A Large Regular

2012 NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders

2012-01-27T08:35:00.000-05:00

Here are the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders. Honestly - if I was the NFL Network I would have a channel that just showed the cheerleaders during the game. That channel would probably get better ratings than the actual Pro Bowl.

Linky Links

2012-01-27T07:45:00.000-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Nice math trick - if you divide 1 by 998,001 you get all three-digit numbers from 000 to 999 in order

Example of life imitating art or vice versa "As God as my witness - we will have casinos on the moon"

Who said it: Steven Wright or Mitch Hedberg?

This was so unnecessary - LA Confidential was made into a TV movie in 2003

So it looks like I have 50 brands of beer I need to try - RateBeer top 50 best beers 2012

Unlikely to recapture the Monty Python magic but I do like the idea of the gang getting back together

Comparisons like this are what the Internet was made for - Exploring the strange parallels between the writing of mythologist Joseph Campbell and the first 4 Police Academy films (HT Big Stupid Tommy)

Kool - 6 Hugely Successful Products Originally Invented for Something Else

So jealous - Wes Welker is engaged to this woman:

Jorge Posada is not a Hall of Famer

2012-01-26T09:06:00.000-05:00

Peter Gammons tries to make the case that Jorge Posada has Hall of Fame credentials. I think Gammons is either doing public relations for the Yankees and Posada (who may be a friend of Gammons) or that Peter is just being willfully ignorant.

For example Gammons touts the fact that Posada is 6th in OPS+ among catchers since 1901. Problem is Gammons doesn't count Joe Mauer among the 6 and Mauer has a career OPS+ that is 15 points higher than Posada. Who else did Gammons neglect to include?

The article doesn't even mention Ivan Rodriguez who was a contemporary of Posada's but who has a much better case for the Hall of Fame. Pudge had 13 Gold Gloves and an MVP. Posada was a defensive liability and had just 2 Top 10 MVP finishes.

Jorge Posada is not going into the Hall of Fame. I gave the 4 reasons why last August.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-26T08:07:00.001-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Just a reminder but when President Obama took office he was boasting about being able to stop the oceans from rising. Now three years in he's down to bragging about making it easier to clean up milk spills... Canadian teens launch Lego man into (near) space... Paul Newman would have been 87 today... Just saying but Boston College will have more players in the Super Bowl (6) than any other college... As a reminder - Rex Ryan will have to go 7-9 next season to equal Herm Edwards record in his first 4 years as New York Jets coach (35-29)... Very cool - FDR's 52nd birthday party was a Toga Party... The world's largest feet belong to Brahim Takioullah who sports a size 58 shoe (making my size 13's look pretty puny in comparison)... On this day in 1978 - New England was buried in snow as the great Blizzard of 78 was underway... Tweet of the Day from @pourmecoffee - "Goodnight Moon. Goodnight Newt colonizing the moon." I just find that so very clever and funny... Happy 51st birthday to Wayne Gretzky - the best hockey player who ever lived...

Newt Didn't Support Reagan - Newt Only Supports Newt

2012-01-26T07:35:00.000-05:00

Very interesting look at how Newt Gingrich was more prone to criticize President Ronald Reagan than support him. I am glad that finally people are calling Newt on his hyperbolic boasts. Listening to Newt you would think he was Ronald Reagan's right hand man - not a guy who was publicly questioning his policies every step of the way.

Linky Links

2012-01-25T18:58:00.001-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Making sense of the Marco Scutaro trade. Shorter version - it was a salary dump.

What the biggest solar storm since 2005 looked like.

This female archer is wicked awesome! HT Chris Lindsay

Rob Gronkowski's famous "I am party" ESPN Desportes interview.

Interesting - the Science of Sword Swallowing

Familiar Rhetoric, Failed Record

2012-01-25T09:02:00.002-05:00

You could argue that the State of the Union was just the same old, same old but at least he wasn't hectoring anyone to "pass this jobs bill now." Hey - what ever happened to that? I thought that the Stimulus Junior Bill was the key to the jobs recovery? Do you mean that the speech in front of the joint Houses of Congress was just political theater?

EDIT: Wow! If you watch just one video explaining why the rhetoric doesn't match up with the facts - make it this video from the CATO Institute

Diana Nyad - VIP (Very Impressive Person)

2012-01-24T14:29:00.003-05:00

Diana Nyad is an inspiration for many reasons.

Watch this video and I think you will agree.

Warren Zevon

2012-01-24T08:39:00.003-05:00

Warren Zevon would have been 65 years old today. In his honor - here's The Wallflowers and Zevon's son Jordan doing a tribute version of Lawyers, Guns and Money

Tim Thomas

2012-01-24T08:13:00.000-05:00

When the Boston Bruins announced their visit to the White House - Tim Thomas said he wasn't going. Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli tried to convince him to go but Tim Thomas said he wasn't going. Yesterday the Bruins met with President Obama and Tim Thomas wasn't there.

Some critics say if Thomas had something to say he should have said it to the President's face. Yeah - like that wouldn't have been a major distraction and the fall out would not have been spun to say Thomas ruined the day for the rest of his teammates.

Some critics of Thomas' action say he should have gone and just stood in the back. As one of only two Americans on the team - and the only big name American on the team there is no way he would have been allowed to be just wallpaper in this publicity opportunity. He would have basically been forced to be center ring of a circus he wanted no part of.

I think it would have been funny if one of the Canadian players skipped the event in protest of the President's actions regarding the Keystone XL pipeline. He could have said this President was disrespecting Canada. How the media would have had to deal with that would have been very amusing.

Speaking of Canada - when does the team visit the Canadian Prime Minister? Is it just the Americans who use these staged photo opportunities? Would Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston have gone up to stand with the team? I doubt it.

The bottom line is without Tim Thomas - the Bruins don't win the Stanley Cup. Without winning the Stanley Cup they don't get invited to the White House. Tim Thomas was interested in the first but uninterested in the second. What's wrong with that?

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-23T09:26:00.000-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

It should be noted that the Patriots have now won 10 games in a row. The last team to beat them was actually the New York Giants... Had a dream last night that the Red Sox made a huge trade with the Marlins for Josh Johnson. I hope that dream comes true... Gov. Chris Christie calls Newt Gingrich an embarrassment to the Republican Party and I agree... So where does Rex Ryan watch the Super Bowl? No network would want him because how would he be able to answer the question of how do you beat the Patriots or the question of how to beat the Giants. Gasbag... I wonder if on the show Blue Bloods they ever show Tom Selleck and a sandwich and waterfall in the same scene. That would be a special episode... I wonder if Tiki Barber still thinks Eli Manning lacks leadership skills?... Definition of badass... So is Brian Orakpo banging the Geico cavemam? That's the takeaway I get seeing the caveman in the locker room in a cheerleader outfit... Just saw a guy with a "Will Work for Food" sign who looked just like Craig Kilborn. Pretty sure it wasn't him... I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that the Red Sox trading both Marco Scutoro and Jed Lowrie will lead to a desperation move of switching Dustin Pedroia to shortstop. I also wouldn't be surprised if Ben Cherington's next move is to trade Mike Availes for another middle reliever.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-22T09:43:00.001-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I don't think it will come to this because I think Newt Gingrich will either self-destruct or people will see him for the ego-maniacal fraud that he is but if it did come down to Gingrich vs. Obama in 2012 - I might just skip voting altogether to catch a movie... Very cool - the scale of the Universe... Vinny Testaverde was also only mentioned once in Reagan's diary. I would much rather vote for Vinnie than Newt Gingrich... Pretty amazing - Tom Brady has played in 10 full seasons (he did not play in a game in 2000 and only 1 game in 2008) and today will be his 6th AFC Championship game. If that's not Jordanesque I don't know what is... If Gingrich was President - would a "Wag the Dog" scenario involving Newt starting a war to cover up a mistake surprise anyone?... On this day in 1973 LBJ passed away taking with him to the grave the secret of how he had JFK killed... Who knew? According to Mental Floss: "Cheerios and Circus Peanuts Candy" may not sound like a winning formula but that's the combo that inspired Lucky Charms... Today is Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice's 25th birthday. I'd like to wish him a Happy Birthday but instead I really hope his playoff hopes are dashed by an onslaught of Patriots offense. Besides - his first name isn't Ray - it's Raymell. What kind of name is Raymell?

Linky Links

2012-01-21T14:11:00.000-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

I don't care if this is real or Photoshop - still awesome

Heh heh - when you search for "Mendoza line" on Baseball-reference.com it brings you to this page

Incredibly detailed panoramic virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel

Sterling Archer Draper Pryce

Awesome - The Scream

New Yorker cartoons with Rick Santorum captions

Tom Curran - Bill Belichick is the Steve Jobs of NFL coaches

King of New York

2012-01-21T09:29:00.000-05:00

Last night I watched King of New York. It has to be about 15 years since I had seen the 1990 flick and I remembered it as a pretty cool Christopher Walken vehicle. I was correct in remembering that it was a Christopher Walken movie but I had no memory of the movie being so bad. I mean really bad. I mean mesmorizingly bad. It is billed as a stylized retelling of Robin Hood but it is just a tossed together shoot-em up. Even though it was made in 1990 - it has an 80's feel to it. The clothes, half the actors wearing sunglasses at night, the language, the whole movie had a 80's feel. Besides the 80's feel - the two things that stood out to me was the fact that Laurence Fishburne had magic pistols that could shoot hundreds of rounds without a new clip and also how badly people died in the movie. I don't mean that their deaths were gruesome - I mean the acting was just so very over the top. Master thespian sarcastic over the top. After watching the movie I found out via IMDB that the film was financed by Silvio Berlusconi - the future Italian Prime Minister. That was just the icing on the cake. If you remember King of New York as a decent flick - watch it again to have a good laugh at both how bad the movie really is and also how silly your younger self must have been to have liked it the first time around.

You're a Creep Charlie Brown

2012-01-20T14:53:00.002-05:00

Player Comparison

2012-01-20T10:50:00.000-05:00

Take a look at these numbers and tell me who seems like the better prospect:

Player A - 463 AB/ 18 HR/ 67 RBI/ .288 BA/ .348 OBP/ .814 OPS
Player B - 264 AB/ 18 HR/ 55 RBI/ .295 BA/ .390 OBP/ 1.002 OPS

Player A is two years younger than Player B but you cannot tell me that his numbers are better than Player B's. Both players are about the same size and both players play the same position - catcher. Player A is highly touted prospect Jesus Montero formerly of the Yankees and Player B is Ryan Lavarnway of the Red Sox.

What made me think of checking the numbers on this comparison was this Gordon Edes piece about Lavarnway.

EDIT: MLB.com has a list of the Top 10 Catching Prospects - Montero is listed #1 and Lavarnway is listed #8

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-20T09:42:00.001-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

New Gingrich released his taxes last night in an attempt to redirect attention from his ex-wife's allegations that he wanted an open marriage. Pure and simple. If I was Mitt Romney I would be more than a little bit upset over that piece of politics. If I was Mitt - I'd have his wife Ann tape a spot talking about how when she was diagnosed with MS her husband stood by her. Newt may have gotten a good reaction to slamming John King for asking the question but he's done irreparable damage among women voters across the country (and they make up 50% of the electorate - making Newt radioactive in a general election)... According to a Tweet by Darren Rovell - the new Bud Light Platinum will be 6% alcohol while Bud is 5% and Bud Light is 4.2%. That just doesn't seem right to me that Bud Light is less alcohol than Bud. If that's really the case then I might have to switch back to Bud (or to the new Bud Light Platinum)... So Newt Gingrich supposedly converted to being a Catholic. I guess the 6 years of living in sin and the divorcing of two women doesn't mean as much to the church as they taught when I was a kid. The hypocrisy of the church is as big a story here as Newt's serial infidelity if you ask me... Who knew? Supposedly Brad Pitt was offered the role of Jason Bourne but turned it down to do Spy Game instead... Compare Rick Perry's fanfare entrance into the Presidential race with whimper of his exit. If Rick Perry was a month - he'd be March coming in like a lion and leaving like a lamb... Sherlock Series 2 won't air on PBS Masterpiece until May 6th, 13th and 20th? That's crap!... I bet secretly Newt Gingrich would like a much grander title than President. He might he happy being known as his Excellence the King of Bohemian Life and Ideas...

Romney Answer I Wish I Heard

2012-01-19T23:04:00.000-05:00

If I was Mitt Romney - I would have said the following at some point in tonight's debate:

My two favorite President's of the past 100 years are Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan. Harry Truman had on his desk a plaque that said "The Buck Stops Here". As an aside "the buck" is a poker term and poker should be legal in the United States - its an American game. The saying meant that President Truman would take responsibility for getting things done, for making the hard decisions. President Obama takes a completely opposite approach. He doesn't take responsibility for anything. Take the decision to punt on the Keystone XL pipeline for example. President Reagan had a plaque on his desk that said, "It's amazing how much can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit." This attitude was one of Reagan's secrets to success but it is an attitude that Speaker Gingrich would never be able to embrace because his ego is too big. Almost every other word out of his mouth tonight has been the word "I". His megalomania is his main problem.

Feist - The Bad In each Other

2012-01-19T10:36:00.000-05:00

This song is really starting to grow on me. What does it say about my musical tastes that I'm more excited about finding this tune than I am about Bruce Springsteen's new single?

Bill Belichick an Anarchist? Ummm - NO

2012-01-19T09:19:00.001-05:00

Charlie Pierce can really turn a phrase which helps to make him a fun writer to read. But the problem isn't how Pierce is saying something - it is the something he tries to say. In his latest Grantland offering Charlie Pierce puts forward the idea that Bill Belichick is the NFL's last anarchist. Ummm - NO!

Anarchists don't have a uniform way of doing things - the Patriot way. Anarchists aren't known for requiring people to just do their jobs. Any personal flair or on-field demonstrations of individuality are normally swiftly dealt with by Coach Belichick.

Bill Belichick isn't an anarchist. The very idea is stupid but that doesn't jive with Charlie Pierce's thinking. Describing Belichick as he is wouldn't allow Pierce to utilize his beloved quotes from Leftists such as Emma Goldman or Bob Dylan.

It is this mindset that will be the doom of Grantland. These people are writing more for each other than for a paying audience. It is a giant echo-chamber. The problem is the readers can only be sucked in so many times. For instance I was sucked into listening to the podcast of their TV critic guys mostly because they were going to talk about Justified. Problem is one of the critics couldn't get into Justified because he thought there was too much shooting - on a show about a US Marshall with a Western gunslinger mentality - too much shooting. Really. And the other critic agreed with him. Needless to say - you won't find me wasting any more time with those podcasts.

Grantland was a great idea. It was supposed to be this place you'd check every day because of the great content. But I'd guess I might check it once a week now (if that) because I already know what I'm going to see. What's the point of reading an article on Grantland if it is just the same viewpoint rehashed over and over?

Linky Links

2012-01-19T08:41:00.001-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Graham Yost explains the season premiere of Justified

Acting is hard (Moneyball out-take)

17 of the most bizarre, obscene, or pointless entries on Wikipedia

Awesome Q&A w/ Teri Garr (it may be old but it was new to me)

Rob Gronkowski’s Friend Bibi Jones To Perform At Stoughton Club (what a great potential Super Bowl promotion)

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-17T08:57:00.002-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Awesome - Lionel Richie's "Hello" performed by movie characters... Via Mental Floss - "According to one survey, 29% of people who call for tech support end up swearing at their customer service rep." I'd add that 100% probably end up swearing if the customer service rep is an automated voice response system... The insurance commercial I'd like to see made is one of Tom Coughlin beating the Geico caveman to death with a baseball bat... Ball peen hammer really sounds like it should some sort of sex act. In a related thought - is the word "peen" ever used in any other context?... The reason DC comics is probably changing their logo... It is worth saying again - the Patriots have been a much better team since they cut Albert Haynesworth... If I had a business I'd add a small line item charge to each invoice for "opaque retraction". Who would notice and who would complain?... Movie idea: The Delonte West Story starring Tracy Jordan... Very interesting concept - thorium based nuclear reactors...

Mini Cannon

2012-01-16T11:38:00.002-05:00

This is just plain cool! I want one!

Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney

2012-01-16T11:14:00.000-05:00

So Jon Huntsman Jr. has decided to drop out of the race. Meanwhile Mitt Romney is quietly running perhaps the most clinically effective campaign in history. Of the 92 Members of Congress who have endorsed any candidate - 63 endorsed Romney. Rick Perry is a distant 2nd with just 13. Romney has extensive state organizations in every state and a very healthy campaign war chest. This guy will have the nomination basically sewed up by February 1st.

I wouldn't be surprised if Jon Huntsman Jr. dropped out yesterday because Romney's people put pressure on Jon Huntsman Sr. to have his son stop his fantasy campaign and face up to the real-world realities that no member of the Huntsman clan would ever be welcome in a Romney administration if he kept it up. Call it quits before the Monday debate and endorse Romney or else. The message clearly got across.

People will keep underestimating the Romney campaign. Right up to and even past the point where he is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.

MLK - Stabbed in Harlem

2012-01-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

Martin Luther King Jr. was stabbed in the chest in Harlem? By a crazed black woman? I did not know that. Why is it that this little episode of his history is never discussed? He almost died. The day was September 20, 1958. I'm fascinated by history like this.

The story is worth reading even if just for some awesome MLK quotes:

Hatred paralyzes life, love releases it...

In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.

Powerful stuff.

Tim Tebow and Tom Brady

2012-01-15T10:14:00.001-05:00

I imagine that many people last night were checking the Bible for the appropriate Bible quote based upon the score change (guilty as charged) and I think funny enough a proper quotation was found at the end of the game. Last week Tim Tebow had 316 yards passing and everyone immediately seized on John 3:16. Last night Tebow finished with 136 yards passing and John 1:26 seems fitting enough; "When he saw Jesus passing by he said, 'Look the Lamb of God'". Tebow was John the Baptist preaching football in the Wilderness and last night he saw what a real football Jesus looked like (Jesus passing - get it?).

I am far from a Tebow hater - the opposite would be true. I think this season he made the Broncos much more competitive and vastly more interesting. Orton or Quinn would have led this team to maybe 5 wins tops. Tebow took them to to not just the playoffs but also to a 1st round playoff victory. Broncos fans should be pleased - he exceeded expectations.

Now the Patriots will have to deal with the haters of their own. The "this defense isn't good enough to win the Super Bowl" haters. The "this team still hasn't beaten a team with a winning record" haters. I hope that puts a chip on their shoulders because we have seen in the past how a "us against the world" Bill Belichick coached team reacts in those situations.

All I know is that the team I saw last night looks mightily tough to beat. I see the Patriots making the Super Bowl. Belichick lo vult (Belichick wills it).

They Might Be Giants - Minimum Wage

2012-01-14T09:28:00.003-05:00

I love this silly song.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-13T15:51:00.002-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I have to wonder if after the debacle that was the Ryan Madson non-deal with the Phillies - if Scott Boras cannot get Prince Fielder a megadeal - will he try to use a big deal for Jacoby Ellsbury to try and restore some of his lost luster? As a Red Sox fan - I hope so... I don't care how good a Rick Reilly piece is or how highly recommended it comes - I've wasted too many hours of my life reading his mailed in pieces to ever take the chance of letting him cheat me out of any more slices of my lifetime... Cool - old picture of Mitt Romney and Muhammad Ali... I wonder if Tim Tebow is going to wear wool socks and sandals when he comes out to New England. He would certainly fit the Jesus Boots profile... If Andrew Bynum was a baseball player - he'd be JD Drew... Heh heh - is Mitt Romney's large penis the new Bababooey?... Jets fans talking about getting Peyton Manning smells a lot like Penn State fans talking about getting Nick Saban to replace Joe Paterno... When did people switch from calling the NFL Playoffs "the playoffs" to calling it "the tournament"? Was there a memo?... Best pole dance move ever!!... Every time I see Newt Gingrich speak - I keep expecting a bad lip-reading bit to break out... Taking a trip on the Orient Express is definitely on my bucket list... Farts - an under appreciated threat to astronauts (listing this under science).

Friday the 13th

2012-01-13T08:41:00.003-05:00

The book and movie The DaVinci Code have helped make people aware the the origin of Friday the 13th as a day of bad luck dates back to 1307 when the king of France had the Knights Templar in France all rounded up and arrested on (you guessed it) Friday the 13th. Most of the captured Templars were tortured and killed while the king seized their lands and re-negged on his debts to the organization. Real bad luck for the Templars but good luck for the king.

Less popularly known is that on Friday the 13th in 1917 the "Miracle of the Sun" occurred.

According to many witness statements, after a downfall of rain, the clouds broke and the sun appeared as an opaque, spinning disk in the sky. It was said to be significantly less bright than normal, and cast multicolored lights across the landscape, the shadows on the landscape, the people, and the surrounding clouds. The sun was reported to have careened towards the earth in a zigzag pattern, frightening some of those present who thought it meant the end of the world. Witnesses reported that the ground and their previously wet clothes became completely dry.

According to witness reports, the alleged miracle of the sun lasted approximately ten minutes. The three shepherd children, in addition to reporting seeing the actions of the sun that day, also reported seeing a panorama of visions, including those of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of Saint Joseph blessing the people.

Pretty freaky huh?

I think if I saw that - I would have gone to Mass every day for the rest of my life.

I think another bit of Friday the 13th trivia that is interesting to note is the fact that comedian Lenny Bruce and Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher were born on the same day - Friday the 13th 1925. Can you think of two more diametrically opposed people?

Happy Friday the 13th everyone.

Don Draper Says What

2012-01-12T21:24:00.003-05:00

I can't wait for the return of Mad Men.

Linky Links

2012-01-12T19:02:00.001-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

The Education of Jonathan Duhamel by Michael Craig - excellent poker read by one of the best poker writers

ESPN Broke Its Own Record By Making 160 Tim Tebow References In One Hour Of SportsCenter

Heh heh - Conan O'Brien recreates the Tim Tebow play

11 amusing examples of creatively defaced currency

James Joyce’s works are now out of copyright

Romney's Tax Returns

2012-01-11T09:37:00.001-05:00

Mitt Romney has not released his tax returns and some people seem to be up in arms about this. Why? At this point - what's in it for Romney? Will releasing his tax returns make it easier or harder to win the Republican nomination? If you think about it you'll realize that it will not make it easier for Romney - it would make it harder as people like Perry and Gingrich would just nitpick the returns. Why would Romney volunteer to take that flack?

However, once Romney has the nomination I would not be surprised to see him offer a challenge to Barack Obama - "You release your college transcripts and I'll release my tax returns." That would change the dynamic completely. How can the press complain about Romney not releasing his tax returns when Obama hasn't released his transcripts? If Obama does release his transcripts would you be surprised if it showed that Romney was the vastly superior student? The myth of Obama being this super smart guy could evaporate. What would Romney's tax returns show - that he's a rich guy who gives 10% to his church? We already know that.

Romney hasn't released his tax returns because he's not stupid. Barack Obama may not be releasing his college grades because maybe he is.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-09T19:46:00.001-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

All day yesterday I was wondering where Rex Ryan was watching the playoffs. It certainly wasn't from the sidelines... Not to toot my own horn but I did predict Denver winning the game last Thursday... I hope next year the Patriots use the money they wasted on Albert Haynesworth and Ochocinco to get the fans something nice... I am waiting for Rick Santorum to confess that he enjoys accubation - the practice of eating or drinking while lying down. That would be cool... Ever see the World's Strongest Man competitions where they have those huge guys running a 100-yard dash carrying hundreds of pounds? Wouldn't one of those guys make a great short-yardage back in the NFL? Assuming of course they could pass the steroids tests... There is a species of fish that hides from prey by swimming into the anus of a sea cucumber. The fish is called a Pearlfish but I wonder if science would be willing to rename the species the JimmyCarterfish... Just when you think Stephen Hawking couldn't get any more awesome you learn that he likes to go to top shelf whiskey tasting events... Newt Gingrich is annoying in large part because he is a constant autohagiorapher - one who speaks or writes about themselves in a smug fashion... So what did Bill Maher Tweet about Tim Tebow today? Yeah - thought so... Man who creates amazing Rube-Goldberg machines in his apartment... Am I the only one who has trouble sleeping because I'm worried about the status of Tom Brady's playoff beard?... Just saying it for the record - Jorge Posada is not a Hall of Fame player... How big of a surprise would it be if Mitt Romney admitted he was a autotonsorilist - one who cuts his own hair. Just a Flowbee and some "product" he buys from WalMart... Just a reminder but Hall of Famer Barry Larkin was basically kicked to the curb in Cincinnati for one and a half seasons of Felipe Lopez.

MMQB Thoughts

2012-01-09T14:03:00.000-05:00

Here's 5 things I think I think about today's MMQB column from Peter King.

1. I agree 100% that one of the big winners of Denver's win over Pittsburgh was Josh McDaniels. He picked Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas just for day's like last night. That one game has maybe done more for McDaniels' reputation than for anyone else's other than Tim Tebow.
2. The Rams practice facility is in Earth City, MO. I so want to open a bar there and name it Journey to the Center.
3. The Tony Corrente story was very touching. Wishing Mr. Corrente all the best in his fight against cancer.
4. Peter King warns personnel men interested in Alabama's Trent Richardson that runningback diamonds can be found in the rough in later rounds of the draft. This is plain stupid. Of the runningbacks who gained over 1,000 yards this season - 8 out of 15 were 1st round picks. King's point is the equivalent of saying why waste the first pick on Andrew Luck when a guy like Tom Brady went in the 7th round.
5. Peter wasn't happy with Ben Roethlisberger's decision to play in the last couple of regular season games. What - was Big Ben's coach supposed to tell him "No, you can't play"? To Ben "no" means "yes" - everyone knows that.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-08T12:53:00.001-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

It is hard to believe that it has just been a little over 2 months since the Penn State Athletic Director was charged with perjury which was first domino in chain that led to Jerry Sandusky being arrested, Joe Paterno being fired and Bill O'Brien hired as Paterno's replacement as head football coach... Not to be racist but if you have fears that your penis is shrinking then you are probably Asian. If you suffer from anorexia - you are probably not from Africa. Culture bound syndromes... Congratulations to Romeo Crennel on being named head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. When good things happen to good people... People wonder why Bill O'Brien left the Patriots to take the Penn State job but that is simple. O'Brien will be paid much more money than he was making and his contract is for 5-years. Does anyone think Tom Brady will still be the QB for the Patriots in 5-years?... The highest unemployment rate under George W Bush was 7.7% and he was crucified for it. President Obama has an unemployment rate of 8.5% (the real rate is 10.9% but that's another story) and he is getting praised for it?... The two best teams in the NHL may be the Bruins and the Rangers. They are also the two teams that lead the NHL in fights. There is some correlation there...

The Liberal Mindset

2012-01-08T12:12:00.000-05:00

The Liberal mindset seems to think that it is OK for a 12-year old girl to get contraceptive devices without parental knowledge or permission but it is not OK for that same girl to buy cigarettes. Think about that for a minute. On the one hand in the Liberal mindset the girl is capable of making adult decisions for herself but on the other the Liberal mindset demands that the 12-year old girl be protected from herself because she is not capable of making adult decisions on her own.

These two contradictory beliefs can exist side by side in the Liberal mind without that person never noticing or acknowledging the contradictory rationalizations for governmental interference.

Business Lessons from a Crime Boss

2012-01-07T10:59:00.000-05:00

Interesting quick read article on the business start-up lessons to be learned from a crime boss. Lessons include

- Don't sell rocks when you can sell mountains
- Cut out the middleman
- Don't shit where you eat
- If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense
- Closed mouths don't get fed
- Be a badass

All common sense lessons but voiced in a manner you may not have seen before.

Linky Links

2012-01-07T09:27:00.001-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Interesting read: "How Many Stephen Colberts Are There?" Long but amusing look at Colbert today and where he came from

Bob Ryan takes a look at Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers. For the record - I loved Ainge as a player but I thought Doc was just slightly better.

Girl with great balance doing yoga - impressive in many ways

Was Ron Jaworski The Puppetmaster Behind Penn State's Odd Coaching Hire?

Louis C.K.’s lesson for marketers: Honesty is the best strategy

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-05T22:30:00.000-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Prior to this NFL season what do you think the Las Vegas odds on a prop bet that a QB could break Dan Marino's 28-year old single season passing record but still not win the MVP? I'd have to guess that the odds on that prop bet would have to have been at least 500-1... American's deadliest sniper punched Jesse Ventura in the face... George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp using slave labor. The part of that statement that Newt Gingrich doesn't like is the fact they grew hemp... What will happen first - the Red Sox finally get the compensation for letting Theo Epstein go to the Cubs or 2012 Opening Day? Only 90 days till Opening Day... Heh heh - Ron Paul pictures with Ron Swanson's words... Last year the Patriots had veteran tight end Alge Crumpler on the roster where he was both a productive player and valuable role model for rookies Aaron Hernandez and Ron Gronkowski on how to be a NFL tight end. I think that example by Crumpler is really paying dividends this season. I would not be surprised to see Crumpler become a coach some day... Very amusing - Issac Newton's list of sins... I thought of a new dessert. You make Rice Krispie squares but instead of Rice Krispies you use Cocoa Pebbles. You have a dessert that is brown, sticky and maybe even a little frothy. I'd call them Santorum Squares... Today's Tweet of the day:

William Keane @largebill681h
Obama plans campaign decrying "do-nothing" congress. Did he forget that as a senator all he did was vote "Present" and look for another job?

Denver Broncos

2012-01-05T08:52:00.001-05:00

I have a hunch and I wanted to share. I think the Denver Broncos may win Sunday's game outright.

Even before seeing the fact that the last 5 teams in the NFL playoffs with a record of .500 or worse are 5-0 against the spread the past 5 years - I had a hunch about the Broncos. Even before seeing that Denver coach John Fox is 6-2 ATS in the playoffs and 5-1 ATS when an underdog - I had a hunch about the Broncos.

The Steelers are very banged up. Many pundits are saying Tim Tebow is the worst QB in the playoffs but I would take Tebow over an completely immobile Ben Roethlisberger. Who would you take - Tebow or Charlie Batch? Remember how the Steelers fared against the 49ers - a team with a strong running game and defense? Remember how the Steelers lost twice to the Ravens - a team with a strong running game and defense? Remember how the Steelers got beat by the Texans - a team with a strong running game and defense? Three out of four of those games were on the road. This Sunday the Steelers will be facing a team with a strong running game and dense and they will be on the road.

And they will be without Rashad Mendenhall and maybe Ben Roethlisberger. Last year the Saints lost to the Seahawks as prohibitive favorites. On the road. Against a team with a strong running game and defense. And their QB and running backs were healthy.

The Steelers are 9 point favorites and -$400 on the moneyline. I may be taking the Broncos on both.

Linky Links

2012-01-04T08:33:00.002-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Here's an ATS table with coach playoff records sorted with over/unders

Heh heh - it's funny cause its true

The latest 'Norman Chad, Alone' on YouTube: Why NBA players should stop chasing skirts

I agree that Brian Waters is an unsung hero for the Patriots - don't understand why Chiefs let him go

NASA has set up a live camera feed for the Web so you can see tonight's meteor shower

Snoop Dog on The Price is Right

Sneezing induced by sexual ideation or orgasm: an under-reported phenomenon

THE LION KING RISES: Dark Knight Rises Trailer Parody

Craig James for Senate

2012-01-03T21:28:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder - Craig James for Senate is an anagram for "A Magnesia for Rejects".

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-03T09:23:00.000-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Mitt Romney and the crowd handle some hecklers quite deftly... With Bill Polian now out with the Colts - will we finally learn the truth about him piping in crowd noise at the RCS Dome?... Who knew? There is a World Series of Beer Pong. It is being held this week (finals on Thursday) with the winner getting $50,000 first place cash. I would actually like to watch this on the Internet... Jason Varitek is not coming back to the Red Sox no matter what Jon Heyman tries to throw up against the wall. Just like Coco Crisp is not signing with the Orioles (which was another Heyman bon mot)... Interesting look at how St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke wants to rebuild his team in the Patriots mold. It is also interesting that he specifically mentions Michael Holley's War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick and the Art of Building the Perfect Team as his blueprint. Could there be a front office opening for Michael Holley? That would be a very interesting wrinkle... Just a reminder that in January 2007 when Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid took over Congress - the unemployment rate was 4.6% and the national debt was $8.6 trillion... According to Mental Floss "A 1913 New York Times article on portmanteaus includes the word 'alcoholiday' which describes leisure time spent drinking." With the NFL playoffs in the near future I may be taking a couple alcoholidays myself.

Linky Links

2012-01-02T23:55:00.001-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Victor Davis Hanson remembers Christopher Hitchens

Larry Fitzgerald at the Fiesta Bowl with Condoleezza Rice

I wonder if Norm Chad being so down on sports has anything to do with Randy Edsall

21 professional violinists asked to play 6 violins, couldn't tell Stradivari/Guarneri ones from new ones

Awesome shot of Oregon chrome helmet

NBA Forever

2012-01-02T11:13:00.002-05:00

God, No!

2012-01-02T10:28:00.001-05:00

The day before Christmas Eve I received Penn Jillette's God, No!: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales as a Christmas gift. I found that very amusing. A book by a guy who doesn't recognize Christ and who doesn't celebrate Christmas but yet in a round-about way is now benefiting from the holiday.

I like Penn Jillette. I have always found him entertaining and I should say off the top that I found the book entertaining but you will find no spiritual epiphany from reading the book (unless perhaps this is the only book you've read in years and in that case maybe you should read more). This book is just mind candy.

Penn's argument for atheism comes down to if you answer "I don't know" when it comes to the question "Is there a God" then you are an atheist. Joseph Campbell found that certain mythological beliefs are universal, archaeologists have proven that Jesus lived and walked the earth, Paul of Tarsus had some sort of conversion on the road to Damascus and Albert Einstein found the evidence of God in the order of the universe. If you asked Joseph Campbell or Albert Einstein if there was a God, their reply of "I don't know" certainly wouldn't indicate that they were closet atheists. Far from it and they are much more brilliant people than Penn Jillette.

God, No! is one of those books that famous people write when their business manager gets them a book deal because they happen to be famous. Sometimes the famous person has a ghost writer spill out the words but this is not the case with God, No! You cannot help but read the book with Jillette's voice ringing in your head. The stories he tells are amusing and sometimes very touching.

I recommend the book but just don't think you are going to have your life changed by reading it.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I'll say it again - Norv Turner would have had this year's Jets team in the playoffs. Think of it this way - Rex Ryan needs to go 7-9 next season to equal Herm Edwards record in Edwards first 4 years in New York (35-29). I think that would make a great prop bet for a casino... This will be trouble - a UK craft brewer has come out with a Viagra beer. It's bad enough hanging out in a bar full of guys but hanging out in a bar full of guys with wood is just so - I don't even want to think about it... Busy week for New Orleans and the Superdome. The Sugar Bowl on Tuesday, the Saints play the Lions on Saturday and on Monday it's LSU vs Alabama on Monday for all the Tostitos... Tom Brady closing in on history... With all the Page 6 mentions you have to wonder if Mark Sanchez is single handedly bringing back the debate about too much sex hurting athletic performance. I also like the idea Eric MacErlain brought up about Sanchez making Jets fans pine for the days of Richard Todd... Four bettor win the Hilton SuperContest and turn $1,500 into a minimum of $313,533. I would love to give that contest a try... I think the over / under on the number of episodes before CBS cancels their new "comedy" Rob should be 5 shows... Will 2012 be the year that ABC finally agrees to remake the classic Barney Miller?

Asshat

2012-01-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

The term "asshat" became popular a few years back. Basically it was a snarky hip way of saying "stupid asshole" but at the same time getting around any potential censorship since "asshat" wasn't on any lists of proscribed words. But if you think about the term for any amount of time - it doesn't make any sense.

A hat is an item of clothing used to cover up the head. An item of clothing used to cover up the ass would most likely be a pair of pants or some shorts. Calling someone a pair of pants instead of asshat wouldn't be as snarky and would make no logical sense at all even if you are Brick Tamland from Anchorman. Maybe it's time to just go back to calling a jerk a stupid asshole.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2012-01-01T10:09:00.002-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Traditionally New Year's Day was THE big day for college bowl games. This year - NO bowl games at all - not even a lousy Beef O Brady bowl. Tradition don't mean shit to the NCAA. Only TV money is important to those humunculuses in suits... This morning I was thinking that Chris Young would be a good signing for the Red Sox but then I saw that this thought and the reasoning behind it was already recently voiced... I wonder how former Patriots LB Ted Johnson is doing? I hope his early Alzheimer's and concussion related issues haven't worsened... Interesting - Christopher Hitchens a religious man? Father Barron says "Yes"... Huston Street is the highest paid player on the Padres but that should change after Carlos Quentin's arbitration is squared away. It just strikes me as strange that the two biggest salaries on any MLB payroll would come via trade weeks apart... "There are two kinds of people in his up-tight world: his victims and his women. And sometimes you can't tell them apart." That's the tagline from the 1967 Lee Marvin movie Point Blank. Can you imagine that tagline being used for a movie today?... Of course a contract has yet to be signed and who knows Scott Boras could pull a rabbit out of his hat but I think the most overlooked story this Hot Stove Winter is how Boras screwed over Ryan Madson trying to squeeze a 4th year out of the Phillies. Do you think Madson would be happy with a 3-year $33 million deal about now?... Washington fired its entire defensive staff including coordinator Nick Holt following the Alamo Bowl loss... The Texas Rangers have a prospect named Rougned Odor. I love that name! I just hope someone has that sense to make his walk-up music That Smell by Lynyrd Skynyrd... Imagine planning to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch your favorite team play its bowl game only to be turned away because Rick Santorum is taking up all the available seating with his entourage and press coverage? I doubt you'd be inclined to vote for Santorum after that. And I have to say that the phrase "Santorum found at Buffalo Wild Wings" sounds very much like a health code violation... Just a reminder - when the Twins traded Johan Santana to the Mets they got prospects Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey in the deal. How's that working out for ya Twins fans?

Neil Gaiman's New Year Wish

2011-12-31T19:06:00.000-05:00

Very cool. I agree with the sentiments 100% but never would have been able to craft such a great message.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2011-12-31T06:59:00.000-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Bill Belichick is 9-2 ATS in season finales as head coach of the Patriots with 9 of those games going over the total. This is even more impressive when you realize the Patriots may not have been really trying to win that Doug Flutie drop-kick game against the Dolphins in 2005 (because a loss allowed them to play the Jaguars instead of the Steelers in the first round)... Heh heh - Occupy Wall Street Lego version - "Occupy my nightstick!"... Did not realize this - Michael Gambon who is best known for playing Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies also played Mafia boss Don Faranzano in the 1991 movie Mobsters starring Christian Slater... Here's an idea for a new TV channel - ESP-N - the Extra Sensory Perception Network. You could have psychics making sports picks and predictions for upcoming sporting events... 100 incredible pictures taken from airplanes... Who knew? All ten of the most commonly used verbs in English are irregular verbs... Put on the meat ponchos! Like tasty gravy to a hungry wolf! Two phrases that definitely should be used by NHL announcers for goal scoring plays... Very cool insect photographs... The other day I seriously had the voice of Burgess Merideth as Rocky's trainer Mickey saying, "Newt Gingrich craps bigger than Ron Paul" stuck in my head. Seriously... Neat quiz. Who said it: Jack Kennedy or Jack Donaghy? I went 9 for 9.

Linky Links

2011-12-30T10:38:00.003-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

The 10 Biggest Comedy News Stories of 2011

America's Secret 1980s War With ... Sweden?

Interesting article on Erez Lieberman Aiden a pan-disciplinary scientist.

With contract up, Pats coordinator O'Brien could be on the move

Goon looks like a pretty funny movie - I'll see it

If you bet your favorite NFL team each week on the moneyline, here is what you'd be up or down on the year (w/ table)

Interesting look at Urban Myer and how he's had to change in order to coach again

Interesting look by Chris Jones on Jeff Loria and the recent Marlins moves

Ron Paul surge is bigger trouble for Barack Obama than Mitt Romney

2011-12-29T12:47:00.000-05:00

I agree with the sentiment behind this post. If Ron Paul ran as a third party candidate - he'd take more votes away from Barack Obama than from Mitt Romney. The Occupy Wall Street, the anti-war crowd and those generally disappointed that Hope and Change resulted in more of the same would find a voice for their protests in Ron Paul. Those people make up some of the very base Obama has been pandering to.

The Republican base and the Independents worried about the economy aren't going to forsake Mitt Romney for Ron Paul. Giving up the fringe to get the center is a very good trade for the presumptive Republican nominee.

A third party run by former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson would also hurt Obama much more than Romney. Johnson on the ballot would attract people whose main issues are the environment or legalizing drugs. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think those people voted for Hope and Change the last time around.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2011-12-29T10:52:00.002-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I am a big fan of Josh Reddick. I thought he was going to be the starting RF in 2012 for the Red Sox. I also think his late season drop-off probably had a lot do do with his injured wrist. Having said that - really like the trade for Andrew Bailey. He becomes the closer and lets Daniel Bard become a starter. The one thing I'm not so hot on is the idea of Bailey keeping number 40 on his uniform. The last closer to wear that number for the Red Sox was Calvin Schiraldi. Bad juju... Who knew? According to Mental Floss "Barry Manilow's hit 'I Write the Songs' was not written by Barry Manilow"... The Boston Celtics have lost 3 games in less than a week. You would have to go back to October to find 3 losses for the Boston Bruins... Just saying but if I owned a zoo - I would make money on the side doing body disposal Mr. Wu on Deadwood style. Good thing I don't own a zoo... This is an interesting nugget via Sports by Brooks, "Keep in mind, [Mike] Leach was only coach in America who offered Adam James a scholarship, at Craig's behest. SMU wouldn't"... Is it possible that Rex Ryan is actually a worse coach than Herm Edwards? When Edwards was done in NYC he at least was able to get another HC job with the Chiefs. When Ryan is eventually fired by the Jets do you think another team will take on his baggage? Even asking the question comparing him to Edwards is an indictment on Ryan... If Drew Brees broke the passing record before Christmas he might have been able to sell a ton of Isotoner gloves... My daughter makes an awesome drink she calles a Ferrero Rocher. It's half Hazelnut coffee and half hot chocolate.

A Drunken Afternoon with Anthony Bourdain

2011-12-28T22:58:00.002-05:00

Very interesting profile of Anthony Bourdain.

I started watching No Reservations about a year or so ago and have become a big fan. Tony just seems like a guy you'd want to have some beers or a meal with. This piece seems to catch the essence of the man you see on TV.

Corn Ethanol Subsidy to Expire

2011-12-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

Congress ends corn ethanol subsidy.

Good news. This was one of the biggest boondoggles in US history. People are upset at wastes of money like the Solyndra "investment" - and rightly so - but the ethanol subsidy with the dollar amounts involved and the willing suspension of belief for political gain dwarfs the green money grab.

Also interesting that this public good was accomplished not by Congress being proactive and fixing a wrong but by Congress being inactive and just letting the subsidy to expire.

Mike Tyson Quotes: The Song

2011-12-28T10:41:00.001-05:00

This is awesome!

Linky Links

2011-12-28T09:33:00.000-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Don Cherry's piano desk is awesome. I absolutely loved this.

The scale of Saturn. I love these items which give real-world examples of the scale of things.

Congressmen keep getting richer in a bad economy. Where's the outrage? Where's the legislation to prevent abuse of public trust for personal gain?

Time to trade Kevin Youkilis? Now that the Red Sox traded Jed Lowrie - I see this as very unlikely. If they do trade Youkilis for prospects - then it will be a cost cutting move designed to get the team under the luxury cap.

China moved ahead of Japan and Brazil passed the UK in terms of GDP in 2011. We live in a rapidly changing world.

Speaking of living in a rapidly changing world - here's a one ton 5MB hard drive from 1956. Today that amount of storage would fit in your pocket on a thumb drive.

Mitt Romney at Harvard

2011-12-27T19:14:00.000-05:00

Interesting look at Mitt Romney's time at Harvard.

Problem solving was his specialty. Sounds like something that would be important given the problems we are having.

Mark Sanchez by the Numbers

2011-12-27T11:28:00.002-05:00

Is Mark Sanchez a good QB? I have to say no and the numbers agree with me.

In QB rating - Sanchez is 22nd in the NFL with a 79.5 rating - just below Tarvaris Jackson.
In passing yards he's 15th in the NFL but when it comes to yards per game he's a miserable 24th.
Sanchez is a respectable 8th in TD's passes but he's also 7th in interceptions.
In the other bad things category - Sanchez is tied for 5th in sacks, 6th in fumbles and 1st in fumbles lost.

Those numbers just don't add up to equal a winning equation. As a Patriots fan - I hope they stick with Sanchez. Them getting a Kellen Moore in the mid rounds of the draft and him becoming their Tom Brady is what I'd fear. But the way the team is managed my guess the only way something like that happens would be by accident.

Live from New York

2011-12-27T09:54:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend I devoured the book Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, as Told By Its Stars, Writers and Guests. If you are a fan of SNL - I highly, highly recommend the book. I knew this before but the book cemented the notion that Lorne Michaels is a genius and the show never would have survived or prospered without him. Those that say otherwise are just jealous. Some nuggets gleaned from the book include the fact that Billy Crystal was supposed to be part of the original cast, Janeane Garofalo was a miserable self-entitled succubus on the show (all her excuses for her failure on the show were rendered moot by Tina Fey's success in almost the same circumstances - oh and Chevy Chase was a jerk.

For what it's worth - here are my Top 10 SNL Cast Members:

1. Eddie Murphy - I will not argue this
2. Dan Aykroyd - I give him the nod over Belushi just for longevity
3. John Belushi
4. Gilda Radner - people are forgetting how awesome she was
5. Phil Hartman
6. Bill Murray
7. Mike Myers
8. Chris Farley
9. Will Ferrell
10. (tie) Jimmy Fallon, Adam Sandler and Tina Fey

You could actually change the order of pretty much everybody after Eddie Murphy and I wouldn't complain too much.

Day After Christmas Flotsam and Jetsam

2011-12-26T09:32:00.000-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations on the day after Christmas.

Happy birthday to Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk... Have you seen those Subway ads where the hot girls will be your "girlfriend" in exchange for a sandwich? I'd like to work there. Sandwich whores sure are a hell of a lot cheaper than coke whores... You never see lumps of sugar anymore. When did lumps of sugar fade into history? Now you just have packets of sugar. You would think the eco-freaks would go after this change... I like to think that the NAPA-know-how commercials are about how to give oral to African-American women because otherwise it is just two guys serenading each other about auto parts which is twice as weird and not in a good way... OK - I'll say it! The Patriots have 3 QB's on their roster who are probably better than Mark Sanchez. Tom Brady obviously is better but Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett are probably better too... Do Italian children write Dear Sinatra letters the way others write Dear Santa letters?... Norv Turner would have had this Jets team in the playoffs...

A Very Die hard Christmas

2011-12-25T09:47:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas. Enjoy Guyz Nite's musical tribute to John McClane

HT Alan Sepinwall

Fairytale of New York

2011-12-25T08:59:00.000-05:00

Just not Christmas without the Pogues.

The Birth of Jesus

2011-12-25T00:30:00.000-05:00

The Birth of Jesus.

The story of the birth of Jesus (in Legos).

Merry Christmas.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2011-12-24T09:42:00.001-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

AshleyMadison.com Faithful Republican / Unfaithful Husband "endorsement" of Newt Gingrich was genius. The billboard in Pennsylvania probably cost a few thousand dollars but they are easily getting ten-times that in free exposure... Excellent parody of the David Bowie / Bing Crosby Little Drummer Boy holiday classic... I am glad that the Red Sox did not trade for Gio Gonzalez because he would have cost too much in terms of prospects. I would much rather see the Red Sox commit to making Daniel Bard a starter... Drew Brees cannot get through the gate. The gate is narrow. Also Drew Brees drives a gay parade float... The 50 Funniest Headlines of 2011... "I would like - to feed your fingertips - to the wolverines"... Is it me or have the Boston Celtics draft results from the past several years been awful?... If they made a Broadway play based upon the campaign of Newt Gingrich - the lead could be played by Bernadette Peters... Did I miss the Def Leopard Christmas Special? Damn every year I miss that... I absolutely love this idea:

@StevanRidley - Double Stuffed Oreos should be called Oreos, and regular Oreos should be called Diet Oreos..

Linky Links

2011-12-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

A 2011 Quiz. I got 12 out of 14 but honestly a couple were guesses.

15 of the Greatest Gifts in the History of Presents. It should be noted that France originally was going to give the Statue of Liberty to Egypt. It would have had a veil and have been named something else.

Tom Brady is having one of the greatest seasons in history (that nobody will notice). I really like the comparison to the year Oscar Robinson averaged a triple-double and still finished 3rd in the MVP voting.

Bush 41 backs Mitt Romney for President. Also not a fan of Newt Gingrich.

Dayne Crist reunites with Charlie Weiss at Kansas for a season of NFL preparation.

Joe Strummer

2011-12-22T13:35:00.001-05:00

It's been 9 years to the day since the passing of Joe Strummer. Straight to Hell is one of my favorite Clash songs and this is a pretty solid version.

Flotsam and Jetsam

2011-12-22T09:31:00.002-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I'm a little torn in my AFC West rooting now. I like how Tim Tebow drives some people crazy but I also want Romeo Crennel to succeed so he wins the head coaching job in Kansas City... Boston Celtics doctors can detect Jeff Green's thoracic aortic aneurysm but somehow they completely missed Delonte West and his mental illness... 19 Outstanding Words You Should Be Working Into Conversation... Right now Daisuke Matsuzaka has cost the Red Sox $1.9 million per win. By the end of 2012 John Lackey will have also cost the Red Sox $1.9 million per win... Phil Martelli was great in Young Frankenstein... Christopher Hitchens famously debunked the saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" in his last column but I have to wonder what he'd have to write about the saying "No pain no gain"?... Speaking of Hitch - I knew Christopher Hitchens better than you... I'm hoping Norv Turner comes out and says that if he had a team as talented as the Jets then he'd have a playoff spot tied up by now. And speaking of the Jets - I agree with the sentiment that if you switched the QB's from the Jets and Giants then the team with Eli Manning would win by 2 TD's... If the government sold its remaining GM stock today taxpayers would lose about $16.5 billion...Who knew? There are more McDonald's in the US then Wendy's, Burger Kings and White Castles combined... Most rational leaders gave thanks at the news of the death of Kim Jong Il but Jimmy Carter sends condolences. He is truly a craven person...

Linky Links

2011-12-20T17:33:00.001-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

19 Outstanding Words You Should Be Working Into Conversation

An interesting Q and A with Stephen Tobolowski

Very cool - The Internet Justice League

My respect for Christian Bale just went up several notches

Also very cool - Coastal Carolina’s New Football Coach is the Billionaire Who Used to be the CEO of Ameritrade

Charlie Pierce Attacks Tim Tebow's Faith to Make Charlie Feel Good About Himself

2011-12-19T21:50:00.000-05:00

Charlie Pierce has an attack piece on Tim Tebow up at Grantland. The piece has almost nothing to do with sports. The piece has everything with Charlie Pierce's need to portray himself as some sort of morally superior person.

I must say that a certain amount of cowardice is involved here in waiting till Tim Tebow lost to go after his religious beliefs. Charlie Pierce comes off like the Edward G. Robinson character Dathan in The Ten Commandments shouting, "where is your God now?" It was also most unseemly to invoke Christopher Hitchens in this piece because of that. Hitch would never have waited till a loss to say what he thought had to be said - but Charlie Pierce waited. Yet still the cool kids will call him brave for doing it.

Pierce criticizes Tebow's brand of Christianity. He says that this "particular splinter has a long record in America of fostering anti-Enlightenment thought." If I was to go after Enlightenment thought the way Charlie Pierce goes after Tebow's faith then you would read a screed about Guillotine's and the French Revolution which with all its bloodletting was the most tangible outcome of the Enlightenment. The most tangible outcome of Tebow's ministries in the Philippines will probably be a new hospital.

I happen to agree with Teddy Roosevelt who was not keen on those who worked to convert others to their religions. He didn't like it because first the proselytizer would have to destroy the person's existing beliefs to get them to accept the new beliefs. Pierce makes the argument that's what Tebow and his family are doing in the Philippines which - as Pierce points out - is already 95% Catholic. I wonder if the Jesuit educated Pierce would like to extol the methods used by the Catholic Church in gaining such a plurality. Of course Pierce won't do that but at the same time he won't ruin his straw man argument either.

When you get right down to it this is article by Pierce is just another case of a person trying to drag down - nay smear - another just to try to feel better about themselves.

Linky Links

2011-12-19T18:22:00.000-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

OK - we'll trade you our Smallpox for your Syphilis - deal?

Phil Martelli comes off as such a jerk here. Unless the guy got his daughter pregnant - Martelli is clearly in the wrong.

Bad Lip Reading - Newt Gingrich. What's up with the fruit panties - you hating on me?

Christopher Hitchens on the Death Penalty

Heywood Jablome's brother?

I posted this link before but it's worth another look. A game preserve in India where the rangers shoot to kill poachers

Flotsam and Jetsam

2011-12-18T14:55:00.000-05:00

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Will the Westboro Baptist Church be protesting at the funeral of Christopher Hitchens? In a perverse way I think he'd like that... 18 Fun Facts About Your Favorite Christmas TV Specials... Is it too late for Jon Huntsman to run for President as a Democrat? I think he could win the nomination from Obama. Almost everyone I hear who supports Huntsman is a Democrat who have no intentions for voting for a Republican. Maybe if Huntsman officially switched parties he could gather their votes... I still say Meat Raffle would be a good name for a band... I wonder who actually did more real good in the 1990's - the Community Organizers like Barack Obama or the Guardian Angels? Seriously... There was a TV series in 1983 called Casablanca that starred David Soul and was supposed to be a prequel to the Bogart movie. I would like to watch that.... Now that Kobe is getting divorced - the Lakers should go right ahead and officially make him player/coach just like what the Celtics did with Bill Russell. If Kobe wasn't listening to his wife - who really thinks he'll be listening to Mike Brown?... I am still absolutely flummoxed that such a thing as the Beef O Brady Bowl actually exists. That is not what our Founding Fathers had in mind... If I ran a minor league baseball team I would have put in a bid on Yu Darvish just for the press release value.

Linky Links

2011-12-18T10:25:00.000-05:00

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Jesus Visits Tim Tebow on SNL: "Take It Down a Notch"

50 of the Funniest Tweets of 2011

Craig James for Senate. Too late. Too poor. Too inexperienced. I still hope he runs just for the ridicule and for ESPN to take the opportunity to replace him for good

This gets me every single time. The West Wing - In Excelsis Deo

Beautiful tribute to Christopher Hitchens

Does Vodka really kill bees and wasps?

A very handy table for all 70 bowl coaches with their ATS records

50 Amazing Pieces of Louis CK Fan Art

"These Filthy-Minded Grandmothers Would Like to Sell You Molasses"

Chuck Klosterman, Blind Faith and Tim Tebow

2011-12-17T08:28:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to comment on this piece on Tim Tebow by Chuck Klosterman for some time. I think the idea of asking "What if Tim Tebow was a bad person?" is a good premise for an article. Comparing people who are Christians to people who believe a certain guy is a murderer? That's not clever - it's actually insulting to Christians if you stop to think about it. But that's the problem at Grantland - nobody stops to think about anything. It is not the oozing condescension that made this article memorable for me. It was the insertion of politics into a non-political "sports" article:

Throughout the 20th century, there were only two presidents who won reelection with a bad economy and high unemployment: FDR in 1936 and Reagan in 1984. In both cases, the incumbent presidents were able to argue that their preexisting plans for jump-starting the economy were better than the hypothetical plans of their opponents (Alf Landon and Walter Mondale, respectively). Both incumbents made a better case for what they intended to do, and both enjoyed decisive victories. In 2012, Barack Obama will face a similar situation. But what will happen if his ultimate opponent provides no plan for him to refute? What if his opponent merely says, "Have faith in me. Have faith that I will figure everything out and that I can fix the economy, because I have faith in the American people. Together, we have faith in each other."

The guy arguing, in effect, against blind faith is himself placing blind faith in Barack Obama with zero to back it up. Klosterman placing Obama into a comparison with FDR and Ronald Reagan? This would be like inserting a comparison of Tim Tebow to Roger Staubach and John Elway midway through the article with nothing to back it up. FDR and Reagan? Jimmy Carter and Benjamin Harrison are more like it. Klosterman literally projects the GOP having an argument of, "Have faith in me. Have faith that I will figure everything out and that I can fix the economy" when that is the EXACT re-election platform Obama will have to take because - well because Obama has objectively been perhaps the most ineffective Chief Executive in the history of the US. The fact that this gets inserted into the middle of a story on Tim Tebow is Exhibit A of the Groupthink that will be the downfall of Grantland. Why go to read any of the articles when you already know the slant and the snark all of the articles will have in common?

A Very Calvin and Hobbes Christmas

2011-12-17T07:57:00.002-05:00

Tebow Comparison

2011-12-16T17:16:00.000-05:00

Just for the heck of it - take a look at this player comparison:

Player A - 52.3% Comp% / 5.8% Int% / 180.4 PYG / 14.6 RYG

Player B - 51.9% Comp% / 5.4% Int% / 166.6 PYG / 13.4 RYG

Player C - 48.9% Comp% / 1.8% Int% / 97.2 PYG / 37.2 RYG

Player A is New England favorite son Steve Grogan, Player B is Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw and Player C is Tim Tebow. It is interesting to note how closely Grogan compares to Bradshaw but the reason I made the comparison was to show how closely Tim Tebow is coming to resemble these two old school winners. Sure the passing yards per game isn't quite up to Grogan's or Bradshaw's level yet but who doesn't think that as time goes on Tebow won't be attempting more passes per game and thus upping his PYG? For example - if you just took this season then Tebow is averaging 117.3 PYG and 47.0 RYG which if combined puts Tebow very close to the offensive output from Grogan (just 30.7 yards less per game) and just less than 15 yards per game than Bradshaw averaged over the course of his career.

Green Police Stormtroopers

2011-12-16T15:46:00.001-05:00

An item I came across at Instapundit made me think of Karl Marx's 1852 quote that history repeats itself "the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce." Except I think in this case the first time was fake history as farce and the second time it is real history as farce.

2010 Audi Green Police Super Bowl Commercial

VW put on notice by Greenpeace UK's Star Wars stormtroopers

Makes me want to drill holes in my muffler.

Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

2011-12-16T09:19:00.000-05:00

Christopher Hitchens has passed away. I did not always agree with him but he always made me think and almost always managed to make me laugh.

Hitchens' last piece for Vanity Fair

Christopher Buckley on the Death of Hitchens

I think this clip of Hitchens on Bill Maher's show pretty well sums up the man, his intelligence and his attitude.

2011-12-15T20:16:00.004-05:00

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

If I were to brainwash someone to be a serial killer - I would use the Lexis December to Remember tune as the trigger to set him off... These are awesome! Dirty Signs with Kristin... It should be noted that the Red Sox signing of Kelly Shoppach also saved the team $650,000 over what they paid Jason Varitek last year. Team seems to be in penny-pinching mode... How long before someone claims to have found a picture of Tim Tebow in their toast? Or the inside of a tomato?... I would really like to know the rest of the story of why this guy was banned from his adult hockey league... When people shake hands and say "How do you do" I instinctively say "How do I do what?"

2011-12-15T15:02:00.004-05:00

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- Congratulations on your big hooters

- Incredible - light particles crawl through a Coke bottle at a trillion frames per second

- I could watch video of Dick Vermeil coaching and getting emotional all day

- Debunking the myths of Tim Tebow. Interesting look at Tebow's work ethic and football IQ.

- Speaking of his Tim - Tebow told Tillman that his interception was lucky

2011-12-15T14:26:00.001-05:00

Guilty

Guilty is a song from Gravity Kills which was featured in the movie se7en. Many people think the song was by Nine Inch Nails. They're wrong.

2011-12-14T14:39:00.008-05:00

Red Sox Moves

The Red Sox made a trade with the Astros today sending Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland to Houson for Mark Melancon. I think this may be good move for both clubs.

I like Jed Lowrie but honestly he's not as good as Marco Scutaro, Kevin Youkilis or Dustin Pedroia. Not even close. Where and when would he play? And is he as good as super prospects Will Middlebrooks or Jose Iglesias? Again - not close. In short there was no future with the Red Sox barring a big injury and Lowrie suddenly learning how to hit right handed pitching (career .214 BA and .635 OPS in 529 AB). For the Astros - Lowrie can step in and be the starting shortstop and be a 20 HR guy at Minute Maid Park. If Lowrie was a bigger name player you would see the Red Sox PR machine gearing up to bad mouth him on his way out of town.

Kyle Weiland would have been an innings eater at Pawtucket this year for the Red Sox but for the Astros he can easily step in and be the 5th starter or even 4th starter. The Astros rotation is awful and they are actively trying to trade Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers. I could easily see Weiland giving them double the innings as a starter that they got from Mack Melancon last season. There's a value in that and you never know - Weiland could blossom into a very good NL starter.

Mark Melancon was the Astros closer last year but ask yourself - how valuable can any closer be to a 100-loss team? You could have Mo Rivera and what real good would it do you? So the Astros get a starting shortstop and a starting pitcher but they give up a young serviceable closer. In return the Red Sox get a guy who can close but who most likely will be a 7th or 8th inning guy and who is just 2 months older than Daniel Bard.

Yesterday the Red Sox signed veteran catcher Kelly Shoppach to a 1-year $1.35 million deal. A deal that basically signals the end to the Jason Varitek era in Boston. Stoppach has a career .909 OPS vs LHP including a .788 OPS last year. This foreshadows a platoon with Jarrod Saltalamacchia in 2012.

2011-12-14T07:29:00.005-05:00

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Today is Monkey Day. I kid you not. Happy Monkey Day... Study: 87 Percent Of Movies Would Be Better With Michael Keaton In Them. Two things - doesn't Michael Keaton have a huge forehead? Second - this Onion piece reminds me of my belief that you could immediately make all the Ben Affleck and all the Ben Stiller movies 100% better if you switched those two in the starring roles. Think about it... Craig James for Senate is an anagram for "A Magnesia for Rejects"... This math is truly incredible. The odds of Tebow's historic stretch of wins? 1 in 27 million... The 1951 version of A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim is the best ever made. The 2nd best was the 1999 version with Patrick Stewart... I am disappointed to announce that today I too failed to discover the Higgs Boson. There will be no press release... If I had the room on one of my walls - I would want one of these. Fathead now selling the Tim Tebow "Tebowing" version

2011-12-13T09:51:00.004-05:00

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- The Church of the Latter Day Dude. I'm seriously thinking about getting ordained in this religion.

- Heh heh - Rick Perry - bad lip reading

- Awesome photo of Paris

- The 50 Best Beers. My first New Year's resolution will be to try each one of these beers.

- The Sloths are Coming. Sloth babies might be next Christmas's big toy.

- I agree - Bill Romanowski Remains A Terrifying Human Being

2011-12-12T20:26:00.002-05:00

Thank You Very Much

I can't watch or hear that song without smiling. The 1970 version of Scrooge is not the best but this song always makes me happy - and isn't happiness what Christmas is all about? I also have to say that Albert Finney is a very under rated actor. Can you believe that's the same guy from Miller's Crossing?

2011-12-12T19:17:00.003-05:00

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I haven't seen anyone on ESPN or the NFL Network mention that the play before the interception that set Tom Brady off and created the heated discussion on the sideline came after Wes Welker dropped sure TD pass on the play before... The things the Internet makes you think about - even if you won $1 million in the lottery for every month for the rest of your life - you would never become a billionaire (unless of course you were a vampire and were immortal)... Celtics dancing guy... Kids should send their Christmas letters to Tim Tebow instead of Santa - they'd have a better chance of getting good gifts because Tim seems to be God's favorite right now... President William Henry Harrison drank hard cider from a gourd - a fact that sound funny when said out loud... 11 Visual Cliches You Never See in Real Life... Ryan Braun tested positive for PED's? I haven't been this disappointed since I learned Cash Cab was fixed

2011-12-11T10:18:00.003-05:00

Last Night's GOP Debate

I enjoyed last night's GOP Debate but I keep thinking about the exchange between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich regarding Newt calling the Palestinians an "invented people". Here's what I would have said if I were Romney:

I am sure Benjamin Netanyahu was thankful to you Newt because he had to spend so much time addressing your comments instead of working on his own agenda. Did he send you flowers to thank you for that unasked for favor? You say you are a historian and are only speaking the truth but you are running for President. Historians can say inflammatory "truths" in order to help with book sales but Presidents cannot. Let me give you an example that may explain to you the difference. Newt Gingrich is overweight. Medical science says that elderly, sedentary, overweight men are more likely to have a massive heart attack and die. That's the truth but calling you an old fat man isn't courteous or diplomatic. But by your logic you are not allowed to take offense because I was just telling you a truth.

I also don't see Mitt offering Rick Perry the $10,000 wager as hurting Romney as so many seem to be suggesting. The idea of "put up or shut up" is pretty universal across the country. Romney was willing to put his money where his mouth was and when push came to shove Rick Perry was not.

2011-12-10T18:26:00.002-05:00

You Kill Me

You Kill Me is a 2007 dark comedy that has really gone under the radar. If you have a chance watch it.

2011-12-10T16:11:00.007-05:00

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- Thomas Macdonough is an American war hero who should be better remembered (but alas he's not)

- Things hard to say drunk

- The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

- Dave Winfield in 1973, playing college basketball for Minnesota

- Louis CK Out-take

- Awesome - The 50 Greatest Internet Memes of 2011

- How can you not root for and respect Troy Calhoun of Air Force?

- Top 16 ways to get woman / wife according to Bible

2011-12-10T13:18:00.005-05:00

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Is it OK for a funeral home to display holiday lights? Even the plain white ones? Walked by one with the decorations lit last night and it just struck me as odd... Pleasing 15 women... When I die I would like my ashes spread over people protesting things I am in favor of. Hopefully in the rain so that my ashes get all stickey and mess up their hair and stuff... I still say AC/DC's Its a Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock and Roll is the perfect rock song... What's stopping job creation? Too much regulation... Keep your friends close but your enemies closer. If Mars is the friend of Earth what does that make the moon? Fucking Moon... Has anyone seen Joe Theisman and Larry Bowa in the same room at the same time? Separated at birth... Heh heh - 25 Ugly Christmas Sweaters... Quote for the day: "Everyone is entitled to his own opinions, but not his own facts". Daniel Patrick Moynihan... I would not be surprised if Jason Varitek wound up with the Angels.... 2011 Taylor University Silent Night. I had never heard of this tradition before. It is perhaps the most awesome thing I've seen in quite some time.

2011-12-08T11:32:00.005-05:00

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- Tebow, Tebow, Tebow

- WTF Whistling

- Watch Aptera employees smash prototype electric cars as company goes under

- The dangers of pornography

- Will Ferrell Old Milwaukee ads - Ad Number 1 - Ad Number 2

- Here's a map of the new Big East in 2014

2011-12-08T11:12:00.004-05:00

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Nice analysis of some of Red Sox potential trade chips. Really surprised that Lars Anderson wasn't mentioned. He's completely blocked by Adrian Gonzalez... If I was in the US Senate I would attach approval for the Keystone oil pipeline to every since piece of legislation daring President Obama to veto everything. The country would win either way... Lindsey Vonn takes 1st place at the Alpine World Cup, then Tebows on medal stand... USA Networks has announced a new TV show. In the pilot an aging TV star is kicked off a flight in Miami and has to do good deeds to get his reputation back. Burn Notice II with Alec Baldwin... The Soviet Union Was Dissolved 20 Years Ago Today. Some very interesting facts in the link. The one that stood out for me was male life expectancy in 1980 USSR was 62 but today male life expectancy in Russian Federation is just 59. What's up with that?... Very sad day here in Worcester as another Worcester Fireman has given the last full measure of devotion a little over 12 years since the City lost 6 heroes.

2011-12-07T09:32:00.003-05:00

Good News - Bad News for Irish Guys

Irish Accents Surpass French Accents As The World’s Sexiest, Supposedly

According to this map the Irish have the second smallest penis size in Europe (thank God for the Romanians).

There is a joke in here someplace regarding those two items but I'm afraid to bring it up because the response may be - the joke is in your pants!

2011-12-06T12:06:00.007-05:00

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- If Obama has lost liberal Hollywood - he's got no chance at re-election.

- I've long suspected that Siri was launched before it was ready just so Apple could have the release before Steve Jobs passed away. I don't blame them if that was the case.

- Banishing consciousness: the mystery of anaesthesia. Long article but interesting. In short - we don't know why anaesthesia actually works or how.

- 10 Worst Celebrity Business Ventures of All Time

- Slavery in the US ended on this date in 1865.

- For Dr. Who fans - 11 Functional Homemade TARDISes

- Really inappropriate holiday decorations

- Interesting - Jon Gruden and how MNF has replaced coaching for him. Like a junkie going from heroin to methadone.

2011-12-05T18:37:00.008-05:00

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I wonder if a Josh Beckett for Hanley Ramirez swap gets discussed at the Winter Meetings? Both players are signed through 2014 for about the exact same money. Hanley wants to stay at shortstop and the Marlins could use a front line starter like Beckett who is very well liked in South Beach. Beckett might want a change of scenery... 50 Unexplainable Black & White Photos - I posted these before but they are just too awesome not to link to again... 78 years ago today the 21st Amendment, ending Prohibition, was ratified. On a related note I had way too much to drink Saturday... The greatest trick Santa Claus ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist... Penn Jillette: An Atheist's Guide to the 2012 Election. Disagree with him about Romney but anything he does seems to be interesting... I would have picked about 100 other music acts before Madonna but I think people will be surprised at how well she does at the Super Bowl. She will not be awful like the Black Eyed Peas. She will be professional and probably flawless in her act... Tom Brady gets Victoria Secret super model. Aaron Rodgers gets discount double-check. Advantage Brady... The reason I prefer Mitt Romney over Newt Gingrich in a nutshell? Romney went into private business to become rich while Gingrich used Congress to become rich basically at the expense directly or indirectly of the American taxpayer... I wish Bobby Valentine all the luck in the world but it needs to be said that Terry Francona deserved better from the Red Sox.

2011-12-04T22:14:00.000-05:00

Top 5 - Christmas Songs by Rock Stars

I'm already partly sick of Christmas music. Anyway - here are the top 5 Christmas songs by rocks stars in my estimation.

1. Father Christmas - The Kinks
2. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Bare Naked Ladies
5. Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby and David Bowie

2011-12-03T11:08:00.005-05:00

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- Jon Heyman is Leaving Sports Illustrated for CBS Sports. Don't always agree with his analysis but Heyman is a hard worker, good writer and excellent guy.

- Heh Heh

- Interesting George Will column on how Obamacare is harming small business

- 10 Ways Shakespeare Changed Everything

- Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger Perform 'Old Time Rock & Roll' in NYC. Not for nothing but Springsteen seems to age like Clint Eastwood while Seger seems to be going the Winfred Brimley route.

- Awesome - Ugly Renaissance Babies

2011-12-03T09:24:00.003-05:00

Haiku Horse Handicapping

I read this brief article about the "world's last handwritten newspaper" and it gave me an idea - OK more like it gave me a dream.

If I was a teacher or someone who had the summers off I would spend my summer in Saratoga Springs, NY. Each day I would review the next day's races and I would make my picks. Here's where the dream comes in - each day I would make my picks in Haiku format and would write them out by hand in as neat a calligraphy style as possible. I would then have copies made and would sell them each morning for say $1.50.

The draw would be not just the picks (which I hope would be good) but also the fact I could advertise the broadsheet as both the "only handwritten newspaper in America" and also the "only newspaper in America written in Haiku." People would buy them as novelty items. I could easily sell 100-200 copies a day.

If there is an average of 45 racing days at Saratoga per season then you'd be looking at an income of around $250 per day (when you also factor in advertising). That would be plenty to pay for room, board, betting and beer for the season with probably a few shekels left over to go into the savings account (plus whatever winnings at the track).

Saratoga Dream
Daily make picks in Haiku
Bet horses / have fun

2011-12-02T15:46:00.004-05:00

Tim Tebow - Great Minds Think Alike

From the latest Michael Lombardi article:

One of the elements of Tim Tebow's game that goes unnoticed is that when he plays at home in the Mile High City, the altitude affects the opponents after spending three quarters chasing Tebow around. John Elway would wear out his opponents with his ability to move around, and Tebow does the same. They have different styles but the results are the same - defenses get tired.

Here's what I wrote 2 weeks ago:

Tebow's style of offense has to be wearing on the defense. I suggest that part of the reason Tebow can have that 4th quarter success is because he's worn the defense down during the first 3 quarters. It's harder to catch and tackle a fast big guy like Tebow if you are tired.

Maybe Michael Lombardi reads my blog?