A few quick things
1) College football championship? Officially, it's the University of Florida! (and Hawaii had the honors of being the 1st opponent of the eventual "champions")
However, there's no playoff system for Division 1-A college football!
Utah was the only undefeated team in 2008! However, they're not in a "major conference"!
Southern California & Texas also have just 1 loss, just like Florida!
There's no playoffs, since the colleges make more $$$ from the bowls. Plus, bowl games like the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sun Bowl, and Cotton Bowl are traditions many don't want to give up!
However, it's not a real championship if it doesn't come with a playoff
2) Some parents are paranoid about their children playing with Barbies & Bratz
http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2009/01/10/barbie/index.html
I responded to such paranoia, and most of those commenting within the following link agree -- LET THE CHILDREN HAVE A CHILDHOOD!
http://letters.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2009/01/10/barbie/view/?show=all
Enjoy!
3) Israel & Gaza
I could spend more time commenting on this issue, but here's a short version
In 2005, the Palestinian Authority gotten full control of Gaza Strip!
Hamas ended getting elected to run Gaza!
Were their goals to make Gaza a prosperous place for it's future generations? NO!
Their goals was to get the Jews out of Israel! So they declared war on Israel, using Palestinian civilians as human shields!
Look, when Mexico became independent from Spain, Mexico didn't launch attacks on Spain!
When Algeria became independent from France, they didn't launch attacks on France! And this was after an 8 year war of independence. But the Algerian leaders understood that they won, and it was now their time to control their destiny!
When Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa, he didn't launch attacks on Europe!
Whereas the Hamas demanded all Jews leave Gaza (as well as all of Israel), Mandela took a different route! Mandela encouraged descendants of European conquerors to stick around and help make South Africa a better place!
The Hamas had a chance to make Gaza a land of prosperity! They don't care about that!
Here's a great commentary on all this
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell011309.php3
Why don't the Palestinians vote for some representatives who would make a lasting peace with Israel? Because any such candidates would be killed by the terrorists long before election day, so nobody volunteers for that dangerous role.
We don't know what the Palestinians really want — and won't know as long as they are ruled by Hamas, Hezbollah and the like.
Whatever the benefits of peace for the Palestinian population, what are the terrorists going to do in peacetime? Become librarians and furniture salesmen?
So-called "world opinion" has been a largely negative factor in this situation. Nothing is easier than for people living in peace and safety in Paris or Rome to call for a "cease fire" after the Israelis retaliate against people who are firing rockets into their country.
4) If the Palestinian community had it's version of Martin Luther King Jr, they would've likely gotten control of West Bank too!
Look, if Martin Luther King Jr. didn't have nonviolent protests, Barack Obama wouldn't be president in a few days!
Does anyone believe that had the African-American community sent suicide bombers to European-American hang-out spots, (which is what Hamas does to Jewish hang-out spots in Israel) that we would be having Obama as the next president?
That would've made the European-American community more paranoid!
Even the Black Panthers, Nation of Islam and other similar groups didn't go that far!
Having Martin Luther King and his supporters showing restraint, showed European-Americans that they don't have to be afraid of African-Americans!
With the various African-American mayors, CEO's, as well as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby, Micheal Jordan, Tiger Woods, the whole Motown family, it made many non-blacks comfortable with African-Americans.
Even though most African-Americans didn't vote for George W. Bush, he appointed 2 African-American Secretary of States -- Collin Powell and Condaleeza Rice. He trusted our national security with African-Americans. That made many Americans comfortable with African-Americans in power.
I'll go as far as saying that Bush appointing Powell and Rice, made US Americans comfortable with the idea of voting for someone of African ancestry to be President!
Imagine had the Palestinian movement took the Martin Luther King route! Israel could've gotten it's 1st Palestinian president by now!
Happy Martin Luther King weekend and remember to watch Obama's inauguration if you can!
