Not with That Stupid Church

I originally made this sign for use at a hockey game when I knew I'd be seated next to a Barfalo fan. However, it came in really handy when I learned that members of the Kansas family who call themselves the Westboro Baptist Chuch would be in Raleigh to protest outside Elizabeth Edwards' funeral on Saturday, December 11.

I wasn't sure I would attend the counter-protest. I thought, how does one have a counter-protest to a protest at a funeral, without also destroying of the decorum of the funeral that you're trying to protect? My concern turned out not really to be an issue because the protests were three blocks away from the funeral. I hadn't really planned to attend, though, but I happened to be in the downtown area at the right time, and I had thrown this sign in my car just in case.

Despite the steady rain and cold and my lack of umbrella, I decided to go. I was a little late but was pleased to find a spot on the retaining barrier where I could point the arrow on my sign in the right direction. I went by myself, but I found out later that I knew several other different folks in attendance. I chatted with the stranger next to me and got her to hold my sign for this photo.

The Westboro Baptist Church had all of five representatives, compared to, I'd say a couple hundred counter-protesters. My sign got pretty much ruined in the rain, but it was worth it.

I feel like those WBC idiots aren't worth the attention that they get with their "THANK GOD FOR BREAST CANCER" and "YOU WILL EAT YOUR BABIES" logic, and I was concerned that the counter-protest only fuels their publicity. Wouldn't it be better if nobody showed up or noticed them at all?

But on the other hand, what a thing of beauty that so many people came out in the rain together to stand against what they felt was wrong. Some were there in support of gay rights, some in support of veterans. (WBC often protest at military funerals.) Some were there in solidarity with breast cancer victims, some were simply supporting the family of Elizabeth Edwards, or the attendees of every funeral. For whatever the reasons, people still came together. They chanted. They sang. They blew their horns. They waved flags. They drove by with their heads out the sunroof tonguing each other. Everybody seemed like they were having a good time, despite the weather.

Funny how the WBC managed to perpetrate love and peace despite their messages of hate.

Visiting Time

The inspiration for this sign was the Interjections! episode of Schoolhouse Rock. Hurray! I'm for the other team!

I attended the Hurricanes vs. Nashville Predators game in Nashville on December 4, 2010. This and a pre-fab "Let's Go Canes" sign were the only ones I took because I wanted to be able to fit them into my suitcase. (I had to cut down my regular size poster board to fit.)

Unfortunately, the Canes lost 2-5, but I still had a great time in Nashville.

Ward-en

I found this sign, which related to goalie Cam Ward, while rifling through some old ones. I think I archived it for karmic reasons. It's not a useful sign once the opposing team scores.

Falling Stars

Too bad the Canes fell to Dallas tonight. :(

Snot Stevens

While rifling through some old signs, I found this one that I apparently forgot to photograph and upload. It refers to Scott Stevens, then of the New Jersey Devils.

Some of my signs pre-date camera phones. The first ones that I ever made, I probably threw away right after the game. I remember leaving one on the windshield of a car belonging to a visiting Montreal Canadiens fan in the parking lot. It soon dawned on me that I could save them and reuse most of them. Now I have a hard time discarding any of them. Even when one of the Canes players gets traded, it's as likely as not he'll eventually return someday. Still, the day is coming when I'll have to chuck some of them into the recycle bin.

Maybe I should cut them up and make confetti. Is confetti allowed in the arena? The cleanup crew might hate that. Perhaps I could save it for a special occasion, like another Cup win.

Slow Derby

The current Women's Flat Track Derby Association rules allow skaters to stop, backskate, and/or skate in the reverse direction. Jammers (the ones who score points by passing opponents) can step outside the track and go back to reenter behind the rest of the back so that they may try again to pass without committing a penalty and therefore earn points or the "lead jammer" designation that they would have lost on the first attempt. All this makes for (1) confused fans (2) confused refs (3) confused stat-keepers, and (4) ssssssslow skating.

In my opinion, and that of many other fans, this is not what roller derby should be. You wouldn't get this kind of nonsense on the banked tracks. My sign isn't very clever - I made it quickly during halftime on the back of another one - but there is something to be said for simplicity and for putting into writing what everybody at the bout was thinking.

The WFTDA should simplify the rules so that normal folks can follow the play. Derby should be fast and hard-hitting. If they want it to be slow and tame, they should go and play a pleasant game of croquet on top of Ann Calvello's grave.

Richland Poor

Carolina Bootleggers vs. Richland County (SC) Regulators. November 20, 2010

Take a Spill

It was the Canes who struck it rich tonight with 7 goals to the Edmonton Oilers' 1. You can keep your Alberta Beef; I'll take the free queso at Moe's (given away if the Canes score at least five goals).

As Seen on TV

These are the autographed versions of the two signs I made for a TV commercial starring Chad LaRose and Eric Staal. See previous blog post for the story. The ad was released on the web over the summer but is now shown on TV.

Neuter the Cats

I don't think this a particularly clever sign, but I made it short notice when someone offered me a free ticket to the Florida Panthers game just hours in advance. It took me only 12 minutes to make this sign. I think it's a record.