Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Things I Decided IV
Here it is, folks.
1. It is worthwhile to explore Alexisonfire's older releases.
I just picked up the band's latest release, Old Crows/Young Cardinals. After I listened to the whole album once through I was not disappointed in the least bit. As a result, I dug up some older tracks to listen to.
I was surprisingly expressed. Most of them were as raw as I expected, and George Petit's screams were more prevalent than Dallas Green's soothing melodies. Regardless, they were still phenomenal and catchy. The singing trifecta of Petit, Green, and WadeBoggs MacNeil does a great job of rotating between all the right emotions at the right times.
Enough. I don't really know anything about music, so I'll stop acting like it. Here's "Accidents". Give it a full listen through.
2. I need a new phone.
A piece covering the hinge on my current one cracked and fell off. As a result, I can pull the hinge out, and I have to push it back in a certain way every time I close it. A new phone is in order, though it will still have to be a flip phone. The texting phones are more than I need, and the touchscreen ones feel too flashy.
3. I should write a book.
I don't know what it should be about. I love writing. I'm not sure if I should write a book or a screenplay, and I don't know what it should be about. Furthermore, I hate everything I write. Rough way to write.
4. People shouldn't overreact as much.
Sometimes people are either too tightly wound or too ready to fight. So this is for everybody: just relax. Don't assume you're always being attacked, and understand that people are going to joke around with you. If they take it too far, then they've taken it too far. But if you're among friends, it's unlikely they'll take it too far, so just remind yourself to calm down.
5. Music is often better when blasted.
Not through headphones. Never through headphones. Speakers. Speakers. Speakers.
Go. Right now. Sit in your room. Put on fun music, and turn up the volume. Either sit back and enjoy, or walk around and dance.
"Shut up, grow up, turn it up."
6. Graduations are sad.
I was at a high school graduation the other day.
On one hand, they're happy. Everybody is graduating, moving onto bigger and better things. The future shines brighter than the past, or something like that.
But the past is sad. Everybody is graduating, symbolizing their release from high school and all of its memories. Sure, they'll never forget their years in high school. But everyone in the grade will never be together again, never be the same age again. You may never see some of the people in your grade ever again. 30 years down the road, you may not even be able to picture their face, or conjure their voice inside your head. Names will slowly drift away.
Don't know about you, but that makes me sad.
7. The Flyers overpaid for Chris Pronger.
The trade: RW Joffrey Lupul, D Luca Sbisa, 2009 first round pick, 2010 first round pick, and a conditional 2010 third round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for...D Chris Pronger, F Ryan Dingle.
Pronger is a top-pairing defenseman nearing the end of his career, but he's not done yet, and he may even have a few good years left in him. His physical style of play fits the Philadelphia mold for hockey players, and he is still a contributor offensively. He also brings leadership and a Stanley Cup ring to the locker room. Ryan Dingle's worth is questionable.
With that being said, let's analyze what the Ducks received.
Lupul: A solid forward, probably best suited as a second line winger. Not a superstar, but he'll give you 50 or so points with a relatively even split between goals and assists. Interestingly, enough, this is the second time he has been traded for Pronger. It should be noted that next season his contract extension would kick in, giving him a cap hit of about 4 million dollars a year. Too much.
Sbisa: Still young (a first round pick from the '08 draft), but loaded with potential nonetheless, which he showcased in an early season call-up to the Flyers. I'd rather lose him than one of the Flyers' other great forward prospects (Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk).
Picks: This is where I hate it. No, the two picks are not guaranteed NHL stars. But they're important for building the franchise, and should Pronger not resign and the Flyers not win the cup next season, the team's infusion of young talent may feature a few bumpy spots.
That being said, I hope the Flyers trade away Daniel Briere and his massive contract in order to free up cap space. This will lead to:
1. More cap room, which in turn, gives you...
2. The resigning of Mike Knuble.
3. Hopefully, a first round pick, or at least a decent defenseman.
8. The Rangers' cap situation has made it impossible for them to become contenders.
Over half of their cap room (32.782 million) is invested in Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Michal Rozsival, Wade Redden, and Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist is the only one earning that much money right now, and this is by no means an indictment of Chris Drury.
Eternal optimists will point out that the team has around 17-18 million dollars worth of cap space.
Pessimists will remind you that team only has 4 forwards and 4 defenseman currently under contract. Rozsival's and Drury's contracts expire after 2011-12, while Gomez's and Redden's expire after 2014-15.
This penchant for overpaying veterans, coupled with the team's inability to draft well, will cause trouble in the future. My favorite example is the 2003 draft: the only player taken in the 1st round that has yet to play an NHL game is RW Hugh Jessiman, taken 12th overall by the Rangers. Jessiman was traded to the Nashville Predators this past seasonjust to get rid of him in exchange for future considerations.
Good luck building a (winning) team.
9. Old Zelda games are absurdly fun.
Remember Ocarina of Time? And Wind Waker?
Great stuff. I highly suggest you replay them. I already beat Wind Waker, and am nearing the end of Ocarina of Time. Next up is Majora's Mask, or, if I decide to go a little more modern, Twilight Princess.
Few games have ever reached the same level as the Zelda games. If you find yourself bored over the summer, go pick up a used copy of one. It'll be well worth your time and money.
10. James Bond rankings.
10.1 Sean Connery - the original. No questions here.
10.2 Roger Moore - still smooth, still dangerous. His performances didn't measure up to Connery's, but he was the next best imitation of Connery's Bond.
10.3 Daniel Craig - Craig's newer, grittier Bond has been a revelation, and he's made the character his own without changing the role too much. Just look at the pictures. Connery and Moore are simply pointing the gun upwards, while Craig is letting you know he means business.
10.4 Pierce Brosnan - too smooth, too pretty, too many fancy gadgets that seemed to fit his every need perfectly. GoldenEye was good, but it went downhill afterwards. Nothing against Pierce, though; had I seen The Matador, I probably would've liked it.
10.5 George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton - because there's no way I can convince you either of them were any good as Bond.
11. Barbecues rule.
Nothing like some burgers, hot dogs, chips, and a cold beverage. Some frisbee, wiffle ball, basketball afterwards, or maybe croquet if you want to take it especially easy. Best of all, though, is to just sit out back, relax, and talk.
And now, for The Sounds' "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake":
-brett
1. It is worthwhile to explore Alexisonfire's older releases.
I just picked up the band's latest release, Old Crows/Young Cardinals. After I listened to the whole album once through I was not disappointed in the least bit. As a result, I dug up some older tracks to listen to.
I was surprisingly expressed. Most of them were as raw as I expected, and George Petit's screams were more prevalent than Dallas Green's soothing melodies. Regardless, they were still phenomenal and catchy. The singing trifecta of Petit, Green, and Wade
Enough. I don't really know anything about music, so I'll stop acting like it. Here's "Accidents". Give it a full listen through.
2. I need a new phone.
A piece covering the hinge on my current one cracked and fell off. As a result, I can pull the hinge out, and I have to push it back in a certain way every time I close it. A new phone is in order, though it will still have to be a flip phone. The texting phones are more than I need, and the touchscreen ones feel too flashy.
3. I should write a book.
I don't know what it should be about. I love writing. I'm not sure if I should write a book or a screenplay, and I don't know what it should be about. Furthermore, I hate everything I write. Rough way to write.
4. People shouldn't overreact as much.
Sometimes people are either too tightly wound or too ready to fight. So this is for everybody: just relax. Don't assume you're always being attacked, and understand that people are going to joke around with you. If they take it too far, then they've taken it too far. But if you're among friends, it's unlikely they'll take it too far, so just remind yourself to calm down.
5. Music is often better when blasted.
Not through headphones. Never through headphones. Speakers. Speakers. Speakers.
Go. Right now. Sit in your room. Put on fun music, and turn up the volume. Either sit back and enjoy, or walk around and dance.
"Shut up, grow up, turn it up."
6. Graduations are sad.
I was at a high school graduation the other day.
On one hand, they're happy. Everybody is graduating, moving onto bigger and better things. The future shines brighter than the past, or something like that.
But the past is sad. Everybody is graduating, symbolizing their release from high school and all of its memories. Sure, they'll never forget their years in high school. But everyone in the grade will never be together again, never be the same age again. You may never see some of the people in your grade ever again. 30 years down the road, you may not even be able to picture their face, or conjure their voice inside your head. Names will slowly drift away.
Don't know about you, but that makes me sad.
7. The Flyers overpaid for Chris Pronger.
The trade: RW Joffrey Lupul, D Luca Sbisa, 2009 first round pick, 2010 first round pick, and a conditional 2010 third round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for...D Chris Pronger, F Ryan Dingle.
Pronger is a top-pairing defenseman nearing the end of his career, but he's not done yet, and he may even have a few good years left in him. His physical style of play fits the Philadelphia mold for hockey players, and he is still a contributor offensively. He also brings leadership and a Stanley Cup ring to the locker room. Ryan Dingle's worth is questionable.
With that being said, let's analyze what the Ducks received.
Lupul: A solid forward, probably best suited as a second line winger. Not a superstar, but he'll give you 50 or so points with a relatively even split between goals and assists. Interestingly, enough, this is the second time he has been traded for Pronger. It should be noted that next season his contract extension would kick in, giving him a cap hit of about 4 million dollars a year. Too much.
Sbisa: Still young (a first round pick from the '08 draft), but loaded with potential nonetheless, which he showcased in an early season call-up to the Flyers. I'd rather lose him than one of the Flyers' other great forward prospects (Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk).
Picks: This is where I hate it. No, the two picks are not guaranteed NHL stars. But they're important for building the franchise, and should Pronger not resign and the Flyers not win the cup next season, the team's infusion of young talent may feature a few bumpy spots.
That being said, I hope the Flyers trade away Daniel Briere and his massive contract in order to free up cap space. This will lead to:
1. More cap room, which in turn, gives you...
2. The resigning of Mike Knuble.
3. Hopefully, a first round pick, or at least a decent defenseman.
8. The Rangers' cap situation has made it impossible for them to become contenders.
Over half of their cap room (32.782 million) is invested in Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Michal Rozsival, Wade Redden, and Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist is the only one earning that much money right now, and this is by no means an indictment of Chris Drury.
Eternal optimists will point out that the team has around 17-18 million dollars worth of cap space.
Pessimists will remind you that team only has 4 forwards and 4 defenseman currently under contract. Rozsival's and Drury's contracts expire after 2011-12, while Gomez's and Redden's expire after 2014-15.
This penchant for overpaying veterans, coupled with the team's inability to draft well, will cause trouble in the future. My favorite example is the 2003 draft: the only player taken in the 1st round that has yet to play an NHL game is RW Hugh Jessiman, taken 12th overall by the Rangers. Jessiman was traded to the Nashville Predators this past season
Good luck building a (winning) team.
9. Old Zelda games are absurdly fun.
Remember Ocarina of Time? And Wind Waker?
Great stuff. I highly suggest you replay them. I already beat Wind Waker, and am nearing the end of Ocarina of Time. Next up is Majora's Mask, or, if I decide to go a little more modern, Twilight Princess.
Few games have ever reached the same level as the Zelda games. If you find yourself bored over the summer, go pick up a used copy of one. It'll be well worth your time and money.
10. James Bond rankings.
10.1 Sean Connery - the original. No questions here.
10.2 Roger Moore - still smooth, still dangerous. His performances didn't measure up to Connery's, but he was the next best imitation of Connery's Bond.
10.3 Daniel Craig - Craig's newer, grittier Bond has been a revelation, and he's made the character his own without changing the role too much. Just look at the pictures. Connery and Moore are simply pointing the gun upwards, while Craig is letting you know he means business.
10.4 Pierce Brosnan - too smooth, too pretty, too many fancy gadgets that seemed to fit his every need perfectly. GoldenEye was good, but it went downhill afterwards. Nothing against Pierce, though; had I seen The Matador, I probably would've liked it.
10.5 George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton - because there's no way I can convince you either of them were any good as Bond.
11. Barbecues rule.
Nothing like some burgers, hot dogs, chips, and a cold beverage. Some frisbee, wiffle ball, basketball afterwards, or maybe croquet if you want to take it especially easy. Best of all, though, is to just sit out back, relax, and talk.
And now, for The Sounds' "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake":
-brett
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Thoughts On The Stanley Cup Finals
Prior to this blog, it should be noted that I am biased against the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, I'll do my best to limit this bias.
If you didn't know (you probably didn't), it's the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the Detroit Red Wings. After last night's 5-0 route of the Penguins by Detroit, Detroit leads the series 3-2, heading back to Pittsburgh for Game 6 on Tuesday night. Any momentum the Penguins had following their Game 4 win at home was completely obliterated as the Wings took over the game.
DETROIT
Impressive Detroit Players
1. Darren Helm - Helm seems like he's everywhere at once, constantly backchecking the Penguins forwards as well as throwing his body around like a wrecking ball on the forecheck. He's not overly flashy, but he has a nice combination of speed and physicality that makes him an ideal energy player. Turn on the game, and you're likely to hear his name within the first 10 seconds of viewing. I'm not even sure if he ever leaves the ice.
2. Pavel Datsyuk - Sat out Games 1-4, and, of course, once he's back for Game 5, the Wings take it 5-0. His two assists are nice, but the scoresheet donuts for Malkin and Crosby show the true importance of Datsyuk to this team.
3. Chris Osgood - Osgood has, realistically, not been particularly impressive. He was decent in Games 1 and 2, but luck was on his side, and he was exposed in Games 3 and 4. However, the Game 5 shutout was "vintage" Osgood; to put it simply, he only has to be good, not great, to win games. Most of the time, he doesn't even have to be good, which is helpful, considering he's...y'know...not that good. Don't underappreciate him, though. If the Wings take the Cup yet again, that will be Osgood's 4th Stanley Cup ring.
Detroit Player That Needs To Be Better
Marian Hossa - If anything, do it to save yourself the shame. Hossa left the Penguins at the end of last season because he thought Detroit had a better chance of winning the cup. In defense of his play, Hossa hasn't been able to catch too many breaks, but if he can get himself going then Detroit should be able to pull away with the series. It would probably help if spent less time plowing into Penguins backup goalie Mathieu Garon, and more time scoring. The man is a villain in Pittsburgh, and it's up to him to justify his decision.
Detroit Player Whose Name I Like
Justin Abdelkader
PENGUINS
Impressive Pittsburgh Players
1. Maxime Talbot - Talbot is a player in a similar mold to that of Helm. Fast and...rambunctious, Talbot is a key depth player. He is part of the heart of this Penguins team, and his 2 goals in Game 3 were key. He also gets the superstar treatment:
2. Sergei Gonchar - Gonchar deserves some credit for playing through his knee injury, and he's an important piece on the power point as well. Furthermore, he's avoided another one of these:
Jekyll and Hyde Pittsburgh Players
1. Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin - For Pittsburgh, it's all about home ice. Crosby and Malkin have combined for 8 points on home ice, while only 2 on the road (Malkin has both!). After Malkin's disappearance act last year, both players have showed up in a massive way for the playoffs. However, Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are two of the best defensive forwards in the league, if not the two best. Crosby and Malkin need to break free of them not at only at home, but on the road, regardless of whether they're getting the matchups they want or not.
Furthermore, at certain times in the series, it's been obvious that Detroit is inside their heads, whether it's Malkin going after Zetterberg at the end of Game 2 or Crosby's unneeded slash on Zetterberg (I couldn't find the video, so I just went with that one) during Game 5. In general, though Crosby has seemed frustrated, whether it's an extra slash or shove while fighting for a loose puck in the corner or having friendly chats with Kirk Maltby (video here). Both players have been stifled in Detroit, and they don't like it one bit.
2. Marc-Andre Fleury - Same for Fleury. Fleury's two best performances came at home. In contrast, he let up 5 goals before being pulled in Game 5. Last year, Fleury was the one constant in the Penguins Finals run; he showed up to play every night. He needs to do that again this year if the Pens have any hope of a comeback.
Things Dan Bylsma Needs To Do
Not let the team lose their composure like at the end of Games 2 and 5. Game 5 gradually deteriorated into a guessing game of which Pittsburgh player would take a run at or slash which Detroit player. Surprsingly, Chris Kunitz only received a roughing call after pulling Darren Helm out of a scrum and punching him, while Helm covering his head was obvious sign he wasn't in a fighting mood. Malkin got away without a suspension at the end of Game 2, despite an instigator penalty for a similar crime. All of Bylsma's regular season success is for naught if he can't pull this team together now.
OTHER STUFF
Tip of the hat to Detroit coach Mike Babcock for bringing the team this far again. Regardless of the talent level the Wings have, he brings it all together phenomenally.
Chris Kunitz, brought in from Anaheim for Ryan Whitney, has only 1 goal in 22 playoff games.
The Penguins have 3 players that played for the Islanders within the past 2 seasons: Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin, and Miroslav Satan. I don't know why this is relevant.
The White Stripes are pretty good. Check 'em out.
-brett
If you didn't know (you probably didn't), it's the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the Detroit Red Wings. After last night's 5-0 route of the Penguins by Detroit, Detroit leads the series 3-2, heading back to Pittsburgh for Game 6 on Tuesday night. Any momentum the Penguins had following their Game 4 win at home was completely obliterated as the Wings took over the game.
DETROIT
Impressive Detroit Players
1. Darren Helm - Helm seems like he's everywhere at once, constantly backchecking the Penguins forwards as well as throwing his body around like a wrecking ball on the forecheck. He's not overly flashy, but he has a nice combination of speed and physicality that makes him an ideal energy player. Turn on the game, and you're likely to hear his name within the first 10 seconds of viewing. I'm not even sure if he ever leaves the ice.
2. Pavel Datsyuk - Sat out Games 1-4, and, of course, once he's back for Game 5, the Wings take it 5-0. His two assists are nice, but the scoresheet donuts for Malkin and Crosby show the true importance of Datsyuk to this team.
3. Chris Osgood - Osgood has, realistically, not been particularly impressive. He was decent in Games 1 and 2, but luck was on his side, and he was exposed in Games 3 and 4. However, the Game 5 shutout was "vintage" Osgood; to put it simply, he only has to be good, not great, to win games. Most of the time, he doesn't even have to be good, which is helpful, considering he's...y'know...not that good. Don't underappreciate him, though. If the Wings take the Cup yet again, that will be Osgood's 4th Stanley Cup ring.
Detroit Player That Needs To Be Better
Marian Hossa - If anything, do it to save yourself the shame. Hossa left the Penguins at the end of last season because he thought Detroit had a better chance of winning the cup. In defense of his play, Hossa hasn't been able to catch too many breaks, but if he can get himself going then Detroit should be able to pull away with the series. It would probably help if spent less time plowing into Penguins backup goalie Mathieu Garon, and more time scoring. The man is a villain in Pittsburgh, and it's up to him to justify his decision.
Detroit Player Whose Name I Like
Justin Abdelkader
PENGUINS
Impressive Pittsburgh Players
1. Maxime Talbot - Talbot is a player in a similar mold to that of Helm. Fast and...rambunctious, Talbot is a key depth player. He is part of the heart of this Penguins team, and his 2 goals in Game 3 were key. He also gets the superstar treatment:
2. Sergei Gonchar - Gonchar deserves some credit for playing through his knee injury, and he's an important piece on the power point as well. Furthermore, he's avoided another one of these:
Jekyll and Hyde Pittsburgh Players
1. Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin - For Pittsburgh, it's all about home ice. Crosby and Malkin have combined for 8 points on home ice, while only 2 on the road (Malkin has both!). After Malkin's disappearance act last year, both players have showed up in a massive way for the playoffs. However, Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are two of the best defensive forwards in the league, if not the two best. Crosby and Malkin need to break free of them not at only at home, but on the road, regardless of whether they're getting the matchups they want or not.
Furthermore, at certain times in the series, it's been obvious that Detroit is inside their heads, whether it's Malkin going after Zetterberg at the end of Game 2 or Crosby's unneeded slash on Zetterberg (I couldn't find the video, so I just went with that one) during Game 5. In general, though Crosby has seemed frustrated, whether it's an extra slash or shove while fighting for a loose puck in the corner or having friendly chats with Kirk Maltby (video here). Both players have been stifled in Detroit, and they don't like it one bit.
2. Marc-Andre Fleury - Same for Fleury. Fleury's two best performances came at home. In contrast, he let up 5 goals before being pulled in Game 5. Last year, Fleury was the one constant in the Penguins Finals run; he showed up to play every night. He needs to do that again this year if the Pens have any hope of a comeback.
Things Dan Bylsma Needs To Do
Not let the team lose their composure like at the end of Games 2 and 5. Game 5 gradually deteriorated into a guessing game of which Pittsburgh player would take a run at or slash which Detroit player. Surprsingly, Chris Kunitz only received a roughing call after pulling Darren Helm out of a scrum and punching him, while Helm covering his head was obvious sign he wasn't in a fighting mood. Malkin got away without a suspension at the end of Game 2, despite an instigator penalty for a similar crime. All of Bylsma's regular season success is for naught if he can't pull this team together now.
OTHER STUFF
Tip of the hat to Detroit coach Mike Babcock for bringing the team this far again. Regardless of the talent level the Wings have, he brings it all together phenomenally.
Chris Kunitz, brought in from Anaheim for Ryan Whitney, has only 1 goal in 22 playoff games.
The Penguins have 3 players that played for the Islanders within the past 2 seasons: Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin, and Miroslav Satan. I don't know why this is relevant.
The White Stripes are pretty good. Check 'em out.
-brett
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Things I Decided III
As usual, feel free to just scan the different bold topics and read only the ones that interest you.
So many decisions to make, so little time.
1. Robot Chicken is perhaps the funniest and most unique show on television.
Just a heads up, some of the stuff in the show might be considered inappropriate.
Robot Chicken is a combination of all of those tiny jokes you find funny, the one-liners that make you chuckle and the silly situations that you conjure in your mind. All of this is done marvelously by actor Seth Green and "Other Guy" Matthew Senreich. Here's a clip, if you can watch it:
So many decisions to make, so little time.
1. Robot Chicken is perhaps the funniest and most unique show on television.
Just a heads up, some of the stuff in the show might be considered inappropriate.
Robot Chicken is a combination of all of those tiny jokes you find funny, the one-liners that make you chuckle and the silly situations that you conjure in your mind. All of this is done marvelously by actor Seth Green and "Other Guy" Matthew Senreich. Here's a clip, if you can watch it:
(More clips can be seen on their website, if you're interested. The link is further up, where it says "Robot Chicken".)
Yeah, it's animated. But it doesn't make a difference. Try watching an episode. The Star Wars episode is a classic, but there are plenty of others. It's on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network at whatever time, but I just watch them online.
2. I will be jumping on the Seattle Seahawks bandwagon next season.
4. Michael Jordan made Space Jam incredible.
Let me preface this by stating that Michael Jordan is, in every possible way, awesome.
Now, onto the movie. Jordan gave the movie a little something called "star power". With any other NBA star, the movie would've been worse off than with Jordan. MJ brings not only his unmatched basketball prowess, but also his genuine charisma and mo derate ac ting ability. Think of him as The Rock (or do we call him Dwayne Johnson, now?), minus the intimidating stare and a little friendlier.
Besides, who could forget Michael's Secret Stuff and the amazing comeback by the Looney Tunes, all set to the tune of "Space Jam" by the Quad City DJ's? I know I can't.
5. Nothing captures the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter like Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane".
The story of Carter was/is a terrible consquence of American racism. The Wikipedia article is here, but I'll try to condense it for you.
Carter was a black professional boxer, who, in 1966, was convicted (along with a friend of his, John Artis) of the murder of a bartender and two customers at Lafayette Bar and Grill in Carter's hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. After the shooting (where the shooters were identified as two black males), Carter and Artis were pulled over. Carter had a pistol and a shotgun shell that matched those of the shooters, and his car was identifie d as the one at the scene.
Of course, there were about a million holes in the prosecutor's evidence, and racism was evident in the trial. My feelings on the story are best put by Bob:
"How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fool's hand?
To see him obviously framed
Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game"
Now I'll let Bob clean up by doing what he does best: tell a story.
If that doesn't work for you, you can find the lyrics here.
6. Black Eyed Peas's "Where Is The Love?" is a classic song .
Whoops, wrong "Where Is The Love". I guess the question mark makes a difference.
As usual, it won't let me embed the song. So we'll have to make do. The video can be found here.
I usually dislike rap/pop music. Some rap, I enjoy, but it's rare, and I'll take in the occasional pop song (right now it's between Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" and Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold". And yes, I hate myself for it.).
But don't underestimate the ability of "Where Is The Love?" to pull you in if it hasn't already. The song does a phenomenal job of displaying several social issues in the U.S. today. I say "today" because these problems still exist. No, they have not disappeared since the song's release in 2003.
All told, though, the song is a plea for world peace, racial understanding, and, simply, love, with all of these cries for help captured expertly by the rapping of the Black Eyed Peas and the vocals of Justin Timberlake. Yes, he got his hooks into this song, too.
7. +44 is better than Angels & Airwaves.
Don't let me give you the wrong impression. I'm ecstatic over the reforming of Blink-182.
But +44's music is simply better. Tom Delonge seemed caught up in trying to be important and making an impact. Meanwhile, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker still acted like they were enjoying themselves. Their music wasn't as radical a departure from Blink-182's as Delonge's music was, but that's not the point. +44's music was catchy, occasionally fun, and emotional when it needed to be. Angels & Airwaves's music had a tendency to get lost in itself.
Oh, and it was kindof Delonge's fault that Blink-182 broke up in the first place. I understand he needed some rest, but still, if you're going to quit the band, tell the other members yourself rather than letting your manager tell them.
Yeah, it's animated. But it doesn't make a difference. Try watching an episode. The Star Wars episode is a classic, but there are plenty of others. It's on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network at whatever time, but I just watch them online.
2. I will be jumping on the Seattle Seahawks bandwagon next season.
Don't ask me why. I don't know. Maybe I just enjoyed watching them beat the Jets last year. Hasselbeck will be back. They drafted a few guys who are supposed to be good. That receiver fellow, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, is supposed to be good, and should make a nice target lining up opposite Deion Branch.
But really, with a new coach, it's entirely possible that the team will torpedo its season. At least they'll get another high draft pick if they do.
It also helps that I have a Seahawks jersey. It's Ricky Watters. He's retired.
3. Donald Faison is excellent in Scrubs, but is most captivating in Remember the Titans.
It also helps that I have a Seahawks jersey. It's Ricky Watters. He's retired.
3. Donald Faison is excellent in Scrubs, but is most captivating in Remember the Titans.
Don't get me wrong. I love Faison as Dr. Chris Turk. He's a funny guy, and I think he's hilarious in Scrubs. Furthermore, he occasionally provides that dose of "real" that brings the show back down to earth. Oh, and, uhhh, he always had a short cameo in Fall Out Boy's music video for their cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". He's in there at about the 1:10 mark.
That being said, he most tugs on the strings of the audience's heart in Remember the Titans. You might not even remember him in the movie. He plays running back Petey Jones, who converts to defense after realizing his penchant for fumbling. Early on in the season, he replaces Ryan Gosling (another favorite of mine. Go watch Half Nelson. Do it. Now. Trust me.), and becomes an every day player.
Wood Harris is also featured inThe Wire the movie as Baltimore drug dealer Avon Barksdale defensive star Julius Campbell.
Wood Harris is also featured in
However, partway through the season, Petey breaks down, and gives up his spot Alan Bosley (the guy Gosling plays). In the final game for a championship (I'm pretty sure it was the state level), Petey asks Coach Yoast (Will Patton) to put him in. Yoast refuses, saying Petey let the team down when they needed him.
But here it is. Bosley finds himself out of his league as the Titans are trailing, and asks Yoast to put Petey in. Yoast tells him that the only person who can give Petey Bosley's spot is Bosley himself. Bosley runs to Petey, and tells him he's in.
Petey's face lights up. He takes the field, making the hit on the other team's punt return. Next down (I think), and Petey's man catches the ball. Petey hits him. Fumble. Petey recovers. You hear coach Boone (Denzel Washington) shouting for him to hold onto the ball. Everybody piles on. Finally, when the players gradually all get off of him, Petey stands up, raising the football triumphantly into the air, after not only holding onto the ball for once, but after giving his team a chance to win the championship game.
And what do you think happens? They do.
(My storytelling may be a little off. I saw the ending a few days ago, so the final scene where Petey gets the ball for the team might not be exact.)
(My storytelling may be a little off. I saw the ending a few days ago, so the final scene where Petey gets the ball for the team might not be exact.)
4. Michael Jordan made Space Jam incredible.
Let me preface this by stating that Michael Jordan is, in every possible way, awesome.
Now, onto the movie. Jordan gave the movie a little something called "star power". With any other NBA star, the movie would've been worse off than with Jordan. MJ brings not only his unmatched basketball prowess, but also his genuine charisma and mo derate ac ting ability. Think of him as The Rock (or do we call him Dwayne Johnson, now?), minus the intimidating stare and a little friendlier.
Besides, who could forget Michael's Secret Stuff and the amazing comeback by the Looney Tunes, all set to the tune of "Space Jam" by the Quad City DJ's? I know I can't.
5. Nothing captures the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter like Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane".
The story of Carter was/is a terrible consquence of American racism. The Wikipedia article is here, but I'll try to condense it for you.
Carter was a black professional boxer, who, in 1966, was convicted (along with a friend of his, John Artis) of the murder of a bartender and two customers at Lafayette Bar and Grill in Carter's hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. After the shooting (where the shooters were identified as two black males), Carter and Artis were pulled over. Carter had a pistol and a shotgun shell that matched those of the shooters, and his car was identifie d as the one at the scene.
Of course, there were about a million holes in the prosecutor's evidence, and racism was evident in the trial. My feelings on the story are best put by Bob:
"How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fool's hand?
To see him obviously framed
Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game"
Now I'll let Bob clean up by doing what he does best: tell a story.
If that doesn't work for you, you can find the lyrics here.
6. Black Eyed Peas's "Where Is The Love?" is a classic song .
Whoops, wrong "Where Is The Love". I guess the question mark makes a difference.
As usual, it won't let me embed the song. So we'll have to make do. The video can be found here.
I usually dislike rap/pop music. Some rap, I enjoy, but it's rare, and I'll take in the occasional pop song (right now it's between Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" and Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold". And yes, I hate myself for it.).
But don't underestimate the ability of "Where Is The Love?" to pull you in if it hasn't already. The song does a phenomenal job of displaying several social issues in the U.S. today. I say "today" because these problems still exist. No, they have not disappeared since the song's release in 2003.
All told, though, the song is a plea for world peace, racial understanding, and, simply, love, with all of these cries for help captured expertly by the rapping of the Black Eyed Peas and the vocals of Justin Timberlake. Yes, he got his hooks into this song, too.
7. +44 is better than Angels & Airwaves.
Don't let me give you the wrong impression. I'm ecstatic over the reforming of Blink-182.
But +44's music is simply better. Tom Delonge seemed caught up in trying to be important and making an impact. Meanwhile, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker still acted like they were enjoying themselves. Their music wasn't as radical a departure from Blink-182's as Delonge's music was, but that's not the point. +44's music was catchy, occasionally fun, and emotional when it needed to be. Angels & Airwaves's music had a tendency to get lost in itself.
Oh, and it was kindof Delonge's fault that Blink-182 broke up in the first place. I understand he needed some rest, but still, if you're going to quit the band, tell the other members yourself rather than letting your manager tell them.
8. I should really go see the new X-Men and Star Trek movies while they're in theaters.
Yet I have this feeling that I may be too late...
9. Southland is a good show.
I do not watch a lot of television, but I can confidently say Southland was well worth my time. The show focuses on several policemen and detectives in Los Angeles. The show essentially follows different partners as they go through their routines and work through cases.
Instead of reciting the whole show, I'm simply going to state that the best pair to watch are Officer John Cooper, played by Michael Cudlitz, and Officer Ben Sherman, played by Benjamin McKenzie. Yes, the same Benjamin McKenzie who played Ryan Atwood in The O.C. Each officer has problems. Cooper has back pains, and must resort to drug dealers in order to get the medicine he needs. Sherman, meanwhile, often argues with his father, an d his new job as a policeman is something looked down upon by friends and family, given his parents' wealth.
Beyond that, though, Cooper and Sherman simply make a good team. Cudlitz as Cooper is sarcastic and realistic. Cooper is realistic about the state of the city and crime without being overly pessimistic. His methods are occasionally unorthodox, but at heart, he is a true policeman, and a good mentor for the rookie cop Sherman. Their relationship is tense; regardless, their patrols are always interesting and eventful, whether it's stopping a convenience store robbery or "divorcing" a couple with domestic abuse problems.
10. The Shiny Toy Guns cover of "Major Tom (Coming Home)" is phenomenal.
Note that this isn't David Bowie's "Major Tom". Rather, it's a cover of Peter Schilling's follow-up to the original, where the main character has been in some sort of accident in space, and is now presumably dying.
Really, though, good song.
Yet I have this feeling that I may be too late...
9. Southland is a good show.
I do not watch a lot of television, but I can confidently say Southland was well worth my time. The show focuses on several policemen and detectives in Los Angeles. The show essentially follows different partners as they go through their routines and work through cases.
Instead of reciting the whole show, I'm simply going to state that the best pair to watch are Officer John Cooper, played by Michael Cudlitz, and Officer Ben Sherman, played by Benjamin McKenzie. Yes, the same Benjamin McKenzie who played Ryan Atwood in The O.C. Each officer has problems. Cooper has back pains, and must resort to drug dealers in order to get the medicine he needs. Sherman, meanwhile, often argues with his father, an d his new job as a policeman is something looked down upon by friends and family, given his parents' wealth.
Beyond that, though, Cooper and Sherman simply make a good team. Cudlitz as Cooper is sarcastic and realistic. Cooper is realistic about the state of the city and crime without being overly pessimistic. His methods are occasionally unorthodox, but at heart, he is a true policeman, and a good mentor for the rookie cop Sherman. Their relationship is tense; regardless, their patrols are always interesting and eventful, whether it's stopping a convenience store robbery or "divorcing" a couple with domestic abuse problems.
10. The Shiny Toy Guns cover of "Major Tom (Coming Home)" is phenomenal.
Note that this isn't David Bowie's "Major Tom". Rather, it's a cover of Peter Schilling's follow-up to the original, where the main character has been in some sort of accident in space, and is now presumably dying.
Really, though, good song.
11. The Detroit Red Wings will win the Stanley Cup.
First off, I'd like to state I had this here prior to their Game 1 victory over the Penguins.
I'm still scared of the Pens. Crosby has improved on his performance from last year, and Malkin has played much better throughout the playoffs. That being said, Detroit lost no key pieces from last year, and actually added one from Pittsburgh in Marian Hossa.
Why will they win? The term "depth" is always emphasized in the playoffs. It means someone besides the team's best players can score. The Penguins have moderate depth; having Crosby and Malkin is pretty good depth in itself, but the rest of the offense can still do some damage.
That being said, Detroit is essentially another word for depth. Virtually everybody on the team can score, and the only thing preventing them is a lack of ice time. Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg are leading the way so far, while Dan Cleary has provided clutch goals and Valtteri Filppula, surprisingly, leads the team in assists.
All that, and the team hasn't even gotten Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa going yet.
First off, I'd like to state I had this here prior to their Game 1 victory over the Penguins.
Why will they win? The term "depth" is always emphasized in the playoffs. It means someone besides the team's best players can score. The Penguins have moderate depth; having Crosby and Malkin is pretty good depth in itself, but the rest of the offense can still do some damage.
That being said, Detroit is essentially another word for depth. Virtually everybody on the team can score, and the only thing preventing them is a lack of ice time. Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg are leading the way so far, while Dan Cleary has provided clutch goals and Valtteri Filppula, surprisingly, leads the team in assists.
All that, and the team hasn't even gotten Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa going yet.
12. Pandora is a phenomenal tool for finding new music similar to music you already like.
Here's the link.
The site's a little insane, and I mean that in a good way. You make a station by putting in a musical artist or song you already like. Pandora has already sorted every song in its database (there are a lot) by a massive variety of attributes and qualities. It then plays music similar to the artist/song you based your station off of.
Personally, I've used the website as a way to get into bands I've always been interested in but never listened to. Right now it's The Shins and the White Stripes.
Really, though, give the website a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised. There are other sites similar to Pandora, but Pandora could be the best/easiest to use.
13. "Brouhaha" is a funny word.
Say it to yourself.
"Brouhaha".
I just heard you chuckling.
In conclusion...
Here's a band I actually first heard on Pandora. I give you Iron & Wine's cover of "Such Great Heights", originally by The Postal Service.
-brett
Here's the link.
The site's a little insane, and I mean that in a good way. You make a station by putting in a musical artist or song you already like. Pandora has already sorted every song in its database (there are a lot) by a massive variety of attributes and qualities. It then plays music similar to the artist/song you based your station off of.
Personally, I've used the website as a way to get into bands I've always been interested in but never listened to. Right now it's The Shins and the White Stripes.
Really, though, give the website a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised. There are other sites similar to Pandora, but Pandora could be the best/easiest to use.
13. "Brouhaha" is a funny word.
Say it to yourself.
"Brouhaha".
I just heard you chuckling.
In conclusion...
Here's a band I actually first heard on Pandora. I give you Iron & Wine's cover of "Such Great Heights", originally by The Postal Service.
-brett
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Things I Decided II
Again, feel free to peruse the phrases in bold and only read those that truly interest you.
1. All new Adam Sandler movies are not funny.
Do I dislike Sandler? No. I loved him in classics such as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and The Wedding Singer. The Wedding Singer actually gave us this classic song:
Recently? I heard Don't Mess With the Zohan was decent. But The Longest Yard should never have been remade, and 50 First Dates was...well, you get the point. Sandler needs to bring his glory days back to the big screen.
My statement was too harsh. But please, Adam. I know you're better than this.
2. UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights" video is incredible.
The song itself is good. But you really have to watch the video to truly appreciate it. Again, record labels have prevented me from embedding it here. Instead, you will see perhaps the most important (and controversial) frame:
You can watch it here. Simply click the "video" section, and then hover your mouse over the list until it scrolls down to "Rabbit in Your Headlights". Then click, and enjoy.
3. Center Daniel Briere's contract with the Philadelphia Flyers is completely unnecessary.
No, I couldn't stay away from hockey for too long. However, Briere was signed after the abysmal season of 2006-07, where the Flyers finished last in the NHL and set a franchise record for the worst winning percentage. Once free agency started, agressive general manager Paul Holmgren gave Briere a 8 year, 52 million dollar contract.
Great. Number one center for the Flyers. Had a 90+ point season once. Good signing.
No. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter have matured into the number 1 centers they were supposed to become. Both of Briere's seasons have been disappointing. He has underproduced (97 points over two seasons), partially thanks to his new love for injuries (108 games of a possible 164).
There aren't too many ways for me to put this. Carter is a better goal scorer than Briere, and while Richards may not be as good of a playmaker as Briere is, his defensive game is infinitely better than Briere's. Okay, so Briere's presence there "gives the team another weapon": a 6.5 million dollar a year weapon that's usually hurt and is afraid to battle for the puck in the corners.
Of course, if Briere can deliver either in this year's playoffs or next season, I'll shut my mouth (and secretly pray that the Flyers trade him while they still can).
4. Sean Avery is a class act.
Marty Brodeur thinks so.
5. The Verve are underrated.
Primarily known in the U.S. for "Bitter Sweet Symphony", this band really doesn't get enough credit. It didn't help that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones actually got all the songwriting credits for the song, regardless of everything lead singer Richard Ashcroft contributed. That being said, the video is phenomenal:
Here's another one of my favorites, called "Lucky Man":
6. Family Guy's take on Cookie Monster is hilarious.
Here's two clips. If it doesn't work for you on your computer...you have to find time to watch them somehow.
7.The best Sour Patch Kids are the red ones.
Here is my hierarchy:
1. Red
2. Orange
3. Green
4. Yellow
Red are delicious. And let's face it. What was the last quality candy you had that was lemon flavored?
If you're curious, the Starburst hierarchy is extremely similar:
1. Red
2. Pink
3. Orange
4. Yellow
Hmmm...there's a pattern here...
Blue raspberry and watermelon Sour Patch are delicious as well.
8. Being an NFL kicker would be a fun job.
Think about it. All you do is kick at practice. And you get paid plenty of money. Sure, you have to be able to handle a lot of pressure. But think about it. If you're one of those people that's able to take a deep breath, relax, and do what needs doing, then kicking in a high-pressure situation shouldn't be much trouble (assuming you can kick at all).
Okay, some people will make the argument "Your teammates won't respect you because you aren't as tough as them or as blah blah blah blah blah." Some of that may be true. But the difference between a competent kicker and an incompetent kicker can be a massive one. They know that when the ball lies on the 30, the team is down by 2, and it's the last play of the game, you have a lot of pressure on you to score. But they also know you're the only that can win the game at this point. Could someone call a kicker a wimp? Maybe. However, his importance should never be underestimated.
My best example of how a kicker matters? January 27, 1991. Giants: 20, Bills:19. 4th quarter. 8 seconds on the clock. Bills' kicker Scott Norwood attempts a 47 yarder, which sails wide right. Bills lose.
9. Jon Stewart's America (The Book) is funnier that Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!)
No, I am not arguing Stewart is funnier than Colbert. That is an issue I'm still torn on. It actually makes me sad when people completely disregard the fact that, for quite a while, Colbert was a correspondent on Stewart's show. Stewart came first; even if people don't find him as funny as Colbert, they should at least respect him.
But onto the books. Colbert is written more like a biography. He includes all of his thoughts and views on politics, somehow tied into his life story. Is it funny? Yes.
However, Stewart's book is the better piece. Why? It's essentially a text book that pokes fun at all the information inside itself. That's not to say it's full of only factual information. Rather, some facts are given, and jokes are interspersed. Correspondents from Stewart's show (Stephen Colbert, Ed Helms, Samantha Bee,Veronica Corningstone) all have minor segments in which the appear to provide the reader with a fun change of pace from the main body of writing. All the while, Stewart is parodying America's view of its history and the rest of the world, showing just how misplaced America's beliefs can be sometime.
10. This is harder to write than I thought.
I'm out of things to decide on. I figured I'd have plenty of material, but I'm running low. I'll try to muster up more for next time.
Actually, if anybody ever has any suggestions for things I can decide on, feel free to place them in the comments section.
11. The Killers b-sides album, Sawdust, is pretty good.
Sure, not every song is a classic. It's a b-sides album. It presents the sounds of the first two albums in contrast: "Under The Gun" would be right at home on Hot Fuss, while a track like "The Ballad of Michael Valentine" would be a perfect fit on Sam's Town.
But this shouldn't come as a surprise. These are b-sides, which are usually discarded tracks from the original albums that have appeared in different places such as bonus tracks, extra songs on singles, or on movie soundtracks. The only new and original material is "Tranquilize", which features Lou Reed on vocals as well. A few covers were thrown in ("Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", "Shadowplay", and "Romeo and Juliet"), along with a phenomenal remix in "Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Remix)".
Here are a few tracks I recommend you listen to:
"Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf"
"Under the Gun"
"Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll"
"Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Remix)"
To conclude my post, "Antibodies" by Sky Larkin:
Again, if that doesn't show up for you, it will probably work here.
-brett
1. All new Adam Sandler movies are not funny.
Do I dislike Sandler? No. I loved him in classics such as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and The Wedding Singer. The Wedding Singer actually gave us this classic song:
Recently? I heard Don't Mess With the Zohan was decent. But The Longest Yard should never have been remade, and 50 First Dates was...well, you get the point. Sandler needs to bring his glory days back to the big screen.
My statement was too harsh. But please, Adam. I know you're better than this.
2. UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights" video is incredible.
The song itself is good. But you really have to watch the video to truly appreciate it. Again, record labels have prevented me from embedding it here. Instead, you will see perhaps the most important (and controversial) frame:
You can watch it here. Simply click the "video" section, and then hover your mouse over the list until it scrolls down to "Rabbit in Your Headlights". Then click, and enjoy.
3. Center Daniel Briere's contract with the Philadelphia Flyers is completely unnecessary.
No, I couldn't stay away from hockey for too long. However, Briere was signed after the abysmal season of 2006-07, where the Flyers finished last in the NHL and set a franchise record for the worst winning percentage. Once free agency started, agressive general manager Paul Holmgren gave Briere a 8 year, 52 million dollar contract.
Great. Number one center for the Flyers. Had a 90+ point season once. Good signing.
No. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter have matured into the number 1 centers they were supposed to become. Both of Briere's seasons have been disappointing. He has underproduced (97 points over two seasons), partially thanks to his new love for injuries (108 games of a possible 164).
There aren't too many ways for me to put this. Carter is a better goal scorer than Briere, and while Richards may not be as good of a playmaker as Briere is, his defensive game is infinitely better than Briere's. Okay, so Briere's presence there "gives the team another weapon": a 6.5 million dollar a year weapon that's usually hurt and is afraid to battle for the puck in the corners.
Of course, if Briere can deliver either in this year's playoffs or next season, I'll shut my mouth (and secretly pray that the Flyers trade him while they still can).
4. Sean Avery is a class act.
Marty Brodeur thinks so.
5. The Verve are underrated.
Primarily known in the U.S. for "Bitter Sweet Symphony", this band really doesn't get enough credit. It didn't help that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones actually got all the songwriting credits for the song, regardless of everything lead singer Richard Ashcroft contributed. That being said, the video is phenomenal:
Here's another one of my favorites, called "Lucky Man":
6. Family Guy's take on Cookie Monster is hilarious.
Here's two clips. If it doesn't work for you on your computer...you have to find time to watch them somehow.
7.The best Sour Patch Kids are the red ones.
Here is my hierarchy:
1. Red
2. Orange
3. Green
4. Yellow
Red are delicious. And let's face it. What was the last quality candy you had that was lemon flavored?
If you're curious, the Starburst hierarchy is extremely similar:
1. Red
2. Pink
3. Orange
4. Yellow
Hmmm...there's a pattern here...
Blue raspberry and watermelon Sour Patch are delicious as well.
8. Being an NFL kicker would be a fun job.
Think about it. All you do is kick at practice. And you get paid plenty of money. Sure, you have to be able to handle a lot of pressure. But think about it. If you're one of those people that's able to take a deep breath, relax, and do what needs doing, then kicking in a high-pressure situation shouldn't be much trouble (assuming you can kick at all).
Okay, some people will make the argument "Your teammates won't respect you because you aren't as tough as them or as blah blah blah blah blah." Some of that may be true. But the difference between a competent kicker and an incompetent kicker can be a massive one. They know that when the ball lies on the 30, the team is down by 2, and it's the last play of the game, you have a lot of pressure on you to score. But they also know you're the only that can win the game at this point. Could someone call a kicker a wimp? Maybe. However, his importance should never be underestimated.My best example of how a kicker matters? January 27, 1991. Giants: 20, Bills:19. 4th quarter. 8 seconds on the clock. Bills' kicker Scott Norwood attempts a 47 yarder, which sails wide right. Bills lose.
9. Jon Stewart's America (The Book) is funnier that Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!)
No, I am not arguing Stewart is funnier than Colbert. That is an issue I'm still torn on. It actually makes me sad when people completely disregard the fact that, for quite a while, Colbert was a correspondent on Stewart's show. Stewart came first; even if people don't find him as funny as Colbert, they should at least respect him.
But onto the books. Colbert is written more like a biography. He includes all of his thoughts and views on politics, somehow tied into his life story. Is it funny? Yes.
However, Stewart's book is the better piece. Why? It's essentially a text book that pokes fun at all the information inside itself. That's not to say it's full of only factual information. Rather, some facts are given, and jokes are interspersed. Correspondents from Stewart's show (Stephen Colbert, Ed Helms, Samantha Bee,
10. This is harder to write than I thought.
I'm out of things to decide on. I figured I'd have plenty of material, but I'm running low. I'll try to muster up more for next time.
Actually, if anybody ever has any suggestions for things I can decide on, feel free to place them in the comments section.
11. The Killers b-sides album, Sawdust, is pretty good.
Sure, not every song is a classic. It's a b-sides album. It presents the sounds of the first two albums in contrast: "Under The Gun" would be right at home on Hot Fuss, while a track like "The Ballad of Michael Valentine" would be a perfect fit on Sam's Town.
But this shouldn't come as a surprise. These are b-sides, which are usually discarded tracks from the original albums that have appeared in different places such as bonus tracks, extra songs on singles, or on movie soundtracks. The only new and original material is "Tranquilize", which features Lou Reed on vocals as well. A few covers were thrown in ("Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", "Shadowplay", and "Romeo and Juliet"), along with a phenomenal remix in "Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Remix)".
Here are a few tracks I recommend you listen to:
"Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf"
"Under the Gun"
"Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll"
"Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Remix)"
To conclude my post, "Antibodies" by Sky Larkin:
Again, if that doesn't show up for you, it will probably work here.
-brett
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
NHL Western Conference Playoffs Predictions: '09 Style
Second batch. YOU PSYCHED???
WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks barely snuck in, but that doesn't mean this will be easy for the Sharks. Anaheim is a big, physical team, and if they can get steady goaltending from either Jonas Hiller or Jean-Sebastien Giguere, they just might have a chance.
My wording there is important. The Sharks were the league's best team in the regular season, and have stars at nearly every position, whether its center Joe Thornton, defenseman Dan Boyle, or goalie Evgeni Nabokov. However, for the past few years, they have failed epically in the playoffs. Fortunately for them, this year looks to be different. New coach Todd McLellan seems like he's the right guy to help them make a deep run: the team was a machine right out of the gate, and the addition of several cup winners such as Rob Blake and Claude Lemieux bodes well. Sharks in 6.
#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus's first trip to the playoffs, and they draw the league's defending champions. One step at a time, I guess. Still, Rick Nash leads an offensive group low on firepower against Detroit's absurdly deep offense (Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom, Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen, Jiri Hudler, and more) backed by some quality offensive defensemen (Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall).
If you want to hand Columbus an advantage, look between the posts. Chris Osgood will probably lose his starting job to backup Ty Conklin if he falters early, just as Osgood replaced starter Dominic Hasek in the playoffs last year. Meanwhile, Columbus has young goaltender Steve Mason, arguably the biggest reason they made it past 82 games this year. If anything sticks out, though, it's the 10 shutouts: he'll likely have to steal a game or two for Columbus. Detroit in 5.
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues
Let me preface this by saying that the fact that the Blues even made it here is a massive achievement. Nobody expected them to make the playoffs. Then, players like Paul Kariya, Andy McDonald, Erik Johnson, and Eric Brewer go down with injuries. Young guns T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, and David Perron took control of the offense, and Chris Mason made everybody forget about Manny Legace. Some legacy, huh? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
While Mats Sundin's numbers may seem sub-par, he's drawn plenty of attention from other teams, making more room players like Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Alex Burrows, and Ryan Kesler to work their magic. The awesome Willie Mitchell leads an experienced group of defenseman, and Roberto Luongo seems fully recovered from his injury and ready to go. Canucks in 5.
#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames
If I'm the Flames, I'm panicking. Chicago swept the season series, 4-0. Calgary has been ravaged by injuries, and the team has actually been forced to skate fewer players than their opponents because of salary cap constraints. Throw in the fact that Olli Jokinen's arrival marked the start of a long and steady slide for this team, along with Miikka Kiprusoff's poor impersonation of an NHL goaltender, and things do not look good for the Flames.
Are the Blackhawks inexperienced? Yes. Will it matter? It would appear not, considering the Flames look like sitting ducks at the moment. Don't get me wrong, Calgary is a physical team fully capable of competing. However, given Chicago's success and the team's untimely slump, the series seems to be sitting in Chicago's lap. Chicago in 4.
Siiick.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks barely snuck in, but that doesn't mean this will be easy for the Sharks. Anaheim is a big, physical team, and if they can get steady goaltending from either Jonas Hiller or Jean-Sebastien Giguere, they just might have a chance.
My wording there is important. The Sharks were the league's best team in the regular season, and have stars at nearly every position, whether its center Joe Thornton, defenseman Dan Boyle, or goalie Evgeni Nabokov. However, for the past few years, they have failed epically in the playoffs. Fortunately for them, this year looks to be different. New coach Todd McLellan seems like he's the right guy to help them make a deep run: the team was a machine right out of the gate, and the addition of several cup winners such as Rob Blake and Claude Lemieux bodes well. Sharks in 6.
#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus's first trip to the playoffs, and they draw the league's defending champions. One step at a time, I guess. Still, Rick Nash leads an offensive group low on firepower against Detroit's absurdly deep offense (Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom, Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen, Jiri Hudler, and more) backed by some quality offensive defensemen (Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall).
If you want to hand Columbus an advantage, look between the posts. Chris Osgood will probably lose his starting job to backup Ty Conklin if he falters early, just as Osgood replaced starter Dominic Hasek in the playoffs last year. Meanwhile, Columbus has young goaltender Steve Mason, arguably the biggest reason they made it past 82 games this year. If anything sticks out, though, it's the 10 shutouts: he'll likely have to steal a game or two for Columbus. Detroit in 5.
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues
Let me preface this by saying that the fact that the Blues even made it here is a massive achievement. Nobody expected them to make the playoffs. Then, players like Paul Kariya, Andy McDonald, Erik Johnson, and Eric Brewer go down with injuries. Young guns T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, and David Perron took control of the offense, and Chris Mason made everybody forget about Manny Legace. Some legacy, huh? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
While Mats Sundin's numbers may seem sub-par, he's drawn plenty of attention from other teams, making more room players like Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Alex Burrows, and Ryan Kesler to work their magic. The awesome Willie Mitchell leads an experienced group of defenseman, and Roberto Luongo seems fully recovered from his injury and ready to go. Canucks in 5.
#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames
If I'm the Flames, I'm panicking. Chicago swept the season series, 4-0. Calgary has been ravaged by injuries, and the team has actually been forced to skate fewer players than their opponents because of salary cap constraints. Throw in the fact that Olli Jokinen's arrival marked the start of a long and steady slide for this team, along with Miikka Kiprusoff's poor impersonation of an NHL goaltender, and things do not look good for the Flames.
Are the Blackhawks inexperienced? Yes. Will it matter? It would appear not, considering the Flames look like sitting ducks at the moment. Don't get me wrong, Calgary is a physical team fully capable of competing. However, given Chicago's success and the team's untimely slump, the series seems to be sitting in Chicago's lap. Chicago in 4.
Siiick.
NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs Predictions: '09 Style
I know that the playoffs, as of right now, have technically started already. But I promise I didn't look yet. Prepare for me to be way off the mark.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
Ooooooh, Original Six rivalry. Boston has been the best team in the East all season, with scoring depth from players like David Krejci and Blake Wheeler, not to mention stellar goaltending from Tim Thomas. Did I forget potential Norris Trophy nominee Zdeno Chara? Montreal hasn't really received any consistent scoring all season outside of defenseman Andrei Markov, and this isn't a team that can lock it down defensively.The Canadiens are about to get rocked This will still be a battle of a series...barring a Montreal implosion.
On second thought, that's likely. The Bruins got out of a nasty slump just before the playoffs. Montreal has been in a slump all season, and it's safe to say things aren't due to change. If Tim Thomas fails to show up in the playoffs, then this competition becomes closer. Still, Boston in 5.
#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers
This could be a battle of special teams, considering the Capitals have one of the best powerplays in the league, while the Rangers have one of the best penalty kills. The Rangers powerplay, meanwhile, is one of the worst in the league, and is basically irrelevant.
Supposedly, New York's infamous Sean Avery will get in Alex Ovechkin's head, and the league's best goal scorer will be rendered ineffective. My opinion? Not happening. However, Capitals defenseman and goaltender Mike Green and Jose Theodore are far more susceptible. In last year's first-round series with the Flyers, Green was goaded into a fight by the pesky Scottie Upshall (I miss you, Scottie. Come back to Philly someday). Theodore is simply inconsistent, and Avery will probably make his home right on the crease. Fortunately, Washington has two other phenomenal scorers in Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. The Rangers will spend the majority of the series relying on Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist is good, but he deserves a better team. Washington in 6.
#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes
I'm going to ignore all the past playoff history between these two teams, and instead focus on the now. However, there are two things you should know about the Hurricanes:
1. They are not a particularly physical team, and are certainly less physical than New Jersey.
2. They came into the playoffs off a 13-3-2 streak dating back to the beginning of March.
Now for the Devils...they seemed to be a true contender for most of the regular season. Star goaltender Martin Brodeur went down with an injury, and for once, the team played like it didn't need him. Of course, now he comes back...the point is that the team has been 5-7-1 since the middle of March. They need to regain that form they had for most of the season. Regardless, Carolina in 6.
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers
This is the matchup I dreaded. The Penguins have been on a massive roll since new head coach Dan Bylsma took over. The Flyers dropped a weak 4-3 loss to the Rangers on their last game of the season to give up home ice advantage. However, this series comes down to Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and Flyers goalie Martin Biron. If Fleury can regain his form from last year's playoffs (1.97 GAA, .933 Sv%), the Penguins are in business. If Biron can get hot, the Flyers will still probably lose. Penguins in 5.
That being said, Mike Richards is still the man, and is a player built for the playoffs.
Western Conference matchups will come later, and maybe I'll stick some pictures in this post too.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
Ooooooh, Original Six rivalry. Boston has been the best team in the East all season, with scoring depth from players like David Krejci and Blake Wheeler, not to mention stellar goaltending from Tim Thomas. Did I forget potential Norris Trophy nominee Zdeno Chara? Montreal hasn't really received any consistent scoring all season outside of defenseman Andrei Markov, and this isn't a team that can lock it down defensively.
On second thought, that's likely. The Bruins got out of a nasty slump just before the playoffs. Montreal has been in a slump all season, and it's safe to say things aren't due to change. If Tim Thomas fails to show up in the playoffs, then this competition becomes closer. Still, Boston in 5.
#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers
This could be a battle of special teams, considering the Capitals have one of the best powerplays in the league, while the Rangers have one of the best penalty kills. The Rangers powerplay, meanwhile, is one of the worst in the league, and is basically irrelevant.
Supposedly, New York's infamous Sean Avery will get in Alex Ovechkin's head, and the league's best goal scorer will be rendered ineffective. My opinion? Not happening. However, Capitals defenseman and goaltender Mike Green and Jose Theodore are far more susceptible. In last year's first-round series with the Flyers, Green was goaded into a fight by the pesky Scottie Upshall (I miss you, Scottie. Come back to Philly someday). Theodore is simply inconsistent, and Avery will probably make his home right on the crease. Fortunately, Washington has two other phenomenal scorers in Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. The Rangers will spend the majority of the series relying on Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist is good, but he deserves a better team. Washington in 6.
#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes
I'm going to ignore all the past playoff history between these two teams, and instead focus on the now. However, there are two things you should know about the Hurricanes:
1. They are not a particularly physical team, and are certainly less physical than New Jersey.
2. They came into the playoffs off a 13-3-2 streak dating back to the beginning of March.
Now for the Devils...they seemed to be a true contender for most of the regular season. Star goaltender Martin Brodeur went down with an injury, and for once, the team played like it didn't need him. Of course, now he comes back...the point is that the team has been 5-7-1 since the middle of March. They need to regain that form they had for most of the season. Regardless, Carolina in 6.
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers
This is the matchup I dreaded. The Penguins have been on a massive roll since new head coach Dan Bylsma took over. The Flyers dropped a weak 4-3 loss to the Rangers on their last game of the season to give up home ice advantage. However, this series comes down to Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and Flyers goalie Martin Biron. If Fleury can regain his form from last year's playoffs (1.97 GAA, .933 Sv%), the Penguins are in business. If Biron can get hot, the Flyers will still probably lose. Penguins in 5.
That being said, Mike Richards is still the man, and is a player built for the playoffs.
Western Conference matchups will come later, and maybe I'll stick some pictures in this post too.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)