Guess Politics are NOT for the Birds

Dateline Rye Brook, NY: Baby birds die due to state and local politics

The other day, a couple of birds - my daugher thought starlings, but who knows - appeared to have fallen out of their ramshackle nest on the side of my house. Clearly, the bird parents had not cleared this construction with the Rye Town zoning board, and the nest was totally out of spec, leading to the instant demise of at least one bird and the injury of another. Let's call this bird "Poli".

Poli had something wrong. He wasn't moving much when found by my exasperated kids, but he was alive. My daughters and wife quickly found some internet-based info on what to do with this bird: put him in a cardboard box, add some cushioning, and cover it part-way. But the REAL question was: what to do next to help him recover?

The bottom line is that inaction and political finger pointing across state lines killed this bird.

A call to the Connecticut Audobon Society - ostensibly there to help creatures like this - would not accept a New York bird. Guess this is similar in policy to the attempt to ban New Yorkers from Connecticut beaches (that failed). Maybe the bird needed to buy a permit first?

A call to the Greenburgh Nature Center was also unsuccessful, but the reason was that it is apparently illegal to bring the bird to them. Illegal (say it again and note the ironic "Ill Eagle" pronunciation)??

After a day of political battles and an inability to understand bird chirps, the unfortunately fowl died. He is now buried, a symbol of the struggles of the common bird in a political society.

Guess $50M doesn't buy candidness

The stupid statement of the week was made by Knicks brass as they fired their $50M coach, Larry Brown (gee, no one saw THAT coming):

"Knicks brass made it known they did not appreciate Brown's candid appraisal of players' shortcomings, and by extension his criticism of the roster assembled by Thomas, also a Hall of Fame member."

So let's summarize: Brown gets a $50M contract to "run the team". Apparently, that does not include an ability to critique players, try to coach to his strengths, or try to get management to help.

Clearly, this is not a problem with Brown; it's a problem with Thomas and Knicks management for putting a square peg in a round hole; or perpaps trying to hammer in a pentagonal peg in a microscopic hole that won't budge enough to allow even a bit to fit in.

No wonder Brown has gastric problems.

Ben Roethlisberger, winner of this year's Darwin award

This quote from an article back in May says it all:

"Bill talked to me about being a risk-taker, but I'm not really a risk-taker," said Roethlisberger, the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year last season. "I'm pretty conservative and laid back. The thing for me is to just be careful. And that's what we do. I think every person who rides is careful, and I just think that's the biggest thing. As long as I continue to be careful ... and we never ride alone. We always ride in a group of people, and I think that even makes it more safe.''As far as not wearing a helmet - which isn't mandatory in Pennsylvania - Roethlisberger almost defiantly deflected the question."It's just a choice for me not to wear a helmet,'' he said. "It's not up to my discretion. Obviously, Pennsylvania doesn't think people need to," Roethlisberger said.

What can I add to this but: DUUUUUHHHHHHHH

Of course, I'm sorry he was seriously injured.