Greetings once again and welcome to the 95th edition of Random Thoughts. I didn't expect to even be writing so soon after the last blog (three days ago) nor have this much to talk about within that timeframe, but this time I do. This has happened only once before. Since an awful lot has happened over the past few days, including some new items and a couple of things I forgot to put in the last blog, I thought I should get it down quick while the iron is still hot, so to speak. With that in mind, let's get to it. Enjoy.
- On May 1st, 1945, the world was informed that a monster of a human being had died if you could call him one...that person being Adolf Hitler. On May 1st, 2011, history repeated itself. President Barack Obama announced late Sunday evening that Obama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda and the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was killed in battle with U.S. Special Forces during a raid on bin Laden's compound. The end of a long nightmare had come...the boogeyman who haunted so many after what he helped bring about one September morning in 2001 had finally been found. A lot of people are happy that he died. I wanted him captured alive so that he could face those people he had wronged so horribly. If he had simply surrendered unarmed, I'm fairly certain that would have happened, especially since higher-ups were apparently here in the states watching the mission as it was going down. However, bin Laden shot at the soldiers with an automatic machine gun and used a woman in the room as a human shield. The soldiers had no other option but to defend themselves and thus bin Laden was shot and killed. There are many who just wanted the man dead and got their wish. I believe many more including myself weren't gung-ho on his demise...it's just that we ultimately wanted to see this monster face justice through due process for what he had done. Unfortunately, what's done is done and there's no changing what's happened. Does that mean things will change that much in terms of terrorism and what's going on generally in the world? Probably not that much, but the mindset of our nation as a whole was relieved of a lot of the burden this man brought on us for at least a decade and longer. I cried when it hit me that this monster was finally gone...then I went out and got a banana milkshake. At this point all I can say for sure is that there seems to be a definitive uplift in the mood of this nation now that this boogeyman has finally been dealt with.
- The reason for the subtitle of this edition, "geronimo," is that this was the code word used during the mission by the soldiers to confirm the presence of Osama bin Laden to officials monitoring the mission (which included President Obama) and to confirm bin Laden's fate. On a side note, at one point during his campaign for president, Obama controversially stated he would go into Pakistan if necessary to get bin Laden after former President Bush declared bin Laden was no longer a priority (not trying to be political here...just stating fact). That was one campaign promise Obama followed through on. How often does that happen?
- What a week. The future king of Great Britain William got married his love Kate Middleton and became the Duke of Cambridge. There was a very interesting NFL Draft with a lot of teams doing well. President Obama single-handedly screwed the birthers and the quacks simply by releasing his long-form birth certificate. Donald Trump got pwned (that is spelled correctly, folks...it's internet slang) and called on his crap at the White House Correspondents' Dinner...which he attended. Now we have the end of Osama bin Laden. Who could have imagined all this happening so quickly?
- I got so caught up in writing about my Westerville Browns Backers goodbye last blog that I totally forgot to talk about the NFL Draft. It seemed like most teams did alright in the draft, though a few teams seemed like they were reaching. The only teams that left me scratching my head were the Minnesota Vikings (are they TRYING to move to L.A. or something?), the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons. I thought the Browns did awesome this year. Who knew the Falcons could be taken for chumps. Sure Julio Jones might be a top of the line receiver, but they gave up so much including a first rounder next year to Cleveland the Browns could have been arrested for grand theft. They got some big boys in terms of size in this year's draft, picking up some defensive linemen, an offensive lineman, and other positions and filling holes they needed to plug. Now if the NFL and the players would just get that Collective Bargaining Agreement sorted out so they can get to playing in September.
- I got the opportunity to watch the WWE Extreme Rules PPV on Sunday evening (before the bin Laden news broke). It was the same scenario as last year...this PPV should have been the Wrestlemania card with the addition of the Undertaker's match (this year against Triple H). Extreme Rules was a really good show with several title changes and the end of Michelle McCool in WWE. This is the effort WWE should put into all of their big shows.
- Quick question: how come Saturday Night Live has some of the poorest comedy on the air, yet when their talent go off and do other things (with the exception of movies), they are funnier then heck? Watching Seth Meyers at the White House Corresponent's Dinner actually be funny was a shock. He seems so...I don't know, boring on SNL...and he's their head writer! However, he really brought the house down in Washington on Saturday evening at that dinner (SNL was a repeat). I think the poor comedy is SNL's real curse...the only time it seems funny is when either The Rock or Justin Timberlake are on the show. Maybe being part of Comcast will change the tone, but who knows at this point?
- This weekend I'm going to go see the movie "Thor" at the Cinemark Stoneridge Plaza movie theater in Gahanna. I won a free ticket a while back and decided to use it on this movie. I already have my ticket so this is confirmed for me. If anybody wants to go see the movie with me, give me a buzz (you'll have to get your own ticket). I can always use the company.
- Song on repeat: "Hole In The World" by The Eagles. With the demise of Osama bin Laden, this song easily came to mind since it was written soon after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and is probably the most recognized song associated with the tragedy. It's also a reminder that in all the bin Laden death hype to not forget those lost and affected directly by the 9/11 tragedy and to keep them in your prayers.
- SLP to the following: Ron M., Dave, Holly, Jennifer K., Griff, Cara, Al, and Debbie.
This last week or so has been the most eventful in the United States and the world in quite a while and thus I was compelled to write today. I don't think I'm going to be writing again for a while because I got so much out over the past few days. However, when enough stuff for me to write about comes up, I'll get it out there. Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
DJ
