OT- St. Valentine's Day edition, 02-11-2011
by msb on Feb 11, 2011 8:16 PM PST
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So, they say that one of the 14 St Valentines was the first St. Valentine.
And then there is all sorts of stuff about the Romans and Lupercalia and mid-February.
Paper valentines began to be exchanged in the 5th century, with a real peak in popularity in the Victorian era.
Esther Howland is credited with the commercial American valentine industry, and the Greeting Card industry now hands out a Esther Howland Award for greeting card visionaries.
Personally, I have never really understood the allure of Valentine's day-- aside from the spike in the availability of cinnamon candy
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Halos Heaven: The gift that keeps on giving.
In keeping with the OT topic, there is an amazing V-Day thread on the front page.
I hope none of those fuckers ever gets laid again.
I really shouldn’t have been surprised but… ugh.
You! Cake or death?
That sounds close to how a Bond villain would spend a Valentine's Day.
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
Don't be silly
Cats don’t appreciate chocolate.
~Garrett Olson is my secret boyfriend~
by section331 on Feb 14, 2011 7:49 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
True, true.
They might like the velvet-covered resting chairs in the galleries, though
by msb on Feb 14, 2011 7:56 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Well that's terrifying.
Assuming they are able to reproduce.
by Mariner John on Feb 12, 2011 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
After skimming that thread I am never cursing again.
It sounds so terrible. Dumb and terrible.
My ex and I would go out the 13th and the 15th, instead of the 14th.
That way all of the nice restaurants were empty (since people were waiting until the 14th) and we’d have the place to ourselves to make it more romantic. There is nothing romantic about being in a crowded place with a million other people all trying to be romantic.
...and now I'm here
Three years ago we went out on Valentines Day to our favorite restaurant
and the place had crammed twice as many tables into the dining room as they normally have. It was unpleasant, and now we do the same thing, typically go out on the 15th.
This is what we're doing this year.
Going to dinner tonight in White Rock.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 13, 2011 9:56 AM PST up reply actions
We stay home and make ourselves a nice dinner.
Trying to go out is just too crazy.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Nice, nothing wrong with having a local
But if the name fits
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 12:25 PM PST up reply actions
Shit is always more fun with zombies.
GET OFF ME!!!
by the other side on Feb 14, 2011 1:45 PM PST up reply actions
Does it at least have a controversially functioning rifle resting above the bar?
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 1:55 PM PST up reply actions
It has a marionette of uncertain provenance hanging over the bar and no jukebox to speak of
although they do have satellite radio.
I'm sure there are people that look like Zombies, and act like Zombies
And marionettes are way creepier than hordes of zombies.
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 2:42 PM PST up reply actions
Ok, did anybody else's text size get tiny all of a sudden? Is this a new SBN or LL thing or did something wonky in my settings?
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
Huh. I don't remember doing that but it seems to have done the trick.
Thanks!
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
So is the yearly challenge something typically instigated by Robert?
Whoever has been doing it, I’m thinking about growing a beard until Bedard gets his first win. For several reasons this may be a lousy suggestion.
Beard until Bedard
2010 Safeco Field Record: 2-1 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 12-5
by Fin on Feb 12, 2011 1:40 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
's first pitch?
Sorry, don’t know what happened there.
2010 Safeco Field Record: 2-1 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 12-5
At first I was thinking half the denizens of LL can't even grow beards
But by the time Bedard gets a win that will likely no longer be true.
You could grow your hair out until then.
Alternatively, you could just put an increasingly large fake beard on every day, which would be way more in the spirit of the competition.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 13, 2011 11:42 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I've been growing the beard back for a couple of weeks anyways, so it works for me.
RIP Dave Neihaus.
He better be in the best shape of his life then
Since the itchy scratchy of a beard is not something I particularly enjoy
Valentine's Day is horribly timed relative to the college school year
The new semester begins in January, you meet a whole bunch of girls you haven’t seen before, and by Valentine’s Day you feel like you’ve talked enough to one or two to feel comfortable asking one out for a cup of coffee. Then you realize Valentine’s Day is next week, and you decide to postpone because you don’t want to look desperate, and then that becomes the beginning of an avalanche of excuses and cop-outs that leaves you single because you’re too chicken to do anything.
Determined, Jonesing Commentor
Best Simpsons episodes of the past ~7 seasons?
I was a Simpsons freak back in the day, but haven’t watched the new ones for quite a while. I’ve been on a bit of a binge lately, but I’ve found that randomly watching recent episodes is a recipe for boredom. However, occasionally there are still a few gems. Any suggestions?
I’ve enjoyed Eternal Moonshine of the Simpsons Mind and The Debarted, of the ones I’ve watched.
He's just...
Awful. The Eagle looked interesting until his face came on screen.
by Craptastic-J on Feb 13, 2011 8:02 AM PST up reply actions
I guess it is based on a Rosemary Sutcliff book
I can’t decide if it would be bad enough to be entertaining.
He's like a cardboard cutout crossed with a black hole
It’s not only that he is terrible in everything, he makes everyone and everything around him worse. Maybe we will get a directors cut of The Eagle where they just replace him with empty space, and dub over the empty spaces lines. I will wait and hope
by Craptastic-J on Feb 13, 2011 9:26 AM PST up reply actions
I take it you won't be seeing the 21 Jump Street movie then.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 13, 2011 9:28 AM PST up reply actions
Johnny Depp is to Channing Tatum
As Felix Hernandez is to Ian Snell
by Craptastic-J on Feb 13, 2011 11:03 AM PST up reply actions
sigh
So I won’t have cable this baseball season. I would pay for MLB.tv, but I live in the Portland area, so Mariners game would get blacked out.
I’m SOL this season, aren’t I?
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
SOL for what?
You can still pay for MLB.tv and use a proxy to get M’s games, if need be. Not that that would be legal, but still. It can be done.
I thought I would be back in Seattle for at least a year starting in March
But it looks like I may have to cut the stay short for Ranger School :(
by Fett42 on Feb 13, 2011 5:07 AM PST via mobile reply actions
@LarryLaRue First quote of camp from Eric Wedge, looking around an empty clubhouse filled with new names: "Well, it won't be boring."
Divish has a long introduction to Wedge in today’s TNT.
And apparently Jack Wilson is in the early running for the BSOHL award:
@LarryLaRue SS Jack Wilson lost 12 pounds, did a lot of weight work with his legs in the off-season in effort to keep his hamstrings strong. Can’t hurt.
He became intangible
Which means he’s now made up of 100% intangibles and should be able to land an MLB job for the rest of eternity.
by chrisisasavage on Feb 13, 2011 8:29 AM PST up reply actions
Dustin Ackley gains 10 pounds, hooray!
Jack Wilson loses 10 pounds, hooray!
A great day to stay away
from popular romantic destinations, and have some quiet dinner at home. Save the romantic getaway for a more quiet and cheaper weekend, and have a better time.
Ok, there is a lot of piddly ST info coming in, with the blogging and the tweeting, which is interesting to me, but not necessarily to all.
Worth a separate fanpost for the links and the quotes?
Back to the original topic...
For me, the best things about Valentines Day? Cinnamon hearts on birthday cupcakes a week before, and cheap valentines candy the week after.
Aww.
Betty Garrett has died— one of those actresses that was considered by Hollywood to be just not quite pretty enough, so she got put into the best friend/wacky sister/second lead roles. Early in her career her husband was black-listed, and her career pretty much died for a decade, when it should have been taking off…
Animator asks, "What if other planets orbitted at the same distance as the moon?"
Of course, if we were that close to Jupiter that would probably be very bad.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
The Bay of Fundy would be so screwed
by Matthew on Feb 13, 2011 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah I stopped breathing for a little while there.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 13, 2011 1:07 PM PST up reply actions
The shift in music didn't help. Great atmosphere.
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
LL Detective Time!
So my sister in law who is 17 and a senior in high school. Ran away yesterday with her apparently 20 year old boyfriend who may be from California. She left a letter, took her passport and most of her stuff. She has about $700 we think. She also said she would stay in contact and be back in a month. Her phone hasn’t logged any activity since Friday and her friends all have been told different stories.
How far do you think she could get in 2 days without a license and any type of funds other then cash?
Passport and $700 could get you a one-way ticket to a lot of places.
As much as I hate to say it, she could be just about anywhere now.
I've never left the country.
Do they automatically scan passports when entering a country and can the authorities be alerted since she is underage?
Yes and Yes
If she didn’t have a signed letter they would probably detain her.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 13, 2011 3:22 PM PST up reply actions
hmm.
“Arrivals at Mexican Airports – you will receive a Mexico Tourist Card and a Mexico Customs Declaration form to be filled out prior to arrival. All visitors, including infants and children, must be in possession of a Tourist Card. The Mexico Tourist Card should be kept with your ticket, as you’ll need it when checking in for your return flight.
Minors – In addition to possessing one of the forms of documentation mentioned above, an unaccompanied U.S. or Canadian citizen under 18 years of age must have the following:
- If traveling alone, the minor must carry a notarized letter signed by both parents giving permission to do so.
Ya
Basically if shes tries to go any where outside the US she’ll get picked up. Originally she told us the boyfriend was from Vancouver BC so that was my first thought. But apparently learned from her friend today that he might be from California.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 13, 2011 3:22 PM PST up reply actions
Do you know the boyfriend at all?
If you knew someone associated with the boyfriend, you could persuade them to give out info and you can try tracking him since I would assume he would be the most likely source of cash. Godspeed and may your hunt be fruitful.
You got slurved!
I know his name is Alex
Thats about it. She sprung him on us last weekend asking if she could stay at our house. Then showed up with him.
Pretty sure he is scared of me.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 8:48 AM PST up reply actions
Oh yeah $700 will last forever there.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 16, 2011 4:08 PM PST up reply actions
You could get a nice hooker for that much.
Or you could stretch it and get 20 ugly ones.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Luckily her Aunt Dee lives in Newark
So its kind of running away. But shes a pussy and is running away with a safety net.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 17, 2011 8:45 AM PST up reply actions
Because Newark is such a nice place to be.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
She told her dad
“That is a dream of yours not mine”
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 17, 2011 8:45 AM PST up reply actions
Heh
Just hormonal rage and first fuck syndrome.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 18, 2011 4:17 PM PST up reply actions
I'm going to Las Vegas for work next week, and was going to ask for suggestions on what to do
This old thread has plenty of good advice—I’m going to follow the advice on the bars especially. I’m also going to waste $10 at the Pinball Museum, which must be more fun than slots.
Any other recommendations? How about good places to eat? I’m looking for something in the ‘Witchcraft range (good but not ungodly expensive), rather than Robuchon’s place.
My favorite thing about Vegas. Was literally just walking around and seeing the differences of each casino.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 13, 2011 3:32 PM PST up reply actions
For Scruffy and Brian L.
More high speed camera goodness.
Other links listed below this link page. The one called stuff being destroyed has an amazing picture of a hand doing a karate chop through a cinder block.
That was really awesome.
Is that the light at the end of the tunnel, or the headlights of an oncoming train?
I love this part of his blog post about it.
We also set up a private room in a closed section of the building to shoot at ridiculous frame rates, like 2,564 in glorious 1080p. I had a VER rented ARRI light kit with four 1k lamps. John Parris and I set up all four lamps and spot-pointed them at a central location on a private Ping Pong table
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 8:55 AM PST up reply actions
Sigh....every day makes it look more and more like the NFL will be locked out next year.
Fall-Winter 2011 is going to suck.
Yay hockey becoming mainstream!
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
Hockey is doing relatively well at this point
they’re a niche sport and are in decent financial shape now that they’re not (spending) like one of the big three.
Thats just what soccer needs.
A bunch of angry blood thirsty football fans looking for something to fill their time. Finding soccer, realizing what they’re watching and calling all the soccer players a “Baggot”
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 9:02 AM PST up reply actions
It's college football time! Score!
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 13, 2011 5:49 PM PST up reply actions
Can I have your recs?
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 13, 2011 7:01 PM PST up reply actions
They go to me out of love and admiration!
I want a man with slow hands. I want a lover with an easy touch.
If by suck you mean be awesome that is entirely correct
now all we need is for the NBA to do the same thing and it’ll be a great fall.
If baseball goes on strike I will detonate an atomic warhead next to Matt Hasselbeck's sleeping form.
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
[kevin_ess has spontaneously cumbusted]
I want a man with slow hands. I want a lover with an easy touch.
by kevin_ess on Feb 13, 2011 11:07 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Um, you're going to want "combusted" there.
If you’ve cumbusted, the ladies are going to be none too pleased.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 14, 2011 12:45 AM PST up reply actions
Either would be plausible.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 1:01 AM PST up reply actions
The NBA needs to go on strike until they realize what basketball looks like again.
I want a man with slow hands. I want a lover with an easy touch.
The NFL is terrible and deserves the consequence of their hubris
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 13, 2011 11:07 PM PST up reply actions
The old Robert would have recognized a specific weakness of his target.
Like perhaps the game that very well might have destroyed the confidence and/or future of said target’s favorite player.
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 13, 2011 11:19 PM PST up reply actions
And not even correct.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 1:02 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Helps white people feel better about themselves
by OlSalty on Feb 13, 2011 11:46 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Well I for one am a supporter of equal rights for our differently sexed brothers and sisters
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 13, 2011 11:50 PM PST up reply actions
Is there any actress out there that combines a level of attractiveness with a level of talentlessness (word?) like Jessica Biel?
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:17 AM PST up reply actions
I would consider Megan Fox the Jason Heyward to Jessica Biels Albert Pujols.
Fox could get up to that level, but its easy to forget she’s only made like 4 movies.
There’s just something about Biel’s complete inability to act that annoys the crap out of me.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:22 AM PST up reply actions
Also in this category: Kristin Stewart
The only expression she has is “angsty teenage ennui.” But she’s only made like 4 movies too.
Then again, she’s totally plain and not in the JEssica Biel/Megan Fox class of hotness.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
She's actually got a pretty long filmography for someone her age (remember Panic Room?)
but she hasn’t really changed in all that time, no.
It will be interesting to see where her career goes from here, when she’s 30, will she still be playing someone with all that angst?
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 10:04 AM PST up reply actions
She probably will, yes
I saw her on an Oprah interview once, and her real persona is exactly what her cinematic persona is. She hasn’t needed to “act” in any of her roles thus far, so I have little confidence that she actually has “acting” ability.
As long as she plays teenage angsty characters, she’ll be fine.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
It's easy to get typecasted when you are really good at being yourself on cue.
“We need someone with a lot of angst!”
“Okay, just call Kristin Stewarts agent.”
“Perfect!”
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 10:25 AM PST up reply actions
Scarlett Johannson.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 9:21 AM PST up reply actions
Cameron Diaz is a talentless schmuck whose career was founded on shaking her ass
Kirsten Dunst is paying the bills on her glassy-eyed “I’m about to cry” look.
Lindsay Lohan is just horrendous. In “I Know Who Killed Me” one of her fingers spontaneously rips off her hand, and she looks at it and says “Oh weird,” giving barely a smidge of indication that it hurt.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
Cameron Diaz gets a pass because of Being John Malkovich.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 10:05 AM PST up reply actions
Love that movie, but feel that Diaz is the worst part of it.
Something about her just bugs me, and it generally started with the ass-shaking.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
I agree, she is horrible. But compared to the rest, she at least has that 1 movie going for her, in my opinion.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
Actually, come to think of it, Mean Girls was pretty awesome.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 10:33 AM PST up reply actions
And Freaky Friday was moderately enjoyable.
Also, her first credit on IMDB is as “Trick-or-Treater Dressed as Garbage” on Letterman.
Nicolas Cage is one of my favorite actors
People who hate on him are just not educated in the art of film
Nicholas Cage once punched a women dressed as a bear.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 9:09 AM PST up reply actions
How she got in the bear costume, I don't know.
by ThomasG on Feb 14, 2011 9:33 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Thats right
He was the bear – She was the bystander.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 15, 2011 8:49 AM PST up reply actions
One of my greatest shames is that I somehow liked this when it came out.
I got my family to rent it years later and as we watched it I tried to sink into my chair, hoping I could disappear.
by Eyebrows on Feb 14, 2011 9:10 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Coach will be here all night, folks!
I want a man with slow hands. I want a lover with an easy touch.
Hyphens are the new-commas.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
Only if it's in adjective form should it be hyphenated:
Albert Pujols, already an all-time great hitter, is on the way to being one of the greatest players of all time.
... and copy editors.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 14, 2011 1:08 PM PST up reply actions
Citizen Kane
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 14, 2011 12:48 AM PST up reply actions
Look Who's Talking.
No seriously, not you – the fucking movie.
I want a man with slow hands. I want a lover with an easy touch.
I don't understand the profanity here
by Dewey N on Feb 14, 2011 2:45 AM PST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
I was making it look like I was saying...
Oh, nevermind.
I want a man with slow hands. I want a lover with an easy touch.
Thank christ somebody else feels the same about Oliver Stone as I do.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 7:46 AM PST up reply actions
I am incredibly conflicted about Oliver Stone
Platoon was a good film, and despite everything that’s wrong with it I still have a fondness for Wall Street, but otherwise he’s just kind of annoying. His films could all be very, very good, but they’re all just…not, for whatever reason.
Heh, I didn't even like Platoon.
I thought it was melodramatic, over the top bullshit.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 8:05 AM PST up reply actions
There have been better Vietnam films but Platoon wasn't terrible
at least not to me. But it has also been about 20 years since I’ve seen it so maybe if I saw it again I’d feel differently.
My favorite part about Stone and Platoon
Is that I’m pretty sure they were the inspiration for the director character and his Vietnam war film in True Romance. As it was written by Tarantino who had worked with Stone previously I’ve always assumed that was a not so subtle shot at Stone.
But they worked together on Natural Born Killers after True Romance.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 2:32 PM PST up reply actions
My understanding of it was that he had written Natural Born Killers but sold it
Then Stone picked it up and rewrote it, and Tarantino wanted his name off the project, and that all this happened long before production began. So despite release dates, True Romance had been written after Tarantino had his run in with Stone regarding NBK.
Sounds likely. Scripts get tossed around so often in Hollywood. I myself had never heard the story behind NBK coming together.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 2:57 PM PST up reply actions
It's all speculation on my part anyhow
But imagining that character as Tarantino taking an opportunity to skewer Oliver Stone gives it the extra layer that makes it a bit more interesting
While I think Stone can make a real shitty movie (Any Given Sunday) I just can't ignore the fact that he has a lot of movies that range from good to great.
Platoon, Wall Street, JFK, NBK, and U-Turn. Watchable but forgettable: W., World Trade Center, Nixon.
I might not ever call him truly Oscar-worthy, (Platoon is probably fair though. I admit I haven’t seen Hannah and Her Sisters, A Room with a View, or The Mission. He also beat out David Lynch for Blue Velvet.) but he makes entertaining movies and sometimes he makes a movie like Natural Born Killers, which I think is was a very important movie.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 8:47 AM PST up reply actions
I would have picked Room With A View over Platoon for Best Picture probably
but I did think Platoon was good.
In researching that comment I realized that this song won best song in 1986.
Funny that Platoon actually has the highest rated IMDB score from the Best Picture nominees that year with an 8.2
However, Aliens? 8.5 on IMDB and just goes to show that Oscar don’t know shit!
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:05 AM PST up reply actions
Aliens may be one of the best movies of all time
But I’m biased
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 2:48 PM PST up reply actions
#62 on IMDB top 250 says you are not alone.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 2:57 PM PST up reply actions
Point only being that a shitload of people have Aliens as one of their favorite movies of all-time.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:05 PM PST up reply actions
Ok, good, not crazy
I didn’t realize it would be that high, anywhere.
I think District 9 got the Aliens slot, if they had 10 nominees back then that is.
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 3:18 PM PST up reply actions
It's what societies do!
take a sophisticated concept that sounds cool, and mash all nuance out of it until it seems to fit all situations! Even when it doesn’t!
Does IMDB still have
Shawshank Redemption at #1 all time? It was up there for a number of years, and while a really good movie, kind of an odd pick for #1
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 3:20 PM PST up reply actions
People just love it.
Imdb is a “Favorites” list and not a “Best” list, of course. I’ve rarely heard the person that says they dont like Shawshank. Though funny enough, I don’t think it quites hold up over the years, but that could be since I’ve seen it so many times. Any time its on TNT, I’ll usually watch it.
The top 5 is
Shawshank
Godfather
Godfather 2
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Pulp Fiction
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:28 PM PST up reply actions
It's really good, I like it alot.
I’m just surprised to see it that high. Same goes for the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, really good and don’t debate how good it actually is, just surprised.
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 4:04 PM PST up reply actions
Oh, I would argue that The Good The Bad and the Ugly is deserving of a top 10 spot on any list.
Such an amazing film.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 4:06 PM PST up reply actions
Top 10. The love story between The Good and The Ugly was sometihng to behold.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 4:22 PM PST up reply actions
I was gonna say it probably has a better love story than most romantic comedies
He loved his gun, or his poncho
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 4:23 PM PST up reply actions
I went to the Alien / Aliens double feature at Central Cinema a few weeks back.
I’d never seen Aliens. I made it only 2/3 of the way through. We had to leave.
Tired or too gory, or something didn't click for you?
What’s the 2/3rds point, when Paul Reiser releases the facehuggers?
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 4:07 PM PST up reply actions
I was extremely tired, mostly.
Also a factor was that they had the sound on wayyyy too loud. I’m not a super big fan of things jumping out at people in movies, so I was stressed out most of the movie at where and when the Aliens were going to show up. I surprised myself by not liking it, because usually I like movies like that. Might have been an off day for me.
Fair enough, tiredness kills me in some movies too
Raging Bull I was super tired and didn’t feel strongly about it mostly because of that I think. I’ll try again some day when I’m in a better mood for it.
I generally don’t like cheap jumpout thrills either. I think I overlook that in Aliens because I’ve seen it so many times, I know its coming.
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 4:28 PM PST up reply actions
Ooh, I wanted to do this so badly, but the timing didn't work out.
I’m also interested in what went wrong with Aliens – but what did you think of Central Cinema? I’ve never been.
by Chris Hafner on Feb 14, 2011 4:09 PM PST up reply actions
I love it there.
Their food is hit or miss, sadly. The menu rocks, but the consistency is iffy. The service, on the other hand, is great. Super nice staff, great movies and events, always good times. I especially recommend going to any movie with a singalong.
Next time you want to go, hit me up. Lots of good things coming up – Evil Dead, Teen Witch, Last Starfighter…
Evil Dead!
When? We could have a LL field trip!
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 4:24 PM PST up reply actions
18th-21st.
My birthday is the 19th, so I’m unavailable til the 20th. If anyone wants to see Evil Dead Sunday at 7pm, I’m down for it.
Crazy, mine's on the 18th.
Unfortunately I don’t think I’m capable of getting off work on Sunday that early. Kind of a drag. Maybe I’ll drag my friends to it on Friday and it will be an outing.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 15, 2011 1:05 AM PST up reply actions
That sounds great, actually.
Man, a Johnny Cash singalong, Dr. Strangelove, Close Encounters of the Third Kind … this is fantastic. I’d be up for The Last Starfighter as well. There are way too many good options here to sift through.
by Chris Hafner on Feb 14, 2011 5:20 PM PST up reply actions
Oh man, Face/Off on the 9th!
Central Cinema, why have I not known of you?
It's the Hecklevision showing, which could be fantastic.
That could be tough for those of us who enjoy Face/Off in an unironic sense. Though I might be alone in that.
by Chris Hafner on Feb 15, 2011 3:04 PM PST up reply actions
You're not.
Though I find it weird that the switching faces isn’t the least believable part of the movie.
Oh, my - I would totally be into that.
I think I can provisionally say that I’m there.
by Chris Hafner on Feb 15, 2011 3:03 PM PST up reply actions
Might one get in trouble if one found oneself quoting the dialogue aloud?
(The last Starfighter is dead! Nothing can stop us now!)
That's another movie I've never seen.
I’ve only seen half of Alien, too, but I have seen all of the third one.
Man, you gotta rectify that shit.
Alien is one of the all time great horror movies. The pacing in that movie is pitch perfect.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 15, 2011 7:46 AM PST up reply actions
Totally agree.
I’m alone among my friends in preferring Alien to Aliens – Aliens is a great action film, but Alien is just so incredibly creepy.
by Chris Hafner on Feb 15, 2011 2:44 PM PST up reply actions
I love Aliens, but I prefer Alien, and it's not particularly close.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 15, 2011 3:02 PM PST up reply actions
Those were the days.
When Top Gun beats out a song from Karate Kid 2, An American Tail, and Little Shop of Horrors.
Also, nominated for best original screenplay: Crocodile Dundee.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:08 AM PST up reply actions
Hey!
Willy Beamen has the ladies screaming.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 9:11 AM PST up reply actions
Natural Born Killers may be one of the biggest pieces of shit in cinematic history.
by ThomasG on Feb 14, 2011 7:59 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Thank you.
The opening scene in the movie includes a newspaper featuring the headline “666 killed…”. There’s things like this spread across the whole film. I’ll never understand why Stone is so adverse to subtley, but it drives me up the wall.
Or you have JFK. Remember the scene when Kevin Costner is getting stressed out because he’s so close to bringing the supposed-truth to the world, but secret forces are trying to stop him? He rants about how people are saying he bribed and coerced witnesses, which the audience is supposed to be shocked by; Garrison would never do that! Turns out that was all true: Garrison did bribe and coerce witnesses while investigating the assassination of JFK. Leave it to Stone to dismiss facts that don’t match the story he’s trying to tell.
Then there’s the fact that whenver he tries to make a “message film”, the opposite message comes across. Scarface and Gecko became heroes to drug dealers and Wall Street, while Natural Born Killers resulted in copycat killings. Worst director ever.
Woah, now we are going to blame Oliver Stone for how people want to interpret his movies?
Like the Hughes brothers didn’t glorify living in the hood?
Oliver Stone also isn’t trying to make a documentary when he does a biopic or a true story. He’s making a movie.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 8:51 AM PST up reply actions
Yah, he's not so good at subtlety, which is also why his flaming bias shows through
I don’t trust message directors like him, because like you say, he doesn’t care when facts get in the way of his message. Besides Platoon, which I like less and less the more I see it, I haven’t liked any of his films
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 8:57 AM PST up reply actions
If he were making documentaries I would 100% agree with both you and katal
Should I not like Inglourious Basterds because it wasn’t historically correct? No. Dramatic films take dramatic license, always have always will. If you don’t like it, that’s fine, but don’t accuse a person who directs fictional films of distorting facts because, y’know, fiction.
The criticism you have of Oliver Stone fits perfectly when talking about Michael Moore, though.
It's like how I recently researched the "true story" behind the movie Unstoppable.
Let’s just say that the true story of Unstoppable might make for an interesting 60-second news story on a small town news station.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:10 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah. I enjoy Tony Scott movies and this one was okay.
They really made it seem like a big deal, but trying to find any of the “real” runaway train footage on Youtube wasn’t possible because it wasn’t a big deal. And that’s youtube, where you can find your nephew Billy’s 3rd grade recital with 450 hits.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:14 AM PST up reply actions
You are not incorrect.
But Oliver Stone isn’t just using dramatic license. The things he does are not done to make the story more interesting (Unstoppable), or some alternative history speculation for fun and revenge (Inglourious Basterds). Maybe I’m wrong in the feeling that he presents things in a documentary fashion and he is using his films to try and influence people and re-write history. But I guess he wouldn’t be the first person to use media to try and influence people with biased views, haha.
I’ll concede and just say that he isn’t very good in general
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 9:31 AM PST up reply actions
I just recently watched the two-part french movie Mesrine.
I highly recommend it because Vincent Cassel is the best thing to ever come out of France.
But it’s the story about French gangster Jacques Mesrine. The movie is fairly true to real life, but that being said, the director/producers still decided to preface each movie with a warning that parts of this are of course fictional.
Personally, I don’t think they have to do it. If people take everything in a biopic for face value, then they get the history lesson they deserve.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:35 AM PST up reply actions
I do like Vincent Cassel
Pretty damn good in Black Swan too. I would put Jean-Pierre Jeunet up next to him as great products of France.
But yah, point taken. I don’t give them enough credit to accept on faith that what they portray is true, maybe it just bothers me more when it’s deliberately done to advance a specific message. So basically, it’s totally subjective on my part. And I would take back all criticism in this regard of Oliver Stone if he does put that fictional caveat/preface in his more documentary-like films.
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 9:43 AM PST up reply actions
I even agree that Oliver Stone has a personal agenda. But for the most part, his objectors won't go see his movies.
And really he has a right to make fictional history as he sees it. And he’s SO obvious in his agenda, that people shouldn’t take it at face value.
Most of his work that I love isn’t even political. I just thought JFK was a good movie.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:46 AM PST up reply actions
My problem with Stone is that he's so blatant and heavy-handed with his style that it comes off as an insult to the viewer.
It’s as if he directs his films with the presumption that the average American filmgoer is too stupid to comprehend a movie unless they’re hit directly over the head with subtlety. In turn, what some people construe as bias is more the result of sloppy filmmaking than a Moore-like agenda.
He’s just not an engaging director – he doesn’t challenge the viewer and he rarely ever gets out of his own way. His movies are mindless thoughtpieces, for lack of a better term.
Well, like I said, I don't think he's the best director. I just don't think he's the worst.
Maybe he’s like the Michael Bay of political movies. But I think every now and then he turns in a good film.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:59 AM PST up reply actions
There's a lot of directors out there that earn the plaudits that are worse than stone.
Francis Ford Coppola anyone?
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 10:27 AM PST up reply actions
what what what
Godfathers 1 and 2
Tucker (go see it again, it’s a damn good movie)
Rumble Fish
The Outsiders
Sure, there’s a lot of crap on his resume, but Godfather 1 and 2 alone get him a pass as far as landing on a worst director list. Most disappointing? Maybe. But not worst.
No, no, no, not "Worst"
But making The Godfather movies seemed to put him on the level of Greatest Living Directors or Greatest of All-Time. It’s like the name Coppola emits the smell of newborn babies, flowers, and fresh-baked cookies on any movie he touches.
No, I don’t think so. Him and George Lucas don’t belong with the guys that have been doing it for 20+ years consistently.
Stephen Speilberg has made some crappy movies, but he works enough that he will give us Schindlers List and Munich and didn’t stop making great movies 20 years ago. Same with Scorsese.
But I’ll be honest pdb, I haven’t seen Tucker or Rumble Fish. I’ll give them a go.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 10:36 AM PST up reply actions
Tucker got shit on all the time but it's a very good film
Like Platoon, I haven’t seen Rumble Fish in probably 25 years, but I remember it being quite good.
I am, however, not sad that Coppola spends most of his time now making wine. He makes really good wine and apparently that’s where his passion lies now so that’s what he’ll probably focus on.
Spielberg is bad but, compared to Stone, he comes out a little bit ahead.
Coppola, other the other hand, I have to disagree with. Like pdb alluded to, his peak is much, much greater than Stone’s.
Yeah, a higher peak.
I forgot about The Conversation. But seriously, what happened after Dracula? That was almost 20 years ago. He made the movie Jack.
JACK!
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 10:58 AM PST up reply actions
Godfather 1 and 2 are amazing, and I remember liking Tucker
and then there is crap like “Youth without Youth”. Apocalypse Now is pretty over-rated.
George Lucas might be a good comp mentioned above/below. Did Coppola have help on the Godfathers, like Lucas’s Kasdan/Kershner? And when he was given free reign he pooped out Episode 1/Youth without Youth? Just curious
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 10:46 AM PST up reply actions
I would say that Apocalypse Now is probably my least favorite "good" movie
It’s often hailed as a classic but to me it’s just kind of a mess. Hearts of Darkness is great, though, so at least something good came out of it.
I'll take that
I recognize some good things in it and that it is considered a classic, it just didn’t work for me.
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 11:17 AM PST up reply actions
I would have to agree
I stil think they should have cast Kim Fowley as Kim Fowley, but even that wouldn’t have solved the problems of that movie.
Hey, that one was actually good.
And it was written by a Seattle native.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:17 AM PST up reply actions
First, last, and only good role
The problem with Drew Barrymore is she’s still trying to be the cutesy pixie 9 year old, and she’s way too old to pull it off.
Scream.
And that was the perfect role for her.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:27 AM PST up reply actions
If you actually don't know what happens in it, and if you refuse to see it because of Drew Barrymore, that's actually pretty hilarious.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:30 AM PST up reply actions
Not because you don't have a right to see a movie because of Drew Barrymore, but because of what happens in the movie.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:30 AM PST up reply actions
Which is hilarious because for awhile there she was slutting it up to get away from that image.
Then she went back to be cutesy pie again. Weird career arc.
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
Holy shit, I have the answer.
He’s Just Not That Into You.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:23 AM PST up reply actions
I haven't seen it, but it has Ginnifer Goodwin in it.
Her adorable-ness could probably cure cancer.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 9:26 AM PST up reply actions
I to love Ginner Goodwin. And it just goes to show how terrible this movie was.
But you don’t need to see it to see the writing on the wall:
Ben Affleck, Justin Long, Scarlett Johannsen, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Connolly.
I feel like I’m Johnny Carson and I just pulled a envelope from my head and read the inside: Who are the 6 actors that make me want to murder myself by spooning my brain out through my eye sockets?
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:29 AM PST up reply actions
BEER. FEST.
Every time I watch a bad movie I alwasy say to myself, ‘well, at least it was better than beerfest.’
That movie was god-awful
The ONLY thing it had going for it, was it showed boobies in the first 5 minutes.
Happy Singles Awareness Day!
It’s SAD for a reason.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
Whoa.
They think this reporter may have had a stroke during this newscast.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 8:10 AM PST reply actions
That's great news.
If you watch the video, you can see how terrified she looks when she realizes she can’t speak correctly.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:38 PM PST up reply actions
I was absolutely thinking "stroke"
The right side of her mouth even seems to be sorta slack, though I think that is just how she is
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:39 PM PST up reply actions
Blocked due to CBS copyright.
Glad she’s okay though.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Is it worse to be single on Valentine's day, or have your spouse be 1,000 miles away?
I’m dealing with the latter, and it’s pretty lame. Though I guess there are no expectations for planning a date night or buying gifts.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
Not having a date on Valentines Day or being with the one you love on Valentines Day, is like not honoring George Washington and Herbert Hoover on President's Day.
It doesn’t really matter.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
I have no inherent objection to Valentines Day
but it really irritates me that some people see it as some sort of litmus test for one’s personal happiness.
Is Goose still around? Has there been any talk about the LL Fantasy Baseball league starting up again?
I’m hungry for a repeat championship.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 10:57 AM PST reply actions
All you bitches gave me shit for Drafting pitchers with my first 3 picks.
And all it lead to was the regular season championship.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 11:29 AM PST up reply actions
I don't know if I'm gonna have time for it. As it was, I basically had to abandon it about 70% of the way into the season last year, which I still feel bad about.
I got alot of stuff going on over the next 5-6 months or so. I’m gonna try to fit it in, if I can’t,I will gladly pass it off to somebody who can continue the league. Either way, I’ll have a thread up at some point.
RIP Dave Neihaus.
If you have Showtime, you should be watching Shameless.
If you don’t have Showtime, I recommend watching Shameless as soon as its available to you.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 11:08 AM PST reply actions
Valentine's Day!
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 11:27 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Hey, maybe I can snake a rookie of the year LLemmie award by this screen name change.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:35 PM PST up reply actions
This is a name change?!
and here I was thinking that you and Eyeball Kid were going head to head for ROY!
by seattlebruin on Feb 14, 2011 2:40 PM PST up reply actions
Somebody doesn't have their avatars turned on.
Or read signatures.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:41 PM PST up reply actions
It's the lowest form of humor.
That’s why I excel at it.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:44 PM PST up reply actions
I excel at those as well.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 3:07 PM PST up reply actions
I was lead to believe it was puns.
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
by JAH on Feb 14, 2011 3:08 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Bad puns, maybe, but good puns are way above poop jokes.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 3:09 PM PST up reply actions
I would gladly watch videos of 4 year olds making clever puns.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:11 PM PST up reply actions
I was cute and 4 once.
I stopped being both at some point, but the puns never left.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 18, 2011 2:51 PM PST up reply actions
That was KataI with an uppercase i.
I’m Katal with an L.
Oh, didn't realize that
I guess you’re now eligible for Rookie of the Year
by seattlebruin on Feb 14, 2011 5:37 PM PST up reply actions
No kidding.
Talk about an invented holiday.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Valentine's Day has been celebrated as a romantic holiday since the 15th century.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 11:47 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I doubt you were expected to buy diamonds and $300.00 dinners then though.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Mainly because dollars didn't exist yet and 300 of them would be more than a regular person would be expected to earn in a lifetime, but yeah, other than that
by seattlebruin on Feb 14, 2011 12:00 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
I just hate the commercialization of holidays.
The vast majority of them have lost their original meaning. So on Valentine’s Day I’m supposed to love my wife more by buying her fancy things? Don’t I already do that on our anniversary? And Christmas, and her birthday?
I just get burned out by the time it rolls around, since I’ve been pounded with advertising for months beforehand.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
No.
But try to get past a Valentine’s Day without doing something for your significant other, and let me know how that works out.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
It's worked out fine for me for the past ~12 years
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 14, 2011 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
And it isn't even because she says you should do those things.
It’s because creative marketing says you should, and it tells her that you should as well.
It also sucks because you will find women that will say “Honey, you don’t have to do that stuff for me”. Which is probably true beforehand, but after the fact I bet they wonder why you didn’t do it anyway.
I’m all for doing nice things to tell my better half how much I love and appreciate her.. I just hate feeling like I am forced to.
So ignore it.
It’s really, really not that hard.
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 14, 2011 12:20 PM PST up reply actions
If I had my way, I'd ignore almost every holiday.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
If you have a SO that cares more about what marketing people tell her then how she intrinsically feels
then, well, I have a solution to your problem.
I never said that I did. The point is that the marketing departments tell us that they all care about it.
So we are left with a choice, and that choice is usually to do it anyway regardless. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing nice things for my SO just because. I just hate being led to believe that I HAVE to do something for no real reason.
Same goes with buying certain gifts for specific anniversaries, or having to spend 2 months salary on an engagement ring. It’s not your SO that is telling you that you have to do that, it’s the marketing departments.
It’s a scam and I am happy that I have someone that doesn’t care about these things.
I think its just a matter of what your SO is into, and if she's into Valentines Day, then I guess the guy should know what he's getting into. And then you make compromises and sacrifices like any other "conflict" in a relationship.
I would hope to find a wife that doesn’t care about Valentines Day, but if she does, then I guess that’s what I’m signing up for.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 12:46 PM PST up reply actions
This makes it seem much colder than it really is
So maybe you’re underestimating the sway that marketing people have on the populace’s emotions?
I mean, I totally agree with your line of thinking… but (I have no statistical evidence, just anecdotal) it seems like an enormous swath of the country (both men and women) care more about what marketing people tell them than their own feelings.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
I could be, but I doubt I am.
I have a lot of respect for how much sway marketing has on people’s emotions. I see it in baseball all the time and nearly every time I bother to check in on mass-consumed news. I’d just rather battle against it than humor it. I think we do a good job of that in the baseball arena here, but I’d love to ever so slowly creep that concept out so that people adopt similar expectations and scrutiny to beyond baseball.
Then we agree!
Now, to try and bring the rest of the US on board.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
It worked fine for me for the four years I've had a significant other.
I still did something, but instead of taking her out and getting her some sort of pricey gift, I cooked and then played a song that I spent time on writing. She always said that it was much better than what her friends were getting, because it had true meaning.
Welcome to marketing
If you avoid/ignore commercials, that really cuts down on the commercialization of everything
but how will I know what to buy and what films and pop stars to like?
I need to be spoon fed my culture!
I've been told we're supposed to whip our hair about something?
I don’t know why or how, but start with that?
Ditching cable has been about the 47th best decision of my life to date
I have not missed it in the slightest.
I will miss it when baseball starts up.
Then come April, I won’t miss it again.
I might end up doing this.
I was going to start the season by watching a few games a week at a bar or something and see if that gets me through. I think between that and reading game summaries here that might be enough.
Did anyone actually figure out how to make a proxy work last year though?
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 14, 2011 12:43 PM PST up reply actions
Also, does it take significant computer skills to set this type of thing up?
GET OFF ME!!!
by the other side on Feb 14, 2011 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
Can you type your name?
Can you follow a very specific set of directions from LL’ers without pausing to ask/understand what you’re doing?
If yes to both, you can set up a proxy
by seattlebruin on Feb 14, 2011 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
I used my work proxy all the time to get around MLB TV blackouts
so I can at least verify that it works
The best Valentines day gift I ever gave was for under 20 bucks.
It’s not that hard to celebrate the day while staying on a budget.
Women do enjoy the occasional surprise.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 1:07 PM PST up reply actions
If there is a Mother's day and Father's day
and Labor day, etc etc, then why not have a day for couples? I know it gets a lot of grief from single people, but it seems to me that it’s, in general, a good thing for overly busy married couples with kids.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Feb 14, 2011 1:12 PM PST up reply actions
All of those holidays are kinda dumb too, though Labor Day at least gets you a day off of work
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 14, 2011 1:16 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah,
I think they all serve a specific purpose and as long as you can avoid the crazy media overhyping and keep the original intent in mind, it’s just not as a big a deal as the “ZOMG! I’M SINGLE AGAIN OF VALENTINE’S! VALENTINE’S SUCKS!” types would have you believe.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Feb 14, 2011 1:18 PM PST up reply actions
I happen to love Mother's Night.
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
I am sure I'm probably a minority in this.
But I really don’t want any of those things for Valentines Day. I don’t like chocolate, I don’t want to go out to dinner, I don’t want flowers. If you have to buy a card, fine, but I have never in my life done presents or a special date on February 14th. My point is, not all girls want what commercials say they want.
My wife likes getting flowers delivered to her at work.
So I send flowers to her on Valentines Day, her birthday, and a few other random days of the year. She would not, however, think less of me if I did not do these things – but it’s effortless on my part and brings her day a little happiness, so why not?
All of which was a long way of saying she is the same as you and doesn't really care about cultural expectations
but she likes pretty things sent to her periodically so I do that on Valentines Day.
Like you say, "random days"
At least to me, that means more than having a force fed holiday. Not that you can’t do that on Valentines Day as well, it’s just nice to do little things out of the blue too.
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 12:33 PM PST up reply actions
...and asking to clean your gutters.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 1:09 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Pretty much all my wife wants is flowers.
But she wants them all the time so really valentines doesn’t make it any different other then its easier to get a dozen roses because they’re everywhere.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 12:36 PM PST up reply actions
Except the prices are jacked!
Roses seem cheaper during the rest of the year (excluding mother’s day)
CulturaLL Awareness
So at the behest of everyone in the OTs, I’ve been watching Breaking Bad. The first season was paced a bit poorly, but everything in season two has been getting better and better and I was super happy to see Mr. Show alumnus Baa Bodenkirk make some appearances to add a little bit of humor to an otherwise intense show. Some of the episodes midseason there were incredibly well-balanced, and holy shit, plot continuity! Anyway, the friend that I’m watching it with says it only gets better in the third season.
I also took a glance at a few of the Community episodes on Hulu, with the except of the most recent one, and I have to say that it’s better than I expected in that it made me laugh.
What cultural/media items of interest have you found through LL?
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
I'm starting season 2, disc 2 of Breaking Bad tonight. I have no real complaints thus far with the show.
How often can an actor go from a ridiculous character on a sitcom, to an amazing display of acting on a drama? I guess Tony Shalhoub is another case.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
I just finished disc 2 last night.
It’s REALLY good.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
The pacing is slow, but not unexpected considering the premise. Its almost a show that you love, but you wish you would just catch up already because I'm dying to find out what happens next.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 1:22 PM PST up reply actions
The pacing improves, believe me.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 1:24 PM PST up reply actions
I loved the pacing of the show.
It carried tension a lot better than, say, a 24/typical drama-thriller episode does where oh hey here’s a plot point you get to enjoy for 5 minutes and then WOAH HERES ANOTHER PLOT POINT unrelated to the previous one and WOOOO lots of stuff to distract you.
That Breaking Bad made me sit through its drawn out story telling was gripping for me
It can get away with that because you know actions are going to have consequences.
Even if it’s three or four episodes down the line, you know that what you’re seeing now that seems to be overlooked is going to get its due later.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:18 PM PST up reply actions
As soon as Season 3 finished I told my wife (who had not watched more than an episode or 2) that she had to watch the whole series
We started a marathon session with the first 3 seasons a week later, and finished it up in less than a month. She then got pissed when I told her we had nearly a year to wait before it returned because it had roped her in so well. As you say, it suits well to just sitting and watching it straight through because the “drawn out” story telling really connects well over 2-3 episodes at a time
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:25 PM PST up reply actions
Pace yourself, because season 4 doesn't start until August or September
I never really noticed any pacing issues after the early parts of season 2 so if you haven’t gotten there yet just wait for some non-stop greatness
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:03 PM PST up reply actions
Wikipedia. Woohoo!
To bridge the gap between seasons, three mini episodes of four minutes in length will be produced
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 2:05 PM PST up reply actions
I'm such a sucker for this show that I will gladly watch all 12 minutes of these
Yet they will only serve to make me more restless until the show picks back up
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:17 PM PST up reply actions
It's the episode after Saul Goodman appears.
The one that’s mostly about them cooking and Mr. White playing Mr. Wizard again. (This was an attempt at limited spoilers)
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:06 PM PST up reply actions
4 Days Out? Excellent episode
Jesse is great in that one
“Build a robot or something.”
“Wiiirrrre!”
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:12 PM PST up reply actions
The robot part when it came up again had me on the floor.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:18 PM PST up reply actions
Aaron Paul is so so so good in that show.
His delivery is always spot on.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:27 PM PST up reply actions
By the way, has anybody else picked up on the fact that Saul Goodman's name is sort of a joke?
Saul Goodman. ’sall good, man.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:15 PM PST up reply actions
That's my favorite part about him
He even mentions in an episode that it isn’t his real name in an episode, he picked it just for the purpose of the pun
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:19 PM PST up reply actions
Ah, I didn't remember him mentioning it so explicitly.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:27 PM PST up reply actions
I remembered that he mentioned that, but not the reasoning why
After checking Wikipedia, his name is really “McGill” but he felt his clients would be more comfortable working with a Jew so he changed his name
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:29 PM PST up reply actions
Those of you who have not seen the whole series to date should absolutely NOT look at character bios on Wikipedia, by the way
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:27 PM PST up reply actions
I've been trying not to and it's hard.
I learned my lesson the hard way with Buffy….
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:29 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, just stay the hell away
There’s a wealth of spoiler-free info to tap from people here like myself and PhildoHatzenwhatever
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:35 PM PST up reply actions
Not exactly.
He said his real last name is MacGill or something like that, but that he found his clientele preferred a guy with a Jewish-sounding name.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:29 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I thought the pun was on purpose
I’d forgotten the details otherwise, but it seems that it must have been mentioned in one of his first 2 appearances
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:31 PM PST up reply actions
For me it's mostly music.
LL turned me onto Frightened Rabbit and the National, two bands that are easily among my favorites right now.
You! Cake or death?
AWESOME!
Giant planet in our solar system? Maybe!
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 12:17 PM PST reply actions
Nifty.
I’d heard speculation before that there might be something out there in the Oort Cloud, but this is the first time I’ve heard they think they’ve seen it.
They may have to update that animation I posted above to make it even scarier.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
It works a helluva lot better than the Nemesis theory.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 12:25 PM PST up reply actions
Well I guess
that this needs an update
by seattlebruin on Feb 14, 2011 12:37 PM PST up reply actions
What's awesome to me is that the orbit would stretch out a quarter of the distance to Alpha Centauri
Oddly enough, this makes me feel like our neighbors are closer than I previously thought.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
Tyche? More like Nemesis!
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
I am now fascinated by former Mariner Bryon McLaughlin.
In doing research for what is probably an over-ambitious fanpost I noticed that he had been loaned to a team in the Mexican League during the 1979 season. I had never heard of a MLB player being loaned before, but apparently the Mariners didn’t have a fully functional minor league system at the time.
In trying to find out more about this I also found out in 1990 he was convicted of making counterfeit sneakers in Mexico and money laundering. His whereabouts are currently unknown. In addition his Wikipedia page is longer than any lifetime 1.1 WAR player should have.
No matter where you go, there you are.
by KC Mariner on Feb 14, 2011 12:48 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Teams loan players to the Mexican Leagues all the time.
Usually the players are of Mexican origin themselves. The Padres do it a lot from what I remember, and there are maybe three or four other teams that will do it every year. We don’t do it because our Mexican scouting has never been anything special, though we did kind of have a presence there for a few years.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 1:09 PM PST up reply actions
Interesting, I had never heard of that until today.
Are the players usually signed off the Mexican clubs and then kept there in lieu of developing in the minors? I could see that as a way to keep a good working relationship with the Mexican League. I’d always heard the Mexican League was probably a AA/AAA equivilent, but I could be way off base on that.
No matter where you go, there you are.
No, not really.
They end up being sent there when the time is right for it, which is generally around the AA/AAA level, sometimes a little earlier depending on circumstance. Sometimes the same players were originally Mexican Leaguers and we just signed by a MLB club but it’s more common for them to have been signed as teenagers, developed here to an extent, and then sent to the Mexican League.
This isn’t something I’ve ever really looked into a lot though because it just doesn’t apply to the M’s. I could be off base with some of it.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 1:24 PM PST up reply actions
So, I have a computer hardware problem/question:
Every once in a while my computer won’t post when I boot it up. When this happens, sometimes I can keep trying and it will eventually post to the MB splash screen and boot just fine. When it does, it works perfectly.
But when it doesn’t post after a few tries, the ‘fix’ is for me to open it up, remove all 4 sticks of ram from the motherboard, re-seat them and then power on. Then it boots up 80% of the time after I do that.
My first instinct is to think that it’s getting too low of voltage to somewhere (probably ram) but the power supply is plenty big (700W) and the voltages look fine when I get into the CMOS settings. Also, while this problem was still happening, my power supply did die on me, and I just replaced it on xmas.
Any hardware gurus have any idea what might be happening?
Do you have any sort of surge protector or the like?
If not, have you been turning the computer off and unplugging it during high winds/pouring rain? Just little ticks in the power from the outlet to the power supply can damage both the power supply and your motherboard.
I do have everything on a surge protector.
The reason this puzzles me is because it doesn’t always happen. If a surge messed up my MB I would assume that the problem would be persistent. But after I swapped out my dead power supply (which I thought was causing the problem), the problem went away. For about 2 months, then it just started doing it again. I guess the newer power supply might be going bad, or defective already, but I doubt it. Voltage readings look within range.
How long have you had the actual computer?
What brand is it? Price range?
by Coach Owens on Feb 14, 2011 11:32 PM PST up reply actions
It's custom. P2NE(?) motherboard, intel quad core
GeForce 8800 GTS video card, 4gb 1ms kingston ram, 750W PSU
I have had it for a few years.
I'm grasping at straws here
but perhaps try pulling and re-seating the CMOS battery? Short of that, can you get your hands on another set of RAM to try?
I have tried replacing the CMOS battery before, and that didn't solve the problem.
I would hate to have to replace that ram cause it was expensive as shit. And I don’t suspect the ram because I have never had ram give me problems only sometimes. It’s usually either bad, or good.
I have always suspected a power issue, because when I unplug everything and go to boot up, the LEDs on the case fans don’t power up properly. They stay dim, until I get the post beep, then they get bright like normal. Other than the power supply, I cannot think of where the power failure might be happening though. And since I just bought a new PSU 2 months ago, I doubt that is the problem. Unless I need more than 750W, which I really shouldn’t.
Well, unless the sticks of RAM I have require more power than I thought
Get a UPS, and see if that clears it up.
Sometimes you’ll have a flukey transformer and while your voltage looks fine, the waveform is messed up and it can cause problems like this.
A decent UPS should solve that problem, and anyone that puts money into electronic equipment should have a UPS no matter what.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
Although, reading the whole thread, it might be your main board.
Next time it happens, try power cycling before removing and reseating your RAM.
Unplug the machine, and hold down the power button for 15 seconds, then press the power button another 10-15 times. This should drain all but a few of the capacitors, which is also a side effect of removing the RAM.
If you power cycle and it comes back up, it’s your board. Expect it to get worse as time goes on.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
If you get a new board you might as well get one that does DDR3 and get new RAM.
Unless you can find a really good deal on an old MB.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
Didn't really think about that. But I'm sure I can find a deal on a similar MB
Although, if I don’t turn my computer off, it’s a non-issue. I can reboot just fine too. It only happens when I power down and try to boot up again.
Neyer's brutal honesty kinda took the winds out of my sail.
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2011/2/14/1993119/seattle-mariners-lose-100-games-2011-mlb-season
Milton Bradley apologist
by sanford_and_son on Feb 14, 2011 1:28 PM PST reply actions
Draft picks!
Right? You guys…?
(sobs)
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 1:31 PM PST up reply actions
Does this mean Jeff has to buy him breakfast?
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
I don't think he was being particularly negative in that article
by seattlebruin on Feb 14, 2011 1:35 PM PST up reply actions
I didn't say he was being negative, just honest. And the truth hurts sometimes, ya know?
Another 100 loss season would just really make me sad.
Milton Bradley apologist
by sanford_and_son on Feb 14, 2011 4:52 PM PST up reply actions
Fuck.
ST games haven’t even started. Aren’t we supposed to save the ‘no floor’ talk til like the second week of the season. And I think he was actually trying to be nice with this article.
GET OFF ME!!!
by the other side on Feb 14, 2011 1:36 PM PST up reply actions
Anybody that enjoys following prospects should read this. Dare I say, MUST read this.
Over at Royals Review they’ve done A LOT of research on Baseball America top 100 prospects using a sample size from 1993-2003 and analyzed how often those prospects “bust” and what kind of prospects bust and at what rate.
Now, I don’t know if I saw it mentioned that this is also sort of an analysis on Baseball America as much as it is on prospects, but still very very interesting stuff.
The Mariners prospects during that time busted at the third lowest rate, with 28 top 100 prospects during that time (Also don’t know how they accounted for players who showed up on the list 2 or more times as almost all do.)
Why are people weary of pitching prospects and why you would rather trade Michael Pineda instead of Dustin Ackley? A top 10 hitting prospect is successful 62.7 percent of the time, and a top 10 pitching prospect is successful 40.8% of the time.
This would be at least part of why BA Conor and I were confused over why so many people have Pineda as #1.
Or Taijuan Walker at #4 or #5, in my case.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
Taijuan Walker is a perfect example of why people should wait a year before analyzing drafted or signed prospects.
We’ve barely seen anything out of him and he was drafted completely on potential, yet we’re supposed to see him already as one of the best players in the entire system? I don’t really get what the rush is there (except in exceptional, exceptional cases such as Stephen Strasburg and Dustin Ackley, where it’s clear the player already has major-league ability).
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 14, 2011 1:47 PM PST up reply actions
Well, Taijuan Walker is a sandwich pick out of high school who has only been pitching for a year before that I believe(?)
I don’t think anyone is rushing to judgment on him just yet, and his placement in the Mariners system seems like a byproduct of the Mariners system falling off considerably after the top 3.
Every year the draft has a handful of guys that deserve lofty praise. Though with high schoolers, you should be much more cautious and I think the smart money is to not call Taijuan Walker much of anything until after this season, I agree.
A top prospect coming out of college though should be plenty easy to evaluate at age 20-23. (Not easy in the traditional sense, but by now people should have an idea of what he is.) High schoolers are rarely anything other than projectability, except in those rare cases you speak of: Griffey, A-Rod, Harper.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 1:53 PM PST up reply actions
This happens nearly every year though.
Walker is being touted as one of the top five players in the system despite the fact that he’s been pitching for little more than a year total. Littlewood is getting similar accolades even though the present scenario is that he could hit 10-15 home runs and be moved off to third, which doesn’t sound terribly exciting to me. Hell, I’m not even comfortable with the Guillermo Pimentel is a top five prospect in the system crowd. But until we get to the point where people stop putting so much stock into recent draft picks and good summer league performances, we’re probably going to see every list that comes out have a few picks from the recent draft.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
I'm just trying to think of who you put ahead of them without accounting for projectability.
The Mariners probably have a handful of guys that will be worthy of lofty expectations down the line, but do they have anybody that’s anything to get truly excited about thats closer to the majors?
Do you put Blake Beavan ahead of Walker? Or Johermyn Chavez ahead of Guillermo Pimental? I’m not saying that I do one way or the other – it’s personal preferance as to whether you are a conservative prognosticator or one that likes high upside. It was certainly a mistake for Carlos Triunfel to be ranked as high as he was back in the day, but not a mistake for Felix to be so praised. (Of course, Felix actually PERFORMED at the time)
From my recent conversations in the past few months on the topic, I was surprised to see that BA usually puts ~20 new draft picks in the top 100 each year. I think we are only about a week or two away from their 2011 list. And with so many graduations last year and so many guys that sort of sucked.. we could see a lot of new entries.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 2:10 PM PST up reply actions
That's the problem; the system is basically the same as it was last year
… in that there are three guys you know have the top spots and then it’s “what do?”
I couldn’t really put Beavan ahead of Walker because at this point Beavan is Fister with a draft pedigree. Chavez, I dislike more than most because I’m very uncomfortable with 3/4ths of his home runs coming at Stater Bros. Stadium, even though everyone in player development has been talking about how they tweaked his swing.
But Poythress? Liddi? I think those two might be underrated at this point. Poythress’ second half wasn’t quite as good on a fundamental level as his first half, but he was learning to pull the ball better and stopped hitting them out exclusively at cheap park. Liddi gets docked for his defense, but he’s young, didn’t flop at double-A unlike Triunfel and Tui and lots of other former top ten prospects [with superior tools], and his defensive quirks are thought of as being more mechanical than anything else and not poor conditioning.
You could also make a case for OF James Jones in the top ten based on his second half. I don’t know that I would, but it somehow seems less crazy than Walker and Pimentel at 4/5.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:27 PM PST up reply actions
I'm really looking at Tenbrink this year to soldify himself somewhere at the top of the system.
At least this years top 3 is miles ahead of last years top 3.
I like the idea of James Jones, this is his “prove it” year and hoping he doesn’t struggle out of the gates but keeps that hot streak going.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 2:36 PM PST up reply actions
Jones' breakout seems more legitimate to me than Dunigan's did, which is a plus.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:39 PM PST up reply actions
Oh yeah. You guys had me pretty convinced to not expect to ever hear from Joe Dunigan again.
At least Jones has been on the radar since he was drafted and anytime a player with tools starts to produce, ears perk up.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 2:59 PM PST up reply actions
Harper is more than projectability?
I’d argue that no 18 year old kid is anything more than projectability, even A-Rod and Griffey. And Harper. I mean, can you really judge a guy based on 1 HR derby and his high school competition?
At least college kids give you slightly more advanced competition to base a player against.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
Ummm
Harper hit 32 HRs while playing junior college ball with woods bats. When he should’ve been a Jr in high school.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 2:55 PM PST up reply actions
Yes, you're right, and I knew I was exaggerating...
The point still stands that the level of his compeition is not as high as it is with 22 year olds coming out of college.
Griffey, as a 17 year old, was in the minors and hit .313 with 14 HRs in 182 ABs. Harper was in junior college then. I’m not sure how that compares.
Either way, I think we’ve all rehashed these arguments enough, I just don’t like seeing an 18 year old with a lot of potential next to Griffey and Alex. Hell, I guess I’d argue even those 2 were still nothing but projectability.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
I think what I'm talking about is that 99.9 percent of kids coming out of high school have tools that you could see one day becoming incredible skills and assets.
Bryce Harper seems to be past the point of having just tools. He hit 31 HR’s in 66 games in Junior College. He was the best player at Washingtons instructs league as by far the youngest player. He was almost certainly too young to be in the AFL, and he was perhaps the best player there too, albeit SSS.
We are getting closer to spring training games and Bryce Harper will face some major league pitching. If he hits those guys too, at what point do we stop calling it “projectability”?
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:34 PM PST up reply actions
I think we keep calling it projectability until he at least gets some time in the minor leagues
If he mashes ST pitching, and mashes A and AA pitching, then you can start calling it something besides projectability. Right now he’s still an 18 year old without a single professional swing. Unless you count AFL, which perhaps we should. But still.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
You doubted Strasburg too! He was just different than most any other pitching prospects and you could see that.
He had never faced professional competition until this year, but we knew what he could pitch and that it would be hard to hit.
Harper, we know what he can do, and its at a level unlike most baseball players. Not just his age, but any age.
Other highly touted 18 year olds, like Justin Upton and Delmon Young, were much more “toolsy” and projectable than Griffey/Arod/Harper. Those first two guys had more of just a “wait for them to adjust period” than a “wait for them to get better” period. And I admit, I’m too young to have followed Griffey from the time he was drafted, and I started following baseball much more around ‘94, so I didn’t follow A-Rod much either. But there are just “special” prospects and I do know that in the time that I have followed the draft and prospects more closely, no hitter has shown near the power potential of Harper.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:45 PM PST up reply actions
You are right, and I doubt Harper even more because he's 4 years younger than Strasburg
I am not saying Harper will not succeed, I am just saying I’d like to see at least a BIT of minor league action before I call him Jesus.
I still say the Wieters fiasco absolutely destroyed any belief I had in the hype machine. And he was hyped even after getting Minors experience.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
I wouldn't let Matt Wieters detract you from believing in Bryce Harper or any other prospect for that matter.
For a number of reasons. 1 of those being that they share little in common.
Same thing I said with Strasburg, you don’t have to compare him with guys who have played before, or guys who have played in the majors, or guys who have played in the minors. Compare Bryce Harper with any prospect thats ever existed before he got minor league experience. At this stage in his life, at 17 years old, and no minor league experience, Bryce Harper stands to reason as one of the top 10 hitting prospects of the modern era. And that’s not TOO much of a stretch.
He might fail miserably, but its just that up to this point in his life, he’s about as good as it gets. And that’s what I’m excited about.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 4:04 PM PST up reply actions
I've heard rumblings of attitude problems,
but I’ve never seen anything specific.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Everything I've read since that report has refuted it as being overblown.
Far be it from me to comment on his actual character, but since he’s been with the Nationals, I’ve read nothing but “he’s a great kid” type comments from scouts and the like.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 4:23 PM PST up reply actions
I think those grumblings may just be people desperately trying to find fault with him.
They can’t find anything on the field, and in the press he’s very polished. So now they try to say “Well, he’s an asshole behind closed doors” just to have something to complain about.
Just a theory.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
I was probably considered an asshole at 16.
Barry Bonds has been considered an asshole his whole life, and that turned out okay in terms of baseball.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 4:29 PM PST up reply actions
That's where the "does clubhouse chemistry matter" debate starts.
But yes, you can be an asshole and still be great at your sport.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Is he really?
Doesn’t he have to go on a mission at some point?
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 15, 2011 8:55 AM PST up reply actions
He could probably buy out of it like Todd Heap did.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 15, 2011 8:56 AM PST up reply actions
This is an interesting concept that I was unaware of, but afraid we can't really discuss it here.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 15, 2011 8:58 AM PST up reply actions
Heres the quote. Looks like it was optional.
As it became clear he could have a future in football, Heap declined the optional two-year LDS mission for which many young men and women volunteer. He and his wife, Ashley, may serve a senior mission when their children are grown, he said.
And we probably shouldn’t go further.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 15, 2011 9:01 AM PST up reply actions
He's a merman.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 15, 2011 8:59 AM PST up reply actions
Half a sexy lady fish.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 15, 2011 9:03 AM PST up reply actions
I think you're underselling the quality of certain Jr College baseball programs.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 3:39 PM PST up reply actions
Haven't some guys made it to the pros from Everett CC recently?
Maybe JY or someone can answer this.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
A few.
The one I remember was Zach Simons, who was a second round pick of the Rockies back in 2005. He’s now an okay reliever with the Tigers (lots of Ks, too many walks). I tried looking anyone else up from Everett CC but the database at the Baseball Cube has the gremlins, so I went through BA and picked up Aaron Cunningham (OF for Padres), but the BA database has gremlins too after a certain point.
You might also be thinking of Bellevue Community College alumnus Evan Meek?
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 15, 2011 3:13 PM PST up reply actions
I doubt it.
As I remember I read about these guys in the Everett Herald, and I don’t think they’d cover Bellevue CC. Those names sound right to me though, I think those are the players I’m thinking of.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Oh, almost forgot.
Thank you!
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
When I went to Bellevue Community College in 2001, Blake Hawksworth (Cardinals RP) was there. But he didn't play for BCC, he was just mulling over the Cards signing bonus offer.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 15, 2011 4:37 PM PST up reply actions
Draft and follow then.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 15, 2011 4:38 PM PST up reply actions
Its crazy to think that a guy I went to BCC with is a "young" pitcher for the Cardinals.
Not because he made the MLB, but because that seems like so long ago, how can he possibly still be near “prospect” status? That was almost 10 years ago.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 15, 2011 4:40 PM PST up reply actions
Sometimes age really is just a number.
LeBron was ready for the NBA when he was in high school.
Herschel Walker was said to be NFL ready at age 18.
Bryce Harper hasn’t just destroyed every level of competition, but he does it against guys who are supposed to be at a level or two above him. That’s why I won’t be surprised to see him finish the year in AA, and be in the major leagues by the end of next season.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:04 PM PST up reply actions
I wonder if kids who peak that early have any history of not lasting as long in their sport.
Whether it’s simply that their physical peak is earlier, or if all the years going against tougher competition might simply wear their bodies out sooner than someone on a more “normal” career path.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
One of the only knocks I've heard on Bryce Harper is that he's so big now, he might be too big when he peaks.
I couldn’t imagine that was ever a case for a guy like Griffey or A-Rod. Harper is just a massive young kid and I have read concerns that he’ll become more like Adam Dunn than Albert Pujols.
Seems like a reach, just trying to find knocks on a great prospect.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:09 PM PST up reply actions
I'm not sure even Griffey or A-Rod were playing at quite this type of advanced level at that age though.
I’d obviously have to back and look, but even just seeing A-Rod in the ‘95 videos, you can still see he has a lot of growing to do. And Griffey was still a little skinny kid (although with a big butt) when he came up. Harper looks like he’s 29 right now.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Yeah, the only "concern" was probably that A-Rod would have to move off of shortstop to third base, which is no big deal.
A bigger deal when Harper gets moved off of catcher to outfield, and then will he have to move over to 1B. Is he more like a Lance Berkman type? I don’t know.
I’ve heard good reviews on his outfield defense thus far.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:14 PM PST up reply actions
Forged birth certificates! Scandal!
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 3:14 PM PST up reply actions
With the way he has played against much more "advanced" competition and the way he looks,
you almost have to wonder. Not that I think that’s the case, but it would be easy to look at him and go “no way, he’s older than that”.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Did he get younger since they drafted him?
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Or he broke the NBA's long-standing discrimination against players with progeria.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 3:29 PM PST up reply actions
Comparisons will be interesting going forward with the newer technologies available.
They’ve only been able to look at bat speed very recently, or have they been able to get a reading off that for some time now?
Griffey as a 17-18 year old in all levels of the minors:
465 PAs, .318 BA, .572 SLG, 27 HRs. He had plenty of power coming. The fact he was even playing in the minors says something.
Harper did well in the AFL (35 ABs, SSS for sure) but had only 1 HR, and who knows how he’ll translate against minor league pitching.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
I would not be surprised to see that either
But will reserve judgment until I see it. Junior college is much different than pro ball.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
If he dominates, would you say in retrospect he was much more ready than you assumed, or are you saying that no player can be anything more than "projectable" until he reaches professional baseball?
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 3:49 PM PST up reply actions
After reflecting upon my argument
I would say the latter; I firmly believe no player can be anything more than “projectable” until pro ball. There are too many outside factors that influence their chance of success for it to ever be a certainty.
Everything from outgrowing his frame, to getting hooked on Coke, to never being able to handle a professional changeup.
Maybe his chances are better than most, but it’s still just projection. Griffey and A-Rod got hype, but I’m pretty sure much of the REAL hype was not until after they started mashing minor league pitching.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
I think there's always "REAL" hype when you get drafted #1 overall and I don't think people thought as highly of Matt Bush as they did of those two.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 4:05 PM PST up reply actions
Matt Bush was a signability thing.
Also he’s a total douche based of anecdotal evidence.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 4:08 PM PST up reply actions
There is always real hype when you get drafted #1
But those #1 picks have been getting exponentially more hype than prior years.
Actually, more specifically I’m concerned every #1 pick is going to be overly hyped because of Strasburg. He lived up to the hype (temporarily) then it’s Harper, Rendon…who next?? They’re all STILL just prospects, and a great number of them fail, but fans all seem to want the next Strasburg.
Nobody’s that excited about the next Luke Hochevar. Or Bush. Or even Tim Beckham.
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
Most people say Rendon is #1 but not in the same way Strasburg and Harper were
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 4:14 PM PST up reply actions
There's a difference between someone who happens to be taken first,
and the Harper/Strasburg types who are consensus #1 picks.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Bush was a local guy and was signable
signability is irrelevant in the NBA and Olowokandi was only local in that he played college basketball in the same state as the team that picked him.
That was just the Clippers being retarded
by seattlebruin on Feb 14, 2011 5:38 PM PST up reply actions
Rendon might turn into a clear #1, but like Jay said, its not going to be like it was the last 2 years.
Before Strasburg, I think you’d have to go back to 2003 and Delmon Young to find a kid with a lot of really excited hype. Before that, I think you go back to Josh Hamilton in 1999. Not even Mauer or Adrian Gonzalez were talked about in the same vein as the last two picks (From what I’ve read) and before that you go back to 1993 A-Rod.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 4:27 PM PST up reply actions
Heck, there was a debate within the M's offices about taking Junior.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Who was their other considered choice?
Out of curiosity
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 4:34 PM PST up reply actions
Ownership wanted Mike Harkey, a right-hander for Cal State Fullerton who was 6 feet 5 inches with an overpowering fastball.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/sports/baseball/16harkey.html
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
True, there were 2 elite prospects that year.
You know sometimes, in the back of your head you tell yourself “There were questions about this!” but then you don’t remember exactly why there were questions? That’s what happened.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 4:41 PM PST up reply actions
There was a definite winner in that one.
GET OFF ME!!!
by the other side on Feb 14, 2011 4:46 PM PST up reply actions
Jr College is arguably closer to pro ball then Division 1 NCAA baseball.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 14, 2011 3:52 PM PST up reply actions
Really?
Why is that?
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
In a lot of cases the pitching is the same.
But as a hitter you’re using wood bats over metal.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 15, 2011 8:54 AM PST up reply actions
I didn't know that.
The comparison makes more sense now.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
LHP's fail at the most considerable rate, to the point of it being really scary to be a LHP. Which doesn't effect the Mariners, I just wonder what will happen to the Royals 5,231 left-handed pitching prospects that are supposed to be great.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 14, 2011 1:48 PM PST up reply actions
Doesn't matter, they will trade them all for shit before they can get any value anyway.
GET OFF ME!!!
by the other side on Feb 14, 2011 1:49 PM PST up reply actions
Hasn't it been, like, 80 degrees in Southern California?
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 1:46 PM PST up reply actions
Only during the day, it's been freezing after the sun goes down
by seattlebruin on Feb 14, 2011 1:48 PM PST up reply actions
Low 50s isn't freezing compared to here
I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.
Not me
I’m excited that it’s going to be cooling off again later this week. Highs only in the low-40s!
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:07 PM PST up reply actions
No snow in the forecase though.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:09 PM PST up reply actions
*forecast
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 2:10 PM PST up reply actions
Minor potential from Thursday morning and beyond, especially if on a hill
But yeah probably not
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 2:37 PM PST up reply actions
Man I'm so looking forward to that tomorrow at the office
Standing knee deep in water 200 feet underground, boy oh boy can’t wait
Think of bigger holes in the ground.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
He works for the City of Centralia?
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 14, 2011 3:30 PM PST up reply actions 5 recs
Better hope that's Centralia WA and not Centralia PA
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 3:31 PM PST up reply actions
He's like Howie Long but instead of forest fires, he puts out deep underground coal fires?
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Kermit can do anything.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 3:34 PM PST up reply actions
Within arms reach
There are limitations you know
by Kermit. on Feb 14, 2011 3:35 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
but what you failed to mention is that you have 75 foot long arms
by pdb on Feb 14, 2011 3:35 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
He saves so many injured dolphins.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 14, 2011 3:36 PM PST up reply actions
And rescues midgets from trees.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
I bet that gets him laid all the time.
GET OFF ME!!!
by the other side on Feb 14, 2011 3:38 PM PST up reply actions
Surveyor on the light rail tunnel project at UW
They’ve hit bottom on the vertical shaft and after a bit of finishing work they’ll start assembling the tunnel boring machines.
I do love me some TBMs
I think it’s all the slurry
by Craptastic-J on Feb 14, 2011 4:13 PM PST up reply actions
Rally Puppy and Simon Pegg share a birthday.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:28 PM PST up reply actions
.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 14, 2011 2:46 PM PST up reply actions
To the Jeopardy! fans
The Ken Jennings/Brad Rutter/Watson death match is tonight. But, they only play a round of Single Jeopardy! because they need to tell you how neat Watson is. (It’s an IBM infomercial.) Also, Watson’s chart at the bottom of the screen kinda made it difficult to think of the answers, like how watching the crawl on a news channel makes it difficult to pay attention to the main story.
Watson makes some moronic mistake, but is generally pretty smart.
I came in during the middle of the show so I didn't realize they were just doing one round.
I was a bit startled when it ended so abruptly. And I agree that the chart at the bottom screen took a lot of the fun out of watching Jeopardy. Still, I’ll probably tune in at least one more episode. It’s a sufficiently intriguing idea.
You! Cake or death?
I watched it.
Seems like for a lot of those questions he just had a faster reaction time to the clicker.
Yeah, the signalling weapon is really important to the game. I'm not totally satisfied that they're all on an even footing.
Still, the fact that a computer can parse language is interesting. They seemed to teach it some strategy, also. It’s first clue ask was kinda eerie. It also jumped around categories a lot, which is a decent way to disorient your opponents.
Instead of watching this, I'm watching Terminator 2
You know, to prepare
by tootthekazoo on Feb 14, 2011 7:46 PM PST up reply actions
I know. I don't think I spoiled too much. Except maybe the moronic part?
I feel like I would have wanted to know if there was only one round. It’s like how people sometimes read movie reviews to make sure a movie doesn’t totally stink.
Two days in, I really hate Watson. (No spoilers, but some anger)
Not just because it’s smart, but because no one ever gets excited when Google gets a search query right. It’s way more exciting to see people inhumanely pull trivia out of their ass than for a computer to do the same. Plus, Ken and Brad are rather personable for being such information sponges (I hate Jeopardy! champs with no sense of humor). Instead, we’re subjected to a friggin computer that can’t say “worry” properly. If IBM was so concerned about letting a computer learn language, why wouldn’t they give it a decent voice?
Yes, I’m sure there’ll be some useful applications for the tech behind Watson (they offer some potential options without really explaining it on Day 2), but it’s not at all entertaining. Plus it kinda sucks that the crowd is a bunch of IBM homers, rooting against the personable people. I kinda wish Ken’s wife would start cheering really loudly whenever he gets a big question right.
by yuniform on Feb 15, 2011 5:55 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
It seems a bit unfair
From what I can tell, Watson doesn’t have to buzz in. It just buzzes in when he knows the answer. Therefore, it seems like 90% of the time, one of the other two knows the answer, but just can’t press a button quicker than a computer can automatedly ring in. It makes it a lot less fun to watch. It would be better if they gave him a lag of the average reaction time of the other contestants.
Watson does have to buzz in though
They said (and showed) that in the intro to the show yesterday – it uses the same buzzer as the humans and is subject to the same rules as far as when it can buzz in. It just happens to know a lot of the answers faster than a human can think them.
One thing I’ve noticed is if Watson has low confidence in any of its three displayed choices, it doesn’t even ring in.
I guess I’m amazed enough at the awe-inspiring amount of development and programming that went into designing this beast that I just can’t fathom why people seem to think this is just another computer. This thing is amazing – Jeopardy questions aren’t straightforward, they rely on cultural awareness, linguistic nuance and double-meanings, and an ability to discern a pun, and this machine is definitely up to that task. I’m just in awe of the amount of brainpower it took to build this damn thing and can’t wait to see what the real-world applications of this technology turn out to be.
The problem with Watson's buzz time is that all the players are given the same signal as to when they can buzz in
but since Watson’s reflexes are obviously much faster and more consistent than the humans, if he knows the answer, he will always beat Ken and Brad. My understanding is that if a player tries to buzz in too early, they can’t buzz in for one additional second, which gives Watson a huge advantage – he can buzz in the instant it is legal, rather than having to guess like the humans do.
by seattlebruin on Feb 16, 2011 10:09 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, the timing is definitely an issue.
It just sucks to watch Ken and Brad know the answers but not be able to beat Watson at buzzing.
I read an article this morning explaning some of the quirks Watson has exhibited.
Here’s the link for those interested. One part of the article does cover how Watson is programmed to buzz in, but it tries to argue that Ken and Brad actually have a split-second advantage because they listen for when Alex finishes the question while Watson has to wait for the light. This doesn’t make sense to me, though, since it’s the light that signals when the players can buzz in. If they buzz in when Alex finishes reading the clue, but before the light comes on, wouldn’t they still be hit with the one-second delay?
maybe there's a connection between Trebek's voice and the light, at least in Watson's programming?
I’m completely guessing here, but as a human you can sort of game when the light will come on, based on Trebek’s vocal cadence and delivery. Get his speech patterns figured out, and it should be pretty straightforward. Sure, it’s a guess, but listen to anybody speak long enough and that guess will be right a lot more than it will be wrong. Watson, though, has to wait until some sort of “light is on” signal is sent to its processor. So in that sense, maybe there’s a slight edge?
Or just get trapped in a scenario where you re-live the same day repeatedly and learn the exact time that the light goes on
This would also allow you to memorize all of the answers so you wouldn’t even have to think about it
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
They do indeed
That’s my point – they can try to predict at what point after Trebek finishes speaking that the light will go on, based on his vocal cadence.
Their ability to predict this would primarily depend on two things.
How long after Trebek finishes speaking does the light go? And, perhaps more importantly, is it consistent from clue to clue? Even the smallest time difference would make it incredibly difficult to accurately predict when that light goes on.
I think more than anything else I don't like this because it brings the tards out of the woodwork.
No, it’s not Skynet. It can’t think. It processes data using context, where that wasn’t really possible before.
Just shut up, all of you, and go back to being moon landing and vaccine deniers where I can ignore you.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
by Faux on Feb 16, 2011 1:11 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
That's my whole thing
This computer wasn’t built to win at Jeopardy. It was built to learn better how to use context and nuance in order to divine meaning, and it has done a pretty amazing job of that.
It's only three days worth, and a neat diversion into a subject that Jeopardy's core audience would never have known about.
Considering that most Jeopardy watchers are over 50, they should probably be brought into the loop that there are some really awesome things that computers can do, and also that they can’t do everything.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
I'm picturing you in front of the TV wearing a yarmulke.
"Making hitmen legal would really help the unemployment rate."-Thingray
It gets cold at night, you know.
Like, 50 degrees!
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
It was in the 40's one of the days last week
by seattlebruin on Feb 16, 2011 4:40 PM PST up reply actions
Did you have to import that?
Dawg! He put da team on his back!
The sheltie in the Westminster Herding group has a nice sturdy build
to my eyes much preferable to the bird-boned ones you see so often as pets.
This is probably an odd request, and I don't expect anyone to have the answer.
But one of my clients asked me to write her up a “presentation letter” that she can hand out to companies in order to explain who she is, what her services are like, etc. I’ve never heard of this type of thing before and I have no idea where to start, and the terminology I can think of to find samples of this online sends me to cover letters, which is useless for my purposes. Anyone have any idea what she is asking for or where I can find examples of this?
...and now I'm here
I would go a little out of the box with it.
Its sounds like a personal brochure pamphlet type thing more then a cover letter.
by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 15, 2011 9:30 AM PST up reply actions
Sounds like it to me too. She works with bipolar clients, counseling.
...and now I'm here
That's better than I thought.
To me, it sounded like something that you would need to present at court, sealed with the wax stamp of your local lord and master. I thought those had gone out of style.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 15, 2011 6:19 PM PST up reply actions
I'd love to see Matthew or Jeff have a conversation with Colin Cowherd.
This morning on the radio regarding Albert Pujols contract situation. Doing my best to summarize some of the things he said.
“This guys not worth 300 million or even 200 million dollars” (Its an opinion and one that can be reasonably argued. Reasonably. Here are some of his reasons.)
“Pujols, in 2 world series appearances, had 3 singles and no homers in one and 3 for 15 in the other. He’s a boat. He’s nice to show your friends in the driveway but doesn’t get it done when it matters.” (First, I can’t remember the exact boat analogy, but that’s basically what he said. That Pujols 30 AB’s in the World Series show he’s not a clutch hitter when it matters. And when I looked at Pujols actual WS numbers, I’m pretty sure Colin flubbed them. I can’t remember exactly what he said, but he cited the no homers and 3 singles and made it sound a lot worse than it actually is. And yes, the matter that he actually thinks Pujols is clearly a world series bust based on this sample size. I think the only time Colin has heard the term “sample size” was in the bedroom.)
“Pujols is going to hit .308 this year. A .283 hitter, over the course of 400 AB’s, is going to get 10 less hits. Only 10. And not all of them will be clutch hits, 7 of them will be singles and doubles with nobody on. That’s the difference in a 162 game season” (What to cite here? That Pujols career low is .312? That full time players get way more than 400 AB’s over the course of a season? And even if Pujols did get 10 more hits than another player, he did a lot more with all of his hits than most anybody else on the planet?)
He says a lot more fun stuff, like how St Louis has always had a great farm system and when they lose a Stan Musial or a Mark McGwire they always replace them with somebody else great. That Prince Fielder will give you 80% of the production at 50% of the cost. That Pujols is only a first baseman. But I’ll just leave you with my favorite part:
“Somebody here at ESPN a few years back did some study, I think it was somebody like Keith Law, about how many wins a player was worth. And it was only a small amount of wins that the best player was worth. Carlos Delgado, I think it was, was only worth 1 and a half wins more than a replacement when he went to the Mets.”
Just wanted to leave you with these little bits of what I heard today. I listen to it on the way to work during breaks of the Dan Patrick show and Colin never fails to amaze me.
This is why you should never listen to sports talk radio
It’s worse for your brain than a daily pound of crack.
Oooh, Deadspin has highlights of his TV pilot
Herd Mentality. The title makes me want to manslaughter. The dialogue is just awful
ugggh who green lit this?
Oh yeah the people behind such other masterpieces as Listen Up! and $#!& My Dad Says.
by Mariner John on Feb 15, 2011 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
What's worse is that Shit My Dad Says is actually getting good ratings.
Last I checked, anyway.
Yeah. CBS has the market cornered while having like 3 decent shows.
by Mariner John on Feb 15, 2011 5:32 PM PST up reply actions
I only watch How I Met Your Mother, and I don't bother to watch it on broadcast
They broadcast Jeopardy! here, but if it weren’t for that and football, I’d never watch it.
I like Amazing Race and Big Bang Theory okay but the rest of the shows are too formulaic.
And even BBT is pretty formulaic.
by Mariner John on Feb 15, 2011 6:07 PM PST up reply actions
CBS has all those hit shows that I've never heard anyone say they watch.
NCIS for example.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 8:00 AM PST up reply actions
People watch them, they just don't admit it.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
Your grandparents probably watch NCIS
I watch Big Bang Theory and HIMYM, and I think that’s about it for CBS for me.
Two and a half men.
I don;t know anyone who will admit to watching it, yet it gets huge numbers and allows Charlie Sheen to continue to destroy his life in public.
Oy, I caught 2 minutes of it the other night.
Charlie looked like he was still on a coke bender and was nodding through the scene spitting out words. I’ve never been a fan of the show but the older episodes aren’t all terrible. Now it’s just sad.
Sheens recent interviews on the Dan Patrick show have been good
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 9:01 AM PST up reply actions
You mean like the one where he says you should only smoke crack if you can handle it socially?
yep, he sounds like he’s all better!
He probably wouldn't notice the difference at this point.
"Making hitmen legal would really help the unemployment rate."-Thingray
He's certainly a far way away from being better, but the interviews are entertaining.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 9:35 AM PST up reply actions
I'm not sure that listening to someone slowly kill themselves by being completely oblivious would be entertaining to me
He’s getting into Shane MacGowan territory now, and it’s sad to watch – not that Charlie Sheen was ever my favorite actor or anything, but it’s really hard to watch someone do this to themselves.
Apparently he went and spoke to the UCLA baseball team recently
His words of advice were “Don’t do crack, drink chocolate milk, and enjoy every moment. That’s all I got.”
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 9:48 AM PST up reply actions
I wish they would all smoke crack and get kicked out of school so we can get some new, better players
by seattlebruin on Feb 16, 2011 10:13 AM PST up reply actions
oh God I thought it said basketball
must be that March Madness time of year
by seattlebruin on Feb 16, 2011 4:41 PM PST up reply actions
NCIS is a bad show that's entertaining if you work at home and need knows.
I like those light hearted cop shows.
...and now I'm here
I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a joke or if you're homophonically dyslexic.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
by Faux on Feb 16, 2011 12:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
When I wake up poorly, I make these errors a lot.
I have no idea how my brain does that.
...and now I'm here
I have the same issue.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
Think it's from writing too much?
That’s the only thing I can think of. I often switch up “know” and “no” too when I’m sleep deprived.
...and now I'm here
Could be.
It also happens to me when I’m just waking up, but more often when I’ve been writing a lot in the recent days.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 16, 2011 1:01 PM PST up reply actions
The other day I was re-reading an article I wrote for a client.
As far as I was concerned the article was perfect. Then he got it and told me that even though the content was great, he had some issues with spelling. I didn’t understand what he meant, and it ended up I have like seven of these(!), all in only a 1000 word article. Even re-reading it I couldn’t catch the switched words. Until someone points them out, I read them exactly as I intended to write them.
...and now I'm here
This is an odd thing to me.
Maybe it’s a “thinking in language” thing. I know that when I am tired I’ll make errors in this fashion based on muscle memory, not homophonically (yes, I know that’s not a real word, but it works). For instance, I’ll write my name as Vjtod instead of Chris, depending on if I don’t watch where my hands are placed.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
Mine tends to be a little different, beyond the replaced words.
My fingers really do type words that I’m not thinking sometimes, just because I’ve typed them so much before. I type "interview’ instead if “interesting” a lot, since I wrote a 1000 page website on interview tips, even when I’m thinking the word interesting (as I typed that sentence I did it again, but I caught it).
Strange stuff.
...and now I'm here
I do the same
Any word that starts with “ma” ends up being written as “Mazda” since I typed that several thousand times in emails over a 3 year period. Weird how that works
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 1:20 PM PST up reply actions
If you woke up poorly,
wouldn’t you still technically be asleep? It’s kind of like failing to be alive, isn’t it?
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Only if you're arguing that one can't feel somewhat asleep even when they're aware.
And that would be a silly thing to argue.
...and now I'm here
I had an LL-themed dream last night that featured spiders.
Lots and lots of spiders.
Thanks Eyebrows :(
You! Cake or death?
by Torrid on Feb 15, 2011 11:12 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
So single-day tickets for Sasquatch sold out after less than a day.
Do you think this is just a temporary thing or is it a way to get people to buy the 4 day passes instead? Or both?
Here's a musical opportunity for you: Lightning Bolt are touring
and will be coming to Seattle in April: 04-09 Seattle, WA – Healthy Times Fun Club.
This is loud/abrasive noise, so it may not be your cup of tea, but I think surprisingly many of y’all would enjoy the hell out of this live set. Please, not so many of you that I can’t get tickets, but still… consider it.
Healthy Times Fun Club?
Love the name, but where is that?
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
For legal purposes it doesn't exist but if it did it would be on Capitol Hill
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 15, 2011 11:41 AM PST up reply actions
I understand.
Forget I mentioned it.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
I'm not much of a movie guy, but I don't see how this can be a good thing...
http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/14/milli-vanilli-movie-on-the-way/
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
I will only be interested in this movie if their voices are dubbed by other actors
by pdb on Feb 15, 2011 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 6 recs
I want James Earl Jones as Milli
And Gary Oldman as Vanilli
(Yah I know)
by Craptastic-J on Feb 15, 2011 2:57 PM PST up reply actions
I was involved in a musical revue of Disney music on stage*
“Seize the Day” was really well-staged. The music was just so perfectly suited to doing it live, the timing was fantastic. The choreography was easily adapted, probably my favorite part of the whole show.
I suppose this is natural when it’s originally a movie musical as compared to an animated musical. Since we were a bunch of amateurs, I have great faith that this will be awesome.
*theatre and production will remain namelss because I’m still amazed that we weren’t sued by Disney sniffing this kind of stuff out.
HOLY CRAP THIS IS SO HAPPENING!
...and now I'm here
Anybody else afraid one of their favorite sports teams is going to get torn to bits and humiliated by the best team in the universe tomorrow?
Or is it just me?
If Arsenal try to play like Arsenal they will lose 73-0
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 15, 2011 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
And that is exactly what I fear they will do since they're at home
I would be so happy with either a draw or a narrow loss, but I have a feeling it’ll be a slaughter.
That would be especially painful a day after your greatest rivals win their first leg away at the San Siro
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 15, 2011 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
So I know Gattuso a 'fiery' player
but headbutting Joe Jordan is taking it a bit far, surely?
For the non football fans, Joe Jordan is Tottenham’s assistant manager and 59 years old.
He's gone full-retard now, and I'm half disappointed he'll miss the return leg.
I really didn’t understand starting Palacios, but the more I think about it, the more it may have been to just wind up Gattuso until he snapped. I think Joe Jordan would take a head-butt from a diminutive Italian nut job in exchange for a huge away win at the San Siro.
I won't be pained at all if and when Arsenal lose tomorrow
because losing in the Round of 16 of the Champions League is what they do. And there’s no shame in losing to Barcelona, whereas Milan should be very, very ashamed right now.
Without their best player!
What a beautiful day!
I adore Mr. Modric, and I will accept that Bale is still streaky as hell
but 1) Modric can’t simply take over a game the way Bale can and 2) health is a tool. It’s ironic to point it out today, but in general, Bale’s missed less time.
Sounds like someone is about 3 months ahead of schedule!
by Matthew on Feb 15, 2011 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Drayer reminds us that saturday would have been Dave Neihaus' 76th birthday
and invites us all to raise a glass.
Tito’s Vodka, soda, and lime, I believe.
by msb on Feb 15, 2011 2:36 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
I will definitely do so.
A toast to my favorite broadcaster from my favorite place on the coast.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
I was bopping around the channels last night and I stumbled across a broadcast of M's/Cubs from last year
it’s just so natural to turn on an M’s game and have Dave be there that it it actually took me a moment of hearing Dave and being happy to watch baseball for a second to realize I won’t be hearing Dave any more. It was a lot sadder of a moment than I had thought it would be.
I saw that was on last night too.
Couldn’t quite bring myself to watch it.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
I honestly didn't even think about it until about 45 seconds into watching it
My brain thought “oh hey that’s one of the games we went to I should watch it a bit because hey it’s raining outside and baseball and that’s awesome” and then I heard Dave and didn’t think twice about it, and then I did and my heart sank.
I have a question for those more knowledgeable about the NBA than I
The Lakers just signed a deal that will pay them something like a gazillion dollars over 30 years for their TV rights, a deal which sees a new RSN created for them. In a league with a salary cap like the NBA, does that matter in terms of their ability to get players? I don’t know how the salary cap works, so I may be missing something, but it seems like this wouldn’t put other teams at a disadvantage because everyone’s playing under the same salary rules. Am I completely wrong?
You are correct, there is negligible theoretical competitive advantage from this
from a practical standpoint, although there is a cap, enough NBA teams are in serious enough financial trouble where additional money does give a competitive advantage.
Despite there being a salary cap, the upper portion of the salary cap is considered a luxury tax cap, and teams who are in that portion of the cap pay extra dollar for dollar to the league revenue sharing fund.
Also keep in mind that the cap is a “soft” cap, so a team can go any amount over the cap to retain a player they already have (for the most part). For example, even though LA is already over the cap, they can still extend Kobe Bryant to a max contract because they have controlled his rights for a long enough time.
by seattlebruin on Feb 15, 2011 2:52 PM PST up reply actions
Isn't that the "Larry Bird Rule"?
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
From what I recall, there's some space between the salary cap and the luxury tax threshold.
So if the salary cap is at $X, the luxury tax might be at $X + $20 million, giving teams a little between-zone to play with.
by Chris Hafner on Feb 15, 2011 3:00 PM PST up reply actions
The salary cap is a soft cap - it's very easy for teams to spend more (sometimes dramatically more) than the salary cap.
There are many, many exceptions to the salary cap – for one thing, you can re-sign your own players without respect to the salary cap (they are subject to the maximum NBA contract structure, but they are not subject to the cap). I believe drafted rookie signings also can take place without consideration of your position with respect to the salary cap.
That leaves free agent signings, but even in that case there are exceptions. There’s a “middle-class” exemption that can be used once per off-season that can be used for, typically fringe starter type of players. You can also sign as many players as you want to the league minimum for their player status.
The one punishment for breaking the cap is the luxury tax, which is at a higher threshold and carries a pretty major penalty for overspending. But if you have enough money, you can spend significantly more than any other team – though there are unexpected consequences because doing so has historically locked teams into huge contracts with mediocre players that are difficult to move (NY Knicks, Portland Trailblazers).
Caveat – things may have changed since I cut off my relations with the NBA after the Sonics left, and it’s possible my knowledge has atrophied, but I don’t believe so.
by Chris Hafner on Feb 15, 2011 2:59 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
And to add onto Chris' point about unmovable contracts
the reason contracts are so difficult to move in the NBA is that all the contracts are guaranteed like baseball, and almost all the teams are over the salary cap.
There are rules in place to help teams trade players, so that teams can trade players as long as their respective salaries fall in a certain range – this is why you often see players tossed into deals for cap consideration.
One of the most used methods to clear terrible contracts is currently bribing other teams – this is how Sam Presti has built the evil empire. Essentially, he agrees to take a terrible contract from another team if they sweeten the pot with a good asset like a young player or a draft pick, which is why you would see a trade like Suns send Kurt Thomas and two first round picks for one second round pick
by seattlebruin on Feb 15, 2011 3:13 PM PST up reply actions
Is it snowing up in Seattle?
Portland/Vancouver is getting a nice white coating this morning.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 16, 2011 8:18 AM PST reply actions
We're supposed to be too warm the next few days, so the most we are to get is a mix.
I think the foothills and over 500 feet are supposed to get some on thurs night.
is it sticking where you are?
I rode through what appeared to be a snowpocalypse this morning but nothing is sticking at all and now it looks to be mostly rain.
It sticking to trees/planting strips/cars, but not roads.
And it’s still coming down pretty hard right now.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 16, 2011 8:43 AM PST up reply actions
Ok, this is pretty good.
Drayer has started a new ST feature … Shawn Kelley’s I’m Gonna Take Your Job
He seems to have a nice dry sense of humor
and the Kintuky accent doesn’t hurt. I noticed it on the bullpen banter segments last season …
I'm sort of sad this isn't a Goodfeathers clip.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
I would have thought that simple prompt would have been enough
I guess I should have added “Funny like a clown, like he amuses you?”
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 12:30 PM PST up reply actions
Amazing ideas. A penalty box in baseball where an ejected player must go while his team plays with eight guys.
I want to sign Shawn Kelley to a 10-year contract.
I love the penalty box idea.
Is that the light at the end of the tunnel, or the headlights of an oncoming train?
The Posies are a band that I've always been curious about, but have never given them a listen.
Can anybody recommend a starting point?
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 16, 2011 9:45 AM PST reply actions
I really, really like their first album, Failure
Beyond that, they’re sort of hit and miss for me – their next record, Dear 23, was pretty good but then they sorta started to over-orchestrate a little bit and kinda lost me. But definitely those two are good places to start.
Side note: In all of my Seattle “grunge”-era show going days, I saw many, many heavy, mosh-pit-inciting bands. Nirvana, the Melvins, Steel Pole Bath Tub, Soundgarden, Flipper, you name it I saw them, in most cases many times. And never once, in all my years of either being in said mosh pits as a young’un or standing just outside them as a jaded old man watching the show, did I ever injure myself.
EXCEPT!
One night at a Posies show at RKCNDY, I was standing about two people back from the mosh pit. A mosh pit. At a POSIES show. C’mon, Seattle, knock it off. Anyway, I’m standing there, minding my business and watching the show, and all of a sudden BOOM I get a boot-shod foot right in my face. I had a silver-dollar sized shiner under my right eye for a week and I had to explain to people that I got it at a Posies show, which prompted lots of laughter from my more metal-inclined friends.
Any songs you could link to that are particularly good?
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 16, 2011 10:02 AM PST up reply actions
The Posies love guitar solos. It's not THAT crazy.
They’re a weird combination of pure, melodic 2:30-of-Byrds-y-harmonies and Dinosaur Jr riffage.
Anyway, I think pdb’s got it about right. Failure’s cool, and a lot of people love Frosting on the Beater (which is much more of a rawk record than Dear 23 or Failure). I don’t know; to me, they’re a band that’s made a ton of good songs and a bunch of so-so albums. That’s not terribly rare, damning or anything – just an observation.
I just didn't see a Posies show as being particularly mosh-pit inclined, but there it was
Anyway, to get back to Phil’s question, I can’t really link to anything other than Amazon while at work but here’s the Failure page. Check out “The Longest Line” and “I May Hate You Sometimes” for a good representative of their sounds.
I think marc summed it up well – the Posies are a perfect example of a band who can be easily appreciated via a best-of compilation without having to own entire albums not named Failure. Here’s one! From that one, check out Suddenly Mary, another great little pop song.
It's...pretty good.
‘Dream all Day’ got so much airplay and while I’m not against really simple songs getting attention/credit, I was always a bit annoyed that THAT’S what got them some notoriety.
I should probably read the subposts before responding.
Glad to see there are others that suggested Frosting on the Beater.
I'll echo pdb's suggestions and add that you can usually find Success and Frosting on the Beater in the cutout bins.
Both are definitely worth picking up if you can find them for under $5. Neither album is thoroughly great (although Success doesn’t have any skippable tracks) but there are some pretty solid songs on each.
Ewwwww
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
It was the start of a very long chain of wrong that night.
In my concert-goin defense, they were performing at my high school and tickets were $7 for students.
Half the school showed up, most were drunk, and uncoordinated crowd-surfing and mosh-pitting ensued.
Over the course of my life Mark Arm has bought me three beers and one Off Ramp fifty cent hash breakfast
I really like Mark Arm, although I don’t really know him that well.
Off Ramp fifty cent breakfast?
I’m curious what this is…
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Back when El Corazon was still the Off Ramp
they did a “Fifty Cent Hash After The Bash” which was basically a big pile of scrambled eggs and potatoes, that they’d serve from steam tables as you were walking out after the show. So you’d basically drink all night, have fun at the show, get hungry, and with the 50 cents left over in your pocket you could get some good greasy food to sop up some of that booze with. It was usually eaten either standing on the sidewalk or sitting on the curb.
Too awesome.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Damn, a fried egg sandwich sounds good too.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Many a night we scarfed down the hash and then stopped at Dick's on the way back up the hill
I don’t know if they still do but it used to be the case that if you got to Dick’s right before they closed they’d give you a bunch of free food in addition to what you paid for.
Man, I miss having a young person’s metabolism.
I can't wait for them to open the Dick's in Edmonds this summer.
I know where I’ll be stopping on the way home!
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
I have never been hurt in a mosh pit either.
EXCEPT!
This one time I was at a show where I didn’t expect for there to be a mosh pit and I was standing on the outside of it. I got knocked down and someone else fell on me and landed on my elbow just right and it got dislocated. Ugh.
Yeah, I caught that one as it came out.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
Same, I think
At least, when I rec’d it it showed “2” next to it
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 1:57 PM PST up reply actions
I genuinely think Arsenal can win this leg
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 16, 2011 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
They don't seem to be making Barcelona sweat too much at this point
they’re playing reasonably well but they’re also playing at about the extent of their ability, and Barcelona doesn’t look particularly troubled right now. Anything can happen, I guess, but from what I’ve seen so far I would be totally thrilled with only being down 1-0.
Well, what I will say is that I think Arsene>Pep, so I think the second half could still be interesting.
In reality though, I’d have to think Arsenal will need at least three to have a chance of taking it on aggregate.
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 16, 2011 12:37 PM PST up reply actions
I have absolutely zero hope that they will win over two legs
and while I agree with you about Arsene v Pep, I just think Barcelona has a much more finished-product type squad. if Arsenal could hold on to their current squad in its entirety and let them grow and develop together, in two years they could and would be where Barcelona are now, but obviously that’s never going to happen.
Honestly at this point no fan of any team in the world should expect to beat Barca over two legs.
At least this way Arsenal can concentrate more on the league and the absolutely crucial, you’d better not fuck this up goddammit business of winning the League Cup.
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 16, 2011 12:48 PM PST up reply actions
I would so much rather win the league than the League Cup
the one benefit to winning the league cup is that people would finally STFU about THIS TEAM NEVER WINS ANYTHING WAAAAAAAAAH, entirely forgetting that they are largely the same people who three years ago said I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE LEAGUE CUP IT’S A WASTE OF TIME.
The one benefit to winning the League Cup is fuck you Birmingham City
Although the idea of Birmingham playing in European competition is hilarious to me
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 16, 2011 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
I have no opinion one way or the other re: Birmingham City so the league cup still means nothing to me
But as I’ve seen with Sp*rs this week, be careful what you wish for as far as Europe because apparently the broken clock is actually right twice a day!
SAMIR NASRI IS OURS AND YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM
I really didn’t think he’d be this good this season but oh lordy am I glad he is!
I cannot think of a better RW in the leauge
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 16, 2011 1:27 PM PST up reply actions
Well I guess he's not really a RW but you get my point
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 16, 2011 1:29 PM PST up reply actions
And he plays on the left.
I’ll shut up now
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 16, 2011 1:29 PM PST up reply actions
What an insane season
Losing to West Brom
Giving up three second half goals to Sp*rs
Losing a four goal lead to Newcastle
Beating the best team in the universe
It’s amazing how that last one kinda cancels out the other three right now.
OK, I'll bite. What's with this new spelling of Spurs? What vowel is too hot for a LL comment section?
Congratulations on the win, honestly. I’m…speechless by that result. I obviously can’t taunt Arsenal now, and saying that you’ll lose at the Nou Camp would be petty and stupid. Impressive stuff, esp. considering the start.
I was just feeling particularly rivalry-centric today and didn't feel about spelling the whole word out
I’m pretty speechless too, honestly, and Arsenal could go to the Nou Camp and lose 64-0 and I wouldn’t care at this point.
I figured I'd have more time to ride the fact that Spurs went to Milan and won.
Guess not.
Anyway, is this dropping-the-u thing common? What’s accomplished by this? Arsen*l. Ars*nal. I don’t get it.
It's like it's a swear.
See Y*nk**s, P*rtl*and, etc.
by Aaron Campeau on Feb 17, 2011 6:10 AM PST up reply actions
Has anyone ever had California "Earthquake" chips?
They have some in our snack tray here at work, and they look interesting.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
They're just chips. I got them once and I don't remember them being anything special. Not bad though.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
So they're something like Tim's Cascade, but from California (or named for California)?
If so, I’m not going to waste two dollars on a little bag.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
I can't find a solid release date on Breaking Bad season 3 DVD. Anyone know?
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 12:29 PM PST reply actions
They typically release the DVDs only a week or two before the new season debuts.
I would imagine they’ll be released sometime in late June.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 16, 2011 12:33 PM PST up reply actions
They always do it though
I don’t really get it either, but it’s probably got something to do with boosting ratings for the TV show by getting people reacquainted with the last season on DVD.
It's also almost impossible to blast through a whole season in the week or two before the new season starts.
The user formerly known as Phildopip
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 16, 2011 1:41 PM PST up reply actions
True, though I did that with season 1 and most of season 2 of BB
I was laid up sick from a Sunday to a Tuesday and got through about 15 episodes worth. Hooray for illness-induced insomnia!
For real though, it makes no sense to release within 2 weeks of the new seasons starting. What about a full-season, hour-long show such as House? They released the most recent season on the Tuesday before the show started back up. It allows for just 6 days to complete roughly 18 hours of television.
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 1:55 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe they're thinking advertising will boost viewers and sales
But that seems like a weak argument.
Release it 3-4 weeks ahead and advertise the shit out of it
I like that AMC usually does marathons of previous seasons in the month or so ahead of a season premiere, generally in the correct time-slot to allow people to get back in the swing of things
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
Bullshit I could do that easy.
So long as it’s not coming via Netflix.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 16, 2011 4:15 PM PST up reply actions
I remember when I was neflixing Sopranos.
If the disc was 187 minutes long, I would be done with it in 187 minutes flat.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 4:35 PM PST up reply actions
After a certain point, even I will skip the intro from time to time.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
Yeah, HBO opening credits are great, by and large, but too long during a TV binge.
Sex and the City & Entourage have awful credits but The Sopranos, Big Love, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, and Rome all had neat credits.
The only opening credits I like more are Dexter’s. Those are just wonderfully apt for the show.
UGH!! I just finished season 2 last night and crushed out the last 6 episodes.
I can’t wait that long!!!
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 3:11 PM PST up reply actions
Usually within a week or two of the next season starting
They haven’t announce that yet though, so that’s probably why you’re having trouble finding a release date. Probably July or so
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/37959650280341504
Source: #Cardinals’ offer would have given Pujols about 10th-highest salary in game. Likely translates to $19M-$21M per. #MLB about 1 hour ago via web
Yeah, If I was Albert Pujols and the Cardinal’s best offer was 7/150 I’d tell them to fuck off, too.
No kidding
I get the thinking from them that 10 years is huge, but he just wants his money. He deserves to be the highest paid player in the game and that offer, if true, is nearly insulting
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
If I were the Cardinals FO I'd pretty much hand Pujols the key to the stadium and say "It's yours, what else do you want"?
I can’t believe they’re lowballing him at this point.
It would seem like you'd almost have to do that if your St Louis.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
St. Louis Gives Cardinals Star Albert Pujols Working Key To The City
In an effort to entice the talented slugger to re-sign with the Cardinals, city officials have presented Pujols with a key that unlocks every door in the greater St. Louis area to use as he sees fit.
http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/video/st-louis-gives-cardinals-star-albert-pujols-workin,18749/
by Eyebrows on Feb 16, 2011 1:22 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
"We have a daughter. 17 and Willing!!"
Unbelievable.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 3:12 PM PST up reply actions
Huh.
Apparently 710 and Cashman parted ways last night. No word as to why, or if it was “a mutual thing”
Weird
I was wondering why Pitman was co-hosting for Groz
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
Cashman was on 710?
The guy from the Taco Time ads?
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
No, the awesome guy from Almost Live who then went on to do Taco Time ads
KIDS THESE DAYS DON’T KNOW THEIR HISTORY
by pdb on Feb 16, 2011 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Kids reference to Thingray.
Meanwhile, Matthew and other people in the mid-20s age group have made Almost Live! references in the past.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
Yes, I could have gone back to Almost Live! but I'm hungry and Taco Time came to mind.
Get off my lawn.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
WHY THE HELL AM I NOT AT HOME THEN?!?
My damn kids better not eat my tacos.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
From what you've told us,
free tacos showing up on the lawn may be the only way they’d be able to feed themselves.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Feb 16, 2011 1:00 PM PST up reply actions
You have a point.
GO GET THE TACOS BOYS!! No.. Not.. Don’t eat the birdbath, GET THE TACOS!! Hey! What the?!? Oh nevermind…
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
Oh hell, he's just gonna float around out there all day!
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
One of my favorite episodes
I say “do what now” all the time, usually after giving instructions to somebody that doesn’t seem to be paying attention
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 2:05 PM PST up reply actions
Any episode where Meatwad kicks Shake's ass is good.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
I miss Taco Time so much.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
I'm assuming you've moved, because they're still around.
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
East coast ):
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
Not that Cashman
Although I think there may be a relation
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
What time slot was he in?
"I've seen prison breaks with more organization and cooperation than this"
He was producer (?) for Brock and Salk in the morning
And then was essentially a co-host for The Groz
by tootthekazoo on Feb 16, 2011 1:16 PM PST up reply actions
Wonder if 710 decided there was a conflict with the MSN gig
“Chris also brings listeners his unique brand of humor as the Co Host & Producer for “The Groz” on ESPN radio in the Northwest. He has produced the last 4 Emmy Award Galas for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, as well as the Puget Sound Radio Broadcasting Association "Soundie" Awards show. Chris recently became the host of “Business on Main” on MSN"
WOW.
This is one of those things that so few people will “get” but thats amazing.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 3:14 PM PST up reply actions
I had never seen Geoff Baker speak before until he started the "Around the Blogosphere" segment.
I think this nailed it. Interesting to see where it goes from here.
by Kenneth Arthur on Feb 16, 2011 4:08 PM PST up reply actions
Looks like Beaker with new hair.
"Making hitmen legal would really help the unemployment rate."-Thingray
I loved his tweet about the commenter who said Mitch Albom was a great writer.
" Commenter called Mitch Albom “one of the greatest writers of all time.” This is me: http://tinyurl.com/2agzjzg "
by Mariner John on Feb 16, 2011 8:48 PM PST up reply actions
Bahahaha - I love how Haiti is now longer a country or place but is simply a natural disaster.
IBM’s head of corporate responsibility on why Watson’s winnings on Jeopardy today will go to World Vision: “they are an outstanding humanitarian organization that we have worked with in Haiti and other natural disasters.”
Does anybody know how to delete an SBN account?
by DrunkAmerican on Feb 19, 2011 1:18 AM PST reply actions
I'd try asking this in the new off-topic.
And I’d also try sending an e-mail to SBNation’s tech support.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 19, 2011 1:37 AM PST up reply actions
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