Craig Taylor's Blog

Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012

2012-02-13T17:31:00.002-05:00

Rest in peace, Whitney.

Gisele Stands By Her Man

2012-02-08T15:14:00.002-05:00

Gisele Bundchen makes the case that spouses of professional athletes should be seen rather than heard. Here she defends husband Tom Brady from the unsolicited observations of rabid New York Giants fans by scapegoating Patriot receivers for failing to catch balls thrown their way.

The Gronk

2012-02-08T15:08:00.002-05:00

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski should not be permitted on a dance floor, whether it follows a victory or a defeat.

Poor Mitt

2012-02-02T09:48:00.001-05:00

According to the Republican presidential candidate Willard Mitt Romney, the very poor are doing well in this struggling economy and therefore are not a high priority for him:

"I’m not concerned about the very poor; we have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich, they’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90 percent, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling, and I’ll continue to take that message across the nation.”

Don Cornelius 1936 - 2012

2012-02-02T08:36:00.004-05:00

Yesterday Los Angeles policemen summoned to a residence found Soul Train creator Don Cornelius suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He died en route to the hospital.

Cornelius was a pioneer in the television industry in presenting images of black folks that before had gone unnoticed and unacknowledged in mainstream media.

In his passing, I wish him love, peace and soul.

Curtis Mayfield Still Resonates

2012-01-21T14:58:00.001-05:00

In 2012 the message is as relevant as ever.

Obama Channeling Al Green

2012-01-21T14:55:00.000-05:00

Etta James 1938 - 2012

2012-01-21T14:46:00.003-05:00

The indomitable Etta James, who had battling serious health problems in recent years, has died.

King's Letter

2012-01-17T10:01:00.004-05:00

Martin Luther King's Dream speech gets a lot of attention and rightly so, but his Letter from Birmingham Jail is also a remarkable expression of the nature of the struggle that he led:

We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"; when you take a cross county drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading "white" and "colored"; when your first name becomes "nigger," your middle name becomes "boy" (however old you are) and your last name becomes "John," and your wife and mother are never given the respected title "Mrs."; when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of "nobodiness"--then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court's decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may well ask: "How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?" The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all."

Ali at 70

2012-01-17T08:54:00.004-05:00

Muhammad Ali celebrates his 70th birthday today. Happy birthday, champ.

Sam Rivers 1923 - 2011

2011-12-28T15:27:00.002-05:00

Musician and composer Sam Rivers died Monday at his home in Orlando, Florida.

Merry Christmas, Everybody

2011-12-25T10:37:00.001-05:00

This is the original recording of the classic Christmas Song by the Nat Cole Trio in 1946.

Caving In

2011-12-23T07:51:00.005-05:00

Last night House Republicans, who usually demonstrate steely resolve in opposing anything remotely advantageous to President Obama, caved on the extension of the payroll tax cut.

Misdirection

2011-12-22T07:36:00.003-05:00

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin) was overheard unflatteringly remarking on Michelle Obama's derriere. According to the congressman, the First Lady is a hypocrite in her campaign for childhood nutrition and physical fitness given what Sensenbrenner considers her ample posterior. Sensenbrenner's apparent preoccupation with Obama's backside is a subject for another day but judging from Sensenbrenner's portliness, he would do well to heed her message.

Crocodile Tears

2011-12-21T09:05:00.007-05:00

There is something irresistibly comical about North Koreans en masse, publicly mourning the death of the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il. It is almost as if there is competition on who can wail the longest and most uncontrollably while the cameras are rolling. Or, is there a penalty for displaying insufficient grief or stopping prematurely?

Romney Strikes Back

2011-12-14T15:47:00.004-05:00

Faced with the rising poll numbers of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney has jettisoned the strategy of being above the fray and has sharpened his attacks on his opponent.

The Tebow Effect

2011-12-14T15:16:00.003-05:00

Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback, has captured the imagination of the general public in leading his team to six straight victories and first place in the American Football Conference West division, despite lacking the skill set one typically associates with NFL quarterbacking. Tebow is that rare commodity whose intangibles - bold leadership, passion, and competitiveness - far outstrip his mechanics and mastery of the technical side of the game. How long this phenomenon lasts is anybody's guess.

A Strange Defense

2011-12-14T14:23:00.005-05:00

Joe Amendola, former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky's lawyer in the child sex abuse scandal, has mounted an unconventional, and some would say an ill-advised, defense strategy, allowing his client to be interviewed by NBC's Bob Costas and the New York Times and yesterday forgoing the preliminary hearing in the more than 50 counts leveled against him. Either Amendola is uncannily shrewd or frightfully inept. There is no middle ground.

You're Fired

2011-12-14T09:05:00.003-05:00

Donald Trump, the carnival barker and shameless self-promoter, has decided to pull the plug on the scheduled Republican presidential debate, due largely to lack of interest - only Gingrich and Rick Santorum committed to what promised to be a sideshow with the Donald serving as moderator.

The Ringmaster and The Candidate

2011-12-08T07:58:00.001-05:00

The former House Speaker and current flavor of the week cavorts with the Donald whose apparent influence in the Republican party is curious and bizarre.

Fading Away

2011-11-30T13:55:00.001-05:00

My favorite Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, who if he isn't brain locking on a straightforward question about Obama's Libya policy or the name of the moderator in a recent debate, finds himself embroiled in yet another instance of sexual impropriety, the most recent being one Ginger White who alleges that she and the Hermanator carried on an extramarital affair for more than 13 years. As of this writing, Cain and his comically inept campaign advisers are in the process of reassessment in light of Ms. White's allegations. Apparently, "reassessing" means different things to different Cain aides, ranging from strategic and tactical considerations to the continuation of the campaign itself. But with sinking poll numbers and the cash flow drying up, it looks like it is all over but the shouting.

Perry's Gaffes

2011-11-30T13:36:00.001-05:00

It seems that every week Texas Governor Rick Perry utters something that gives credence to the charge that he's intellectually challenged. Here he manages to misstate the voting age requirement and date of the next presidential election.

Twirling Around

2011-11-15T08:58:00.000-05:00

Appearing before a newspaper editorial board in a routine question and answer session, Herman Cain stumbled badly in trying to answer a question about Obama's actions in Libya. Cain's embarrassing moment invites comparison with his rival Rick Perry who was hard-pressed in naming the third agency he would eliminate if elected.

Now, Not Later

2011-11-09T19:31:00.000-05:00

It is interesting to note that the president of Penn State will either resign or be fired by the Board of Trustees shortly in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal; meanwhile, Joe Paterno has announced that he will resign at the end of the season and that the Board need not concern itself with his status. In other words, the legendary Joe Pa is saying to the world that he's going out on his own terms. Such a move indicates who wields the power on the campuses of big time collegiate athletics. In a rational world, Paterno would be fired forthwith.

A Disgraceful End

2011-11-08T16:53:00.000-05:00

The New York Times reports that discussions are underway for legendary Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno to step down amid the arrest of former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky for sexually abusing boys. When told that Sandusky was involved in inappropriate behavior with a boy in a shower, Paterno only reported the incident to his supervisor the athletic director, an action legally sufficient but far short of the mark morally. This is especially damning for an individual and program long regarded as the exemplars of how to operate an above board, transparent manner.

Murray Guilty

2011-11-08T14:58:00.001-05:00

It was no surprise that a Los Angeles jury, after deliberating for not quite two days, convicted Dr. Conrad Murray of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. With what proved to be a lethal combination of ineptitude and sheer incompetence, Murray's crime was allowing the glow of the King of Pop's celebrity to interfere with his professional judgment and responsibility as a physician. But the trial also reminded us once again that Jackson was a drug addict and tormented soul who sadly never came to grips with being deprived of a childhood.

The Straight Shooter

2011-11-08T13:53:00.000-05:00

With a fourth woman coming forward alleging sexually inappropriate behavior, the beleagured Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has scheduled a press conference this afternoon, presumably to finally set the record straight. Few have remarked upon the most significant fact surrounding this scandal, namely, how badly the Cain campaign has mismanaged this crisis and what it says about an improbable Cain presidency, despite having prior knowledge for 10 days that Politico was working on the story.

Joe Frazier 1944 - 2011

2011-11-08T13:35:00.000-05:00

It is sad to hear about the death from liver cancer of former world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Frazier, whose name will be forever linked with Muhammad Ali for their three legendary bouts, was a great champion both inside and outside the ring.

Geopolitics

2011-10-19T14:40:00.001-04:00

I never believed that Michele Bachmann had a realistic chance of emerging as the Republican party presidential nominee. Notwithstanding her penchant for making shit up, she never struck as being nothing more than a religious zealot with an uncertain grip on reality. During last night's debate in Las Vegas featuring the Minnesota congresswoman and the six dwarfs, Bachmann proved that in addition to her other deficiencies, she is breathtakingly ignorant about basic geography, complaining that Obama got us into Libya and now he's getting us into Africa (the country of Libya being located on the continent of Africa).

The Hermanator

2011-10-10T12:20:00.003-04:00

Herman Cain's unexpected victory in the Florida Republican Party straw poll is probably the apogee of a quixotic quest for the party nomination; for the result signifies much more about Texas Gov. Rick Perry's unstable candidacy than it does about Cain emerging implausibly as the eventual nominee.

Derrick Bell 1930-2011

2011-10-10T12:18:00.000-04:00

The legal scholar Derrick Bell, who pioneered the critical race theory, died last Wednesday.

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

2011-10-06T08:06:00.000-04:00

RIP

Mayweather Again

2011-09-19T14:24:00.001-04:00

Those who accuse the villainous and offensively arrogant Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in sucker punching himself to a fourth round knockout over Victor Ortiz are off-base in their criticism. First, Ortiz in an apparent fit of desperation resorted to head-butting in an effort to turn the tide; and second, attempting to apologize for the infraction, he failed to adhere to the admonition fighters have been reminded of since time immemorial, namely, "protect oneself at all times." Indeed, the referee said that the time was in and that Mayweather hadn't done anything illegal.

Sonny Rollins, 2011 Kennedy Center Honoree

2011-09-08T08:27:00.000-04:00

The Kennedy Center announced that tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins is among the artists recognized in 2011 for contributions to American culture. Meryl Streep, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, and Barbara Cook round out the group.

Happy Birthday Bird

2011-08-29T09:25:00.001-04:00

The genius Charlie Parker was born August 29, 1920.

McCain's Gift

2011-08-22T09:33:00.004-04:00

Senator John McCain should never be forgiven for selecting Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate and thereby providing her with national prominence. That McCain still holds her in high regard is testament to his enduring stupidity.

Bachmann and Elvis

2011-08-17T15:43:00.003-04:00

Rep. Michele Bachmann opened her South Carolina campaign for the Republican presidential nomination by asking the crowd to join with her in wishing Elvis Presley happy birthday. The only problem is that August 16th is the date Presley died. The congresswoman has a rather curious habit of making up shit.

Pathetic Newt

2011-08-15T09:37:00.005-04:00

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the Pillsbury doughboy, finished far back in the back of the over-hyped but meaningless Aimes straw poll. With campaign advisors exiting his campaign, not unlike sailors trying to save themselves from a sinking ship, and with a message that hasn't gained much traction among the party faithful, Gingrich is a politician whose best days are behind him. He should follow Tim Pawlenty's example and exit stage right.

A New Low

2011-08-15T09:16:00.004-04:00

According to a Gallup poll, President Obama's approval rating now stands at an anemic 39%, which is even lower than his predecessor George W. Bush at a comparable time in his presidency. A bus tour through the Midwest isn't likely to change the situation.

Dennis Rodman

2011-08-13T11:26:00.003-04:00

Last night Dennis Rodman was inducted into the Basketball Hall-of-Fame, thus proving that accomplishment and performance sometime will not be overshadowed by eccentricities and abnormal behavior, at least in the eyes of those individuals voting on such matters.

Queen Bachmann

2011-08-11T08:05:00.004-04:00

Newsweek magazine has caught a lot of heat for presenting Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann in a negative light. Those on the right of the political spectrum reflexively call it yet another example of liberal bias in the mainstream media. And even some women's groups have gotten into the act calling this photo "sexist." I don't understand all the fuss. The picture, in my opinion, captures the essence of Rep. Bachmann: a crazed, right wing nut with no discernible qualifications for being president.

Credibility

2011-08-08T11:30:00.005-04:00

In light of its downgrade of the U.S. government debt, the question is just how credible is Standard and Poor's? After all, this is the rating agency that remained supportive of Enron before its implosion, issued triple A ratings to institutions in the housing debacle, and bestowed an A rating on Lehman Brothers before it collapsed. Apparently the standard is poor.

The Caged Bird

2011-08-05T15:19:00.006-04:00

This image of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stretched out on a stretcher or gurney in a cage in an courtroom, where he is being tried for corruption and the killings of political protestors, undoubtedly sends a chilling message to other Arab strongmen determined to avoid a similar fate.

Bubba Smith 1945 - 2011

2011-08-03T20:03:00.006-04:00

Bubba Smith, who was found dead today, was an outstanding defensive end for the Baltimore Colts and other NFL teams and later an actor famous for his role in the Police Academy series.

Gene McDaniels 1935 - 2011

2011-08-02T08:33:00.005-04:00

Singer and songwriter Gene McDaniels, who died Friday after a short illness, wrote the fifties hit Hundred Pounds of Clay and Compared to What for pianist Les McCann and saxophonist Eddie Harris.

Giffords Returns

2011-08-02T08:20:00.004-04:00

Without a doubt the most heart warming moment in yesterday's House vote to raise the debt ceiling was the return of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona), 8 months after she was shot in the head by a gunman last January.

Obama Capitulates

2011-08-01T15:08:00.002-04:00

Having voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election and witnessing, in what was for those of my generation, his improbable victory as the nation's first African-American chief executive, I am beginning to feel a sense of buyer's remorse with each decision the president makes, the debt ceiling deal being the latest case in point. Despite the lofty rhetoric, Obama falls painfully short when it comes to bold, decisive action. At the outset of this manufactured crisis, Obama insisted on a balanced approach of budget cuts and increased taxes on corporations and the rich. What we ended up with is a deal that focuses on spending cuts but says nothing about the revenue side of the equation. So much for the balanced approach and shared sacrifice.

Frank Foster 1928 - 2011

2011-07-28T08:32:00.004-04:00

Saxophonist, composer, and arranger Frank Foster, who died earlier this week, was a mainstay of the Count Basie Orchestra and writer of the jazz standard Shiny Stockings.

Wu Walks

2011-07-26T14:41:00.004-04:00

Representative David Wu (D-Oregon), under pressure from an alleged sexual encounter with a female teenager, has decided to resign from office, thus sparing the populace a long, protracted affair like the scandal involving aptly named Anthony Weiner and an opportunity to keep its attention fixed on the dysfunction that is governance in Washington, D. C., the most powerful city in the world.

Amy Winehouse 1983-2011

2011-07-26T14:29:00.003-04:00

Amy Winehouse, who was found dead in her apartment last Sunday, was a brillantly talented singer whose life was mired in addiction and related health problems.

The Debt Ceiling Crisis

2011-07-26T14:08:00.003-04:00

This is a manufactured crisis precipitated by a Republican Party and its leadership held hostage by eighty some House freshmen beholden to the lunatic Tea Party and held bent on sticking to principles even at the expense of national interests. The truth of the matter is that Speaker John Boehner cannot control his caucus and therefore whatever concessions and compromises he has been successfully wrung from the White House and Senate Democrats are never enough to placate or satisfy his membership. Just where all this ends up is anybody's guess but one thing is certain: serious harm has already been done to the reputation and standing of the United States in the international community.

John Mackey 1941-2011

2011-07-09T11:37:00.002-04:00

John Mackey, who died Wednesday after years of battling dementia, distinguished himself both on and off the football field: first, as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the National Football League and then as president of the players union.

Frederick Douglass on July 4th

2011-07-04T19:21:00.006-04:00

This being July 4th, the celebration of the nation's independence, I habitually turn to the words of the great Frederick Douglass, from a speech he delivered in 1852, "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro." I see this personal ritual as a way of paying homage to and remembering the sacrifices of ancestors who made it possible for me and those of my generation to be where we are today and a reminder of how far we have come as a people and how much further we need to go. In part, Douglass noted with characteristic rhetorical flourish:

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy -- a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.

The Lady Speaks

2011-07-01T16:01:00.006-04:00

After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit federal witness and evidence tampering, Prince George's County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson read the following statement that establishes a new low on the part of a corrupt politician for selfishness, arrogance and self-delusion:

I made a mistake and today I accept responsibility for my conduct. I only ask not to be defined by this mistake, but by the countless days and months and years I have devoted to serving our community and people. I look forward to continuing to serve.

Lorenzo Charles 1963-2011

2011-06-29T11:19:00.002-04:00

Lorenzo Charles, who died Monday while driving a chartered bus in North Carolina, scored perhaps the famous dunk that allowed North Carolina State to upset the heavily favored Houston Cougars in the 1983 NCAA championship game.

A Song for Fathers

2011-06-19T14:21:00.002-04:00

This is Leon Thomas's vocal version of Horace Silver's Song for My Father.

Happy Father's Day.

A Pathetic Response

2011-06-13T09:55:00.006-04:00

In the wake of losing the 2011 NBA Finals, LeBron James tweeted philosophically: "The Greater Man upstairs knows when it's my time. Right now isn't the time." This is a pathetic response by the self-described Chosen One, King James. Few excuses for poor performance are more irksome than professional athletes invoking God in the discussion as a way of rationalizing personal failings and shortcomings. One would assume that the Almighty has better, more pressing concerns than to inject himself in the outcome of the NBA Finals. Indeed, it would seem that it has been a few centuries since he demonstrated any stake or rooting interest in athletic contests, David versus Goliath being the notable exception.

Tasteless

2011-06-10T10:49:00.006-04:00

After morning shoot around, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James found the time to mock Dirk Nowitzki who reportedly ran a temperature of 101 degrees before game 4. Of course, Nowitzki despite the illness led his team to victory. The expression, "He who laughs last, laughs best" comes immediately to mind, especially so for James who has pulled a disappearing act in the 4th quarter of games 4 and 5.

Weiner, More or Less

2011-06-09T09:04:00.006-04:00

As Washington sex scandals go, Rep. Anthony Weiner's situation is blandly familiar: an otherwise intelligent politician recklessly succumbing to the temptations of the flesh. What distinguishes it from the other instances of politicians behaving badly is the central role played by social networking. In this high tech world, the word and/or images circulate quickly and are irretrievable.

In Defense of LeBron James

2011-06-07T18:15:00.003-04:00

I am no fan of LeBron James mainly because I believe that despite his prodigious talent he hasn't accomplish anything remotely commensurate with the all the hype heaped upon him and his delusions about becoming a global icon. While I don't quibble with his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to "take his talents to South Beach," I thought the infomercial in concert with ESPN was tactless, classless, and essentially an exercise in self-absorption. That said, the criticism that James has disappeared in the fourth quarter of Heat's games against the Dallas Mavericks is misguided and ridiculous. While his teammate Dwyane Wade has exploded offensively, James has emerged as a shutdown defender on Jason Terry and a devastating passer, allowing Wade, Chris Bosh, and others to score at critical times.

Ray Bryant 1931 - 2011

2011-06-06T14:42:00.003-04:00

Ray Bryant, who died last Thursday after a long illness, was a noted jazz pianist and composer.

The Uncertain Weiner

2011-06-02T10:04:00.003-04:00

As Washington political scandals go, the latest one involving Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-New York) and the photograph of a crotch that might or might not be his establishes a new low in absurdity. The congressman claims that hacker got into his Twitter account and transmitted a below the waist picture of a man in his underwear to an unsuspecting female college student in Washington state. Weiner explains that he cannot say with certitude whether aforesaid crotch is his.

Clarice Taylor 1917 - 2011

2011-06-02T08:36:00.005-04:00

Actress Clarice Taylor, who died yesterday of heart failure, was noted for playing the mother of Cliff Huxtable in The Cosby Show. She was 93 years old.

Kareem Chimes In

2011-06-01T19:22:00.005-04:00

It is difficult to understand just what has come over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of late: first, he lashes out at the Los Angeles Lakers organization for its failure to erect a statue outside the Staple Center in his honor; now, he is taking Scottie Pippen to task in an open letter for limiting the greatest basketball player conversation to Michael Jordan and LeBron James, thereby leaving Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain out of the equation. This is Abdul-Jabbar's letter:

Dear Scottie,

I have nothing but respect for you my friend as an athlete and knowledgeable basketball mind. But you are way off in your assessment of who is the greatest player of all time and the greatest scorer of all time. Your comments are off because of your limited perspective. You obviously never saw Wilt Chamberlain play who undoubtedly was the greatest scorer this game has ever known. When did MJ ever average 50.4 points per game plus 25.7 rebounds? (Wilt in the 1962 season when blocked shot statistics were not kept). We will never accurately know how many shots Wilt blocked. Oh by the way in 1967 and 68. Wilt was a league leader in assists. Did MJ ever score 100 points in a game? How many times did MJ score more than 60 points in a game? MJ led the league in scoring in consecutive seasons for 10 years but he did this in an NBA that eventually expanded into 30 teams vs. when Wilt played and there were only 8 teams. Every team had the opportunity to amass a solid nucleus. Only the cream of the basketball world got to play then. So MJ has to be appraised in perspective. His incredible athletic ability, charisma and leadership on the court helped to make basketball popular around the world — no question about that. But in terms of greatness MJ has to take a backseat to The Stilt.

In terms of winning, Michael excelled as both an emotional and scoring leader but Bill Russell’s Celtics won 8 consecutive NBA Championships. Bills rebounding average per game is over 22.5 lifetime, MJs best rebounding years was 8 per game (1989). But we will never know exactly how many shots Bill Russell blocked because again, they never kept that statistic while he played. However, if you ask anybody that played against Russell they will just roll their eyes and say he blocked all the shots he wanted to block in the crucial moments of a game.

Bill played on a total of 11 Championship teams and as you very well know, Scottie, the ring is the thing, and everything else is just statistics. So I would advise you to do a little homework before crowning Michael or Lebron with the title of best ever. As dominant as he is, Lebron has yet to win a championship. I must say that it looks like Miami has finally put the team together that will change that circumstance. Its my hope that today’s players get a better perspective on exactly what has been done in this league in the days of yore.

The change in style to the game is not any indication as to how many really talented players there are in the game. So the fact that skilled players come from all over the world does not change the quantity of outstanding talent. Simply put the number of players that could have stopped Wilt Chamberlain in his prime has not increased.

Affectionately, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer

Gil Scott-Heron 1949-2011

2011-05-28T09:22:00.003-04:00

Poet, writer, and singer Gil Scott-Heron is dead. He was 62 years old.

MJ or LeBron

2011-05-28T08:49:00.004-04:00

Appearing on the ESPN radio show Friday, "Mike and Mike in the Morning," hall-of-famer Scottie Pippen, who played Robin to Michael Jordan's Batman, expressed the heretical view that while Jordan is the greatest scorer of all-time, LeBron James might yet be the greatest player of all-time. As is customary in situations of this sort, Pippen has subsequently modified his comments, having been subjected to a barrage of criticism for his outlandish opinion. True, James is an immensely talented player and among the best of his generation, but he is also the recipient of excessive hype that he has failed to fulfill. And it goes without saying that it is somewhat presumptuous to mention James in the same breath with Jordan, the latter having won 6 NBA championships while the former none.

The Long Goodbye

2011-05-24T14:12:00.006-04:00

Oprah Winfrey's interminable farewell tour reminds me of that relative who overstays and long since wore out his welcome while promising to leave soon; all the while getting your hopes up for the much anticipated moment of departure. Count me part of a minority of folks who never cared much for the narcissistic Miss O or figured out what all the fuss has been about for these past twenty-five or so years.

Miscalculation

2011-05-24T09:37:00.004-04:00

Harold Camping, the Christian huckster and charlatan who predicted the end of the world on May 21st, says he miscalculated by five months and that the much anticipated end will be October 21st. How this dude remains credible is beyond me.

What's Goin On at 40

2011-05-21T09:10:00.002-04:00

Today marks the fortieth anniversary of Marvin Gaye's timeless masterpiece What's Goin On, timeless not only for its musical artistry but also for what it says about the human condition.

Durant Thunders

2011-05-21T09:04:00.001-04:00

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant delivers a thunderous dunk over Dallas Mavericks center Brendan Heywood.

Newt's Rocky Start

2011-05-17T14:19:00.005-04:00

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has incurred the wrath of the right and thereby done incalculable damage to his presidential aspirations by characterizing Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposals as "right wing social engineering" and by endorsing some form of health care mandates.

Sideshow Silent

2011-05-11T14:29:00.000-04:00

This sideshow freak has been awfully quiet since the birther nonsense was laid to rest with the White House releasing Obama's long form birth certificate, the roasting the Donald suffered courtesy of the president at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, and the killing of Osama bin Laden. He has even been replaced by A.J. Foyt as pace car driver for the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. That said, I suspect that the silence is at best only temporary.

Channel Surfing

2011-05-09T13:26:00.005-04:00

There is something at once terribly banal and absurdly comical about Osama bin Laden, the world renown terrorist, bedecked in a cap, wrapped in a blanket, sitting hunched over with clicker in hand, reveling in the images of the glory of bygone days, as if he's a tired, washed up actor desperately and futilely clinging to what he once was (and thankfully what he will never be again).

Willie Mays at 80

2011-05-06T19:38:00.003-04:00

It is hard to believe that Willie Mays, the fabled "Say Hey" kid and perhaps the greatest baseball player extant, turns 80 years old today. Happy birthday, Willie.

Nominal Resistance

2011-05-04T13:19:00.003-04:00

Press secretary Jim Carney's revision that Osama bin Laden was unarmed when Navy SEALs shot him to death isn't surprising because capturing the terrorist mastermind to stand trial would have led to a messy, protracted situation. The United States government never intended bin Laden to be tried in a court of law, military or otherwise, which is why all the talk about bin Laden putting up resistance as justication for the shooting is just nonsense.

The Turnaround

2011-05-04T09:23:00.001-04:00

This is brutal.

Bin Laden Killed

2011-05-02T11:30:00.005-04:00

In a raid on a fortified compound in Pakistan by US special forces, Osama bin Laden, the intellectual mastermind behind 9/11, was killed by a gunshot to the head. Thus the world has rid itself of one less deluded terrorist and religious fanatic.

The Saint

2011-05-01T15:18:00.004-04:00

The late Pope John Paul II is on the fast track to sainthood. Having presided over one of the worst sex scandals in the history of the Catholic Church - more than 10,000 victims worldwide involving 4,500 priests - apparently is not a militating factor and presumably of little value in determining such heavenly matters.

The Birth

2011-04-27T11:04:00.004-04:00

This morning the White House released a photocopy of President Obama's long term birth certificate, confirming that he was indeed born in the state of Hawaii on August 4, 1961. Whether this is sufficient to assuage the lunatic birthers and the billionaire buffoon Donald Trump, I seriously doubt it. It is impossibly difficult to reason with the crazily irrational.

Phoebe Snow 1950-2010

2011-04-27T09:03:00.003-04:00

Phoebe Snow, who died yesterday from complications of a brain hemorrhage, was one of the most distinctive vocalists of her generation.

Herstory

2011-04-25T13:29:00.002-04:00

A letter to the Old Town Crier, a local monthly magazine, concerning its self-described history columnist Sarah Becker:

Sarah Becker's use of the neologism "Herstory" as the title of her April 2011 column is unfortunate and misguided, promising much more than it delivers, for even a casual reading readily reveals that Ms. Becker's piece is little more than a hodgepodge of events that might or might not bear on the topic; perpetuating the erroneous assumption that the word "history" is inherently sexist, when clearly it comes from the Latin, historia, meaning "inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation"; propounding the intellectually dubious view best articulated by critic Christina Hoff Sommers as the infusion of education with ideology at the sacrifice of knowledge; and conflating the women's movement struggle for equality with the historical reality indicates that the two are not the same.

The Closer

2011-04-25T09:18:00.003-04:00

LeBron James missed a game tying shot in the waning seconds of yesterday's playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Nothing new here, King James is 1 and 8 in late game situations where the Miami Heat are trailing by 3 points or less.

William Donald Schaefer

2011-04-25T08:53:00.002-04:00

This is a letter to the Washington Examiner.

Re: "Things Gov. Martin O'Malley could learn from Willie Don" April 20, 2011.

Gregory Kane lauds the late William Donald Schaefer for his refusal to engage in racial pandering, for not succumbing to political correctness, and for not being Gov. Martin O'Malley. Granted, Schaefer was an exemplary public servant having served as mayor, governor, and state comptroller; however, his legacy will be tainted by his unfortunate propensity, particularly in his later years, for uttering racist and sexist remarks. Alas, there were lessons that Willie Don failed to learn.

Uninvited House Guests

2011-04-19T15:11:00.002-04:00

Last week while outside in the backyard with our pug Mina awaiting her morning deposit, l looked up at the ledge between the middle living room window door and wood paneling and noticed several small branches and twigs that seem to constitute a bird nest. On closer inspection, I noticed what I took to be a pigeon - the dreaded rats of the air - so I grabbed a snow shovel and poked away at the nest, frightening off the bird but unable to dislodge the nest. Afterwards, I went upstairs with broom in hand, prepared to rid myself of this encroacher, this threat to domestic tranquility, this trespasser on private property. Opening the door, I looked down at the nest and noticed two small eggs. If I had succeeded in knocking the nest from its perch, I am embarrassed to say that I would have destroyed them both. So I closed the door, hoping that the expectant mother would return to the nest. When I told my wife Jyll about the discovery, she informed me that the birds in question were Mourning Doves. I am happy to report that the eggs are receiving proper attention, both the male and female returning to takes turns sitting in the nest (I have learned that Mourning Doves are extremely monogamous and apparently males are secure enough in their masculinity to take on what most people consider female duties). As for me, I am grateful for not having to carry around the miserable guilt of being a bird killer; I begin each morning checking on the family; and look forward to the day the eggs finally hatch.

iPad Did It

2011-04-19T08:59:00.005-04:00

Thanks Rep. Jackson for enlightening Americans to the cause of the nation's high unemployment rate: Steve Jobs' iPad. There are instances in which one should resist the urge to say something, especially when they don't have anything useful to say. I can't help but notice that the congressman didn't say a damn thing about returning Jobs' little device after experiencing the epiphany that 13 million Americans are out of work, presumably because of the iPad.

Factual Statements

2011-04-18T08:47:00.002-04:00

Apparently Senate Majority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) subscribes to the notion that uttering falsehoods and outright lies in the pursuit of partisan objectives is no vice. The fact is, only 3 percent of Planned Parenthood's budget involves abortions. When contacted by CNN for clarification, Kyl's office reportedly said, "his remark was not intended to be a factual statement." The late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously observed, "Everyone is entitled to his opinion, but not to his own facts." Sadly, Sen. Kyl does not know the difference.

Sleepin' Joe

2011-04-15T08:51:00.003-04:00

Poor Joe Biden got caught napping during President Obama's speech on reducing the federal budget deficit. Chances are Biden isn't the first vice president lulled asleep during a presidential speech, but he's the one with the misfortune of nodding off in an time where cameras and microphones are pretty much everywhere. I seem to recall that in a ceremony following passage of the Obama's health care legislation, Biden was caught uttering a few choice profanities.

The 43rd Anniversary

2011-04-04T15:28:00.003-04:00

Today April 4, 2011 marks the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther king, Jr., who dare we forget was in Memphis, Tennessee in support of sanitation workers as they struggled for collective bargaining rights.

Kane But Not Able

2011-04-04T08:51:00.003-04:00

As of this post, this is an unpublished letter to the editor Washington Examiner in response to a column by the chronically clueless Gregory Kane. This time the subject is Obama's decision to intervene in the Libyan civil war. Like Mr. Kane, I also have reservations about the administration's actions but I think the case cam be made in a much more intellectually respectful and coherent manner:

Letter to the editor (Washington Examiner):

Re: “Here we go again, following a president to war”, March 31, 2011.

Reading Gregory Kane’s criticism of President Obama’s humanitarian intervention of Libya, one infers that (1) Kane’s observations are only confined to those that happened during his lifetime – “I was way too young to remember any of President Truman’s reasons for involvement in the Korean War”; (2) that he is foreclosed from gaining information through reading, the route most intelligent people use in acquiring knowledge about events that happened before they were born; and (3) that since he gives George W. Bush a pass on Iraq, Democratic presidents – Truman, Johnson, and Obama - are the primary practitioners of US interventionism.

For Mr. Kane’s edification, the following is a list of United States interventions into the internal affairs of other nations since 1964 when Mr. Kane reached the age of 12 and presumably became conscious of world affairs: Indonesia 1965, the CIA backed a military coup, overthrowing President Sukarno and ushering in General Suharto; Congo 1965, the CIA backed a military coup, overthrowing President Joseph Kasavubu and bringing Joseph Mobutu to power; Dominican Republic 1965, 23,000 US troops landed in the Caribbean nation; Laos 1965, a bombing campaign was initiated that lasts eight years; Ghana 1966, CIA backed a military coup, overthrowing President Kwame Nkrumah; Guatemala 1966, the US began an extensive counterinsurgency operation; Cambodia 1969, CIA supported military coup overthrowing Prince Sihanouk ; Oman 1970, US conducted counter-insurgency operation; Laos 1971, US along with South Vietnamese forces invaded country; Chile 1973, CIA backed military coup, ousting President Salvador Allende and bringing to power Gen. Augusto Pinochet; Cambodia 1975, Marines invaded, engaging in combat with government forces; Angola 1976, US conducted military and CIA operations; Libya 1981, US naval jets shot down two Libyan jets in maneuvers over Mediterranean Sea; El Salvador 1981, CIA and special forces began a counter-insurgency campaign lasting several years; Nicaragua 1981, US directed Contra operations against regime; Lebanon 1982, Marines and naval forces landed in country; Grenada 1983, US forces invaded the country; Libya 1986, US conducted strikes against Gaddafi’s official residence; Bolivia 1986, US special forces units conducted counterinsurgency; Libya 1989, US Naval aircraft shot down two Libyan jets over Gulf of Sidra; Philippines 1989, CIA and special forces involved in counterinsurgency; Panama 1989, US dispatched 27,000 troops to overthrow President Noriega; Liberia 1990, troops deployed, conducting major military operations, naval blockade, and airstrikes; Somalia 1992, US special forces intervened; Yugoslavia 1992, US played significant role in NATO blockade; Bosnia 1993, US conducted major military operations, involving air and ground forces; Croatia 1995, US attacked Krajina Serb airfields; Zaire 1996, US marines involved in military operations in country’s eastern region; Iraq 2003, US led forces invade country, ousting Saddam Hussein from power; Haiti 2004, US marines landed and in concert with CIA backed forces overthrow President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Of particular interest is Mr. Kane’s take on what can be described as President Ronald Reagan’s 1986 humanitarian intervention in Grenada (“It is worth remembering who liberated people of Grenada”, Feb. 7, 2011). According to Mr. Kane, invading American military personnel were greeted with outpourings of hospitality and affection – “Others simply shouted ‘we love you’ to American troops as they passed by.” Mr. Kane concluded his glowing praise of the Gipper with, “Reagan delivered an island of black people from the clutches of Marxists thugs. You can rest assured he is remembered in Grenada.” One wonders how can the same rationale employed by Reagan in 1986 and Obama in 2011, for essentially similar actions, be viewed so differently. Apparently, in the world of punditry, especially the sort practiced by Mr. Kane, principle, consistency and intellectual integrity don’t matter.

A Case for Leniency

2011-04-04T08:36:00.004-04:00

This is the text of a letter to the editor concerning the case of Terri Phifer Vaughn, former Yeadon (Pa.) finance director, who was found guilty of theft and sentenced to prison. For purposes of disclosure, I am related to Terri through marriage.

To the Editor (Delaware County Daily Times):

Judge Michael Coll’s sentencing of Terri Phifer Vaugh, former Yeadon finance director, to prison from 12 to 24 months after being found guilty of charges of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and unlawful use of a computer was wrong, inappropriate and an abuse of discretion (“Ex-Yeadon official given prison sentence”, March 23rd). According to the article, Judge Coll justified the punishment because he found Ms. Vaughn insufficiently remorseful for misappropriation of $67,498 and because her misdeeds had cast a pall over the work environment for other borough workers.

From the beginning of this sordid affair, Ms. Vaughn has steadfastly and consistently denied all wrongdoing. That she was tried in a court of law, by a jury of her peers, and ultimately found guilty of some of the original charges does not mean that she should suddenly reverse course, admitting her guilt for a crime she didn’t commit and throwing herself on the mercy of Judge Coll, a judge not predisposed to staying within the parameters of the law. The judge, in pronouncing sentence, said: “What happened to this money? She took the cash, trashed the checks and used the money for her purposes.” Under even the most charitable interpretation, Judge Coll’s remarks manifestly exceed the specific charges for which Ms. Vaughn was found guilty, namely “failure to make required disposition of funds and lawful use of a computer.”

Under the circumstances, Ms. Vaughn comported herself about as well as anybody could reasonably expect. She acknowledged the pain of being charged, tried and found guilty of criminal acts; she once again declared her innocence; and she respectfully accepted the verdict of the jury, however flawed she believed it to be. Innocent defendants, as a rule, have nothing to be remorseful about.

But Judge Coll’s sentence is also objectionable because it not only is inconsistent with the specific acts, it also fails to fit the defendant. As demonstrated by pre-sentencing reports, Ms. Vaughn has been a law abiding citizen with no previous criminal record and no history of violent behavior. Being a first time offender who represents no threat to the community, the sentence of 12 to 24 months seems especially onerous. As State Rep. Ronald G. Waters, chairman, Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, noted in these pages on March 21st: “Why should we spend taxpayer dollars to incarcerate more nonviolent offenders when there are more and effective alternatives to help them? Each inmate costs the state an average of $33,000. Is this money well spent?”

As for the negative impact on other borough employees, this charge is not without irony given that the Yeadon city council essentially condoned and covered up former council member Terry McGirth’s sexual harassment of Ms. Vaughn and therefore the council fostered a hostile work environment. Mr. McGirth, a confessed embezzler of more than $100,000 from a kidney dialysis company and whose somewhat unconventional rehabilitation was a stint on Yeadon city council, ultimately pled guilt to the sexual harassment and resigned his seat. It is not difficult to see a connection between the zeal under which Ms. Vaughn has been prosecuted and the possible action for damages stemming from Mr. McGirth’s behavior and the Yeadon city council’s complicity therewith.

An Unmentionable

2011-03-30T10:01:00.005-04:00

Last week it was first reported by the New York Times that General Electric Co. earned $14.2 billion in profits worldwide, including $5.1 billion in the United States, but paid nothing to the United States Treasury in federal taxes. "NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams" failed to mention this tidbit of information about its parent company, presumably deeming the item insufficiently newsworthy.

Uncle Tomming

2011-03-30T09:20:00.003-04:00

This is an unpublished letter to the editor Washington Times in response to a column by Gregory Kane bashing Jalen Rose for use of the epithet "Uncle Tom":

Re: “So that’s the definition of ‘Uncle Tom’”, March 28th.

Gregory Kane claims that “[Jalen] Rose, by his statement, shows there is no further evidence needed to prove that black Americans have overused, misused and abused the term ‘Uncle Tom.’ The term used to mean a black person who was exceedingly servile, obsequious and submissive to whites.” As his is wont, Kane overstates the case. Rose, in a voicemail following the documentary, made it clear that the statement was in the context of how he felt as a nineteen year old: “I know a lot of people are trying to circumvent a great documentary that was two hours of quality content and paraphrase a statement that I made and look at the headline but not read the story. That’s basically when I talked about my recruiting as a high school student as it related to Duke. I just wanted to make sure that I verify how I felt about that. I was clearly talking about a framework from 1991 to 1993, not about 2011.” Given Kane’s musings on racial matters, I believe that there is an autobiographical element to his noisy protest, for I suspect he has found himself more than once on the wrong end of the epithet. To paraphrase the Bard, Kane “doth protest too much.”

Star Parker's Nonsense

2011-03-30T09:13:00.002-04:00

This is an unpublished letter to the Washington Times in response to a recent column by Star Parker on the poor treatment of Sarah Palin and Clarence Thomas:

Re: “Why liberals hate Clarence thomas and Sarah Palin”, March 26th.

Just as Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings running back, was severely criticized last week for trivializing slavery, comparing it to the National Football League owners treatment of its players, so too does columnist Star Parker deserve a similar reaction for mindlessly invoking the slavery analogy in describing the liberal mainstream media’s apparently scandalous treatment of former Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. Parker whines that “Thomas and Palin are particularly threatening to liberals because their lives fly in the face of liberal mythology.” “According to this mythology,” Parker continues, “the essential and ongoing struggle of interests between ‘haves’ and ‘have-not,’ rather than an ongoing struggle for human freedom.” This is impenetrable nonsense. Both Palin and Thomas have done extraordinarily well, notwithstanding their legions of liberal detractors: Palin, a remarkably incurious woman, has managed to parlay an abbreviated and undistinguished stint as chief executive of the state of Alaska and an ill-advised stunt of being selected as Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential running mate, into celebrity resulting in the lucrative enterprise known as Brand Palin; and Justice Thomas, despite a legal career of no particular distinction before being nominated by Bush the Elder for the High Court and despite a kinky preoccupation with porn, pubic hairs, and Coke cans, enjoys lifetime employment, where he isn’t required to say anything during oral arguments and where he occasionally cranks out nutty, reactionary opinions that pass for constitutional interpretation. So much for two slaves fleeing the plantation.

Questions and Answers

2011-03-28T15:35:00.003-04:00

Like most Americans of whatever political persuasion, I look forward with great anticipation to President Obama's speech tonight explaining why he decided to intervene in Libya's civil war and establish a no-fly zone. I will be listening to hear how he resolves the contradiction, on the one hand, calling for Moammar Gaddafi's outster while, on the other hand,claiming that United States involvement is strictly limited to humanitarian concerns, i.e., the protection of Libyan civilians. I will be listening to hear how intervention is justified in this case but not when, for instance, Israelis fire on Palestinians or the Saudis use of force in neighboring Bahrain to put down protests.

50's Ride

2011-03-26T12:52:00.005-04:00

Appearing on a British Broadcasting Company talk show, the rapper 50 Cent said somewhat matter-of-factly that his recent purchase of a bullet proof automobile was occasioned by the reality of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakir being shot to death while seated in the passenger's seat. In the world of hip hop, being shot at is such a commonplace, an occupational hazard, the cost of doing business that bulletproofing one's mode of transportation is a necessary and ordinary precaution.

The Donald

2011-03-24T10:20:00.005-04:00

The would be Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump - isn't America a wonderful country where any idiot can run for the highest office in the land? - has latched on what, in his demented mind, is the most important issue confronting the nation - whether Barack Obama was born in the United States of America. Stevie Wonder had it right, heaven help us all.

Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011

2011-03-23T10:18:00.005-04:00

The iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor died earlier today of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles. She was 79 years old.

A Dangerous Move

2011-03-23T10:05:00.003-04:00

The National Football League owners vote to move kickoffs to the 35 yard line is sold as an effort to promote safety in what is one of the most violent - and entertaining - plays in professional football. And therein lies the rub: how much can the league tinker with its rules to protect its players without altering the character of the game, a game whose popularity is largely predicated on its inherently violent nature?

George Washington and Slavery

2011-03-17T17:55:00.004-04:00

A letter to the editor about George Washington and Slavery that didn't make the cut:

In her paean to George Washington (letter, March 5th), Ellen Latane Tabb attempts to gloss over Washington’s involvement with slavery, writing “He opposed slavery and was faced with the problem of how to deal with hundreds in the Custis estate. His solution was to prepare them for freedom as much as possible.” This is nonsense. First: George Washington was mired in slavery for most of his life, inheriting slaves from his father at aged 11 in 1743, bequeathing 316 slaves at Mount Vernon their freedom upon his death in 1799. Second: Washington’s attitude toward slavery was typical of Virginia planters of the time namely, slavery was a commercial enterprise and the slaves themselves, subhuman and mere property to be used or abused as the slave master desired. Third: in what cannot be construed as a profile in courage, Washington, despite his standing and influence in the new nation, never went public with his reservations and misgivings about the institution of slavery.

Nature's Wrath

2011-03-14T20:59:00.008-04:00

Last week's earthquake-tsunami in Japan is a reminder, as if we needed reminding, of Nature's utter and unpredictable destructiveness. Unlike Haiti, an undeveloped nation racked with myriad problems, both manmade and natural, and extremely helpless in dealing with its earthquake, Japan, a highly developed nation which had undertaken extensive preparedness to minimize damages and preserve life, proved it was equally helpless to an earthquake now upgraded to 9 on the rickter scale.