Rhubarb Ruminations: Episode 5

Sanity sure does seem to be a relative term these days. More often than not, truth has become far stranger (and perhaps crazier) than fiction itself. With this in mind, this Rumination delves into some of the more insane things that have been on the newsroom highlight reels over the past few weeks. It never ceases to amaze me what has become acceptable in our world these days – the times, they are a changin’!

#1: Insane football factoid: Did you know that since Urban Meyer became the head football coach at the University of Florida in 2005, there have been 30 arrests of football team players? The most recent was receiver Chris Rainey this past September. I’ve been known to complain about the occasional early season arrest of a Longhorn in Austin, be we don’t even hold a candle to this statistic. There was a time not so long ago when the University of Miami would have garnered the biggest rap sheet. I guess that the University of Florida is just trying to keep the honors in-state.

Of course, illegal behavior as a collegian only seems to have fostered the same in the pro ranks. I would like to think that college coaches would take a greater role in the personal development of their athletes – but that might be expecting a lot of a coach making $4 million a year.

But wait, there’s more craziness in this Rumination …

#2: Insane behavior: Here’s something that has just never made sense to me. Why do smokers keep their car windows open? And then, why do they throw their cigarette butts out the window? I mean, wouldn’t it make more sense to keep the windows closed to enhance the effect, then keep the butt in their own vehicle? It’s just one of those daily items that makes you wonder sometimes, another moment when truth is stranger than fiction.

#3: Restoring sanity: Speaking of sanity, Jon Stewart is having a “Rally To Restore Sanity” on 10/30/10. After the shindig (aka political agenda) put on by Glenn “I Will Call Anyone That Disagrees With Me A Nazi” Beck, it’s refreshing that the “Rally To Restore Sanity” might actually appeal to – well, the intelligent folk in this country who actually have more to do than simply live on the fringes of the political spectrum. Can you actually put the phrase “restoring sanity” in the same sentence as “politics” – and keep a straight face while doing so?

#4: Electoral insanity: And in the same breath as “restoring sanity” comes a gubernatorial election in the state of Texas. Perry versus White. Governor Perry refuses to debate White. Debate or no debate, this should prove interesting. I can’t say that Perry has much of a record on, well, much more than complaining about the 10th Amendment. And as an aside, he’s a Texas A&M Aggie – which many in Texas might conclude is a notch against him from the start. Let’s hope that the times are a changin’ in Texas, because I am not sure I can stomach any more tea-party-esque vitriol from our current Governor.

Photo credit: funky64