Countdown to Windsor

Fellow Cadet fans, please take a moment of your time to visit BC Gottum and answer Will's latest poll question: How do you think the Cadets will fare in 2007?

Jamie Coleman

If you haven't heard, Jamie Coleman died last week. I hadn't seen her since high school, and it's weird for me to realize I had no idea what she had been doing for the last six years. I think it's safe to say that all of us who knew her or hung out with her made some really mean jokes from time to time behind her back, even sometimes directly to her. You could chalk it up to guys being guys, going for the shock value of saying something really mean to get a rise.

Yeah, it's convenient to say that what we said was wrong now that she's gone, but as I think about her for the first time in years, I realize she deserved better. She was actually one of the few girls who really got the BC sense of humor. She didn't take herself too seriously and was always excited about hanging out with us. I took her for granted back then; she really was one of the most fun girls to hang out with.

Here is the article about her death from the AJC:

Freak accident kills woman
Door pins her against the car

By Ken Sugiura
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/27/07

Thousands of metro Atlantans return home every day by waving or placing a plastic card against an electronic reader to open a gate to their apartment complex.

Early Thursday morning, that simple act led to the death of a Gwinnett County woman, police said.

According to a police report, Jamie Melissa Coleman, 24, pulled up to the gated Holland Park apartment complex in the Lawrenceville area around 2 a.m. in her 2003 Volkswagen Passat. Apparently unable to reach the card reader, she opened her door and leaned out.

In the process, the car rolled forward, bumping against a concrete post protecting the brick-encased card reader housing. The post pushed the car door back, pinning Coleman against the car. The report said she died of asphyxiation. Police say alcohol might have been a contributing factor.

Coleman grew up in Savannah, graduated from Georgia Southern University with a business degree and was a manager at a Mellow Mushroom restaurant, said her father, David Coleman, of Savannah. He said his daughter always smiled and was a lover of animals. Coleman owned a mixed-breed dog, Layla, that she rescued from a pound, and three parrots. David Coleman said his daughter's death "tears a piece of you out."

The strange circumstances of her death, he said, was "just hard to believe. Not that it makes it any easier, but that particular way, it's tough."

Gwinnett Police spokesman Darren Moloney and Bob Dallas, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, said they had never heard of such a fatality.

"It was pretty horrible," Moloney said. "What can you say? It was an accident."

Another Holland Park resident pulled in after Coleman and found her slumped toward the ground. Phil Gelman, 20, at first thought she was reaching for her card on the ground, but after about two minutes, he got out of his car and found her not moving or breathing. Gelman said he called 911, put the car in reverse and pulled Coleman out of the car to perform CPR when police arrived. Coleman was declared dead at the scene.

"It's just crazy to die like that," Gelman said.

Two Holland Park residents said the posts surrounding the card readers can make it difficult to pull up close enough to reach them without getting out of the car or leaning far out of the window.

It's Spelled "Teixeira"

The Braves just acquired first baseman Mark Teixeira from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. There were other players involved with the trade, but that's not important. I could include his stats, but all you need to know is Tex will make our offense one of the best in baseball. If the pitching can hold its place, our lineup will be a run-scoring giant, hopefully enough to make up for any pitching mishaps for the most part.

This is the big trade of 2007. The Braves are pretty much in the playoffs now. It's in writing.

Kickass Reagan Quote, #5,422

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"

Yeah...

I think my picture wins as far as homoerotisism goes.

38 days....

Triumph in Quebec

Joe and Chris, this is the clip I was telling ya'll about. This aired a few years ago when Conan did a show in Montreal. The Canadian Parliament made a huge fuss over it and demanded an apology from Conan.

45 more days...

Courtesy of www.edsbs.com. Heterosexual men should read it daily.

Falcons/Braves Report

I. Read Mike Vick's indictment; it spells out what a disgusting piece of trash he really is.

Highlights:
1. Vick and his 3 co-defendants "rolled" or "tested" animals to judge their fighting ability. If they were deemed weak, they were either: 1) shot, 2) electrocuted, or 3) beaten to death.
2. "Rape stands" and various other devices were found on his property. These instruments are used to force aggressive females into submission for breeding purposes.

What a moron. Coincidentally, former co-MVP Daunte Culpepper was finally released by Dolphins yesterday. He is available and is a MUCH better fit for our offense. Prognosticators already have him in Atlanta.

II. I stumbled on this Braves blog while looking at AJC.com. It's pretty funny stuff. It's a series of pages dedicated to Chris Reitsma (for blowing all those saves the past two years), Mike Hampton (for 3 years of no starts and a $14.5 million salary), Chipper Jones (injuries), and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (it's called startsalty.com).

Smoltz is off the DL and starting today against the Reds. Hopefully he can help salvage one game out of the series.

Trade rumors: In an effort to shore up first base, the Braves have apparently been talking to the Washington Nationals about acquiring all star Dmitri Young. Also included in the discussion is Reds 1st baseman Scott Hatteberg. Either acquisition would solidify the infield and greatly improve the lineup. BUT is Salty the better long term option at first? Yes. For this season, though, it's better to platoon him at first and catcher and use him off of the bench (we have a pathetic bench). That way he's in the game pretty much everyday and all of our immediate needs are addressed.

Also rumored to be on the trading block (by me, Ryan, and nobody else) is Dontrelle Willis. Buddy Carlyle and Chuck James have proven to be valuable starters in the #3 and #4 spots, respectively, but we need to solidify the 5th spot if we want to get into the postseason. Florida deals its talent each year that it finds itself out of the division/wild card race (read: all but the two World Series years), and we're sure that the D-Train wants to play in a bigger market. Good for him, good for us, good for the Marlins. 5th pick, 6th round. Lock it up. Championship!

Advice for Women

We at BMBS are thankful that we are fortunate enough to enjoy a small but devoted female audience. It is to those readers that I give the following message with hopes that they'll pass it along to their friends.

I know many women out there like to date the "tough guys" or "bad boys." Maybe they think they can change these Neanderthals or maybe they just really like assholes. I don't know, but please be careful. Your tough guy lover may shoot you in the head from distance with a rifle or set you on fire.

Take care.

Vs. Charleston RiverDogs

I'll be in Savannah this weekend for the first time since St. Patrick's Day, so I insist that y'all show up at Saturday night's Sand Gnats game at 7:05 (of course). I know it's a lot to ask since the beer won't be $2, but really dig deep in your wallet and your heart to shell out that extra bit to support your hometown Mets on a non-Thirsty Thursday night. Let's sit in the syrupy thick humidity, get our backs stuck to the 80-year-old seats, and talk about funny stuff that happened in high school.

Gadget Corner: Apple iPhone

While I still enjoy doing the Gems, I want to delve into other areas of our blog and give myself a new column: Gadget Corner. Whenever a new must-have gadget comes out, I’ll give my unbiased and totally unqualified review of it. I say unqualified because I will never purchase or actually even use any of these gadgets. This brings us to Apple’s new iPhone.

Looking at iPhone, I’m a little uneasy. Where are the buttons? Why are there so many little pictures? Which end do I put to my mouth? Sure, it looks cool, but how do you use it? How do I call people? Can I play Snake?

I heard it plays music, too. Do I need headphones or do I just hold it to my head to listen? I hope I don’t have to hold it to my head, but if Atreyu or AFI are playing on it, I’ll do what it takes to hear them.

I also read a lot of people couldn’t get theirs activated. If I owned an iPhone, I’m sure I’d have this problem too. Either Apple or AT&T need to get it together. If I can’t turn on my iPhone, all I’m left with is an iPaperweight or an iWeapon.

I heard the internet doesn’t work well either. If you’re checking anything other than sports scores on your phone, you’re a nerd. Use your iPhone to pick up other nerd girls.

So, the iPhone has a lot of features, from what I understand. I still don’t think it’s enough. On future models, I’d like to see the following:
- cigarette lighter
- pocket knife
- Batman-style grappling hook kit
- taser

The iPhone is built as the ultimate portable multimedia tool, but why stop there? It can also be the premier hand-held crime fighting and self defense device. Apple could have partnered with Glock and made a superb device here, but they played it safe. Personally, I think they're missing out.

60 days until football...

SSL and I will be in South Bend paying a visit to touchdown Jesus.

Let Us Celebrate

I'm not as much of an internet badass as I thought I was. But, anyone else, feel free to continue.