links to read the background story on HAIR and my interviews with producer Michael Butler and co-author James Rado. You can also hear the interviews in my GABCAST audio widget - go to the right panel and scroll down:

http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2007/09/blog-post.html - The Story Behind HAIR
http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2007/10/coming-interview-with-hair-producer.html - Interview with Michael Butler, original producer of HAIR
http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2007/10/coming-interview-with-hair-creator.html - Interview with James Rado, co-author of HAIR

I had never seen HAIR performed - and this was an excellent production. The director had put up previous productions in Moscow, among other places, and Michael Butler again produced this version. I was as emotionally vested in seeing this show, the story and the characters as I was when I performed in it 12 years ago. The staging was beautiful, But the thing I was struck with most is the character Claude and how he wrestled with his emotions and ideals - the ones he held as a hippie and the ones he held as an American when drafted into the Vietnam war. I struggled right along with him, unsure of how I'd react in his position. Powerful stuff - and often lost amongst the pageantry and music that has made HAIR one of the most popular musicals of all time.

I also had the great pleasure of meeting one of the co-founders of The Met - Paul Koslo, who coincidentally, was in the Broadway cast of HAIR in 1968 and has gone on to become a recognized character actor in film and television (do an IMDB.com search and you'll recognize him). Wonderful man. When I told him I was a former Tribe member, he treated me like a brother. Obviously, something you might not understand unless you performed in the show.

Chicago Conspiracy at The Odyssey Theatre in West LA.

"Our strategy was to give Judge Hoffman a heart attack. We gave the court system a heart attack which is even better." - Jerry Rubin

"Conspiracy? Hell, we couldn't agree on lunch." - Abbie Hoffman

(the following is from actual court transcripts)

ABBIE HOFFMAN: "Are you asking if I had those thoughts or if I wrote that I had those thoughts? There's a difference."

RICHARD SCHULTZ (asst. U.S. attorney): "It's a convenient difference, isn't it Mr. Hoffman?"

ABBIE HOFFMAN: "I don't know what you mean, I've never been on trial for my thoughts before."

The Chicago 7: Back row - Weiner, Dellinger, Rubin, Hayden. Front row - Froines, Davis, Hoffman.

In 1968, two anti-war groups met to discuss the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago - National Mobilization to End the War (MOBE) and the Youth International Party (YIPPIES). In a nutshell, their intention was to disrupt the activities of the convention where publicity on a nation-wide scale could best benefit their interests. Things got out of hand - the police and National Guard were called in and mayhem erupted. Eight men - Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, Lee Weiner and Bobby Seale were arrested and indicted on violations that they violated the anti-riot law and committed conspiracy. What followed in the courtroom was a circus never before witnessed by anyone in judicial law. Seale was bound and gagged to a chair and then eventually removed and tried separately, so the Chicago Eight became the Chicago Seven.

George Murdock, a well-known character actor from film and television, played the role of Judge Julius Hoffman. With all due respect to Judge Hoffman and his rope, he was real douche bag. Murdock, on the other hand, had Hoffman down to a tee. (Sorry this particular photo is blurry - no cameras in the courtroom. One of my other "protests".)

Click on the following link for in-depth information on the events leading up to the trial and the trial itself: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Chicago7/chicago7.html

What follows in the play are the events in the courtroom taken from actual trial transcripts. It was informative and entertaining and enjoyed it thoroughly; I could have sat through the entire 4+ month trial to be perfectly honest. My actor-friend, Dave Parke, played one of the U.S. marshals and I had prepared some Yippie pamphlets I wanted him to find on me as he searched me when entering the courtroom. He didn't recognize me when I handed him my ticket (?) because he was paying attention to my ticket and seating me and it wasn't until I came up to him after the show did he even realize I was there (so much for our U.S. marshalls, eh? - kidding, Dave). Being an actor myself, I couldn't resist played around a bit during the show - refusing to stand when the judge entered the courtroom on two occasions or bringing "illicit" contraband into the courtroom (my Yippie pamphlets). I felt, in some way I was doing my part to protest the idiocy and the insanity of the trial.

Funny story - I talked to the actor who played Tom Hayden (Jane Fonda's ex and former Californian politician). He told me the real Hayden attended the show twice - once with his daughter. Upon entering the courtroom, Hayden was frisked by a marshall (how cool is that...the real Tom Hayden) and while the marshall is padding him down, Hayden turns with a smile and says, "Take your fucking hands off me, you asshole." I would've paid a week's salary to seen that (Hayden spoke to the audience for a half hour after the show on one evening).

Some YouTube stuff you might wanna check out.
1.) Chicago 10 - a live-action/animation documentary: http://youtube.com/watch?v=M9uJL7lWdFg

2.) Abbie Hoffman, then and now: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eTJ6Jw63_hA
3.) Jerry Rubin, then: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FTS-DZ5aSnE

John Pollono as Abbie Hoffman, my friend, Dave Parke as a U.S. Marshall and me.

I'm a historical buff and I LOVE this period in our history - the anti-war protests, the music, the personalities. The acting for the most part was great and the likeness the actors had to their real-life counterparts was uncanny.

Packers Buck Rams - Favre Eclipses Last Marino Record

Favre deliver the record slant pass to Donald Driver, his favorite receiver.

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre set another record Sunday as he surpassed Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the NFL's all-time record for most career passing yards. Brett needed only 184 yards to break Marino's mark of 61,361.

"I say it every time this happens: I'm honored, but I would much rather win," said Favre. "The fact that I've played in every game (since my first start) to me is probably my biggest feat. None of these individual records would have happened if it wasn't for the fact that I'd played in every game."

"To pass a guy like Dan Marino, regardless of what record it is... I've said this all along and I will continue to say this: I've never considered myself in the same league as Dan Marino, maybe the greatest passer ever. The way he did it is probably the way you would coach another guy to do it. The way I've done it, I don't know if you would coach guys to do it that way. To be mentioned in the same breath as him is quite an honor."

Brett giving up the record-setting ball to his sideline staff.

Favre directing traffic.

It took the Green Bay Packers to sell out a St. Louis Rams game.

Much of the capacity crowd at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday clearly rooted for the visiting team. Cheeseheads were everywhere and perhaps half of the stadium was clad in Packers' green and yellow, helping the visitors feel right at home in a 33-14 victory.

"It's a joke," running back Steven Jackson said. "The whole first level is Green Bay Packers' fans. It's a joke. We were at Lambeau Field."

"We know how loyal the Green Bay fans are and I'm sure on Thursday there are going to be a ton of Pittsburgh fans," quarterback Marc Bulger said. "You know, this year we just haven't been playing well at home."

"You're a little surprised to see more people in your house for the opposing team than for your team but you know it doesn't make you real happy or real excited," linebacker Will Witherspoon said. "But you've just got to say, 'Hey, I'm in a game.' It just makes it a road game for us."

"Our fans are the best in the world," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It gives our players a great lift...To see the defensive line raising their arms in the air on a big third down, it speaks volumes about the kind of fans we have."

The situation left some Rams players muttering.

"I mean, you kind of get to the point where some teams are going to travel well," Witherspoon said. "You just have to say they brought more people to the house than we did."

Next Week: Green Bay Packers (12-2) at Chicago Bears (5-8)

Green Bay Wins Chunky Soup Click for Cans

The Green Bay Packers put the finishing touches on another championship season with the highest vote total in Click for Cans history - and a repeat winner. On behalf of the winners, a donation of Campbell’s soup will be made to each team's food bank of choice. Here's the top 5. No other fans in the NFL bothered to show up.

1. Green Bay Packers
2,542,009
2. Indianapolis Colts
902,247
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
645,167
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
566,496
5. Buffalo Bills
367,227

UW-Whitewater Football Wins Division III National Championship!

UW-Whitewater finally did it.

After losing to Mount Union (Ohio) the past two seasons in the NCAA Division III national championship football game, My college aluma mater, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (the Warhawks) defeated the Purple Raiders, 31-21, Salem, Va., on Saturday.

Senior Justin Beaver led the Warhawks—who were a 20-point underdog in the game—by rushing for 248 yards. Whitewater opened up a 17-0 lead in the third quarter, then withstood a Mount Union threat that cut the lead to 24-21 in the fourth quarter. The Mount Union Purple Raiders had a 37-game winning streak going into the game.

Mount Union had previously won 9 NCAA Division III championships. Too bad, ya bastards. GO WARHAWKS! Class of '86 rules!

Twenty Six Percent.

I just figured this out today. 26% of my paycheck goes to the government in taxes, as well as for my medical insurance. Obviously I'm aware of these monthly deductions but I don't make that much to begin with so it's easy for me to just take a quick glimpse at my pay stub and shirk. What I'm saying is that I actually grabbed a calculater and figured it out. That's a lot of money per paycheck and per year.

I've written several posts on the immigration subject. I've attempted to be diplomatic, empathetic and civil. But 26% is too much money to give to my government and not have every penny be spent to benefit American citizens.

That all being said, I want every illegal alien in the United States to get out. I hate to break it to you but you do not have all-encompassing rights in this country. In the perfect world that God created, yeh - we'd live in peace and harmony and we'd live wherever we'd damn well please. In a perfect world I'd be getting laid daily; the Green Bay Packers would win every Super Bowl and Brett Favre would never retire; all my loved ones that have passed away would still be alive, including Elvis; the Beach Boys would still be in tact (with Dennis and Carl Wilson alive and Brian Wilson playing keyboards); I could fish or bowhunt as much as I could possibly want; I wouldn't have had to endure my eye injury; I'd be acting in movies and/or Broadway, and every play I wrote would be performed somewhere to enthusiatic patrons.

But this isn't a perfect world. And God created Man who is imperfect and an imperfect Man has to somehow create law and order to combat anarchy, offsetting the millions of other imperfect people inhabiting this planet. Can I just plop my ass in Ireland or Mexico and say, 'this as much my country as it is yours.'? No.

I've grown tired of your manipulation of our health care system like it's a 911 call...a tool at anyone's disposal. I'm sick of you irresponsibly having anchor babies because it's the quickest route to having an American citizen in the family. I'm sick of listening to an automated operator even longer than I have to because everything's recorded in another language. I'm sick of having to repeat what I said in proper English to retail employees who don't understand English 'so well'. I'm sick of you driving on our roads putting law-abiding citizens in peril because you don't have car insurance. I'm sick of your youth getting free monies OR financial aid to attend college when there are some citizens of this country who don't qualify for financial aid. And don't worry about the tasks you perform because other Americans won't - we did it without you once; we'll figure it out again. Etcetera. Etcetera.

So get the fuck out. I was going to put this on my Santa wish list (see below) but I didn't want to cuss at Santa. When I look at the monies deducted from my paycheck knowing full well not all of it is benefiting AMERICAN CITIZENS I could puke. I apologize for my language but no one - including our corrupt politicians in Washington - is listening to me. So I have to be harsh. Get the fuck out and take your wife, husband, children, grandma, grandpa, uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers, sisters and go back whence you came. Do not pass GO; do not stop at the health clinic along the way; do not stop at Home Depot for a last minute possible cash-paying job of which you will contribute no income taxes to our government. Go home and sponge off your own God damn government. 'Cause you're spending MY money and I don't like it!

And I don't want to hear the bullshit excuse, 'your forefathers were immigrants, too'. As far as I've traced, my relatives came through Ellis Island - legally. And those who didn't probably did so because everyone came over illegally at one point...when this country was young and growing and we didn't have legislation in place to deal with immigration. We do now.

DID YOU HEAR ME? GET OUT! No one wants you here! Come back when you can contribute to our country as a legal citizen. You'll be welcomed with open arms - including my own. It's the law - you know? Thank you. I'm done venting. Merry Christmas.

Women Celebs I Love #3 - Julie Christie

I absolutely am in love with British beauty/actress Julie Christie - my favorite actress of all time. I believe it was in Dr. Zhivago that I first became witness to one of the icons of Swingin' London in the 1960's (I liken it to the quintessential California 60's "hot-tee" of which I would include American Michelle Phillips from the Mamas and the Papas, for instance). Then of course, there's her turn in the duel role in Ray Bradbury's classic book-turned-movie, Fahrenheit 451 (my favorite actor, Mel Gibson, was supposed to direct a re-make of F451 a few years ago, but he couldn't get Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt signed on for the project, among other snafu's).

Here's a quick scene from Dr. Zhivago - my God, she is gorgeous! http://youtube.com/watch?v=BSgryyxp-cg . And here's a short interview with her after she either won or received the Academy nomination for Darling. http://youtube.com/watch?v=_dZQloqs4Us

I really love the whole package, I guess. Her lips. Her stare. Perhaps the accent. The eyes. That come hither jaw line. She's feisty and extremely independent (from what I've read). And never married. Hmmm.

You have to see her and Donald Sutherland in Don't Look Now - a weirdish movie about a couple living and working abroad who are terrorized by the memory of their young daughter drowning. There's a sex scene between husband/wife Sutherland/Christie that always makes the lists of "best sex scenes in movies". It's really a 'making love' scene. You have to see it to understand it but basically there are two scenes going on at the same time - the love-making in juxtaposition with the couple getting ready and dressed to go out AFTER the love-making session. Like I said, you have to see it to really appreciate it. Well done, Mr. Roeg.

Julie with former lover Terrence Stamp in Far from the Maddening Crowd.

To the left with hat, as Lara in Dr. Zhivago. Other movies you might recognize her from include:

Away from Her, Afterglow, Heaven Can Wait, Demon Seed, Shampoo, Don't Look Now, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Far from the Madding Crowd, Fahrenheit 451, Doctor Zhivago and Darling (for which she won the Academy Award in 1965)

Julie today. As independent and vivacious as she was 40 years ago. As recent as this week, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced their nominations for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Julie Christie has been nominated for her work in Sarah Polley's debut feature directorial debut, Away from Her. She plays Fiona, a woman whose long, sometimes shaky marriage to a once-adulterous but now steadfast husband, Grant (played by veteran Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent), goes into decline as her memory fades from Alzheimer's. To ease Grant's pain, Fiona checks herself into an institution while she still retains most of her faculties. But she deteriorates so quickly that she no longer recognizes Grant, who suffers through quiet jealousy as his wife begins a flirtation with another aging patient.

Julie Christie. I love you.

BRETT FAVRE received 1,140,863 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl!

Enough said.

Green Bay Packer Brady Poppinga and Detroit Lions John Kitna = Lost Brothers?

Blackmon Named Special Teams Player of the Week, Grant Nominated for FedEx Ground Player and More Pro Bowl Stuff

Packers CB/PR Will Blackmon was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Blackmon became the fourth player in NFL history with a punt-return touchdown and a fumble-return touchdown in the same game (last done in 1974) as the Packers clinched the NFC North with a 38-7 win over Oakland

RB Ryan Grant rushed for 156 yards over 29 carries and one touchdown in the Packers' 38-7 win over the Oakland Raiders. and was nominated for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week.

Fan voting for the Pro Bowl ended and AJ Hawk finished No. 4 among NFL defensive players, while cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Al Harris were sixth and eighth, respectively. Fan voting accounts for 1/3 of the final vote.

My Wish List for Santa

After all these years, I think I've written one Christmas list to Santa - I used as part of my own Christmas card. THIS list really is for Santa. I hope he reads it - there's some prit-ty important stuff on it.

You're supposed to be able to click on the list and it'll open up bigger for you but that feature doesn't seem to wanna work for me (one more thing to add to the list). If YOU'D like to find out what I'm asking the Big Fat Man in the Red Suit for, I've spelled it out for you below:

Dear Santa,

You know how 'you're never too old to...'? Well here's my Christmas list:

1. U.S. soldiers out of Iraq. The indigenous peoples there will continue to fight and kill each other so why put our men in uniform in harm's way for nothing? The rewards are fruitless.

2. I want my enemies to get their just desserts ON EARTH while I'm still drawing a breath. This includes my former employer - Barbara Bollenbach - in Bel Air. She knows what she did.

3. How 'bout one of my full-length plays produced in 2008? Anywhere.

4. The move this Spring. Let's make it happen.

5. Continued good health for my eyes - and no more health scares. This goes for my family and friends. And to those who've lost a loved one in 2007, please say a prayer for them, would you, Santa?

6. I want to be loved by someone who takes my breath away. She knows who she is. She just has to reciprocate.

7. The Green Bay Packers to win the Super Bowl; preferably against the New England Patriots.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. Safe travels, Santa. And to anyone reading this,
A Very Merry Christmas to You All - and A Happy New Year!

Love, Jeff

"PTSP." Shortlisted for Short & Sweet/Sydney 2007

By the way, my award-winning 10-minute play - "Pass the Salt, Please.", was Shortlisted for Short & Sweet/Sydney, the World's Largest 10-Minute Play Festival. That's Sydney, Australia. And shortlisted means it didn't make the final cut. Final cut, as in it won't be performed there in January/February. But it did make the original cut from 1550 to 317, so that's good. It's like being a semi-finalist...only shortlisted.

Favre: A 250th Retrospective Look

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographer Tom Lynn took the occasion of Brett Favre's 250th regular-season consecutive start at home against the Oakland Raiders (we won, 38-7) to focus his camera exclusively on the Green Bay Packers quarterback, from the time he emerged from the tunnel at the beginning of the game to the time he waved his farewell to the Lambeau Field fans at the end. Great B&W photos with audio of Favre taken from his press conference after the game. Check it out here: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=694927

NOTE: (1/4) This slideshow is supposed to start on its own - with audio. As it stands, you have to manually flip through it and there's no audio. I talked to a rep at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the NFl threatened to pull the paper's credentials (to get into games) if they didn't pull Brett's audio. Apparently the NFL owns the rights to those press conferences and any snippets used. Bummer.

A boy and his dogs.

A few shots of my brother Jason's dogs - Molly (the larger one) and Zo (the whacky one). Look at those little baaaaaaaabies! standing together. Zo's one hyper little bitch - that's why Jas can't get a picture of her alone. Oh - they're sisters, separated by two generations.



Molly and Zo are American water spaniels - a classic hunting dog...first bred in Wisconsin. Apparently, there's only around 3,000 in existence at any given time so they're considered rare.


Can you find Molly? She thinks she's hiding. The cattail pictures are the trio hunting duck at the Castlerock Flowage in Mauston, Wisconsin - where Jas, I, dad, Uncle Fran, Cousin Gerry, Schmidy and Bruce go bow hunting (Bruce's brother, Dave used to hunt but he's golfing now - we still fish together though). Sorry, got sidetracked. Anyway...the forest pictures are of a grouse hunting trip in the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin as well. Trying pronouncing that one - it's Ojibwa for, "place of the shallow waters". Anyway you look at it - pretty country. Damn pretty country. Have you found Molly yet?



Jas shot these with his digital camera, and quite frankly, they are superb. He just needs to email them to me NOT as thumbnails - that's why they're small. Nice eye, brother.

No. 250 - In the Can!

Favre smiling on the GB sideline in the 3rd quarter of the Oakland game. Brett started his 250th consecutive game in front of the home crowd and we won, 38-7.

The Trouble with Sports Predictions

You see it on all the news sportscasts, the sports networks, online, radio and in the newspapers. Sports know-it-alls and fans alike predicting the outcome of games.

Not me. I never predict or have predicted the Packers would win any particular game. I say, "they're favored to win so they should" or "they're the better team, so they should win", but you will never hear me say, "the Packers will win the NFC Championship this year" or "the Pack is going to the Super Bowl this season". If you're wrong, you come across as a total moron, which is pretty much what I think of sports columnists and broadcasters AND fans who make such bold assertions. Hey, if you've got a crystal ball and KNOW for certain the outcome of a game, please - let me borrow it for a while. I have lots of questions to ask it.

You predict one team will win over another. Big deal. You have a 50/50 chance of being correct. Ooooooo - what a soothsayer you are. You're a top-notch seer, a wizard who knows all. Won't Gandalf and Merlin be jealous. Impressive. Your friends will love you and think you know a lot about sports. And you'll get laid by hot chicks with no more of a brain than you.

Case in point (and I'm being brief 'cause I could go on and on and on). Not that much was expected out of Brett Favre or the Green Bay Packers at the start of the 2007 season. Pro Football Weekly projected a modest 7-9 record for Green Bay, and a second place finish in the NFC North behind the defending champion Chicago Bears, who were picked to go 11-5. In addition, Pro Football Weekly released a player ranking based on 2006 production, current value to the team, career numbers and potential. The Top 10 quarterbacks included Donovan McNabb (No. 5), Marc Bulger (No. 6), and Chad Pennington (No. 9). Woof, woof, woof. Rounding out the Top 15 were Vince Young, No. 11; Steve McNair, No. 12; Michael Vick, No. 13; Favre, No. 14; and Tony Romo, No. 15 (Romo, an undrafted free agent, came into the league with no expectations or fanfare).

Now you see why I don't make predictions. IDIOTS.

Green Bay Packers = NFC North Champs, Plunder Raiders 38-7 / 11-2

Brett Favre, with NFC North Division headgear, acknowledges the Lambeau Field fans. Brett finished with 266 yards and 2 TDs.

Favre to Ryan Grant, who opened up the run game with 156 yards and one TD.

Greg Jennings finishes his 80-yard pass play from Brett by doing the Lambeau Leap (that leap - any leap - was invented by the Packers).

Will Blackmon was the first player to score a touchdown on a punt return (57 yarder) and a fumble recovery in the same game since Cincinnati's Lemar Parrish had a 90-yard punt return and 47-yard fumble return TD against the Redskins on Oct. 6, 1974. And it was the first time another Packers player accomplished the, Travis Williams - on Nov. 2, 1969, at Pittsburgh.

Next Week: Packers (11-2) at St. Louis Rams (3-10).