2008 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot Released

Today saw the issuance of the names of the men to be considered for election into the Baseball of Hall of Fame. This year's list includes but 25 nominees. Among the names most likely to be considered are Rich Gossage, Jim Rice, and Andre Dawson. Others that should be elected at some point in the future on this year's ballot are Tommy John, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, Lee Smith, and Alan Trammell. Among those that will be one and out are Travis Fryman, Jose Rijo, Brady Anderson, Shawon Dunston, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch, Todd Stottlemyre, and Chuck Finley. And then there are the others that are of greater significance on the ballot like Rob Nen, Tim Raines, Rod Beck, Don Mattingley, Dave Concepcion, Dave Parker, Dale Murphy, Harold Baines, and Mark McGwire - names that have at least some controversy or question about them from both writers and fans.

Hopefully the writers will show some wisdom and elect Gossage, Rice and Dawson for induction this upcoming summer. And the other five men at some point while they are still living.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=223706&hubname=

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128273

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Tuesday 27 November News Articles and Observations

Here are the news articles from Tuesday 27 November I paid attention to and my observations on them.

A. Recommended Book for Reading

-- The Seventeen Traditions, by Ralph Nadar

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/11/27/5461/

http://www.seventeentraditions.com/

http://www.seventeentraditions.com/toc.html

http://www.amazon.com/Seventeen-Traditions-Ralph-Nader/dp/0061238279/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196226833&sr=1-1

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B. Widespread Corporate Price Gouging of the American Citizenry

This is a significant problem in our nation as there has been a critical and widespread loss of morals, ethics, and consciousness by corporate executives, boards, and management. While I cannot recommend price controls, public and governmental rebukes and penalties should be issued regularly to control, humiliate, and embarrass these hoods and shysters that are more the rule than the exception throughout corporations and big business.

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/stephencrockett/CvJy

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C. For More, Being an Enviromentalist Continues Beyond Death

I would very much to see this become the norm, and, if the resources exist when I die in next several years, I would like to be part of this growing movement.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-green_burials_26nov26,0,4277541.story

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D. Ominous Report On Climate Change

This UN Report gives us ten years. I, like many others, are far more pessimistic. We are past the tipping point and we will all be amazed and alarmed to see the pace and extent of climate change in the next several years. People in the Mountain Time Zone will be telling stories of what it was like to see cold and snow on a regular basis back in the 2000s decades and before instead of seeing this as a rare and unusual phenonema as it will be in 2020.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-11-27T145632Z_01_N19489506_RTRUKOC_0_US-UN-DEVELOPMENT-CLIMATE.xml

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E. Winter Outlook from Dr Klaus Wolter

This climatologist has a superb record of being able to forecast the climate in upcoming months.
His forecast for this winter is much warmer and drier than normal from Northern Wyoming south through the Mountain Time Zone and across the Central and Southern High Plains. Maybe this last week or so will be among the harshest periods of this winter...

http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/people/klaus.wolter/SWcasts/index.html

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F. The Evil of Saudi Arabia That is Killing and Maiming Our Soldiers

Saudi Arabia, its rulers, and citizens are plainly bad for the planet earth. We are only giving the rope and gun to our executioners by following the foreign and energy policies we have and will continue to seemingly forever. And worst, these scumbuckets are killing and maiming the men that are sacrificing so much in a hostile land so far away from their homes and families.

http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/gallagher342.html

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G. Another Work of Classical Literature Butchered by Hollywood

Beowolf was one of most boring, painstaking pieces of literature I ever attempted to read as a youthful student. The Hollywood movie version is nothing short of travesty in their quest for profits and greed in exploiting naive and unsupervised youth everywhere.

http://www.alternet.org/movies/68959/?page=entire

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H. Timeless Wisdom to Heed

This plead and argument by Jim Hightower is advice worthy for all to follow.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/#69046

http://www.hightowerlowdown.org/node/1462

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I. Lott Bows Out

The Mississippi Senator plans to walk away from the US Senate before years end, mainly so he can rake in the big bucks sooner as a lobbyist. Its too bad he lasted this long as his record is spotty at best and he will be not remembered favorably in history.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/26/lott.resign/

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J. The Truth: The Issue That Will Cost the Democrats Dearly, Including the Presidency Likely

Politicians just do not get it. Most Americans want a strong crackdown on illegal immigration and strong rigidly enforced laws enacted. This is the one issue that is a growing smoldering fire that will cost the Democrats the White House in 2008.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/puente/667269,CST-EDT-puente26.article

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K. Its a Lot Lonelier at the Top

With the ringing defeat of Australia Prime Minister John Howard, the Bush Junta is largely without an ally or friend on the globe.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/gallery/allies/

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L. Economic Downturn Likelihood Grows

More and more economists and analysts independent of the White House and large corporations firmly believe 2008 will be a tough year across the board economically for most Americans. How bad will it get ? Stay tuned... but for now, save money, control and limit your spending, and carefully review your investments.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071126/bs_nm/summers_recession_dc;_ylt=AnTUh9Jb9aXQB2iDKay_Sca573QA

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M. Heaven Help Us

This would be akin to having had Nixon give sanctuary to Idi Amin back in 1974. But at least Pakistan would be better off and Texas would see some improvement in their leadership.

http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=1243

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Goodbye to Coach Sonny Lubick

Sonny Lubick ended 15 seasons of coaching football at Colorado State University, and with his departure all football fans lose a classy man and an example for other coaches and players everywhere. Like his brother Fisher DeBerry down the road at Air Force, his departure did not come on his terms. We are all poorer with his final ride into the sunset and he will be missed deeply by college football fans not only on the Front Range and throughout the Mountain Time Zone, but by even fans like me whom are alumni of one of CSU's biggest rival. Thanks, Coach, for sharing your wisdom and enthusiasm with so many, particularly the all the young men you led all these years. Be sure to get in some golf time with that monumental peer of yours, Fisher DeBerry...

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/nov/27/lubick-steps-down-with-dignity-class-/

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_7566144

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3130502

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