In Memory...

Not for a class blog...
Those of you who read my blog frequently might have been surprised that I have yet to comment on the tragic loss of my beloved Detroit Pistons, but to be honest I have not yet been able to speak about it during my grieving process. Now that the mourning period is over...

My boys fought the good fight and in the end could not come out on top. I could give excuses that the playoffs are difficult enough without having to play two 7 game series in a row, but in the end I think the Spurs wanted it more.

In his post game analysis in the Detroit Free Press I think Mitch Albom said it perfectly:

"The NBA crown that resided in Detroit is taking a long journey south now,
to a warmer place and a hotter team. That howling whistle you heard Thursday
night was the locomotive from San Antonio coming to take it away. And all the
Pistons could do was wave.
No crown, no crying. The Pistons gave it their
most valiant effort, they pushed and pushed until the final seconds of their
seasonal life. But in the end, the Spurs were a bit better, a bit more accurate
-- and a bit more like themselves.
And that would be enough."

So I guess my first son won't be named Chauncey (just kidding!) But in the end this team has been amazing for the City of Detroit. They have proved all of the critics wrong! Now we know that the underdogs can fight back (beating the Pacers), and that David can beat Goliath, (now 2 years in a row against Shaq!), and that a team from Detroit truly does have class.

So to the 2005 Detroit Pistons I have enjoyed being a fan! Thanks for all the memories and I will be there cheering you on again next year!

When the Blogs form a PAC...

As the Internet continues to grow, it is only fitting that the government is going to try to get involved and find a way to leave their mark on it. Bloggers, who are known for having a anti-establishment mindset, are being forced to take off their pajamas, put on a suit, and travel to Capitol Hill to fight for their right to announce their opinions from their basements.

A CNN.com article "Bloggers go Mainstream in Government Battle" talks about how bloggers are seeking the help of lawyers and are even forming their own PAC to stand up against any government regulations on blogging. A recent FEC proposal to extend campaign rules and regulations to the internet has sparked many to stand up for what has become the greatest example of free speech in America - blogs!

The FEC is claiming that the internet has dramatically changed since they last examined it a few election cycles ago - candidates have gone from raising under a million dollars online to raising tens of millions online, internet advertising has become mainstream in political campaigns, and in the 2004 election 1 in 3 American adults used the internet to get their political news according to a Pew Internet and American Life survey. Many of the political news has come from blogs.

Although I do not think it is right for the government to begin to regulate the Internet, I think it is more interesting that bloggers are using mainstream political tactics to fight against these regulations. For a group that prides itself on using their websites to speak their mind, they are using old political tactics to find their voice.