2008 Woodie Awards
Everything under the sun: Million dollar crooks, Dodgers, LBCC soccer, it's all here
Michael Brown
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Blogs
Salutations to all of the loyal readers of the Viking newspaper both far, near and in between. Whether you're sitting down and viewing this blog on your laptop in the cramped confines of the LAC dungeon…err Library, or chilling out at home while taking a break from your homework, thanks for the interest.
This will be the first issue of a blog I'll be delivering to you every two weeks, contingent upon feedback and interest, about everything under the sun. My concept for the blog stems from my interest in a variety of topics from politics to sports to entertainment. If you've been reading the Viking in the past several semesters, chances are you've seen my byline in every section.
My format for the blog will be broken into sections comprised of current events for the most part. I will also draw from happenings in the world and at LBCC.
I'm not one for stalling, so let's get down to business.
Politics
Well, it seems America's decided to take a turn toward socialism this week when the Bush administration decided the best way to help the country out of the current financial crisis was to bill us for the debt of a bunch of conniving multi-millionaires who run failing corporations.
I'm no financial expert, but one doesn't have to be to realize something's wrong. I'm outraged as a private citizen that my tax dollars are being allocated toward companies I have no vested interest in. The government shouldn't be in the business of bailing out anyone in the private sector. What's the incentive to run an ethical and efficient business when you know that "big brother" will clean up your self-induced mess?
Here's my question; if these companies are bailed out, do we, as taxpayers, get a return on our "investment?" I'd love to see presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, regardless of who wins, stipulate that taxpayers' money be returned with interest. I understand that's pie in the sky thinking on my part, because neither the Republican or Democratic parties have an answer to this mess we find ourselves in.
Sports
Talk about being excited. I'm a lifelong Dodger fan and it feels so good to know that the blue crew will be heading to the playoffs after The Arizona Diamondback's lost to St Louis, 12-3, today. With that said, my favorite team has won one playoff game since capturing the '88 World Series. Making it to postseason play isn't enough. Anything short of the Series and I'll be disappointed. With Manny Ramirez's bat, I don't feel I'm being unrealistic.
I talked with the coaching staff of LBCC women's soccer team after their last two home games and they seemed optimistic about the season. However, coaches Melissa Douglas and Alex Camargo hinted that their team has quite a ways to go. Aside from super sophomores, defender Brooke Ehinger and forward Kaitlynn Estes, no one's stood out thus far from what I've seen on the field. They can take solace in the fact that it's early in the season and as midfielder Christina Durant told me after their 1-0 victory over Taft, "During conference play, everybody starts 0-0."
As for the men's team, the Vikings are off to a 7-0-2 start and I'm looking forward to where coaches Cameron Beaulac and Pat Noyes will lead this squad. This may be their best team since both coaches have been here. This squad also has the added bonus of featuring several international players who all figure to play a prominent role on the field. Former Vike Alex Reuss, now playing at Cal State Dominguez Hills and who hails from Germany, was a recruiting coup for the staff. We'll see if the newcomers from England, Scotland, Wales, Japan and Niger will have the same impact as Reuss.
This will be the first issue of a blog I'll be delivering to you every two weeks, contingent upon feedback and interest, about everything under the sun. My concept for the blog stems from my interest in a variety of topics from politics to sports to entertainment. If you've been reading the Viking in the past several semesters, chances are you've seen my byline in every section.
My format for the blog will be broken into sections comprised of current events for the most part. I will also draw from happenings in the world and at LBCC.
I'm not one for stalling, so let's get down to business.
Politics
Well, it seems America's decided to take a turn toward socialism this week when the Bush administration decided the best way to help the country out of the current financial crisis was to bill us for the debt of a bunch of conniving multi-millionaires who run failing corporations.
I'm no financial expert, but one doesn't have to be to realize something's wrong. I'm outraged as a private citizen that my tax dollars are being allocated toward companies I have no vested interest in. The government shouldn't be in the business of bailing out anyone in the private sector. What's the incentive to run an ethical and efficient business when you know that "big brother" will clean up your self-induced mess?
Here's my question; if these companies are bailed out, do we, as taxpayers, get a return on our "investment?" I'd love to see presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, regardless of who wins, stipulate that taxpayers' money be returned with interest. I understand that's pie in the sky thinking on my part, because neither the Republican or Democratic parties have an answer to this mess we find ourselves in.
Sports
Talk about being excited. I'm a lifelong Dodger fan and it feels so good to know that the blue crew will be heading to the playoffs after The Arizona Diamondback's lost to St Louis, 12-3, today. With that said, my favorite team has won one playoff game since capturing the '88 World Series. Making it to postseason play isn't enough. Anything short of the Series and I'll be disappointed. With Manny Ramirez's bat, I don't feel I'm being unrealistic.
I talked with the coaching staff of LBCC women's soccer team after their last two home games and they seemed optimistic about the season. However, coaches Melissa Douglas and Alex Camargo hinted that their team has quite a ways to go. Aside from super sophomores, defender Brooke Ehinger and forward Kaitlynn Estes, no one's stood out thus far from what I've seen on the field. They can take solace in the fact that it's early in the season and as midfielder Christina Durant told me after their 1-0 victory over Taft, "During conference play, everybody starts 0-0."
As for the men's team, the Vikings are off to a 7-0-2 start and I'm looking forward to where coaches Cameron Beaulac and Pat Noyes will lead this squad. This may be their best team since both coaches have been here. This squad also has the added bonus of featuring several international players who all figure to play a prominent role on the field. Former Vike Alex Reuss, now playing at Cal State Dominguez Hills and who hails from Germany, was a recruiting coup for the staff. We'll see if the newcomers from England, Scotland, Wales, Japan and Niger will have the same impact as Reuss.
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