COMMENT ON A DEATH

Hey Yo:
Over this past weekend, an incident happened in nearby Schenectady, NY that I wanted to comment on. What I am about to say is Common Sense to most sane people, so you may think the comment unnecessary.

Two men, Aaron Peavey of Albany and Charles Little of Troy broke into a home and, when confronted by the owners, shot their guns at said owners and were then shot by the owner. Little was shot in the hand. Peavey was shot in the heart and died.

The Albany Times Union had an article stating that the owner would not be charged in the murder. I would hope not. The Times Union also had the Obituary of young Peavey. Online, you can view a guestbook and leave comments and condolences.

HERE IS MY COMMENT
I must be a big pussy in my old age. Because as I read the comments left by people, I was struck by a couple of things. All of the comments were positive and glowing. I am a pussy because I don't have the balls (or maybe it's just wizened tact) to post a comment that said, "He got shot while robbing another man's house, with gun in hand. HE GOT WHAT HE DESERVED!! You chose to be a thug, a hoodlum, a scumbag, a criminal. You got shot and killed for your efforts. Not for defending your family. Not for defending the country. Not because there was a Natural Disaster. You got shot and killed for being a fucking loser."

I guess the family is hurting enough and I sympathize with the loss of a loved one. But to the rest of society, That guy isn't going to be missed. Better Dead, you hear me? Better Dead. Next! Next! Who's next to play "Try to Act Like a Human"

The other thing I was struck by, was the fact that some people should never be allowed to type a letter without a basic knowledge of grammar and spelling. It's one thing to put apostrophes and hyphens into your kids' names. It's another to type sentences that sound like......ah, Never Mind!

Better off that I don't post this comment. But you all know. And for goodness sake, I know you all are saying, "LEN IS RIGHT".

RANDOM THOUGHTS

• I like the Colts over the Bears. Though the Bears Offense really can't stay with the Colts Offense, their Special Teams may make a huge difference. However, I think this is Peyton and Tony's year, and I don't think the Bear Defense can stop the Colts for a whole game. Colts 27-20.

• Winter has finally come to Upstate NY. Good luck to Amtrak. Now you'll see the error in getting rid of, or not replacing, so many people.

• How long till Sen. Barak Obama jumps the shark? Trip to Africa to do what? Drum up more respect? You already have that. How about concentrating on Domestic affairs? Tell us what you're going to do for US if you become President.

• Isn't it funny how any Tom, Dick and Habib can come to this country, open up a corner store or buy a gas station, and thrive. But if I go to your country, I probably can't even buy a store, or if I do, I'll be bombed or beaten within a week. How about the fact that I'm not entitled to the same business and tax opportunities when I want to start a business, as a foreigner who immigrates here (and maybe filtering money made here to fund terrorist activities).
• After the whole Iraqui War/Bush Administration thing over the last year, was there any reason, whatsoever, to watch the State Of the Union address? Like we'd believe anything said about anything. Right. Unless of course, you're watching this for comedic value.

That's going to have to be it for now. I welcome any comments and thank the last few people who've made comments, for them. Keep reading Len Is Right. Pass it along to friends. Make them Right, too.

Peace.

Len Tollerton

Keith Olbermann on MSNBC TV

Minions of the True Word:
Last night I happened across the show Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC. I'm a fan of Mr. Olbermann's from his days as an anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter. For the last year I have been hearing that Mr. Olbermann has, kind of, been taking the President to task on his show during his Special Commentarty at the end Countdown. Turns out, there's no "kind of" about it. He takes him to major task. You people need to see this.

I'm hoping the link I put in here will work, so you can go to the site and watch the clip. Last night the TRUE WORD was spoken, IMHO, by Keith Olbermann, in regard to Mr. Bush's televised speech from Wednesday night. I would like to applaud Mr. Olbermann for his candor and his courage in speaking his mind in a public forum. I only wish the President could see the clip and have the guts to allow Mr. Olbermann to interview him on television. I'd pay $30 bucks on Pay-Per-View to see that.

If the link does not work, please go to MSNBC.com, click on MSNBC TV, click on Countdown, and look for the clip called "The President cries wolf." If my family hadn't been asleep while this was on, I would have given the guy a standing ovation. The clip is a little over 9 minutes long, and is WELL WORTH IT.

Here is the link: http://www.msnbc.com/id/16583889

Remember that LEN IS RIGHT. This time Keith Is Right.

Peace.
I am,
Len Tollerton

WASHINGTON, NFL PICKS, AND HEAVY METAL

Minions:
Today I have a few things of various subjects to speak on. Stay with me and post your comments afterward.

WASHINGTON
Last night, the President was on TV telling us how important it is to see everything through and that we must stay the course in Iraq. He's going to send 20,000 more troops over there to do who knows what? I gotta tell ya, Election Day 2008 can't come fast enough for me. The lies and ineptness of this administration continue to boggle my mind.

I'd like to point you to a column in Wed. January 10's issue of the NY Daily News by Mike Lupica. It brings alot into perspective and kind of makes you wonder what this is all about. http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/487372p-410266c.html

We've no one but ourselves to blame over this. We elected these people TWICE. Our national pride and Patriotism over 911 led us to "Blind Sheep" followism. Now, for most of us, our eyes are open to what is going on. George and Dick must go, plain and simple. And before you Conservative, Republican-style folks start carping that it was Clinton and the Democrats who, ultimately, allowed 911 to happen, let me say that it was the right-wing Big Oil/Defense Contractor sector and their money that got the ball rolling and has worked behind the scenes like puppet masters steering the world to where we are now. Our bullies got spanked and now it is the American soldier who is paying for it. Shame on our government for allowing that. And shame on us for blindly voting this filth into office.

NFL WEEKEND PLAYOFF PICKS
Well, after last week, I won't be making any picks against the spread, that's for sure. I didn't make any actual bets, and it's a good thing. If I had, I would have gone 1-3. This is why I don't wager on football anymore. I also don't bet on horses for the same reason. I suck. A man's gotta know his limitations. Now, poker I can play.

Anyway....Here are my picks for this weekend in the NFL:

1.-COLTS VS. RAVENS--Is anyone else impressed with how the Baltimore Ravens have quietly put together a great season? Their Defense is monsterous and their Offense has been effective. In this game I really have only one thought: East Coast-Outdoors-January. And bye-bye Colts. How often does a dome team do well outside in the Winter? Don't know what the spread is, don't care. Ravens have one more game to play after this. Peyton watches the Super Bowl on TV....again.

2.-EAGLES VS. SAINTS--Talk about a team that surprised and a great story for 2006, the New Orleans Saints have done a complete turnaround from last season's disaster. They went and got a really good QB (Drew Brees), who was thought to be suspect because of off-season surgery, they drafted the top RB in college and put together an awesome season. Their head coach, Sean Payton, deserves the Coach of the Year award he got for this year. On the other hand, the Eagles, after losing star QB Donovan McNabb, have done very well with a playoff-seasoned QB in Jeff Garcia. I think the Saints will have a problem next week if they have to play outdoors. But this week, with Eagle cornerback Lito Sheppard unable to play, I believe the Saints will give their fans their first-ever playoff win and give them some extra hope for a possible berth in the Super Bowl. What a nice thing that would be for the city of New Orleans, huh?

3.-SEAHAWKS VS. BEARS--The spread on this game is 9 points, right? No, I know that the Bears Defense is very tough in Chicago, in the winter. But the 'Hawks are from Washington. It gets cold there, too. The inconsistent Res Grossman leads me to believe that the Seahawks will cover the spread, if not win outright. True, they should have lost last week. But they're healthy and I really believe that they can keep up. In December, at home against a woeful Detroit Lions team, the Bears defense gave up 34 points. I'm going with Seattle in this game.

4.--PATRIOTS VS. CHARGERS-- Okay, I know Bill Belicheck is a genius. I know that the playoffs are his time of year. But I really believe that the Chargers are bound for the Super Bowl. I especially like the home-field advantage here. Chargers win a close one.

DO METALHEADS MELLOW WITH AGE?
I'll be brief. I think, for the most part, that the answer is YES. I think as people age, they realize that "banging your head" is frowned upon by "grown-ups." Certain kinds of metal are obviously for the younger crowd. These would be, Hardcore, Death Metal, and maybe Black Metal.

However, I'm here to tell you that I am one metalhead who will never grow tired of the "Chainsaw." Growing up during the 70's and 80's I am a child of the "classic" metal years and have watched it evolve, die and be re-born. Though I may have expanded my musical tastes somewhat, I can tell you that 75-80% of my iPod Nano is filled with Heavy Metal of some sort or another. The majority of these songs are classic bands like, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Rush, Metallica, Mercyful Fate. I have since found some newer metal bands to my liking. Bands like, Disturbed, Grand Magus, Orange Goblin, The Sword, Place of Skulls to name a few have really piqued my interest over the last year. I really dislike Death Metal and growling, "Cookie-Monster"-type vocals, so you won't hear me listening to that crap.

But I'm glad to say that, for the metal fan of the 70's and 80's, you owe it to yourself to seek out new metal that has come out over the last couple of years. I would like to point you to the following web sites to check out Reviews of new bands that you may not have heard of:

www.metalreviews.com and www.metal-observer.com

For those of you not into metal at all, for shame. There's nothing like the feeling of a bass drum thumping in your chest as the guitarist slams a couple of chainsaw-like power chords through your brain, shredding your mind and making your ears bleed, followed by the unholy wailing of a singer who can hit both the high notes and the gritty growls. Now, THAT'S the way to start your day.

Chant for me, my minions........LEN IS RIGHT!!!

I am,
Len Tollerton

A NEW YEAR AND A NEW CHANCE

Hi folks:
Len Is Right is finally back for 2007. A new year and a new chance to make good and get a fresh start on all of our lives. In truth, it seems that everything is actually the same as a month ago. And in reality, it doesn't take a New Year to make a fresh start. You can make a fresh start on absolutely any day. If you think about it, every day that you wake up, you make a fresh start. But often times we need a certain date or event to make a change. "I'll stop smoking on my 40th birthday." "I'll begin a new diet on the first of the year." (That one's so famous, it's trite)

As I've said in the past, the whole thing is inside of you. YOU are the power, my friends. It's your heart, mind, and ambition that makes the difference. Do you need inspiration? Where do we get our inspiration from? God and prayer? Maybe. The eyes of our kids? Sure. The desperate need to get out of hock? Good one. WHATEVER, DUDE!! Look inside of yourself. Whether you know it or not, you are all-powerful. When you decide you've had enough of your situation, be it smoking, being overweight, lonliness, a need to succeed, etc... you get to a point when you say, "THAT'S IT!! I've had enough of this." Or, "I want more." You'll know when the time comes. You can't just be content to say, "I'm going to TRY to stop smoking." I'm going to TRY to diet, I'm going to be a TRY to be a success, I'm going to TRY to start a business so I can get out of this shit-hole I work in. You'll know. And when that moment of clarity hits, please remember what the Jedi Master Yoda said to Luke Skywalker while training him in the swamps of Dagobah. "Try NOT....DO!!" Steel yourself to embrace your future, and remain positive.

Let no one dissuade you from your path. There are alot of naysayers and joy-killers out there who will try to kill your "buzz." Now is the time to put on blinders and stay focused on what YOU want. You know you can do it. So go do it. A New Year, a New Chance. Start now.

And remember, if it doesn't work this time, you can tear it down and build it again. Fear NOT. Fear kills. Fear is not for you. Success, ambition, and happiness is for you. All of you. All it takes is an honest belief in yourself.

This is true whether you're a teen, or in your 30's, or in middle age, or retired. You are only held back by limits you place on yourself. So, place NO LIMITS on yourself. Roadblocks? Find a way around them. There's always more than one solution to a problem. It just depends on your camera angle, right?

Go get 'em, my friends. And never, never go quietly into that long, cold, unending night. Your flame burns bright. Hey, you KNOW LEN IS RIGHT!!

Peace and wishes for all of your dreams to come true in 2007.
I am,
Len Tollerton