Soccer Hall of Fame in US to Close

This is a sad day for soccer fans.  The US Soccer Hall is closing.  Of course that the hall is in Oneonta, New York did not help matters. 

Reading about the closing I began to wonder why isn't it in a place associated with soccer like, oh I don't know, Portland, Or. (Disclaimer I lived there for 11 years).  Portland is billed as Soccer City, USA.   If the Hall didn't want to go that route, why not locate in a major city.  It is bad enough-at least to those of us who played and are fans-that soccer gets the short shift as a fan favorite here in the States.  Being in Oneonta, I am sure it is a fine city with fine people, does not contribute to the development of soccer or a fan base in the US.  That they spent millions on new buildings and fields is a shame.  The money would have better spend hiring moving vans. 

The sad thing is the Hall knew that being in Oneonta wasn't the best place for it.  How else to explain the Why Oneonta? link on the About Us page.

The story about fan exuberance leading to someone asking about the location of the US Soccer Hall of Fame after Oneonta State University won the 1977 NCAA Division I National Championship, is emblamatic of soccer's place in America.  A big game is won and much excitment surrounds the celebration.  Big talk about how great the game was, and how it will lead to great things for US soccer, or Oneonta, as the case may be, begins.  Soon plans are under way and yet, the great things never materialize.  Sure a grand musuem was built and is surrounded by pitches, or fields, but how many people showed up?  Obvisiously not enough people showed up. 

It is a shame that the Hall is being closed.  But until I read the news of its closing, I wasn't even aware of the existance of the Hall.  The sad part of that is I am a fan of soccer. While I am not a super fan like my cousin, I am not a band-wagonner, either.   I played for years and played some in high school and junior college.  I watch matches all the time. And yet I was unaware of the US Soccer Hall of Fame.  Perhaps instead of a grand building in an out of the way place, a little PR would have been in order.  That and locating in a more soccer friendly place could have done wonders for attendence. 

 

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The Socialist Are Already Here!

Here is a letter for any out there concerned about the Socialist direction the country is taking. However from the look at the institutions, programs, and entities on the list, America is already infected with Socialism. Apparently, this has been going on for some time. Let us hope that enough of us sign this petition, this resolution, that America can once again become a great non-Socialist country.

Urge your Congressional Representatives in the House and the Senate to forgo the Socialist medical care they and their families receive. It is unbelievable our Representatives have allowed themselves to become ensnared in such mischief and un-American activities.

If they refuse I say we begin to vote them out. They should have the same non-Socialist medical care we Citizens have. Here is the letter. Copy it. Sign it. Send it. Your Representative will thank you for saving them and their family from the Socialist blight which has taken root in this great Country.

I, ________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following:

I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights.

I will complain about the destruction of my 2nd Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights by legally but brazenly brandishing unconcealed firearms in public.

I will foreswear the time-honored principles of fairness, decency, and respect by screaming unintelligible platitudes regarding tyranny, Nazi-ism, and socialism at public town halls. Also.

I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life. I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:

* Social Security

* Medicare/Medicaid

* State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)

* Police, Fire, and Emergency Services

* US Postal Service

* Roads and Highways

* Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)

* The US Railway System

* Public Subways and Metro Systems

* Public Bus and Lightrail Systems

* Rest Areas on Highways

* Sidewalks

* All Government-Funded Local/State Projects (e.g., see Iowa 2009 federal senate appropriations)

* Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)

* Public and State Universities and Colleges

* Public Primary and Secondary Schools

* Sesame Street

* Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children

* Public Museums

* Libraries

* Public Parks and Beaches

* State and National Parks

* Public Zoos

* Unemployment Insurance

* Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services

* Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, State or Federal Government (pretty much all of them)

* Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)

* Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)

* Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking

* Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies

* Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies

If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care

I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to:

* Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American History

* The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments

* The government-operated Statue of Liberty

* The Grand Canyon

* The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials

* The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery

* All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC

I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare.

I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America.

I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army.

I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees.

Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks.

Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die.

SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF __________ IN THE YEAR ___.

_____________ _________________________

Signed Printed Name/Town and State

Update: I forgot to link to the original letter. Sorry about that.

Monopoly not just a kids game.

Monopoly's Hidden Maps Help World War II POWs Escape - ABC News
I came across this story and thought it was a good diversion from actually sitting down to my morning writing. Also, I love obscure historical events and trivia. This story delivers.

For me the best part is towards the end of the article. The writer quotes someone from the British producer of Monopoly as saying about 10,000 prisoners used maps, tools, and local currencies hidden in the games in their successful escapes to allied lines.

Of course this tidbit of info leads me to wonder how many allied prisoners were unsuccessful in their escape attempts?

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Corporations! What are they good for?

Here is an article from Devilstower at dailykos.com.  It is an interesting look at corporations, Wal-Mart in particular and how the business model of corporations has placed us in a race to the bottom.  While at the same time exploiting natural resources and leaving most of us not the masters of the universe in a sort of modern equivalent of serfdom.  Interesting read.  I look forward to reading the book 

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