May he find the peace he sought.
Jennifer Jo Cobb Is Now Wearing A T-Shirt That Says “My Transporter Was Stolen And All I Got Out Of It Was This Lousy Photograph”
One of the primary reasons I’ve been quite inactive the past few years stems from how, in my raging glory days, one of my stocks in trade was doing battle with assorted mainstream journalists. It was the Bloggers Code: speak truth to power and call out people, regardless of their professional position, whose words offended ones sensibilities and/or intelligence. Skipping the lengthy How Life Got In The Way Of Being Diecast Dude soliloquy, suffice it to say interest in butting heads with MSM has significantly waned over the years. Being nice kills a lot of potential material.
This said, yesterday a Sporting News article caught my eye for all the wrong reasons and cries out for comment. I note it wasn’t the article itself, but… well, we’ll get to that in a minute.
Jennifer Jo Cobb has been scuffling around the lower rungs of Nationwide and the truck series for a few years. No one has ever mistaken her for the next Janet Guthrie; since her first Nationwide race in 2004, between it and the Camping World Truck Series she has eighty-five starts with a whopping one Top Ten finish to show for her efforts. She’s made far more news off the track than on, most famously for refusing orders from the team she was driving for at the time to play the start and park game. Cobb has cobbled together her own team out of bubble gum, bailing wire and a prayer in the truck series, which itself is presently held together by not much more. She’s made all four — yes, four — races this year, never a factor but pressing on nonetheless.
Back to the article itself, written by Bob Pockrass. It is professional from start to last, detailing a transport stolen from Cobb’s team and as background some tangled legal history and wrangling between Cobb and among others Mike Harmon, fellow NASCAR scuffler and once upon a time Cobb’s Nationwide team manager. The situation is a mess; one best left for the courts to decide.
So no, there’s no problem with the story or its author. Where things go awry is with whoever decided which picture of Cobb to run with the story. Behold:
Really?
Could there have been a more unflattering, insulting, hey-look-at-the-crazy-woman photo selected?
C’mon, people. The media’s job isn’t to make people look like dolts. It’s to report facts and let the public decide without manipulating them in one direction or another. Running such a photo is not only a disservice to Cobb. It’s a disservice to Pockrass’ solid reporting.
SN could have gone with a photo like this:
Or, like this:
Or even this:
Again, c’mon people. A little professionalism here, okay?
PS: Of course, there’s always this photo…
Bold As Brass
The redesigned, revamped, revitalized and altogether reimaged NASCAR.com launched this morning. Now that the site is under NASCAR and not Turner Media’s control, it’s only natural the governing body would wish to put its stamp on things ASAP. Judging by the site, they used a very large stamp.
Whoever designed the site went for boldness. Graphics are gargantuan. Sections are sizable. Headers are humongous. If you use a mouse wheel to scroll up and down web pages, by the time you reach the front page’s end your index finger will need an ice pack. Pull this site up on a large monitor and it may buckle under the sheer weight of it all. It’s as subtle as MMA.
But is it any good?
Sort of.
Granted, it’s the off season and there’s little on which to report. This duly noted, it’d be nice to have more substance as opposed to being overly substantive. There are always stories to be told, be they old or new, that a fan base hungry for the sound of engines roaring to life will surely devour. And there are stories on the site. However, the graphics feel so much like you’re being shouted at that by the time you do get to some text your eyes are screaming for mercy. It would have been nice to have a less pounding visual attack and more meat. Instead, what you get is a full throttle assault that never lifts, leaving little time or taste for normal conversation.
I don’t hate the new NASCAR.com, but I’m not in love with it either. It’s okay to be as bold as brass, but it’s also possible to polish it to too bright of a shine.
Picking Up The Pieces
Okay, making another go at getting back into the NASCAR blogging swing of things. Or scheme of things, if you prefer.
I’ve grown increasingly disenchanted with political writing; the ugliness thrown my way by those ostensibly on the same side combined with the alarming failure of so many to practice what they preach have left a decidedly sour taste in my mouth. I’ve several fragments of posts at Goldfish and Clowns started but remaining stubbornly unfinished, this primarily due to rapidly dwindling enthusiasm for the subject. I’m not cut out to play the Konservative Kool Kidz Klub game.
Over here, though, I’m much more myself; free to chase down whichever rabbit hole appeals at any given time. And, despite it all, I do still love this crazy sport.
And so, once again I’m picking up the pieces. Hopefully this time they’ll stay assembled.
The Single Greatest Spam Blog Post Comment In The History Of Forever!
I defy anyone to top this!
{I have|I’ve} been {surfing|browsing} online more than {three|3|2|4} hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. {It’s|It is} pretty worth enough for me. {In my opinion|Personally|In my view}, if all {webmasters|site owners|website owners|web owners} and bloggers made good content as you did, the {internet|net|web} will be {much more|a lot more} useful than ever before. | I {couldn’t|could not} {resist|refrain from} commenting. {Very well|Perfectly|Well|Exceptionally well} written!| {I will|I’ll} {right away|immediately} {take hold of|grab|clutch|grasp|seize|snatch} your {rss|rss feed} as I {can not|can’t} {in finding|find|to find} your {email|e-mail} subscription {link|hyperlink} or {newsletter|e-newsletter} service. Do {you have|you’ve} any? {Please|Kindly} {allow|permit|let} me {realize|recognize|understand|recognise|know} {so that|in order that} I {may just|may|could} subscribe. Thanks.| {It is|It’s} {appropriate|perfect|the best} time to make some plans for the future and {it is|it’s} time to be happy. {I have|I’ve} read this post and if I could I {want to|wish to|desire to} suggest you {few|some} interesting things or {advice|suggestions|tips}. {Perhaps|Maybe} you {could|can} write next articles referring to this article. I {want to|wish to|desire to} read {more|even more} things about it!| {It is|It’s} {appropriate|perfect|the best} time to make {a few|some} plans for {the future|the longer term|the long run} and {it is|it’s} time to be happy. {I have|I’ve} {read|learn} this {post|submit|publish|put up} and if I {may just|may|could} I {want to|wish to|desire to} {suggest|recommend|counsel} you {few|some} {interesting|fascinating|attention-grabbing} {things|issues} or {advice|suggestions|tips}. {Perhaps|Maybe} you {could|can} write {next|subsequent} articles {relating to|referring to|regarding} this article. I {want to|wish to|desire to} {read|learn} {more|even more} {things|issues} {approximately|about} it! | {I have|I’ve} been {surfing|browsing} {online|on-line} {more than|greater than} {three|3} hours {these days|nowadays|today|lately|as of late}, {yet|but} I {never|by no means} {found|discovered} any {interesting|fascinating|attention-grabbing} article like yours. {It’s|It is} {lovely|pretty|beautiful} {worth|value|price} {enough|sufficient} for me. {In my opinion|Personally|In my view}, if all {webmasters|site owners|website owners|web owners} and bloggers made {just right|good|excellent} {content|content material} as {you did|you probably did}, the {internet|net|web} {will be|shall be|might be|will probably be|can be|will likely be} {much more|a lot more} {useful|helpful} than ever before.| Ahaa, its {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious} {discussion|conversation|dialogue} {regarding|concerning|about|on the topic of} this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} {here|at this place} at this {blog|weblog|webpage|website|web site}, I have read all that, so {now|at this time} me also commenting {here|at this place}.| I am sure this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} has touched all the internet {users|people|viewers|visitors}, its really really {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious} {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} on building up new {blog|weblog|webpage|website|web site}. | Wow, this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} is {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious}, my {sister|younger sister} is analyzing {such|these|these kinds of} things, {so|thus|therefore} I am going to {tell|inform|let know|convey} her. | {Saved as a favorite|bookmarked!!}, {I really like|I like|I love} {your blog|your site|your web site|your website}!| Way cool! Some {very|extremely} valid points! I appreciate you {writing this|penning this} {article|post|write-up} {and the|and also the|plus the} rest of the {site is|website is} {also very|extremely|very|also really|really} good. | Hi, {I do believe|I do think} {this is an excellent|this is a great} {blog|website|web site|site}. I stumbledupon it
{I will|I am going to|I’m going to|I may} {come back|return|revisit} {once again|yet again} {since I|since i have} {bookmarked|book marked|book-marked|saved as a favorite} it. Money and freedom {is the best|is the greatest} way to change, may you be rich and continue to {help|guide} {other people|others}.| Woah! I’m really {loving|enjoying|digging} the template/theme of this {site|website|blog}. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s {very hard|very difficult|challenging|tough|difficult|hard} to get that “perfect balance” between {superb usability|user friendliness|usability} and {visual appearance|visual appeal|appearance}. I must say {that you’ve|you have|you’ve} done a {awesome|amazing|very good|superb|fantastic|excellent|great} job with this. {In addition|Additionally|Also}, the blog loads {very|extremely|super} {fast|quick} for me on {Safari|Internet explorer|Chrome|Opera|Firefox}. {Superb|Exceptional|Outstanding|Excellent} Blog!| These are {really|actually|in fact|truly|genuinely} {great|enormous|impressive|wonderful|fantastic} ideas in {regarding|concerning|about|on the topic of} blogging. You have touched some {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious} {points|factors|things} here.
Any way keep up wrinting.| {I love|I really like|I enjoy|I like|Everyone loves} what you guys {are|are usually|tend to be} up too. {This sort of|This type of|Such|This kind of} clever work and {exposure|coverage|reporting}! Keep up the {superb|terrific|very good|great|good|awesome|fantastic|excellent|amazing|wonderful} works guys I’ve {incorporated||added|included} you guys to {|my|our||my personal|my own} blogroll.| {Howdy|Hi there|Hey there|Hi|Hello|Hey}! Someone in my {Myspace|Facebook} group shared this {site|website} with us so I came to {give it a look|look it over|take a look|check it out}. I’m definitely {enjoying|loving} the information. I’m {book-marking|bookmarking} and will be tweeting this to my followers! {Terrific|Wonderful|Great|Fantastic|Outstanding|Exceptional|Superb|Excellent} blog and {wonderful|terrific|brilliant|amazing|great|excellent|fantastic|outstanding|superb} {style and design|design and style|design}.| {I love|I really like|I enjoy|I like|Everyone loves} what you guys {are|are usually|tend to be} up too. {This sort of|This type of|Such|This kind of} clever work and {exposure|coverage|reporting}! Keep up the {superb|terrific|very good|great|good|awesome|fantastic|excellent|amazing|wonderful} works guys I’ve {incorporated|added|included} you guys to {|my|our|my personal|my own} blogroll.| {Howdy|Hi there|Hey there|Hi|Hello|Hey} would you mind {stating|sharing} which blog platform you’re {working with|using}? I’m {looking|planning|going} to start my own blog {in the near future|soon} but I’m having a {tough|difficult|hard} time {making a decision|selecting|choosing|deciding} between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your {design and style|design|layout} seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something {completely unique|unique}. P. S {My apologies|Apologies|Sorry} for {getting|being} off-topic but I had to ask!
| {Howdy|Hi there|Hi|Hey there|Hello|Hey} would you mind letting me know which {webhost|hosting company|web host} you’re {utilizing|working with|using}? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 {completely different|different} {internet browsers|web browsers|browsers} and I must say this blog loads a lot {quicker|faster} then most. Can you {suggest|recommend} a good {internet hosting|web hosting|hosting} provider at a {honest|reasonable|fair} price? {Thanks a lot|Kudos|Cheers|Thank you|Many thanks|Thanks}, I appreciate it! | {I love|I really like|I like|Everyone loves} it {when people|when individuals|when folks|whenever people} {come together|get together} and share {opinions|thoughts|views|ideas}. Great {blog|website|site}, {keep it up|continue the good work|stick with it}!| Thank you for the {auspicious|good} writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to {far|more} added agreeable from you! {By the way|However}, how {can|could} we communicate? | {Howdy|Hi there|Hey there|Hello|Hey} just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The {text|words} in your {content|post|article} seem to be running off the screen in {Ie|Internet explorer|Chrome|Firefox|Safari|Opera}. I’m not sure if this is a {format|formatting} issue or something to do with {web browser|internet browser|browser} compatibility but I {thought|figured} I’d post to let you know. The {style and design|design and style|layout|design} look great though! Hope you get the {problem|issue} {solved|resolved|fixed} soon.
{Kudos|Cheers|Many thanks|Thanks}| This is a topic {that is|that’s|which is} {close to|near to} my heart… {Cheers|Many thanks|Best wishes|Take care|Thank you}! {Where|Exactly where} are your contact details though?| It’s very {easy|simple|trouble-free|straightforward|effortless} to find out any {topic|matter} on {net|web} as compared to {books|textbooks}, as I found this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} at this {website|web site|site|web page}.
| Does your {site|website|blog} have a contact page? I’m having {a tough time|problems|trouble} locating it but, I’d like to {send|shoot} you an {e-mail|email}. I’ve got some {creative ideas|recommendations|suggestions|ideas} for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great {site|website|blog} and I look forward to seeing it {develop|improve|expand|grow} over time.| {Hola|Hey there|Hi|Hello|Greetings}! I’ve been {following|reading} your {site|web site|website|weblog|blog} for {a long time|a while|some time} now and finally got the {bravery|courage} to go ahead and give you a shout out from {New Caney|Kingwood|Huffman|Porter|Houston|Dallas|Austin|Lubbock|Humble|Atascocita} {Tx|Texas}! Just wanted to {tell you|mention|say} keep up the {fantastic|excellent|great|good} {job|work}! | Greetings from {Idaho|Carolina|Ohio|Colorado|Florida|Los angeles|California}! I’m {bored to tears|bored to death|bored} at work so I decided to {check out|browse} your {site|website|blog} on my iphone during lunch break. I {enjoy|really like|love} the {knowledge|info|information} you {present|provide} here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m {shocked|amazed|surprised} at how {quick|fast} your blog loaded on my {mobile|cell phone|phone} .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. {Anyhow|Anyways}, {awesome|amazing|very good|superb|good|wonderful|fantastic|excellent|great} {site|blog}! | Its {like you|such as you} {read|learn} my {mind|thoughts}! You {seem|appear} {to understand|to know|to grasp} {so much|a lot} {approximately|about} this, {like you|such as you} wrote the {book|e-book|guide|ebook|e book} in it or something. {I think|I feel|I believe} {that you|that you simply|that you just} {could|can} do with {some|a few} {%|p.c.|percent} to {force|pressure|drive|power} the message {house|home} {a bit|a little bit}, {however|but} {other than|instead of} that, {this is|that is} {great|wonderful|fantastic|magnificent|excellent} blog. {A great|An excellent|A fantastic} read. {I’ll|I will} {definitely|certainly} be back.| I visited {multiple|many|several|various} {websites|sites|web sites|web pages|blogs} {but|except|however} the audio {quality|feature} for audio songs {current|present|existing} at this {website|web site|site|web page} is {really|actually|in fact|truly|genuinely} {marvelous|wonderful|excellent|fabulous|superb}.| {Howdy|Hi there|Hi|Hello}, i read your blog {occasionally|from time to time} and i own a similar one and i was just {wondering|curious} if you get a lot of spam {comments|responses|feedback|remarks}? If so how do you {prevent|reduce|stop|protect against} it, any plugin or anything you can {advise|suggest|recommend}? I get so much lately it’s driving me {mad|insane|crazy} so any {assistance|help|support} is very much appreciated.| Greetings! {Very helpful|Very useful} advice {within this|in this particular} {article|post}! {It is the|It’s the} little changes {that make|which will make|that produce|that will make} {the biggest|the largest|the greatest|the most important|the most significant} changes. {Thanks a lot|Thanks|Many thanks} for sharing!| {I really|I truly|I seriously|I absolutely} love {your blog|your site|your website}.. {Very nice|Excellent|Pleasant|Great} colors & theme. Did you {create|develop|make|build} {this website|this site|this web site|this amazing site} yourself? Please reply back as I’m {looking to|trying to|planning to|wanting to|hoping to|attempting to} create {my own|my very own|my own personal} {blog|website|site} and {would like to|want to|would love to} {know|learn|find out} where you got this from or {what the|exactly what the|just what the} theme {is called|is named}. {Thanks|Many thanks|Thank you|Cheers|Appreciate it|Kudos}!| {Hi there|Hello there|Howdy}! This {post|article|blog post} {couldn’t|could not} be written {any better|much better}! {Reading through|Looking at|Going through|Looking through} this {post|article} reminds me of my previous roommate! He {always|constantly|continually} kept {talking about|preaching about} this. {I will|I’ll|I am going to|I most certainly will} {forward|send} {this article|this information|this post} to him. {Pretty sure|Fairly certain} {he will|he’ll|he’s going to} {have a good|have a very good|have a great} read. {Thank you for|Thanks for|Many thanks for|I appreciate you for} sharing!| {Wow|Whoa|Incredible|Amazing}! This blog looks {exactly|just} like my old one! It’s on a {completely|entirely|totally} different {topic|subject} but it has pretty much the same {layout|page layout} and design. {Excellent|Wonderful|Great|Outstanding|Superb} choice of colors!| {There is|There’s} {definately|certainly} {a lot to|a great deal to} {know about|learn about|find out about} this {subject|topic|issue}. {I like|I love|I really like} {all the|all of the} points {you made|you’ve made|you have made}.| {You made|You’ve made|You have made} some {decent|good|really good} points there. I {looked|checked} {on the internet|on the web|on the net} {for more info|for more information|to find out more|to learn more|for additional information} about the issue and found {most individuals|most people} will go along with your views on {this website|this site|this web site}.| {Hi|Hello|Hi there|What’s up}, I {log on to|check|read} your {new stuff|blogs|blog} {regularly|like every week|daily|on a regular basis}. Your {story-telling|writing|humoristic} style is {awesome|witty}, keep {doing what you’re doing|up the good work|it up}!| I {simply|just} {could not|couldn’t} {leave|depart|go away} your {site|web site|website} {prior to|before} suggesting that I {really|extremely|actually} {enjoyed|loved} {the standard|the usual} {information|info} {a person|an individual} {supply|provide} {for your|on your|in your|to your} {visitors|guests}? Is {going to|gonna} be {back|again} {frequently|regularly|incessantly|steadily|ceaselessly|often|continuously} {in order to|to} {check up on|check out|inspect|investigate cross-check} new posts| {I wanted|I needed|I want to|I need to} to thank you for this {great|excellent|fantastic|wonderful|good|very good} read!! I {definitely|certainly|absolutely} {enjoyed|loved} every {little bit of|bit of} it. {I have|I’ve got|I have got} you {bookmarked|book marked|book-marked|saved as a favorite} {to check out|to look at} new {stuff you|things you} post…| {Hi|Hello|Hi there|What’s up}, just wanted to {mention|say|tell you}, I {enjoyed|liked|loved} this {article|post|blog post}. It was {inspiring|funny|practical|helpful}. Keep on posting!| I {{leave|drop|{write|create}} a {comment|leave a response}|drop a {comment|leave a response}|{comment|leave a response}} {each time|when|whenever} I {appreciate|like|especially enjoy} a {post|article} on a {site|{blog|website}|site|website} or {I have|if I have} something to {add|contribute|valuable to contribute} {to the discussion|to the conversation}. {It is|Usually it is|Usually it’s|It’s} {a result of|triggered by|caused by} the {passion|fire|sincerness} {communicated|displayed} in the {post|article} I {read|looked at|browsed}. And {on|after} this {post|article} About | The Diecast Dude’s (Mostly) NASCAR Blah Blah Blog. I {{was|was actually} moved|{was|was actually} excited} enough to {drop|{leave|drop|{write|create}}|post} a {thought|{comment|{comment|leave a response}a response}} {:-P|:)|;)|;-)|:-)} I {do have|actually do have} {{some|a few} questions|a couple of questions|2 questions} for you {if you {don’t|do not|usually do not|tend not to} mind|if it’s {allright|okay}}. {Is it|Could it be} {just|only|simply} me or {do|does it {seem|appear|give the impression|look|look as if|look like} like} {some|a few} of {the|these} {comments|responses|remarks} {look|appear|come across} {like they are|as if they are|like} {coming from|written by|left by} brain dead {people|visitors|folks|individuals}?
And, if you are {posting|writing} {on|at} {other|additional} {sites|social sites|online sites|online social sites|places}, {I’d|I would} like to {follow|keep up with} {you|{anything|everything} {new|fresh} you have to post}. {Could|Would} you {list|make a list} {all|every one|the complete urls} of {your|all your} {social|communal|community|public|shared} {pages|sites} like your {twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile|linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed|Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile}?| {Hi there|Hello}, I enjoy reading {all of|through} your {article|post|article post}. I {like|wanted} to write a little comment to support you.| I {always|constantly|every time} spent my half an hour to read this {blog|weblog|webpage|website|web site}’s {articles|posts|articles or reviews|content} {everyday|daily|every day|all the time} along with a {cup|mug} of coffee.| I {always|for all time|all the time|constantly|every time} emailed this {blog|weblog|webpage|website|web site} post page to all my {friends|associates|contacts}, {because|since|as|for the reason that} if like to read it {then|after that|next|afterward} my {friends|links|contacts} will too.| My {coder|programmer|developer} is trying to {persuade|convince} me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the {expenses|costs}. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using {Movable-type|WordPress} on {a number of|a variety of|numerous|several|various} websites for about a year and am {nervous|anxious|worried|concerned} about switching to another platform. I have heard {fantastic|very good|excellent|great|good} things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can {transfer|import} all my wordpress {content|posts} into it? {Any kind of|Any} help would be {really|greatly} appreciated!| {Hello|Hi|Hello there|Hi there|Howdy|Good day}! I could have sworn I’ve {been to|visited} {this blog|this web site|this website|this site|your blog} before but after {browsing through|going through|looking at} {some of the|a few of the|many of the} {posts|articles} I realized it’s new to me. {Anyways|Anyhow|Nonetheless|Regardless}, I’m {definitely|certainly} {happy|pleased|delighted} {I found|I discovered|I came across|I stumbled upon} it and I’ll be {bookmarking|book-marking} it and checking back {frequently|regularly|often}!| {Terrific|Great|Wonderful} {article|work}! {This is|That is} {the type of|the kind of} {information|info} {that are meant to|that are supposed to|that should} be shared {around the|across the} {web|internet|net}. {Disgrace|Shame} on {the {seek|search} engines|Google} for {now not|not|no longer} positioning this {post|submit|publish|put up} {upper|higher}! Come on over and {talk over with|discuss with|seek advice from|visit|consult with} my {site|web site|website} . {Thank you|Thanks} =)| Heya {i’m|i am} for the first time here. I {came across|found} this board and I find It {truly|really} useful & it helped me out {a lot|much}. I hope to give something back and {help|aid} others like you {helped|aided} me.| {Hi|Hello|Hi there|Hello there|Howdy|Greetings}, {I think|I believe|I do believe|I do think|There’s no doubt that} {your site|your website|your web site|your blog} {might be|may be|could be|could possibly be} having {browser|internet browser|web browser} compatibility {issues|problems}. {When I|Whenever I} {look at your|take a look at your} {website|web site|site|blog} in Safari, it looks fine {but when|however when|however, if|however, when} opening in {Internet Explorer|IE|I.E.}, {it has|it’s got} some overlapping issues. {I just|I simply|I merely} wanted to {give you a|provide you with a} quick heads up! {Other than that|Apart from that|Besides that|Aside from that}, {fantastic|wonderful|great|excellent} {blog|website|site}!| {A person|Someone|Somebody} {necessarily|essentially} {lend a hand|help|assist} to make {seriously|critically|significantly|severely} {articles|posts} {I would|I might|I’d} state. {This is|That is} the {first|very first} time I frequented your {web page|website page} and {to this point|so far|thus far|up to now}? I {amazed|surprised} with the {research|analysis} you made to {create|make} {this actual|this particular} {post|submit|publish|put up} {incredible|amazing|extraordinary}. {Great|Wonderful|Fantastic|Magnificent|Excellent} {task|process|activity|job}!| Heya {i’m|i am} for {the primary|the first} time here. I {came across|found} this board and I {in finding|find|to find} It {truly|really} {useful|helpful} & it helped me out {a lot|much}. {I am hoping|I hope|I’m hoping} {to give|to offer|to provide|to present} {something|one thing} {back|again} and {help|aid} others {like you|such as you} {helped|aided} me.| {Hello|Hi|Hello there|Hi there|Howdy|Good day|Hey there}! {I just|I simply} {would like to|want to|wish to} {give you a|offer you a} {huge|big} thumbs up {for the|for your} {great|excellent} {info|information} {you have|you’ve got|you have got} {here|right here} on this post. {I will be|I’ll be|I am} {coming back to|returning to} {your blog|your site|your website|your web site} for more soon.| I {always|all the time|every time} used to {read|study} {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} in news papers but now as I am a user of {internet|web|net} {so|thus|therefore} from now I am using net for {articles|posts|articles or reviews|content}, thanks to web.| Your {way|method|means|mode} of {describing|explaining|telling} {everything|all|the whole thing} in this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} is {really|actually|in fact|truly|genuinely} {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious}, {all|every one} {can|be able to|be capable of} {easily|without difficulty|effortlessly|simply} {understand|know|be aware of} it, Thanks a lot.| {Hi|Hello} there, {I found|I discovered} your {blog|website|web site|site} {by means of|via|by the use of|by way of} Google {at the same time as|whilst|even as|while} {searching for|looking for} a {similar|comparable|related} {topic|matter|subject}, your {site|web site|website} {got here|came} up, it {looks|appears|seems|seems to be|appears to be like} {good|great}. {I have|I’ve} bookmarked it in my google bookmarks. {Hello|Hi} there, {simply|just} {turned into|became|was|become|changed into} {aware of|alert to} your {blog|weblog} {thru|through|via} Google, {and found|and located} that {it is|it’s} {really|truly} informative. {I’m|I am} {gonna|going to} {watch out|be careful} for brussels. {I will|I’ll} {appreciate|be grateful} {if you|should you|when you|in the event you|in case you|for those who|if you happen to} {continue|proceed} this {in future}. {A lot of|Lots of|Many|Numerous} {other folks|folks|other people|people} {will be|shall be|might be|will probably be|can be|will likely be} benefited {from your|out of your} writing. Cheers!| {I am|I’m} curious to find out what blog {system|platform} {you have been|you happen to be|you are|you’re} {working with|utilizing|using}? I’m {experiencing|having} some {minor|small} security {problems|issues} with my latest {site|website|blog} and {I would|I’d} like to find something more {safe|risk-free|safeguarded|secure}. Do you have any {solutions|suggestions|recommendations}?| {I am|I’m} {extremely|really} impressed with your writing skills {and also|as well as} with the layout on your {blog|weblog}. Is this a paid theme or did you {customize|modify} it yourself? {Either way|Anyway} keep up the {nice|excellent} quality writing, {it’s|it is} rare to see a {nice|great} blog like this one {these days|nowadays|today}.| {I am|I’m} {extremely|really} {inspired|impressed} {with your|together with your|along with your} writing {talents|skills|abilities} {and also|as {smartly|well|neatly} as} with the {layout|format|structure} {for your|on your|in your|to your} {blog|weblog}. {Is this|Is that this} a paid {subject|topic|subject matter|theme} or did you {customize|modify} it {yourself|your self}? {Either way|Anyway} {stay|keep} up the {nice|excellent} {quality|high quality} writing, {it’s|it is} {rare|uncommon} {to peer|to see|to look} a {nice|great} {blog|weblog} like this one {these days|nowadays|today}..| {Hi|Hello}, Neat post. {There is|There’s} {a problem|an issue} {with your|together with your|along with your} {site|web site|website} in {internet|web} explorer, {may|might|could|would} {check|test} this? IE {still|nonetheless} is the {marketplace|market} {leader|chief} and {a large|a good|a big|a huge} {part of|section of|component to|portion of|component of|element of} {other folks|folks|other people|people} will {leave out|omit|miss|pass over} your {great|wonderful|fantastic|magnificent|excellent} writing {due to|because of} this problem.| {I’m|I am} not sure where {you are|you’re} getting your {info|information}, but {good|great} topic. I needs to spend some time learning {more|much more} or understanding more. Thanks for {great|wonderful|fantastic|magnificent|excellent} {information|info} I was looking for this {information|info} for my mission.| {Hi|Hello}, i think that i saw you visited my {blog|weblog|website|web site|site} {so|thus} i came to “return the favor”.{I am|I’m} {trying to|attempting to} find things to {improve|enhance} my {website|site|web site}!I suppose its ok to use {some of|a few of} your ideas!!\
A Bunch Of Photos Of Danica Patrick Helping Unveil The New Tissot Clocks In Madison Square Garden’s Lobby
Because I can. And because I like Danica.
Whether those who attend sporting events at Madison Square Garden can actually tell time is a subject for another post.
(All photos courtesy Tissot.)

Rangers legend Adam Graves, NASCAR star Danica Patrick, Knicks great Larry Johnson, EVP of corporate sales and solutions for MSG Sports Greg Economou and Tissot US president Sharon Buntain unveil the new Tissot lobby clocks at Madison Square Garden.

Tissot brand ambassador Danica Patrick presented the first two custom Madison Square Garden Tissot watches to Rangers legend Adam Graves and Knicks great Larry Johnson.

Tissot brand ambassador Danica Patrick presented the first two custom Madison Square Garden Tissot watches to Rangers legend Adam Graves and Knicks great Larry Johnson.

Rangers legend Adam Graves, NASCAR star Danica Patrick, Knicks great Larry Johnson, EVP of corporate sales and solutions for MSG Sports Greg Economou and Tissot US president Sharon Buntain unveil the new Tissot lobby clocks at Madison Square Garden.

Tissot brand ambassador Danica Patrick poses with the No. 7 Tissot Chevrolet after unveiling the new Tissot lobby clocks at Madison Square Garden.

Tissot brand ambassador Danica Patrick climbs into the No. 7 Tissot Chevrolet after unveiling the new Tissot lobby clocks at Madison Square Garden.
It’s Still Jimmie Johnson’s World, And He’s Still Letting Us Live In It

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. (Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR Media)
Martinsville is a beautiful beast where the only thing tougher than digesting its nuclear hot dogs is the treatment it dishes out to the lesser lights. This is a track where you either prove your mettle or watch your car get hauled away as scrap metal. Martinsville is a wily old hound dog resting on the porch, barely bothering to raise an eyebrow as each successive generation of young pups race off to chase their prey only to return with tails lodged deeply between legs, praying they’ll never have to hunt here again. Only twice a year, kids. You’ll get the hang of it… maybe.
Jimmie Johnson certainly has the hang of it, adding yet another clock to his collection with today’s win. For Johnson, each grandfathers clock has a special setting to where it chimes only at midnight, his opponents hearing it in their nightmares as they ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. And thee. And thee. And especially thee.
It is difficult to escape the conclusion of last year having been an aberration; a momentary fracture in the time-space continuum not to be repeated. Johnson and his mechanical wizard Chad Knaus seemingly win by sheer force of will when they want and/or need a victory. This of course is not the case; Johnson and Knaus are the best driver/crew chief combo since Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham, and Johnson is one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers ever if not its single greatest ever. However, the way they make winning appear almost off-handed, everything that should deter them from parts failure to others attempting to sweep Johnson up in their on-track misfortune rendered as ineffectual as every attempt on the hero in a Saturday morning serial, leaves one wondering if these guys really can turn it on whenever they wish, no one else in the sport able to even momentarily deter them from their preferred seats at the head table come awards time.
The Chase is not yet over; Texas, Phoenix and Miami-Homestead await. But to the trained eye as well as the casual observer, the season’s remaining trio of races are a familiar script. The championship is Johnson’s to lose. And not now, nor ever, has he given the slightest indication he is in the least inclined to do so.
Somewhere, In A Newspaper Editor’s Office…
“You bellowed, sir?”
“You’re lucky that’s all I’ve done… so far. About this story you filed for the Sprint Cup race in Kansas…”
“Ain’t it a beaut?”
“More like a pimple on a warthog’s butt. What is this supposed to be?”
“Well, sir, I was thinking…”
“That would be a first.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind. You were saying?”
“Well, sir, I thought that since we’re in the middle of football season…”
“I never would have guessed.”
“… and since more people follow football than NASCAR…”
“… you thought your story might get more readers if you wrote it like you were covering a football game.”
“Wow, sir. How’d you figure that out?”
“I didn’t get to be editor of this newspaper solely because of my uncanny resemblance to Walter Matthau.”
“Who?”
“Never mind. Now, let’s discuss this little treatise of yours.”
“I… I don’t understand, sir.”
“There’s the understatement of the year. But for my own amusement, what is it you don’t understand?”
“There’s no dwarf priestess in the story.”
“No, you digital ink-brain. Not priestess. Treatise!”
“Oh.”
“Now, back to your story. ‘Despite clock management issues and later on a fumble, Tony Stewart scored some much needed points to keep him in the thick of this year’s playoffs?’”
“Well, you know… there was that pit road speeding violation, and then that spin, but he still managed to finish fifth.”
“So why didn’t you just say that?”
“Like I said, sir, I’m trying to get the casual fans interested.”
“The only thing being tried is my patience. ‘Jimmie Johnson suffered a bruised right hip but stayed in the game?’ He wasn’t injured, you idiot!”
“No, but his car was.”
“IT’S A CAR!!! Cars do not sustain injuries!”
“What about Herbie?”
“That was a mov… oh, never mind. ‘Brad Keselowski’s prevent defense helped him maintain the overall lead, while despite earlier signing to play next year for the Home Depot Orangemen Matt Kenseth emerged as the game winner for the Zestfully Cleaners?’ Really?!!”
“Great, huh?”
“Great, no. Grating, yes. Now, due to circumstances far beyond my control
you’re covering next weekend’s race at Martinsville. Just write it up in a normal fashion, will you?”
“No problem, sir. In fact, I already have the headline!”
“Do tell.”
“Martinsville Hot Dog (Race Winner) Cleans Everyone’s Clock!”
“I have got to become a blogger.”
Nationwide May Be On Your Side; But Kansas Speedway? Not So Much
The primary takeaway from today’s Nationwide race at Kansas, eventually won by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., was how it reinforced my assertion from yesterday it would behoove NASCAR, if indeed it is in the mood to be behooved, to break out the checkbook and start tearing down the existing one and a half mile yawners in favor of building short tracks far more conducive to stock-car racing than any attempted reconfiguration of existing mile and a half stale cookies. When your primary passing lane is the apron, you’ve got problems.
Also problematic was the ending, a green-white-I’d like to thank my sponsors special made even more so by assorted failed fuel mileage gambles. Since the race outcome is already artificially manipulated whenever GWC comes into play, why not take it to the next logical step by requiring everyone to come in for a pit stop prior to the race’s resumption? That would make for far more interesting viewing than putt-putt-sputter.
Here’s hoping tomorrow’s Sprint Cup race is better. But I wouldn’t run over to the Hollywood Casino and place a bet on it.
One Groove Sunflowers
This weekend, while the truckers take a nap the Cupsters and claims jumpers head off to Kansas, where instead of “are we there yet” the most commonly heard cry in the garage is “are we done yet?”
The Cup race this coming Sunday is the Hollywood Casino 400, sponsored by a casino next to the track where the hottest betting line is on where the next tornado will hit. Its primary marketing campaign consists of trying to convince Great Plains residents that this is actually Hollywood whenever asked where, if this is so, is the HOLLYWOOD sign up in the hills — and, for that matter, where are the hills. Said skeptics are immediately handed a magnifying glass and pointed in the direction of a nearby dirt clod, atop which a group of Cirque du Soleil-trained ants wearing silver lamé jumpsuits spell out the sign letters. Please don’t hold the magnifying glass in-between the dirt clod and the sun too long lest in short order an unfortunate event transpire.
A NASCAR event at locations such as Kansas hold more significance to locals then stops at places where there is either a glut of hometown sporting events or NASCAR itself is considered a local event. In Kansas, the sports calendar options consist of watching the Royals and Chiefs lose while waiting for the next Kansas University men’s basketball game and occasionally Kansas State football. No wonder the fans pack the Speedway stands.
Unfortunately, the track they pay big bucks to attend doesn’t show the love in terms of a hot racing action reward. It is yet another mile and a half stale cookie, the kind drivers love because they can run all day without seeing another living soul and any performance deficiency can be blamed on the boys not building and/or setting up the car properly as opposed to the bozo behind the wheel treating the day as a Sunday afternoon drive. Which it is, but you get the idea.
To their credit, the fine folk at Kansas Speedway have put in the work to at least attempt making things more interesting, with a full repave and variable banking in the turns making their debut this weekend. The problem is no matter how one polishes a stone, when the job calls for scissors you’re not spending time wisely. Stock cars do not like being around each other at high speeds as they go every which way but not loose in the turbulence they create. And, as Denny Hamlin noted in conversation with the incomparably professional Dustin Long, with the new pavement added to the mix all the variable banking this side of a sub-prime mortgage provider isn’t going to help make the day anything more than swift (no, not Taylor Swift; that was yesterday’s post) pace laps due to the track being even more of a one groove dud than normal.
Not that they’ve ever asked my opinion (and what’s up with that?), but my suggestion to NASCAR is that it dig into its piggy bank, take pretty much every single mile plus track ISC owns and level them in favor of building a set of short tracks, each with its own configuration to give it an individual flavor. It’d be vastly superior racing. Which, according to at least some, encourages attendance and viewership. People seem to prefer passing and stuff when they watch cars drive fast and turn left. Go figure. But I digress; back to dealing with what we’ve been dealt this weekend.
Favorites? Whoever qualifies well, although as always there is the possibility of oddball cautions and pit strategy moving up someone starting in the middle of the pack or worse. Clint Bowyer, fresh off his Charlotte win and the hometown favorite, is a safe bet to do well along with the usual suspects; i.e. Jimmie Johnson and his fellow Chasers crew. My hunch is it’ll be Johnson hoisting the coveted golden sunflower at day’s end. But we shall see.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone.







