Robert Baer is My New Hero

I listen to a lot of podcasts, one of my absolute favorites being SpyCast, the podcast of the International Spy Museum. In the past, they've talked to such legends of the intelligence world as Oleg Kalugin, former major general of the KGB, about what was going on in the USSR during the Cuban Missile Crisis; Bob Rayle, former case officer with the CIA who facilitated the defection of Svetlana Alliluyeva, daughter of Josef Stalin; and Eric O'Niell, who was the FBI agent that went undercover to expose Robert Hanssen (as depicted in the movie Breach).

The latest one, though, was the tour de force for the podcast, as Peter Earnest (the museum's executive director and a former CIA case officer himself) interviewed Robert Baer, the 21-year veteran of the CIA whose primary beat was the Middle East and about whom the George Clooney character in Syriana was based.

Baer's discussion of the Middle East was absolutely fascinating, and I wish the podcast had gone on three or four times as long! Baer's take on the Middle East is disturbing and pessimistic, but truly an insider's look. He points out that Iran, via the Hezbollah uprising of a couple years ago in Lebanon, is the first Middle Eastern country to beat the Israelis in an armed conflict, and that this could put Iran on the fast train to superpower status. He discusses the techniques used to recruit suicide bombers, and gives his opinion of the value of torture as an interrogation and information-gathering technique. And he does all this without taking political sides, which is rare in this day and age.

The podcast is just about a must-listen for everyone. I plan on buying his two books See No Evil, about his experiences at ground level in the "War on Terror"; and Sleeping with the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude just as soon as I can get my grubby hands on them.

Listen to the podcast. It's a great look at the real dangers of the Middle East.

Beauty, Eh?

Twellman Goal Brings Back Memories

I just watched the Taylor Twellman goal that put the Revolution into MLS Cup and let's just say it brought back some memories... of getting a free kick called against me!

First, watch the goal. It's fantastic. You may have to search around a bit on MLS's site for the video, depending on when you read this post, right now it's on the front page.

Now, my story. When I was playing rec ball, I was in a similar situation where I took a bike to keep a ball in bounds, and there was a player as close to me as both of those Fire players were to Twellman. I nailed the ball with the bike, got it to one of our players, and then had a penalty called against me for dangerous kick, as my foot came too close to the opposing player's head. Sigh...

Of course, MLS refs are too chicken shit to call that sort of thing on such a fantastic goal. Still, it was a great shot! Congrats Revs, on beating the hated Chicago Fire.

My Inner European... Huh?

From Dale's blog.

I'm sort of surprised it's not Irish... I suppose Dutch is sort of happy medium between German and Irish, though. A little more laid back but similarly anal about certain things.

Plus... they love their bikes in Holland. And they play great soccer.

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Your Inner European is Dutch!

Open minded and tolerant. You're up for just about anything.

Who's Your Inner European?

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Inspiring Words - BE A REBEL

I subscribe to a few mailing lists from different folks I admire, many of them fitness and motivation mavens. Vince Palko is one, and I wanted to share this message with you because it struck a chord in me. He hits a lot of areas in this message, but still, I think the point is clear. Read for yourself.

"Your job is not to make friends with everyone in your class or kiss up to your teacher.

"Your job is to learn as much as you can and then go out into the world, and test what you've learned against the realities of life."

Those were the words spoken to my oldest daughter when I found out she has never gotten one yellow card, red card, or black card for any bad behavior our last parent teacher conference.

I soft peddled the approach a bit but you get the gist of my message to her.

This might shock you that I think this way.

Yet, you have to be willing to take risks and step outside the boundaries a bit in order to reach your true potential.

And Sophia is petrified of how others will view her when she gets slapped with a yellow card. I speak from a lifetime of experience. Fear keeps her in line. Yet, at the same time, it is who she is.

So I will use this as a point to my email and let her be for now. Trusting her self-awareness will serve her as mine has done me.

I'm reminded of something way back when in art.

In graphic design class, my gay professor (not that theres anything wrong with being gay) always told us, sometimes you have to break the rules. Design is heavy on rules and formulas that you may or may not know. "When you do so," he'd say, "thats when the artwork pops from the background your mundane competition who follows all the rules."

Its the same with life.

Yet, if our school system is rewarding this get in a single file line and stay there... like emotionless robots ... this is very bad for this here thing called LIFE.

I have to watch what I say because I come from a family of teachers (Yes, more people pleasing). And teachers are about the worst paid professionals on the planet. Who wants to teach a class full of monkeys jumping off the wall. I know, I know.

However, this robotic-like behavior reminds me of being in Germany back in the late nighties and going to a bank to deposit a check for cash. Everyone stood in a single file line and never once crossed over the yellow painted box signifying the person speaking with the tellers space.

No one so much as stood out of line or dared put their shoe laces over that yellow
line.

Those Krauts are awesome fine tuners and great engineers but horrible original thinkers and creators.

Those words written at the top of this email often get repeated to myself in the mirror from time to time.

Instead of fighting the fact I have always been a people pleaser. I have adopted a new approach. I've found it to be apart of my success system and you can use it as well -- if you tend to be one of us.

In football, I never wanted to be the weakest link in the chain and let others on the team down with anything that resembled sub par performance. So, I played like I had hot coals in my drawers. And pinned my ears back trying to make every tackle. And more times than not, I did.

Today, projects get done a lot faster when I know someone is depending on me to accomplish them by a certain date.

My health becomes paramount knowing my family is depending on me to support them for a loooong time.

Yes, your health is important to you too. And if you play around with this a bit you will see that if you go with the flow of your essence you can make the people pleaser in you into a positive.

The interesting thing is by observing myself and others in people pleasing modes, I've learned to forgive myself and others when I recognize it.

So if your health immediately becomes more important because your family is depending on YOU. Go with that thought and see where it takes you.

I've long said that everyone loves the rebel, until they have to face them in person. Then, suddenly, they're an outcast.

Here's the reason for this: no one likes to see anyone else not following the rules that they feel compelled to follow. It shows their cowardice and lack of self-determination. When the rebel in question isn't right in front of them, it's easy to distance yourself from their situation. And to see that rebel succeed by not following the same rules as you? What could POSSIBLY be worse??

I put myself into a lot of situations where I'm that rebel - biking instead of driving, wearing kilts as normal clothes, etc. Obviously, there are practical reasons for these things, such as saving money on gas, or being more comfortable. But the other side of that is that I have learned that being a rebel in one thing leads to having a freer mind. The more you stop thinking of society's rules as absolute, the more you're going to succeed.

The greatest question a man can ask himself is "WHY?" And if you can't get a good answer (and that good answer is never "because everyone else is doing it"), then that rule can be thrown out. Question yourself in all things, it's the best way to succeed.

Olbermann: Bush Fires Assistant AG Who Proved Waterboarding is Torture by BEING WATERBOARDED!

American Hero Keith Olbermann talks about another American Hero, Daniel Levin. Watch and weep.

Crew Season Review

The Crew's beat writer, Shawn Mitchell, did a fair assessment of the team's season, in which they once again failed to make the playoffs. My comments are below each section.

Top performers

Alejandro Moreno (seven goals, seven assists), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (five goals, 11 assists), Eddie Gaven (five goals, seven assists)

Agreed on all counts. Moreno and Schelotto were the no-brainers here, but I was impressed with Eddie Gaven this season - he has given his all since coming to the Crew, and it was nice to see him produce this season. I'd be interested in seeing how his numbers improved after the arrival of Schelotto - that obviously took a lot of pressure off him to be "the man" after his fantastic start in the league at the MetroBulls.

High point

Juiced by a healthy Schelotto, the Crew reeled off three consecutive wins June 20 through June 30 and was 5-1-3 from June 16 through Aug. 4. On July 27, Schelotto scored twice and Columbus dominated Toronto FC in a 2-0 victory in Crew Stadium. It put the Crew three points out of first place, and it would get no closer.

"It's just like them to do real well and give us hope!" (paraphrased from Colin Firth in Fever Pitch)

Low point

The Crew looked to be playoff shoo-ins midsummer but fell hard after the all-star break. It blew a late lead and lost at FC Dallas on Aug. 11, beginning a stretch in which it went 1-6-2 and gave up a tying or winning goal in the 75th minute or later five times.

So much for that hope. The temporary loss of Schelotto was too much to overcome.

Point of order

The presence of expansion Toronto probably kept Columbus from finishing in the Eastern Conference basement for the third consecutive season. To be fair, Columbus played much better soccer than it did last season and had higher totals for wins (nine), points (37) and goals (39) despite playing two fewer games. In 2006, the Crew had eight wins, 33 points and 30 goals.

And you could see the improvement on the field, too - especially after Schelotto took over things. It was much more fun to go and watch these guys than it was last season. Last season, I think I uttered my famous (among my friends) quote: "So, this is what it feels like to be a Browns fan.

In and out

Longtime keeper Jon Busch was waived in the preseason, Joseph Ngwenya was traded to Houston for Moreno, and Danny Szetela departed to Racing Santander of Spain. The arrivals of Moreno and Schelotto, who more often than not were a potent offensive pairing, overshadowed the absences.

I thought losing Busch would be harder on us than it was. Ngwenya wasn't nearly as much of a loss, I think - his penchant for being offside wasn't ever overcome by any sort of goal-scoring ability, IMHO. I feel bad about this... but I didn't even know Szetela was gone. Chalk that up to having a kid part way through the season, I guess - my attention was elsewhere at that point.

Hurting kind

Winger Jacob Thomas was supposed to be the Crew's speediest threat, but a calf injury kept him out of the first 13 games, and a variety of other injuries limited him to a total of nine games. Andy Herron, projected to be the Crew's top scorer, started only 10 games and missed most of the season because of injury or suspension. Brandon Moss started 17 games as a rookie in 2006 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.

I missed Thomas. I love watching that guy play, and I hope he'll be around and healthy next season. Herron was fun to watch, but I never saw much enough of him to form an opinion other than he runs hot and cold. Moss always struck me as a hack - good as a defender, but not so much as a player who's supposed to make the transition from defense to offense.

One for the team

After starting 16 games the previous two seasons, keeper Bill Gaudette did not play a single minute. Kudos to him and fellow backup Andy Gruenebaum for remaining stoic in their roles after Will Hesmer took the starting job from Gruenebaum in June.

Gruenebaum and Hesmer were both good - I felt solid (not fantastic, but solid) about our keepers this year. Gaudette was too tentative, IMHO.

Helpers

Ngwenya's trade to the Dynamo for Moreno helped both teams, but the Crew might have come out ahead. Unless Ngwenya lights up the playoffs, Moreno's seven goals and seven assists were worth more to the Columbus than Ngwenya's seven goals and three assists were to Houston.

Houston didn't need the help as much as we did, I think. And I already mentioned that I think Ngwenya's offsides frustrated things more than his goals ever helped.

World class

Storied Aston Villa looked impressive in its 3-1 exhibition win on July 28 in Crew Stadium, but Schelotto conducted a skills clinic all season long. Starting with his home debut May 12, he almost always was the best player on the field.

Schelotto was the story this season. End of story. Who gives a rat's ass about the Villa game? It was just a friendly.

Odd but true

The Crew was one of three teams to score more goals on the road (22) than at home (17). Only Kansas City (23) scored more road goals.

Perhaps a commentary on the negative nature of Columbus sports fans? I know that Crew fans are among the most negative bunch I've ever encountered. I stopped visiting the Crew forums several years ago because of this and it's only gotten worse, especially in the section I'm in at the stadium.

I actually sat and listened to one guy say "why do I pay money for this shit, every season?" over and over. And yet, he was back the next game.

Hey, if you don't like it, don't come. But spare us your complaining.

Blue Jackets fans seem similar, though not quite as bad. And OSU fans do nothing BUT complain (mostly about how they get no respect). But this isn't about OSU or the Jackets, so here endeth that rant.

Odd but true, part 2

It took 364 games and more than 11½ seasons, but the Crew finally won a game on the road after trailing at halftime. On Sept. 22, Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the second minute, but second-half goals by Jacob Thomas and Jason Garey helped Columbus to a 2-1 victory in BMO Field.

At least we're not paying attention to when we win or lose at RFK any more.

Healthy Hejduk

Defender Frankie Hejduk should be the Major League Soccer comeback player of the year. After missing most of last season because of a torn knee ligament, he re-established himself as one of the league's top two-way players at right back. He scored against Canada, his first international goal since 2000, and helped win the Gold Cup.

Hejduk had, the past couple of seasons he was active, not impressed me. He had a tendency to think that playing harder and running faster was enough. This season, though, he slowed down but played smarter. Absolute kudos to Frankie this season.

Busy bodies

The Crew front office had a hectic year. It secured Glidden paints as a jersey sponsor, made plans for a suburban training facility and soccer park, expanded its juniors program and began work on a concert stage in the stadium. It also has to secure a postseason exhibition to fulfill ticket-package requirements. Expect the Crew to play Nexaca of Mexico in November.

All good point... though I wish the jersey sponsor thing hadn't been as big a deal. That's just a personal thing, though: I hate advertising.

And it's Necaxa. C before X.

Digital

16,770: Average MLS attendance, the highest since the 1996 inaugural season

15,230: Average Crew Stadium attendance, the highest since 2004

93: Fouls suffered by Moreno, most in MLS

65: Fouls suffered by Schelotto, second most in MLS

5: MLS games played by David Beckham

18: MLS games in which Beckham was eligible to play

-- Shawn Mitchell

smitchell@dispatch.com

I'm surprised average attendance was so high. It never seemed to be that many folks. And Moreno should talk to McBride about getting fouled so much... let's just hope it never leads to him having a robot face like Bake did.

Beckham? Much ado about nothing... though I wish he'd kicked Jesse Marsch's face in after that stupid foul.

What Political Leader/Classic Movie Are You?

I'm sort of surprised at mine... never pictured myself as a Kennedy.

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Now THIS is a little more like it...

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

The Best Argument I've Seen for Taking Action Against Global Warming

I've put forth a few arguments in favor of taking action against climate change. I've mentioned that any action we take to fight global warming is a positive action elsewhere as well, whether it fights pollution, reduces the obesity rates, increases the health of our populations, etc.

But here's an argument that I can't believe hasn't made the rounds yet. Well, it will now.

CAFE Standards: Going at It the Wrong Way?

Many of you probably know about the fight over CAFE standards in automobiles. CAFE stands for Corporate Average Fuel Economy, and basically it's the average fuel economy rating in miles per gallon for all the cars in a company's lineup. A great explanation of it can be found here.

If you read this, you can see that the standards are sort of flawed - they only count cars up to a certain weight, which most certainly doesn't account for ALL the cars on the road, only the more fuel-efficient smaller models. SUVs, trucks, etc. all get ignored.

But that's neither here nor there for the purposes of this post. My thought is this: instead of trying to govern the mileage of various car companies, but not do anything to improve road safety, why not kill two birds with one stone by installing some sort of mechanism that would set a maximum speed at which motorized vehicles can travel?

This would do a couple of things: 1) people wouldn't be able to waste gas by going too fast, and 2) roads would be safer because people would be going at a more reasonable speed.

I know that many people will say that this is fascist rubbish, but is it really? I would say that the greater evil is continuing to allow for (and even subsidize) a road system that allows 43,000 deaths per year for the sake of going faster.

Obviously, emergency vehicles would be allowed to go faster, but if no one else could go faster then you wouldn't have many of the issues that emergency vehicles have when trying to get to the scene of an incident quickly.

Anyway, it's a thought, what do you think?

Finally...

Best National Anthem Ever

This is almost enough to make me want to be a Red Sox fan.

If you've ever stood near me at a sporting event, you know that I'm a connoisseur of singing the the National Anthem of the US. I'm a firm believer that if you're going to have a live singer or singers performing the Star Spangled Banner, or ANY country's anthem, you should sing it in a way that allows the crowd to sing along. Not everyone has operatic voices, nor the ability to hold a note for ten minutes.

And it's not a song that you should be experimenting with bizarrely styled ad-libbing of the notes, either. It's a song that means a great deal to our country and its citizens. No matter whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, pro- or anti-war, etc., you can sing the anthem and it means something to you. America is a place of which to be very proud, as is just about every country for different reasons (yet, for some reason, the same reason when you get right down to it).

I have been known to heckle singers who play around with it and make it impossible to sing along - they have no business leading the crowd in singing a patriotic song. It's not meant to be a performance, it's participatory. You SING ALONG.

I also have no time for people who stand there and look around at everyone else, or talk, or just don't even try to sing during the anthem. We sing the anthem to honor our home. Get on the stick and be proud of where you live.

That being said, here is possibly the GREATEST singing of the Star Spangled Banner that I've ever experienced. And I wasn't even there. The description of the clip on YouTube reads:

It was Disability Awareness day and the folks at Fenway did a lot of great things for kids with challenges..here is one who sang and when he got nervous the Fenway Faithful helped him out

And help him out they do. Simply fantastic.

Nerd Tests

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New Addition!

Jennifer and I added a new member to the family over the weekend. Moira Torunn Fellrath was born on Friday morning at OSU Hospital. She's in great health and is cute as the dickens.

She's 7 lb. 6 oz., 19 1/2" long, and did I mention she's cute as the dickens? :)

Moira is an anglicization of the Gaelic Máire or Mary. Torunn is Scandinavian and means "Daughter of Thor" (and no, this does not mean I have delusions of grandeur).

Mom is also doing well, she came home from the hospital a day early.

I may be scarce for a while on the old blog, for obvious reasons. I'll catch you up later.

Ne'er Forget, Me Hearties...

Talk Like A Pirate Day is nearly upon us! Arrrr!!!

Here's Duncan talking like a pirate during breakfast on TLAPD last year. Cute guy.