Screen Your Employees!

In today's recruiting and hiring world, you never know who you're going to get when you take an employee on board. That's why a good employment screening service is so valuable. You see the guy in this photo? Sure, he has a great resume. His references had nothing but incredible things to say about him. His track record is unmatched and unquestioned. But, after he's been working for your company for a few months, you find out the truth-he's an Internet porn addict, bed wetting miscreant with a major crack problem. If you'd only screened him better, you wouldn't have the problems you have now. So, save yourself a lot of heartache-get a good employment screening system today!

Nomar Hurt Again?

While Dodger fans are obviously psyched about getting Manny Ramirez, the fact remains that this team is still not ready to make a run at postseason play. There are still way too many questions marks, one of which has to do with the physical condition of Nomar Garciaparra.
For the past few seasons, Nomar has been unable to stay off of the disabled list. This seems to happen to many players in his age group. Once the injury bug hits, it becomes an ongoing thing. Nomar has had a long list of ailments and every time it seems as though he’ll be able to play on a regular basis, something comes up.

Questions about Nomar’s health abound-is it poor conditioning? Has he simply lost his ability to perform as he did in the past? Or is it just bad luck? Only time will tell.
Regardless, Garciaparra is back on the disabled list once again-for the third time this season. It’s got to be frustrating for a competitive, top-tier player like Nomar. And the fans can’t be happy. The man has to feel guilty as well—pulling down a big salary to sit on the bench or languish at home. In the meantime, the Dodgers are three games out of first place and could be fading fast, Manny Ramirez or not.
If you’re a Dodger supporter like me, this is a time of hope. But, I fear it’s a false hope. The team will not be able to catch the Diamondbacks if they continue to lose players to injury and underachieve.
This appeared on http://www.cbssportsline.com/ today:
The Dodgers made room for Manny Ramirez on the active roster Friday by placing infielder Nomar Garciaparra on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Garciaparra, who had been starting at shortstop, was injured Sunday making a tag while covering third base against the Washington Nationals. Garciaparra was placed on the DL retroactive to Monday, and will be eligible to come off Aug. 12 when the Dodgers play Philadelphia in the second game of a four-game series.
This is Garciaparra's third trip to the disabled list this season. He missed the first 14 games while recovering from a fractured bone in his right hand, and was sidelined for 62 games from April 26 to July 3 with a strained left calf. He is hitting .279 with five homers and 19 RBI in 27 games.
"He's been working at it and he's getting better, but he's still a long way from being that shortstop that can go to his left and to his right," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "Basically, we talked to him about this yesterday and he was resistant to it based on the fact that he was getting better and he felt that he could help the ballclub.
"Even though he may be able to play in 12 days instead of 15, I think we can take this luxury now that we have Manny and we've got a little more bench strength. He's just taking one for the team, basically."
Ramirez, acquired from the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, made his debut for the Dodgers on Friday night against Arizona, playing left field and batting cleanup.

Halloween Parties Are Almost Here!

I love Halloween! It's one of my favorite times of the year, with all the inventive costumes, awesome parties and trick or treating. I remember how much I loved the Halloween season when I was a kid. I was amazed that you could actually walk up to someone's house and that they would GIVE you FREE candy! What a great tradition. When I was about 10, I even went back to a couple of houses in our neighborhood the day after Halloween to see if they would give me candy again. Of course, the didn't--but you can't fault a guy for trying! Anyway, now is the time to start thinking about sending out Halloween invitations if you're having a costume party! Whether you're a boy or a ghoul, Halloween is one of the best nights of the year!

My 2008 NFL Fantasy Team: Am I Dreaming?

Last week I did my 16th annual NFL Fantasy Draft on my annual Houseboat Lowlife Weekend. I won the first year (1992) and again in 1998, but I have not won since. I seem to have lost my touch.

Last season I was in first place but then dropped my last six games (Ouch!)

The main reason for my demise was the fact that my first two picks got hurt.

(RB Larry Johnson and WR Marvin Harrison)

In last week's draft, I chose 7th and was surprised when Brian Westbrook (pictured) was still available.

With my second pick, I selected Terrell Owens. (If he doesn't get suspended for over celebrating or tries to committ suicide, I think he'll have a great year.)

I went with a RB with my third pick and took Lawrence Maroney (I think New England will run more in '08 and that he will get most of the carries)

I then had to go for a QB, so I took Derek Anderson from the Browns (I think Cleveland makes the playoffs this season)

Some of my other risky picks:

Trent Edwards, QB, Buffalo

Frank Taylor, RB, Jaguars

Donte Stallworth, WR, Browns

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons (do you think he'll get to start?)

Hines Ward, WR, Steelers

NY Giants Defense

Any fantasy gurus out there? Let me know what you think of this team.

Sales Make People Happy!

Why is this guy (or girl) smiling ear-to-ear? (Well, he or she would be if they had ears) Well, because they heard about the great sale taking place right now on http://www.buy.com/, the web site where you can find some of the greatest deals in the entire universe. Sales are an everyday thing at http://www.buy.com/; they're the tradition rather than the exception. You can $ave big bucks by accessing this site and ordering things from electronics to jewelry. So, if you want to smile like the person in the photo above, get online and get to http://www.buy.com/ right now. To wait would be frivolous and foolish!

The Birds of Summer

The parrots have been back across the street feeding on juniper berries just like they do every summer starting around the Fourth of July and ending around the first week of August. They've stripped the bushes pretty well by now. I'll miss them when they don't come around anymore. It's an annual neighborhood event--kind of like our own swallows of San Juan Capistrano. Except these guys (or gals) hang out for five weeks and make the whole place a little brighter!

More Chihuly Shots

Chihuly at the De Young

I recently went to this exhibition at the de Young museum in San Francisco and it is absolutely incredible. The glass work that this man does is some of the most amazing stuff I have EVER seen. The exhibition runs through the end of September, so you still have some time to see it. I cannot recommend it more!
Chihuly at the de Young is Dale Chihuly’s first major exhibition in San Francisco, and includes eleven galleries of new and archival works representing the breadth and scope of the artist’s creative vision over the last four decades. The de Young Museum is the only venue for this exhibition.
Chihuly at the de Young takes a comprehensive view of the artist’s dramatic, colorful, and textured works that generate instant international recognition. This exhibition represents all the creative periods of the artist’s career, from drawings to single vessels to architectural installations. Included in the exhibition:
Glass Forest #3 recreates one of Chihuly’s earliest installations. Comprised of white milk-glass and neon, the first version of this work was exhibited in New York at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts (now the Museum of Arts & Design), and has not been viewed in the U.S. since 1972.
Five Chandeliers will dramatically transform an entire gallery. Their titles suggest a feast of color and form, characteristic of one of Chihuly’s most celebrated series: Ruby Red, Turquoise Icicle, Orange Hornet and Eelgrass, Chiostro di Sant’ Apollonia, and Palazzo de Loredana Balboni.
The Tabac Baskets will be displayed in the context of objects that have served as sources of inspiration to the artist.
A 56-foot-long Mille Fiori garden of glass composed of bold forms in vibrant colors provides a powerful conclusion to the exhibition.
(Portions of this article were gleaned from the SF Examiner and the de Young museum Web site.)

New Diet Pills

The diet pill market is changing all of the time, with new innovations that are taking full advantage of the technology and coming up with healthier, safer and more reliable ways to use the new diet pills to lose weight. I have come across some very effective diet pill solutions and I credit them with helping me lose approximately 30 lbs. since January 1st. These pills are proven and will help take away your hunger and lose that excess baggage. Remember: ALWAYS consult your doctor prior to taking any diet pill. But, once you fine the one that's right for you--good luck and happy weight loss, baby!

Who are the REAL MLB All-Stars?

I am always torn by the selection process that is used to pick the MLB All-Star teams. Since the game is in the middle of the season, a lot of times it obviously comes down to who is having the better first half. Why not take the second half of the prior season into account as well? To me, a sizzling first half does not an all-star make.
Then, you figure in the fan factor and it gets even more confusing. The fans end up picking the name players, even though they may not be having that great a year. So, between the two, you end up getting a lot of players on both squads that probably don’t deserve to be there.
One of the problems is due to the fact that there is such a glut of talent in the American League. For every superstar in the NL, there are two or more in the AL.
Another problem comes from the disparity in interest between big-market and small-market teams, illustrated by how many Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are on this year’s rosters. Deserving players on small market teams don’t get the nod because people (including the managers who pick the players) don’t see them enough. Plus, the media would rather write about Alex Rodriguez and Madonna, as opposed to what a great year Jorge Cantu or Aubrey Huff is having, so people just don’t hear about these rising stars as much.
And finally, there is the “one player per team” rule where every MLB team has to be represented by at least one player. I think that’s dumb, because there are several teams out there right now who aren’t worthy. Thus, a guy who should be there (like Yunel Escobar from the Braves or Ryan Doumit from the Pirates) doesn’t get in.
Here are starting picks for the All-Star game, to be held Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium:

American League
Catcher: Joe Mauer, Twins
First Base: Kevin Youklis, Red Sox
Shortstop: Michael Young, Rangers
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, Rangers
Third Base: Mike Lowell, Red Sox
Outfield: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
Outfield: Grady Sizemore, Indians
Outfield: Carlos Quentin, White Sox
Starting Pitcher: Justin Duchscherer, A’s
Relief Picher: Francisco Rodriguez, Angels

National League
Catcher: Brian McCann, Braves
First Base: Lance Berkman, Astros
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
Second Base: Chase Utley, Phillies
Third Base: Chipper Jones, Braves
Outfield: Ryan Braun, Brewers
Outfield: Xavier Nady, Pirates
Outfield: Matt Holliday, Rockies
Starting Pitcher: Edinson Volquez, Reds
Relief Picher: Kerry Wood, Cubs