Its early morning, the in-laws are in town (but asleep), and I’ve got a nice Latte in the belly. A few thoughts to the end year…
1) What if the H*%& happened this year? Cavs in the NBA finals, Tribe loses three straight to Boston to lose the World Series (we would have swept Colorado), the Browns win 10 games (count ‘em 10) and miss the play-offs, Lady Boilers don’t cover and I had a HA in June (I’m down 10lbs and feeling great). Here is hoping for a bit of sanity in 2008 (I’m giving that long odds).
2) I like Eric’s question regarding Bhutto. However, and I think I’m like most Americans here in that I’ve got no clue about the political climate in Pakistan or the implications of this event. We are in for a wild ride.
3) I got a MAC and love it. B-bye PC.
4) Wine always tastes better in the Riedel glass. Is that being snooty?
5) A new attitude and approach to my golf game is just around corner. More focus on fun and friends and bit less on the competitive/tournament edge (the amount of effort to get to next level probably isn’t it worth it right now).
6) The Patriots are powerful and I’ve gained a bit of respect for the Giants. They played their hearts out (as it should be). Except for the result (nothing personal here Jay, I just don’t like BB), that was the best game I’ve watched all year.
7) Indy has no viable option after Manning. Frye might be better than Sorgi. I thought I heard the announcers say that Sorgi just signed a contract extension. Did I hear that right? What is the Colts strategy here?
7 brief items to end the year …I like that number, especially on the 1st throw.
Dec 31, 2007
Dec 30, 2007
What snapped me out of my funk?
So I am still sitting here, bitter and enraged. How could this wild, fun season end like this?
And then a NutriSystem commercial comes on.....starring?
A Shirtless Tony Orlando. Wow.
That image will be forever burned in my mind.....
And then a NutriSystem commercial comes on.....starring?
A Shirtless Tony Orlando. Wow.
That image will be forever burned in my mind.....
I can't believe it
What a disgrace. Dungy should be ashamed of himself.
At least f'in try, huh? You don't get $1 off at Payless for every time out you keep with you at the end of the game.
I hope San Diego beats them 55-10 in two weeks. THey deserve to lose and lose big. F you, Dungy.
(and for those of you who want to yell at me and say the Browns controlled their own destiny last week, F you too. I know that. )
Charlie Frye is twice the quarterback Jim Sorgi is. And that tells you how bad Sorgi is.
At least f'in try, huh? You don't get $1 off at Payless for every time out you keep with you at the end of the game.
I hope San Diego beats them 55-10 in two weeks. THey deserve to lose and lose big. F you, Dungy.
(and for those of you who want to yell at me and say the Browns controlled their own destiny last week, F you too. I know that. )
Charlie Frye is twice the quarterback Jim Sorgi is. And that tells you how bad Sorgi is.
Dec 28, 2007
Historical Parellels?
Does anyone else get the sinking feeling that
Benazir Bhutto (2007)
=
Archduke Ferdinand (1914)
?
I'm not surprised that the assassination of Bhutto occurred - I'm sure the ruling Pakistani government hated her - but I am surprised that the government woul dhave allowed it to happen, given her massive popularity. They'd have to know that her death would trigger massive demonstrations and violence.
Bhutto has got to have the biggest testicles of any world politician - and she's not even a man. She lived here in the US for 8 years, ripped the current Pakistani government, and then went back to lead the opposition party. I'm sure assassinations were part of any conversation that happened before she made the deicsion to go back. So - here is a woman that can make a difference in her country, and is fully aware that if she goes back, she probably will die - and she decides to go anyway. Wow. What courage.
I remember when she first got elected in 1988 as Prime Minister of Pakistan - and it was hailed as a great leap forward for that part of the world to have a female leader. And now - she was killed. It may have been from Al-Qaida.
I don't know what is next, but it won't be pretty.
Benazir Bhutto (2007)
=
Archduke Ferdinand (1914)
?
I'm not surprised that the assassination of Bhutto occurred - I'm sure the ruling Pakistani government hated her - but I am surprised that the government woul dhave allowed it to happen, given her massive popularity. They'd have to know that her death would trigger massive demonstrations and violence.
Bhutto has got to have the biggest testicles of any world politician - and she's not even a man. She lived here in the US for 8 years, ripped the current Pakistani government, and then went back to lead the opposition party. I'm sure assassinations were part of any conversation that happened before she made the deicsion to go back. So - here is a woman that can make a difference in her country, and is fully aware that if she goes back, she probably will die - and she decides to go anyway. Wow. What courage.
I remember when she first got elected in 1988 as Prime Minister of Pakistan - and it was hailed as a great leap forward for that part of the world to have a female leader. And now - she was killed. It may have been from Al-Qaida.
I don't know what is next, but it won't be pretty.
Terps.
Is it just me or are the Terps the lock of the year tonight. And no I'm not talking about the Terps vs Delaware basketball game. And yes I will be taking Delaware. Rather I'm talking about the Terps football bowl game against Oregon St.
Dec 22, 2007
Tomorrow's game
Well, I haven't blogged much about the Browns on here -since I've been talking a lot about them on the phone. I got tickets to the game down here in Cincinnati tomorrow - and will be seeing a chance for the Browns to clinch a playoff spot with a win against the Bengals.
Note 1: People talk about how confusing the NFC race is - but may I remind you: how many teams in the NFC have clinched? Four. In the AFC? Three. Pittsubrgh, Jacksonville, Tennessee, nor Cleveland have clinched yet. And, with a win, Cleveland - who would be tied with Pittsburgh but lose a tiebreaker with them - will clinch, but the Steelers still may not have a spot yet after tomorrow.
Note 2: After a 60 degree day here today, the weather for tomorrow: 40 degrees at noon with the temperature continually dropping; winds of 25-40 mph (gusts to 50) are expected. Perfect Phil Dawson weather.
I am scared of tomorrow's game. The Bengals will have revenge on their mind - from week 2, where we apparently derailed their season - and from 2003, where we won down here in week 17 to deny the Bengals a playoff birth. We need to expect an all-out effort from the Bengals - fake plays, gadgets - and defend as such. I think if we get up by 10-14 in the first half, we may be ok - but we can't let them hang around.
I've never seen a playoff clinching game - the most important game I've seen, by far, in person was teh Jan 1, 1995 playoff game vs. the Pats (Belichick vs Parcells)....but never a possible playoff clincher. Let's bring one home.
Note 1: People talk about how confusing the NFC race is - but may I remind you: how many teams in the NFC have clinched? Four. In the AFC? Three. Pittsubrgh, Jacksonville, Tennessee, nor Cleveland have clinched yet. And, with a win, Cleveland - who would be tied with Pittsburgh but lose a tiebreaker with them - will clinch, but the Steelers still may not have a spot yet after tomorrow.
Note 2: After a 60 degree day here today, the weather for tomorrow: 40 degrees at noon with the temperature continually dropping; winds of 25-40 mph (gusts to 50) are expected. Perfect Phil Dawson weather.
I am scared of tomorrow's game. The Bengals will have revenge on their mind - from week 2, where we apparently derailed their season - and from 2003, where we won down here in week 17 to deny the Bengals a playoff birth. We need to expect an all-out effort from the Bengals - fake plays, gadgets - and defend as such. I think if we get up by 10-14 in the first half, we may be ok - but we can't let them hang around.
I've never seen a playoff clinching game - the most important game I've seen, by far, in person was teh Jan 1, 1995 playoff game vs. the Pats (Belichick vs Parcells)....but never a possible playoff clincher. Let's bring one home.
Is this true?
From The Economist: (the Dec 22 issue):
Today poker is the third most watched sport on cable television in the United States, after car racing and American football, trumping even NBA Basketball.
Is this really true? The word "cable" that snuck in there may have some big meaning, but still....this means poker beats Sunday Night baseball in ratings, beats any NCAA Basketball game that ESPN puts out there, and certainly beats any 1st/2nd round coverage of golf events.
Wow. This certainly explains a lot.
Today poker is the third most watched sport on cable television in the United States, after car racing and American football, trumping even NBA Basketball.
Is this really true? The word "cable" that snuck in there may have some big meaning, but still....this means poker beats Sunday Night baseball in ratings, beats any NCAA Basketball game that ESPN puts out there, and certainly beats any 1st/2nd round coverage of golf events.
Wow. This certainly explains a lot.
Dec 21, 2007
Cosmopolitan Eric
Yes, here I am enjoying myself one night in a Bangkok restaurant, with 2 people from Guangzhou, China; one from Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam, and another one from Beijing.
In a Bangkok restaurant, this group was lamenting the problems of the Paris Metro system. Boy - does that qualify me for an automatic ACLU membership and a New York Times subscription? Maybe I should just vote for Hillary and make the transition complete....
PS - See the cylidrical lamp in the background? No, not the cone-shaped ones, the cylinder. What material are they made of?
Dec 15, 2007
A huge dump....
Once again I'm sorry for not posting more. Sort of in a little bit of depressed and sick. My job is going shitty, I can't pick college basketball to save my life, and I can't kick this little cold.
Eric in Bangkok: I can honestly tell you that I sorely miss my brother. I never realized how much we talked. We probably talked twice a day about random shit. Who am I going to call when Cal-Northridge gets hammered by St. Marys?
Danny Haren: I'm really bummed. Probably the top pitcher on the market behind Santana and all we get are prospects? He has three years left that were super cheap. Jury is still out on the prospects, but I'm sure we could of gotten something better than prospects. But as always I will have to blindly trust Beane to do what is best.
Bonds: There was a huge scare that the A's were going to sign Bonds and I was prepared to boycott the A's if they did. Actually, the entire Athletics Nation was prepared to so. Cancel my XM, MLB package, and cancel any trips to the bay area.
College FB: I'm very proud of the atmosphere I have created at work with college football. I have hired recent grads from UCLA, USC, Cal, Oregon St, Penn St, Florida, Ohio St, and Notre Dame. It has sort of made the Terps useless in any conversation, but there was so much shit talking going on in the office going down the stretch.
Martin O'Malley: What the heck is going on? They passed the largest tax hike in Maryland's history in November? The only time ever in any state where they raised the income, sales, and business tax all in the same year? Wow.
Arnold: Oh, and its just not O'Malley. Arnold has vowed to raise the payroll tax by 6% in efforts to implement his statewide Healthcare plan. Not too sure how this will go over as this is the second time in the same year he has tried to get universal healthcare coverage.
Presidential Candidate: I'm really interested in Eric's posts about the race. I can honestly tell you that I have no idea who I'm going to vote for. I have zero interest in any Republican candidate and really not to interested in the Obama-Hillary race.
Mitchel Report: These athletes are stupid. Paying for roids with a check? What the fuck? And David Justice is weak. I really liked him when he was with Oakland, but his response was so weak. Does anyone remember when the LA Times suggested that Bo Jackson took Roids, and Bo came out and stated that he was preparing to file a lawsuit for slander, and the LA Times retracted the statement along with an apology. So for any player who doesn't do this is guilty. Sorry. Don't tell me an attorney wouldn't take that case on a contingency.
Eric in Bangkok: I can honestly tell you that I sorely miss my brother. I never realized how much we talked. We probably talked twice a day about random shit. Who am I going to call when Cal-Northridge gets hammered by St. Marys?
Danny Haren: I'm really bummed. Probably the top pitcher on the market behind Santana and all we get are prospects? He has three years left that were super cheap. Jury is still out on the prospects, but I'm sure we could of gotten something better than prospects. But as always I will have to blindly trust Beane to do what is best.
Bonds: There was a huge scare that the A's were going to sign Bonds and I was prepared to boycott the A's if they did. Actually, the entire Athletics Nation was prepared to so. Cancel my XM, MLB package, and cancel any trips to the bay area.
College FB: I'm very proud of the atmosphere I have created at work with college football. I have hired recent grads from UCLA, USC, Cal, Oregon St, Penn St, Florida, Ohio St, and Notre Dame. It has sort of made the Terps useless in any conversation, but there was so much shit talking going on in the office going down the stretch.
Martin O'Malley: What the heck is going on? They passed the largest tax hike in Maryland's history in November? The only time ever in any state where they raised the income, sales, and business tax all in the same year? Wow.
Arnold: Oh, and its just not O'Malley. Arnold has vowed to raise the payroll tax by 6% in efforts to implement his statewide Healthcare plan. Not too sure how this will go over as this is the second time in the same year he has tried to get universal healthcare coverage.
Presidential Candidate: I'm really interested in Eric's posts about the race. I can honestly tell you that I have no idea who I'm going to vote for. I have zero interest in any Republican candidate and really not to interested in the Obama-Hillary race.
Mitchel Report: These athletes are stupid. Paying for roids with a check? What the fuck? And David Justice is weak. I really liked him when he was with Oakland, but his response was so weak. Does anyone remember when the LA Times suggested that Bo Jackson took Roids, and Bo came out and stated that he was preparing to file a lawsuit for slander, and the LA Times retracted the statement along with an apology. So for any player who doesn't do this is guilty. Sorry. Don't tell me an attorney wouldn't take that case on a contingency.
Dec 14, 2007
I promise....
I promise when I get back to start more discussions on the presidential race. Wow, is this getting fascinating. I really wish I was back in Iowa for this.
Hillary - plummeting? Is Obama ready?
Are the Republicans going to commit "Huckacide"?
More to come next week on this...
Hillary - plummeting? Is Obama ready?
Are the Republicans going to commit "Huckacide"?
More to come next week on this...
Random Bangkok thoughts
Random thoughts the day before I leave:
- It's amazing what the activity level is of this city at 6:30 in the morning. The streets are jammed, the street vendors are out selling chicken, beef, noodles, etc. And yet the city is still crowded at 11, 12, 1 in the morning. When does anybody sleep?
- If I had a nickel every time I said to myself "Oh God, we're going to die" while we are in the van....well, I'd be able to buy a TV. American driving is soooo much more civil than the rest of the world. it's a free-for-all.
- And the motorcycles.....there are no rules for them. You have three lanes of traffic, jammed bumper to bumper, moving about 20 miles per hour.......and then you have motorcycles weaving in and out finding any possible space between lanes, between cars, even drving on the wrong side of the road.
And yet -there don't seem to be any accidents.
- The broken English that I run into every day is just funny. I passed a sign on a Store:
Index
Home Furnishings
"It's Home Everything!"
What does that even mean?
The locals tried to explain the election day-drinking prohibition to me - but they can't pronounce "l"s very well, and it comes out like an "r". So what day is drinking prohibited? "Erection Day".
- Buses are everywhere. That's a main mode of transportation to get workers to their jobs. Each bus is ornately decorated in 1970's style American gaudiness. Purple, pink, green and yellow are the predominant colors. It's like the Partridge Family bus on steroids, 1000 times over.
- There is some signficant pollution in the air out here. It seems to be worse than LA. A thick haze is over the city during the day. People who work outside wear masks sothey don't breathe in the pollution.
- Food: Food has been fine. I had a problem at one restaurant where they brought a seafood soup out; I can only describe the look of the soup in this way:
Imagine you go to a Southern Gumbo - and you help yourself to multiple bowls of the gumbo, filled with crawfish, shrimp, sausage, vegetables in tomato sauce........
but then you get sick.
The soup resembles what you would have vomited up from that Gumbo.
On the other hand, had a wodnerful dinner tonight - crab meat, scrambled egg and curry. I know, it sounds bad but it was delicious.
Well, off to a market tomorrow before the flight back to the US.....Sunday will be spent in LA as I make Derek wear a Charlie Frye jersey when we watch the Browns and the Bills. I can't believe we are favored by 6. The weather is supposed to be bad; a possible 4-6 inches of snow in Cleveland for the game. Awesome.
- It's amazing what the activity level is of this city at 6:30 in the morning. The streets are jammed, the street vendors are out selling chicken, beef, noodles, etc. And yet the city is still crowded at 11, 12, 1 in the morning. When does anybody sleep?
- If I had a nickel every time I said to myself "Oh God, we're going to die" while we are in the van....well, I'd be able to buy a TV. American driving is soooo much more civil than the rest of the world. it's a free-for-all.
- And the motorcycles.....there are no rules for them. You have three lanes of traffic, jammed bumper to bumper, moving about 20 miles per hour.......and then you have motorcycles weaving in and out finding any possible space between lanes, between cars, even drving on the wrong side of the road.
And yet -there don't seem to be any accidents.
- The broken English that I run into every day is just funny. I passed a sign on a Store:
Index
Home Furnishings
"It's Home Everything!"
What does that even mean?
The locals tried to explain the election day-drinking prohibition to me - but they can't pronounce "l"s very well, and it comes out like an "r". So what day is drinking prohibited? "Erection Day".
- Buses are everywhere. That's a main mode of transportation to get workers to their jobs. Each bus is ornately decorated in 1970's style American gaudiness. Purple, pink, green and yellow are the predominant colors. It's like the Partridge Family bus on steroids, 1000 times over.
- There is some signficant pollution in the air out here. It seems to be worse than LA. A thick haze is over the city during the day. People who work outside wear masks sothey don't breathe in the pollution.
- Food: Food has been fine. I had a problem at one restaurant where they brought a seafood soup out; I can only describe the look of the soup in this way:
Imagine you go to a Southern Gumbo - and you help yourself to multiple bowls of the gumbo, filled with crawfish, shrimp, sausage, vegetables in tomato sauce........
but then you get sick.
The soup resembles what you would have vomited up from that Gumbo.
On the other hand, had a wodnerful dinner tonight - crab meat, scrambled egg and curry. I know, it sounds bad but it was delicious.
Well, off to a market tomorrow before the flight back to the US.....Sunday will be spent in LA as I make Derek wear a Charlie Frye jersey when we watch the Browns and the Bills. I can't believe we are favored by 6. The weather is supposed to be bad; a possible 4-6 inches of snow in Cleveland for the game. Awesome.
Dec 13, 2007
Why are they so popular?
I have two bad memories of music from my college days.
(um, you're not one to talk about bad music, Mr. I-own-a-Jamiroqui-CD! -ed.)
Well, it's not about my music - it's about being tortured by music played endlessly by my suitemates.
The first bad experince is with the Cure. I had a suitemate freshmn year that played the Cure over.....and over.... and over again. He played it when he was alone, he played it when the hot-but-unattainable Joelle DiCarlo came over to his room......(but they weren't doing anything. He may have been bisexual, and was asked out by a chinese homosexual later that year. Anyway....)
(are you going to tell your Joelle-and-Steve story? -ed)
Well, alright. So Steve - my college golfing friend, if people don't know (along with Kermit) - knew Joelle, and when I mentioned to him that she lived in my dorm, Steve suddenly found many reasons to drive over to my room from north side.
Anyway, I asked him to come over one day and take me to the liquor store, as we were hosting a party and it was illegal - ILLEGAL, I say - for this 19 year old to buy the booze. So Steve shows up, parks his car right underneath Joelle's window.
As fate would have it, we get ready to leave the dorm and Joelle pops out of her window like Rapunzel. "Hi Steve!" she says. Steve almost melts.
We get in the car to drive to Cleveland Heights - and get pulled over. The officer comes up to the car, tells Steve how fast he was going - and then notices that Steve forgot to put on his seat belt on... another $25 added to the fine.
Steve still blames Joelle for that ticket (although he blames me more for making him run out for the booze).
Anyway, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, the Cure. He played the albums about 18 hours a day. By the 2nd week, I knew all the lyrics to "Friday I'm In Love", "Pictures of You", and "Fascination Street". And I was instantly depressed just listening to that album.
God, it's taken me about 15 years to restrain myself from punching the radio whenever the the Cure came on. I actually kind of like them now...15 years too late.
Anyway, the 2nd scarring musical experience came a year later. We moved up two floors and had an open room - which was filled by a junior from the Netherlands, Johannes Van Der Putten. He hung around with another one of our suitemates,a junior as well.
Now, Johannes was starting to experience American rock music - and for whatever reason, he became fascinated with the Scorpions. Every day, after classes, he'd blare that album that was popular (I guess) in the early 90s:
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the Wind
Of Change....
Argh! Make it stop! I never experienced a true American follow the Scorpions - it was only Johannes and some of his foriegn friends. Why was this band so popularamong foreigners but it was never played on WMMS?
Fast forward 16 years..... we (there are 5 of us at the hotel here in Bangkok) are being driven to the plant by a driver. I am the only American and the other 4 P&Gers are from Asia and speak some, but not a lot, of English. So it is pretty silent in the car.
The driver - who speaks zero English - pops in a CD....
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park....
Chuay! Raa siang pleng!
What the hell is the obsession that the foreigners have with the Scorpions???\
(um, you're not one to talk about bad music, Mr. I-own-a-Jamiroqui-CD! -ed.)
Well, it's not about my music - it's about being tortured by music played endlessly by my suitemates.
The first bad experince is with the Cure. I had a suitemate freshmn year that played the Cure over.....and over.... and over again. He played it when he was alone, he played it when the hot-but-unattainable Joelle DiCarlo came over to his room......(but they weren't doing anything. He may have been bisexual, and was asked out by a chinese homosexual later that year. Anyway....)
(are you going to tell your Joelle-and-Steve story? -ed)
Well, alright. So Steve - my college golfing friend, if people don't know (along with Kermit) - knew Joelle, and when I mentioned to him that she lived in my dorm, Steve suddenly found many reasons to drive over to my room from north side.
Anyway, I asked him to come over one day and take me to the liquor store, as we were hosting a party and it was illegal - ILLEGAL, I say - for this 19 year old to buy the booze. So Steve shows up, parks his car right underneath Joelle's window.
As fate would have it, we get ready to leave the dorm and Joelle pops out of her window like Rapunzel. "Hi Steve!" she says. Steve almost melts.
We get in the car to drive to Cleveland Heights - and get pulled over. The officer comes up to the car, tells Steve how fast he was going - and then notices that Steve forgot to put on his seat belt on... another $25 added to the fine.
Steve still blames Joelle for that ticket (although he blames me more for making him run out for the booze).
Anyway, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, the Cure. He played the albums about 18 hours a day. By the 2nd week, I knew all the lyrics to "Friday I'm In Love", "Pictures of You", and "Fascination Street". And I was instantly depressed just listening to that album.
God, it's taken me about 15 years to restrain myself from punching the radio whenever the the Cure came on. I actually kind of like them now...15 years too late.
Anyway, the 2nd scarring musical experience came a year later. We moved up two floors and had an open room - which was filled by a junior from the Netherlands, Johannes Van Der Putten. He hung around with another one of our suitemates,a junior as well.
Now, Johannes was starting to experience American rock music - and for whatever reason, he became fascinated with the Scorpions. Every day, after classes, he'd blare that album that was popular (I guess) in the early 90s:
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the Wind
Of Change....
Argh! Make it stop! I never experienced a true American follow the Scorpions - it was only Johannes and some of his foriegn friends. Why was this band so popularamong foreigners but it was never played on WMMS?
Fast forward 16 years..... we (there are 5 of us at the hotel here in Bangkok) are being driven to the plant by a driver. I am the only American and the other 4 P&Gers are from Asia and speak some, but not a lot, of English. So it is pretty silent in the car.
The driver - who speaks zero English - pops in a CD....
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park....
Chuay! Raa siang pleng!
What the hell is the obsession that the foreigners have with the Scorpions???\
Please take note
Note posted in hotel lobby:
Please Note:
The Emporium Suites hotel will not be serving alcoholic drinks on Monday, December 16, in accordance with local laws. by law, no alcohol will be served on a National Election day.
Wow. Imagine if that rule applied in the US......Why, we wouldn't have elected...
(well, the jokes just write themselves on both sides of the aisle, don't they?)
Please Note:
The Emporium Suites hotel will not be serving alcoholic drinks on Monday, December 16, in accordance with local laws. by law, no alcohol will be served on a National Election day.
Wow. Imagine if that rule applied in the US......Why, we wouldn't have elected...
(well, the jokes just write themselves on both sides of the aisle, don't they?)
Dec 10, 2007
College Football Bowl Pool
Yes, it's that time of year. Time for the annual $5 College Bowl Pick em pool - where you pick every single bowl game against the spread.
Let me know if you are interested - I will forward the email!
(And - let's start a side pool for F&J readers. Care to throw in another $5 into the pot for a separate F&J prize?)
Let me know if you are interested - I will forward the email!
(And - let's start a side pool for F&J readers. Care to throw in another $5 into the pot for a separate F&J prize?)
Dec 9, 2007
Hello from Bangkok
Well,I am here safe and sound (but my luggage? Well, that's another story). I am up sitting at my computer at 5:00 am local time following the Browns-Jets game on the Internet and watching the Pats-Steelers live on an English station. I guess I should be glad the Browns game is not on TV, since it would put me back to sleep, apparently.
Anyway, some notes/observations on the trip so far:
- Got some great news at LAX when I checked in for the "non-stop" flight to Bangkok; they told us we have a smaller plane than normal and the headwinds are up - so we will have to refuel in Japan. Add another 3 hours onto the 18 hour trip. Nice. (Well, at least I get to say I've been to Japan now.)
- Fill in the story: I helped a French man (about 22, 23 years old) find the Qantas terminal in LAX. We had to walk from the domestic terminals all the way over to the Tom Bradley Terminal Funhouse. He did not know a word of English, and he was on his way to Wellington, NZ.
After we parted, I then was puzzled by him. What's his story? Where is he from? He can't be from France, since....why would he fly from France to New Zealand through LA? My best guess is that he has been born and raised in Montreal his whole life, and this is his first trip away from the city. (What? You got anything better?)
- These long frlight are extremely disorienting. After we got on, had a meal, I fell asleep for 5 hours.....I woke up, my watch said 2:30 (???? am? pm? what time zone?) and the only thing I could think about was breakfast. Next thing I know, the beverage cart comes down the aisle....
"Wine? Red or White?"
What? No....no! It's time for hot chocolate, not wine!
- Went to get our luggage at the airport. Was next to an Asian woman - she got her suitcase off the rack and set it down next to me. I glanced at it.... wait a minute....I see something familiar on that bag. Is it? Could it be?
Yes - there is a tag on that suitcase from....the Monte Carlo casino in Las Vegas. Good for her.
- No luggage for me. The official word is that it didn't get on the plane in Los Angeles. I'm not sure if I believe that (although, what other explanation is possible???)
- A person from the plant took me out for a trip around the city - we went to the palaces, a couple of temples, yes that's fascinating, but.....
we went to a shopping mall near out hotel so I could get a shirt for the next day. We went into a department store - and the men's areas was crowded. We found a shirt, I tried it on....
and then went to check out; there were six people at the checkout desk that were ready to check people out! Let's see, two at the register, one to hand my purchase over to the register lady, and three to pack the single shirt into a bag.
I then look back in the department - most of those "people" who I thought were customers were store employees helping people! I swear, there were 12 people or so in the men's golf shirt area that were working. Just.... fascinating.
(Oh- by the way, on the way home in the taxi from the temples, the taxi driver stopped the car on this side street. He said something to my host in Thai, and then he got out of the car.
I looked at my host - "oh, not a problem. He just has to go pee."
I turn around and look outside the back window - yup, there he is, going against a tree on the side of the street.)
- Sensory overload: there is a shopping complex in the hotel here....I ask at the front desk if there is a place I can by a razor. She says yes - 5th floor is the grocery store.....
ok. I go up to the 5th floor. All I can say is .....wow.
Imagine - and I don't think you can - this site as you step off the elevator:
- to your left, a busy and large mall food court.
- straight ahead, you can see 4 or 5 restaurants that are laid out in a very similar manner to restaurants at the front of the Mirage casino (you know, no walls, restaurants separated by rails....)
- In addition, a Starbucks and HaagenDazs store thrown in
- and to your right, a full service grocery store.
- and, in the distance, past the restaurants, looks to be the electronics department of a major department store. TVs, computers.....
Wow. I still can't find words to describe it.
You can take your gold temples and your 400-year-old ruins....get me to a local mall and let me spend 4 hours there. That,to me, is truly fascinating - what modern culture really is made of in foreign lands.
Anyway, some notes/observations on the trip so far:
- Got some great news at LAX when I checked in for the "non-stop" flight to Bangkok; they told us we have a smaller plane than normal and the headwinds are up - so we will have to refuel in Japan. Add another 3 hours onto the 18 hour trip. Nice. (Well, at least I get to say I've been to Japan now.)
- Fill in the story: I helped a French man (about 22, 23 years old) find the Qantas terminal in LAX. We had to walk from the domestic terminals all the way over to the Tom Bradley Terminal Funhouse. He did not know a word of English, and he was on his way to Wellington, NZ.
After we parted, I then was puzzled by him. What's his story? Where is he from? He can't be from France, since....why would he fly from France to New Zealand through LA? My best guess is that he has been born and raised in Montreal his whole life, and this is his first trip away from the city. (What? You got anything better?)
- These long frlight are extremely disorienting. After we got on, had a meal, I fell asleep for 5 hours.....I woke up, my watch said 2:30 (???? am? pm? what time zone?) and the only thing I could think about was breakfast. Next thing I know, the beverage cart comes down the aisle....
"Wine? Red or White?"
What? No....no! It's time for hot chocolate, not wine!
- Went to get our luggage at the airport. Was next to an Asian woman - she got her suitcase off the rack and set it down next to me. I glanced at it.... wait a minute....I see something familiar on that bag. Is it? Could it be?
Yes - there is a tag on that suitcase from....the Monte Carlo casino in Las Vegas. Good for her.
- No luggage for me. The official word is that it didn't get on the plane in Los Angeles. I'm not sure if I believe that (although, what other explanation is possible???)
- A person from the plant took me out for a trip around the city - we went to the palaces, a couple of temples, yes that's fascinating, but.....
we went to a shopping mall near out hotel so I could get a shirt for the next day. We went into a department store - and the men's areas was crowded. We found a shirt, I tried it on....
and then went to check out; there were six people at the checkout desk that were ready to check people out! Let's see, two at the register, one to hand my purchase over to the register lady, and three to pack the single shirt into a bag.
I then look back in the department - most of those "people" who I thought were customers were store employees helping people! I swear, there were 12 people or so in the men's golf shirt area that were working. Just.... fascinating.
(Oh- by the way, on the way home in the taxi from the temples, the taxi driver stopped the car on this side street. He said something to my host in Thai, and then he got out of the car.
I looked at my host - "oh, not a problem. He just has to go pee."
I turn around and look outside the back window - yup, there he is, going against a tree on the side of the street.)
- Sensory overload: there is a shopping complex in the hotel here....I ask at the front desk if there is a place I can by a razor. She says yes - 5th floor is the grocery store.....
ok. I go up to the 5th floor. All I can say is .....wow.
Imagine - and I don't think you can - this site as you step off the elevator:
- to your left, a busy and large mall food court.
- straight ahead, you can see 4 or 5 restaurants that are laid out in a very similar manner to restaurants at the front of the Mirage casino (you know, no walls, restaurants separated by rails....)
- In addition, a Starbucks and HaagenDazs store thrown in
- and to your right, a full service grocery store.
- and, in the distance, past the restaurants, looks to be the electronics department of a major department store. TVs, computers.....
Wow. I still can't find words to describe it.
You can take your gold temples and your 400-year-old ruins....get me to a local mall and let me spend 4 hours there. That,to me, is truly fascinating - what modern culture really is made of in foreign lands.
Dec 5, 2007
December 8 will not exist
Well, we're only two days away from my first trip to Asia - going to Bangkok for a week. (I will report whether the citizens of Bangkok can recite, line-by-line, the famous lyrics from "One Night in Bangkok" on demand).
I have no idea what I am in for - a person at church said that his first time going to Asia was like "going to Mars". We will see. The travel, however, will be interesting.
I am leaving on a non-stop flight from LA to Bangkok; the flight leaves LAX at 9:30 pm on Friday, Dec 7; I land in Bangkok at 6:30 am on Sun, Dec 9. Ah, the mysteries of the international date line.
I've already studied the time differences so that I know when important events are occuring in BKK. Case in point: Janice was trying to give me advice as to how to adjust to the time quicker; she said I have to stay up as best I can on Sunday.....you don't want to stay in your room and nap all day Sunday, because you'll just get up at 3:00 am wide awake Monday morning.
But, I countered - that's what I want! The Browns kick off at 4:15 am Monday morning! I can't miss that!
I have no idea what I am in for - a person at church said that his first time going to Asia was like "going to Mars". We will see. The travel, however, will be interesting.
I am leaving on a non-stop flight from LA to Bangkok; the flight leaves LAX at 9:30 pm on Friday, Dec 7; I land in Bangkok at 6:30 am on Sun, Dec 9. Ah, the mysteries of the international date line.
I've already studied the time differences so that I know when important events are occuring in BKK. Case in point: Janice was trying to give me advice as to how to adjust to the time quicker; she said I have to stay up as best I can on Sunday.....you don't want to stay in your room and nap all day Sunday, because you'll just get up at 3:00 am wide awake Monday morning.
But, I countered - that's what I want! The Browns kick off at 4:15 am Monday morning! I can't miss that!
Dec 4, 2007
Breaking News
High level negotiations ongoing currently between Cincinnati participants on the Vegas trip....all options on the table, including an early Wednesday arrival and a 6 pm Sunday departure...
Developing....
Developing....
Ravens = Whiners
OK, at first glance the defensive holding call was pretty ticky tack, but looking at the replay in slow motion Watson was clearly held up on his route. Tough call. But other than that, why are the Ravens whining so much????? THEY called a timeout, you could clearly see Rex Ryan on the sidelines calling timeout standing right next to the ref. Then the Pats O-line clearly false started. There is no conspiracy on that, the right guard moved. Are the refs not supposed to call that?? That was a gift five yards, turned a 4th and 1 to 4th and 6. Where is the issue? Lastly, the Gaffney catch was close, but it looked like he kept his fingers on the ball through the whole catch. I don't know how they could overturn the call based on what the replay showed.
Instead of bitching at the refs, why not pick up a first down in the 4th quarter? How about not throwing into quintuple coverage when up by 7? STFU!
Anyway, with that off my chest there is something very troubling with the Pats right now. The way they were blasting teams through the first eight or nine weeks, really covered up how very average their defense was playing. It reminded me of the 99 Rams, whose Defense was greatly aided by having situations where they were up 17 - 3 early in the second quarter. When that happens it really changes how the other team plays offense. IF they don't get the defense ironed out, they will not go undefeated or win the SB.
Instead of bitching at the refs, why not pick up a first down in the 4th quarter? How about not throwing into quintuple coverage when up by 7? STFU!
Anyway, with that off my chest there is something very troubling with the Pats right now. The way they were blasting teams through the first eight or nine weeks, really covered up how very average their defense was playing. It reminded me of the 99 Rams, whose Defense was greatly aided by having situations where they were up 17 - 3 early in the second quarter. When that happens it really changes how the other team plays offense. IF they don't get the defense ironed out, they will not go undefeated or win the SB.
- People are really picking on Ellis Hobbs. It seems like he can't cover anyone right now
- LB core is really thin now that Colvin is out. Seau and Bruschi can't play fulltime in the 3-4, which means that Eric Alexander has to get on the field - which isn't a good thing.
- IF they could ever get Eugene Wilson healthy again, they could probably go to a 3-3-5 "big nickel" formation with Harrison, Sanders and Wilson on the field.
- Maroney needs to be more involved. They are going to really need him as the weather continues to go south
Dec 3, 2007
Two ramblings
Argh. What a frustrating game yesterday. I'm not all that pissed about the ending - although I was jumping up and down on my couch screaming "HE GOT PUSHED OUT!" -but we didn't deserve to win. 4 turnovers (resulting in 21 points), too many stupid penalties, including a key 3rd and 4 in the first quarter, where our CB LeighBodden made the stop and caused an incomplete pass. He then saw the ball on the ground and - yes! - kicked it. 5 yeard penalty. First down. On that drive, Arizona drove for a TD.
"I didn't know it was a penalty", said Bodden.
Wow. And who didn't tell you that was a rule? It only happened LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO in OUR GAME vs. THE RAVENS!
Gees.
Anyway, two random topics as I dream about more pumpkin pie:
1) Did anyone catch the CNN/YouTube debate controversy? Apparently, at the primary debate last Thursday, there was a question submitted from a "voter" about gays in the military. It turned out that the submitter was a general who is associated with the Hillary campaign. Another questioner was found out to be a supporter of John Edwards.
Wow. Too much sloppiness on CNN's part to talk about. But this is a clear example of media bias and ignorance. Hear me out.
What is the point of a Republican primary debate? This is for Republicans to learn more about their candidate so that THE MEMBERS OF THE PARTY can choose their candidate. So, naturally, the questions should focus around the concerns of the party's members.
CNN could not understand the Republican party less. How it thinks that a gays in the military question is appropriate is beyond me. If anyone were to ask me about the political issues of the day, I'd prioritize them as:
1. Terrorism/the War
2. Illegal Immigration
3. Taxes
4. Iran/other Foreign Policy
5. Corruption/Earmarks
....
65. The "horse collar" rule. Can some candidate tell me what the hell a horse collar tackle is and why the Browns get called for it, but when Jamal Lewis is tackled in the same manner by Mr. Murder, Ray Lewis, there is no call?
.....
129. Gays in the military.
I am pretty sure that among Repbulicans, that issue is down on the list as well (right around cornhole policy and outlawing the 5-team teaser that is won EXCEPT FOR WHEN VA TECH RUNS A TOUCHDOWN BACK WITH 11 SECONDS LEFT!! *#&*($@Q^#^$#^@ (oh, sorry).
CNN completely demonstrates that they have no idea as to what makes a Republican voter tick by asking this question. Can you imagine if a flat tax question was popped up to Hillary?
Should this question be asked in the general election debates? Absolutely. But it's not a concern to Republican voters that are the audience for this debate.
Not knowing your audience is usually death for an organization.......but CNN can not be kileld and will continue to shape policy/questions their way, audience be damned.
And the fact that CNN couldn't bother to fact check and determine that the questioner is a Democratic operative is....farcical. Can you imagine if Fox News put upa debate for Democrats and a Republican questioner slipped in?
(Oh right, the Democrats are too scared of Fox News........)
2) What's with the Johan Santana love? I don't get it. People make him out to be the greatest pitcher since......Cy Young? Pedro Martinez circa 1999?
He's good, don't get me wrong. He is a #1 starter, no question.
But is he the best starting pitcher out there on any team (which I have heard numerous people say)?
Of course not.
I saw him this year. As a fan of the Tribe, I cowered when we faced him this year. The Tribe's result against Santana?
Win.
Win.
Win.
Win.
Win.
Santana was 0-5 against us this year.
Postseason? His numbers are mediocre, at best. 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA.
1-3.
Again, not the stuff of the best pitcher in the AL.
You can make a case he is the 5th best pitcher in the AL, behind Beckett, Sabathia, Haren and Lackey.
Is the 5th best pitcher in the AL worth a complete surrendering of the farm system, if you were Boston or New York?
No.
"I didn't know it was a penalty", said Bodden.
Wow. And who didn't tell you that was a rule? It only happened LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO in OUR GAME vs. THE RAVENS!
Gees.
Anyway, two random topics as I dream about more pumpkin pie:
1) Did anyone catch the CNN/YouTube debate controversy? Apparently, at the primary debate last Thursday, there was a question submitted from a "voter" about gays in the military. It turned out that the submitter was a general who is associated with the Hillary campaign. Another questioner was found out to be a supporter of John Edwards.
Wow. Too much sloppiness on CNN's part to talk about. But this is a clear example of media bias and ignorance. Hear me out.
What is the point of a Republican primary debate? This is for Republicans to learn more about their candidate so that THE MEMBERS OF THE PARTY can choose their candidate. So, naturally, the questions should focus around the concerns of the party's members.
CNN could not understand the Republican party less. How it thinks that a gays in the military question is appropriate is beyond me. If anyone were to ask me about the political issues of the day, I'd prioritize them as:
1. Terrorism/the War
2. Illegal Immigration
3. Taxes
4. Iran/other Foreign Policy
5. Corruption/Earmarks
....
65. The "horse collar" rule. Can some candidate tell me what the hell a horse collar tackle is and why the Browns get called for it, but when Jamal Lewis is tackled in the same manner by Mr. Murder, Ray Lewis, there is no call?
.....
129. Gays in the military.
I am pretty sure that among Repbulicans, that issue is down on the list as well (right around cornhole policy and outlawing the 5-team teaser that is won EXCEPT FOR WHEN VA TECH RUNS A TOUCHDOWN BACK WITH 11 SECONDS LEFT!! *#&*($@Q^#^$#^@ (oh, sorry).
CNN completely demonstrates that they have no idea as to what makes a Republican voter tick by asking this question. Can you imagine if a flat tax question was popped up to Hillary?
Should this question be asked in the general election debates? Absolutely. But it's not a concern to Republican voters that are the audience for this debate.
Not knowing your audience is usually death for an organization.......but CNN can not be kileld and will continue to shape policy/questions their way, audience be damned.
And the fact that CNN couldn't bother to fact check and determine that the questioner is a Democratic operative is....farcical. Can you imagine if Fox News put upa debate for Democrats and a Republican questioner slipped in?
(Oh right, the Democrats are too scared of Fox News........)
2) What's with the Johan Santana love? I don't get it. People make him out to be the greatest pitcher since......Cy Young? Pedro Martinez circa 1999?
He's good, don't get me wrong. He is a #1 starter, no question.
But is he the best starting pitcher out there on any team (which I have heard numerous people say)?
Of course not.
I saw him this year. As a fan of the Tribe, I cowered when we faced him this year. The Tribe's result against Santana?
Win.
Win.
Win.
Win.
Win.
Santana was 0-5 against us this year.
Postseason? His numbers are mediocre, at best. 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA.
1-3.
Again, not the stuff of the best pitcher in the AL.
You can make a case he is the 5th best pitcher in the AL, behind Beckett, Sabathia, Haren and Lackey.
Is the 5th best pitcher in the AL worth a complete surrendering of the farm system, if you were Boston or New York?
No.
Dec 2, 2007
Let me upgrade you....
First, I can't get this song out of my head. I've been walking around for the past two weeks singing this and doing that little dance she does. Not good times, but its just so catchy. "Let me upgrade you". Also, I don't know where the rest of you stand, but Beyonce is so underrated. Super hot and sexy. MMMMmmmmmmmm.NFL Picks Week 13
I don't know why I do this anymore, since I have no touch (and, yes, feel free to bet the other way on my picks. This is getting ugly.)
Last week: 3-10; overall: 78-97-10.
Predictions for this week:
SF 16, Car 13;
Ind 24, Jax 17
SD 24, KC 17
NYJ 20, Mia 13
MIn 20, Det 17
StL 24, Atl 16
Oak 24, Den 20
NO 23, TB 16
NYG 28, Chi 17 (I'm MARRIED to Eli in my fantasy league....c'mon, buddy!)
Pit 26, Cin 21
Sea 27, Phi 24
Ten 17, Hou 13.
Best bets this week:
SF +3
NYJ +2
Det/Min under 44 1/2
StL -3
Oak +3.5
NO -3.5
NYG -1
Sea +3
Sea/Phi over 38 1/2
Hou/Ten under 39 1/2
Last week: 3-10; overall: 78-97-10.
Predictions for this week:
SF 16, Car 13;
Ind 24, Jax 17
SD 24, KC 17
NYJ 20, Mia 13
MIn 20, Det 17
StL 24, Atl 16
Oak 24, Den 20
NO 23, TB 16
NYG 28, Chi 17 (I'm MARRIED to Eli in my fantasy league....c'mon, buddy!)
Pit 26, Cin 21
Sea 27, Phi 24
Ten 17, Hou 13.
Best bets this week:
SF +3
NYJ +2
Det/Min under 44 1/2
StL -3
Oak +3.5
NO -3.5
NYG -1
Sea +3
Sea/Phi over 38 1/2
Hou/Ten under 39 1/2
Dec 1, 2007
You can take this card and stick it up your ass
Happy December folks!!! I really can't believe that it is only 4 months until the big Vegas Trip. Over the Thanksgiving weekend I was watching Casino and forgot how funny the Pesci playing Blackjack scene was. "Why don't you take this ten and stick it up your mom's ass". And unfortunately I could relate to him. Many times I wanted to take cards and fling it at the cocky smarmy dealer. Anyway, for those of you that care, I am building a very solid understanding of the Big West College Basketball Conference. I guarantee that this will pay off big time during our trip. I'm going to go to a couple of LB State and Irvine games to do some recruiting.
As for Eric and I's record setting weekend, I have tried to slow down a bit. But of course when I slow down, my picks hit, which makes me very upset. I somehow need to find a happy medium. I'm thinking that there is no happy medium when you have a gambling problem. Its sad that when I jump online I can easily find 6-10 games I want to wager on. NBA, College, NFL, etc. That's not right. I was pissed because the website didn't have womens college available.
Just to shed some light on what is happening with Eric and I right now, let me post my picks for today:
College Football:
Oklahoma
USC
Oregon St.
CB
Duke -8
Minnesota -20.5
Santa Barbara -6
UC Davis +9.5
ODU-9
Loyola
Butler -5.5
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