Happy Birthday Crispin Glover!

Forty-four years ago this day was born Crispin Glover, the actor who brought to life the character George McFly, who gives title to our ramblings.

Back to the Future made a deep impression on my life. Any time I'm walking down the street trying to get somewhere, I wish I had a skateboard on which to latch on to a car going my way. Any time I drive past an empty mall parking lot at night, I can't help but think of Doc Brown and how those Libyans found him.

When I was younger it was all about Marty - the guitar, the skateboard, the life preserver. When I matured I found the meat of the film not in Marty, but in his father. Clumsy, awkward, and unconfident, George McFly is the portrait of inadequacy. He has talent and a moral strength but is afraid of failure. Through the mentoring of his own son, ironically, he faces his fears and triumphs.

Facing life's challenges, I am inspired by George McFly's struggle. At GMLH we strive to open the car door of the world and yell, "hey you, get your damn hands off her!"

Crispin Glover went on to other outstanding performances. I find this video particularly inspiring.

LIVE BLOG POST FROM SAN DIEGO AIRPORT!

With the Pope's visit to the USA, the term "popemobile" is once again working its way into everyday conversation. I have always enjoyed hearing about the popemobile. As far as I know, there are only two figures in history who have demonstrated a consistent ability to maintain “mobile” status for their personal transportation. One of them is the Pope; the other is Batman. Sure, there are other Mobile's out there, like the BookMobile, and the Oscar-Meyer Wiener Hot Dog Mobile. The passengers of these vehicles, though, are either inanimate objects or just anonymous stiffs (with all due respect to librarians). Only the Pope and Batman can shoulder the weight of a Mobile bearing their title. Even the President of the United States doesn’t roll in a Mobile, although I think that the public would be accepting of a "George W-Mobile" to replace Air Force One.

Tampa Bay

Those who follow baseball may have noticed something different about the Tampa Bay organization this season: The "Devil Rays", no longer satisfied with mediocrity, have officially shortened the name of their franchise to just "Rays". Words like "deck chairs" and "Titanic" come to mind, but some people are pretty excited about the change, at least according to a story on the team's website. Reportedly, the name was announced during a big ceremony, attended by thousands, in St. Petersburg. Kevin Costner was there with his band and everything. "We are now the 'Rays' - a beacon that radiates throughout Tampa Bay and across the entire state of Florida," said Stuart Sternberg, the team's principal owner."

This is where there comes to be some cause for concern. When I first heard the name Rays, I was thinking they still had some sort of fish as their mascot. It seems unclear exactly what Mr. Steinberg is now referring to when he mentions this "beacon that radiates". From what is known about the Rays organization, it is a troubling development. The Rays shouldn't be allowed to have a radiating beacon. The Governor should do everything he can to stop the radiation from contaminating his entire state, and pursue national relief particularly for the Tampa Bay region.

The Devil Rays placed last in their division in each of the past three seasons, and so with the new name, the Rays are now just two letters away from being exactly like the Royals. Maybe someone is trying to secretly clone the Royals. If, in the near future, there is some announcement about how Tampa Bay is going to be called the O'Rays, we will know.