Better ink as been spent on the topic of an NCAA football playoff so I'll be brief. It is absolutely stupid that there isn't one. I would love to hear one good reason from somebody other than a university president as to why this system is better. It isn't because the regular season would be less exciting. It isn't because the regular season is the playoffs. The real reason is that the university presidents make lots of money from the bowl games and don't want to share.
Would the NFL be more exciting if the playoffs were eliminated and the league instead had some sort of bowl system set up? Would college basketball be better if we eliminated March Madness? If the regular season is the playoffs in college football, than why isn't Boise State and Ball State in the national title picture?
A true playoff system plus bowl games for those out of the playoffs would make tons of money. The problem is that the powers that be (the big conferences) would be forced to share the profits with the lesser thans. Anybody giving a reason other than that is stupid, full of it or both.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Stupid Things Said By Sports Broadcasters
I'm watching the Florida vs. Florida State game. I was just informed by one of the announcers that Tim Tebow is a lot of things including a football player. Sports broadcasters are stupid.
A Good Sign
Being named to the transition team isn't a guarantee that she will be part of the administration, but this is a good sign. One of my major concerns with Clinton at State is that many of the Obama gang would get shut out. More hires like these please.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Tis The Season
Wal-Mart employee dies as asshats get their shopping on.
Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.People this fired up to shop should be shipped to Gitmo.
My Christmas List
I better get this for Christmas and if the dinosaur of a computer I have won't run it I will make it my personal mission to ruin Christmas for everybody.
I'm pretty amazed that nobody has ever put together something like this based on the NFL or NCAA football. Maybe there just aren't enough geeks in the states. Actually, I have seen similar games for the NFL, but they were pretty badly put together.
I'm pretty amazed that nobody has ever put together something like this based on the NFL or NCAA football. Maybe there just aren't enough geeks in the states. Actually, I have seen similar games for the NFL, but they were pretty badly put together.
Andy Reid Discovers The Running Game
The complaints and boos won't stop, but McNabb showed last night what he can do with a balanced offense. After a week of hearing from many that his stop in Philadelphia was coming to a close he threw for 260 yards and four touchdowns.
I'm really not an Eagles fan, but I always find myself pulling for McNabb. Were I him, I probably would have blown town awhile ago. I would have gone someplace where they consistently utilized the running game and surrounded me with receivers who were not best described as 'average'.
I'm really not an Eagles fan, but I always find myself pulling for McNabb. Were I him, I probably would have blown town awhile ago. I would have gone someplace where they consistently utilized the running game and surrounded me with receivers who were not best described as 'average'.
Good Luck With That
Still in a bubble.
"I'd like to be a president [known] as somebody who liberated 50 million people and helped achieve peace," Bush told his sister, Dorothy Bush Koch, in a conversation recorded for the oral-history organization StoryCorps for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
We Need A Bullhorn and Some Rubble
I bet Bush spends a lot of time looking at pictures like this. He probably does that a lot these days. I sure as hell were if I were him and my reputation were in tatters. While he certainly isn't going to rebuild or repair his reputation he could be doing something, but he isn't. Several times Obama has made the statement that all president elects are supposed to make, 'There is only one President." Could somebody tell Bush this and that President is him?
If I were forced to name one thing that Bush was good at it would be the photo-op. It is a shame that there are no good photo-ops for Bush during this economic mess, no piles of rubble for him to climb to buck up the troops, no clear cut bad guy for Bush to promise to bomb or bring freedom to.
Ryan Avent says it much better than I.
If I were forced to name one thing that Bush was good at it would be the photo-op. It is a shame that there are no good photo-ops for Bush during this economic mess, no piles of rubble for him to climb to buck up the troops, no clear cut bad guy for Bush to promise to bomb or bring freedom to.
Ryan Avent says it much better than I.
He very easily could have asked Congress to send him a stimulus bill, even a modest one, amid an intensification of what will likely be the worst recession in thirty years, if not longer. It would have made a difference. It would have made the season a little more bearable for the growing numbers of unemployed, and it would have made Obama’s task a little less daunting.Instead, he’s spending his waning days weakening environmental rules, helping his cronies get jobs in the professional bureacracy, and preparing his pardons. What a stupid, despicable man. History can’t judge him too cruelly.
A Quick Reminder
The complaints of Obama bringing in too many former Clinton people into his administration seems to be on an uptick. I get that and have concerns about it as well that I touched on here. However, it would be wise for people to keep this comment in mind.
One of the uglier aspects of the Bush presidency is that too many of the important decisions seemed to come from those supposedly working for him. There were times when Rumsfeld, Rove and Cheney all seemed as if they were the President while Bush was simply a prop to be rolled out to explain their decisions. If you want a current example look at Paulson. If you just woke up from an eight year nap who would you think was President, Paulson or Bush? The jury is certainly going to be out for awhile, but I don't see Obama being as weak a President as Bush.
Something else to keep in mind is that there really haven't been too many Democratic administrations over the last 20 or so years. Obama wants to hit the ground running which is certainly reassuring. In order to do that you need people who know how to get things done and that means people with experience in Washington. Bringing me in, for an example, to run Transportation would be true change. I would push like hell for Super Trains. However, other than sending Popular Mechanics links to Senators I wouldn't really know what to do.
In other words, relax folks. Lets save our bitching until Obama sheds the 'elect' from his current title.
"That's my job," Obama said, adding that it "is to provide a vision where we are going and to make sure that my team is implementing it."
One of the uglier aspects of the Bush presidency is that too many of the important decisions seemed to come from those supposedly working for him. There were times when Rumsfeld, Rove and Cheney all seemed as if they were the President while Bush was simply a prop to be rolled out to explain their decisions. If you want a current example look at Paulson. If you just woke up from an eight year nap who would you think was President, Paulson or Bush? The jury is certainly going to be out for awhile, but I don't see Obama being as weak a President as Bush.
Something else to keep in mind is that there really haven't been too many Democratic administrations over the last 20 or so years. Obama wants to hit the ground running which is certainly reassuring. In order to do that you need people who know how to get things done and that means people with experience in Washington. Bringing me in, for an example, to run Transportation would be true change. I would push like hell for Super Trains. However, other than sending Popular Mechanics links to Senators I wouldn't really know what to do.
In other words, relax folks. Lets save our bitching until Obama sheds the 'elect' from his current title.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Gay Couples Want Our Unwanted Babies
Thanks to a Florida judge they can have them.
All joking aside, bans against gay couples adopting are really stupid.
In a perfect world that sentence would end with 'so stop being so fucking stupid.'
I do find this pretty odd though.
A judge on Tuesday ruled that a strict Florida law that blocks gay people from adopting children is unconstitutional, declaring there was no legal or scientific reason for sexual orientation alone to prohibit anyone from adopting.
All joking aside, bans against gay couples adopting are really stupid.
"There is no rational basis to prohibit gay parents from adopting," she wrote in a 53-page ruling.
In a perfect world that sentence would end with 'so stop being so fucking stupid.'
I do find this pretty odd though.
Mississippi bans gay couples, but not single gays, from adopting.
Solar Power
Graveyards aren't just for ghosts anymore.
Flat, open and sun-drenched land is so scarce in Santa Coloma that the graveyard was just about the only viable spot to move ahead with its solar energy program.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Citi bail out
I never want to hear anybody talking about the awesomeness of the free market ever again.
What does Krugman think of this?
Just awesome.
The U.S. government moved to bail out Citigroup Inc, agreeing to shoulder most potential losses from $306 billion of its toxic assets and inject $20 billion of new capital, its biggest effort yet to prevent a big bank from failing.
What does Krugman think of this?
A bailout was necessary — but this bailout is an outrage: a lousy deal for the taxpayers, no accountability for management, and just to make things perfect, quite possibly inadequate, so that Citi will be back for more.
Just awesome.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Ohio State Football
I think everybody can pretty much agree that this season has been a bit of a disappointment for the Buckeyes. While the finger pointing has calmed down a bit over the last couple of weeks I thought I would offer my two cents.
Much of the finger pointing seems to go towards the offense with the two main victims being Jim Tressel's play calling and a under performing offensive line. I think some of the criticism of Tressel's play calling is unwarranted and a lot of it has to do with people wanting a bigger show on the field offensively. They aren't going to get it, at least not on a consistent basis and even if Tressel hands over the playing calling duties (which I think he should). I would love to see the Buckeyes use the tight end more, run more crossing routes and do more play action. However, I think if you look back over the losses from the past couple of years you would have a hard time making the case that the play calling was to blame for the loss.
The biggest problem for me is the offensive line. A better performance from the offensive line and there would be a more aggressive approach to the Buckeyes offense. Most of the big plays on offense come from Chris Wells breaking contact at the line of scrimmage and from Terrelle Pryor making things happen on his own. The bottom line is that the offensive line just isn't good enough for the Buckeys to be an elite team.
One other thing that I think gets overlooked when the criticism of the Ohio State offense states flying is the lack of a true playmaker on the perimeter. Not to knock Robiskie and Hartline, but in order for Ohio State to reach that elite status they need a serious upgrade at wide receiver. Neither Robiskie or Harline are the type of wide receivers that you specifically game plan to get the ball in their hands. Until the Buckeye's are able to change that, not even a good offensive line will be able to bring home a NC.
Much of the finger pointing seems to go towards the offense with the two main victims being Jim Tressel's play calling and a under performing offensive line. I think some of the criticism of Tressel's play calling is unwarranted and a lot of it has to do with people wanting a bigger show on the field offensively. They aren't going to get it, at least not on a consistent basis and even if Tressel hands over the playing calling duties (which I think he should). I would love to see the Buckeyes use the tight end more, run more crossing routes and do more play action. However, I think if you look back over the losses from the past couple of years you would have a hard time making the case that the play calling was to blame for the loss.
The biggest problem for me is the offensive line. A better performance from the offensive line and there would be a more aggressive approach to the Buckeyes offense. Most of the big plays on offense come from Chris Wells breaking contact at the line of scrimmage and from Terrelle Pryor making things happen on his own. The bottom line is that the offensive line just isn't good enough for the Buckeys to be an elite team.
One other thing that I think gets overlooked when the criticism of the Ohio State offense states flying is the lack of a true playmaker on the perimeter. Not to knock Robiskie and Hartline, but in order for Ohio State to reach that elite status they need a serious upgrade at wide receiver. Neither Robiskie or Harline are the type of wide receivers that you specifically game plan to get the ball in their hands. Until the Buckeye's are able to change that, not even a good offensive line will be able to bring home a NC.
I Said Stop The Stupid!
This seems to be getting more and more attention. Again, this was an absolutely stupid move, but anybody using it as a case to be against the auto bailout is an idiot. I get that people want to somehow punish the CEOs and other bigwigs that are largely responsible for the mess we are in. Hell, I do as well. The problem is that being anti-bailout doesn't punish the CEOs and bigwigs. Those types will still be flying around in private jets. The ones that will get punished without a bailout are the factory workers who will be jobless.
Clinton To State
I might do some rambling here so deal with it.
While a recently released statement from her Senate office says such calls are premature, pretty much everybody else says Senator Clinton's move to State is a done deal.
I'm lukewarm on the pick and will probably remain that way until we see Hillary and Obama in action. I think anybody who says otherwise is doing a whole hell of a lot of speculating and not much reporting, but hey that is what the traditional media is for. Anyway, I like the pick in the sense that our Madame Secretary is going to demand the attention of whoever she meets with right off the bat. I also don't think that Clinton gives up what is essentially a Senate seat for life to head someplace where there is going to be little work to do. To me, the pick seems like a pretty clear signal that Obama wants to be ready to get to work right away.
I do, however, have some big concerns. Lost in the primary race was the fact that Clinton and Obama were as about as close as you could get on almost every issues except foreign policy. Clinton was a lot close to the McCain/Bush approach than she was to Obama's. Normally, I wouldn't think this would be much of a problem. However, the number of leaks that come from the Clinton camp might make it one. If we open negotiations with the Taliban or Iran do we run the risk of leaks from the Clinton camp hurting those negotiations?
My second big concern is who does Clinton bring with her and who do they hire on. Spencer Ackerman sums up my thoughts best.
And the reason why this is a problem is best summed up with this comment.
While a recently released statement from her Senate office says such calls are premature, pretty much everybody else says Senator Clinton's move to State is a done deal.
I'm lukewarm on the pick and will probably remain that way until we see Hillary and Obama in action. I think anybody who says otherwise is doing a whole hell of a lot of speculating and not much reporting, but hey that is what the traditional media is for. Anyway, I like the pick in the sense that our Madame Secretary is going to demand the attention of whoever she meets with right off the bat. I also don't think that Clinton gives up what is essentially a Senate seat for life to head someplace where there is going to be little work to do. To me, the pick seems like a pretty clear signal that Obama wants to be ready to get to work right away.
I do, however, have some big concerns. Lost in the primary race was the fact that Clinton and Obama were as about as close as you could get on almost every issues except foreign policy. Clinton was a lot close to the McCain/Bush approach than she was to Obama's. Normally, I wouldn't think this would be much of a problem. However, the number of leaks that come from the Clinton camp might make it one. If we open negotiations with the Taliban or Iran do we run the risk of leaks from the Clinton camp hurting those negotiations?
My second big concern is who does Clinton bring with her and who do they hire on. Spencer Ackerman sums up my thoughts best.
Clinton herself isn’t so much the problem, they say. It’s the loyalists and traditional thinkers Clinton is likely to bring into the State Dept. if she becomes secretary.
And the reason why this is a problem is best summed up with this comment.
“Basically, you have all of these young, next-generation and mid-career people who took a chance on Obama” during the primaries, said one Democratic foreign-policy expert included in that cohort. “They were many times the ones who were courageous enough to stand up early against Iraq, which is why many of them supported Obama in the first place. And many of them would likely get shut out of the mid-career and assistant-secretary type jobs that you need, so that they can one day be the top people running a future Democratic administration.”This isn't to say that Clinton should bring in only Obama people. If she is going to be able to do her job, she needs to be able to hire the people she feels she can work with best. What she needs to do is show the same courage that Obama has by selecting somebody who disagreed with him so strongly.
Sarah Palin Isn't Real
She is a social program created by the media to see how much stupid people will love.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Timewaster
Sorry Twilight fans, but I think the idea of a vampire romance is just stupid. However, a zombie romance flick would be awesome.
Now go kill some.
Now go kill some.
I am smarter than Michael Kinsley
STOP THE STUPID!
Smoking is a disgusting habit that can kill you and those around you. Barack
Obama claims to have quit, but the evidence is ambiguous. And the media's lack
of interest in this question supports the charge that Obama is enjoying a
honeymoon with the press.
Grocery Shopping
No Giant Eagle. I go to Krogers, but only rarely. It is about time they did something like this.
Jurassic Park IV
For 10 million you could get a mammoth.
James Dobson is in a bunker somehwere trying to figure out how to make this a wedge issue.
James Dobson is in a bunker somehwere trying to figure out how to make this a wedge issue.
The Best Head Coach In The NFL
Norv Turner.
How else do you explain a guy who in 11 years has 20 more Ls than Ws and can still find work?
All kidding aside, Chargers team President Dean Spanos and general manager A.J. Smith both claim that Turner's job is safe. This despite a 4-6 record just on year after an 11-5 showing. If this were only his second year as a head coach it would be one thing, but the guy has a track record and it isn't a very good one. If he can manage just four more losses this season (and I think he can do it) he will have posted double digit losses in six of his 11 seasons.
How else do you explain a guy who in 11 years has 20 more Ls than Ws and can still find work?
All kidding aside, Chargers team President Dean Spanos and general manager A.J. Smith both claim that Turner's job is safe. This despite a 4-6 record just on year after an 11-5 showing. If this were only his second year as a head coach it would be one thing, but the guy has a track record and it isn't a very good one. If he can manage just four more losses this season (and I think he can do it) he will have posted double digit losses in six of his 11 seasons.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Al Qaeda Doesn't Get E-Mail
If they did get email, they would know that Obama is actually a secret Muslim and not a secret Jew.
images of Obama, wearing a Jewish skullcap, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and a picture of al-Zawahiri.
Please stop the stupid
Seems a lot of people are upset about this.
Yes, this was a completely bonehead move. No, it is not a way to make the case against an auto bailout.
The CEOs of the big three automakers flew to the nation's capital yesterday in private luxurious jets to make their case to Washington that the auto industry is running out of cash and needs $25 billion in taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy.
Yes, this was a completely bonehead move. No, it is not a way to make the case against an auto bailout.
Stem Cells
Stories like this are very encouraging on the stem cell front. This isn't about ESCs so it sidesteps most of the controversy on the whole stem cell debate.
I'm a pretty firm believer that those who oppose stem cell research for moral reasons have really shitty morals.
I'm a pretty firm believer that those who oppose stem cell research for moral reasons have really shitty morals.
The Vetting Of Clinton
Marc Ambinder does a good write up of the Senator Clinton vetting.
This is looking more and more like a done deal unless something comes up in the financials of Bill's fundraising for his foundation.
This is looking more and more like a done deal unless something comes up in the financials of Bill's fundraising for his foundation.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Lieberman Keeps His Seat
At 42-13 it wasn't even a close vote.
I understand that every vote is important when in the filibuster happy Senate you need 60 votes on virtually everything. The problem is that you also need party loyalty. Party loyalty is how you actually get to 60 votes because while many votes follow party lines they aren't strict party lines. Lieberman has proven he is a party of one. Elections have consequences, unless you happen to be named Joe Lieberman.
It would be interesting if one of the 42 would explain where exactly that line of too far is. I would have thought that questioning the patriotism of your party's leader would have been it.
I understand that every vote is important when in the filibuster happy Senate you need 60 votes on virtually everything. The problem is that you also need party loyalty. Party loyalty is how you actually get to 60 votes because while many votes follow party lines they aren't strict party lines. Lieberman has proven he is a party of one. Elections have consequences, unless you happen to be named Joe Lieberman.
It would be interesting if one of the 42 would explain where exactly that line of too far is. I would have thought that questioning the patriotism of your party's leader would have been it.
Monday, November 17, 2008
We hardly knew ya!
My Own Worst Enemy going bye-bye.
Maybe the show would have been better if Edward/Henry ran a pirate radio station instead of being a spy.
Fact : Pump Up The Volume is one of the top 10 greatest soundtracks of all-time.
Maybe the show would have been better if Edward/Henry ran a pirate radio station instead of being a spy.
Fact : Pump Up The Volume is one of the top 10 greatest soundtracks of all-time.
I am smarter than Deborah Howell
I'm not sure how I missed this because I really like point out people I am smarter than.
Howell makes a case for an Obama bias at the Washington Post by counting the number of articles written and photos taken of each candidate. Since Obama had more, the Washington Post is deemed to have had a bias. I'm pretty tired of people make the case that if you write something positive or negative about candidate A you have to do the same thing for candidate B. There aren't a lot of articles out there in praise of the Detroit Lions. On the other hand, there is a small forest worth of articles devoted to the New England Patriots. This doesn't mean there is a sports journalist bias against the Detriot Lions. It just means that they suck and are boring, which kinda explains McCain's campaign.
Some of Howell's complaints about the Post's coverage of Obama are...
Seriously Debby? The Post's coverage would have been better had it focused on Obama's drug use as a teen, his undergrad years and Rezko? Personally, I think the Post would have better coverage if they didn't have such a stupid Ombudsman who sounds like she just got back from reading Red State.
I really liked this part though.
So apparently to Howell, more press coverage means there is a bias except when the opposite is true.
Howell makes a case for an Obama bias at the Washington Post by counting the number of articles written and photos taken of each candidate. Since Obama had more, the Washington Post is deemed to have had a bias. I'm pretty tired of people make the case that if you write something positive or negative about candidate A you have to do the same thing for candidate B. There aren't a lot of articles out there in praise of the Detroit Lions. On the other hand, there is a small forest worth of articles devoted to the New England Patriots. This doesn't mean there is a sports journalist bias against the Detriot Lions. It just means that they suck and are boring, which kinda explains McCain's campaign.
Some of Howell's complaints about the Post's coverage of Obama are...
But Obama deserved tougher scrutiny than he got, especially of his undergraduate years, his start in Chicago and his relationship with Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who was convicted this year of influence-peddling in Chicago. The Post did nothing on Obama's acknowledge drug use as a teenager.
Seriously Debby? The Post's coverage would have been better had it focused on Obama's drug use as a teen, his undergrad years and Rezko? Personally, I think the Post would have better coverage if they didn't have such a stupid Ombudsman who sounds like she just got back from reading Red State.
I really liked this part though.
One gaping hole in coverage involved Joe Biden, Obama's running mate. When Gov. Sarah Palin was nominated for vice president, reporters were booking the next flight to Alaska. Some readers thought The Post went over Palin with a fine-tooth comb and neglected Biden. They are right; it was a serious omission.
So apparently to Howell, more press coverage means there is a bias except when the opposite is true.
Proposition 8
Mormon Church upset when people find out they happen to be bigots.
Some have hinted that this was a move by the Mormon Church to pave the way for more cooperation with evangelicals. Michael Otterson, a church spokesman, denies such claims insisting...
I know that groups like to argue that gay marriage somehow weakens marriage and that their crusade is somehow about strengthening marriage. I tend to think that spending 20 million on marriage counseling and family planning programs would get them more bang for the buck and then they could keep the fact that they are bigots hidden.
Proposition 8 opponents estimate that members of the Mormon Church gave
more than $20 million to the effort to pass the measure, though that is
difficult to confirm because records of campaign donations do not include
religious affiliation.
Some have hinted that this was a move by the Mormon Church to pave the way for more cooperation with evangelicals. Michael Otterson, a church spokesman, denies such claims insisting...
"The church couldn't remain silent on a pivotal issue like this."
I know that groups like to argue that gay marriage somehow weakens marriage and that their crusade is somehow about strengthening marriage. I tend to think that spending 20 million on marriage counseling and family planning programs would get them more bang for the buck and then they could keep the fact that they are bigots hidden.
Bailouts
I go back and forth on the need for an auto bailout. I'm not a big fan of lending billions to an industry that has basically run themselves into the ground. Is lending money to an industry that has already proven it is so good at managing money a good idea? On the other hand there is a lot of truth to what Krugman says.
I would probably be a lot more pro-bailout if somebody could promise me that something like this wouldn't happen again.
If the economy as a whole were in reasonably good shape and
the credit markets were functioning, Chapter 11 would be the way to go. Under
current circumstances, however, a default by GM would probably mean loss of
ability to pay suppliers, which would mean liquidation — and that, in turn,
would mean wiping out probably well over a million jobs at the worst possible
moment.
I would probably be a lot more pro-bailout if somebody could promise me that something like this wouldn't happen again.
In the six weeks since lawmakers approved the
Treasury's massive bailout of financial firms, the government has poured money
into the country's largest banks, recruited smaller banks into the program and
repeatedly widened its scope to cover yet other types of businesses, from
insurers to consumer lenders.
Along the way, the Bush administration has committed
$290 billion of the $700 billion rescue package.
Yet for all this activity, no formal action has been
taken to fill the independent oversight posts established by Congress when it
approved the bailout to prevent corruption and government waste. Nor has the
first monitoring report required by lawmakers been completed, though the initial
deadline has passed.
Twilight
I know a number of ladies who seem pretty excited to see this film. I'm friends with them so I am going to try and give them the benefit of doubt, but I'm 99 percent certain they have shitty taste. I wasn't all that sure what this movie was about until reading this Salon article about the film.
For those who might be in the dark about Twilight.
Really ladies? This excites you? There are so many things that bother me about this Twilight business. Like this.
And this.
Do you see what you are getting into? Twi-hards? We don't need no Stinking Fang? And how can you make a vampire movie having never seen Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
For those who might be in the dark about Twilight.
"Twilight" tells the story of Bella Swan, a clumsy 17-year-old who moves to a
rainy Washington town to live with her father. Once there, she catches the eye
of Edward Cullen, the best-looking guy in her new high school, and the two
engage in a whirlwind romance. As it turns out, Edward is not only sweet,
charming and attentive but also, somewhat awkwardly, an immortal vampire with a
disquieting thirst for blood. The resulting tension, between his murderous
instincts and his love for Bella, is what gives the story its drama.
Really ladies? This excites you? There are so many things that bother me about this Twilight business. Like this.
The most recent "Twilight" book sold an astonishing 1.3
million copies in the first 24 hours, and fans -- also known as
"Twi-hards"
And this.
even a few fan-created "Twilight" bands, like the Bella
Cullen Project (song titles include "We don't need No Stinking Fang" and
"Dig Me a Grave").
Do you see what you are getting into? Twi-hards? We don't need no Stinking Fang? And how can you make a vampire movie having never seen Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
Ties
It really doesn't make much sense that there are ties in the NFL. This is one of those rare cases where the NFL could learn something from college football.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Overnight Music
This wasn't going to be my pick tonight, but since I only have two or three readers I can't disappoint the masses.
Hello Saferide - The Quiz
Hello Saferide - The Quiz
The Halftime Talk
We see it all the time in the movies. The underdog team is down at halftime and hanging their heads. The Academy Award winning actor storms into the locker room, gives a speech for the ages and our beloved underdog team wills their way to victory. We do a pretty good job of overhyping the halftime talk with broadcasting games. We have sideline reports trailing after the coach asking them 'what do you tell your guys at half' or right after a scoring drive to open the second half have have the broadcast team speculating on what the coach said at half to fire the boys up.
Having played and coached a fair amount of sports in my day I have been involved in plenty of halftime speeches, both good and bad. I just don't think they are all that important. I remember an old coaching book I read where the coach (I forget his name) said that he didn't give halftime or pre-game speeches because once you gave one you had to give another and another and another. My guess is that most teams would rather have a good coach than a good motivational speaker. My bet is that most games that see a sudden swing in momentum from first half to second is more a result of good half time adjustsments than some 'We few, we happy few. We band of brothers....'. So it kinda warmed my heart to read this today.
Not to mention that probably the most successful halftime speeches I have been part of or given were pretty simple. Something like 'You guys are playing like shit.' can be pretty awe inspiring.
Having played and coached a fair amount of sports in my day I have been involved in plenty of halftime speeches, both good and bad. I just don't think they are all that important. I remember an old coaching book I read where the coach (I forget his name) said that he didn't give halftime or pre-game speeches because once you gave one you had to give another and another and another. My guess is that most teams would rather have a good coach than a good motivational speaker. My bet is that most games that see a sudden swing in momentum from first half to second is more a result of good half time adjustsments than some 'We few, we happy few. We band of brothers....'. So it kinda warmed my heart to read this today.
There was speculation by the ESPN2 television team about what sort of grandiose halftime talk Schmid might have given, but the coach with a league-record 18 playoff victories said he kept it short and sweet. "I tried to be calmer than normal," Schmid said. "We were done with our halftime talk with like four minutes to go. I didn't want to overburden them with stuff."
Not to mention that probably the most successful halftime speeches I have been part of or given were pretty simple. Something like 'You guys are playing like shit.' can be pretty awe inspiring.
Turkey Carving
Somehow I have become the default carver for my family. Trust me, it isn't for my knife skills as too many times it looks like I tried to carve with a cheese grader.
Aurora Borealis
A video of still shots taken by Donal Pettit during his 161 day stay on the International Space Station.
Get Your Geek On
They really need to think of better names for stars. HR 8799 is a pretty lame name.
I am pretty excited about this though and look forward to meeting our Fomalhautian overlords.
I am pretty excited about this though and look forward to meeting our Fomalhautian overlords.
In an e-mail message, Dr. Kalas pointed out that Fomalhaut was the closest exoplanet yet discovered, “close enough to contemplate sending spacecraft there.”
Friday, November 14, 2008
Billy Collins
I'm sure there are a number of amateur guitarists who when they heard their first Jimi Hendrix solo stopped and thought 'I wanna play just like that.' Billy Collins was that guitarist for me and that solo was The First Dream. To say that I am a big Billy Collins fan would be a big understatement.
As much as I like to read Billy Collins, I like to listen to Billy Collins even more. Luckily, for those who share that view the power of youtube allows that. I wish I could have found The First Dream, but no such luck.
Billy Collins - Now And Then
As much as I like to read Billy Collins, I like to listen to Billy Collins even more. Luckily, for those who share that view the power of youtube allows that. I wish I could have found The First Dream, but no such luck.
Billy Collins - Now And Then
Concern Trolling for The GOP
The media seems to have settled on either Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty or Bobby Jindal as the future leader of the GOP. A much smarter move would be looking towards Charlie Crist.
Senator Patrick Leahy
Not a pussy.
"Every Senator will have to vote the way he or she believes they should," Leahy said, in a reference to the upcoming vote on Lieberman's fate in the Dem caucus next week. "I'm one who does not feel that somebody should be rewarded with a major chairmanship after doing what he did."
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I am smarter than Jeffrey Shapiro
Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone
unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when
our president needed loyalty -- a shameful display of arrogance and weakness
that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House.
Jeffrey Shapiro
Lieberman
The way the Senate Democrats are handling their Joe Lieberman problem is a perfect example of how Democrats get the reputation of being pussies. Why is there a needed to hold a secret vote to see if Lieberman holds onto his position as chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee? Lieberman didn't just endorse McCain for President. He actively campaigned for him, did a Zell Miller impression at the Republican convention and acted as a validator for some of the more baseless and classless attacks from McCain camp. Elections have consequences and for Lieberman this should be one of them. Would stripping Lieberman of his chairmanship be political? [Sarah Palin] You betcha! [/Sarah Palin] Sometimes politics finds a way into the world of politicians....funny that, huh?
Beyond that keep in mind that Lieberman's committee is responsible for oversight of the executive branch and the administration. In the two years that Lieberman has been in his role of chairman he has held zero meetings.
Beyond that keep in mind that Lieberman's committee is responsible for oversight of the executive branch and the administration. In the two years that Lieberman has been in his role of chairman he has held zero meetings.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Deep Thought
Sarah Palin
I'm not in the best of moods today and it isn't helping that Sarah Palin keeps showing up on my tv. My thoughts on Palin are pretty simple. Sarah Palin is not stupid, the people who support her are. Palin plays her base beautifully. Her base is made up of the same social conservatives that are largely responsibile for dragging the GOP down to where it is today. Getting social conservatives to love you is pretty easy, just talk about 'the gay' and how much you love America.
What Sarah Palin is though is an intellectual gnat. Nuance and the details are uninteresting to her. They don't bring in the crowds, the cheers or the 15ok clothing budgets. Palin is a politician who should have been a reality show contestant or a cable minister.
Also, I agree with Josh Marshall.
What Sarah Palin is though is an intellectual gnat. Nuance and the details are uninteresting to her. They don't bring in the crowds, the cheers or the 15ok clothing budgets. Palin is a politician who should have been a reality show contestant or a cable minister.
Also, I agree with Josh Marshall.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
NFL Week 10 Random Thoughts
The Brady Quinn era has begun. This move was a couple weeks too late for my taste. Still it got off to a good start with Quinn throwing for 239 and two scores. Keep in mind this was against a Denver defense that has given up 247 yards passing and 1.3 touchdowns over the last month to the quarterback position. Still, Quinn seems to have a quicker delivery and some added mobility that should help him if teams look to put the pressure on him to carry the game.
My rookie and coach of the year at this point would go to Matt Ryan and Mike Smith. The turnaround the Falcons have seen from where they were last year to where they are now (6-3) is simply amazing.
In the battle of 9-0 (Titans) and 0-9 (Lions), I think the Titans see their zero disappear first. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Titans zero turn to a ‘2' before the Lions finally win a game.
Am I the only one who finds it tough to hate the Pats now that they aren’t blowing teams out?
The Jets seem to have finally realized that their offensive line was built for a running game, not a passing game.
I’m still trying to figure out what Andy Reid was thinking running twice in a row to end the game against the Giants.
No word if Mike Singletary dropped his pants in the locker room after the offense and Mike Martz completely fold in the last 30 seconds of Monday Night’s game.
My rookie and coach of the year at this point would go to Matt Ryan and Mike Smith. The turnaround the Falcons have seen from where they were last year to where they are now (6-3) is simply amazing.
In the battle of 9-0 (Titans) and 0-9 (Lions), I think the Titans see their zero disappear first. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Titans zero turn to a ‘2' before the Lions finally win a game.
Am I the only one who finds it tough to hate the Pats now that they aren’t blowing teams out?
The Jets seem to have finally realized that their offensive line was built for a running game, not a passing game.
I’m still trying to figure out what Andy Reid was thinking running twice in a row to end the game against the Giants.
No word if Mike Singletary dropped his pants in the locker room after the offense and Mike Martz completely fold in the last 30 seconds of Monday Night’s game.
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Missing Education Debate
I am pretty uniformed when it comes to education policy, almost to the point where I don’t feel comfortable tossing in my two cents. The keyword in that last sentence would be ‘almost’.
The extent of our education debate seems to start and stop with No Child Left Behind, school vouchers and charter schools. With the debate and exchange of ideas so limited it really shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the state of our educational system is less than ideal. On any given night the 24-hour news channels parade foreign policy and economic experts back and forth across the screen. Where are our education experts? Give me 20 minutes and I could probably find an army of parents pissed off about their child’s school. So why are we only skimming the service of this issue?
Perhaps an expanded national debate on education could start with Universal pre-K. Ezra Klein believes that ‘one of the great disappointments of contemporary liberal politics that so many folks who call themselves liberals spend their time arguing about teacher's unions, testing, and merit pay, rather than uniting behind universal pre-k.’. From my understanding such an undertaking would carry a pretty staggering price tag. It would be interesting to hear from some experts if they feel that such a program and the spending needed for such a program could offset some of the costs we eat down the road. First, we need to start pressuring our elected officials to start talking about education. I won’t be holding my breath.
The extent of our education debate seems to start and stop with No Child Left Behind, school vouchers and charter schools. With the debate and exchange of ideas so limited it really shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the state of our educational system is less than ideal. On any given night the 24-hour news channels parade foreign policy and economic experts back and forth across the screen. Where are our education experts? Give me 20 minutes and I could probably find an army of parents pissed off about their child’s school. So why are we only skimming the service of this issue?
Perhaps an expanded national debate on education could start with Universal pre-K. Ezra Klein believes that ‘one of the great disappointments of contemporary liberal politics that so many folks who call themselves liberals spend their time arguing about teacher's unions, testing, and merit pay, rather than uniting behind universal pre-k.’. From my understanding such an undertaking would carry a pretty staggering price tag. It would be interesting to hear from some experts if they feel that such a program and the spending needed for such a program could offset some of the costs we eat down the road. First, we need to start pressuring our elected officials to start talking about education. I won’t be holding my breath.
I Could Fix Heroes
Apparently, Heroes is losing a lot of viewers and the bigwigs are trying to save the show. I appreciate the effort, because it is one of my favorite shows and I agree that it has really slipped since Season One.
I think the show's biggest problem is that there are simply too many characters. It is almost as if the writers of the show decided to find a role for every out of work actor and actress in Hollywood. The result of so many characters is too many damned plot lines. And too many damned plot lines results in each episode having 2-8 minute clips of each plot line and it takes forever for the story to get developed.
The solution is simple. It is time to start killing characters. Season One was a whole lot of 'Save The Cheerleader'. I say the rest of this season should be 'Kill The Cheerleader'. If I wanted to watch a whiney spoiled brat I would watch My Sweet 16. Actually, I would thin out most of her hero and non-hero family starting with fire starting mom. Next buh-bye electricity girl and please take Suresh with you.
With the flock thinned we can get back to the actual story instead of some VH1 Where Are They Now for Heroes.
Sadly it looks like the suck is going to continue for awhile.
I think the show's biggest problem is that there are simply too many characters. It is almost as if the writers of the show decided to find a role for every out of work actor and actress in Hollywood. The result of so many characters is too many damned plot lines. And too many damned plot lines results in each episode having 2-8 minute clips of each plot line and it takes forever for the story to get developed.
The solution is simple. It is time to start killing characters. Season One was a whole lot of 'Save The Cheerleader'. I say the rest of this season should be 'Kill The Cheerleader'. If I wanted to watch a whiney spoiled brat I would watch My Sweet 16. Actually, I would thin out most of her hero and non-hero family starting with fire starting mom. Next buh-bye electricity girl and please take Suresh with you.
With the flock thinned we can get back to the actual story instead of some VH1 Where Are They Now for Heroes.
Sadly it looks like the suck is going to continue for awhile.
Writers are already working on the 20th of a planned 25 episodes this season, meaning any changes produced by the firings are unlikely to be seen on the air before May.
Project Gutenberg
I'm just not sold that ebooks are going to change the publishing industry like mp3s changed the music industry. A number of people smarter than me disagree.
There is no doubt that the digital world has dealt a financial blow to the print world. I certainly spend more time reading the online versions of magazines and newspapers over the dead tree versions. I just don't see the reshaping of how the industry is forced to do business, especially when one of the leading platforms for ebooks (Kindle) is $359.
I will say that Project Gutenberg is a pretty cool site.
A survey published in conjunction with the Frankfurt Book Fair last month showed
that 40 percent of book publishing professionals thought digital sales would
surpass sales of paper-and-ink books by 2018.
There is no doubt that the digital world has dealt a financial blow to the print world. I certainly spend more time reading the online versions of magazines and newspapers over the dead tree versions. I just don't see the reshaping of how the industry is forced to do business, especially when one of the leading platforms for ebooks (Kindle) is $359.
I will say that Project Gutenberg is a pretty cool site.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
I'm smarter than Andy Reid
2:00 minutes left. 3rd and 1. Down by five. One time-out. You haven't been able to run the ball all night. Your quarterback is Donovan McNabb. Trying to run for the first down is stupid. Trying to run for the first down twice in a row is really stupid.
What a downer of an ending to a damn good game.
I was hoping to make it to open mic tonight and meet up with a lady friend, maybe have a beer or two. Watching Donovan McNabb try and win the game in the last minutes wouldn't have made the trade-off worth it, but would have made it bearable. Watching Brian Westbrook run into a line of fat people.......pffffffffffffffft.
To top everything off I'm getting that achey feeling one gets right before you get sick. I'm headed to bed.
What a downer of an ending to a damn good game.
I was hoping to make it to open mic tonight and meet up with a lady friend, maybe have a beer or two. Watching Donovan McNabb try and win the game in the last minutes wouldn't have made the trade-off worth it, but would have made it bearable. Watching Brian Westbrook run into a line of fat people.......pffffffffffffffft.
To top everything off I'm getting that achey feeling one gets right before you get sick. I'm headed to bed.
Rambling
I’m one of the few folks living outside of a big city that is carless. I’m lucky enough that not having one doesn’t really hamper what I want and need to do each day. I spend a good deal of time getting around on my bike. Once you start cycling you learn rather quickly that most places just aren’t bike friendly. The city where I live recently upgraded one of the main roads that leads to a good deal of the local businesses. No bike lane was added. I’m not going to kid myself and imagine an army of cyclists that are being held back due to the lack of bike lanes. I could very well be the only one with such a gripe in the entire town. There is a local bike trail that seems to get a good deal of traffic so there are other cyclists out there. The problem is that the local trail is nearly 100 percent recreational use only. Perhaps, it is a Chicken Vs. Egg problem. Are there no bike lanes on the main roads because there are no cyclists, or are there no cyclists because there are no bike lanes?
Each election cycle we hear a lot about weaning our country off foreign oil. A big road block that is going to face us in the process of doing that is that most of our city’s simply aren’t set up to handle any sort of transportation other than motorized. If we can’t do something as simple as bike lanes, than how are we going to manage putting together mass transit options. Bike lanes aren’t going to be the silver bullet to oil independence. There is no silver bullet. However, it is a simple and practical step that local and federal governments can take. If only simple and practical solutions could win elections. As a bit of a side note, I’m pretty excited to have our first Amtrak Vice-President. Here is hoping this means we start paying attention to our underfunded and underutilized mass transit.
Going a bit further, shouldn’t be encouraging things like cycling? We spend a good deal of money on healthcare because we are a nation of fat arses. How many fat arses do you know that cycle regularly. I know of several workplaces that offer to reimburse their employees who get health club memberships. Employees that get regular exercise call in sick less, which means less work hours lost. Why not do something similar for us cyclists.
Each election cycle we hear a lot about weaning our country off foreign oil. A big road block that is going to face us in the process of doing that is that most of our city’s simply aren’t set up to handle any sort of transportation other than motorized. If we can’t do something as simple as bike lanes, than how are we going to manage putting together mass transit options. Bike lanes aren’t going to be the silver bullet to oil independence. There is no silver bullet. However, it is a simple and practical step that local and federal governments can take. If only simple and practical solutions could win elections. As a bit of a side note, I’m pretty excited to have our first Amtrak Vice-President. Here is hoping this means we start paying attention to our underfunded and underutilized mass transit.
Going a bit further, shouldn’t be encouraging things like cycling? We spend a good deal of money on healthcare because we are a nation of fat arses. How many fat arses do you know that cycle regularly. I know of several workplaces that offer to reimburse their employees who get health club memberships. Employees that get regular exercise call in sick less, which means less work hours lost. Why not do something similar for us cyclists.
Bishop Allen
Before the evil computer monster eated all my music, this was in pretty steady rotation on my Ipod. I had never seen the video for the song, until about 10 minutes ago. It, both the song and the video, makes me wish that there was some sort of channel on the tv that played music with videos. A cool name for that channel would probably be something like Music Television.
Bishop Allen - Click, Click, Click Click
Bishop Allen - Click, Click, Click Click
Place to Kill Time
PostSecret. As described by the website...
One of my favorites.
PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people
mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.
One of my favorites.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
More Poetry
I'm sure that I will scare off anybody who actually happens to stumble upon here with all the poetry. Since nobody does, I can do whatever I want without the worries of alienating my readers. Anyway...
I'm not a big fan of complicated poetry. Of course, complicated poetry to me might just be poetry that I don't get. Since I refuse to believe that, I have another theory. The trick to a good poem is simplicity. Let the reader find the depth in a work, don't create false complexity simple to show of your English or Creative Writing degree. I've read a good deal of criticism of modern poetry being too much story telling and not enough poetry. Frankly, I think that criticism is full of shit. Ed Ochester does a pretty good job of demonstrating simplicity in a poem in The Origin of Myth.
I'm not a big fan of complicated poetry. Of course, complicated poetry to me might just be poetry that I don't get. Since I refuse to believe that, I have another theory. The trick to a good poem is simplicity. Let the reader find the depth in a work, don't create false complexity simple to show of your English or Creative Writing degree. I've read a good deal of criticism of modern poetry being too much story telling and not enough poetry. Frankly, I think that criticism is full of shit. Ed Ochester does a pretty good job of demonstrating simplicity in a poem in The Origin of Myth.
The Origin of Myth
That summer I was drinking
apple cider vinegar because I read
in an obscure book it was good
for my health. A tablespoon or two
in a glass of spring water, with a bit
of honey or raw sugar. Controls weight,
the book said, flushes harmful toxins
from joints, tissues and organs.
"Doctor George Blodgett drank it
every day, and remained vigorous
until his death at age 94."
One reads
and perhaps believes almost anything
when one has lived alone for a while.
I felt good, doing it, though perhaps
that was because I walked on the beach
every day, swam, then walked again,
collected beach glass smoothed by the waves.
Pale blue and green, like solidified air,
dark green like emeralds, very rarely
sapphire blue and once a tiny piece
of red round as the pupil of an eye.
No one was on the beach because it was
September, and I had a white cabin
to myself. I swam and walked and read
and ate sparingly. I had come there
to be alone, and to think things through.
Every morning I drank my vinegar.
I read that the soldier who gave Jesus
vinegar on a sponge did so not in mockery
but in pity, to offer a restorative.
After a week I set the "red eye" on my desk
so we could watch one another. At dusk
the mist far out over the water looked like
distant hills, and I understood how
an earlier inhabitant might have thought
these were mountains that rose at nightfall
and disappeared with the dawn.
Friday, November 7, 2008
For Those Who Miss Campaign Season
Newsweek has a really good series of articles written about the campaign season. Several journalists were basically embedded within the Clinton, Obama and McCain campaign with the agreement that they wouldn't print anything they had until after the election. While there is stuff in there that all three campaigns probably wish hadn't made it into the public eye, the McCain campaign comes off as an amateur hour routine. Some pushback has started over the last couple of days overe the writings on the McCain campaign. While there is certainly some truth that losing campaigns are often portrayed in a negative light, there is more truth in the fact that one of the reasons for their losing was the dysfunctional management. A pretty long read, but well worth it.
Liberals On TV
For a supposed liberal media, there certainly are few liberals on tv. Keith Olbermann is one of the few making a go and success out of it. I'm mixed on KO. The guy is certainly high on himself and I've tired of his 'Special Comments', but it is nice to have a liberal voice on tv and I'm a big Eugene Robinson fan. That said, Rachel Maddow, is easily my favorite of the evil liberal's on tv. Her new show has been a huge success on MSNBC, besting or being competive with the old guards of Bill O and Larry king from the jump. Maybe some big wigs wil take note that liberals watch tv too.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Poetry
I helped run a poetry reading with a good friend of mine several years back. We didn't really run it as much as guided it, giving it the occasional push in the right (and sometimes wrong) direction and the rest of the time just holding on for the ride. One of the most interesting aspects of the whole thing was the number of people that wrote poetry. A good deal of it was bad poetry, but the number of people who have little black books of poetry hidden away was a real surprise.
The most disappointing aspect of the reading was that very few of those people that wrote poetry actually took the time to read poetry. I think a lot of that has to do with high school English teachers forces students to read shit poetry. So....for those of you who write poetry but don't read poetry (or listen to poetry) I offer you The Benjamin Franklin Of Monogamy and Janet Jackson's Titty.
The Benjamin Franklin of Monogamy
Jeffrey McDaniel
Reminiscing in the drizzle of Portland, I notice
the ring that's landed on your finger, a massive
insect of glitter, a chandelier shining at the end
of a long tunnel. Thirteen years ago, you hid the hurt
in your voice under a blanket and said there's two kinds
of women—those you write poems about
and those you don't. It's true. I never brought you
a bouquet of sonnets, or served you haiku in bed.
My idea of courtship was tapping Jane's Addiction
lyrics in Morse code on your window at three A.M.,
whiskey doing push-ups on my breath. But I worked
within the confines of my character, cast
as the bad boy in your life, the Magellan
of your dark side. We don't have a past so much
as a bunch of electricity and liquor, power
never put to good use. What we had together
makes it sound like a virus, as if we caught
one another like colds, and desire was merely
a symptom that could be treated with soup
and lots of sex. Gliding beside you now,
I feel like the Benjamin Franklin of monogamy,
as if I invented it, but I'm still not immune
to your waterfall scent, still haven't developed
antibodies for your smile. I don't know how long
regret existed before humans stuck a word on it.
I don't know how many paper towels it would take
to wipe up the Pacific Ocean, or why the light
of a candle being blown out travels faster
than the luminescence of one that's just been lit,
but I do know that all our huffing and puffing
into each other's ears—as if the brain was a trick
birthday candle—didn't make the silence
any easier to navigate. I'm sorry all the kisses
I scrawled on your neck were written
in disappearing ink. Sometimes I thought of you
so hard one of your legs would pop out
of my ear hole, and when I was sleeping, you'd press
your face against the porthole of my submarine.
I'm sorry this poem has taken thirteen years
to reach you. I wish that just once, instead of skidding
off the shoulder blade's precipice and joyriding
over flesh, we'd put our hands away like chocolate
to be saved for later, and deciphered the calligraphy
of each other's eyelashes, translated a paragraph
from the volumes of what couldn't be said.
Janet Jackson's Titty - Andy Buck
The most disappointing aspect of the reading was that very few of those people that wrote poetry actually took the time to read poetry. I think a lot of that has to do with high school English teachers forces students to read shit poetry. So....for those of you who write poetry but don't read poetry (or listen to poetry) I offer you The Benjamin Franklin Of Monogamy and Janet Jackson's Titty.
The Benjamin Franklin of Monogamy
Jeffrey McDaniel
Reminiscing in the drizzle of Portland, I notice
the ring that's landed on your finger, a massive
insect of glitter, a chandelier shining at the end
of a long tunnel. Thirteen years ago, you hid the hurt
in your voice under a blanket and said there's two kinds
of women—those you write poems about
and those you don't. It's true. I never brought you
a bouquet of sonnets, or served you haiku in bed.
My idea of courtship was tapping Jane's Addiction
lyrics in Morse code on your window at three A.M.,
whiskey doing push-ups on my breath. But I worked
within the confines of my character, cast
as the bad boy in your life, the Magellan
of your dark side. We don't have a past so much
as a bunch of electricity and liquor, power
never put to good use. What we had together
makes it sound like a virus, as if we caught
one another like colds, and desire was merely
a symptom that could be treated with soup
and lots of sex. Gliding beside you now,
I feel like the Benjamin Franklin of monogamy,
as if I invented it, but I'm still not immune
to your waterfall scent, still haven't developed
antibodies for your smile. I don't know how long
regret existed before humans stuck a word on it.
I don't know how many paper towels it would take
to wipe up the Pacific Ocean, or why the light
of a candle being blown out travels faster
than the luminescence of one that's just been lit,
but I do know that all our huffing and puffing
into each other's ears—as if the brain was a trick
birthday candle—didn't make the silence
any easier to navigate. I'm sorry all the kisses
I scrawled on your neck were written
in disappearing ink. Sometimes I thought of you
so hard one of your legs would pop out
of my ear hole, and when I was sleeping, you'd press
your face against the porthole of my submarine.
I'm sorry this poem has taken thirteen years
to reach you. I wish that just once, instead of skidding
off the shoulder blade's precipice and joyriding
over flesh, we'd put our hands away like chocolate
to be saved for later, and deciphered the calligraphy
of each other's eyelashes, translated a paragraph
from the volumes of what couldn't be said.
Janet Jackson's Titty - Andy Buck
How To Deal With a Break-up
Personally, I do a lot of sulking, drinking and writing of bad poetry. Justin Vernon seems to have found a more productive outlet. After the break-up of his band and being dumped by his girlfriend, Justin retreated to Wisconsin where he spent three months in a cabin owned by his father and wrote For Emma, Forever Ago.
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
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