"I don't necessarily agree with everything I say." - Marshall McLuhan

Total miscellany tonight. No common threads whatsoever, so don’t bother looking for them.

I heard an ad on the local NPR radio station - one of those commercials masquerading as a “sponsored by” announcement - for a synagogue in Phoenix describing itself as aligned with “humanistic Judaism.” What is that? Sounds like an oxymoron to me.

Ross Perot sparked discussion about the possibility of a third party on the national political scene. Ralph Nader, too. But I don’t think anybody took the possibility too seriously because of the financial barriers to the rise of an alternative to the Democratic and Republican parties. There’s also the sheer weight of political inertia to overcome. But perhaps we’re seeing something along those lines with the rise of the extreme conservative wing known as the Tea Party. The likely scenario is that those candidates will lose in November because they’re just too scary to the majority of Americans. But the current administration and the Democrats in Congress have created an atmosphere ripe for extremists from the opposite wing. So will those hyper-conservatives become a factor within the GOP or will they move to the right of the Republican Party establishment - with the tacit agreement of the party leaders - and form what will become a functional third party? Remember, fads start at the top, work down to the masses and eventually run their course. Trends start at the bottom and work their way up, and have a much longer life span.

I did not feel like doing my Wednesday medium ride this morning. I attributed the fatigue I felt before leaving to yesterday’s work. I spent several hours working outside in triple-digit temps and it was moderately physical labor. But I talked myself into going, and doing the full 40 miles. Perhaps not the wisest decision. I did OK on the ride itself but had problems when I got back. Serious fatigue and light-headed. I think I’ll take tomorrow and Friday off. (I usually just skip Friday.) Saturday’s schedule calls for 62 miles and it’s going to be hot again, with a forecast high of 108, so I want to be fully recovered from this.

After waiting two weeks I asked for a refund from Lumber Liquidators for the T-molding they ordered and promised for 10 days ago. We got a great deal on the flooring itself but I’m not impressed with their business model. If it’s not sitting out back in the warehouse don’t plan on seeing it in this lifetime.

The NY Jets were the focus of a reality show on HBO called “Hard Knocks.” The cameras followed the team as they went through pre-season practices and activities. I never watched the show - we won’t have HBO in our home - but it apparently contained a LOT of profanity from head coach Rex Ryan as well as the players. Tony Dungy, the retired head coach of the Colts and a man universally respected for both his professional career and his character, said in an interview several weeks ago that after watching an episode of the show he was disturbed at the amount of profanity coming out of Rex Ryan. Dungy, who now works as an analyst on NBC, said he wouldn’t have someone who talked like that working for him. He caught lots of criticism for that from almost everyone in the sports business, whether they were in the game or part of sports journalism. “Com’on Dungy, get real. These are tough guys in a brutal sport and you can’t expect choir boy vocabulary.”

The latest news on the Jets, aside from their miserable performance last Monday night, is the way they treated Inez Sainz, a female reporter for the Mexican network TV Azteca. She was the recipient of what could be described as hazing while, with other reporters, observing practice from the sidelines. Footballs were intentionally thrown at her, including by coaches, including by Ryan himself. Later, in the locker room, comments were made to and about her that everyone agrees were vulgar and totally inappropriate. (Note: she was sent to cover the Jets because their QB, Mark Sanchez, is of Hispanic descent.)

I’m inclined to draw a connection between the profanity and vulgarity of Rex Ryan’s speech and the actions of the team, including the coaching staff, with regard to Ms. Sainz. Methinks there’s a pervasive culture within the Jets coaching staff and players we could best describe as the antithesis to good character.

But I’m not surprised. It’s what I’d expect. When I meet someone whose speech is vulgar I assume it reflects their basic character. Don’t you? So why should I be surprised when they act consistent with their speech? I can think of many good reasons for clean speech, but in some sense vulgarity is an indicator, symptomatic of deeper problems. Just as clothes make the man, speech and behavior will, sooner or later, align.