I live outside of Salt Lake City, and the Arizona Diamondbacks' games are blacked out here on DirecTV. Sure, it's 700 miles away, and the Grand Canyon rests in between us, but I guess the Diamondbacks think that I just might hop in the car one evening and drop in for a game.

I'm actually an Astros fan, but I can't see them if they're playing the Diamondbacks, even if they are playing in Houston.

I've written the Diamondbacks several times in the past, asking how they can possibly benefit from keeping people who are the better part of 1000 miles away from watching their team. I guess they have no reason, because they've never bothered to reply.

And why would I drive or fly there to see them in person if I can't become familiar with them first on television?

Some things just defy sense.

John needs to ask why no one rushed the shooter in Salt Lake City in February. Utah has one of the loosest concealed carry laws in the country; everyone packs there. Yet a guy opens fire in a shopping mall and everyone scurried like rats.

The shooter was killed by an off duty cop, but not before he shot at least 15 people.

Gee, didn't all those shoppers who were pakcing know they could just pull out their piece and put a cap in his *ss?

...will be played tonight in Salt Lake City. The fourth seeded Houston Rockets will visit the fifth seeded Utah Jazz.

Regardless of what happens tonight, the same two teams will meet again this weekend in a first round playoff series.

Is there anything meaningful that can happen in tonight's game? Yeah, somebody can get hurt.

Other than that...zzzz.....

The guy saw 29 members of his administration convicted of crimes.

He occasionally failed to recognize members of his own cabinet when he met them outside of the White House.

He quadrupled the national debt in 8 years and while he claimed he'd balance the budget by 1982, he never actually submitted a balanced budget during his 8 years in office.

He sat idly by while two members of his cabinet traded jobs without even telling him.

He thought trees caused pollution.

He slept through cabinet meetings and didn't read briefings.

Honestly, this guy only looks good compared to the current clown. Tell me again, why is he so loved?

Charlie

I've been describing Bush (and the Republicans) as liberal for years. They preach small government, fiscal responsibility and strong defense, all while creating Big Brother, spending money like drunken sailors and spreading our military so thin that they can't even help out after a tornado.

Yet you will still hear people say that we can't elect Democrats because they will "spend us into bankruptcy." The people that vote Republican aren't voting for the current party; they're voting for the 1970 version of it as though it still existed.

Barry Goldwater wouldn't recognize this party. They're irresponsible, big-spending, Government-knows-all liberals.

I thought he'd just vanished after Outland disappeared.

Whatever. If he's back, and this is typical of what to expect in the future, I'd suggest that Salon rerun old Krazy Kat comics instead.

Nothing beats a brick to the head.

http://tinyurl.com/34dtdk

Charlie

As a phone, it's "middling". Uh, isn't it called the iPhone for a reason?

By definition, if it sucks as a phone, it sucks. Period.

I'm looking for a phone that has real buttons, a readable display, and reliable service. The Jitterbug is very close, and if they improve their service plans, I'll be on it like green on grass.

In the meantime, I have to make do with a phone that has a display I can't read, a menu I can't easily navigate, and a host of features I don't want in a telephone.

"We can't ship junk."

What are they saying? Junk is all they sell.

I love the way that pundits and columnists are saying that "opinions are divided" on Barry*. That's sort of the way Fox News is covering global warming, when one scientist out of a thousand thinks it's bunk - "scientists can't agree..."

In this case, the "division" is between San Francisco Giants fans and the entire rest of the planet.

And no, Barry* doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. He's admitted to using steroids. He's even tested positive for amphetamines since baseball banned them.

I'm glad you engjoyed the game, Joan. Bully for you.

First off, I'll freely admit that I got this elsewhere. Still, it bears repeating.

No, we don't have "proof" that Barry* used steroids, just as we don't have "proof" that Michael Jackson has had plastic surgery.

The proof of Barry*'s steroid use is as apparent as Michael Jackson's nose.

Charlie

The argument put forth by those who love these dogs is always the same - if you provoke any dog, they'll bite. Therefore, they say, these dogs are no more dangerous than any other.

While it's true that any dog can be provoked into biting, you never read of anyone being killed by a toy poodle or a Chihuahua.

I'm not really a dog guy, but all things being equal, I'd rather not be around breeds that have the ability to kill me when provoked.

Samsung currently makes players that play both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, rendering the "war" moot.

Not that it helps me one bit. I've got an analog video projector that doesn't have HDMI inputs, so I currently can't use either format. That's the studios "protecting" me via encryption.

I'll have to wait for an affordable drive for the PC that plays both before I can enjoy HD-Anything in my theater.

Pfft!

It's just another example of Major League Baseball's contempt for the fans that keep it in business.

I live 700 miles away from Phoenix. Remind me again: Why are Diamondbacks games blacked out here in Salt Lake City?