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OUR SOUTHERNCINDI IS GONE
Feb 17, 2008 | 4:14AM | report this

SouthernCindi

A SONG FOR YOU

No matter what I did, Southern Belle, I never felt it was good enough. But You know when you have given it your best shot. So I tried inserting some Otis in there but I took it out. My meager attempt, dear one, at this song for you.

So, with the light beginning to come through my window, I sense a bustling south, down your way. The sound of metal clanging, feet slapping pavement. I believe the race gates are open. A man you met last year is gearing himself for the days ride he has. I think he will do quite well after meeting such a person as you. I hope you enjoy this tune. I hesitated to release it. As, like I said, I changed tempo's, instraments and styles so many times, I don't feel it's my best. I think it has to be, in a manner. Else it would not appear. Fly on sweet angel.

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NASCAR IS HERE...WITH SOUTHERNCINDI
Feb 15, 2008 | 6:09PM | report this

Southern Cindi Honorary Starter For Daytona 500 In Dover Delaware!

The Daytona 500 is here and all NASCAR fans everywhere are biting at the bit for the start of the 2008 Run For The Cup!
I'm excited too. Very much so! It will be my second full season as a true NASCAR fan and if you don't believe that just check out Southern Cindi's "Last Word" blog! Oh...Also check out some of the comments, both at Cindi's Blog and this rag here, from post Daytona 500 of Last year.
I say, and I say this with out hesitation, Clint Bowyer driving #07, who's sponsers I happened on at Target Store last season, here in Dover, and was presented a...well...one of those things ya wear around your neck to hold your ticket or whatever. I happened, also, to be wearing my Clint Bowyer practice jersey and waiting in the checkout. I saw these two very beautiful girls with a guy busy at something, just past the checkout. One girl looked at me, said something to them, then all 3 looked at me and I turned to pay for my Doritos and dip. When I looked up again one of the girls was approaching me (Now ya gotta think...Imagine..I have NO idea who they are) coming right up to me (I was jammin for some words) and proceeded to lay the whichyamallcallit to hold your ticket or whatever around my neck like a lei..Like I was visiting Hawaii. She was lithe, winsom, beautiful and polite! Wearing tan shorts and tan legs. Well not wearing the tan legs. She had great legs.
Then they all began talking to me asking if I was going to the race, which was ,like, a 10 minute walk from where we were and a 10 minute drive from where I live. The race was Sunday..DOH...and this day was Friday. I mentioned "it all depended" (I didn't have the moolla...Look at me..I'm buyin' Dorito's and dip! That's dinner, snacks, breakfast..You name it! Oh...I was going to say with no hesitation Clint Bowyer will win Daytona. If not? Top 5!
They said that if I did be sure to stop by the tent...They'd introduce me to Clint Bowyer, he's going to be signing autographs and meeting folks. Sheeesh.....So that was my "touch". Believe me, embers still burn from the experience.

I never got to tell that special person.

ANYWAY...This year...As whichever yokel (Lord please let whoever it is be a yokel) calls out the "Gentlemen Start Your Engines" thing, it ain't gonna be THAT person! BET on it and BANK it!

In my mind, and I will hear her clear as a bell, believe me, it will be Southern Cindi dressed in her "gear", wearing her hat and one arm in the air the other hand holding a silver microphone I WILL SEE and HEAR Southern Cindi , Elegantly, but with an edge and a strength, say those words and , there-by, starting the Daytona 500 and the 2008 Run For The Cup!

I will not divulge what will be going on in Tony Stewart's Trailer.....

Have a joyful and safe NASCAR Season All! I know the Southern Cross would demand that of you. But only if you REALLY wanted to.

IN MEMORIUM OF CINDI REDDING

;
>

Ms. Cindi Redding

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THE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSE-SOPRANO'S
Jun 14, 2007 | 11:25PM | report this

SOPRANOS END ATTRACTS

NUMEROUS ERROR'S OF MEMORY , LOGIC

Where to begin? Well, I will begin by saying I just viewed Episode 86, The Sopranos. No internet posting, poker playing or porn. I watched the episode intensely, keeping in mind all I have read about certain segment's. For example the su####ious looks Tony Soprano gives each patron who enters the diner, the song selection and how it "relays" that life goes on, the 3 men who enter and are said to show interest in Tony Soprano, the "chimes", the no "chimes" when Meadow Soprano enters the diner, the cat who represents death, as do the chimes to some people on the Soprano's site, the reaching 3 times under the table by Tony Soprano as each of the ofore mentioned character's entered only to come up with another quarter to play another song and one person said he did this 3 times, Meadow Soprano parking difficulties, the choice of the song by David Chase and the sudden blackout and silence as the credits ran.

OK...I may have forgotten some, I don't think so, but if I did? Let me know.

I started watching with much trepidation of being totally whacked by a senseless storyline and follow-up to what I considered the true end of the series as the work known as "The Soprano's" which was Episode 85, the exact preceeding episode. First, did you notice what was on the television when Tony Soprano was given the first "envelope" and the guy said it was "short"? Almost the very beginning...it was "The TwiLight Zone" then the cat appeared. Also, on second look, the opening scene might have thrilled some because the music had that funeral parlor sound and Tony Soprano appears to be in a coffin as it's a close up shot of Tony still sleeping.

I was pleased the story opened as it did with Tony Soprano waking from the exact place I last saw him. My FIRST (let's call them "irks) "irk" was seeing Tony Soprano waking uncovered. In this, I mean , the cannon he placed across himself as he laid down and rested his head back at the end of the season (last show) was not there. As Tony Soprano sat up, swinging his legs over onto the floor, you saw the cannon leaning against the dresser drawer. Also Tony Soprano made no attempt to take hold of the weapon to carry out of the room with him. I was in such a prediciment. I went to sleep with an M16, strap wrappd around my arm, across my body also having a bandolier of clips laying on a table I pulled up tight to the bed half out of their pouches ready to be snatched if need be. So this was a BIG FU by director, writer, James, somebody. In that state of mind and danger the weapon would not be 6 feet away leaning against the drawer's where if anything occured you would be cut in half before you sat all the way up. So far...so good but for that.

Now...when the "hit" was going down there was an all out blitz attack. Every member was fully behind the "hit" and it was carried out by themselves. Not "hired guns" from overseas. There was a plan, focus and ferocity to it. How it got to Tony Soprano sitting down with Phil's (whatisface) men and them bending backward to appease Tony Soprano I have no idea. Then willing to make their "commitment" to his sister for Bobby's death. Numbingly written and executed for the "regular" TV show people, I believe. (My opinion) Also Tony Soprano appearing with FBI guy right out of bed. That "irk" was irked. One goes from total red alert, best, top close friends killed, "down" in a safe house to jaunting about New Jersey. And the refusal, after ranting for ages about not being a "boss" Paulie turns the offer down. Also the quickness of coming out of the safe house for Bobby's funeral ties in with all I just said. TV show stuff. Not Soprano's Extended Family Member, We Saw Every Show, Lived And Died With Every Character viewer. All well and good. It was entertaining but I was watching with that "irk"but still enjoying the show but, as I said, with a little phrase popping in and out of my head "This couldn't have happened so quickly and easily". All I wanted was the "controversy" to be answered now. I could see David Chase was tieing things up and supplying a "neat" ending.

Some people are baffled and upset because for them there was no ending. I know not what they were seeking but "The End" was the previous week and this "End", for me, was fine.

Meadow's reasoning for law school instead of medical school was explained and explained well. A.J. was as A.J. always was duplicitous. He appears to be going the right way when he acts or speaks a moment after that you see he's still ignorant, selfish and immature. The "right way" verbalisation's turn out to be more excuse's to avoid responsibilty.

Now...the ending. There are NO chimes. For anyone who has ever worked in a small store years ago you would know that was a bell. You remember the little bell you see in "Bedford Falls" they flash on for a second as they tell the little girl when a bell rings that means an angel got it's wings? Well it's that exact type of bell. Brass, to be exact. And it makes a little jingle when you open and close the door. Each time I heard it I saw Tony Soprano look up then back to the jukebox list because he was sitting there waiting for his whole family to arrive. He was there alone. There was NO su####ion in any of the glances. He did NOT "eyeball" any of the men who entered. He went immediately back to looking for a tune. I was looking at the titles. Just as the bell jingled and Carmella entered he started "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. Just above that was "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. The titles were cool. Check them out. But I expected to hear "My Way". When the music started and they show Carmella it was SOLID. My eyes welled (just a little) because he played it for her. As you watch each family member enter, that song is playing, and it all ties to them. Don't stop believing that A.J. will turn out ok, don't stop believing that Meadow will succeed and lose her clumsiness, don't stop believing that Carmella will ever stop loving him and A.J., once again, appeared "on track" reminding dad about Tony saying "to remember the good things" , which I remember him saying myself.

One moment after that, as they enjoy the onion rings, amidst the good conversation and plesantries the screen goes black without a sound. The Soprano's life is returned to them and all of us are forever "blacked" out of their lives, their private lives.

The credits role silently, unlike any episode preceeding it, leaving no impression or delivering no impression to our minds except the fact that it is over. Ended. Gone. Nothing that could invade the darkness of it all that we will not see them again. Nothing to hum or sing or have in your mind that "hey this was the ending song..yada, yada".

Chase did not even bring the sound up for his "Chase" Logo theme music/sound of the ramp at the end. No sound until HBO took over and that buzz came on. No relation to David Chase or The Soprano's.

It was the ending for TV Land. The Soprano's had ended the previous week. All the talk about the "trucker", the 2 guys the "chimes", the parking, is just that. Good for talk. But they were there to have something to eat just as the Soprano Family was there to eat.

There may have been some cool stuff. For example there may have been "stars" making cameo's. But that was it folks. I have no idea what you expected or wanted. I can not envision anything else that would work as well as this did for both Soprano's fans and TV Land fans. But I am going to watchit again, now, to see all those song titles because I noticed they were made large. Large enough for the viewer to read. Ever see that before?

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categories: OTHER, NON SPORTS, David Chase, James

NON SPORTS-SOPRANO'S ANSWER TO LISA4USC
Jun 11, 2007 | 4:04PM | report this

MY SOPRANO'S ENDING

AS I ANSWERED LISA4USC'S QUESTION

I am re-posting this here in case lisa4usc has to delete my answer because I kinda took up alot of space in her comment's area.

I had been debating myself (I do that often) about whether to write a piece concerning what I thought the true ending of The Soprano's was without seeing the ending everyone is upset about. Because, to be honest, I did not envision how it could end any better than it did, when I thought it ended. (I didn't know how many shows remained)

The show, which appeared to me a great ending, left me a bit depressed and wishing I hadn't seen it as I wandered off to slumber.

Following is the, what I thought would be short, answer I left at lisa4usc's blog(In case I have over partaken my share of commentland):

lisa4usc..I've been dyin over here...Post a piece on Sopranos or not? So I have the answer. At least it satisified me.
OK..Remember the "Final Johnny Carson Show? Well to me the FINAL show was the next to last show. The previous night's show with Bette Midler just knockin' the world out with her song to Johnny. I saw her when he first brought her on from the baths of NYC. That was the final show for me. Not the "Tuxedo" show night following.
Now...I don't have HBO. I've been watching this last season (I own all the others) on Comcast On Demand after it airs on HBO.
OK..3 shows back and the accident happens with Tony and Christopher, Tony, fed up with Chris's F-up's squeezes his nostrils and the life of the first, central longtime/character is gone. At the end (I had no idea how many more shows remained) I thought oh S***. It's starting. Then there was another show where the set up is created that now Johny Sach is dead "whatisface", insults Tony in front of his group and says , more or less, "no more deals" and we see a hardline now. No more NY and NJ. Seperate camps and hostility foaming from the NY camp.
Next to last show: Dr Melfi is publicly emabarassed and to wit goes on to demean Tony and abandon him contradicting all she was because of this new "study" (which is real). Then Whatisface gives the OK for the take out of the top 3 Soprano's group based on personal reasons ie; They don't "make" member's the right way, etc. And he orders this hit WITHOUT, what I have come to learn, "permission" or sitdown with other "family members". You then see FBI guy give Tony the word he's marked. You see a scramble, Tony trying to keep it all calm but AJ is shown to be just plain ignorant, stupid and selfish. You see ole Bobby get hit buying a train set for himself not the kids. Then you see "The Dude", Silvio and that su####ious sob get hit but the sob gets away and , from what you saw yourself and what Paulie Walnut's says the doctor reported, Ya know Silvio is gone too. Then ya see Tony and a small group of g uys snake into the night to a beat up old house and lock theirselves in , more or less, the scene ending with Tony laying down on a rickety old bed holding a cannon across his body ...waiting...THAT was the end. (or shoulda been) I haven't seen the last show but I read some on it and they all sound like your feeling's. "cheated" or "no-go." NOW...Think of that show I just mentioned and see if it doesn't "settle" better in your mind. That Tony, lying back on the bed, armed with that cannon in a rustic old bed, all the high times, the good life, the good food, the friends everything, all WE shared with him...is gone. And he waits. For what?.......(Music up) Woke up this morning got yoursel####un. Momma said you'de be the chosen one. That your one in a million you were born to shine to bad about bein born under a bad sign with a blue moon in your eye ..now sing the song
(I went to bed thinking."I wish I hadn't seen that") Depressing and ,I believe, the real ending.

The Link To HBO'S SOPRANO'S 86th Episode! 1000s of Comments and opinion's.

ALSO MAXIM's Alternate Ending Video Here.

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categories: Sopranos, Non Sports, OTHER

SPORTS TOPICAL CREAM DEADLY !
Jun 09, 2007 | 12:10PM | report this

A TOPICAL, OR SPORTS CREAM
CAUSE IN DEATH
OF 17 YEAR OLD TRACK STAR

Arielle Newman

AP Photo / Courtesy Newman Family and Staten Island Express

Arielle Newman, a cross country track athlete at Notre Dame Acadamy of Staten Island, died April 13, 2007 from over use of a sports cream to soothe her aching legs and joints. Apparently her body absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory found in creams as Ben-#### and Icy Hot, the medical examiner said.

Arielle Newman, who had won a number of awards in her sport, had been to a party the previous night and upon returning home talked with her mother for a few hours.

All appeared normal until Arielle was found non responsive later.

A doctor at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Ronald Grelsamer, stated she either lathered herself with the oinment, used way too much or used the proper amount and for reasons unknown her body absorbed an abnormal amount of the chemical.

Deaths from the chemical are rare and this case is unusual. Absorption can be intensified if exercising in extreme heat.

Arielle's mother Alice Newman remains stunned that her daughter is dead from using an over the counter cream product. Ms. Newman stated " I am scrupulous about my children's health. I did not think an over the counter product could be unsafe."

A warning to some of us "old timer's" who sport around a bit more than we should thinking we can ease it all by use of this joint and muscle salve.

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categories: Sports, Track, Basketball, baseball, Football, SOCCER, Other

FLAG AT HALF STAFF FOR BILL FRANCE JR. IS ARGUED
Jun 05, 2007 | 8:42AM | report this

FLAG AT HALF STAFF HAVE SOME

COMPLAINING OF IMPROPER ETIQUETTE

I have posted a comment left at Fox Sports Blog which caught my eye and inspired a rebuttal from yours truly. You may see it differently. That's why we are who we are. The following comment concerning NASCAR'S response to the death of Mr. Bill France Jr. posted June 5th, 2007 on theFox Sports Blog of Ms. Lee Spence:

Flag etiquette
I realize that Bill France Jr. was a god send for Nascar and the sport would not be where it is today if not for him, but the lowering of the flag to half mast in his honor was out of place. I hope this was an oversight and not Nascar doing it just because of Nascar arogance. I dont believe his passing will ever be looked at as a national holiday. Look up flag etiquette on the Internet and this is what you will get.

The flag may be flown at half-staff by Presidential proclamation or by proclamation by your state governor.

On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon.

Your flag can be flown at half-staff upon reliable information that a past or present President or Vice-President has died (see Section 7m below).

By statute, the President is requested each year to issue a proclamation requiring government buildings to half-staff the flag and inviting all the people of the US to do so as well, on the following days:

May 15, Peace Officers Memorial Day
Sept. 11, Patriot Day
Dec. 7, National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Section 7m of the Flag Code (see below) reads:

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Governm

Last edited by jeff71159 on June 5th at 7:40 AM.

My Comment to jeff71159:

Jeff71159...Well done sir. The fault in your comment is that most any institution may place the flag at half mast to honor a particular major, influential contribitor to that institution or appreciated persons of any stature. I am a Viet Nam vet and thought nothing in error when I first viewed a photo at Dover Downs International Speedway with the flag at half mast. I knew and know little of Mr. France but am finding he was, indeed, a giant behind the sport of NASCAR. Watching the race Monday I could tell this man must have done for NASCAR something to the extent of what all the great men and women throughout our history had done and that is affect a nation. There is "formality" sir and then there is "fanatisism". I loathe to mention the catastrophic events recently where the flag was lowered to half staff without the President of the United States approval and the many local institutions throughout this country who have lowered the flag to half staff in honor of a pillar, founder, or appreciated person or persons who have passed either in an untimely manner or of natural causes. There's "the book", sir, then there's the American Way.

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categories: NASCAR, Bill France Jr

HEY BATTA, BATTA BATTA !
Jun 03, 2007 | 4:36AM | report this

southerncindi

TORONTO BLUEJAYS UNHAPPY

ABOUT SANDLOT HIGHJINX

When I played ball as a kid one sound that resonates in my memory is the sound of "Hey, batta, batta, batta"! Continuous and unforgiving this phrase, along with others, was chanted from each posistion of the infield and a good set of lungs from the outfield too until that last out was made and it was our turn to bat

Along with that great sound in my mind are also the many "tactics" we used to attempt to catch an opposing player off base if it should arise an oppossing player reached base. (it always did arise)

For example walking to the pitcher for a "strategy" chat and cunningly slipping the ball into your glove and tag the man out who was on base when he took his "lead" off the base. More often than not this was a pathetic manuever which always was caught almost immediately by the opposing team who's entire bench would be yelling to the man on base that "Hey..he's got the ball, he's got the ball don't leave the bag"! (I should note, too, that us kids were "men" on base)

There were also the yelling of "rules" as oppossing players ran the basepaths in an attempt to confuse the runner and/or batter so we could get to bat quicker. For example as the runner begins to run after the ball being hit you might yell "foul ball"! Or, if the ball was in play, "Only one base on a ball hit to right"! We might yell anything to try and disrupt the pure, geometric, precise game of baseball for the opposing team. Anything!

The words were always innocent, hurting no one's feelings. We were kids, it was baseball and I sure heard some of the "batta, batta" stuff in "grownup" baseball games, where do you think we got it from?

Toronto, in Canada, seemed to take exception to this behaviour this past Wednesday when Alex Rodriguez apparently yelled something as he was approaching Toronto third baseman Howie Clark as a pop up was descending from the sky, Howie thought, into his glove for the third out ending a Yankee's rally.

Seems as Alex Rodriguez was passing behind Howie Clark, who was awaiting the descending pop fly ball, Alex yelled something directly behind the third baseman causing Clark to wince and back up thereby allowing the descending pop fly ball to land, unscathed and uncaught on the ground. This did not end the rally. The Yankee's went on to score 3 more runs.

Rodriguez was confronted on the field by the Blue Jays and then was attacked in the media by the Toronto manager.

Toronto manager John Gibbons became somewhat distraught by this manuever going to the lengths of publicly condemning Rodriguez and the Yankee's for what he called a "bush league" play. Gibbons stated "That is not Yankee pride right there. That's not the way they play." Then the "bush league" remark was uttered.

Did Alex Rodriguez call Clark's mum a combat boots wearing mum? (I remember that one) Did Rodriguez insult the educational level of Clark as he yelled running by him to third?

No. No fierery expeltive's here. Just a big loud "HAH", as he ran past , is what Rodriguez said he shouted. Yup...A good ole "try" from childhood baseball to cause an error or misdirection to keep a rally alive. And it worked. Didn't it always work? Well most of the time it worked. But this time it caused a Major League Baseball team, an entire team, to blusterly blunder and shout and point and accuse making Totonto and all those that agree with them totally whacked out and mindless all to the fact Toronto Bluejays baseball was "had" by an old, dusty, creaky but well honed and never forgotten tactic of baseball, the 'HEY, BATTA, BATTA, BATTA only Rodriguez only used the "HEY" and changed it slightly to "HAH"..

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categories: BASEBALL, Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, Toronto Bluejays, Fair not cheating, MLB

WHAT THE DICKENS IS GOING ON? May 23, 2007 \| 4:40PM \| report this *GREENLIGHT THIS* *INDEED THE PROOF HAS TURNED UP !* *Although B Dyckns hasn't been heard from recently a funny thing happened on the way to the ballpark.* *I WAS DELETED...*
11 Comments \| Add a comment	categories: OTHER, OTHER HELLO

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