Max Lager's in downtown Atlanta's like "Cheers"

I first discovered Max Lager's "American Grill & Brewery" when I was trying to find a place to meet up with a friend in Atlanta about, oh, 4 years ago. It was a large, yet homey kind of establishment with great food and a lot of beer.



This time, I decided to return to Max Lager's, and I'm really glad I did. I met the owner, Alan LeBlanc who's in the picture with me, and the person who took it, Chris Merle, is fron Tucson, Arizona and was in town for a programmer's conference. If you're guessing that we talked about Star Trek, you're right. I can't imagine what in this post would ever give that away?

Max Lager's reminds me of the fictional bar "Cheers" where everyone knows your name, and you're always glad you came!

Cool place. Nice time. G reat food.

Winter Olympics super athlete Gretchen Bleiler's at MakeItPro.com

The Winter Olympics has given new light to American athletes who have a good Internet footprint. One of them - Olympics star Gretchen Bleiler - calls her social network home MakeItPro.com.

To be sure, the super-hot, super sexy, super athletic and newly married snowboarding star that is Gretchen Bleiler has her own website and any number of blogs, but it's at MakeItPro.com where Bleiler best connects with her fans and friends.

But what's MakeItPro.com?

MakeItPro.com is a one-year-old Facebook-style social networking website that's specifically designed for athletes. The site is ran by Founder and President Jill Osur and a 15-person staff based out of Walnut Creek in the San Francisco Bay Area. This blogger has known Jill since 1991 and watched her build the social network from a few pages in a beta format to where it is today.

From the start, Jill wanted to feature Olympic athletes, and really admired Gretchen Bleiler. Now, Gretchen Bleiler's featured at MakeItPro.com and was the first athlete to be placed in the site in 2009.

Bleiler's also part of MakeItPro.com's "Olympic Zone" which is billed as a place that "features the latest Olympic coverage from Vancouver, as well as schedules, team rosters and more." But what's really just plain neat about MakeItPro.com is it's free to join and you're just a click away from the awesome American athlete and Olympics hero that is Gretchen Bleiler. Check her out at out and send her a message of thanks for representing the U.S.A.

And if you need direction by now, just click here: Gretchen Bleiler at MakeItPro.com.

Tiger Woods speech today - Gloria Allred and Joslyn James respond

Tiger Woods speech, poll, transcript.

Tiger Woods finished his 13-minute speech of apology today, and while many applaud Tiger Woods' speech and his honesty, there's one person not buying it: Gloria Allred. Allred, the famous Los Angeles civil rights lawyer, is representing two of Tiger Woods' former mistresses, Rachel Uchitel and Joslyn James (Veronica Siwik-Daniels). Thus, Allred has a unique axe to grind.

Here's the video of Allred's response:

 

Holding her own LA press conference, Allred was not kind. She called it a "disgrace" and said..

"I just watched Tiger Woods' apology on television, and he said that many people believed in him. He also said he wanted to make amends. He did not apologize by name to my client, Veronica, and I ask, why no apology? Veronica had a three year romantic relationship with Tiger Woods."

Then Allred went on to list what Tiger Woods said to her and the other actions he took. "And yet he did not acknowledge their relationship today." In a tearfully-read statement, Veronica said that all she wanted was a telephone apology.

Gloria Allred says Tiger Woods needs "lying rehab" more than sex rehab. But didn't Veronica Siwik-Daniels enter into the relationship knowing that he was married with children? This brings up more questions than answers. Does Joslyn James / Veronica Siwik-Daniels plan to sue Tiger Woods?

Stay tuned.

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Tiger Woods speech today - Tiger Woods speech poll, transcript

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Tiger Woods gave his long awaited speech today. The Tiger Woods speech featured an honest, forthright, angry, combative, sad, and intense Tiger Woods; a combination this blogger has not seen before. Regardless of what John Daly or Gloria Allred say, Woods is believable. His speech was not a stunt or a photo-op.

Tiger Woods said "I'm deeply sorry for my irresponsible and my selfish behavior I engaged in," and that started a 13-minutes journey the World took with "The World's Greatest Golfer" as Tiger Woods went on to confess that it was indeed him who was involved in all of those many affairs, about 13 in all. (But 12 of them after he was married to Elin Nordegren in 2004.)

CBS News Video:



Tiger Woods came clear today, but he's in no way back to any solid state of mental health at this point. He's not heeled. He's sad and also angry - very angry. His greatest anger was reserved for the media and how it followed his wife, mother, and kids in a desperate search for photo ops and interviews. He was also angry with those who reported and blogged that his wife hit him (this blogger was one of those who did), and says it was not true at all.

Tiger Woods displayed an enormous well of pent-up anger, but just what he will do with it is any one's guess. Tiger Woods should not forget that for all of the public reactions to him and his family, it was something that started with his actions. If he realizes that, the anger will subside and he will get on with the business of being true to his wife. If anyone can muster the focus necessary to get back on track, Tiger Woods can.

What's your view? Here's a transscript of Woods speech, the video's above and a poll's below and just before the transcript. Share your view, or make a video at YouTube and me know about it.

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Tiger Woods transcript from ASAP Sports:

PGA TOUR: TIGER WOODS STATEMENT

February 19, 2010

Tiger Woods

TIGER WOODS: Good morning, and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me or you've worked with me or you've supported me.
Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.
I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and to my children. And while I have always tried to be a private person, there are some things I want to say.
Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss; however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.
I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down, and I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me, I have let you down personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners.
To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors, and most importantly, the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago, my dad and I envisioned helping young people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the Learning Center students in Southern California to the Earl Woods scholars in Washington, D.C., millions of kids have changed their lives, and I am dedicated to making sure that continues.
But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position.
For all that I have done, I am so sorry.
I have a lot to atone for, but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame.
The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame.
I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them.
I was wrong. I was foolish. I don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me.
I've had a lot of time to think about what I've done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It's now up to me to make amends, and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I've made. It's up to me to start living a life of integrity.
I once heard, and I believe it's true, it's not what you achieve in life that matters; it's what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count.
Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.
It's hard to admit that I need help, but I do. For 45 days from the end of December to early February, I was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I'm facing. I have a long way to go. But I've taken my first steps in the right direction.
As I proceed, I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me for the details and the times I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin and I will remain together. Please know that as far as I'm concerned, every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife.
Some people have made up things that never happened. They said I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false. Some have written things about my family. Despite the damage I have done, I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things; I did.
I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors, my commercial endorsements. When my children were born, we only released photographs so that the paparazzi could not chase them. However, my behavior doesn't make it right for the media to follow my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to school and report the school's location. They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom. Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone.
I recognize I have brought this on myself, and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe it to my family to become a better person. I owe it to those closest to me to become a better man. That's where my focus will be.
I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don't realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously I lost track of what I was taught.
As I move forward, I will continue to receive help because I've learned that's how people really do change. Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I'm making these remarks today.
In therapy I've learned the importance of looking at my spiritual life and keeping in balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so I can save the things that are most important to me, my marriage and my children.
That also means relying on others for help. I've learned to seek support from my peers in therapy, and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help. I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don't know when that day will be.
I don't rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game. In recent weeks I have received many thousands of emails, letters and phone calls from people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me.
I want to thank the PGA TOUR, Commissioner Finchem, and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course.
Finally, there are many people in this room, and there are many people at home who believed in me. Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again.
Thank you.

End of FastScripts

Joe Stack - Austin Texas plane crash suicide; Why?

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The reasons for the actions aside, Joe Stack left 13 injured, 2 dead in Thursday's Austin, Texas crash suicide. The question everyone is asking is why? But unlike Amy Bishop, who left no note and is alive in jail, Joe Stack left a long note, and is dead.

By now, the pattern emerges of a person who was angry with the IRS, unhappy with Austin, Texas, and sad because of his own misfortunes in life. But that doesn't explain what set Joe Stack to aim an airplane into an Austin, Texas building. While Joe Stack was angry with the IRS, there's no hard evidence that Stack was formally involved with the Tea Party Movement.

A more rounded, human picture of Joe Stack is emerging. Stack was a guitarist who played in the Billy Eil Band, and while photos of his association with the group have been removed, the action was done after they were posted online and clues about him remain. 

"Joe Stack – Bass, Vocals, Accordion on Spook Lights of Marfa" appear on the website. That means whatever ills Joe Stack carried around with him, he used music to help him cope with life.

Joe Stack was by all appearances a normal person getting along in life. He was married, had friends, was employed, and played more than one band...and by accounts not badly.

The recollections that appear from those acquainted with Stack were that "He seemed incredibly decent and mild-mannered" as Patrick Beach wrote in The Austin American Stateman.

Pat Beach was shocked and Billy Eli couldn't believe it. According to Beach, Eli said:

"He was the most sort of even-keeled and sane person I ever played with. I know everybody says that, but it's true. He was just a normal-seeming guy. I never heard him raise his voice."

Eli's band wasn't the only one Joe Stack played in. Stack was also a member of an Austin-based band called The Last Straw. On their MySpace page, the band wrote "We found a great keyboardist named Joe Stack."

It's hard to find any example of anyone who had anything bad to say about Joe Stack. Michael Cerza, who talked to Pat Beach for his column, said this:

"My impression of Joe was a kind, quiet, not at all brooding or taciturn person," Cerza said. "I didn't sense anything boiling under the surface. He was very pleased to get married again, I know that. There was no indication in his actions or his words that he would harm anyone. And then he crashes into a building full of strangers, innocent people. I can't make those ends meet in my mind. The madness of the times, maybe."

Just exactly what made Joe Stack reach that boiling point, that edge he wrote of being close to where he set his home on fire with his wife and daughter in it, and crashed a plane into a building, is not known as of this writing.

Joe Stack seemed normal. But then so did George Sodoni, who, last August 2009, went into a fitness club and shot women, after writing a web-based rant on his inability to get laid. And so did Dr. Amy Bishop, who , last Friday, got up and shot three of her University of Alabama-Huntsville colleagues in cold blood, then seemed to deny it ever happened.

Something is really wrong.

Stay tuned.

Congress prefers being lazy to being leaders

A year into President Obama's first term it's obvious Congress is in no hurry to pass reforms, so citizens live with growing risks and financial burdens. "We the People" are supposed to be in control of our government, but our needs are being trampled by a combination of one party largely posturing for political points and digging in their heels, while lobbyists use special interest money to shave off just enough votes from the other party to keep progress at an effective standstill.

Leaving the system as it's always been is laziness, not leadership. That kind of "leadership" would mean we were still colonies of European countries, if not living in caves.

Inaction and apathy rarely help when confronting a crisis; both the runaway costs and growing numbers of uninsured Americans, arguably fostered by flagrant profiteering of health care insurance companies, are parts of the crisis.

The U.S.A. has some of the best doctors, nurses, and medical training facilities in the world, yet a few greedy corporations are exploiting the system at the expense of our standard of living today. To insure that grip on our money, they spend money collected from customers to lobby in D.C. -- well over $1 million every day!

Is Congress hoping to leave this vast, profitable industry to self-regulate, the way they did with Wall Street? Are they really expecting advice from people hoping to make a profit will build a system that protects you and me? Putting solutions off is not only lazy, it burdens out children.

The sooner we fix how we pay for our health care the better off we'll all be. The founding fathers had the courage to face unpleasant truths and act despite the very real risk to their lives by opposing the King of England and his military legions. Are the people in Congress today opposing health care insurance changes scared to face down one money-making industry, or simply greedy?

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, and political analyst who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

Julia Mancuso wins second Silver Medal in Olympics

Julia Mancuso, the American female skier who on Wednesday collected the Silver Medal in the Women's Downhill race at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, earned another one Thursday in the "Women's Super Combined" according to the LA Times.

And where Julia Mancuso finished just .56 seconds (that's point-five-six) behind teammate Lindsey Vonn yesterday, Mancuso was ahead of Vonn today.

Lindsey Vonn has an unfortunate end to the Women's Super Combined, as she fell during the slalom run. The Gold Medal went to Germany's Maria Riesch (reportedly Vonn's good friend) while Sweden's Anja Paerson won the Bronze Medal.

Now, Mancuso has entered what ESPN's Howard Bryant calls "The Star Club". Mancuso, who won a Gold Medal in the giants slalom at the Toronto 2006 Games, was considered a dark horse known more for her sexy photos than for celebrity status as a pure skier. But all of that is in the past, except the photos and the lingerie line, which should sell at a high rate in the wake of her amazing win.

Julia Mancuso has a heavy Bay Area connection. The Squaw Valley-dweller's grandparents and four aunts all live in Marin County.

Stay tuned.