Summers as a kid, cartoons, vodka and Lindsey Vonn

1 - It occurred to me a while back that my generation, the 24-31 year olds, may have been the last to know what it was like to spend their summers outdoors when they were kids.

When we grew up we didn't have computer games. We didn't have cell phones. We didn't have the internet.

Did we have the Nintendo or Genesis or SNES? Sure. But games were different back then. Now days the games you play are these monsters that take weeks to complete, and that's if you're ready to spend two to three hours a day with a controller in your hand. There was certainly no online multi-player and hundreds of thousands of kids around the globe playing the same game at all times of the day. No, the games we grew up on (Mario, Street Fighter, NBA Jam) could be completed in a under an hour. I loved my videogames as a kid, but even I couldn't or wouldn't sit in front of a TV playing a game for more than 45 minutes, and that was once the sun went down.

I used to love my summers as a kid. I remember taking a canoe down the river, docking it at the golf-course and playing 27 holes a day when I was 11 years old. I remember biking around Rice Lake and hitting up the old-school candy and ice cream shop or going to the pool when I was 9 and 10. Home run derbies and driveway basketball every day when was an early teen. Of course there was the little league games every summer and then Prep 13 and Junior Legion and then Legion. Eventually you get a license but that was even more a reason to get out and do things. Camping, renting wave-runners, playing frisbee golf, hitting up Snaps in Appleto....wait, nevermind.

There just wasn't a reason to stay in-doors when it was 70 degrees and sunny.

But technology has changed that. You can get hundreds of channels on cable and DirecTV. No one uses dial-up anymore so you don't have mom's bitching when their kids are tying up the phone line. High speed internet is in every household so kids can hop online and play games or check out Facebook. No kid has to get on a bike to go to a friend's place anymore if he wants to hang out; online gaming and headsets alleviate that issue. And the games these days...my god. People can start playing and not leave a room for 20 hours. It's like a completely different world to get wrapped up in.

To say I'm concerned is an understatement. I'm the oldest on both sides of my family; all my siblings and cousins are younger. I've got family in that 7-15 age range and I'm worried. Some are as sedimentary and socially awkward as any kid I've seen. They have parents who buy them computers and TVs and gaming systems and cell phones and they're as fucking wide as they are tall.

Yea, I'm worried. I talked with a co-worker this week, the one who recommended I check out the documentary that inspired my first thought in #1. He's probably 20 years older than I am but our summers were the same. You didn't spend them indoors, your mom kicked you outside and you played with your pals. Doing so you were interacting with others. Being physically active. Building a base upon which to grow as a person. You didn't understand that when you were 9 or 11 or 13, but when you look back at your childhood and realize all that you did in your free time I think you can appreciate how it helped turn you into the person you are now.

As a 28 year old without kids of my own it's easy to sit here and say that I'm going to be different. That I'm going to raise my kids the way my mom and dad raised me. Spend the nights playing baseball and having a catch and showing them how to garden and hunt and fish and swim. Keep them out of the living room and off the TV and computer. I hope I can do that. But I'm sure it won't be easy when you're competing with the rest of the world for their attention.

2 - Speaking of kids, and this is going to sound bad after the previous entry, but I did get my share of cartoons growing up. If you're my age there's a solid chance you spent your 4:00-6:00 after school watching Duck Tails, Rescue Rangers, Tail Spin and Darkwing Duck. Or when you were just starting to watch TV you caught Fraggel Rock and Care Bears. Animaniacs and Ninja Turtles when you were a little older.

Those shows were the balls.

Well, recently I heard from a married guy with kids who told me how excruciating it was to have to sit with his kid and watch some of the shit on TV now 'days aimed towards children.

Apparently it's brutal so I've come up with a solution. I'm going to get every fucking season of those shows above, the ones I grew up on, and I'll be damned if that's what my kids aren't watching one day. I figure I'll be geeking by seeing shows I loved 30 years ago while knowing they're seeing the same stuff that molded me into the nice, semi-well-adjusted guy I am today (STFU).

Come on. Duck Tales is timeless. Tell me you wouldn't stop and watch ol' Scrooge and the Boys if you happened to catch them on TV right now. Or the original Turtles. The Chipmunk Adventure or an American Tail.

When my kids are four years old they won't know that there's a Disney Channel or the Internet. Plop in a disk of Chip 'n Dale's Rescue Rangers and I'll sit and watch with them as long as they like.

:)

3 - Alright, enough of the kids and cartoons.

Let's talk vodka.

The impetus for the following was something I saw on TV. I'm a Food Network junkie. I don't watch a lot of TV, but I love me some Triple D and Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Then you have Giada and Iron Chef even Rachel Ray and there's a couple hours a week right there.

Alton Brown, however, sort of sucks.

He's the host of Good Eats, a forgettable and outdated show that FN has kept around despite sucking for years. He's also the host of Iron Chef and he mostly annoys.

But a couple weeks ago I was flipping channels and noticed an episode of Good Eats tackling a concoction near and dear to my heart: the Bloody Mary.

I love Bloody Mary's. I love the Bloody Caesar. I even love the Michelada (Mexican version where you substitute vodka for beer).

I was interested to see how this food snob could claim that the current version of the Bloody Mary was a bastardized version and so much worse than the original that came about 70 years ago.

He claimed to have the perfect recipe. I watched him make it. It looks interesting and I'll be giving it a shot in the near future. Credit Alton.

But what really got the wheels spinning was his attack on vodka. Good Eats breaks down food on a scientific level. They explain how food and drink are made and in this case I thought there was some legit application. After-all, vodka has quite the price range.

Brown described the process of making vodka. Where it comes from, how it's made, differences in the methods. He talked distilling. He even talked about the idea that with a water filter and some cheap vodka you could turn your Phillips into Goose.

In the end, though, one message was rather blunt: go cheap. Once it's distilled, it's distilled. Buy the cheap stuff and feel good about it.

But how could this be, I thought. Vodka has been my drink for a decade. Cheap shit, expensive stuff, screwdriver, white russian, bloody, bulldog, gimlet, martini...you name it, I've probably drank it. I've drank vodka mixed with shit you probably wouldn't feed someone you hate.

But never, since I've been drinking, have I been a snob about it. When I was in college I was broke so I bought the cheap stuff. When I got some money or I wanted to impress a girl I went top shelf. Sometime after college (namely when I discovered sports gambling) I decided that I could stand and appreciate straight booze so I started drinking Ketel and Stoli on rocks. And Johnny and J&B...

But one thought never crossed my mind with regards to vodka: how about a taste test?

Vodka is supposed to be a tasteless alcohol. It's distilled to remove impurities but who the hell knows what difference it makes if it's distilled once or four times? In the end it's 80 proof and it gets you drunk.

SO! After seeing Alton Brown's description of vodka I grabbed a friend, bought some small bottles and did what I should have done a decade ago: we conducted a taste-test.

Our samples (and prices for a 1.75):

Karkov - $10-$11
Fleischmann's - $10-$12
Svedka - $19-$24
Stolichnaya - $39-$46
Ketel One - $38-$47

Basically we got two rail, one medium and two top shelf bottles to test. Tasting went like this:

1 - About half a shot of chilled vodka in a glass
2 - Take the drink, give it a swish and swallow
3 - Judge taste, spit effect, need for water, impact on stomach

That's it. We did two rounds.

Round one was staggered based upon preconceived notions on what the vodka would taste like. We divided it up and went from med-low-high quality and back again.

Notes were taken, but I'm only using my observations:

Svedka - Strong. Definitely tastes like a harsh vodka. Moderate spit reflex. Not one I would start with if I were drinking rocks, though it would be possible to down a glass.

Fleischmann's - Subtle for an instant, maybe because of the cold. Then an immediate strong and unpleasant taste. I had to go for the water or something might have come back up.

Solichnaya - Not as strong as the first two. Definitely smoother. There's absolutely a bite, but barely any spit reflex. This one was a belly fire inducer. Not a strong aftertaste but there's a numbing/tingling effect on your mouth. It's close to a potent mouth wash with no taste. I could probably drink a small glass fairly easily.

Karkov - Not as bad as I thought it would be after drinking the Fleischmann's. Slight spits, but not terrible. This one seemed to have a slightly different flavor than the others. Certainly tolerable. Again, like a bitter, flavorless mouthwash. I didn't need to go for the water.

Ketel One - Very slight spits, but nothing to worry about. Not as much belly fire as the Stoli. Able to swish and hold it in the mouth for a few moments to get the taste. Again, like a tasteless, somewhat bitter mouthwash.

First round winner: Ketel One
First round loser: Fleishmann's
Time Elapsed: 25 minutes

Round 2 order was based on how terrible the first round went.

43 minutes in:

Fleischmann's - Not nearly as bad when it was quickly swilled from the mini-bottle. There were some spit I had to swallow, but it wasn't terrible. The belly fire and the aftertaste wasn't here in this shot. There also wasn't strong aftertaste. Surprising.

Svedka - Didn't the get the spit like I did with the Fleischmann's. A little, but nothing you wouldn't expect from drinking straight vodka. This one has got more bite than some of the others. That said, no water chaser needed. I could swill it. Honestly, it was similar to the first round of Stoli and Ketel.

Karkov - Again, the first thing I noticed was a different flavor than the rest. Very tasteless. Little aftertaste. Not much belly fire. I didn't get much of a sensation in my mouth after swilling and downing it. Overall, this vodka has had the least impact.

Stolichnaya - Definitely had an impact. Slight spit. Some belly fire. I absolutely got the impact on my mouth, with it immediately tingling anywhere the vodka hit when I swished it it around. It didn't taste bad, but you could certainly tell you're drinking straight booze.

Ketel One - Slight belly fire. Minimal spit. Smooth as hell. Tingling a bit. This was the last drink of the night, and not surprisingly, it was the easiest.

Overall the amount of booze drank wasn't a lot, maybe four shots over the course of two hours. But the findings of this little taste test revealed one thing:

Go cheap.

Honestly, buy the cheapest vodka you can every time you're looking for a bottle. I went in thinking I was going to be gagging with a swill of the cheap stuff I drank back in college. In reality, it's all pretty close in taste. Is that first drink important? Maybe.

But after that the only reason to go top shelf is to impress a lady-friend. Otherwise, just consider the difference in price.

Even if you think the above is total crap or you're a vodka snob, please, don't waste expensive stuff in a mixer. If you do you're an asshole.

In case you're wondering, the winner of the test was the brand I didn't expect: Karkov.

Seriously.

It's a little subtle. It doesn't have a bite in the mouth and the belly fire isn't really anything noticeable. It's really not a bad tasting vodka (I thought it was comparable to the top shelf versions) and it's a 3rd of the price.

4 - This does, though, lead into an observation I'm sure you've had if you're 25+.



Getting shitty is a bitch.

Two weeks ago we had a happy hour with some coworkers and I ordered a Johnny Walker Black on rocks. Having spent the past two months in The Cities I expected one shot in a small glass with a $9 tag. It ended up being about five shots in a mug and it ran me $3.50.

First thought is how awesome pubs in Wisconsin are. Second thought is, "OH SWEET MOTHER OF FUCK THIS NIGHT WON'T END WELL".

And it didn't. In college, that's a Thursday. You go out, stay up until god knows when, go to class the next day and do it all over again the following two nights.

But the Saturday after the JW Black experience a couple weeks ago? I was wrecked. I didn't leave my apartment or change clothes all weekend. I moved from the bed to the couch to the bed in some sick, horrific cycle. I treated bright lights and solid food like I was a damn vampire. I just wanted to sleep, pound the pain-killers and skim milk.

Last week I was went to the Cities and had a chat with a friend of mine, Nichole. And we talked about it. College. Going out. How different it is only a few short years later. It's easy to tie one on when you're 22. If you want to do the same when you're 28 you can forget that shit.

One bad night and you're ruined.

5 - A friend of mine with an iPhone alerted me to a website and an app called alice.com. It's awesome.

The concept is simple. You log on and select all the products you use at home. Cleaners, detergent, paper towels, candles, coffee, razors, shampoo, softsoap, etc. Alice keeps track of what you have and don't have and lets you know when you're running low. It also lets you know when there's coupons available on already low prices. When you want to re-stock you click a button or two, and with free shipping they send what you want to your door.

Very convenient. With the free iPhone app it's even easier. I've already made one order.

Check it out.

6 - OGTs



Yesterday I was talking with a friend about Lindsey Vonn and I said I thought she was gorgeous. 'Liza said she was cute, not gorgeous. I said Vonn gets a bump because she's a world class athlete. Athletic ability, sense of humor, knowledge of sports. Total weaknesses for me.

Take Jessica Chobot. Great looking girl, no Miranda Kerr. But she's funny, sort of outrageous and a total geek. Gives her a huge bump in hotness.

7 - Google Buzz came out this week. I've used it a couple times. I just installed it on the iPhone. Seems cool. My one concern is privacy. I don't know yet how to control who's seeing what.

I'll give a full review in a couple days.

Lady Gaga, the iPad, more Miranda Kerr and Tim Tebow

1 - I vividly remember when I was 18 years old, driving home from football practice one evening, listening to a newish radio station, hearing Oleander - "Why I'm Here" and thinking to myself that I'd never get to the point where I wasn't familiar with popular music. I thought of my folks, people who probably couldn't name you five current Top 40 songs. Couldn't give you a popular current rock band. Back in 1999, I just couldn't envision myself getting to that point. I thought, "How could I not know who these musicians are? I listen to the radio, I watch MTV. I watch TV shows and movies with these artists. I go to concerts. My friends like most the tunes I like. It won't be possible".

Fast forward a decade.

I just checked the Billboard Top 100. Songs I recognize:

Orianthi - According to You
Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me
Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
Michael Buble - Haven't Met You Yet (just got sent the link five minutes ago)
Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA

That's it. Six songs. Two of which I heard only because I was sent youtube links. Not only that, but I can honestly say I've never heard of the majority of these people.

Maybe once a month I'll flip to an FM station and take a quick listen to what's new. Then I turn it off. I just don't understand how some of this shit gets played. Who the hell can listen to anything by 'Lil Wayne? I remember him as the retarded one in the Hot Boyz group ten years ago. Now he's the biggest name in hip hop? How did this freak show suddenly become the Madonna of her generation? The Jonas Bros, a band I can honestly say I've never listened to, not once, is causing some debate as to whether or not they're better than The Beatles. Seriously. Run that search in Google and you get 200,000,000 hits.

It's gotten to the point where new music by bands I liked in college amount to the only current stuff I can tolerate. Maybe twice a year some new artist slips through the cracks.

But I can't listen to this shit. I mean, my god.

1a - Something I could listen to?

How about this:



That is, somehow, Lady Gaga.

I don't get it. That's music from an artist I could dig.

2 - New technique to pass along to my fellow developers and designers. You've all gotten requests from clients that make you roll your eyes, swear to yourself, punch babies, etc. Maybe it's something that would look awful. Or it's a completely useless or superfluous component. Maybe it's just a request you don't want to do, for any reason.

If that's the case, bust out the word, "Unprofessional". No client likes hearing that what they're asking for is going to make their site look amateur.

For example. this week I got a request from a client. They wanted a Flash component I built to be modified. It would have required a couple hours of development time I didn't have. I also loved the current version of what I created and didn't want it messed with. I responded in an email. I told them they could certainly have that done. I did add this, though, "But, personally, I don't think the effect is as professional. That's just my opinion as a developer that has made [the component] both ways."

He got back to me five minutes later. "Let's stick with the original".

That's it. That's all it takes. I've used this three times and it's never failed me. Are there going to be clients who think they know better and stubbornly refuse to budge? Sure. But if you plant some seed of doubt in their heads with regards to how their site is going to be perceived, most will trust your opinion as a professional.

3 - I didn't write a post-Viking game blog. I wanted to. I had a lot to get down.

Unfortunately, I've got a large amount of friends in The Cities and I'm fairly certain that I would be excommunicated from the group in a hurry if they knew what I wanted to say.

3b - I will say this, though. That game is exactly why you watch sports. I'm a fan of neither the Vikings or the Saints. But I had an obvious rooting interest and I couldn't look away. At the end of the game my heart was racing a mile a minute. I was yelling at the TV. I was in the lowest depths of depression one minute and on top of the motherfucking world the next.

So I ask you this: what else compares? Can I get a list? I'm totally serious. I feel as if people that don't care about sports are missing out on this essential part of being alive.

3c - Example. I thought this was just one of the coolest videos I've seen in a long time.

I know just how they felt. I remember being at the final Brewer game of the regular season, the one in which they clinched a playoff birth. People were yelling, jumping up and down, hugging total strangers. It was euphoric.

4 - So the iPad came out. In the end, it's exactly what I expected.

I've got six computers, including four laptops. I've also got an iPod Touch and an iPhone. Do I need another mobile device? No, absolutely not. Will I be picking an iPad up? Ya, probably.

I went back and forth on it. It's really just a large iPod Touch.

That said, there's been times when I've been at home and wished I had a bigger version of my iPhone. When I'm in the kitchen and I'm cooking something up and I'm constantly reading directions, texting and listening to music on the same device. I think it would be rather awesome to have a dock on my counter, be able to watch a flick or listen to tunes and read recipes on a nice, big screen.

Now, can a laptop do that for me? Of course. Again, is this thing a need? Nope.

4b - But this gets me to what I think will be the selling point: the App Store.

The iPad has been a popular target since it was unveiled last week, namely from people who want to compare it to tablet PCs and Netbooks. They talk about the hardware and tech specs. No USB. No Flash. iPhone OS. No multitasking.

OK. Fair point.

But my response to those criticisms would be this: does your Netbook or tablet have the app store? The thing that makes the iPhone so remarkable? I saw Jobs demo the MLB app. Not gonna lie, I was borderline aroused.

The possibilities are sort of endless. Once developers start building iPad native apps you're going to see some amazing things.

4c - It was Mark Cuban that hit home why this thing will succeed.

4d - I had a conversation with a friend regarding these possibilities. I can see, sometime in the next decade, all print media going the way of the dodo. As someone who loves a good book to nuzzle up to, she was horrified by the notion.

But think of the money saved if publishers adopted reader devices like the Kindle or iPad as their primary means of distribution? Think of the overhead that's saved. Think of prices you could see if Publishers don't have to worry about printing. New York Times best sellers are already going for $9.99 on the Kindle. Could they go lower?

It's not just books, too. The newspaper industry is already toast. It won't be too long before they're entirely digital. But magazines, too. Digital versions of magazines, subsidized by advertisers. Want to read an article? Click an ad first.

I could see the same thing happening with digital libraries. Imagine that you could rent a novel. You pay something like $0.99 for say for a week or two weeks or a weekend. Whatever. You download this novel but before every chapter you see a short 30 second advertisement for Toyota. Or NBC's new TV series. Or fucking viagra. Who knows.

Wouldn't you prefer that to laying $30 down on the next novel by your favorite author? Or having to wait four weeks because the book you want is checked out?

The mind wanders...

5 - If you're one of my readers who does so from work, be careful. This could have been you.

6 - In another music related item, we are the world is getting remade. Not sure I know how I feel about that.

I believe the money raised is going to Haiti. That's good. What's bad is 90% of those singing this song.

I took a look at the list of people performing. I'm not seeing a Bob Dylan or Michael Jackson in there. Who the hell is Justin Bieber and what is he doing singing a classic I grew up to?

6b - What is Drago's wife doing singing in this thing? Were they that desperate to get a Russian in We Are the World?

7 - The Tim Tebow ad thing. Wow.

OK, this is sort of one where it's tough for me to take my stand without coming off like a hypocrite. Truth be told, I don't even know what my stance is anymore.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're either living in a cave or.... actually, that's it. You must be living in a cave. The controversy caused by this situation is amazing and I don't know how you avoid it.

But I'll give the ten cents on a dime version anyway.

Tim Tebow is the biggest name in college athletics. He won the Heisman as a sophomore. He won two national championships. He's a good looking, seemingly All-American quarterback. He's on the verge of starting his professional career, one that is largely in doubt because while he's a winner and has off the charts intangibles, he also can't throw the damn ball. I love the quote from the new GM of the Cleveland Browns, "Everything besides actually playing the position, he's got it all". That was supposed to be a compliment. I'm reminded of something about damning with faint praise....

Anyway, that's Tim Tebow the athlete. What has people going bat-shit crazy is Tim Tebow, the spokesman.

You see, Timmy is also the newly crowned prince of the (far) right-wing. He's incredibly religious. He's done work as a missionary. He's also celibate. That's all fine and good in the eyes of many (though the missionary thing bothers the fuck out of me). But it's when you go on TV during the Super Bowl and shill a Pro-Life stance to hundreds of millions of people around the globe that things, um, turn.

Tim's mom gave birth to him in a 3rd world. There were complications with the pregnancy and doctors recommended an abortion. She didn't have one. Instead she got drugged up, had the kid and twenty years later there's a Heisman trophy winner in the family.

That's essentially what the ad is going to say. It's Tim and his mom giving the story of his birth and the result. The message is this, "Look what happens when you chose life! You could one day have a superstar in the family". Fuck what the doctor says. Fuck science. Fuck circumstances. Just pop that little future Hall of Famer from your uterus. Don't worry about it. Everything will be fine.

I have a problem with his 'work' in 3rd world countries. I have a problem with his belief that I'm going to hell. That if you don't practice Christianity that you're going to burn in hell. I have problem with the notion that women don't deserve to have control of what they do with their bodies. I have a problem with his belief that homosexuality is an abomination. I have a problem with his literal interpretations of a book that is largely fiction.

I certainly have a problem with the group that's sponsoring this advertisement. Focus on the Family ponied up $2.5 million for the right to air this message. Their founder, James Dobson, is a radical, world class asshole of dangerous influence. He believes in child abuse. Animal abuse. That gays will destroy the world. He's a hateful bigot and he's wasting air, right now. And this is who the Tebows are aligning with.

Now...the hypocrite thing...

The thing is, this advertisement...I don't know if I can say it shouldn't be shown. Or that Tebow shouldn't do this if he believes in what he's saying. Or that the Tebows shouldn't use their fame and influence in this manner. Or that CBS shouldn't have taken this hateful group's money. I just don't know.

My first inclination is to say that this whole thing is a travesty and shameful. Upon further reflection, I consider the music I listen to. The shows I watch. If you've read this blog you obviously know about my love for The West Wing. Well, in the very first episode the President absolutely bitch-slaps leaders from the Religious Right. Throughout the show they portray the far Right as radical nutjobs. This was a show on NBC prime-time, and they're constantly throwing jabs at a large portion of the country. It led to the monicker, "The Left Wing".

Or what about Penn and Teller: Bullshit? I absolutely love it and the two stars. But on their show they've taken a hammer to creationism, the Bible, family values, signs from heaven, abstinence, the apocalypse and the motherfucking Vatican.

My point is that it's not as if the Left hasn't used the television medium to influence and promote their agenda, too. In the end it's simply a matter of if you don't like what you're seeing, turn the channel. I hate to say it, but that's where I'm coming down on the matter.

7b - That said, there is some awesome reading on this subject.

Jeff Pearlman took an eye-opening stance that has gotten an incredible response, from both sides. Have you ever read something from a professional and gone, "Holy shit. That's balls". This was one of those times for me. Jeff's stance largely reflected mine. But I'm not an author and I don't have Sports Illustrated helping to pay my bills.

Tim Keown of ESPN wrote more rational and politically correct presented op-ed piece. It gives you some background on Focus on the Family (fuckers).

The Slate has this one covered, too. Again, good reading.

7c - By the way, if you think I'm overestimating his influence, I think you're a little naive. You have people that don't give two shits about Football all but making him their messiah. I checked out a Facebook group, one of a shit-load. 32,000 members.

Here was a brief copy and paste of the recent wall msgs:

Zachary Aaron Moore Tim, I am a Tennessee Vols fan but I am a HUGE fan of yours! It doesn't matter what team you play for I root for you, and anyone else who has character and faith like you. God Bless you brother and keep fighting for the faith! --Don't let anyone tell you not to air your commercial! GO FOR IT! ...Psalm 37:4

Donna Hayes Bramell Thank you for letting God work through you. Thank you for letting him use you and keep up the good fight!!

Spencer Brown I live in the West and have never been a Gator fan but I have a TON of respect and admiration for Tim Tebow for his courage in standing up for the truth. Thank you Tim! The world is a better place because of you.

Cindy Deroy signed the position. if we don't stand for the innocent babies who will.

Hayden Maxey heyy tebow you are my favorite quarterback, dont listen to all the ppl that all talk about you because you are a great player and you cant measure the size of someones heart, keep God first and he will pave the way for you.

Janice Shiver Terrell Tim, praise the Lord for your testimony. Keep it up and stay strong. So thankful for your proclaiming your faith. Gator '66

Redenvelopeday Campaign Tim, what a model of character and strength you are! You have so many reasons not to promote these commercials - yet you do for the unborn! God Bless you and we are all behind you!

Toni Mihalik-Esposito Can't wait for next Sunday. Thank you for being such a good role model. I teach the "Choose Life" program in the Catholic Schools and I love to share your story with them. God Bless

Bruce Dougherty In 1985, Tim Tebow’s mother Pam was advised to abort her child. She decided against it, citing her Christian faith as a source of hope that her son, Tim, would be OK. Thank you, Mrs. Tebow, and thank God!

Shirley Harbaugh Shelite Tim--Just want to encourage you to give your pro-life message! God Bless you!

Arlen Del Pino Hill God bless Tebow & his family for standing up for what they believe in, the truth, and being a light in this world!!!

As for trying to understand or comprehend the ones against his
Superbowl ad....YET they are ok with alcohol ads, sexual innuendo ads
that affect the youth of today, cigarette smoking ads (even though it
KILL...S you),...etc....(we could go on & on)

Lets just reflect on what he Lord tells us...

Ephesians 4:18 (NIV)

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of
God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of
their hearts.

Ted Fiorito Tim - I hope you always remain sober minded and focused on the gifts the Lord has blessed you with. Whether in the NFL or the plains of Africa I trust you will do your best as a Servant/Leader.

8 - I'm probably not looking too good in the eyes of my Christian pals at the moment. I totally understand. But I would like them to know I don't judge 'em. I never have. If you believe in a higher power, if you have that kind of faith, I have nothing but respect for you. I think it's admirable, always have. I've dated a lot of girls who spend their Sundays in a church. My best friends in college were practicing Christians. I don't start debates with them or think they're silly. I'm tolerant of their beliefs. I hope they're tolerant of mine. Do I believe in a woman's right to choose? Sure. Equal rights for all humans? Absolutely. Am I going to ever press those views or values on anyone? Not a chance. My views on religion and social policy are my own. I can understand the irony, this being a platform where I'm expressing my views. That's fine. But I'm not forcing anyone to read this. I'm not engaging someone on the street or even starting a conversation in my living room. I'm just writing a blog.

Like the Tebow ad, you can simply chose not to view it.

I try to talk to you, but words all come out wrong

1 - I don't have many rules of life but the ones I do live by I consider important: always say "thank you" whenever you can, always over-tip, forget top-shelf booze unless it's for a martini, (real, not that fruity shit), gimlet or you're drinking it on the rocks, never leave empty ice-cube trays in the freezer, if you kill the pot of coffee make another.

Pretty basic.

But there's another that I want to share that some may not have considered: the more the more hungover you may be when you go to work, the better you had fucking look when you get there.

Unless you have to interact with others, it may be possible to make it through the morning without others realizing you tied one on the night before. But for fuck's sake man, if you smell like a mix of gin and shame then don't be wearing old jeans and t-shirt! Hell, you're probably not even safe wearing khakis and a polo.

Suit-up my friend. Remember to shave. Keep the eye-drops at arm's length at all times. It doesn't hurt to use a little aftershave. Mouth wash is an obvious necessity.

To be honest, it's probably a solid idea to keep the above items in a drawer at your desk in case of emergencies.

Don't worry about going to the coffee maker too many times if it means risking having to interact with someone. The coffee is worth the risk. But plop the headphones on at your desk and close the door or put a chair in front of your cube. Look busy, even if you're just keeping your head down while you curse the girl who made you do shots the night before. That crazy bitch.

But again, the wardrobe is the key. You gotta go GQ. It's a rule.

1b - If you think you can get away with it, a bloody mary over lunch isn't the worst idea in the world.

2 - Last week Lane Kiffin left his job as head football coach at the University of Tennessee to take over as head coach at USC. It was a good move professionally. HC at USC is one of the top positions in college sports, and might be the best in college football.

What made this an eyebrow raiser was that Kiffin had only been at Tennessee for a year and him leaving at such a crucial time left many pissed. In the South and in the SEC conference they take their football seriously. The most important thing to a lot of people is their faith, family and football, and not necessarily in that order.

So the reaction to Kiffin leaving hasn't been incredibly surprising. He's received threats, he needed a police escort out of town, they're trying to rename a sewage plant after him in Knoxville. The media is absolutely killing the guy. On Youtube there's footage of the press-room at Tennessee ten minutes before Kiffin was set to announce his resignation (something that had been leaked hours earlier). The media in the room, reporters, TV news directors, radio personalities...they all detested Kiffin and all looked really fucking mad. These are adults, here. Professionals. And here they're caught on tape calling Kiffin a snake. It's a must watch.

But, and I think this is what's important to remember here: every single one of them, you and I would have done the same thing if you were in Kiffin's position.

He's from southern California. USC was his dream job. He had already been an assistant there. They were also offering more money, obviously.

At the end of the day you have look out for #1 and your family. After all, and this is important, if you start to think there's loyalty in the real world of business – forget it. Give up that notion. If it ever makes financial sense to your employer to let you go, they'll do it in a heartbeat. If they can find someone to do your job cheaper, your gone. If they come upon a better, more qualified person, you're gone. Had Pete Carroll or Urban Meyer expressed interest in Tennessee while Kiffin was still around, he would have been fired on the spot.

So when you get an opportunity to work for a better company in a better situation, don't hesitate to make a change. Your boss, if they're reasonable, will understand. They may not be thrilled but they can understand when someone has to move on because of an offer that couldn't be turned down.

Reasonable people can take a step back and realize that what Kiffin did was the right thing. But then again, there aren't a lot of rational and reasonable people in the South when it comes to football.

Or anything, really.

3 - I haven't been doing a lot of blogging lately. For a while there I was cranking a new one out every three days or so. But since the year rolled over it's not that I haven't had things to say, it's more that I just didn't have a lot of time or energy. My workload has picked up significantly and when I get home I really don't have a lot of interest in sitting in front of a computer.

But I consider writing important. I've explained why on here before. So in the future I'm going to try and avoid hiatuses like the last three weeks. Even if the blog is only a couple paragraphs, I'm going to try and get back to writing often.

4 - Speaking of resolutions, here was mine for the New Year: spend less, save more.

The differences between my brother and I are many, but this is one where I wish I was more like him. He doesn't blow money on shit. He doesn't own a ton, but he's always going to have money in the bank. Myself? I can't keep the check card out of my pocket.

I'm a single guy with disposable income. Typically, if I like something I'm going to buy it. My kitchen is decked out to the nine's. When I cook I like to make nice meals. I love my home theatre set-up (though I could stand to have a bigger TV now). I own three computers. I think I have a pretty decent wardrobe. My golf clubs are awesome.

So yea, I have my toys. I like living well, I like the finer things in life. I like being able to golf six days a week if I want to, and last summer I basically did. And it was awesome.

But my savings account fucking hates me. Hates me.

So that's what my hope is for '10. Watch the spending. Don't go out as much. Don't buy New York strips when I'm in the mood for a great meal. Stop with the Johnny Walker Black and Bombay Sapphire. I don't watch enough TV to make DirecTV worth it and Netflix has gone unused.

I don't think I can give up the golf though. No sir.

4b - The new year hasn't started off well in this regard. Two road trips to the Cities, another to Wausau. Tomorrow night I've got center court-side seats to see the Timberwolves play Chris Paul and the Hornets.

I can't get out of my own way.

5 - Speaking of golf, another activity best done by yourself is one I would love to try again: surfing.

I love surf documentaries. If you want a good one, start with Of Wind & Waves - The Life and Times of Woody Brown. It'll inspire you. Seriously.

But I watched another one a couple nights ago and it immediately goes up there on my list of favorite films of any genre. It's called Riding Giants, and it's awesome, especially on Blu-Ray.



I don't know if it's on Netflix or at your local rental place, but it could be. It came out in 2006 and was fairly popular.

Here's a jaw-dropping clip for you:



Surfing and the ocean are the reasons why I feel like I'm wasting my life up here for six months out of the year. It's why, while I loved Stout and the people I met there, I regret not going to school on the West Coast. I wish I could go back in time and tell the 18 year old me, "Hey asshole. Would you rather walk to the bars in -20 degree temperatures or spend your evenings in the Pacific?".

5b - I think this is where my uncles failed me. Or why I missed out on having an older brother or cousin. I think I should have been sat down and told that there isn't some rule stating that I have to go to school in Wisconsin or Minnesota or Illinois.

I wouldn't expect my parents to do this, but I think someone else of their age could have clued me in.

So add that to the resolutions list. I've got a shit-ton of little cousins and this year I'm giving college advice their parents will hate.

6 - As is probably evident, I go through spells where I listen to a select group of tunes until I'm basically sick of 'em. One playlist or album can last me a while, though.

This last week it's been the [b]Monster Ballads - Ultimate Edition[/b] and I'm hear to tell ya...it's so......fucking..............awesome.

I challenge anyone listening at their desk to not bust out an air-mic when Sebastian Bach belts out "I LOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEEE YOOOOOUUUUUU!!!!" or Kip Winger let's it rip on Miles Away.

6b - On a related note, the 80s gets a bad rap for their music. I love the hair-metal that ceased to exist once Grunge came around. You had the best real punk music. Industrial metal was created. New Wave sort of sucked but it certainly influenced a lot of great music today. Then you had the pop stars like MJ and Madonna.

If you've made it this far I'll give you credit and some tunes. I did a (very) quick browse of my iTunes collection and grabbed 17 good 80s tunes. These probably aren't my favorites, but there's variety.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jzzjjtijujl

Don't say I never gave you anything. Enjoy.

7 - OGT's

I could go in a number of directions. There are really two big ones on my mind. I might go with both or just one. I don't know it's starting to get late.

Alright, the first...

It absolutely blows my mind when I consider the difference in the sexes when it comes to judging a friend's romantic interest. It doesn't matter how they're connected, either. We could be talking someone's spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, casual hookup, someone they're seeing or even just a crush.

When a guy lets one of his boys in on who he's interested in or who he's seeing or who his girlfriend is, I'll tell you the one thought that doesn't enter their head: "What the fuck? What does he see in her?".

No. It doesn't. Why? Because we as men assume that there's something about that girl that makes our buddy happy. It's usually not even related to looks, though yea, it doesn't hurt if she's hot. No, we know there could be any number of reasons why our boy is into a girl. Just a few:

• maybe she's into sports
• or she's got a great sense of humor
• or she's got an incredible personality
• or she's just really fun to be around
• she's sweet
• she's independent
• she's ridiculous in bed
• she's funny

Who the hell knows. Maybe she's none of those things, maybe she's all of them. But we as guys understand that no matter what it is, there's something and it was important enough to make our boy fall for her.

I've had friends in the past that have dated girls that, on the outside looking in, seem to be a little off, a little wrong. It's something I might talk about with my other friends. But the conversation inevitably comes around to, "Yea, but [insert name here] is all about her so there's got to be something great about her, and you know, whatever makes him happy".

That's why, when we find out that he's interested in this girl or he's going to move in with her or he's gonna ask her to marry him, there's only one response we can reasonably give: "Hey man, that's awesome".

You know what? It's not even restricted to our boys. All of us have girls for friends and there's a good chance they've dated or married guys that makes us a little confused. But, it doesn't matter. Unless they're an abusive fuck, there's really not much reason for us to speak up. Again, we automatically assume there's something about the guy that our girls find attractive. Maybe he's stable, handsome, intelligent, thoughtful, caring or hung like a horse. We assume there's something or she wouldn't be interested.

Woman, on the other-hand, are complete opposites. If one of their girlfriends is into a guy there's a great chance they won't understand what's so great about him and won't understand what their friend could possibly see in him. It doesn't matter if they can even spot a quality or two that makes him datable. There's always a "but". "But he stocks shelves at Wal-Mart", "But he wears a gold necklace", "But he's got no hair".

It's bad enough between girlfriends. Where it's ridiculously evident, though, is when a girl has a guy as a friend. Heaven-forbid he's into someone, the opinions start flying.

"I don't like her"
"I don't know what you see in her"
"She's so not pretty"
"She's a complete headcase"
"You could easily do better"
"She'll cheat on you, you know that right?"
"She's only dating you because she's a greedy bitch"
"She's not a real blond, I just wanted to tell you"

Guys have heard it all, and it always comes from our female friends. I asked a couple friends about it recently. They'll never hear the end of it when they're into someone and their girl friends don't approve. I talked about it with my brother last night. He's been dating a girl for a while and he's got a female friend who won't shut the fuck up about how terrible she is.

You know what? Incredibly, we don't like hearing that shit. Amazing, I know.

Women don't seem to understand what guys learned long ago. There's a "but" for us too. "But she makes me happy". Fucking deal with it.

8 - OGT's (the deuce)

Alright, I'll go into the 2nd, and it'll be a helluva lot shorter. Just more of a personal observation and I don't know if it carries over with other guys.

Find me a random girl, or someone I just met that night, and flirting is a breeze. It doesn't take any effort, at all. A few questions, a little conversation, a joke or two, some chiding, some eye contact. Mix with alcohol and dancing and it's on. No sweat.

Now, if we're talking someone I know? Had conversations and have hung out with before? If it's someone I've got a legit thing for? I'm a goddamn train-wreck. Forget flirting. That shit is virtually impossible. By the time I've gotten to know her that well I've all but dismissed the possibility that she could be into me and making a move would be an awkward waste of time. Even if she's holding up a sign that says, "YES, I ACTUALLY LIKE YOU JACKASS", I'll assume a misprint. Just the idea of nutting up and making a move is such a ridiculously foreign concept that it barely deserves consideration.

In theory it's so backwards-ass that I don't even know how I got here. I just know the way it is.

So. Where does that leave a pussy like myself? I wait to get hit in the head.

At this point in my life I've got enough experiences to look back on and see the parallels. When it comes to the good girls, the really down chicks that I'm glad to have known and been apart of their lives, it started with initiative on their end and disbelief on mine. I can look back and see signs that I should have made moves long before things got started between us, and when it finally happened it was more because of something they did as opposed to something I did.

That doesn't exactly leave me with a feeling of optimism given recent events.

8b - Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

8c - New years resolution #3: Nut the fuck up.

9 - Alright, enough with the obligatory girl thoughts. Let's move onto subjects more near and dear to the heart of the blokes that are probably reading this: shitting, jerking off and sports.

My friends, I have your holy grail: the Deadspin weekly mailbag.

A few years ago, at Footlocker.com, my dude-bros and I would anxiously await Bill Simmons' weekly column, usually on a Friday, and if we were lucky it'd be a massive mailbag. He'd take questions about sports and pop culture and give answers. Most of them were pretty damn funny. The best part was they were usually long and a great way to waste 45 minutes of Footlocker's cash.

Guys, I'm telling you he was AAA.

I won't say much but read Deadspin's mailbags. They speak for themselves. I'll even throw you a bone with a handful of links:

http://deadspin.com/5406771/nicotine-valium-vicodin-marijuana-ectasy-and-alcohol--c+c+c+c+cocaine
http://deadspin.com/5416365/mailbag-taco-night
http://deadspin.com/5421803/the-biggest-dirtiest-poopiest-mailbag-yet
http://deadspin.com/5427253/mailbag-getting-old-blows
http://deadspin.com/5436578/the-mailbag-demands-you-name-the-brewer-baby
http://deadspin.com/5446600/go-for-the-thighs--your-open-mailbag-tuesday

Yesterday I spent a good half-hour reading about the different ways to, uh, proofread your work. After a while I was attempting to suppress so many tear inducing laughs I almost passed out. I'm dead serious.

10 - Hey, you made it. Your reward is Miranda Kerr.



I like to think I was out in front on this one. She's been the #1 goddess in my eyes for a good long while. People have been going nuts for Marrissa Miller or Adriana Lima or that other Brazilian chick for years, but I've known what's up.

Askmen.com released their Top 100 Women of 2010, and look who's #10.

But that's not why she's getting a mention here.

Guys......my god.

A New Years entry, plus a good movie with a shitty ending

1 - Since late last night / early this morning, I've been meaning to put some thoughts into a New Years blog. I had some things I wanted to touch on, and I still do, but those thoughts have been hijacked by the movie I watched tonight.

An hour ago I finished the The Time Traveler's Wife, I still don't know what to think of it and that's bugging the shit out of me.

From Wiki:

Based on the premise of The Time Traveler's Wife, a Chicago librarian (Bana) has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel randomly. Though he often disappears from her life for long periods of time, he tries to build a romantic relationship with Clare Abshire, an artist (McAdams).

Henry, the librarian, meets his future wife Clare when she is only six years old. Chronologically, however, he meets her for the first time when Clare is an adult but Henry is only twenty-eight. At that point Clare has known Henry all of her adult life.


When it was over I jumped onto Rotten Tomatoes to see what the consensus was (critics didn't like it). I read a few reviews from the big names and publications. They seemed to think the romantic leads, played by Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, lacked chemistry and spark. They thought that the romance never really materialized for the viewer and it didn't allow people to truly care for the characters.

Whatever, that wasn't really the issue I have with TTTW. For the majority of the time I actually liked the flick. The major issue I have is how completely fucking illogical the characters act in key moments and it has to do with the idea of time travel.

After I read the reviews I googled the title and 'Logic'. I figured at least someone must have taken exception with what I thought were instances where nothing the characters did made sense.

Nope. Sure, there are reviews and blogs that poke holes into the fundamental principals of time travel in this movie, but that was mostly of the scientific variety. I'm thinking along the lines of basic human behavior.

I don't think I'm gonna give away anything Earth shattering in the following paragraphs, but...

**STOP NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT THE MOVIE SPOILED**

So you've got this girl who's known a time traveler nearly her whole life. She falls in love, and though he keeps jumping around in and out of her life, they try and make it work.

That's the dumbed down version and for the most part I liked the movie. Hell, for a while I thought I was going to be able to say TTTW was one of the best flicks I'd seen this year.

Unfortunately, the last 15 minutes completely rob the viewer (and any logical thinker) of what could have been a good film.

First, Henry finds out from his daughter (also a time traveler but one that can control where she travels to) that he's gonna die when she's five.

Then, a short while later, Henry finds out the exact time and date he dies and that it's from a gunshot wound. Not only that, but there's a strong indication that he's going to be extremely cold when he's shot.

Now, at this point, don't you think a logical move would be to prepare for this occasion? Maybe use his daughter to warn everyone of the circumstances surrounding his untimely death?

I'll simply say that Henry doesn't. When the date does come he lets his friend and wife in on what he knows and rather than saying, "Hey, there's a good chance I'm gonna get shot in the next hour, so call some paramedics so they're ready to assist". No, he just tells his wife and pal that that it's been nice knowing them.

Then he time travels and finds himself in the middle of the woods, and he's next to a massive fucking deer. Now, were I in his position and knowing that I'm going to get shot today, I think a massive fucking alarm would have gone off in my head. As soon as they showed him and the buck in the same frame my inner-deer hunter thought, "GET DOWN JACKASS!".

Nope. He just stayed there looking at the 12 pointer while a hunter put a bullet through his lung. Bleeding out he travels back to the present time where his wife and family are and he dies in his wife's arms.

The flick ends shortly thereafter.

So. Instead of taking and appreciating the enjoyable flick I'd just finished watching, I've spent the last hour and a half analyzing why the ending completely sucked.

1b- I've never minded (and by "never minded" I mean "thoroughly enjoyed") most chick flicks i've sat down to check out. Romantic comedies, tearjerkers, adaptations of chick-lit, etc…there's a good number of them I like.

I guess you could say TTTW is one of them. Barely.

1c - I'll probably read the book this was adapted from, though. Interesting story and concept and from the sound of it the movie leaves out a ton.

1d - If you're interested in catching an adapatation of chick-lit done right, check out Atonement. Now that was a good flick.

2 - Speaking of the best films of 2009, I give you mine:

5 - Halloween 2
4 - Zombieland
3 - Inglorious Basterds
2 - Star Trek
1 - 500 Days of Summer

Honorable Mention:
Drag me to Hell
The Hurt Locker
He's Just Not That Into You
The Uninvited

I loved Halloween 2. I thought it would be awful but it was the most interesting horror flick I've seen since Silent Hill or High Tension. Zombieland was just fun. Brad Pitt is the reason why I loved Inglorious Basterds. Stole every scene. Star Trek was the perfect blockbuster. 500 Days of Summer was just awesome all around.

3 - Last night was pretty fun. Saw my main dudes for the first time in a couple months and it was like we were all still living in the same town and hanging out regularly. It was like no one had ever quit Eastbay. We drank and fell into the routine of talking about friends, TV, sports, and women like it was natural.

It's easily the best thing about these guys. With other friends that have come and gone the reunions can be awkward. Not so much with my boys from Wausau.

3b - I positively love that when I described one of our mutual friends having "out-kicked his coverage" they both knew exactly what I was talking about and I didn't have to explain it to them.

3c - My only quibble was a couple girls that seemed good natured and fun at the beginning of the night turned into drunken messes of piss and vinegar once the clock rolled around to 2010.

I'm not entirely sure why. I've got a good idea, but it's not 100%. Maybe a topic for another day.

3d - The only good thing that came from us leaving the bar early at the request of our wasted female acquaintances was I didn't stay out late enough to get hammered. I woke up this morning a little wrecked but my memory was solid and I didn't have an epic hangover today.

So cheers to that.

4 - 4:00 am. Been a long day.

Happy New Years, folks. I hope you have a safe and wonderful 2010.

On a lighter note...

DEA Recruits Lil Wayne To Use Up All Drugs In Mexico

After all this time I'm coming home to you

I started writing a lead-in to the death of Jimmy Sullivan. I wanted to tie it into celebrities that have passed away recently. How their deaths fascinate and captivate us. How you hear the news and for the rest of your life you remember where you were when you heard.

It sucked. It didn't sound or read right. It was totally superficial and disingenuous.

I'll just say that I really fucking loved Jimmy Sullivan on the drums. I've been legitimately saddened since I heard he passed away. Afterlife has been going through my head almost non-stop.

There aren't a lot of musicians that can have this effect on me. Two of them were in Avenged Sevenfold and one of them is no longer with us.

I still remember the first time I saw Ax7 live.

It was years ago at Warped. Everyone else was playing 2:00 minute, typical punk tunes. Avenged Sevenfold comes onto a small side-stage and their entire set-list was four songs. It lasted thirty minutes.

They played the best show of the day. Synyster Gates and The Rev blew me away. Zachy and Shadows were incredible.

I think I've seen almost 80 bands in the last ten years and Avenged Sevenfold has consistently put on the best show, never disappointing in any of the three times I've seen 'em. They went from side-stage to main stage to headlining their own tour. But it's not going to be the same without Jimmy.

RIP Rev.

I've got a sickness, it feels like love

1 - Like millions of others out there, I'm wondering whatever happened to the idea of a holiday break.

The days went by too quickly, not a lot was accomplished, not a lot of time was spent doing something I enjoyed, too much time was spent on the road, I endured too many screaming little kids and dogs that made my eyes ache, the weather was total and complete bullshit, etc.

The problem is without a wife and kids of my own, I'm generally without an excuse when I'm asked to travel to see family. It's not that I don't want to see my folks and do the traditional Christmas thing, but one night to me is perfect. Five nights of not sleeping in your own bed, however, is excessive and dangerous.

2 - Packers in the playoffs!

I really wanted it this season, certainly more-so than others. To not make it with 10 wins in a season where Rodgers has done so well, Woodson has been a defensive MVP and Matthews emerged as a super-stud would have been a real let-down.

It looks like we'll see the Cardinals in the playoffs, and I'm totally good with that. Nothing about them scares me. I know they can look really good at times, but they're also prone to putting up a lousy showing.

The Wild Card weekend can't get here quick enough.

3 - Last night was a shit-show and probably the highlight of the break. Ben, Bobby, my aunt, uncle and I went out to celebrate my little sister's 21st. Not gonna lie, she impressed me. That little girl was downing shots and Malibu like it was her job. She almost made it the entire night, too. Then we got home and her big brother had to hold her hair while she yacked into a toilet.

4 - I've been looking at a lot of "Best of the Decade" lists. Movies, athletes, games, etc. Last week I was asked to come up with my top ten favorite albums of the decade.

It's not going to be easy. I started looking tonight but I won't be able to come up with a list until tomorrow.

So far my only locks are Saturate, Breakaway, and God Loves Ugly.

4b - Shut the fuck up on Kelly Clarkson. Breakaway was a pop masterpiece.

:)

4c - God Loves Ugly will be #1 on the list.



It's probably only 2nd to More Betterness! on my list of favorite albums of all-time.

5 - Another one bites the dust.

One of the few competent senior staff members left at SP has decided to take a job in the cities, he told me tonight. The announcement goes out tomorrow.

My hope is this is the straw that breaks the camel's back and management realizes that serious changes need to be made in their business model.

Realistically, I doubt anything comes about and SP will fall further into obscurity.

5b - I'm happy for Chris; I know this is what he's wanted for a while. But he's a good dude and a golfing buddy and one less awesome person I'll know here in town.

5c - I need out.

6 - I LOVE Penn & Teller: Bullshit!



The Tudors and The Wire and Weeds and Californication get the pub, but this is the reason to get premium channels (unless, you know, you can get the show without the need to have Cable or DirectTV...just sayin').

If you haven't seen the show, you're missing out. The two Las Vegas magicians pick a topic and call, well, bullshit on it. I'll let Wikipedia take it from here:

Many episodes aim to debunk pseudoscientific ideas, supernatural beliefs, popular fads and misconceptions, and often from a libertarian point of view, the political philosophy espoused by both Penn and Teller. The show criticizes proponents of what they perceive as nonsense and dishonesty — bullshit — often citing ulterior political or financial motives. The stated aim of the show is to apply critical thinking to misconceptions.

Hilarity ensues.

Some of the episodes are a little touching, many are startling, all are great for a good chuckle.

Seriously, get it to the top of your Netflix que.

7 - New Years plans fell through. It's never been one of my really big holidays but I was looking forward to Chicago until I decided I simply couldn't take Thursday off. Now I'm open to other ideas. The Cities? Wausau? A good time in EC?

Let me know if you've got anything.

A Happy Holidays Entry

1 - Happy Holidays, everyone.

2 - My little sister dominates Christmas every year. She comes up with thoughtful gifts for everyone and when it's time to handout the presents for the family she does an awesome job. No one is more excited to don a Santa hat and pass out gifts than my little sis.

She easily stole the show tonight, too. She made my brother a blanket and she gave me a picture to hang with four pics of the family cats, Boo and Misfit. I love it. I couldn't ask for a better gift.

3 - Speaking of Boo, he ate well tonight.

I had to give him to my folks when I moved, but I'm proud to say I raised him well. When I got him he was only a couple weeks old and the size of a fist. By the time I had to give him over to the parents he was the most social cat you've ever seen in your entire life.

He's like a friendly little dog if dogs didn't typically suck. He loves attention from anyone and everyone. He'll follow you around wherever you go. His favorite room in the house in the kitchen. Hell, he'll fetch.

Before he was even six months old I could let him outside my apartment while I grilled and he wouldn't run away. He'd walk around the courtyard and look in windows and doors while the rest of the cats that others' owned sat there and watched from behind the glass. I'd bring him outside while I read on a picnic table and he'd just stroll around or chill.

One of my neighbors told me once that I was the envy of the complex because of the little guy.

He's now three and playful and awesome as ever. Tonight at the table we had six seats made up at the dinner table. Myself, my folks and my two siblings and one for Boo. He sat there while the rest of us ate. Every once in a while I'd cut up some lobster or steak for the little guy and he'd wolf it down. Then he'd paw at me until I'd give him some more.

He got a good amount of lobster; I'm not really a seafood guy anyway.

4 - Tonight at the dinner table, though, I did feel a good amount of sadness.

Steak and lobster. That's the usual holiday or birthday meal in the King household. There's typically a good amount of scraps left over for the pets and tonight, when I was finishing up, I started putting together what would be left for our dog Bo. Only I quickly realized that Bo wasn't with us anymore.

This was the first Christmas in 15 years that Bo wouldn't be helping out with the leftovers and it hit me like a truck. I'd write more about my feelings on that tonight but nothing seems worthy of his memory.

#5 My Top 10 Christmas Flicks:

10 - Gremlins
Uhh, one of the first movies I remember watching and I love it and all...but...it's a horror flick.

9 - Bad Santa
The fact that there's a holiday movie where the best line is, "You ain't gonna shit right for a week" is a testament to how shallow this list is.

8 - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
"Play ball!"

7 - Love, Actually
There's a damn porn scene in this one. Great flick, but I won't be showing it to the kids one day.

6 - Die Hard
Probably the second best flick on the list, but as a Christmas movie this is as high as I can put it. Yippee-k....

5 - George C. Scott's A Christmas Carol
It only took five movies to get to the first serious holiday flick...

4 - Home Alone
...and then it's fucked up by that kid who yells and sets traps for robbers.

Great flick, though.

My dad has only taken my brother and I to two flicks in our lifetimes. This was one of 'em. The other was Rambo III.

3 - Mickey's Christmas Carol
God damn I loved this 25 minute masterpiece.

2- A Charlie Brown Christmas
Words won't describe the greatness when Chuck and the gang hang around outside the tiny little tree at then end. Hell, even I start singing.

1 - It's a Wonderful Life
I could recite this flick but I still well-up when Mr. Gower realizes George saved lives in the drugstore.

I chuckle when they dance over the pool.

My heart sinks when they vote to save the savings and loan but only if George sticks around.

"I'll love you 'til the day I die."

Donna Reed beaming when the town comes to help George at the end of the flick and his brother toasting to his wonderful life.

The perfect flick.

Clay Matthews III makes me giggle like a little girl

I wasn't a fan when the Packers moved up to get an overachieving DE/LB with average stats and great bloodlines last April. I would have gone elsewhere. I thought Matthews would be great on special teams and average (AJ Hawk-like) on defense.

I'm glad to be wrong. The guy is the 2nd most untouchable player on the Packers and front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year. His motor is other-worldly. He's got stupid closing speed. He's strong as fuck.

Do I have a serious man-crush? Yes. Yes I do.

Alright, I'm glad I got that out of the way.

We now bring you back to your regularly scheduled heterosexual activities.

(almost) 10 Things

1 - Have you ever gotten so drunk that you can't decipher between a memory and a dream? Yea, I know how bad that sounds.

On the drive home from the Cities this morning I thought I remembered something that happened at the bar last night and I thought to myself how awesome it was. But the more I thought about it the less likely it seemed to have occurred. It just seemed so out of place regardless of how drunk everyone was. So now I'm sitting here and I'm wondering if I just dreamt it.

I have no idea.

2 - Easiest sign that I've watched too much TV over the last year: I ate raw beef tenderloin last night.

I had no idea what I was ordering at the restaurant we ate dinner at. But I remember seeing an episode of Top Chef where a contestant won with something called a beef carpaccio. I didn't remember exactly what it was but I don't get the opportunity to try something new every day so I gave it a shot.

What arrived on my plate was an incredibly thin slice of meat, and it was raw. On top of the meet was a mixture of olive-oil, salt, pepper, goat cheese, spinach and arugula. I tried it, and I shouldn't have had another bite. It was like liquified meat and truly disgusting.



That was my dinner.

2b - I told Liza that I was gonna need to do a shot of straight vodka to kill the taste from my mouth. Once we were back to the hotel I did just that.

2c - It occurred to me that something so nasty could be an easy way to drop weight. Come dinner time take a couple bites of beef carpaccio. You won't want to eat anything for the rest of the night.

Appetite destroyed.

3 - Two highlights from last night. One being the thing I think I remember but I'm not 100% sure really happened.

The other was waking up in the middle of the night because some random dude that came home with all of us was snoring like a chainsaw. He was keeping everyone awake. I grabbed my pillow and proceeded to beat the holy hell out of him with it.

The guy didn't even react. He was so stoned-drunk he just kept snoring away. So I grabbed a blanket and pillow and passed out in the bathtub. Left the snoring guy to irritate the rest of the room.

4 - Tough loss tonight. I didn't expect the Packers to win, not for a single moment in the game. Even after they scored the go-ahead TD my first thought was, "Dammit, he should have gone down at the one yard line, there's too much time left".

Sure enough, those two minutes were just enough time for Roethlisberger to go the length of the field, aided by terrible coaching and crummy penalties by the Packers.

4b - Games like this, though, are why I love sports. It's why anyone loves sports. That last minute of football seemed like a motherfucking lifetime for Packer fans. Every second was an eternity. Fans were watching with their hearts in the pits of their stomachs.

Find me something else that brings out this kind of emotion on a regular basis.

5 - Speaking of emotion, 'scared-shitless' is an emotion right?

It's a terrible feeling when you're driving in high-speed four-lane traffic and you can't see out of your windshield. Such was the case this morning on my way out of Minnesota and the Cities. We got a fair amount of snow last night and the city had been out salting the roads. Unbeknownst to me, my windshield wiper fluid was 99% gone. After two minutes on Interstate 94, I knew.

My windshield was absolutely caked. Using the wipers made it worse. I was spitting on my hand and trying to wipe off spots on the windshield so I could see while driving . I wanted to take an exit and get to a gas station but I couldn't read the signs above the roads. I could barely make out the cars in front of me.

I ended up making it to Hudson alight, obviously. But those twenty minutes were hell.

6 - iTunes has a list of your top 25 most played songs. If you don't try and manipulate the playcounts it's usually a good representation of the music you dig.

Mine, with the playcount in parentheses:

1 - Thrice - Come all you weary (135)
2 - Socialburn - Pretend (119)
3 - Something Corporate - Down (118)
4 - The Veronicas - Untouched (116)
5 - Paramore - Pressure (111)
6 - Taylor Swift - Should've said no (110)
7 - Thrice - The Whaler - (110)
8 - The Veronicas - I can't stay away - (108)
9 - Jojo - Let it rain (99)
10 - Fuel - Halos of the sun - (97)
11- Three Days Grace - Pain - (92)
12 - Damone - Overchay with me - (89)
13 - Dustin Kensrue - Please come home - (89)
14 - Paramore - Decoy - (88)
15 - Ne-yo - Because of you - (87)
16 - Paramore - Stop this song - (87)
17 - Avant - Lie about us - (86)
18 - Senses Fail - Can't be saved - (85)
19 - Thrice - red sky (84)
20 - The Veronicas - Leave me alone (81)
21 - Midtown - Your love (80)
22 - Augustana - Stars and boulevards (78)
23 - Socialburn - Utopia (78)
24 - The Wreckers - Tennessee (77)
25 - Ben Jelen - Come on (76)

Some notes...

• Other than Come All You Weary, Red Sky and Pain I don't think any of the other songs would rank in the best songs I've heard in the last three years.

• Should've Said No was the first Taylor Swift song I'd heard, which is probably why it's so high. Overall I think it's maybe her fifth or sixth best song.

• True to form, a strong showing by women on the the list. 10 songs featuring female leads.

• Lie About Us was one of my favorite tunes for a three month stretch a year ago and I nearly wore my headphones out listening to it. Then I just stopped liking it for one reason or another and I don't think I've listened to it five times in the last year.

• Jojo? Really? I love that tune but 99 times? I hope I was playing the song, hit repeat and put down the headphones for two hours.

• Good bets to make the top 25 in the next year:

1 - Orianthi - Bad News
2 - Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
3 - Lupe Fiasco - Hip Hop Saved My Life
4 - Plumb - Damaged
5 - Rise Against - Savior

7 - This blog is the reason my movie and TV watching is behind. I've got DVD rips of The Box, Avatar, Surrogates, Paranormal Activity and seasons of Dexter, HIMYM and Californication on my hard drive. But anything requiring attention is put on the back-burner when I'm writing.

So instead of catching up on shows my pals tell me are amazing, I watch repeats of The West Wing or movies I've already seen. Inglourious Basterds has been a solid choice lately.

7b - Brad Pitt is the most underrated actor in Hollywood.

I know it's reasonable to say that someone like David Strathairn or Paul Giamatti or William Fichtner could get the vote, but can you give me one of their truly memorable roles? Can you think of a role where they truly stole every scene they were in or you bothered to watch a movie numerous times simply because of the role they played?

I give you:

- Interview With a Vampire (vampire)
- Se7en (who doesn't have that final scene ingrained in their heads? who else can you see pulling that off?)
- 12 Monkeys (insane eco-terrorist)
- Meet Joe Black (either his worst performance or one of his best...I don't know. But the guy played Death
- Fight Club (Tyler-f'ing-Durden)
- Snatch (easily my favorite acting performance ever. I'll be watching this flick forever and the major reason is Pitt)
- Snatch (I'm listing it twice. It was that awesome. I feel like I should be watching it right now)
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (probably his best performance ever but I hated the flick)
- Inglourious Basterds (steals every scene. It's amazing)

I loved him in Ocean's 11, Troy, Benjamin Button and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

I know people will always rag on the guy for getting by on his looks, but he's so goddamn good as an actor and will never get the credit he deserves.

7c - Watching Inglourious Basterds right now. Definitely one of the more entertaining movies I've seen this year.

8 - Cutting it short at eight things. G'night folks.