"Pimp My Mall" Echelon's Future

Well if you read this blog you have been able to follow the story of the ailling Echelon Mall. The mall that was one where I hung out at the most during my teenager years. Well if you have been there recently you may have noticed that it is litterally at this point only 50% full of stores at this point. Before the new news lets recap the story.

Sears left after two years oddly enough aftered they build an addition on to the mall for them. The building was owned by Sears and was recently purchased back by the mall. Not long after J C Pennys bounced out leaving only two anchor stores. In the past few years the stores in the mall have been bailing left and right. It was going down in flames and showing signs of age.

PREIT bought the mall over a year and half ago, and after years of scratching their heads and watching their investment sink even more it seems the ball has started rolling. After enough rumors to fill a book that included everything from IKEA to Dave and Busters opening up shop there and even more about the entire mall closing they made huge move a month ago. Just weeks after announcing the puzzling decision to tear down the now vacant J C Penny's store the made it public that a new Wal-Mart store will stand alone in the place of the former Penny's store.

This move got mixed reviews from my readers and people that I know who work and shop at the mall. On one hand the Wal-Mart will bring people in. On the other hand stores Boscov's might get more competition than increased traffic. Plus people though wonder if the mall can last to 2006 when the Wal-Mart finally opens. Not to mention that it is not going to be connected to the mall.

Well the are now rather loftly plans to overhaul the mall including updating the interior. If you recall Sears and Penny's actually shared a parking lot. So since the Wal-Mart will stand on the grave of Penny's the Sears building is going to somehow be converted into another enterance into the mall. The plans are some what vague but it will make it more appealing to just drive or walk across connecting parking lot and enter the mall there. It's not clear if there will be a new anchor store there, or if shops will take over the new wing at this point. Something tells me another big announcement might be not too far off.

PREIT has plans to add "dinning options" soon and recently claimed that the Mall still owns a liquor liscenes (before my time there was a steakhouse and bar there Im told) which would help draw people in and give them something to do after dinner. If its' done right this really could work, and I can invision a well down landscape bettween Wal-Mart and the new enterance or anchor store.

The Food Court shouldn't be too affected since the employees of the mall have to eat some where cheap, and just look at Deptford to see how they can co-exist. It would be cool to have a Bennigans or something that isn't really in this area.

So, keep your eye on the mall, and it should be interesting to watch the next few years. I slammed PREIT for not doing anything after a year, but now it seems like they are fully commited to the project. Hopefully, in a few years you can walk through the pimped out mall and say remember when this was a dive? Yeah and that Tucker guy blogged about it all the time?

What do you think? Will the Wal-Mart bring the wrong crowd? Is is all smokescreen only to have the mall leveled next year?

"NIGHTmare Fishing"

This past Tuesday I cut out of the office early, and hung out with Price at his new house in Williamstown which is located right on a beautiful private lake. It was the first time that I can recall that I had a chance to go fresh water fishing (now that I think of it I likely had to of at a really young age) Price and spend a good part of the afternoon on a canoe relaxing and fishing. It was an awesome day weather wise and it gave us a chance to really catch up on each others lives for the most part. I hoisted up what we figure was a Sunfish and Price got about 3 fish of his own.

Later, that day Price’s wife cooked us an awesome meal after Liza, and Price’s sister-in-law and boyfriend joined us. She really out did herself and after finishing the meal we decided to take the canoes out on the water and tour the lake and do some night fishing. I was excited at the prospect of Liza being on a boat for the first time. However, she was uneasy when she realized I would be navigating the boat and told me she would leave me if I sent her into the bottom of the lake. I did not send my loving Liza to her watery grave, but had some navigated related difficulty compared to the more seasoned canoe people on the lake that night The other boat had Price his wife and a random girl, the 3rd boat had Price’s sister in law and boyfriend.

So, after all this bragging about boating a flounder the heat was on in front of my girlfriend. Well, let me tell you it was quite dark out there and I am surprised I got the worm on the hook with out shoving a hook through my finger. Now there are some slight differences in fresh and salt water fishing mostly in how you hold the rod, and to some extent how you react when you feel a bite. Anyway my first cast was fairly uneventful and overshadowed by the fact that someone (it was dark I don’t recall who) pulled up catfish literally seconds after casting.

So, my 2nd cast was uneventful, but since it was so darn dark I cranked the line all the way to the top of the rod. It being so dark and a lighter rod I didn’t notice. This is usually and easy fix and I did it once successfully, then I followed it up by another cast the resulted in cranking it up to high. So, here I am the only one in the boat with a rod (Liza was just chilling) trying like a madman to fix it again in the pitch black. The other boats were just mere shadowing images floating on the water. Although, the one dude had a flashlight on him I was still fumbling with the rod in the dark. I knew it would be a matter of time till someone asked how were doing. Much to my horror they did before I could get the rod fixed. At some point, the problem went from an over cranked line to that fact that the act reel was falling off the rod. Having no clue what happened any very little vision I tried desperately to fix the situation.

For all I know at this point that an important part to the reel feel quietly an unnoticed to the floor of the boat. The reel just kept whoobling off. I tried both ways, but it just refused to screw back in. Eventually, I realized that I couldn’t solve the problem. So, Liza and rowed over to Price’s boat who had his wife and some random girl I met only a few times on board. It turns out that it was not only the random girls’ rod, but I ended up having two girls strip my of my manhood as they tried to perform surgery on the stubborn rod. The two of them failed as I did and at this point I didn’t know what to root for either A. I will be shown fools since it was an obvious easy fix, or B I had broken the fishing pole of the random girl who was getting increasingly upset. Well lets just say I offered to buy a new reel about 4 times in the minutes that followed.

A few minutes later Price got snagged on a lily pad. Liza and I were sent to find the line and yank it out of the lily pad. I really tried to fine the damn thing on the moonless starless nigh. It was so dark that I could barely tell if Liza had fallen over board or not let alone find something that was virtually invisible. I guess Price should have pulled up the anchor and paddled to it the lily pad in or order to release stress on the line, and perhaps had I suggested that in time I could have redeemed myself to a certain extent. However, when the thought surfaced in my brain it was too late and the line snapped. Then the third boat yelled that they were already out of worms. Needless to say it was a short fishing trip.


So, there I was after my flounder I caught earlier this summer that somehow seems more like 6 inches then 22 inches looking making me more like Clark Griswold than a bass master in front of my girlfriend who never saw me fish. Now I feel as though that I the random girl will wish to see our next trip on the lake to end with me at the bottom. For all I know it was fixed later that night, but I still think I have to boat the lake monster that Price claims is lurking in the waters in order to regain my manhood.

"Manhattan Madness"

Well it is pretty common knowledge that NYC is mainly a liberal city. It is also pretty common knowledge President Bush is generally one of the most intensely hated men in modern American history. Although, he still has his supporters the haters of Bush flat out loathe him. I have never seen anything like it in my life. In fact I wonder who would when in a hate poll between him and Saddam sometimes.

The Republican Convention is going to be held in the big apple in roughly a week and some people think it's just an awful idea. The one article getting a lot of attention in the past 24 hours I am not sure it is this bad, but then again I don't live there.

There is going to be A LOT of protests, and their is the potential for things to get out of hand. I would even say it could get historically ugly in the city that never sleeps. Republicans are being blamed for exploliting the 9/11 attacks, and they are defending themselves claiming only good can come from pumping some cash into the NYC economy that has struggled since 9/11.

So what do you think loyal readers is all hell going to break loose in NYC?

"Straight Eye Not for the Queer Guy"

It's amazing how two people can watch the same event (in my case tape delayed) and come away with different views. My good friend Drew who I often disagree with unless it comes to hot wings on his blog TERMINUS has chimed in on Jim McGreevey resignation.

He claimed that he was highly moved by the speech the the soon to be former governor gave earlier this week. I certainly wasn't and saw it as fairly phony. Now lets get this out of the way even though I have the tendency to lean right more than my fellow New Jerseyans I am all for the rights of gays and wouldn't have a problem with a homosexual running the state I live in. Bush's is stance on gays (among other things) could likely cost him my vote. Hell, it would have been okay with me if Jimbo showed up to photo opts with a dude and played "Its Raining Men!" as his campaign song. Also for the record my fav. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy cast member is Jai, with Carson and Ted tied for a close 2nd.

(shaking head)

Sorry about that, just been waiting for a time to post about Queer Eye.

Anyway, the thing of it is I do think it was tough for the guy to make the speech, but I don't know how courageous I could say it is. Fireman who lost their lives on 9/11 are courageous. It turns out that pretty much most the inter circles and all the major papers knew he was gay, so it is only a bombshell to some. I was about 80 % sure he was gay. However, I feel as though he is using his sexuality to shield him and the democrats from bullets. The bottom line is he put his lover (allegedly) in a highly important and paying job for the state for homeland security. A state where some the 9/11 terrorists lived mind you.

If you want to be open minded about it and hold homo-sexuality to the equal light than imagine if he wasn't gay. What if assigned a smokin' hottie he found over seas who couldn't even HAVE CLEARANCE to hold the job (allegedly) just because he was bonking her. Drew even said to me the day off, that he thought it was strange (or something to that effect forgive me I didn't record out conversation) that *this* is what brought the man down. There were all kinds of corruption going with his cronies and I highly doubt he was clean. I can only imagine there is more stuff to come or perhaps that will remained buried.

There is nothing brave using your sexuality as a bullet proof vest to cover up for the fact that you placed a lover (who you cheating on your wife with) in an important high profile job. Not to mention the fact that it is dumb, so dumb that even people from his party were scratching their heads.

The more I think about the more I think we should have a special election. The move to resign in November was a great political move, but not a good move for the state that he supposedly loves. So, now we get to be babysat for over a year, and have an election next year anyway. Why, not get it over with? Silly.

For me there isn't anything moving about a man who had his back against the wall and finally had to come clean. Yeah it sucks for him if he really couldn't figure out if he was gay or not for a long time, but still it isn't like its 1950. The speech came across as phony to me. He draped himself being gay while he wants anyone who fire back at him to look like they are picking on gays. He did it, because his ass got caught. I doubt Drew will be moved be Bush's defeat speech in a few months either. He bascially had to do this because he got caught, and for whatever reason (I guess they broke up?) his lover was going to go public anyway. What puzzles is me is how can all the newspapers (North & South Jersey, Philly, New York) not have connected the dots on this one? It's fairly obvious they all knew he was gay before he said it. Didn't anyone investigate who this random guy was assigned for the position?


Look out for Charlie everyone!
"HOOPER, You Idiot! Starboard ain't ya watchin' it?"-- Quint

"McGreedy Comes out and Steps Down!"

Years ago when McGreevey ran against Brent Shundler a friend of mine told me McGreevy was hiding his sexuality in fear of not getting elected. Since she wasn't a girl that would spin yarn I pretty much figured there was some truth to that. She actually worked for knew some important people too. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Shundler was nice enough not to make it a dirty campaign oh what could have been.


So, McGREEDY being gay isn't as much a shocker as it was that he actually stepped down. There have been so many whispers of kick backs, scandals and etc. that I figured he couldn't be taken down. Not since so many democrats are in this state.

I talked to Drew earlier today who informed me that his resignation would side step a special election. The name of the guy replacing him escapes me, but he isn't running in the fall. Hopefully, Shundler is running so he can be elected into office. Anyway I did vote for him, but I doubt the scandal will have effects over a year from now.

So, Mcgreedy I have no problem that he is gay, but he was a terrible governor. Glad he is gone, but I don't know how I feel about being babysat for over a year. Looks like nothing will get done.

Oh well be sure to post any childish jokes about him on here about his sexuality. Hear any good ones yet? It's going to happen anyway so why not encourage it?

"Mikestock Delayed!"

Looking at the invite list for Mikestock you would find neither Charley or Bonnie on there at all. However, that is not going to stop the jerks from coming to the area this weekend. If you haven't heard by now remains of Tropical Storm Bonnie which is currently bouncing around in the Gulf of Mexico is going to soak the area for the better half of Friday and perhaps even intill Saturday.

To make matters worse still southeast of FLorida we have Hurricane Charlie that will likely hit Sunday morning somtime. It is not even clear what path Charlie, who was just crowned a hurricane a few hours ago is at this point. However, its pretty clear we are at least getting a day of heavy rain. I am thinking at this point (mind you Im a weather dork) that there is a good chance it might take the same type of path that Isabel took last fall. ALthough, at this point it is not as strong. Charley is chasing Bonnie, so it could get tricky.

Anyway, the pending doom combined with the pig thing being to rushed, and difficult if there is tons of water everwhere MIKESTOCK has been officially postponed. This is all fromt he Harry The Horse's mouth, when I talked to him earlier today. Of course I am dissppointed, however Price promises that MIKESTOCK will still happen, but not till sometime in the middle of September.

So sorry to hype it up only to pull a fooled you. However, if you are friends mine or readers of the blog you are used to constant disappointment. Get the word out to anyone who doesn't read this silly blog in order to provent random people showing up at Price's parents house ready to part on Saturday. This will only result in an awkard moment for Mikes' parents.

Now I have over a month to hype this thing. I will post a date when I know, I am sure price will comment on here at somepoint to put his two cents in.

As for Bonnie and Charley you already now im mad! You ruined our plans! You might as well.....

BRING IT ON!

"Mikestock Countdown"

Are you still disappointed that there are no cicadas in your backyard making loud noises?

Did you hurt yourself jumping off the Phillies bandwagon?


Did you take your week's vacation when it rained almost everyday?

Well Mikestock will cure the blues. Don't forget to back out of any prior obligations, call out of work, get out of the desert, or simply set a tape for Dr. Who and make your way to Mikestock.


Now rumor has it that Price has had trouble finding a pig to roast. So, if anyone can find a place that will roast a pig on short notice contact Price and you will get 100 Tucker's World points!


I will add up the points from the last post at a later date.


One more thing, where the hell is Drew?

"All is Quiet on the Hockey Front"

Well both sides met earlier this week in regards to the possible work stoppage in the NHL. So naturally I flipped wildly through the sports section of all 3 papers the next day to find out what happened. I couldn't even find one article.

The only reports that I get are really vauge ones that they both looked the issues again. Nothing, about if they are any closer or father apart. The days are getting shorters and Summer is starting to wind down, which means that is almost the point of no return for the NHL to get an entire season in at this point. Everyone covering the NHL seems to be filled with doom and gloom, and since most players have already made alternate plans for this fall I can understand why. The best article I have written is on NHL.com, but I would prefer a third party source to get through the spin and to be more honest.


The parts are seemingly farther appart than David Letterman's two front teeth, however I have only one shred of hope to hold on to. The Flyers first reqular season game is on October 13th which is my birthday. Is this a sign from the hockey gods that little thing is going to be alright?

Out of all my readers that follow the NHL out there do you really think there will be no season at all?


*****TUCKERS WORLD LABOR DAY CUP UPDATE!*****

Brant 25 points

Ed 20 points

Tom 15 points


Here is a chance to earn some more points.

Name every NHL team that was as one point in the WHA. This will earn you a whopping 35 points to take the lead in one shot! It will also some of the people who have already scored to start running away with it. In order to get all 30 points you must list what team they were when they enetered the leauge and what team they are now, since many of them have moved.

Also 15 points will be rewared to who can post on here the name of the hockey league that folded a few years back.

...and if that is not enough to sweeten the deal in regards to Tucker and the Fish article whoever can write briefly what is strange about the way Flounders look gets 15 points! Another 20 points if you can desribe to me the best method not including actual bait used to catch a floudner. Feel free to answer this one here, or post it in the Tucker and the Fish article.

"Tucker and the Fish"

Last Saturday in the backwaters of Sea Isle City (actually closer to the inlet between Ocean City and STrathmere) I caught myself a 21.7 inch flounder the weighed 4 lbs. It doesn't sound too big but that was the biggest flounder I ever got.


The little bugger put up quite a fight, but that only made him taste that much better. Of course the people's pictures on the wall of Larsens (where my father and I rent a boat) put my nearly 22 incher too shame.


No where else to go with this blog, other than to throw out the question to my readers who actually fish what their biggst catch ever was.


Look for a series of updates tomorrow hopefully if I am not too lazy and can find the time. Only one week till Mikestock!

Summer Move Files 106: The Village

Some movies are bad. Some are a great. Some are just okay. However, I think sometimes the worse are the just disappointing. Which is how I felt of The Village. Now I enjoy M. Night Shyamalan's films, and many people compare him to Hitchcock. I guess that is true to some extent in which they both enjoy putting the movie audience in the palm of their hand while pushing their buttons. Trying to get into their heads.

Now I liked the Sixth Sense and Unbreakable even though I haven't seen them since I saw them in theaters. I loved Signs which to me felt like a rollercoaster ride. However, the only button pushed during the Village for me was the snooze button. The remarkably still underrated Jaquin Phoenix was totally wasted, and I guessed the films "twist" ending in the first 20 mins or so. Which is something I usually don't try to even do.

The film is some what frustrating, because some very haunting images are used and I love the idea of actually shooting on location for films like this instead of a studio back lot. There is something very haunting and cinematic about the woods, that always makes for great tension. However, all the good elements are over shadowed by goofy dialogue, and characters I had no emotional investment in.

The pacing of the film also hurts the film, just when you think the rollercoaster ride is going to start it only results in a false alarm. Imagine going on a rollercoast ride, but the actual going down part was eliminated..you just went up and sort of chugged along.

Some parts of the film are just so goofy. I thought about writing about the plot, but to be honest the less you know the better. However, I really think the films premise is done well and might have actually worked well had it been told a different way. Again I don't want to spoil the film.

I have been thinking of renting Sixth Sense and Unbreakable to revisit them. However, years from now unlike Dan K, I won't be asking anyone to take me back to the village.

What a let down for a film I looked forward to all summer. Oh well.

20 Tuckers World Points to the first reader to point out what Philly reference is in the film.

Hint: It's visual

"If You Like Hope Vote Kerry"

I was watching HBO's entourage for the first part of John Kerry's speech. However, I caught the 2nd half or more just to see exactly when I should set a plate for hope.

Kerry's speech charged with emotion was meant to stir up the troubles. Kerry positioned himself well. He made it as though America is in a dark spot right now, and there isn't any reason there should be. He spoke to Americans who are downtrodden right now.

Kerry tried to appeal to the disgruntled voters and let them know that he should solve their problems from A-Z. He touched on the unemployed and also offered help to the hard working American that just can't make ends meet no matter how hard they try. I felt I was some what in the audience to an extent since I still feel as though the job market isn't what it should be for anyone not in nursing or education. Lots of people are in worse shape than me though who need to support a family. Now Kerry is offering to help them out of their situation, but is offering them false hope?

Kerry also played the undecided well at the end of the speech trying to state (at least how I took it) that Bush let us down more than mislead us. He also made it look very hard for Bush to come out swinging the day after, pleading to try to keep the election clean. Of course it won't be, but he is wisely letting the 3rd party Bush backers get his message out, so that way Bush looks like a jerk if he goes on the offensive.

Kerry's main point was to he would try to help people without health insurance who are between jobs, don't have it at their job, and even lower the costs of healthcare since most people (myself included) are paying a lot. Now, my choices were either pay a lot and not choice my own doctor, pay a little more and choice my own doctor. However, in order to use my own doctor my I would have to rack up a really high bill for the co-pay. Since I am rarely sick I took the first option much to my regret to have to forced to go to another doctor. Kerry claims we will be able to go to our doctor of choice. That will lots the recent college graduates (lots of my friends talk about this issue) on his side and the doctors and health insurance places against him.


Kerry seemed to want to hit different groups to give them a reason to vote for him. I kept in mind that it was just politics and wasn't moved to tears like some people. It appears that Ed you were wrong, Kerry is not a flop. Certainly not with his own people. Although, it wasn't a hate filled speech it was fueled by frustration of disagreeing with Bush's policies for four years. There are a lot of frustrated, angry

Americans out there who think that Bush misled them for whatever reason in dealing with Iraq. Kerry is just riding that wave, and will do anything to make himself look as if he is one of us.

Some say Kerry knocked one out of a park that night. I would have to agree with that to some extend. However, it doesn't mean that I am voting for him. Given the fact that he is a rich man I don't by this I eat at Wendy's man of the people smokescreen he is putting up. Kerry just knew actually what the situation called for to give the people down in the dumps a reason to cheer. It's amazing though how many hard critics off Bush who are so cynical of everything he says take whatever Kerry dishes out at face value. Almost, as if he starts out with trust and can only lose it.

Hope you guys enjoyed democrat week. Bush has his work cut out for him, and it's going to intresting to see how he disects Kerry's looking out for the little guy routine.

Thing are heating up, and Tucker's World hasn't even made an edorsement yet.

"Ryan Likes Bush!"

On the way to one of his gigs a month ago Ryan revealed to me the first time in the history of our friendship a political opinion.

Ryan claimed, "I just can't see himself voting for John Kerry."

When asked earlier today if the convention changed his mind. He said not at all. No hope is on the way bumper stickers for Ryan.

Sure, its none of our businesses who he votes for really, but he said it was cool to write about it. I am just amazed after all these years he finally voice opinion.

Watch the poll numbers, this could change the entire election!

"John & John's Hope Train Now Arriving!"

What a great summer for the democrats!  First Fahrenheit 9/11 is a mega hit and has most Americans  shuffling around and quoting the film so well I didn't even see Michael Moore's lips move. Then, what could have been a scandal turned into just a silly incident. It was revealed that last year former Clinton Security Aide Sandy Burger, who was ready to fill the position of similar nature for John Kerry walked out of a 9/11 commission meeting with classified documents. Agedly, he shoved them down his pants and left with them, resulting in his house being searched for them. Not all of them were even retrieved.

 Now Clinton squashed the story when he came out and said that he was laughing when he heard it. He thought it was funny since he was always up to his eyes in paper work when he worked for him. So, basically the reason was he is a whacky absent minded guy who is always misplacing and or shoving stuff down his pants. Then the story was dropped despite all the missing documents.  I think given the guy’s important job I should be happy if it’s a cover-up of some sort.Now the convention is being held in Beantown and it's time for Kerry to make the hard sell.

Tonight, is his big night. Now I am going go out on a limb here and predict that Kerry is going to roll up them sleeves! That way we can realize that he is a man of the people! That Kerry he is really going to get things done, what with the rolling of the sleeves and all. Getting down and dirty just like blue collar America despite the fact that he is insanely rich. If he is rolling up those sleeves he sure must be serious!  

 
 Last night the democrats even came out with a catchy slogan that has been ringing in my ears all day long. HOPE IS ON THE WAY! HOPE IS ON THE WAY! HOPE IS ON THE WAY ! HOPE IS ON THE WAY! Everybody I want you to stand up by your computer and throw back your chair and chant in monotone. HOPE IS ON THE WAY! HOPE IS ON THE WAY! HOPE IS ON THE WAY! In all fairness I think John Edwards had an awesome speech even though VP speeches usually are forgotten in a few weeks that is about as good as it gets. For a second the affable Edwards not only had me ready to post my endorsement for Kerry on this blog, but could have gotten me to run naked down my street screaming HOPE IS ON THE WAY! Now that the moment has passed I have clearly come back to my senses.

 
Tonight, at least till the debates could be the most important night in John Kerry's career when he has to tell the American people really why they should vote for him, and just vote against Bush. Than again many people's mindset is anyone, but Bush so maybe Kerry can just make an appearance VIA satellite that way he won't have to pre-empt the mom swapping show. So,  get your Heinz ketchup and ready readers to dive into the pony show that is a political convention and check tune into Kerry from his soap box tonight. Now if your apartment is a little small, you are still living with you parents, you haven’t been laid in years, have no job,  your underwear is too tight or you are still bummed about spending 9 bucks for seeing Catwoman. Don't worry loyal readers HOPE IS ON THE WAY!

If the democrats winning streak continues much longer Bush’s convention speech might as well start with the line…”Ah forget it!” , followed by him waving his hands off to the audience. Time now to get on the bandwagon ladies, gentleman, homeless and people.

The Johnny Train is leaving Beantown tonight, next stop….Washington D.C.?

"Drive In Returns to South Jersey"

A drive in movie theater opened last weekend off Delsea Drive in Vineland. The first time a movie has been shown in this format since 1991.  The theater showed a double feature for the Bourne Supermacy and Anchorman.  Now instead of speakers you tune your radio to aan FM station. The theater is bigger than any Imax theater. Might be a good place to see the Village.

"Mikestock 8/14/04"

Price called me earlier tonight to let me know that a date has been set for his party that is designed to celebrate his return to civilian life and the fact that he got married and didn't really get a chance to get people together for it.

So in crew tradition the party has a name Mikestock slated for August 14th! So, that gives you plenty of time to clear your schedule, take off of work, think of an excuse to call out of work, or get permission from your girlfriend to attend the party.

The theme of the party is Hawaiian, and it's up for debate if it should be mandatory for Hawaiian shirts to be the require attire. All the details aren't clear, yet but keep clicking on Tucker's World for updates as I get them.

This is clear it will involve a roasting pig, swimming, lots of beer, lots of dudes, and dangerously drunk people.

So make sure you get this date straight call Price if you have any questions.

Tell me how you feel on here about having to where Hawaiian shirts.

"Can Kerry Save Hockey?!"

The NHL is in worse is in utter shambles, and the pending hockey Armageddon appears to be real, and any kind of lock out could very easily lead to the entire league going belly up. At this points experts on the sport peg the lockout as 75% likely.

Now presidential hopeful John Kerry, has of work hard work and decisions to make in order to over come the borderline states in order to bounce Dubbuya from the White House.  Sure terrorism, healthcare, and the economy are important, but what about the NHL?

Now according to the countless photo ops I have seen attempting to make the American public like John Kerry he not only is a hockey fan he actually plays the game! I don't know if he can stand on his skates as well as his skies, but maybe he is the NHL's only hope.

Now I don't expect him to do anything, but he would automatically get my vote if he randomly broke the door down at the next CBA meeting, and locked the door till both sides made an agreement. I would be like the John Kerry can get things done! I am going to vote for him he cares about the average man who just wants to watch hockey. He surely understands the common man.

In fact if he save the NHL from meeting the reaper I think I would get I love Kerry tattooed on my arm. Come on John Kerry its a great idea! Canada is pissed off at us, and if the Canadians, and Maples never play again it will be impossible for them to ever like us again.

please, John Kerry prove to me you can solve differences by making the impossible possible. Please if you are as big a fan I am, you are the only one that can save it.

 
Enjoy DEMOCRAT WEEK readers!

"Wawa turns 40!"

This week if you haven't heard WaWa turned the big 4-0! Now in honor of the birthday of this great South Jersey staple.  I want you to close your eyes and imagine life without Wawa. If you are like me, it seems like some level of hell. How can you go to bar without a Wawa stop to start or most times even end the night? How can you make it to the shore with out stopping at least one Wawa? Where do you do all your free banking transactions? Wawa, a great place for sandwitches, soup, picking up the newspapers, random cravings, drunken purchases and the ever popular tapping MAC is part of our culture.

 

What lots of don't realize is the actual company goes as far back to the 1800's! The company was been wise and learn from it's mistakes like the short flirtation with lottery tickets that made waiting in lines too long. They also tried to move up to New England, and for whatever reason it didn't catch on. Now Super Wawas are popping up, and providing people with gas! Cheap gas! Below is some facts from the Wawa webpage.

 

• Over 100 years ago, the original dairy farm was built on land located in a rural section of Pennsylvania called Wawa, which was named from a local Native American tribe in honor of their favored game - the Canada Goose. Today, the name Wawa has come to symbolize the very best attributes of our company.
  
  Our Rich History1800sThe Company was founded in 1803 in New Jersey, and incorporated in 1865 as the Millville Manufacturing Company, a textile company with mills in several states and sales offices across the country.
  1902In 1902, George Wood, Millville's owner, opened a small milk plant in Wawa, PA, which specialized in processing, and the home delivery of "doctor certified" milk. The Wawa Dairy enjoyed a reputation for superior fresh products and customer service.
• 
  1964On April 16, 1964, Wawa Food Markets opened their first store in Folsom, PA. This store was an immediate success, and it marked the beginning of the Wawa chain of food markets. From the beginning, Wawa made a commitment to fresh food - selling fresh produce and featuring a full-service deli. Over the years, the food service offer has been expanded to meet customers' needs.
• 2001Today, the Wawa "family" has grown to include more than 13,000 associates with over 500 stores in five states.

 

What do you like the most about Wawa? Also 25 Tucker's World points to whoever guesses WHAT is celebrating  a 100 year birthday this summer.

Wawa came into the Delware Valley and is something that is almost unique to the country since it doesn't exisit anywhere else.  Please share your foundest Wawa stories, and comments right here on Tucker's World.

Happy Birthday Old Friend.

"Corn Quest!"

One of the luxuries of living in South Jersey is the great produce. We are well known for our tomatoes, blue berries and fresh corn in the summer time.

Now as most of you know my father has a garden and the only one of the three mentioned that we grow are tomatoes. So, obviously they are always really good.

Now as far corn goes we usually go to bucks, and for a real treat we go to Stella's to get our ears of corn. It is July and from the 4th of July till pretty much the start of August is when you should get the best corn. It's in its prime during those weeks.


However, I sadly have yet to taste the sweet corn that I am used to. Every ear I have eaten this year has been. Meh, eh, or Blah.
So-so corn.


Has anyone else noticed how the corn isn't as sweet as it should be? I tried supermarkets too. Has anyone got really good corn anywhere? If so where?

Let me know.


Hmm...maybe I should have just gone to bed.

"Lame Eagles Lame!"

Now I am writing this with the fear of being run out of the Delaware Valley by angry drunks hurling flaming soft pretzels at my head.

But, I really can't hold back anymore. Eagles fans have grown flat out annoying. I don't know when this happened recently or if was always this bad, but the Eagles fans have become extremely annoying. Down right obnixious.

I am not knocking fans that are die hard, but do we have to represent our area nationally as place where IQs are lower than 40? Okay the season is around the corner now. However why do I to put up with the Fly Eagles Fly song at Flyers playoff games when the Eagles Season is a long time ago. There are months where nothing remotely intresting happens with the team yet idiots (annoyingly) sing the Eagles song. They are talking about the stuff that is way down the line, where anything can happen to change those events.


These people are so annoying calling up 610 WIP in March singing the Fly Eagles Fly Song. They talk about the scehdules after it is released for about 4 weeks.

"Hey Howard, Do you think the Eagles can win week 6?"

Well for God's sake don't these people have famlies? Granted as hard core-Flyers fan my off season comes during the summer when there is more to do. However, I dont understand why Eagles fans have to call up 610 WIP and say they can't wait till the Flyers are done so there is more Eagles talk.

What in God's name is there to talk about in the off season? PLease who gives a damn about week 10? McCnabb could break his ankle in the pre-season for all we know. Now the fans just call up to rip the Phils and talk about if McNabb has chunky soup for lunch or not. .

Again, I am not against team spirit, but most Eagles hard core fans come off as total dumbasses. For years, I never understood why people(EX: Lima Beanz for Redskins) from this area could root for another team in any of the sports. Perhaps they just don't what to be assoicated with these jerks who for the most part have to be insanely intoxicated for ever single game.

I was so annoyed a few months ago from the stupidy of the majority of the hardcore fans I really considered rooting against them and picking a new NFL team. OF course I am only a casual Eagles fans to begin with so it wouldn't be a big loss. But, my boiling point was when many people were hoping the Flyers would be eliminated so the Eagles would be the ones breaking the streak. Of course for me a Flyers victory would mean more to me, but I just want the streak to end and would be happy had the Eagles broke the streak last January. What idiots.I wasn't hoping the Eagles failed. Maybe I should start.

Well the Eagles are favored to go far, and the Flyers lost their last in the final four last season. Speaking of the Flyers, did everyone hear that Simon Gagne got drafted by the WHA? Just a few more weeks untill the official end of the NHL (the two sides stop talking months ago) I kind of thought this day would come, but I certainly didn't think it would come when I was only 24.

"Water, Water, Everywhere"

Just wondering if anyone has a good story to share about the insane flooding we had in South Jersey last week. A little late for this, but I suppose others were caught up in the craziness too.

I was about 50 mins late for work since almost every street leading up to Route 70 was closed because it was under water. Never saw anything like that.

Dan K. got caught in the water and the engine of his car was flooded luckily he had flood insurance. He told me he figured he could make it and enter up idle in a water up to his doors for a half an hour till help came. He just sat there and listened to the radio while his engine was damaged by rushing water.



Anoyne else have any stories?

"Echelon Malls Meets Wal-Mart

Yesterday it was made public that the struggling Echelon Mall will get a Wal-Mart in place of the empty J C Penny's. This rumor has been floating around for quite some time, and it looks like it is really true since it was in the Inquirer yesterday.

The Penny's building will still be torn down and the Wal-Mart will be a new building put in it's place. However, it won't actually be connected to the mall. So people wanting to actually shop at the mall will have to leave the Wal-Mart parking lot and enter the Mall seperatly. Don't get too excited the store isn't slated to open in 2006.


Will this work? Won't Wal-Mart just crush Boscov's? Will stores like Dollar Mania be useless?

The people at Preit say that the Mall is getting a new look, new lights and colors inside, and eventually lots of cool new stores.

Can the Mall come back to life ?

Tuckers World: Kerry in the Lead!

I decided to have my own meaningless numbers on my blog to gage the mindset of America leading up to the election.
So, I braved getting more spam than usual and went into AOL chatroom asking people who they are were voting for. Of course most people ignored me or wanted or sell me porn.

Anyway. Here are the results

Kerry 16 Bush 7

Kerry went on a run early and never looked back. Of course this likely means nothing, but so do most of the polls out there.

Summer Movie File 105: Anchorman

Part of me is quite surprised that I walked up to the ticket booth to buy a ticket for Anchorman since I still didn't see the two biggest films of the summer Spiderman 2, or one of the biggest movies of all time Fahrenheit 9/11. I didn't really like the first Spiderman, and hear this one is better. I don't really have a desire to see Michael Moore's film either. I just don't love the media's darling child as much as most people do I guess.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell)tells the story of a news team of 1970 something San Diego dealing with the emergence of women anchors in the business. Christina Applegate plays the inspiring reporter that shares the same dreams that Burgndy has to work for the network news one day.

From the description you might think colleges would show this in communicators classes. However, the movie really isn't about anything and just uses that premise to keep the jokes rolling. The film starts almost starts out as a Best in Show style mocumentary, however that dissolves quickly into a zany parade of cartoonish skits.

In one scene Burgundy who is trying to impress the would be first anchor lady plays some jazz flute for her. That is actually what this movie is just comedic jazz. The actors come on the screen and just basically try to make the audience laugh seemingly making stuff up and playing off the other players. Little or no care is given to any kind of logical story line. The actors come on camera and over act in many cases shouting and throwing themselves around.

The movie belittles the importance of local news and every news story they cover is utterly meaningless. The rest of the broadcast team is made up of the creepy sports guy (who hits more sour notes than anyone in this comedic jazz concert), another reporter, and the seemingly retarded weatherman. Not one thing the weatherman (played by Daily show Alumni: Steve Colbert) says make no sense and it often times providing the some of the biggest laughs . All the men are sexist and are more interested in their sex lives than covering an actual news worthy story.

The first 30 mins of the film is pretty bad, however the movie picks up in laughs and eventually I got caught up in the utter stupidity of the film. One scene in particular involving all the rival affiliates engaged in a gang war spoofing Gangs of New York. At this point I realized how this movie wasn't going to allow a glimmer of seriousness shine. Sort of like the Naked Gun movies characters are there to make you laugh. Just living cartoons. Even if that means in reality they should have died several times.

Even the "love story" only goes on again off again to set up more sequences of jokes. An impressive list of A-list Hollywood stop by randomly to provide quite a few laughs, and you realize even more to just leave your brain at the door.

The movie is way over the top zany and Ferrell haters should either see Fahrenheit 9/11 for the 5th time or seek Cicadas in their backyard to better fill their summer night. I laughed out loud enough times to consider it a funny movie. Some of the off the wall-lines and scenes will likely to become legendary inside the walls of frat houses.

The guy that co-wrote it grew up in the area, and some people think the Anchorman is modeled after either Jim Gardner or the now retire Larry Kane. I seriously hope not for their sake!

20 Tucker's World Summer Cup Point to the first person to name the highest rated local news show.

Summer Movie Files: 104 The Terminal

I guess the movie going public saw Tom Hanks trapped on and island too recently to flock out to see him stuck in an airport terminal. Maybe, it was the fact that the American icon wasn't playing an American. The Terminal wasn't a flop, but certainly under achieved for a Hanks/Speilberg teaming.

The film actually doesn't really have an evidence of Speilberg's finger prints with the exception of John William's score and it's heart of the film designed to make you root for the lead character.

Tom Hank's character can't go home since his country is in a civil war and America doesn't regonize the new country so he can't really step foot in on American soil. So, he is basically stuck in a NYC airport.


There are worse places to be stuck. In fact the terminal looks like a fairly fun place to spend a day. You can do lots of shopping, and grab a bite to eat at various resturants. It is in better shape than the Echelon Mall.

However, Hanks is being kept in check by the the new head of the Terminal whose motive eventually shifts to spite in order to keep the Russian (I won't attempt to spell the actual country he is from, however he sounds Russian) accented Hanks in limbo.

Hanks decides to make the most of it and does more work than many Americans actually feel like doing. He quickly learns returning shopping carts earns you a quarter if the shopper was too lazy to return it on their own. This provides him with the money to eat everything from Burger King he can get his hands on (he wasn't supersized though) I guess Burger King paid a lot to get their name in this film.

Along the way, Hanks befriends various employees of the Terminal, including an Indian with a shady past, a love struck spanish janitor guy, and a sexy flight attendent.
Eventually, Hanks starts working jobs remodeling parts of the terminal, which is handing since it's about a 2 minute commute on foot from where he sleeps.

The movie boasts a rarity in today's films a wonderfully designed set, that you forget that it wasn't actually filmed in a terminal. The film also captures all the elements of a feel good American Movies. The underdog, the love story, the love to hate him rival of the lead, the melting pot charcters, and humor.

A delightful date movie, and one that its hard to hate. Although I don't imagine anyone will remember this in the list of Speilberg's legacy. It was nice to see Hanks have some fun for a change, after the serious role in the mildly confused Catch Me If You Can, and the jaw droppingly dull performance devoid of an once of his famous stage presence in the unwatchable Road to Perdition.

Hanks has brilliant comedic gift that he rarely uses anymore. This wasn't on the level of his loveable 80's films, but he reminded me of the old school Hanks a few times.


A generally fun movie worth your time. Sorry Drew, no british accents.

"John & John!"

John F Kerry named John Edwards as his running mate yesterday. Bummer for anyone who placed money on Megatron.
So, the John and John team is now off to the races and ready to knock Bush off his hill.

Now, I am not a political junkie like Drew (don't tell him about the intervention please), but I am a media junkie (which is why I choice the useless major I chose) which makes me quite aware of most things out there political. Armed also with a few of my own less mainstream webpages to cut through the what the media wants me to read. Anyway my long winded point is that I am not an expert on politics, but shouldnt't be the other way around?

I don't know I think Edwards looks better, speaks better, and has a better connection with the people. Kerry looks like he belongs in a used car lot hire pressuring college students into buying lemons. While Edwards looks like he might have just walked out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

I can only hope that now that the dream team is ready to go that perhaps Kerry can be more clear on who he is, instead of why we should hate Bush. Talking about how he feels on abortion recently is a step in the right direction. However, if he is going save the world like many liberals seem to think he will he should come up with some ideas how to turn things around.

Now do you think, Edwards would topple anyone over that was on the fence and take votes away from people voting for Bush? I mean most people voting for Kerry if that whacky dancing old guy from the Great Adventure commericals was his running mate.

Already, thinks are started to surface about Edwards shady lawyer ties, and how money may or may not have been legally rasised while he was in the primary. I don't have a link for that yet, and am too lazy to look for one now. However, if I get one I will put it here.


So, did the democrats use backwards logic here?

"Missing Cicadas"

For me the summer of cicadas has been really lacking in well Cicadas. I actually saw one last night at Megan's house (Liza's friend),however it's lifeless body was floating in a discarded planter pot.

Anyway I have a few theories of why I didn't see any of the buggers so far.


* They went to an area where the sports teams actually win. Hell they were underground for 17 damn years and not one team won a championship. I don't blame them


* They heard John Street already had too many bugs in his office.


* They didn't want to be out numbered by slot machines in Pennslyannia


* They didn't come to NJ, in fear of being horribly taxed. Of course all the benefits would go to Northern Jersey Cicadas.

* Suburban Sprawl in South Jersey has gotten out of hand so much the poor little guys can't find soil that hasn't been paved over. Jenna those noises you hear at night are thousands of Cicadas clawing at your newly built house in order to breath.

*They were eaten by "The Blob" of Egg Harbor


15 points for the first person that can explain the Egg Harbor Blob.


***hint it was a fairly big story last summer****

I had a planned to write a few on people's distain for AMerica(I started will finnish later this week) and a review on the TERMINAL. However, fatigue and laziness kicked in so I am going to run odds for the nomintaion of VP that John Kerry is supposed to name his running mate. So, this should be helpful for anyone placing bets. Keep any mind I am fairly tired so some of the selection might not make any sense.

John Edwards 3/1

Dick Gephart 5/1


Wesley Clark 6/1


Hillary Clinton 7/1 (I really wouldn't be surprised about this one at all)

10/1 Bill Cliton.


14/1 Bill Nelson


20/1 Howard Dean

25/1 John McCain

29/1 Al Franklin

35/1 Joe Liberman (I like the man, but the two would clash over too much. Might be a good way to go for the on the fence voters though.)

40/1 Micheal Moore



55/1 Megatron


66/1 Smarty Jones!


85/1 Mike Price


90/1 Andrew "Drew" Vogel


140/1 Ashley Olseon

240/1 Marlon Brando

350/1 Howard Dean


I would also like to say whoever can pick this (time is wasting it will happen first thing tomorrow it looks like) will be rewarded 10 Tucker's World points. Whoever has the most points as of Labor Day wins something cool!



We need to comment more on here! Why was there no comments about the poor pug?

"Odds Are"

I had a planned to write a few on people's distain for AMerica(I started will finnish later this week) and a review on the TERMINAL. However, fatigue and laziness kicked in so I am going to run odds for the nomintaion of VP that John Kerry is supposed to name his running mate. So, this should be helpful for anyone placing bets. Keep any mind I am fairly tired so some of the selection might not make any sense.

John Edwards 3/1

Dick Gephart 5/1


Wesley Clark 6/1


Hillary Clinton 7/1 (I really wouldn't be surprised about this one at all)

10/1 Bill Cliton.


14/1 Bill Nelson


20/1 Howard Dean

25/1 John McCain

29/1 Al Franklin

35/1 Joe Liberman (I like the man, but the two would clash over too much. Might be a good way to go for the on the fence voters though.)

40/1 Micheal Moore



55/1 Megatron


66/1 Smarty Jones!


85/1 Mike Price


90/1 Andrew "Drew" Vogel


140/1 Ashley Olseon

240/1 Marlon Brando

350/1 Howard Dean


I would also like to say whoever can pick this (time is wasting it will happen first thing tomorrow it looks like) will be rewarded 10 Tucker's World points. Whoever, has the most points as of Labor Day wins something cool!


We need to be commenting more loyal readers! How come no one chimed in about the poor Pug? I know the comment section was down for sometime over the weekend. PLease share your stories about the beloved Pug.

Liu the Pug, dies at '13

Beloved pug Liu (Lou) of Ryan's family passed away last night. While the nation heard about the death of icon Marlon Brando, Tucker's World lost of one of their on.

"He was an Icon" said Ryan, earlier today commenting on his popularity with his family and friends.

Liu was traveling home with Ryan after visiting his family down in Ocean City when he started experiencing breathing problems. Lui's condition got worse and it was recommended that he was put to sleep, and he went quietly.

Liu was well known in the neighborhood. When he was younger he had the tendency to wonder around town and people would call up Ryan's house so he could be returned home. Lui most of his life had trouble remembering where he actually lived. I recall one instance when I was in my backyard and saw the Pug eagerly waiting for someone to let him in the Moffitts backdoor.

Liu was huge at all the parties Ryan threw. Guys treated him as an equal and hang out with him, and he even sipped some beer from his water bowl. Girls loved him and would shower him with attention (more than I got at the parties which says very little).

I still recall the first real walk Ryan took him on. Dustin and I went along for the walk and got a kick out of the trademark snort, and his bizarre method to piss when he would stand on both front legs almost doing a hand stand.

That summer we played home run derby on Ryan's front yard. Liu was named "coach" to give us support. However, he spend most the days panting hard or laying on his back motionlessly.

Liu often the center of the attention and huge family gathers at Ryan's home was a gentle soul. He might not have been the dog that could do any tricks or anything, but people loved him . He had a huge appetite which lead to the game (briefly) "Will Lui Eat It?". In fact, I think more pictures of him are up in that house than any other family member. He was often seen going for walks in the neighbor with Ryan's parents.

He was so popular that when I would bump into friends when they asked about Ryan often times that would ask how The Pug was doing. Everytime I was over that house I would look for him and pet him. Of course it wasn't hard since he never once that I can recall went upstairs.

He also had a brief career as a pet ambassador. After my dog passed away Ryan brought him over to cheer us up and meet with my cat Tiger. Relations quickly went sour when Tiger arched his back and hissed like a Halloween cat. The seemingly aloof Lui was escorted out, but not after urinating on the wall downstairs. Liu's career as and ambassador.

Liu spend most of his days lovingly loafing around the house and napping. He loved food spending time in the yard. He was great with kids and was always really friendly to everyone he met.

Liu, you will be missed old friend.


Please use the comments section to share any cool Liu stories you have.

"Dirty Street"

Finally, months after finding the FBI bugs in City Hall and learning that Philly Mayor John Street was likely up to no good his men are going down.

It turns out there was corruption abound money was used illegally, fraud, and lies you name it. Of course Street is pleading ignorance which is fairly laughable since most of the conversations on the wire were in his own office. Rumors of what was going on was all over the city, and the this the first the mayor is hearing about it?

Please.

Now I know I got heat for what I wrote about Janet Jackson saying that she did it to sell her CD. Of course I don't have direct proof of that and never it, but this is a web blog, not a newspaper column. Regardless if it takes me readers take me views a little more serious I will try to be fair and balance.


Now, I really don't have a smoking gun to tell you about but one just has to look at the body language of the Philly mayor to know that he isn't being honest. How can anyone explain that if he didn't know what was going on, how the rumors could not have reached him? Or if he was so innocent why on earth he didn't bother to try to get to the bottom of the ordeal after he found his office was being bugged (not by cicadas mind you) by the FBI? The dirty deeds (apparently not done cheap) continued for months after the election continued.

Now is there any paper trail that will lead to Street losing his job? Doubtful. Will anyone that voted for this loser care? No. Could he get re-elected if he could run again? Most likely.

Street, is an example of how we almost accept mildly (at least) corrupt politicians to lead this country. Why can't we make him pay? Or is too late is corruption and politics something that you can never separate?

Hopefully Street who I believe to not only be an arrogant SOB but a racist goes down hard. But I am not holding my breath.

"Take Care Ed"

Long time reader and occasional writer Ed will be leaving for the additional training tomorrow and won't be around again till the middle of the fall. I met and became friends with Ed while working at the dreaded Outlet years ago, and he became a member of a the National Guard Reserves.

Ed will only be home for a week or so when he returns and will likely be in Iraq by the end of the year.


Tucker's world and of course myself would like to wish Ed good luck in Texas and with additional training and for a safe return home.

Now who is Drew going to debate?

"John Kerry's Shady Past "

Someone wrote into a local paper recently and shed some light on the John F Kerry's Vietnam record. He had served with the man and I doubt he has a dumper sticker for Kerry in '04 on his car. This inspired me to do some research on this topic, because I had heard before that it is quite shady.

Well the reason Kerry got send home after a short stint during the war, was because he got injured in combat 3 times. Which means he was eligible to for a ticket out of Vietnam. His injuries were mostly minor from pieces of shrapnel. In fact his last injury by the accounts of the men that were there was his own fault for mishandleing one of his own weapons. The shrapnel piece was so thin that it was actually removed with tweezers and only needed a band-aid.

After leaving his group Kerry spoke out not only against the war, but the practices by the men he was with. He also went to many anti-war protests and allegedly mocked US solders while dressing up and making them look like jack-asses. Holding American flags upside down, and in one instance was seen with a group waving the communist Vietnam flag.

Now, okay lots of people were against that war. Most people are against the Gulf War 2 still going on right now. These people usually follow that up with stating they are against the war, but for the troops. I am not sure how Kerry could have justified that.

Now I tried to give Kerry the benefit of the doubt and chalk this one up to people on Bush's side trying to discredit him. However the amount of Vietnam veterans against him is just too alarming to discredit. He DID speak out against them and accused many of people he fought with of doing some fairly nasty stuff similar to what is depicted in NAM films.

Now he admits that he didn't really say anything other than blame leaders of the troops for leaving their men twisting in the wind. It wasn't a secret though that Kerry wasn't for the cause once he got there and wanted out. He all but begged for the third purple heart (or at least nominated himself for the purple heart) to get him out of combat from what I read. I don't know what to make, Kerry almost seem like a chameleon to me at times. The SUV story a awhile back where he denied ever having them in front of a bunch of environmentalists, after saying how great they were before and supposedly had it turned out he owned several. It makes you wonder if there is truth to this war record.

Now for those of you that wish to comment here, let us not compare his record to Bush. We all know he likely benefited from his rich parents and was kept out of harm's way for the most part. However, that is the way it always has been since the start of time not that it is right or anything. However, comparing the two it isn't nearly as bad.

Now perhaps you shouldn't elect a leader based on how they spend their youth in a troubled time. God knows they both served their country a lot more than I have. However, it is an example of how I just haven't been able to peg what exactly John Kerry is all about. Again their are just too many disgruntled veterans out there to discredit this. Kerry certainly shouldn't be claiming himself any kind of war hero.

I have yet to decide who I am voting for come November, and have pegged September 1st as the day I come out with an endorsement for Tucker's World. That way I can use the following months to root,root for the favored candidate in the election. I could easily go either way at this point.

Before I can make any decision I would like to get some discussion on here. I hear SO much anti-Bush and what he does wrong. However, I don't hear much about John Kerry other then he hates Bush and thinks he is an idiot. So let's use this as a chance to tackle this topic first and get some discussion about the man that likely (at is appears right now) could be the next leader of our country for the next 4 years.


Hope everyone had a good Micheal Moore Weekend!

"South Street Tip Nazi"

So to celebrate Steve getting engaged and to mostly get caught up with him the two of us went to the local bar that is PufferBelly. After some time and two beers each when my other friend Rick showed up we kicked around the idea of taking the speedline into Philly to walk around South Street.

Steve and Rick share a common love for really bitter beer made in various countries I will never visit. So,after some hesitation and missing a train we were off to the City of Brotherly Love.

We started out Tattooed Mom's (or something like that) which is basically some guy's attic converted into a bar. It has all kinds of posters for concerts and writing all over the walls. The music was mostly heavy metal. The atmosphere reminded me of over crowded parties I used to go to. However, this time I actually had a girlfiend (although she didn't go out with us) so I didn't have to worry about being shot down by girls and going home for the night full of shame and self-loathing.

Anyway,we decided to do a round by round tour Steve had the first round, and when we went to the next bar (that didn't seem to have an actual name) Rick picked up the tab and we had beer with orange slices in them. This place was nice and chill, and I even got to play some music from the music box. Yes, it ended with my obligatory appearance of Francis Albert.

So to get to the actual title of the story it was getting really late and those pansies over there have a last call of 2am not 3am like most South Jersey bars. So we were running low on time. One place didn't even let us in since it was 1: 25 (L-A-M-E). So, we ducked into this "Irish Bar" right off South Street. It was my turn to pay.

I really figured I wouldn't like much that was on Tap,and felt as if I was done drinking but I was going to be a good sport. When we got there however I had to urinate fairly bad. So I handed Steve a 20 dollar bill and told him to get whatever. I could not wait in line since the piss was coming faster than Smary Jones in the homestrech.

When I returned both Steve and Rick had beers, and they didn't buy me one. I assumed they were going to make me try some really dark beer from Transylvania or something. But I guess they figured I would order what I wanted instead. I saw this as a chance to not drink (one more drunk Keith would have appeared) and to just chill. Color me lame.

Steve gave me back the money which I really didn't count, than Rick gave me back some money. I asked Rick why he was giving me money too since it all should have came out of the same 20 bill. Apparently Steve paid first and gave Rick ample enough for the drink. I didn't count either pile, it looked right so I just pocketed the cash.

A few minutes later this dude wearing a NYC fireman shirt came up to us. He asked us where we were from. My first thought was this dude wants to hang out with us! The dudes sure are friendly around here. Maybe he wants to mingle with a group of dudes for some reason. Of course he could also be planning to jump us (It was South Street afterall). However, I just assumed he was a drunk dude looking to make friends. I told him were from South Jersey.

He said "Well this is Philly and we tip over here! This guy (pointing to Steve) left 50 cents, and this guy (pointing to Rick) left nothing! That is not the way it works around here! They only get 3 bucks an hour!" then he marched up stairs.

I assume he worked there I have no idea, but the guy wasn't even my height and I really didn't actually buy a beer. Besides most times I tip at the end of the night(not that we were there long) so I don't know how he assumed the tipping habits of my two friends let alone if I was going to end up getting a beer myself.

To be honest I didn't even think about if they tipped or not since I didn't get a drink. I assumed they did although it would explain why the drinks were seemingly so cheap. The thing was I was willing giving my 20 away knowing very little would return at the time assuming they were going to select my brew for me too. Rick said later he would have tipped if thought I wasn't buying a beer. However, I had no direct contact with the actual bartenders.

Now what is the proper edict here? I assume I was responsible for the actual money, but the dude didn't know that. If neither of them tipped it wasn't my fault they had my money and easily could have. They were serviced not me. Both of them were soured about the thought of showing gratitude at his point. To be honest so was I. The guy was an absolute prick (you can argue we are too for going into the bar so close to closing) and I don't really think that I should be scared into giving a tip. Again for all I knew they did in the first place, the amount left told to me by the dude was news to me. Since I didn't really count it and I guess one or two dollar tip would have been good enough to pay someone to pull a lever and fill a glass so it wouldn't have been to noticable if they didn't.

We left and didn't live a dime and Rick got a dirty look from the chick bartender when we left. Maybe the dude was banging her or something. We tipped at the other places, and I had planned to had I actually handed off the cash. I also can't imagine that we were the first not to tip on two beers. Now please use my comments to let me know what the proper edict is here. Considering I never even before the incident planned to ever return to that bar. I rarely even go to South Street and there are 90 bars there anyway his threats to me didn't mean much.


The train ride home we meet some dude from Haddonfield who gave us advice on how not get out throat slit that late at night on the speed line. There was safety in numbers, and he told us he gets jumped on average twice a week by crack heads. He turned out to be bartender too and said he comes home with over $400 a night (likely what people at Irish pub bring home. I would like them to see my pay stubs if they are so unhappy) usually. He advised us to right the train into the city one block since it was the one we were boarding anyway to get a good seat. Also our lives were likely endanger staying at the one station too long. Plus he knew the cop in the car we were on. Hmm..maybe we should have all tipped him.

On an unrelated note Rick and Steve saw some dude's cock.

Summer Movie Files 103: The Stepford Wives

I never even heard of the book or original film until the buzz for this version started a few months ago. I must admit Nicole Kidman is one of my favorite actresses, and I am a huge Matthew Broderick fan who hadn't done theatrical film since a supporting role in the underrated You Can Count On Me.

The first two minutes of the film involve a peak into the highly successful professional life of Nicole Kidman who works for a major network. This gives the film a chance to playfully spoof reality television. One of the the tacky reality shows results in an attempt on Kidman's life. The hellstorm that descends on the network for being so irresponsible ends with Kidman in the unemployment line.

The movie soon shifts to the premise when Broderick (her husband) decides to quit his job too and move the family to a quiet New England town. Thankfully the kids aren't a big part in the movie at all. The town is a dream come true for men. They get laid with ease, and spend their day playing battlebots, loafing around together, drinking beer, and whacking golf balls. The women are all there to serve the men, and I kept waiting Jimmy Kimmel to show up in a cameo as the mayor of the Steptford.

Of course this place is an utter nightmare to the modern woman. The thought of dressing up nice only to sit around and sip tea is a concept of hell for today's working class women.

Frank Oz of muppet fame is in the director's chair whose makes the film visually glassy despite the sick and dark premise, similar to What About Bob? one of his more successful non-muppet projects. However, for the most part Oz just serves as the handler of this players placing the talented actors (that include a Christopher Walken, Bette Midler, Glen Glose and Jon Lovitz in he supporting cast)in situations and hope they pull of great performances. One wonders if he dozed off the days some of the Bette Midler scenes where shot, since a few of her intended biggest zingers failed miserably.

Regardless the movie is supposed to be fun and silly and it generally is thanks to the cast. Lovitz is his usual self, Midler's performance will please her fans and Close plays the typical crazy bitch you are used to seeing. It is more in the way that some play of each other and the absurd of a fantasy land where woman are basically robots build to cook and clean.

It is nice to see Kidman has some fun with a role, after a string of darker roles. It was great to see Broderick back who provides some of the dry humor fans of his work are used to. He doesn't over achieve here or take the film overly seriously and hands in a Jimmy Stewart-ish performance.

It may sound as if I am ripping this film but I am not. The old fashion mindset of the role of the sexes actors that cast ability to ham it up. Which is good since we are not clear what Oz's message is if there is one at all. It is a nice breezy film with with a few twists and laughs. Perfect lazy summer afternoon movie when you are not in the mood for anything involving a fat bearded super-liberal or Hillary Duff.

"Another Bites the Dust"

I had a long talk with my old friend Steve tonight. This was the first time we talked since Easter. He just finnished his first entire year as a teacher.

I had some big news for him, new car, new job and the death of the crew. He had some big news for me. He is getting married to his girlfriend of 5 years.

Yep. Old Steve is engaged going to get married sometime next year. So Price is married, Dan will be married soon, Brant just recently got hitched now Steve. Who's next?

"All You Can Eat Cicadas!"

Well for the people that actually have the loud bugs in their backyard they might be able to earn some extra cash by running an all you can eat buffet out of their own home.

Believe it or not people actually cook up Cicadas. Now I know most of my readers mouths are likely drooling after learning the concept of devouring ugly looking bugs. However I should warn you before you all chow down to read THIS article.

And Friends Don't Let Friends Eat too many Cicadas.

"Calling All Cicadas"

S I kept reading all these articles the last few months about "The Summer of the Cicadas." They are these bugs that apparently live underground for 17 years or so only to emerge for a summer to hang out, make lots of noise and get their freak on.

Now the impression I got from all the hype was that I would be stepping over large piles walking to my car everynight and I would be driven mad by the deafening sound of their mating call.

AOL has icons for the cicadas and David Letterman even did a top ten about the lovable bugs last week. All hyped up!

Now am I the only one who hasn't seen one damn Cicada yet in the summer of cicadas? Okay sure summer doesn't officially start till noon today(Monday), but they say once the ground hits 65 degrees they should start crawling out and having their party. I fairly sure it is warm enough for them to imerge.

Well its warm enough and where are the damn bugs? I don't see them, hear them, or no anyone really that has seen them. I did a google search and found some charts that don't have them here till 2013, apparently they were here in the mid-90s.

I also got to see some really good pictures of the, and I know that I have seen them in my back yard before. They climb out of their old body and fly away. I have seen their exo-skeleton attached to my screen in porch.

I guess the difference this year is there is supposed to be tons more and they mate so it gets really loud at night. Supposedly they sound like a UFO when they all start their matting call at once. Whatever that means.

I know I likely have some of my facts wrong here. Has anyone seen these creatures? Is it going to be even more noticeable this summer or is it just typical media over-hype?

Is sitting outside this summer in a lawn chair wearing a summer of the cicadas shirt a waste of my time? Is it too late to cancel the order and get my money back before the shirt ships? Does anyone want to have a cicada party this summer?

All Grown Up

So this past Saturday Ryan, Chris Arter and his girlfriend and myself went to Polly's in Voorhees.

That doesn't sound like a real exciting day, but guess who drove. Yep. Thats right Chris. Chris got his permit this summer, and Ryan was nice enough to let him use his car as learning tool.

Chris did a fairly good job aside from having to ask where the gas pedal was and "bumping" a curb upon leaving the parking space Christ did pretty good.

I am so proud of Chris he is really growing up. He followed and obeyed every traffic law in the ride from Somerdale to Voorhees.

When we pulled up his mom and dad were pulling out, and we had to play it off like Chris wasn't driving. I hope he wasn't grounded or anything.

"Not THAT Hot?"

I watched some of The Best Damn Sports show tonight on comcast mainly because Roenick is guest hosting this week. One of the guests on the show (that it seems is rarely about sports) was Nicole Richie, who was promoting the Simple Life 2.

Of course all the guys were creeply half hitting on her. Now I never really watched The Simple Life let alone it's sequel. But am I the only one that thinks that not only is Nicole Richie is much hotter than Parris Hilton, but they are both overrated? People go nuts over these girls and I just don't understand it.

I mean most of their pictures they have of them to promote the show are horribly air brushed. I am not saying they are totally busted, but certainly not something to get that nuts about.

"Father's Day Tragedy"

I got a cellphone call about 40 minutes before my shift was going to end from home, and my parents knew I was going to home for dinner. I knew almost right away that something was up and possibly bad news awaited me on the voicemail. So I ducked into the bathroom to check my voice message. My uncle Ray had collapsed at his work and was rushed to the hospital.

By the time I was out the door my parents were at the hospital in Cumberland County. By the time I had fought the rush hour traffic to get around the corner from my house he was gone. My mother told me he was gone, and I could muster a word. Besides being a smoker and have in diabetes, from he didn't have any real heart problems. He however was VERY stubborn about taking his medicine for his blood presure and refused to give up caffine. He was one of those guys that didn't really want to go to the doctors till he was drug there.

Still it was a total and utter shock to me to lose my uncle who was only 61, and younger than my father. I can't even imagine what my cousin Sean who is a year older than me is going through.

One prepares themselves to lose family members in life, but you usually don't prepare yourself for the unexpected. Just as much as I don't know what writing about this on my blog is going to accomplish it just doesn't make sense to me at all.

My Uncle Ray was my god father and was the husband of my father's sister. Now my Uncle Ray wasn't always overly enthusiastic about family gathers but you knew he loved his family. He couldn’t go 4 minutes without talking about his son. No matter what it was. He was somewhat quiet, but one of those people that would open up if you started talking to him. So I wasn’t always REALLY close with him, but I did go on a vacation with him when I was 16. I have known him since I was in diapers, and see him for every major holiday.

I have just been just utterly overwhelmed by the news. My aunt and him were really close, so I worry how she will take the loss. This coming on the heals where my half brother Rick resurfaced and everything was going well. I have just never been blind sided by the death of a family member.


I talked to him at a Memorial Day cook out a few weeks ago. Everything seemed fine. We talked about Sean (his son) getting new jeep, and how my uncle had given up watching professional sports, shopping for a new carand various other topics. It is still hard to imagine that he is gone.


Again I don’t what writing about this is going to do, just like I don’t know what to say to my aunt, and cousin. I guess death is part of life, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t really suck. With Father's Day coming up on Sunday it just makes it suck even more.

"Same Old Outlet"

My friend and former co-worker Steve called me up a few weeks ago. When I returned his call I was coming home early from the office of my current job while he was out on a break.

He was actually out in the parking lot of my old job at the Sears Outlet. So since I pass it sometimes on my way home I stopped by. We talked for awhile, and it was strange being back in that parking lot. Thankfully I don't have to actually go into the building anymore and haven't since my last day I worked there.

Steve told me that all the part time employees at the Outlet Louise who had been there since the store opened 10 years ago, the long time employee and popular Rosa, Arnette who had just came back from sick leave, this kid Josh I worked with for over a year and everyone else considered part time had been laid off. Well not exactly laid off, but not given any hours.

You see its a dirty trick my old work did not really laying people off or firing them when they didn't want them around. THey just simply said they had no hours for them. So the people would eventually quit since they had no source of income, or get pissed and just get another job. This way the Outlet could attempt to side step giving any kind of payment package that people that get laid off usually are entitled too. Not to mention it making it really tough to get unemployment.

I guess it is legal, but it certainly is pretty low class a move.

"True Colors"

A while ago I was asked why I consider myself a Moderate (I call myself one on my blog title) and what exactly I considered a moderate.

Well I thought about it and thought about it, and for the first time I realized why Drew was so pissed about being called a liberal. Well I wouldn't consider myself a liberal since I voted for Bush in 2000 among countless other reasons. Also I don't want to call myself a conservative, since that has a negative stigmata it seems. People don't want to hear what I have to say and think I want everyone dead but white heterosexual males. It gets even worse when they find out I actually believe in GOd, because they start telling me what a cook Pat Robertson is.

It usually doesn't help much to tell them I think he is off his rocker, because if people hear me say I am a conservative they automatically figure the have me pegged for every political issue across the board. Which is just idiotic. So. That Is really the reason. I mean most people will figure since I am generally for gay rights that I would be liberal not conservative. I am not going to go down the list.

A good example of why I would never want to fall under the blanket statement of liberal is the aftermath of Ronald Reagan's death this past weekend.

Well while I am out since is the first time I am addressing the issue I should at least make my thoughts public. Well the Gipper was the first President that was in the White House while I was on this green Earth. I clearly was more interested in the autobots than I was the Gipper's presidential reign during the 1980's so all I have to work from his articles and people that were old enough to care what was going on.

Like him or not, Reagan did manage to bring this country together on a lot of things, and certainly calmed down what was fairly wild two decades for this country and in some ways brought US back proud nation. He played a large role in the fall of the Berlin Wall, and you could argue handled the Cold War quite flawlessly.

Well the liberals who are usually filled with much hate and hell bend on ripping people like Ronald took the time after the President finally passed away (a blessing actually for the long suffering man)took a chance to well, um rip him full of hate. Now okay I am not saying just cause a guy dies you should pretend like you like the man. I am not saying people that wrote article nitpicking his presidency are anti-American. Although I would like to say I have seen one too many of those articles this past week.

However, there are people out there that are taking farther than the political what really happened with Iran debate that are just being plain nasty. It is just the typical mindset the countless hypocrites that proudly call themselves democrats.

Of course I am not saying that every democrat is a terrible person. But check this photo out. If you can't read it, it says Reagan In Hell with flames around his head. What the hell? How utterly awful.

What infuriates me to know end it that these jackasses with this hateful disgusting sign are the same people that would likely want to run me out of town for being nonchalant about if the Shoe Bomber was bruised a little more than needed.

How can these people be the same people who think I am a monster for saying the Shoe Bomber deserved an extra shot to the gut.

I'm not going to lump people like Drew into this horrific group of people. I imagine that these people are just so filled with hatred for their own pathetic lives with out an once of rational thought that this is the best they could come up with.

There are several awful things being said about him in letters to papers that are just name calling him all kinds of names. Why are liberals such hypocrites when it comes to loving thy neighbor? So it's basically love murders, terrorists, and rapists, but hate everyone who has different political ideas than you. Hate them with all of your heart for not thinking the way we tell you everyone should think.

So here is the logic from people like these jackasses.
Don't dare laugh after the Shoe Bomber getting a little roughed up after trying to litter the earth with parts of innocent lives But the Commander in Chief of our country for 8 years should burn in hell for all of time.

There is evil in the World, like your Hitler, or your Osama, but Reagan was neither.

"Tucker Gets a Brand New Ride"

Well this might be a little late to blog about, but for those of you who don't know THE TEMPO retired this past Saturday.

I rode that car from my first year of CCC through Rowan, my internship, two jobs and many years. It was the car that drove me around during the crazy election of 2000, 9/11, to my graduation, to meet Liza at her work for the first time, took me on various trips to the beach, and really was the car for a lot of my formative years for whatever that is worth.

However, the TEMPO was starting to pudder more and more and I knew it was time to send the TEMPO into retirement. So we parted ways last weekend and I was lucky enough to get the same amount of money I paid my brother for it several years ago. Ironically my brother is on at least his 2nd car since than.

Now the whole process of getting a car is about equivalent for most people to going to 10 Dentists in one day since I am highly disinterested in cars and it is just generally a painful experience. I don't know if there is something wrong with me being a guy and all, but cars never interested me in the least. Just not a car guy.

If I walked out my door and one friend (lets say Rob) said:
"Hey Keith there is a giant ant carrying a really big crumb across your front lawn!"

..and Dan K said

"Check out this Viper!"

I can't honestly say I am checking out the Viper first. It is also likely I might even tell others who weren't there about the ant before the car. Anyway I ended up getting '04 Ford Focus. It's pretty sweet, but I still can't find the damn thing in parking lot.

It feels fairly cool to drive a new car which I already managed to put close to 200 miles on.

Final Cup Finals?

Hockey sure is in a lot different place than it was 10 or so years. Just take into consideration that the Cup was just raised in Tampa Bay. Who would have thought that 15 years ago?

The Lightening beat the Flames in game 7, which with the exception of a third period flurry from the Flames was decided fairly early.

The Stanley Cup will be able to get tan, but not without dark clouds looming over the league. The champagne isn't even warm yet, but it is now officially the moment all hockey fans have dreaded. The moment of truth of how serious the NHL is about playing next year. The moment that was learn if the players union is as idiotic and greedy as it appears.

It couldn't come at a worse time. Media coverage of the Sport has declined considerably this year. Locally the Philly Inquirer only had a top sliver on the front page, the Courier you had to flip to the sports pages only to find it really small at the bottom of the front of the sports section. Highschool baseball ranked above it. The Daily News dedicated only half the sports cover to it, and AOL news ignored completely as far as I know. The sport really needs some young talent to put the sports world on it's ear.

As a hard core hockey fan I watched the finals for the most part mainly with my hockey buddies Rick and Joe. Sure there were some thrills and spills, but it wasn't anything memorable unless you are a of either team. Don't get me wrong it was nice to see Dave Andereychuck get a cup, but he is no Ray Borque. I would much rather see JR drink from the cup.

To make matters worse during game 6 the Flames managed to slip the puck past the Bolts netminder. However it wasn't till the replay was showed on ABC that it was realized. The puck dropped and the goal was never reviewed. Now I watched the game with Rick and Liza and all three of us clearly saw white between the puck and the goal line. Sadly the game went OT and the Flames lost forcing a game 7 that they also lost.

The days that followed the NHL tried to do the Jedi mind trick on the fans and media. Sort of as if they were all reprogrammed by Gary Bettman the next game the ABC crew said how wrong they were to say it was a goal. I imagine that the actual angle we saw that night is now residing some where at the bottom of Lake Ontario.

The NHL is at a crossroads and they need to lock the two parties in a room till they work their differences out. Lord Stanley's Cup may be seeking retirement in sunny Florida.

What do most people think? Is it just a bunch of meaningless strike talk or the NHL likely to resume some time around the Sopranos Season 5 premiere? If at all?

"Take a Seat Smarty"

Somewhere in South Philly there is a group that meets. They are called the "So Close Club". They are filled with all the loved players of all the Philly teams that have fallen short for almost a quarter of a century. Tonight they induct a new member.

Mcnabb walks to the podium.

"Good evening. Welcome to the So Close Club. Before we get started with the induction I would just like to make a few announcements. First off there is plenty of Campbell's chunky soup to go around so help yourself after the speakers. Also be kind to our bartender tonight, Mitch Williams. He really needs the money. Also stop by and see our Deejay for tonight Randall Cunningham if you wish to hear the theme from Rocky 15 times tonight."

Randall stands up, "Hey everybody"

Everybody "Hey Randall Cunningham!"

"Lastly Bonnie and Carl Lindros have requested we keep it down because Eric is cranky if he doesn't get his nap. Before we start let's take a look at this slide show provided by Comcast Sportsnet. Of course if you have the DISH it might be the first time you ever saw these images"

The Slide show starts playing Sara Mclaughlin's I will Remember You.

::shot of Mitch Williams giving up a home run::

::: shot of the Eagles getting beaten at the Vet::

::::Shot of Lindros sprawled out on the ice not long before the FLyers blow a 3-1 games lead in the conference finals::

Before the next image comes up the door opens and the dark room is illuminated. In the light stands the Answer Allen Iverson with a his "Dawgs".

"The program was starting at 7: 30 sharp!" Donvan snaps.
"If you go came to rehearsal yesterday you would know that!"

AI cocks head to the side.

"rehearsal!?!?! What you talkin' bout rehearsal? Rehearsal?!? Rehearsal? I'm da MVP! Check dis out alrght? I were to be here on time but my ride is all busted up. All broke down and sh*t. I even parked in the damn handicap spot so I aint have to walk across the damn parking lot. And you are talking about rehearsal?!"

Suddenly his "Dawgs" start eating the buffet laid out before its time.

"The corn I picked myself isn't done yet! It not time to eat!" Yells Keith Jones.

Suddenly Dave Brown, Claude Boivin, Sandy McCarthy, Simon Gagne and John Kruck march up to the AI's friends and try to restore order. Gagne takes a swing at AI, misses and still manages to shatter his wrist.

"You ain't got de balls to take me on!" AI says to Kruck.

"Bring it on bitch!" Kruck says.

Suddenly everyone has their shirts pulled over their heads and a fight breaks out. However the Philly PD shows up just in time before it gets out of hand. AI is taken out in cuffs.

"Is I told you the cops had a conspiracy against me! Damn police always trying to get Iverson! Just wait till Mayor Street finds out!"

"Sorry for the interruption" MCnabb continues.
"Why don't we just introduce our new member to the so close club. In the tradition of just falling short Smarty Jones choked in Philly fashion and failed to get the triple crown. Ladies and gentlemen SMARTY JONES!"

Smarty takes the microphone.

"I would just like to thank the fans for their support. I just ran out of gas I guess. I did win two races, but I know how the fans are really hungry for a championship since no one has won one in over 20 years" Smarty said looking all sad with his ears down.

"We have to won a championship in the last 20 years!" yells a man from the back.

"Shut up Kirby Law!" says Everyone.

Smarty finishes his speech and meets up with Flyers Captain Keith Primeau in line at the buffet. Keith puts his arm around the depressed horse.

"You know there was much debate if you were Buck County or a Philly sports player, but I think you really proved yourself to be part of the Philly family. You really earned yourself seat in the Philly sports world you are going to fit right in!", said Keith.

"Well on the bright side I get to hump lots of girl horses!"Smarty exclaimed.

"That's one up on me. My entire sport is falling apart. I can only hope Jonesy hires me to serve corn at the new ball park. All my teammates like Kappy and Timander are not only leaving the NHL but the country." Keith responded.

As they moved up in line Smarty looked at all the tables that were filled with dozens of past Philly athletes.

"Who are allll the big shots?" Smarty asked as he grabbed himself a bunch of hay.

"Well that table is the VIP the REALLY close table. There are the 1987 Flyers. Look there's Tim Kerr, Peter Zezel, Dave Poulin, and Mark Howe. Next to them is the '93 Phillies with Darren Daulton, Krucker, Inky, Dykstra, and Marino Duncan. All part of Philly's tradition of coming oh so close." Keith said.

"Didn't the Sixers get close a few years ago?"Smarty asked all confused.

"Well yeah, but I guess the writer of this story can't name anyone that played on that team." Keith was looking over his shoulder while in line at the buffet and didn't realize he dropped a meatball on the floor. It kept rolling and went right between Hextall's legs.

The Flyers captain then showed Smarty the scapegoat table where all the coaches that the Flyers fired in the past few years. Smarty than asked why two seats were vacant.

"Oh that seat is for Billy Barber and that one is for Craig Ramsey they are too busy winning a Stanley Cup." he explained.

Keith then walked Smarty over to his table. He walks away mumbling something about how the poor powerplay isn't his fault. He sat down next to JR who keeps asking him if the won game 7 or not.

Smarty's eyes widen when he saw who his company was.

"Buddy Ryan...Chris Gratton, Shawn Bradley, Hershey Hawkins, Tommy Soderstrom. Oh my GOD this is the D-List table!"--Smarty Cried out.

"I am such a loser! This is the lowest point of my life!" Smarty started crying and put his holves over his eyes.

"We sure do suck in this town!" Said Howard Eskin who walked up to say hello. "I think a little bling-bling will cheer you up!" Howard puts on his gold chains and fur coat.

"Call me man we can hit the town later. Everyone loves me!"


"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Smarty yells with his holves in the air.

"Thank's for coming out everyone!" says McCnabb.

"Welcome Smarty. Don't forget fans there is always next year!"

Everyone laughs.

Sopranos Wrap Up: Long Term Parking

Wow, what a week for blog writers.

Well in case you forgot two weeks the next to last Sopranos ran. They finally wrapped up the Adriana plot line and had her whacked by Silvo.

She caught by the FBI covering up a shooting at her club. So the FBI turns up the heat and tells her she must wear a wire.
She tells Chris that she has been flipped for years and he almosts beats her to death. Betting on hearing Chris say he wants to blow Tony's brians out the other day she tries to get him to leave the wiseguy life.

It doesn't work. Chris tells Tony and they have her whacked. Big episode, but we all saw it coming.

Meanwhile Johnny Sacks is really pissed about TOny B, and Tony S. refuses to tell him where he is. Things are really heating up. My prediciton is that Johnny Sacks is getting whacked tonight.

Sucks after this there isn't anything good to watch to end my weekend. Looks like DVD mights for awhile I guess.

Anyone else have any thoughts for the end of the season?