Abby Roux Takes Down Vegas

Posted on September 28, 2018December 22, 2018 by thependulumswings staff

When you combine a request that we have had from a few more than a few with Abby Roux’s desire (and a lot of tail wagging) to be more of a watch college football than a watchdog, what have you? You have Abby Roux’s first week of many of college picks v. the Vegas spread. Her five weekly picks, number of bones (the more the better she says, max of 5), and brief rationale follow.

West Virginia minus 3 over Texas Tech- This is a must win game for West Virginia to be considered a legit contender in the Big 12. The only thing tougher than winning in Lubbock is getting there. Four bones.

Arkansas plus 21 over Texas A and M- Abby loves big dogs. Arkansas is a big dog. Arkansas is also a bad football team. Maybe A&M looks past this game a bit. Plus Abby is no fan of Reveille VII’s constant begging. Two bones.

Kansas plus 17 over Oklahoma St. – Kansas seems significantly better than many years gone by. Of course, that isn’t exactly a tall fence for a perennial barking dog. They have a running back named Pooka Williams, which is nice. One bone.

Virginia Tech plus 5 over Duke- Virginia Tech lost by two touchdowns last week at home v. Old Dominion. Old Dominion. Duke is 4-0 and ranked 22. Has Abby lost her doggone mind? Nah. She likes to zig when others zag. Three bones.

Ole Miss plus 11 over LSU- Abby loves LSU. The boomboomsroom.com staff loves LSU. Abby also likes sirloin more than ground beef. LSU’s offensive line is hurt. They’ll need to pound it on the ground to keep Mississippi’s explosive offense on the sideline. LSU wins, but Ole Miss covers in Baton Rouge. Abby needs to revert to the watchdog of The Room after these picks are made as our staff is headed east to BR to watch it live. Three bones.

One hunch that we offer as a bit of a treat but put no bones on it. Take Oregon minus two on the road v. the California Bears.

That’s it for week five in CFB and week one for Abby’s picks. She did her homework. Five games, four dogs, and thirteen bones. Enjoy the games.

Strange Bedfellows Indeed.

Posted on September 26, 2018December 22, 2018 by thependulumswings staff

In the fall of 1992, some 26 years ago, The Cosby Show created by Bill Cosby ended an incredible eight year run. It spent five years as the number one rated television show. Bill Cosby starred in it too as Dr. Cliff Huxtable, nicknamed the “Greatest Television Dad.”

In the fall of 1996, some 22 years ago, one Eldrick Woods(call him Tiger) “created” on the golf course by his father began an incredible run on the PGA tour. He spent five straight years from 2005 till 2010 as the number one ranked golfer in the world. TV ratings for golf doubled on the weekends he was in contention for any ol tournament and tripled if it was a major.

In the fall of 1998, a 33-year-old partner, and rising star in the law firm Kirkland and Ellis named one Brett Kavanaugh, left to join Kenneth Starr as Associate Council in the office of Independent Council. Kavanaugh was a principal author of the Starr Report to Congress, released in September 1998, on the Monica Lewinsky–Bill Clinton sex scandal.

Now fast forward to on goings in this week.

A now 81-year-old Bill Cosby was sentenced to no less than three years and up to 10 in the Pennsylvania state prison system. He was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting a then Temple women’s basketball coach in 2004. He was deemed a “sexually violent predator” by the presiding judge. Over 60 women came forward in the last many years to publicly accuse Cosby of one assault or another. The statue of limitations expired on 59 of them.

A now 42-year-old Tiger Woods completed a journey that has him back on top of the golf world. He won the final PGA tour event and was welcomed on the Ryder Cup team.

His fall from the top started on Thanksgiving night 2009 when his texts to a mistress was discovered by his then wife. His fall from grace included no less than 11 women coming forward with tawdry tales of their trysts with Tiger. Rehab for sexual addiction was followed by a loud divorce. His confidence was shaken and his invincibility taken. Severe back troubles led to multiple surgeries and a long physical rehab. A detour on the rehab road came when he was arrested for DUI. Blood tests found a medicine cabinet and a trace of marijuana in his system.

A now 53-year-old Brett Kavanaugh sits very close to a seat on the US Supreme Court. His ascension to the door step of the number one court in the land via various higher level judge appointments makes for one impressive resume’. However the star of the Starr report about Clinton’s sexual scandal must sit patiently as a star witness, Dr Christine B. Ford, testifies about her recollection of an alcohol infused supposed sex scandal of his own. He then gets his turn to testify. She contends that a then 17-year-old Kavanaugh sexually assaulted and may have even attempted to rape her at a party in 1982.

Cosby’s legacy is rightfully in ruins. Tiger’s rebound is rejoiced. What is Judge Kavanaugh’s future?

The Cosby Show was a sitcom that coined TV ratings gold. Tiger’s aura is a reality sports show that coins TV ratings gold. Tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee testimony will be a reality TV show that no sitcom writer would dream to write.

The Cosby Show ended each week to the tune of “Kiss Me.” Trust me. How will tomorrow end?

It would take an insanely accomplished, confident producer in Hollywood to sell this script. Someone like Harvey Weinstein.

Lefty and Shorty Discuss All That Is the NFL.

Posted on September 21, 2018December 22, 2018 by thependulumswings staff

Last evening Lefty and Shorty were all but ready to close the Gulf Station. Mosquitoes were everywhere and cars were no where to be found. Lefty- Why do we stay open until midnight? Shorty-So that you and I can discuss the NFL.

Lefty sat to the left of Shorty. Imagine that. Shorty sat on the shorter of the two “halves” of the 55 gallon drum. Imagine that. Each were cut down to size and retrofitted with a soft cushion top.

Lefty- New England has won more games and Super Bowls than anyone else, why can’t Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck get along? Shorty-They’ve worked together for 18 years. That’s a long time. I’m tired of working with your sorry butt after ten.

Lefty-Yes, but Tom Brady is the greatest ever. Shorty- Tom Brady has had the most favorable rule changes to protect the statue of a QB that he is ever imagined. Different eras are very hard to compare. Only one thing is for certain. No one cleans windshields like us anymore, no one.

Lefty- Well Bill Belicheck doesn’t appreciate him enough. Shorty- So said my ex-wife and every wife to her husband since Y A Title completed his first forward pass.

Lefty- What rule changes? Shorty- You cannot tackle the QB anymore. He sits back fearlessly scouring the options to throw to. It’s a pass first league. It’s a mismatch WR or a Gronk TE type in space versus a DB who cannot cover. It would be like me watching you having to defend Lebron.

Lefty- Is that why so many pass interference calls are made? Shorty-Pass interference is the most punitive flag thrown. It’s worse than forgetting the oil pan when changing the oil.

Lefty-Well at least there are a few new exciting teams this year. Shorty- There are every year. The game is built like NASCAR cars. If you have a losing record in the prior year your schedule the next is easier. Your draft position is higher. You cherry picked good free agents from good teams. Everything is designed to have all cars on the last lap with a chance to win. Unless you get a nail in your tire you have a chance.

Lefty- Well wasn’t that crazy that Vontae Davis flat quit on his team and retired at halftime? Have you ever seen anything like that? Shorty-It reminds me of when we are tuning an engine together and you see the food truck pull up.

Lefty-Want to pick a game to bet against each other this week? Shorty- Sure, I’ll take DA Bears minus five over the low flying Cardinals. Lefty-Deal.

Lefty- And this time if I lose I promise to pay up. Shorty- If you don’t you’ll need to enter the NFL concussion protocol.

Lefty- See you tomorrow Shorty. Shorty- Unfortunately.

A Feather in One’s Cap.

Posted on September 19, 2018December 22, 2018 by thependulumswings staff

For a deed or job well done you may have heard your mom, a mentor, or a “report to” of yours applaud your work. Perhaps you have been told to “put a feather in your cap.” High praise indeed that feather is. It’s a make-believe symbol of honor and achievement. Or, way back when people did add a feather to one’s head wear.

But what is the origin of such a phrase? Well, as it is with many old school or old world expressions, that is a subject of some debate.

Way back in 1599 an English writer and traveler Richard Hansard noted that Hungarians should only wear a feather in their cap if they had killed a Turk. The more feathers in your hat the more dead Turks.

The Native American tradition of adding a feather to the head-dress of any warrior for his bravery is well-known and well documented.

However, if you though as an American child it was a cool thing to recite/sing Yankee Doodle it may not have been after all.

Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni’.

It turns out that the word Yankee was used by the Brits to describe the naive or inexperienced. Doodle was a “polite” way of inferring dumb or simpleton. Simpletons were also called noodles. Macaroni was slang for a dandy or fop. A dandy or fop was how someone who paid far more attention to their appearance than to their substance was known. That is, just by putting a feather in your cap doesn’t yet make you accomplished at the task at hand.

In short London mocked the revolutionary militia from day one of the uprising. I guess the Ugly Americans got the last laugh.

As the late Paul Harvey would bellow, “and now you know the rest of the story.”

Meet Abby Roux and her Doggedly Optimistic Look at Life.

Posted on September 16, 2018December 22, 2018 by thependulumswings staff

Scroll down if you dare after reading this brief post. Somebody’s watching. There she is. Meet Abby Roux. This beauty of a four-year old Vizsla is the Boom Boom’s Room exclusive and official mascot and watchdog. She has to pull double duty for us at the outset, budgets being what they are you know! Expect her to bust into the Room at times with her tail in full wag to give us a whimsical look at life as she sees it. Her first thought begs your interest below.

Old age and toilet paper are a lot alike. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes!

Abby and Boom Boom shook on the deal last evening.

Welcome on board Abby.

Let Mike the Tiger Geaux! Neaux!

Posted on September 14, 2018December 22, 2018 by thependulumswings staff

A well-meaning, California-based group has collected 35k plus petition signatures encouraging the powers that be to let Mike VII the Tiger, the live two-year old LSU mascot, go free. Read more here. This isn’t new news. The group Care2, which claims 40 million members, started a similar petition after Mike VI lost a long battle with cancer about 18 months ago. Mike VII replace Mike VI last August.

The Boom Boom Room has a few thoughts about the Care2 initiative if you care to read them below.

This live tiger was born in captivity and rescued due to poor living conditions and violations by the previous owner.
According to animal experts he has never been in the wild and cannot be released into it since he has never had to hunt for food and therefore could not survive.
His habitat cost over three million to build. It covers over 1.5 acres. It has an indoor area as well as an expansive outdoor area.
The outdoor area includes a cool pool. The indoor area has a “warm” area and a “cooling” area. He can choose his body temp whether he is inside or out essentially.
The LSU vet examines him regularly and is on call 24/7 making his health a great priority.
Vet students care for the animal daily. This gives them an ongoing learning opportunity. This gives Mike great attention.
His diet is better than yours and mine.
LSU no longer encourages or forces the animal into a smaller mobile cage to parade him around the field on game day.
The average lifespan of these glorious animals increases by over 33% when placed in this type of environment.
The worldwide wild tiger population is and has been under siege due to poaching. Skins can fetch several thousand dollars in the black market.

Maybe Care2 should care more about that illegal poaching that kills thousand of tigers each year than one tiger who lives a pretty pampered existence. And, isn’t it easy to “sign” a petition online? “Sign here if you are against caging live tigers.” Duh. Thirty five thousand signatures from an organization that boasts 40 million members sounds pretty darn indifferent too. Aren’t there many trees that still need a hug?

Mike sez, “I am tiger, hear me happily roar.”

Welcome to Boom Boom’s Room

Posted on September 14, 2018December 22, 2018 by thependulumswings staff

Welcome to Boom Boom’s Room.

Pull up a chair. However, it’s recommended that you sit on the edge of your seat. Why? It’s because today’s world is very polarized and driven by emotion and spin. Too often people are either for or against something and their minds are closed. Robust discussion and great debate, once deemed healthy, are now considered “offensive.”

It’s easy to say the obvious. Too many go along to get along. It’s harder to think beyond the surface, use logic, think critically, question conventional wisdom, and speak your mind. That is exactly what we do here. We have something to say, and say it we will. And, we hope that you will too.

So what’s with this name-boomboomsroom.com? Boom Boom was my father’s nickname bestowed upon him by my niece and oldest nephew long ago. Thankfully, it stuck. And his teachings (my life’s lessons) have stuck with me. So, if it’s news, sports, or learnings from life, it’s here and it’s unabashed. It’s that spirit that drives me. It’s time to say and do what needs to be said and done.

Lefty and Shorty? Glad you asked. You’ll meet them soon enough.

Engage. Enrage. Enjoy.

Boom Boom’s Life Lessons

Posted on September 12, 2018July 14, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

One of the many gifts that Boom Boom gave us was the torrent of quips about how one leads one’s life. He could say so much by saying so little. A statement at just the right moment resonated in my young, eager eardrums. How I interpreted or applied it was up to me. No more words were spoken because no more words were needed.

My intent is to simply drop them here from time to time for reflection in your life. Perhaps you can benefit as I have. Whether all of the quotes were originally his(the vast majority are), or if he was himself inspired by a few along the way isn’t relevant. The message is. Our first one of many is below. Enjoy. Engage.

“Champions sweat when no one else is watching.”

Perhaps this quote will inspire you to share a story or a thought with a loved one.

Father Time is Undefeated. Don’t Help Him.

Posted on January 1, 2018January 1, 2019 by thependulumswings staff

Texting while driving can be deadly. Texting while walking isn’t much better. You’ve seen the videos. Unfortunately people do dumb things while fixated on their smart phones. People walk into anything, anywhere, anytime when distracted. But, walking into traffic or crossing a street illegally is a bird brain thing to do. If a cop in a bad mood observes this you might get ticketed for “jaywalking.” How did this irresponsible behavior’s name take flight? Its meaning and origin follows.

Meaning: One who crosses the street in a reckless or illegal manner
History: Jay birds that traveled outside of the forest into urban areas often became confused and unaware of the potential dangers in the city – like traffic. Amused by their erratic behavior, people began using the term “Jaywalker” to describe someone who crossed the street irresponsibly.

Nothing good comes of jaywalking. You could cause an accident, be in an accident, or worse case you could die in an accident. What a way to go. Imagine your loved ones explaining that jaywalking caused you to die, or “kick the bucket.” How “kicking the bucket” became a phrase to describe death isn’t pleasant and is described below.. You’ve been warned.

Meaning: To die
History: When a cow was killed at a slaughterhouse, a bucket was placed under it while it was positioned on a pulley. Sometimes the animal’s legs would kick during the adjustment of the rope and it would literally kick the bucket before being killed.

Father Time is undefeated. There is no need to help him by mindlessly walking into traffic and possibly kicking the bucket.