Thursday, December 30, 2004
The Aviator.
Tonight I saw The Aviator. Leo Dicaprio is a great actor. The movie was pretty enjoyable. Howard Hughes was one of those guys who should probably be more famous than he is today. I get the feeling he was pretty well known back in the 30s and 40s and was kindof that generation's Donald Trump.
The general point of the movie was that Howard Hughes was an innovative thinker who was willing to put his money on the line for what he believed in, but also he was crazy. Literally crazy. The movie doesn't really tell his entire story. From what I know of Howard Hughes, in addition to being influential in Hollywood and even more influential in the airline industry, he was also one of the driving forces in legitimizing Las Vegas and removing the mafia influence. That wasn't even discussed in the film. Also at the end of his life he apparently went from somewhat functionally crazy to absolutely insane. He was shipped to some island where people were supposed to take care of him and didn't so he deteriorated really quickly.
I guess the point of the movie wasn't to show that this guy went insane, but rather that he was an innovative thinker who tended to succeed despite the crazy thing. It ends in sortof an odd place, though. I feel like they didn't tell the whole story.
This didn't feel like a Martin Scorcese picture, though I immediately think of Goodfellas, Raging Bull, and Taxi Driver and not really of much else when I think of Scorcese. All of those movies are quintessentially about New York. Also Gangs of New York was different but felt like Scorcese, and was also about New York. Though I didn't like Gangs of New York at all.
I liked this movie. Definitely you should go see it. Cate Blanchett was absolutely great as Katharine Hepburn (Katharine with an A, interesting). I'll pick her for Best Supporting Actress this year barring someone who's slipping my mind. I can't imagine someone else gave a performance like that one, though. Kate Winslet was really good in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, now that I think of it, but Blanchett gets my vote out of those two. Also Winslet wasn't a supporting actress in that one. Maybe they can both win, like the Special Olympics.
Anyway, good movie, see it, great performances, good cameos and supporting roles, not the best movie ever, but definitely good.
The general point of the movie was that Howard Hughes was an innovative thinker who was willing to put his money on the line for what he believed in, but also he was crazy. Literally crazy. The movie doesn't really tell his entire story. From what I know of Howard Hughes, in addition to being influential in Hollywood and even more influential in the airline industry, he was also one of the driving forces in legitimizing Las Vegas and removing the mafia influence. That wasn't even discussed in the film. Also at the end of his life he apparently went from somewhat functionally crazy to absolutely insane. He was shipped to some island where people were supposed to take care of him and didn't so he deteriorated really quickly.
I guess the point of the movie wasn't to show that this guy went insane, but rather that he was an innovative thinker who tended to succeed despite the crazy thing. It ends in sortof an odd place, though. I feel like they didn't tell the whole story.
This didn't feel like a Martin Scorcese picture, though I immediately think of Goodfellas, Raging Bull, and Taxi Driver and not really of much else when I think of Scorcese. All of those movies are quintessentially about New York. Also Gangs of New York was different but felt like Scorcese, and was also about New York. Though I didn't like Gangs of New York at all.
I liked this movie. Definitely you should go see it. Cate Blanchett was absolutely great as Katharine Hepburn (Katharine with an A, interesting). I'll pick her for Best Supporting Actress this year barring someone who's slipping my mind. I can't imagine someone else gave a performance like that one, though. Kate Winslet was really good in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, now that I think of it, but Blanchett gets my vote out of those two. Also Winslet wasn't a supporting actress in that one. Maybe they can both win, like the Special Olympics.
Anyway, good movie, see it, great performances, good cameos and supporting roles, not the best movie ever, but definitely good.
The Life Aquatic.
Yesterday I went to see The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Wes Anderson really has a very unique style. The thing is that the style that was groundbreaking in Rushmore and done even better in The Royal Tenenbaums is not unexpected here and it sortof feels like he's just copying himself. I guess it's ok if you copy yourself, but he should try and grow a little. The movie was enjoyable, so I don't think I'm complaining. This movie in particular, though, was pretty erratic. The story line was really random and doesn't seem to have a point.
Here's the thing about Wes Anderson movies, you don't really end up caring about his characters. As entertaining as the scenarios are, he emphasizes the things in his characters that are either pseudo-traits that no one actually has to such a great extent or traits that are just completely inhuman. Also he tends to just drop you down in the middle of a situation and without the context there's nothing to care about. I think The Life Aquatic does this to a greater extent than his other movies do. Incidentally, Wes's first film, Bottle Rocket, was pretty random, but wasn't done in the 'signature style' of Wes Anderson.
Bill Murray is awesome. He makes lots of good movies. Only recently has he been considered a real actor, but he's made some great films for a long time, I would say starting with Scrooged and Groundhog Day, where he played real people and not over the top comedic guys. Those roles, like in Stripes or Caddyshack or What About Bob? are also good, but for whatever reason aren't considered to be fine acting. He's equally good in this one, but the combination of Murray's deadpan and Anderson's intended arbitrarity (is that a word?) take something away from the overall effect.
I've not been very definitive. At the end of the day if you like Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, then you will probably like this one too, but I don't think it's as good as those.
Here's the thing about Wes Anderson movies, you don't really end up caring about his characters. As entertaining as the scenarios are, he emphasizes the things in his characters that are either pseudo-traits that no one actually has to such a great extent or traits that are just completely inhuman. Also he tends to just drop you down in the middle of a situation and without the context there's nothing to care about. I think The Life Aquatic does this to a greater extent than his other movies do. Incidentally, Wes's first film, Bottle Rocket, was pretty random, but wasn't done in the 'signature style' of Wes Anderson.
Bill Murray is awesome. He makes lots of good movies. Only recently has he been considered a real actor, but he's made some great films for a long time, I would say starting with Scrooged and Groundhog Day, where he played real people and not over the top comedic guys. Those roles, like in Stripes or Caddyshack or What About Bob? are also good, but for whatever reason aren't considered to be fine acting. He's equally good in this one, but the combination of Murray's deadpan and Anderson's intended arbitrarity (is that a word?) take something away from the overall effect.
I've not been very definitive. At the end of the day if you like Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, then you will probably like this one too, but I don't think it's as good as those.
DVD Commentaries.
Over the Christmas break I've watched a lot of movies. I'm incapable of sleeping late, so instead of sitting in bed, I sit on the couch and watch DVDs. If it's really early I'll put on a movie I know really well and just sleep through a lot of it or put on the commentary and just listen because I can follow without watching.
Paul Anderson's Boogie Nights commentary is one of the best. Another good one is the American Beauty commentary, though it's a bit more reserved than PTA's. The Fight Club commentary with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton is good too. The Napoleon Dynamite commentary is pretty bad. Commentaries are generally bad when the people just watch the movie and say "That was pretty funny" or something like that and don't tell you anything interesting.
I've also watched all the episodes of Freaks and Geeks with the commentaries which are incredible. The exception is the one episode where the only available commentary is by three fans of the show. I ended up watching some of the episodes three times in a row, once without commentary, a second time with the primary commentary, and the third time with the secondary commentary. I definitely watched the Garage Door episode three times. I don't recall watching any of the others three times, actually.
Anyhow, I watched a couple episodes of the Seinfeld DVDs that I got for Christmas. The inside stuff on those is great. There's a small "inside stuff" documentary on a lot of the episodes. I haven't watched any of the commentaries yet, but if Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld do them, then there's no way they can be bad.
Paul Anderson's Boogie Nights commentary is one of the best. Another good one is the American Beauty commentary, though it's a bit more reserved than PTA's. The Fight Club commentary with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton is good too. The Napoleon Dynamite commentary is pretty bad. Commentaries are generally bad when the people just watch the movie and say "That was pretty funny" or something like that and don't tell you anything interesting.
I've also watched all the episodes of Freaks and Geeks with the commentaries which are incredible. The exception is the one episode where the only available commentary is by three fans of the show. I ended up watching some of the episodes three times in a row, once without commentary, a second time with the primary commentary, and the third time with the secondary commentary. I definitely watched the Garage Door episode three times. I don't recall watching any of the others three times, actually.
Anyhow, I watched a couple episodes of the Seinfeld DVDs that I got for Christmas. The inside stuff on those is great. There's a small "inside stuff" documentary on a lot of the episodes. I haven't watched any of the commentaries yet, but if Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld do them, then there's no way they can be bad.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
The year for me.
Since I haven't posted in a couple of days, I decided to steal a post from Joe, which I haven't done in a while, and also from Brian.
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
I visited the Smithsonian, which was very cool. I learned to play some new songs on the guitar.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't have any this year, though I have a couple planned for this year. Short term goals I'd like to be rid of be next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Jenny Dabney, Rebecca Hall.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't believe so.
5. What countries did you visit?
I didn't even leave the East Coast. I didn't leave NY or NJ except when I went to DC for 3 days.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Lower cholesterol and better stamina.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Tuesday, November 30, 2004. The day Ken Jennings lost on Jeopardy! That's a bit facetious, but I couldn't think of an indelibly etched day of this year.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I bought a new apartment, and also I wrote a thesis.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not wrapping up my father's estate, which I must do before it drives me crazy.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from the high cholesterol, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new apartment with a third bedroom which is referred to lovingly as the "baby room", despite the fact that I have no children yet. Someone is trying to tell me something.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Young voters (Republican and Democrat alike) and military personnel. Colin Powell is a stand up guy. Dave Chappelle and John Stewart also get props.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Dubya, Jim McGreevey, the guys who cut off other guys' heads.
14. Where did most of your money go?
To my new apartment and to DVDs. I guess I need a new vice.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I don't know that I'm the really, really, really excited type. I was pretty happy to finish my thesis, even though I didn't work too hard on it. It hung over my head for a semester without me doing a whole lot of work until the last two weeks or so.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
Either "Float On" by Modest Mouse or "Yeah" by Usher. I just like to go "Yayuh, wwwwhhhhattt??, Okaaayyyy" like Dave Chappelle does.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
Equally happy, moderately thinner (not noticeably), and slightly richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise, though I was good over the summer and in the last month or so.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinate.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I hung out with Kathy's family and then I went to Teaneck and hung with the homeboys.
21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
I was already in love, so I suppose not.
22. How many one-night stands?
Zero, though it's still only December 29th.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I love Scrubs, though I always forget to watch it. I also really like The Amazing Race. 24 is great. SportsCenter always delivers. My three favorites, however, are The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Jeopardy!
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't believe so. I can't say that I really hate anybody.
25. What was the best book you read?
East of Eden, by John Steinbeck. The Da Vinci Code was entertaining.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Allman Brothers, 30 years late. Jason Mraz, though I think that was last year. Maroon 5 is good. I don't recall liking a newly popular band in many years, so the Maroon 5 thing kindof surprised me.
27. What did you want and get?
A summer vacation. The first summer since I was 15 that I literally did nothing work related. One of the best things about being a teacher.
28. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to sell my dad's house and other related things, but I didn't. I wanted a Democratic president, not necessarily Kerry, but certainly not Bush.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On my 26th birthday I saw Wicked on Broadway with Kathy. It was awesome.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm fairly satisfied as it is.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Neat clothes, messy hair. From time to time I go for the "cool teacher" look, though that's sortof rare and I usually don't pull it off.
33. What kept you sane?
Reading keeps me sane. It challenges me to think in a world where that's not really required. Also my wife keeps me sane on a few levels. First, she's awesome and second being married makes me not so selfish, which is good.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
John Stewart is literally becoming a hero of mine.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I still don't understand why someone would choose to be a Republican if they don't make upwards of $200,000 a year.
36. Who did you miss?
My father. Also, I don't know if miss is the right word, but I wish that I saw more of my friends, especially Luke, Brian, Dave, and Chris. I see my other friends through playing cards or basketball, but these gies I need to see more often.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I really don't know. I've known Kathy's friend, Nicole, for a long time now, but I realized recently how awesome she is.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
Loving life comes in appreciating the details.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"If you're having girl problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one."
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
I visited the Smithsonian, which was very cool. I learned to play some new songs on the guitar.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't have any this year, though I have a couple planned for this year. Short term goals I'd like to be rid of be next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Jenny Dabney, Rebecca Hall.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't believe so.
5. What countries did you visit?
I didn't even leave the East Coast. I didn't leave NY or NJ except when I went to DC for 3 days.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Lower cholesterol and better stamina.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Tuesday, November 30, 2004. The day Ken Jennings lost on Jeopardy! That's a bit facetious, but I couldn't think of an indelibly etched day of this year.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I bought a new apartment, and also I wrote a thesis.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not wrapping up my father's estate, which I must do before it drives me crazy.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from the high cholesterol, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new apartment with a third bedroom which is referred to lovingly as the "baby room", despite the fact that I have no children yet. Someone is trying to tell me something.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Young voters (Republican and Democrat alike) and military personnel. Colin Powell is a stand up guy. Dave Chappelle and John Stewart also get props.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Dubya, Jim McGreevey, the guys who cut off other guys' heads.
14. Where did most of your money go?
To my new apartment and to DVDs. I guess I need a new vice.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I don't know that I'm the really, really, really excited type. I was pretty happy to finish my thesis, even though I didn't work too hard on it. It hung over my head for a semester without me doing a whole lot of work until the last two weeks or so.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
Either "Float On" by Modest Mouse or "Yeah" by Usher. I just like to go "Yayuh, wwwwhhhhattt??, Okaaayyyy" like Dave Chappelle does.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
Equally happy, moderately thinner (not noticeably), and slightly richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise, though I was good over the summer and in the last month or so.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinate.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I hung out with Kathy's family and then I went to Teaneck and hung with the homeboys.
21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
I was already in love, so I suppose not.
22. How many one-night stands?
Zero, though it's still only December 29th.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I love Scrubs, though I always forget to watch it. I also really like The Amazing Race. 24 is great. SportsCenter always delivers. My three favorites, however, are The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Jeopardy!
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't believe so. I can't say that I really hate anybody.
25. What was the best book you read?
East of Eden, by John Steinbeck. The Da Vinci Code was entertaining.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Allman Brothers, 30 years late. Jason Mraz, though I think that was last year. Maroon 5 is good. I don't recall liking a newly popular band in many years, so the Maroon 5 thing kindof surprised me.
27. What did you want and get?
A summer vacation. The first summer since I was 15 that I literally did nothing work related. One of the best things about being a teacher.
28. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to sell my dad's house and other related things, but I didn't. I wanted a Democratic president, not necessarily Kerry, but certainly not Bush.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On my 26th birthday I saw Wicked on Broadway with Kathy. It was awesome.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm fairly satisfied as it is.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Neat clothes, messy hair. From time to time I go for the "cool teacher" look, though that's sortof rare and I usually don't pull it off.
33. What kept you sane?
Reading keeps me sane. It challenges me to think in a world where that's not really required. Also my wife keeps me sane on a few levels. First, she's awesome and second being married makes me not so selfish, which is good.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
John Stewart is literally becoming a hero of mine.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I still don't understand why someone would choose to be a Republican if they don't make upwards of $200,000 a year.
36. Who did you miss?
My father. Also, I don't know if miss is the right word, but I wish that I saw more of my friends, especially Luke, Brian, Dave, and Chris. I see my other friends through playing cards or basketball, but these gies I need to see more often.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I really don't know. I've known Kathy's friend, Nicole, for a long time now, but I realized recently how awesome she is.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
Loving life comes in appreciating the details.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"If you're having girl problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one."
Saturday, December 25, 2004
I wonder if he got some coal.
So some dad in Pasadena, Texas has these bad kids and after he warned them to be nice to each other and they weren't, he decided to sell their Christmas gifts on eBay.
If you read this in time and you want to buy it you should look at the listing. Good luck, though. Last I checked the high bid was at $1725.
That's some balls displayed by that dad. I don't think I could do that to anyone. If I decided to withhold the presents, then I would just return them or something. I doubt I would even get to the point of withholding the presents, though.
If you read this in time and you want to buy it you should look at the listing. Good luck, though. Last I checked the high bid was at $1725.
That's some balls displayed by that dad. I don't think I could do that to anyone. If I decided to withhold the presents, then I would just return them or something. I doubt I would even get to the point of withholding the presents, though.
Holiday Spirit.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Vince-anity...probably not.
I don't understand the Nets trading for Vince Carter. I think they are just trying to keep Kidd happy, which is a pretty bad strategy for any team to have. Why get rid of K-Mart is who is great and up and coming to sign Vince who, despite his tender age, has already played his best ball? Vince will cost them just as much in the short term.
There is no question that Kidd will make Carter better. On the upside of the trade, there are probably no two players who's games will mesh in terms of sheer highlight plays better than these two guys. I thought Kidd to Jefferson was the prettiest thing in the league, but Kidd to Carter will be even better.
I hope this doesn't take away from Jefferson's fantasy numbers, though I guess it will. I'm not going to get to see a big impact on Jefferson's numbers based on Kidd's return to the lineup, except for the 38 points that Jefferson scored last night.
As a pseudo-Nets fan (are there any other kind?) I hope that Carter can stay healthy and impact the team, but I don't see how he will do either to a great extent. There's no doubt that Carter cannot lead a team by himself, but maybe along side Kidd he can be the best second player in the league. If he keeps up his sucking, he'll be the best third player in the league behind Jefferson.
Also I really like Aaron Williams, and Eric Williams had been playing well recently. Also they traded those two guys, Mourning, and two first round draft picks for Carter. That's definitely too much on the Nets side.
There is no question that Kidd will make Carter better. On the upside of the trade, there are probably no two players who's games will mesh in terms of sheer highlight plays better than these two guys. I thought Kidd to Jefferson was the prettiest thing in the league, but Kidd to Carter will be even better.
I hope this doesn't take away from Jefferson's fantasy numbers, though I guess it will. I'm not going to get to see a big impact on Jefferson's numbers based on Kidd's return to the lineup, except for the 38 points that Jefferson scored last night.
As a pseudo-Nets fan (are there any other kind?) I hope that Carter can stay healthy and impact the team, but I don't see how he will do either to a great extent. There's no doubt that Carter cannot lead a team by himself, but maybe along side Kidd he can be the best second player in the league. If he keeps up his sucking, he'll be the best third player in the league behind Jefferson.
Also I really like Aaron Williams, and Eric Williams had been playing well recently. Also they traded those two guys, Mourning, and two first round draft picks for Carter. That's definitely too much on the Nets side.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
The Mets signed Pedro.
I'm not going to expound on this like Brian did, because he's really worked through all the issues. Ijust want to essentially agree with the general consensus that this is a good signing and a bad contract.
I didn't realize that Pedro was only 33 years old. I thought he was 36 or 37. I think he can be effective over the life of that contract, though he is prone to injusry. I will basically guarantee at least one stint on the injured list this upcoming season.
I didn't realize that Pedro was only 33 years old. I thought he was 36 or 37. I think he can be effective over the life of that contract, though he is prone to injusry. I will basically guarantee at least one stint on the injured list this upcoming season.
What is the fascination with Randy Johnson?
I don't understand the Yankees apparent need to trade for Randy Johnson. There is no way he will be good for more than two years. I guess they have enough cash to get a short term solution. I don't see this working out particularly well for them, though I might have to eat my words.
The only reason this trade is worthwhile is because they're also going to get Kaz Ishii from the Dodgers who is pretty good. He's pretty sporadic, though, in his goodness. He'll have a great month and then a terrible month.
I guess we'll see.
The only reason this trade is worthwhile is because they're also going to get Kaz Ishii from the Dodgers who is pretty good. He's pretty sporadic, though, in his goodness. He'll have a great month and then a terrible month.
I guess we'll see.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Mad work getting done.
I have had a crazy couple of weeks. For whatever reason all of the work I had to do for my classes this term was due within a week of each other. In the last two weekends I have written two 20 page papers and I'm about to start on a final that requires me to write 10 short essays, which will end up being basically one long paper.
I have literally not left the house for the past two weekends. The amount of reserach I've done in the last two weeks is phenomenal.
On the upside, if you want to know anything about dyslexia, special education in general, or integrating literacy into the math curriculum, I am the man to ask.
I have literally not left the house for the past two weekends. The amount of reserach I've done in the last two weeks is phenomenal.
On the upside, if you want to know anything about dyslexia, special education in general, or integrating literacy into the math curriculum, I am the man to ask.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Things we should notice in less than four years.
This South Korean dude got a nail stuck in his head and didn't realize it. He went to the hospital complaining about severe head pain and they took an x-ray and found this.
As best they can tell, this guy got the nail stuck in his head 4 years ago in some kind of accident. How do you get a nail stuck in your head and not notice it right away? That's some ill shiznit right there. (Mad old school reference there. Any former TBO umpires?)
Click on the picture to look at a larger version.
Look at the picture, the nail is right on the edge of his skull. It wasn't even stuck all the way where it might be under the skull or something. Didn't this guy get a haircut in four years or something so someone would notice this thing. I wonder if people saw it and didn't want to say anything because they thought it was a birth mark or something. Also from that picture it looks like the dude has a mad underbite.
My fucking page won't load.
For the last two days I haven't been able to get to my blog conveniently. When I try to load the page it takes about two minutes. It seems like there's something wrong with the Blogger bar on the top of the screen because after it finally does load, the bulk of the page looks normal while the bar on the top never actually loads.
I can look at other blogs powered by Blogger, but I can't look at mine.
This is fucking ghetto style. I emailed the Blogger people but I haven't heard a response yet.
UPDATE: I think maybe it was just something with my browser settings. I got it to work on Mozilla and then I deleted all the temporary files and such and it started to work. It's weird, though because it wouldn't work on my laptop either. Who the fuck knows?
I can look at other blogs powered by Blogger, but I can't look at mine.
This is fucking ghetto style. I emailed the Blogger people but I haven't heard a response yet.
UPDATE: I think maybe it was just something with my browser settings. I got it to work on Mozilla and then I deleted all the temporary files and such and it started to work. It's weird, though because it wouldn't work on my laptop either. Who the fuck knows?
Monday, December 06, 2004
J-Kidd returns.
Jason Kidd reutrned tonight for the Nets and I don't know how they did because I'm writing this in the first quarter. It is nice to see him back, though, and they should not suck as bad as they have been sucking.
I drafted Richard Jefferson on all my fantasy basketball teams in the early rounds because I thought he would carry the team while Kidd was gone, but he didn't really. He is their leading scorer, but he didn't explode like I thought he might.
Now I feel like maybe Kidd will boost Jefferson's numbers even more. Perhaps my initial logic was incorrect. They don't have K-Mart to throw to and Jefferson is really their only scorer. Mourning can score, but not like he used to. I'll look for Jefferson's numbers to improve in fantasy terms over the next month or so while Kidd gets back in shape.
I drafted Richard Jefferson on all my fantasy basketball teams in the early rounds because I thought he would carry the team while Kidd was gone, but he didn't really. He is their leading scorer, but he didn't explode like I thought he might.
Now I feel like maybe Kidd will boost Jefferson's numbers even more. Perhaps my initial logic was incorrect. They don't have K-Mart to throw to and Jefferson is really their only scorer. Mourning can score, but not like he used to. I'll look for Jefferson's numbers to improve in fantasy terms over the next month or so while Kidd gets back in shape.
Friday, December 03, 2004
Aaron McGruder is more than just Bill Maher's token black guy.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
The Tom Ridge one was the one that got me.
I just posted about how all of these people are resigning the Bush cabinet, but the one that really threw me for a loop was when Tom Ridge decided to resign.
I really felt like Ridge was getting himself in good with the party when he accepted that post as Homeland Security chairman. I figured that he was on the fringe of the Bush inner circle and that he was getting his name out there for some kind of bigger move into the political arena. He resigned as Pennsylvania governor just to take the job and I figured that he was on some kind of fast track (to be officially known from now on as the Barack Obama highway). I mean, what experience did Tom Ridge have as governor of Pennsylvania in fighting terrorists? Why was he the most qualified one for the job? I don't know that he was, it just seemed like a political move.
I was pretty surprised, therefore, when I heard that he was resigning. I didn't figure that one.
Picking Bernard Kerik as a replacement seems to be a pretty inspired choice. Dubya's definitely capitalizing on the whole 9/11 thing and it would seem that Kerik is singularly qualified for this job after having lead the NYPD in the wake of the terrorist attack. I guess I can't knock him.
I really felt like Ridge was getting himself in good with the party when he accepted that post as Homeland Security chairman. I figured that he was on the fringe of the Bush inner circle and that he was getting his name out there for some kind of bigger move into the political arena. He resigned as Pennsylvania governor just to take the job and I figured that he was on some kind of fast track (to be officially known from now on as the Barack Obama highway). I mean, what experience did Tom Ridge have as governor of Pennsylvania in fighting terrorists? Why was he the most qualified one for the job? I don't know that he was, it just seemed like a political move.
I was pretty surprised, therefore, when I heard that he was resigning. I didn't figure that one.
Picking Bernard Kerik as a replacement seems to be a pretty inspired choice. Dubya's definitely capitalizing on the whole 9/11 thing and it would seem that Kerik is singularly qualified for this job after having lead the NYPD in the wake of the terrorist attack. I guess I can't knock him.
Do all cabinets shake up like this?
It seems to me as if a lot of Dubya's cabinet members and appointed folks are leaving their posts heading into the second term. High level resignations recently have been Colin Powell, John Ashcroft, and Tom Ridge, but there have been many others as well including the agriculture secretary and the UN ambassador just to name a couple.
I was 6 when Reagan was reelected and clearly don't recall any shakeup. I'm thinking back to '96 when Clinton was reelected, when I was 18, and I don't remember anything quite like this either. I may be wrong, but I recall Madeline Albright and Janet Reno and obviously Al Gore being the highest ranking members for all 8 years. Again, I'm not certain of this, I just don't recall all this transition. A few guys did step down during the Clinton administration that I can recall. George Stephanopalous is on the top of that list, but I don't remember any really high ranking people leaving. Help me out here if I'm wrong.
In the Dubya era there have been resignations all over the place starting with Christie Todd-Whitman, former NJ governor turned EPA chairman who was hung out to dry by Bush, and Ari Fleischer, former press secretary who resigned fairly early on which seemed weird to me.
It seems to me from an outsiders point of view that Dubya, Big Time Cheney, Don "Rummy" Rumsfeld, and Karl Rove are running shit and anyone outside of that circle is there to simply do their job and do what they're told.
(That last sentence is awesome because it uses all three versions of the word there/their/they're in proper context. Another awesome sentence would be "I will count to two, too.")
I'm getting off track. It just seems to me that they've pushed a lot of people away from them and now that Dubya's been reelected they have no need to be nice to these people any more at all.
I was 6 when Reagan was reelected and clearly don't recall any shakeup. I'm thinking back to '96 when Clinton was reelected, when I was 18, and I don't remember anything quite like this either. I may be wrong, but I recall Madeline Albright and Janet Reno and obviously Al Gore being the highest ranking members for all 8 years. Again, I'm not certain of this, I just don't recall all this transition. A few guys did step down during the Clinton administration that I can recall. George Stephanopalous is on the top of that list, but I don't remember any really high ranking people leaving. Help me out here if I'm wrong.
In the Dubya era there have been resignations all over the place starting with Christie Todd-Whitman, former NJ governor turned EPA chairman who was hung out to dry by Bush, and Ari Fleischer, former press secretary who resigned fairly early on which seemed weird to me.
It seems to me from an outsiders point of view that Dubya, Big Time Cheney, Don "Rummy" Rumsfeld, and Karl Rove are running shit and anyone outside of that circle is there to simply do their job and do what they're told.
(That last sentence is awesome because it uses all three versions of the word there/their/they're in proper context. Another awesome sentence would be "I will count to two, too.")
I'm getting off track. It just seems to me that they've pushed a lot of people away from them and now that Dubya's been reelected they have no need to be nice to these people any more at all.
Corzine is running, NJ Dems. can exhale.
After Jim McGreevey stepped down amid several scandals last month, the least of which was his being gay, New Jersey has been in a bit of a panic. No one knows for sure what the future holds for the state and Democrats in particular are concerned that their party has been made to look foolish and corrupt.
The best possible scenario for NJ Democrats has come to fruition today in that John Corzine has decided to run for governor. Corzine is, at the moment, a Senator from New Jersey and gained huge name recognition and popularity a few years back when he ran for the Senate by not taking any public funds and instead using $63 million of his own cash to campaign for 19 months leading up to the election.
Corzine is pretty popular in NJ and his polls are high relative to him being trusted and things of that nature. He's not implicated at all in the state corruption scandals because he's in Washington and not Trenton. On top of all of this, Corzine is the one Democrat that probably everyone who is likely to vote in NJ has heard of. I can't imagine a scenario in which he does not win the Democratic primary and I would assume that he'd be the favorite to win the election.
The one guy who will probably run against him in the primary is Richard Codey, who is acting as governor now that McGreevey has stepped down. That might win him some experience points, but I get the sense that Corzine will be a more popular choice in NJ. Also he's got a ton of cash to spend.
Corzine used to be the president/chairman/CEO or something like that of Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs for the longest time was the only huge investment firm to be privately owned. While Corzine was in charge of it the company went public and all of the partners in the firm made literally billions of dollars all together. I don't know how much Corzine made specifically, but suffice it to say that as the guy in charge at the time, he must have made a shitload. I bet we could do some research and find out pretty easily how much he did make, but I won't right now.
The best possible scenario for NJ Democrats has come to fruition today in that John Corzine has decided to run for governor. Corzine is, at the moment, a Senator from New Jersey and gained huge name recognition and popularity a few years back when he ran for the Senate by not taking any public funds and instead using $63 million of his own cash to campaign for 19 months leading up to the election.
Corzine is pretty popular in NJ and his polls are high relative to him being trusted and things of that nature. He's not implicated at all in the state corruption scandals because he's in Washington and not Trenton. On top of all of this, Corzine is the one Democrat that probably everyone who is likely to vote in NJ has heard of. I can't imagine a scenario in which he does not win the Democratic primary and I would assume that he'd be the favorite to win the election.
The one guy who will probably run against him in the primary is Richard Codey, who is acting as governor now that McGreevey has stepped down. That might win him some experience points, but I get the sense that Corzine will be a more popular choice in NJ. Also he's got a ton of cash to spend.
Corzine used to be the president/chairman/CEO or something like that of Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs for the longest time was the only huge investment firm to be privately owned. While Corzine was in charge of it the company went public and all of the partners in the firm made literally billions of dollars all together. I don't know how much Corzine made specifically, but suffice it to say that as the guy in charge at the time, he must have made a shitload. I bet we could do some research and find out pretty easily how much he did make, but I won't right now.
