HANNITY: The news today brings a clear foreign policy victory for the Bush administration. But will the press report it that way? Joining us now for analysis, former ambassador to the U.N. and a Fox News contributor, John Bolton. What do you think this means?
BOLTON: I think it’s actually a clear victory for North Korea. They gain enormous political legitimacy…In return, we get precious little. I think this is North Korea demonstrating again that they can out-negotiate the U.S. without raising a sweat.
HANNITY: Boy I tell you they’ve done it time and time again, and I’m sorta perplexed, Mr. Ambassador, to understand why we keep going back to the well knowing that they haven’t kept the agreements in the past. Whatever happened to Reagan’s “trust but verify”?
(via Think Progress)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Making eye-babies
I can't tell if this is funny or scary.
Even couples who are not talking or touching can be reprimanded. Sabrina Poirier, a student at Pensacola who withdrew in 1997, was disciplined for what is known on the campus as "optical intercourse" — staring too intently into the eyes of a member of the opposite sex. This is also referred to as "making eye babies." While the rule does not appear in written form, most students interviewed for this article were familiar with the concept.
There's a whole lot more. And these people are running the government....
Even couples who are not talking or touching can be reprimanded. Sabrina Poirier, a student at Pensacola who withdrew in 1997, was disciplined for what is known on the campus as "optical intercourse" — staring too intently into the eyes of a member of the opposite sex. This is also referred to as "making eye babies." While the rule does not appear in written form, most students interviewed for this article were familiar with the concept.
There's a whole lot more. And these people are running the government....
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Pro-life politicians for abortion!
Well, yeah, this is no real surprise.
But you really have to love it. Especially when the local "Right to Life" chapter whose endorsement you were seeking publishes this:
Of course, I think all of these people are off-base, but the in-fighting, the sunlight on the wingnut hypocrisy, everything about this story is just delicious.
(h/t Jezebel)
But you really have to love it. Especially when the local "Right to Life" chapter whose endorsement you were seeking publishes this:
Of course, I think all of these people are off-base, but the in-fighting, the sunlight on the wingnut hypocrisy, everything about this story is just delicious.
(h/t Jezebel)
There is hope in the world, however
More pictures here.
Wow. A genuine standing O for the people who devote themselves to projects like this. Wonderful.
UPDATE: Test driving the wheels for the first time.
Best earworm ever. Or worst. I'm not sure.
You know when you hear a tune and you don't know what the song called? And to make it worse, you know the parody lyrics?
Well, that's the tune the ice-cream truck around here uses. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday night.
So here I am, working late, and all I can think is:
Do your boobs hang low?
Do they woggle to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Aaaaaaaaaaah!
Anyway, here are the rest of the words, because I like to share. Misery loves company, after all.
Do your boobs hang low?
Do they woggle to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder
Like a bag that has a boulder?
Do your boobs hang low?
Do your boobs sit high?
Do they point up to the sky?
Do they wrinkle when they're cold?
Do they turn on every guy?
Do you wave them at your lover?
Do they run and look for cover?
Do your boobs sit high?
Do your boobs flop wide?
Do they flap from side to side?
Do they wave in the breeze
From the slightest little tease?
Do they pop from your brassiere?
When you drive, do they like to steer?
Do your boobs flop wide?
Well, that's the tune the ice-cream truck around here uses. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday night.
So here I am, working late, and all I can think is:
Do your boobs hang low?
Do they woggle to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Aaaaaaaaaaah!
Anyway, here are the rest of the words, because I like to share. Misery loves company, after all.
Do your boobs hang low?
Do they woggle to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder
Like a bag that has a boulder?
Do your boobs hang low?
Do your boobs sit high?
Do they point up to the sky?
Do they wrinkle when they're cold?
Do they turn on every guy?
Do you wave them at your lover?
Do they run and look for cover?
Do your boobs sit high?
Do your boobs flop wide?
Do they flap from side to side?
Do they wave in the breeze
From the slightest little tease?
Do they pop from your brassiere?
When you drive, do they like to steer?
Do your boobs flop wide?
And another one
Another dead woman soldier. Pregnant, found in a motel.
I put the odds at 100% that she was killed by the man who knocked her up, and 98% that he is a fellow soldier.
I'm also sure she also told someone, someone, that she has been afraid of his behavior lately. Maybe a friend, maybe she went to a superior.
Let's see what happens.
I put the odds at 100% that she was killed by the man who knocked her up, and 98% that he is a fellow soldier.
I'm also sure she also told someone, someone, that she has been afraid of his behavior lately. Maybe a friend, maybe she went to a superior.
Let's see what happens.
The gardeners are Mexican though...
Holy emmer-effing d-bag.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the Oval Office. We have just had a very constructive dialogue. First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine-Americans. They love America and they love their heritage. And I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes.
PRESIDENT BUSH: And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the Oval Office. We have just had a very constructive dialogue. First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine-Americans. They love America and they love their heritage. And I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes.
PRESIDENT BUSH: And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Incompetence defined
Only the Bush administration would start an Arab-language propaganda machine news network, and staff it with people who have no background in TV, broadcasting, and the Middle East.
Are you really surprised it's not just a failure, but a full-blown tragicomic disaster?
Are you really surprised it's not just a failure, but a full-blown tragicomic disaster?
Sunday, June 22, 2008
I don't understand your crazy moon language
From Pete Abraham's baseball blog:
Interim Mets manager Jerry Manuel laughed about the temper tantrum Jose Reyes threw when he took him out of the game on Tuesday to protect his hamstring. "I told him the next time he does that, I'm going to get my blade out and cut him, right on the field," Manuel said. "Hey, I'm a gangsta now. You go gangsta on me, I'm gonna have to get you now." Everybody laughed. But right-wing gossip monger Matt Drudge didn't get it. The headline on his Web site the next day said only, "New NY Mets manager threatens to stab a star player."
Interim Mets manager Jerry Manuel laughed about the temper tantrum Jose Reyes threw when he took him out of the game on Tuesday to protect his hamstring. "I told him the next time he does that, I'm going to get my blade out and cut him, right on the field," Manuel said. "Hey, I'm a gangsta now. You go gangsta on me, I'm gonna have to get you now." Everybody laughed. But right-wing gossip monger Matt Drudge didn't get it. The headline on his Web site the next day said only, "New NY Mets manager threatens to stab a star player."
Fuck. You.
From the Dark Wraith (by e-mail).
Senate Housing Bill Requires eBay, Amazon, Google, and All Credit Card Companies to Report Transactions to the Government
It's time to burn this motherfucker down.
News like this is also why I don't understand how people fall for Obama's "hope" and "change" shit. Even if he personally is pure of heart and intent {snort}, the main problem lies with the other fucking 535 douchnozzles.
Senate Housing Bill Requires eBay, Amazon, Google, and All Credit Card Companies to Report Transactions to the Government
It's time to burn this motherfucker down.
News like this is also why I don't understand how people fall for Obama's "hope" and "change" shit. Even if he personally is pure of heart and intent {snort}, the main problem lies with the other fucking 535 douchnozzles.
Army Pride
Another of countless women soldiers the military failed to protect from a predatory male soldier. And, of course, another coverup exposed.
Jezebel writes:
Army Specialist Kamisha Block died last summer in what the Army officially characterized as a non-combat incident and told her family was a case of "friendly fire." Well, if by "friendly" they meant "deliberately killed by a fellow soldier that had been abusing her without punishment to date" and by "fire" they meant "shot her five times and then killed himself," then it was an honest assessment of the situation. Otherwise, they just straight out lied to cover up the fact that the Army failed to protect one of its soldiers from domestic abuse and then lied to cover up the end result of their not-benign neglect.
America has truly lost its way under GOP reign.
Jezebel writes:
Army Specialist Kamisha Block died last summer in what the Army officially characterized as a non-combat incident and told her family was a case of "friendly fire." Well, if by "friendly" they meant "deliberately killed by a fellow soldier that had been abusing her without punishment to date" and by "fire" they meant "shot her five times and then killed himself," then it was an honest assessment of the situation. Otherwise, they just straight out lied to cover up the fact that the Army failed to protect one of its soldiers from domestic abuse and then lied to cover up the end result of their not-benign neglect.
America has truly lost its way under GOP reign.
Fun reads
I re-discovered the "Overheard..." site this weekend, and have been laughing my ass off at these people's general stupidity. Good times.
Overheard In New York
Overheard At The Beach
Overheard At The Office
Overheard In New York
Overheard At The Beach
Overheard At The Office
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Ozzie and Lou. Rapping. Really.
Local commercials are the best. And by best, I mean worst. And by worst, I mean awesome.
Brilliant
As Posnanski always is.
Seriously, you need to read this guy. You don't even have to care about sports. You need to read this guy.
On Tiger.
UPDATE: Someone in comments there posted this link, about Tiger's days playing at the Navy course with his father. Some people just don't deserve to live. I think Tiger should go buy that course and make it "Black Only." Just for shits and giggles.
Seriously, you need to read this guy. You don't even have to care about sports. You need to read this guy.
On Tiger.
UPDATE: Someone in comments there posted this link, about Tiger's days playing at the Navy course with his father. Some people just don't deserve to live. I think Tiger should go buy that course and make it "Black Only." Just for shits and giggles.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Big Battle
Driving home the other day, this song came up in a shuffle:
Johnny Cash, The Big Battle
I think sir the battle is over
And the young soldier laid down his gun
I'm tired of running for cover
I'm certain the battle is done
For see over there where we fought them
It's quiet for they've all gone away
All left is the dead and the dying
The Blue laying long side the Gray
So you think the battle is over
And you even lay down your gun
You carelessly rise from your cover
For you think the battle is done
Now boy hit the dirt listen to me
For I'm still the one in command
Get flat on the ground here beside me
And lay your ear hard to the sand
Can you hear the deafening rumble
Can you feel the trembling ground
It's not just the horses and wagons
That make such a deafening sound
For every shot fired had an echo
And every man killed wanted life
There lies your friend Jim McKenney
Can you take the news to his wife
No son the battle's not over
The battle has only begun
The rest of the battle will cover
The part that has blackened the sun
The fight yet to come's not with cannon
Nor will the fight be hand to hand
No one will regroup the forces
No charge will a general command
The battle will rage in the bosom
Of mother and sweetheart and wife
Brother and sister and daughter
Will grieve for the rest of their lives
Now go ahead rise from your cover
Be thankful that God let you live
Go fight the rest of the battle
For those who gave all they could give
I see sir the battle's not over
The battle has only begun
The rest of the battle will cover
This part that has blackened the sun
For though there's no sound of the cannon
And though there's no smoke in the sky
I'm dropping the gun and the sabre
And ready for battle am I
One of my favorites of his, but it's been at least a year since I've heard it. I was floored all over again. How brilliantly does this expose the folly, and the permanence, of war? I got chills.
On top of that, the timing was perfect. Of the last couple days, Atrios and TBogg have been pounding on Michael Gerson, one of the chief marketers of our Grand Iraqi Adventure. Now that he's done coming up with catchy slogans for killing brown people, he's moved on to the more fertile pastures of wingnut handwringing over the "vulgarity" of media and entertainment and political commentary. Yes, you read that correctly. A rethuglican getting his panties all in a bunch over incivility in politics.
These three posts cover it quite well, I think.
Johnny Cash, The Big Battle
I think sir the battle is over
And the young soldier laid down his gun
I'm tired of running for cover
I'm certain the battle is done
For see over there where we fought them
It's quiet for they've all gone away
All left is the dead and the dying
The Blue laying long side the Gray
So you think the battle is over
And you even lay down your gun
You carelessly rise from your cover
For you think the battle is done
Now boy hit the dirt listen to me
For I'm still the one in command
Get flat on the ground here beside me
And lay your ear hard to the sand
Can you hear the deafening rumble
Can you feel the trembling ground
It's not just the horses and wagons
That make such a deafening sound
For every shot fired had an echo
And every man killed wanted life
There lies your friend Jim McKenney
Can you take the news to his wife
No son the battle's not over
The battle has only begun
The rest of the battle will cover
The part that has blackened the sun
The fight yet to come's not with cannon
Nor will the fight be hand to hand
No one will regroup the forces
No charge will a general command
The battle will rage in the bosom
Of mother and sweetheart and wife
Brother and sister and daughter
Will grieve for the rest of their lives
Now go ahead rise from your cover
Be thankful that God let you live
Go fight the rest of the battle
For those who gave all they could give
I see sir the battle's not over
The battle has only begun
The rest of the battle will cover
This part that has blackened the sun
For though there's no sound of the cannon
And though there's no smoke in the sky
I'm dropping the gun and the sabre
And ready for battle am I
One of my favorites of his, but it's been at least a year since I've heard it. I was floored all over again. How brilliantly does this expose the folly, and the permanence, of war? I got chills.
On top of that, the timing was perfect. Of the last couple days, Atrios and TBogg have been pounding on Michael Gerson, one of the chief marketers of our Grand Iraqi Adventure. Now that he's done coming up with catchy slogans for killing brown people, he's moved on to the more fertile pastures of wingnut handwringing over the "vulgarity" of media and entertainment and political commentary. Yes, you read that correctly. A rethuglican getting his panties all in a bunch over incivility in politics.
These three posts cover it quite well, I think.
I, too, am aware...
Very "inside baseball" but very very funny.
Start here. Then go here. Then here. There are other links throughout the comment threads there.
Shakesville's contributors have joined in: Chet, Jeff, Melissa.
UPDATE: Game. Over.
Another winner.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Boom Boom (out go the Lakers)
Wow. Just wow. I see the Celtics decided to stop fucking around!
What a great way to end this thing. The first five games were always compelling and frequently thrilling, but there's something to be said for complete and utter domination too.
The Celtics just manhandled the Lakers tonight (HEY NOW!), and are about to wrap up the NBA championship with a 40 point win in game 6.
Congrats go out to Garnett and Pierce, who have truly earned this with their service in the league. Unfortunately, the Celtics are now stuck with Doc Pierce for a few more years.
This celebration is pretty freakin' cool.KG is going insane. KG is acting normally.
But of course, I'm annoyed right now. Look, I love Michelle Tafoya, she is really good at her job when her job is talking sports. She and Tirico and Van Pelt have a fantastic rapport when they do radio together. She knows her shit, and she's smart and funny. But I HATE this sideline/halftime nonsense. She's trying to ask KG questions, and all he wants to do is celebrate and throw all those fucking monkeys off his back. Let it be, dammit! Do you really need to ask him "how it feels?" You know exactly how "it feels" - he just screamed "yeah motherfucker yeeeargh" (paraphrasing here) at the top of his lungs on live television. (Props to the bleep guy.) Let. It. Be. But no, she has to try again. Guuuuuhhhhhhhh.
Wait a minute... David Stern does not know how to pronounce the word champion?!?! "Cham-peen?" Really? A commissioner of a major sport can't fucking pronounce CHAMPION?!?!?! It's going to take me days to get over this.
They got the MVP choice right, not that there was any doubt. Trooooooooooooth!
What a great way to end this thing. The first five games were always compelling and frequently thrilling, but there's something to be said for complete and utter domination too.
The Celtics just manhandled the Lakers tonight (HEY NOW!), and are about to wrap up the NBA championship with a 40 point win in game 6.
Congrats go out to Garnett and Pierce, who have truly earned this with their service in the league. Unfortunately, the Celtics are now stuck with Doc Pierce for a few more years.
This celebration is pretty freakin' cool.
But of course, I'm annoyed right now. Look, I love Michelle Tafoya, she is really good at her job when her job is talking sports. She and Tirico and Van Pelt have a fantastic rapport when they do radio together. She knows her shit, and she's smart and funny. But I HATE this sideline/halftime nonsense. She's trying to ask KG questions, and all he wants to do is celebrate and throw all those fucking monkeys off his back. Let it be, dammit! Do you really need to ask him "how it feels?" You know exactly how "it feels" - he just screamed "yeah motherfucker yeeeargh" (paraphrasing here) at the top of his lungs on live television. (Props to the bleep guy.) Let. It. Be. But no, she has to try again. Guuuuuhhhhhhhh.
Wait a minute... David Stern does not know how to pronounce the word champion?!?! "Cham-peen?" Really? A commissioner of a major sport can't fucking pronounce CHAMPION?!?!?! It's going to take me days to get over this.
They got the MVP choice right, not that there was any doubt. Trooooooooooooth!
Suh-WING and a Miss!
My company is moving this summer, to a new city in a different county, so we've being doing as much PR as we can. Always good to get free press. One great decision was to sponsor the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce's "Swing and a Miss" golf tournament.
What a fantastic idea. It's a scramble (of course) for brand new and non-golfers. Everyone has to start somewhere, and if you're not the confident athletic type, going out on a public course with absolutely zero game can be intimidating. (It's also not the best idea if your newbieness means you don't know golf etiquette. It's OK to suck - I do it quite often - just suck fast. That is all I and the other people behind you on the course ask.) Anyway, last year's inaugural event was so well-received that they expanded the field this year and still sold out very quickly.
Since sending 72 clueless people out there to fend for themselves would make for a long afternoon for everyone, the event places a "good" player at every tee box and every green, to help out as necessary. Swing tips, a little cheerleading, a little club advice, putt-reading, etc. Anything to make the event more fun than frustrating for the players. As the representative of the chief sponsor, I got the 9th tee.
I looked the course up online Sunday night, and the card said 146 yards; I threw an 8-iron in my car. I show up yesterday, do the meet-and-greet, and walk out to the tee box so I can get some practice shots in before I'm responsible for getting these hacks somewhere near the green. They point me to the ladies' tee box. Uh oh. I've got my 150-yard club for an 85-yard shot. Oh well. (I should have known better. Totally stupid assumption on my part.) Anyway, I choke down a bit, make a few half-swings, and pretty soon I've got the distance dialed in.
I was having a great time. All manner of people came by. Women who want to play so they can occasionally go out with their boyfriends/husbands, men and women who want to be able to go out for business purposes, and some people just giving the game a test-drive. My favorite group by far was a foursome of women from a locally-headquartered credit union. They were a riot. Filthy, filthy mouths, totally busting on each other. "You've got to choke down on the shaft!" "Go down more!" "Grip it gently." And that was just while the first of the four was on the tee. It got worse.
Then the lightning came...
The horn went off, and we all gathered in the clubhouse for drinks and to watch the US Open playoff. After the Chamber's keg got polished off, the clubhouse manager scored some major bonus point by declaring open bar for an hour while they finished getting dinner ready.
I'm not good in full-on schmoozing situations, so sitting at a table of all strangers would have really sucked. As such, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my company also sent a foursome. Three of my female co-workers and the owner's wife were there (turns out they were on the 8th fairway when the event got called), and we hooked up inside and had a grand old time, drinking beer and generally being obnoxious to each other.
The shortened round aside, a successful event. A nice balance of business and pleasure for all, and who wants to be in the office on a Monday afternoon?
What a fantastic idea. It's a scramble (of course) for brand new and non-golfers. Everyone has to start somewhere, and if you're not the confident athletic type, going out on a public course with absolutely zero game can be intimidating. (It's also not the best idea if your newbieness means you don't know golf etiquette. It's OK to suck - I do it quite often - just suck fast. That is all I and the other people behind you on the course ask.) Anyway, last year's inaugural event was so well-received that they expanded the field this year and still sold out very quickly.
Since sending 72 clueless people out there to fend for themselves would make for a long afternoon for everyone, the event places a "good" player at every tee box and every green, to help out as necessary. Swing tips, a little cheerleading, a little club advice, putt-reading, etc. Anything to make the event more fun than frustrating for the players. As the representative of the chief sponsor, I got the 9th tee.
I looked the course up online Sunday night, and the card said 146 yards; I threw an 8-iron in my car. I show up yesterday, do the meet-and-greet, and walk out to the tee box so I can get some practice shots in before I'm responsible for getting these hacks somewhere near the green. They point me to the ladies' tee box. Uh oh. I've got my 150-yard club for an 85-yard shot. Oh well. (I should have known better. Totally stupid assumption on my part.) Anyway, I choke down a bit, make a few half-swings, and pretty soon I've got the distance dialed in.
I was having a great time. All manner of people came by. Women who want to play so they can occasionally go out with their boyfriends/husbands, men and women who want to be able to go out for business purposes, and some people just giving the game a test-drive. My favorite group by far was a foursome of women from a locally-headquartered credit union. They were a riot. Filthy, filthy mouths, totally busting on each other. "You've got to choke down on the shaft!" "Go down more!" "Grip it gently." And that was just while the first of the four was on the tee. It got worse.
Then the lightning came...
The horn went off, and we all gathered in the clubhouse for drinks and to watch the US Open playoff. After the Chamber's keg got polished off, the clubhouse manager scored some major bonus point by declaring open bar for an hour while they finished getting dinner ready.
I'm not good in full-on schmoozing situations, so sitting at a table of all strangers would have really sucked. As such, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my company also sent a foursome. Three of my female co-workers and the owner's wife were there (turns out they were on the 8th fairway when the event got called), and we hooked up inside and had a grand old time, drinking beer and generally being obnoxious to each other.
The shortened round aside, a successful event. A nice balance of business and pleasure for all, and who wants to be in the office on a Monday afternoon?
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tiger Woods? Why yes, he is the man.*
Of course, the 18-hole playoff for the US Open still wasn't enough to resolve the issue.
It took one extra hole, and one wayward drive by Rocco Mediate (giving the performance of his life), to finally finish things off on the 19th hole of the day.
What an amazing event, and Monday's play just solidified my opinion that this was the best golf event I've ever seen.
And I'm not alone.
*If you are one of the stupid fucks who still thinks "You da man!" is funny or original, or if you yell "Get in the hole" when Tiger - or anyone - is teeing off on a 613-yard par 5, I fucking hate you. This message was brought to you by Angelos, The Arbiter Of All That Is Pure And Good™.
It took one extra hole, and one wayward drive by Rocco Mediate (giving the performance of his life), to finally finish things off on the 19th hole of the day.
What an amazing event, and Monday's play just solidified my opinion that this was the best golf event I've ever seen.
And I'm not alone.
*If you are one of the stupid fucks who still thinks "You da man!" is funny or original, or if you yell "Get in the hole" when Tiger - or anyone - is teeing off on a 613-yard par 5, I fucking hate you. This message was brought to you by Angelos, The Arbiter Of All That Is Pure And Good™.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Soccer, golf deliver stern rebuke to myopic "sports fans"
First, soccer:
For those who remember, the Greek national team won the Euro in 2004, their first ever major tournament win. In what can only be described as a highly improbable run, they beat Portugal and Spain in the group stage, lost to Russia in a meaningless group match, then beat France in the quarters, the Czech Republic in the semis, and Portugal again in the final. My father happened to be visiting at the time of the final, so we PPVed the final match and had a nice heart-attack-inducing 2 hours together.
This year, returning as defending champs, they regressed to the mean and have already been eliminated from knock-out round contention, with a meaningless game against Spain remaining.
I've watched as much as I can, what with not working from home anymore and home projects galore (put the last of the bamboo flooring down this weekend), but I forgot this morning's early game because of all the stuff to do around here.
My brother called me early in the second half of today's Czech Republic - Turkey match though and told me I had to watch, the offenses on both sides were just going nuts. The Czechs had a 2-0 lead, but the Turks had been pressuring and pressuring in a highly entertaining back-and-forth match. Sure enough, after the Czechs had a shot clank off the crossbar instead of going in for what would have been a clinching 3rd goal, the Turks went right down the field and scored to make it 2-1. And man did they keep the pressure up. Chance after chance fell by the wayside, total craziness, until they managed to tie the game with 3 minutes remaining in regulation. I get up to refill my beer, planning on settling in for a PK shootout, and Turkey scores again!!! Amazing. Turkey advances to the knockout stage, the highly-ranked Czechs go home. The ultimate winner, though, was the fan. What a friggin' game.
In other news, this was probably the best weekend of golf I've ever seen. Tiger Woods (perhaps you've heard of him), in his first tournament play since April, sunk a HUGE clutch putt on the last hole to force an 18-hole playoff tomorrow. Why is that anything more than business as usual for Tiger? Well, mainly because he had no business being on that course. He has obviously not fully recovered since the knee surgery he had after the Masters, and
was doubled over in pain after every tee shot, and some of his longer irons - every power shot, really. If this had been any tournament but a major, he wouldn't have been there.
The shots he pulled off Friday and Saturday on the back nine, and the gutty grinding he did on Sunday, made this an even more compelling watch than his 15-stroke destruction of the field at the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2000. There just are no words for this guy that haven't been used ad nauseum already.
I'm quite sure I will never see a man as good at any sport as Tiger Woods is at his.
For those who remember, the Greek national team won the Euro in 2004, their first ever major tournament win. In what can only be described as a highly improbable run, they beat Portugal and Spain in the group stage, lost to Russia in a meaningless group match, then beat France in the quarters, the Czech Republic in the semis, and Portugal again in the final. My father happened to be visiting at the time of the final, so we PPVed the final match and had a nice heart-attack-inducing 2 hours together.
This year, returning as defending champs, they regressed to the mean and have already been eliminated from knock-out round contention, with a meaningless game against Spain remaining.
I've watched as much as I can, what with not working from home anymore and home projects galore (put the last of the bamboo flooring down this weekend), but I forgot this morning's early game because of all the stuff to do around here.
My brother called me early in the second half of today's Czech Republic - Turkey match though and told me I had to watch, the offenses on both sides were just going nuts. The Czechs had a 2-0 lead, but the Turks had been pressuring and pressuring in a highly entertaining back-and-forth match. Sure enough, after the Czechs had a shot clank off the crossbar instead of going in for what would have been a clinching 3rd goal, the Turks went right down the field and scored to make it 2-1. And man did they keep the pressure up. Chance after chance fell by the wayside, total craziness, until they managed to tie the game with 3 minutes remaining in regulation. I get up to refill my beer, planning on settling in for a PK shootout, and Turkey scores again!!! Amazing. Turkey advances to the knockout stage, the highly-ranked Czechs go home. The ultimate winner, though, was the fan. What a friggin' game.
In other news, this was probably the best weekend of golf I've ever seen. Tiger Woods (perhaps you've heard of him), in his first tournament play since April, sunk a HUGE clutch putt on the last hole to force an 18-hole playoff tomorrow. Why is that anything more than business as usual for Tiger? Well, mainly because he had no business being on that course. He has obviously not fully recovered since the knee surgery he had after the Masters, and
was doubled over in pain after every tee shot, and some of his longer irons - every power shot, really. If this had been any tournament but a major, he wouldn't have been there.
The shots he pulled off Friday and Saturday on the back nine, and the gutty grinding he did on Sunday, made this an even more compelling watch than his 15-stroke destruction of the field at the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2000. There just are no words for this guy that haven't been used ad nauseum already.
I'm quite sure I will never see a man as good at any sport as Tiger Woods is at his.
Wait, what year is it again? (part 2)
On ESPN right now, there is a profile of some American chick that's playing for ZOMG RUSSIA's women's basketball team in the Olympics this summer. OK, finally caught her name - Becky Hammon. That sounds familiar. Apparently she plays for the WNBA when that season's on here, then goes to Russia to play for a team in their professional league. She has a citizenship over there too.
The soundbites from the antis are hilarious. Some over-made-up woman with big hair saying "This is bad for her image. She can't be viewed as an All-American girl anymore." Wow. What're the odds that was a pageant mom? 100 to 1? 1000? A former coach (I missed whether it was high school or college) said playing for Russia calls her patriotism into question, another woman calls her a traitor outright. "There's history there!"
OK, Russia is a country now. This ain't your daddy's CCCP ladies. Sure, it's run by a murderous, petty little tyrant (just like the US!), but come on! In the last 15 years, has any of you really thought about Russia the same way you used to in the early 80s? If so, might I ask: "What the hell is wrong with you?" You're 45 years old, you should know better!
This lack of the ability to adapt to new information puzzles me. It's the calling card of a Bush voter, though, I can tell you that much.
UPDATE:Video is available. Not the complete segment, but enough.
Well, no more video. But here's a good link with the full story, and the absolutely pathetic quotes by the Team USA coach.
The soundbites from the antis are hilarious. Some over-made-up woman with big hair saying "This is bad for her image. She can't be viewed as an All-American girl anymore." Wow. What're the odds that was a pageant mom? 100 to 1? 1000? A former coach (I missed whether it was high school or college) said playing for Russia calls her patriotism into question, another woman calls her a traitor outright. "There's history there!"
OK, Russia is a country now. This ain't your daddy's CCCP ladies. Sure, it's run by a murderous, petty little tyrant (just like the US!), but come on! In the last 15 years, has any of you really thought about Russia the same way you used to in the early 80s? If so, might I ask: "What the hell is wrong with you?" You're 45 years old, you should know better!
This lack of the ability to adapt to new information puzzles me. It's the calling card of a Bush voter, though, I can tell you that much.
UPDATE:
Well, no more video. But here's a good link with the full story, and the absolutely pathetic quotes by the Team USA coach.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Something about cats and dogs
I am home. And not to be too dramatic about it – awww fuck it, why not – I am alive.
Holy motherfucking shit, that was without a doubt the most rain, and the strongest storm, I have ever witnessed. Heavy sheets of rain that shook the truck and rendered the wipers (at high speed) a joke. Huge chunks of ice, along with who knows what else, pelting me so fast and hard it seemed like a machine gun was being fired inside the vehicle.
Ridiculously strong swirling winds levitating branches and leaves and random trash like magic.
Oh, did I neglect to mention the tornado warnings? After we came to a full stop on the Northway, about half the cars pulled over, and the rest of us chugged along at 5-10mph, because why the hell not? It's got to end sometime. And I'm sitting there there wondering whether a tornado will come and take me to Kansas. Because that's just my fucking luck. I have a positive outlook like that.
Called the wife, no answer at home. (I can't see 15 feet ahead of me, but Verizon Wireless: 5 bars. I can hear you now.) Left a message. You know, "I my be dead soon, I love you." (OK, maybe not that melodramatic.) Got her on her cell phone at the liquor store, in Saratoga it was just rain. OK, that just makes my decision to keep moving smarter. Sure enough a few miles later, the sky changed from depths-of-Hades black to a nice gloomy gray, the hail stopped, and we got up to 40mph or so. Then 60! Woo hoo! Suck on that, sky!
Awesome in every sense of the word. I wish I had a dash-mounted camera, so I could share.
Holy motherfucking shit, that was without a doubt the most rain, and the strongest storm, I have ever witnessed. Heavy sheets of rain that shook the truck and rendered the wipers (at high speed) a joke. Huge chunks of ice, along with who knows what else, pelting me so fast and hard it seemed like a machine gun was being fired inside the vehicle.
Ridiculously strong swirling winds levitating branches and leaves and random trash like magic.
Oh, did I neglect to mention the tornado warnings? After we came to a full stop on the Northway, about half the cars pulled over, and the rest of us chugged along at 5-10mph, because why the hell not? It's got to end sometime. And I'm sitting there there wondering whether a tornado will come and take me to Kansas. Because that's just my fucking luck. I have a positive outlook like that.
Called the wife, no answer at home. (I can't see 15 feet ahead of me, but Verizon Wireless: 5 bars. I can hear you now.) Left a message. You know, "I my be dead soon, I love you." (OK, maybe not that melodramatic.) Got her on her cell phone at the liquor store, in Saratoga it was just rain. OK, that just makes my decision to keep moving smarter. Sure enough a few miles later, the sky changed from depths-of-Hades black to a nice gloomy gray, the hail stopped, and we got up to 40mph or so. Then 60! Woo hoo! Suck on that, sky!
Awesome in every sense of the word. I wish I had a dash-mounted camera, so I could share.
Take the test!
Hey, remember that scanned test from a few weeks ago, rating your spouse?
Someone turned it into a web quiz!
Someone turned it into a web quiz!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
The Human Camera
Got this video from Erica:
That's astounding.
Search for Stephen Wiltshire on YouTube and you'll find him doing the same thing for London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and a couple more.
The human brain is a nutty nutty thing.
That's astounding.
Search for Stephen Wiltshire on YouTube and you'll find him doing the same thing for London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and a couple more.
The human brain is a nutty nutty thing.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Way too cool for me...
Awesome.
Philly again!
Well, here we go again. For the third time in six weeks, heading down
the Northway, onto the lovely Garden State Parkway/Jersey Turnpike.
the Northway, onto the lovely Garden State Parkway/Jersey Turnpike.
Three of us from the job are heading down for the annual STC
conference. By virtue of my last visit, I'm the tour guide this time
around. Gotta hit that BBQ joint again, and I am so looking forward to
the French Toast at the Reading Market.
OK, enough typing on the Q.
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