Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Americans spend more money on March Madness than on Presidential elections - by a wide margin. Tell me again why the money these schools make from the TV contracts for March Madness isn't taxable... Watched the Donald Rumsfeld documentary The Unknown Known on Netflix over the weekend. Two big thumbs up! Then again I'm a big fan of Rummy... Georgetown's colors of blue and grey were chosen back in 1876 to support "unity between the Northern and Southern boys of the college"... It has been 10 weeks since the NFL appointed Ted Wells to "investigate" "Deflategate". Ten weeks!... Heh heh... I was never bothered by that picture of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein. If he was photographed shaking hands with Dan Shaughnessy - different story!... Of the Congressmen to vote against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - 74% were Democrats... The phrase "gent bent" is supposedly short for "you should get bent over so that someone can sodomize you on Christmas". And a Merry Christmas to you too...
Monday, March 23, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
$25 Rock Band
This $25 to choose a 5-piece rock band meme has been a round for a while but what the heck - here's my $25 band:
Lead Guitar: George Harrison $1 (biggest bargain ever!)
Rhythm Guitar: The Edge $6
Frontman: Roger Daltrey $7
Bassist: Geddie Lee $7
Drums: Dave Grohl $4
Total $25
What would your band look like?
Lead Guitar: George Harrison $1 (biggest bargain ever!)
Rhythm Guitar: The Edge $6
Frontman: Roger Daltrey $7
Bassist: Geddie Lee $7
Drums: Dave Grohl $4
Total $25
What would your band look like?
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Greenpeace Founder - Why I'm a Climate Change Skeptic
- "Mad" Jack Churchill - holy crap what a life! You could literally make several movies based on this man's adventures.
- Truth
- Monica Lewinski - the price of shame
- The Appalachian Train in five minutes
- Still waiting for this book The Last Ringbearer to come out in English. Sure many Lord of the Rings fans feel the same.
- Greenpeace Founder - Why I'm a Climate Change Skeptic
- "Mad" Jack Churchill - holy crap what a life! You could literally make several movies based on this man's adventures.
- Truth
- Monica Lewinski - the price of shame
- The Appalachian Train in five minutes
- Still waiting for this book The Last Ringbearer to come out in English. Sure many Lord of the Rings fans feel the same.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
I have 99 problems but a busted bracket ain't one of them. Another year and no brackets filled out - give them up already... Heh heh - wisdom from a WWII veteran... Georgetown's nickname of Hoyas means "what rocks!" in Greek. Based upon their performance in the NCAA these past few years - I wonder what is Greek for "what bricks!"... David Petraeus - ISIS is not our biggest problem in Iraq, Iran is... The Mesopotamian god of the moon was called Sin which is appropriate since most "sins" occur at night... This issue could be loaded with irony. Coal plants are needed to protect the manatees... A TV show called Rick Santorum Vatican Spy would be awesome. It would be a cross between The West Wing and Archer... Excellent point - Starbucks wants to talk race relations but they have no stores in Selma, Fergueon or other mostly black communities. Hypocritical posers... So what is killing the bees?...
I have 99 problems but a busted bracket ain't one of them. Another year and no brackets filled out - give them up already... Heh heh - wisdom from a WWII veteran... Georgetown's nickname of Hoyas means "what rocks!" in Greek. Based upon their performance in the NCAA these past few years - I wonder what is Greek for "what bricks!"... David Petraeus - ISIS is not our biggest problem in Iraq, Iran is... The Mesopotamian god of the moon was called Sin which is appropriate since most "sins" occur at night... This issue could be loaded with irony. Coal plants are needed to protect the manatees... A TV show called Rick Santorum Vatican Spy would be awesome. It would be a cross between The West Wing and Archer... Excellent point - Starbucks wants to talk race relations but they have no stores in Selma, Fergueon or other mostly black communities. Hypocritical posers... So what is killing the bees?...
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- What does space smell like? Hot metal, diesel and barbecue?
- Eat a bag of dicks! An actual bag of gummi penises. Not to be confused with Louis CK's "suck a bag of dicks" bit.
- Cool - great white shark steals fisherman's catch right off the line.
- 25-years after art heist, empty frames still hang at Boston's Gardner Museum.
- Where the arithmetic symbols on your calculator came from
- What does space smell like? Hot metal, diesel and barbecue?
- Eat a bag of dicks! An actual bag of gummi penises. Not to be confused with Louis CK's "suck a bag of dicks" bit.
- Cool - great white shark steals fisherman's catch right off the line.
- 25-years after art heist, empty frames still hang at Boston's Gardner Museum.
- Where the arithmetic symbols on your calculator came from
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Zdeno Chara
Happy 38th birthday to Boston Bruins defenseman and one-punch wonder - Zdeno Chara.
Also a good guy to go to with any pesky real estate questions.
Also a good guy to go to with any pesky real estate questions.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Heh heh - Happy Saint Patrick's Day from Mobile, Alabama
- 20 facts about Monthy Python and the Holy Grail
- Mitt Romney to box Evander Holyfield. No really - he's going to box Evander Holyfield.
- 23 things you might not know about The Wire
- Vince Wilfork was one of the classiest guys to ever wear a Patriots uniform. He will be missed.
- Heh heh - Happy Saint Patrick's Day from Mobile, Alabama
- 20 facts about Monthy Python and the Holy Grail
- Mitt Romney to box Evander Holyfield. No really - he's going to box Evander Holyfield.
- 23 things you might not know about The Wire
- Vince Wilfork was one of the classiest guys to ever wear a Patriots uniform. He will be missed.
Future of Football
Like many football fans - I had not heard of Chris Borland until he announced his retirement after just one-year in the NFL. [As an aside can you actually retire from a job you've only had one year? Changing professions, quitting, moving on, etc. all seem more appropriate than "retiring". "Chris what are you going to do now that you're retired?" "Get a job of course." How does that equal retirement?]
Here's an interesting post from this morning where the take-away is that agent Leigh Steinberg basically predicted behavior like this.
The article got me thinking of the golden days of boxing where it was the immigrants on the bottom socio-economic rung of society that were willing to put their bodies at risk in order to gain "a way out". The Irish, the Jews, the Italians all had great champions back in the day when they were the newcomers. Then came the great black fighters along with the Latino and other minorities. Then boxing started dying out because nobody participated in the sport for recreation and there weren't many, if any, boxers society at large could identify with.
Is the NFL now staring at a similar cycle? Could be. It wouldn't be surprising to see major college programs start scouting overseas for athletes that could be taught the game because the pool of suburban kids willing to play starts drying up. It also wouldn't be strange to see a resurgence of baseball as parents begin the appreciate the minimal contact aspect of the sport.
Here's an interesting post from this morning where the take-away is that agent Leigh Steinberg basically predicted behavior like this.
The article got me thinking of the golden days of boxing where it was the immigrants on the bottom socio-economic rung of society that were willing to put their bodies at risk in order to gain "a way out". The Irish, the Jews, the Italians all had great champions back in the day when they were the newcomers. Then came the great black fighters along with the Latino and other minorities. Then boxing started dying out because nobody participated in the sport for recreation and there weren't many, if any, boxers society at large could identify with.
Is the NFL now staring at a similar cycle? Could be. It wouldn't be surprising to see major college programs start scouting overseas for athletes that could be taught the game because the pool of suburban kids willing to play starts drying up. It also wouldn't be strange to see a resurgence of baseball as parents begin the appreciate the minimal contact aspect of the sport.
Top 5 - Green Super Heroes
In honor of St. Patrick's Day - here is my list of the top green super-heroes.
1. Green Lantern
2. The Hulk
3. Green Arrow
4. Green Hornet
5. (tie) She-Hulk (tie) Martian Manhunter (from Justice League)
Honorable mention - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Green Power Ranger (the Red one is the one who does porn movies now). For villains you'd have the Green Goblin and the Riddler.
1. Green Lantern
2. The Hulk
3. Green Arrow
4. Green Hornet
5. (tie) She-Hulk (tie) Martian Manhunter (from Justice League)
Honorable mention - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Green Power Ranger (the Red one is the one who does porn movies now). For villains you'd have the Green Goblin and the Riddler.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Yesterday was the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him... Interesting behind the scenes look at the making of Mad Men... Maybe the worst part of Saint Patrick's Day is the fat guy in a kilt - you run into one every year. You know the guy who talks about the "breeze" no matter the weather and of "dangling shillelaghs" all in an attempt to get you to ask if the guy is wearing any underwear. You know the guy... Bad family structure defeats good economic numbers... How come ham has a pinkish color while pork sausage is brown? Same meat different colors. Why? How come I never thought about this before?... 15 back-stabbing facts about Brutus. What was compelling to me was how many of those historical facts were woven into the HBO series Rome... If feel like I've missed something important having never read Terry Pratchett. Maybe time to order the first Discworld book?... Interesting interview with Bill Simmons... Would you eat the moon if it was made of ribs? Harry Caray would...
Yesterday was the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him... Interesting behind the scenes look at the making of Mad Men... Maybe the worst part of Saint Patrick's Day is the fat guy in a kilt - you run into one every year. You know the guy who talks about the "breeze" no matter the weather and of "dangling shillelaghs" all in an attempt to get you to ask if the guy is wearing any underwear. You know the guy... Bad family structure defeats good economic numbers... How come ham has a pinkish color while pork sausage is brown? Same meat different colors. Why? How come I never thought about this before?... 15 back-stabbing facts about Brutus. What was compelling to me was how many of those historical facts were woven into the HBO series Rome... If feel like I've missed something important having never read Terry Pratchett. Maybe time to order the first Discworld book?... Interesting interview with Bill Simmons... Would you eat the moon if it was made of ribs? Harry Caray would...
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Interesting - was the White House behind the leaks of Hillary using a private email server? Explains why the story went to the NYT instead of a right-leaning news outlet.
- Speaking of Obama - Bad Paintings of Barack Obama always brings a smile (hit refresh button for new paintings). This classic remains my favorite.
- The first cellphone went on sale 30-years ago today. At a price tag of $4,000 it was very much a status symbol. Makes me wonder if some douchebags used to have people call them while at a play or other public function just so people would notice that said douchebag had a "mobile" phone.
- I would agree 100% with Rob Bradford's assessment of the Red Sox 25-man roster.
- There are two sides to every story but this profile from a couple of years ago of the Dalai Lama doesn't paint a very pretty picture.
- Interesting - was the White House behind the leaks of Hillary using a private email server? Explains why the story went to the NYT instead of a right-leaning news outlet.
- Speaking of Obama - Bad Paintings of Barack Obama always brings a smile (hit refresh button for new paintings). This classic remains my favorite.
- The first cellphone went on sale 30-years ago today. At a price tag of $4,000 it was very much a status symbol. Makes me wonder if some douchebags used to have people call them while at a play or other public function just so people would notice that said douchebag had a "mobile" phone.
- I would agree 100% with Rob Bradford's assessment of the Red Sox 25-man roster.
- There are two sides to every story but this profile from a couple of years ago of the Dalai Lama doesn't paint a very pretty picture.
Sir Bors
In Arthurian Legend Sir Bors (aka Bohort), Sir Galahad, and Percival go on to achieve the Holy Grail and accompany it to a mystical island in the Middle East called Sarras. Both Galahad and Percival die on the island while Bors is the only one to return. Thus Sir Bors is the lone survivor of the Grail Quest.
In the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Sir Bors is played by Terry Gilliam and is the first knight to fall victim to the killer rabbit.
In the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Sir Bors is played by Terry Gilliam and is the first knight to fall victim to the killer rabbit.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
So when the Patriots did not resign Darrelle Revis to a contract many in the Boston media were all over them for not stepping up and signing the great corner. But here's the thing - if the Patriots had signed Revis to a similar deal to what the Jets gave him then those very same media members would have instead ripped New England for overpaying for a CB and breaking their rules of financial restraint. You know it's true... RIP Gene Patton - aka Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine... Today is Michael Caine's birthday. Probably going to watch one of his older movies at some point today. Something like The Man Who Would Be King... Heh heh... So if your fantasy football league had a trade that sent LeSean McCoy and Nick Foles to another team for Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray who would you say won that trade? Basically that's what the Eagles just did... Cool... As a reminder - if you say "My Cocaine" you are also saying "Michael Caine" in his own voice... Hmmmm - no net change in thickness of Arctic Sea ice since 1940... Today is also Albert Einstein's birthday. Just a reminder that even though E=MC2 is perhaps the most famous scientific equation in history - Einstein never received the Nobel Prize for coming up with it. The reasons for this slight were mostly because Einstein was Jewish... Muppets as comic book characters... Random Albert Einstein trivia; when Einstein lived in Princeton he had a small 17-foot sailboat he named Tinef which is Yiddish for "piece of junk"... Tom Hanks is a really nice guy...
So when the Patriots did not resign Darrelle Revis to a contract many in the Boston media were all over them for not stepping up and signing the great corner. But here's the thing - if the Patriots had signed Revis to a similar deal to what the Jets gave him then those very same media members would have instead ripped New England for overpaying for a CB and breaking their rules of financial restraint. You know it's true... RIP Gene Patton - aka Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine... Today is Michael Caine's birthday. Probably going to watch one of his older movies at some point today. Something like The Man Who Would Be King... Heh heh... So if your fantasy football league had a trade that sent LeSean McCoy and Nick Foles to another team for Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray who would you say won that trade? Basically that's what the Eagles just did... Cool... As a reminder - if you say "My Cocaine" you are also saying "Michael Caine" in his own voice... Hmmmm - no net change in thickness of Arctic Sea ice since 1940... Today is also Albert Einstein's birthday. Just a reminder that even though E=MC2 is perhaps the most famous scientific equation in history - Einstein never received the Nobel Prize for coming up with it. The reasons for this slight were mostly because Einstein was Jewish... Muppets as comic book characters... Random Albert Einstein trivia; when Einstein lived in Princeton he had a small 17-foot sailboat he named Tinef which is Yiddish for "piece of junk"... Tom Hanks is a really nice guy...
Friday, March 13, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Good stuff - an oral history of Larry Bird's 60-point game vs Atlanta
- Tom Brady living the life
- 9 facts that tell the true story of Johnny Appleseed. Missing from the list is that he died in Fort Wayne, Indiana and that he died of syphilis (maybe)
- Good point - here are the QB's the Patriots will be facing next year. Scary! [sarcasm font off]
- This story is messed up on so many different levels. Indian bride walks out on wedding after groom fails simple math test.
- Good stuff - an oral history of Larry Bird's 60-point game vs Atlanta
- Tom Brady living the life
- 9 facts that tell the true story of Johnny Appleseed. Missing from the list is that he died in Fort Wayne, Indiana and that he died of syphilis (maybe)
- Good point - here are the QB's the Patriots will be facing next year. Scary! [sarcasm font off]
- This story is messed up on so many different levels. Indian bride walks out on wedding after groom fails simple math test.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Dwayne Wade is not a clean player - never has been.
- Book thieves of London
- Holy crap - never thought of it that way
- Maine bed and breakfast owner to sell inn for just 200 words.
- Dwayne Wade is not a clean player - never has been.
- Book thieves of London
- Holy crap - never thought of it that way
- Maine bed and breakfast owner to sell inn for just 200 words.
Top 5 - Thoughts on Darrelle Revis
Here are 5 thoughts on Darrelle Revis and his signing with the New York Jets.
1. First - thank you! The New England Patriots are Super Bowl Champions and Darrelle Revis played a big role in that success. Patriots fans have become somewhat jaded by the success of the Belichick/Brady era but fans of other NFL teams - say of the Jets, Dolphins and Bills for example - can tell you how difficult just one Super Bowl can be to attain. So thank you Darrelle for 2014.
2. In Bill we trust. Only a moron would think that Revis signing with the Jets took Belichick by surprise. I'm sure he has a Plan B, Plan C, etc. etc. What are those plans? Only Bill really knows so it is a waste of time speculating about it (though all day today on sports talk radio people will be doing just that).
3. It should not be overlooked that Tom Brady had a full season of practice against Revis. Do you not think that will come in handy the two times each year New England plays the Jets? You also know that Belichick was looking at Revis all year with questions of what are his weaknesses and how could teams exploit them.
4. The Jets were 4-12 last year and they still have Geno Smith as their starting QB. The Patriots are a playoff team with or without Revis. The Jets? Not so much. But hey you got the back pages of the tabloids for a couple of days in March - so you have that going for ya!
5. I'm hoping the NFL awards the Patriots a draft pick for compensation for Jets owner Woody Johnson's comments about Revis which were a clear cut example of tampering. I want the draft pick just so I can point at the player New England takes with that pick and say, "that's the guy we got because the Jets owner can't keep his mouth shut."
Bonus thought: If you are into player comparisons think of Revis signing with the Jets this way; they basically just got Deion Sanders age and performance-wise during the last 4 years of his career. There was no fifth year because Deion was cooked by then.
1. First - thank you! The New England Patriots are Super Bowl Champions and Darrelle Revis played a big role in that success. Patriots fans have become somewhat jaded by the success of the Belichick/Brady era but fans of other NFL teams - say of the Jets, Dolphins and Bills for example - can tell you how difficult just one Super Bowl can be to attain. So thank you Darrelle for 2014.
2. In Bill we trust. Only a moron would think that Revis signing with the Jets took Belichick by surprise. I'm sure he has a Plan B, Plan C, etc. etc. What are those plans? Only Bill really knows so it is a waste of time speculating about it (though all day today on sports talk radio people will be doing just that).
3. It should not be overlooked that Tom Brady had a full season of practice against Revis. Do you not think that will come in handy the two times each year New England plays the Jets? You also know that Belichick was looking at Revis all year with questions of what are his weaknesses and how could teams exploit them.
4. The Jets were 4-12 last year and they still have Geno Smith as their starting QB. The Patriots are a playoff team with or without Revis. The Jets? Not so much. But hey you got the back pages of the tabloids for a couple of days in March - so you have that going for ya!
5. I'm hoping the NFL awards the Patriots a draft pick for compensation for Jets owner Woody Johnson's comments about Revis which were a clear cut example of tampering. I want the draft pick just so I can point at the player New England takes with that pick and say, "that's the guy we got because the Jets owner can't keep his mouth shut."
Bonus thought: If you are into player comparisons think of Revis signing with the Jets this way; they basically just got Deion Sanders age and performance-wise during the last 4 years of his career. There was no fifth year because Deion was cooked by then.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- San Francisco newspaper hire of Liza Minnelli look-alike draws criticism from many.
- Chris Pratt and Chris Evans are good guys
- Who knew?
- A reminder that President Eisenhower probably did more to further Civil Rights than JFK ever did. Yet Eisenhower never gets any credit. Probably because he never sought credit - he only wanted to do the right thing.
- San Francisco newspaper hire of Liza Minnelli look-alike draws criticism from many.
- Chris Pratt and Chris Evans are good guys
- Who knew?
- A reminder that President Eisenhower probably did more to further Civil Rights than JFK ever did. Yet Eisenhower never gets any credit. Probably because he never sought credit - he only wanted to do the right thing.
Monday, March 09, 2015
Historical Footnote
General Douglas MacAuthur’s first marriage had a big wedding. Over two hundred guests were invited but because of political and family considerations – MacAuthur was only able to invite one close friend. The friend’s name? Buck Wheat (seriously).
No word on how the rest of Our Gang took the snub.
No word on how the rest of Our Gang took the snub.
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Interesting - Tom Brady is 4-1 in the playoffs when passing at least 50 times. Every other NFL QB in history is a combined 3-27 when passing 50 or more times in the playoffs... Bill Clinton and Pussy Riot. That would be a great name for a fantasy baseball team (or a porn movie)... Snapple Facts: Yankees first baseman, Mark Teixeira, practices his cold weather swing by clubbing baby seals... Who knew? Ulysses S Grant is only person on regularly used US currency that graduated from college... This is a photo that is just begging for a caption... Just a reminder - according to my American College Dictionary "physicality" is not an actual word. I wish basketball announcers would stop using it... Scott Peterson was sentenced to death in 2004 for killing his wife Laci. He's still on death row. Get it over already!... Welcome to Kentucky... On this day in history 153 years ago - the Battle of the Ironclads (aka the Monitor vs the Merrimac) began. The battle ended in a draw as neither ship's cannon could penetrate the iron defenses of the other. The battle gave birth to modern navies... Happy birthday to Hall of Famer Jim Ed Rice...
Interesting - Tom Brady is 4-1 in the playoffs when passing at least 50 times. Every other NFL QB in history is a combined 3-27 when passing 50 or more times in the playoffs... Bill Clinton and Pussy Riot. That would be a great name for a fantasy baseball team (or a porn movie)... Snapple Facts: Yankees first baseman, Mark Teixeira, practices his cold weather swing by clubbing baby seals... Who knew? Ulysses S Grant is only person on regularly used US currency that graduated from college... This is a photo that is just begging for a caption... Just a reminder - according to my American College Dictionary "physicality" is not an actual word. I wish basketball announcers would stop using it... Scott Peterson was sentenced to death in 2004 for killing his wife Laci. He's still on death row. Get it over already!... Welcome to Kentucky... On this day in history 153 years ago - the Battle of the Ironclads (aka the Monitor vs the Merrimac) began. The battle ended in a draw as neither ship's cannon could penetrate the iron defenses of the other. The battle gave birth to modern navies... Happy birthday to Hall of Famer Jim Ed Rice...
Saturday, March 07, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Heh heh - got to love Naval humor (from the archives)
- Oral sex in the Bible
- Never thought about it this way but I guess it is true
- That's what she said
- Where do we find such men
- Heh heh - got to love Naval humor (from the archives)
- Oral sex in the Bible
- Never thought about it this way but I guess it is true
- That's what she said
- Where do we find such men
Friday, March 06, 2015
Thursday, March 05, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
The Patriots should be pissed the NFL still hasn't acted on Jets owner Woody Johnson tampering with Darrelle Revis... After donating my organs - I think this is what I want my ashes buried in... It is what it is - none of the Patriots coaches last year played NFL football... This is just piling on... Who knew? Gene Hackman was the producers original choice to play Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch but the studio insisted on Robert Reed... He did indeed!... Knowing that Neil Diamond wrote Sweet Caroline about prepubescent Caroline Kennedy - his song Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon is even more creepy... Speaking of Revis - with their recent trades the Bills no longer have the cap room to sign Revis if he hits the free agent market...
The Patriots should be pissed the NFL still hasn't acted on Jets owner Woody Johnson tampering with Darrelle Revis... After donating my organs - I think this is what I want my ashes buried in... It is what it is - none of the Patriots coaches last year played NFL football... This is just piling on... Who knew? Gene Hackman was the producers original choice to play Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch but the studio insisted on Robert Reed... He did indeed!... Knowing that Neil Diamond wrote Sweet Caroline about prepubescent Caroline Kennedy - his song Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon is even more creepy... Speaking of Revis - with their recent trades the Bills no longer have the cap room to sign Revis if he hits the free agent market...
Tuesday, March 03, 2015
Modern Romance
Romance in the old days often called for the male to pursue the female. The female would often rebuff the first few advances maybe in part to insure the suitor was indeed serious. If I recall correctly both Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower were initially turned down several times when asking their future first ladies to go out on a date.
It occurred to me that probably doesn't work any more. I think a guy is more apt to just move on today if told no by a potential partner. No guy wants to be that creepy guy or look like a stalker. Not sure if this is an improvement or not. Seems like maybe just another step in making things more superficial though.
Anyway - just a random thought.
It occurred to me that probably doesn't work any more. I think a guy is more apt to just move on today if told no by a potential partner. No guy wants to be that creepy guy or look like a stalker. Not sure if this is an improvement or not. Seems like maybe just another step in making things more superficial though.
Anyway - just a random thought.
100 of My Favorite Songs
Today's offering (100) Love Spreads by The Stone Roses.
And with that I'm done with this exercise! Keep in mind that the 100 songs chosen aren't my absolute favorite 100 songs. They are songs that I'd always stop on if I heard them scanning the radio or if someone played them on a jukebox I would involuntarily say out loud "Good song!"
Hope you enjoyed my selections.
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Long-lost civilization found in Honduran rain forest
- Photographer explains how he got that photo of a weasel "riding" a woodpecker
- Heh Heh
- Tolkien alert! This is both beautiful and delicious.
- Funny because it's true!
- This has a certain kind of logic
- In Boston, home of the Super Bowl Champions, sports talk radio bozos are whining about who the Patriots gave the franchise tag to. Meanwhile in Buffalo.
- Hats off to Jimmy Kimmel for taking it to the anti-vax crowd
- Long-lost civilization found in Honduran rain forest
- Photographer explains how he got that photo of a weasel "riding" a woodpecker
- Heh Heh
- Tolkien alert! This is both beautiful and delicious.
- Funny because it's true!
- This has a certain kind of logic
- In Boston, home of the Super Bowl Champions, sports talk radio bozos are whining about who the Patriots gave the franchise tag to. Meanwhile in Buffalo.
- Hats off to Jimmy Kimmel for taking it to the anti-vax crowd
Monday, March 02, 2015
Enzyte, Maximum Shred and Xtreme Deer Antler
If you are on Twitter you've probably been spammed by ads for Maximum Shred or Extreme Deer Antler. Please don't fall for the scam. Before you go giving your credit card info hoping for rock hard abs or losing 30 pounds in a month without trying - read this Men's Health forum on Maximum Shred and Xtreme Deer Antler.
The charging your credit card before the trial is over, purposefully making it hard to cancel your subscription and the charging of your credit card even after you canceled reminds me very much of the Enzyte Federal trial and indictment - basically the same business practices.
On a lighter note - here's my thoughts from 2004 on Smiling Bob the Enzyte Guy.
The charging your credit card before the trial is over, purposefully making it hard to cancel your subscription and the charging of your credit card even after you canceled reminds me very much of the Enzyte Federal trial and indictment - basically the same business practices.
On a lighter note - here's my thoughts from 2004 on Smiling Bob the Enzyte Guy.
Top 5 - Dr. Seuss Books
Today would have been Ted Geisel's (aka Dr. Seuss) 111th birthday. In his honor - here are what I consider the top 5 Dr. Seuss books.
1. Green Eggs and Ham
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
3. The Cat in the Hat
4. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
5. Hop on Pop
I'm also a big fan of In a People House which he wrote under the name Theo. LeSieg (illustrated by Roy McKie). Horton Hears a Who just missed the list.
1. Green Eggs and Ham
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
3. The Cat in the Hat
4. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
5. Hop on Pop
I'm also a big fan of In a People House which he wrote under the name Theo. LeSieg (illustrated by Roy McKie). Horton Hears a Who just missed the list.
Sunday, March 01, 2015
Bobby Orr is a God
"First, he became a great teammate. Then he traded up and became a great humanitarian." Dave Silk on Bobby Orr.
Bobby Orr was one of the greatest players in NHL history but he's also perhaps the greatest MAN who ever laced up hockey skates. In Boston he's a god.
Today's must read article.
Bobby Orr was one of the greatest players in NHL history but he's also perhaps the greatest MAN who ever laced up hockey skates. In Boston he's a god.
Today's must read article.
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Who in Boston could have guessed that going into March the Celtics would be better positioned to make the playoffs than the Bruins? The Celtics were supposed to tank this year to get a high draft pick. The Bruins were supposed to contend for the Stanley Cup... Peter King is a horrible human being... Keith Olbermann was suspended by ESPN for comments made on Twitter. I'll say it again - after the masterful lampooning of Olbermann on SNL by Ben Affleck - Obermann became a joke to both the Left and the Right... Heh heh - What color is the dress?... "I went to my doctor and told him 'My penis is burning'. He said 'That means someone is talking about it.'" - Gary Shandling... Sad but fitting joke to the situation in Russia today... Who knew? Burt Reynolds was supposedly the first choice to play Han Solo in Star Wars....
Who in Boston could have guessed that going into March the Celtics would be better positioned to make the playoffs than the Bruins? The Celtics were supposed to tank this year to get a high draft pick. The Bruins were supposed to contend for the Stanley Cup... Peter King is a horrible human being... Keith Olbermann was suspended by ESPN for comments made on Twitter. I'll say it again - after the masterful lampooning of Olbermann on SNL by Ben Affleck - Obermann became a joke to both the Left and the Right... Heh heh - What color is the dress?... "I went to my doctor and told him 'My penis is burning'. He said 'That means someone is talking about it.'" - Gary Shandling... Sad but fitting joke to the situation in Russia today... Who knew? Burt Reynolds was supposedly the first choice to play Han Solo in Star Wars....
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Who Knew?
The story Cinderella was written in 1699 by a Frenchman named Charles Perrault. In the original story, Cinderella wore slippers made of squirrel fur but when the book was translated into English the word "vair" (squirrel fur) was mistranslated as "verre" (glass) and the rest is history.
The History of Business Cards
When playing cards (i.e. ace, king, queen, etc) started being produced in England centuries ago - the backs were left blank because the printing technology was not quite to the point where a uniform back could be printed at a reasonable cost. This blank space on the backs of "cards" was a convenient place to write notes and it became very common for a "caller" to leave a note on a card if the person they were visiting was away. Thus you could stop by someones house and leave your "calling card" with all your pertinent information if the person was out.
Card players weren't fond of that blank space on the back of cards because it made it fairly easy to cheat by marking the cards and so according to Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, "In the 1830s, London printer Thomas de la Rue devised a new process of aligning colors that enabled him to print patterned backs." From that point on cards had a uniform colored back to go with the front which told you which card you held. By then, however, people had grown so used to leaving cards that they often had "calling cards" specifically printed up and it was just a short step away then to our modern business cards.
Card players weren't fond of that blank space on the back of cards because it made it fairly easy to cheat by marking the cards and so according to Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, "In the 1830s, London printer Thomas de la Rue devised a new process of aligning colors that enabled him to print patterned backs." From that point on cards had a uniform colored back to go with the front which told you which card you held. By then, however, people had grown so used to leaving cards that they often had "calling cards" specifically printed up and it was just a short step away then to our modern business cards.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- RIP Leonard Nimoy. Here was his last Tweet from a few days ago. Makes you wonder if he knew the end was near.
- Nice article on what the Pawtucket Red Sox have meant to the city. I'll be sure to catch a few games there this season.
- Can't help but think of all the missed shots. Great idea but I'd hate to have to clean that floor.
- Not to jinx anything but Abe Vigoda is still alive
- Interesting - little girl receives gifts from crows as thanks for feeding them
- How much do Keynote Speakers make?
- This is one beautiful car
- How sanctions are effecting the Russian economy
- RIP Leonard Nimoy. Here was his last Tweet from a few days ago. Makes you wonder if he knew the end was near.
- Nice article on what the Pawtucket Red Sox have meant to the city. I'll be sure to catch a few games there this season.
- Can't help but think of all the missed shots. Great idea but I'd hate to have to clean that floor.
- Not to jinx anything but Abe Vigoda is still alive
- Interesting - little girl receives gifts from crows as thanks for feeding them
- How much do Keynote Speakers make?
- This is one beautiful car
- How sanctions are effecting the Russian economy
Top 5 - Ways to Speed Up MLB Games
How to speed up MLB games seems to be a big topic on conversation on Sports Talk Radio. With MLB games averaging 3:02 hours last season - the concern is understandable. Here's my recommendations for speeding up the game while trying to minimize changing the game itself.
1. Get rid of the 7th inning stretch. Back in the day when the action was in comparison "quick" I can understand why fans would need a break (biological or otherwise) in the seventh inning. Today with games averaging 3:02 - there are already plenty of breaks including long commercial breaks every half-inning. I'm as patriotic as the next guy but getting rid of the singing of God Bless America would by itself get the games back under 3 hours in length (we already sing the National Anthem to start games). Also ban playing any other crappy songs (looking at you Red Sox - real fans hate Sweet Caroline). I would, however, grandfather the Cubs and the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame from this rule.
2. Limit walk-up music - not essential to the playing of the game and it is a delaying factor as players style up to the plate to hear "their" song. Only allow walk-up music for the first time through the order. If you are a rookie - no walk-up music even if you are a starter. If you are hitting below .250 after the All-Star break - no walk up music for you either.
3. Make umpires responsible for teams being ready to play coming out of commercial breaks between innings. Make it part of their review process. Penalize umpires who can't get teams ready to play. Empower umpires with the ability to charge teams with a ball or strike to start inning if a team isn't ready to go. Batter not ready - he starts with an 0-1 count. Pitcher or defense not ready - count is 1-0 before first pitch is thrown.
4. Limit number of times catcher can go to the mound. Catcher gets 3 mound visits per game. After the 3rd visit if he goes to the mound the delay costs his team a ball. If pitcher has yips - too bad. If pitcher and catcher not on same page - too bad. Catchers would limit mound visits early in games to make sure they can go to the mound late in a tight game when the count is full and they want to make sure pitcher is on same page. Exception would be to check to make sure pitcher isn't injured but the umpire would have to agree to allow that visit prior to catcher going to mound.
5. Stop beer sales after the 8th inning not the 7th. This has nothing to do with speeding up the game but the last 2 innings are the longest and to make fans like me sit there without a cold brewski dampers my enthusiasm for the game. Almost cruel.
1. Get rid of the 7th inning stretch. Back in the day when the action was in comparison "quick" I can understand why fans would need a break (biological or otherwise) in the seventh inning. Today with games averaging 3:02 - there are already plenty of breaks including long commercial breaks every half-inning. I'm as patriotic as the next guy but getting rid of the singing of God Bless America would by itself get the games back under 3 hours in length (we already sing the National Anthem to start games). Also ban playing any other crappy songs (looking at you Red Sox - real fans hate Sweet Caroline). I would, however, grandfather the Cubs and the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame from this rule.
2. Limit walk-up music - not essential to the playing of the game and it is a delaying factor as players style up to the plate to hear "their" song. Only allow walk-up music for the first time through the order. If you are a rookie - no walk-up music even if you are a starter. If you are hitting below .250 after the All-Star break - no walk up music for you either.
3. Make umpires responsible for teams being ready to play coming out of commercial breaks between innings. Make it part of their review process. Penalize umpires who can't get teams ready to play. Empower umpires with the ability to charge teams with a ball or strike to start inning if a team isn't ready to go. Batter not ready - he starts with an 0-1 count. Pitcher or defense not ready - count is 1-0 before first pitch is thrown.
4. Limit number of times catcher can go to the mound. Catcher gets 3 mound visits per game. After the 3rd visit if he goes to the mound the delay costs his team a ball. If pitcher has yips - too bad. If pitcher and catcher not on same page - too bad. Catchers would limit mound visits early in games to make sure they can go to the mound late in a tight game when the count is full and they want to make sure pitcher is on same page. Exception would be to check to make sure pitcher isn't injured but the umpire would have to agree to allow that visit prior to catcher going to mound.
5. Stop beer sales after the 8th inning not the 7th. This has nothing to do with speeding up the game but the last 2 innings are the longest and to make fans like me sit there without a cold brewski dampers my enthusiasm for the game. Almost cruel.
Happy Birthday Ralphie
Today is Ralph Nader's 81st birthday and I for one would like to wish him a happy birthday and thank him once again for taking those votes away from Al Gore in the 2000 election. Nader got 3% of the vote nation-wide and who knows how many votes in the closely contested (to put it mildly) Florida vote.
Thanks Ralphie. Don't hold your breath for a birthday card from Al Gore though.
Thanks Ralphie. Don't hold your breath for a birthday card from Al Gore though.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
The number 1 overriding reason Boston should not get the Olympics is Logan Airport - the worst major airport in the United States... The Daytona 500 is one of the last major sporting events to use trough urinals. The Masters is the only other one I can think of... Have you seen the "octopus jumps out of the water to eat a crab" video? I know octopus are badass. What I'm curious about is that video has close to 6 million views on YouTube - did the woman who took the video make any money from posting it?... 20 things you might not know about the Miracle on Ice... If President Obama says ISIS is not Islamic shouldn't we just call them SIS?... Heh heh - I would prefer my cause of death be motorboated by Wonder Woman... Non-roster invitee Dana Eveland was given Jon Lester's old number 31...
The number 1 overriding reason Boston should not get the Olympics is Logan Airport - the worst major airport in the United States... The Daytona 500 is one of the last major sporting events to use trough urinals. The Masters is the only other one I can think of... Have you seen the "octopus jumps out of the water to eat a crab" video? I know octopus are badass. What I'm curious about is that video has close to 6 million views on YouTube - did the woman who took the video make any money from posting it?... 20 things you might not know about the Miracle on Ice... If President Obama says ISIS is not Islamic shouldn't we just call them SIS?... Heh heh - I would prefer my cause of death be motorboated by Wonder Woman... Non-roster invitee Dana Eveland was given Jon Lester's old number 31...
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
A French Soldiers View of US Soldiers
This is must reading.
...an American combat team will rush to support ours [French] before even knowing how dangerous the mission is - from what we have been given to witness, the American soldier is a beautiful and worthy heir to those who liberated France and Europe.
...Current everyday conventional boring 'leg infantry' units exceed the PT levels and training levels of most Special Forces during the Vietnam War. They exceed both of those as well as IQ and educational levels of: Waffen SS, WWII Rangers, WWII Airborne and British 'Commando' units during WWII. Their per-unit combat-functionality is essentially unmeasurable because it has to be compared to something and there's nothing comparable in industrial period combat history.
...This is 'The Greatest Generation' of soldiers.... They may never be equaled.Where do we find such men?
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- 20 things you might not know about the movie Office Space.
- Las Vegas strip goes dark for Jerry Tarkanian. Classy move Vegas - classy move.
- Every nation should be looking at Botswana as an example to model themselves after. Every nation - even the US (because sometimes we lose our way).
- King Kong finally makes sense.
- Big Birdman is so much better than the movie Birdman (which I thought was awful).
- 20 things you might not know about the movie Office Space.
- Las Vegas strip goes dark for Jerry Tarkanian. Classy move Vegas - classy move.
- Every nation should be looking at Botswana as an example to model themselves after. Every nation - even the US (because sometimes we lose our way).
- King Kong finally makes sense.
- Big Birdman is so much better than the movie Birdman (which I thought was awful).
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
So last week I re-read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and one thing bothered me throughout the whole book. If Fred and George Weasley had the Marauders Map the whole time Ron was at school and Peter Pettigrew showed up on the map - how come they never said anything? I mean if you saw someone sleeping in the same bed as your younger brother pretty much every night wouldn't you ask said younger brother what the heck was going on and who Peter Pettigrew was?
I know British boarding schools get a bad rap but to the degree that fighters like Fred and George wouldn't check on their brother Ron to make sure he wasn't being molested? I know this is a minor plot hole but what was it - some sort of don't ask don't tell deal going on among the Weasley brothers?
I know British boarding schools get a bad rap but to the degree that fighters like Fred and George wouldn't check on their brother Ron to make sure he wasn't being molested? I know this is a minor plot hole but what was it - some sort of don't ask don't tell deal going on among the Weasley brothers?
Verdun
Today marks a very important date - the anniversary of one of those things that changed the world forever. On February 21st in 1916 - the Battle of Verdun was begun. This battle was to change the course of Western Civilization.
The idea for the battle was from German Chief of Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn. He believed that if he could take-out France with a major set battle and discourage England to a point that Germany could be in a position to negotiate very favorable terms. To accomplish his goals - Falkenhayn proposed unrestricted submarine warfare to starve Britain and a knockout blow against France at Verdun. With this major battle at Verdun, Falkenhayn hoped to "bleed France white".
It was an ambitious plan - an aggressive plan. Falkenhayn knew that to attack at Verdun he'd have to take resources away from the Eastern Front and that unrestricted submarine warfare ran the risk of bringing the U.S. into the war. Falkenhayn reasoned that Russia was on the brink of revolution and internal civil war in Russia would allow them to take those resources from the Eastern Front and that the decisive blow to France would come before the US was dragged into the war. He was right on the former but wrong on the latter.
Verdun seemed the perfect place to attack. It actually jutted out into the German lines - so it could be attacked from three sides. It was also of historical and psychological significance to Frenchmen (somewhat akin to what the Alamo is to Americans).
The job of attacking Verdun fell to German Crown Prince Wilhelm. He planned to assault the town from both side of the surrounding Meuse River but that plan vetoed by Falkenhayn. After coming up with a daring, aggressive plan - Falkenhayn was suddenly cautious. Falkenhayn ordered the attack to be confined to one side of the river. Similar to a poker game, Falkenhayn was beaten on the river. Falkenhayn had pocket Aces of a plan but he failed to put enough chips at risk to drive the other player out. By not being aggressive when he should have he gave France free cards and allowed himself and Germany to literally be beaten on the river.
With so many people who eventually died in the battle, a poker analogy may seem flip but the fact is the Germans had one million troops against 200,000 defenders. They did hold Aces before the battle.
When the attack finally began, the Germans bombarded Verdun with 1,400 guns that rained Verdun with 100,000 shells every hour. The Germans failed to immediately follow up the bombardment with an full-scale infantry attack and what resulted was a stalemate which was to last for months and months.
The dead and wounded from both sides piled up so that both countries were being "bled white". The French begged Britain to open up a diversionary attack elsewhere on the Western Front to drain resources and men away from Verdun on the German side. Thus the Battle of the Somme was born.
By the time the battle of Verdun ended almost one million casualties had been inflicted in roughly equal numbers for both sides. The Battle of the Somme resulted in about 1.1 million casualties (about 400,000 British, 200,000 French and 500,000 German). The unrestricted submarine warfare resulted in the Americans being dragged into the War (remember that President Woodrow Wilson was elected on a peace platform). The American joined the fight just as both sides were literally exhausted from being "bled white" from Verdun and the Somme and the rest is history (including the harsh terms imposed on Germany that led to the rise of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party).
I just wanted to make sure an anniversary this important to the course of Western Civilization did not pass without proper mention.
The idea for the battle was from German Chief of Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn. He believed that if he could take-out France with a major set battle and discourage England to a point that Germany could be in a position to negotiate very favorable terms. To accomplish his goals - Falkenhayn proposed unrestricted submarine warfare to starve Britain and a knockout blow against France at Verdun. With this major battle at Verdun, Falkenhayn hoped to "bleed France white".
It was an ambitious plan - an aggressive plan. Falkenhayn knew that to attack at Verdun he'd have to take resources away from the Eastern Front and that unrestricted submarine warfare ran the risk of bringing the U.S. into the war. Falkenhayn reasoned that Russia was on the brink of revolution and internal civil war in Russia would allow them to take those resources from the Eastern Front and that the decisive blow to France would come before the US was dragged into the war. He was right on the former but wrong on the latter.
Verdun seemed the perfect place to attack. It actually jutted out into the German lines - so it could be attacked from three sides. It was also of historical and psychological significance to Frenchmen (somewhat akin to what the Alamo is to Americans).
The job of attacking Verdun fell to German Crown Prince Wilhelm. He planned to assault the town from both side of the surrounding Meuse River but that plan vetoed by Falkenhayn. After coming up with a daring, aggressive plan - Falkenhayn was suddenly cautious. Falkenhayn ordered the attack to be confined to one side of the river. Similar to a poker game, Falkenhayn was beaten on the river. Falkenhayn had pocket Aces of a plan but he failed to put enough chips at risk to drive the other player out. By not being aggressive when he should have he gave France free cards and allowed himself and Germany to literally be beaten on the river.
With so many people who eventually died in the battle, a poker analogy may seem flip but the fact is the Germans had one million troops against 200,000 defenders. They did hold Aces before the battle.
When the attack finally began, the Germans bombarded Verdun with 1,400 guns that rained Verdun with 100,000 shells every hour. The Germans failed to immediately follow up the bombardment with an full-scale infantry attack and what resulted was a stalemate which was to last for months and months.
The dead and wounded from both sides piled up so that both countries were being "bled white". The French begged Britain to open up a diversionary attack elsewhere on the Western Front to drain resources and men away from Verdun on the German side. Thus the Battle of the Somme was born.
By the time the battle of Verdun ended almost one million casualties had been inflicted in roughly equal numbers for both sides. The Battle of the Somme resulted in about 1.1 million casualties (about 400,000 British, 200,000 French and 500,000 German). The unrestricted submarine warfare resulted in the Americans being dragged into the War (remember that President Woodrow Wilson was elected on a peace platform). The American joined the fight just as both sides were literally exhausted from being "bled white" from Verdun and the Somme and the rest is history (including the harsh terms imposed on Germany that led to the rise of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party).
I just wanted to make sure an anniversary this important to the course of Western Civilization did not pass without proper mention.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Homer at the Bat
It was 23 years ago tonight that Fox aired The Simpsons episode Homer at the Bat.
Here's a history of the episode.
Or here you can read what really happened.
Here's a history of the episode.
Or here you can read what really happened.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Blake Swihart
Interesting article on Red Sox top prospect Blake Swihart. I didn't know he played shortstop in high school. Nor did I know he could throw 98 MPH in high school (rocket arm for a catcher). Even knowing all this new info - I'm still torn about whether Boston should use Swihart as the key to acquiring Cole Hamels.
Best case scenario - Swihart is the second coming of Craig Biggio, a catcher athletic enough to move to second base and center field. Biggio is a Hall of Famer - so this is a very high ceiling. Still - would I trade a young Biggio for a pitcher who might be the Jake Peavy of the last three years (low value return) or who could be the next John Tudor (who went 21-8 in his age 31 season). Probably I don't pull the trigger on a Hamels trade if I'm convinced Swihart is the next Biggio.
Still a good case scenario - what if Swihart is the next Rich Gedman (a power arm pitcher in high school converted to catcher)? Gedman played 13 years and was a 2-time All-Star. Do I trade a young Rich Gedman for Hamels? After serious consideration I probably do.
And as Rob Bradford points out - what if Blake Swihart is the next Jesus Montero who was supposed to be the Yankees' can't miss catching prospect? In that case absolutely you pull the trigger.
It will be interesting to see what the Red Sox do. I'm still torn on the question.
Best case scenario - Swihart is the second coming of Craig Biggio, a catcher athletic enough to move to second base and center field. Biggio is a Hall of Famer - so this is a very high ceiling. Still - would I trade a young Biggio for a pitcher who might be the Jake Peavy of the last three years (low value return) or who could be the next John Tudor (who went 21-8 in his age 31 season). Probably I don't pull the trigger on a Hamels trade if I'm convinced Swihart is the next Biggio.
Still a good case scenario - what if Swihart is the next Rich Gedman (a power arm pitcher in high school converted to catcher)? Gedman played 13 years and was a 2-time All-Star. Do I trade a young Rich Gedman for Hamels? After serious consideration I probably do.
And as Rob Bradford points out - what if Blake Swihart is the next Jesus Montero who was supposed to be the Yankees' can't miss catching prospect? In that case absolutely you pull the trigger.
It will be interesting to see what the Red Sox do. I'm still torn on the question.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- NY Post's front page. Only one of those guys is guaranteed to have a job this summer. Oh just as a reminder - to date Alex Rodriguez has made over $356 million. I'm guessing that money will help him deal with the slings and arrows that will be sent his way.
- You go Gronk! (Yeah I have a thing for Amy Schumer.)
- Bill Murray on the last time he saw Gilda Radner
- Batman sarcasm
- Phil Hartman's SNL audition
- NY Post's front page. Only one of those guys is guaranteed to have a job this summer. Oh just as a reminder - to date Alex Rodriguez has made over $356 million. I'm guessing that money will help him deal with the slings and arrows that will be sent his way.
- You go Gronk! (Yeah I have a thing for Amy Schumer.)
- Bill Murray on the last time he saw Gilda Radner
- Batman sarcasm
- Phil Hartman's SNL audition
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
February 14th could easily be renamed National Shave Your Legs and Pubics Day sponsored by Lady Gillette instead of Valentines Day... I pretty much agree with Chad Finn on what the Red Sox Opening Day roster will look like. The only thing I disagree on is I think Shane Victorino will be the one traded not Allen Craig... Tommy Heinsohn was just named to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. He was already in the Hall as a player. Both of these honors, of course, pale in comparison to having his number retired by Holy Cross... Joe Biden would make a great replacement for Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. The unintentional comedy would be off the charts... Did you know that Tris Speaker actually had more triples in his career (222) than strikeouts (220)? That's amazing!...
February 14th could easily be renamed National Shave Your Legs and Pubics Day sponsored by Lady Gillette instead of Valentines Day... I pretty much agree with Chad Finn on what the Red Sox Opening Day roster will look like. The only thing I disagree on is I think Shane Victorino will be the one traded not Allen Craig... Tommy Heinsohn was just named to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. He was already in the Hall as a player. Both of these honors, of course, pale in comparison to having his number retired by Holy Cross... Joe Biden would make a great replacement for Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. The unintentional comedy would be off the charts... Did you know that Tris Speaker actually had more triples in his career (222) than strikeouts (220)? That's amazing!...
Saturday, February 14, 2015
My New Religion
The other day I was giving my son a ride and I saw a sign out of the corner of my eye that said "Boundless Way Zen Center". The thing is my mind read it as "Roundless Way Zen Center" - so I asked my son what those people had against circles. Of course he informed me that the sign said "Boundless" but I kept thinking "Roundless" would be better.
I kept thinking of it so much that I decided a "Roundless Way Zen Religion" needed to exist. Here are the three major precepts of my new religion.
1. We would adhere to all the established teachings of Zen Buddhism such as the poet Basho's "a donut with no hole is a Danish". Etc.
2. The Roundless Way is not just mindful meditation but also exercise. Every time you feel like you are getting a little too round around the middle its time to get off the couch and out for some real world exercise. Hiking, swimming, chopping wood, or going to the gym - it doesn't matter. Just don't let the round around the middle get the better of you. A healthy body is part of having a happy mind.
3. If you find yourself going in circles in life - stop and change directions. The Roundless Way says that life is too short to get into ruts.
I think I could really expand this philosophy. What do you think?
Noonan.
I kept thinking of it so much that I decided a "Roundless Way Zen Religion" needed to exist. Here are the three major precepts of my new religion.
1. We would adhere to all the established teachings of Zen Buddhism such as the poet Basho's "a donut with no hole is a Danish". Etc.
2. The Roundless Way is not just mindful meditation but also exercise. Every time you feel like you are getting a little too round around the middle its time to get off the couch and out for some real world exercise. Hiking, swimming, chopping wood, or going to the gym - it doesn't matter. Just don't let the round around the middle get the better of you. A healthy body is part of having a happy mind.
3. If you find yourself going in circles in life - stop and change directions. The Roundless Way says that life is too short to get into ruts.
I think I could really expand this philosophy. What do you think?
Noonan.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Heh heh - I love these - Hitler finds out about Brian Williams
- Did the Boston Bruins really "win" the Tyler Seguin trade? Seems like another five nickels for a quarter deal.
- I love these Larry Bird trash talker extraordinaire stories
- Heh heh - it's funny because it's true
- Heh heh - I love these - Hitler finds out about Brian Williams
- Did the Boston Bruins really "win" the Tyler Seguin trade? Seems like another five nickels for a quarter deal.
- I love these Larry Bird trash talker extraordinaire stories
- Heh heh - it's funny because it's true
Jay Bilas
ESPN's college basketball guru Jay Bilas has 818,000 followers on Twitter ( @JayBilas ) but he only follows one Twitter account himself - Lacey's Legacy ( @adorableLacey ).
That must be one special little girl.
That must be one special little girl.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Real Facts
According to the Snapple Real Fact #154 - Americans spend more than $630 million a year on golf balls.
For what its worth - in 2002 the Government spent $630 million for Homeland Security bomb detecting and baggage screening equipment.
$630 million is also the amount that West Virginia got in a one-time settlement with the tobacco companies.
As luck would have it - $630 million is also the amount that this Nigerian banker is promising to share with me if I allow him to deposit it into my bank accounts.
I'm not reading anything into these numbers - just thought I'd post the coincidences.
For what its worth - in 2002 the Government spent $630 million for Homeland Security bomb detecting and baggage screening equipment.
$630 million is also the amount that West Virginia got in a one-time settlement with the tobacco companies.
As luck would have it - $630 million is also the amount that this Nigerian banker is promising to share with me if I allow him to deposit it into my bank accounts.
I'm not reading anything into these numbers - just thought I'd post the coincidences.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Vaccinations
Two thoughts I've had regarding all the talk about vaccinations recently.
First - I keep thinking about how a conversation with parents from 100-years ago would go. I think it would go something like this:
Me: Hi I'm from the future and in the future we have vaccinations that have basically wiped out childhood diseases like Measles and Polio.
Parents from 100-years ago: How miraculous. How glorious it must be for parents to be freed from the worry of their children dying from Measles or being permanently crippled by things like Polio.
Me: Yeah but the thing is some parents don't get their kids vaccinated.
Parents from 100-years ago: Why would they do that? Do the shots cost millions and only the rich can afford them?
Me: No the shots are very affordable and in most cases don't cost anything. And in many cases the parents who don't get their kids vaccinated are very affluent.
Parents from 100-years ago: Really? Then what's the excuse? Don't these parents love their children?
Me: Well they say they do but I think they like the smug feeling of thinking they are smarter than everyone else better.
Parents from 100-years ago: How smug are they going to feel when their kid dies from something that could have been easily prevented? Fuck those people.
Me: Yeah - fuck those people.
Second - would it be possible to make letting your child be injured by a childhood disease that could have been prevented by vaccinations a felony? Don't get me wrong - I don't want these parents to go to jail. But I would like these stupid fucks to lose their right to vote. The idea of an anti-vaxxer cancelling out my vote makes me kind of sick.
Too bad there's no vaccination for stupid.
First - I keep thinking about how a conversation with parents from 100-years ago would go. I think it would go something like this:
Me: Hi I'm from the future and in the future we have vaccinations that have basically wiped out childhood diseases like Measles and Polio.
Parents from 100-years ago: How miraculous. How glorious it must be for parents to be freed from the worry of their children dying from Measles or being permanently crippled by things like Polio.
Me: Yeah but the thing is some parents don't get their kids vaccinated.
Parents from 100-years ago: Why would they do that? Do the shots cost millions and only the rich can afford them?
Me: No the shots are very affordable and in most cases don't cost anything. And in many cases the parents who don't get their kids vaccinated are very affluent.
Parents from 100-years ago: Really? Then what's the excuse? Don't these parents love their children?
Me: Well they say they do but I think they like the smug feeling of thinking they are smarter than everyone else better.
Parents from 100-years ago: How smug are they going to feel when their kid dies from something that could have been easily prevented? Fuck those people.
Me: Yeah - fuck those people.
Second - would it be possible to make letting your child be injured by a childhood disease that could have been prevented by vaccinations a felony? Don't get me wrong - I don't want these parents to go to jail. But I would like these stupid fucks to lose their right to vote. The idea of an anti-vaxxer cancelling out my vote makes me kind of sick.
Too bad there's no vaccination for stupid.
Monday, February 09, 2015
Is Andruw Jones a Hall of Famer?
Peter Gammons' site asked the question a couple of days ago - is Andruw Jones a Hall of Famer? The article mentions many of Jones accomplishments and in the course of the article named 13 different players in comparison to Andruw Jones. Two players jump out at me when thinking about the question, "Is Andruw Jones a Hall of Famer"? Neither of the players I thought of were mentioned in the article linked above.
The first player is Dwight Evans who as great as Jones was in centerfield - Dewey was that great in right. You had 10 Gold Gloves for Jones and 8 for Evans. Jones had 434 career HR to Evans' 385 but Evans had 540 more total bases than Andruw and his OPS+ of 127 is much more Hall of Fame worthy than Jones 111 OPS+ mark. WAR? Evans had a career mark of 66.9 (124th best all-time) to Jones' 62.8 (152nd all-time). How many people are still asking if Evans is a Hall of Famer?
The second player also played centerfield for the Braves - Dale Murphy. He was a 5-time Gold Glover and winner of back-to-back NL MVP Awards. According to Baseball-reference.com the most similar player to Dale Murphy? Andruw Jones.
So to answer the question - is Andruw Jones a Hall of Famer? The answer is no. And neither is Dale Murphy or Dwight Evans. For the record though - I am a fan of all three players.
The first player is Dwight Evans who as great as Jones was in centerfield - Dewey was that great in right. You had 10 Gold Gloves for Jones and 8 for Evans. Jones had 434 career HR to Evans' 385 but Evans had 540 more total bases than Andruw and his OPS+ of 127 is much more Hall of Fame worthy than Jones 111 OPS+ mark. WAR? Evans had a career mark of 66.9 (124th best all-time) to Jones' 62.8 (152nd all-time). How many people are still asking if Evans is a Hall of Famer?
The second player also played centerfield for the Braves - Dale Murphy. He was a 5-time Gold Glover and winner of back-to-back NL MVP Awards. According to Baseball-reference.com the most similar player to Dale Murphy? Andruw Jones.
So to answer the question - is Andruw Jones a Hall of Famer? The answer is no. And neither is Dale Murphy or Dwight Evans. For the record though - I am a fan of all three players.
Roger Goodell
This article suggests that Roger Goodell's days may be numbered as NFL Commissioner. What the article completely whiffs on is one powerful reason - Goodell has alienated his strongest supporter in Robert Kraft. At this point Kraft wouldn't cross the street to spit on Goodell if he was on fire. Does anyone remember the Commissioner being on-stage after the Patriots won the Super Bowl? No? That's because Robert Kraft treated Goodell like he was the invisible man. Goodell basically burned down his own house with his bumbling Deflategate investigation.
So who should the NFL get to replace Goodell? I've said it before - Condoleezza Rice. She would solve the NFL's domestic violence PR problem with the simple fact that she's a woman. She'd be the first woman commissioner of any of the major sports. Race issues? Hello - she's a black woman! Qualified? She was Secretary of State! Plus she's said NFL Commissioner would be her dream job.
So let it be written - so let it be done.
So who should the NFL get to replace Goodell? I've said it before - Condoleezza Rice. She would solve the NFL's domestic violence PR problem with the simple fact that she's a woman. She'd be the first woman commissioner of any of the major sports. Race issues? Hello - she's a black woman! Qualified? She was Secretary of State! Plus she's said NFL Commissioner would be her dream job.
So let it be written - so let it be done.
Sunday, February 08, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
So Rex Ryan's first two moves are to alter his tattoo and sign Richie Incognito. That must have Bill Belichick shaking in his boots... Good article on the NFL's integrity problem by Tom E. Curran... So I understand that Brian Williams was planning on calling his autobiography "If I Did It" but that title was already taken by OJ Simpson... Gronk with the ceremonial puck spike...
So Rex Ryan's first two moves are to alter his tattoo and sign Richie Incognito. That must have Bill Belichick shaking in his boots... Good article on the NFL's integrity problem by Tom E. Curran... So I understand that Brian Williams was planning on calling his autobiography "If I Did It" but that title was already taken by OJ Simpson... Gronk with the ceremonial puck spike...
Saturday, February 07, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
The Brian Williams mess is why I think some network should just go ahead and hire Strong Bad to read the news. That network would immediately have the highest ratings and compared to Brian Williams would lose nothing in credibility... I would so love to buy property from Zdeno Chara... Anyone else hear that NBC plans to change the name of the Nightly News to "Bryan Williams Slow Jams the Truth"?... Heh heh - I love the Left Shark... New England Church sign; "Whoever is praying for snow - please stop!"... The "Cathy" comic strip with Louis CK quotes - yes please... It would be funny if Australian Bee Gees were a disease and not a cover band. Please immunize your kids against Australian Bee Gees!... "No More" the NFL Domestic Violence partner is a sham... Gene Hackman turned 84 this week. Great actor but I can't watch one of his movies without thinking about how huge his head is. I mean gigantic... Heh heh - I scream, you scream... In modern dollars the ransoms paid to free England's King Richard the Lionhearted would cost over $2 billion (34 tons of gold)... Tolstoy's 10 rules for life... A reminder - in the NFL Alex Smith is a higher paid QB than Tom Brady... Interesting article on Billy Walters - the most successful sports gambler in history... Just 58 days till Opening Day...
The Brian Williams mess is why I think some network should just go ahead and hire Strong Bad to read the news. That network would immediately have the highest ratings and compared to Brian Williams would lose nothing in credibility... I would so love to buy property from Zdeno Chara... Anyone else hear that NBC plans to change the name of the Nightly News to "Bryan Williams Slow Jams the Truth"?... Heh heh - I love the Left Shark... New England Church sign; "Whoever is praying for snow - please stop!"... The "Cathy" comic strip with Louis CK quotes - yes please... It would be funny if Australian Bee Gees were a disease and not a cover band. Please immunize your kids against Australian Bee Gees!... "No More" the NFL Domestic Violence partner is a sham... Gene Hackman turned 84 this week. Great actor but I can't watch one of his movies without thinking about how huge his head is. I mean gigantic... Heh heh - I scream, you scream... In modern dollars the ransoms paid to free England's King Richard the Lionhearted would cost over $2 billion (34 tons of gold)... Tolstoy's 10 rules for life... A reminder - in the NFL Alex Smith is a higher paid QB than Tom Brady... Interesting article on Billy Walters - the most successful sports gambler in history... Just 58 days till Opening Day...
Friday, February 06, 2015
Saint Cornelius of Ireland
Though not widely remembered today - at one point Saint Cornelius of Ireland (not to be confused with Saint Cornelius of Antioch) was second in popularity in the Emerald Isle only to Saint Patrick.
Saint Patrick is remembered for driving the snakes out of Ireland. Saint Cornelius was said to have driven the squirrels out of Ireland. This "miracle" of Saint Cornelius later proved to be his undoing. During the Great Potato Famine starving Irishmen and women wished they had tasty squirrel meat to eat and they cursed Saint Cornelius for driving out the furry rodents. In response to this outrage - Pope Pius IX removed Cornelius from the roll of official Catholic Saints.
Saint Patrick is remembered for driving the snakes out of Ireland. Saint Cornelius was said to have driven the squirrels out of Ireland. This "miracle" of Saint Cornelius later proved to be his undoing. During the Great Potato Famine starving Irishmen and women wished they had tasty squirrel meat to eat and they cursed Saint Cornelius for driving out the furry rodents. In response to this outrage - Pope Pius IX removed Cornelius from the roll of official Catholic Saints.
Thursday, February 05, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- The Potemkin Olympics one-year later - Russia is a mess
- The Taiwan animators take on Super Bowl 49 - doesn't disappoint.
- Encouraging news on Gordie Howe. Just encouraging in general - adult stem cells are the shit!
- This is so awesome!
- 5.6% Unemployment is one big lie
- Not to stereotype but yeah - this is pretty much how all Boston fans felt about the Super Bowl (NSFW language)
- The Potemkin Olympics one-year later - Russia is a mess
- The Taiwan animators take on Super Bowl 49 - doesn't disappoint.
- Encouraging news on Gordie Howe. Just encouraging in general - adult stem cells are the shit!
- This is so awesome!
- 5.6% Unemployment is one big lie
- Not to stereotype but yeah - this is pretty much how all Boston fans felt about the Super Bowl (NSFW language)
Wednesday, February 04, 2015
NFL Tug of War
Here's an idea that I think would be a smash. Have a tug of war tournament between NFL teams. The offense and defensive linemen would be the stars giving them recognition usually reserved to skill players and a big portion of the TV rights could go to the health benefits of retired players in need. A big win-win for everyone involved.
And it would be a ton of fun to watch.
Imagine a tug of war set up so that the losing team goes tumbling into a pond or some other body of water. Imagine fun player profiles between contests. Imagine getting these NFL fixes during the off-season when people like me are Jonesing for anything football related.
All 32 NFL teams would be represented and there would be 4 tug of war matches per half hour show - except for the finals which would be a best of 3 affair. Winners advance and losers go home. That's 16 shows. Play 2 shows per week for an hour worth of low cost content and you have two months worth of NFL content between the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft.
Wouldn't you watch something like this?
And it would be a ton of fun to watch.
Imagine a tug of war set up so that the losing team goes tumbling into a pond or some other body of water. Imagine fun player profiles between contests. Imagine getting these NFL fixes during the off-season when people like me are Jonesing for anything football related.
All 32 NFL teams would be represented and there would be 4 tug of war matches per half hour show - except for the finals which would be a best of 3 affair. Winners advance and losers go home. That's 16 shows. Play 2 shows per week for an hour worth of low cost content and you have two months worth of NFL content between the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft.
Wouldn't you watch something like this?
Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share..
- You knew this was coming - Hitler learns about Pete Carroll's goal line call
- Bill Belichick's pre-game "Don't Tread On Me" T-shirt was a tribute to the US Marines
- Heh heh - Kobe tried to warn us!
- Almost starting to feel bad for Pete Carroll...
- He did what?
- You knew this was coming - Hitler learns about Pete Carroll's goal line call
- Bill Belichick's pre-game "Don't Tread On Me" T-shirt was a tribute to the US Marines
- Heh heh - Kobe tried to warn us!
- Almost starting to feel bad for Pete Carroll...
- He did what?
Beer - Is There Anything It Can't Do?
According to study - drinking beer can help ward off dementia.
And science comes one step closer to validating Cliff Claven's Buffalo Theory of Beer Drinking.
Once again beer is proof that God loves us.
And science comes one step closer to validating Cliff Claven's Buffalo Theory of Beer Drinking.
Once again beer is proof that God loves us.
Monday, February 02, 2015
Super Bowl Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations from last night's wicked awesome Patriots victory!
How can you not love Tom Brady?... Ed Werder with the Stat of the Day; "There were 109 passes thrown from the 1-yard line this season. Russell Wilson's was the first intercepted. That play decides the Super Bowl"... I would have run it with Lynch... Seriously Nationwide - WTF?... Pats cheerleader Kelly Bennion is the definition of a catch... OK with Bob Kraft no longer in his corner - what's the over / under for how long it takes for the NFL to name Condi Rice as Roger Goodell's replacement as Commissioner... You can judge a man by the company he keeps. Again - how can you not love Tom Brady (OK maybe I'm trolling a little)...
How can you not love Tom Brady?... Ed Werder with the Stat of the Day; "There were 109 passes thrown from the 1-yard line this season. Russell Wilson's was the first intercepted. That play decides the Super Bowl"... I would have run it with Lynch... Seriously Nationwide - WTF?... Pats cheerleader Kelly Bennion is the definition of a catch... OK with Bob Kraft no longer in his corner - what's the over / under for how long it takes for the NFL to name Condi Rice as Roger Goodell's replacement as Commissioner... You can judge a man by the company he keeps. Again - how can you not love Tom Brady (OK maybe I'm trolling a little)...
Sunday, February 01, 2015
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
If and when the Patriots win today - it will be interesting to watch the interaction when Roger Goodell hands Bob Kraft the Lombardi Trophy. This could be Pete Rozelle and Al Davis levels of awkward... Interesting - the hidden meaning of one of Silence of the Lambs most iconic lines... Does anyone see the irony of a guy like Herm Edwards breaking down the coaching of Bill Belichick? Edwards is on TV because he couldn't beat guys like Belichick and now we're supposed to be sold on the idea that Edwards knows what makes Belichick tick?... I'm seriously surprised this doesn't happen more often. If you shovel a spot on the street - you own that spot. Unwritten New England law... In 1,000 years if archaeologists find Ted Williams severed head - will they think that's what we worshiped?... Not for nothing but I think Julian Edelman has to have the best playoff beard in the Super Bowl - edge Patriots... If this is true - then my respect for Calvin Coolidge just went up five-fold...
If and when the Patriots win today - it will be interesting to watch the interaction when Roger Goodell hands Bob Kraft the Lombardi Trophy. This could be Pete Rozelle and Al Davis levels of awkward... Interesting - the hidden meaning of one of Silence of the Lambs most iconic lines... Does anyone see the irony of a guy like Herm Edwards breaking down the coaching of Bill Belichick? Edwards is on TV because he couldn't beat guys like Belichick and now we're supposed to be sold on the idea that Edwards knows what makes Belichick tick?... I'm seriously surprised this doesn't happen more often. If you shovel a spot on the street - you own that spot. Unwritten New England law... In 1,000 years if archaeologists find Ted Williams severed head - will they think that's what we worshiped?... Not for nothing but I think Julian Edelman has to have the best playoff beard in the Super Bowl - edge Patriots... If this is true - then my respect for Calvin Coolidge just went up five-fold...
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Slavery
On this date in 1865 the Congress voted to end slavery. The vote was 119 "yea" and 56 "nay" with 8 Congressmen not voting. It should be noted that every Republican Congressman voted to end slavery (along with 16 Democrats). All of the 56 "nay" votes and all of the not voting (the voting "present" of the day) came from the Democrats.
Just something to keep in mind when you hear the Republicans are the "racist" party.
Just something to keep in mind when you hear the Republicans are the "racist" party.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)