KEITH: Uh-oh, you might be losing the Monarchs.
ANTHONY: No…we ARE losing them.
KEITH: One more reason to move here.  We don’t have a team to begin with, so you won’t get attached.
ANTHONY: Yes…it makes perfect sense.  I should move to Missouri because my women’s professional basketball team is leaving.
KEITH: Exactly!  I knew you’d feel the same way.
ANTHONY: I’m devastated.  Now where will I be able to sit with 6,000 stocky women dressed in purple and sporting Lego Person haircuts?

Some of you know this, but throughout the WNBA’s existence, I’ve long had a not-so-secret affinity for the Sacramento Monarchs.  I’ve attended tons of Monarchs games and always had fun rooting them on.  I may be the biggest heterosexual fan in WNBA history.

Well, the bad economy has hit my hometown WNBA team.  According to ESPN.com (along with the local news here in Sacramento), the Monarchs are folding operations:

“The Sacramento Monarchs folded on Friday, a shocking and disappointing development for the WNBA and one of its original eight franchises.

The decision was largely based on the Maloof family’s desire to focus all its energy and efforts on the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. Maloof Sports & Entertainment had owned both teams.

Now, the WNBA is left scurrying to try to find a new owner for the organization and a suitable market: with the most logical place being the Bay Area, perhaps in Oakland or San Jose.

League president Donna Orender said in a statement Friday that the league is in discussions with potential investors to relocate the Monarchs to the San Francisco area in time for next season.

The Monarchs franchise was one of the league’s original eight teams and it won the WNBA championship in 2005 and the Western Conference title the following season.”

Bummer.  Thanks for the memories, Monarchs.  I’ll fondly remember the 2005 championship run — partly because it was a lot of fun, but mostly because the Kings will never win any championships of their own.

coyotesqrl:

toseethis:

Jefferson? Washington? Franklin? Gwinette?

I have an odd two-some: Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.

I know, I know. I should really pick. But they both rock in their own ways. Shame about the whole, shooting at each other in Weehawken thing.

Come on…Patrick Henry, easily!  I mean, everyone was pretty damn cool.  You can’t take away the things done by Washington, Adams, Madison, Jefferson, Franklin, etc.  Aaron Burr’s awesomeness is wildly underrated (Alexander Hamilton was a silly Anglophile, let’s be honest) and Thomas Paine was a pretty cool radical.  But Patrick Henry had the balls to fight off shouts of treason while saying this to the Virginia House of Burgesses:

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free— if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending—if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained—we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace— but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Addendum:  John Adams is a very close second place on my list of favorite Founding Fathers.

Sam Cooke:  Nothing Can Change This Love

herbeautytoucheseverything:

For as long as I can remember, I have been extremely self motivated. When I wanted something, I went for it. Work wise, I don’t like to take no for an answer. I started taking pictures when I was 15, trying to become a photographer, and worked hard to gain experience. Eventually I did my first wedding, and now I have established my own website, my own set of business cards, several weddings, and was published in a magazine a few months ago.

I moved to San Francisco 3 months ago, to finish school for Interior Design, but quickly realized that writing was my true passion. I switched my major to Creative Writing, and I knew it was right because it was easy to do. I understand that it’s easy to move forward with what you’re passionate about, but everything does take hard work. But once I decided I was going to become a writer, and eventually I want to become an editor for a Publishing company, I did everything I could, to find an opportunity. And if anyone knows what it’s like, writing jobs do not pay well in the beginning. As in, at all. You have to work for free, you have to write odd end articles, you have to do a lot to get yourself established. Tumblr is a place I like to show my accomplishments because several of my real life friends and I follow each other here, and for my Tumblr friends I have yet to meet, I think they’ll appreciate this too.

I recently became a Fashion Columnist for a magazine and an article of mine was chosen to be published. I could cry, because I’m so happy. But I won’t, of course. Because I’m a machine. And it would cause rust.

To you:  I am proud of you.

To everyone else:  You should follow Erica.  You should do it now.

— Tracy Morgan (from his new book ‘I Am The New Black) (via danhacker) (via brvtalbrodeo)