George Foster

Random Thoughts George Foster Life is barely worth living in Wolverines Land these days. Michigan fans are not used to losing much - let alone two games in a row in Ann Arbor before a packed house of maize and blue crybabies.
When tiny Appalachian State shocked Michigan’s football team in their opening game this year, U of M fans thought it couldn’t get worse. Then underdog Oregon stomped the Wolverines, proving it could. Much worse. With team injuries mounting and continuing uninspired play, Michigan’s fans are humiliated and need to take it out on someone. They have selected coach Lloyd Carr.
All Carr has done is coach Michigan with dignity for 27 years. As head coach the last 12 years, he has won 5 Big Ten titles, one national championship, and led the team to a bowl game each year. Yet, Michigan fans have quickly turned on Carr with venom usually reserved for the hated Ohio State Buckeyes.

Random Thoughts George Foster Just when we think it can’t any get worse, the single, most deadly attack since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq hits us in the gut.
A staggering death toll of at least 400 civilians and many more wounded, resulted from explosive-filled garbage trucks flattening a village, recently. The Bush administration has characterized that attack as al Qaeda’s bid to break America’s will in Iraq.

Random Thoughts George Foster Last January, while visiting Atlanta, I made a special trip to the exact spot where Hank Aaron’s 715th home run landed in the spring of 1974. It is now the site of a parking lot in downtown Atlanta as the old stadium was torn down years ago. That, of course, was the home run that broke the previous record of 714 career home runs set by the immortal Babe Ruth in 1935, his last season.
I know, I know. Only a nutty baseball fan would spend a few moments standing on a slab of cement where hallowed sports history took place a generation ago.
Ironically, though, I admit to not being enamored with Aaron’s feat at the time it was taking place, over 30 years ago. You see - Babe Ruth was an icon. He dominated the game with his exploits (on and off the field) like nobody had done before. Many of us thought, “How dare Hank Aaron think he is in the same class with Babe Ruth.”

Random Thoughts George Foster Driving to work last week, I noticed several service stations reduced their price for regular gasoline from $3.49 to $3.29. The next day it dropped to $3.19. Talk about bad news. My depression has not lifted a week later.
You see, I become overjoyed whenever I see those little numbers representing gas prices on station signs go up-up-up. Each day I give little pep talks from my car, “Don’t stop now, Speedway old buddy, way up there. “You can do it, Shell, charge me more. “Come on Marathon - higher, higher.”
Significant long-term jumps in prices cause most Americans to get serious about energy conservation, whether we want to or not. I do realize increased gas prices have resulted in financial hardships for many families and businesses of late. Believe me, I have not been spared, but overall it is worth the short-term pain.

Random Thoughts George Foster Talk about a story that has it all.
Hot-button issues such as Fidel, Cuba, 9/11 attacks, Hollywood-type liberals, life and death drama - all instigated by who else: Michael Moore.
Moore says his new movie SICKO is supposed to unite conservatives and liberals on the increasingly painful issue of health care. Yet, when Moore’s production crew traveled to Cuba with 9/11 victims (firefighters, and other first responders to the attacks) for better health care, the other Great Uniter, George Bush, decided to question the legality of the trip.
Michael Moore must be doing cartwheels with glee over his good fortune. While investigating Moore’s reverse-flotilla back to Cuba, the U.S. Treasury Department is unwittingly providing SICKO millions of dollars worth of free publicity just before the movie is scheduled to debut.

Random Thoughts George Foster ARF-ARF. Man’s best friend has arrived - expressdog.com, that is. You might want to run to your computer and check it out.
The rumors of free classifieds coming to Northern Michigan have been realized. expressdog.com is a new online site that specializes in free want ads and more. Beginning now, anyone who has a computer can go online and place free classifieds or find an ad for anything you might want to sell, buy, or exchange in Northern Michigan.

Random Thoughts George Foster You can just sense the baseball ghosts of Mickey Lolich, Al Kaline, Jack Morris, Kirk Gibson, and other World Series heroes lurking around Comerica Park in downtown Detroit this year. Almost everyone is expecting another run at the World Series for the Tigers. It’s amazing how seriously the experts are taking them after decades of losing seasons.
The main reason for the sudden success is the man behind the scenes, Dave Dombrowski. The Detroit general manager has stockpiled the Tigers system with numerous young arms whose pitching could carry the Tigers into contention for the post-season for at least the next decade.

Random Thoughts George Foster It seems like political corruption increases with each new presidential administration. Or could it be that noise from opponents is more deafening each term?
Lately, political junkies have been in heaven. It seems like a new political scandal breaks out almost every hour. Over the last couple of weeks, we have been treated to the following disclosures: Vice-Presidential aide Scooter Libby’s perjury conviction, the Walter Reed Hospital deficiencies in care for wounded soldiers, accusations of U.S. government funds being funneled to Sunni groups with terrorist ties, millions of Iraqis leaving war-torn Iraq for Syria and Jordan (our administration doesn’t acknowledge a refugee problem), the callous treatment of Iraqis who have put their lives on the line by working with the U.S. Government, word from some soldiers that the U.S. military is sending injured troops back to Iraq, Halliburton moving its headquarters to Dubai, the mid-term firing of U.S. attorneys for political reasons, and... whew, that’s enough for now.

Random Thoughts George Foster I live with a cat that may be one of the orneriest cats to ever strut around Northern Michigan.
After years of being around her, she still growled and swatted at my intruding feet when I walked too closely. She tolerates being petted around her neck, but only fools accidentally stray below her head - a sudden hiss and bite await these encroachments. And I like cats... at least I used to.
When I married recently, I knew this cat was part of my wife’s household.

Random Thoughts George Foster Where can you travel for perfect tropical weather, beautiful beaches, magnificent volcanoes, friendly locals, and live well for under $25 a day? Maybe Hawaii in the 16th century, right?
Travel to Nicaragua is well under the radar for North American vacationers. Though I planned such a trip with two other backpackers, who also had some low-budget travel experience in Central America, we didn’t really know what to expect. Most acquaintances ominously warned me to stay away.

Random Thoughts George Foster Ah, it is that time of year again. On Super Bowl Sunday more Americans will be glued to the TV, watching football, than any other sporting event all season. Who will we come away talking about - a superstar who falls flat on his face or some obscure player who rises to the occasion of football’s biggest spotlight? Here are the most unforgettable Super Bowl moments so far (in reverse order):
(10). Pittsburgh’s Lynn Swann makes an acrobatic sensational TD catch while falling down in 1976. The Steelers win again.

Random Thoughts George Foster Eleven days ago, on New Years Eve morning, Leonard (Marty) Kardes was last seen walking down Cedar Creek Road (near Fife Lake, Michigan) and hasn’t been seen since.
Finding Kardes very soon is critical since he uses medication for diabetes and has been disoriented and depressed lately. Kardes served as a Navy Seal in the military.
According to family members, his problems could be a result of Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam many years ago.

Random Thoughts George Foster I know, I know. We live in volatile, topsy-turvy times. What kind of fool would attempt to prophesize in this climate of change? Yet, my confidence in the following forecasts for 2007 is unshakable. Consider each of the following the predictions to be a lock. You can take them to the bank. I guarantee each and every one of them. So, bet the farm on these picks, if you can.
Our troops will begin to leave Iraq by the end of 2007. This is true, not because of the Baker Report, not because of growing deaths due to violence, and definitely not because of the new Democratic Congress. President Bush will cut-and-run because Republican Congressmen, who formerly supported the Iraq War, will fire-bomb the White House themselves if the President doesn’t eliminate the war as an issue leading up to the next election.
The Detroit Lions will finish 8-8 next season. No NFL team can win with the mass of injuries the Lions suffered in 2006. There is nowhere to go but up for the Lions - and they will. GM Matt Millen has finally found the right head coach for the job, but they still need a healthier team for an upswing.

Random Thoughts George Foster Thank goodness for modern technology.
Without the small digital camera that filmed Kramer… I mean, Michael Richards, his racial tirade might never have been revealed. If nothing else, our camera-phone obsession should provide a deterrent effect that may help eliminate such acts of racism.

Random Thoughts George Foster Last Tuesday, tidal waves of Democrats were swept into office by ornery voters in a rebellious mood. As a result, Republicans are now licking their wounds, while Democrats celebrate grabbing control of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Before you giddy Democrats get too carried away, don’t forget that our country’s ideological divide is still about the same. After the floodwaters of this election recede, Democrats will be a slight majority in Congress. Republicans were barely
in charge before that. Fed-up voters wanted to make a statement - you can decide
what it was.