Merry Christmas,
IPF
T-Shirt Give-away WINNERS
& Shout out to CANADA!
First off, have a great Christmas all. Remember when the chips are down,
there's always strawberry shortcake. Say what?
A.
Drum-roll please! The 3 winners (selected at random) of our annual IPF Free T-shirt give-away
are:
Opal Camp (alias) from Maryland
Susan Eston from England
Sony Thomas from Maryland
Much love to everyone that participated!
B
.Money Woes: Canada delivers $3.29 billion for the U.S. Auto
bailout. Never thought I'd see the day. Still, it must be
recognized. I am hereby authorizing the playing of the Canadian National
Anthem for the rest of the week. Soak it in.
A.
It's that time of year again people! Christmas is almost here, and we'd
like to thank you all for continuing to support us. So, just fill out the
form below, along with a good reason why you should be selected! We'll
announce the
winners
next Monday!
B.Bush Shoe Attack: Bush's response was a dose of "WHAT??"
Interestingly enough, it wasn't the first time
a president has been through this on live TV.
Watch the below clip of Ronald Regan being assaulted, albeit, after his
presidency. The IPF Syndicate is hereby recruiting any and all ex-members
of the Secret Service.
A.
Our 3rd batch of clips from the 2008 BSC have been released! Much Love.
B.
In what will be one of my few blurbs about football this year, the Washington
Redskins season is now over. But there is hope, and more specifically
a blueprint
we need to follow. That of the NY Giants. I realize they lost this
past weekend, but they won last year's Super Bowl, and are playing great this
year b/c of their offensive & defensive lines. You don't win with
receivers/running backs or otherwise. You win games in the trenches.
New England found that out first hand in last year's Super Bowl. Every
draft pick/free agent signing for the 2009 season needs to reflect this.
Our Annual FREE IPF T-shirt
Giveaway begins Next Monday!! Keep it locked.
A.
Folks, we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I think most of
us can agree on that fact. There are many ways to make a difference this
year, but if you're looking for one, consider the following from the
International Rescue Committee.
Stay tuned for a special thanksgiving day update by IPF Columnist Johanna
Ephraim, who will have more on this.
Thanks for stopping by all, and go easy.
From the
International Rescue Committee - WASHINGTON STAFF,
During the holiday season we celebrate and give thanks for the blessings of home
and family. And yet we know that millions of families have been forced from
their homes and separated from their loved ones by persecution, violent
conflict, and natural disaster. Courage, hope--and your help--keeps them going
on the long journey to safety, freedom, and home.
The Thanksgiving holiday epitomizes the ideals of refugee resettlement. This
country's founders fled persecution to come to the land of opportunity.
Thanksgiving brings us together to celebrate all that we have: family,
education, health, safety, and a home.
Thank you for your continued support of the IRC's mission in Washington DC.
This past year, we have resettled over three hundred refugees and four hundred
asylees from all over the world. We continue to be inspired by these heroes, as
they seek new lives in Washington DC.
This year, we encourage you to capture the season's true spirit of gratitude
with the power of your generosity. Your gift will directly assist families
rebuilding their lives in Washington DC.
$10
School
supplies for one child
$25
Pots/pans, dishes, flatware for one refugee family's kitchen
$50
One
month of metro/bus fares for a couple (to travel to job interviews, ESL
classes, etc)
$75
Crib,
blankets. and clothes for a newborn
$100
One
dining room table and two chairs
$250
Enrollment in a certification class to help professionals continue their
careers in the US
$500
Groceries for a family of four (one month)
$750
Apartment Set-Up (includes two twin beds, one full, sofa, table, four
chairs, two lamps, one dresser)
Or please send your gift to our address:
8700 Georgia Ave. Suite
500
Silver Spring, MD 20910
If you
would like to give a gift in honor or memory of someone, please send an
email to SilverSpring@theIRC.org
and we will send the honoree or their relative a letter describing a family that
they have helped through your support.
Thank you so
much for your continued help. Your gift is powerful. We have more families
arriving every day and resources are stretched. We cannot continue our work
without your support.
Sincerely
yours,
Vu,
Kevin, Myat, Tin Tin, Kate, Ashley, Abeje, Taameem, Whitney, Marshall, Elsa,
Hala, Josie, and Rachel, the staff of IRC's Washington DC office
P.S.
Every dollar makes a difference. As our most loyal supporters, please join the
IRC as we help refugees and asylees on the greatest human journey, from Harm
to Home.
Our 2nd batch of
clips from the 2008 BSC have been posted. Enjoy.
B.Michael Crichton:
I was shocked to hear of the passing of one of my favorite authors.
Classics like Jurassic Park and The Lost World remain in my mind as some of the
most interesting reads of all time.
Also, for the long time IPF readers out
there, you can look back at our Trapped in Jurassic Park scenario, which we did several years
back. It was based off of reading Crichton's classic. RIP.
It's
been a
tiring campaign to watch on both sides. The
political bluster was wearing me thin. But, we have a new President, so here is Lao's analysis:
The positives: History. The nation has
come full circle in terms of racial possibility. Slaves working in the
cotton fields of this country 150+ years ago would have never thought that a man of color would
ever lead their nation, and yet, it's happened. That is amazing and I think that
it speaks to
America, and how anything is now possible. That's what makes America
great. For better or for worse, historians are going to look back at this
election as a turning point for America, I think that's pretty clear.
I also think our standing in the
world will improve.
The negatives: Obama has a liberal
record. I think an expansion of gay marriage during his term is a distinct
possibility. I'm hoping he governs from the center. Second, Obama doesn't have experience. I think we're
going to be tested by Iran, Russia, Al Qaeda in ways they wouldn't have tried
had McCain been elected.
How Obama won: The American people spoke and gave a vote of no-confidence
to George Bush and his policies (and to some extent rightfully so). That's what won this election. Case in point, prior to the economic meltdown, it was a
neck and neck race between the two.
McCain was actually leading in some polls, but when people's wallets got
hammered, they went with Obama, and associated McCain with Bush.
I don't know where the country is headed under an Obama
administration. But win or lose, he is now our President. As I've
stated on the IPF
Message Boards,
Obama is an intelligent man who seems to think things through. I hope that
continues and that President Elect Obama is up to the task.
Ladies and Gents, this is the most
important election of my lifetime, and probably a lot of yours.
A lot of
people are saying, "I don't really care one way or the other" Well, I have this
to say, get off
your butts tomorrow and vote. Don't regret it later. Don't take my word for it,
examine the candidates and make an educated decision.
End of Speech.
B
. Vindaily.com:
Be
sure to check out IPF Alumnus Vinod Varghese's new blog. He has assured me
that he'll be sticking with this one. I have been assured. We're in
for some sarcastic wit and satire on this thing called life. Be sure to
check it out.
C
.IPF Contact Form Back Up: Attention on deck, you can now
resume submitting birthdays, comments, remembrance articles to IPF. Appreciate the patience.
Major Congrats go out to IPF
Inspirations columnist Crystal Ramirez (& Chris) on the arrival of their
firstborn, Carina Marie Ramirez. Much Love.
B.
Forecasting the next 8
years:
Hard to believe the most important election of my lifetime is one week away.
How do we predict what will happen? Well, I'll have to answer that with a
comment, who would have figured the events of the last 8 years? 9/11.
Wars in Iraq/Afghanistan. Economic downturn. Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.
I mean we're talking about major league stuff here.
Whether Obama wins or McCain pulls out a stunning upset,
(neither of whom fill me with much enthusiasm), the most important thing we can
do is pray for them.
A.
Ifeanyi Nwoko, team captain of the Gburg UnderDAWGs has been interviewed for
The Tonight Show.
This commemorates IPF's 50th
interview!
Enjoy this one.
B
.Jeremiah Wright will cost McCain: Say What? Read on.
It's pretty obvious that Obama has gotten a free pass from
the media this election cycle. But consider this:
If John McCain had attended a church where the pastor
blasted members of another race, showed support for the radical Louis Farrakhan,
and attacked Jews, he wouldn't have made it to the U.S. Senate, let alone be
running for president, and yet, here Obama stands. McCain not bringing
Jeremiah Wright up will cost him.
This election has so many uncertain elements. You
have Obama, a man whose way of governing is
anyone's guess should he enter office.
You have McCain, a man with some anger management issues, with his finger on the nuclear trigger
should he enter office. I honestly can't remember an election where this
much uncertainty has come into play. Bottom line? I think you
know....
A.
Alright all, today marks the beginning of the 2008 BSC media look back.
We'll be releasing a minimum of 2 clips every month leading all the way up to
next year's event! Much Love.
B. Stupidity 101:
It
amazes me that our supposed best and brightest have no idea what the
repercussions are of this bailout, good or bad. Countries like Russia and
China are running huge surpluses while our national debt is at 10 trillion.
C
.VP Debate: Politics doesn't hold my attention as much as it
once did. But this is an important election, so I need to comment. I
thought the Biden-Palin showdown went to Biden.
His ability as a skilled
politician showed throughout the night.
Palin did alright, she showcased her "folksy-ness", which will resonate well
with
midwestern voters. She's also from the middle class, so that will
help. I like how she took Biden to task on the fact that he had blasted
Obama prior to becoming his VP selection, and he's now switched positions.
But then, both parties do that. It's a game.
Bottom line. It's going to be a tight election.
I wish we had some better candidates to choose from. Whoever does win will
have his hands full with a royal mess.
D.4-1 Redskins: Stand up and take notice people.
Respect. Jason Campbell has to improve. Devin Thomas and Chris
Horton have to stop making bonehead plays, but this team is going to be in the
mix come December. You heard it here. Agent Jon Flores, what's the
deal man?
Financial Crisis: How did we get into this mess? The
answer is greed. It started with people being financed into homes that
they had no business being in. Loans were very easy to come by. Home
values were inflated. Now, everything has come crashing down.
A 778 pt drop in the DOW today? That has never happened in the history of
this country. Absolutely incredible.
I think what I take away from this is how uncertain life is. The United
States has had the most powerful economic presence on the planet for some time
now, but greed has now put us into this mess. Will we get out of it, yes.
Absolutely. Honestly though, it makes me concerned as to where we're
headed. I think we need to pray.
B
.America's Team is in DC: Well, well, well: Have a little bit of this.
The Washington Redskins
have arrived.
Give me some credit here people. This is my first Redskins update in 7-8
months. I would be remiss if I didn't congratulate my home team.
I like what Coach Jim Zorn is doing with this team. He seems to be just
what the doctor ordered. I think he's also helped Jason Campbell
development immensely. Campbell has ZERO INTs and ZERO fumbles. That
is incredible. This guy has been a fumbling machine in the past. Bottom
line?
This is a talented team that can win now.
Oh,
wait a minute, I think I'm forgetting something here. Ahh, that's right.
Redskins 26
COWBOYS 24
It still ticks me off that a lot of analysts were talking about what Dallas
didn't do, and T.O. shannanagans rather than what the Redskins did. I even
heard a few analysts picking the Redskins as the team that'll be left out of the
playoffs from the NFC East.
That's cool, keep doubting us. Shout out to Jerry Jones!
C.Debate 2008: I watched the debate on Friday with an
objective view of seeing who won. I thought McCain took Round 1, and
it wasn't close. Couple of things, the fact that he actually went to
Iraq/Afghanistan, and seeing the K-G-B in Putin's eyes were great sound bites.
We'll see how the VP debate goes.
2008 BSC Media Begins NEXT
MONDAY! Keep it locked in.
A.
Hey all. After 6 BSC tournaments we felt it was time to create a Hall of
Fame section where we can keep track of the all-time records. While we
don't have individual records (we hope to start incorporating this soon), we do
have team records. Just something for
teams to be aware of, and shoot to
break records in future years.
B
.2008 BSC Media: There have been multiple requests to see the
clips from the tourney. We'll begin releasing at
least two clips a month starting in October, leading all the way up to the 2009 BSC.
Keep it locked in.
C.A Note to Chicago Bear Fans: Including a certain IPF
webmaster, cough.
I just want to shout out one QB Kyle Orton of the Chicago Bears.
No one in the NFL throws a better.........3 yard pass. Thing of beauty
I'll tell ya...
Friday, September
5,
2008 - Chung Lao: REVISED 11:20 AM
Full BSC Tournament Recap
- Congrats to the 2008 BSC Champion Chicago UntouchaBULLS, Pics On the Way!
A.
The 6th annual BSC is in the books. The Chicago UntouchaBULLS captured their
3rd title, cementing their status as the
second BSC dynasty
matching Philly's 3 titles.
DC put up a valiant fight against Chi-town, but ultimately fell short.
Overall I think the tournament went well. We improved in a few areas, and
as always we'll improve even more for 2009. Much love to all the fans that
came out to support us this year!
Best Game of 2008:
This is very difficult, I think it's a toss up between Gburg-DC in the regular
season, Strong Island - Brooklyn in the playoffs, DC-Brooklyn in the playoffs
and Chicago-DC in the championship.
**Lots of pictures are coming in. Should have them up by Monday.
Keep it locked.
Shout outs: I
want to take this time to shout out the following people. Without their
help, this event could not have happened. Crystal George, Binu Varughese,
Vinod Varghese, Stanley John, Sam John, Sijin Samuel& all
the team members that helped us man the scoring tables. To anyone I missed, many thanks for your support.
2008 BSC Tournament MVP: Joe
Hamgeri
2008 BSC Joe Rosado 3-Pt
Champion: Justin Thomas
2008 BSC Fan Challenge Winner:
Barry Burnett
2008 BSC All-Stars: Ify Nwoko,
Jason Burnett, Vincent Ventolora, David Kurikesu, Rocky Singh
Chicago:
After losing their first game to DC, Chicago never lost another. Through
clutch play from Josue and the eventual BSC MVP Joe Hamgeri, Chicago won a close
game with DC to capture their 3rd title, and establish themselves as the second
dynasty in BSC history by matching Philly's 3 titles. The road to the next
BSC Championship now goes through the windy city. Congrats!
1
DC:
A hair's breath away. DC was this close to taking it. This team was
able to get the #1 seed for the first time in its history. A few made
shots in the last 3 minutes of championship and we'd be talking about DC's first
title. That's how close it was. This was a bruising, fast, efficient
DC team for the most part, losing only to Gburg in the regular season.
Jason & Jerry Thomas played well, as did Aba Udofa. After winning a tight
game against Brooklyn, DC fell to Chicago. I expect a renewed fire in 2009
from this team that is really right there.
2
Brooklyn:
One word. WOW. After playing some close games and going 2-3 in the regular
season, Brooklyn managed to beat Strong Island in overtime and took DC to the
limit in the second round, only losing by two points. The award for the
most improved team goes to them. This team fielded 2 All-Stars, Jason
Burnett and Vincent Ventolora. Brooklyn better be on people's radar in
2009 or your in for some trouble.
3
Philly:
Well the defending champs were in a precarious situation for a while there.
They limped to a 2-3 record to close out the regular season, beat Gburg in the
1st round of the playoffs before falling to Chicago in the 2nd round. A
lot of teams have seen this year's performance as the nail in the Ballazz's
coffin. I'm not ready to count them out just yet...
4
Gburg:
If you look at the rankings for the past 3 years, Gburg
has consistently risen up the chart every year.
Just look at their record over the last 3 years.
You could make the argument that the game of the year in
2008 was on Friday, when Gburg defeated DC amongst the
chants of everyone present "GBURG, GBURG!!" Very
exciting game to watch. Gburg went undefeated on
Friday before losing to Philly in their final regular
season game, and ultimately to Philly again in the 1st
round of the playoffs. Still, this was a very good
year all around for Gburg. I expect a lot more
from them in 2009.
5
Strong Island
:
Strong Island had a good showing at the BSC, going 3-2
in the regular season. Strong Island also set a
new BSC scoring record of 60pts against rival Newark.
Even
though this team lost an overtime thriller to Brooklyn,
with the addition of Belt Parkway in 2009, I see them
making some noise.
6
Texas:
This was a tough year for Texas, they came undermanned, and after a win against
Newark, it was a tough road to hoe. Their best player, George Jolly, went
down early with an injury and it was a struggle. Still, major shout out to
team captain Roy for coming out this year. When they come back full
strength next year, this team will shoot to the upper echelon of the rankings.
7
Newark:
Major, major shout out to Newark, and team captain Jensen for bringing BRICK
CITY back to the BSC after a 2 year absence. Even though they didn't fare
well in the standings, it's our hope they had a good time. We look forward
to seeing you guys next year!!
8
2009 BSC - First
look: It's only going to get more competitive. Every team is
going to come back re-armed and re-loaded. Should be some great match-ups.
We look forward to seeing all of you there!!
This will be the most competitive BSC yet in terms of the talent. Most of
the squads are bringing their best. No team is undermanned, should be great
to watch.
Will Philly win their 4th title? Will Chicago create a
Dynasty? Will DC finally seal the deal? Will Texas
come back with some fire? How will a revamped Gburg squad do?
Which NY team will be better this year, Brooklyn or Strong Island?
How will Newark do in their return?
Everything
you need to know about this year's BSC is right here.
A.
Can you feel it?? All the talk comes to an
end this Friday, when its time for results! We've just
posted the official schedule and matchups. Check them out
below. More updates coming this week prior to the tourney,
so keep it locked in!
ARRIVE EARLY!! Please keep in mind that we have a
fixed time period we can be in the gyms, so
BE PROMPT. It
is appreciated.
Regular Season Format:
In the regular season, every team will play a total of 5
games. 4 games on Friday, and the last 1 on Saturday.
The 6 teams with the best records will advance to the playoffs.
Playoff format: The #1 &
2 seeds will receive a bye in the first round, and will play the
winners of the #3 through #6 seeds. See the below schedule
for exact details.
Breakdown:
Games will be 20 minutes
a piece. There will be a two minute half time during regular season
games, and there will be 2, 30 second timeouts per game,
meaning one per
half.
Saturday Breakdown:
All teams will play their remaining game in preparation for
the playoffs. Games will be 20 minutes a piece.
There will be a two minute half time during regular season
games, and there will be 2, 30 second timeouts per game, meaning
one per half.
Time
Court
1
Court
2
8:30am
Chicago - Newark
DC - Brooklyn
9:15
Philly - Gburg
Strong Island - Texas
10:00
3 Point Contest
3 Point Contest
10:45am
Tie Breaker**
Tie Breaker**
** -
If Necessary. Please see the rules for complete
Tie-Breaker Info.
Playoffs
-
1st & 2nd Round
Schedule:
Playoffs:
In the 1st Round, the lower seeds will play based on their
records during the regular season. The #1 & 2 seeds have a
bye during this time. Games will be 22 minutes a
piece. Half time will last for 2 minutes. There will
be 4 timeouts available, two in the first half, and 2 in the
second half. They will be 30
second timeouts.
Time
Court
1
Court
2
11:30am
#3 Seed
vs. #6 seed
#4 Seed vs.
#5 seed
12:15pm
#1 Seed vs. winner
of (4vs5)
1:00pm
#2 Seed vs. winner
of (3vs6)
All Star(s) Presentation:
Time
Court 1
1:45pm
ALL
STAR PRESENTATION
Championship
-
Schedule:
The
Championship:
This
will be a 24 minute game, with
a 3 minute half time. Both teams will be allotted a total of
4 timeouts. 2,
30-second timeouts
per half.
Time
Court
1
2:30pm
The Championship
Official
Rules/Regulations:
For the complete listing,
Click Here.
The last thing
on the list is the official schedule & we'll have that up
for you next Monday. Keep it
locked in!
B.South Asian Connection: The IPF Syndicate is
now an official partner with
The South Asian Connection.
Be sure to check out their website as they try and make a
difference. Much Love.
C.Quotes to Remember:
"Let me assert my firm belief that
the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -
Franklin D.
Roosevelt
A. Jonathan
Singh of the 3-time and current defending BSC Champion Philly Ballazz has been interviewed for
The Tonight Show.
Be sure to check it out!
B.IPF-VBC Media:
A montage from the championship game between ALL 4 One and NY
Shadows is now available for download.
Enjoy.
C.2008 BSC:
Can you believe the 6th Annual BSC is this month?? The
Official Rosters/Rules will be posted next Monday. Keep it
locked in as the rest of this month is one
GIANT buildup
to the BSC!
D.Quotes to Remember:
"Speak softly and carry a big
stick." - Theodore
Roosevelt
All 4 One!!!
POWER RANKINGS RIGHT
HERE...Pics on the Way...
A. I
want to begin this update by congratulating All 4 One on getting the job done,
and winning our first ever volleyball classic!
I'll save my game thoughts for my power rankings below. We have lots of
pictures on the way, so keep it locked in for those.
B.
The
1st year of an event like this is always the hardest.
So I'd like to thank Becky Kurikeshu & Jenet Poopalan for their help with this
year's event.
I'd also like
the thank Reny Simon, Andrew Samkutty, Teena John, Sony
Thomas, Jaison John, Susan Kurikeshu
as well as the members of the various teams in attendance that helped us with
score-keeping/line judging. If I missed anyone, many thanks.
All 4 One:
Shout out to team captain Angela Lazarus. All 4 One was pretty talented
all around. They had good spikers, setters, and blockers. They also had
the assistance of a junior Olympian in Jose! Still it wasn't a cakewalk
for them as a few teams gave them a run. Look forward to the return of the
defending champs in 2009!
1
NY Shadows
:
Shout out to team captain Binu Varughese. NY really brought it to the
IPF-VBC. They went 5-0 in the regular season, and were the only team to
beat the eventual champions, All 4 One. Very talented all around team.
What was up with Brary though?
2
Maryland Storm:
Shout out to team captains Dilshan Rajagopal and some nut by the name of Chris
George. MD Storm had a decent tourney, making the playoffs and giving the
eventual champion All 4 One a run for their money in the playoffs.
3
iSpike
:
Shout out to team captain Becky Kurikeshu. iSpike had the most energy of
any team there, with all the chants, "BOOYAKASHAAA" Haha, what?
They also had the best fan base come out. Look forward to their return in
2009.
4
North of 42
:
Shout out to team captain Jenet Poopalan. This
team had the longest journey and gave the eventual
champion All 4 One a run for their money. Look
forward to seeing you guys in the future!
5
MOCOYOGRO PANTHERS
:
Shout out to team captain Tim Carkhuff for bringing this
squad out. Come out and do some damage in 2009!
ARRIVE EARLY!! Please keep in mind that we have a
fixed time period we can be in the gyms, so
BE PROMPT. It
is appreciated.
Regular Season Format:
In the regular season, every team will play a total of 5
games.
The 4 teams with the best records will advance to the playoffs.
Playoff format: The #1
seed will play the #4 seed and the #2 seed will play the #3
seed. The winners will then face off in the championship game. Seeding is determined first by regular season
record, then by the matchup result during the regular season,
and finally by the total points scored.
6 Teams are Set for the 1st Annual IPF-VBC!
Official Rosters now Online!
A. Sup
all. The following 6 teams are confirmed for the (1st
Annual) 2008 IPF
VBC.
All 4 One - Maryland
iSpike - Maryland
Maryland Storm - Maryland
MOCOYOGRO PANTHERS - Maryland
North of 42 - Toronto
The NY Shadows - New York
B.Rosters:
The 2008 IPF VBC Rosters are now up! Check them out
here.
C.Rules/Official Schedule:
Folks we'll have the official rules out by the end of this week,
and the official schedule out by next Monday. Keep it
locked in.
D.Quotes to Remember:""The only man who
makes no mistake is the man who does nothing." - Theodore
Roosevelt
A. Well, that's all folks. Here is the final batch
of clips from the 2007 BSC. In a little over a month,
it'll be time to make some new ones. Enjoy.
B.Good
Elephant Photography: Say What? That's
right. You heard it here. Good Elephant Photography.
This brand new venture started up by IPF Webmaster Susan Smith
is now underway.
If you have an event coming,
an engagement session, or just want artistic family pictures
taken and need a
talented and upcoming photographer, be sure to check out
Good
Elephant Photography. It has the IPF seal
of approval. What more do you need? Much Love.
C.2008
IPF-VBC: The build up to the 1st Annual IPF VBC
starts this Monday! Keep it locked in as Rosters and other
important info gets posted!
D.Quotes to Remember:
"America is best
described by one word, freedom."- Dwight D. Eisenhower
A. What
would happen if you woke up one morning in a foreign
land.....and your wife wasn't there? IPF
proudly presents
the latest and greatest from our Skunk Works division.
Enjoy.
B.RIP Tim Russert:
I was shocked to hear that Tim Russert had passed away. He
was one of the best reporters out there today. John McCain
described him best when he said, "He was tough, but always
fair."
C.Quotes to Remember:""Few men have virtue to
withstand the highest bidder." - George Washington
A. Sup
All. We're almost at the finish line. Enjoy
this second to last batch of BSC Media Clips. The final
two clips will be released next month. Much Love.
B.Quotes to Remember:
""A pessimist is one
who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is
one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." - Harry S.
Truman.
A. Every
year there's a game that everyone remembers as the most intense,
hotly contested of that year. In 2006, it was DC-Philly.
In 2007, it was Philly-Texas.
From a questionable call at the end of regulation, to Binu's
clutch free throws, to Double Overtime, this game had it all.
A clip like this deserves to be posted on its own. Enjoy.
B.Deadline extended for the 2008 IPF VBC: All,
we're wrapping this up. If you'd still like to
participate, even if you don't have a team, hit me up at
chunglao@hotmail.com and we'll get you situated
with a squad. We officially end recruitment as of
June 7th.
C.Rooting for Kevin Garnett: Kobe (who I'm
not a fan of) has 3 rings, it's time for Kevin Garnett to
get one. I like the way this guy plays.
All those years of turmoil and waste in Minnesota, and he
finally reaches the Finals. How can you not root for this
guy? Get it done.
D.Quotes to Remember:
""To be prepared for
war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." -
George Washington
A. Hey
all. We've done a bit of reorganizing navigation menu wise
on the left hand side. IPF's Tourney HQ has been created.
We're wrapping up preparations for the 1st
Annual IPF VBC. If anyone is still interested in joining
up, e-mail me, and we'll do our best to squeeze you in.
B.Congrats to Dinesh & Susan Devairakkam:
The IPF Syndicate would like to congratulate the newly married
couple.
C
.The Presidents:What would it be like to be a fly on the wall?
D.Quotes to Remember:
"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a
banana." - Groucho Marx.
Last Day to Register Your Team for the 2008 IPF VBC!
A. Hey
all,
this Thursday is the Final day to submit your team to the
1st Annual IPF Volleyball Classic. Speak now or forever
hold your peace! Contact me directly at
chunglao@hotmail.com to officially register.
B.Quotes to Remember:
"I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a
vegetarian because I hate plants." - A. Whitney Brown.
A. Siby
Varghese of the Siby Varghese Band has been interviewed for
The Tonight Show.
Be sure to check it out. Much Love.
B.The IPF Volleyball Classic: We are fast
approaching the deadline for entry in this year's event, May
15th. To register your team, please e-mail
chunglao@hotmail.com.
C.Quotes to Remember: "In
Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak
up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for
the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a
trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't
speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and
by that time no one was left to speak up." - Martin Niemöller,
German Lutheran Pastor
A. Hey
everyone, we're in the preliminary stages of
planning a volleyball tournament. This is about bringing people
together for a positive "competitive" event, and have some fun
at the same time.
We'd like to gauge interest from teams, feel free to contact us
individually, or through this event posting. Here are some
details:
1st
Annual IPF Volleyball Classic
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Ages: 18 and above.
6 on 6 (unlimited reserves)
$200 per team.
We
want to emphasize that while the goal is for this to be a fun
event, it's also competitive. Anyone looking to kick around a
softball and shatter some windows need not apply.
Official Game Rules will be posted once a set # of teams has
been established.
The Final day to
register your team is May 15th!
If we
can get enough teams, this is going to happen. Team Heads,
please contact me directly at
chunglao@hotmail.com to join up!
B.Quotes to Remember:""It
is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the
Bible."
- George Washington.
A. Irfan
Jamil, the organizer for the upcoming Washington DC Indo-Pak
National Basketball Tournament has been interviewed for
The Tonight Show.
Be
sure to check it out.
B.Washington DC Indo-Pak National Basketball Tournament:
Is being held this Friday - Saturday, April 11-13 at the Bohrer
Park Rec Center in Gaithersburg, MD. If you're in the
area, and able to attend, support this worthwhile event!
C.Passing of a Legend: Charlton Heston passed
away Saturday night at the age of 84 and the world lost one of
it's iconic actors. The Ten Commandments, even 52 years
later, sill holds up really, really well cinematically speaking.
Any time I hear the name Moses, I think of Heston's portrayal,
and I think there's no better testament to an actor.
From Ben Hur to Planet of the Apes, his list of films is
impressive. Yes he was controversial in his later years
for supporting the NRA, but I will always remember him as the
man who played Moses, and played it very well.
D.Quotes to Remember:"It
is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education."
- Albert Einstein.
A. Sup
all. Our 6th batch of clips from the 2007 BSC have been
released. The playoff footage begins next month!
Enjoy.
B.Quotes to Remember:"Hold
on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for
which it stands. Miracles do not cluster and what has happened
once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the
Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail,
there will be anarchy throughout the world." - Daniel Webster
A. Its
official people. August 29 & 30, 2008, that's a
Friday/Saturday, are the official dates for the
6th Annual Blessan Samuel Classic.
Bohrer Park Recreation Center, Gaithersburg, MD.
We'll post the exact times at a later date. Please make a
note of this, and take time off accordingly. As we always
do, we're getting this information out to you:
Over
5 months
in advance of the event!
That should be plenty of time to make
arrangements. Mark those calendars, and keep it locked in
right here for all the smack, information, and updates relating
to this event. Should be a great time as always.
NEW BSC MEDIA NEXT MONDAY. KEEP IT LOCKED.
B.Message Boards Restored: In case you haven't
noticed.....get at it...
C.Quotes to Remember:""It
is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the
Bible."
- George Washington.
Following the
graveside service, there will be a lunch at the Victory Temple fellowship hall
(adjacent to the church). The family is thankful for your continuing prayers
and thoughts.
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you
of the passing of
IPF webmaster
Benj's
mom and my aunt, Lilly Arthungal, yesterday afternoon.
She was one of the warmest, most kind people I have ever known.
I had a chance to see Ohio Mommy, as we called her, a few weeks back.
Even in
her weakened state, her first comment was about how we were
doing, not about her condition. My words really aren't
adequate here, but she was a very special person that will be
greatly missed.
We will never
forget.
Revelations 21:1-5 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no
longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men,
and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be
with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There
will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things
has passed away."
Your continued
prayers are appreciated at this time.
NEW MEDIA: P Joo Joo is in
the Building (Audio Clip)
A. IPF
Skunk Works has pulled out of its archive
the illustrious new artist on the scene, one P Joo Joo.
Just more original media from the station blazing atleast 18
songs in row.
Click the below graphic to download, and
while you're at it,
be sure to check out IPF's 177 clip
Media section.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: This clip is not to be taken
seriously. Therefore, do not take it seriously. Furthermore, as you
continue to not take it seriously, you shall be taken seriously.
Seriously.
B.Election 2008:
I have
this nagging feeling that the 08' election will forever change
the course of U.S. history. Whether its for good or bad
remains to be seen. For the record though, I didn't get
this feeling when Clinton or Bush was elected.
C.Brett Favre:
Say
what you want about Favre overkill, but for a QB to play in 275
straight games is very impressive. This isn't tennis.
This is football. My hat is tipped.
D.Official 2008 BSC Dates To Be Announced Next Monday:
Its the announcement you've been waiting for. Keep it
locked in here for all the details.
E.Quotes to Remember:
"The
right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in
the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a
slave." - John Adams
A. Jenet
Poopalan has been interviewed for
The Tonight Show.
Be sure to check it out.
B.Obama the Black Candidate?: You know,
everyone is talking about Obama as a transforming figure in US
politics b/c he's African American. The thing is, he's
half white. That's right. I would beg the question,
would Obama be as appealing to the general US populace if he
were completely African American? Think about it for a
minute. There has never been a non-white US president.
I'm
not saying it matters that he's not white. As I've written
before, I think it would do the country
a world of good to have a non-white president,
both here and abroad. All I'm saying is that the fact he
has a white heritage is helping him win this election whereas if
he were completely black, I don't think the American populace
would be responding as earnestly as they are now. I'm
basing this on looking at the last 50 years of politics in
America.
Just
something to chew on....
C.Quotes to Remember:
"Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and
withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the
appellation." - George Washington.
Keep
it locked in for the premiere of an
IPF original media clip next
Monday!
A.Everyone, just want you to know
that planning for the 6th annual Blessan Samuel Classic is
on going. Will have more details in the coming weeks.
Time to recharge and reload.
B.Magic Jack:Has anyone heard about this?
For only $19.95 a year you can make unlimited local/long
distance calls by plugging this thing into a USB port. Post reviews anyone that has....
Link.
C.Quotes to Remember:"A mind that
has been stretched will never return to its original dimension." - Albert
Einstein
A. Jim
Zorn: The 27th head coach in franchise history has
me slightly optimistic. I emphasize
slightly.
It's still up in the air. I think this being a no-name
hire is good for the franchise. He seems to have all the
right traits and is offensive minded. Yes, he doesn't have
a lot of experience but then, neither did Andy Reid. His
selection is better than Fassel anyway.
B.Clarification on Hillary:I want to make it clear after my
update on HIllary last week that I am not a fan of hers.
The point I was trying to convey is that she and her husband are
two of the most skilled "politicians" I have ever seen.
She's a formidable opponent in that sense alone.
Thanks.
You are now free to move about the country.
C.
D.Quotes to Remember:"Nearly all
men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give
him powers." - Abraham Lincoln
A. Hall
of Fame: First off I want to say how pleased I am
that 2 men I grew up rooting for and admiring, have made it into
the Pro Football Hall of Fame together. You will not find
two men with more class and integrity. As part of his
acceptance speech on Saturday, Darrell Green said repeatedly that he was
"over-paid and over-valued." That says a lot about the
character of a man.
Art Monk was
never a man of many words, but he let his play on the field do
his talking. After 8 tries, I'm glad he finally got in. I think players in today's game could learn
so much from these two.
Much Respect.
B. Giants
17 Patriots 14: Let me say this: To
all the die hard Giants fans out there, I'm going to tip my hat.
The reason being, that game
was epic. Everyone,
including myself picked the Pats to win. But the Giants
hit them in the mouth repeatedly and imposed their will.
Eli Manning, you have arrived.
Now to all the
fair weather Giants fans
out there who all of a sudden think your team is all that and a
bag of chips, I say FUHGEDDABOUT IT, b/c your vote doesn't
count. Ride or Die with your team consistently or don't do
it at all.
C. Hillary
Clinton: I caught some of the debate last
Thursday, I have to say I was impressed with Hillary's
performance, and I'm not a fan. It's going to be an uphill battle for the
Republicans. The Democrats are unified while there is an
extreme rift between McCain and Romney in the Republican party.
Should McCain get the nomination, there are a lot of republicans
out there who simply won't go to the polls.
For any
historians out there, it looks like Roosevelt/Taft vs Wilson.
D.Quotes to Remember:"Our
scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and
misguided men." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A. I
was thinking this past week about how many people are sick or
dealing with a serious illness right now. Life is short.
Make the most of it.
B.
Benson A. Thomas has been interviewed for The Tonight Show.
Enjoy.
C.7 Years and Counting...:
Today marks the 7th anniversary of The IPF Syndicate.
Hopefully it's been 7 years of excellence. First off I
want to thank all of you that continue to visit us. Your
support is what keeps us going. I also want to give a huge
shout out to the IPF staff that continue to man their posts. Much Appreciation.
If
you've learned something, been uplifted, or if we've put a smile
on your face, then we've done our job. Much Love.
D.Daniel Snyder?:
To the owner of the
Washington Redskins. What are you doing? You built
up some good will by bringing Joe Gibbs back and handling the
Sean Taylor tragedy with dignity. Now, you're blowing it
all away.
E.Quotes to Remember:"With malice
toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as
God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the
work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds." - Abraham
Lincoln
A.
Sup All. Our fourth batch of clips from the 2007 BSC have
been added. Enjoy.
B.Super Bowl is Set: I cannot believe the NY
Giants are in the Super Bowl. Nuts. Nuts I tell you.
I have to keep rubbing my eyes reading about it. I bet
Tiki Barber feels like an idiot now eh? What a horrible
analyst.
Also,
for all the
fair weather Giants fans
out there who are only now jumping on your team's bandwagon, and
who can't tell a football from a grapefruit, I say shame on you.
Be a true fan and ride with your team year round, rain or shine.
The
Giants will give the Pats a game, no question, but
the Pats won't be denied
their 19-0. It's as simple as that. This will be the
first SB in a while where I won't be rooting for a team.
C.Quotes to Remember:
"“Do
not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not;
remember that what you now have was once among the things
you only hoped for.”" -
Epicurus. (New Interview
on Monday. Keep it Locked!)
A.
So, four years later, it comes to and end. I want to take
this time to thank Joe Gibbs for returning to coach the Redskins
and leading us to the playoffs 2 out of 4 years. Some
would call his 2nd stint a failure, but I say that's nonsense.
The man put his legacy on the line to help restore the franchise
he loves. Now that is something..
I actually think this is a positive move.
Coach Gibbs accomplished what he could this 2nd time
around. No, he didn't win a Super Bowl. But he put
the team in position to win one with the personnel, staff he put
together.
He also made the Redskins into a respectable team again, on and
off the field. People tend to forget that the Redskins
were a laughing stock of a team under Steve Spurrier and further
more, a below average team for the 11 years since Gibbs retired
the first time around. The team is now in a position to
take it to the next level. Why didn't Gibbs do so himself
you ask? Well he's showing that family is more important
than his occupation. Something for all of us to learn
from.
Lastly, I don't think it was a coincidence
that he was at the helm during the worst season in franchise
history, leading us to the playoffs all the while. I have
confidence that defensive coordinator Greg Williams has learned enough to lead this
team. He's the right man for the job, and he gets my vote.
No
regrets. Thanks Coach.
B.Quotes to Remember:
“In
the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends.”
- Martin Luther King Jr.
A.Democrats in 2008: I'm beginning to pay
attention to some of the debates. Its still very early,
but from everything I've read, seen, heard, it would seem like
the Dems are in position to take the White House this year.
There's a lot of anti-Republican sentiment in the air, and I can
understand that. The Iraq war is unpopular, and the
economy is going through a tough time right now. A lot of
Bush fatigue, myself included. I think Huckabee and Romney
bring a lot to the table on the Republican side. Guiliani
has some fire, but his social positions will doom him in the
party.
A part
of me feels like the country could use a non-white president
like Obama, and that it would do the nation good overall.
Having said that, I don't like Obama's positions on abortion/gay
marriage.
I
think as Christians, we have to stand for something.
Anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage especially. This
doesn't mean that we should hate gay people. But it also
means that as voters and as Christians, we have an obligation to
affect change in November 2008. Believe in something, and
then make a difference. End of Speech.
B.Seahawks 35 Redskins 14: Sigh. I'll
admit it.
I underestimated the Seahawks defense. That unit won the game, bottom line. The only thing
I can knock Collins for is not having enough zip on his deep
balls, but that you're either born with or you're not.
Also, Matt Hassellbeck is a prime time player. Respect.
So,
the season ends. The Redskins
proved a lot of people wrong
this season. Yes that's pretty empty considering where we
finished, but to make the playoffs in the most trying season in
franchise history, there's something to be said for that.
We didn't go out like chumps and I give full credit to Joe Gibbs
for taking us as far as we went.
The
team I'm rooting for now in these playoffs, are the Jacksonville
Jaguars. Somebody has to stop New England, and I believe
these guys can do it. But just in case they fail, Manning
& the Colts, handle that business.
C.Quotes to Remember:
“The
first of April is the day we remember what we are the
other 364 days of the year.”
- Mark Twain
