tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64586442920931643942024-03-13T03:02:34.426-07:00All Things and EverythingThoughts on Sports, Movies, TV, Politics, and pretty much anything that comes to mind.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-68787355501516561562010-03-05T15:21:00.000-08:002010-03-05T15:22:03.547-08:00Weekend Video: NBC's The Marriage Ref<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID27201/images/resized_22565_324052864784_82091309784_3265298_6506489_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID27201/images/resized_22565_324052864784_82091309784_3265298_6506489_n.jpg" /></a></div>Boy, I hope nobody loses any respect for me on this one, but I really like this show.<br />
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My wife and I watched this show last night, and the episode we saw wasn't exactly ha-ha funny, but it was interesting funny. We saw there was another episode on Sunday, so we watched that one, too (By the way, On-Demand is one of the best things ever), and this clip is from that one. It was the funniest part of either episode.<br />
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I hope this show gets an audience, because what I like about it isn't the sometimes-obvious jokes, and while I enjoy the exchanges between the celebrity panel, that is isn't what makes me like the show either.<br />
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I like the idea of small arguments being treated lightheartedly. Because, in reality, these things are not that big of a deal, but it is things like them that have led to the ever-increasing number of divorces. Couples in these kind of situations need to step back and realize how silly some of their arguments are, and I think "The Marriage Ref" does a great job of showing that.<br />
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When the host closes each episode with a pro-marriage statement like "it's worth fighting for," I feel like THIS kind of TV show is what marriage needs. Couples need to see other couples arguing about the same silly things, laugh about how ridiculous they must sound when they're arguing like that and see the greater good in staying together.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-16870884317578955442010-03-02T18:50:00.000-08:002010-03-02T18:50:37.023-08:00Yes Dear's prophetic jokeIt's amazing how what would have been an innocent joke at the time is all of sudden weirdly interesting. Check out this clip of "Yes, Dear" and its premonitory joke about Tiger Woods. <br />
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P.S. - Sorry for the lack of posting. I'll hopefully be better in the future.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-27965107976131928892010-01-28T11:04:00.000-08:002010-01-28T11:19:34.495-08:00Nancy Grace: Part of the Problem<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wdjohnson.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/nancy-grace.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 278px;" src="http://wdjohnson.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/nancy-grace.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Nancy Grace is probably one of my least favorite TV news personalities. I don't know if anyone appears phonier on TV than she does in this clip with Elizabeth Smart (from several years ago). Smart, who was abducted from her home some years back, appeared on Nancy's show to support a bill for the National Sex Offender Registry.<br /><br />However, Nancy wanted her to delve into her experience as a missing child. Smart was politely reluctant to do so until she flat-out refused. Watching stuff like this confirms to me the idea of no present or future TV news personality will ever be worthy of the late Walter Cronkite's title: the most trusted man in America.<br /><br />Those days are long gone, with talking heads like Nancy feigning interest for the sake of "good" TV.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/am0uJkRSMNw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/am0uJkRSMNw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-14498496726512495382010-01-20T10:11:00.000-08:002010-01-20T14:44:17.127-08:00Shameless Bias, Thy Name is Stuart Scott<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/S1dSY2dQuYI/AAAAAAAAAF8/O6sOj6VIVkE/s1600-h/dm_080429scad_tiger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428898462707005826" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 216px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/S1dSY2dQuYI/AAAAAAAAAF8/O6sOj6VIVkE/s320/dm_080429scad_tiger.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Everybody knows it can be hard sometimes to be completely objective and unbiased as a journalist. Some reporters cover it up, some struggle with it and some have just given up trying altogether (Fox News).<br /><br />In sports journalism, it can be even harder. Almost every person a sportswriter covers is a celebrity, and as a journalist, you want the confidence and trust of the uber-famous person you interview and write about. It takes real effort to keep the line between professionals and friends from getting blurred. And just like in regular news, some have just stopped trying altogether.<br /><br />Take, for example, this excerpt of Stuart Scott from <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">ESPN The Magazine</span> on January 11, 2010. If you read it, you'll see how Stuart Scott responds to someone bashing his buddy Tiger Woods. Click on the picture for a bigger view.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/S1ae2XmM8nI/AAAAAAAAAF0/-9BpM50HERk/s1600-h/Stuart+Scott.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428701057726083698" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 241px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/S1ae2XmM8nI/AAAAAAAAAF0/-9BpM50HERk/s320/Stuart+Scott.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />To fully digest how terrible of a response this was, I would like to analyze each sentence from Stuart Scott's response:<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Allan, I'm sure you know people who have been just as unfaithful as Tiger.<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></span></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Really, Stuart? Really?! You're "sure" about that? Tiger Woods had affairs with nine different women. (At least nine. That's only the amount of women who have come forward...so far.) You're sure "Allan" knows someone who has a wife and two kids and has flown around the country having sex with club hostesses, porn stars and pancake waitresses<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">? </span>You don't think much of "Allan," do you, Stu?</span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">He's made some bad mistakes, sure.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span></span></span></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Right, at least nine confirmed ones, so far.</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span></span></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">But it doesn't make him a creep.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span></span></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">If Mrs. Woods was your sister, I don't think you'd be singing the same tune, Stu.</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">It makes him human.</span></span><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">That's right, human. Do O.J.'s actions make him human and not a creep? I get that everybody puts sports figures on a pedestal - especially ones with a squeaky clean image like Tiger had. But what Tiger did makes him a creep, not the worst person in the world, but a creep. One affair, maybe human. At least nine? Welcome to Creepville.</span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">I don't condone what Tiger has done, but calling him names for failings in his personal life is hypocritical.</span><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Only if Allan is as big a "sexmonger" as Tiger. I don't cheat on my wife. If I were to call Tiger a sexual deviant, I don't think I am being hypocritical.</span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">I don't get it.</span><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">THAT is for DANG sure.</span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Why are people so upset about something that doesn't concern them in the least?<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Because people like YOU bring us the information that "doesn't concern (us) in the least."</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic"> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">You can't report of the shortcomings of athletes for years and years on Sportcenter, and then take this sort of stand. THAT is being hypocritical.</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-37547968601906138762010-01-15T18:21:00.000-08:002010-01-15T18:21:17.030-08:00Weekend Video: Jimmy Kimmel attacks Jay LenoWatch this clip of Jimmy Kimmel decimating Jay Leno on the Jay Leno Show. It's hilarious.<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/axwO6BkCtIo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/axwO6BkCtIo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />Haven't posted in about a week, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention anything the Leno-Conan Wars going on right now. I assume most are aware of the current situation: Leno named Conan as successor, decides he doesn't want to retire, gets a prime-time show, show tanks and apparently gets The Tonight Show back.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.theimproper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Leno-OBrien.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 317px;" src="http://www.theimproper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Leno-OBrien.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />While rumors of a "Tonight Show" deal being finalized has not been confirmed, it appears as though NBC wants to support Leno, which I don't completely understand. Apparently, it is being reported NBC has even offered O'Brien $30 million to leave.<br /><br />Sure, Leno was the #1 late-night guy when he left, and Conan's ratings a considerably lower, but it takes time to build an audience. Time it appears he is not going to get, despite the time Leno was given when replacing Johnny Carson.<br /><br />Additionally, isn't it about time to build a new "Tonight Show" audience? I know Leno has this weird hold on the fixed-income crowd, but is that what NBC really wants? To own the viewing rights of the elderly? They're not telemarketers, for crying out loud. NBC has got to be the only major network (no, the History Channel is not considered a "major" network) actively pursuing the "Age 50 - Dead" demographic, which is a mistake.<br /><br />Ages 18-49 is the key demo for advertising money, and Conan is popular within that group. People are getting married later, having fewer kids and, in many cases, both the husband and wife are working, thereby creating more discretionary income at a younger age. Leno does not compare with Conan in that group.<br /><br />Proof of that lies within the reaction to this whole ordeal. Groups were created on Facebook to proclaim allegiances. Last time I checked, "Team Conan" and "I'm with Coco" have a combined total of over 225,000 supporters, while "Team Jay" and "Team Leno" combine for under 2,000 members. Doesn't that say something?<br /><br />I think so.<br /><br />Make the right and smarter choice, NBC. Keep Coco.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-89498498024814154012010-01-08T18:10:00.000-08:002010-01-08T20:27:24.542-08:00Weekend Video: ABC's Modern Family<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mollybeckferguson.com/key_art_modern_family.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 161px;" src="http://www.mollybeckferguson.com/key_art_modern_family.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Gosh, since it is already January, I know I am pretty late on this one, but I keep meaning to rave about "Modern Family" on ABC. I haven't been the most consistent viewer of the show, but every time I see, I ask myself, "Self, why are you NOT the most consistent viewer of this show?"<br /><br />One reason to like it is because ABC allows you to watch clips, as well as share them. I don't understand the purpose of companies preventing people from embedding video clips on different Web site. Don't you want more people to see it?<br /><br />My favorite character is Phil Dunphy, a dad that sees himself as the "Cool Dad." Like Michael Scott (The Office) for bosses, I guess anytime you have a character who sees him/herself as something he or she isn't, it's going to be comedy gold. Here's Phil being Phil:<br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r_PbdJZaB4c&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r_PbdJZaB4c&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br />Then there's Jay, played by Ed O'Neil. His son is gay, and he is uncomfortable with it. In fact, he purposely announces himself before he enters a room to prevent the possibility of seeing his son and and his boyfriend kiss. In this scene, he seeks a "woman's opinion" from the couple:<br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zdBnmr52VFA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zdBnmr52VFA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br />And here's another scene I thought was very funny:<br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1aSzTVrP5FQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1aSzTVrP5FQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br />Anyway, it's a funny show. Find time to watch it.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-70371556433652026812010-01-07T08:56:00.000-08:002010-01-07T08:56:40.025-08:00BCS Title Game PreviewIf I am nothing else, I am persistent. And if the actual outcomes of the BCS games are any indication, I am nothing else.<br /><br />I'll admit my predictions haven't exactly been on the <em>ball</em> (pun definitely intended), but I'd like to think a lot of people erred in their predictions. And if it saves even a drop of my credibility, I'd like to mention that I am 21-12 in my overall bowl predictions this year, so I'm not completely incompentent - at least at this.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-01/51485951.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 408px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-01/51485951.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>BCS Championship Game</strong><br /><em>Texas (13-0) vs. Alabama (13-0)</em><br /><br />Colt McCoy is a great quarterback. No one can legitimately argue to the contrary. He's done a lot of great things during his four-year career at Texas.<br /><br />Texas is a great team. For any team to finish a regular season at a perfect 13-0, it is impressive. It involves managing the emotions of a bunch 19 and 20 year olds. That's not easy.<br /><br />However, McCoy and the Texas Longhorns' offense have only struggle in two games (Oklahoma and Nebraska) this season. And both of those games shared one common ingredient in the opponent: a stellar defense.<br />This is not a game where Texas will be able to avoid that. Texas will have to overcome that, and I really don't think they'll be able to do it.<br /><br />Alabama has a pretty good offense to go with its Berlin Wall-esque defense. Led by Heisman Trophy Winner Mark Ingram, the Crimson Tide has averaged 413.8 yards per game on offense. Good enough for 32nd in the country, which might not seem that impressive, but it's better than some notable offenses: Oregon, Oregon State, Missouri, Bowling Green.<br /><br />I think Alabama's offense to go along with Texas' struggles against elite defenses will be the keys to Alabama's 2010 BCS title.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Alabama 27, Texas 14</strong>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-90011116601726774782010-01-05T11:28:00.000-08:002010-01-05T11:31:15.635-08:00Fed Ex Orange Bowl PreviewWell, since it appears as though I am not accurate, my goal is to at least be interesting.<br /><br />But I would like to say this about last night's game and Boise State in general:<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />I apologize for my obvious dislike and short-changing of Boise State. While I don't think either team played its best last night, Boise State convinced me it is much better than I thought - especially its defense.</span><br /><br />Looking ahead to 2010 and with a possibility of 21 returning starters, Boise State - with a legitimate out of conference schedule (Va Tech, Oregon State) and preseason ranking - has to be a favorite to go to the BCS title game next year. While I am not a fan of Boise State, I will admit the team gained my respect, and if it makes it through the <span class="text_exposed_show">2010 regular season schedule undefeated, I will be screaming on its behalf for a title shot.<br /><br />Let's move on to other things...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freeticketclassifieds.com/pictures/listings/6935_27.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 297px;" src="http://www.freeticketclassifieds.com/pictures/listings/6935_27.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fed Ex Orange Bowl</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Iowa (10-2) vs. Georgia Tech (11-2)</span><br /><br />This is probably the BCS game in which I am least interested. ACC football hasn't really interested me in recent years, and I can only name one player on Tech's team (and I only know Dwyer's last name).<br /><br />Big Ten football, on the other hand, does interest me - just not all of it. Ohio State? Yes. Penn State? Sure. Even Michigan? Why not? But there are Big Ten teams that don't interest me in the least bit. I'm not going out of my way to watch a Northwestern game. The same goes for Minnesota and sadly, Iowa.<br /><br />Will I watch this game? From start to finish? No. Absolutely not. Frankly, the Orange Bowl should consider itself lucky if I happen to watch half a quarter.<br /><br />That said, I think Georgia Tech is the clear winner here. Tech has the best player (whose first name escapes me), and I think that's all it will take to win this one.<br /><br />Iowa is in trouble. It probably shouldn't have gone to a BCS game, but there really wasn't another team to reasonably give it to. It almost lost to Northern Iowa, an FCS team. Plus, the Hawkeyes have had to come from behind to win too many games against too weak opponents.<br /><br />However, if Iowa does end up winning, it'd be huge for the Big Ten. Two BCS wins in one season for a conference that rarely gets one would go a long way in reestablishing itself as an elite conference.<br /><br />While I don't think it will be a blowout, I don't think there will be a doubt as to who is the better team at the end.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Georgia Tech 28, Iowa 20</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/iowa_hawkeyes_logo.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 117px;" src="http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/iowa_hawkeyes_logo.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.playatgatech.com/UserFiles/GeorgiaTechColor%286%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 140px;" src="http://www.playatgatech.com/UserFiles/GeorgiaTechColor%286%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-83124381107325689082010-01-03T23:08:00.000-08:002010-01-03T23:12:21.823-08:00Fiesta Bowl Preview: How the BCS screwed over TCU and BSU<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.fiestabowl.org/images/uploads/TFB_NOtag_color.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 319px;" src="http://www.fiestabowl.org/images/uploads/TFB_NOtag_color.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Well, one out of two wasn't bad.<br /><br />I was right about Cincinnati and Florida. I felt like Cincy actually came out fighting. And Florida's first touchdown drive, I was actually a bit concerned for Florida. The Bearcats seemed to be playing with a great deal of emotion, and I wasn't sure if Florida was going to be able to react.<br /><br />It turns out Florida is just that much better than Cincinnati.<br /><br />But I was wrong about the Rose Bowl. And what I was wrong about affects my prediction for the Fiesta Bowl. I was wrong about Oregon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tostitos Fiesta Bowl</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Boise State (13-0) vs. TCU (12-0)</span><br /><br />Boise State's signature win for the season was against Oregon, and that win looked pretty quality after Oregon finished the regular season ranked in the top ten in the country. However, I don't know if there was a team in the country playing less consistently than Oregon.<br /><br />The Oregon that barely beat Purdue isn't the same team that trashed Cal 42-3. The Oregon that barely beat Utah isn't the same team that throttled USC 47-20.<br /><br />Or are they?<br /><br />Maybe the Pac-10 overall wasn't very good this year. Its teams certainly haven't fared to well in their bowl games. And if Oregon's close wins at the end of the regular season would have gone the other way (which they very easily could have done), the Ducks would have finished at no better than 4th place in the Pac-10. Then, how good would the Boise State Broncos' win look?<br /><br />I'll admit I was pretty disappointed about the Broncos being matched up with TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. I, like many others, wanted to see how TCU or Boise St. would have played against Florida, Texas or Alabama - even Georgia Tech or Iowa would have been an upgrade.<br /><br />This match-up creates no winners for either team. If it's a close game, there's no proof either team is any good. The game would have proven only that the two teams match up pretty well against each other. If it is a blowout, then what will people say about the losing team?<br /><br />"They didn't belong in a BCS bowl."<br /><br />Maybe the TCU or Boise St. is really that good and would have done that good against the likes of Florida or Alabama. We'll never know, which is why this game serves as little more than a way for the BCS committee to cover its butt.<br /><br />Onto the preview...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tech-notes.tv/2007/Logos/boise_state_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 224px;" src="http://www.tech-notes.tv/2007/Logos/boise_state_logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately for Boise State fans, this preview is not going to be very pro-them.<br /><br />Yes, BSU has one of the top-ranked offenses in the country. It is my opinion they have gotten fat off weaker defenses in and out of their conference. Certainly, the Broncos have never face a team with a defense even comparable to TCU.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://personal.tcu.edu/%7Emfanelli/tcu_logo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 191px;" src="http://personal.tcu.edu/%7Emfanelli/tcu_logo2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />TCU is fast. TCU is physical. TCU is scary even from the spectator's point of view. TCU has the top defense in the country, holding opponents to an anemic 223 yards per game.<br /><br />While BSU does have a prolific offense, a little-known fact is that TCU's is just as good. In fact, the Horned Frogs actually average more yards of total offense per game. QB Andy Daulton has made huge strides in each of the last couple seasons, and that is bad news for Boise State.<br /><br />I didn't feel like Boise State had a chance from the get-go, and with the news that star wideout Austin Pettis is unlikely to play, this game could get ugly fast.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TCU 42, Boise St. 20</span>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-30950978304500541342010-01-01T10:19:00.000-08:002010-01-01T10:30:40.685-08:00BCS Bowl Previews<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sz48Y71Wi7I/AAAAAAAAAFs/yT21j5JufDI/s1600-h/bcs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 312px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sz48Y71Wi7I/AAAAAAAAAFs/yT21j5JufDI/s400/bcs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421837400476650418" border="0" /></a><br />Thus far, we've had a pretty crazy bowl season, and today, we'll finally start the bowls that don't feature teams like Bowling Green or Middle Tennessee State. The bowls I am describing don't have ".com" in their name. I am of course talking about the BCS Bowls.<br /><br />Originally, I had intended on giving a preview of all 34 bowls, but uh....I didn't. So here is my last-ditch effort at getting in on the bowl season. Today, I will only be previewing the games happening today, so here goes hopefully something:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.point-spreads.com/images/stories/rose-bowl-2010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 203px;" src="http://www.point-spreads.com/images/stories/rose-bowl-2010.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rose Bowl presented by Citi<br /></span>#8 Ohio State (10-2) vs. #7 Oregon (10-2)<br /><br />The Pac-10 is bleeding somewhat, with a 2-3 bowl record that includes embarrassing losses like Oregon State's loss to BYU (44-20) and Arizona's offensive impotence against Nebraska (33-0). The Pac-10, normally known for its prolific offenses, hopes to get some Viagra for its offenses in the form of the University of Oregon.<br /><br />My gut feeling is in favor of Oregon. The Ducks' offense is just going to be too much, and after watching Ohio St. lose at home to USC and USC get trounced by Oregon, it seems like a lay-up prognostication.<br /><br />Yeah, I know. The OSU-USC game was a long time ago (frankly, the regular season was a long time ago). Teams (hopefully) get better throughout the season.<br /><br />Maybe.<br /><br />But the way I figure it, that game was a huge game for OSU, as it was trying to redeem itself from last year's 35-3 debacle. The Buckeyes had every reason to play big in that game, and USC, with a true-freshman QB, went into the Buckeyes' house and beat them.<br /><br />Conversely, when USC was playing Oregon on Halloween, it had every reason to play its best. Oregon was at the top of the conference standings, and USC only trailed by one game. It needed a big game, and Oregon gave the Trojans a shellacking.<br /><br />While this might sound like I am previewing USC, common opponents is a good way to compare teams. It's not always the best way (and sometimes it makes absolutely no sense), but USC played both of these teams. In both of the games, both teams needed to play their best. The only difference is Ohio State's best was not enough, and Oregon's best was superfluous.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.avca.org/includes/media/images/Sugar-Bowl-Logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 178px;" src="http://www.avca.org/includes/media/images/Sugar-Bowl-Logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oregon 31, Ohio State 20<br /><br />Allstate Sugar Bowl<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>#3 Cincinnati (12-0) vs. #5 Florid<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>a (11-1)<br /><br />This game has certainly accumulated its share of story lines. First, you have the Bearcats playing without the head coach who helped get them their undefeated regular season. Then, you have the Gators playing for the sick little boy in the hospital, who is now back on the sidelines (with the head coach's headset on) in the last game before his leave of absence (however long it may or may not be).<br /><br />Another thing going for Florida is it got blown out by Alabama. The Gators have more to prove now, than if it would have been a close game. The devastation would have been too much for them to overcome. (ex. Utah 31, Alabama 17) Now, Florida will get its head on straight and win this game.<br /><br />The Bearcats could go one of two ways. 1) They could pout about their coach leaving and end up playing like a team without a head coach, or 2) they could go out and play their best to show Brian Kelly what he left behind.<br /><br />After reading some of the players' reactions to him leaving, I'm thinking #2 is a lot more likely. Some of those players might actually hate their ex-coach. They'd love nothing more than to go out and punch Florida right in the mouth.<br /><br />The only problem is Florida's mouth is made out of steel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Florida 34, Cincinnati 27</span>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-43592421312956878522009-12-21T12:50:00.000-08:002009-12-21T12:50:29.808-08:00Reactions to Brittany Murphy's Death<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sy_fhNzboII/AAAAAAAAAFk/2cN41dcXrJk/s1600-h/BrittanyMurphy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sy_fhNzboII/AAAAAAAAAFk/2cN41dcXrJk/s400/BrittanyMurphy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417794638484054146" border="0" /></a><br />I'm sure most - if not all - have heard about Brittany Murphy's untimely passing over the weekend. I'm also sure you've heard many people talk about how tired they are of hearing about her death.<br /><br />I'm not.<br /><br />What I am tired of is hearing about how other people are tired of hearing about Murphy's death.<br /><br />The fact is she had many fans. People are interested in hearing news about her. She died. Many want to know all of the details surrounding her death. If you don't like it, change the friggin' channel.<br /><br />I literally have only heard about it from Facebook - nothing else. Nothing on the channels I watch on TV, nothing from the radio stations I listen to and nothing from the Web sites I frequent (except for Facebook). If you don't want to hear about it, don't.<br /><br />People also said they were tired of hearing about Brett Favre, but ESPN and ESPNRadio's ratings were noticeably higher during their in-depth coverage of all his retirements/comebacks.<br /><br />And every time a celebrity dies a young death, I always hear people complain about the news coverage, saying things like, "Young people die every day. How come they don't devote this much coverage to them?"<br /><br />The answer to that question is those young people weren't in <span style="font-style: italic;">Clueless</span> OR <span style="font-style: italic;">8 Mile</span>.<br /><br />Sure, it's sad when people die, but in reality, you don't care all that much if a kid dies from malaria, AIDS or whatever. If someone tells you Tom Hanks was dead, you'd race to the remote control to find out more. If a kid in Nicaragua passes, you say "Oh. That's sad," and then you go back to what you were doing.<br /><br />I know Brittany Murphy was no Tom Hanks, but the comparison is still valid. You don't know anything about those other kids dying, but you do know quite a bit about Brittany Murphy. It's the news' job to bring noteworthy information to the masses. And a celebrity's death is noteworthy.<br /><br />The fact is celebrities are a figurative part of our families. We pay to see them in theaters, we pay to watch them at home. They might be in our homes more often than some literal members of the family.<br /><br />When a family member dies, nobody expects the family Christmas card to give equal coverage to deaths across the country. Why do you then expect CNN to give a 20-something from Mobile, Alabama, the same play as somebody you've actually heard of?<br /><br />It doesn't make sense, and neither does the "what about all the others?" argument.<br /><br />In conclusion, the news can only repeatedly give you the information you let it. Change the channel or go to a different Web site. If you don't, then you're to blame for the constant coverage.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-59674179415812310382009-12-07T09:38:00.000-08:002009-12-08T11:56:48.333-08:00Dancing: The Double Standard<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sx6uoCgh74I/AAAAAAAAAFc/PbDQcl5xMLg/s1600-h/dancing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sx6uoCgh74I/AAAAAAAAAFc/PbDQcl5xMLg/s400/dancing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412955805037227906" border="0" /></a><br />This last weekend my wife and I attended a couple of work-related Christmas parties. We enjoy going to these kind of parties: music, great food, great conversation and an open bar (not for everyone, but my wife and I had all the Sprite we wanted).<br /><br />These Christmas parties also revealed something to me about my wife that I wish I'd known before.<br /><br />She loves to dance.<br /><br />This creates a problem, because I like dancing about as much as Bush likes Bin Laden, Obama likes Hannity or anyone likes attending Florida Marlin games.<br /><br />However, I've also discovered I'm not alone in this. I've found most guys at these events share my opinion of dancing being the lowest form of communication. But the only problem is women have NO idea why guys feel this way.<br /><br />Let me give you some insight:<br /><br />1. Why dance? We are so much more comfortable sitting and talking about sports and the like.<br /><br />2. Dancing puts ourselves out there while everyone is watching what we do.<br /><br />3. In regards to #2, please don't tell us nobody is watching us or nobody cares. We know both of those are not true, because we also talk about how stupid the one or two guys on the dance floor look dancing to "Billie Jean." If we're doing it, other people will are doing it, too.<br /><br />But the title of this entry is <span style="font-style: italic;">Dancing: The Double Standard</span>, so why is it a double standard?<br /><br />Getting away with dancing is not about talent.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>It's about gender.<br /><br />If a girl wants to dance, it's fine. Even if she<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>looks bad dancing--as long as she <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xi4O1yi6b0">doesn't look like Elaine Benes</a>--she's just one of the gals havin' fun!<br /><br />If it's a guy, even he's good (unless he "Michael Jackson" good), other guys still think he's a dork.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-57569529328808853542009-12-04T10:27:00.000-08:002009-12-04T10:30:43.560-08:00Thoughts on college football for this weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SxlUCpvbVKI/AAAAAAAAAFM/5qQpMw7aLkA/s1600-h/35787_Nebraska_Texas_Tech_Football.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SxlUCpvbVKI/AAAAAAAAAFM/5qQpMw7aLkA/s400/35787_Nebraska_Texas_Tech_Football.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411448831803610274" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo from <a href="http://www.cornnation.com">www.cornnation.com</a></span></div><div><br /></div>This is a pretty big weekend for college football. <div><br /></div><div>After this weekend's games, we'll have the match-up for our national championship game. It could be Florida-Texas, Alabama-Texas or one of many other options. Nothing has been decided yet, which is one of the reasons college football is awesome, but I digress...</div><div><br /></div><div>The only game that matters to this little piggy is the one taking place at 8 p.m. EST: Texas-Nebraska.</div><div><br /></div><div>While it's not completely out of the question (Texas beat a 6-5 Texas A&M team by the skin of its teeth), chances are still slim, as Texas is heavily favored in this one. If you have read this blog before you are probably quite aware of my fanship of the Mountain West Conference. And any MWC fan should be pulling with all of his/her might for Nebraska to make an upset. </div><div><br /></div><div>But can you imagine the ramifications of a Texas loss in this game?</div><div><br /></div><div>TCU - a Mountain West Conference team - would have a very good chance of playing in the championship game. Remember when no team from the MWC or WAC even had the chance of playing in a BCS game? That seems so long ago now, as some talking heads on ESPN are comparing TCU and Texas, saying TCU is more deserving.</div><div><br /></div><div>TCU beat Utah at home and went out and beat Clemson and BYU on the road, while Texas has only a win at Oklahoma State to its credit. Sure, it's not Texas' fault it has been a down year for the Big 12. But it's also not TCU's fault it's not Texas' fault. </div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously, I feel TCU is more deserving of shot at the title than Texas, but it doesn't matter. Without a loss against Nebraska, TCU has absolutely no chance at getting that shot. It's a shame TCU had this amazing season the same year five other teams did the same.</div><div>----------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div>The only drawback to a Nebraska win is the effect it would have on another non-automatic-qualifying team: Boise State. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nebraska winning would almost surely eliminate Boise State's chance at a BCS bowl. There are only 10 slots for BCS bowls, and seven teams automatically qualify this year, leaving only three spots open for at-large teams. </div><div><br /></div><div>Certainly, the loser of the 'Bama-Florida game will be one of those. If Nebraska wins, Texas will be one of them, too. With only one slot remaining, you are asking organizations run near-exclusively by money to go with Boise State over the likes of Penn State, Iowa, Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech or Cincinnati (if they lose their title games).</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, the BCS isn't about putting the best teams together. It's about ensuring sellouts, both tickets and merchandise, so Boise State might be on the outside looking in for the second straight season. </div><div>-----------------------------------</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Predictions</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Florida 28, Alabama 24</span> Alabama is considerably improved this year, but Florida's defense and Tim Tebow will make the necessary plays to get to another championship game.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Nebraska 20, Texas 17 </span>I'll be honest. This one is obviously more about wishful thinking, but with the Cornhuskers' defense allowing only 11.1 points/game, it's not impossible.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Cincinnati 41, Pittsburgh 30</span> How a team like the Bearcats ended up with two quarterbacks like Tony Pike and Zach Collaros is beyond me, but unless the Panthers can force Cincinnati to go to its third-string QB, this one goes to the Bearcats.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 21 </span>Clemson's defense is very good, but any pressure thought to be on Georgia Tech is removed when it remembers most people will be watching the Texas-Nebraska game instead.<br /></div>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-42083866996270737982009-11-15T18:01:00.001-08:002009-11-15T18:07:40.754-08:00Weekend Video: The OnionThings have been pretty busy lately, so I haven't posted in awhile. However, my sister shared this video clip from "<a href="http://www.theonion.com">The Onion</a>," and I thought it would make for a good belated "Weekend Video." Hilarious.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1taC3JjIOkM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1taC3JjIOkM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-30618447914279943052009-11-07T10:08:00.000-08:002009-11-07T10:30:56.446-08:00Weekend Video: Daily Show with Jon Stewart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SvW74OosVSI/AAAAAAAAAFE/sPDSDUT-kMI/s1600-h/dailyshowwithjonstewart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 156px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SvW74OosVSI/AAAAAAAAAFE/sPDSDUT-kMI/s400/dailyshowwithjonstewart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401429902776620322" border="0" /></a>Here is a funny clip of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart (I think all of the language is bleeped out):<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245); text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353" width="360"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(229, 229, 229);" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;" colspan="2"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-29-2009/for-fox-sake-">For Fox Sake!</a></td></tr><tr style="height: 14px; background-color: rgb(53, 53, 53);" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 360px; text-align: right;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(150, 222, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><embed style="display: block;" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:253738" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000" height="301" width="360"></embed></td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><table style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes">Daily Show<br />Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health">Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">People who know me know how much distaste I have for Fox News. I find it reprehensible some believe it to be "fair and balanced." They talk of the liberal bias in the news media - which I think is a bit overblown - and say "the reason Fox News looks so conservatively biased is because everything else is so far to the liberal side, it makes Fox News look biased. In reality, Fox News is just the middle of the road."<br /><br />Bull.<br /><br />You can say all you want that outlets like MSNBC and CNN are liberally biased, but please, oh please, don't say it to try and make Fox News look like it is "fair and balanced." If you are going to say it, just say they are all biased. (However, in my opinion, a rational human being couldn't actually believe MSNBC or CNN is more biased than Fox News. But that's my opinion.)<br /></div></div>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-80847324113384710082009-11-05T11:00:00.000-08:002009-11-05T11:02:51.323-08:002009 World Series: It's amazing what the truth does for you<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SvMhL-0FNDI/AAAAAAAAAE8/tI1z-b09c2I/s1600-h/ny-yankee-logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 310px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SvMhL-0FNDI/AAAAAAAAAE8/tI1z-b09c2I/s400/ny-yankee-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400696867871077426" border="0" /></a>Congratulations to the New Yankees on winning their 27th World Series.<br /><br />Never mind it took $1.4 billion to get from 26 to 27. It was a proud accomplishment and should be regarded as such.<br /><br />Two Yankees stuck out to me amidst all of the celebration: third-baseman Alex Rodriguez and pitcher Andy Pettite.<br /><br />Within the last couple of years, links to steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs marred both of these players' careers. Nicknames like "A-Roid" started popping up, and you wondered if we would ever remember them for anything else.<br /><br />Both players have gone on to make wonderful contributions to this championship team, and we have more-or-less forgotten about their infamous past.<br /><br />My is question is "Why?"<br /><br />Why have we forgotten about the disgrace these players brought to themselves, their team and Major League Baseball?<br /><br />We certainly have not forgotten about Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire. Roger Clemens hasn't slipped our minds. As much as we try, we can't get Jose Canseco out of our minds.<br /><br />Why A-Rod? Why Pettite?<br /><br />I always hear people say things like "winning solves everything" or "by nature, people are very forgiving."<br /><br />While I do actually believe both of those statements, I think there is a missing ingredient to both.<br /><br />The truth.<br /><br />Like them or not, both players did eventually come clean and admit their mistakes. That's not something you can say for Bonds, Sosa or McGwire.<br /><br />Whether it's sports or politics or TV, the truth still goes a long way.<br /><br />I'm glad we have put it all behind us, because this can be a lesson to those who get exposed in the future.<br /><br />Just admit it. Don't insult our intelligence. Come clean with your wrongdoing, and be done with it. Don't tell us "it must have been something in these supplements I'm taking" or "I just take whatever my trainer gives me. I don't ask him what's in it."<br /><br />Even during the whole Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal, I remember people saying if he'd have just told the truth, they'd have forgiven him. Whether that's actually true or not, I don't know, but it shows how high honesty is still valued by society. We don't like being lied to.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SvMhLuzeISI/AAAAAAAAAE0/rWe3u3K06nM/s1600-h/clinton_impeach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 282px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SvMhLuzeISI/AAAAAAAAAE0/rWe3u3K06nM/s400/clinton_impeach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400696863573549346" border="0" /></a>Sure, we'll be completely dishonest when it comes to selling things, making business deals, filling our tax forms and the like, but we just don't want anyone to lie to us.<br /><br />It may not make much logical sense (few things people do/say do), but I think it gives us a lot more insight to society's moral thermometer.<br /><br />When people stop caring if others are lying to them, then we're <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> in trouble.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-13993326509090607432009-11-04T14:59:00.000-08:002009-11-04T15:22:06.960-08:00Post-Halloween Activity Never Changes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SvIJYWyewyI/AAAAAAAAAEk/aFuaRkuXwv8/s1600-h/leftover-halloween-candy-by-harris-graber.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SvIJYWyewyI/AAAAAAAAAEk/aFuaRkuXwv8/s400/leftover-halloween-candy-by-harris-graber.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400389217209467682" /></a><br />Every year, Halloween comes and goes, and within a week, I am left with the same feeling.<div><br /></div><div>Regret.</div><div><br /></div><div>I keep thinking I will be moderate in eating my candy. ("Maybe I'll have three or four pieces of candy.") Then I come home from work and head to the bucket of candy, and when I come to, I see a copious amount of Milky Way, Crunch and Snickers wrappers lying beside me.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wish I had the willpower to stop after a couple of pieces. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also wish I had $1 million.</div><div><br /></div><div>Between you, me and the computer screen, I'd say the latter is more likely.</div>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-63879070139170194082009-10-30T17:25:00.000-07:002009-10-30T17:33:01.252-07:00Weekend Video: AFV Halloween PranksMany of you may or may not know how big of fan of America's Funniest Videos my wife is. Basically, it comes down to this in our house: If my wife is home and wants to watch TV and AFV is on - no matter what I am watching - we watch AFV.<br /><br />While I used to think the show was just "crotch shot" after "crotch shot" (maybe it used to be), I have really come around on it. Though I like to pretend like I don't like watching it, many times I find myself laughing out loud at some of the videos.<br /><br />Of course, that's still nothing close to the paralyzing laughter my wife endures.<br /><br />Enjoy this special Halloween edition of Weekend Video:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gj1I1GH8ADw&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gj1I1GH8ADw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-12435273333705396602009-10-28T00:30:00.000-07:002009-10-28T00:29:02.359-07:00An open letter to TCU coach Gary Patterson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sufw93-2DDI/AAAAAAAAAEc/yu4NYeiEw1E/s1600-h/v.+Baylor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 316px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sufw93-2DDI/AAAAAAAAAEc/yu4NYeiEw1E/s400/v.+Baylor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397547624217054258" border="0" /></a>Dear Coach Patterson,<br /><br />As a BYU fan, it would be very easy to let the recent results of the BYU-TCU rivalry get the best of me and rationalize and make excuses for the outcome of the Saturday's game (trust me, I did last year). It would be very easy to both figuratively and literally hate you and all associated with the TCU football program. It would be very easy to be blinded by that hatred, causing me to try to come up with reason why TCU is overrated.<br /><br />Only...I'm not.<br /><br />What you have done at TCU is outstandingly impressive. Last year I sat in my living room - nearly 4,000 miles away from Forth Worth, TX - and was semi-literally scared for <span style="font-style: italic;">my own</span> safety as I watched your players dismantle my BYU Cougars. This year, the outcome was even worse. I won't minimize your team's accomplishment. I still think my team is very good - and the Horned Frogs trashed us. You guys could play with any team in the country, and I look forward to the opportunity you'll have in to do so in a BCS Bowl.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sufw9ttGXHI/AAAAAAAAAEU/N7GqxTtrvZ8/s1600-h/daulton.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/Sufw9ttGXHI/AAAAAAAAAEU/N7GqxTtrvZ8/s400/daulton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397547621458271346" border="0" /></a>Anger and pure dislike consume me with any other rivalry (ex. BYU-Utah), but respect is all that comes to mind with BYU-TCU. You beat us ... and badly. As a Mountain West Conference fan, I am proud at the prospect of TCU carrying the non-BCS torch into a BCS game, but I would like to issue some warnings:<br /><br /><ul><li>Please do not take any of the games remaining on your schedule lightly. Don't look past any team. </li><li>Keep your team humble and hungry. </li><li>Don't let your players read/believe the press clippings.</li></ul>I don't want anything to happen that would derail your team's chances. The team representing the non-BCS schools should be tested beforehand. Your team has earned the right to be there over other non-BCS schools by beating more than one ranked team and going on the road out of conference, proving yourselves to NOT be 2007 Hawaii.<br /><br />Signed,<br /><br />All Things and Everythingscotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-22614073138118374772009-10-23T18:51:00.000-07:002009-10-28T00:17:38.623-07:00Weekend Video: Arrested Development Chicken Dance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SuJeRy_31HI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Sjt-r9Du_SQ/s1600-h/arrested-development-season-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SuJeRy_31HI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Sjt-r9Du_SQ/s400/arrested-development-season-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395978963383735410" border="0" /></a>A few years ago I started watching the sitcom <span style="font-style: italic;">Arrested Development</span> when a neighbor at college had the first season on DVD. I had flipped past it on TV before, stopping only to notice it starred Jason Bateman, of <span style="font-style: italic;">Teen Wolf Too</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Hogan Family </span>fame. It seemed somewhat confusing until I started watching it from the beginning.<br /><br />I don't know if I have ever seen a TV show funnier than Arrested Development. The writing and dialogue is so clever, the filming style so unique. It's a shame it only lasted for about 2 1/2 years, but a movie is supposedly in the works.<br /><br />So enjoy these clips of this messed-up family's imitation of a chicken:<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eNkap169RQo&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eNkap169RQo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k4qOKybOKXs&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k4qOKybOKXs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-mkiNYjlCA&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-mkiNYjlCA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-26850614041934041172009-10-22T14:00:00.000-07:002009-10-22T14:02:48.298-07:00Boise State puts the BS in BCS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SuDHtA6xHCI/AAAAAAAAAEE/lUmvIDMcoi0/s1600-h/oregon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/SuDHtA6xHCI/AAAAAAAAAEE/lUmvIDMcoi0/s400/oregon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395531929744383010" border="0" /></a>I'm a BYU fan, but more importantly for this entry, I'm a Mountain West Conference fan. If you're an MWC fan - even if you are a Utah fan - I know we can agree on at least one thing: We don't care much for Boise State.<br /><br />The reason? Its <a href="http://onlycupcakes.blogspot.com/">cupcake</a> schedule.<br /><br />This is an important season for the non-BCS teams. As fans, we don't want just any team representing us in a BCS bowl. We want a proven team like Utah was last year. The Utes beat Oregon State, TCU and BYU on their way to an impressive Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.<br /><br />We <span style="font-style: italic;">don't</span> want a team that got fat off a debilitated schedule.<br /><br />Is Boise State's record impressive? Absolutely. The Broncos very rarely lose games. The only problem is they rarely schedule <span style="font-style: italic;">actual</span> games.<br /><br />BSU's only legitimate competition came from a home game against the Oregon Ducks in the first game of the season. Both teams played like garbage (which is one of the reasons week one is typically an upset-fertile day on the schedule), and a lot has changed since then. Simply put, Oregon would crush BSU if the teams played again.<br /><br />Obviously, that's speculation, but I feel as Boise State is simply the beneficiary of the top teams losing. Has there really been a game that's warranted its position in the polls?<br /><br />Score - Team - Current Record<br />48-0 Miami (OH) 0-7<br />51-34 @ Fresno St. 3-3<br />49-14 @ Bowling Green 3-4<br />34-16 UC Davis <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_I#Football_Championship_Subdivision">FCS</a> team<br />28-21 Tulsa 4-3<br /><br />None of those games really "wow" anyone, yet BSU has continuously been voted up to the #4 spot, causing some Bronco fans to clamor for a shot at the national championship game. But with BSU's schedule bereft of even semi-difficult games, any team in the top 10 that wins the rest of its game would deserve that spot over Boise State. The schedules simply do not compare.<br /><br />Some might suggest MWC fans are simply jealous of Boise State.<br /><br />That's true. We are jealous. Jealous of BSU's cakewalk schedule. Jealous that BSU doesn't have to play against legitimate competition to gain national acclaim. Jealous that the toughest game the Broncos have on their way to a BCS game is Tulsa, a team Oklahoma beat 45-0.<br /><br />If Boise State does win out (and since the WAC has no other decent teams, it's a very good possibility), The MWC has one hope remaining: TCU.<br /><br />As a BYU fan, it's impossible for me to cheer against the Cougars. However, if TCU does beat BYU, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I would much rather have TCU in a BCS game than Boise St., and with wins over BYU, Utah and some out of conference road games against BCS-conference schools, TCU would likely leapfrog the Broncos.scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-85423872454328485062009-10-16T11:29:00.000-07:002009-10-16T11:30:54.086-07:00Weekend Video: The Effect of Evian Water on Babies<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XQcVllWpwGs&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XQcVllWpwGs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-19079369697061938892009-10-13T10:03:00.000-07:002009-10-13T15:32:28.728-07:00Barack Obama: The Nobel Peace Prize Debate<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/StSxWDJiWwI/AAAAAAAAADc/WA5hWmRtGRY/s400/alg_obama_nobel_recipient.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392129646229871362" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Good question: Does President Barack Obama deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />I don't know. I wasn't the person who nominated him, and, more importantly, I wasn't part of the committee spending several months evaluating the nominees.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />When I first heard the news, I'll admit I was a bit surprised. But then again, so was Obama. He didn't campaign for this. He even said he "[does] not feel that [he] deserve[s] to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Some people feel if he doesn't think he deserves it, then he could always decline it. I feel that's a ridiculous idea. It's one of the most prestigious awards in the world! If a group spent months and months deciding to give the award to him, it would be offensive to NOT accept it. The funny thing about Obama is that he CARES whether or not he offends international figures. I know in the previous eight years that might not have been the case, and maybe we've grown accustomed to that mentality.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Let me use an analogy to better illustrate why declining the award would have greater repercussions than we think:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Imagine being in high school again, and Sadie Hawkin's Dance has girls starting to ask boys out. Now, imagine the girl every guy wants to ask him out. She gets on the intercom for the morning announcements and asks out a guy. She could have had any guy, and she picked him. And he's says no - on the morning announcements, as well.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Is she offended or at least embarrassed? Of course. Does life go on? Of course. She goes ahead and asks someone else out. However, how excited is the next guy? He's very publicly the second choice. Sure, he goes, but he knows darn well she didn't want to come with him.</span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/StSxwvmB7yI/AAAAAAAAADk/CaNw2NjslaE/s320/2ndplace.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392130104837140258" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's the same thing with the award. If we feel he hasn't done enough to deserve the award, how is the second-choice recipient going to feel about the committee thinking his accomplishments weren't as impressive as Obama's?<br /><br />"I nursed 3,000 soldiers back to health, and Obama was picked over me?!?!"<br />I mean, maybe it was because of Obama's diplomacy efforts and attempts to open talks to leaders with whom we don't have a good relationship.<br /><br />Maybe it was because he has shown no signs of starting another war as president (that bar is pretty low) .<br /><br />Maybe it was a weak year for peace.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />I don't know. There are a lot of people who spend a lot more time considering it than I do, which brings me to my main point:<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Better question: Who cares?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/StSyLHpuG8I/AAAAAAAAADs/xtVtugod5Qs/s320/Nobel_medicine-medal2007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392130557971667906" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is it October already? I can't believe it has already been a year since the last Nobel Prizes were awarded.<br /><br />Remember all of the articles we read leading up to the decisions?<br /><br />Remember turning on the TV and all of the talk show hosts were listing their predictions for the Nobel Prizes?<br /><br />Remember how the whole world was abuzz about who was going to win?<br /><br />Remember talking about whether or not the winners deserved it or who really deserved it for hours and hours after the decisions were made?<br /><br />Me neither.<br /><br />My point is we almost NEVER care about the Nobel Prize winners. Why do so many people spend so much time whining about Obama winning it? I don't remember Martti Ahtisaari or Shirin Ebadi going through this same skepticism. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The reason is hatred. Many people hate Obama for his politics, and they feel everyone else should hate him (see </span></span><a href="http://allthingsandeverything.blogspot.com/2009/08/things-in-hell-opionators-not-only-is.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Opinionators</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Well, guess what? The Norwegian Nobel Committee doesn't hate him. Get over it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here's what they said:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.</span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is that</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> impossible to believe? It shouldn't be. Maybe you don't agree with his policies on the economy or health care, but can you say he doesn't make more peaceful efforts to resolve conflicts?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Maybe he's not the most deserving of the award, but you didn't care when Wangari Maathai or Mohamed El Baradei won it, why do you care so much now?</span></span></span></div></div>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-88047655236179461092009-10-12T08:43:00.000-07:002009-10-12T21:52:04.826-07:00Levi Johnston: Making the Most of Fatherhood<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/StNWJeYDpNI/AAAAAAAAADU/lCP9Hh0q4rE/s1600-h/16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_22iB3mC1xME/StNWJeYDpNI/AAAAAAAAADU/lCP9Hh0q4rE/s400/16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391747899665392850" border="0" /></a><br />Levi Johnston has kept himself busy (he doesn't even have time to put a shirt on). Levi (Johnston, that is. In case you forget, he's tattooed it on his arm. Or maybe that's in case HE forgets.), most known for getting Sarah Palin's daughter pregnant before the 2008 presidential campaign, has managed to stay in the limelight an entire year later. Most recently, he appeared taking his new-found fatherhood lightly in this commercial:<br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ggB6SsB4DgM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ggB6SsB4DgM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br />He's definitely been a spectacle. Early on, after he and Bristol Palin broke up, the Johnston family appeared on a variety of talk shows, embarrassing themselves somewhat:<br />On Larry King...<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9N1XN7znC6k&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9N1XN7znC6k&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GJZVzbOUbiI&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GJZVzbOUbiI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />On Tyra...<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IJtijvZQTjw&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IJtijvZQTjw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />However, after a while, Levi seemed to be more comfortable doing these interviews. In this one, Levi also shares his thoughts on why Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska:<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A-c6sGqtVJw&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A-c6sGqtVJw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Now, Levi has agreed to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/08/levi-johnston-playgirl-sarah-palin">pose nude in Playgirl</a>, an online magazine read by women and gay men. This comes after he posed shirtless with his infant son in GQ, as pictured above.<br /><br />Frankly, one of the things I dislike about society is that a guy like this can "sleep" his way into thousands upon thousands of dollars and NOT be called a prostitute. Now, I know it's not the same thing, but thousands - even millions - of people bust their butts to make ends meet and, even then, some can't even put food on their table. Meanwhile, this guy knocks up someone semi-famous, and now he's even more famous than her. I don't blame the magazines. I blame people all over the world that eat this brand of garbage up. Shame on them for giving this guy a medium.<br /><br />I hope he's saving his money. That's the other thing about people: they forget about you.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bX2tB3SXcPU&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bX2tB3SXcPU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458644292093164394.post-51640540641541886942009-09-26T08:38:00.000-07:002009-09-26T09:47:35.009-07:00Weekend Video: Jim GaffiganThis <span style="font-style: italic;">Weekend Video </span>is a clip from the stand-up comedy of Jim Gaffigan from his TV special <span style="font-style: italic;">King Baby. </span>A few years back somebody recommended his other special <span style="font-style: italic;">Beyond the Pale</span>, and I had never laughed so hard. He is actually from NW Indiana, which is an obvious plus. He does bits on a bunch of different random subjects like Hot Pockets, laziness, bacon, and other things. Here is a bit he did on Waffle House:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qz1cfwFmv1w&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qz1cfwFmv1w&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />...and on bacon:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CaK9bjLy3v4&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CaK9bjLy3v4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />...and here's a conversation he had with then-Senator Barack Obama:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DYlf3Vhlarg&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DYlf3Vhlarg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00332297963392612168noreply@blogger.com1