On the fifth day of Gheorghemas big Gheorghe gave to me:
Five podcasts for listening
Four posts zman meant to write but never did
Three French Hens
Two in-state rivalries
And a dork with a split personal-ity
We have entered what many are calling The Golden Age of Podcasting. This is odd, because the technology and the means of distribution for podcasting have been around for quite a while. All you need is a microphone, a laptop, and a method of streaming an mp3 over the internet. Simple stuff. So why the increase in popularity? There are an abundance of hypotheses. The boom could be because podcasts are just getting better. It might be because of Serial. Or perhaps because podcasts are so cheap to make. And they can reach a niche audience. Commercials and product placement are more effective on podcasts than they are on the radio. It may be technology: cars and phones work well together now, so people don't have to listen to the radio or SiriusXM. There are apps to pull in all you favorites, and you can subscribe on iTunes. So there are a plethora of reasons, Jefe . . . a plethora.
In other words, it's a fantastic time to walk the dog (that's when I do the bulk of my podcast listening-- my commute is only a few minutes).
Here are five podcasts for listening. These are all good shows, but I've selected specific episodes, curated for the niche audience of Gheorghe:The Blog. Each one gets the Official Dave Seal of Approval. Enjoy.
1. Planet Money Episode 667: Auditing ISIS
I love Planet Money. It's short, informative, and entertaining, and it makes me feel smart. It's rarely over my head, but I always learn something new.
"Auditing ISIS" goes above and beyond the normal episode-- and it doesn't have all that much to do with economics. It's more about how terrorists think and operate. The Planet Money team analyzes a municipal budget that was smuggled out of ISIS territory. One month of detailed expenditures, disbursements, and collections from the ISIS controlled Deir ez-Zour province of Syria.
You'll learn how ISIS spends its money-- mainly paying their fighters, and how ISIS fighters spend their money-- mainly on hamburgers and chocolate and Ferraris. You'll learn how ISIS makes its money-- oil smuggling and black market antiquities and "licensed" confiscations (the ISIS term for looting). You'll also hear the firsthand account of one man's experience living in this economic nightmare.
2. Radiolab American Football
I'm guessing that neither of the nerdy hosts of Radiolab (Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich) can throw a spiral, but they do a great job on this comprehensive, funny, controversial, and historically informative episode on American Football. They visit the brutal ghosts of football past-- including Pop Warner and the undersized Carlisle Indians-- and then return to present controversies and future speculation. Highlights include an interview with a Georgia football mom who is firmly on both sides of the concussion issue and her gigantic and talented eight year old son, who decided to spurn the sport in favor of soccer, because he felt like a bully when he ran over opposing players, and wishes he could do some "synchronized swimming." His mom's reaction to this revelation is priceless.
"La Mancha Screwjob" is another fantastic Radiolab with a sporting theme: the episode uses professional wrestling to discuss reality, illusion, and the fascinating meta-reality that lies somewhere between the two.
3. 99% Invisible Game Over
This is the closest thing to live audio from an actual apocalypse. The fact that it's not exactly that makes it even better.
I am also to partial to The Modern Moloch-- which is an account of how automobile lobbyists won the battle in America and heavily influenced the design of our cities so that they favor the automobile and punish the pedestrian. Zman will hate this one.
4. This American Life Petty Tyrant
This American Life can be hit or miss for me . . . and most of the time it's a miss, but this episode is fantastic. It's the story of a public school maintenance man from Schenectady, NY whose ruthless rise to power rivals Richard III . . . and once he gains total control, his reign is fearful and intimidating, and his fall is appropriately epic.
5. The Test The Moral of the Story (No Napping on the Job)
The most important podcast on this list is obviously The Test. Whitney guest stars on this episode, and I am also partial to Stacey Demands (More) Numbers and all the other "number sense" episodes.
Once you listen to all the episodes of The Test twice, then you might want to check out season two of Serial. The first episode is compelling on many levels and promises the same slow drip of information as the first season, some of it dredged from the past, some of it culled from recent events, and some of it ongoing.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Saturday, December 12, 2015
The Twelve Days of Gheorghemas - Day Four
On the fourth day of Gheorghemas big Gheorghe gave to me:
Four posts zman meant to write but never did
Three French Hens
Two in-state rivalries
And a dork with a split personal-ity
I saw a number of interesting (at least to me) bits in the news and thought about writing posts but didn't because I'm lazy. So for Gheorghemas I'm giving you the top four.
1. Strip clubs get sued a lot and they like to use Jessa Hinton's image
A number of noodie bars have been sued over the past few weeks for advertising their establishments using images of relatively famous women without their permission. And these aren't hole-in-the-wall places either. Sin City, New York Dolls, Flashdancers, and several other clubs that advertise on cabs in NYC and that may or may not have served me a beer or three over the past 40-odd years.
In a nutshell, the plaintiffs in all of these cases assert that the strip clubs grabbed nearly naked and/or suggestive photos of them off of the internet and used them on the clubs' websites and other advertisements to make it appear that the plaintiffs worked at these clubs. But they don't, haven't, and won't. Or so they assert. All of the complaints express outrage for presenting sexually suggestive photos of the plaintiffs, which is funny because the complaints always describe the plaintiffs' high-falutin' modeling careers which all involve sexually suggestive (and often outright explicit) magazines. But of course, just because a woman chooses to pose in Playboy doesn't mean she also dances naked. And just because she dances go-go don't make her a ho no.
There's some overlap among the women involved: Joanna Krupa, Sara Underwood, Jessica Burciaga and several others pop up across multiple complaints. I guess this is to be expected. However, one woman appears on all of the complaints: Jessa Hinton. I never heard of her before this but I think I get why she's so popular.
For the record, this is the least suggestive, most clothed photo of Ms. Hinton that I could find using Google image search. It appears that she doesn't own any real clothing, opting instead to wear world-class underboob shirts, bikinis made of pizza and body paint ... and that's when she wants to wear something.
Perhaps the most interesting complaint was brought against the Miami Velvet Club, which, according to its NSFW website, is America's #1 swingers club. The complaint is 681 pages, needlessly long but remarkably thorough. If you want to learn a lot about glamour models and swingers clubs I'll send it to you.
2. Pepperidge Farm sued Trader Joe's for infringing their Milano cookie trademark
Pepperidge Farm takes their cookies seriously. So seriously that they sued Trader Joe's, asserting that the shape and packaging of TJ's Crispy Cookies constitute "infringement and dilution of the famous and unique MILANO® cookie configuration trademark (as defined below), which Pepperidge Farm or its predecessors in interest have used for decades in connection with cookie and snack products."
It gets more heated. P-Farms asserts that "[d]espite being well aware of the famous MILANO® cookie configuration trademark, and the enormous goodwill symbolized thereby and associated therewith, Defendant recently began selling, in the packaged retail space, a cookie product designed to trade on the MILANO® cookie’s goodwill and reputation."
Further, "Pepperidge Farm’s trademark rights associated with MILANO® brand cookies have gained particular fame because unlike generic snack foods or cookies, the MILANO® cookies are in and of themselves identifiable due to the MILANO® CONFIGURATION, and serve as an indicator of source .... For example, the MILANO® cookies are instantly recognizable and due to their popularity, have appeared in pop culture and TV shows like Frasier, Will and Grace, Seinfeld, and Two and-a Half Men."
I'm not sure what's funnier, the complaint's sturm and drang or the trademark registration itself:
Yep, that's a cookie certificate. Anyway, I think it's pretty clear that T-Joe's cookies aren't the same as P-Farm's cookies--everybody knows that T-Joe's sells fugazi stuff designed to look like other stuff, like Joe's Os, and no one is going to be confused to the point that they think they're buying Milanos. Here's a comparison so you can be the judge.
Just to be safe I'm making a run to Joe's to stock up on bootleg Milanos.
3. Jack Urbont and Sony continue to duke it out
Jack Urbont's case against Sony Music and Ghostface Killah slogs on. Briefing continues, rehashing all of the stuff I've rehashed here before. It isn't very interesting.
I expect Sony to prevail. Hopefully GFK doesn't go after Mr. Urbont like he goes after Action Bronson in this GFK vs. Bronsolino video game (which you can play here).
4. Daniel Snyder really is tone deaf
Daniel Snyder's case against a group of Native Americans regarding the R**skins trademark cancellation continues to slog on. I won't bore you with all of the legal minutiae asserted in his appeal brief, but there are a few illogical leaps worth mentioning.
Mr. Snyder presents a ton of registered trademarks "that the Team believes are racist, or misogynistic, vulgar, or otherwise offensive. By way of example only, the following marks are registered today: TAKE YO PANTIES OFF clothing; DANGEROUS NEGRO shirts; SLUTSSEEKER dating services; DAGO SWAGG clothing; DUMB BLONDE beer; TWATTY GIRL cartoons; BAKED BY A NEGRO bakery goods; BIG TITTY BLEND coffee; RETARDIPEDIA website; MIDGET-MAN condoms and inflatable sex dolls; and JIZZ underwear. These are not isolated instances. The government routinely registers pornographers’ marks: TEENSDOPORN.COM, MILFSDOPORN.COM, THUG PORN, GHETTO BOOTY, and BOUND GANGBANGS are but a few."
He also lists out these marks:
Based on these and other exemplary marks he deems offensive, Mr. Snyder concludes that he should be allowed to register the R**skins mark even if it is offensive.
This doesn't make sense for a few reasons. First, the test is whether the mark is offensive to the relevant group who would be offended, no to Mr. Snyder or "the Team." Just because "DUMB BLONDE" offends his delicate sensibilities (so much that he listed it twice in his brief) doesn't mean it offends people (or blondes) in general. Further, how is it possible that Mr. Snyder is offended by "DUMB BLONDES" but not "R**SKINS"?
Second, it's not clear that some of these marks are offensive at all. For example, "Gringo BBQ" probably doesn't offend many white people. Similarly, the word "Negro" isn't offensive in the context of "United Negro College Fund."
Third, and perhaps most importantly, just because the USPTO registered all of these marks doesn't mean anything. The PTO screws up all the time. US patents are invalidated every day by Federal courts and the PTO itself. It would not surprise me if there are thousands or tens of thousands of invalid unexpired patents out there. No one ever says "hey judge, my patent is valid because there are many other patents out there and they're valid too." Sure, patents are presumed valid, but that is never anyone's entire validity argument.
Finally, comparing yourself to "racist[s], or misogynist[s] ... [and] pornographers" doesn't exactly present your cause in a positive light. In fact, it makes your cause look racist. Which, in this case, it is.
Four posts zman meant to write but never did
Three French Hens
Two in-state rivalries
And a dork with a split personal-ity
I saw a number of interesting (at least to me) bits in the news and thought about writing posts but didn't because I'm lazy. So for Gheorghemas I'm giving you the top four.
1. Strip clubs get sued a lot and they like to use Jessa Hinton's image
A number of noodie bars have been sued over the past few weeks for advertising their establishments using images of relatively famous women without their permission. And these aren't hole-in-the-wall places either. Sin City, New York Dolls, Flashdancers, and several other clubs that advertise on cabs in NYC and that may or may not have served me a beer or three over the past 40-odd years.
In a nutshell, the plaintiffs in all of these cases assert that the strip clubs grabbed nearly naked and/or suggestive photos of them off of the internet and used them on the clubs' websites and other advertisements to make it appear that the plaintiffs worked at these clubs. But they don't, haven't, and won't. Or so they assert. All of the complaints express outrage for presenting sexually suggestive photos of the plaintiffs, which is funny because the complaints always describe the plaintiffs' high-falutin' modeling careers which all involve sexually suggestive (and often outright explicit) magazines. But of course, just because a woman chooses to pose in Playboy doesn't mean she also dances naked. And just because she dances go-go don't make her a ho no.
There's some overlap among the women involved: Joanna Krupa, Sara Underwood, Jessica Burciaga and several others pop up across multiple complaints. I guess this is to be expected. However, one woman appears on all of the complaints: Jessa Hinton. I never heard of her before this but I think I get why she's so popular.
For the record, this is the least suggestive, most clothed photo of Ms. Hinton that I could find using Google image search. It appears that she doesn't own any real clothing, opting instead to wear world-class underboob shirts, bikinis made of pizza and body paint ... and that's when she wants to wear something.
Perhaps the most interesting complaint was brought against the Miami Velvet Club, which, according to its NSFW website, is America's #1 swingers club. The complaint is 681 pages, needlessly long but remarkably thorough. If you want to learn a lot about glamour models and swingers clubs I'll send it to you.
2. Pepperidge Farm sued Trader Joe's for infringing their Milano cookie trademark
Pepperidge Farm takes their cookies seriously. So seriously that they sued Trader Joe's, asserting that the shape and packaging of TJ's Crispy Cookies constitute "infringement and dilution of the famous and unique MILANO® cookie configuration trademark (as defined below), which Pepperidge Farm or its predecessors in interest have used for decades in connection with cookie and snack products."
It gets more heated. P-Farms asserts that "[d]espite being well aware of the famous MILANO® cookie configuration trademark, and the enormous goodwill symbolized thereby and associated therewith, Defendant recently began selling, in the packaged retail space, a cookie product designed to trade on the MILANO® cookie’s goodwill and reputation."
Further, "Pepperidge Farm’s trademark rights associated with MILANO® brand cookies have gained particular fame because unlike generic snack foods or cookies, the MILANO® cookies are in and of themselves identifiable due to the MILANO® CONFIGURATION, and serve as an indicator of source .... For example, the MILANO® cookies are instantly recognizable and due to their popularity, have appeared in pop culture and TV shows like Frasier, Will and Grace, Seinfeld, and Two and-a Half Men."
I'm not sure what's funnier, the complaint's sturm and drang or the trademark registration itself:
Yep, that's a cookie certificate. Anyway, I think it's pretty clear that T-Joe's cookies aren't the same as P-Farm's cookies--everybody knows that T-Joe's sells fugazi stuff designed to look like other stuff, like Joe's Os, and no one is going to be confused to the point that they think they're buying Milanos. Here's a comparison so you can be the judge.
Just to be safe I'm making a run to Joe's to stock up on bootleg Milanos.
3. Jack Urbont and Sony continue to duke it out
Jack Urbont's case against Sony Music and Ghostface Killah slogs on. Briefing continues, rehashing all of the stuff I've rehashed here before. It isn't very interesting.
I expect Sony to prevail. Hopefully GFK doesn't go after Mr. Urbont like he goes after Action Bronson in this GFK vs. Bronsolino video game (which you can play here).
4. Daniel Snyder really is tone deaf
Daniel Snyder's case against a group of Native Americans regarding the R**skins trademark cancellation continues to slog on. I won't bore you with all of the legal minutiae asserted in his appeal brief, but there are a few illogical leaps worth mentioning.
Mr. Snyder presents a ton of registered trademarks "that the Team believes are racist, or misogynistic, vulgar, or otherwise offensive. By way of example only, the following marks are registered today: TAKE YO PANTIES OFF clothing; DANGEROUS NEGRO shirts; SLUTSSEEKER dating services; DAGO SWAGG clothing; DUMB BLONDE beer; TWATTY GIRL cartoons; BAKED BY A NEGRO bakery goods; BIG TITTY BLEND coffee; RETARDIPEDIA website; MIDGET-MAN condoms and inflatable sex dolls; and JIZZ underwear. These are not isolated instances. The government routinely registers pornographers’ marks: TEENSDOPORN.COM, MILFSDOPORN.COM, THUG PORN, GHETTO BOOTY, and BOUND GANGBANGS are but a few."
He also lists out these marks:
SHANK THE B!T@H board game; CRACKA AZZ SKATEBOARDS; ANAL FANTASY COLLECTION, KLITORIS, and OMAZING SEX TOYS sex toys; HOT OCTOPUSS anti-premature ejaculation creams; OL GEEZER wines; EDIBLE CROTCHLESS GUMMY PANTIES lingerie; WTF WORK? online forum; MILF WEED bags; GRINGO STYLE SALSA; MAKE YOUR OWN DILDO; GRINGO BBQ; CONTEMPORARY NEGRO, F’D UP, WHITE TRASH REBEL, I LOVE VAGINA, WHITE GIRL WITH A BOOTY, PARTY WITH SLUTS, CRIPPLED OLD BIKER BASTARDS, DICK BALLS, and REDNECK ARMY apparel; OH! MY NAPPY HAIR shampoos; REFORMED WHORES and WHORES FROM HELL musical bands; LAUGHING MY VAGINA OFF entertainment; NAPPY ROOTS records; BOOTY CALL sex aids; BOYS ARE STUPID, THROW ROCKS AT THEM wallets; and DUMB BLONDE hair products.
Based on these and other exemplary marks he deems offensive, Mr. Snyder concludes that he should be allowed to register the R**skins mark even if it is offensive.
This doesn't make sense for a few reasons. First, the test is whether the mark is offensive to the relevant group who would be offended, no to Mr. Snyder or "the Team." Just because "DUMB BLONDE" offends his delicate sensibilities (so much that he listed it twice in his brief) doesn't mean it offends people (or blondes) in general. Further, how is it possible that Mr. Snyder is offended by "DUMB BLONDES" but not "R**SKINS"?
Second, it's not clear that some of these marks are offensive at all. For example, "Gringo BBQ" probably doesn't offend many white people. Similarly, the word "Negro" isn't offensive in the context of "United Negro College Fund."
Third, and perhaps most importantly, just because the USPTO registered all of these marks doesn't mean anything. The PTO screws up all the time. US patents are invalidated every day by Federal courts and the PTO itself. It would not surprise me if there are thousands or tens of thousands of invalid unexpired patents out there. No one ever says "hey judge, my patent is valid because there are many other patents out there and they're valid too." Sure, patents are presumed valid, but that is never anyone's entire validity argument.
Finally, comparing yourself to "racist[s], or misogynist[s] ... [and] pornographers" doesn't exactly present your cause in a positive light. In fact, it makes your cause look racist. Which, in this case, it is.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Gheorghemas Is The Giving Season
While IROC-Z readies something that will dazzle us, we need to give the people what they want. Clarence brings gifts!
Skymall coming back made Baby Tejus happy, but not as happy as this might:
And this is the perfect gift for people to give Whitney. (People like Mr. KQ, maybe.)
Skymall coming back made Baby Tejus happy, but not as happy as this might:
And this is the perfect gift for people to give Whitney. (People like Mr. KQ, maybe.)
Winchester's own Escutcheon Brewery has crafted the perfect pint for those lamenting Monday night's debacle. John Riggins 4th and 1 pilsner. The picture above has everything for the Riggo fan: Don McNeal falling, the Sandy Baby quote, and beer. Sigh. Read the WaPo article.and DCers should sample some at the Verizon Center Greene Turtle tomorrow for Happy Hour with the Honorary Hog himself.
Rob, you get David Price and the Clarence-awarded Best GTBer of 2015. Those things, like the Goonies, R good enough.
More gifts when lulls occur throughout Gheorghemas.
Cheers,
Clarence
Wednesday, December 09, 2015
This Week in Wrenball: Interlude
Your William & Mary Tribe don't play again until December 18, taking a break for final exams, since they're actually students and all. And since we're not going to spend a lot of time talking about a predictable (although closer than the score might indicate) 67-52 loss at UVA, there's not a whole lot new on offer here today.
We could tell you about W&M's three remaining out of conference foes, but you're not here to read about Mary Washington, High Point, and Central Michigan. (If you are, welcome, freak.) We could recap the Tribe's journey to 5-3, but we've done most of that. And you'll hear plenty about Omar Prewitt, Daniel Dixon, Terry Tarpey, and the rest of the squad over the next few months, so we're not going to waste your time on stats and ephemera.
We'll waste it on quixotic quests, instead, which is something you'll be familiar with if you've been here for any length of time.
The Colonial Athletic Association enters play this evening with a 48-26 non-conference record. After a handful of relatively dismal years after the CAA's Final Four crest and subsequent exodus, the league has the 11th-best RPI at this point in the season. CAA teams have a winning record against the ACC, haven't lost in six tries against Conference USA, are 5-4 versus Atlantic 10 opponents, and even have a win over the SEC. Only one CAA team has a losing record (hey, Drexel, what's up?).
According to ESPN's RPI calculations, the CAA places three teams in the top 67, including your W&M squad. Northeastern beat 15th-ranked Miami. Charleston knocked off Ben Simmons and LSU. A bunch of senior-laden midmajor teams have more than held their own.
There's a word for what W&M and their CAA brethren are doing this season.
#2bids4CAA
We could tell you about W&M's three remaining out of conference foes, but you're not here to read about Mary Washington, High Point, and Central Michigan. (If you are, welcome, freak.) We could recap the Tribe's journey to 5-3, but we've done most of that. And you'll hear plenty about Omar Prewitt, Daniel Dixon, Terry Tarpey, and the rest of the squad over the next few months, so we're not going to waste your time on stats and ephemera.
 |
| If you do a Google image search for '#2bids4CAA, this is one of the top results.Blessed. |
The Colonial Athletic Association enters play this evening with a 48-26 non-conference record. After a handful of relatively dismal years after the CAA's Final Four crest and subsequent exodus, the league has the 11th-best RPI at this point in the season. CAA teams have a winning record against the ACC, haven't lost in six tries against Conference USA, are 5-4 versus Atlantic 10 opponents, and even have a win over the SEC. Only one CAA team has a losing record (hey, Drexel, what's up?).
According to ESPN's RPI calculations, the CAA places three teams in the top 67, including your W&M squad. Northeastern beat 15th-ranked Miami. Charleston knocked off Ben Simmons and LSU. A bunch of senior-laden midmajor teams have more than held their own.
There's a word for what W&M and their CAA brethren are doing this season.
#2bids4CAA
Tuesday, December 08, 2015
The Twelve Days of Gheorghemas: Day Three
On the third day of Gheorghemas, Big Gheorghe gave to me...
Three French Hens
Two in-state rivalries
And a dork with a split personal-ity
Day two of Gheorghemas did not go all that well for the Tribe faithful. While Big Gheorghe delivered "a pair of revenue sport blood feuds" on Saturday, the Tribe left the field of battle as the bloody one suffering a respectable loss to a top 10 UVA hoops team and a flat out butt whooping' at the hands of the Richmond Spiders footballers. Mrs. Marls & I were at the the Richmond game and only the opportunity to hang out with Matty O and everyone's favorite Richmond lawyer/lacrosse coach made up for the poor performance on the field.
I think Gheorghe felt bad that that his day two gifts were such busts so he decided to go with something more tried and true. In that spirit, the big man broke from tradition and gave us exactly what that other 12 days thing calls for....three french hens.
The above picture came from a google image search for "three french hens". Do yourself a favor and do NOT do a search for "three french cocks" unless you want to see something worse than TR's nasal polyps.
Initially, while I appreciated the thought, I sort of thought that Gheorghe had laid another gifting egg with these Gaulish oven stuffers. I realize France has had a tough time of late and deserves a little love from the big man, but what were we going to do with continental lady foul? Then I remembered that each of the the Twelve Days of Christmas supposedly had had some secret meaning for Renaissance catholics living in England. While Snopes has debunked the myth, I thought Gheorghe might be trying to get at something, so I looked up the story. Sure enough, the three french hens supposedly represented Faith, Hope & Love. Given all that has been going on in this screwed up, broken world of ours I can't help but think that little baby Ghita offered the perfect gifts at a time when we needed it most.
On a side note, Wikipedia reports that french hens are heavy birds with a good sized muff, which should make Clarence happy. The Wikis also report that British cocks are between 9-11 pounds. I'll assume that the ladies for G:TB will be planning their next road trip to London.
Three French Hens
Two in-state rivalries
And a dork with a split personal-ity
Day two of Gheorghemas did not go all that well for the Tribe faithful. While Big Gheorghe delivered "a pair of revenue sport blood feuds" on Saturday, the Tribe left the field of battle as the bloody one suffering a respectable loss to a top 10 UVA hoops team and a flat out butt whooping' at the hands of the Richmond Spiders footballers. Mrs. Marls & I were at the the Richmond game and only the opportunity to hang out with Matty O and everyone's favorite Richmond lawyer/lacrosse coach made up for the poor performance on the field.
I think Gheorghe felt bad that that his day two gifts were such busts so he decided to go with something more tried and true. In that spirit, the big man broke from tradition and gave us exactly what that other 12 days thing calls for....three french hens.
The above picture came from a google image search for "three french hens". Do yourself a favor and do NOT do a search for "three french cocks" unless you want to see something worse than TR's nasal polyps.
Initially, while I appreciated the thought, I sort of thought that Gheorghe had laid another gifting egg with these Gaulish oven stuffers. I realize France has had a tough time of late and deserves a little love from the big man, but what were we going to do with continental lady foul? Then I remembered that each of the the Twelve Days of Christmas supposedly had had some secret meaning for Renaissance catholics living in England. While Snopes has debunked the myth, I thought Gheorghe might be trying to get at something, so I looked up the story. Sure enough, the three french hens supposedly represented Faith, Hope & Love. Given all that has been going on in this screwed up, broken world of ours I can't help but think that little baby Ghita offered the perfect gifts at a time when we needed it most.
On a side note, Wikipedia reports that french hens are heavy birds with a good sized muff, which should make Clarence happy. The Wikis also report that British cocks are between 9-11 pounds. I'll assume that the ladies for G:TB will be planning their next road trip to London.
 |
| Nice Muff |
Saturday, December 05, 2015
The Twelve Days of Gheorghemas: Day Two
On the second day of Gheorghemas, Big Gheorghe gave to me...
Two in-state rivalries
And a dork with a split personal-ity
The God of Gheorghemas has truly blessed the Tribe this festive season, giving us a pair of revenue sport blood feuds on this first Saturday of December. (Also, I insist that you do a Ghoogle image search for 'god of gheorghemas', sans quotes. It'll fill you with the gholy spirit.)
At noon, W&M runs it back against the University of Richmond in the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs. The Spiders thumped the Green and Gold a mere two weeks ago in the regular season finale, winning 20-9 and costing Jimmye Laycock's team sole possession of the CAA title and a certain first-round tournament bye.
W&M played like they actually had that bye for long stretches, almost losing to an underdog Duquesne squad before squeaking out a 52-49 win.
Spidey's won four straight against W&M, though the longtime rivals have never met in the postseason. Richmond dominated both sides of the ball two weeks ago, keeping W&M out of the end zone, turning the Tribe over three times, and rushing for 227 yards. Jacobi Green ran 36 times for 217 of those yards.
Tribe tailback Kendell Anderson needs 77 yards to break Jonathan Grimes' single-season school rushing record of 1,431 yards. W&M's turned the ball over seven times the past two weeks, after only giving it up ten times in the season's first ten weeks.
Sometime in the middle of the third quarter of the Tribe/Richmond game, the 5-2 W&M hoops squad tips at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville against 10th ranked UVA. In what seems to be a theme, it's been a while since W&M beat the Hoos. Twenty-one years, to the day, as a matter of fact. The Tribe's last win over Virginia is old enough to drink legally.
In 1993, W&M came close to knocking off a ranked Cavalier squad. As Daily Press scribe Dave Fairbank wrote at the time, "There was The Drought, then The Comeback, which was culminated by The Shot. That was followed by The Disappointment. William and Mary spotted 15th-ranked Virginia 23 points in the second half, came back and forced overtime before falling 93-84 Monday at W&M Hall."
Those were the days of (Kurt) Small, (David) Cox, and (Derrick) Peters. I mention that for no other reason than, c'mon, Small, Cox, and Peters? Best set of guards ever, at least in name. (If you Ghoogle "small cox and peters", the only hits you get are from G:TB. Proud day, friends.)
I attended that contest, staying in my seat while Clarence, Buck, and handful of other FOGTB left after W&M fell behind, 61-38, with 11 minutes remaining. I stayed because I'm a true fan, and true fans don't...nah, I stayed because I was there with a girl, and she was cute, and she wanted to be there with me, and that didn't happen very often back then. But I stayed, nonetheless, and got to see Small's game-tying, buzzer-beating three-pointer cap the Tribe's comeback and send the game to overtime.
This year's UVA squad has scuffled a bit in the early going, losing to George Washington and barely escaping a young Ohio State team earlier in the week. The Cavs will be without starting point guard London Perrantes, though they'll still have Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill.
Hoops junkies will really dig this one, as W&M brings one of the nation's most efficient offenses to face UVA's stingy pack line defense. The Tribe's claimed one ACC scalp already this season, easily defeating North Carolina State. Only the most optimistic W&M fan would predict a similar outcome this afternoon.
And only a wildly selfish Tribe fan could hope to win both of today's contests.
But it is the most wonderful time of the year, and a boy can dream.
Two in-state rivalries
And a dork with a split personal-ity
The God of Gheorghemas has truly blessed the Tribe this festive season, giving us a pair of revenue sport blood feuds on this first Saturday of December. (Also, I insist that you do a Ghoogle image search for 'god of gheorghemas', sans quotes. It'll fill you with the gholy spirit.)
At noon, W&M runs it back against the University of Richmond in the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs. The Spiders thumped the Green and Gold a mere two weeks ago in the regular season finale, winning 20-9 and costing Jimmye Laycock's team sole possession of the CAA title and a certain first-round tournament bye.
W&M played like they actually had that bye for long stretches, almost losing to an underdog Duquesne squad before squeaking out a 52-49 win.Spidey's won four straight against W&M, though the longtime rivals have never met in the postseason. Richmond dominated both sides of the ball two weeks ago, keeping W&M out of the end zone, turning the Tribe over three times, and rushing for 227 yards. Jacobi Green ran 36 times for 217 of those yards.
Tribe tailback Kendell Anderson needs 77 yards to break Jonathan Grimes' single-season school rushing record of 1,431 yards. W&M's turned the ball over seven times the past two weeks, after only giving it up ten times in the season's first ten weeks.
Sometime in the middle of the third quarter of the Tribe/Richmond game, the 5-2 W&M hoops squad tips at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville against 10th ranked UVA. In what seems to be a theme, it's been a while since W&M beat the Hoos. Twenty-one years, to the day, as a matter of fact. The Tribe's last win over Virginia is old enough to drink legally.
In 1993, W&M came close to knocking off a ranked Cavalier squad. As Daily Press scribe Dave Fairbank wrote at the time, "There was The Drought, then The Comeback, which was culminated by The Shot. That was followed by The Disappointment. William and Mary spotted 15th-ranked Virginia 23 points in the second half, came back and forced overtime before falling 93-84 Monday at W&M Hall."
Those were the days of (Kurt) Small, (David) Cox, and (Derrick) Peters. I mention that for no other reason than, c'mon, Small, Cox, and Peters? Best set of guards ever, at least in name. (If you Ghoogle "small cox and peters", the only hits you get are from G:TB. Proud day, friends.)
 |
| That game may have been the highlight of Chuck Swenson's W&M tenure |
This year's UVA squad has scuffled a bit in the early going, losing to George Washington and barely escaping a young Ohio State team earlier in the week. The Cavs will be without starting point guard London Perrantes, though they'll still have Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill.
Hoops junkies will really dig this one, as W&M brings one of the nation's most efficient offenses to face UVA's stingy pack line defense. The Tribe's claimed one ACC scalp already this season, easily defeating North Carolina State. Only the most optimistic W&M fan would predict a similar outcome this afternoon.
And only a wildly selfish Tribe fan could hope to win both of today's contests.
But it is the most wonderful time of the year, and a boy can dream.
Friday, December 04, 2015
The Twelve Days of Gheorghe-mas, Day 1: WE'RE BAAAAAAAAAAACK
It's that most wonderful time of the year yet again, folks: Gheorghe-mas. Our mildly successful faux holiday celebrating all that is Gheorghey has returned.
Despite those first two sentences being identical to last year's Day 1 post, this next piece is different. "A fat guy in a jer-sey" has been retired (for this year at least).
Instead, I give you...
On the first day of Gheorghe-mas
Big Gheorghe gave to me
A donk with split personal-ity
Happy Gheorghe-mas to you and yours.
/Insert my tired jokes about "Christmas Eve in Washington" and "Christmas Shoes" here...
Despite those first two sentences being identical to last year's Day 1 post, this next piece is different. "A fat guy in a jer-sey" has been retired (for this year at least).
Instead, I give you...
On the first day of Gheorghe-mas
Big Gheorghe gave to me
A donk with split personal-ity
Happy Gheorghe-mas to you and yours.
/Insert my tired jokes about "Christmas Eve in Washington" and "Christmas Shoes" here...
The Test 25: Phone Smarts
This episode of The Test is an easy one for English teachers, but probably a bit tougher for the rest of humanity. Stacey creates seven hypothetical cell phone descriptions-- apps and call logs and such-- and you have to identify the literary character that owns the phone. Cunningham and I do quite well, see if you can match our inductive aptitude.
Thursday, December 03, 2015
Norfolk, Off
As we prepare ourselves for the most magical of Gheoghie holidays, a little mirth and genuine absurdity to tide us over.
The Norfolk Tides have a long and storied history. The current Orioles' AAA affiliate, and long the partner of the New York Mets, the Tides began play in 1961. They've won the International League five times, and seen such future stars as Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Amos Otis, David Wright, and Lenny Dysktra wear their colors.
Those colors were great, too., especially in recent years. A distinctive blue on blue, nodding to the Tides' nautical name and seagoing home region. Their logo, a cresting wave, was both classic and classy.
News comes out of Tidewater today that changes all that. The Norfolk Tides will wear this garbage next year:
From the mishmash of bright green and orange, to the cartoon character seahorse, to the on-trend and off-putting camouflage, this entire ensemble is disgusting. The Tides have traded a clean, dignified look for something barfed out of a child's fever dream.
And it says here that they're cursed to never win another Governor's Cup until they renounce this nonsense.
Gheorghemas can't come fast enough.
The Norfolk Tides have a long and storied history. The current Orioles' AAA affiliate, and long the partner of the New York Mets, the Tides began play in 1961. They've won the International League five times, and seen such future stars as Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Amos Otis, David Wright, and Lenny Dysktra wear their colors.
Those colors were great, too., especially in recent years. A distinctive blue on blue, nodding to the Tides' nautical name and seagoing home region. Their logo, a cresting wave, was both classic and classy.
News comes out of Tidewater today that changes all that. The Norfolk Tides will wear this garbage next year:
From the mishmash of bright green and orange, to the cartoon character seahorse, to the on-trend and off-putting camouflage, this entire ensemble is disgusting. The Tides have traded a clean, dignified look for something barfed out of a child's fever dream.
And it says here that they're cursed to never win another Governor's Cup until they renounce this nonsense.
Gheorghemas can't come fast enough.
Tuesday, December 01, 2015
Your Daily Gheorghe
This is why we watch sports. It's why stupid games matter to us. We get to see people in the moments that define their lives, the culmination of hard work, sacrifice, and dreams. Sometimes we see the worst, but when we're lucky, we see things like this.
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie goaltender Garret Sparks made his NHL debut last night, and shut out the Edmonton Oilers, 3-0. He was the first rookie in Leafs' history to record a shutout his debut.
Here's how he reacted when he learned that:
All kinds of awesome.
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie goaltender Garret Sparks made his NHL debut last night, and shut out the Edmonton Oilers, 3-0. He was the first rookie in Leafs' history to record a shutout his debut.
Here's how he reacted when he learned that:
All kinds of awesome.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Gheorghe Explains the Elections: Part IV
I'm no social scientist. Seeing as how I'm sitting here alone on a Saturday night, drinking by myself, you could argue that I'm barely social. But I do fancy myself a connoisseur of common sense, a student of simplicity, an observer of the obvious. (An asshole for alliteration, even.)
We've offered explanations in these pages for the frothing absurdity of the American presidential election, trying to find meaning in the alternately absurd and depressing spectacle of the GOP primaries. Far more august publications have done the same, as everyone with a byline has taken a run at understanding the inchoate rage of the largely white, largely middle class base of the modern conservative movement.
For my money, nobody's answer is better than the one recently offered by Princeton economists Angus Deaton and Anne Case. Their recent study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this month, details a sharp increase in the mortality rate for white men and women 45 to 54 years old with less than a college education between 1999 and 2013. According to the Washington Post, "An increase in the mortality rate for any large demographic group in an advanced nation has been virtually unheard of in recent decades, with the exception of Russian men after the collapse of the Soviet Union."
More ominously, and perhaps more telling in terms of the broader societal implication, is the authors' hypothesis for the cause of increased mortality rates for a group that makes up nearly 40% of the U.S. population. Noting that the rise in mortality for the demographic cohort in question is driven by drug and alcohol-related illness and increased suicide rates, Deaton and Case surmise that financial strain is the culprit. As Olga Khazan explains in The Atlantic, "Jobs in fields like manufacturing and construction, which were historically filled by people without college degrees, have been evaporating quickly over the past 15 years. [L]ess-educated people are more likely to be unemployed and to make less, so they struggle to afford things like therapy, gym memberships, and recreation that isn’t drugs. Without jobs, they may lack the social networks and sense of purpose that have shown to reduce mortality.
Nearly half of Americans in their 40s and 50s don’t have enough money saved for retirement to live as they’re accustomed to, even if they work until they’re 65. All of this is crashing down on Boomers, who were raised on the promise of the American Dream."
Deaton sums up his findings simply and starkly, saying that "half a million people are dead who should not be dead."
A generation of Americans may not be aware as a group of these statistics, but they're certainly individually cognizant of the fact that their friends are dying, and of a sense of demographic despair. At the same time, they lack a voice, something that's the province of the elites, the degreed, the financially secure. They're scared, and they're pissed, and they're lashing out at a world that's operating under new rules.
And it's hard to blame them for what's a genuinely human response to a brutally real, personally frightening, and seemingly intractable problem.
There are no easy answers here. The perfect storm of generational anxiety and political opportunism predicts a bleak 2016 presidential campaign.
Where we go from there is anyone's guess.
We've offered explanations in these pages for the frothing absurdity of the American presidential election, trying to find meaning in the alternately absurd and depressing spectacle of the GOP primaries. Far more august publications have done the same, as everyone with a byline has taken a run at understanding the inchoate rage of the largely white, largely middle class base of the modern conservative movement.
More ominously, and perhaps more telling in terms of the broader societal implication, is the authors' hypothesis for the cause of increased mortality rates for a group that makes up nearly 40% of the U.S. population. Noting that the rise in mortality for the demographic cohort in question is driven by drug and alcohol-related illness and increased suicide rates, Deaton and Case surmise that financial strain is the culprit. As Olga Khazan explains in The Atlantic, "Jobs in fields like manufacturing and construction, which were historically filled by people without college degrees, have been evaporating quickly over the past 15 years. [L]ess-educated people are more likely to be unemployed and to make less, so they struggle to afford things like therapy, gym memberships, and recreation that isn’t drugs. Without jobs, they may lack the social networks and sense of purpose that have shown to reduce mortality.
Nearly half of Americans in their 40s and 50s don’t have enough money saved for retirement to live as they’re accustomed to, even if they work until they’re 65. All of this is crashing down on Boomers, who were raised on the promise of the American Dream."
Deaton sums up his findings simply and starkly, saying that "half a million people are dead who should not be dead."
A generation of Americans may not be aware as a group of these statistics, but they're certainly individually cognizant of the fact that their friends are dying, and of a sense of demographic despair. At the same time, they lack a voice, something that's the province of the elites, the degreed, the financially secure. They're scared, and they're pissed, and they're lashing out at a world that's operating under new rules.
And it's hard to blame them for what's a genuinely human response to a brutally real, personally frightening, and seemingly intractable problem.
There are no easy answers here. The perfect storm of generational anxiety and political opportunism predicts a bleak 2016 presidential campaign.
Where we go from there is anyone's guess.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
This Day in Wrenball Pigskin Special
I've been in Pittsburgh since Wednesday, ostensibly celebrating Thanksgiving by overeating, drinking tons of wine, and studiously ignoring both my in-laws and the cacophonous screeching of my kids and their cousins.All that revelry is just a cover, though. I'm really here to scout the Duquesne Dukes, first-round FCS Tournament opponents of your William & Mary Tribe.
W&M returns to the postseason for the first time in four years, having tied Richmond and James Madison for the CAA title. Both of their co-winners received first-round tournament byes, despite the fact that the Tribe beat JMU head to head. Duquesne, champions of the Northeast Conference (which may or may not be a real league), makes their first-ever postseason tournament appearance this afternoon at 3:30 in Williamsburg.
Tribe senior defensive tackle Tyler Claytor previews the Dukes about as effectively as we could, so we'll let him tell you. "We don’t know much about them, they don’t really know much about us. That’s the beauty of the playoffs. It’s definitely something new, something different. It’s really enjoyable just having, hey, there’s a new team, new school, new group of guys we’re going to face. … There’s a little bit of mystery. It’s challenging. It’s intriguing.”
Based on my time spent on the ground behind enemy lines, I can also tell you that Duquesne is in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh, and has a pretty cool old church right in the middle of campus. Norm Nixon went there, as did former head of the CIA Michael Hayden, who's kind of a loudmouth jerk. Reason enough to get fired up to play these Dukes, as far as I can tell.
In what passes as small consolation, the tournament draw gives W&M an opportunity to get revenge on their arch rivals from Richmond in short order. The winner of today's game takes on U of R next weekend in the tournament's second round.
W&M's favored by 22 1/2. And after spending some time around the Duquesne program (I played golf within 20 miles of their campus yesterday, for example), I feel pretty good about our chances.
Bring on Spidey.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
This Week in Wrenball: Nutcracker
Midway through William & Mary's road contest against Dayton, the Tribe had a nine-point lead on the favored Flyers, and visions of hoops-flavored sugarplums danced through my head. W&M was 20 minutes from a second major conference scalp (we're counting the Atlantic 10 as a major hoops conference because it suits our purposes) in four games after a 17-point whipping of the ACC's North Carolina State in the season-opener.And I was 20 minutes from debuting the #wmtribe4top25 hashtag.
Then Dayton went on a 37-19 run to start the second half, and early-season delusions drifted away. Funny thing happened next, though. Four different Tribesmen scored as part of an 11-0 run that gave W&M a 60-58 lead with 2:18 to play.
Dayton scored seven of the next eight points and closed out the Tribe, 69-66, but the result matters less at this point in the season than the lesson - this Tribe team's a tough out.
 |
| Omar blockin' |
W&M hosts Hampton tonight before traveling to play at Howard over the Thanksgiving break. DC Gheorghies, represent. They return to Williamsburg to take on former CAA rival Old Dominion, and then play Virginia in Charlottesville a week from Saturday. At the risk of reading too much into a few good outings, something would be really amiss if this team finishes the out of conference schedule worse than 8-3. And if they beat ODU, they really should be 9-2 when they enter CAA play.
Through four games, we've learned that this W&M team is experienced, poised, tough, and able to compete with better teams. That's a recipe that'll make some tasty sugarplums.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
The Test 24: Stacey Demands (More) Numbers
The first thing I want to point out is that the two ladies that I make The Test are very smart. They're great teachers: motivational and analytical and funny and very intelligent. Stacey could talk philosophy with Socrates and Cunningham knows how to tear into a difficult text, AP English style. Their students are lucky to have them.
That being said, listening to them discuss anything numerical is a fascinating cognitive experience. I have to give Stacey credit-- in this episode her answers do make more sense than usual-- but her methods are circuitous and bordering on lunatic. Cunningham actually enters the realm of the absurd. If you haven't tuned in to the show yet, this is the one to start with. It's an interesting set of questions, Cunningham channels Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Stacey does some math, and I question the capacity of the human mind. We get a little testy with each other, and some judgemental pronouncements are made, but in the end a good time is had by all.
Check it out, play at home, and see how your number sense compares the the ladies. I promise you'll laugh out loud, and if you're not careful, you might even learn something before it's done (or get roofied and have your toes licked).
That being said, listening to them discuss anything numerical is a fascinating cognitive experience. I have to give Stacey credit-- in this episode her answers do make more sense than usual-- but her methods are circuitous and bordering on lunatic. Cunningham actually enters the realm of the absurd. If you haven't tuned in to the show yet, this is the one to start with. It's an interesting set of questions, Cunningham channels Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Stacey does some math, and I question the capacity of the human mind. We get a little testy with each other, and some judgemental pronouncements are made, but in the end a good time is had by all.
Check it out, play at home, and see how your number sense compares the the ladies. I promise you'll laugh out loud, and if you're not careful, you might even learn something before it's done (or get roofied and have your toes licked).
Monday, November 23, 2015
The Sublime, Beautiful Dave Grohl
The arc of the Foo Fighters' story is long, but it bends towards humanity.
Back in July, we told you about the seemingly quixotic attempt by a thousand Italian musicians to get the Foos' attention. Organized by Fabio Zaffagnini, the group performance caught Dave Grohl's attention, and the band promised to come to the small northern Italian city to perform a show. They made good on that promise on November 3.
What a show it appears to have been.
In nice piece of theatrical symmetry, the band opened the show with 'Learn to Fly'.
A moved Grohl thanked the crowd the musicians, saying "I fucking cried", when describing his reaction the first time he saw the group video.
Grohl dedicated 'My Hero' to Zaffagnini, and the joy and pure happiness on the latter's face tells you that we might be seeing the best moment of his life. And what happens from the 5:30 mark or so is just a brilliantly human moment. It made me happy to see it.
Finally, the band invited one of the stars of the original video, a mohawked drummer, to sit in on the skins while Foos drummer Taylor Hawkins handled lead vocals on Queen/Bowie's 'Under Pressure'.
There's so much to love here. Not the least of which is Dave Grohl's essential decency. Long may he rock.
Back in July, we told you about the seemingly quixotic attempt by a thousand Italian musicians to get the Foos' attention. Organized by Fabio Zaffagnini, the group performance caught Dave Grohl's attention, and the band promised to come to the small northern Italian city to perform a show. They made good on that promise on November 3.
What a show it appears to have been.
In nice piece of theatrical symmetry, the band opened the show with 'Learn to Fly'.
A moved Grohl thanked the crowd the musicians, saying "I fucking cried", when describing his reaction the first time he saw the group video.
Grohl dedicated 'My Hero' to Zaffagnini, and the joy and pure happiness on the latter's face tells you that we might be seeing the best moment of his life. And what happens from the 5:30 mark or so is just a brilliantly human moment. It made me happy to see it.
Finally, the band invited one of the stars of the original video, a mohawked drummer, to sit in on the skins while Foos drummer Taylor Hawkins handled lead vocals on Queen/Bowie's 'Under Pressure'.
There's so much to love here. Not the least of which is Dave Grohl's essential decency. Long may he rock.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Ballsy
Australia is cooler than us. The evidence is overwhelming, so much so that I don't feel particularly compelled to list it. (There are other reasons why I don't feel like listing it, many of them related to the fact that I'm lazy as fuck.)
No, I won't list it, but I will provide yet another exhibit in the case. Bonds Australia is a maker of undergarments. They're also the geniuses behind an advertising campaign that's made a pair of testicles superstars Down Under.
Really, that should be enough to make the case, no?
No, I won't list it, but I will provide yet another exhibit in the case. Bonds Australia is a maker of undergarments. They're also the geniuses behind an advertising campaign that's made a pair of testicles superstars Down Under.
Really, that should be enough to make the case, no?
Friday, November 20, 2015
No Money Mo Problems
Just days after the triumphant close of BlazerCon, our very own footie fetishist stops by for a timely look at the state of the Premier League. I, for one, will be eagerly scanning Fat Guy in Speedo's work for commentary on Fulham's hiring of former West Brom manager Steve Clarke to the top spot at Craven Cottage and/or Fulham's inability to lure Clarke to the job. Eighth/Fourteenth place in the Championship, here we come!
After noting Gheorghies waiting for Godave’s post, I figured
I’d quickly pop off some more Premier League propaganda in hopes that I could
beat Dave’s probable self-promotional post to the proverbial punch. (Editor's note: Dave's post was at once self-promotional and non-existent, as he actually posted it on a different blog. We're not sure he completely understands the modern world.) It’s week
33 into the 86-week season and pundits are already waxing poetic about the
incredibly improbable and unpredictable shake up among the leagues traditional
powerhouses. The top 4 generally consists of some iteration of Chelsea, Man
City, Arsenal and Man United in those positions. However, the leaderboard
currently reads Man City, Arsenal, LEICESTER CITY and Manchester United. Note
that one of these teams is not like the others. Stop the madness. Human sacrifice, dogs and
cats living together, squirrels riding birds... mass hysteria!
What’s worth noting
is that Leicester City is a recently promoted Premier League side, having returned to the top league in 2014 for the first time since 2004, so the
fact that they are flying at such heady heights is nothing short of remarkable.
In the Premier League, money spent on player salaries generally correlates to a
team’s position in the table. The top four salary spenders are Manchester
United (£215),
Manchester City (£205), Chelsea (£192) and Arsenal (£166). The lack of a salary
cap in the MLB makes that league a (luxury tax noted) reasonably comparable model and
there the top four wage bills are Dodgers ($273M), Yankees ($219M), Red Sox
($187M) and Tigers ($174M). The two
World Series teams were the Mets are at #21 ($101M) and the Royals ($113M) at
#16. What does this prove? Win or lose, owning any professional sports
team in the United States is a guaranteed license to print money.
Wait, what about Chelsea? Their poor play is proof that if
enough people wish for something worldwide, it will come true. The 2014 league
winners have collapsed and currently occupy 16th place (out of 20)
in the EPL table. There is no real reason for their decline, the same players,
owner, coach and horribly defensive style of play are replicas of what drove
them to victory last season. Every week heralds a new low and the players look
defeated before play even begins.
After noting Gheorghies waiting for Godave’s post, I figured
I’d quickly pop off some more Premier League propaganda in hopes that I could
beat Dave’s probable self-promotional post to the proverbial punch. (Editor's note: Dave's post was at once self-promotional and non-existent, as he actually posted it on a different blog. We're not sure he completely understands the modern world.) It’s week
33 into the 86-week season and pundits are already waxing poetic about the
incredibly improbable and unpredictable shake up among the leagues traditional
powerhouses. The top 4 generally consists of some iteration of Chelsea, Man
City, Arsenal and Man United in those positions. However, the leaderboard
currently reads Man City, Arsenal, LEICESTER CITY and Manchester United. Note
that one of these teams is not like the others. Stop the madness. Human sacrifice, dogs and
cats living together, squirrels riding birds... mass hysteria!
What’s worth noting
is that Leicester City is a recently promoted Premier League side, having returned to the top league in 2014 for the first time since 2004, so the
fact that they are flying at such heady heights is nothing short of remarkable.
In the Premier League, money spent on player salaries generally correlates to a
team’s position in the table. The top four salary spenders are Manchester
United (£215),
Manchester City (£205), Chelsea (£192) and Arsenal (£166). The lack of a salary
cap in the MLB makes that league a (luxury tax noted) reasonably comparable model and
there the top four wage bills are Dodgers ($273M), Yankees ($219M), Red Sox
($187M) and Tigers ($174M). The two
World Series teams were the Mets are at #21 ($101M) and the Royals ($113M) at
#16. What does this prove? Win or lose, owning any professional sports
team in the United States is a guaranteed license to print money.
Meanwhile, Leicester City play with total positivity and
attacking abandon, they are like an injury-laden Notre Dame team without the
international support, coffers or Showtime series. They have come from behind
several times and never show intimidation regardless of the venue. Check ‘em
out this weekend, I’m sure if you do based on this post you will be rewarded
with an incredibly dreary 0-0 defensive draw. In other sporting news, does
anyone really think that a one-defeat Notre Dame team will get trumped out of
the playoffs by whatever crap team climbs to the top of the turd tower that is
the Big 12?
I was at this game.
See you on Boxing
Day! Dave’s post should be up by then.
Additional editor's note: says here that Tottenham Hotspur will claim one of the Prem's four Champions League spots. They haven't lost since the season's opening match, and they boast one of the youngest and most athletic lineups in the league. Plus, they have guys with fun names, like Dele Alli, Erik Lamela, Toby Alderweireld, Hugo Lloris, Moussa Dembele, and Harry Kane.
Additional editor's note: says here that Tottenham Hotspur will claim one of the Prem's four Champions League spots. They haven't lost since the season's opening match, and they boast one of the youngest and most athletic lineups in the league. Plus, they have guys with fun names, like Dele Alli, Erik Lamela, Toby Alderweireld, Hugo Lloris, Moussa Dembele, and Harry Kane.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
This Town Needs an Enema
I confess that the events last weekend in Paris and the resulting race to the bottom by American political and media voices (lest I be accused of partisanship, I'm looking at you, too, Chuck Schumer) have left me in a funk. Frankly, we've managed to look cowardly, xenophobic, and just plain cruel all at once.
As a response to my dismay, I found myself seeking moments of bliss to counteract the darkness. Fortunately, I'm surrounded by idiots with a penchant for joyous dipshittery. One, in particular.
Thanks, man. You're the best.
As a response to my dismay, I found myself seeking moments of bliss to counteract the darkness. Fortunately, I'm surrounded by idiots with a penchant for joyous dipshittery. One, in particular.
Thanks, man. You're the best.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
The Test 23: Princess Cunningham
Stacey, Cunningham and I have recorded twenty-five episodes of The Test and I'm happy to report our enthusiasm for the project hasn't flagged. And we've got listeners (God knows who . . . but we've been listened to and downloaded over 13,000 times). We are to the point where we are occasionally making tests to annoy the shit out of each other-- that was Cunningham's plan with this one . . . she knows I hate all things Disney and wanted to put me on the spot. Don't fret, as I exact my revenge next week.
Give this one a shot, sing along at home, and see if you can channel your inner princess. Special features include Stacey blurting out an answer and not realizing it, a very difficult two word tongue twister, and some confusion on my part between a post-apocalyptic '90's movie and an abandoned waterpark.
Give this one a shot, sing along at home, and see if you can channel your inner princess. Special features include Stacey blurting out an answer and not realizing it, a very difficult two word tongue twister, and some confusion on my part between a post-apocalyptic '90's movie and an abandoned waterpark.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Math is Our Friend
Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
Not a galaxy so much as a life phase, really. In any case, it was nearly 25 years ago when several GTBers and friends conceived of the Bad Brewery Tour as an offbeat Spring Break journey. The details are a bit hazy, but the trip centered in Milwaukee, with plans to visit Pabst and Miller (in hopes of finding the source of Milwaukee's Best and Mickey's Big Mouth), among others. There was a stop planned at the National Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in St. Louis, too, if memory serves.
It may well not.
Now that we're older, wiser, and much more to the point, drinkers of far better beer, I think it's time to revisit the wintry reveries of far younger men. And thanks to the mathematically-inclined hops heads at Flowing Data, we don't even have to work very hard to plan.
Flowing Data is dedicated to the analysis, exploration, and visualization of data to help scientists and the rest of us understand information more easily and completely. The brainchild of UCLA PhD Nathan Yu, the polyinformatic site covers a breadth of data-related topics, from voting patterns, to genomics, to solar weather, to the predicted date of the end of the world. And most relevant to our uses, to beer.
Anyone can make a map of great American craft breweries, and lots of people have. It takes a bit more effort and data manipulation skills to turn that list into an algorithmically optimized road trip planner.
The trip is designed around the 72 American breweries that made RateBeer's list of the world's top 100 brewers, but Yu has helpfully visualized areas with a high concentration of additional breweries and brewpubs using thicker lines. But the real value of the Flowing Data planner is in route optimization, as seen below.
Y'know, if we do this right, we can hit Surly, Pabst, Founder's and Bells in a three-day mini-tour. Spring Break, anyone?
Not a galaxy so much as a life phase, really. In any case, it was nearly 25 years ago when several GTBers and friends conceived of the Bad Brewery Tour as an offbeat Spring Break journey. The details are a bit hazy, but the trip centered in Milwaukee, with plans to visit Pabst and Miller (in hopes of finding the source of Milwaukee's Best and Mickey's Big Mouth), among others. There was a stop planned at the National Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in St. Louis, too, if memory serves.
It may well not.
Now that we're older, wiser, and much more to the point, drinkers of far better beer, I think it's time to revisit the wintry reveries of far younger men. And thanks to the mathematically-inclined hops heads at Flowing Data, we don't even have to work very hard to plan.
Flowing Data is dedicated to the analysis, exploration, and visualization of data to help scientists and the rest of us understand information more easily and completely. The brainchild of UCLA PhD Nathan Yu, the polyinformatic site covers a breadth of data-related topics, from voting patterns, to genomics, to solar weather, to the predicted date of the end of the world. And most relevant to our uses, to beer.
Anyone can make a map of great American craft breweries, and lots of people have. It takes a bit more effort and data manipulation skills to turn that list into an algorithmically optimized road trip planner.
 |
| This is a lot easier to read on the Flowing Data site |
Y'know, if we do this right, we can hit Surly, Pabst, Founder's and Bells in a three-day mini-tour. Spring Break, anyone?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
.jpg){kind=link}
