Profile in Courage?

Recently, over on Brandy's blog, she posted a link to help determine what famous leader you're similar to in nature. The first time I took the test, I (Scott) took the 19-question option, and here's what it came up with:

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Then, the second time, I took the entire 45-question blow-out. This is what I came up with:

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Which one am I? Let me know what you think.

And, by the way, I'm sure that I don't have to highlight for you the similarities between JFK and Gandhi.

Two words: Babe Magnets.

Two more words: Snappy dressers.

Still "The Natural"

I just read several national media articles on the popular knee-jerk reaction to Rick Ankiel's alleged use of HGH back in 2004.

First, let me say I am an admitted HUGE fan of Ankiel, dating from his days as a pitcher back in the Cards' minor league system. That was pre-pitching implosion. I've watched and rooted for him ever since, and his story is the thing storybooks are written for.

Also, for background's sake, Ankiel had recently undergone elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery in 2004 and was in recovery that - while I'm not a doctor and don't play one on tv - could have been helped along through the prescribed AND LEGAL use of HGH. It would've produced collagen to help strengthen and aid the ligament's development.

Don't forget - HGH was not a banned substance by MLB at the time. It was just as legal as Gatorade...obviously, ridiculously stupid to use without a valid prescription or without a medical necessity, but legal nonetheless.

So, it would appear the majority of the national sports media are quickly convening a lynch mob for a guy who - in reality - hasn't yet even been accused of committing a crime? Will baseball's so-called "steroid era" also be viewed as the "media jumping through hoops to get to conclusions" era?

As I've said to anyone who's interested, I absolutely believe Barry Bonds probably has used every legal and illegal substance short of cow manure to help enhance his athletic ability. He'd take battery acid straight into his veins if he thought it'd help him hit and be "bigger than life", or at least bigger than Hank Aaron. His head didn't expand to two sizes larger than a canned ham by accident. Ankiel's size hasn't changed, he's always been an amazing hitter (people originally thought he should've been pushed into everyday status when he was first drafted), and he's got large holes in his swing that - should they go uncorrected and become victims to pitchers' exploitations - could bring him back down to earth quite quickly.

For the national media to compare him to Mark McGwire (who I used to believe was falsely accused, but I then changed my mind completely following his congressional testimony) & Bonds right now is a little ridiculous, don't you think? Shouldn't the media give Rick a chance to, oh, I don't know...comment?

Don't eat the daisies, er, raisins

It had to happen someday.

Last night, Scott was carrying dishes from the downstairs to the kitchen when I noticed an empty bowl in his hand.

"Where are the grapes that were in the bowl?"

Scott replied, "I ate them. I thought the kids had left them downstairs and I ate them."

Now, for those of you that don't know, we homeschool. David has been studying the sun (as much as you can when you're in Kindergarten). And so we've been talking about how the sun helps us do all kinds of things, like dry grapes out to make raisins - that is until Daddy ate them.

I knew one of these days a science experiment would get eaten, thrown away, or lost in the house. I'm just glad Scott didn't eat them after they had "turned" into raisins. My teacher's manual was very clear - do not eat the grapes/raisins. They were dried under unsanitary conditions!!

So far Scott looks fine and nothing is growing out of his head. Maybe we dodged this bullet - whew!