RBI Baseball? Game 6? Check.
Say it ain't so, Joe. Wait, it really ain't so?
Not much today, got a lot going on for school and work right now. Watched half a movie on AMC last night, Broken Trails, a western starring Robert Duvall. I thought it was pretty good, if a bit gruesome at times. Will I watch the second half tonight all depends on whether or not I remember to. And if the gf decides it's time to commandeer the remote.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
The Real Problem With Computers
You know what the real problem is with working on computers? It's not that I'm starting to develop a beer shelf starting just above my waist, and it's not the creeping carpal tunnel that's starting to make the tips of my fingers. It's not the glaze that forms over my eyes from staring at one space on the screen to long, nor is it the fact that I spend half my day deleting spam.
Nope. None of these things actually bother me. Beer shelf? Convenient for holding beers, and also helps me float better in the water. Carpal? Fuck it, I don't need the tips of my fingers for anything but typing anyways, and possibly throwing a knuckleball. My knuckleball always sucked anyways. The glaze forming over my eyes as I write this? Cured, mostly, by new glasses perscriptions and high-test coffee. Spam? If nothing else, you have to wonder at the absolute morons that must fall for some these. I mean, they must work, right? Otherwise why would people keep doing them?
The real problem with computers is the clock in the top right hand corner of my screen. It's always there. I always know what time it is, and I always know exactly how much longer I have to stay in my chair before I can leave with a clean conscience.
I don't want to know time it is! I don't wear a watch for this reason! I don't have an alarm clock next to bed anymore, largely because I spent, quite simply, disgusting amounts of time lying there watching 1:00 turn into 2:00 turn into 3:00 turn into... You get the idea.
Same thing for work. I find myself, all the time, simply glaring at the clock willing it to change from 2:48 to 2:49. For example, it has now been 2:48 for approximately three hours. Life would be so much easier if I could look up and see, well, French Hookers. That would make everything better.
OK, I gotta get back to clock-watching now, I'm almost within an hour of leaving for the weekend. Just like I have been for the past three hours.
Nope. None of these things actually bother me. Beer shelf? Convenient for holding beers, and also helps me float better in the water. Carpal? Fuck it, I don't need the tips of my fingers for anything but typing anyways, and possibly throwing a knuckleball. My knuckleball always sucked anyways. The glaze forming over my eyes as I write this? Cured, mostly, by new glasses perscriptions and high-test coffee. Spam? If nothing else, you have to wonder at the absolute morons that must fall for some these. I mean, they must work, right? Otherwise why would people keep doing them?
The real problem with computers is the clock in the top right hand corner of my screen. It's always there. I always know what time it is, and I always know exactly how much longer I have to stay in my chair before I can leave with a clean conscience.
I don't want to know time it is! I don't wear a watch for this reason! I don't have an alarm clock next to bed anymore, largely because I spent, quite simply, disgusting amounts of time lying there watching 1:00 turn into 2:00 turn into 3:00 turn into... You get the idea.
Same thing for work. I find myself, all the time, simply glaring at the clock willing it to change from 2:48 to 2:49. For example, it has now been 2:48 for approximately three hours. Life would be so much easier if I could look up and see, well, French Hookers. That would make everything better.
OK, I gotta get back to clock-watching now, I'm almost within an hour of leaving for the weekend. Just like I have been for the past three hours.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Soccer, Books, and Hookers
So I worked at home in the a.m. so that I could watch a bit of the US/Ghana game. I kept getting distracted by things (such as work, for example) but I think I caught everything of importance. First a comment about soccer: In no other sport do officials make as big of a difference. An official's judgement basically makes the difference as to whether a player can play not only the current game, but the next. Five minutes into the game, Ghana already knew that their best player couldn't play in the next game if they won. Why? Because of a ticky tack foul. To be honest, while you're going to hear about the big foul against the US at the end of the first half, almost every call went against Ghana. That one big foul was a huge one, a penalty in the box that led to the goal being scored that was (literally) the difference in the game.
Which, by the way, sucks. An officials judgement call shouldn't be the difference in the game.
Having said that, Ghana just looked better than the U.S. Too many boneheaded plays, too little effort too late on offense. Enough soccer, now I have to pick a team to follow the rest of the way. I'm leaning Italian, but I'll decide after I have a look around.
---
Finished the book I was reading late last night, Nick Hornby's "A Long Way Down." For those unfamiliar, Hornby writes for the New Yorker, but more importantly wrote High Fidelity (Yes, it was a book first Goody) and Fever Pitch (Way, way better than the movie. Actually, I'm guessing, as I've never seen the movie. And never will.)
The book was, well, fine. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone who hadn't read other Hornby books. In order, I would rank his books:
1. High Fidelity
2. About a Boy
3. Fever Pitch
4. A Long Way Down
5. How to Be Good
All worth reading, but start at the top if you're interested.
--
OK, no hooker stories, I just like the word.
Which, by the way, sucks. An officials judgement call shouldn't be the difference in the game.
Having said that, Ghana just looked better than the U.S. Too many boneheaded plays, too little effort too late on offense. Enough soccer, now I have to pick a team to follow the rest of the way. I'm leaning Italian, but I'll decide after I have a look around.
---
Finished the book I was reading late last night, Nick Hornby's "A Long Way Down." For those unfamiliar, Hornby writes for the New Yorker, but more importantly wrote High Fidelity (Yes, it was a book first Goody) and Fever Pitch (Way, way better than the movie. Actually, I'm guessing, as I've never seen the movie. And never will.)
The book was, well, fine. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone who hadn't read other Hornby books. In order, I would rank his books:
1. High Fidelity
2. About a Boy
3. Fever Pitch
4. A Long Way Down
5. How to Be Good
All worth reading, but start at the top if you're interested.
--
OK, no hooker stories, I just like the word.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Rambling Tuesday
Bought a great album the other day, Gnarls Barkley's "St. Elsewhere." Filled with a sort of funky goodness and energy, we've listened to it just about a bazillion times recently. It doesn't keep up it's greatness all the way through, but the first half of the album alone is certainly worth the 9.99 on iTunes.
I also picked up the new Chili Peppers, which is so far, really good. Beyond Dani California, the first song, none of the songs individually are screaming at me, but the album as a whole is solid. I agree with John, and have to listen to an album a lot before I can determine how much I like it or not. Interestingly enough, everywhere I looked this album was 19.99, except at Target where it was 14.99. For whatever that's worth.
The other album that I've bought recently was the Raconteurs "Broken Boy Soldiers." Also seems like a pretty strong album. I'm guessing that most people who like Jack White (White Stripes) will like this, but again, I've got to give it some more listening before I can figure out how much I like it.
---
Oh, lest anyone think that I've forgotten about the NBA playoffs, well, I have. I've tried to watch the games, but they're just on too fucking late. I know that I'm a big wuss, but my attention span at 11 o'clock at night isn't up to the shenanigans of the Heat vs. Mavericks. That said, I may have to drink some coffee or something to watch the end of tonights game. Looks like Miami wasn't done after all, but I still think the Maverick's are the better team and will get this series to the deserved 7th game. When, well, it all depends on who shows up D-Wade or the big German. Shaq, sad to say, is a member of the supporting cast now.
---
A couple new t.v. shows have been watched in the casa de clementine. Two TNT shows, The Closer (starring Kevin Bacon's wife) and Saved, starring some guy who looks familiar but whose name I can't be bothered to look up. Both are worth watching, particularly if you like the cop and hospital shows that are on hiatus for the summer. Neither are going to be classics, but they have their points. In the case of Saved, the soundtrack is really solid, and the action and gimmicks interesting enough. The Closer, well, it's pretty much Law and Order Criminal Intent with a Southern Belle.
One show which surprised me how much I liked it was Man on the Street. It's on the Cooking Channel, and basically, as far as I can tell, is a guy just walking around interviewing people and cooking shit in weird ways. Doesn't sound very good, and sometimes it's not very good at all. A couple of episodes were surprisingly entertaining, like the one where the host teaches people to cook in campfires by wrapping everything they have in bacon and tin foil and throwing it in the fire. That's the sort of cooking I could handle.
I also picked up the new Chili Peppers, which is so far, really good. Beyond Dani California, the first song, none of the songs individually are screaming at me, but the album as a whole is solid. I agree with John, and have to listen to an album a lot before I can determine how much I like it or not. Interestingly enough, everywhere I looked this album was 19.99, except at Target where it was 14.99. For whatever that's worth.
The other album that I've bought recently was the Raconteurs "Broken Boy Soldiers." Also seems like a pretty strong album. I'm guessing that most people who like Jack White (White Stripes) will like this, but again, I've got to give it some more listening before I can figure out how much I like it.
---
Oh, lest anyone think that I've forgotten about the NBA playoffs, well, I have. I've tried to watch the games, but they're just on too fucking late. I know that I'm a big wuss, but my attention span at 11 o'clock at night isn't up to the shenanigans of the Heat vs. Mavericks. That said, I may have to drink some coffee or something to watch the end of tonights game. Looks like Miami wasn't done after all, but I still think the Maverick's are the better team and will get this series to the deserved 7th game. When, well, it all depends on who shows up D-Wade or the big German. Shaq, sad to say, is a member of the supporting cast now.
---
A couple new t.v. shows have been watched in the casa de clementine. Two TNT shows, The Closer (starring Kevin Bacon's wife) and Saved, starring some guy who looks familiar but whose name I can't be bothered to look up. Both are worth watching, particularly if you like the cop and hospital shows that are on hiatus for the summer. Neither are going to be classics, but they have their points. In the case of Saved, the soundtrack is really solid, and the action and gimmicks interesting enough. The Closer, well, it's pretty much Law and Order Criminal Intent with a Southern Belle.
One show which surprised me how much I liked it was Man on the Street. It's on the Cooking Channel, and basically, as far as I can tell, is a guy just walking around interviewing people and cooking shit in weird ways. Doesn't sound very good, and sometimes it's not very good at all. A couple of episodes were surprisingly entertaining, like the one where the host teaches people to cook in campfires by wrapping everything they have in bacon and tin foil and throwing it in the fire. That's the sort of cooking I could handle.
Monday, June 19, 2006
At long last, a weekend
We finally made it up to camp today. It got warm so early this year that it seems like we got up there late this year, but I guess mid-June is about the norm. Opened up the camp successfully, cleaning, running water lines, patching the roof, etc. Looks like everything made it through the winter ok, which is no sure thing. Some year's we've had trees take down electric lines, or open holes in the roof, or a porch over the water trying to get into the water.
This year? Some leaves in the yard and too-long grass were the biggest problems so far. After clean up and the like we proceeded to have a camp weekend, with lot's of yard games, card games, cheap beers, sausage, bacon, coffee, bug spray, badmitton, naps on the nap couch, cold water, inner tubes, wet dogfaces, some more beers, mimosa's, and books in adirondack chairs.
In other words, not a bad weekend. I even got a bunch of school work done, which is a good thing, as my productivity for this week is looking sketchy at best.
--
Apparently it's the 20th anniversary of the death of Len Bias. For those of you who are not Celtic's fans, this may not mean anything. But I remember this happening (along with the death of Reggie Lewis a few years later) and I remember it as absolutely shocking. Maybe that's why it inspires the people that write about it. Whatever the reason, people tend to write great columns about Len Bias, and this anniversary of his death is no different.
This is an archived version of Bill Simmons' article about Len Bias five years ago, and it reminds me of when Bill Simmons didn't spend most of his time whining, and actually wrote great columns.
Mike Wilbon is one of the guys on PTI, but first he was a columnist for the Washington Post, and he is a great writer.
---
I watched the second half of the US/Italy soccer game on Saturday, and I have to say... Finally a game worth watching! Both teams left it on the field, which is all you can ask for in a game at that level. I was particularly impressed with Reyna, once again he seemed to be in charge more than anyone else on the field. Someone who knows soccer more than I do will have to explain to me what was going on with the officials though. According to the guy announcing the game for ABC, the official who kept throwing out red cards was the spawn of Satan. Was this true? Or was it just that there really was a bunch of hard play deserving of penalties? The last red card seemed a bit tough to me, but I didn't see the first two, so it's hard to compare.
This year? Some leaves in the yard and too-long grass were the biggest problems so far. After clean up and the like we proceeded to have a camp weekend, with lot's of yard games, card games, cheap beers, sausage, bacon, coffee, bug spray, badmitton, naps on the nap couch, cold water, inner tubes, wet dogfaces, some more beers, mimosa's, and books in adirondack chairs.
In other words, not a bad weekend. I even got a bunch of school work done, which is a good thing, as my productivity for this week is looking sketchy at best.
--
Apparently it's the 20th anniversary of the death of Len Bias. For those of you who are not Celtic's fans, this may not mean anything. But I remember this happening (along with the death of Reggie Lewis a few years later) and I remember it as absolutely shocking. Maybe that's why it inspires the people that write about it. Whatever the reason, people tend to write great columns about Len Bias, and this anniversary of his death is no different.
This is an archived version of Bill Simmons' article about Len Bias five years ago, and it reminds me of when Bill Simmons didn't spend most of his time whining, and actually wrote great columns.
Mike Wilbon is one of the guys on PTI, but first he was a columnist for the Washington Post, and he is a great writer.
---
I watched the second half of the US/Italy soccer game on Saturday, and I have to say... Finally a game worth watching! Both teams left it on the field, which is all you can ask for in a game at that level. I was particularly impressed with Reyna, once again he seemed to be in charge more than anyone else on the field. Someone who knows soccer more than I do will have to explain to me what was going on with the officials though. According to the guy announcing the game for ABC, the official who kept throwing out red cards was the spawn of Satan. Was this true? Or was it just that there really was a bunch of hard play deserving of penalties? The last red card seemed a bit tough to me, but I didn't see the first two, so it's hard to compare.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Why baseball is still the national pasttime
Look. I like other sports. I love football Sunday's on the couch, and the Super Bowl may be the biggest individual game of the year. (Even if it is very often a boring blowout highlighted by beer commercials.)
And college basketball and football provide some great moments as well, and in some parts of the country are huge. I love March Madness, and the Rose Bowl, and... Well that's actually about it for those two.
The NBA, as much as I enjoy it, is a second-tier sport in this country. Stop laughing Hockey, you don't even get a tier anymore. NASCAR? Not a sport. Golf? Again, I love the Master's, but golf is simply not embraced by mainstream America. Tiger Woods might be, but I would wager that half the people who claim to be Tiger Woods fans have never actually watched golf. Soccer? Might be the national pasttime of 8 year old children of yuppies in America, but that's about it.
Baseball is still the National Pasttime.
It's the only sport that inspires poetry. (For example, the incoming Poet Laureate of the United State? His most famous poem is about baseball.) More books about baseball have been written than any other sport. Movies? Name one good movie about football. OK, other than The Replacement's. Baseball? Let's start at Bull Durham, The Field of Dreams, Eight Men Out, Bang the Drum Slowly, The Natural... I could go on. The best movie about football might be Rudy, and that's barely watchable.
Father's and son's playing catch. Ted Williams hitting a ball into the lights. Wiffle ball with the family. The Shot Heard Round The World. Throwing a ball at a tire swing. Dave Roberts' Steal. Little League. Jackie Robinson Stealing Home, Willie Mays Losing His Hat. Iconic moments combined
Name me another sport that has these kind of moments?
Mighty Casey Struck Out, he didn't miss a foul shot or shank a field goal.
And college basketball and football provide some great moments as well, and in some parts of the country are huge. I love March Madness, and the Rose Bowl, and... Well that's actually about it for those two.
The NBA, as much as I enjoy it, is a second-tier sport in this country. Stop laughing Hockey, you don't even get a tier anymore. NASCAR? Not a sport. Golf? Again, I love the Master's, but golf is simply not embraced by mainstream America. Tiger Woods might be, but I would wager that half the people who claim to be Tiger Woods fans have never actually watched golf. Soccer? Might be the national pasttime of 8 year old children of yuppies in America, but that's about it.
Baseball is still the National Pasttime.
It's the only sport that inspires poetry. (For example, the incoming Poet Laureate of the United State? His most famous poem is about baseball.) More books about baseball have been written than any other sport. Movies? Name one good movie about football. OK, other than The Replacement's. Baseball? Let's start at Bull Durham, The Field of Dreams, Eight Men Out, Bang the Drum Slowly, The Natural... I could go on. The best movie about football might be Rudy, and that's barely watchable.
Father's and son's playing catch. Ted Williams hitting a ball into the lights. Wiffle ball with the family. The Shot Heard Round The World. Throwing a ball at a tire swing. Dave Roberts' Steal. Little League. Jackie Robinson Stealing Home, Willie Mays Losing His Hat. Iconic moments combined
Name me another sport that has these kind of moments?
Mighty Casey Struck Out, he didn't miss a foul shot or shank a field goal.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
The Irrationality of the GF
For those of you who know the gf, it may or may not surprise you to learn that she has an irrational side. I'm not talking about the side that invents dances for various food products in the grocery store. I'm talking about the head-spinning, green-vomiting, hop on a broom, witchy side.
And it busted out last night.
The night started off wellish. We went out for Chinese food, ate a bunch of MSG, and drank a big ole rum bowl. So far so good. Went to the movie theater (To see XMen) and were a bit early, so we raced some video cars. (Winner? Me.) Then we shot some video bears. Still, so far so good. Go and sit in the grandstand seating, and get the best seat as we were the first ones in. Still good.
As the theater started filling however, the problems started. I succession of little people started rolling in, throwing food at eachother, and talking on their cell phones. If I had to make a guess, I would have said 7th or 8th grade. They kept talking through the previews, laughing, talking on cell phones, and generally being a royal pain in the ass. Eventually, I managed to ignore them, and got sucked into the movie. (Sidebar, XMen the last Stand or whatever the hell it's called, is worth watching, but only if you liked the first two. Special effects were fine, all the characters were fine, etc. In other words, it's pretty much what you would think it was from the previews. Except for Jeff, who has somehow developed an irrational hate of the director.)
Anyhoo... Somewhere around mid-way into the movie, which I am enjoying, I look over at the gf to mention said enjoyment. What I see scares me, a little more than a little. She is sitting straight up, hands clenched into fists in her lap, glaring at the back of the little heathens sitting in front of us. That's when their noise starts to make an appearance for me again. They are shrieking, laughing, snapping camera phone pictures and passing the phones around, talking on the phone, etc. In other words, we had a middle school cafeteria in our theater. From that point on, I'm on edge. The gf keeps looking at me to make sure that I'm as angry as she is (never has the ability not to make eye contact been a better skill), and then glaring back at them. The guy sitting behind us finally gives in and starts yelling at the kids to "Please Shut the hell up."
Eventually, the bad guys on the screen are vanquished, and the movie is over. I'm not certain the kiddies even noticed right away, but eventually they started swarming their way out of the theater. To get out, they have to pass us. More accurately, to get out they have to pass the withering glare of the gf. (Remember, she teaches heathens this age every day.) I pretty much just stand there, hiding as best as I can. The gf? Starts making comments about "Learn some Manners, and rudeness, and "Have some consideration, will you!", "You ruined the movie for everyone", "You are the spawn of satan", etc. Her comments start getting louder, and louder, until a couple of the kids even seem to notice. They don't stop being annoying pieces of shit of course, they just raise up the volume.
Finally, we are past the bulk of them and outside. What do we see? A couple of the little genetic misfires abusing the payphone outside the theater. At this point, the GF goes into what I like to call the Shopping Walk. Like you guys don't know what I'm talking about. You're being dragged along shopping, and you have to practically run to keep up to the lady forcing you to shop with them? That's the Shopping Walk. Only, the gf has modified it to include angry arms thrusting straight back and forth. She's more or less marching at this point. She was certainly leaving me in the dust. And then, it happens. She sees a parent waiting in their car with the window open. Bad news. I can't imagine what she is about to say to them. She slows down just enough so that I catch up, and can grab her arm and pull her to my car. Phew. Situation averted.
Somehow, I manage not to squeal my tires in my hurry to get away.
And it busted out last night.
The night started off wellish. We went out for Chinese food, ate a bunch of MSG, and drank a big ole rum bowl. So far so good. Went to the movie theater (To see XMen) and were a bit early, so we raced some video cars. (Winner? Me.) Then we shot some video bears. Still, so far so good. Go and sit in the grandstand seating, and get the best seat as we were the first ones in. Still good.
As the theater started filling however, the problems started. I succession of little people started rolling in, throwing food at eachother, and talking on their cell phones. If I had to make a guess, I would have said 7th or 8th grade. They kept talking through the previews, laughing, talking on cell phones, and generally being a royal pain in the ass. Eventually, I managed to ignore them, and got sucked into the movie. (Sidebar, XMen the last Stand or whatever the hell it's called, is worth watching, but only if you liked the first two. Special effects were fine, all the characters were fine, etc. In other words, it's pretty much what you would think it was from the previews. Except for Jeff, who has somehow developed an irrational hate of the director.)
Anyhoo... Somewhere around mid-way into the movie, which I am enjoying, I look over at the gf to mention said enjoyment. What I see scares me, a little more than a little. She is sitting straight up, hands clenched into fists in her lap, glaring at the back of the little heathens sitting in front of us. That's when their noise starts to make an appearance for me again. They are shrieking, laughing, snapping camera phone pictures and passing the phones around, talking on the phone, etc. In other words, we had a middle school cafeteria in our theater. From that point on, I'm on edge. The gf keeps looking at me to make sure that I'm as angry as she is (never has the ability not to make eye contact been a better skill), and then glaring back at them. The guy sitting behind us finally gives in and starts yelling at the kids to "Please Shut the hell up."
Eventually, the bad guys on the screen are vanquished, and the movie is over. I'm not certain the kiddies even noticed right away, but eventually they started swarming their way out of the theater. To get out, they have to pass us. More accurately, to get out they have to pass the withering glare of the gf. (Remember, she teaches heathens this age every day.) I pretty much just stand there, hiding as best as I can. The gf? Starts making comments about "Learn some Manners, and rudeness, and "Have some consideration, will you!", "You ruined the movie for everyone", "You are the spawn of satan", etc. Her comments start getting louder, and louder, until a couple of the kids even seem to notice. They don't stop being annoying pieces of shit of course, they just raise up the volume.
Finally, we are past the bulk of them and outside. What do we see? A couple of the little genetic misfires abusing the payphone outside the theater. At this point, the GF goes into what I like to call the Shopping Walk. Like you guys don't know what I'm talking about. You're being dragged along shopping, and you have to practically run to keep up to the lady forcing you to shop with them? That's the Shopping Walk. Only, the gf has modified it to include angry arms thrusting straight back and forth. She's more or less marching at this point. She was certainly leaving me in the dust. And then, it happens. She sees a parent waiting in their car with the window open. Bad news. I can't imagine what she is about to say to them. She slows down just enough so that I catch up, and can grab her arm and pull her to my car. Phew. Situation averted.
Somehow, I manage not to squeal my tires in my hurry to get away.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Snoring through the World Cup
I realize that the World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the Whole Wide World. I realize that in most countries work stops, and fans become FANATICS when their team is playing. Not so much here in the great old US of A, obviously. And still, I like big sporting events.
So I decided to give it a shot. Saturday morning I got up and watched parts of England/Paraguay. Sloppy, boring game. England wins 1-0 on Paraguay own goal. Other than that? Nothing resembling clean, crisp, passing. Nothing that resembled scoring chances on either side. Missed passes and bad penalties on both sides.
Sunday I tried to watch Mexico/Iran. Another slop-ridden game. Mexico won 3-1, but don't be fooled. The game was not exciting to watch. Iran simply (with no pun intended) dropped the ball a couple times and let in some easy goals. As I write this, the US is losing 2-0 to the Czech. Republic. So much for the great US team... There's a few games coming up that look good, France/Switzerland, Italy/Ghana for example. Hopefully they are at least competitive, as right now I'm thinking of tuning out for the rest of the Cup.
---
Speaking of not competitive, remember all those nice things I've been saying about the NBA this year? I'm not about to say the same things about the Finals. In fact, I'd say unless Miami comes back and wins the next two games don't even bother watching. I saw some of the game last night, and man oh man did Miami look bad. Shaq was running (slowly) around with a look of bewilderment on his face for most of the game. He seemed to be playing fairly hard, or at least energetically, and scored five points. That's a 5 people!!! For a 7'2 center being guarded by Desagana Diop and Erick Dampier!!! Two people cut by Cleveland and Golden State for Christ's sake! Not so much what I expected. Check back in a week to see if game 5 might be worth watching.
So I decided to give it a shot. Saturday morning I got up and watched parts of England/Paraguay. Sloppy, boring game. England wins 1-0 on Paraguay own goal. Other than that? Nothing resembling clean, crisp, passing. Nothing that resembled scoring chances on either side. Missed passes and bad penalties on both sides.
Sunday I tried to watch Mexico/Iran. Another slop-ridden game. Mexico won 3-1, but don't be fooled. The game was not exciting to watch. Iran simply (with no pun intended) dropped the ball a couple times and let in some easy goals. As I write this, the US is losing 2-0 to the Czech. Republic. So much for the great US team... There's a few games coming up that look good, France/Switzerland, Italy/Ghana for example. Hopefully they are at least competitive, as right now I'm thinking of tuning out for the rest of the Cup.
---
Speaking of not competitive, remember all those nice things I've been saying about the NBA this year? I'm not about to say the same things about the Finals. In fact, I'd say unless Miami comes back and wins the next two games don't even bother watching. I saw some of the game last night, and man oh man did Miami look bad. Shaq was running (slowly) around with a look of bewilderment on his face for most of the game. He seemed to be playing fairly hard, or at least energetically, and scored five points. That's a 5 people!!! For a 7'2 center being guarded by Desagana Diop and Erick Dampier!!! Two people cut by Cleveland and Golden State for Christ's sake! Not so much what I expected. Check back in a week to see if game 5 might be worth watching.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
The continuing re-edumacation of me
Sat down in my first grad class yesterday. Ten people in the class, including the teacher. Not only is it the first class I'm taking (above a 100 level) in six years, but it's also the first time I've taken a class in this department. (Public Administration.) Needless to say, I was a little curious to see what I was in for.
I didn't just get to this department randomly, I thought about it a lot, researched it a lot, talked to faculty, talked to other students, etc. I know that I want to start a Master's, but I waffle on what program. I thought for a half second about English, but the only thing more useless than one English degree is two. I thought about an MBA, but I've met people with MBA's, and I don't think I want to remove all my personality at once. (Not a word Goody, or I'll tell your kid stories about you in college.)
I took a History class last fall, largely because there was one available that interested me, and I have always liked History. I liked the class a fair amount. In fact, the only thing I didn't like about it was that there wasn't enough challenge, which is when I became certain it was time to go back to school. Still, a History Master's on top of an English degree seemed only slightly better than an English Master's. (Better, only because I really disliked a lot of people in my classes. Actually, I really thought they were useless piles of shit.)
So... I came to Public Adminstration. I've got a few friends that got their Master's in that program, and they all raved about it. Seems like a program where you basically try to figure out what the source of a problem is, and then try to figure out solutions to the problem. I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but that's what I got out of it. And that's why I'm taking this class. I met with the Grad Advisor for the program, and she told me this class was a good "building block" class, that would give me an idea about what the program is all about. Tuesday's class was basically just us talking about random topics and what the solutions might be, and what the impact of the solutions might be, and how feasible they were, etc. In other words, right up my alley. Of course, the class ran an hour long, so by the end of it I was exhausted.
We'll see how it works out, but so far, so good.
I didn't just get to this department randomly, I thought about it a lot, researched it a lot, talked to faculty, talked to other students, etc. I know that I want to start a Master's, but I waffle on what program. I thought for a half second about English, but the only thing more useless than one English degree is two. I thought about an MBA, but I've met people with MBA's, and I don't think I want to remove all my personality at once. (Not a word Goody, or I'll tell your kid stories about you in college.)
I took a History class last fall, largely because there was one available that interested me, and I have always liked History. I liked the class a fair amount. In fact, the only thing I didn't like about it was that there wasn't enough challenge, which is when I became certain it was time to go back to school. Still, a History Master's on top of an English degree seemed only slightly better than an English Master's. (Better, only because I really disliked a lot of people in my classes. Actually, I really thought they were useless piles of shit.)
So... I came to Public Adminstration. I've got a few friends that got their Master's in that program, and they all raved about it. Seems like a program where you basically try to figure out what the source of a problem is, and then try to figure out solutions to the problem. I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but that's what I got out of it. And that's why I'm taking this class. I met with the Grad Advisor for the program, and she told me this class was a good "building block" class, that would give me an idea about what the program is all about. Tuesday's class was basically just us talking about random topics and what the solutions might be, and what the impact of the solutions might be, and how feasible they were, etc. In other words, right up my alley. Of course, the class ran an hour long, so by the end of it I was exhausted.
We'll see how it works out, but so far, so good.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Rambling through boredom
Just realized today that I haven't written in a bit. Possibly due to the boringness of my life? Yup, it's a possibility. I woke up this morning, which was nice. Ate lunch, also nice. Drank some coffee, drank some water, typed away at the keyboard for a bit, oh wait the day is almost over and I haven't done one thing of note. Wonder what's for dinner, or why America is getting fat? Different meals are the only thing that make one day different from another.
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Last couple weekends were spent at weddings. Good times for all. After the Kennedy/Lord wedding two weeks ago we stopped by my old house in Chelmsford. Weird stuff. The house itself was more or less as I remembered, the tree in the front that was planted the year I was born was huge, dominating the front yard. The hill that used to be such a royal pain in my ass to ride my bike up and down? Barely a bump in the road.
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Quick reminder, NBA playoffs are still going on, Finals start this week. Looking like it could be good stuff, Miami vs Dallas, no real idea who is the better team, nor do I really care who wins other than the vague feeling I have that it would be difficult to root for a team from Texas. Which brings up a good question: Has there ever been a President before that made us root against an entire state?
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Start my class tomorrow. Four week class, 4 hour class every Tuesday, the rest is online. We'll see how I do with a four hour class. If college was any indication, not so well.
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Last couple weekends were spent at weddings. Good times for all. After the Kennedy/Lord wedding two weeks ago we stopped by my old house in Chelmsford. Weird stuff. The house itself was more or less as I remembered, the tree in the front that was planted the year I was born was huge, dominating the front yard. The hill that used to be such a royal pain in my ass to ride my bike up and down? Barely a bump in the road.
---
Quick reminder, NBA playoffs are still going on, Finals start this week. Looking like it could be good stuff, Miami vs Dallas, no real idea who is the better team, nor do I really care who wins other than the vague feeling I have that it would be difficult to root for a team from Texas. Which brings up a good question: Has there ever been a President before that made us root against an entire state?
---
Start my class tomorrow. Four week class, 4 hour class every Tuesday, the rest is online. We'll see how I do with a four hour class. If college was any indication, not so well.
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