Dog here? Doggone cool.

It's been about two weeks and lots has changed here at the ranch.

We've become Dog People.
We acquired a pound hound Wire Haired Terrier who we've designated as Riley. An 18lb dog who seems to be liking us - and is being liked in turn by us. He's the standard coloring for the breed, off white base, brown face and grey saddle across his back.

Now if we can just get his "personal habits" on schedule everything will be perfect.

A Class Act. Really. No Kidding

After railing about a few things I don't like, how about a positive note?

Send your kid to hockey school. Or at least let them associate with the PIHL. Even if they don't play hockey, they could sharpen skates or something.
As I'm one to complain about little things at the sporting events I am assigned to cover - parking, access, concession prices and workspace come to mind - I'm here to tell you that the PIHL does things right. I covered a playoff semifinal game last night, and the league did their absolute best to make things happen.

To wit:
Rosters at the front gate - without asking
Workspace - without asking
Game stats soon after the conclusion of a contest - without asking
A cordial welcome to the hospitality room - without asking, where the food was GOOD.

And in general, nightly faxes with results of that day,
A web site with accurate stats, contacts and rosters.

An operation to use as an example of Well Run.

So there. I do like something.

The Right end of the dial

As I drive around, I frequently spin the radio up to the top of the dial. Here in Western Pa that's where the best comedy lives.

Jim Quinn and his trusty sidekick Rose the Indignant Warrior, shilling guns, gold and real estate schemes.

Glenn Beck - Who knows if he makes any sense, but at least he's not as loud as the rest.

Rush - The Grand Poobhah holding court. I think I liked him better when he was Jeff Christy, before he started shilling gold and real estate

Sean Hannity - A Really Popular American, and has an sudience that likes to remind him

Michael "My Real Name Isn't" Savage - What is this guy's story? He just doesn't seem to be FOR anything. Hours of railing about how he knows best, but no real content. Kind of like Wonder Bread - shot full of air to look like something in the bag.

Jerry Davis - seems like a bookend, taking up space till

George Noory comes on. An actual Space Case. UFO's, ghosts, anything paranormal or just weird goes here...


THIS JUST IN: THE STATION AT THE TOP OF THE DIAL IS NOW SHILLING A "WELLNESS WAVE" - SOMEONE COLLECTING CASH TO BEAM POSIIVE VIBRATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. IS THER NO SHAME?

I hear the Clarion call

I have no idea where the pharase clarion call comes from, but today the clarion called and I followed. To Clarion of course. Another brilliant example of form triumphing over function.
Someone in the PIAA - the Even Bigger Cheese of Pennsylvania athletic organizations - decided that in anticipation of Bad Weather, two of their districts should take the night off from basketball playoffs. That would be D2 and D4, essentially the Northeast corner of the Commonwealth. All well and good - let's keep the kiddies out of harm's way by denying Mother nature access.

But, as the man said, what about us?

Nobody in Camp Hill seemed willing to look over the mountains and take notice of the weather arriving in the left end of the state. Let the games begin! Or at least let them go on.

The away team from the game I covered tonight took 7.5 hours on a charter coach to transverse 80 miles from home to the game site. Apparently the only reason they finally got there was one of the team dads pushed the bus uphill with his Suburban.

My Big Question - Shouldn't someone have the authority to say no?

As a sidebar, another team from closer to home chose to take a forefeit rather than put their kids ar risk. Go Catholics!