Election Season

Well it's that time again, election season.  This is the time when the nation splits into two halves and cheers vehemently for their side, even though in actuality there is no difference between the two and nothing will change for the average person regardless of outcome.  It's simply two competing factions of ruling elites, lobbyists, the rich, and corporate interests vying for power.  No matter who wins:

• the average worker will continue to be tread upon
• interest rates will be artificially suppressed to help the rich asset holders
• the environment will be exploited; climate engineering, or geoengineering, will continue unabated
• the third world will be exploited and leveraged against the middle class here
• weapons of war will be sold and spread; the empire will continue its global occupation of things not of the national interest
• foreign countries will be held up as useful boogeymen
• pork, graft, and subsidies will continue for their friends whose industries will both variously price gouge consumers or ruthlessly undercut other sellers to reduce competition with their oligopolistic power
• the politicians will become magically enriched (beyond their salary) during their term of "service"

So, just remember in the midst of this division and election theater, there are actually many persons such as myself who see the truth and will not be voting for lack of a real candidate.  This will be the first time I have not voted for a president; I always figured it was worth the 10 minutes of effort to go do it, though I did often vote third party, which is basically a wasted vote.  However, this year, I'm over it -- not participating.  What is the solution to this?  I don't know; I don't know if it can be fixed.  But personally, I find avoiding the whole subject and the news the best course of action.  I just wish we could drop this whole pretense that there's this big choice to participate in.  It's more illusion than anything.

On that note, here is a song I just heard again for the first time in years; it is still evergreen:

Testify by Rage Against the Machine

Football Sizes

Watching Monday night NFL football, I got to thinking about the ball itself.  The pro NFL balls are so big, they're like rugby balls.  They are much harder to grip and throw than a smaller high school or college size ball.  Basically, you have to be a giant with giant hands to grip it comfortably.  

I haven't thrown a ball in years, but I can recall that I was able to throw the high school or college balls very well, with nice control; but the bigger pro ball is difficult to throw well due to its sheer size.  It is tough to control, have a tighter spiral, and get the same accuracy and pace.  Also, they tend to sail higher and have less pace if memory serves.  The smaller balls also place less stress on the elbow, shoulder, and wrist; they are much easier to throw for many repetitions.

I say let the NFL use the same size ball as college or high school does; it's not as if people's hands grow at 22 years old.  Remember even the great Tom Brady was accused of deflating the footballs to grip them better.  If it's too big even for him, then somethings not right.

This issue surely affects many quarterbacks who turn pro after college.  The physically smaller ones most likely struggle to adjust to throwing the larger ball.  This issue is rarely discussed or considered when evaluating potential college draft picks, but I think it is important.  

However, having said all of that, I know this is a trivial issue in light of everything else going on in the world, but one which crossed my mind so I thought I'd share it.

Inaugural Post

Hello Interwebs,

With this first blog post I will state my plans for this blog -- which may or may not be followed :)

This webpage will be a place to share my thoughts, opinions, photographs, poems, and other such work and art with the world.  It will cover an eclectic array of subjects to match my wandering focus and varied interests.  So, it will hopefully be always fresh, entertaining, and thought provoking; or at least mildly interesting to you the reader.  I also look forward to hearing from you all in the comment section.

My areas of interest include but are not limited to:  psychology, poetry, mythology, symbology, spirituality, health, finance, current events, construction, agriculture, and environmentalism.  Though some subjects may better lend themselves to this medium than others.  We shall see.

Also, I'm not sure yet how frequently I'll post as it depends on my feeling well enough to do so.  Unfortunately, I am currently suffering from Huntington's Disease which requires me to eat and rest a lot.  Well, that's it for now.

Regards,

Thomas Colquith