SOCCER: Champion's League Matches Resume

The Champion's League games are back today and tomorrow (24th and 25th). Here are the games and my predictions:

March 24th
Arsenal v. Roma 1-1
Atletico v. Porto 2-0
Lyon v. Barcelona 1-3
Inter v. Man. United 1-2

March 25th
Chelsea v. Juventus 1-2 (I know I am a Chelsea fan)
Real Madrid v. Liverpool 0-2 (if Gerrard plays)
Sporting v. Bayern 0-2
Villareal v. Panathinaikos 1-1 (Well, I am Greek)

Tell me your Predictions!

WORLD POLITICS: North Korea Working on Long-Range Ballistic Missile

A fairly recent NYT.com article states that North Korea has been working on a long range ballistic missile that has the capabilities of reaching certain parts of North America. North Korea announced their space program a couple of days ago which will include releasing a satellite in the Earth's orbit. This attempt will allow North Korea with the technology to attack North America.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Asia last week discussing this matter with the leader of South Korea. Both of them stated that N.K. announcement was "very unhelpful" and "provocative."

I believe that N.K. will carry out its task of threatening North American airspace and any US incentive will do nothing to change their mind. For instance, Clinton told N.K. that if they abandon the program, then the US will supply them with economic aid. This is stupid and ridiculous. I believe North Korea's goal is to achieve a step closer to some sort of power or leverage against the US. Why would they give up their attempt for some economic aid? And, who are we, with our economy going downhill, to provide "rogue" nations with any financial support?

Just imagine this scenario: Imagine I enter your house, while your whole family is eating dinner. You know I look familiar because you have seen me in the papers a couple of times before. I have a bad reputation and have taken a couple of lives. I am a loose cannon with a trigger happy finger if you will. So, you approach me and ask me what business I have in your house. I just tell you that I was measuring how far my house was from yours. Not liking this idea, particularly because of the reputation I have, you try to bargain with me and tell me to stop this at once and to erase my recordings. I seem reluctant to do so and as I go to leave you tell me in desperation that you will provide me with some money if I do so. I pause before I open the door, and tell you "I will think about it." Now, your family is left with the fear of not knowing whether I will do anything with what I have done, and you have just appeared vulnerable before your possible future enemy. What will happen next? Power shift, fear, anxiety, war, negotiation, etc. Who knows!

SOCCER: English Premier League 2nd Update

This week is going to be quite interesting for English soccer fans. We have Chelsea v. Aston Villa, Man. United v. Blackburn, Arsenal v. Sunderland, and Liverpool v. Man. City.

The most interesting game out of the four will be Chelsea v. Aston Villa for a couple of reasons. As you all know from my previous post, Chelsea's ex-manager was relieved from his duties prematurely and Roman Abramovich, owner oof Chelsea, signed Guus Hiddink as the new and temporary manager of the Blues. Guus Hiddink headed the Russian International team in the Euro Cup and is quite an experienced and hardcore manager in my opinion. So, this weeks game will display his unique tactic. Hopefully, its wha it takes to get Chelsea back on their feet again. Second, Aston Villa is in third place, while Chelsea trails right behind them in fourth. So, the winner of this game will determine who will advance.

Stay tuned for more soccer. If you reside in the United States, the most interesting games of the Premier League are being broadcasted on Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports. If you do not have neither channel, I suggest you watch them live on your PC.

As of Feb. 20th, 2009:

Man Utd	25	59
Liverpool	25	54
Aston Villa	25	51
Chelsea	25	49
Arsenal	25	44
Everton	25	40
Wigan Athletic	25	34
West Ham Utd	25	33
Man City	25	31
Fulham	24	30
Sunderland	25	30
Hull City	25	29
Newcastle	25	27
Bolton	25	27
Portsmouth	25	27
Tottenham	25	25
Stoke City	25	24
Blackburn	24	23
Middlesbrough	25	22
WBA	25	22

SPORTS: Snowboarding Accident

Hey guys, I just wanted to share this funny snowboarding accident video with you. I went to Mount Killington in Vermont last year and I thought I could jump a small man-made ramp. To use Christian Bale's words, I am such an "amateur." Oh yeah and I know what your thinking. No! This is not the reason why my back hurts. Although it could be a reason why it cannot heal.

Politics: The Best and Worst Presidents

I just want all of you to check this recent article on CNN, which ranks our Presidents from best to worst.

Do you guys agree that Abraham Lincoln should be the best US President? And, would you settle with the fact that George W. Bush is only in the 36th rank? I always thought that FDR will be no.1 and Andrew Johnson would be the worst of the bunch. But, tell me what you think.

Also, I think any methodological approach to these sort of research experiments are ridiculous.

Here is the video from Keith Olbermann's show:

TV: 24 Season 7, Episode 9 4:00pm-5:00pm Review

So, we finally know who the mole is within the FBI. Sean is working with the conspiring organization set out to make President Taylor look bad. I always thought all along it would have been Janis because I would love to hate that genius freak. But, unfortunately its awkward Sean. However, I believe Sean was forced into helping out with the safe entry of Dubaku. He is definitely a conflicted character that we would end up feeling sorry for in the end.

Now Dubaku's girlfriend is not going to be on the show for too long because her death is necessary in order to weaken Renee's relationship with Jack. The death of Vosser, Renee's torture tactics, and now with the possible death of Malika, Dubaku's girlfriend, Renee will doubt the way Jack Bauer operates.

Chloe is back working for the government which is good I guess because her actions will eventually discover the mole in the FBI's office. She will also get into fights with Janis because I believe they have similar personalities. Two competing computer geeks within the same environment is never good.

We also get introduced to President Taylor's daughter who does not have a good relationship with her mother. Her character will be a fine addition to the show. I also believe that Taylor's son is still alive because we have not technically seen his death. Also, the First Gentleman will not die because he is too good of an actor to get thrown off the show too soon.

What I want to know is when are we going to see the main conspirators behind this disaster. We saw a glimpse of one major government member in the 24 Redemption film. The guy I believe is behind the supposed death of Taylor's son and the one aiding the Juma regime in Sangala is played by Jon Voight. I guess we will see him in the 11th or 12th hour of the show series.

Anyway, I cant wait for what will happen next, especially with what Tony Almeida will do to escape his current predicament with the law. Stay tuned for more 24.

SOCCER: Chelsea's Manager Scolari Ousted!

For all those Chelsea fans out there, a recent article on ESPN Soccernet has stated that Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has been relieved of his duties.

Ever since Chelsea's decline in performance, which began about two to three weeks ago, the suits at Chelsea have decided that Scolari is not right for the English team. After 6 months of being hired, Scolari was not able to bring the stamina and fluidity of brilliant soccer that usually accompanies his managerial tactics to Chelsea.

As I watched the previous three Chelsea games, I realized that they weren't bringing their A game. However, was firing Scolari a right move? I think it was not. I have a couple of reasons why this was not an acceptable and logical move.

First, Chelsea is missing several players due to injury, such as Essien, Drogba has been on and off, Joe Cole, and Carvahlo was injured. Second, the manager was new to English football and should have been given more time to make the proper adjustments. Third, it is not wise to remove an integral member of a soccer team especially right in the middle of a season. The chaos of trying to find someone new will definitely disrupt the style of play and psyche of the team.

Has it come to the point where certain football executives do not give enough time to managers to really show what they are made of? To tarnish the record of a legendary football manager because Chelsea has been losing a couple of games seems ridiculous to me. What do you think?

HEALTH: Are Inversion Tables Good For the Back?

There is not much I expect my readers to know about me, but the one thing they should know is that I have a bad lower back. Back in December of 2006, I helped my friend push his car out of a pile of snow. From the strenuous activity of pushing my L4-L5 disc slipped and has ever since been causing spinal stenosis. The intermittent pain has been with me up until now. I have had no relief and I have been to hundreds of medical professionals. For instance, I have been to three physical therapists, one kinesthesiologist, one osteopath, two spinal surgeons, three orthopedics, four chiropractors, and two neurologists. I have probably seen more doctors and hospitals than a hypochondriac. Anyway the reason I am posting is to review a product that has provided me with a breakthrough and relief for my back pain.

The product is called the Ironman Gravity 4000 Inversion table. The Ironman 4000 is a fine addition to its other brothers and sisters. However, instead of a roller to hold your feet, the 4000 edition provides you with a mechanism that locks your ankles securely and safely. Also, it provides you with a lumbar cushion that provides some lumbar support and forces your spine to assume its natural position.

Here are some tips when using any inversion table:

1. Do not invert yourself without shoes or with socks only. Inversion without shoes will provide pain, and inversion with socks only will provide pain as well and may also make you slip out of the rubber holdings.
   
2. When beginning to invert, take your time. Do not rapidly go in the inverted position. Let the blood flow to your upper body slowly.
   
3. When using the machine, make sure you have something soft placed under it (where your head will be) just in case you fall off.
4. When in the inverted position, take the time to do some ab exercises and/or back bends.
5. Do not stay on longer than 10-15 minutes a session. Try to do about two sessions a day. Do not stay on for more than 30 minutes a day.
6. While you are returning to an upright position, take it slow. Let the blood flow back to your lower body and to your nerves.

Now that I have provided you guys with some tips, I would like to mention the effects the machine has had on me. If you are someone who sits on a chair for more than 2 hours, than this machine is for you. After you feel that annoying ache or nerve pain, you can just jump on this machine and it will alleviate it for you. If you have a weak core and want to get into shape, then this machine is for you. Doing ab exercises on the inversion table is much easier than doing them on the floor, since the table relieves the pressure from your spine. The table also feeds your discs with the certain nutrients it needs to slip back into its normal position. The table elongates your spine allowing your discs to flap into a position that allows the blood to flow right through them.


I have been using the machine for two weeks now, and I have had some relief from my three year run of agonizing and debilitating pain. I just want you consumers to know that this machine does not guarantee that it will heal your back and by far it has not done that to mine. If you have chronic back pain, you will soon realize why they call it "chronic."

If anyone has any questions or wants to talk about their back problems, please feel free to comment below. And, for anyone interested in knowing the positives of using an inversion table, the link to the site is here

SOCCER: Premier League Update 1

2008/2009 English Premiership
			Overall							Home						Away
			GP	W	D	L	GS	GA		W	D	L	GS	GA		W	D	L	GS	GA		GD	P
1		Manchester United	24	17	5	2	41	10		10	1	0	25	4		7	4	2	16	6		31	56
2		Liverpool	25	15	9	1	42	17		7	5	0	19	7		8	4	1	23	10		25	54
3		Aston Villa	25	15	6	4	40	24		5	6	1	18	12		10	0	3	22	12		16	51
4		Chelsea	25	14	7	4	44	15		6	5	2	21	7		8	2	2	23	8		29	49
5		Arsenal	25	12	8	5	38	25		7	3	2	18	11		5	5	3	20	14		13	44
6		Everton	25	11	7	7	34	28		4	5	4	18	16		7	2	3	16	12		6	40
7		Wigan Athletic	25	9	7	9	26	24		6	4	3	13	11		3	3	6	13	13		2	34
8		West Ham United	25	9	6	10	31	32		6	1	6	18	17		3	5	4	13	15		-1	33
9		Manchester City	24	9	4	11	42	32		8	0	5	28	12		1	4	6	14	20		10	31
10		Fulham	23	7	9	7	22	19		7	3	1	19	9		0	6	6	3	10		3	30
11		Sunderland	25	8	6	11	27	33		5	2	6	15	15		3	4	5	12	18		-6	30
12		Hull City	25	7	8	10	31	46		3	3	6	13	25		4	5	4	18	21		-15	29
13		Newcastle United	25	6	9	10	33	42		4	5	3	19	20		2	4	7	14	22		-9	27
14		Bolton Wanderers	25	8	3	14	27	37		4	2	6	11	14		4	1	8	16	23		-10	27
15		Tottenham Hotspur	25	6	7	12	26	31		4	5	4	11	9		2	2	8	15	22		-5	25
16		Portsmouth	24	6	6	12	25	41		4	2	6	16	21		2	4	6	9	20		-16	24
17		Stoke City	25	6	6	13	21	40		6	3	3	13	11		0	3	10	8	29		-19	24
18		Blackburn Rovers	24	5	8	11	27	40		3	4	6	15	21		2	4	5	12	19		-13	23
19		Middlesbrough	25	5	7	13	18	36		3	5	4	10	15		2	2	9	8	21		-18	22
20		West Bromwich Albion	25	6	4	15	24	47		5	2	6	18	24		1	2	9	6	23		-23	22

Provided by ESPN Soccernet.com

Now that Chelsea's hopes for winning the Premiership this year have diminished, my only concern is who will be able to prevent Manchester United from obtaining the cup again. Since Liverpool is my secondary weapon, my dream may be accomplished through their efforts.

With Manchester United one game behind and with 56 points to their name, does Liverpool have a chance to capitalize off their rival's mistakes? Now, with Steven Gerrard injured, do any of you believe that Liverpool can discover what it takes to win the cup this year?

Manchester United will be playing Fulham on Wednesday (Feb. 18th) and the Blackburn Rovers on the 21st of February, and Liverpool will be up against Manchester City on Sunday the 22nd of Feb. Another game to watch would be Aston Villa v. Chelsea on the 21st of Feb. Chelsea and Aston Villa will be battling each other throughout the remainder of the tournament in order to determine who will finish 3rd and 4th.

For more information on the Premier League visit their website here