Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: PHOTOS: Mike Moser's Dunk Face Is Spectacular

The "I'm tired of waiting for 1000 comments to load" OT


Someday I will replace the rickety laptop that is my home link to the outside world -- perhaps even have access to that WiFi thing of which I have heard, thus freeing myself from the tyranny of puny bandwidth -- but until that day?

New OT.

Perhaps odd after a weekend with 80-degree days, but ... Fall comfort foods?

How many Vampire-themed books, films and television programs will it take to kill the genre for another couple of decades? And why can't they agree on a single mythos/canon?

Just how many "American" characters will be played by Aussies, Kiwis & Brits THIS season, and who surprised you the first time you heard them use their natural accent?

How horrifying is it that Giambi is still wearing the Golden thong ... and still sharing it?

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Comment 906 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Ooooh, fall comfort foods.

Grilled cheese & creamy tomato soup, chili, homemade baguettes, roast chicken, mashed potatoes, turkey pot pie, that wonderfully classic turkey/mashed potato/cranberry/gravy/stuffing sandwich.

Was there anything in between Buffy/Angel and Twilight? I can’t remember. But boy am I getting over it. That being said, I heard True Blood was pretty good and am willing to give it a watch.

Which segues right into…. accents! If I hadn’t known of Hugh Laurie before, I’d have been astonished that he wasn’t American. Goes both ways, too. James Marsters and Alexis Denisof from Buffy/Angel both had pretty damn fantastic English accents. I cannot bear to hear their natural voices.

by royalcurve on Sep 13, 2009 11:12 AM PDT reply actions  

"Was there anything in between Buffy/Angel and Twilight?"

TV stuff? I just looked it up— Moonlight, Forever Knight, Blood Ties, Blade, Kindred

by msb on Sep 13, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

I only remember Blade

and even that only by reputation; I never actually saw it.

Batted .393/.614/.464 for 2009 Diablos, #5 in OBP for PSSBL Rocky Division.

by Two Rs and Two Ls on Sep 13, 2009 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Squash is the best answer

Acorn squash cut in half and roasted with a lake of butter and brown sugar in the middle. Butternut squash is great, too.

Roast chicken is great, too, especially if you turn the leftovers into a hot chicken sandwich. Or if you roast it with potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, onion, etc.

by abelard on Sep 13, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions  

Football!

What an awesome weekend, haven’t been to such an exciting and controversial match in a long time. Forgetting Adebayor raking RVP face, I am interested to hear an American perspective on him goading the Arsenal fans after his goal. Did you find it amusing [like I obviously did] or disgraceful as 90% of the country seems to feel? It was obviously a silly thing for him to do, but if I was in his shoes, I’d like to think I’d do the same thing…

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Sep 13, 2009 11:20 AM PDT reply actions  

I can't forget Adebayor raking RVP's face

I don’t care about him winding up the fans – doesn’t matter in the slightest, and I would say that even if it weren’t Arsenal involved in the thing. I care that he intentionally stepped on another player’s face. He needs to be banned for a while – intent to injure is a serious thing, and a few centimeters another direction would have taken out RVP’s eyeball.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 6:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

I find it amusing mostly because

people think footballers (and athletes in general) are the dumb ones – but Adebayor knew exactly what to do to wind up the crowd, and knew that if he did the outrage would be loud and predictable. I’m much more upset with the attempted stamp on Fabregas, the stamp on Van Persie, and the (alleged) slap of Song. Classless.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions  

Football supporters are annoyingly predictable.

In a way it’s quaint – it’s like most of the harder-core supporters haven’t realized that players have more of a loyalty to a paycheck than to a club and think the Adebayors of the world are the exception – but it also leads to stupidity like that. A steward got knocked unconscious by something thrown from the crowd during that whole thing, and it’s ridiculous.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

Accents.

Yvonne Strahovski who plays Sarah Walker in Chuck, is an Aussie. She has a great American accent, I would never have known she was Australian. She’s also gorgeous, so that works too. Too bad Chuck doesn’t start up again till next year…

"I feel like we are sending Danny Haren for Mulder all over again." - Cardinal fan on the Matt Holliday trade

"But at this time of year, two plus two doesn't always add up to eight. Sometimes, it equals four." - Geoff Baker, Mariners beat writer.

by Orodawg on Sep 13, 2009 1:30 PM PDT reply actions  

Another "Aussie?!?" is Anthony LaPaglia

that missing persons show of his also has Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who is British …

by msb on Sep 14, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

The best cartoon on television right now is "Phineas and Ferb" on the Disney Channel.

I was watching it the other day and they broke out into a Bollywood-style dance number about how the Indian character felt familial pressure to get A-plus-pluses.

Batted .393/.614/.464 for 2009 Diablos, #5 in OBP for PSSBL Rocky Division.

by Two Rs and Two Ls on Sep 13, 2009 4:27 PM PDT reply actions  

Vampire TV will reign

as long as women find “bad boys” fascinating.

It also helps that they look like Tom Cruise and kiss/bite the gals on the neck in a sensuous embrace.

by Sam Regens on Sep 13, 2009 6:32 PM PDT reply actions  

This is exactly why

I prefer things like 30 Days of Night, where there is no sex – they’re just monsters, and you’re fucked if you go outside.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 13, 2009 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions  

I liked that movie until the end.

Worst. Ending. Ever.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 14, 2009 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions  

Agreed.

But I’ll take a crap ending for the rest of it, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

About Aussies and accents, I like Nicole Kidman's cultured (nonAussie, nonCockney) delivery.

I thought she was awesome in the Golden Compass. Too bad that critics etc. seemed to be pre-inclined to not to like this movie.
I had no expectations (also have not read the book) and saw it in a hotel where it was showing for free every 3 hours or something, and thought it was pretty good. “Saw” it four times while doing some work on the computer.
I thought it was on the same level as the Harrie Potter stuff.

by Sam Regens on Sep 13, 2009 7:19 PM PDT reply actions  

I never watched that film

because it’s Northern Lights, dammit!

Fuck Anaheim.

by Eyeball Kid on Sep 14, 2009 6:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

Followed by...

putting said hand under metal pail, weighted down by A Farewell to Arms.

Splatstick.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm trying to come up with something not from the Evil Dead series.

I keep going back to “Shut up, Linda!”, the laughing room, “well, aren’t you mister fancypants?”, “you’re goody little two shoes!”, and “klaatu barada… necktie”

Bubba Ho-Tep, I enjoyed, but can’t remember much of. Roles too brief in Congo and Fargo and all the Spider Man movies, I remember him being some badass lady’s man in McHale’s Navy but that’s the only thing I remember about that movie and I doubt I’m missing much.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions  

'Gimme some sugar' does leap so quickly to mind ...

Briscoe County has some fine moments, as do his various episodes of Xena/Herc as Autolycus, the King of Thieves ..“I’m not just leering at scantily clad women, you know— I’m working.”

by msb on Sep 14, 2009 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions  

That's my problem.

I’m entirely unfamiliar with his TV work.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

I really need to make more Indian food this winter

Though with school, not sure if there will be a lot of time for that…

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 13, 2009 11:19 PM PDT reply actions  

Hello!

Great questions…

1: I look forward to lentil soup, to squash soup (both of which are nice with lots of curry powder), roast dinners. Also football, and anything that goes with football. Mostly beer… oktoberfests, winter ales, etc.

2: 12. I’m sort of agnostic on vampires; I think there are decent vampire series/movies/whatever and lots of shitty ones – same as anything else. Personally though, I love the fact that vampire stuff comes back every 10-20 years without sticking to a single mythos/canon. I find it odd that people would insist on dogma in what are, at heart, monster stories. Take bits and pieces of the backstory, mix ’em around and see if you can tell a good story.

3: Huh. Ryan Kwanten, who plays a Louisiana guy in True Blood, and also played a marine or army officer in some Law and Order episode. I knew him from those two things, and I watched some behind the scenes deal of True Blood and it turns out he’s australian. And the guy who plays Bill is English. Weird. I knew Hugh Laurie’s real accent well before House came out, and so House still sounds to me like an English person overdoing an American accent.

4: Very.

5: 1578 board feet.

by marc w on Sep 14, 2009 1:35 AM PDT reply actions  

Canada : US :: New Zealand : Australia?

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

No

There’s a pretty fierce rivalry over, well, everything between the two countries that doesn’t exist in Canada v US.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

Okies

I am fairly competent around the kitchen, but the only thing I feel like I make better than most others is chili. Chili is no galantine of turkey, but know what you do and do it well is what I say.

As far as I am concerned, Let The Right One In killed vampire movies by virtue of its brilliance. No one ever needs to make another vampire movie and it is going to go down in history as one of the finest horror movies ever made. Perhaps one of the most underrated movies of the decade.

Don’t watch much TV. Not really in the spirit of the question, but it took me three years to realize that Hugh Laurie was that Hugh Laurie, and I still feel dumb because of that.

These are the things about sports that I try to ignore because it makes me realize what giant douchenozzles my heroes are.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 14, 2009 2:09 AM PDT reply actions  

.

Agreed on Let the Right One In, and possibly challenge you to chili cookoff….though salsa is where I truly excel. Also, guacamole.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

It is!

I would eat it all the time, if avocados weren’t normally so pricey, and it didn’t rather interfere with my love of Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean food….

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

"Let The Right One In killed vampire movies by virtue of its brilliance"

Yes, goddamnit, yes.

I mean, I’ll still entertain the genre now and then, just to see what new and interesting ways they’ve opted to screw things up, but that movie was particularly special in terms of its atmosphere. I wish there was an available DVD that didn’t have horrible subtitling.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

There is!

Due to the uproar, all publisher started releasing all new DVDs with the theatrical subtitles included.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Sep 14, 2009 9:57 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

Wow, when did this happen?

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions  

Pretty quickly after the complaints started rolling in

the disc now offers Swedish or dubbed English soundtracks, with optional English (dvd), English (theatrical) or Spanish subtitles, plus closed-captioning. Supposedly they have “English narrative subtitles” (ie English SDH subtitles) as well, but they don’t really …

by msb on Sep 14, 2009 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions  

I watched mine on Netflix via X Box Live

It had subtitles that were fine.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions  

As did I.

But I don’t have an X box and would prefer to own the movie rather than rent it because it is awesome.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

Oh, I see!

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

Only if they're "rad chilies"

Thanks, Achewood

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

COOK-OFF!

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions  

*eyeroll

It was pretty good. I can honestly say that I had a lot more fun gawking at the ridiculousness of the teenagers in Twilight than I did looking at the purty Scandinavian landscapes and admiring the weird little children in Let The Right One In. I’m also sheepishly looking forward to Daybreakers.

by sammy on Sep 16, 2009 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think we've had this conversation.

It’s pretty and well made, but it’s not Bergman or anything (which is more or less what it aspires to be). And in terms of “good” vampire movies, Near Dark blows Let the Right One In out of the water.

by sammy on Sep 16, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think it's a better movie than a lot of Bergman's catalog.

I love Bergman and all, but he is overrated. He’s like the Swedish Altman.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 16, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions  

I was thinking of Hour of the Wolf, in particular.

I just find it odd that a lot of people (not just you) seem to want to induct Let the Right One In immediately into the canon. I don’t see it, and I don’t think the film is going to age particularly well either.

by sammy on Sep 16, 2009 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

And re: Altman.

I used to think the same thing (that he’s way overrated), but I think I’m starting to come around. Forget everything he did post 1980. McCabe and Mrs. Miller, 3 Women, California Split, The Long Goodbye, Thieves Like Us, Nashville… These are really really good movies.

by sammy on Sep 16, 2009 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions  

Aside from McCabe and Mrs. Miller, I just have never seen the greatness.

Altman made a whole bunch of really good movies, but he’s treated as some sort of God and I think that’s really weird.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 16, 2009 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think he's treated that way mostly by actors,

because as an actor’s director, his style is an incredibly attractive mode of working. You don’t think Nashville’s a great movie?

by sammy on Sep 16, 2009 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

And re: Altman as actor's director;

I think that’s a big part of why I don’t especially care for his style. Everything is so methodical and so polished and it often just bores me to death. I prefer the Herzog method of going after the cast with knives and starving them to death, frankly.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 16, 2009 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

I don't see Altman as polished at all.

Methodical in how he goes about getting his results, yes, but the movies are often chaotic, jumbled and messy, which is a large part of his appeal (and of some people’s distaste for him).

by sammy on Sep 16, 2009 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

Saying you prefer the Herzog 'method' to the Altman 'method'

is really neither here nor there. Both methods are unique to their directors. No one makes movies like those two do.

by sammy on Sep 16, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

Better movies made in 2008:

The Hurt Locker
Revanche
Aruitemo, Aruitemo
Sugar
Wall*E
Entre les Murs
Frost/Nixon
Gomorrah

Granted, none of these are horror, but thinking of all the horror movies I liked better than Let the Right One In would take me more time than I care to spend.

by sammy on Sep 16, 2009 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

Answers!

1. Pumpkin based treats. I love pumpkin things so very much.

2. No idea, but it feels like we’re getting to the saturation point.

3. Mentioned by others but good god Hugh Laurie is good. I stumbled onto House before I found A Bit of Frye and Laurie. I didn’t realize he was British until he hosted an episode of SNL.

4. Really? He’s still wearing it?

5. Twelve 2×4s.

by BrianL on Sep 14, 2009 7:31 AM PDT reply actions  

I have a hard time taking Laurie seriously as House because of the Stuart Little movies.

I know it makes no sense, but I can’t make it through an episode of House without thinking of him talking to a Michael J Fox voiced mouse.

by Jed MC on Sep 14, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

Go find A Bit Of Fry And Laurie

either on YouTube or on DVD. It will erase that Stuart Little association right quick.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

A few musical Hugh moments

Fry & Laurie’s Piano Class , Jeeves & Wooster’s Minnie the Moocher, and the best thing about Peter’s friends, The way you look tonight

by msb on Sep 14, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

Re: pumpkin spice donuts

I believe that Top Pot has one, and it’s amazing, if I am remembering correctly. At least that’s a little closer to you.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Sep 14, 2009 10:00 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

The only place I can get Top Pot in PDX is at Starbucks

and as of this morning they didn’t have the pumpkin spice one, but I’m holding out hope.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

I can't get into House...

The cool thing is if I ever do decide to watch an episode I know it will promise to be the most shocking, amazing, limit pushing episode ever!

Wherever I go, that's where I am.

by Rich Langford on Sep 14, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

You have questions, I have answers

1. Agreed with most re: pumpkin based treats. I wish I lived where there were Dunkin Donuts, because their Pumpkin Spice donuts are AMAZING.

2. As much as I love True Blood, I’m really kinda getting sick of the vampire thing. I can only hope that the zombie genre stays at its current level and that zombies don’t become the new vampires.

3. I think it’s plateauing. My current favorite is Yvonne Strahovski from Chuck, an Aussie.

4. Baseball players in a masculine culture should be applauded for being pro-gay.

5. One sheet of plywood and then it’s off to the woodchuck bar.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 7:52 AM PDT reply actions  

The Japanese will develop synthetic brains that allow zombies to integrate into society.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't think so ...

because my eldest nephew has declared their engagement.

oh, and also the dickiness of Kanye.

by msb on Sep 14, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions  

But....

but Kanye is the genius of a generation?

and he is not a gay fish!

Wherever I go, that's where I am.

by Rich Langford on Sep 14, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

But he does like fishsticks!

In his mouth!

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

yeah

but he is not a gay fish.

Wherever I go, that's where I am.

by Rich Langford on Sep 14, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions  

But he likes fishsticks...

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'll get it

I just need to break it down.

Wherever I go, that's where I am.

by Rich Langford on Sep 14, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

It's because you're an aquatic genius!

Or something about fashion.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

I would struggle to find one artist in the whole show that I cared about.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'll say one thing for Kanye West

The man likes fishsticks.

Fuck Anaheim.

by Eyeball Kid on Sep 14, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I bought said western/sci-fi on DVD the other day

I’m only halfway through but I’m baffled as to why FOX canceled it, it’s fucking great.

Fuck Anaheim.

by Eyeball Kid on Sep 14, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

Because it's FOX?

The same station that canceled Family Guy and Futurama, which both later revived (yay to the latter, meh to the former).

They aired episodes out of order, airing the pilot last, inexplicably, skipped three episodes entirely, and preempted episodes for sports. What? It couldn’t find an audience? What do you mean? (presses the red button)

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

Not Shanaynay?

<imgsrc=“http://media.photobucket.com/image/shanaynay/FcKaLLYaLL/shanaynay.gif”/>

by royalcurve on Sep 14, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

Opening credits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9CzPH17ySA

[Open this in a new tab on your own, mobile LL doesn’t have the handy link button]

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Sep 14, 2009 3:13 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

Little known fact -

If you just put a hyperlink in w/o using the button, it target=_blanks it for you.

Doesn’t work if you are looking to embed, but just copy and paste it works wonders.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 14, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

I hate myself for having put off watching it for so long.

Although I am somewhat proud of myself for having my first ever “I love you and hate you all at the same time, Joss Whedon” moments while watching Serenity.

by BrianL on Sep 14, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions  

He's good for that.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions  

I've seen most of that.

There were some episodes my friend insisted on skipping. The unaired pilot was better, the special finale probably should have been aired. It has some things going for it, but it doesn’t grab me, and it may be difficult given its self-imposed limitations at the moment. It seems too easy to get mired in one-offs and I respect that he doesn’t intend to, but I feel like something more should be there that isn’t.

Wow, ramble.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions  

It has all the Whedon with none of the humor

That’s what’s not there for me. Even at its tensest, Buffy always had an undercurrent of humor, and so did Firefly – just little throw-away one liners or whatever, that were tangential to the plot but really smart and funny. Firefly seems to be taking itself waaaaaaaaay too seriously, and that’s to the show’s detriment.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm hoping that as the show becomes more settled and established on the network

the humor will make an appearance. I just worry that FOX is meddling too much with the structure of the show based on past “failures”.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 14, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

I liked Dollhouse. But compare Angel and Buffy season one vs Angel season 4 and Buffy season 5.

Honestly, Dollhouse season 1 was better than the Angel/Buffy season 1’s. If Dollhouse can have a 5 year run, I bet season 4, and 5 will kick so much ass suicidal teens will be qouting Dollhouse in their high school journals.

I have seen season 5 of Buffy at least 30 times. I believe in Joss Whedon to make Dollhouse as cool as that.

by mark sobba on Sep 14, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

You are making me sad :(

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions  

I hate FOX so much.

Firefly is hard to watch because there is just so much promise in it. I can’t even image were the show would have been after a 5 year run.

by mark sobba on Sep 14, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

On zombie movies

I found American Zombie to be a very different take on the genre. The first few minutes of it sucked me in, because the zombies aren’t like standard zombies, but that’s kind of what makes it good. It’s done documentary-style. I recommend it, if you’re looking for something different.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 11:35 AM PDT reply actions  

Ooo!

Also, Subject 2 is a fabulous movie, along the same lines as Reanimator, but without all the cheesy dialogue and shocker special effects. And the cast is like…..4 people? Think the atmosphere of The Shining with a plotline vaguely resembling Reanimator. VERY highly recommended, and found by complete accident.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions  

Neither of these have Wikipedia pages.

I have forgotten how to look up information any other way.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

I know that >:(

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions  

So many questions- so little answers

favorite fall comfort food: Wild Turkey and I’m not talking about the bird.

Ausie actor: Eric Bana- I watched Chopper and thought god damn Hulk does a great Ausie accent. Then I saw funny people and thought, shit he does an Ausie accent so well people are just going to start making him do all his movies that way. Now I realized nooooo. He does a great American accent.

I wish someone would drive a wooden stake through the Twilight series.

Wherever I go, that's where I am.

by Rich Langford on Sep 14, 2009 11:55 AM PDT reply actions  

Why the hell am I watching Cribs?

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 12:06 PM PDT reply actions  

Additionally

Who the fuck are these people, and why do they own more real estate than I do?! They’ve shown two segments now, and I have no clue who these people are, or why they’re famous enough to have some camera crew going through their closets. Granted, I’m not a beacon of current pop culture, but I can at least recognize some people, and I got nothin’.

I should probably stop watching UPN. Yuck.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

I know

All rental crap. If I had that much money, I’d get a decent 3-BR somewhere, pay it off, and save the rest of it. Why rent? Dumb. I know a lot of people travel, and that is fine, but why rent something THAT SIZE? You’re just throwing away money at that point. Then again, we’re talking about people who hang up both jeans and bras in their closets, so I’m thinking maybe not the brightest bulbs in the socket. Ugh. Stupid usage of excessive wealth just gives me the hives.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions  

I hate when people think this way.

I think when people have money they can spend it in whatever way they want just as long as they know it may run up someday.

That’s just my opinion though.

by Kirk on Sep 14, 2009 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions  

They're going to have to pay it back at some point.

When you’re making good money like some top athletes (or musicians or whatever) do, you can probably afford to buy a mansion for a million or two. But throw in all the cars and jets that you’re making payments on, and you’re going to get burned when your income dries up. Particularly if you’re in an industry (NFL, music) where the money isn’t guaranteed to keep flowing in.

I usually defend athletes in situations like this. No one who’s surrounded by other millionaires is going to be as frugal with his money as I am. It’s a different world. But at the same time, a lot of these guys need some advice when it comes to investing and projection. Stop listening to your friends, and stop pretending that you’re going to be a Pro Bowler for the next 10 years. It’s sad.

by Teej on Sep 14, 2009 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions  

Actually

That was pretty much what I was trying to say.
But whatever. You took it how you took it, no harm no foul.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 15, 2009 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions  

???

Although I can’t say much, I got to double the size of my cube, and I’m surrounded by tack board.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 14, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

I can't believe I just spent $65 on crappy bleacher seats for the game on Sunday.

I’ve avoided the Yankees games this year on purpose, but this one I am obligated to go to. BLARG

by royalcurve on Sep 14, 2009 12:37 PM PDT reply actions  

I have an idea for a vampire movie.

Two vampires go to the drive-in and watch a good movie.

by Teej on Sep 14, 2009 2:22 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

I have an idea for a vampire movie.

A vampire realizes that he has no money, and also that all his faux-Gothic accoutrements and dozens of candles in every room cost a lot of money; he then has to take a night shift job at Jack In The Box. With hilarious consequences.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions  

If I killed people at random and drank their blood, you'd then have any money they had on them.

Of course, nowadays that wouldn’t be much with the rise of credit cards.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 14, 2009 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

That could be the premise!

After his 45th victim in a row that didn’t carry cash, only cards, a vampire realizes that he has no money etc.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions  

That sounds like From Dusk Til Dawn 2.

No wait, better.

Robert Patrick asking the question on all of our minds, “why are vampires robbing a bank anyway?”

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 14, 2009 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

I have an idea for a vampire movie

so this hundred year old vampire who has trouble with girls tries to blend in with humans, and meets a nice, average, human girl and falls in love.

Then they date, but it’s terrifyingly dangerous for her to be exposed to the vampire world, so he marries her, knocks her up, and then turns her into a vampire after she gives birth to his half-human, half-vampire spawn in a bloody mess in his three million dollar house.

Also, werewolves are there somewhere.

by seattlebruin on Sep 14, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

That sounds like the gayest, most fabulous vampire story ever

can I get a piece of the merchandising of this inevitable blockbuster?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

Oh jesus, Vampires! The Musical!

Why has no one ever thought of this, someone alert sb.

by Kermit. on Sep 14, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

Also make him have NO weakness.

Also take out all of the metaphors a vampire actually has.

by mark sobba on Sep 14, 2009 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

answers

Hot Chocolate

Someone pay me to make one and I’ll end it.

Christian Bale actually

Sexy?

At least 3.50

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 14, 2009 2:31 PM PDT reply actions  

Don't tell Scruffy

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 14, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions  

Uh, oh.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 14, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

Jamie Bamber from the new Galactica series, and Damian Lewis from HBO Band of Brothers mini-series.

First time I heard either in an interview it blew my mind. Creates a bit of a disconnect, like knowing someone for years and they suddenly ask you to call them by a different name.

by Kermit. on Sep 14, 2009 2:42 PM PDT reply actions  

Fall foods

Pumpkin anything, chai latte, mulled cider, butternut squash soup, slow roasted meats.

I got nothing else…

by Kirsten Schlewitz on Sep 14, 2009 3:19 PM PDT reply actions  

Nobody ever remembers Ringo.

Or that other one.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 14, 2009 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

I only namechecked Lennon/McCartney because they wrote the song

I think the other one’s name was Harrison Ford or Boy George or some such – who can keep all these skiffle groups straight?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

A few names that came to mind in Accent Wars

Linus Roache, Anna Friel, Simon Baker, Jonny Lee Miller, Natascha McElhone,
Rufus Sewell, Jason O’Mara, Poppy Montgomery, Jamie Bamber, Matthew Rhys, Kevin McKidd, Ian McShane, Michelle Ryan, Alex O’Laughlin, Sophia Myles, Lena Headley, Dominic Purcell, Louise Lombard, Mark Addy, Rachel Griffiths, Charlie Hunnam…

oh, and for pure schizophrenia? John Barrowman, who speaks with an American accent in real life, unless he is talking with his parents and he reverts to his childhood Scots. Damned weird.

by msb on Sep 14, 2009 3:22 PM PDT reply actions  

I have a friend who does this too.

But he is Korean and speaks with an English with and American accent to everyone but his parents. He then switches to half English with a Korean accent and half straight Korean. Its bizarre.

Also, his parents speak English without any noticeable Korean accent too.

by Kirk on Sep 14, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions  

Facebook Ads

My status on Friday was related to my trip to the barbers for my awesome traditional shave, but ever since I have had loads of adverts relating to hair removal, with some really, truly horrendous images.

So, if my status is something like “HOT NAKED EBONY 21 YEAR OLD CUM SLUTS” in the next few days, you know why.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Sep 14, 2009 3:26 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

Hey, how cool was it to see Pedro get the results he did last night?

I have a soft spot for Pedro, I remember him being awesome when I first started watching baseball seriously in 2003, and that wasn’t even his peak. I thought we had lost him for good, but I hope now that he can stick around for a few more years and maybe put together some nice seasons, maybe in the NL Central or something like that beating up on the Reds and Pirates.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Sep 14, 2009 3:33 PM PDT reply actions  

Why is TMZ on television?!

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 4:01 PM PDT reply actions  

Some of us just don't have any other channels.

sigh

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

There are books. And magazines.

No need to rot your brain with that crap. TV’s have off switches.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 14, 2009 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions  

That is true

But we usually have it on for background noise while working online. I don’t always pay attention to it, and oftentimes we switch to the news; but today was not like other days, and now I know I’m not missing anything.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 14, 2009 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

Things not to say during a conference keynote

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Edition

[Kotick] described tailoring developer bonuses to “really [reward] profit and nothing else” and how an air of “skepticism, pessimism, and fear” is promoted within the company with the goal of “keeping people focused on the deep depression.” You know, so they focus on profit and nothing else. It’s all to plan, though, seeing as Kotick confided that, “The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games.”

by BrianL on Sep 15, 2009 9:39 AM PDT reply actions  

Wow.

Heaven forbid people that make games have fun doing so.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 15, 2009 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

I thought initially that he was joking

but according to Kotaku and Joystiq, Kotick was completely straight-faced while saying all this.

by BrianL on Sep 15, 2009 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions  

I know it's being totally overshadowed by that band from Liverpool

but is anybody else as excited about the Big Star reissues/box set as I am? I’ve been listening to “Back Of A Car” pretty much non-stop for the last 20 minutes. If you like pop music and don’t own #1 Record or Radio City or Third/Sister Lovers, there’s something missing from your collection.

  1. Record is probably my favorite power pop record of all time – even if you’ve never heard Big Star, you’ll know In The Street as the covered-by-Cheap-Trick theme from “That 70’s Show”, but it also contains the absolutely brilliant Thirteen, When My Baby’s Beside Me, Way Out West, and the aforementioned Back Of A Car. And if that weren’t enough, it inspired Paul Westerberg to write this song. This video of which gets bonus points for being from a show I was at.

So yeah, go get yourself some Big Star.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 15, 2009 10:01 AM PDT reply actions  

Wow that was gimped up formatting

That second paragraph should read “Number One Record is probably my favorite….” etc. Thanks SBN.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 15, 2009 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

Has anyone picked up Scribblenauts yet?

It actually has me excited to play my DS for the first time in a while.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 15, 2009 11:30 AM PDT reply actions  

Been playing it on-and-off since Saturday.

Not something that keeps you gripped for hours, but it’s fun and easy to play in short stints.

If you’ve seen the videos, you know exactly what it’s about and what to expect.
What you can’t tell from the video immediately:
-The level design is good.
-The control scheme (everything but the camera is controlled with the stylus) is awful and can make the longer levels frustrating because you kill yourself on accident.

by lailaihei on Sep 15, 2009 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

Cards, Cubs, Brewers, and Reds.

But no Pirates!? I’m disappointed because…
1. Easy wins (but then again, our “natural rival” is the Padres which is already a gift, every year).
2. Don’t get to see McCutchen in person. If the Pirates came to Seattle I would buy a Pirates cap just to get it signed by him.

by lailaihei on Sep 15, 2009 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

Let me fix this for you

Junior plays watches his old teams play! Ratings Bonanza!

by d0nkey on Sep 15, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

This year the prize for winning a LLemmie - your choice of being modded for a day* or cockpunching Robert!

*terms and conditions apply, main screenname not guaranteed to be modded, alternate may be password-bombed by regular moderators

by seattlebruin on Sep 15, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

AV Club Taste Test:

KFC Double Down.

My favorite line:

Like grief, the Double Down is experienced in stages.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 15, 2009 1:21 PM PDT reply actions  

My two favorite things about this monstrosity:

The somewhat ominous name, Double Down. Lets you know that this is not for casual eaters. Also, that it comes with fries.

by waldo rojas on Sep 15, 2009 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

I have a friend that just made tortellini but forgot to wash out the bowl after he soaped it up

Is he at any immediate health risk if he ate the tortellini that look oh so delicious?

by Robert on Sep 15, 2009 3:46 PM PDT reply actions  

So the FJM crew is back guest-editing Deadspin today.

And here’s my dilemma. FJM started (or at least widely popularized) the whole “let’s respond snarkily to bad sportswriting” genre, and since FJM has gone off the air, so to speak, so many other people do it that I read the first few FJM posts this morning and went…..eh. It all has a sort of perfunctory feel to it. Is it just me? Are they still funny and is it me who’s been jaded?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 8:36 AM PDT reply actions  

And the funny thing is that I never read KSK

It just seems like the FJM style has been co-opted by pretty much anyone with an internet connection so while I know FJM were the biggest/best at it, I read it now and think “really? still doing that, eh? Well, OK”.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions  

I think it's because thye're attacking Jeter and Ecksten

just like with Mariner fans and Willie Bloomquist, they need new targets to keep it fresh.

by Poochie on Sep 16, 2009 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'm all about frequent repeated attacks on Derek Jeter, don't get me wrong

but yeah, the whole thing smacks of “hey look what we used to do!”

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions  

I think they're hilarious.

But that’s because I think they’re great humor writers. The topic matter is repetitive — and the impostors aren’t really up to snuff — but there was always something about FJM that kept me coming back. And it was the writing.

I’m not shedding tears over FJM’s demise, but I’m enjoying today’s reunion. Particularly the one with MLB’s reactions to the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. They’re definitely better when they find material outside the JoeChat/Jeter/Eckstein realm.

by Teej on Sep 16, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

What films are you ashamed of enjoying? For me:

Freddie Got Fingered
Rambo (the newer one)
Blair Witch Project
Hot Rod

by waldo rojas on Sep 16, 2009 11:04 AM PDT reply actions  

"ashamed" implies that I seek validation in or approval from others when I watch a movie, which is not true.

If you don’t like what I watch, that’s not my problem, it’s yours. That said, I catch a lot of crap for liking all three of the Ocean’s movies.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions  

I like them because they're breezy throwaways

there’s nothing even remotely plausible about any one of them, there’s a lot that’s ridiculous, but damned if it isn’t fun watching George Clooney and Brad Pitt shoot the shit for 90 minutes. They’re basically cartoons, but they’re entertaining cartoons.

Plus, Casey Affleck is awesome in all of them.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions  

There's no one standard for good or bad though

if you enjoy it, why does it matter if it’s “art” or not?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions  

There is a standard for good and bad, though.

I can enjoy something that I know is artistically bad, but when I do I feel somewhat embarrassed.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 16, 2009 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions  

But that standard is defined by you and is entirely subjective

I’m not trying to pick a fight, just saying that the binary choice of “good” v “bad” is very tough to apply to any artistic endeavor. Answering the whole “what is art” question is a fool’s errand – who’s to say that the director of Dude, Where’s My Car didn’t pour as much passion and feeling into his work as Herzog did when he made Fitzcarraldo? – and it really shuts off enjoyment of a lot of things for a lot of people.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

I don't find it especially difficult to apply those terms to an artistic endeavor.

It’s clearly subjective, but I’m still coming to a conclusion based on my own criteria. And I’m not talking about fluff films; I love PCU, which is total and utter garbage, and I am in no way ashamed or embarrassed by this fact.

I’m talking more about movies that are clearly intended to be artistic and by dong so open themselves up to more critical examination. It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally I will know that a film is sub-par on an analytical level and still find myself entertained by it. It bugs me because generally I won’t have any proper defense for the film on technical or artistic grounds.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 16, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions  

Can you blow me where the Pampers is?

That movie was awesome!

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 16, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hot Rod is awesome.

Freddie Got Fingered is actually on my list as well.

I like a lot of Adam Sandler and Adam Sandler-related movies. I just watched Grandma’s Boy for the fourth or fifth time.

by Teej on Sep 16, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

I can't stand Adam Sandler flicks

and I mostly feel the same way about Will Ferrell, but “Stranger than Fiction” was Ferrell’s redeeming film.

Was “50 first dates” good enough to redeem Sandler?

Batted .393/.614/.464 for 2009 Diablos, #5 in OBP for PSSBL Rocky Division.

by Two Rs and Two Ls on Sep 16, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

I couldn't get past how annoying Drew Barrymore is in that movie

but Funny People does a great job with Sandler.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

I liked Funny People for the first hour and a half or so, and Sandler was great for that.

But the last hour just dragged for me and the payoff was okay but it wasn’t good enough.

Batted .393/.614/.464 for 2009 Diablos, #5 in OBP for PSSBL Rocky Division.

by Two Rs and Two Ls on Sep 16, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

I liked the soundtrack to 50 First Dates

And Sean Astin was hilarious.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 16, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm not ashamed for enjoying Hot Rod.

Hot Rod is the greatest comedy the last 10 years.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 17, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

He's a genius compared with his commenters. Jesus.
Mauer doesn’t count.Injured, missed too many games, non-playoff team!
i agree mauer doesn’t deserve it but jeter doesnt either tex deserves where is he on this list?
I take nothing away from Joe Mauer, he is a great talent. However, he does not bring the intensity and will to win every day that these guys do.
If they can lose with [Mauer], they can lose without him.
first of all, MVP doesn’t mean who has the best hitting average…..Mauer…does have that….MVP should help the TEAM in many categories, not just 1 like Mauer

OK, my brain hurts. Why do I do this?

by Teej on Sep 16, 2009 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

So Muse's new album....

I wouldn’t call it terrible but it’s definitely strange and not as good as any of their past offerings.

by Mariner John on Sep 16, 2009 1:02 PM PDT reply actions  

It bored me

Which is something Muse have never done before.

Exogenesis really redeemed the album for me. Like Graham said, I’m sure it’ll grow on me but they’ve gone the way I hoped they wouldn’t after Black Holes.

Fuck Anaheim.

by Eyeball Kid on Sep 16, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

For Wenger, opportunity does not equal likelihood

as much as I love Wenger and what he’s done at Arsenal and for football in England, his complete and utter refusal to even consider buying more than one player a year is really getting tedious. I don’t want him to go the Man City route and just buy buy buy, but the fact that he doesn’t even consider spending even a little bit is frustrating.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions  

Huh.

Everything’s fine for me.

Fuck Anaheim.

by Eyeball Kid on Sep 16, 2009 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

That's very strange.

Are you using the latest Firefox/Adblock/Flashblock? I have no problem with ads at all with those three things…

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

Less intrusive than some of the other stuff, but still annoying, this is what the nav bar up top looks like at the moment:

Everything is updated and I’m fairly certain it’s not a virus or the like because LL is the only site where things like this happen and my AVG scans are clean.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 16, 2009 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Right-click on the F one at the top left and say "allow Flash from this site", F5, and see what happens

(if that doesn’t clear it up you can go into Flashblock and re-add LL to the flash blocklist).

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 16, 2009 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions  

PayPal question

if I remember correctly, you can cancel a payment through PayPal if it’s done through a credit card in a certain amount of time. Is this still true? I’m trying to sell a laptop via craigslist and trying to avoid being scammed (ugh).

by seattlebruin on Sep 16, 2009 2:23 PM PDT reply actions  

Craigslist = CASH ONLY

CASH ONLY CASH ONLY. You know this.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Sep 16, 2009 4:28 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

Why would you be using Paypal?

Sounds like you’re falling for the most basic CL scam out there. Never ship anything, always meet in person and get CASH.

Boo, SB. I expected better from you.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Sep 16, 2009 4:29 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

To echo Eyebrows

if you’re using Craigslist, you need to make exchanges in person and for cash.

by BrianL on Sep 16, 2009 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

Last year, after becoming the first person ever to strike out 200 times in a season(and finishing with 205),

Mark Reynolds has became the 2nd first ever to strike out 200 times in a season.

Awesome.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Sep 16, 2009 5:25 PM PDT reply actions  

For the Pearl jam fans out there

The new record shipped today and it is pretty darned good

by Poochie on Sep 16, 2009 7:51 PM PDT reply actions  

They were giving away vinyl copies via Twitter, but you had to be in the store

Apparently there were only about 20 stores involved. I didn’t get all the details of how it worked or if they’ll do something like this again.

by Kermit. on Sep 16, 2009 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm only about 2.5 songs in.

But quite excited based on the reviews I’ve seen.

by Teej on Sep 17, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't actually like Raekwon that much

but will probably get the album for the production and general Wu camraderie.

by waldo rojas on Sep 17, 2009 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions  

I consider him to be about average on the Wu Spectrum.

Ghostface is on nearly half the tracks (as with the first Cuban Linx album*), and Method Man and Inspectah Deck are on a few, too. The production list looks good, too.

*Jesus, it’s been 14 years.

by Teej on Sep 17, 2009 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions  

SOCCER GIF

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Sep 17, 2009 9:45 AM PDT via mobile reply actions   4 recs

Not quite as important as the one Anelka missed

Besides, I don’t capitalise Offensive Holding, now do I?

by Graham MacAree on Sep 17, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions  

Is that guy wearing only his underwear on stage?

By the way, I see your Sweaty Nipples, and raise you Fudge Tunnel.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 18, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

I see your Fudge Tunnel

And raise you Anal Solvent.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 18, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

Heh.

Ahem…

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 18, 2009 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

Haha!

And also this.

Bless the mid-90s Portland art rock scene.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 18, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions  

I remember that, that was awesome

and the fact that it was Steven Gerrard he did it to was even better.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 17, 2009 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

Turns out not every Philly sports fan is a douche

Be honest. You expected this guy to throw his daughter after the ball or feed her to the Phanatic one piece at a time or something, because you’ve heard all about how obnoxious Philadelphia sports fans can be, didn’t you?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 17, 2009 10:03 AM PDT reply actions  

But yes, I did expect something dickish.

Good on him. The story’s better than any baseball. It’s better than telling your grandkids you once caught a foul ball off the bat of a pretty good player who most people didn’t really know much about but Fangraphs liked him.

by Teej on Sep 17, 2009 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't get why

Why is it so great(?) that this little girl threw a ball off the third deck upon receiving it?

by Graham MacAree on Sep 17, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

I think the point is that it is nice to see he didn't freak out on his kid.

Sort of the whole you should never reprimand someone for doing something that they did not know was wrong. Or am I missing it?

by Sec 108 on Sep 17, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions  

That's what I took from it, yeah.

Especially considering the guy’s been going to games since he was three and has never caught a foul ball before, it would not have been at all surprising – although it would have been pretty messed up – if he wigged out on his kid. For a (presumably) hardcore sports fan he displayed a pretty good dose of “I’m normal” right there and that’s kind of refreshing.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 17, 2009 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions  

Don't you use such moments as an opportunity to teach though rather

than jumping straight to discipline? If you yell at a child for doing something and they did not know it was incorrect behavior you will create fear which will lead to an unwillingness to do new things. Such inactivity leads to becoming just another part of the masses that never think for themselves because they hate being told they are wrong.

by Sec 108 on Sep 17, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

I guess reprimand is too strong a word.

But a lot of the time it’s a “Oh you didn’t know, sweetie, it’s okay” without any sort of teaching taking place.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 17, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Well then I totally agree.

Failing to teach when the opportunity is there is the biggest mistake most parents make.

by Sec 108 on Sep 17, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions  

That said, I was pretty amazed when I saw a local TV station give the story more than 2 minutes.

That’s a lot of time. It would be a harmless little bright at the end of a newscast, but they treated it like breaking news, and it cracked me up. It’s Philadelphia! Isn’t there some news?

by Teej on Sep 17, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

There's only so many crack house busts the local news can cover.

In a somewhat-media-related tangent, at the gym yesterday one of the TV’s over the treadmills was showing ESPN, so I was kinda half-watching and half-running-and-sweating. This big “BREAKING NEWS” bumper showed up on the screen, followed by nearly two minutes’ coverage of…the fact that Donovan McNabb was at practice, watching. Not participating, just STANDING THERE WATCHING.

Analysis of what that meant followed. And then more semi-breathless coverage of him doing the sporting equivalent of standing at the office water cooler shooting the shit with his coworkers. WHY BOTHER? He was at practice. Big damn deal. Did he knife someone? Did he show up drunk and puke all over his coach? Did he boldly predict that the Eagles would win the Super Bowl? Nope, he just stood there and watched people run drills. Apparently this is BREAKING NEWS.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 17, 2009 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't even think twice when I see it anymore.

And during big events like 9/11 or Katrina, they just leave it on the screen for a week. It becomes ingrained in the viewer’s eye.

by Teej on Sep 17, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

BREAKING NEWS - BRETT FAVRE GOES TO THE BATHROOM

Sources state it was a dark #1, fueling speculation that he is dehydrated.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 17, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions  

Well,

he was going to go to the bathroom. Then he decided not to. Then, a while later, he thought he should again. And then he realized he didn’t want to. After that he got the urge again, so that’s why he did what he did when he did.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 17, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

Turns out PT Barnum was right.

There’s a sucker born every minute. Just ask the Geek Squad.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 17, 2009 12:31 PM PDT reply actions  

In my youth (not so long ago, I guess)

I would turn people’s tapes into CDs for 2$ each. It made me some good money for not that much work while I was doing something else.

Why Best Buy would be getting into something like it is beyond me, though. Can’t kids have any summer jobs anymore?

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 17, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

But the motivation is similar.

I paid a kid in my complex to go through my boxes of books in my garage and sort and label them.
The fact that it was possible for him to do something that would give him some extra spending cash was something that he hadn’t really thought about doing before. This has to be a new thing, right?

When I was a kid (jesus now I know I’m getting old when I use that phrase), there was another couple of kids down the street that would weed yards or mow lawns in competition with me over summers. Now, you can’t even find one to shovel out your car when you don’t feel like doing it yourself.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 17, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions  

My knees agree with me, at least.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 17, 2009 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

Working on Geek Squad would depress me too much

since I would know how much Best Buy is getting paid for doing completely menial tasks

by seattlebruin on Sep 17, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

I remember going over to my father in laws house and he asked me to look at his tv.

I went behind and saw everything just completely wrong. And asked him who did hooked it up. His answer….

Geek Squad.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 17, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

I have a "Geek Squad optimized" laptop that cost $50 extra than the regular model.

I only bought it because it was a doorbuster sale and the laptop was already $100+ off and they didn’t have the non-Geek Squad models left.

They did some stuff to it that I wouldn’t have been able to do myself (registry tweaks and the like) but mainly they just uninstalled the bloatware, which saved me an hour or two. I can’t imagine how boring that job would be.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 17, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions  

If I've learned anything from TV*

it’s that the reason that Geek Squad people are so bad at Geek Squadding is because they’re all secretly government agents, which is anything but boring I would think.

*it could be argued that I have not learned anything from TV

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 17, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

I am sure the rest of you must be as alarmed as I am....

Erik Bedard, in a shot of the dugout the other day, appears to have…. gulp… shaved his head. Now, I know the man was balding, but this is unacceptable.

by royalcurve on Sep 17, 2009 2:32 PM PDT reply actions  

Hey! I'm right here, hello I can read these comments.

Maybe you can interrupt your non-stop Bedard lust and think about other peoples self esteem for just a teensy weensy second.

by Kermit. on Sep 17, 2009 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Speaking of shaved heads

Batista has left the Krusty the Clown look behind…

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 17, 2009 10:23 PM PDT reply actions  

Best thing KJR does every year -- their charity fundraiser auction.

this year it supports the Central Area Youth Association, NW Literacy Foundation & Food Lifeline, and has some swell Mariner-related items, including :

SPEND AN EVENING TALKING BASEBALL WITH M’S GM JACK ZDURIENCIK

SPEND THE DAY FISHING AND TALKING BASEBALL WITH M’S MANAGER DON WAKAMATSU

WATCH a game (for 4) in the Owners Suite with Howard Lincoln

and a bunch of autographed stuff

by msb on Sep 18, 2009 7:50 AM PDT reply actions  

I know.

I bet if I went fishing with Don he wouldn’t make me clean all the fish and carry the poles & tackle, the way my brother did.

by msb on Sep 18, 2009 8:01 AM PDT up reply actions  

There's some pretty cool stuff up for auction

Is it bad that I don’t know who Tracy Taylor is?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions  

Nah-- perky morning traffic gal

I gather there will be more “little stuff” up for silent auction when they set up shop at Anthony’s mid-day …

by msb on Sep 18, 2009 8:16 AM PDT up reply actions  

So here's a question;

how many listens (all the way through) is it fair to give an album by a band that you would consider to be one of your favorites before openly declaring that you do not like it all that much?

I got the newest Big Business album about a month ago. I think I’ve listened to it in its entirety five or six times now and while some songs have definitely grown on me, I’m still not really feeling it. It’s not bad, per se, and there are a few moments of brilliance, but I don’t like it nearly as much as there first two. I really want to like it, and I do like parts of it a great deal, but when people ask me what I think I still say “I’m not really sure yet.” How long should I wait until I give up listening to the songs I’m not into and skip around to the songs I like?

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 18, 2009 8:15 AM PDT reply actions  

I usually give a new album about five listens all the way through myself.

But the other thing to do at this point is put it aside for a week or two, then come back to it. The more you listen to it now the more you’ll focus on what you don’t like instead of enjoying what you do like – if you revisit it in a couple weeks you might find that the rough edges have smoothed out a bit.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

I agree with this

I tend to listen to an album a couple weeks after I first listen to it just to see:
a) if any of the songs get stuck in my head
b) How the music sounds now that I’ve got some sort of impression of it

by Dewey N on Sep 18, 2009 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

The first half of the album caught my ear instantly

The thing that guts what would otherwise be a classic album is that Force of Nature is a pretty vanilla penultimate song, so nearly all the excitement on the album is in the first 15 minutes of the record, and rarely is that energy captured on the second side. At least it doesn’t have any flat out awful songs like Inside Job, Army Reserve, or Marker in the Sand.

by Poochie on Sep 18, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

Bad writing is awesome

Especially when it’s this guy’s writing. I’ve never read any of his stuff, but now I think I might just because it looks so spectacularly awful.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 8:57 AM PDT reply actions  

I'm hoping that'll be the next thing in the pipeline

because that’d make an awesome Tom Hanks movie.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

I get why people do not like Dan Brown, but I am officially bored with the nitpicking of his work.

It is not his fault people believe his works of fiction. It is his fault he writes with an incredibly simplistic style, but just as I have defended many simple sell out artists and bands over the years I will defend him too. He is actually making money in a field of work where it is incredibly difficult to make a living so good for him. If people did not enjoy it then it wouldn’t sell.

by Sec 108 on Sep 18, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions  

To be honest I've never really seen much nitpicking of his work

it’s not a genre that I’m particularly interested in so I generally avoid it entirely, this is probably the first exposure I’ve ever had to his stuff and it made me laugh. I wish I could write something that millions of people would buy.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'm in this boat.

I’ve never read anything of Brown’s, but I had heard some chatter about his cringe-inducing writing. Read the Guardian piece was my first real exposure to it, so I got a good laugh out of it.

by Teej on Sep 18, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions  

It isn't an LL specific gripe for me.

I hear him getting bashed by most of my friends and for various reasons. I read two of his books mostly because people were asking me about his work since they knew I had a degree in western religions. They are written at the same intelligence level as Harry Potter or Twilight, so I guess I have never understood why people accept those books for what they are but not his. They are fluff mystery stories.

by Sec 108 on Sep 18, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions  

I think one difference is Harry Potter and Twilight are written for a younger audience.

That’s not to say that adults don’t read those books — they obviously do — but Brown’s work doesn’t seem aimed at children, which makes it more open to criticism for elementary-level writing.

by Teej on Sep 18, 2009 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions  

For me

and again, I’ve never read any of his stuff, but it seems to have tapped a vein of conspiracy-theory thinking that already existed in the world; it’s like people read his books and said “SEE I TOLD YOU THE ILLUMINATI WAS REAL IT SAYS SO RIGHT HERE” when the books are quite clearly fiction. And I hold his fans responsible for that, not him.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

I think the reaction stems from the fact that people take the shit he writes about seriously.

I don’t have a problem with drawing upon conspiracy theories for inspiration, but because of the fact that his books are bad and people have bought into them as being something more than fluff mystery stories (and people have,) there’s been a major backlash.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 18, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions  

Like I said, I get the backlash from both sides of the aisle.

You just won’t see me ripping on him for making it into a profitable venture.

by Sec 108 on Sep 18, 2009 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions  

To answer the essential point, Twilight and HP are true fantasy stories

no one really believes that Forks is populated with animal-eating vampires who SPARKLE! in the sun, or that the world is filled with wizards and witches bound to secrecy by their own moral code.

However, a story like Brown’s where you have so many real-world locales and events could easily be misconstrued as partially non-fiction – especially given the lack of knowledge and mystery to the general public surrounding groups like the Knights Templar and the Freemasons.

by seattlebruin on Sep 18, 2009 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

I can deal with Brown's prose

It’s generally pointless and simplistic but it keeps your eyes moving. When dialogue happens, though… ugh.

by Graham MacAree on Sep 21, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

I was actually 75% serious.

I would love it if he wrote that book. I got nothin’ against the guy, really; he writes crap, but like you said, he writes crap people want to read so good for him.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 18, 2009 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions  

Reminds me of the Colbert Report.

“So we’ve clarified the monkey rule. It take 1000 monkeys 1000 years to write a Hemingway, 10000 monkeys 10000 years to write a Shakespeare, and 3 monkeys Columbus Day weekend to write a Dan Brown.”

50!

by joof on Sep 18, 2009 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

Who watched Archer last night?

After Its always sunny?

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 18, 2009 9:29 AM PDT reply actions  

I watched the first five minutes or so, and hated it.

Then again, I didn’t enjoy the Philadelphia premier that much.

What the fuck was up with Dee? Her character has gone completely over the top now.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 18, 2009 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions  

How so?

To me she just appeared to be faking friendliness to get all that baby money.

by Teej on Sep 18, 2009 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions  

Same here.

Only difference is she had a independent storyline.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 18, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions  

Dunno, I just got the sense that she was acting too much like Dennis and Mac.

It seems out of line with the way her character has been in the past.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 18, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions  

She seemed the same for me.

But my dog was sick last night and I wasn’t really paying attention.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 18, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions  

I agree, actually. Every main character has continued to get more extreme as the seasons have gone on.

Dee used to be the sensible one that could get talked into bad ideas, and she was completely over the top and almost maniacal. I like the way Charlie has evolved (watch the pilot episode again), and Mac and Dennis have kept it somewhat reasonable.

by abender20 on Sep 18, 2009 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions  

Well the first season isn't a good gauge for Dee's character.

Cause they even admitted they had no idea how to include her at that point.

I’m just going with they struggle with Season openers. Like ManHunters last year.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 18, 2009 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions  

Exactly.

She’s always been a psycho. This was just the first time she was by herself so it came out more.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 18, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

They're all physco's.

The best part of the show is how they just go out and completely ruin people’s lives. The shit they’ve done to
Cricket is some of the funniest stuff I’ve seen on tv in a while.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Sep 18, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yeah. It was a good episode, but nowhere near their best.

I wanted to see more of what happened with the dueling lawyers thing.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Sep 18, 2009 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions  

I need help figuring out what to do tonight.

It’s Music Fest Northwest tonight, again, and after recovering from Wednesday night’s WIll Sheff show – and by “recovering” I mean “going to bed goddamn early Thursday night because I’m too old to be out until 1.30AM on a weeknight GOD I HATE GETTING OLD – I’m ready to hit ”http://www.wweek.com/editorial/2009/09/16/friday-listings/" target="new">a show or two tonight. I’m starting with the Early Bird Special, going to try to get into the free Arctic Monkeys show at 7, but after that should I go to:

Bad Brains – never seen them, always wanted to, was all set to see them but a couple friends whose opinions I trust have said that they’re really hit-and-miss
The Zeros/Mudhoney – Never seen the Zeros. Mudhoney are one of my favorite live bands of all time but I’ve seen them eleventy billion times. Has the advantage of being at one venue so no busting my ass walking to a different club.
Japanther – always been curious but might be too hipsterish for my tastes
The Shaky Hands – the review had me until “first two Kings Of Leon albums”. But still, sounds interesting.
Monotonix – heard legendary things about their live show but never seen them

On a normal night, Bad Brains would be a slam dunk but there are so many other good shows I don’t quite know if I want to take the chance that I see an off night for Bad Brains and miss something else good.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 10:12 AM PDT reply actions  

Go see Monotonix.

Do not see Japanther. I saw them at Total Fest and they were awful. To recap:

Supposed to start at 1:00 AM since last call is at 1:30 and everyone has to be out of the venue by 2:00. Missoula is a fairly mellow town, but this is one of those things the cops there are pretty damned anal about. The stage is ready and sound check is done by 12:45. They yammer on and on and on about how awesome making their own juice is for about 20 minutes. Then they talk about how they are from New York City for ten minutes. They now have fifteen minutes of their scheduled set left and forty-five minutes at the very most. They play two songs. They’re okay; the crowd is really into it because they’re fun and dance-y. Then their tape player breaks. They’re a two piece and they use their tape player pretty extensively, to good effect, so naturally they are a bit perturbed; however, despite being a fairly well known band, signed to Vice Records, touring constantly and having pretty much all of Williamsburg slobbering all over their proverbial knob at any given time, they do not have a backup tape player. At all. For Japanther, this is kind of like going on tour without backup guitar strings or an extra set of amp tubes.

They dick around with the tape player for ten minutes or so, despite the fact that it’s obviously busted. It is now 1:45. They half-ass their way through another song. Between songs, the sound guy tells them through the monitors that they’ve got, at most, three songs left. The singer guy just rips into him, telling him he isn’t allowed to speak while they are playing, they will play for as long as they want, who the fuck does he think he is, etc. For anyone that has never been in a band, the only people that talk that way (publicly) to sound engineers are total fucking douchebags. I left.

Seriously, fuck that band. I cannot believe how overrated they are. Again, go see Monotonix. Not even a question in my mind.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 18, 2009 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

Somehow I'm not surprised

from the things I’ve read about Japanther your account sounds like what I would have expected from Williamsburg’s Next Hot Shit Thing. And that would really piss me off if I went to see it. Thanks for the tip and sorry you had to deal with that.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions  

I was more bummed for the people in Missoula.

Apparently their show at last year’s Total Fest was fucking epic, so people were really, really excited for them. Missoula gets decent touring bands, but never bands as big as Japanther, except for Total Fest. They were given the headlining slot, the room was absolutely packed, and then…that. Just totally a dick move.

As a caveat, I have heard that when they are on their game they are flat-out incredible, but their performance, lack of any semblance of professionalism and just absolutely piss-poor attitude was such a turn-off that I don’t even want to see them when they’re good, because I want to remember them as being total dicks.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 18, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

I just watched this!

Hilarious!

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 18, 2009 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions  

I only got some of those

(I don’t play video games), but the ones I got were funny.

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 18, 2009 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

Anyone else here going to the Great American Beer Fest Next week?

Racer X. You have to love those amarillo hops.

p.s. fuck you angels

by InSpokane on Sep 18, 2009 11:59 AM PDT reply actions  

That's kind of funny.

Racer X. You have to love those amarillo hops.

p.s. fuck you angels

by InSpokane on Sep 18, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

There's a sausage fest in Verboort in November, you know

Nothing better than standing around in a field under a tent horking down homemade sausage. And waiting for the shuttle to the beer garden.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions  

Good news!

Pedro updated Mariners Revolution!

Questions come into play now that a collective review of Zduriencik’s player acquisitions can be further studied. For example, Ronny Cedeno and Garrett Olson were lousy for the Mariners. Jason Vargas, Endy Chavez, Jack Wilson, Bill Hall, Ryan Langerhans, Lucas French, Ian Snell, and Josh Wilson, were poor talent acquisitions.

How long can Branyan, Gutierrez, and Aardsma, keep a GM out of the hot seat if Zduriencik has another third place finish in 2010?

by BrianL on Sep 18, 2009 1:43 PM PDT reply actions  

Josh Wilson, Langerhans, Hall?

Weren’t they basically free?

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 18, 2009 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions  

Whee!

Here lies the problem with Zduriencik’s philosophy on roster building. In order to replicate landing a Fielder and Braun a team must have outstanding success in the June drafts. This is much harder than most fans think. Especially in light of the disaster of a draft that occurred back in June by the club.

This is the most awesome blog entry I’ve read all week.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

And this one from Part I of that series

Zduriencik has saved the wealthy ownership group money, no doubt about it. More importantly, fans need to understand saving ownership money does not equate to on-the-field success (as the typical saberhead believes). The reality remains GM’s are hired to win games, not to become All-Star accountants.

I haven’t laughed this hard in a while. Thanks, Pedro.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

This is awesome

from Pedro’s blog’s About page:
=
¡Bienvenido!

I started analyzing the Seattle Mariners back in 2004 creating the blog "Mariners Revolution." I warned fans Bill Bavasi was an incompetent General Manager who would destroy the Seattle Mariners franchise by mortgaging the farm system. Fans, media, and local blogs, became apologists for what became one the worst reigns of terror by a general manager in M’s history.

I believe Sabermetrics are flawed tools that should not be used for the majority of player evaluations. Furthermore, I have decided to return for 2009 and add my voice from a scouting perspective among a sabermetrics elitist community that has taken over control of the Seattle news media and blogosphere.

Enjoy!
=
So Bavasi ruined the M’s by decimating the farm, but Z is ruining the M’s by not signing expensive aging veterans?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

Good point

Also, the tinfoil hats easily prevent saberheads asserting control. Just a friendly FYIY.

by Kermit. on Sep 18, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

I would say that nobody was really a Bavasi apologist

My other question is

I believe Sabermetrics are flawed tools that should not be used for the majority of player evaluations.

In what small minority of players are sabermetrics acceptable to be used to evaluate a player?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

I could love him about three times.

zing!
Thanks, I’ll be here all night. Tip your waitress!

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 18, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

From the comments section on Neyer's blog:
Sabermagicians are the fellows who tell you to believe their numbers rather than your own eyes. Fellows like them said the World Trade Center could not be knocked down by planes. When the Towers fell they said their methods were correct only their assumptions were wrong. I will have no complaint if Mauer wins the MVP. However, how do these Sabermagicians factor in the difficulty of playing on the New York stage vs. homey hospitable Minnesota? How do they differentiate between players on winning teams vs. players on teams that do not make the playoffs? It is an MVP contest, not best player. These sabermetrics guys will soon make a mathematical model of sex and tell you they are the best judge of whether or not you have had a good time.

At least he didn’t say that the mathematical model of sex would be conceived in a sabermagician’s mom’s basement.

by justcougit on Sep 18, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

So wait a minute here.

If I’m reading this right, is that commenter saying that Bill James is responsible for 9/11?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 18, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

It's best not to look.

The last bit from Posnanski about writers having held sway over public opinion for so long. Not a fan of that bit, there have always been a few smart writers out there and people that have had a good grasp of the game. The tools to define it just didn’t exist.

There will always be people that just don’t understand the game. They don’t understand the old fashioned cliches and how and why some of them make sense, and they won’t understand sabermetrics and how the information is being organized and presented in logical and coherent fashion. They won’t like sabermetrics because they won’t take the time or are completely unable to grasp the concepts. You don’t have to be able to create this shit, just understand what the numbers are telling you, that part is not overly complicated.

by Kermit. on Sep 18, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

This comment aside, I'm quite surprised by the level of civility in the comments on Neyer's story.

I guess Neyer tends to attract a different kind of reader than the front-page stories, but it’s still kind of shocking to see ESPN comments that don’t make my eyes bleed.

by Teej on Sep 18, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

Sabermagicians?

Watch me pull a WAR out of my hat!

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Sep 18, 2009 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

God the people there just don't know about any of the sabermetrics.

UZR does count for arm and range and errors….

We’re just not credible because we look at spreadsheets not games evidently.

You got slurved!

by Slurvey on Sep 18, 2009 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

It counts errors

that’s the ErrR component of the stat =)

by seattlebruin on Sep 19, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

The cool thing about Joe is he knows about FIP and things like that.

But he’s taking his time — he’s a newspaperman after all. I compare it to Baker somewhat: They both know that the + stats aren’t perfect, but with their audiences, they can’t just jump right into linear weights, so they try to ride that fence between being accurate and being accessible to a common fan. Introducing the idea of park, league and era adjustments, and you’ve got the ball at least rolling.

by Teej on Sep 18, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions  

And Poz has even gone so far as to enlist Tom Tango to help him create a common man's sabermetric stat.

I haven’t checked in on it much, but from what I understand it’s rooted in linear weights but in a more simple manner.

by Teej on Sep 18, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

My take on Pos is he's usinga his popularity and reach as a platform to educate.

And that he’s trying to keep the frogs from jumping out of the pot by slowly raising the temperature. Seriously, if he tries to do it all at once the very people he’s trying to reach will jump ship.

by Kermit. on Sep 18, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions  

If that's the case, I respect him even more.

I still get the feeling that he just hasn’t embraced the newest stuff yet (like FJM’s one day reprisal still banging exclusively on stuff like VORP). He’ll get there soon, I hope.

by abender20 on Sep 18, 2009 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions  

Perhaps he truly respects his audience. He doesn't preach, he's not condescending.

Sometimes he talks as if he’s on the side of his audience, “we’re in this together”. Something like that, this has been on my mind for a couple days and that’s the best I’ve got. I’ve only been reading him for a year now, but he’s good. Kind of like a modern day Will Rogers, or Ernie Pyle.

by Kermit. on Sep 20, 2009 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions  

I've perused his website for a few minutes, but other than that I don't know much.

I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed that my mother introduced me to Tucker Max.

by Teej on Sep 18, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yep.

I read a few of his stories back when he was still somewhat relevant purely because of the shock value but then they started to get boring because it was more of the same formula.

1.Get drunk/stoned/both

2.Pick up slut(s)/midget(s)/tranny(s)/ect.

3.Fuck said above

4.Puke/shit/escrete other bodily fluids

5.Degrade above figures

6.Optional:Fight somebody

7.Break multiple laws during above activites

8.Somehow not end up in jail and/or die.

9.Write story on website.

10.Profit!

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Sep 19, 2009 1:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

A book is to much.

Some of his stories are funny on a lazy Wednesday when you’ve reached the end of the internet.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 21, 2009 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions  

Heh.

Shannon: “What were you thinking as you came back to the dugout in the 9th, and your offense went out?”

Felix: “I can’t lose this game, c’mon guys c’mon guys c’mon guys”

by msb on Sep 18, 2009 11:06 PM PDT reply actions  

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YESYES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

by seattlebruin on Sep 19, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

Wow.

Angel Villalona main suspect in shooting death in the Dominican Republic

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 20, 2009 7:56 PM PDT reply actions  

Woa.

And I thought we had it bad when Triunfel broke his leg.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Sep 21, 2009 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions  

More from BA...

The next big thing out of Cuba, left-hander Aroldis Chapman, has established residency…. in Andorra.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Sep 21, 2009 12:13 PM PDT reply actions  

I guess it was convenient...

he supposedly defected in France, right?

by seattlebruin on Sep 21, 2009 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions  

He's gonna be a straight free agent?

Holy crap imagine the contract offers he’s going to get.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Sep 21, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

I was most surprised to find out that Damian Lewis was British.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507073/

Band of Brothers, Dreamcatcher, Life…pretty much flawless American accents.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Sep 21, 2009 12:59 PM PDT reply actions  

It depends whether you catch your hos in a net or with a dragging line.
Trolling is a method of fishing where one or more fishing lines, baited with lures or bait fish, are drawn through the water. This may be behind a moving boat, or by slowly winding the line in when fishing from a static position, or even sweeping the line from side-to-side, eg when fishing from a jetty. Trolling is used to catch pelagic fish such as salmon, mackerel and kingfish.

by abender20 on Sep 21, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

Hey SB and NOLA!

Forks, WA gets a travel writeup in the NYT

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/travel/27culture.html?pagewanted=1

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Sep 22, 2009 9:25 AM PDT via mobile reply actions  

Why is it in the "Cultured Traveler" section?

And why do the two correctional facilities never get a mention in the books?

by Kirsten Schlewitz on Sep 22, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions  

Twihards?

This saddens me more than anything else about that article.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 22, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

that ranks right up there

with ‘fashionista’ and ‘foodie’ on the list of words that make me want to seet thins on fire.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 22, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions  

I've always wanted to set the thins on fire.

It’s my own “Don’t you hate pants!?” issue.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 22, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

Wow.

has any one seen this?

Fan-made trailer to fulfil the dream of Nathan Fillion as the Green Lantern

by msb on Sep 22, 2009 9:43 AM PDT reply actions  

Futile question

I know the gmail keyboard shortcuts, and i use them all the time. I currently find myself unable to use the tab-enter keyboard shortcut to send an email; is there another keyboard-based ‘send’ command?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Sep 22, 2009 10:44 AM PDT reply actions  

On a somewhat related subject...

How do you search within a website or block of text on a MacBook using Safari or (preferably) Firefox?

by Decatur on Sep 24, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions  

Control F

Actually seems to work on Firefox.
Weird, I would have never tried that…

"Let this big fucker come in and walk the world here." - Dave Niehaus on JJ Putz

by section331 on Sep 26, 2009 12:42 AM PDT up reply actions  

HOLY GOD 12 MIL FOR MILLWOOD!!!!!!!?????

What the fuck were those people thinking?

Oh, wait, we have Silva still…

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 22, 2009 1:32 PM PDT reply actions  

PS

Link

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 22, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

By reading a game thread of your own volition you agree to accept all liability for any and all damage done to your delicate sensibilities.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Moar_bacon_small
Everything I Know About Jesus Montero

Recent FanPosts

Wbc_029_small
Friday Morning Music Thread
Small
OTDOD - Early February Edition
Agentejebaox3_small
A Statistical Analysis of Mariners' Fan Support
Small
Who will have a better season?
Claw_small
BA's Top 10 M's Prospects
Wbc_029_small
Friday Morning Music Thread
Small
Munenori Kawasaki Predictions!!!
Small
The Longevity and Future Success of Felix Hernandez.
Small
The present vs future conundrum

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Sexy People

Wbc_029_small Jeff Sullivan

Small Matthew