Any thoughts?
My ideas:
-Anything off Weezer's Blue Album (Sweater Song, Say It Ain't So, Only in Dreams)
-Anything by Modest Mouse that we can make sound like Modest Mouse (Doin' the Cockroach, Cowboy Dan, 3rd Planet, Shit Luck)
-Loro by Pinback...possibly others
That is all for now.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Of Life!!!
What ever happened to that, huh?
A couple other classics
-Goulet
-Lavender
What others come to mind?
A couple other classics
-Goulet
-Lavender
What others come to mind?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tipping Point
As many of us have read this book, I thought I would break down a few things. In order for an idea to tip, there are usually 3 specialized individuals involved in the 'tip'. Connector - someone who takes an idea and spreads it through many different social circles. These people tend to have many different circles that they overlap. Mavens - in depth knowledge on specific subject matters. Brian is a hockey maven. Taylor is a law maven. Salesman - the guy who persuasively sells the idea. The connector connects people to the idea, but the salesman makes it gold.
Ethan - Salesman, with a bit of connector
Brian - I didn't think you fit any of the 3, maybe a bit of a connector and definitely a maven in some situations, i.e. hockey. Instead, as I will illustrate with my points, you are a first user/innovator.
Taylor - not sure you fit any of the 3 specialized people...a maven in some things. It isn't a big deal, everyone is not one of the 3 specialties (Maven, Connector, Salesman)
The reason I bring this up is due to my new found awareness of the Tipping Point idea. This is the idea that all great trends have a point where they 'tip'. They go from being something a few people are into, to a thing everyone wants into.
Example #1: Hockey
Brian is the first user, the innovator. He had been singing the praises of hockey for years, yet the idea hadn't tipped in our group. He had taken many people without any success. When did it change? You know where I'm going...he introduced the sport to me, Ethan. Now I, being a salesman, couldn't help but sell this to his other social circles. Hockey would have never happened for our group without Brian, but same can be said about me. What happened? For Jason Ellis' birthday I paid for him to get skating lessons with me. He brought his brother and we were hanging out with Brandon, so the 4 of us starting skating. This led to the inclusion of Alex (who brought in Patrick), Taylor (who brought Kyle P, who brought Kyle S and Josh), Joey (who brought Jasper, Oliver, John R), John Ellis (Luke)...and the list is still growing (Justin, Steve, Dan Harris)...with many on the fence getting ready to join up. Hockey is in the midst of a growing epidemic amongst our social groups.
Example #2: P90X
Again, Brian is the first user/innovator. He brings the new idea to the group. But again, it starts to grow rapidly with Ethan and Jason. Now, I have 3 or 4 people working out at my house on a regular basis, with others considering. The idea has grown to the following people: Ethan, Adri, Jason, John Ellis, Katie S, Brandon, Matt (my work partner), Jeff Smith. Jason and I joke that if we got commissions on getting people into the stuff we are into, we would be making some serious cash.
Other Possible Examples:
-Inclusion and excitement for the Olympics
-Arrested Development
-Reading Tipping Point (just ask the 4-5 people I have given the book to, funny thing tipping the Tipping Point)
What's Next?
Ethan - Salesman, with a bit of connector
Brian - I didn't think you fit any of the 3, maybe a bit of a connector and definitely a maven in some situations, i.e. hockey. Instead, as I will illustrate with my points, you are a first user/innovator.
Taylor - not sure you fit any of the 3 specialized people...a maven in some things. It isn't a big deal, everyone is not one of the 3 specialties (Maven, Connector, Salesman)
The reason I bring this up is due to my new found awareness of the Tipping Point idea. This is the idea that all great trends have a point where they 'tip'. They go from being something a few people are into, to a thing everyone wants into.
Example #1: Hockey
Brian is the first user, the innovator. He had been singing the praises of hockey for years, yet the idea hadn't tipped in our group. He had taken many people without any success. When did it change? You know where I'm going...he introduced the sport to me, Ethan. Now I, being a salesman, couldn't help but sell this to his other social circles. Hockey would have never happened for our group without Brian, but same can be said about me. What happened? For Jason Ellis' birthday I paid for him to get skating lessons with me. He brought his brother and we were hanging out with Brandon, so the 4 of us starting skating. This led to the inclusion of Alex (who brought in Patrick), Taylor (who brought Kyle P, who brought Kyle S and Josh), Joey (who brought Jasper, Oliver, John R), John Ellis (Luke)...and the list is still growing (Justin, Steve, Dan Harris)...with many on the fence getting ready to join up. Hockey is in the midst of a growing epidemic amongst our social groups.
Example #2: P90X
Again, Brian is the first user/innovator. He brings the new idea to the group. But again, it starts to grow rapidly with Ethan and Jason. Now, I have 3 or 4 people working out at my house on a regular basis, with others considering. The idea has grown to the following people: Ethan, Adri, Jason, John Ellis, Katie S, Brandon, Matt (my work partner), Jeff Smith. Jason and I joke that if we got commissions on getting people into the stuff we are into, we would be making some serious cash.
Other Possible Examples:
-Inclusion and excitement for the Olympics
-Arrested Development
-Reading Tipping Point (just ask the 4-5 people I have given the book to, funny thing tipping the Tipping Point)
What's Next?
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The what would you do game....
Simple. Answer the what would you do question. Then follow it with another what would you do for the next poster. This should give us something to do while Ethan or Taylor comes up with something substantial to post on.
So what would you do if you saw 2pac on a bus?
So what would you do if you saw 2pac on a bus?
Monday, June 8, 2009
A point of interest for our upcoming hockey game
Our hockey team, the Tidal Wave (we did not pick this name), is undefeated through four games in the season. We've been crushing people and haven't been particularly careful about running up the score. That in mind, if you look on the "Records" portion of the online scorekeeper that the league uses (http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-division-records.html?divisionid=23491&seasonid=3675) you'll notice that Tidal Wave does NOT have the record for greatest winning margin. We don't even have the second or third highest winning margin.
The explanation for this fact is also why our game this Saturday is going to be awesome. The one team that we have not played yet, the Quakes, has scored a total of four goals over three games and gotten annihilated by teams that we have rolled over quite easily. The bottom line here for this mismatch is that the over-under on the number of players on our team who get hat tricks is 3.
The explanation for this fact is also why our game this Saturday is going to be awesome. The one team that we have not played yet, the Quakes, has scored a total of four goals over three games and gotten annihilated by teams that we have rolled over quite easily. The bottom line here for this mismatch is that the over-under on the number of players on our team who get hat tricks is 3.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Undisputed Facts
-Lawyers...assholes
-People from Newport...pretentious and obnoxious
-Bruins...desperate
-Radiohead...awful
-TV on the Radio...even worse
-Magnolia...total waste of my time
-Mastiffs...worst dogs ever
-Having a bar in your house...gay at best
-Charlie Brown T-Shirts...unflattering
-Being Fat...not cool
-Overanalyzing other people's blog posts...priceless
-People from Newport...pretentious and obnoxious
-Bruins...desperate
-Radiohead...awful
-TV on the Radio...even worse
-Magnolia...total waste of my time
-Mastiffs...worst dogs ever
-Having a bar in your house...gay at best
-Charlie Brown T-Shirts...unflattering
-Being Fat...not cool
-Overanalyzing other people's blog posts...priceless
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Confessions of a Bigot
Okay, so I can't sleep and it's time to post a blog and this one has been slow cooking in my mind for a while.
I'm in San Luis Obispo and Adri and I had a really nice time at dinner in the downtown area. A wonderful outdoor restaurant right on a creek, really nice. One thing kept coming up though. It appears that we have found a total Pirate hangout. They are everywhere.
What are Pirates? This is where things get discriminating. You may be familiar with Pirates under their many pseudonyms: Hippies, 'Indie', Granola, etc.
A few words about my stereotypical view of Pirates:
-Pirates wear beards like they are the first to discover facial hair. You know the look, it isn't the clean beard our fathers have, it's the kind Taylor grows or what I look like if I try to grow one for too long. It's kind of dirty and gross.
-This leads nicely into my second point. Pirates look dirty and gross. That's right I said it, it's what we are all thinking. If you look like you haven't showered in weeks, then most of the world believes that you haven't showered in weeks. Dreadlocks are a great example of this. There are some men out there, namely black men, who can have nice clean looking dreadlocks. Pirates have the nappy, blond, knotted dreads that look like animals live in them.
-Pirating is a form of employment all it's own. It is a special club. A club that works at restaurants, boutiques, etc. But come on, everything about their look says one thing, unemployed. Not the version of unemployed that the inner city has, but the kind that says, not only do I not have a job, but I don't even want one. And if I do have one, I don't want you to take me that serious anyways.
-Due to the unemployment factor, Pirates are broke. Don't get me wrong, they don't want to be rich, at least they say they don't. Though, many of us know a Pirate or two who live off their parents money, ahem. Also, I might amend this, I tend to discriminate in a more particular way on this one. I tend to think of Pirates as cheap, which isn't the same as broke. Broke is a state of being, a reality; cheap is a state of mind. Broke doesn't equal Pirate. I feel like I'm writing one of those SAT questions. If all Pirates are Broke. And some Broke are Cheap. Are all Pirates Cheap?
-Smoking Pot is not a job either. And furthermore, smoking cigarettes is not as cool as it sounds. This isn't the 40s, and all the movie stars and Presidents don't do it, oh wait. Anyways, come on. They are freaking cigarettes; this is the truly ironic. Most Pirates are trying to be 'counter culture'. Screw corporate America and all that. But is their anything less counter culture than cigarettes? It is the definition of big business and it is what everyone expects them to do. There is nothing less surprising than when I find out a Pirate smokes. Wow, you really redefined yourself as truly original...cigarettes, I just never saw that one coming, who would have thought, you are such a rebel.
-A comment on Pirate fashion. First up, the man purse or satchel (Isn't that the name of someone's unborn child? I distinctly remember Adri mocking that name as having to do with genetalia). I must have witnessed 4 or 5 couples with matching over the shoulder satchels. Hand made I'm sure. Also hand made, their awesome crocheted hats/beanies. Now again, not that I should say much. I tend to look like I've been frozen in time, in the 90s; and yes, my idea of a thrift store is Costco, Target, or Macy's seasonal sales for my grown-up clothes; but hey, this blog is to judge them not me.
-Petulie Oil. Just awful.
-In the Pirate world of hair, men can look like women and women like men. For guys, you rebel by growing your hair long and treating it like a woman (flat iron anyone? You know who you are and what you did). For women, cut it off and style it like a guy, that will show'em all.
-Pirate music, here is the closest thing I will come to connecting with Pirates. While I can enjoy classic rock, it isn't my inspiration; and reggae is overrated; indie music tends to be something I thoroughly enjoy, and seems to be a staple of Pirates. In fact, I remember a Pedro the Lion concert I went to...total Pirate convention. I looked like a sore thumb standing there in my skate shoes and pullover hoodie. Apparantly, I was the only one in the room who didn't shop at the aforementioned thrift shops. I always felt like the best way to show the world you are counter culture would be to show up to one of those concerts dressed like an inner city black man. Baggie jeans, a huge Kobe jersey that looks like a dress with a XXXXXL white t-shirt on underneath. Maybe a leather, letterman style jacket with the logos of all 30 MLB teams sewn all over it. That would show them what different looks like.
One final word, to my actual Pirate friends, if you still want to be friends. I am sorry if I offended you. It wasn't you. It started thanks to a one-legged man who spent a month in my house over charging me for labor. Followed by a weird dude and his son cutting tile without completing sentences when speaking with me. It all came to a boil when I had dinner tonight in San Luis Obispo and was overwhelmed by the shear volume. I couldn't get Cartman's words out of my mind, "I hate g-d damn hippies". And yes, there was a music festival going on within earshot, playing the likes of Simon & Garfunkel followed by several reggae tunes.
With that, I would like to change my choice to Self-Righteous. Red Bitches.
I'm in San Luis Obispo and Adri and I had a really nice time at dinner in the downtown area. A wonderful outdoor restaurant right on a creek, really nice. One thing kept coming up though. It appears that we have found a total Pirate hangout. They are everywhere.
What are Pirates? This is where things get discriminating. You may be familiar with Pirates under their many pseudonyms: Hippies, 'Indie', Granola, etc.
A few words about my stereotypical view of Pirates:
-Pirates wear beards like they are the first to discover facial hair. You know the look, it isn't the clean beard our fathers have, it's the kind Taylor grows or what I look like if I try to grow one for too long. It's kind of dirty and gross.
-This leads nicely into my second point. Pirates look dirty and gross. That's right I said it, it's what we are all thinking. If you look like you haven't showered in weeks, then most of the world believes that you haven't showered in weeks. Dreadlocks are a great example of this. There are some men out there, namely black men, who can have nice clean looking dreadlocks. Pirates have the nappy, blond, knotted dreads that look like animals live in them.
-Pirating is a form of employment all it's own. It is a special club. A club that works at restaurants, boutiques, etc. But come on, everything about their look says one thing, unemployed. Not the version of unemployed that the inner city has, but the kind that says, not only do I not have a job, but I don't even want one. And if I do have one, I don't want you to take me that serious anyways.
-Due to the unemployment factor, Pirates are broke. Don't get me wrong, they don't want to be rich, at least they say they don't. Though, many of us know a Pirate or two who live off their parents money, ahem. Also, I might amend this, I tend to discriminate in a more particular way on this one. I tend to think of Pirates as cheap, which isn't the same as broke. Broke is a state of being, a reality; cheap is a state of mind. Broke doesn't equal Pirate. I feel like I'm writing one of those SAT questions. If all Pirates are Broke. And some Broke are Cheap. Are all Pirates Cheap?
-Smoking Pot is not a job either. And furthermore, smoking cigarettes is not as cool as it sounds. This isn't the 40s, and all the movie stars and Presidents don't do it, oh wait. Anyways, come on. They are freaking cigarettes; this is the truly ironic. Most Pirates are trying to be 'counter culture'. Screw corporate America and all that. But is their anything less counter culture than cigarettes? It is the definition of big business and it is what everyone expects them to do. There is nothing less surprising than when I find out a Pirate smokes. Wow, you really redefined yourself as truly original...cigarettes, I just never saw that one coming, who would have thought, you are such a rebel.
-A comment on Pirate fashion. First up, the man purse or satchel (Isn't that the name of someone's unborn child? I distinctly remember Adri mocking that name as having to do with genetalia). I must have witnessed 4 or 5 couples with matching over the shoulder satchels. Hand made I'm sure. Also hand made, their awesome crocheted hats/beanies. Now again, not that I should say much. I tend to look like I've been frozen in time, in the 90s; and yes, my idea of a thrift store is Costco, Target, or Macy's seasonal sales for my grown-up clothes; but hey, this blog is to judge them not me.
-Petulie Oil. Just awful.
-In the Pirate world of hair, men can look like women and women like men. For guys, you rebel by growing your hair long and treating it like a woman (flat iron anyone? You know who you are and what you did). For women, cut it off and style it like a guy, that will show'em all.
-Pirate music, here is the closest thing I will come to connecting with Pirates. While I can enjoy classic rock, it isn't my inspiration; and reggae is overrated; indie music tends to be something I thoroughly enjoy, and seems to be a staple of Pirates. In fact, I remember a Pedro the Lion concert I went to...total Pirate convention. I looked like a sore thumb standing there in my skate shoes and pullover hoodie. Apparantly, I was the only one in the room who didn't shop at the aforementioned thrift shops. I always felt like the best way to show the world you are counter culture would be to show up to one of those concerts dressed like an inner city black man. Baggie jeans, a huge Kobe jersey that looks like a dress with a XXXXXL white t-shirt on underneath. Maybe a leather, letterman style jacket with the logos of all 30 MLB teams sewn all over it. That would show them what different looks like.
One final word, to my actual Pirate friends, if you still want to be friends. I am sorry if I offended you. It wasn't you. It started thanks to a one-legged man who spent a month in my house over charging me for labor. Followed by a weird dude and his son cutting tile without completing sentences when speaking with me. It all came to a boil when I had dinner tonight in San Luis Obispo and was overwhelmed by the shear volume. I couldn't get Cartman's words out of my mind, "I hate g-d damn hippies". And yes, there was a music festival going on within earshot, playing the likes of Simon & Garfunkel followed by several reggae tunes.
With that, I would like to change my choice to Self-Righteous. Red Bitches.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Next bracket: Biggest One Hit Wonder
While we're hashing out the brackets for the best movies bracket, let's get started on the bracket for the biggest one hit wonders. This post is a chance now for anyone to nominate a song as a one hit wonder or to protest the inclusion of any of the songs mentioned below as a one hit wonders.
The criteria for this bracket are much more specific. We're voting for the song that was the biggest hit (popularity, sales, playtime, how widely known, how long-lived, etc.) AND was the ONLY hit by that artist AND it is a "wonder" as to how the hell this artist or song became so successful. Even a second song that was a minor hit should count against that song being the biggest one hit wonder ever. This one should be easier for everyone to participate in because if you haven't heard of the song it probably wasn't that big of a hit. Thus whether you like the song is not entirely relevant for this bracket other than to confirm that it was a "hit" with you. (This definition is of course up for debate.)
Here are some suggestions. Add your suggestions in the comments. I nominate Brian to pick the sixty-four competitors and their seedings.
Baby Got Back - Sir Mix A Lot
Jump Around - House of Pain
What I Like About You - The Romantics
Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
No Rain - Blind Melon
Take On Me - A Ha
Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnite Runners
Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
Who Let The Dogs Out - Baha Men
Macarena - Los Del Rio
Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
Jump Jump - Kriss Kross
One Headlight - The Wallflowers
Rapper's Delight - Sugar Hill Gang
Whip It - Devo
I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Nothing Compares 2U - Sinead O'Connor
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
Stay - Lisa Loeb
Whoomp... There It Is - Tag Team
Informer - Snow
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - Proclaimers
Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
Here It Goes Again - OK Go
Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Closing Time - Semisonic
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
Who Let The Dogs Out? - Baha Men
Turning Japanese - The Vapors
Puttin' on the Ritz - Taco
Joan Osbourne - One Of Us
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy
Europe - The Final Countdown
Aqua - Barbie Girl
EMF - Unbelievable
The Cardigans - Lovefool
Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown
Deee-Lite - Groove is in the heart
Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
Tommy Tutone - 867-5309 / Jenny
Modern English - I Melt with You
Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance
Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchie
Twisted Sister - We’re Not Gonna Take It
The criteria for this bracket are much more specific. We're voting for the song that was the biggest hit (popularity, sales, playtime, how widely known, how long-lived, etc.) AND was the ONLY hit by that artist AND it is a "wonder" as to how the hell this artist or song became so successful. Even a second song that was a minor hit should count against that song being the biggest one hit wonder ever. This one should be easier for everyone to participate in because if you haven't heard of the song it probably wasn't that big of a hit. Thus whether you like the song is not entirely relevant for this bracket other than to confirm that it was a "hit" with you. (This definition is of course up for debate.)
Here are some suggestions. Add your suggestions in the comments. I nominate Brian to pick the sixty-four competitors and their seedings.
Baby Got Back - Sir Mix A Lot
Jump Around - House of Pain
What I Like About You - The Romantics
Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
No Rain - Blind Melon
Take On Me - A Ha
Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnite Runners
Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
Who Let The Dogs Out - Baha Men
Macarena - Los Del Rio
Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
Jump Jump - Kriss Kross
One Headlight - The Wallflowers
Rapper's Delight - Sugar Hill Gang
Whip It - Devo
I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Nothing Compares 2U - Sinead O'Connor
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
Stay - Lisa Loeb
Whoomp... There It Is - Tag Team
Informer - Snow
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - Proclaimers
Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
Here It Goes Again - OK Go
Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Closing Time - Semisonic
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
Who Let The Dogs Out? - Baha Men
Turning Japanese - The Vapors
Puttin' on the Ritz - Taco
Joan Osbourne - One Of Us
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy
Europe - The Final Countdown
Aqua - Barbie Girl
EMF - Unbelievable
The Cardigans - Lovefool
Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown
Deee-Lite - Groove is in the heart
Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
Tommy Tutone - 867-5309 / Jenny
Modern English - I Melt with You
Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance
Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchie
Twisted Sister - We’re Not Gonna Take It
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
First Game in the Rookie League - 11-4 Win!
I love this league. But we do need to split up Kyle Smith and Josh. They're too good.
Whose goal are they attributing to Steve Ellis?
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=994545
Whose goal are they attributing to Steve Ellis?
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=994545
Friday, May 15, 2009
After having spoken with Brian and Ethan, here is how I propose we set the bracket. I think we can come together on 32 movies that we all want in the bracket. From there we should fill some niches like comedy, action, and classic movies. I think that the best of the classic movies (I suggest four) are worth at least discussing. Next, and this is really the part that will make this possible, is that each of us gets four spots in the bottom half of the rankings to put movies that we feel are neglected or that should have been agreed upon but weren't. As examples, Brian will pick his favorite movie Brokeback Mountain, Ethan may pick a movie like the Fountain, and I will likely pick Magnolia, which is my favorite movie. This will add some variety but will make figuring out the top 32 easier because if there is a disagreement, one of us will have to be willing to put as disputed best movie as one of our four wild card spots. Last I have suggested four shout-out spots for movies that are going to be facing the top four movies but might as well be on the list. I am curious to see if we can agree on the Goonies in the top 32.
This is still a rough draft, and is meant mostly to illustrate how we should hash this out.
(In descending order of seeding 1 through 64):
32 movies we three agree on:
Godfather 2
Braveheart
Godfather
Fight Club
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Apocalypse Now
Shawshank Redemption
Tombstone
The Royal Tenenbaums
High Fidelity
Pulp Fiction
Unforgiven
The Lord of the Rings
Last of the Mohicans
Glory
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Jaws
Reservoir Dogs
The Matrix
Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Tron
Blade Runner
Sunshine
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
___
4 best action movies
Die Hard
True Lies
Terminator 2
Predator
4 Classic Movies
Citizen Kane
Casablanca
Lawrence of Arabia
Ben Hur
___
4 wild card picks by Brian
The Little Mermaid
Brokeback Mountain
Y Tu Mama Tambien
The Devil Wears Prada
4 wild card picks by Ethan
The Fountain
The Planet of the Apes
Major Payne
Red Dawn
4 wild card picks by Taylor
Magnolia
Thank You for Smoking
V for Vendetta
4 shout-out random movies
The Goonies
Napoleon Dynamite
Young Guns
The Money Pit (mostly so we can debate the Godfather versus the Money Pit a la Family Guy.)
This is still a rough draft, and is meant mostly to illustrate how we should hash this out.
(In descending order of seeding 1 through 64):
32 movies we three agree on:
Godfather 2
Braveheart
Godfather
Fight Club
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Apocalypse Now
Shawshank Redemption
Tombstone
The Royal Tenenbaums
High Fidelity
Pulp Fiction
Unforgiven
The Lord of the Rings
Last of the Mohicans
Glory
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Jaws
Reservoir Dogs
The Matrix
Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Tron
Blade Runner
Sunshine
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
___
8 best comedies
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Life of Brian
Office Space
Anchorman
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Waiting for Guffman
Spinal Tap
Life of Brian
Office Space
Anchorman
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Waiting for Guffman
Spinal Tap
Tommy Boy
4 best action movies
Die Hard
True Lies
Terminator 2
Predator
4 Classic Movies
Citizen Kane
Casablanca
Lawrence of Arabia
Ben Hur
___
4 wild card picks by Brian
The Little Mermaid
Brokeback Mountain
Y Tu Mama Tambien
The Devil Wears Prada
4 wild card picks by Ethan
The Fountain
The Planet of the Apes
Major Payne
Red Dawn
4 wild card picks by Taylor
Magnolia
Thank You for Smoking
V for Vendetta
4 shout-out random movies
The Goonies
Napoleon Dynamite
Young Guns
The Money Pit (mostly so we can debate the Godfather versus the Money Pit a la Family Guy.)
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A first thought on a best movie ever bracket
Here is a list from the American Film Institute rating the top 100 movies. I doubt that all of these movies will make it onto our top 64 bracket, but anyone that wants to participate should rent some of the classic "best" movies so that any vote made for or against that movie can be based on what you've actually seen and enjoyed rather than what you've heard. I think that there needs to be an honor system for voting on this bracket where you cannot even vote on a match-up if you haven't seen both movies. Really we need to start watching some of these movies and wait a few months before starting the bracket.
1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. The Godfather (1972)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Raging Bull (1980)
5. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
6. Gone with the Wind (1939)
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
8. Schindler's List (1993)
9. Vertigo (1958)
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
11. City Lights (1931)
12. The Searchers (1956)
13. Star Wars (1977)
14. Psycho (1960)
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
16. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
17. The Graduate (1967)
18. The General (1927)
19. On the Waterfront (1954)
20. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
21. Chinatown (1974)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959)
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
24. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
25. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
27. High Noon (1952)
28. All About Eve (1950)
29. Double Indemnity (1944)
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
32. The Godfather Part II (1974)
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
35. Annie Hall (1977)
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
37. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
39. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
40. The Sound of Music (1965)
41. King Kong (1933)
42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
44. The Philadelphia Sotry (1940)
45. Shane (1953)
46. It Happened One Night (1934)
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
48. Rear Window (1954)
49. Intolerance (1916)
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
51. West Side Story (1961)
52. Taxi Driver (1976)
53. The Deer Hunter (1978)
54. M*a*s*h (1970)
55. North By Northwest (1959)
56. Jaws (1977)
57. Rocky (1976)
58. The Gold Rush (1925)
59. Nashville (1975)
60. Duck Soup (1933)
61. Sullivan's Travels (1958)
62. American Graffiti (1973)
63. Cabaret (1972)
64. Network (1976)
65. The African Queen (1951)
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
68. Unforgiven (1992)
69. Tootsie (1982)
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
73. Butch Caddidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
74. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
75. In the Heat of the Night (1967)
76. Forrest Gump (1994)
77. All the President's Men (1976)
78. Modern Times (1936)
79. The Wild Bunch (1969)
80. The Apartment (1960)
81. Spartacus (1960)
82. Sunrise (1927)
83. Titanic (1997)
84. Easy Rider (1969)
85. A Night at the Opera (1935)
86. Platoon (1986)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957)
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
89. The Sixth Sense (1999)
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie's Choice (1982)
92. Goodfellas (1990)
93. The French Connection (1971)
94. Pulp Fiction (1994)
95. The Last Picture Show (1971)
96. Do the Right Thing (1989)
97. Blade Runner (1982)
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
99. Toy Story (1995)
100. Ben-Hur (1959)
The American Film Institute asked more than 1,500 members of the film community to pick the 100 best films of all time from a list of 400 movies nominated by the institute. The criteria for inclusion was historical significance, critical recognition and awards, and popularity determined by box-office revenue, syndication, video sale and rental figures. The updated, 10th anniversary edition of the list was released in 2007.
1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. The Godfather (1972)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Raging Bull (1980)
5. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
6. Gone with the Wind (1939)
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
8. Schindler's List (1993)
9. Vertigo (1958)
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
11. City Lights (1931)
12. The Searchers (1956)
13. Star Wars (1977)
14. Psycho (1960)
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
16. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
17. The Graduate (1967)
18. The General (1927)
19. On the Waterfront (1954)
20. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
21. Chinatown (1974)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959)
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
24. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
25. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
27. High Noon (1952)
28. All About Eve (1950)
29. Double Indemnity (1944)
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
32. The Godfather Part II (1974)
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
35. Annie Hall (1977)
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
37. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
39. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
40. The Sound of Music (1965)
41. King Kong (1933)
42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
44. The Philadelphia Sotry (1940)
45. Shane (1953)
46. It Happened One Night (1934)
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
48. Rear Window (1954)
49. Intolerance (1916)
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
51. West Side Story (1961)
52. Taxi Driver (1976)
53. The Deer Hunter (1978)
54. M*a*s*h (1970)
55. North By Northwest (1959)
56. Jaws (1977)
57. Rocky (1976)
58. The Gold Rush (1925)
59. Nashville (1975)
60. Duck Soup (1933)
61. Sullivan's Travels (1958)
62. American Graffiti (1973)
63. Cabaret (1972)
64. Network (1976)
65. The African Queen (1951)
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
68. Unforgiven (1992)
69. Tootsie (1982)
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
73. Butch Caddidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
74. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
75. In the Heat of the Night (1967)
76. Forrest Gump (1994)
77. All the President's Men (1976)
78. Modern Times (1936)
79. The Wild Bunch (1969)
80. The Apartment (1960)
81. Spartacus (1960)
82. Sunrise (1927)
83. Titanic (1997)
84. Easy Rider (1969)
85. A Night at the Opera (1935)
86. Platoon (1986)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957)
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
89. The Sixth Sense (1999)
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie's Choice (1982)
92. Goodfellas (1990)
93. The French Connection (1971)
94. Pulp Fiction (1994)
95. The Last Picture Show (1971)
96. Do the Right Thing (1989)
97. Blade Runner (1982)
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
99. Toy Story (1995)
100. Ben-Hur (1959)
The American Film Institute asked more than 1,500 members of the film community to pick the 100 best films of all time from a list of 400 movies nominated by the institute. The criteria for inclusion was historical significance, critical recognition and awards, and popularity determined by box-office revenue, syndication, video sale and rental figures. The updated, 10th anniversary edition of the list was released in 2007.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Championship Round!
The Championship Round is finally here.
Answer these four questions in the comments:
1. Who you vote for to win the championship match-up.
2. Who do you consider to be the best band ever, i.e. who should have won?
3. What one band should have made the bracket, but didn't?
4. What one band should NOT have made the bracket, but did?
Your answers to these questions will be taken into consideration next March when The Money Beets hold the second annual "Best. Band. Ever." Bracket with updated seedings and possibly new bands from the 2000s era.
VOTING DEADLINE; FRIDAY, MAY 1ST, MIDNIGHT.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Final Four Bands
We've arrived at the Final Four. And yes, Interpol is in the final four. I blame Simon and anyone who hasn't heard of Arcade Fire. Voting ends on Sunday night at midnight. New tie-breaker rules are in effect. If you want to download a song from each of these artists, I suggest the following:
Bob Dylan - All Along the Watchtower or Like A Rolling Stone
Interpol - Stella Was A Diver and She Was Always Down or Slow Hands
Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name or Bulls on Parade
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit or In Bloom
Post your favorite song or album of each band in the comments when you vote.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tiebreaker system for the final four and championship round
Up until this point we've been using a count-back of the Money Beets' votes to break any ties. For the Final Four round and the Championship round, the tie-breaking system will be as follows:
If at the midnight deadline for voting, there is a tie, voting will be extended for another twenty-four hours, in which time additional voters will need to be rallied and encouraged to vote. If there is still a tie at midnight on the following night's deadline, voting will be extended another twenty-four hours and so on and so forth until one band is able to make the metaphorical three-point shot at the buzzer to win the match-up.
For these rounds, voters must either have voted before or be able to sufficiently identify themselves. I.e. "NewportHome" is the only person that is allowed to vote despite the fact that we have no idea who they are.
If at the midnight deadline for voting, there is a tie, voting will be extended for another twenty-four hours, in which time additional voters will need to be rallied and encouraged to vote. If there is still a tie at midnight on the following night's deadline, voting will be extended another twenty-four hours and so on and so forth until one band is able to make the metaphorical three-point shot at the buzzer to win the match-up.
For these rounds, voters must either have voted before or be able to sufficiently identify themselves. I.e. "NewportHome" is the only person that is allowed to vote despite the fact that we have no idea who they are.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Jason Ellis is Making a Difference
I thought I would share with you all about my good friend, Jason Ellis. Actually, I'm not going to tell you too much about him, but just that he is a group leader for our church high school department. He is spending his spare time helping his high school guys learn about Jesus, and mature as men. In fact, here are a few of them doing what men do best...beating on each other. Jason should be proud. (No one was seriously hurt during the filming)
Note to Taylor: This is what should have happened with Kyle.
Note to Taylor: This is what should have happened with Kyle.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Second Round Bracket
There were a lot of hard-fought battles and a few upsets. The biggest wins were by Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones each with 12-0 victories. Sadly, Madonna did not make it to the second round. The biggest upsets were Michael Jackson over Pearl Jam and Elton John over U2. I think deep down we're all glad that U2 is out of it, despite the fact that we're now stuck with Elton John.Vote in the second round in the comments. Anyone is welcome to vote, even if you didn't vote in the first round.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Best. Band. Ever.
The bracket is now available. Vote in the comments. Leslie asked me whether she was supposed to vote according to which bands she knows are really good or which bands she is actually listening to the most right now. A good example is the Beatles (1) versus Band of Horses (16). Every individual needs to balance their own definitions, but the goal of this bracket is to determine which band/artist is the best ever.
As an example of voting styles: Ethan thinks that classic rock, while important, just doesn't hold up to newer music that has, in essence, stood on the shoulders of the Beatles and others to make even better music. Brian on the other hand would argue that the music of classic rock bands innovated and created so greatly that most bands since have merely been imitating but never equalling their influences. That being said, everyone should feel free to lobby others as to which bands' music has stood the test of time and also to speculate as to what new music will remain relevant for decades to come.
Once everyone votes on the first round, I'll update the spreadsheet and re-post it for the second round. The seeding system is inherently inaccurate so any complaints as to the over-rating or under-rating of a band/artist should be remedied through voting. So if Madonna gets the votes, Madonna will win.
As an example of voting styles: Ethan thinks that classic rock, while important, just doesn't hold up to newer music that has, in essence, stood on the shoulders of the Beatles and others to make even better music. Brian on the other hand would argue that the music of classic rock bands innovated and created so greatly that most bands since have merely been imitating but never equalling their influences. That being said, everyone should feel free to lobby others as to which bands' music has stood the test of time and also to speculate as to what new music will remain relevant for decades to come.
Once everyone votes on the first round, I'll update the spreadsheet and re-post it for the second round. The seeding system is inherently inaccurate so any complaints as to the over-rating or under-rating of a band/artist should be remedied through voting. So if Madonna gets the votes, Madonna will win.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Notice: Bands/Artists Not Seeded
The following bands/artists are currently not included in the bracket. I'm trying to make as many people happy as possible but it's hard when Brian only gives 50s, 60s, and 70s bands and Ethan gives mostly 90s bands. I'm essentially just using what I know about their music tastes to fill in the rest. If you feel that any of the following are potentially the best band/artist ever, this is your chance to say so. Once the bracket comes out there will only be voting. Here is the non-exhaustive list of bands NOT making the tournament:
Dave Matthews Band
Madonna
No Doubt
POTUSA
BLink-182
Cake
The Cars
Billy Joel
Prince
Genesis
Dire Straits
Jethro Tull
The Kinks
Lynryd Skynrd
Steely Dan
The Supremes
The Monkees
Bon Jovi
The Sex Pistols
Pavement
Ray Charles
Al Green
Rascals
Four Seasons
Allman Brothers
The Eagles
R.E.M.
Soundgarden
Every artist mentioned by Adri.
And if anyone at all would like to vote to put Belle and Sebastian in the bracket I would love them forever.
Dave Matthews Band
Madonna
No Doubt
POTUSA
BLink-182
Cake
The Cars
Billy Joel
Prince
Genesis
Dire Straits
Jethro Tull
The Kinks
Lynryd Skynrd
Steely Dan
The Supremes
The Monkees
Bon Jovi
The Sex Pistols
Pavement
Ray Charles
Al Green
Rascals
Four Seasons
Allman Brothers
The Eagles
R.E.M.
Soundgarden
Every artist mentioned by Adri.
And if anyone at all would like to vote to put Belle and Sebastian in the bracket I would love them forever.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Pitiful participation
Pitiful participation . . .
I'm looking at you, Adri. And what? No Celine Dion, the greatest performer of our generation?
Also neither of you, Brian and Ethan, actually paid attention to the brackets, which are divided by decades for seeding purposes. I have the top eight in each bracket down pretty easily. It's mostly a question of which bands get to be the underdogs.
Everybody should at least give me five underdogs worthy of consideration in each of the brackets 50s/60s, 70s/80s, 90s, and 00s. So far there are only four people who will get to vote on who advances through a given round. Anyone that posts their top bands/artists will get a vote.
I'm looking at you, Adri. And what? No Celine Dion, the greatest performer of our generation?
Also neither of you, Brian and Ethan, actually paid attention to the brackets, which are divided by decades for seeding purposes. I have the top eight in each bracket down pretty easily. It's mostly a question of which bands get to be the underdogs.
Everybody should at least give me five underdogs worthy of consideration in each of the brackets 50s/60s, 70s/80s, 90s, and 00s. So far there are only four people who will get to vote on who advances through a given round. Anyone that posts their top bands/artists will get a vote.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Top ten lists for music bracket
I'm putting together a march madness type bracket for best artist/bands, for which we will discuss and vote in successive rounds. I need top ten lists to make the seeded brackets. Once everyone throws in their favorite bands I'll decide who the favorites are and seed them accordingly. To be clear, "best" is by definition going to be a subjective argument; the point will be to debate, compare apples to oranges, and decide between us (the readership of this blog) by voting, who the best bands are. Your lists should NOT be autobiographical: just because you liked them a lot in high school doesn't mean you need to rate them high now. In your lists you should also include bands that are big but that you don't like (but who may be successful anyway) and who you would especially like to see defeated in this bracket. E.g. Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Michael Jackson, Coldplay.
Here are the categories (with examples):
The classic rock bracket (50s and 60s)
Beatles
Rolling Stones
Led Zeppelin
The Who
Elvis Presley
The do-we-need-to-include-the-Bee-Gee's bracket (70s and 80s)
U2
Guns N Roses
Metallica
David Bowie
The Yes,-Nirvana-is-a-number-1-seed bracket (90s)
Nirvana
Pearl Jam
Beck
The New Stuff bracket (2000s on)
TV on the Radio
Radiohead
Pinback
In dealing with bands that have put out albums across multiple decades I'm just going to make a decision and put them into one bracket. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, U2, Pearl Jam, and Radiohead are good examples of bands that could be in multiple brackets. Let me know if you feel that I've put someone in the wrong bracket.
UPDATE:
Per Ethan's suggestion, I'm going to seed them according to decades 1 through 16 and then assign four from each decade(s) to a bracket.
Here are the categories (with examples):
The classic rock bracket (50s and 60s)
Beatles
Rolling Stones
Led Zeppelin
The Who
Elvis Presley
The do-we-need-to-include-the-Bee-Gee's bracket (70s and 80s)
U2
Guns N Roses
Metallica
David Bowie
The Yes,-Nirvana-is-a-number-1-seed bracket (90s)
Nirvana
Pearl Jam
Beck
The New Stuff bracket (2000s on)
TV on the Radio
Radiohead
Pinback
In dealing with bands that have put out albums across multiple decades I'm just going to make a decision and put them into one bracket. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, U2, Pearl Jam, and Radiohead are good examples of bands that could be in multiple brackets. Let me know if you feel that I've put someone in the wrong bracket.
UPDATE:
Per Ethan's suggestion, I'm going to seed them according to decades 1 through 16 and then assign four from each decade(s) to a bracket.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Two things I just learned about Franz Ferdinand
1. Their bassist had never played bass before joining the band. I'm looking at you Brian. There is hope.
2. The lead singer is not gay. Or at least he's not as super gay as once thought. He's apparently dating the girl from the Fiery Furnaces. I'm guessing this means that someone else wrote "Michael" which is the second gayest song ever.
Pop quiz for our readership: what is the gayest song ever?
2. The lead singer is not gay. Or at least he's not as super gay as once thought. He's apparently dating the girl from the Fiery Furnaces. I'm guessing this means that someone else wrote "Michael" which is the second gayest song ever.
Pop quiz for our readership: what is the gayest song ever?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Fantasy Baseball Personalities
1. Christian Bale: A league with too many Christian Bales is sure to end up looking something like Gotham City after the Joker goes on one of his destructive sprees. We're talking a real hothead. The slightest little nitpicky thing might send him into a whirlwind tirade. He might go off on a scathing e-mail rampage simply because you reminded him of an upcoming deadline. He'll press everybody's hot buttons, but on the plus side, this loose cannon is extremely passionate and will do whatever it takes to win. And very often, he does.
Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images
So who plays the Barack Obama role in your league?
3. The little engine: He never complains, he just keeps chugging along, always getting his lineup in on time and constantly trying to improve his squad -- even when sitting in the cellar, 50 points out of first. And, as a result, he always finishes in the middle of the pack, with occasional forays into a money position. No maintenance required here as a commish, and you could do a lot worse than have a league full of owners who "think they can." Of course, if you do, you'll simply replay the same season over and over and over on an endless loop.
4. The ninja: Name all the owners in your league. He's the one you either can't remember or struggle to think of. He's also the one who's always in the playoff race until the final week … yet you can't name a single player on his roster. Like a Luis Gonzalez, David Eckstein or Octavio Dotel-type who always ends up having a huge impact on the playoff race … yet, if I asked you to tell me which team they're playing for, you'd struggle to answer that.
5. Fresh meat: He's the guy who has never played fantasy baseball before. He'll draft four catchers and six middle relievers in the first 10 rounds, possibly just because he likes the sound of their names. He'll finish last this season. And next. But he will win a game or two in a head-to-head league by sheer luck. Will he beat you? And can you take the abuse? A butcher shop's worth of fresh meat can be found looking for leaguemates on Internet message boards. Abandon hope, all ye who enter there.
6. Sheldon Cooper: This owner drafted Cliff Lee and Josh Hamilton early in last season's draft (amid chuckles). This owner traded away Victor Martinez for Carlos Quentin "on a hunch" in April of last year. This owner should not be winning the league … but he is. (He's not to be confused with Cecil Cooper, manager of the Houston Astros, who is far less likely to have the same kind of 2009 success.)
7. Doc Brown: "Why don't we all draft umpires and get points for ejections?" This mad scientist will come up with thousands of ridiculous rules ideas throughout the course of the season. Then, when the season's over, the commish will solicit ideas for rules changes, and Doc won't remember a single one of them. But sometimes, in all the madness, there emerges a flux capacitor, and the league's rules do get a welcome addition.
8. Ron Santo: Yes, you always know you can get better than market value in a trade with this homer; he is the type of owner who covets any player from his favorite team. There is nothing better than drafting behind a Cubs fan when you want Ryan Braun and he says, "I'll take Kosuke Fukudome." All together now: "Oh noooooooo!"
9. Lionel Hutz: This attorney wannabe will take advantage of any perceived ambiguity in the league rules. For instance, if the rules stipulate that "the top six teams make the playoffs," he'll argue about what "top" means. Then he'll argue that "make" doesn't necessarily mean "qualify for." He'll drive you nuts! But you'll end up having a league constitution with really clear rules, so he has no loopholes to slip through.
10. The XX factor: This person is, well, a "she." Don't laugh. Having a female owner is the single greatest thing you can do for your league. Why? Before: "Honey, there's another baseball game on? You're not watching that one, too!" After: "Honey, hurry up and finish the dishes; if Zack Greinke strikes out three hitters tonight, Louise's team moves into third place!" Think about it!
Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
Chuck and Larry believe they're right for each other, but you eventually find out they're not.
12. Sylar: He's pure evil, out for nobody but himself. Everyone in the league wants to send this villain on a one-way ticket to oblivion. He'll claim his lineup was a day late because his power went out -- and you know he's lying, because you're his roommate. He'll propose the following trade: "You have Hanley Ramirez. I have an autographed photo of Chaka from 'Land of the Lost.'" And Mr. Fresh Meat will accept. And the circle of hatred continues. But he'll make an otherwise long season incredibly interesting as you wonder which stunt he'll pull next.
Per ESPN
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Hockey fight
I am looking forward to the playoffs, where Kyle and I will get another chance to fight. This first fight, which happened a while ago but I only just recently got this photo, was a great learning experience. I learned that you're more stable than you would think because you have the other guy's jersey to hang onto. Also, with some feedback from the bench, I'm going to take more of a windup and go for the dramatic haymaker victory.
Monday, March 9, 2009
End of Season statistics
It has been less than a year since we started playing hockey and I think all our stats from this season have exceeded our expectations for improvement from when we were just starting.
http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=EWAL&t=c&s=hockey&p=stats&div=167831&psort=assists#dt_p
And yes, I sorted that by assists so that I would be on the first page, i.e. the top 25 in our bronze league.
Brian: 19 points: 8 G, 11 A
Taylor: 9 points: 3 G, 6 A
Ethan: 7 points: 4 G, 3 A
Jason: 6 points: 2 G, 4 A
http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=EWAL&t=c&s=hockey&p=stats&div=167831&psort=assists#dt_p
And yes, I sorted that by assists so that I would be on the first page, i.e. the top 25 in our bronze league.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Glory of the Slapshot and Other Meaningless Musings
I feel compelled to say a word regarding the slapshot...and my apparent affinity for it.
But before I speak about the shot directly, I must say a word about myself. You see, to truly understand my obsession with the slapshot, you must understand me.
Since I was a small boy, I have been good at things, lots of things. Not the kind of good that comes from hard work, but rather the kind you are born with and have without any effort. And as any young man learns in his youth, you need to stick to things you are good at in order to avoid being mocked. Thus, I have generally stuck to my strengths, i.e. feats of intelligence, wit, musical talent, being tall, being thin (though this one is fading on me), full head of hair, etc.
You get the point. So as an opposite to the above comments, I have avoided my weaknesses rather well, i.e. feats of strength, athletic prowess, etc. I have dabbled in it, getting to an adequate level in most sports, getting married, and other such examples of me rising from my low level of talent in an impressive way.
So what does this have to do with the slapshot? Well, I am awful at hockey. I go out and embarass myself weekly in an effort to enjoy the sport I love so much, yet I am just terrible. I constantly make mistakes, over-skate situations, fall over, generally misplay the entire shift, things of that sort. Well, I took a few slapshots and discovered that I was getting the hang of them. Now I have noticed that my friends have yet to conquer this feat, even though many haven't even tried...but I don't care. If you get an inch, you have got to grab hold of it. So as a man of many talents, yet lacking any ability in hockey; I have grabbed my inch with fervor (I almost put elan, but felt too many would feel their own weaknesses exposed).
I can do a decent slapshot, and I am committed to improving upon it. I need this you see, it is my one single talent I have shown on the ice, and without it I am lost.
As for the shot itself...what is not to like about a 6'4" man raising his stick to the sky in a menacing manner and unleashing a blast that could literally go any direction after being struck. I have little if any control over the puck, except for the fact it will go forward. So as Ellis can attest, as he had to duck to not get hit in the head; beware if you are in front of me...I will unleash all 40 MPH of my blast upon you (yes NHLers shoot it over 100MPH, but let me have this, it is all I've got).
That is all.
But before I speak about the shot directly, I must say a word about myself. You see, to truly understand my obsession with the slapshot, you must understand me.
Since I was a small boy, I have been good at things, lots of things. Not the kind of good that comes from hard work, but rather the kind you are born with and have without any effort. And as any young man learns in his youth, you need to stick to things you are good at in order to avoid being mocked. Thus, I have generally stuck to my strengths, i.e. feats of intelligence, wit, musical talent, being tall, being thin (though this one is fading on me), full head of hair, etc.
You get the point. So as an opposite to the above comments, I have avoided my weaknesses rather well, i.e. feats of strength, athletic prowess, etc. I have dabbled in it, getting to an adequate level in most sports, getting married, and other such examples of me rising from my low level of talent in an impressive way.
So what does this have to do with the slapshot? Well, I am awful at hockey. I go out and embarass myself weekly in an effort to enjoy the sport I love so much, yet I am just terrible. I constantly make mistakes, over-skate situations, fall over, generally misplay the entire shift, things of that sort. Well, I took a few slapshots and discovered that I was getting the hang of them. Now I have noticed that my friends have yet to conquer this feat, even though many haven't even tried...but I don't care. If you get an inch, you have got to grab hold of it. So as a man of many talents, yet lacking any ability in hockey; I have grabbed my inch with fervor (I almost put elan, but felt too many would feel their own weaknesses exposed).
I can do a decent slapshot, and I am committed to improving upon it. I need this you see, it is my one single talent I have shown on the ice, and without it I am lost.
As for the shot itself...what is not to like about a 6'4" man raising his stick to the sky in a menacing manner and unleashing a blast that could literally go any direction after being struck. I have little if any control over the puck, except for the fact it will go forward. So as Ellis can attest, as he had to duck to not get hit in the head; beware if you are in front of me...I will unleash all 40 MPH of my blast upon you (yes NHLers shoot it over 100MPH, but let me have this, it is all I've got).
That is all.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Best Shootout Ever
I'm not referring to our fourteen man shootout last night to win our hockey game against the Rhinos. I'm specifically referring to Ethan's shootout attempt.
As a matter of context, the goalies for each team stopped every single attempt and we literally went through the entire roster of players and came back around until Cody had his second chance, scored, and won. We got to see all kinds of shoot out attempts, ranging from the clearly flawed, to the poorly executed, to the close calls. But the most distinctive shoot out attempt was Ethan's.
The ref dropped the puck at center ice and blew the whistle for Ethan to go. Ethan skated forward and handled the puck. Rather than build up any speed, Ethan pretty much stopped accelerating at the blue line and coasted, puck on stick, slower and slower towards the goalie. As he glided leisurely on a direct path towards the goalie he didn't attempt any of the typical moves to outsmart the goalie. He didn't deke to one side and back or even to one side at all. Once he got within five feet of the goalie, at this point at a snails pace, he raised his stick and set-up a blue-line-worthy slap shot at the goalie from point blank range.
The beauty of this attempt comes from the fact that the goalie had to have experienced a full range of emotions when watching Ethan take his attempt.
At first touch: confidence
Ethan stops skating: joy
Coast slowly at him: confusion
Continues to coast: WTF?
Rears back in a full slap shot: PANIC!
Ethan's shot barely hits his shoulder: relief.
A great game with a great ending.
As a matter of context, the goalies for each team stopped every single attempt and we literally went through the entire roster of players and came back around until Cody had his second chance, scored, and won. We got to see all kinds of shoot out attempts, ranging from the clearly flawed, to the poorly executed, to the close calls. But the most distinctive shoot out attempt was Ethan's.
The ref dropped the puck at center ice and blew the whistle for Ethan to go. Ethan skated forward and handled the puck. Rather than build up any speed, Ethan pretty much stopped accelerating at the blue line and coasted, puck on stick, slower and slower towards the goalie. As he glided leisurely on a direct path towards the goalie he didn't attempt any of the typical moves to outsmart the goalie. He didn't deke to one side and back or even to one side at all. Once he got within five feet of the goalie, at this point at a snails pace, he raised his stick and set-up a blue-line-worthy slap shot at the goalie from point blank range.
The beauty of this attempt comes from the fact that the goalie had to have experienced a full range of emotions when watching Ethan take his attempt.
At first touch: confidence
Ethan stops skating: joy
Coast slowly at him: confusion
Continues to coast: WTF?
Rears back in a full slap shot: PANIC!
Ethan's shot barely hits his shoulder: relief.
A great game with a great ending.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Brian's Hat Trick
Oooh look at me, my name's Brian, I got a hat trick in our hockey game last night.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Non-Essential Hockey Gear
If you had to play a hockey game without a piece of essential gear, which piece would it be? Starting from the other direction, if you only could have three pieces of hockey gear what would they be? (Skates and a stick are the default one and two.) Here is how I would rank the order in which I would add pieces of gear.
My list:
1. Skates - At least you could check people.
2. Stick - Now you're playing hockey.
3. Shinguards - I've take more abuse through my shin guards than anywhere else.
4. Gloves - This is a close call with the shinguards. I'm not sure where you get inadvertantly hit more, the shins or your hands. Thoughts?
5. Cup - the stakes are too high.
6. Helmet - I'm really only adding helmet here because it seems logical that you have to add the helmet before you can add the cage which is really what I want to add
7. Cage - Brian is crazy but I love him.
8. Girdle - Another area that takes more abuse than the shoulder pad or elbow region.
9. Shoulder pads - Shoulder pads are great but not necessarily essential if you're not going to mix it up along the boards.
10. Elbow pads - The least essential piece of equipment.
Now here's the real question: at what point on the spectrum above, when you've shown up to a game to play, would you not play the game because you don't have the necessary gear? If I get up to the cage (No. 7 on my list) I would play. Can anyone beat that?
My list:
1. Skates - At least you could check people.
2. Stick - Now you're playing hockey.
3. Shinguards - I've take more abuse through my shin guards than anywhere else.
4. Gloves - This is a close call with the shinguards. I'm not sure where you get inadvertantly hit more, the shins or your hands. Thoughts?
5. Cup - the stakes are too high.
6. Helmet - I'm really only adding helmet here because it seems logical that you have to add the helmet before you can add the cage which is really what I want to add
7. Cage - Brian is crazy but I love him.
8. Girdle - Another area that takes more abuse than the shoulder pad or elbow region.
9. Shoulder pads - Shoulder pads are great but not necessarily essential if you're not going to mix it up along the boards.
10. Elbow pads - The least essential piece of equipment.
Now here's the real question: at what point on the spectrum above, when you've shown up to a game to play, would you not play the game because you don't have the necessary gear? If I get up to the cage (No. 7 on my list) I would play. Can anyone beat that?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
"The Greywoodes" Site is a Trap
Trust me on this one. Go ahead. Click on it. It is directly to the right of this post. You see it...that tantalizing link. There to tell you all about Taylor's Sister's Family. But be warned. Once you click on it...try to click back in the upper left corner of your browser.
What is this? It won't bring you back to the sweet, sweet "Money Beets"?
Don't say I didn't warn you. Total trap. That is all.
What is this? It won't bring you back to the sweet, sweet "Money Beets"?
Don't say I didn't warn you. Total trap. That is all.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Quote of the Day
"Taylor doesn't fucking count"
-Adri
Now the real question...what were we talking about that she said this?
-Adri
Now the real question...what were we talking about that she said this?
Next Hockey Season
This is worth a blog. An ad for Anaheim Ice came in the mail today. It said that the next hockey season is going to start on May 2nd, and that it will be a shorter season...10 games. Or 8 games and 2 clinics for the rookies. The cost will be either $290 a person or $3770 for a team.
For a team, that got me thinking. Here is my proposed team for next season:
Ethan Glazener
Adrianna Glazener
Jason Ellis
Katie Sliwa
Brian Kazarian
Taylor Foss
Kyle Pringle
Eric Proffitt
Danny Harris
Justin Micka
Shannon (John Ellis' Girlfriend)
John Ellis (as Goalie)
Steve Ellis
This is 13 people (we can have up to 14). This would be the dream team. Think about it. Dream about it. Make it happen.
For a team, that got me thinking. Here is my proposed team for next season:
Ethan Glazener
Adrianna Glazener
Jason Ellis
Katie Sliwa
Brian Kazarian
Taylor Foss
Kyle Pringle
Eric Proffitt
Danny Harris
Justin Micka
Shannon (John Ellis' Girlfriend)
John Ellis (as Goalie)
Steve Ellis
This is 13 people (we can have up to 14). This would be the dream team. Think about it. Dream about it. Make it happen.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Frivolous Life Goals
I think a lot about goals. I have a lot of them and tend to function best when focused on them. I have many, many goals. I've accomplished many of them, big and small. College, marriage, someday children, etc.
But these goals are not my topic. I want to talk about frivolous life goals. I think we should all have them...and I want to hear about them.
A few of my frivolous life goals:
-Score a hat trick in a game
-Never tie my shoes again after the age of 40 (exceptions for athletic shoes/skates/cleats)
-Step foot in all 50 states (I have only 5 left: Alaska, North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa)
-Earn the right to wear an Affliction T-shirt
-Get a tattoo across my entire back
-Read all 48 books on my History of Political Science and Economics list
-Create then read another list of books on Ancient Greek and Roman History
-Learn a foreign language fluently (other than Spanish)...maybe using Rosetta Stone
-Coach little league
-Own a Doberman Pinscher and Rhodesian Ridgeback at the same time
-Make a homemade rink in my backyard (probably have to live somewhere cold for this one)
-Score on a slapshot from the point
-Score in a shoot out
-Hit a home run
-Take drum lessons and get to an adequate level
-Play the violin...then play my very own Happy Sad song
-Perform live with the Money Beets
Anyone else care to share their frivolous goals?
But these goals are not my topic. I want to talk about frivolous life goals. I think we should all have them...and I want to hear about them.
A few of my frivolous life goals:
-Score a hat trick in a game
-Never tie my shoes again after the age of 40 (exceptions for athletic shoes/skates/cleats)
-Step foot in all 50 states (I have only 5 left: Alaska, North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa)
-Earn the right to wear an Affliction T-shirt
-Get a tattoo across my entire back
-Read all 48 books on my History of Political Science and Economics list
-Create then read another list of books on Ancient Greek and Roman History
-Learn a foreign language fluently (other than Spanish)...maybe using Rosetta Stone
-Coach little league
-Own a Doberman Pinscher and Rhodesian Ridgeback at the same time
-Make a homemade rink in my backyard (probably have to live somewhere cold for this one)
-Score on a slapshot from the point
-Score in a shoot out
-Hit a home run
-Take drum lessons and get to an adequate level
-Play the violin...then play my very own Happy Sad song
-Perform live with the Money Beets
Anyone else care to share their frivolous goals?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Gordie Howe Hat Trick
I achieved a Gordie Howe Hat Trick last night. I had an assist to Jon Rosenfeld in the 2nd Period. I had a goal with one second left in the 2nd period from a brilliant pass from Jon Ellis. And finally I got five minutes for fighting Kyle Pringle in the 3rd Period.
Also exciting wasthe fact that we beat our old teammates, now known as District Five by a score of 7 to 3.
Bottom line: Awesome game.
Also exciting wasthe fact that we beat our old teammates, now known as District Five by a score of 7 to 3.
Bottom line: Awesome game.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Happy Sad
I enjoy many different types of music. But of particular concern to me at this moment is a genre Adrianna refers to as "Happy Sad".
You see, I enjoy quite a bit of mellow music. Whether it be folk, jazz, etc. Many different amalgamations. As of late I have been listening to Fleet Foxes. I had heard of them, but had not really listened much. Brian introduced me to them with White Winter Hymnal. This song is really good, but hadn't connected to me quite yet. While watching SNL this last Sunday afternoon I forwarded through their first performance, but stopped and thoroughly enjoyed their rendition of Blue Ridge Mountains.
Since then, I have listened obsessively. My comment to Adri was that certain songs make me feel like crying...I think. You see, I haven't cried in years, not a good cry. A few tears have eeked out here and there, but no real crying. I describe my tears as something akin to juicing a lime. You know the kind...where you bury your fingers into it with all that you've got, but stupid dry thing gives you only a few drops. That is what crying is to my brain. It squeezes and squeezes and finally a drop comes out. On a related note, I connect crying to headaches...anyone else on that? Feel me.
Anyways, back to my point. Listening to Fleet Foxes...feel like crying. What is that? Adri then coined the phrase 'Happy Sad' music. That is what I like. I love and enjoy (and thus become Happy) by listening to Sad music. Sometimes the lyrics are depressing (see Second Best by Pedro the Lion) or maybe it just sounds mournful in tone. Perhaps it is a single riff that does it. Loro by Pinback makes me feel like falling in love and crying. June makes me feel sad and like crying. But again, I don't cry.
Adri believes that my inability to feel or cry is what makes me enjoy this music so much. I must agree. I think that this music brings on 'emotion' which I don't have therefore I don't understand...so I decide in my head that the proper response is to cry...but I don't know how, so I just enjoy feeling anything at all. Like those kids who can't feel pain, but wish they could because it helps them know that they are alive.
Questions to the few readers out there:
1) Do you experience this same sensation?
2) Is this a proper title for it? (For the stupid title Emo is totally over/misused...and has now come to encompass a style that I would rather not be associated with...I am all corporate here)
3) What is that all about? What the hell is wrong with me/us?
4) What other songs in particular connect to this point?
You see, I enjoy quite a bit of mellow music. Whether it be folk, jazz, etc. Many different amalgamations. As of late I have been listening to Fleet Foxes. I had heard of them, but had not really listened much. Brian introduced me to them with White Winter Hymnal. This song is really good, but hadn't connected to me quite yet. While watching SNL this last Sunday afternoon I forwarded through their first performance, but stopped and thoroughly enjoyed their rendition of Blue Ridge Mountains.
Since then, I have listened obsessively. My comment to Adri was that certain songs make me feel like crying...I think. You see, I haven't cried in years, not a good cry. A few tears have eeked out here and there, but no real crying. I describe my tears as something akin to juicing a lime. You know the kind...where you bury your fingers into it with all that you've got, but stupid dry thing gives you only a few drops. That is what crying is to my brain. It squeezes and squeezes and finally a drop comes out. On a related note, I connect crying to headaches...anyone else on that? Feel me.
Anyways, back to my point. Listening to Fleet Foxes...feel like crying. What is that? Adri then coined the phrase 'Happy Sad' music. That is what I like. I love and enjoy (and thus become Happy) by listening to Sad music. Sometimes the lyrics are depressing (see Second Best by Pedro the Lion) or maybe it just sounds mournful in tone. Perhaps it is a single riff that does it. Loro by Pinback makes me feel like falling in love and crying. June makes me feel sad and like crying. But again, I don't cry.
Adri believes that my inability to feel or cry is what makes me enjoy this music so much. I must agree. I think that this music brings on 'emotion' which I don't have therefore I don't understand...so I decide in my head that the proper response is to cry...but I don't know how, so I just enjoy feeling anything at all. Like those kids who can't feel pain, but wish they could because it helps them know that they are alive.
Questions to the few readers out there:
1) Do you experience this same sensation?
2) Is this a proper title for it? (For the stupid title Emo is totally over/misused...and has now come to encompass a style that I would rather not be associated with...I am all corporate here)
3) What is that all about? What the hell is wrong with me/us?
4) What other songs in particular connect to this point?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Question to bet on:
Considering that both Hobbes and Leslie are firmly committed to gaining ridiculous amounts of weight during 2009, I pose the following question: on Brian's 30th birthday, May 1, 2009, who will weigh more, Leslie or Hobbes. I think it is a toss-up and I'm willing to take either side of the bet. So regardless of what we're doing for Brian's 30th birthday, we need to have a scale there.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Conspiracy theory
So Senator Burris will be seated in the Senate, eh? Despite the fact that every democrat has screamed that anyone appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will be rejected in any and every way possible? The way this whole Blagojevich thing is shaking out makes me believe that Obama or someone close to Obama had some inappropriate conversation with Blagojevich about the sale of Obama's now-vacant Senate seat that is causing all democrats involved to sweep this whole thing under the rug. Blagojevich is going to get off easy and everything will be kept quiet because if they dig too deep into Blagojevich they'll find the link to Obama that nobody wants to exist that would end up tarnishing Obama's Presidency or at least his first 100 days.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Also . . . Married
On January 1, 2009, we said our vows at the beach where I proposed, officiated by Earle Craig and witnessed by Simon and Carrie Dunn.
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