Life
It’s Good to Eat Some Buttery (H)umble Pie as Needed.
Abby Roux Takes Down Vegas Part V.
Abby Roux returned to the cashier’s booth last week. Her lethargy of two week’s ago is gone like last night’s t-bone treat. For the CFB season she stands strong tall on four paws with a 9-7 won/loss , a 28 of 47 bones, and a 3-1 hunch record all vying for best in show. Those results are 57%, 60%, and 75% respectively to the good side.
Speaking of the good and side, there are a few good teams sitting on the sidelines this week. Teams that have played from early September till now without a break are panting like a dog and need a bit of kennel time. In the AP top ten alone nos. 1,4,5,and 10 rest. On to the picks where some games look better to her bird dog eye than others.
Stanford -3 v Washington State – The Cougars travel after a huge home party in Pullman last week. This is a perfect spot for a letdown after they exhausted themselves leading and then outlasting Oregon. The Cardinal hasn’t really put 60 minutes together yet. Maybe they will Saturday. Three bones.
Missouri -7 v Kentucky – Abby has been chewing on this line all week. She cannot digest it. It makes no sense to her. It’s almost as if the wrong team might be favored. It’s as if Vegas is begging you to take the Wildcats. We’ll zig and take the Tigers at home for that reason and that reason alone. Two bones.
Virginia Tech -3 v Georgia Tech – Abby knows better than to bet 
Rambling Wreck games. It’s her version of chasing parked cars. Sometimes lessons are learned the hard way. If the Hokies want to play (they have been uneven this year) this is a 12 point Va Tech cover. If not, it’s another bumper right in the jowls. One bone.
Michigan St -1/2 v. Purdue – This game is like feels like a walk in the park on a clear 55 degree day with no leash to Ms. Roux. Purdue travels after a huge home win over THE. Michigan St. tries to rebound from a Wolverines defensive masterpiece. The lone flea on it is that Purdue is actually a lot better than Purdue normally is October’s end. Abby hedges just a bit because of that. Three bones.
Florida St +16 v Clemson, Kansas St. +24.5 at Oklahoma, and Navy + 23.5 at Notre Dame – The only thing Abby likes better than a big dog is, well, three big dogs. This is her first exotic bet of the year. It’s a long shot for obvious reasons. It’s three big dogs all wrapped up in a three team parlay. She likes the Seminoles better than the Midshipmen, and she likes the Midshipmen better than the Wildcats. Fearlessly she bundles the three. One bone to win seven bones.
On a hunch take Mississippi St. -2 over A&M. A&M hasn’t lost to anyone that they should not have. Jimbo is seeing to that. We think that Miss State’s trenches are their equal. This is a late field goal game winner at home for the wounded Bulldogs. Tread very lightly.
Five bets with four favorites and a three dog tease have us barking with anticipation for Saturday. It’s 10 bones wagered to win 16.
Woof!
I’ve Got a Story, and a Moral Thereof.
This morning begins with the first of a new running feature for boomboomsroom.com that we hope and trust that you will enjoy. It’s story telling time and provides you with this writer’s moral to boot. Gather around friends.
On a beautiful afternoon in the spring of my junior year at LSU I had my usual one and one half hour of Business Law 3201 class staring directly at my beard covered face. A bearded lawyer who taught the class, whose name escapes me to this day, walked in to the already assembled 75 or so person class. As he plunked his briefcase on his desk loud enough to get the chatter to subside he uttered one loud word. “JOHNSTON.” Surprised that he knew anyone’s name, much less mine, I weakly answered with, “yes.” He responded with, ” You have a beard, don’t you? See me after class!” The class let out a collective, “woooo.” I spent the next 90 minutes wondering.
After class I found out that it was about nothing that I spent the previous 90 minutes wondering. Said professor/lawyer explained to me that a lawyer friend of his had taken the case of a friend of his accused of rape. He went on to say that there was going to be a line up that afternoon and they needed bearded guys who quasi fit the description of the bearded accused. He asked if I would help him, his lawyer friend, and the accused. With as much thought as most 21-year-old adults give to choices I said “sure.”
And off we went directly to the lead lawyer’s office. At the large mahogany conference table gathered seven bearded lawyers, the accused, and one LSU student. As I listened, and listened only, to how this allegation and charge came about it was easy to summarize that they thought that this was a rush job by the DA’s office. It was likely driven by the accuser’s familial relationship with someone in that office. The lineup would go a long ways towards proving that thought right or wrong.
As we drove I opened my mouth for the first time. I asked where the line up was going to be held. The answer was the East Baton Rouge Parish(think county) Jail. I shouldn’t have asked. Silence again consumed me.
Upon arrival we walked through a series of loudly closed and locked doors behind us. We were asked to change out of our clothes and into orange prison issued jumpsuits to homogenize our look for a better lineup. One slight problem reared it’s head shortly thereafter. The lineup required two groups of six each. Short three, the jailer improvised providing three prisoners to join us. My group happened to be the one that was three shy, so the three selected detainee’s joined two lawyers and I. That added a bit to the angst. The groups were separated with my group going second. The six of us were placed in a holding room, without direct supervision, the size of a small bathroom. That was yet another problem for my rising blood pressure.
The time came for us to read the words that the victim quoted to the detective that were exchanged during her terrible night of a few weeks ago for voice recognition. Then, we were positioned behind a one way mirror for sight recognition. This was anything but pleasant, especially for the victim.
When it was over the original nine gathered in a room to change back into the clothes that we wore prior to the orange parade. When exiting as a group an armed jailer grabbed my arm and asked me “where do you think that you are going?” My blood pressure peaked. He then laughed at his own joke and motioned me forward. I failed to see any humor.
Back at the mahogany conference table we learned that the victim didn’t pick the flimsily accused for voice nor physical recognition. It turns out that she identified me and one other as a possible voice match while identifying an existing prisoner as a possible physical match. This would cause the case against him to fold quickly and quietly.
The weekend came and I went home. Mom and Boom Boom eagerly listened to my story. My mom, ever the worry wart, worried that they might now think I did it. Perry Mason and mom had little in common. Inspector Clouseau and mom did. The laughter helped the blood pressure.
Friday became Sunday night and I drove back to my dorm. My roommate and I were watching some TV. The screen flashed with breaking news. A manhunt was underway outside of the jail complete with barking dogs, cops, and helicopters. A lineup at the jail that evening included a few prisoners. They overpowered two guards, took a civilian hostage, and made a run for it. My blood pressure tested new highs at the sight and sounds emanating from this tiny black and white TV.
As the class and the semester ended, grades followed. In my business law class we had three total tests and I had scored a solid “B” on each. The report card showed an “A” in B. LAW 3201. I smiled. My blood pressure actually went down for once. The prof threw me a bone.
‘The moral of the story is?’ you ask. Don’t grow a beard! Or, something like that.
Boom Boom’s Life Lessons #5
Do you have a sense of what you want to do today? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Next year?
Your future starts this second. We realize that many before us have uttered this phrase. But, we also realize that far too many have dismissed a chance to really, really pause and reflect on its reality.
The past is truly the past. You can admire it if you liked it. You can brag if you are unfortunately so inclined. You can wince if you look back and realize better deeds could have been done. Or, you can stop wasting positive or negative energy from it and realize that the only thing that you can do is learn from it.
In life as we age we gain experience. With experience comes wisdom. With wisdom comes opportunity. What will you do with your opportunity?
Boom Boom often offered this thought and challenge to anyone within his wide reach, “Your best days are right in front of you. What will you do with them?”
What is your opportunity? Boom Boom would say, that regardless of where you are today, your opportunities are many. He found time to volunteer, mentor, serve in his faith, garden, etc. This was all in addition to a “day job” with a work ethic second to none.
It’s obvious to all that he lived a full and fulfilled life by sharing anything that he felt could provide a meaningful benefit to family, friends, coworkers, club members, and many others.
Maybe you can pick a path and make a difference in your own special way starting soon. After all, “your best days are right in front of you. What will you do with them?”
Abby Roux Takes Down Vegas Part IV
Abby accepted one too many dog treats and pats on the head after her two-week domination v. Vegas. A quick trip to the vet late Saturday evening seems to have her focused again for her fourth week. It’s college football’s week nine, and it’s getting interesting.
After a 4 bone win with 11 bones wagered and a 3-3 win/loss week, Abby Roux stands on all four paws at 21 bones buried with 36 wagered and 9 wins v. 7 losses season to date. Vegas got a bit back but Abby still has plenty gnaw on. Her hunch bet (Miss.) lost, but her prediction of a very high( she said 51-37 Miss. over Ark.) scoring affair prevailed. The over covered. Regardless her hunches are now 2-1.
Week Eight has some doggone good match ups that make for fun viewing. Let’s roll some bones.
Auburn -3 at Ole Miss -Abby nearly covered(minus 7 won by only 4) on Miss. last week on a hunch. Everyone wants to know what is wrong with Auburn after a loss to a Tennessee team that hadn’t won a conference game in over a year. Ole Miss is about to find out. The answer Saturday is…… nothing is wrong. Four bones.
Stanford -2.5 at Arizona St. -This isn’t Stanford’s best team. This isn’t Arizona State’s best team either. This isn’t the PAC 10’s best year.
If this game was at the tree huggers we would five bone it. It isn’t. Two bones.
North Carolina St. +17.5 at Clemson – NC St. is undefeated. I guess Vegas doesn’t think much of their competition thus far. Or, maybe they think Clemson will roll at home. This line almost is out of line and makes Abby want to paw the pay dirt with Clemson. But, she’ll take the heavy points in a light way. One bone.
Miss St. +7 at LSU -It’s Homecoming in BR. It’s also “we beat Georgia hangover” in BR. The Bulldogs feature a stout D line and a solid running game. Both are important to play LSU tight. Moo St. was off last week. We mentioned the LSU win last week v GA. Next week LSU is off. The week after they play Alabama. This is a classic trap game. Three bones.
Purdue +14 v. THE Ohio St U -Purdue has played pretty well against pretty good competition thus far. THE has played down to the level of some of their competition. This one is in Indiana. It’s not much more than a hunch bet. One bone.
On a hunch take Nebraska at home to cover 3 1/2 over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. If Nebraska falls to 0-7 Abby recommends that they bury their head in shame in the nearest gopher hole.
There they are, four road teams and one home. Three dogs and two chalks. Eleven bones are there for the taking plus one Cornhusker hunch.
Woof!
Will Calling Them “Campers” Really Help Anything?
editor’s note: The post that follows is not meant to demean the downtrodden. It only expresses our view that while many are well intended to help those in need, perhaps the problem and the solution needs examination. Further we know many of our readers do great work in this area to make the best of this problem. We would appreciate your candid feedback on this if you wish.
From 1951-1971 a very popular TV show had a 20 year run with an unbelievable 672 episodes in “the can” as the Hollywood crowd used to call it. Impressive. It was called The Red Skelton Show. It starred none other than a quite famous actor/comic named, you guessed it, Red Skelton. Red did standup, had a couple of guests, an occasional musician, and did several skits with characters that he developed quite well. It was truly a variety show.
One of the characters
that Red developed quite well was Freddie the Freeloader. As you can see from the linked clip the jokes were about a down on his luck homeless man. Let’s repeat that, “the jokes were about a down on his luck homeless man.” In today’s world even the thought of that would not be whispered in creative circles. It isn’t what we do today. Today we help people. We make all feel good, feel equal. Or, at least we think we do.
This writer actually met Red Skelton at a poorly attended book signing of his many years ago. It was so poorly attended we had the opportunity to get better acquainted. My impression in a short 15 minutes was that what Red actually attempted to do in all of his works was show a world as it was and do so in a kind and funny way.
Today his message would not even be heard because his premise would be looked on as outrageous by those who choose what actually goes “in the can.” It would also be panned by those who wish to shape the narrative for political gain by telling those that are willing to listen that others are insensitive.
You see Freddie the Freeloader, by his own admission was a “hobo.” If you can believe Wikipedia, a hobo is a migrant worker or homeless vagrant, especially one who is impoverished. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States around 1890.[1] Unlike a “tramp“, who works only when forced to, and a “bum“, who does not work at all, a “hobo” is a traveling worker.
So, a hobo was a homeless worker as opposed to a tramp, vagrant, or a bum. That’s a small consolation prize perhaps. Eventually, the words tramp and bum fell strongly out of favor for “the homeless.” Homeless, soon enough, sounded too demeaning and was replaced by “the underserved.” Recent trips to Portland and other cities that embrace/accept high populations of whatever you choose to call “them” now refer to “them” as “campers.” Yes, if you haven’t been to sunny Portland you haven’t seen the many campers. If you haven’t been to downtown LA you haven’t seen the square city miles of sidewalks of tents pitched.
So, we must wonder aloud, does what you call a person who unfortunately has a problem or problems that lead to this life make that person’s life any better? Does it make you or them feel any better about their plight? More importantly, what are we doing as a society to reduce the number of campers by solving the root cause or causes of their descent?
We ask because we don’t know. Recent surveys by multiple services and government agencies show that in spite of everyone’s best efforts the homeless population stands at a guesstimated 550,000 people. It’s down from a 2008 Great Recession peak by about 70,000. If you look at a glass as half full I suppose that is progress. But, if you look at a glass as half empty, isn’t having over one half of a million people sleep on the streets of the most developed country in the world sad? It is.
Some folks are in the camp (no pun intended) of “you are what you make of yourself.” Others want to give everyone everything to either make themselves feel better about themselves or truly think they are making a bad situation better. We wonder if there is a middle ground that should be vigorously explored.
Goodness knows a warm bed for a night or a sandwich during the day is a nice and needed humane gesture. We just wonder if the root cause is being addressed aggressively enough. In other words what got someone to this spot? Are we treating the symptom or the illness? The symptom is homelessness. The illness is? Addiction? Mental illness? Physical disability? Job loss? Indifference? Laziness? Several of those can be helped. At least one or two don’t deserve it.
We are very familiar with a worthy mission in Houston, TX. It is The Star of Hope. It has multiple programs for men, women, and children. Taken from their mission statement is “Positive life changes are encouraged through structured programs which focus on spiritual growth, education, employment, life management and recovery from substance abuse.”
The program within the program that we are most familiar with helps mothers who have been domestically abused and have or would be living in the streets with their children were it not for this program. Picture an old school motel layout. Hotel rooms are more like small efficiency apartments. There is a cafeteria, a meeting room or two, and a few offices. The one and only goal is to get them back into society in a productive manner ASAP. The requirement to live there is that either you have a job, are actively looking for one, or are headed back to a school to get to a trade or job. All children must be enrolled in a school. The help given is only for those looking for a hand up, not a hand out. But the help given demands that you understand the difference between the two. And, that, we believe is a real key to success.
We don’t know, but are fairly certain, that there are many fine outreach programs across the US. We wonder aloud though, “isn’t there a better way, a quicker solution, a more concerted effort available to us if we put our collective heads together?” No, we aren’t talking about another bloated government tax dollar throw away. We are talking about civil people doing civil things.
Or, is this the far end of the tough side of the bell curve and we should just do what we can(whatever that means)? We’ve been to black tie fundraisers and ate steak and drank champagne and donated money for a couple other homeless causes. It felt good I guess, but it didn’t do anything. 
In 1986 we connected our hands together for “Hands Across America.” It felt good I guess, but it didn’t do anything.
We suppose the answer lies in who you think “campers” are. We suppose the answer lies in what you think “campers” can become. We don’t think it’s what you call them.
Breaking the Ice Is the Better Choice.
We continue today exploring the original meaning of phrases we use in everyday life. A few weeks back we examined what putting a feather in our cap meant. We found out for us “Yankees” that it actually was a bit insulting when put into context from the Yankee Doodle nursery rhyme. Today we offer a couple more for your perusal. Let’s start. Or, better yet, let’s “break the ice.”
When we begin from zero in an attempt to get somewhere in a conversation, sales call, or on a project we want to naturally progress beyond ground zero. So at a minimum, after we introduce our side of the story, we say “well, at least we broke the ice.” Where did that come from and what did it originally mean?
Meaning: To commence a project or initiate a friendship
History: Before the days of trains or cars, port cities that thrived on trade suffered during the winter because frozen rivers prevented commercial ships from entering the city. Small ships known as “icebreakers” would rescue the icebound ships by breaking the ice and creating a path for them to follow. Before any type of business arrangement today, it is now customary “break the ice” before beginning a project.
I doubt that the above explanation left you speechless. But, if it did some might say that “the cat got your tongue.” Well if the cat got your tongue in the hundreds of “civilized” years gone by it would have been quite a bit more painful than just being stumped to the point of being speechless. Why? You might not be glad you asked.
Meaning: Something said when a person is at a loss for words
History: There are two possible sources for this common short saying. The first refers to the cat-o’-nine-tails – a whip used by the English Navy for flogging. The whip caused so much pain that the victims were left speechless. The second refers to the practice of cutting out the tongues of liars and blasphemers and feeding them to cats.
Given the choice, the choice is clear. Break the ice and keep your tongue.
Meow!
Abby Roux Takes Down Vegas Part III
Ever so quickly Abby Roux has a pack of watchdogs now watching her like a dog. Those canines have been hired by all of the big sports betting books in Vegas. They’re trying to get on to her like fleas. “Smart” money books, as they call themselves, are now adjusting lines when Abby offers her bone-i-fied opinion on the week’s college games.
And, why shouldn’t they? She’s hotter than some of the sponsors 
that she has picked up. Abby is a documented 6 up and 4 down in the win column. She is an even better bones bettor, burying 17 of the 25 bones that she was willing to risk. That’s 68%! Take that Mandalay Bay. Her hunch bets are a smooth 2-0. That’s some nice scratch overall.
This week Abby spent some long hours howling about trends she always likes. But those trends don’t show up too well in this week’s contests. She’s again urging caution, offering fewer bones to pick than last week. The bets follow.
Washington -3 at Oregon -Abby feels that there is only one team that has a shot at coming out of the PAC 10. It’s the Huskies of course. This is a must win for them. Plus Abby hunts Ducks when she isn’t picking games. Three bones.
Wisconsin +9 at Michigan – Wisconsin has underwhelmed thus far. Michigan’s only blemish is to an ND team that looks better by the week. Abby can’t think of many reasons to have faith in this near double-digit dog. Sometimes that’s plenty reason enough. Remember Abby likes to zig when others zag. Winner looks towards an eventual match up with THE OSU. The loser is done in any final four discussion. Two bones.
LSU +7.5 v Georgia -Three weeks ago LSU was outplayed in the trenches by Southeastern. Yep SELA. There was no way they would go into Auburn and win. But, they did. Barely. There is no way they can beat Georgia after Florida worked them in the trenches. But. Abby sez Georgia, with a late touchdown, wins 27-22. 
UGA goes wild. One bone.
Iowa St +6.5 v West Virginia -“Want to be” champions that want to be on a short list of real playoff contenders have to win games like this in conference and on the road. WVa did that against Texas Tech a couple of weeks back. They likely will do it again Saturday. But, Abby likes home dogs as you might have heard. So, a back door cover might get us there. Two bones.
Baylor +14.5 at Texas -This is a bet against the Longhorns not a bet for the Bears. Tom Herman got his first signature win last week beating Oklahoma when a freshman snapped the ball to a freshman who held the ball for a freshman who nailed a 40 yarder with only nine ticks (not those kind Abby says) on the clock left. Baylor has no D. Abby hopes that a road dog can catch a big steer napping. One bone.
Virgina Tech -5 at North Carolina – If the good Virginia Tech team shows up UNC fans will start marking the days till Tar Heel basketball. If the team that lost to Old Dominion shows up, never mind. Abby thinks the Hokies bounce back from a home thrashing at the hands of a good ND team. She also would like to know what the heck a Hokie is. Two bones.
On a hunch take Mississippi -7 to out score Arkansas roughly 51-37.
That’s 6 games and 4 dogs for a measly 11 bones. Don’t empty out what’s left in your 401k. Vegas might show its teeth this weekend.
Woof.
Abby Roux Takes Down Vegas, Part II
Abby is a big hit this week in the college football mascot community. Both SEC Football Bulldogs (Miss St. and Georgia)
gave her high five paws for her run on Vegas last week. Mississippi State’s bulldog refused to be photographed for this post. Tennessee’s blue tick hound, Smokey IX,
howled his approval as well. Why? Well, Abby had her college football betting debut last week and darn near won best in show.
Her record against the spread was three wins v. two losses while collecting nine of the 13 bones that she wagered. Her hunch bet (no bones) cashed as well. Let’s hope that this success does not go to her head and she can keep her four paws on the ground for more paydays.
Speaking of paydays, Abby has barked all week about how much tougher she feels this week’s betting lines and games shape up. She’s been busy trying to sniff out the winners, but suggests that you do not bet all of the dog food money this week.
Arkansas +35 over Alabama -We mentioned last week that Abby likes big dogs. Arkansas is a big dog yet again. They played decent D against the Aggies. Abby thinks Alabama might go through the motions and win easily, but not cover. Two bones.
Oklahoma -6.5 over Texas- The Red River Shootout actually has some bullets in the gun this year. Tom Herman is steering(see what Abby did there?) the Longhorns back. Abby feels like they will play a game game. But, they will fall short of an Oklahoma team that can score in bunches. The line started at -8. The amateurs are on the Longhorns. Abby likes that. Two bones.
Syracuse -3.5 over Pittsburgh -The Orangemen are pretty good. Either they’ll be hung over from the valiant effort v. Clemson or they won’t. If they are not, they should cover easily as they are much better than the Panthers. If they are flat, they’ll lose straight up. Abby says Cuse covers. Two bones.
Texas A&M -5 over Kentucky – Flip a coin. Heads, Kentucky is legit. Tails, Kentucky frequently starts out 4 or 5 and 0 then reality hits. Benny Snell is legit. Abby likes to bet on dogs (Kentucky), but Reveille (A&M’s mascot) gave her some inside scoop on this one. Aggies cover late. Two bones.
Florida St +13.5 v. Miami -Pick of the litter. Simply stated Miami isn’t that much better than any team with 85 talented dudes on scholarships much less an in state rival. War chant. Four bones.
Abby has two hunches. Take Iowa -7 over Minnie. Take the USA when you bet Navy v Air Force.
Woof.
Boom Boom’s Life Lessons #3
Religion is a sensitive subject for many. For the rest it’s a very sensitive subject. For Boom Boom it was a fabric woven through his life.
Boom Boom was born and raised Catholic. He attended mass EVERY Sunday and almost always once more during the week. He was an usher at most services helping out wherever he could. He joined the Holy Name Society (a men’s group involved in many worthy causes within the parish) and rose to the presidency. When the Catholic Church worldwide realized (finally) that fewer men were entering the priesthood, they anointed a chosen few to a level of Minister Extraordinaire (a layman’s version of priesthood with a limited role). Boom Boom was the first one of a chosen few in his parish for this role. He gleefully accepted.
But. But, Boom Boom only showed the way to the church and his devout faith. He didn’t shout the way. He delivered it in his actions, not words.
His offspring continued with their devotion to lesser or nonexistent degrees as they reached adulthood and had children of their own. He never ever suggested that any straying from the strict devotion that he practiced was a wrong turn in their lives.
The willingness to sacrifice, the willingness to help, and the willingness to have unyielding faith in your beliefs, whatever they may be, was the silent message he sent to all. That message has great application in anything worth pursuing.
As with many lessons it took a while to fully understand and appreciate this one. It is now much appreciated. Stay strong in your beliefs and keep the faith!