On Wednesday night 613 is having a Seder.
The Seder will start around 7:30 and last for about 20 to 30 min. There will be a meal following the service with brisket, chicken, potato pancakes, salad, asparagus, matzah pizza, matzah ball soup and a little gefilte fish for the risk takers.
For those of you coming that do not know anything about the holiday, our Seder will be brief. The short service tells the story of Passover and includes Hebrew. During the service, everyone eats a little matzah and drinks four glasses of wine so make sure to bring your own bottle. I recommend Mannishevitz. It tastes like Welchs grape Juice.
A little background on the Holiday: Passover is the Jewish Holiday celebrating the Exodus from slavery under the evil Pharaoh in Egypt. The Holiday's name comes from the Hebrew word Pesach meaning "passed over." which refers to the tenth plague of Egypt.
On an interesting note, many scholars believe that Jesus's last meal was celebrating Passover.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
SLOPE DAY T-SHIRTS
It is that time folks.
As to avoid a Cortaca Jug type situation with the Slope Day t-shirts it is time to start placing your orders.
The price is still unknown because we do not have a number of people nor have we locked down a place to get them made, but lets be serious you know you will buy one regardless of the price (which, based on previous knowledge of t-shit purchases will most likely, not definitely but most likely be no more than $20)
There will be some type of insignia in the upper corner on the front and on the back will be Bry's rendering of Calvin and Hobbes flying down a hill marked by Hudson and Prospect street signs in their classic wagon while holding onto a six-pack.
(I will do my best to bring to you a pic of this image)
So there it is, tell your friends and post how many you would like in a comment to this post, or just let us know.
We want to get this order in by this Friday (the 14th) so get to it.
As to avoid a Cortaca Jug type situation with the Slope Day t-shirts it is time to start placing your orders.
The price is still unknown because we do not have a number of people nor have we locked down a place to get them made, but lets be serious you know you will buy one regardless of the price (which, based on previous knowledge of t-shit purchases will most likely, not definitely but most likely be no more than $20)
There will be some type of insignia in the upper corner on the front and on the back will be Bry's rendering of Calvin and Hobbes flying down a hill marked by Hudson and Prospect street signs in their classic wagon while holding onto a six-pack.
(I will do my best to bring to you a pic of this image)
So there it is, tell your friends and post how many you would like in a comment to this post, or just let us know.
We want to get this order in by this Friday (the 14th) so get to it.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Mets new ball park
Opening day 2009, will you be there? Meet the mets, new ballpark that is. Don't only read the article, check the fly through video as well.
-Tony
-Tony
Sunday, April 02, 2006
My Date With Rand
You losers missed a hell of a time last night. The night started innocently enough with Rand and I drinking beers and watching Louisiana's biggest disaster since Hurricane Katrina unfold. After riveting episodes of Curb and Entourage the two of us savored the sweet, charcoal filtered taste that only Barton's vodka can provide. Other highlights of the night include hanging out with the (stoned?) Pelkey sisters, getting in a few one-liners with Will, peeing on the phones, trying to talk Kim out of killing Chris, Bry and Sam for their controversial "Pickle Prank", and of course, catching up with our old pal Spence. Alright that's all i got. NIBB HIGH FOOTBALL RULES!
I said Ugh ugh uh uh do the terminator!
I said Ugh ugh uh uh do the terminator!
Small Rooms and Lots of Walking
It seems as though it is about damn time I make a post, and what better to start off with than a weekend filled with 613 fun?
Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Gales (ya bitch) for doing such a sweet ass job, taking 5th place in Relay for Life, raising $1,805 (out of like 2,200+ kids). I'd also like to thank Big Rach Hill and Courtney for providing some excellent entertainment in Eastman.
For those who were lucky to fit into Eastman 116, we got an early jump on the weekend starting around 7pm on Friday. Normally, you'd never be able to fit 12 or more people into a quad double and it still be enjoyable. Somehow, those two girls ripped apart the second bed of the room so we'd all be able to fit, threw in a beer pong table and provided well prepared trays of vegetables, and chicken courtesy of campus center along with amazingly delicious dip from Big Rach's momma.
Those who didn't get to go, you'd never believe how delicious the chicken was... or maybe that was just me being drunk and thinking anything was acceptable (as seen by most of the girls and myself sticking cans of booze down our shirts to cool off, and drink out of at the same time). Tony and Marissa did a great job running the pong table for most of the night - but as time passed, and
Those of us not lucky enough to catch a ride on the ninja-mobile went to a friends house of Coddington where we were greeted with fun faces and ice luging. After some left for the bars, the fireworks came out to play. Coincidently the cops showed up to join in/break up that fun...but that didn't stop Courtney (like anything could) and she continued to set up two fireworks as the cops were literally walking in the house. After that all settled down, we traveled further down the road and made it to 613.
Now, I can't be sure who was or was not with me. Apparently I confused who was actually at 613 with people who I talked to on the phone. This means some friends in
If anyone has never seen THE TERMINATOR, I lack the words, and doubt there are any to describe it. The rest of the night was filled with more confusion, but I do remember that I harassed Dana (bear) and was still stuck on Tony being a ninja - saying he should buy numchucks and throwing stars etc, etc. The night ended early, (that’s what happens when you start early) and Bry and Chris were fuckin awesome and gave us a ride home.
But that was only night 1
Bry and Chris continued their trend of fuckin awesomeness and stayed all night at Relay for Life (and were on top of their "asshole" reminders for the short while Sam was there). However, the best part of the night was when these two studs lost to Bryce and me in Cranium. There was a surprisingly good amount of stuff to do. Live music through 3am, visits from many other 613 members and... performers/dancers/weirdoes that came on a littler later (ask Zoë and Gales for more details). There was also hula-hooping, pizza, junk food, red bull and bagels intermittently. But probably the best part was having a 613 club meeting, Chris giving Sam a wakeup call, and Leslie calling Sam a pussy on his voicemail for the second time this weekend.
Around 4ish Bry and Chris broke out the Friends Trivia while we waited for bagels. Although they impressed us, I am pretty sure they scared the people in our immediate surrounding. The bagels re-energized us to start up another, more intense game of Cranium. Although Leslie and Court took the immediate lead, this time Bry and Chris reclaimed their throne.
By the time that was done it was past 6am and we headed back on the track to bust out a few more laps before the event was over. More importantly than the cranium games and calling Sam a pussy - the event turned out to be a huge success, in total it raised $178,000 for the American Cancer Society.
All in all, it was a wonderful weekend.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
What are we doing tonight?
| Selection | ||
| Bake Brownies |  12% | 2 |
| Get a keg | 6% | 1 |
| Throw Eggs at Dana's house | 29% | 5 |
| Have a party in Rand's room | 47% | 8 |
| Corporate Hoes and CEO's | 6% | 1 |
 | | |
| 17 votes total | ||
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Your Mom... 's e-mail address
When visiting a few weeks ago, Limmer's mom suggested that we have some sort of a "get-together" or "party" for all our families during graduation weekend.
I ran this by my mom when we stopped in on our way back from Los Angeles and she said that she would certainly be interested in planning something for the day before or the day of graduation.
It sounds like most people already have dinner plans on the Saturday night before graduation, but most of us and our family members will be hanging around in the early afternoon following the ceremony. So perhaps the best thing to do would be to have a BBQ, or an already prepared spread of food, for everyone's lunch on Sunday. It doesn't have to be at that time though. I say we let the parents sort it all out.
My mom offered to send out a mass e-mail to everyone's parents, to see if they might be interested in organizing something. So far I have Lim's mom's e-mail and Bry's mom's e-mail. If you think one or both of your parents would like to get in on this, send me their e-mail and my mom will include them in the mass-email.
I would like to reitterate, however, that in addition to the lunch on Sunday, I still support the idea of a kegger on the Saturday night before graduation for our siblings (Limmer's brothers better be there) and our parents.
I ran this by my mom when we stopped in on our way back from Los Angeles and she said that she would certainly be interested in planning something for the day before or the day of graduation.
It sounds like most people already have dinner plans on the Saturday night before graduation, but most of us and our family members will be hanging around in the early afternoon following the ceremony. So perhaps the best thing to do would be to have a BBQ, or an already prepared spread of food, for everyone's lunch on Sunday. It doesn't have to be at that time though. I say we let the parents sort it all out.
My mom offered to send out a mass e-mail to everyone's parents, to see if they might be interested in organizing something. So far I have Lim's mom's e-mail and Bry's mom's e-mail. If you think one or both of your parents would like to get in on this, send me their e-mail and my mom will include them in the mass-email.
I would like to reitterate, however, that in addition to the lunch on Sunday, I still support the idea of a kegger on the Saturday night before graduation for our siblings (Limmer's brothers better be there) and our parents.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Videos On Demand...
What can we get done? What will we get done?
College Power Hour, Black Out Juice Documentary, TV Power Hour, Jack Bauer Power Hour, Best of Movie Power Hour...
We gotta prioritize. It sounds like a lot, and with only 5 more weeks of school it might seem like even more than we can handle. Before Tony has a heart attack (because he's already explained his position to me a number of times), I would like to state that I agree that College Power Hour is the most important of all of our video endeavors. I see it, as I'm sure many of you do, as a college scrapbook that we can drink to; sort of like our own yearbook. Next, I think Black Out Juice should be completed. Sam and Tony have both volunteered to spend their time working on this, and it'll be pretty straight-forward editing once we sync-up the audio with the video. TV Power Hour, Jack Bauer Power Hour, and Best of Movie Power Hour are the projects that we really need to kick around, discuss the possibilities, and decide whether or not they will come to fruition by the end of the semester.
There are lots of factors to consider with each video, too many for any one man to worry about. And so, at the risk of sounding formal (or even remotely similar to a character on "The Apprentice"), I think we should set up project managers for each video. Everyone will probably be asked to help out in some way on each of the videos, but it would be the project manager's responsibility to organize, keep on schedule, delegate, and oversee all aspects of the video's completion.
Since Tony and Sam have volunteered to handle Black Out Juice, I guess one of them will be in charge of piecing it together and securing the necessary materials. Limmer has offered up his hard-drive as the storage unit for the project. A digital camera is still needed to capture and import the footage.
Earlier in the semester, I sort of thrust College Power Hour upon Chris. I hope that wasn't too presumptious of me. If Chris is still interested in heading it up, that'd be great... if not, we'll figure something out. Tony has set up the g-mail account for all of us to send our pictures to. We should probably all do that within the next week. The more pictures we get, the more options we will have. I'm estimating that we'll need at least 1200 photos (20 photos for each minute). We'll have to come up with 60 categories, as well as 60 different songs. We certainly don't need to use Final Cut to put this video together, we could probably just use one of the photo programs that Apple offers. I believe Sam spoke about one that he has on his computer.
Okay... so now we get down to the not-so-necessary, but incredibly enticing opportunity of creating more Power Hours... People love the Movie Power Hour series. The DVDs are gaining a following throughout the Northeast, Georgia, parts of California, and will soon be hitting the Midwest (once we send out copies to random students at big, state universities). People are sharing them with their friends, they're talking about them with their parents (maybe that's just me and my sister). And let me point out that it's not very often that you have access to such a wide variety of tv shows, movies, digital video cameras, and editing equipment. TV/Movie Power Hours can also be extremely draining, and so it's great that we have so many people to help out with the planning, selection, execution, and post production aspects of each video. We have everything at our fingertips. I really want to take advantage of our resources and complete at least one, if not two more power hours that people will be talking about and enjoying for years to come.
TV Power Hour
An Update - We currently have a list of about 40 shows that we have copies of either on DVD or on VHS. Yesterday, Bry, Lim, and I compiled a wish list of over 20 shows that we could record off of the television and onto a blank VHS tape. We should still keep brainstorming and tossing out shows that we think might work well.
Questions and Issues - How we do find the best minute from each Series? The answer is, we probably won't. Most of the shows that we're using have shot almost 100 episodes, or more. We'd simply have to pick a good minute from one episode and test whether or not it holds up. Would we want to add different genres (aside from drama and comedy)? Should we include a minute from the Weather Channel, a minute from Rachel Ray, a minute from ESPN, a minute from QVC, a minute from Nickelodeon Games and Sports, etc...?
Gameplan - Selecting the right minute is what normally takes the longest time while constructing an MPH. So I think it would save a lot of time if we assigned 6 or 7 shows to each person (shows that that person really enjoys and has seen a number of times), and then have that person watch the shows in their free time; scanning through to find a minute that would work. For example, we would have Mark try to find minutes in "The Shield" and "The 4400," and Limmer can skim through "90210" or "Martin."
Outlook - I was real excited about taking this project on, but then I started wondering how it would turn out, and if people would be psyched for just about every minute, like with MPH. Sam pointed out that TV Power would have a wide appeal (with shows ranging from "X-Files" to "Boy Meets World" to "Spider-Man" to "Grey's Anatomy.") I agree, and that's why I think this project would be worthwile. Nonetheless, I'm not sure if each minute will be the highest quality (since we'd be settling for a good minute, and not seeking out the best minute). Still, I definitely want to do this and I think it would turn out nicely.
Jack Bauer Power Hour
An Update - The possibility of a JBPH has been discussed in many social circles. Hoefl proposed the title a few months ago, and the Circle 14 guys have also kicked around the idea. To the best of my knowledge (and according to the Google Search I did), no one has ever actually made a Jack Bauer Power Hour.
Questions and Issues - Would there be spoilers? Most likely, yes. Sam brought up this issue and also pointed out that we would targeting a much smaller group of people. Certainly, we would be aiming to appeal to only a niche group (24 fans who love Jack Bauer and have followed all the seasons) but I (personally) know tons of people that belong to that group, and I know that they would, without a doubt, love to drink to a JBPH. How would we distinguish between clips? We've talked about using the clock. Would we make each clip 57 seconds and then cut to the clock as it ticks from :58 to :59 to 1:00? This raises the issue of allowing people to know just how far into the power hour they are? Is this 1) good thing 2) bad thing, 3) doesn't matter? People can already just look at the DVD player and find out how far they are? But this would be flashing it right in front of their face... We would probably also fade in the season and hour for each clip.
Gameplan - Bry has seasons 1-3 (I believe), and I'm sure we could get a hold of season 4. We would need to talk about (preferably over an order of wings) our favorite moments from the series. A few spring to my mind almost immeadiately: season 1 - jack in the limo with the rag. season 2 - interrogating Nina. season 2 - jack springing back to life. season 4 - jack wandering off into the sunset. season 1 - staircase scene. season 3 - the mexican brothers want jack to shoot Chase.
Outlook - I was taking a shower yesterday afternoon, thinking about TV Power Hour, and then I started to imagine the possibilities of a 24 power hour. I couldn't stop thinking about how sweet it would be. 24 resembles a movie, and minutes wouldn't be too difficult to find. We would be so invested into each clip, and we could orchestrate the entire power to follow a story arc that we designed. We could have 5 straight clips of Jack Bauer interrogating suspects!!! I'd like to get some feedback on this one. If the DVD comes out nicely, Tina has suggested that I market it to Fox.
Best of Power Hour
An Update - Tony is big on this one. It wouldn't take long. We would just need to decide which 60 clips would make it.
Questions and Issues - Would this take anything away from MPH or MPH2?
Gameplan - It's up to Tony.
Outlook - It's up to Tony.
Keeping all these points in mind, we must also recognize that time is not exactly on our side. It has been proposed that we might work on these projects during Senior Week, but I'm planning on remaining in a drunken state of elation throughout the entire week, paying little attention to any deadlines, dates, or projects. During finals week however, I would be able to devote a solid two-three days of work. I probably have 4 or 5 full, weekend days available during the weeks leading up to finals week. Tony, Limmer, and Jared are also Final Cut savy and could lead an editing session if and when they are available. Like I mentioned before, it's finding the right minute which usually takes the most time, and we can all search for minutes in our spare time at home. Another big issue is finding a digital camera that we can use to capture footage with. Ben Don would probably let us use his for a couple of weekends, but we couldn't use his to capture the Black Out footage (his camera does not take DV tapes).
So what do you guys think? Let's talk about it at Wing Night.
Long Live Power Hours
College Power Hour, Black Out Juice Documentary, TV Power Hour, Jack Bauer Power Hour, Best of Movie Power Hour...
We gotta prioritize. It sounds like a lot, and with only 5 more weeks of school it might seem like even more than we can handle. Before Tony has a heart attack (because he's already explained his position to me a number of times), I would like to state that I agree that College Power Hour is the most important of all of our video endeavors. I see it, as I'm sure many of you do, as a college scrapbook that we can drink to; sort of like our own yearbook. Next, I think Black Out Juice should be completed. Sam and Tony have both volunteered to spend their time working on this, and it'll be pretty straight-forward editing once we sync-up the audio with the video. TV Power Hour, Jack Bauer Power Hour, and Best of Movie Power Hour are the projects that we really need to kick around, discuss the possibilities, and decide whether or not they will come to fruition by the end of the semester.
There are lots of factors to consider with each video, too many for any one man to worry about. And so, at the risk of sounding formal (or even remotely similar to a character on "The Apprentice"), I think we should set up project managers for each video. Everyone will probably be asked to help out in some way on each of the videos, but it would be the project manager's responsibility to organize, keep on schedule, delegate, and oversee all aspects of the video's completion.
Since Tony and Sam have volunteered to handle Black Out Juice, I guess one of them will be in charge of piecing it together and securing the necessary materials. Limmer has offered up his hard-drive as the storage unit for the project. A digital camera is still needed to capture and import the footage.
Earlier in the semester, I sort of thrust College Power Hour upon Chris. I hope that wasn't too presumptious of me. If Chris is still interested in heading it up, that'd be great... if not, we'll figure something out. Tony has set up the g-mail account for all of us to send our pictures to. We should probably all do that within the next week. The more pictures we get, the more options we will have. I'm estimating that we'll need at least 1200 photos (20 photos for each minute). We'll have to come up with 60 categories, as well as 60 different songs. We certainly don't need to use Final Cut to put this video together, we could probably just use one of the photo programs that Apple offers. I believe Sam spoke about one that he has on his computer.
Okay... so now we get down to the not-so-necessary, but incredibly enticing opportunity of creating more Power Hours... People love the Movie Power Hour series. The DVDs are gaining a following throughout the Northeast, Georgia, parts of California, and will soon be hitting the Midwest (once we send out copies to random students at big, state universities). People are sharing them with their friends, they're talking about them with their parents (maybe that's just me and my sister). And let me point out that it's not very often that you have access to such a wide variety of tv shows, movies, digital video cameras, and editing equipment. TV/Movie Power Hours can also be extremely draining, and so it's great that we have so many people to help out with the planning, selection, execution, and post production aspects of each video. We have everything at our fingertips. I really want to take advantage of our resources and complete at least one, if not two more power hours that people will be talking about and enjoying for years to come.
TV Power Hour
An Update - We currently have a list of about 40 shows that we have copies of either on DVD or on VHS. Yesterday, Bry, Lim, and I compiled a wish list of over 20 shows that we could record off of the television and onto a blank VHS tape. We should still keep brainstorming and tossing out shows that we think might work well.
Questions and Issues - How we do find the best minute from each Series? The answer is, we probably won't. Most of the shows that we're using have shot almost 100 episodes, or more. We'd simply have to pick a good minute from one episode and test whether or not it holds up. Would we want to add different genres (aside from drama and comedy)? Should we include a minute from the Weather Channel, a minute from Rachel Ray, a minute from ESPN, a minute from QVC, a minute from Nickelodeon Games and Sports, etc...?
Gameplan - Selecting the right minute is what normally takes the longest time while constructing an MPH. So I think it would save a lot of time if we assigned 6 or 7 shows to each person (shows that that person really enjoys and has seen a number of times), and then have that person watch the shows in their free time; scanning through to find a minute that would work. For example, we would have Mark try to find minutes in "The Shield" and "The 4400," and Limmer can skim through "90210" or "Martin."
Outlook - I was real excited about taking this project on, but then I started wondering how it would turn out, and if people would be psyched for just about every minute, like with MPH. Sam pointed out that TV Power would have a wide appeal (with shows ranging from "X-Files" to "Boy Meets World" to "Spider-Man" to "Grey's Anatomy.") I agree, and that's why I think this project would be worthwile. Nonetheless, I'm not sure if each minute will be the highest quality (since we'd be settling for a good minute, and not seeking out the best minute). Still, I definitely want to do this and I think it would turn out nicely.
Jack Bauer Power Hour
An Update - The possibility of a JBPH has been discussed in many social circles. Hoefl proposed the title a few months ago, and the Circle 14 guys have also kicked around the idea. To the best of my knowledge (and according to the Google Search I did), no one has ever actually made a Jack Bauer Power Hour.
Questions and Issues - Would there be spoilers? Most likely, yes. Sam brought up this issue and also pointed out that we would targeting a much smaller group of people. Certainly, we would be aiming to appeal to only a niche group (24 fans who love Jack Bauer and have followed all the seasons) but I (personally) know tons of people that belong to that group, and I know that they would, without a doubt, love to drink to a JBPH. How would we distinguish between clips? We've talked about using the clock. Would we make each clip 57 seconds and then cut to the clock as it ticks from :58 to :59 to 1:00? This raises the issue of allowing people to know just how far into the power hour they are? Is this 1) good thing 2) bad thing, 3) doesn't matter? People can already just look at the DVD player and find out how far they are? But this would be flashing it right in front of their face... We would probably also fade in the season and hour for each clip.
Gameplan - Bry has seasons 1-3 (I believe), and I'm sure we could get a hold of season 4. We would need to talk about (preferably over an order of wings) our favorite moments from the series. A few spring to my mind almost immeadiately: season 1 - jack in the limo with the rag. season 2 - interrogating Nina. season 2 - jack springing back to life. season 4 - jack wandering off into the sunset. season 1 - staircase scene. season 3 - the mexican brothers want jack to shoot Chase.
Outlook - I was taking a shower yesterday afternoon, thinking about TV Power Hour, and then I started to imagine the possibilities of a 24 power hour. I couldn't stop thinking about how sweet it would be. 24 resembles a movie, and minutes wouldn't be too difficult to find. We would be so invested into each clip, and we could orchestrate the entire power to follow a story arc that we designed. We could have 5 straight clips of Jack Bauer interrogating suspects!!! I'd like to get some feedback on this one. If the DVD comes out nicely, Tina has suggested that I market it to Fox.
Best of Power Hour
An Update - Tony is big on this one. It wouldn't take long. We would just need to decide which 60 clips would make it.
Questions and Issues - Would this take anything away from MPH or MPH2?
Gameplan - It's up to Tony.
Outlook - It's up to Tony.
Keeping all these points in mind, we must also recognize that time is not exactly on our side. It has been proposed that we might work on these projects during Senior Week, but I'm planning on remaining in a drunken state of elation throughout the entire week, paying little attention to any deadlines, dates, or projects. During finals week however, I would be able to devote a solid two-three days of work. I probably have 4 or 5 full, weekend days available during the weeks leading up to finals week. Tony, Limmer, and Jared are also Final Cut savy and could lead an editing session if and when they are available. Like I mentioned before, it's finding the right minute which usually takes the most time, and we can all search for minutes in our spare time at home. Another big issue is finding a digital camera that we can use to capture footage with. Ben Don would probably let us use his for a couple of weekends, but we couldn't use his to capture the Black Out footage (his camera does not take DV tapes).
So what do you guys think? Let's talk about it at Wing Night.
Long Live Power Hours
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Who will win the Girlfriend Olympics???
| Selection | ||
| Allison Perotti | 11% | 2 |
| Tina Capozzi | 42% | 8 |
| Zoe Palanhard to spell | 11% | 2 |
| Jenna Pelky | 16% | 3 |
| Dana Bowman | 21% | 4 |
| | |
| 19 votes total | ||
Chris is currently devising a game show style contest to settle this longstanding debate. I know that many of the girlfriends object to the idea and nature of this competition, but it is on the board, and although the sex off seems like a distant possibility, this will hopefully happen in the next week or so. Plus its not like the loser has to clean the downstairs shower.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Watch The Show
As an Italian-American it always saddens me how The Sopranos is always viewed and critiqued as a show about Italian-Americans and the Mafia when it is, at its core, a show about Italian-Americans and family.
If simply going on "several of the clips of the show" that one has seen, it is feasible to assume that, “The show is about sex, profanity, gambling and violence.” If one actually watches the show, one would find that that is a gross generalization. If you tune out after seeing AJ yelling and cursing at his parents you will miss the types of moments as seen on last weeks episode when AJ is affectionately talking to his hospitalized father, who was recently put into a comma by his delusional Uncle Junior, all the while crying and confidently proclaiming that he will not die, that he will get through this. So AJ yells at his parents, he is a teenager. And to say that that is wrongly portraying an Italian American household is ludicrous because you obviously have never been in my house.
If The Sopranos does not portray Italian-Americans as we really are, then how are we really? Yes, the majority of Italian-Americans are not in the Mafia, but are we all lawyers, teachers, doctors, or sportscasters? No. Watch the show and one would see the abundance of Italian-Americans who exist outside the confines of organized crime. There is Tony's psychologist Dr. Melfi, Tony's neighbor the successful doctor, the characters frequent profitable restaurants and delis owned by Italians, and Tony's own daughter Meadow is in the process of deciding whether to go to law or med school. There is no way, and never will be a way, to portray an entire ethnic group of people completely on screen. But what The Sopranos does do a good job at is portraying what is at the core of many Italian-American families: family.
Family, family, family. That is what this show centers around, not organized crime. The mob ties present in the show are simply the means by which they are able to convey their message of family. If this show were simply about the ins and outs of organized crime and the Mafia there is no way it would have as broad of an appeal as it does. What draws people into the idea of the Mafia is not that killing or other illegal acts, but rather the closeness and loyalty that it breeds and The Sopranos does a fine job of showcasing how, as Italian-Americans, we practice that mentality in every aspect of our lives. Watch the show and you will have a hard time calling any of the characters presented, well maybe besides Pauly Wallnuts, cartoons. These are characters who are richly drawn and experience the wide range of human emotion and experience. It was hard to miss Tony shedding a tear during his daughter's choral concert during one of the first seasons.
To simply say “The show is about sex, profanity, gambling and violence” is, excuse the cliche, judging a book by its cover. As in with any movie or tv show or book or play (and where are the articles complaining about the perpetuation of the negative stereotypes in The Godfather movies and the heralding of them as some of the best movies ever made?), when being marketed and sold to the mass public, the most dramatic and heightened aspects of the given piece of art will be used to draw people in. But once they are in, it is the quieter moments that keep them there.
Are all housewives desperate? Are all jews neurotic like Larry David? Are all 20 somethings vapid airheads? Are all white, bald, blue eyed police officers in LA cop killers?
Is it more discriminating to have a television show like The Sopranos centered around an ethnic group who happen to feed into some widely accepted stereotypes yet being the central figures are able to show the varying shades of their lives and be presented as people rather than cartoon characters or is it better to have a show like The Shield display ethnic groups in passing, as supplemental throw away characters, who perpetuate the negative stereotypes yet never have a chance to tell their story, never have a chance to be portrayed as actual people.
Watch the show and you may catch an episode like the one dealing with the controversy over the celebration of Columbus Day as an Italian-American holiday.
Watch the show and you may catch Dr. Melfi discussing with her psychologist the negative stereotypes she faces as being an Italian-American.
Watch the show and you will see how countless times, despite their many problems, the central Soprano clan congregate at the dinner table or a bb-q and show genuine concern for and clossness with each other.
Watch the show, and then rather than complaining about how it negatively portrays Italian-Americans, educate people on the reality of what it does portray. Do not simply perpetuate the stereotype by pointing it out but rather draw people’s attention to the positive aspects of the show rather than harping on the negatives.
If simply going on "several of the clips of the show" that one has seen, it is feasible to assume that, “The show is about sex, profanity, gambling and violence.” If one actually watches the show, one would find that that is a gross generalization. If you tune out after seeing AJ yelling and cursing at his parents you will miss the types of moments as seen on last weeks episode when AJ is affectionately talking to his hospitalized father, who was recently put into a comma by his delusional Uncle Junior, all the while crying and confidently proclaiming that he will not die, that he will get through this. So AJ yells at his parents, he is a teenager. And to say that that is wrongly portraying an Italian American household is ludicrous because you obviously have never been in my house.
If The Sopranos does not portray Italian-Americans as we really are, then how are we really? Yes, the majority of Italian-Americans are not in the Mafia, but are we all lawyers, teachers, doctors, or sportscasters? No. Watch the show and one would see the abundance of Italian-Americans who exist outside the confines of organized crime. There is Tony's psychologist Dr. Melfi, Tony's neighbor the successful doctor, the characters frequent profitable restaurants and delis owned by Italians, and Tony's own daughter Meadow is in the process of deciding whether to go to law or med school. There is no way, and never will be a way, to portray an entire ethnic group of people completely on screen. But what The Sopranos does do a good job at is portraying what is at the core of many Italian-American families: family.
Family, family, family. That is what this show centers around, not organized crime. The mob ties present in the show are simply the means by which they are able to convey their message of family. If this show were simply about the ins and outs of organized crime and the Mafia there is no way it would have as broad of an appeal as it does. What draws people into the idea of the Mafia is not that killing or other illegal acts, but rather the closeness and loyalty that it breeds and The Sopranos does a fine job of showcasing how, as Italian-Americans, we practice that mentality in every aspect of our lives. Watch the show and you will have a hard time calling any of the characters presented, well maybe besides Pauly Wallnuts, cartoons. These are characters who are richly drawn and experience the wide range of human emotion and experience. It was hard to miss Tony shedding a tear during his daughter's choral concert during one of the first seasons.
To simply say “The show is about sex, profanity, gambling and violence” is, excuse the cliche, judging a book by its cover. As in with any movie or tv show or book or play (and where are the articles complaining about the perpetuation of the negative stereotypes in The Godfather movies and the heralding of them as some of the best movies ever made?), when being marketed and sold to the mass public, the most dramatic and heightened aspects of the given piece of art will be used to draw people in. But once they are in, it is the quieter moments that keep them there.
Are all housewives desperate? Are all jews neurotic like Larry David? Are all 20 somethings vapid airheads? Are all white, bald, blue eyed police officers in LA cop killers?
Is it more discriminating to have a television show like The Sopranos centered around an ethnic group who happen to feed into some widely accepted stereotypes yet being the central figures are able to show the varying shades of their lives and be presented as people rather than cartoon characters or is it better to have a show like The Shield display ethnic groups in passing, as supplemental throw away characters, who perpetuate the negative stereotypes yet never have a chance to tell their story, never have a chance to be portrayed as actual people.
Watch the show and you may catch an episode like the one dealing with the controversy over the celebration of Columbus Day as an Italian-American holiday.
Watch the show and you may catch Dr. Melfi discussing with her psychologist the negative stereotypes she faces as being an Italian-American.
Watch the show and you will see how countless times, despite their many problems, the central Soprano clan congregate at the dinner table or a bb-q and show genuine concern for and clossness with each other.
Watch the show, and then rather than complaining about how it negatively portrays Italian-Americans, educate people on the reality of what it does portray. Do not simply perpetuate the stereotype by pointing it out but rather draw people’s attention to the positive aspects of the show rather than harping on the negatives.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
The Link to the Article
Here's the Sopranos article on espn.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=paolantonio/060321
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=paolantonio/060321
Yes, my dad hates the sopranos
Yes, Sal hates the Sopranos. Just be glad you didn't have to hear his lectures about how much he hates the show and how bad it is for the italian american image EVERY MONDAY before school. I think he has been victimized by some anti-italian american bias in his life... once, in the news room, another reporter told him, "that name belongs on the side of a cement truck, not on a newspaper." And I think that happened a lot--so maybe it is personal.
I do know, however, that he hates the show because it portrays italian americans as acting in the only way that the rest of American society believes that we act. Keep in mind, we all come from the Northeast, which is very heavilly populated with italian americans so we understand that italians hold many legal and worthwhile positions in our communities. However, the rest of America doesn't see a lot of us and therefore may take what we understand as pure stereotype as reality. My dad goes on to argue that there would never--and should never--be a show stereotyping jews as cheap, as blacks as criminal drug dealers and wife beaters, or irish as drunken slobs. I agree that those shows would never make it to TV, but the mafia holds a lot of mystique--people are curious about it. plus, "the god father" and "goodfellas" are two pieces of great art. It is possible to tell a story about the mob in a sensitive, artful manner, which I don't think the Sopranos does.
when sam alito was appointed to the supreme court my dad told me that he was happy to see another italian american in a real position of power. we got into a big argument because i said that, as a white man, alito is not exactly in the minority just because of his italian american heritage. it has been a long time since italian americans have been systematically discriminated against in america-- like 100 years. it is way more important to focus our attention on creating a level playing field in the competition for power in society for non-whites and women than a certian kind of white men.
so that's the argument in the paolantonio household about the sopranos. bottom line: don't ever get him started if you're running late for school.
I do know, however, that he hates the show because it portrays italian americans as acting in the only way that the rest of American society believes that we act. Keep in mind, we all come from the Northeast, which is very heavilly populated with italian americans so we understand that italians hold many legal and worthwhile positions in our communities. However, the rest of America doesn't see a lot of us and therefore may take what we understand as pure stereotype as reality. My dad goes on to argue that there would never--and should never--be a show stereotyping jews as cheap, as blacks as criminal drug dealers and wife beaters, or irish as drunken slobs. I agree that those shows would never make it to TV, but the mafia holds a lot of mystique--people are curious about it. plus, "the god father" and "goodfellas" are two pieces of great art. It is possible to tell a story about the mob in a sensitive, artful manner, which I don't think the Sopranos does.
when sam alito was appointed to the supreme court my dad told me that he was happy to see another italian american in a real position of power. we got into a big argument because i said that, as a white man, alito is not exactly in the minority just because of his italian american heritage. it has been a long time since italian americans have been systematically discriminated against in america-- like 100 years. it is way more important to focus our attention on creating a level playing field in the competition for power in society for non-whites and women than a certian kind of white men.
so that's the argument in the paolantonio household about the sopranos. bottom line: don't ever get him started if you're running late for school.
Simmons Blasts Sal Pal
Dave (NJ): Could you tell Sal Paolantonio to get off his soap box about "The Sopranos" and let him know it is a TV show about the Italian Mafia, which heaven forbid, does exist.
Bill Simmons: (2:59 PM ET ) The half-Italian in me was outraged by Sal's piece. My Stepdad is Italian and his entire Sunday night revolves around that show -- when it came on at 6 here on the HBO East, we watched it, then he scampered back to his hotel room to catch the re-run at 9. I don't know what Sal was talking about. It's like saying that Indiana hoops fans should turn their back on "Hoosiers."
Does anyone know what piece Sal did that this exchange references? Zoe any comments? I know that Chris is a full blooded Italian-American who worships the show like it was Jessica Alba's first nude scene. Does Sal not like that it stereotypes Italian-Americans?
Bill Simmons: (2:59 PM ET ) The half-Italian in me was outraged by Sal's piece. My Stepdad is Italian and his entire Sunday night revolves around that show -- when it came on at 6 here on the HBO East, we watched it, then he scampered back to his hotel room to catch the re-run at 9. I don't know what Sal was talking about. It's like saying that Indiana hoops fans should turn their back on "Hoosiers."
Does anyone know what piece Sal did that this exchange references? Zoe any comments? I know that Chris is a full blooded Italian-American who worships the show like it was Jessica Alba's first nude scene. Does Sal not like that it stereotypes Italian-Americans?
Thank you, Rand.
So i woke up this morning and thought, "Aw, that was a good night. Saw some people i havent seen in a while- good times. Wait, did i see the 613ers last night??" And then it hit me:
"PUTAAAAAA!"
Aaah- Samo. Of course. How could I have forgotten Rand's flagrant abuse of his spanish skills, teaching samo every foul slang expression he knew. Well done, Rand. Gladys would be proud. Too bad anyone in the bar who has ever used their spanish dictionary to look up bad words instead of doing their homework would know that Sam's outbursts of "PUUTTAAA" were not only inappropriate, but offensive (albeit pretty darn hillarious).
And then it all came flooding back. Best part-- although Tony's senior class visor was a close contestant-- was watching Limmer abscond with kimba's (superbly) stolen mushroom slice. Ah- and then kimba getting caught trying to take her second freebie-- Classic. It was a nice evening.
p.s. what a delightful 1st post this turned out to be!
"PUTAAAAAA!"
Aaah- Samo. Of course. How could I have forgotten Rand's flagrant abuse of his spanish skills, teaching samo every foul slang expression he knew. Well done, Rand. Gladys would be proud. Too bad anyone in the bar who has ever used their spanish dictionary to look up bad words instead of doing their homework would know that Sam's outbursts of "PUUTTAAA" were not only inappropriate, but offensive (albeit pretty darn hillarious).
And then it all came flooding back. Best part-- although Tony's senior class visor was a close contestant-- was watching Limmer abscond with kimba's (superbly) stolen mushroom slice. Ah- and then kimba getting caught trying to take her second freebie-- Classic. It was a nice evening.
p.s. what a delightful 1st post this turned out to be!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
i said "people" not "men"
as my first entry on the blog, i would like to clarify that i did not, in fact, have sex with four people on st. patty's day. but thank you sam, for posting that sound bite on the internet. my future employers won't have enough to look at once they see all the pictures of me trashed with my boobs falling out--now there will be a sound track to my college career. oh well, i wouldn't want to work for anyone who wouldn't hire me just because i was into gang banging anyway.
on another note, if the girlfriend olympics does take place (which i'm not advocating) can i be the ref, since i'm not techinically a girlfriend anymore? can i be on the next guess who board?
on another note, if the girlfriend olympics does take place (which i'm not advocating) can i be the ref, since i'm not techinically a girlfriend anymore? can i be on the next guess who board?
I Just Won a Thousand Dollars!
Well, not really, because I am not Keith Hannon. Thanks for the invite to the 613 blog...now get me more sugar water!
P.S. for those of you who did not come to LA with us, the above message is to be read in the voice of the farmer whose body is taken over by an alien in the movie, Men In Black.
Also remember when Mark drunkenly stomped into a hottub full of girls like he was Jesus? That was awesome....a classic move! The thought of it always makes me laugh.
well that was sufficiently random (gotta love A.D.D) I'm gonna go take my clothes off and punch people in the face....oh, and hop shit! Muah, Muah, Muah
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Yankee Haters
F@#$ the Yankees,
Interesting article by the sports business guy at ESPN.com about a guy who makes yankee hater hats and is being sued by the Yankees and MLB. In other news, wednsdays are fantastic.....Time to finish my beer and get another.
-Tony
Interesting article by the sports business guy at ESPN.com about a guy who makes yankee hater hats and is being sued by the Yankees and MLB. In other news, wednsdays are fantastic.....Time to finish my beer and get another.
-Tony
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Barfield?????
I think a lot of 613ers, ESPN viewers, and Gammon's fans alike were confused by his incredibly obscure reference to a baseball player reicarnated in the body of Willy Mo Pena.
Gammons wrote (and mentioned in a segment on sportscenter)
"The Red Sox hope this is a deal for today, giving them a boost against lefties and cutting down on the lefties coming out of the bullpen to face Nixon -- and for the future. Pena loves to play, wants to learn and because he was out of options and in the big leagues at 20, his development has been seriously retarded. Boston hopes it has another Jessie Barfield who after the age of 23 and with almost an identical number of at-bats, had a .309 on-base percentage, the same exact .780 OPS and 45 homers, in contrast to Pena's 51."
I looked up Barfield's career on BaseballReference.com and if Gammons is right, the sox have just picked up an outfielder that will hit 14 home runs and knock in 49 RBI's this year.
Gammons wrote (and mentioned in a segment on sportscenter)
"The Red Sox hope this is a deal for today, giving them a boost against lefties and cutting down on the lefties coming out of the bullpen to face Nixon -- and for the future. Pena loves to play, wants to learn and because he was out of options and in the big leagues at 20, his development has been seriously retarded. Boston hopes it has another Jessie Barfield who after the age of 23 and with almost an identical number of at-bats, had a .309 on-base percentage, the same exact .780 OPS and 45 homers, in contrast to Pena's 51."
I looked up Barfield's career on BaseballReference.com and if Gammons is right, the sox have just picked up an outfielder that will hit 14 home runs and knock in 49 RBI's this year.
Funny Basketball Story
Its incredible that this story came to me from the UK rather than Tony K. or Wilbon.
Check this link out. The story is about a recent USC v. Cal basketball game.
Check this link out. The story is about a recent USC v. Cal basketball game.
The peak of Jason Alexander's career.
The performance in this classic 80's McDonalds commercial rivals Chris's imitation of Enrique.
Commercial
Commercial
Monday, March 20, 2006
Oh Edgar
The sports guy daily links page offers this article on everyone's favorite dead tech analyst. Its so sad to see him go out like chris loozing a foosball game.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
St. Patty's Day
Well, St Patty's Day was quite a day of drinking.
I started early with liminowski at 1:00 with a glass of Irish coffee. Before I had finished the coffee the soon to be puking Limmer was already polishing off a vodka tonic. We then went down to Kilpatricks, chilled with Dave-- the overweight drunk hitting on 40 year old women, hada free pint of guinness on the bartender, and then polished off our first car-bomb before going back to 613. When we got home official skippy taster Tony was drinking a few glasses of skippy that Rand had accidentally put too much vodka in. Once the dyed green juice was primed and in the fridge waiting for the party to begin, Mark, Tony, Lim and I got ready for a Car bomb. Some how, we convinced Lim to chug a glass of irish whisky. When he finished the glass, he chased it with some vodka tonic, and was completely unphazed...yet.
The Field Hockey team arrived a little before six, bringing cupcakes, some excellent cleave, and their usual appetite for drinking. I brought out my Irish flag of jello shots, and the girls downed them quickly, moving on to tina's cupcakes that were dyed green and excellent.
At this point in the night my memory starts getting blurry. I know that Anne Fortune did do her first car bomb and yell that was the illest; she also gave me irish tap dancing type lessons. Later we played flip cup and Marrissa -- with her helmet, and homemade shirt reading "today Im irish tomorrow I'm hungover"-- played well. Unfotunatley it didn't translate to the foosball table. Chris and Bri accomplished the second shutout in the history of 613. Mel and helmet girl, to their credit, stripped to their dundees, and ran around the house.
We then brought out a bunch of bowls of jello. Chris and tina shoved jello into everyones mouths. We all rocked out to O-town, jared and chris actually beat me and mark in foosball and Rand made BBQ wings.
The rest of the night is reallllllly blacked out. All I know is that lim stole pizza, Mark and I did an excellent job balancing, and Jenna fell down stairs, bruising her knee, and trasnforming into drunk pelky.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
613 Email
I have gone ahead and set up a email account for everyone to send pictures to for the college power hour. It is 613Hudson@gmail.com So email any and all pictures you have that you want included in the college power hour......
-Tony
-Tony
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Isaac Hayes and 'South Park'
Isaac Hayes Wants Out of 'South Park' - Creators only too happy to oblige - Zap2it
Mark was talking about this earlier
Mark was talking about this earlier
Blogger Help : What is BlogThis! ?
Blogger Help : What is BlogThis! ?
To make it easier to publish links to the blog, click on this link and follow the easy instructions. It takes under a min.
Anyone want to send a drunk dial to the blog?? It sounds nerdy, but then again so is living with chris. Go to this link and set up your own drunk dial number. Again it will only take a min.
To make it easier to publish links to the blog, click on this link and follow the easy instructions. It takes under a min.
Anyone want to send a drunk dial to the blog?? It sounds nerdy, but then again so is living with chris. Go to this link and set up your own drunk dial number. Again it will only take a min.
Boxed Wine and Nachos With Cheese: A Look Back
It's been a few weeks since we hosted this party. I'm posting a late entry because it took a little time to gain some perspective.
A few things have become clear to me and I'd like to share my insights with you:
People can't say no to a tub of cheese
ICFH just might be able to beat us in the "Who can eat their never-ending bowl of chips at Chili's the fastest" game
White Sangria tastes like "Capri Sun"
The only thing Tony wants to do in life is go to Vegas
Chris has a child molester outfit which consists of a brown t-shirt, black suspenders, slicked-back hair, and grey pants... (we should have never let him change into something appropriate)
"Walking in Memphis" is a great drunk sing-a-long
People buy into the concept of "free t-shirts" without any hesitation, but apparently they have a hard time believing that someone would actually give away free souvenir glasses. Nearly all of the glasses we gave out were left at our house... we should play beirut with them one night, it'll feel like we're trying to win a prize at one of those impossible carnival games that I vowed to never play again after spending $20 at Dorney Park only to settle for the consolation prize (a Slurpee my mom promised to give me if I'd stop)... much thanks go out to Rob for buying the glasses
To heat up a bowl of chese - Microwave uncovered for 50 seconds, take out and stir. Microwave for another 45 seconds, take out and stir. Microwave for a final 50 seconds, take out, stir, and serve... always serve to field hockey players first... if you have trouble finding the field hockey players, don't worry, they'll find you.
Tony's children will probably miss out on Christmas one year because when he's wasted, he'll search the Internet and decide to spend $3000 on a tie worn by David Duchovny, using the only credit card his wife still lets him keep. Mark will be standing right behind him when he makes the purchase.
It doesn't matter how much you've had to drink, whenever someone puts on a Movie Power Hour, you are able to summon an inner strength and down some more.
Boxed Wine and Nachos with Cheese go together like a sheet pizza and 20 wings (or buffalo chicken and a cheesteak if that helps).
A few things have become clear to me and I'd like to share my insights with you:
People can't say no to a tub of cheese
ICFH just might be able to beat us in the "Who can eat their never-ending bowl of chips at Chili's the fastest" game
White Sangria tastes like "Capri Sun"
The only thing Tony wants to do in life is go to Vegas
Chris has a child molester outfit which consists of a brown t-shirt, black suspenders, slicked-back hair, and grey pants... (we should have never let him change into something appropriate)
"Walking in Memphis" is a great drunk sing-a-long
People buy into the concept of "free t-shirts" without any hesitation, but apparently they have a hard time believing that someone would actually give away free souvenir glasses. Nearly all of the glasses we gave out were left at our house... we should play beirut with them one night, it'll feel like we're trying to win a prize at one of those impossible carnival games that I vowed to never play again after spending $20 at Dorney Park only to settle for the consolation prize (a Slurpee my mom promised to give me if I'd stop)... much thanks go out to Rob for buying the glasses
To heat up a bowl of chese - Microwave uncovered for 50 seconds, take out and stir. Microwave for another 45 seconds, take out and stir. Microwave for a final 50 seconds, take out, stir, and serve... always serve to field hockey players first... if you have trouble finding the field hockey players, don't worry, they'll find you.
Tony's children will probably miss out on Christmas one year because when he's wasted, he'll search the Internet and decide to spend $3000 on a tie worn by David Duchovny, using the only credit card his wife still lets him keep. Mark will be standing right behind him when he makes the purchase.
It doesn't matter how much you've had to drink, whenever someone puts on a Movie Power Hour, you are able to summon an inner strength and down some more.
Boxed Wine and Nachos with Cheese go together like a sheet pizza and 20 wings (or buffalo chicken and a cheesteak if that helps).
Monday, March 13, 2006
St. Guinness Day
This Friday March 17 is St. Patty's Day and because its on the To Do list and is possibly the greatest drinking holiday of the year, 613 is having a part. The details of the party are not finalized but a few things are certain: there will be large amounts of guinness, Irish whisky, and Irish cream. I can almost guarantee a belligerently drunk Limmer, Tony falling asleep in our bathroom, my little brother coming to Ithaca, and lots and lots of car bombs.
Personally, I am looking forward to the first batch of green skippy, seeing our favorite drunk FH players, and hearing Ann fortune yell "that was the illest" after she does a carbomb.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Everyone's a Little Bit Racist
Sitting in the mall today waiting for some shopping to finish I had a few minutes to think about the statement 'Everyone's a little bit racist.' It's an idea that many people have grown to accept, and popular culture is perpetuating in the musical Avenue Q, which I haven't seen but which has a hilarious soundtrack--including the song 'Everyone's a little bit racist.'
But it's a false idea which misinterprets the meaning of the word racism and thus breeds an unintellectual misunderstanding of cultural bias.
For example, this summer I lived in the Bronx. One night I was walking down dark alley and I felt a slight pang of fear when I saw a burly Black thug walking toward me. Some people jumped to the conclusion that that meant I'm a little racist.
No, it doesn't. What it does mean is that I lived and worked in the Bronx all summer, and knew a little bit about the area. People are stabbed there every month for intruding on drug deals, looking at people wrong, messing with gangs, or just in random muggings. It happens that most of the criminals are either Hispanic or Black.
If I were a little bit racist I would say, 'Of course the criminals are Hispanic or Black, Hispanics and Blacks are violent and deviant BECAUSE they are HIspanic and Black. It's in their Blood.' Racism means attributing certain characteristics to a person because of their race. Then, whenever I saw one of these people I would be scared a little BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE.
But I wasn't scared of the burly thug because of his race.
I would have been scared if he were Black, Hispanic, White, Asian, Polish whatever. I was scared because he was a thug, and thugs in my neighborhood were generally poor and generally involved in illegal, and often violent, activities.
That's the misinterpretation. We often attribute our feelings of insecurity to RACE instead of to the contextual, environmental and socio-economical factors of the situation.
There were a lot of Black criminals in my neighborhood. Not because Blacks are inherently more criminal than whites, but because history has placed more Blacks than it has whites in crime inducing contexts.
Overcoming this misinterpretation of our feelings and misunderstanding of what Racism means is a major step in coming to grips with our personal conflicts and insecurities in our race-charged culture.
But it's a false idea which misinterprets the meaning of the word racism and thus breeds an unintellectual misunderstanding of cultural bias.
For example, this summer I lived in the Bronx. One night I was walking down dark alley and I felt a slight pang of fear when I saw a burly Black thug walking toward me. Some people jumped to the conclusion that that meant I'm a little racist.
No, it doesn't. What it does mean is that I lived and worked in the Bronx all summer, and knew a little bit about the area. People are stabbed there every month for intruding on drug deals, looking at people wrong, messing with gangs, or just in random muggings. It happens that most of the criminals are either Hispanic or Black.
If I were a little bit racist I would say, 'Of course the criminals are Hispanic or Black, Hispanics and Blacks are violent and deviant BECAUSE they are HIspanic and Black. It's in their Blood.' Racism means attributing certain characteristics to a person because of their race. Then, whenever I saw one of these people I would be scared a little BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE.
But I wasn't scared of the burly thug because of his race.
I would have been scared if he were Black, Hispanic, White, Asian, Polish whatever. I was scared because he was a thug, and thugs in my neighborhood were generally poor and generally involved in illegal, and often violent, activities.
That's the misinterpretation. We often attribute our feelings of insecurity to RACE instead of to the contextual, environmental and socio-economical factors of the situation.
There were a lot of Black criminals in my neighborhood. Not because Blacks are inherently more criminal than whites, but because history has placed more Blacks than it has whites in crime inducing contexts.
Overcoming this misinterpretation of our feelings and misunderstanding of what Racism means is a major step in coming to grips with our personal conflicts and insecurities in our race-charged culture.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
gladwell dot com - the moral hazard myth
gladwell dot com - the moral hazard myth
This is an excellent article about America's heath care system. Kind of unrelated to the normal content on the blog, but worth reading.
This is an excellent article about America's heath care system. Kind of unrelated to the normal content on the blog, but worth reading.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
Two Restaurants to Avoid
Don't eat at Dempsey's or Benchwarmers.
I realize that doing the Fat Chick is on our list, but the owner of Benchwarmers is a dick. I called to ask if he could spare 15 minutes for a photojournalism assignment I had, making a portrait of a local restuarant owner. Other people in the class got great responses, some even got free food. But Tom, Benchwarmers' owner, just said, "I'm not interested, I don't have any time." then he hung up. He also turned us down for A Commons' Cause last semester. I don't understand why he keeps trying to alienate college students, who make up his prime costumer base. Whatever
You'd think that Dempsey's, which I'd never even heard of before class, would be happy for a little extra promotion. They weren't. They were rude. And I bet their food sucks too, stay away from there.
As for the Fat Chick, I realize this presents a problem. Maybe we should do it and then walk out on the bill.
Fuck Tom.
I realize that doing the Fat Chick is on our list, but the owner of Benchwarmers is a dick. I called to ask if he could spare 15 minutes for a photojournalism assignment I had, making a portrait of a local restuarant owner. Other people in the class got great responses, some even got free food. But Tom, Benchwarmers' owner, just said, "I'm not interested, I don't have any time." then he hung up. He also turned us down for A Commons' Cause last semester. I don't understand why he keeps trying to alienate college students, who make up his prime costumer base. Whatever
You'd think that Dempsey's, which I'd never even heard of before class, would be happy for a little extra promotion. They weren't. They were rude. And I bet their food sucks too, stay away from there.
As for the Fat Chick, I realize this presents a problem. Maybe we should do it and then walk out on the bill.
Fuck Tom.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
(Boxed) Wine and (Nachos with) Cheese Party
You are cordially invited to attend a soiree of epic proportions... this Friday 613 will play host to the first ever (I think) Boxed Wine and Nachos with Cheese Party.
Linda Geiger picked up 2 tubs of cheese (each weighing more than 6 pounds) and two big bags of chips which she supplied me with over this past weekend. We're going to grab some cheap platters/trays and get plastic bowls to place in the middle of each tray and fill up with microwavable cheese (is your mouth watering yet?). We're still considering just how many boxes of wine to pick up. I'm thinking we need at least ten, just to be safe. Maybe if people come in groups of 5 or more, they could bring along an extra box-o-wine and add to the surplus. We'll probably have like 3 or 4 boxes out at all times. Everyone will be equipped with a cheap, plastic wine glass.
Attire is formally casual... which is to say, a little bit of class but still retaining the cheapness that both boxed wine and nacho cheese have come to represent. I'm thinking about wearing a button-down shirt and tie, dress pants, and flip-flops. We might have an official CD for the party: pop tracks layed over classical music... Jer is pretty busy but he might be able to bang it out for us.
The event will take place from 10:30 pm - ??? (maybe 613 club, I don't know). I will be supplying orange soda for those who are interested in partaking in some delicious "tinto verano" (a popular Spanish drink, typically consumed at the beach, which calls for 12 oz red wine, 2 oz orange soda, and a little bit of ice). If guests do bring their own alcohol, we are urging them to only bring boxed wine, but if someone gets physically ill on account of the stuff, or if they just put up a big fight, I guess it would be okay for them to bring their own liquor/beer.
If you have any suggestions/additions/party planning ideas/potential conflicts/etc... toss 'em in the ring.
Alright good stuff. You stay quasi-classy 613. Spread the word.
Linda Geiger picked up 2 tubs of cheese (each weighing more than 6 pounds) and two big bags of chips which she supplied me with over this past weekend. We're going to grab some cheap platters/trays and get plastic bowls to place in the middle of each tray and fill up with microwavable cheese (is your mouth watering yet?). We're still considering just how many boxes of wine to pick up. I'm thinking we need at least ten, just to be safe. Maybe if people come in groups of 5 or more, they could bring along an extra box-o-wine and add to the surplus. We'll probably have like 3 or 4 boxes out at all times. Everyone will be equipped with a cheap, plastic wine glass.
Attire is formally casual... which is to say, a little bit of class but still retaining the cheapness that both boxed wine and nacho cheese have come to represent. I'm thinking about wearing a button-down shirt and tie, dress pants, and flip-flops. We might have an official CD for the party: pop tracks layed over classical music... Jer is pretty busy but he might be able to bang it out for us.
The event will take place from 10:30 pm - ??? (maybe 613 club, I don't know). I will be supplying orange soda for those who are interested in partaking in some delicious "tinto verano" (a popular Spanish drink, typically consumed at the beach, which calls for 12 oz red wine, 2 oz orange soda, and a little bit of ice). If guests do bring their own alcohol, we are urging them to only bring boxed wine, but if someone gets physically ill on account of the stuff, or if they just put up a big fight, I guess it would be okay for them to bring their own liquor/beer.
If you have any suggestions/additions/party planning ideas/potential conflicts/etc... toss 'em in the ring.
Alright good stuff. You stay quasi-classy 613. Spread the word.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Join 613
If you would like to be a contributer to 613hudson type your email address in a comments post.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
This Past Weekend
This weekend was reasonably productive. Although 613 was without one of its most motivated members (Rand) we were still able to accomplish three tasks from the To-Do list.
Friday night seven people went to chilis and order different variations of their excellent Chipotle burger. I ordered mine with no bacon and no tomatoes and Bry had is with chicken instead of beef. Our waiter was a superhero. He actually goes to Chilis restraints for their openings to make sure they run smoothly. Needless to say, he perfectly executed our order, replaced our waters without asking, and received an excellent tip. A chilis insider revealed that he actually complained about our annoying and absurd request of 7 chipotle burgers.
At ten, we did Edward Forty Hands for the first time. Surprise Surprise Lim finished first, mark finished second and Tinalolina quickly followed. Most of us went down to the bars, and ate pizza where we saw 613's favorite lady.
After the bars: In the battle against 416 we ransacked their house, responding to their theft of bry's mets hat. The war is still tame but I imagine it will start to get interesting.
Late night, on a technicality, we actually completed one of the more difficult task. In a game of Halo at Tony's house Mark killed Lucas in the video game. Because that's as close as we are going to get, we voted to count it.
On Saturday, we went to Isabelle's. Some hightlights: pissing Russell off, Gul, Lauren Romeo getting drunk on hatorade
Great quote from the All-star game: Chales Barkley on Beyonce Knowles "If you see a woman that pretty how can you go see brokeback mt.
Also, some unnamed asshole puked in Shark and Petri.
Friday night seven people went to chilis and order different variations of their excellent Chipotle burger. I ordered mine with no bacon and no tomatoes and Bry had is with chicken instead of beef. Our waiter was a superhero. He actually goes to Chilis restraints for their openings to make sure they run smoothly. Needless to say, he perfectly executed our order, replaced our waters without asking, and received an excellent tip. A chilis insider revealed that he actually complained about our annoying and absurd request of 7 chipotle burgers.
At ten, we did Edward Forty Hands for the first time. Surprise Surprise Lim finished first, mark finished second and Tinalolina quickly followed. Most of us went down to the bars, and ate pizza where we saw 613's favorite lady.
After the bars: In the battle against 416 we ransacked their house, responding to their theft of bry's mets hat. The war is still tame but I imagine it will start to get interesting.
Late night, on a technicality, we actually completed one of the more difficult task. In a game of Halo at Tony's house Mark killed Lucas in the video game. Because that's as close as we are going to get, we voted to count it.
On Saturday, we went to Isabelle's. Some hightlights: pissing Russell off, Gul, Lauren Romeo getting drunk on hatorade
Great quote from the All-star game: Chales Barkley on Beyonce Knowles "If you see a woman that pretty how can you go see brokeback mt.
Also, some unnamed asshole puked in Shark and Petri.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Biting the Bullet
The day has finally arrived.
I had always hoped it would never come to this.
I had always hoped that this would only persist to exist in our memories.
But no.
The documentation of the events of that one fateful weekday evening of boredom and complete spontaneity from way back in the Fall of 2003 has once again surfaced.
After much deliberation and the painful realization that this would eventually find its way onto this blog once the word spread, I have decided to take my own fate into my own hands and post it here myself.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with a heavy heart that I present to you...
HERO
I had always hoped it would never come to this.
I had always hoped that this would only persist to exist in our memories.
But no.
The documentation of the events of that one fateful weekday evening of boredom and complete spontaneity from way back in the Fall of 2003 has once again surfaced.
After much deliberation and the painful realization that this would eventually find its way onto this blog once the word spread, I have decided to take my own fate into my own hands and post it here myself.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with a heavy heart that I present to you...
HERO
Monday, February 13, 2006
Check the lower posts
The Gammons article is real long. Make sure to check out the posts about the weekend and the field hockey boobies
In Case You Dont Have ESPN Insider
A whole new ballgame in '06
Feb. 12
In the Northeast, there is little to do but stay inside and read Doris Kearns Goodwin's monumental biography of Abraham Lincoln. It is the definitive study of learning, and in its own way a manual for all general managers torn between doing the right and the popular. Meanwhile, outside is a reminder why it is a good time for pitchers and catchers to report -- from Tucson, Ariz., to Winter Haven, Fla. This spring, there is a lot that's new, a list that for the fifth straight spring training does not include an owner for the ExpoNationals. First, we have the World Baseball Classic, a terrific idea for the game's worldwide marketing. We are constantly reminded that the event has no perfect formula. As rosters are constructed piecemeal, one suggestion is to focus less on who may be coming up sore (players do get hurt every spring) or why South Africa is in, and focus more on this initial WBC being a trial run that eventually will be more significant in growing the Asian, Latin and European markets than any U.S. television ratings will demonstrate in the shadow of March Madness. Next, we have the continued specter of weaning the sport off the steroids of the '90s and the amphetamines of the last 50 years. Medical friends remind me that the chemists who create the designer drugs make a lot more money than those who devise the tests, so don't expect the prototypical body to belong to John McDonald. As for amphetamines, some have suggested that we will see a lot of 2-1 games in August. Jayson Stark thinks we may see Starbucks and Peet's in every clubhouse, and we shall see how players find new ways to get "Start Me Up/I'll Never Stops," such as the growing Ritalin abuse. Jim Leyland is back, managing the Tigers. Grady Little, too, with the Dodgers. Jim Tracy joyfully fled L.A. for Pittsburgh. Longtime Angels lieutenant Joe Maddon has been entrusted with leading the Devil Rays out of their Dark Ages, while Joe Girardi is entrusted with the new reconstruction of the Marlins. Meanwhile, there are dozens of significant old faces in new places: Mike Piazza in San Diego; Nomar Garciaparra, Rafael Furcal and Bill Mueller in LA; Matt Morris in San Francisco; Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca in Queens; Alfonso Soriano in Washington; Johnny Damon in the South Bronx; Coco Crisp, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell in Boston; Kris and Anna Benson in Baltimore; A.J. Burnett, B.J. Ryan, Lyle Overbay, Troy Glaus and Bengie Molina in Toronto; Jim Thome and Javier Vazquez on Chicago's South Side; Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley in Oakland; Kevin Millwood and Brad Wilkerson in Texas ...
1. Jeremy Hermida, OF, Florida: "If there is a can't-miss hitting prospect, it is Hermida," says one AL GM. "He's a star." Problem is, in 2006, there won't be a lot around him in the Marlins' lineup other than Miguel Cabrera. GMs drool at Hermida's 111-walk/89K numbers in the minors, and his 1.017 OPS in September. With Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez and all the pitching Larry Beinfest is stockpiling, the reconstruction may not take as long as the last time the Marlins broke up the team. That is, if they don't have to move from South Beach to a strip mall in Tecumcari, N.M.
1. Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota: Injuries have essentially limited him to one full season, in which he had 52 extra-base hits and an .811 OPS. "His knee is fine now, and he wants to catch 135 games," says GM Terry Ryan. "If that happens, he could be the best catcher in the game," says one NL GM. "He is an extraordinary handler of pitchers, and he's an impact hitter who makes contact and drives the ball with power to the alleys." 2. Casey Kotchman,1B, LA Angels: "He is going to take off," says one coach. Injuries held him back in the minors, but he put up the rarest numbers -- more walks and more extra-base hits than strikeouts -- and Angels coaches say he's learning to lift the ball. 3. Coco Crisp, CF, Boston: "He has gone to the right place -- big crowds, pressure," says one NL GM. "He will love the attention, and as one of the best fastball hitters in the game, he will prosper in front of Manny and Ortiz." Here's his career track over the last three years: 15-24-42 doubles, 3-15-16 homers, .655-.730-.810 OPS. 4. Jeremy Reed, CF, Seattle: His .322 OBP was a disappointment, but he had the wrist injury. "Every number shows he was the best defensive center fielder in our league," says one AL official. "And he's going to hit. Just look at his history." 5. Scott Kazmir, LHP, Tampa Bay: He's put on 20 pounds, and already has 215 strikeouts in 219 major-league innings. "He's at the point in his career when his command should improve," says a scout, "and when that happens, he could be a star." 6. Brad Wilkerson, OF, Texas: OK, he fell from 32 to 11 homers, but he was hurt and played at pitcher-friendly RFK Stadium. Now get him healthy and put him in the AL's best park for left-handed batters ... 7. Mike Gonzalez, Closer, Pittsburgh: "We're giving him a chance to become one of the elite relievers," says GM Dave Littlefield. The numbers -- 101 2/3 IP, 71 H, 119 K -- speak for his stuff, and after two setup seasons he's ready to close. 8. Matt Murton, OF, Cubs: The Red Sox could not have won the 2004 World Series without including him in the Nomar Garciaparra trade, but they wish they had him back. Murton jumped from Double-A, had a .907 OPS and showed the Cubs that not only can he hit, but he can run and has makeup that's off the charts. 9. Justin Morneau, 1B, Minnesota: In a short time, Morneau has become a controversial figure. He had several injuries, but his willingness to play was questioned by teammates and the .304 OBP was distressing. But he has a big-time bat and power, and in a down time for American League first basemen, he still intrigues many in the game. 10. Erik Bedard, LHP, Baltimore: He is 12-18, 4.31 lifetime, and has yet to get past the command problems of getting from 0-and-2 to 3-and-2. But the stuff is there, and when teams like the Cubs asked for him in deals, assistant GM Jim Duquette told them he considers Bedard a potential No. 1 starter who cannot be moved until proven otherwise. Also receiving multiple votes: Rickie Weeks, 2B, Milwaukee; Conor Jackson, 1B, Arizona; Jose Castillo, 2B, Pittsburgh; Macay McBride, LHP, Atlanta.
1. Eric Gagne, CL, LA Dodgers
2. Rocco Baldelli, CF, Tampa Bay
3. Frank Thomas, DH, Oakland.
4. Jim Thome, DH, Chicago WS
5. Ben Sheets, RHP, Milwaukee
6. Barry Bonds, LF, San Francisco
7. Nomar Garciaparra, 1B, LA Dodgers
8. Mike Lowell, 3B, Boston
9. Scott Rolen, 3B, St. Louis
10. Edgar Renteria, SS, Atlanta Also receiving multiple votes: Zack Greinke, Kansas City; Kip Wells and Oliver Perez, Pittsburgh; Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, Cubs; Curt Schilling, Boston. Gagne changes the Dodgers into a major bullpen power, with Danys Baez, Yhency Brazoban and Jonathan Broxton in front of him. Thomas completely changes the A's, Rolen the Cardinals' lineup and defense, Renteria the Braves, and the Red Sox will go as far as the comebacks of Lowell, Schilling and Keith Foulke take them.
Think back to this time, last year. Other than USA Today's Bob Nightengale, did anyone think the White Sox would not only win the world championship, but end up with a case as one of the five best teams of the last two decades? Honestly, did you really believe the Athletics were a 90-win team? Or that the Braves would finish first, again? There were many of us who believed the Twins had a great chance to win the World Series. Sure, everyone believes the Blue Jays can make a run at the Yankees and Red Sox. The White Sox and Athletics seem to be the teams most likely to make the World Series from the American League, the Cardinals in the NL. Every season, there are dramatic surprises. Every spring, there are teams that we are curious to see for different reasons, and here are six teams I cannot wait to see unfurl: 1. Milwaukee Brewers: They finished at .500 for the first time since 1992 after averaging 69 wins a season from '99 through '04. With Fielder, Weeks, J.J. Hardy (.565 first half OPS, .865 second half) and Bill Hall, they have a strong core of young players to blend with veterans Carlos Lee, Geoff Jenkins and Corey Koskie. Now, if Ben Sheets can just stay healthy, the pitching can be good, especially with Mike Maddux handling it. Here's a question: Can you rank the top four left-handed pitchers in strikeouts last season? If you guessed Johan Santana (238), Randy Johnson (211), Doug Davis (208) and Chris Capuano (176), you won. Doug Melvin has quietly stocked the pitching with deals for Davis, Capuano, Derrick Turnbow, David Bush, Jose Capellan, Matt Wise, Tomo Ohka and Zach Jackson, and they now may have the depth to creep up from 81 toward 90 wins if the young players continue to develop. 2. Pittsburgh Pirates: Littlefield knew the rebuilding would be a slow process, but now, in 2006, his concentration on pitching may pay off. If Jim Colborn can help Kip Wells and Oliver Perez, then with Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and several other young arms and a bullpen with three power lefties, the improvement can come quickly. There is some more money, as evidenced by Littlefield holding onto the much-sought Craig Wilson. Sean Casey, Joe Randa and Jeromy Burnitz aren't impact bats, but they can play and help younger players like Chris Duffy, Jose Castillo and Ryan Doumit and provide depth around Jason Bay. The Pirates have not reached .500 since Barry Bonds left after the 1992 season, so to approach it after averaging a 67-92 record in the ensuing full seasons would be a significant step forward. 3. Arizona Diamondbacks: They have had only two straight losing seasons, but with a new regime there is a lot of hope. Where Stephen Drew, Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin, Chris Young, Dustin Nippert and Miguel Montero track from February to September will be one of the ongoing storylines. This new front office changes everything. 4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Maddon is not going to turn the Rays into instant contenders. But as he points out, he has a lot of offense, and Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Aubrey Huff, Jorge Cantu, Jonny Gomes, Travis Lee and Julio Lugo can hit anywhere in the lineup. There is the Sean Burroughs resurrection story, and the wait on the elder Upton and younger Young. GM Andrew Friedman has to restock the young pitching to go with Kazmir. While there are serious doubts about the two Rice No. 1 picks -- Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend are a combined 0-6 in pro ball and are nearly 24 -- getting Edwin Jackson and Chuck Tiffany was a move in the right direction. Lugo, Huff and others will likely be traded during spring training or during the season for more young arms. 5. Texas Rangers: With Kevin Millwood, Adam Eaton and Vicente Padilla, Buck Showalter finally has some starters in front of his bullpen, as well as all the young pitchers John Hart accrued over the years. Wilkerson may find heaven, Ian Kinsler can step in at second, and if Hank Blalock can turn things around, the Rangers can make a nice run in the AL West. 6. Minnesota Twins: There had been expectations that their offseason moves would be sexier than getting Luis Castillo and Tony Batista. To get enough offense, Torii Hunter must be healthy and Mauer, Morneau, Michael Cuddyer and/or Jason Kubel must take off. If the Twins get close, they can be scary with Santana, Liriano, Carlos Silva and Brad Radke starting and Joe Nathan in front of a deep bullpen, and they can beat anyone in September and October. The White Sox are formidable, but the AL Central is potentially a deep, talented division. If the Tigers can keep Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez healthy, they are dangerous. And the Indians have some of the best young talent in the game. If their starters remain healthy, if in the second half they get help from a couple out of the Adam Miller/Jeremy Sowers/Fausto Carmona/Fernando Cabrera/Tony Sipp group, if Andy Marte emerges and if the plate discipline Franklin Gutierrez showed in Venezuela translates to the regular season, this could be a pennant-winning team. As pitchers and catchers begin reporting Wednesday, at least half the teams in baseball believe they have a reasonable chance to make it into the league divisional series. And as Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi always says, "If you can make it into the playoffs, it's like March Madness -- anything can happen."
 | Special to ESPN.com |
Feb. 12
In the Northeast, there is little to do but stay inside and read Doris Kearns Goodwin's monumental biography of Abraham Lincoln. It is the definitive study of learning, and in its own way a manual for all general managers torn between doing the right and the popular. Meanwhile, outside is a reminder why it is a good time for pitchers and catchers to report -- from Tucson, Ariz., to Winter Haven, Fla. This spring, there is a lot that's new, a list that for the fifth straight spring training does not include an owner for the ExpoNationals. First, we have the World Baseball Classic, a terrific idea for the game's worldwide marketing. We are constantly reminded that the event has no perfect formula. As rosters are constructed piecemeal, one suggestion is to focus less on who may be coming up sore (players do get hurt every spring) or why South Africa is in, and focus more on this initial WBC being a trial run that eventually will be more significant in growing the Asian, Latin and European markets than any U.S. television ratings will demonstrate in the shadow of March Madness. Next, we have the continued specter of weaning the sport off the steroids of the '90s and the amphetamines of the last 50 years. Medical friends remind me that the chemists who create the designer drugs make a lot more money than those who devise the tests, so don't expect the prototypical body to belong to John McDonald. As for amphetamines, some have suggested that we will see a lot of 2-1 games in August. Jayson Stark thinks we may see Starbucks and Peet's in every clubhouse, and we shall see how players find new ways to get "Start Me Up/I'll Never Stops," such as the growing Ritalin abuse. Jim Leyland is back, managing the Tigers. Grady Little, too, with the Dodgers. Jim Tracy joyfully fled L.A. for Pittsburgh. Longtime Angels lieutenant Joe Maddon has been entrusted with leading the Devil Rays out of their Dark Ages, while Joe Girardi is entrusted with the new reconstruction of the Marlins. Meanwhile, there are dozens of significant old faces in new places: Mike Piazza in San Diego; Nomar Garciaparra, Rafael Furcal and Bill Mueller in LA; Matt Morris in San Francisco; Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca in Queens; Alfonso Soriano in Washington; Johnny Damon in the South Bronx; Coco Crisp, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell in Boston; Kris and Anna Benson in Baltimore; A.J. Burnett, B.J. Ryan, Lyle Overbay, Troy Glaus and Bengie Molina in Toronto; Jim Thome and Javier Vazquez on Chicago's South Side; Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley in Oakland; Kevin Millwood and Brad Wilkerson in Texas ...
But we still don't know if we'll see Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro or Sammy Sosa again, or what we'll see in Barry Bonds.
Which leads to the first poll of the season. More than 50 executives, scouts, managers and coaches were asked three questions: Of all the rookies and young players in their first full seasons, which do you believe will eventually be "difference makers"?1. Jeremy Hermida, OF, Florida: "If there is a can't-miss hitting prospect, it is Hermida," says one AL GM. "He's a star." Problem is, in 2006, there won't be a lot around him in the Marlins' lineup other than Miguel Cabrera. GMs drool at Hermida's 111-walk/89K numbers in the minors, and his 1.017 OPS in September. With Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez and all the pitching Larry Beinfest is stockpiling, the reconstruction may not take as long as the last time the Marlins broke up the team. That is, if they don't have to move from South Beach to a strip mall in Tecumcari, N.M.
2. Francisco Liriano, LHP, Minnesota: The second gem from the A.J. Pierzynski trade is 22 years old, touches 97-98 mph, and had funky and Santana-esque numbers that included 126 hits allowed and 204 strikeouts in 167 2/3 innings in the minors. Kyle Lohse had better pitch well because Liriano and Scott Baker both could be in the Twins' rotation.
3. Felix Hernandez, RHP, Seattle: "He may have the best stuff I've ever seen," says an AL GM. "I wouldn't be surprised if he were one of the five best starters in the league this season." He turns 20 on John Keenan Day (April 8), has that sick stuff and showed last September that the 363K/119 BB/306 IP numbers are no fluke in terms of command, as he dropped 2-and-0 changeups and curveball hammers for strikes.4. Brandon Wood, SS, LA Angels: Look, this is the future, unless he's at third base come July. Orlando Cabrera has three more years and is a great defender, and there are many teams that lust for Erick Aybar, the Angels' other shortstop prospect. But the rangy 21-year-old Wood has rare power that should only get better as he fills out -- 43 homers in the minors, 13 in 29 games in the Arizona Fall League, diligent makeup.
5. Delmon Young, OF, Tampa Bay: "If the Devil Rays didn't have so many good outfielders, he would probably be in the big leagues in April," says one scout. No question he can be an impact hitter, but the 4BB/33K numbers in Triple-A indicate a couple of months repeating Triple-A wouldn't be a bad thing.
6. B.J. Upton, SS, Tampa Bay: Between Ozzie Smith and Jimy Williams, the Rays can find out if the elder Upton can play shortstop. If he can master the footwork, he can be a monster player. He is paying the price for being rushed and moved around, but if he can play short and not be moved to third or the outfield, he will be a star. Younger brother Justin -- bigger than B.J. and very mature -- will have a very short minor-league shelf life.
7. Brian McCann, C, Atlanta: When All-Star Johnny Estrada got run over by Darin Erstad, McCann rushed in and helped the Braves finish first for the 14th consecutive full season. He had an impressive .748 OPS, handled pitchers masterfully and allowed the Braves to trade Estrada for bullpen help. Oh yes. Right behind McCann is Jarrod Saltalamacchia, rated by many as the best catching prospect in the minor leagues.8. Jonathan Papelbon, RHP, Boston: In his second full pro season -- and second as a starter -- Papelbon shot right up to Fenway Park and was a major contributor to the Red Sox bullpen down the stretch. The organization wants him to start, to see him as a 700-out-a-year horse, and at 25, he is ready to step in and do it now. The Red Sox love his bring-it-on makeup, but one Boston official warns, "The worst thing would be to start comparing him to Roger Clemens. No one else in modern baseball history is as good as Clemens. Why should we ask a rookie to try?"
9. Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee: There may be some growing pains. Weeks has some work to do defensively. But the right side of the Brewer infield is set for years. 10. Brandon McCarthy, RHP, Chicago WS:. If Ken Williams hadn't assembled so much pitching, McCarthy would be a candidate to win 15 or more games. "He'll be in that rotation come September," says one scout. "And he'll be right there in line behind (Mark) Buehrle." Also receiving multiple votes: Jason Kubel, OF, Minnesota; Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Washington; Alex Gordon, 3B-OF, Kansas City; Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida; Justin Verlander, RHP, Detroit; Jeremy Sowers, LHP, Cleveland; Jon Lester, LHP, Boston; Craig Hansen, Closer, Boston; Chris Young, CF, Arizona (too bad he broke his hand this week and will miss most of spring training); Justin Upton, SS-OF, Arizona; Erick Aybar, SS, LA Angels; Andy Marte, 3B, Cleveland; Ronny Cedeno, SS, Cubs; Felix Pie, OF, Cubs; Chad Billingsley, RHP, LA Dodgers.Who do you believe will have a breakout season?
1. Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota: Injuries have essentially limited him to one full season, in which he had 52 extra-base hits and an .811 OPS. "His knee is fine now, and he wants to catch 135 games," says GM Terry Ryan. "If that happens, he could be the best catcher in the game," says one NL GM. "He is an extraordinary handler of pitchers, and he's an impact hitter who makes contact and drives the ball with power to the alleys." 2. Casey Kotchman,1B, LA Angels: "He is going to take off," says one coach. Injuries held him back in the minors, but he put up the rarest numbers -- more walks and more extra-base hits than strikeouts -- and Angels coaches say he's learning to lift the ball. 3. Coco Crisp, CF, Boston: "He has gone to the right place -- big crowds, pressure," says one NL GM. "He will love the attention, and as one of the best fastball hitters in the game, he will prosper in front of Manny and Ortiz." Here's his career track over the last three years: 15-24-42 doubles, 3-15-16 homers, .655-.730-.810 OPS. 4. Jeremy Reed, CF, Seattle: His .322 OBP was a disappointment, but he had the wrist injury. "Every number shows he was the best defensive center fielder in our league," says one AL official. "And he's going to hit. Just look at his history." 5. Scott Kazmir, LHP, Tampa Bay: He's put on 20 pounds, and already has 215 strikeouts in 219 major-league innings. "He's at the point in his career when his command should improve," says a scout, "and when that happens, he could be a star." 6. Brad Wilkerson, OF, Texas: OK, he fell from 32 to 11 homers, but he was hurt and played at pitcher-friendly RFK Stadium. Now get him healthy and put him in the AL's best park for left-handed batters ... 7. Mike Gonzalez, Closer, Pittsburgh: "We're giving him a chance to become one of the elite relievers," says GM Dave Littlefield. The numbers -- 101 2/3 IP, 71 H, 119 K -- speak for his stuff, and after two setup seasons he's ready to close. 8. Matt Murton, OF, Cubs: The Red Sox could not have won the 2004 World Series without including him in the Nomar Garciaparra trade, but they wish they had him back. Murton jumped from Double-A, had a .907 OPS and showed the Cubs that not only can he hit, but he can run and has makeup that's off the charts. 9. Justin Morneau, 1B, Minnesota: In a short time, Morneau has become a controversial figure. He had several injuries, but his willingness to play was questioned by teammates and the .304 OBP was distressing. But he has a big-time bat and power, and in a down time for American League first basemen, he still intrigues many in the game. 10. Erik Bedard, LHP, Baltimore: He is 12-18, 4.31 lifetime, and has yet to get past the command problems of getting from 0-and-2 to 3-and-2. But the stuff is there, and when teams like the Cubs asked for him in deals, assistant GM Jim Duquette told them he considers Bedard a potential No. 1 starter who cannot be moved until proven otherwise. Also receiving multiple votes: Rickie Weeks, 2B, Milwaukee; Conor Jackson, 1B, Arizona; Jose Castillo, 2B, Pittsburgh; Macay McBride, LHP, Atlanta.
Who do you believe will have the biggest comebacks?
1. Eric Gagne, CL, LA Dodgers
2. Rocco Baldelli, CF, Tampa Bay
3. Frank Thomas, DH, Oakland.
4. Jim Thome, DH, Chicago WS
5. Ben Sheets, RHP, Milwaukee
6. Barry Bonds, LF, San Francisco
7. Nomar Garciaparra, 1B, LA Dodgers
8. Mike Lowell, 3B, Boston
9. Scott Rolen, 3B, St. Louis
10. Edgar Renteria, SS, Atlanta Also receiving multiple votes: Zack Greinke, Kansas City; Kip Wells and Oliver Perez, Pittsburgh; Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, Cubs; Curt Schilling, Boston. Gagne changes the Dodgers into a major bullpen power, with Danys Baez, Yhency Brazoban and Jonathan Broxton in front of him. Thomas completely changes the A's, Rolen the Cardinals' lineup and defense, Renteria the Braves, and the Red Sox will go as far as the comebacks of Lowell, Schilling and Keith Foulke take them.
Six teams to watch
Think back to this time, last year. Other than USA Today's Bob Nightengale, did anyone think the White Sox would not only win the world championship, but end up with a case as one of the five best teams of the last two decades? Honestly, did you really believe the Athletics were a 90-win team? Or that the Braves would finish first, again? There were many of us who believed the Twins had a great chance to win the World Series. Sure, everyone believes the Blue Jays can make a run at the Yankees and Red Sox. The White Sox and Athletics seem to be the teams most likely to make the World Series from the American League, the Cardinals in the NL. Every season, there are dramatic surprises. Every spring, there are teams that we are curious to see for different reasons, and here are six teams I cannot wait to see unfurl: 1. Milwaukee Brewers: They finished at .500 for the first time since 1992 after averaging 69 wins a season from '99 through '04. With Fielder, Weeks, J.J. Hardy (.565 first half OPS, .865 second half) and Bill Hall, they have a strong core of young players to blend with veterans Carlos Lee, Geoff Jenkins and Corey Koskie. Now, if Ben Sheets can just stay healthy, the pitching can be good, especially with Mike Maddux handling it. Here's a question: Can you rank the top four left-handed pitchers in strikeouts last season? If you guessed Johan Santana (238), Randy Johnson (211), Doug Davis (208) and Chris Capuano (176), you won. Doug Melvin has quietly stocked the pitching with deals for Davis, Capuano, Derrick Turnbow, David Bush, Jose Capellan, Matt Wise, Tomo Ohka and Zach Jackson, and they now may have the depth to creep up from 81 toward 90 wins if the young players continue to develop. 2. Pittsburgh Pirates: Littlefield knew the rebuilding would be a slow process, but now, in 2006, his concentration on pitching may pay off. If Jim Colborn can help Kip Wells and Oliver Perez, then with Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and several other young arms and a bullpen with three power lefties, the improvement can come quickly. There is some more money, as evidenced by Littlefield holding onto the much-sought Craig Wilson. Sean Casey, Joe Randa and Jeromy Burnitz aren't impact bats, but they can play and help younger players like Chris Duffy, Jose Castillo and Ryan Doumit and provide depth around Jason Bay. The Pirates have not reached .500 since Barry Bonds left after the 1992 season, so to approach it after averaging a 67-92 record in the ensuing full seasons would be a significant step forward. 3. Arizona Diamondbacks: They have had only two straight losing seasons, but with a new regime there is a lot of hope. Where Stephen Drew, Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin, Chris Young, Dustin Nippert and Miguel Montero track from February to September will be one of the ongoing storylines. This new front office changes everything. 4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Maddon is not going to turn the Rays into instant contenders. But as he points out, he has a lot of offense, and Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Aubrey Huff, Jorge Cantu, Jonny Gomes, Travis Lee and Julio Lugo can hit anywhere in the lineup. There is the Sean Burroughs resurrection story, and the wait on the elder Upton and younger Young. GM Andrew Friedman has to restock the young pitching to go with Kazmir. While there are serious doubts about the two Rice No. 1 picks -- Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend are a combined 0-6 in pro ball and are nearly 24 -- getting Edwin Jackson and Chuck Tiffany was a move in the right direction. Lugo, Huff and others will likely be traded during spring training or during the season for more young arms. 5. Texas Rangers: With Kevin Millwood, Adam Eaton and Vicente Padilla, Buck Showalter finally has some starters in front of his bullpen, as well as all the young pitchers John Hart accrued over the years. Wilkerson may find heaven, Ian Kinsler can step in at second, and if Hank Blalock can turn things around, the Rangers can make a nice run in the AL West. 6. Minnesota Twins: There had been expectations that their offseason moves would be sexier than getting Luis Castillo and Tony Batista. To get enough offense, Torii Hunter must be healthy and Mauer, Morneau, Michael Cuddyer and/or Jason Kubel must take off. If the Twins get close, they can be scary with Santana, Liriano, Carlos Silva and Brad Radke starting and Joe Nathan in front of a deep bullpen, and they can beat anyone in September and October. The White Sox are formidable, but the AL Central is potentially a deep, talented division. If the Tigers can keep Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez healthy, they are dangerous. And the Indians have some of the best young talent in the game. If their starters remain healthy, if in the second half they get help from a couple out of the Adam Miller/Jeremy Sowers/Fausto Carmona/Fernando Cabrera/Tony Sipp group, if Andy Marte emerges and if the plate discipline Franklin Gutierrez showed in Venezuela translates to the regular season, this could be a pennant-winning team. As pitchers and catchers begin reporting Wednesday, at least half the teams in baseball believe they have a reasonable chance to make it into the league divisional series. And as Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi always says, "If you can make it into the playoffs, it's like March Madness -- anything can happen."
Indeed, as someone who remembers that he picked the White Sox to finish third but was the only one on ESPN.com to pick them to beat Boston in ALDS, the reminders of how things change are fresh.
Hey, Manny Ramirez may decide to retire and save the rain forests of Brazil.Sunday, February 12, 2006
You Guys Can Thank Me Later
Yahoo! Photos - kayybell's Photos - WHO'S WHO?
I bet you guys cant guess who is who. This link is just a little more proof that ICFH is Sick......just not at case races.
One fine day gentleman....one fine day....
I bet you guys cant guess who is who. This link is just a little more proof that ICFH is Sick......just not at case races.
One fine day gentleman....one fine day....
If peeing in your pants is cool, I'm miles davis
I think my friend Rich Slate described it best, "A legend wherever he goes: London, Belmont, Ithaca. Sam is your man if you want to party so hard you'll pee your pants. Apparently, that is a sign of a good time for him. Hates it. Loves it. Needs it. Wants it." According to that definition last night was EXCELLENT. I woke up in the morning and had definitely pissed my pants, fortunately, I was angled towards the wall and did not piss on my beautiful girlfriend who I love and hope does not break up with me.
Last night started with a case race against eight of the finest members of the Ithaca College field hockey team. Team Captains Matt "Lim" Young and Tina Capozzi, started things off at around 9:20. Within a few minutes Lim had already chugged four beers and was well on his way to the nine he would chug during the whole competition. Before the race was done five of eight 613ers had puked and suffered the five minute penalty. The competition ended in under 25 minutes, with our house chugging the 48 beers before the FH team.
Despite such large puking numbers the whole house rallied and immediately started doing keg stands, celebrating the fact that chris had puked and that another goal was crossed off our list.
The rest of the night was a bit hazy. There was a solid number of people. Everyone appeared to have a good time, and I had a hot pocket mini sub before eventually passing out in my bad and wetting myself for the first time this year.
Next weekend looks equally productive as we will probably got to chilis for chipotle burgers and come home and do edward forty hands. Come on over.
Last night started with a case race against eight of the finest members of the Ithaca College field hockey team. Team Captains Matt "Lim" Young and Tina Capozzi, started things off at around 9:20. Within a few minutes Lim had already chugged four beers and was well on his way to the nine he would chug during the whole competition. Before the race was done five of eight 613ers had puked and suffered the five minute penalty. The competition ended in under 25 minutes, with our house chugging the 48 beers before the FH team.
Despite such large puking numbers the whole house rallied and immediately started doing keg stands, celebrating the fact that chris had puked and that another goal was crossed off our list.
The rest of the night was a bit hazy. There was a solid number of people. Everyone appeared to have a good time, and I had a hot pocket mini sub before eventually passing out in my bad and wetting myself for the first time this year.
Next weekend looks equally productive as we will probably got to chilis for chipotle burgers and come home and do edward forty hands. Come on over.
Saturday Night 613 Party
Locked in a win against the IC Field Hockey Team
A lot of vomiting
Keg Stands galore
Good times all around
(more to come I am sure)
A lot of vomiting
Keg Stands galore
Good times all around
(more to come I am sure)
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Saturday Night 613 Party
This Saturday the green house on the hill is having a party:
Pre-game festivities start between 8 and 9 when 613 will take on eight of the finest members of the Ithaca College Field Hockey team in a case race: two cases per team.
After we dominate the chicks, I mean after the race, we'll tap the keg and any friend of the house gets a cup for free.
Hugh Laurie's coming so you don't want to miss it.
Oh yeah and the hottest roommate in the house will be there: Bry Big's back
Pre-game festivities start between 8 and 9 when 613 will take on eight of the finest members of the Ithaca College Field Hockey team in a case race: two cases per team.
After we dominate the chicks, I mean after the race, we'll tap the keg and any friend of the house gets a cup for free.
Hugh Laurie's coming so you don't want to miss it.
Oh yeah and the hottest roommate in the house will be there: Bry Big's back
The Gauntlet
If you have yet to watch this week's episode of the addictive, MTV version of adult summer camp for aimless, former reality TV stars --- you should not read any further...
For those of you who are fans, I figured I'd weigh in on this week's past episode. If Bill Simmons can address two Gauntlet-related questions in a recent mailbag, I assumed it would be okay for me to use this blog to discuss one of 613's favorite contestants on the show: Derek.
It seems like we've all grown attached to Derek. And I'm pretty sure I can pinpoint the exact moment that this lovefest began: it was when he broke out the funnel in the previous season... (did any other cast members join him, or even know what he was doing?)
He loves to drink, he's tough, he's got heart, and he's always trying to prove himself. Which is why we shouldn't have been surprised that he chose to take on a big black dude who outweighed him by 80-some pounds in an event that favors the larger bodies ("Beach Brawl"). But just because we shouldn't have been surprised, doesn't mean that we weren't right to be scared.
During his season on Road Rules, Derek challenged the alpha male of the group (some tall, strong, athletic guy) to a wrestling match in the dirt outside the Winnebago. Derek wasn't necessarily trying to start trouble, but he was drunk and looking to prove himself. Unlike Cyrus, the alpha male guy wasn't a chump. He tossed Derek around with minimal difficulty and pinned him repeatedly. Derek, convinced he could win, refused to give up... he never won. So while his underdog complex, incredible intensity, and immense pride can help him to overcome challenges that seem insurmountable, those traits can also lead him to embarrassment and defeat. He's got to be careful.
To be honest, I didn't think he was going to win. And no, it was not because of Chris' acting job when he tried to fool us into thinking that he would actually give away the ending to an episode with his down-trotten demeanor and in the process, ruin our viewing experience (as Vaughn would say, "you're better than that.") It just didn't seem like Derek would be able to move Cyrus --- no matter how low he got, and no matter how many times he walked up and down the beach by himself with his hood pulled up. I thought he should have definitely chosen the climbing event. In "Beach Brawl," all Cyrus had to do was lean on him, fall on top of him - a fact that he learned too late, once he was already down 2 games to none.
It was a great showing by Derek, I don't want to downplay that. But I think that we, the viewers, overestimated Cyrus' abilities and heart. He really proved himself to be a pushover. Even when he got mad after the first point, an obvious tactic to psyche himself up since he had done little mental or physical preparation, it never looked like he knew what he was doing, or even cared enough to figure out what was necessary and do it. One of the cast members said something to the effect of - I think the Veteran Guys are getting scared 'cause they know that they might have to face Derek in the Gauntlet, and they won't win against him.
Maybe that's true. Maybe this sent a message. Derek prefaced his "Beach Brawl" decision with the words: "I'll go out on a limb here..." But maybe he knew exactly what he was doing. Cyrus was the heaviest guy and if Derek could chop him down, he'd prove that he could chop down anyone else.
It's true that Cyrus was the heaviest, but he certainly wasn't the strongest or most skilled of the remaining Veteran Guys. Brad, David, and Mark would probably pose a lot tougher competition in "Beach Braw." I'm not saying that Derek should doubt himself in this event . Not doubting, or even thinking too much about anything, is what has gotten him this far. I just don't want him to assume that "Beach Brawl" is his bread and butter. He's got to look at each opponent differently and play to his own strengths; not just his Napoleon Complex.
On another note, our DVR recording of "There and Back" cut out before the end, so I hope Mark can let me know if anything important happened. That can be our new Tuesday lunch show. What do you say Bry?
That new, fake version of "Laguna Beach" (which is a fake version of "The OC" (which is a fake version of "90201")) looks stupid. I suppose it's okay for high school kids to only discuss crushes and dances, never once touching upon anything remotely insightful. But the characters on this show are somewhat grown-up (at least in age). I don't want to see the same high school dynamic applied to a show with 20-something year-olds. Here's to hoping we don't get hooked.
Long live "Rich Girls" --- "We must have done something really good in our past lives to be here now... Benjamin Franklin was born on my birthday, Muhammad Ali was born on my birthday, maybe I was one of them."
God this is sad that we watch crappy MTV shows.
For those of you who are fans, I figured I'd weigh in on this week's past episode. If Bill Simmons can address two Gauntlet-related questions in a recent mailbag, I assumed it would be okay for me to use this blog to discuss one of 613's favorite contestants on the show: Derek.
It seems like we've all grown attached to Derek. And I'm pretty sure I can pinpoint the exact moment that this lovefest began: it was when he broke out the funnel in the previous season... (did any other cast members join him, or even know what he was doing?)
He loves to drink, he's tough, he's got heart, and he's always trying to prove himself. Which is why we shouldn't have been surprised that he chose to take on a big black dude who outweighed him by 80-some pounds in an event that favors the larger bodies ("Beach Brawl"). But just because we shouldn't have been surprised, doesn't mean that we weren't right to be scared.
During his season on Road Rules, Derek challenged the alpha male of the group (some tall, strong, athletic guy) to a wrestling match in the dirt outside the Winnebago. Derek wasn't necessarily trying to start trouble, but he was drunk and looking to prove himself. Unlike Cyrus, the alpha male guy wasn't a chump. He tossed Derek around with minimal difficulty and pinned him repeatedly. Derek, convinced he could win, refused to give up... he never won. So while his underdog complex, incredible intensity, and immense pride can help him to overcome challenges that seem insurmountable, those traits can also lead him to embarrassment and defeat. He's got to be careful.
To be honest, I didn't think he was going to win. And no, it was not because of Chris' acting job when he tried to fool us into thinking that he would actually give away the ending to an episode with his down-trotten demeanor and in the process, ruin our viewing experience (as Vaughn would say, "you're better than that.") It just didn't seem like Derek would be able to move Cyrus --- no matter how low he got, and no matter how many times he walked up and down the beach by himself with his hood pulled up. I thought he should have definitely chosen the climbing event. In "Beach Brawl," all Cyrus had to do was lean on him, fall on top of him - a fact that he learned too late, once he was already down 2 games to none.
It was a great showing by Derek, I don't want to downplay that. But I think that we, the viewers, overestimated Cyrus' abilities and heart. He really proved himself to be a pushover. Even when he got mad after the first point, an obvious tactic to psyche himself up since he had done little mental or physical preparation, it never looked like he knew what he was doing, or even cared enough to figure out what was necessary and do it. One of the cast members said something to the effect of - I think the Veteran Guys are getting scared 'cause they know that they might have to face Derek in the Gauntlet, and they won't win against him.
Maybe that's true. Maybe this sent a message. Derek prefaced his "Beach Brawl" decision with the words: "I'll go out on a limb here..." But maybe he knew exactly what he was doing. Cyrus was the heaviest guy and if Derek could chop him down, he'd prove that he could chop down anyone else.
It's true that Cyrus was the heaviest, but he certainly wasn't the strongest or most skilled of the remaining Veteran Guys. Brad, David, and Mark would probably pose a lot tougher competition in "Beach Braw." I'm not saying that Derek should doubt himself in this event . Not doubting, or even thinking too much about anything, is what has gotten him this far. I just don't want him to assume that "Beach Brawl" is his bread and butter. He's got to look at each opponent differently and play to his own strengths; not just his Napoleon Complex.
On another note, our DVR recording of "There and Back" cut out before the end, so I hope Mark can let me know if anything important happened. That can be our new Tuesday lunch show. What do you say Bry?
That new, fake version of "Laguna Beach" (which is a fake version of "The OC" (which is a fake version of "90201")) looks stupid. I suppose it's okay for high school kids to only discuss crushes and dances, never once touching upon anything remotely insightful. But the characters on this show are somewhat grown-up (at least in age). I don't want to see the same high school dynamic applied to a show with 20-something year-olds. Here's to hoping we don't get hooked.
Long live "Rich Girls" --- "We must have done something really good in our past lives to be here now... Benjamin Franklin was born on my birthday, Muhammad Ali was born on my birthday, maybe I was one of them."
God this is sad that we watch crappy MTV shows.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Chuck Who?
Now, I was debating on whether to post actual pieces of this list or to just give you all the link wondering what people would be more likely to do: read a long list of in post text or click on a link. Then I realized it makes no difference at all. So here is the link.
JACK BAUER
Enjoy and happy away messaging.
JACK BAUER
Enjoy and happy away messaging.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
THE LIST
After a weekend like this, where we accomplished 3 goals Sat night and by the nature of the specific goal will be able to cross off yet another one today I figure it is about time that I buck up and post the pics of the list. Enjoy.
A goal has yet to be crossed off this first list.
Last night we were able to cross off the ever elusive "1st Place in Nude Photo Hunt" which was accomplished by Mark, Rand, and Myself at the machine in the front of Moonies with a score of 326,830.
A goal has yet to be crossed off this first list.
Last night we were able to cross off the ever elusive "1st Place in Nude Photo Hunt" which was accomplished by Mark, Rand, and Myself at the machine in the front of Moonies with a score of 326,830.
This list was was ravaged this weekend having "Super Bowl Party", "Pee on Phones", and "Century Mark" being crossed off.
And finally a nice wide shot.
A rewarding and accomplished weekend and here is to keeping pace.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Time to get Freaky!
Things I am looking foward to next Sat
Watching Lim drink
Watching J eat
Sam's hairy chest
Rejoining the 6:13 club
Playing video games with Mark
Watching TV with other people in the room
Drinking more than 3 beers in a night
Rand saying "a hand job is a man job, a blow job is yo job"
Staying up past one
Wondering where Dre is all the time
Power hours of many sorts
Chris stealing the night
DVR
Playing Foos
... and not remembering any of it
Watching Lim drink
Watching J eat
Sam's hairy chest
Rejoining the 6:13 club
Playing video games with Mark
Watching TV with other people in the room
Drinking more than 3 beers in a night
Rand saying "a hand job is a man job, a blow job is yo job"
Staying up past one
Wondering where Dre is all the time
Power hours of many sorts
Chris stealing the night
DVR
Playing Foos
... and not remembering any of it
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Rand's chance to go back to the 80's... Where he belongs.
http://timetraveler.ytmnd.com/
(turn up your speakers)
(turn up your speakers)
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