Saturday, May 22, 2004
Ice-T To Produce Hasselhoff Rap Album
Yes, that Hasselhoff:
The pair are neighbours in Los Angeles and are said to have struck up a close friendship.
Hasselhoff has had some success as a singer, releasing seven albums. He's also said to be very popular in Germany.
I hear they're trying to coax "Kitt" from Knight Rider to be on the wheels of steel.
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Yes, that Hasselhoff:
The pair are neighbours in Los Angeles and are said to have struck up a close friendship.
Hasselhoff has had some success as a singer, releasing seven albums. He's also said to be very popular in Germany.
I hear they're trying to coax "Kitt" from Knight Rider to be on the wheels of steel.
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History
They're just statistics but I like these statistics:
...Presidents Nixon, Reagan and Clinton, in 1972, 1984 and 1996, all had approval ratings above 50 per cent five months before election day. They all went on to win in November. Presidents Ford in 1976, Carter in 1980 and Bush senior in 1992 all had approval ratings below 50 per cent five months before election day. They all lost. In the most reliable polls out in the last week or two, Mr Bush's approval ratings stand in the range of 45 to 49 per cent...
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They're just statistics but I like these statistics:
...Presidents Nixon, Reagan and Clinton, in 1972, 1984 and 1996, all had approval ratings above 50 per cent five months before election day. They all went on to win in November. Presidents Ford in 1976, Carter in 1980 and Bush senior in 1992 all had approval ratings below 50 per cent five months before election day. They all lost. In the most reliable polls out in the last week or two, Mr Bush's approval ratings stand in the range of 45 to 49 per cent...
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Friday, May 21, 2004
Chalabi Shares State Secrets
Lesley Stahl reported tonight on CBS News that Ahmad Chalabi was given classified information that only a "handful" of U.S. government officials had. He allegedly passed this information along to Iran, while the U.S. was paying him over $300,000 monthly:
...On Friday, Stahl reported that senior intelligence officials stress the information Ahmad Chalibi is alleged to have passed on to Iran is of such a seriously sensitive nature, the result of full disclosure could be highly damaging to U.S. security. The information involves secrets that were held by only a handful of very senior U.S. officials, says Stahl...
Is this absolutely fucking absurd? How can you give a convicted criminal access to any sensitive intelligence, let alone the highest of classified information? Sure, they raided his house. So what.
We got played by a diplomatic double agent. I'm sure Iran rewarded him handsomely for the information too. How can we be safe when the neo-cons will give away anything to anyone in order to achieve their agenda.
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Lesley Stahl reported tonight on CBS News that Ahmad Chalabi was given classified information that only a "handful" of U.S. government officials had. He allegedly passed this information along to Iran, while the U.S. was paying him over $300,000 monthly:
...On Friday, Stahl reported that senior intelligence officials stress the information Ahmad Chalibi is alleged to have passed on to Iran is of such a seriously sensitive nature, the result of full disclosure could be highly damaging to U.S. security. The information involves secrets that were held by only a handful of very senior U.S. officials, says Stahl...
Is this absolutely fucking absurd? How can you give a convicted criminal access to any sensitive intelligence, let alone the highest of classified information? Sure, they raided his house. So what.
We got played by a diplomatic double agent. I'm sure Iran rewarded him handsomely for the information too. How can we be safe when the neo-cons will give away anything to anyone in order to achieve their agenda.
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Very Cool
My day job consists of placing advertising for clients all over the country. One of the fringe benfits is that sometimes we get tickets/gifts from the media. Much to my surprise my NPR rep stopped by today and presented me an autographed copy of Bob Edwards' new book, Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism.
Evidently he spoke at the local affiliate last night and was very gracious. You'll remember that Bob Edwards was relieved of his duties last month as the host of Morning Edition on NPR after hosting the show since its inception in 1979. He is now a senior correspondent for NPR.
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My day job consists of placing advertising for clients all over the country. One of the fringe benfits is that sometimes we get tickets/gifts from the media. Much to my surprise my NPR rep stopped by today and presented me an autographed copy of Bob Edwards' new book, Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism.
Evidently he spoke at the local affiliate last night and was very gracious. You'll remember that Bob Edwards was relieved of his duties last month as the host of Morning Edition on NPR after hosting the show since its inception in 1979. He is now a senior correspondent for NPR.
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RNC Outsources Jobs to India
This is amazing.
According to the Hindustan Times of India, over a 14 month period in 2002 and 2003, the fund-raising and vote-seeking campaign for the Republican Party was done, in party by two call centers located in India. According to the report, the Republican National Committee sent the India operation its voter database and used 125 staff there to "solicit political contributions ranging between $5 and $3,000 from thousands of registered Republican voters." While the contract for running the campaigns was originally awarded to Washington-based Capital Communications Group, "for cost and efficiencies gains, the company outsourced the work to HCL Technologies that in turn sent it offshore."
If you haven't seen his blog already, be sure you check out David Sirota regularly.
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This is amazing.
According to the Hindustan Times of India, over a 14 month period in 2002 and 2003, the fund-raising and vote-seeking campaign for the Republican Party was done, in party by two call centers located in India. According to the report, the Republican National Committee sent the India operation its voter database and used 125 staff there to "solicit political contributions ranging between $5 and $3,000 from thousands of registered Republican voters." While the contract for running the campaigns was originally awarded to Washington-based Capital Communications Group, "for cost and efficiencies gains, the company outsourced the work to HCL Technologies that in turn sent it offshore."
If you haven't seen his blog already, be sure you check out David Sirota regularly.
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Our Military Still Disputes This
Posted on this before.
If the 'Wedding Massacre' isn't true then this person has a very active imagination.
For you Hoges.
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Posted on this before.
If the 'Wedding Massacre' isn't true then this person has a very active imagination.
For you Hoges.
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Thursday, May 20, 2004
GAO Calls Medicare Ads Illegal
Not that it matters. The "Executive" Branch ignores them anyway:
Bush administration TV ads to promote changes in Medicare's prescription drug coverage broke two federal laws because they were disguised as news reports but didn't identify who was sponsoring them, the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress has ruled.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) said the ads, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, did not make it clear that the announcers were paid by HHS and weren't real correspondents, the Washington Post reported.
The GAO's 16-page opinion says the ads violated a federal law that bars the use of federal funds for propaganda, and a separate statute that covers unauthorized use of federal monies. The ruling doesn't carry legal weight, however.
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Not that it matters. The "Executive" Branch ignores them anyway:
Bush administration TV ads to promote changes in Medicare's prescription drug coverage broke two federal laws because they were disguised as news reports but didn't identify who was sponsoring them, the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress has ruled.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) said the ads, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, did not make it clear that the announcers were paid by HHS and weren't real correspondents, the Washington Post reported.
The GAO's 16-page opinion says the ads violated a federal law that bars the use of federal funds for propaganda, and a separate statute that covers unauthorized use of federal monies. The ruling doesn't carry legal weight, however.
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Nancy Pelosi Smackdown
Good stuff:
..."Not to get personal about it, but the president's capacity to lead has never been there. In order to lead, you have to have judgment. In order to have judgment, you have to have knowledge and experience. He has none."...
Read the entire article. Ouch.
Look for the GOP smear machine to gear up again.
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Good stuff:
..."Not to get personal about it, but the president's capacity to lead has never been there. In order to lead, you have to have judgment. In order to have judgment, you have to have knowledge and experience. He has none."...
Read the entire article. Ouch.
Look for the GOP smear machine to gear up again.
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Bo and Luke Duke Would Be Proud
Strangest way someone has found their way here.
Now where's the General Lee?
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Strangest way someone has found their way here.
Now where's the General Lee?
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Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Chosen
Richard Land is a director of the conservative evangelical Southern Baptist Convention and he relates a conversation with George W. Bush:
The day he was inaugurated for his second term as governor in 1999, there were several of us who met with him at the governor's mansion. Among the things he said to us was...he said, 'I believe that God wants me to be president."...
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Richard Land is a director of the conservative evangelical Southern Baptist Convention and he relates a conversation with George W. Bush:
The day he was inaugurated for his second term as governor in 1999, there were several of us who met with him at the governor's mansion. Among the things he said to us was...he said, 'I believe that God wants me to be president."...
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Photo Blogs
During my travels around the internet lately I've discovered several wonderful photo blogs. I've added a section to my blogroll with some of my new favorites. The above photo of New York City is from Quarlo
My good friend Alex is a photographer. I hope she finds some inspiration from these pictures.
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During my travels around the internet lately I've discovered several wonderful photo blogs. I've added a section to my blogroll with some of my new favorites. The above photo of New York City is from Quarlo
My good friend Alex is a photographer. I hope she finds some inspiration from these pictures.
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U.S. Attack Kills 40 At An Iraqi Wedding
Sad:
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. helicopter fired on a wedding party in the remote desert near the border with Syria, killing more than 40 people, most of them women and children, Iraqi officials said. The U.S. military said it was investigating.
Associated Press Television News footage showed a truck containing bloodied bodies, many wrapped in blankets, piled one atop the other. Several were children, one of whom had been decapitated.
As long as this keeps happening, mistake or not, they'll continue to hate us. Continue to resent our presence. Continue to murder out soldiers.
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Sad:
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. helicopter fired on a wedding party in the remote desert near the border with Syria, killing more than 40 people, most of them women and children, Iraqi officials said. The U.S. military said it was investigating.
Associated Press Television News footage showed a truck containing bloodied bodies, many wrapped in blankets, piled one atop the other. Several were children, one of whom had been decapitated.
As long as this keeps happening, mistake or not, they'll continue to hate us. Continue to resent our presence. Continue to murder out soldiers.
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Int'l Red Cross: No One Above International Law
I posted on this before, detailing George Bush's asking of various countries to waive their right to press charges against US soldiers in an international court of law. This is especially important in light of the prison torture scandal that has created widespread attention around the world.
Now the ICRC is saying that won't fly:
...In order to tackle violations of international humanitarian law committed in armed conflicts, simply paying lip service to the protection of human life and dignity is not enough.
It is possible to achieve a balance between the two, the article said. One can control a territory while respecting its population, and one can detain those threatening public order while respecting their physical and spiritual integrity and without degrading or humiliating them...
In all seriousness, if we worked really hard would it be possible to alienate the international community more than we already have?
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I posted on this before, detailing George Bush's asking of various countries to waive their right to press charges against US soldiers in an international court of law. This is especially important in light of the prison torture scandal that has created widespread attention around the world.
Now the ICRC is saying that won't fly:
...In order to tackle violations of international humanitarian law committed in armed conflicts, simply paying lip service to the protection of human life and dignity is not enough.
It is possible to achieve a balance between the two, the article said. One can control a territory while respecting its population, and one can detain those threatening public order while respecting their physical and spiritual integrity and without degrading or humiliating them...
In all seriousness, if we worked really hard would it be possible to alienate the international community more than we already have?
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Tom Delay Equates Israel's Fight With Our Fight
Link:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said Monday the war in Iraq and Israel's battle against Palestinian terrorists are two fronts in the same global conflict, 'and we will win it.'
'The survival of Israel is essential to America's victory in the war on terror, and America's victory in the war on terror is essential to Israel's survival,' the Texas Republican told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
'We will never leave their side.'
(...)
DeLay also challenged Sharon's critics and Bush's.
"We are told Israel's decision to target leaders of those terrorist organizations that target her citizens only puts the Israeli people at greater risk," he said.
"We are told the war on terror -- whether waged by the United States and our coalition of the willing or by the people of Israel -- was a mistake, is a quagmire and will be a regret.
"Ladies and gentleman, we are told ... wrongly."
Who wants the Jewish vote? Or perhaps the better question is: Who needs the Jewish vote? These guys are getting desperate. Failing international support, failing domestic policies & several brewing scandals will leave the GOP grasping for anything. Including politicization of our wars.
To me, Delay's statements confirm what the administration has been denying all along. Our war on terror when joined (by Delay) with Israel's battle with Palestine is a war on Islam. Scary but predictable, unfortunately.
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Link:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said Monday the war in Iraq and Israel's battle against Palestinian terrorists are two fronts in the same global conflict, 'and we will win it.'
'The survival of Israel is essential to America's victory in the war on terror, and America's victory in the war on terror is essential to Israel's survival,' the Texas Republican told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
'We will never leave their side.'
(...)
DeLay also challenged Sharon's critics and Bush's.
"We are told Israel's decision to target leaders of those terrorist organizations that target her citizens only puts the Israeli people at greater risk," he said.
"We are told the war on terror -- whether waged by the United States and our coalition of the willing or by the people of Israel -- was a mistake, is a quagmire and will be a regret.
"Ladies and gentleman, we are told ... wrongly."
Who wants the Jewish vote? Or perhaps the better question is: Who needs the Jewish vote? These guys are getting desperate. Failing international support, failing domestic policies & several brewing scandals will leave the GOP grasping for anything. Including politicization of our wars.
To me, Delay's statements confirm what the administration has been denying all along. Our war on terror when joined (by Delay) with Israel's battle with Palestine is a war on Islam. Scary but predictable, unfortunately.
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Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Question From Monday's Gaggle
Link:
Question: About a year ago, April 24th, last year, the President went to Canton, Ohio. He went to the Timken Company. I don't know if you remember the trip, I wasn't on it. He went to a bearings factory, part of the Timken Company, touted his economic plans and talked about jobs and growth. Timken announced today that they're shutting down that plant that the President visited a year ago. I just wonder if that's ironic, that the President touted his economic strategy, doesn't appear to be working?
I've noticed enthusiasm (one glaring example here) across the blogosphere after this became news. I realize the happiness is for the irony of the situation and how it portrays Bush's (failing) policies in a negative light. But, I think some of the ways bloggers are greeting this news is inappropriate.
Yes, Bush made a speech on the strength of his economic policy at a company that has since shut down. But when 1,300 people lose their jobs in a state where it is happening all too frequently, it's not a reason for celebration.
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Link:
Question: About a year ago, April 24th, last year, the President went to Canton, Ohio. He went to the Timken Company. I don't know if you remember the trip, I wasn't on it. He went to a bearings factory, part of the Timken Company, touted his economic plans and talked about jobs and growth. Timken announced today that they're shutting down that plant that the President visited a year ago. I just wonder if that's ironic, that the President touted his economic strategy, doesn't appear to be working?
I've noticed enthusiasm (one glaring example here) across the blogosphere after this became news. I realize the happiness is for the irony of the situation and how it portrays Bush's (failing) policies in a negative light. But, I think some of the ways bloggers are greeting this news is inappropriate.
Yes, Bush made a speech on the strength of his economic policy at a company that has since shut down. But when 1,300 people lose their jobs in a state where it is happening all too frequently, it's not a reason for celebration.
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Krugman
Read:
He was a stock character in 19th-century fiction: the wastrel son who runs up gambling debts in the belief that his wealthy family, concerned for its prestige, will have no choice but to pay off his creditors. In the novels such characters always come to a bad end. Either they bring ruin to their families, or they eventually find themselves disowned.
George Bush reminds me of those characters — and not just because of his early career, in which friends of the family repeatedly bailed out his failing business ventures. Now that he sits in the White House, he's still counting on other people to settle his debts — not to protect the reputation of his family, but to protect the reputation of the country.
One by one, our erstwhile allies are disowning us; they don't want an unstable, anti-Western Iraq any more than we do, but they have concluded that President Bush is incorrigible. Spain has washed its hands of our problems, Italy is edging toward the door, and Britain will join the rush for the exit soon enough, with or without Tony Blair...
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Read:
He was a stock character in 19th-century fiction: the wastrel son who runs up gambling debts in the belief that his wealthy family, concerned for its prestige, will have no choice but to pay off his creditors. In the novels such characters always come to a bad end. Either they bring ruin to their families, or they eventually find themselves disowned.
George Bush reminds me of those characters — and not just because of his early career, in which friends of the family repeatedly bailed out his failing business ventures. Now that he sits in the White House, he's still counting on other people to settle his debts — not to protect the reputation of his family, but to protect the reputation of the country.
One by one, our erstwhile allies are disowning us; they don't want an unstable, anti-Western Iraq any more than we do, but they have concluded that President Bush is incorrigible. Spain has washed its hands of our problems, Italy is edging toward the door, and Britain will join the rush for the exit soon enough, with or without Tony Blair...
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Halliburton; At It Again
$160 million here, $160 million there, pretty soon you're starting to talk about real money:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pentagon auditors have recommended withholding nearly $160 million in payments to Halliburton Corp., saying the company charged the military for meals in and around Iraq that were never served.
Vice President Dick Cheney's former company released a statement Monday night saying it hoped to persuade Army officials to reject the auditors' recommendation.
The alleged overcharging for meals last year is one of several suspected improprieties with the contract work in Iraq of Halliburton subsidiary KBR, formerly known as Kellogg, Brown & Root. Authorities are investigating allegations of overcharging for fuel delivered to Iraq, kickbacks involving two former KBR workers and other management problems....
When you give a company like Halliburton several billion dollars of tax payer money how can we expect them to act without impropriety? Particularly because this is the third public discovery of wrongdoing by the big "H" or KBR. It might be easier to overlook if they just did it once or if the Vice President still wasn't collecting a check from them, but repeat offenses are unforgivable and should be met with criminal charges. Of course you remember the fuel overcharging by KBR and the kickbacks taken by two Halliburton employees from subcontractors.
I give full credit to the bean counters at the Pentagon for discovering thispadding of Cheney's portfolio overcharging.
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$160 million here, $160 million there, pretty soon you're starting to talk about real money:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pentagon auditors have recommended withholding nearly $160 million in payments to Halliburton Corp., saying the company charged the military for meals in and around Iraq that were never served.
Vice President Dick Cheney's former company released a statement Monday night saying it hoped to persuade Army officials to reject the auditors' recommendation.
The alleged overcharging for meals last year is one of several suspected improprieties with the contract work in Iraq of Halliburton subsidiary KBR, formerly known as Kellogg, Brown & Root. Authorities are investigating allegations of overcharging for fuel delivered to Iraq, kickbacks involving two former KBR workers and other management problems....
When you give a company like Halliburton several billion dollars of tax payer money how can we expect them to act without impropriety? Particularly because this is the third public discovery of wrongdoing by the big "H" or KBR. It might be easier to overlook if they just did it once or if the Vice President still wasn't collecting a check from them, but repeat offenses are unforgivable and should be met with criminal charges. Of course you remember the fuel overcharging by KBR and the kickbacks taken by two Halliburton employees from subcontractors.
I give full credit to the bean counters at the Pentagon for discovering this
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Monday, May 17, 2004
Is that non-fat sour cream?
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski says we was "misled" about WMDs in the lead-up to the Iraq war.
When asked about this by a reporter, President Bush was waiting in the chow line at Fort Campbell in Kansas with soldiers. His response?
"I'm here to eat.''
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Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski says we was "misled" about WMDs in the lead-up to the Iraq war.
When asked about this by a reporter, President Bush was waiting in the chow line at Fort Campbell in Kansas with soldiers. His response?
"I'm here to eat.''
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Bush Pushes to Have Americans Above International Law
What makes us better than everybody else?:
The Bush administration is pursuing its campaign to protect Americans from International Criminal Court jurisdiction even as it deals with the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal that may involve some of the very war crimes the court was created to handle.
So far 89 countries have signed agreements with Washington promising that Americans accused of grave international offenses, including soldiers charged with war crimes, will be returned to U.S. jurisdiction so their cases can be decided by fellow Americans rather than international jurists.
I'm sure the Iraqi Governing Council will be signing on the dotted line soon. After all we're the ones who gave them "power."
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What makes us better than everybody else?:
The Bush administration is pursuing its campaign to protect Americans from International Criminal Court jurisdiction even as it deals with the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal that may involve some of the very war crimes the court was created to handle.
So far 89 countries have signed agreements with Washington promising that Americans accused of grave international offenses, including soldiers charged with war crimes, will be returned to U.S. jurisdiction so their cases can be decided by fellow Americans rather than international jurists.
I'm sure the Iraqi Governing Council will be signing on the dotted line soon. After all we're the ones who gave them "power."
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Golfing
Yesterday I took part in a one day golf school put together by ESPN. It was an excellent experience and got some great instruction from some top level teachers. It was a wonderful deal as well. The cost is $495 but you get three top-of-the-line Cleveland Clubs (driver, wedge & putter) for free ($700 value.)
If you want to improve your game I highly recommend it.
I also recommend applying sunscreen.
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Yesterday I took part in a one day golf school put together by ESPN. It was an excellent experience and got some great instruction from some top level teachers. It was a wonderful deal as well. The cost is $495 but you get three top-of-the-line Cleveland Clubs (driver, wedge & putter) for free ($700 value.)
If you want to improve your game I highly recommend it.
I also recommend applying sunscreen.
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Sunday, May 16, 2004
Will Return Tonight
I have a welcome diversion scheduled for today.
I've come to the realize that it is quite appropriate that this diversion spelled backwards is flog.
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I have a welcome diversion scheduled for today.
I've come to the realize that it is quite appropriate that this diversion spelled backwards is flog.
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