Under Construction and what not...

hello hello!...i just got internet out here folks so gimme a day or two and i'll have somethin for ya!...working on a little wrap-up piece to post that will hopefully cover the last two months or so of the world'o'finch...hoping to post a bunch of photos as well...stay tuned and keep it gangsta! fo shizzle!...word...

Breakin' ankles...

I think I actually broke this dude’s ankle this morning playing soccer…most of ya’ll are at least a little familiar with an Iverson “cross-over” – well this dude is now familiar with the Finch cross-over – yep, I just patented it, right there…it’s official…

We play a fenced in version of soccer on a basketball ball court with little goals every Wednesday for PT in the morning – we played basketball for a long time, but this is something that damn near every Korean is good at, thus more fun…anyway, we play the engineer section nearly every week and this being my final Wednesday here, there was a bit of a build up I guess for this game…

So usually I get passed guys by running the ball up the sides and using the fence to pass the ball by a defender and quickly run around the poor guy…kinda like hockey....well – they’ve now figured this out…that being said I have to bring the ball to the middle a little more…

Well this dude came out on me in open space and I broke his ankle – fake right, drag the ball quickly back to the left, then faking back to the left with the ball never leaving my right foot – (or somethin' like that) - he was down on the ground – it was awesome…he just crumbled – it was, as they say in the soccer world – Brilliant!

Alright maybe not broken – but it’s definitely a nice sprain – he left the court…removed his shoe and sock and eventually went to the medical place…I don’t know why that gives me some sort of enjoyment or feeling of fulfillment…it was just one of those – wholly-crap-did-I-just-do-that-moments…

Anyway – just thought I’d share that…and we lost 2-1…selah!

WW III...
I just wanted to take a second to give a big THANK YOU shout out to all the homies in Isreal and those wacky wonderful Hezbollah folks from Lebanon...just kinda get the feeling like we're on the brink here folks - and these crazy bastards are showing no signs of slowin' down SO - in the spirit of the season - here's a wonderful link that you will all surely enjoy/relate to...ROCK!

End of the World!

Robo - ILL!

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA—Responding to mounting pressure and increasingly confrontational rhetoric from the outside world, North Korean president Kim Jong Il unfolded into a 70-foot-tall, 62-ton giant robot Monday.

"The DPRK's nuclear program is very much its own business, as is its right to determine its own path of security," said Kim, his torso splitting along ventral seams as clusters of Taepo-Dong ICBMs rose from his shoulders. "Any attempt by Washington to decide our fate will surely result in a sea of fire being unleashed upon them."

As his arms and legs sheathed themselves in bulletproof Mecha-Muscle telescoping outward from his chest, Kim reiterated his refusal to bow to international demands.

"Constant criticism from outside indicates mistrust of our promise to refrain from missile tests," said Kim, speaking over the mechanical shriek of wingblades sprouting from his back. "Only trust from the U.S. that we will keep our word can prevent World War III."

"The imperialist West is holding my country to standards which it does not see fit to meet itself," continued Kim, his voice now a metallic, digitized boom emanating from somewhere within the titanium helmet sheathing his head. "This does not surprise me, as they are well-famed for their lies."

"Pyongyang Dynamo Power Punch!" added Kim, as he released his fist-modules skyward with twin robotic uppercuts.

While the Bush Administration remains publicly confident that a diplomatic solution can be reached, top officials admit that the situation has become more complicated.

"If we add Kim Jong Il's transformation into a giant robot to his already defiant isolationist stance and his country's known nuclear capability, the diplomatic terrain definitely becomes more rocky," U.S. envoy James Kelly said. "Kim has made it clear that, if sufficiently threatened, he will not hesitate to use nuclear weapons or his arm-mounted HyperBazooka."

Added Kelly: "We are also forced to consider the possibility that Kim may attempt to robo-meld with other members of the Axis of Evil, forming a MegaMecha-Optima-Robosoldier. Kim would make a powerful right arm—or even a torso—for such a mechanism."

During a visit Monday to the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean peninsula, Kim stressed that his transformation was not an act of aggression, but rather an attempt to defend his nation's autonomy.

"The DPRK must not be subject to the whims of an international coalition with no regard for the welfare of the Korean people," said Kim before stomping the ground with his foot, unleashing a devastating ring of energy that vaporized nearby reporters and military vehicles. "Catastrophic Valiant Kim-Chee Earthquake Stomp-Kick!"

for more gems like this one visit www.theonion.com - "America's Finest News Source!"

Typhoon season...
You just know it's gonna be an interesting 24 hours when an email like this hits your inbox:

Subject: RE: Destructive Weather SOP

ALCON,

Due to forecast of weather conditions PT is cancelled for tomorrow. Everyone should report to duty at regular work call hours (0900 HRS).

...I have to say - I’ve NEVER received an email like that one before...(SOP stands for standard operating procedures, by the way) it appears that the season's first typhoon is headed to run right through Seoul, we're expecting about 5-8 inches of water in what will apparently be a rather short and quick period of time - FUN!...I guess it's all a part of the Korea experience...

...As for the photo above - that is a shot of the parking area/drive on the front side of my office back in August (I think) of last year when I first got out here...it rained for MAYBE 20 minutes...having just arrived and not seen anything like this before (Katrina hadn’t even hit yet) - the word apocalypse immediately came to mind – that and boat…you could literally sit there and see the water rising…anyway – no apocalypse…just Korea…and that wasn’t even a typhoon – just a shower…should be an interesting next couple of hours out here…

Anyway – so apparently we’re supposed to “remain indoors during periods of the storm” or something like that – thanks…I need a four-star general to tell me that folks – seriously…he felt the need to explain to us that water can be dangerous and that a lot of water in a short period of time can cause flooding and thus be a dangerous situation…wholly crap – for reals!?

Thanks for the heads up! Damn…

Moving along…this thing is supposed to run through our little piece of “home” between now (9 p.m.) and sometime before sunrise…so here’s hoping I can at least sleep through the rain and the 30 mph gusts of wind! If not though – trust that I have purchased the necessary provisions for a typhoon scenario: beer, water, food, and some beer…

ROCK!

UPDATE: not a drop...woke up this morning and not a single drop of rain...birds were chirpin' the sun is shining and the skies are blue...the lesson here of course being that we can somehow track missiles and what not, but have yet to truely figure out how to track the weather! awesome...

BACK to the future...

With obvious more important issues developing around the world I'll merely touch on this briefly...

Lemme start by saying - i'm not mad that Miami won (moreso that Dallas Lost)...I like Shaq - and Wade is incredible...good for them...BUT,

That was one of the absolute most horrendously officiated series in the history of the NBA - all six games were obscene...the final phantom foul on Wade in game 5 is still unbelievable...BUT when he throws a forearm into Dirk to push off and get separation towards the end of game 6 AND DIRK gets called for a foul...I mean seriously - at least in the Super Bowl the officials were a bit more discreet...anyway - I’ve heard a lot - and read even more about various reports, accounts and opinions on the series and I’d say somewhere in the 90% area are baffled...anyway - there were a bunch of "questionable" calls in game 6 BUT the Mavs still blew two separate 14 point leads in the first half - which is inexcusable...I honestly just think the passed to games crushed them...that shot in Game 3 by Gary Payton was the "nail" as they say...BUT, when the chick from NBC came up to interview Wade at halftime the other night and stuck that mic right in his face - I honestly was waiting for a ref to run up and blow a whistle on her and give Flash some free throws... Anyway - shitty series...BUT - D-Wade is the Truth...that's not even up for conversation - he's great...LeBron better step it up 'cause Wade is about to take the entire league over - wait 'til he starts getting those sort of foul calls in the regular season next year...shit...dude was putting up 30 easy without it - he'll average close to 50 next season with 17 to 20 free throws a night...AND, AND - AND he doesn't have to worry about a lot of injuries 'cause dude wears pads - seriously (look it up) he wears pads on his thighs like a running back and a pad on his chest...so I will say this - at least Jordan never had to wear accessories… Anyway – I’m just disappointed that it wasn’t a good series…the reason why people look[ed] at the Mavs v. Spurs and Mavs v. Suns series as being two of the greatest in recent memory is partly because of the lack of controversy…but really it was just great basketball being played and it was exciting – just let ‘em play…Dallas was clearly the “better TEAM” but in the end that’s just not enough in the NBA…Many true fans of the sport were excited about a rebirth of the NBA because of teams like the Mavs, Spurs, and even the Pistons – good, quick, athletic all-around TEAMS were going to be the future of the League…
and now we have what amounts to, as Bill Simmons (the Sports Guy) appropriately wrote: “A tragedy... Nothing against Wade -- after all, it isn't his fault his team sucks and he has to play this way -- but seeing an individual triumph over a team YET AGAIN would erase every positive outcome from the 2005-06 season. Basically, the team with LeBron or Wade will win the next 10-12 titles, and it will come down to which guy made more 20-footers with two guys on him and which guy got the most cheap calls from the most spineless referees. That's not basketball, it's a star system. When my wife was asking why I was so ticked off after Game 5, it wasn't because I had money on the game (I didn't), or because I liked one team more than the other (I don't). If Miami wins, we may as well go back to box haircuts again, because it's going to be 1991 all over again -- the "New and Improved" NBA will have been defeated, and the Old-School NBA will reign supreme.”

Remember - when nobody could really give a damn about the NBA...i mean come on - those were the Ewing years folks...if you lived outside of Boston, San Antonio, L.A., Philly or Detroit you stood a very good chance of not even realizing there WAS an NBA...
“Here's what happens if Miami wins the title: New Jersey will say to themselves, "Hey, maybe this could happen to us with Vince Carter"; Washington will say the same about Arenas; Boston with Pierce; G-State with Richardson; the Lakers with Kobe; New Team X with Iverson. And so on and so on. But that's just the thing ... we went through this last decade. There was only one MJ; the formula couldn't be replicated. Same with Dwyane Wade; only LeBron can match him. And everyone else will fail trying, which means we can look forward to another decade of perimeter scorers going 11 for 32 in big games, teammates standing around while stars dribble at the top of the key waiting to challenge two defenders at once, and refs deciding every big game (like in Game 5) by how they interpret contact when the same guy is recklessly driving to the basket over and over again. Does any of this sound fun to you?”

and just when I thought I was becoming a fan...selah!

ROCK!ets…
Just in case the hole you’ve been living in has kept you away from the television/radio/newspaper – things out here are going spectacularly! Just superb…

Nothing like getting to prepare for the possibility that our crazy-ass neighbors to the north out here might just push the fucking button…I mean – wow – it’s just awesome…knowing that if it hits the fan, me and 10 million of my closest South Korean homies will go up in smoke here in the lovely city of Seoul…

Yeah, yeah – the missile is pointed out over the Pacific – that’s all fine and good, but as soon as we blow it out of the sky we’re basically, for all intents and purposes, “at war” with North Korea…which is, in the words of the BummbleBee guy, “No es Bueno!” especially here in the capital city not too terribly far from those wacky North Koreans and there millions of forces waiting on the border – FUN! God Bless 2nd Infantry Division…

Anyway…we went over packing lists today – 6 socks…CHECK…6 underwear…CHECK…Gas Mask…CHECK…and so on and so forth – awesome!

Meanwhile we’ve gotten a couple very new Korean Soldiers into our office in the last couple of months and the looks on their faces after our little “briefing” were priceless…it’s not so much The Fear that’s got them – it’s more about the complete uncertainty of the whole situation…well that and a bit of The Fear I guess…

Anyway – that’s all from South Korea – no one knows what the heck is going on...so we’re standing by! Hoooah!

REAL - Fantasy Sports...

I currently manage two fantasy teams… A football team – the ILLs (after Kim Jong-Ill, ‘cause I’m in Korea after all), and a baseball team – Rick James (‘cause that shit is just plain funny!). Along with that, I also serve as the commissioner for the leagues that my teams are in – the League Sanchez (football – yes, as in Dirty) and the Human Growth Hormone League (baseball – for obvious reasons).

The ILLs were my first go at the whole fantasy sports thing. You hear so much about it and I was a bit intrigued. I love to compete and I figured that it would be a good way to keep in contact with the friends that I’ve come to know around the way. Thus, League Sanchez was born. Mostly friends from back at Fort Knox who have since spread out to various places, some family – my Uncle and his son, and even some folks that most of us didn’t know – just to keep it interesting.

And it basically works like this – you name your team, rank the players that you want on a draft board and then have a draft. Now you have your team’s “players” filling up the requisite positions. Each week you insert who you think will have the best games of the week in to your starting line up and you receive points based off of their performances – Larry Johnson goes off for 4 touchdowns and a 200 yards – I get 6 points per TD and a point for every 50 yards (and Tom cries enough tears to fill the Nile!) or you draft Duante Culpepper as your franchise quarterback and he proceeds to single-handedly ruin your season – and so on and so forth…Each week you match-up head to head against someone in the league and in the mean time and between time you talk shit, check injury reports, scouting reports, talk shit, check defenses, and basically talk more shit…or whine about how this or that isn’t fair and bitch about why the hell they refuse to throw Randy Moss the Damn Ball!, but I digress…

ANYWAY, it’s fun – football apparently a bit more so than baseball – you have to really be FAN of the game to pay the necessary attention to the ebbs and flows that can go in to a 160-game season – which can make or break your fantasy club…football is a little less tough – less games, more time in between games, less stuff to keep track of – yada yada yada…

Now, I’ve taken many a jab or two for my new found enjoyment of the world of fantasy sports. I was already addicted to sport in general, and ESPN, and loved to compete – so I guess it was really only a matter of time…Sounds a bit ridiculous – fair enough…

However, the “fantasy” will soon become reality for the fans of the Schaumburg Flyers – a minor league baseball squad 30 miles or so outside of Chicago’s city limits.

The Flyers, an independent team playing in the Northern League, are scheduled to hand over managerial duties over to their fans – via online voting – beginning in mid-July.

YES – you read that right…in a joint venture, dubbed “Fan Club: Reality Baseball,” will be an “alliance” of sorts between the teams’ owners and fans, the production company LivePlanet and MSN.com, according to a recent story on ESPN.com.

LivePlanet will be responsible for the behind-the-scenes storytelling of the team, it’s players, family and history, while MSN.com will display “everything from the team’s day to day statistics to video highlights and eventually live streaming video of games.”

Sound Crrrrrrrrrrrrazy – sure! Sound exciting and intriguing – Damn skippy!

There’s an obvious market for this sort of thing, with millions of people already planning their days around making sure their FANTASY-fantasy teams are up to snuff – checking and triple checking to see if it would be good to drop a floundering Dontrelle Willis or if there’s any trade potential for Alfonso Soriano…

There’s a bit of a premise here as well. For the last four years a football (soccer – they’re European duh) club in Northern France dubbed the Web Football Club, has been surprisingly successful as the “entainautes,” or web-surfers, there have decided everything from starting lineups to game tactics. And each year the team has improved as well as moved up a division based on its’ success.

The interesting thing for the Flyers of Schaumburg is that they play in a minor league system that splits its’ season into two halves, with the winner of each half meeting in the playoffs…the fans will take over in time to take over day-to-day operations from game one of the second half of the season, which means that they will, in turn, determine whether or not the Flyers make the playoffs.

As for the team in France - there they now have more than 13,000 registered entrainautes from around the globe who are dedicated to “supporting the club.” The players there apparently love it due to the fact that they are being rewarded strictly for their effort and play on the field and that promotions and playing time aren’t being divided up based on things as trivial as being friends with the coach.

That being said – something of this nature would obviously not work for a major league team where contracts and money rule the game regardless of the actual effort on the field itself – BUT for the minor league squads like the Flyers it definitely seems feasible…these teams aren’t locked into million dollar contracts where certain players WILL play no matter what – they are teams filled with young up-and-comers, journeymen and others just trying to catch a break – all of whom will give their all every time they have the opportunity to hit the field…and for that – at least in Schaumburg – they will be rewarded…

Sport...

You gotta LOVE sports if for no other reason than the EVERyday things that can occur...The Mavs suddenly went from possible sweepers to easily beatable...go figure - classic Mavs eh?!...a dude that got hit in the FACE by a fastball (plays for the Marlins) comes back to go yard (a home run duh) the very next day...all the while the team from England is looking very sharp in the World Cup...as Big Ben from the Steelers is suddenly an advocate for helmet wearing - go figure...meanwhile - the South Koreans are officially in a tizzy (no idea what that actually means) over their World Cup team...honestly I will Love it if the South Koreans can do something big in this year's competition...Much like back during the World Baseball Classic - these folks KNOW what the heck is going on and truly understand the sport...which makes it MUCH more fun to watch and cheer with them...there were roughly over a million South Koreans outside in the capital center of Seoul (where I live) watching their first game of the cup...everyone dressed in red sporting tiger emblems, jerseys and devil-tiger head gear...it's exciting and fun - and it all can't help but make a sports fan smile...these folks are anything BUT passionate from day to day, but when it comes to competing on the WORLD stage they're ALL up and ready...it's amazing and a bit surreal to see an entire country put themselves - all of themselves - behind a TEAM - just because that team is THEIR TEAM...very refreshing - and I'm about to go ahead and grab a South Korean jersey and hang out in the crowd...fun is FUN after all!

It's Mullet-Time!
25 years folks -and here we are!

Hack-a-ShaQ...

The fun thing is that the Mavs are beating the piss out of the "Heat" without even breaking out the machetes!...good stuff...had this conversation with my Sergeant Major this afternoon after the game...

(me) "hey SGM, you catch the beating this morning?”

(that's when the games are played Korea-time)

(him) "Ha - yeah - I'm kinda kicking myself right now..."

"Why's that SGM?"

"Well I was tempted at going the "under-dog route" and put a couple 100 bucks on the Mavs pulling the sweep on Miami...Now it looks like I coulda made bank."

Awesome...just quality stuff there!

I still got Dallas in 6...at this point more so that they win the championship on their home floor, as they have yet to win a series at home this year...although - I will still be satisfied with a sweep...

wow – wholly crapsheit - I can't even believe this right now - I'm talking about the Dallas Mavericks possibly sweeping the NBA Finals...simply amazing...

Story time: 10 years ago I was asked to write a "journal entry" in school about whatever I wanted- I was wearing my old green Mavericks Mashburn jersey, Cuban had just bought the Mavs, Don Nelson was just named the coach and there I was, pissed at what could have been with Jamal Mashburn (whose jersey i still have) Jimmy Jackson and Jason Kidd, the fact that Nelly was gonna fuck it all up and that the new owner was fucking insane for hiring him...which - just for the record - appeared to hold true for the next 6 or 7 years or so…they broke up the J’s…added Steve Nash in the draft and got Dirk (by trading “Tractor” Traylor (he played college ball at Michigan for those of you who have no idea who the heck that is)– perhaps one of the best trades in the history of the league) and leaned heavily on the veteran shoulders of Michael Finley…

They came close year after year, but without a viable center – Shawn Bradley and Christian Laetnner just aren’t going to cut it – they never made it over the proverbial “hump”…then they quietly began to revamp towards the end of last year as Nelson began to let Avery Johnson take more of a leadership role as a coach…they made some quiet trades and picked up Dampier (a “viable” center) and snuck in Diop (a future “viable” center)…got rid of journeyman Antawn Jamison and picked up the now best-sixth-man-scorer in the League Jerry Stackhouse…stole Jason Terry from Atlanta...Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels came in to their own in last year’s playoffs and they grabbed Van Horn just for good measure – and with Harris coming in to his own - suddenly the Mavs can rotate 10 or 11 guys and can apparently adapt the roster to any type of team in the league…

All that to say this – 10 years ago I wrote a B.S. nothing piece because the teacher told me too …a couple days later she (the teacher) came and talked to me about possibly joining the school Newspaper which she was in charge of…she was really the first teacher to say – “hey, you’re good at THIS dickhead – you should do it more”…so I tried…and now – 10 years later – I’m a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army, a published journalist and photographer, an award winning editor, and magazine designer, a world traveler, a veteran of the War in Iraq, AND the Mavs are on the verge of winning the first ever Championship in team history…

I guess I’d like to thank Mark Cuban for being an insane genius, Don Nelson for not being as bad a coach as I thought, and – more importantly – Mrs. Huff for telling me to pull my head out and encouraging me to try and write…that little bit of what appeared to be nothing at the time has actually taken me places that I could never have imagined...

Word up…

Fo' Shizzle...
First of all - for those of you who know what this used be (my chest - ouch - HA!)...enjoy!...I know I am! it's healing up nicely and there's a bit more shading than can be seen in the photo...Second of all - check out the link for the last/latest issue of the ROK Steady...I wrapped it up before I went on leave and just hadn't posted it or the link...overall a decent training issue with great photos from folks all over the peninsula...that and of course some outstanding concepts, layouts and designs! HA!... as for writing an actual post...I'm workin' on it, just kinda lazy lately while trying to figure some things out - some of life's questions and what not...anyway - hope all as well with all of you...and of course: Go Mavs!

As the Finch turns...
What a wild week…on leave at “home”...doctors tell papa that the cancer is no where else in his body…I got financed (by myself & on my own two) for my vehicle…spoke to a great friend who is serving in Iraq…had the opportunity to see, and hear The Logo (Jerry West) speak at my best friend’s commencement ceremony at The - West Virginia University…and have watched some of the best NBA playoff basketball in the history of the league…just quality stuff all around…

By the numbers:

- I’ve been on leave since last Tuesday – wholly crap that’s a long flight and a bunch of travelin’ – perspective: my plane left Seoul at 10a.m. and arrived in Atlanta at 10:45a.m. and I still had a connection to make…all in all it was roughly 24 hours of straight travelin’…not recommended folks…

- My grandfather was recently notified that he had cancer in his lung…booooo!...however – he’s the strongest, most positive person that I’ve EVER known and has already started a new form of Kemo and the docs have told him that the cancer doesn’t appear to have spread to any other parts of his body…regardless of what happens I’m sure he’ll still be out on the golf course five or six days a week – just an example for us all…

- I bought a car – a Jeep actually…I recently purchased a blue (duh!) Jeep Liberty Sport…more importantly though – I financed it myself, with no co-signer, and will be able to even further my growing credit rating…five years ago I couldn’t have given a damn about that – but with age, as they say, comes a bit of wisdom – so here I sit…with a slightly above average score moving in a very credit-licious direction…hooray for good credit! – and for Jeep for that matter!

- Talked to The Josh on the phone…just happened to answer my mom’s phone and suddenly there’s Josh…in Iraq…weird…good stuff though...prayers and thoughts are with you bro…just weird cause I haven’t been on this side of that phone call before…the tempered excitement and the urge to want to MAKE you be home safely is rather surreal…especially being that I’m IN the Army…makes me hate even more doing “that”(being there) to my mom…Godspeed Josh…no doubt!...

- Had the “pleasure” to go to Morgantown, West Virginia to attend my Best Friend/token little brother’s commencement/graduation ceremony from West Virginia University…there was obviously much Pomp and Circumstance – culminating with a speech by The Logo (he’s the silhouette, so you know, of the NBA’s logo) and West Virginia University graduate Jerry West…he spoke very poignantly and at times rather emotionally about life and it’s decisions and the importance of staying focused, having clear goals and maintaining an equal level of Physical, Emotional and Spiritual sturdiness…

- Meanwhile, I’ve had the opportunity to see some of the best playoff basketball in recent memory…the “MVP” and his squad holding off teams that are clearly better than them…Bron Bron holding it down against arguably one of the greatest assembled teams ever to exist in the League…scores of players playing through injury in order to take their teams to the next level…and most importantly – Dirk averaging close to 30 a game and 10 rebounds a night leading the Mavs to a 3-1 lead in the West…just highly enjoyable stuff folks…

And, in closing – I would just like to say – gambling issues and what not included – Charles Barkley is priceless! Hail hail Sir Charles…word!

Happy Birthday Mom!

The Octagon!...

Here we go folks, let’s get this thing rollin’…

LLLLLLaaaaaaaaaadies and Gentlemen – Welcome to The OCT – ta – Gonnnnnnnne!

Scheduled for four quarters with no TKO – the loser goes hooooome…

~ lights dim ~

IN this corner…in the purple trunks – from points unknown…standing 6 foot 6, weighing in at 220 pounds…the self-proclaimed BLACKKKK MAMBAaaaa – Ko-BEeeee BryyyAnttt…

And in this corner – in the white trunks – all the way from St. Croix, Virgin Islands…the 6-5, 210 pound man who needs NO nickname – YOURrrrrrrr RrrrrrrrrrrrrAJAaaa Bellllllll…

And with that – well, somethin’ like that – we were underway in the deciding Game 7 at Phoenix’s lovely U.S. Airways Center…

- Steve Nash: Giving hope to short white folks for nearly a decade! …comes out knocking down threes and kicking in easy pick and roll lay-ups – and even though it’s only a few minutes into the game we’re already seeing the “why didn’t we close it out at last F*#@ing Game!”- face on Phil Jackson – 16-6 Suns lead…

- So apparently when Smush Parker (real name) is on the floor for the Kobes (lakers) – Nash has opted for the less traditional “Matador Defense” in which he refuses to even acknowledge Smush’s existence – it seems to be working like a champ as Smush continues to miss open shot after open shot…

- First foul on Raja “takedown of the year” Bell…Am I the only one hoping that the halftime show consists of them actually bringing out an octagon and Kobe and Raja work out there differences…ending of course with Raja sitting quietly in the center of the floor gnawing on Kobe’s lifeless arm…oops – nevermind!

- OK – the NBA needs to mandate just how many neck beards are allowed in the league…Tim Thomas’ growth – while very Lebron-esque – is just too much…as the Sports Guy said in his Friday piece – Lebron’s neck beard stands out solely for it’s “atrociously atrocious atrociousness. When did people start shaving everything on their face but their neck? How could this possibly catch on?” Amen brotha…

Although, I guess Thomas gets a pass for now if for no other reason than the fact that he wasn’t even in the league two months ago and now he’s knocking down a series saving three – fair enough…waite – did I just start argument with MYSELF?

- End of the 1st: Suns shooting 70% - Lakers just shooting…Phoenix is up 32-15 …and leading up to the buzzer this gem from the tv dude: “Smush Parker is absolutely KILLING the Lakers.” Just high comedy here folks…

- Barbosa knifes through the lane for an easy duce…cuts around a screen for another easy two…knifes through again and misses what would have been layup number three…spots up for a three in the corner…and gets punched in the face by Lamar Odom…just quality Lakers defense…

- My main question as I watch Mamba come down and knock down another three with two defenders in his face, is that given the obvious fact that he can apparently score whenever he wants to right now – why doesn’t he just take over for a while and get his team within striking distance?...just sayin’

- As Mamba gets to the free throw line – “KO–BE Sucks” is being chanted throughout Suns-land – I love it…Viva El Mamba!

- At the half Phoenix is halfway to 120 with no signs of lettin’ up – and on that note – I’m gonna run some pre-leave errands…

- I make it back with 8 minutes left in the fourth...the Kobes are down by 25…and Leondro Barbosa is a man on FIRE! 22 points on 9 shots…

- Now with five minutes to play – I KNOW Phil Jackson is this basketball zen-master guy, but I’d like to point out that the Suns have been using roughly three plays from their set offense the entire game – the same ones, over and over and over and over…and nearly every time they end up with an easy layup or a wide open tre in the corner – EVERY TIME…I’m just sayin’ – after six and a half games against the same team that only runs 6 or 7 guys – you can’t figure out a way to stop a Nash-Diaw, Nash-Bell, Nash-Barbosa pick and roll? Seriously? No?

- And another thing – whose idea was it for Kobe to only take three (3) shots the ENTIRE second half? Was this by design Zen man? I’m painfully confused at this point…I mean – are they trying to save him for Game 8?

- Meanwhile, the game is over – and random fans are being allowed to come on the court and shoot threes – which they’re making! Just great…final: 121-90…series over…

The lesson here of course is: KO–BE SUCKS! Sorry – I couldn’t help myself…

Somebody please wake Dirk up from his week long nap – it’s time to shoot tomorrow! Go Mavs!

Richmond...

Seven days folks...this time next week I'll be headed back to VA...fo' shizzle!...and around 4:25 or so driving right accross the bridge in the background of this picture...sweetness...keep a beer cold for me peeps! word...

Through the grapevine...

So before a game Barry Bonds approached John Olerud, who plays first base and chooses to wear a helmet (as apposed to a regular cap) while playing the field, and said to him something along the lines of – dude, you wear a helmet to play first, I used to play with a guy who wore a helmet at first base - wierd…to wit John responded by saying – yeah, I used to play with a guy named Bonds who had a much smaller head and was skinny and fast, weird huh…

Ok, I made that last part up, but the first part is true – apparently the human growth hormones are a detriment to long term memory…

Anyway – smart money says that Barry will retire sooner than later – I’m talking before this year’s all star break…it’ll be the best for baseball and the best for him…and he’s no doubt under a lot of pressure to shit (hit a bunch of home runs) or get off the pot (retire and disappear until it comes time for the Hall of Fame) from the Baseball Gods…

In other news – me and my major get along fabulously…probably the best working, professional relationship that I’ve ever had – RESPECT – both ways – a beautiful thing…anyway – we shoot the shit randomly throughout the day…from my stories about my young life, my fiascos within fantasy sports, or me giving her nonstop shit about George Mason beating the crap out of UNC in the tournament – we have a good time…

Meanwhile, she has a lot of college stories – she’s a University of North Carolina grad (probably one of the reasons we get along so well) – and she’s pissed me off more than once – whether it be her meeting and watching a game with the DEAN himself, Dean Smith, or the autographed picture of Roger Clemens that she randomly pulled out (he happens to be my baseball Jesus) or the stories of her husband playing pick up ball with Mike (yeah- that one)…anyway – the other afternoon we were in one of our sessions and she started in on a “have I told you this one before” stories…

(A bit of a prelude here – UNC (Dean Smith) has (had) a reputation as not only a school that would recruit and pull some of the best players in the country, but would graduate them as well…I’d say, percentage-wise, UNC (Dean Smith), had more than 90 to 97 percent leave Carolina with a degree…whether it be a regular four-year degree or a player left school to go to the NBA and then returned (in the off-season) and eventually graduated – basically he put degrees in these kids’ hands (taking care of the man and not just raping him for his basketball talent)…which is lovely…)

Now on with the show…

My major attended UNC during Marion Jones’ pre-steroid years, and while Rick Fox (real name Ulrich - seriously, look it up!) was there during his pre-shitlock hairdo days…anyway…so she goes on to tell me about how the Dean was able to ensure to so many degrees (which look GREAT to mothers of potential recruits)…he apparently had a “contract” or at least some sort of gentleman’s agreement between the players that if they left school early then he (“the university”) would get some percentage (something like 10% is what she said) of that player’s yearly contract until they graduated…talk about incentive…but the proof – as they say – is in the pudding…

While in her final year there, one of her friends who dated/knew Rick Fox, happened to see him on the campus during summer semester…what the hell are you doing back here was the obvious question and the nappy head himself spilled the beans and basically said I’ve gotta hurry up and get this degree so coach’ll stop takin’ my money…

Yet another reason why Dean Smith is a shining example of what college athletics should be about…or something like that…ha!

On my way…

Back to the States folks…hooooray! – I bought my tickets this afternoon – two words – Bling Bling! – wholly crap is it expensive to fly back to the EastCoast from here…you’d think I was all the way on the other side of the planet or somethin’! ha!…I can’t say when I’ll be there ‘cause it’s a secret to some – but I will say that I ain’t coming back to Kimchi-land ‘til June – bong!

Anyway – I’m freggin’ exhausted…been a looooong week…just one thing after another – nothing major – just a bunch of little annoyances AND I’ve gotta make sure I knock the magazine out before I fly…here's some of the goings on from the land of the morning calm...

Monday morning I was up around 5a.m. to get ready to go to the range and shoot my M16…good stuff – you’ve got to qualify in order to be “allowed” to take leave so I’ve been trying to get on a range through my unit for a couple months now…never seen such a jacked up situation as how they run the ranges in this unit – simply amazing…anyhow – coordinated with the Special Reaction Team (A group of high-speed military police personnel who are there to shoot to kill and what not at a moments notice) and they let me come out and shoot while they were there – simply put – the BEST and easiest range experience BY FAR that I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing since I’ve been in the military… I got there – qualified – and was back before lunch…had I gone to a regular range with my unit – I’d probably STILL be there…good stuff…

So that afternoon I took my new range qualification scorecard up to the unit along with my leave request to turn it in…and they kicked it back…apparently 12 days before I return from my leave my PT test will have passed six months and I would then become “out of tolerance” (while I was still on leave) and this dickhead handed me back my leave form and said I had to take a PT test – fucker…

It wasn’t so much the fact that he told me I had to take one – it’s just the apparent attitude that I couldn’t pass one or that I was somehow trying to jump the system and get over…whatever…

Tuesday morning formation and physical training was cancelled due to the treacherous Yellow Dust…this shit apparently is blown in from the deserts of China and will “fuck you up” – it even made the front page of the paper in D.C. as being one of the worst “Dust seasons in recent memory” - so we were all advised to stay in doors and minimize outside activity…done and done…nonetheless, that night one of my Soldiers goes to the freggin’ hospital because the she apparently developed an allergic reaction to the Yellow Dust causing conjunctivitis – or “eye shits” – and they put her on quarters for 24 hours…amazing…

Wednesday it rained, which was great because it killed all the murderous yellow dust…meanwhile I’m (we’re) in an ongoing pissing contest with a commander from one of our subordinate commands about what I’m going to run in our magazine…he wants his unit’s stuff in the ROK Steady because he freggin’ cancelled the funding for his magazine and now needs pages in ours – to which I respond to my boss with a forceful - yet professional - “fuck that ma’am” ...fair enough…

People all over the Peninsula send me stuff all the time – I read it – look at the photos and give it fair consideration as to whether or not it’ll fit within our pages…the ROK Steady ain’t Rolling Stone or anything, but I do hope to at least maintain the level that we’ve established with our placing in the last Army level competition…that being said – what his unit is submitting is utter crap…like I said “fuck that ma’am”…and she supports my decisions – which is nice…hell, he’s only a one-star general! Ha!

Thursday I made a lot of progress with some layout things in the magazine – I think I like it – not sure – but I think I do…we shall see…it’s training, training and more training – some of the best photos in one magazine that I’ve ever seen and I think it will go over like a champ…anyway – around four o’clock I’ve got an entire office of Soldiers sitting around with their proverbial fingers up their butts (Thursdays are usually a slow afternoon throughout the entire Army)…so I tell them to go home…oooops…

Not six minutes later my major is freakin’ about nobody bein’ in the office…hasn’t needed anything done all day and suddenly at four the sky is falling…so I bring EVERYONE back in – for what basically amounted to them re-inserting their fingers into their respective anus’s…whatever…in turn – the hours of the public affairs office will now be strictly enforced and adhered to…word! In other news – the beatings will apparently continue until morale improves…

Friday I woke up to take a PT test so that I could finally get my leave signed – bastards…I’ve got to do 42 push ups in two minutes and 50 sit ups in two minutes and then run two miles in 16 something minutes…I got down there and knocked out 80 (no shit!) push ups – I did 64 and a half in the first minute (really surprised myself on that - good stuff)…and then slowly pulled off 72 sit-ups…I can’t imagine what would happen if I actually worked out…scary! Ha! – oh, and I passed my run…(shut up)…

So I’m on my way folks – back to the States for a while…should be interesting – especially since it will just be a prelude to when I move back in a couple months…word up! Mahalo…

Yummmmmy!


I actually planned on writing a nice post today – but alas, I lost my motivation and said screw it for now…here’s another photo of your’s truly to hold you over – that’s me enjoying some of the tasty goodness that is the South Korean cuisine while out in Seoul with some of the Korean homies - yeah Chop stick kung fu grippa style - take the piece of fresh lettuce - then add the rice - and then the freshley grilled strips of Bagogi (beef) simply marvelous! HA!…anyway, should end up being an informative post – PT Test, Range Qualification, a Letter from the Command Sgt. Major at the War College, and an interesting story about University of North Carolina basketball…oh! AND yellow dust - hooray!...stay tuned!

me (skinny white dude in the middle) workin' Kung Fu Grippa style with Mrs. Ha, our Korean "PAO" lady...Rock!

HA!
got this email tonight...BONG!

SGT Fincham,
You are on orders for the War College in PA, congratulations. You are also in your reup window and a category that I am really struggling on. By any chance, would you be willing to do a 2 year reup? It would put your ETS date at April 2008. Once you get to your next duty station, you will not be able to reup for anything due to the Time On Station requirements. Please give me a call.

MSG Andrew D. Bevil
Senior Career Counselor
HHC, USATC-K

Finch is off to college…
Well - A - college anyway…

Everyone in my shop that could be put on orders HAS been put on orders in the last week or so…Fort Bragg (Iraq), Fort Sil (Iran – oops – Iraq), an extension here in Korea… so today I went on the Army’s human resources command website and logged in to see if I was on any sort of orders…hehehehehe – and sure enough – I’m on orders to report on the 10th of September…hehehehehe…to where you ask?

To Carlisle Barracks, PA…that’s where…home of the U.S. Army War College…

It boasts being “The premier institution for strategic leadership and for the study of landpower.” – and if that doesn’t describe ME in a nutshell – well – then shit…HA!

And NO, I’ll not be attending the Army War College – jeeeze…that’s for General Officers – basically ANY AND EVERY high ranking leader that will one day very soon lead not only this country’s Army – but the Country itself…

For me though (besides being in a posistion to potentially impress or make good with someone with clout that can hook me up with steps towards my future - of which i have done a bit of already! ha!) I’m thinkin’ – Pirates games, Phillies games, Eagles games, Steelers games, Phlyers games, Soul Games, Sixers games, New York City, Atlantic City, Close to Mom in Richmond, close to friends in B-More, being in Tim and Brietta’s wedding in Kentucky…and ETS in June...Muuuuah! peaces!...please be true…please, please, please, please!

Needless to say (see, I said it again!) I’m very excited…which leads me to this…it HAS to be too good to be true or something…I mean…Finch and “excited” just hasn’t happened in a very long time now…this is a blessing and my honest first reaction (besides smiling until my face hurt) was to just stop for a moment and say thank you to the big homie in the sky…I just pray that this is his handy-work and not some keyboard slip made by someone in Washington who will soon realize the mistake and send me back to the desert…selah…

Very happy, and very excited right now…a wonderful opportunity and a glorious turn of events that the word unexpected cannot begin to adequately describe…so here’s hoping…

OH YEEEAAAH!

Minister goes into "Dodgeball Rage"

This is wonderful...just classic stuff here...
LIBERTY, Missouri (AP) -- A youth minister was charged with assault for allegedly knocking down a 16-year-old boy and kicking him in the groin after taking a head shot from the teen in a dodgeball game.

David M. Boudreaux, 27, was charged Wednesday with one count of third-degree assault. According to court documents, the incident happened in February at Crescent Lake Christian Academy.

Authorities said the teen missed Boudreaux with one throw but then knocked the youth minister's glasses off with the next.

The boy apologized, authorities said, but Boudreaux pushed him backward, and when the teen got up again Boudreaux kicked him in the groin and left.

The teen suffered whiplash and post-concussion syndrome and had blood in his urine after being kicked, according to court records. Boudreaux later apologized, prosecutors said.

Jeanne D. Hewitt, administrator of Crescent Lake Christian Academy, said Boudreaux had been placed on administrative leave.

Meanwhile, across the
Korean Penninsula this week...

A Blackhawk en route...

Now at the destroyer...

Landing to refuel...

Korean Army Soldiers parking a large tank on a little train...

A beast of a plane - a C-5 Galaxy...

No need to fear - the Strykers are here!...

And the mighty 2nd Armored Cavalry! wahooo!...

Marines take the beach...errrrr!...

2nd Infantry Division blows some stuff up...

And ME - about to jack this lady for her sandwhich at Quiznos! ha!...

Busy, busy!...


me...at the "exercise"...yippie...

Arrrrrmy Trrraining Sirrrr!

Some background: The Army is always preparing for events/conflicts that may or may not occur in the future…we call these preparations “exercises”…these “exercises” take place in what we call “the field” which is a place that we “go to” in order to play “war”…Here in Korea we must remain vigilant and prepared to face the mighty forces directly to our north…so without further ado…

I wake up at 6am to be there by 7am for my 12-hour shift which starts at 7:30am…awesome!

Beginning the day/shift by eating breakfast and catching up on a couple news articles after which I reluctantly begin the only mission I have for the day – to ensure that the laptop works and to hook up the external hard drive and ensuring that it works as well…ten minutes later my mission is complete and I’m on break...or whatever…

The computer is “up” and the hard drive is functioning – pheew and it’s barely closing in on 8am…

At some point a major comes up and asks me something I’ve been pondering for two days – “so what exactly are you doing here?” he asks half sarcastically – to which I can merely respond with – whatever my major needs me to do Sir…

The fact of the matter is my lack of a current security clearance has even made that comment a bit of a stretch…

Basically I’m here because I was told to be here…as far as functionality goes though I really don’t exist in this “exercise” they’re attempting to conduct…I can’t go in certain places that they “need” me to go to and can’t see certain things that they “need” me to see…

And for a brief moment myself and this Sir shared the thought and feelings of – then why the hell make you come out here all day…especially on a Saturday…

Alas, it does not matter what common sense suggests – common sense has been overruled – we must all simply “play the game” as it were – and knowing this – the Sir and I grin at one another, nod and continue on about our business…him to his computer and secret squirrel power point slideshows – and me to devouring a book: Rammer Jammer YellowHammer: A Journey into the Heart of Fan Mania…

I guess when the North Koreans get here I’ll just hold up the book as a shield of sorts and let them know – Don’t shoot, I’m a noncombatant!...I really need to figure out how to say that in Hongul…

Here’s the thing – THEY know I’m not doing anything and I KNOW I’m not doin’ nothin’ – I make no qualms about this fact…but the fact remains: they want me here – so here I be! The phrase: an exercise in futility comes to mind…

So today I read, and I read, and I read, and then I took a piss, ate some food and then read some more – I am now on page 188 of my book…hell – at least it’s a good book…gotta look for that silver lining eh!

And so I drag myself back to the crib 12 hours later and get to do it all again tomorrow…word up!

Selah…

For those of you who aren't aware - the Stars and Stripes is the military's main form of a "local" newspaper...one in Germany, I think two out here in the Pacific theater, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq...ANYWAY...below is what they ran on the bottom half of the front page of today's paper...Looking closely you will see everyone's favorite skinny white dude (me) hard at work (leaned back in the chair) taking in the whoopin' by South Korea...it was a good time though watching the game with my korean homies...we ordered a bunch of pizzas, and pretty much shut the shop down for a couple hours to watch the game...they had a blast and are proud as hell of their guys...here's the trick though - in South Korea all males must serve at least two years in the military after high school...the majority of the baseball players on this team however, have yet to fulfill that obligation...I found out yesterday - while questioning how a team that any single player on the American team could buy and sell ten times over could possibly beat us - that if the South Korean team makes it to the final bracket of the World Baseball Classic they will not have to join the military...and there you have it...

here is the short story that they put together on the inside of today's Korea edition...the photo is of the gigantic TV that we have in the main part of our office for some reason - which is apparently to watch baseball...I can deal with that...

Some thoughts…
HA! A beautiful day – I was awake around 3:30 this morning for absolutely no reason at all, but couldn’t fall back asleep because my mental has been going into overdrive…so many conflicting emotions and thoughts and images of SO many things – from a horrible person who I once gave my heart to – to… - well someone else who I once gave my heart to…to Duke – to University of Texas – to realizing that it’s now officially the start of March Madness…to the stifling amount of work that I have in front of me this week – right before we go to the field for two weeks…

So around 4 or 4:30 I gave up falling back to sleep and watched the end of the ACC Championship where J.J. was shooting lights out and then on the Texas game that P.J Tucker (Texas’ own guard) shitted on…and then off to formation and off to the office around 6:15… (all the while wondering if a certain so-and-so would pop up on the yahoo messenger before I left)

Needless to say – so I’ll say it (what a horrible phrase huh? “Needless to say” yet it’s always followed up with saying IT – I swear I’ve brought this up before) – I was exhausted by 11am with no end in sight…got So much done today though and just did whatever it is that I do and accomplished about four things at once well ahead of when they were expected to be done AND got to catch the end of the USA baseball team cheat the hell outta Japan (at the hands of an umpire and then SURPRISE SURPRISE – Alex Rodriguez…fun all around) and then I got to see the South Korean team handle the Mexicans – oops – the Mexico team…

Oh, by the way, I’m talking about the “World Baseball Classic” that’s happening right now…the Cubans and Dominicans are pissed due to getting throttled at the hands of a well constructed Puerto Rico team (which apparently is VERY serious in the Hispanic world – the only thing worse would be if all three of the aforementioned were massacred by the Mexicans - oops)…

Anyway – now South Korea and the U.S. team are 1-0 in the second round AND in the same bracket…awesome – EVEN BETTER THOUGH – is that they’ll face off tomorrow – or today if you’re in the States – whatever…

I just found it awesome that the “Classic” has done exactly what it set out to do in initiating a World interest and World competitive spirit with regards to Baseball…I know, I know – nobody back in the States really gives a damn yet – that is until the U.S. almost got knocked out in the first round by the Mounties from Canada…it’s weird how the American culture is so attuned to only getting excited over the possibility of a crushing defeat and massive failing as apposed to supporting THEIR team throughout just because it’s THEIR team…weird…

Anyway it kinda struck me – and now I know that the “Classic” is accomplishing it’s mission…I’m sitting in my office watching the Korea/Mexico game when the Korean pitcher throws a wild pitch which allowed the runner to advance to third…so it’s the top of the 9th with a runner on third and the Mexicans down by 1…strike two…and then a smoothly thrown strike three to end the game – the best part for me though was suddenly hearing a rousing YELLLL from out in my hallway where our big screen was showing the game and a nice sized group of folks had gathered…

It was great - American Soldiers next to Korean Soldiers and civilians whoopin’ it up watching a true World Championship of baseball knowing that our respective teams would play each other the following day for the overall number one seed in the tourney…just good fun folks – at that moment I realized how lucky I am to be able to share this perspective on this experience…unique – no doubt…

Some of my Korean Soldiers who’ve never mentioned any sports related anything around me are suddenly enthralled at the chance that THEIR team could beat the U.S. and possibly win the “Classic.” That’s great – regardless of what happens…and, more so, THAT was the idea behind this mid-march “Classic” – to spark interest and a bit of worldwide camaraderie...so – all that being said – me and my Korean homies are looking forward to tomorrow – we’ll all no doubt set aside regular missions to stare at the TV screen rooting for OUR teams…

It just sucks for them that team USA will thrash mercilessly upon the poor unsuspecting Korean team! – but I digress…Ha!

In other news: the first bracket that I worked ended up with West Virginia, Kansas, UCONN, and Boston College in my Final Four with UCONN winning it all over Kansas...Needless to say (HA!) I'll be working on another "official" Finch-bracket...I'll post before the tourney starts so you can all bask in my glory! rock!

POOF!...

now just go away...damn!

Tooting of the horn...

Well peoples...this is the latest of the ROK Steady Magazine presented by the 8th U.S. Army Public Affairs Office - of which I happen to layout and design - and "edit"...anyway, I'm rather pleased with it overall and can't wait to start getting feedback from all of the dedicated readers of the ROK Steady...ha!

And speaking of feedback - what a segue eh! – the results of this year’s Major General Keith L. Ware Journalism Competition were released late Sunday for you folks stateside which meant first thing this morning for me here in Seoul…the competition is an annual event where the best submissions from various major command areas across the Army (ie: Korea, Europe and a number of regions in the States) are sent to the Department of the Army level competition in Alexandria, Va. There a panel of 22 professionals from the commercial media, academia and Department of Defense Public Affairs community review more than 400 entries in print and broadcast categories.

And – though we didn’t win – I am VERY pleased with myself…er-the magazine-whatever…ahem: in the Magazine Category the ROK Steady pulled in 3rd Place overall out of the entire Army…very pleased indeed…

And not to toot my own horn or anything – fuck it TOOOOOOOOT! – but considering that the mandatory submission that we turned in (you have to turn in one from the date that THEY pick and then one issue that you think is your BEST) considering that it was less than stellar – check it here…I would have to say that a large blame for the strong finish would have to be laid squarely on the pages of the Winter Edition which I tirelessly worked on and was barely able to get printed…So YES…I toot my horn with self-satisfaction…I worked hard and put in a lot of extra hours – even while learning new software on the fly – but it feels good to get a bit of recognition from the almighty “professionals” of our career field…

And hell, the way I figure, if I can help squeak out a third place after only being here for a couple months and on one issue alone – I figure we should definitely be in the running for a 1st Place in next year’s competition if I manage to stay out here ‘til I get out of the Army…just keep plugging away and buildin’ that moneymaking’ résumé…ha! Somethin’ like that anyway…

Previously on the list of Keith L. Ware results for me include a 2nd Place overall at Army-level for when I was the editor of The Monitor newspaper while at Fort Bliss; a 2nd Place in Europe while I was the editor of The Sustainer magazine while out in Germany; and last year I was lucky enough to be on a wonderful staff of the 2nd Place newspaper at Army level – the Turret at Fort Knox…word up!

Maybe I can go out on top this time next year with a 1st Place before I get out of this crazy gig…here’s hopin’! BONG!

(for those of you waiting for the Wnter Edition to arrive in your mailbox you should know that for a while we actually ran out of copies and sent six of our last ten - at the time - to the competition...that being said - you should recieve both the Winter Edition AND the Jan-Feb issue at no extra cost!)

831 Words...


Well…I guess the first thing that comes to mind is that I – once again – have nothing to specifically to write about…so you all know what that means! – dribble, gibberish and random thoughts/gripes/issues from the Finch…awesome…

First off, iTunes radio is a wonder full thing…I kick it on either at the crib or at work and I can just rock out…anytime…no question…the killer is that if I haven’t heard the song that’s playing I tend to be entranced…and other than that I’m listening to things that I’ve either heard or most likely own and just haven’t dug out in a long time…good stuff…

Which has, of course, led me to get back on track with putting all of my CDs on to my laptop…I’ve been subconsciously putting this off - and putting it off, but have now been forced to travel back through some of the music that has taken me through my time here on earth – more specifically – my time here in the Army…needless to say – so I’ll say it – memories can be great as well as be a bitch…I attempt to deal with both and just reminisce…mmmmmmm

So here’s some quick recommendations – regardless of what you “listen to”: Bahamadia – fo’ shizzle – the only hip hop female voice that will put you in a trance…then of course the Roots, Talib Kweli, Common, High Tek – duh…and then some other stuff…whatever – you’re gonna listen to whatever you listen to anyway – right…

On another topic…a few posts back I voiced my disappointment, or confusion, by my leadership’s decision to tell me to wait on putting the next magazine together…I was on a nice schedule and then told to hold it for a month…well – last week I was told to “go ahead and get it done – NOW!”...BONG!...so suddenly I have half of a 44-page magazine sitting in my lap that is supposed to be “done” all of a sudden…ROCK!...
So late nights and a Sunday spent in the office later – it’s done…very stressed and very worn down by the sudden crunch and toll taken on my mental state and creative section of my brain – I looked forward to a nice respite…alas – it was not to be…

Today – no shit – today, as I put the finishing touches and last “corrections from the command” on the ROK Steady I was informed (by a phone call from my major who called ME via my Staff Sgt. so that he could be there to make sure I didn’t start burning the building down when she told me) that I was now responsible for my soon-to-be-former commanding general’s 50-page “Scrap Book”…oh and that it needs to be done by the 17th…of March…in 14 days…and we haven’t even started yet…HOORAY FOR…well something – but it ain’t anywhere near me folks…

So, after icing my balls for a while, (the kick in the groin stung for a while) I now get to spend my weekend coming up with a “plan” to fill 50 pages with nonsense to make a scrapbook that looks presentable for a three-star general in the U.S. Army…awesome…

Meanwhile, I had decided that I may as well just extend my time here in Korea to match up with my end of term of military service obligation – June 9th, 2007 – rather than go to Fort freggin’ Bragg and deploy back to Haji-land…I’d rather be stressed out by deadlines and request from folks who think that I do good work as apposed to getting shot at by the Haj for merely trying to ensure their safety and the well-being of their country…but hey – that’s just me…but I digress…

The trick here is that in order for me to extend and stay here (which everyone in my leadership – slash – people who my good work makes look good – thinks I should do) I have to go to the shooting range and qualify on my weapon (which I have honestly seen five times and touched maybe three since I’ve been here)…the trick is that I was going to go sometime this coming week – BUT – the general’s scrapbook supersedes all that stuff so Finch ain’t shootin’ nuthin’ for a while…so though they want me to stay and to continue to do the “quality” work that these folks seem to think that I do – the work that they will continue to give me will actually end up preventing me from staying…awesome – and THAT my friends is how the Army works – in a nutshell…enjoy…

In other news: a good friend of mine’s sister very recently died of cancer…WAY to young…I remember almost getting arrested (in my own neighborhood even and subsequently getting grounded ) with her brother on our way to visit her at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) for her 19th or 20th birthday…she – and her whole family – is good peoples…(for people back in Richmond that happen to read this I’m referring to HappyAnne – Chances’ sister)

Please keep HappyAnne's family in your thoughts and prayers….Please light a candle to represent the Light, which is HappyAnne…

Belated…I’m such an ass – wrapped up in the nothingness that has become the majority of what I do out here, I didn’t even realize that it’s been a year since the passing of the late great Hunter S. Thompson…oddly enough, I’m reading the collection of his columns that he wrote for ESPN.com’s Page2 (check the right column) which is exactly where I ran in to the good Doctor when I got back to my place after work…they had a little picture of Dr. Gonzo and his wife, Anita, had written a short letter about spending the Super Bowl without Hunter…check it: Anita’s Column …it’s weird cause the book they grabbed to read and reminisce about him is what I’m reading now…and the court case she’s talking about is one thing that has constantly intrigued me since reading it in I think “Songs of the Doomed” and now in “Hey Rube” - felony murder folks - look it up - it's very Bush-esque…anyway gotta respect the man (the Doc that is)…and he always stood for SOMETHING and refused to idly stand by… he lived HIS life the way HE wanted…and, as Anita writes, “as he always said, ‘It’s wrong when it stops being fun.’” Well said Doc…

Follow up...

Thank you ALL for your prayers and good thoughts...Angela is doing as good as can be expected and is recuperating out in Kuwait...again - thank you all...

You tell ME...

"Finally, tonight, the Winter Games. Count me among those who don’t like them and won’t watch them ... Because they’re so trying, maybe over the next three weeks we should all try too. Like, try not to be incredulous when someone attempts to link these games to those of the ancient Greeks who never heard of skating or skiing. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world’s greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. ...for God’s sake, let the games begin."

This from Bryant Gumbel…one of the whitest black dudes you’ll surely EVER see. He’s made no efforts with regards to race relations that I’m aware of and suddenly he’s spouting off about how the Winter Olympic Games are racist due to the lack of black athletes…suddenly he’s “taking a stand.” – Good for him...

Meanwhile a guy from the city of Chicago was busy fulfilling his dream…winning Gold in the 1,000 meters…just a regular guy who worked hard, practiced daily, dreamed nightly and merely smiled and gave a quick wave when he accomplished it all…Shani Davis, after no doubt suffering through years of mental torment and “teasing” because of his choice to try and skate faster than anyone else in the world despite his blackness…Hell, he’s supposed to be playing basketball right? Catching a football or something – right Bryant?...don’t be confused here folks – while he no doubt took a lot of crap from young white kids he most certainly heard the loudest criticisms from what should have been some of his loudest supporters - and friends for that matter - young African Americans…

This racial nonsense just boggles me…a respected young black television personality like Gumbel sits on his rather popular sports show on HBO lamenting the lack of black athletes in the Games rather than taking an opportunity to highlight the Gold Medal potential an athlete of said race…Rather than show the difficulties and struggles Davis went through just to stick to his chosen sport, and rather than highlight the fact that Davis was shooting to become the FIRST African American gold-medalist EVER – he chose to try and steal a couple headlines (which he did) and in my opinion try and label everyone participating in or endorsing the Games as a bunch of racists…I just don’t get it…

About a month or so ago I happened to catch Morgan Freeman sitting down with Ed Bradley on an installment of 60 Minutes…two prominent, well respected Black males…I watched as they touched on many topics and was intrigued by how REAL both of these men were…just regular people while they sat and talked…then, just like sports, or acting or the presidency – race came up…I remember being struck by how poignant and straightforwardly the subject was approached…a line that I’ll most likely remember for a long while came from Freeman… “the best way to deal with race, and racism, is just to stop talking about it.” In essence – the more we talk about it, or throw it around like a weapon of sorts – the more we perpetuate the overriding issue at hand…the more we sit here and use it a reasons or excuses for everything, the more and longer this cloud is going to rest over ALL of our heads…

I guess that’s why all this race stuff just makes me frustrated, confused and PISSED off…frustrated that this crap is still going on - confused that people STILL can't just get passed something so trivial - and pissed that it's just accepted as apart of our daily lives...

And even more so when I watch a young successful black athlete reach his goal while another successful black man is on the other side of the world sitting in his posh home with his white wife trying to suddenly act like he is a voice for the “plight” of the black man when he had an opportunity to highlight the skater’s merits and triumphs…

No doubt though, that as soon as the Games are over Gumbel will bring Shani Davis on his program to wax poetically about what a shining light he is for all the hopeful young black athletes who wish to take part in the Winter Olympics one day…

In other news – a 7-foot-tall white-dude from Germany just won the NBA three-point contest…

Angela…
I found out this afternoon that someone very near and dear to my heart will have to undergo surgery Tuesday…Angela, my beautiful former fiancé, is currently deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (no she wasn't hit by an IED or anything like that)…after a series of doctor visits it has been determined that she will need to undergo surgery to avoid a worse scenario in the future…while it hurt to hear - and know that I’m stuck so far away and can do nothing – I didn’t know what to say…getting off the phone though I realized that I needed to leave the office and go “home”…I became aware as I was leaving that my soul hurts…

It’s a very deep – almost hidden – kinda pain that you know is there, but it slides upon you when you least expect to grab hold…it was all I could do to walk all the way back to my place without crying uncontrollably…kinda like pain that comes along with a bruise…you know it’s there…and when something hits it, it starts throbbing and hurting like crazy…and you try to remember to try harder not to hit it on anything ‘til it’s completely healed…I’m very worried for her, I know this is very hard for her…and it kills me that I am way out here…I owe her much and can do nothing but sit here…but I’m getting away from the point…

Angela is most likely scared, and most certainly going through some pain that my wounded soul cannot compare to right now...you are though, the strongest person I've ever known and I know you'll get through this…I just wish that I could do something for you…I hurt very much right now for not being able to do SOMETHING to make it better Beautiful…

So, for what it’s worth, I ask that all of you (whoever reads this stuff that I write) say an extra prayer for her today, tomorrow – the week for that matter…pray for a successful surgery and a speedy and painless recovery…pray that she overcomes this as admirably as she has with so many other things that she has been forced to cope with throughout her life…

Thank you…

Words…

Well – it’s been nearly a week, and while I wish I had something compelling to say or talk about – I don't…so here goes yet another post about random topics that slip in to my head...enjoy...

The winter games’ are apparently taking hold with such wonderful participants as Bodie Miller, who would be the poster-boy for his sport – that is if his sport actually warranted a poster…and Michelle Kwan who couldn’t even legitimately qualify for her “sport’s” event…whatever…

Yippie…here’s hoping the Olympics are employing the same tactics as the Super Bowl in order to keep people talkin' – that is – hiring worthless officials who will undoubtedly make insane judgments to infuriate everyone but the victors…that’ll keep it interesting I guess…

As for me…it’s freggin’ cold…I posted a while back something about how cold it was and I went on and on about freezing and life suckage – and yada yada yada…well – it is now officially COLDER…damn…it suddenly snowed Tuesday morning and didn’t stop for quite a while…the fun part is, that after it snows here we all know that the next couple days will undoubtedly bring well-below-freezing temperatures, thus turning all snow in to treacherous ice…the fun part is that this ice is EVERYWHERE…

You will walk to nearly everywhere you go here in Korea…driving is a bit of a “luxury” especially as a Soldier…so you’re guaranteed to walk at least a mile through the course of any given day...this fact – coupled with the fact that I live FAR from my office and have to walk up steep steps and down a big hill (or vice-versa to get back) just to get to work – I busted my ass – yes, I made it nearly all the way to the office and while walking across what appeared to be clear pavement I found a lone patch of unseen black-ice and busted my ass…quality…

You all know that feeling…

It happens and you get up as quick as possible…quickly glance around to see if anyone saw you…and whether they did or they didn’t - you move out quick – nothing to see here folks…

Quality…

Korea in February ladies and gents…don’t bust your ass…

Meanwhile – after putting in some late hours (and three or four days) coming up with an innovative cover for the next magazine – I’m casually told yesterday that it’s probably gonna have to change…that – along with the fact that I’ve set a nice deadline, and schedule for the next edition to keep my writers focused – I’m told it’s probably gonna get pushed back…no decent reason – just, “we may need to do this.” I love it…

So – I stopped caring and left at three Thursday and Friday…piss off…

What else, what else….oh – I’m standing outside of my Lt. Colonel’s office this afternoon after compiling some (what I think) were high-speed questions for the Army Lt. General in charge of personnel (he decides who goes where and who does what)…my Captain walks in and smiles/laughs weirdly at me and points…to wit I say – “what I do?” – and he smartly responds “it’s not what you DID, it’s what you’re gonna DO.” And then proceeds to go in to the Colonel’s office, hand him something and shut the door…CLASSIFIED – I’m told…

Slowly I watch as the leadership in my office learns from each other what is going on – and I keep casually asking – “HA! Hey, what’s up sir – throw me a freggin’ bone!”...nothin’…CLASSIFIED...even my Staff Sergeant who is my direct supervisor (only one rank up) knows now, but “can’t tell me too much”…

Anyway – from what I gather, the department of the Army needs someone of my rank, in my career field, located where I’m at, to go somewhere, at some point in the relativley near future, to do something that is currently a classified…

It’s not like I’m going in to snipe Osama – I’m just a "journalist"…but I’ve done MY share of SHIT already - it's sombody else's turn…the three trips to Kuwait, one to Saudi, and my time in Iraq should count for somethin’ right? Damn…anyway…

Even went and had a beer with my Staff Sgt. and he REALLY can’t tell me…which REALLY freaks me out…there’s nothing I’ve NEVER been able to hear or at least get outta somebody…hell a year before we even left for Iraq I heard about where our unit was “scheduled” to be once things kicked off…and I never had to even go inside the tent…So THIS is kinda freakin’ me out a bit – I have the shitty feeling that I’m headed to Baghdad(or something equally not enjoyable), because I think that if it was anywhere or anything BUT Iraq, my Staff Sgt. would have told me…the thing is – he KNOWS that I’m scared as fuck to go back there…

Whatever it is, it’s apparently not for long from what I gather – but it’s certainly for somethin’ and he know’s what - and for how long - and where - and he apparently knows HE's not goin' – and he's apparently not going to tell my ass…

So – I just text messaged my NCO because I’m now driving myself insane…no response - he usually always responds...and I got nuthin’…stay tuned folks...should be interesting...

One for the Thumb...
(finch's note: i posted a brief thing Saturday with my pick where i not only had the Steelers winning 24-17 - explaining that the four point pre-game spread was nonsense and that earlier in the week i had told my buddy Ian that i would take the Seahawks WITH 17 points...however - that post has been inexplicably deleted by blogger...anyway - i ALSO mentioned in the post that i would be taking Kobe to outscore both teams combined this weekend...he had 35 against the Hornets Saturday evening...well - the Seahawks not only failed to cover the spread they also failed to beat Kobe...please make all checks payable to CASH!...so without further ado)

So the Super Bowl started out here at around 8 in the morning…Me? I started about quarter to 10…oh yeah!…by the way – here in Korea we are given a “training holiday” (day off) for Super Monday as it is…anyway…I woke up to see the score at a paltry 3-0 with Seattle on top…at least I didn’t miss anything…

About this time the Steelers were backed up to a third and 28 or something like that and Ben scrambled away, stood at the line of scrimmage and fired the ball to Hines Ward on the three…a couple plays later Ben “fakes” the hand off and heads for the touchdown – only he looks to have suffered from a sudden occurrence of Caucasian-itis (the inability to jump, brought on by the fact of being a white dude)…there’s NO WAY that that was a touchdown – hell the line judge didn’t call it ‘til after he pulled the ball out and pushed it in to the endzone…whatever – touchdown Steelers…

The Seahawks then demonstrated their inability to manage the clock and run an effective 2-minute drill…halftime score 7-3 Pittsburgh…

I quickly jumped in the shower and then ran down the hill to grab some provisions from the shoppette and some Taco Bell and got back just in time to miss Willie Parker break one for 75 yards to put them up 14-3…and now – a running diary thingy...(all times are from Seoul)

10:38a.m. – 10 minutes after the Parker TD Madden is STILL attempting to explain to us “How he did it…”

10:40 – 3rd and long and the Seahawks give the ball to a back up full back who actually gets the first down…hold on…isn’t Shawn Alexander supposed to be the League MVP? Wouldn’t THIS be a prime situation to use the “best player in the league”…isn’t THIS just another example that Alexander isn’t even the most valuable player on his own team let alone the whole league – just a thought…

10:43 – yet another missed field goal…Seahawks’ kicker Brown apparently went to the Jay Feely school of kicking…awesome…

10:46 – Bus rumbles for 13 yards to just outside the 10…if HE scores you can just chalk up the “W”…the Seahawks already appear to be hanging their heads a bit…isn’t it a little earlier to quit?...it is the freggin’ Super Bowl after all…

Which brings me to this…Does this even FEEL like a Super Bowl? You’ve got Madden and Michaels (how does this happen) jabbering on and on about random things that have nothing to do with anything…and Seattle is playing with all the intensity of a week 5 regular season game…

10:50 – TADA! Happy Valentine’s Day from Ben, who short-arms a pass to Seattle’s Herndon…the receiver was open…oh well – my only question is – how do you not run that interception all the way back for a TD?...no excuse…

10:54 – Doesn’t matter – now we’ve got a ballgame – Stephens in the endzone for 6…

10:57 – Somebody please either take the Liquor or the Pen from Madden…he’s drawin’ a map of something all over the TV and just circled a dude sitttin’ on the bench…jeeze…

Quick question – why are Michaels and Madden standing? – For that matter, why do ANY announcers have to stand? The NFL folks couldn’t spring for two decent chairs for the game – hell, even a stool or something…this has always bothered me…

11:05 – 3rd and 15 – the team with the MVP gives the ball to WHO? Strong again…I confused…

11:08 – Ben just knocked the hell out of a Seahawk linebacker…awesome…then on a similar play to the one that was intercepted earlier on Ben’s short arm throw – he OVER THROWS it…deeeeep breath Ben – you got this man…

11:14 – At the end of the 3rd quarter Kobe is still easily ahead by 11 points with just 15 minutes left to play…easy money…

11:17 – Pitt needed a stop on 3rd and 5 and they leave Bobby Engram wide open…? Suddenly Hasselback looks very much in control of this game…

(cue the jinx)

11:20 – A B.S. holding call against Seattle…dude – they’re already covering the spread – let ‘em play…now a sack – just another case of the refs sucking the momentum from a team…two plays later an interception and then a B.S. 15-yard penalty…when have you NOT been allowed to tackle someone at the feet?...anyone?...answer this please…

11:25 – after seeing a third replay I have to ask – has ANY call this game gone against Pittsburgh? ANY? – you’ve got the Ben “touchdown” in the first half…the phantom holding call just a bit ago…and this below the knee call which just kills you…whatever…

11:28 – TRICKERATION ALERT…these are the things that you can do when half of the players on your team are QBs…just awesome…

11:39 – a little more than six minutes left on the clock and Seattle kicks the ball in to the endzone giving it back to Pitt on their 20…HOW can you just settle and give them the ball back? You’re down by 11…everyone’s fired…and so it was written…HA!

11:44 – 3…2…1…0…0…0…timeout…no delay of game?...yet ANOTHER call for Pitt…this is just boggling me… I guess it’s a bunch of make up for the Indy game…fair enough eh!?

-Madden just pointed out that Charlie Batch was looking through his playchart for a good play to give Ben during the timeout…doubtful John – highly freggin’ doubtful…

11:49 – Ben “fakes” the hand-off and runs for the first down – that looked like the second play that Ben just said “screw the play called, I’m taking this myself”…just good to see…he’s the MVP right now…

11:52 – Now is when the horrible clock management at the end of the 1st half just kills you…instead of working the clock and getting into good field goal range, they screwed themselves and ended up missing a 50-plus yard kick…now they’re down by 11 and that just doesn’t seem very likely at this point…

11:58 – MVP!!...MVP!...MVP?...MVP?????– was Alexander even on the field…?

12:01p.m. – So it’s 3rd and long and so of course you throw short to your tight end who has dropped five passes today – of course NOW he not only catches it short of the first down – he manages to stay in bounds to keep the clock goin’ – good stuff…Seattle has apparently NEVER RAN a 2-Minute drill…simply amazing…the fact that one facet of the game (not being able to execute a hurry-up offense and manage the clock) can just crap on your entire season…

12:03 – Hooray for Bill Cowher – Hooray for Jerome – Hooray for Pittsburgh…good to see…it’s been a long time comin’…Hooray for Ian too...screw you to Tom - you're not really a Steelers fan...

- At this point the MVP of the game either has to be Ben, Randle El or the Seattle offense’s 2-minute drill…

- Shot of the day goes to: Pitt owner Mr. Rooney congratulates Joey Porter who, rather than shake the man’s outstretched hand, attempts to give the 80 something year old what can only be described as bumping fists or “dap” if you will…AND THEY PULL IT OFF!...simply outstanding – in the words of Manny Ramirez – “it’s just destination!”

- The only thing that would have made the presentation better would have been if Cowher (aka Sgt. Slaughter) pulled a Stone Cold Steve Austin and standing on the edge of the podium began screaming for people to start tossing him cans of beer – followed by him catching them, slamming them together and taking them to the dome…THAT – would have been GREAT!...

- Now I have to go make sure that my Soldier – a Seattle native – isn’t laying in a ditch somewhere out here in Seoul…mahalo!...