More Victims of Stupidity

Now, let me first say that this is a TRADGEDY, the kind that snuffs out a life prematurely, a child/husband dead, the family left grieving. My sympathies and prayers go out to the family of Josh Hancock, tragically killed in an automobile accident.

HOWEVER. It appears you CAN put a price on life. His father is suing everyone and their grandmother, saying that THEY are the cause of his death, not Josh himself.

Let's break down the list of defendents:

Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is being held liable because, as the father claims, "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink."

Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Eddie's Towing driver Jacob Hargrove. The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.

Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle after stopping to assist with the stalled vehicle of Tolar. The report said he told officers he was there five to seven minutes before his truck was hit by Hancock's SUV, although Hancock's lawyer says "it might have been there up to 15 minutes".

Officially: Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding and using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, police chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident.

I'm sorry Dean Hancock, but your son is dead because he was stupid. HE got his own ass into these circumstances, HE could have said "NO" to any offered drink, HE could have worn a seatbelt, HE might have been a little high. FREE CHOICE, he wasn't forced to drink, and he CHOSE to not wear his seatbelt. I'm sorry your son is dead, but to hold those people responsible is playing the victim, trying to profit from your son's accident. I mourn the passing of a good baseball player, but I hope this case gets tossed out of court.

EDIT: yay for some common sense.

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TIME FOR AN ANTI-GAY RANT:

KEEP IT PRIVATE! PLEASE. I work out at the gym every day, and of course, I endeavor to make myself pleasant afterward so that my fellow employees don't say "whoa that Thew, he's tough to be around..."

But I found something disturbing in the men's shower. There are holes cut into the plastic curtains at eye level, obviously meant for someone to either look out (or *gasp*, IN?!) at another person in the shower.

This is BULLSHIT. You want respect, respect others. You want people to accept your homosexuality, stop pulling this kinda shit; stuff that makes people like me (i.e., straight men) pissed off at your being intrusive. Do I really think you're gazing at another gay man? Nope, you're gazing at ANY naked man who strolls into the shower area, all the while probably polishing the bishop behind the curtain. It's despicable and instrusive, and creates negative feelings towards "rabid horny gay" men and perpetuates anti-gay sentiment. Do men masturbate to Playboy? Of course. Do gay men masturbate to Playgirl? I'd think so. But keep it in the privacy of your own home; too damm bad, shit like this just pisses off ANY person - hell, I've known gay men who think this is so lame, they are ashamed to be on the same team as these people.

Like I said, you want respect, respect others. You want consideration, consider the feelings of others. You want to pull this kind of shit, prepare to be vilified; by both gay and straight men. You'll never get accepted into "the mainstream of society" while you piss off that same group of people.

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2 of 3 for the Yanks against the Sawx. Here's to hoping they will turn it around after what should be a real confidence building series. Dominated 'em in game 1, lost the lead in game 2 to get beat badly, lost a 4 run lead in ONE INNING but hung on, clawed back, and won it in the top of the ninth. Come on boys, time to play!