Author: jcalvert

Can the Braves recapture any of the glory days from their early 90’s run? The Braves recent mistakes and their current pursuit of free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett does not bode well for an immediate recovery in the 2009 season.

Case in point, an interesting article from the ajc.com discusses the Braves trading away the farm.

“In the past season the Braves have traded away a busload of prospects for, in one case, a mere flirtation with Mark Teixiera, who was merely passing through town. They did happen to pick up an inexpensive Casey Kotchman in the deal, but back to Vazquez again, they traded a hot number with power, Tyler Flowers, for him. And Tyler can play first base, and has power.”

Here is the rub. In the past, the Braves won with pitching, most of which was home grown. Now they are going for quick hits (Vazquez and Burnett), which would not be some horrible if the Braves did not have to trade away the farm in the process.

The scoreboard said Georgia Tech 45 – Georgia 42, but the real score was 26 – 0, as the Bumble Bees beat the living tar out of the Dawgs in the third quarter. What an awful quarter of football.

Georgia played four bad quarters of football this year. Alabama raced out to a 31 – 0 lead in the first half during the infamous “Blackout”, and Florida kicked the Dawgs tails 21 – 0 in the third quarter in Jacksonville. I think the poor third quarter play yesterday between the hedges against Tech ranks right up there in a season full of disappointments.

Seven years in a row was a nice run. The sun is still coming up in a few minutes …

A few minutes ago I noticed that I had several PlayStation Network emails in my gmail inbox. I do not normally read the PlayStation emails; I have a gmail filter to send archive them to a specific folder. For whatever reason Sony is canceling the Underground service, which means the from address is now PlayStation Network, so a new gmail filter is in order.

I was curious, so I looked in my Underground archive and saw the email about being invited to the Home Beta. I cannot remember how or why I signed up. Maybe part of Qore? Who the hell knows? I am only a couple months behind on my Qore downloads, and I have not signed on to the PS3 in a six to eight weeks.

So maybe tomorrow I will have a reason to power up the PS3 to see what Home is all about.

It has been a while since I posted anything, and today was as good a place to start again as any.  Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Ouch. Not sure what else I can say about the good ole fashion ass whipping Florida put on Georgia to the tune of 49-10. The better team won, but I will say that I hope Georgia sends the game tape to the SEC office, because there were some seriously piss poor calls. I do not think a better officiated game would have changed the results, but the score could have been a lot different.

Painful loss for Texas, which culminated in a weak effort by a Texas defender trying to stop Crabtree on the final play of the game. It is one thing to defend a perfectly thrown ball, it is another think to push someone four inches out of bounds. Just like that, Texas’ dream season came to a crashing halt at the hands of the Raid Raiders, 39-33.

Bummer of a college football weekend.

Everyone is going to say that (1) Texas escaped (6) Oklahoma St, 28-24, and by looking at the score, I would say they are correct. Thanks to ABC for not showing us a decent game, but I digress. Maybe the Cowboys are a better than decent team. Texas cannot put up a boatload of points on every opponent, and after a tough run of Oklahoma and Missouri, Texas was bound to come back to earth. Next week features another tough test, when the Longhorns visit Top 10 Texas Tech. Hopefully Texas can survive the Red Raiders. Hook ’em!

Vanderbilt falling 10-7 at home to Duke has to be the biggest disappointment of the weekend for SEC fans. After a 5-0 start, the Commodores have dropped three in a row, and trying to get bowl eligible does not get any easier. Vanderbilt’s remaining schedule features home dates with Florida and Tennessee, with road trips to Kentucky and Wake Forest.

Big Ten football is pathetic. The (3) Penn St at (9) Ohio St game was not even watchable. (5) USC squeaked by Arizona. (2) Alabama also took down the lowly Volunteers.

How are Oklahoma, USC, and Oklahoma State all in front of Georgia? I can see a case for Oklahoma … maybe. USC? No way their strength of schedule has been better than Georgia’s. How can Florida be in front of Georgia in any poll? I think a loss to Alabama is better than a loss to Ole Miss. I am sure Texas Tech will jump over Georgia, and who the hell has Penn State played? Much like the Alabama game, if the Bulldogs do not take care of business in Jacksonville, none of this matters.

Normally I would say if you give up 30+ points, you do not deserve to win. The Tigers of LSU put up 38 on Georgia, but the last 14 were really garbage points, resulting in a 52-38 ass kicking of the paper Tigers.

If I thought things were bad with Georgia’s defense, it must suck to be an LSU fan this morning. The Tiger’s defense has giving up 103 combined points to Georgia and Florida this year. Holy smokes, that is bad!

I don’t think we can use this game for any sort of barometer for the upcoming clash in Jacksonville. One would think a lot of points will light up the scoreboard; the over will have to be 65+ … but for some reason I think this one may turn into a good ole fashion defensive struggle.

#50 Darryl Gamble played great, and had two interceptions for touchdowns. The first was a 40 yard return on the opening play from scrimmage. The second was a 53 yard backbreaker deep in the fourth quarter. While Gamble has filled in very capably for #32 Dannell Ellerbe, I think Ellerbe could make a difference if he can get on the field against the Gators. If nothing else, Georgia becomes very deep at LB, or they can play some different schemes with Gamble and Ellerbe.

Bring on the Gators! Go Dawgs!

Our story begins with a pesky tree rat problem. A raider of two of the three backyard feeders, this sneaky tree rat is a real pest. The little varmint has figured out the sound of a window being raised means it is time to start moving along. What about the sound of the R1 being cocked? Mrs. Tree Rat knows it is past time to make haste and get the hell away from the feeders.

This morning I saw the tree rat in one of the feeders, and took out the R1 and some RWS Superpoint Extra pellets (14.5 gr). As I lifted the window, to take a shot from the comforts of my house, the tree rat jumped from the feeder and scurried up the pecan tree. Seems she knew I had ill intentions for her. She was right; I was dead serious this time.

I waited and waited, and she finally came down the tree, and started for the yum-yum in the feeder. Silly tree rat, this bird feeder is reserved for a family of cardinals, not rats with long bushy tails. I made the mistake of taking a Superpoint pellet and cocking the R1. The tree rat split. Ah, but this time I was serious about ending this problem once and for all.

This same tree rat (no, I really do not know that it is the same one, but it makes for a better story) has been raiding the feeders all week. In times of economic crisis, the bird seed is 100% for the birds; not for tree rats.

So I waited. After about 10 minutes the little pests come crawling in the backyard, this time towards the shepherd’s hook feeder. The R1 was loaded and ready for action.

I set the Elite 3200 for x10 zoom, and 20 yards. I track the tree rat for a good 10 minutes waiting for the perfect opportunity. I could have taken several shots, and almost did, but I wanted to end this game once and for all. Nice and clean.

After the tree rat had it fill of seeds around the bottom of the feeder, she started to make for open territory. This was going to be my last chance this morning to enforce the no tree rat zone. I set the scope for 15 yards, aimed, and let loose leaded thunder. Right in the neck! The tree rat fell over on impact, quickly expired, as its life spilled out of it onto the dew covered ground. Nice and clean.

Further examination of the tree rat shows that the RWS Superpoint Extra pellet entered the left side of her neck with a nice clean hole, and exited with an equally clean howl around the right shoulder. No blood on the exit, but a small river on the entrance. I do not have enough kills with the R1 to really draw conclusions, but the Crosman Premier pellets have not been passing through their varmint targets. This shot was placed so well that the pass through did not really matter.

The no tree rat zone has been enforced, thanks to the R1, and the RWS Superpoint Extra pellets showing their worth. All in all, a great morning of pest control with the R1. Sorry, this one is really too graphic for pictures; words will have to do.

Until next time. May your birdfeeders remain free of tree rats!

Speaking of things that suck, the regional game on ABC this afternoon features a real winner.  A match-up for the ages.  Better make sure that we all sit down to watch the clash of the titans, because when Virginia St takes on Florida St, we are going to have some must see TV.

Oh boy, love me some ACC football.

Cheese and crackers.  Screw this regional crap.  Even if I was not a Texas fan, I would expect to see a game featuring the number one team in the land hosting another undefeated Top 10 opponent.

Add ABC regional college football to the list of things that suck.  Now featuring an economy that is completely in the toilet, and one of the worst Presidential races in recent memory.

Of course we have (7) Georgia vs. (13) LSU, which should be a great game. I am not sure why Georgia is not getting much love. I guess because of they stunk up the joint against Alabama, and they barely put away Vanderbilt. I think you can excuse the ‘Bamma game as being cocky and overconfident; the “Black Out” crap if you will. Plus Alabama played a great game. The Vandy game had to be a look ahead to LSU and Florida. According to The Online Wire

“The line opened with LSU favored by 3.5 on the point spread earlier this week but even though the betting public is split on whom to put money on, the line has moved down which likely means someone “in the know” likes Georgia as well.”

I think Georgia wins outright by 10; say 27-17.

In other SEC action …

• (10) Florida easily over Kentucky at the Swamp.
• Mississippi St. invited Middle Tennessee St. to Scott Field for a scrimmage. Could the Sun Belt pull down a nice upset? Not today.
• Vanderbilt invited Duke to town to help them qualify for a bowl game for the first time in forever. The Commodores ends the day 6-2 and bowl eligible.
• Mississippi visits Arkansas, but will anyone notice? Ole Miss wins just because I have to make a pick.
• Tennessee hosts (2) Alabama. This seems to be a popular upset special, but I do not see it.

Another big game that I am really interested in is (6) Oklahoma St vs. (1) Texas. It sucks that the Georgia and Texas games are on at the same time, but I guess I will have to flip channels between commercials. I am expecting another Texas shoot out. When did the Big 12 become all WAC and no defense? I think a lot of folks want Texas to stumble in order for Penn St, USC, or God forbid, Ohio St. to sneak back into the National Championship picture. Good grief!

Speaking of Big Ten suckiness, Prime Time on ABC features (3) Penn St vs. (9) Ohio St. This one wants to make me throw up. Do I pull for the Nittany Lions, which means they go to the National Championship game despite a super weak schedule? I think I would rather stab my eyes out than root for the Buckeyes. If Ohio St wins, at least they have already shown they should not be a title contender. Would voters really give them a third crack at this thing? Shoot me now.

Go Dawgs! Hook ’em Horns! Happy Saturday!

I never thought I would see the day when I graced the pages of this site with something Auburn related. Then again, I never thought I would see the day when Auburn football was in shambles, and total disarray.

Obviously former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was not the problem. After Tommy Tuberville sacked Franklin, the Tigers proceeded to take it on the chin against lowly Arkansas, 25-22. Ouch.

Last night Auburn lost to West Virginia 34-17. It is bad enough that they lost to a Big East team (WTF is that conference worth anyway), which makes the SEC look bad, but it is the way the Tigers lost. Up 17-10 at the half, Auburn decided to give up 24 unanswered points in the second half. Seems like a total ass kicking to me; not even sure how Tuberville can put a decent spin on this one.  The most disappointing stat for Auburn fans has to be 204 total yards punting. Good grief.

Auburn is now 4-4 and looks to somehow salvage their season with a 7 wins an a minor bowl invitation, but it is not going to be easy with games remaining at Mississippi, Tennessee-Martin, Georgia, and at Alabama. Ole Miss is not as shitty as usual (they did beat the Gators), Tennessee-Martin will be a nice scrimmage, Georgia is far too strong to fall into a Tiger trap, and this is finally the year that the Tide will Roll over Auburn.

Auburn fans, can you say hello to a 6-6 season? I thought you could. I am not sure if Tuberville can escape this mess, which is too bad because the man seems like a quality person and a great coach. These days, its too bad one down year gets you ran out of town.

So Zima has officially been put out of its misery; well almost.

MillerCoors LLC has stopped brewing Zima because of “challenging” sales and “declining consumer interest” in the flavored malt beverage segment, according to a statement by Andy England, chief marketing officer. The last bottles of Zima will likely be shipped to the brewer’s wholesale distributors in December.

Except for people like me and this dude posting stupid stories about Zima, I do not think anyone will care that Zima is done.

Man, if I only had a nickel for every Zima I’ve downed, I’d have 15 cents. That’s right, I’ve managed to choke down smoothly enjoy three ice-cold, refreshing Zimas. The last one was right before entering a high school dance. (Note to high school males reading this: Nothing says “manliness” to your date like chugging a Zima too quickly and then throwing half of it back up in your mouth.)

I am not saying I am proud or anything, but I would probably be closing in on a buck seventy-five.

At any rate, I am not drinking Zima.

I spent some time this weekend shooting with the R1, and have posted some pictures for your viewing enjoyment. There is a nice (non graphic) shot of a chipmunk available via a link. Graphic violence on demand.

The following is a picture of my normal plinking and paper punching area as soon from my deck. Not a great picture, but you can get the lay of the land, see a couple of the feeders, and the general backdrop for my shots. The target area is about 17-20 yards away depending on my position. The deck affords me several shooting positions. Anything from a rest on a windowsill, to sitting, standing, etc.

The next picture is an enlarged version of the shooting area. Interesting to note that for the paper targets I was testing several different pellets. Upper right-hard part of the target was with Beeman Silver Ace pellets (15.24 gr), which produced clean cuts, but did not group well. Beeman Crow-Magnum (18.20 gr) and RWS Superdome (14.5 gr) were used in the other areas.

The beer cans were all punched with Crosman Premier pellets – what I like to call the good stuffs! The cans on their side have multiple shot placements in the same hole. The Champaign Girl on the Moon gives me a decent challenge; figure if I can hit this on demand I should be able to dot any Tree Rat right between the eyes.

This one is along the side of my property. A nice 22 or so yard target with plenty of crap for a backdrop. I can actually use this area at night to setup a 12 yard shooting area because there is plenty of light available in my backyard.

The next picture tells the story of the driveway shooting area. You can see that I have a couple of Miller Lite cans setup on some cinderblocks. If you look closely you can see that I was going after the 1 inch by 1 inch barcode area on the right can. I hit it dead center. My shooting position is from a sitting position, using my knee as a rest for my arm/elbow.

This chipmunk was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As I was setting up for another shot, he came barking at me from inside one of the holes on the right cinder block. I do not really wish any ill will towards chipmunks, but these guys are digging like crazy around the foundation of the garage apartment and around the deck. I figured as long as it was going to bark at me, I would bark right back …

• Mr. Chipmunk eyes the Beeman R1 (small version)
• Mr. Chipmunk eyes the Beeman R1 (large version)

Click on the “large” version a super big detailed version. I took Mr. Munk head-on. Was aiming between the eyes, and landed a shot just to the side of his left eye. The little dude flew straight back on impact, and was dead on contact. Completely clean kill shot, surprisingly without any mess. A 22 yard shot between the eyes is really a testament to accuracy of the R1 with Crosman Premier pellets. That or I am becoming a decent shot with the R1.

I also took out a Tree Rat, but that is another story for another day.

I was 1-1-1 on the day. Not as good as I would like, but certainly not terrible for continuing to sort out the new Beeman R1. The “shepherds hook” squirrel from an earlier post decided to come back and make another go of the feeder. Of course, per Calvert Rules [section 4(a) for those keeping score at home], that makes the squirrel a tree rat, and thus fair game.

The varmint decided to climb back up the feeder, and attacked the casing for all its worth in order to get to the tasty thistle. Silly tree rat, the thistle is for the finches.

So while the tree rat was trying to gnaw its way into the feeder, I was taking careful aim, considering the mistake from earlier in the morning. I let loose a Crosman Premier from the R1. The pellet struck with devastating consequences. I dropped the tree rat like a rock, but in typically tree rat fashion, it managed to flip and flop for a few seconds before expiring. There was no way I was going to let this one get away, so I decided to put a second pellet into the critter, but it was really unnecessary, because the first one from the R1 had already done the deed.

In addition to taking on some tree rats, I did some plinking and paper punching. So far, out of the box, Crosman Premier pellets are just a little sort of awesome. I also shot some Beeman Silver Ace pellets (15.24 gr), but they did not group well. They seem decent for paper punching, leaving a nice clean neat hole, but at this point I would not use them to take out tree rats.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I think I still have another unopened tin or two to try in the R1. Plus there should be another gathering of tree rats. Seems like the perfect weekend to me!