In all honesty, I am not sure if anything spectacular even happened. The show is entertaining, but this episode felt a bit empty. The highlight came when Sookie and Bill go to Fangtasia to try and find the real killer in hopes of clearing Jason's name.
There Sookie meets Eric, a very old Viking vampire. He says that he tasted the one girl before, but does not know anything else. Also, Sookie saves the day by hearing someone think about how the police need to raid the place.
Jason took the V-Juice, the entire bottle, and it gives him a massive erection. Yep, most of the episode focused on that.
Anyways, I hope next week's episode is a little better...
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Fantasy Baseball Final Results
I know that everyone has been dying to know how the season ended. Or not. Well let me just say that it was a hard fought battle, and by that I mean I kicked Gideon's ass. Yeah, I took third place, not too shabby for a team that started at the bottom and rose from the ashes...or something like that.
The bigger story has to be the final's match up between Singer and Kern. Over the course of two weeks these two traded stats and switched pitchers. It seems that the top four placers used Singers method for the finals, and I wonder if that hurt him. With all of us doing it, that left the talent well a bit dry...I am sure Singer can attest to that...
Singer won and became our champion. All hail Singer's Sluggers! And before anyone starts saying that the season was tainted because of his method, let me show you some stats from this little contest.
R HR RBI SB AVG W SV K ERA WHIP
Kern 68 18 68 5 .294 12 14 202 4.55 1.45
Singer 67 16 52 10 .304 15 16 187 4.27 1.41
Me 64 13 59 7 .258 14 2 145 3.33 1.11
Gideon 45 11 50 1 .253 17 6 213 3.70 1.29
As you can see, all four of us, using the same tactics, put up very similar numbers. Did Singer do a better job of grabbing guys off the waiver wire than Ryan? Probably not, Ryan still had more strikeouts and they had very similar WHIPs and ERAs. Where did Singer win? SB's and SVs, just like he has all year, and that has nothing to do with his style of play. Let me show you the final year results.
Record wise each week, Singer was 16-5-4 in the SB category. The SV department he was even better: 20-5-0. I know many of you want to say that his method was wrong or whatever, but when you look at the final numbers, his method only helped him a little bit. His team was good because of his superior closing and his ownership of stolen bases.
Granted, he did have the most wins (119), but that was only 10 more than Gideon and Kern, and only 12 more than myself. As I have said numerous times, he gains Ks and Ws, but at the end of the year, he actually did not lead in Ks. Guess who did? Kern and I both had over 1500 Ks. Same with ERA and WHIP, Ryan led one, I led the other, but we were in the top two. Singers team had the worst ERA/WHIP in the league. The odd thing is though, he had a winning record with those two categories, which tells me that people did not try to exploit that glaring weakness in his team when they played him.
Anyways, I am excited for next season. I hope Singer joins our league, and I definitely hope that no one tries to make rules against his method. I would rather beat him straight up. Also, for next season lets make sure we go back to two utility players....
The bigger story has to be the final's match up between Singer and Kern. Over the course of two weeks these two traded stats and switched pitchers. It seems that the top four placers used Singers method for the finals, and I wonder if that hurt him. With all of us doing it, that left the talent well a bit dry...I am sure Singer can attest to that...
Singer won and became our champion. All hail Singer's Sluggers! And before anyone starts saying that the season was tainted because of his method, let me show you some stats from this little contest.
R HR RBI SB AVG W SV K ERA WHIP
Kern 68 18 68 5 .294 12 14 202 4.55 1.45
Singer 67 16 52 10 .304 15 16 187 4.27 1.41
Me 64 13 59 7 .258 14 2 145 3.33 1.11
Gideon 45 11 50 1 .253 17 6 213 3.70 1.29
As you can see, all four of us, using the same tactics, put up very similar numbers. Did Singer do a better job of grabbing guys off the waiver wire than Ryan? Probably not, Ryan still had more strikeouts and they had very similar WHIPs and ERAs. Where did Singer win? SB's and SVs, just like he has all year, and that has nothing to do with his style of play. Let me show you the final year results.
Record wise each week, Singer was 16-5-4 in the SB category. The SV department he was even better: 20-5-0. I know many of you want to say that his method was wrong or whatever, but when you look at the final numbers, his method only helped him a little bit. His team was good because of his superior closing and his ownership of stolen bases.
Granted, he did have the most wins (119), but that was only 10 more than Gideon and Kern, and only 12 more than myself. As I have said numerous times, he gains Ks and Ws, but at the end of the year, he actually did not lead in Ks. Guess who did? Kern and I both had over 1500 Ks. Same with ERA and WHIP, Ryan led one, I led the other, but we were in the top two. Singers team had the worst ERA/WHIP in the league. The odd thing is though, he had a winning record with those two categories, which tells me that people did not try to exploit that glaring weakness in his team when they played him.
Anyways, I am excited for next season. I hope Singer joins our league, and I definitely hope that no one tries to make rules against his method. I would rather beat him straight up. Also, for next season lets make sure we go back to two utility players....
Heroes: "One of Us, One of Them"
This episode was not all that great. It had some cool moments, but overall it kind of let me down. It started off with so much potential, then just fell apart. For example, the best overall story was Sylar and Mr.B teaming up.
I saw two scenarios coming about: 1) They make a great team and we see over the course of the season the two becoming friends...2) Sylar helps the rest of the villains escapes and leads them against the company. With Peter and Mr.B partnering together (along with Elle) in order to stop them.
Instead, Sylar takes Jesse's powers, then lets Mr.B take him back to Level 5. Does Sylar want to change? Does he want to get to know Angela? Does he think his best bet is to just wait there and allow his newfound mom to keep feeding?
We also got to see Future Peter pull Jesse and Peter apart, then FP took Peter into the future to show him why he did what he had to do. Maybe Future Peter will teach Peter how to be a super badass.
Hiro and Ando's storyline comes off as a bit campy. So much more could be done with them battling against Daphne, instead of just wacky hijink. Plus, it is a bit of a stretch to see how these situations will cause Ando to turn to the darkside.
Speaking of Daphne, she's hot, in a cute & spunky kind of way.
Parkman gets to see the future, which is funny because what kind of crappy power does the African have? He can see the future, but it is only one guys? And now Parkman takes some drugs and is going to paint the future as well...I am pretty sure that is how Grant Morrison writes comic books...do not believe me? Read Invisibles...
Let me say that Claire's desire for revenge against Sylar could end up being very cool. She steals her dad's files and decides to go out on her own to bring down the villains. Somewhere along the way she needs to learn how to actually fight though. Who will teach her? Elle! Think about it, she is unemployed, pissed off, ready to prove she can do the job. Somehow they will find each other and prove that you do not need One of Us, One of Them to succeed.
Another very interesting storyline, and I cannot believe I am about to say this, was Tracy meeting Micah. We see that Niki really is dead, and yet Tracy looks exactly like her. The first thing I thought was, oh Tracy is her twin sister. Micah confirms that by saying they were born in the same hospital on the same day. Tracy goes to search for Dr. Zimmerman, and he says that he created them. How many of these chicks are out there? Why have I not run into one of them? And by run into, I mean sleep with...
Let me know what you guys thought, was a way off base on this one?
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Brisingr Review
About fifteen minutes ago I finished reading the third book in The Inheritance Cycle, Brisingr. I had mixed emotions going into the book, especially with the long layover between books. When I heard that Paolini was going to extend it to four books instead of three, I became excited. Made me think that maybe he read tons of the reviews saying it was a copy of Star Wars/LOTR and decided to change some things. Which if that was the case, well then I am glad Eragon and Roran did not end up meeting a new race who were small, cute and fuzzy...
Overall I enjoyed the book, could not put it down at times. My favorite character remains the great Roran Stronghammer. Even though he did not feature as heavily in this one, each chapter he was in was exciting to read.
From here on out I am going to break down some of the things I liked and disliked, so beware of spoilers.
Eragon
He dropped some of his whining from the last two books, unfortunately every situation he finds himself in becomes a morality or philosophical issue. For example, he gave up eating meat in the last book, but then when he finds himself weak and in need of food, he decides that he can eat meat if it means saving his life. Then later, he has no problem eating meat if is in the company of other meat eaters. I have to wonder if this comes from a change in the author's diet? If I am not mistaken, CP was a vegetarian, I wonder if he wrestles with the issue and if he sometimes decides that a double cheeseburger from McDonalds is okay...
Also, the constant hesitation to kill gets a little much. We get it, he does not like to kill, but he knows at times he must. We do not need to have the same inner turmoil before and after every battle. I completely understand that he does not want to become bloodthirsty killer like Galbatorix or Morzan.
He has become much more badass, and his second battle with his brother went much better than last time. Also, and I have read on message boards that people did not like how long his whole judgement of Sloan took, but that was something I really enjoyed. I believe he did the right thing in that situation (also, that was the perfect situation to explore the idea of him not wanting to enjoy killing, not the 23 other times...)
Something I wonder, even though he still mentions his feelings for Arya, anyone notice that he is resigning himself to the fact that maybe she will not come around? Most likely in the end she will and they will live happily ever after, but I wonder if he ends up alone after the next book...
The Big Reveal
At the end of the second book we learn from Murtagh that he and Eragon are brothers, Morzan is Eragon's father. To me that ended up feeling like the end of Empire Strikes Back. Did CP decide that it would be better to make Selena (Eragon's mom) a slut and have Brom as the father or was that his plan all along?
Anyways, I liked that Brom was the father, mostly because when I read the first book, that was my initial suspicion. Not trying to brag or anything, but there always seemed to be more that Brom was hiding. Actually during the second book I had another theory, that Queen Islanzadi and Brom were lovers, mainly because of the way she demanded to know where Eragon got the ring, and seemed okay by the fact that Brom had given it to him...
Roran
Like I said, he rocks. I like that Nasuada worries that he could become more powerful than her because of his natural ability to lead. Will he become the ruler of Carvahall when the war is over? Or maybe the king of the land? Probably not, I cannot see CP replacing Galbatorix with another monarch, just does not seem to be his style. Maybe a council consisting of King Orrin (Surda), Nasuada (central Alagaësia), Arya (Elves), Gharzvog (Kull Leader, whatever lands they receive and however you spell his name), King Orik (Dwarves), Roran (Carvahall) and last our good buddy Eragon acting as teacher to a new age of dragon riders...
Big Questions
-The big debate seems to be did Eragon encounter a god during the dwarves coronation? Before the book came out CP said that Eragon would meet a god. Most people seem to think the dwarf god would be the reference. I am not so sure though.
-Who or what is Angela, and for that matter Tenga? I wonder if Tenga is the god Eragon met, what if when the Gray Folk invented the ancient language they accidently trapped a god? What is the question that Tenga seeks the answer to...
Honestly, I have no idea what to think about Tenga, reminds me of Tom Bombadil from LOTR. Some very bizarre being who probably has some major power, or in this case, maybe the answer to the question that Eragon needs to ask...
-Does anyone understand what CP means at the end of the book when he says that "the Doctor can travel everywhere, even alternate realities." I get that it is some Dr. Who reference, but is there something about a lonely god that I am missing?
-And the million dollar question, who will ride the green dragon??? My bet is Merry and Pippin after they get a flagon of ale...
Overall I enjoyed the book, could not put it down at times. My favorite character remains the great Roran Stronghammer. Even though he did not feature as heavily in this one, each chapter he was in was exciting to read.
From here on out I am going to break down some of the things I liked and disliked, so beware of spoilers.
Eragon
He dropped some of his whining from the last two books, unfortunately every situation he finds himself in becomes a morality or philosophical issue. For example, he gave up eating meat in the last book, but then when he finds himself weak and in need of food, he decides that he can eat meat if it means saving his life. Then later, he has no problem eating meat if is in the company of other meat eaters. I have to wonder if this comes from a change in the author's diet? If I am not mistaken, CP was a vegetarian, I wonder if he wrestles with the issue and if he sometimes decides that a double cheeseburger from McDonalds is okay...
Also, the constant hesitation to kill gets a little much. We get it, he does not like to kill, but he knows at times he must. We do not need to have the same inner turmoil before and after every battle. I completely understand that he does not want to become bloodthirsty killer like Galbatorix or Morzan.
He has become much more badass, and his second battle with his brother went much better than last time. Also, and I have read on message boards that people did not like how long his whole judgement of Sloan took, but that was something I really enjoyed. I believe he did the right thing in that situation (also, that was the perfect situation to explore the idea of him not wanting to enjoy killing, not the 23 other times...)
Something I wonder, even though he still mentions his feelings for Arya, anyone notice that he is resigning himself to the fact that maybe she will not come around? Most likely in the end she will and they will live happily ever after, but I wonder if he ends up alone after the next book...
The Big Reveal
At the end of the second book we learn from Murtagh that he and Eragon are brothers, Morzan is Eragon's father. To me that ended up feeling like the end of Empire Strikes Back. Did CP decide that it would be better to make Selena (Eragon's mom) a slut and have Brom as the father or was that his plan all along?
Anyways, I liked that Brom was the father, mostly because when I read the first book, that was my initial suspicion. Not trying to brag or anything, but there always seemed to be more that Brom was hiding. Actually during the second book I had another theory, that Queen Islanzadi and Brom were lovers, mainly because of the way she demanded to know where Eragon got the ring, and seemed okay by the fact that Brom had given it to him...
Roran
Like I said, he rocks. I like that Nasuada worries that he could become more powerful than her because of his natural ability to lead. Will he become the ruler of Carvahall when the war is over? Or maybe the king of the land? Probably not, I cannot see CP replacing Galbatorix with another monarch, just does not seem to be his style. Maybe a council consisting of King Orrin (Surda), Nasuada (central Alagaësia), Arya (Elves), Gharzvog (Kull Leader, whatever lands they receive and however you spell his name), King Orik (Dwarves), Roran (Carvahall) and last our good buddy Eragon acting as teacher to a new age of dragon riders...
Big Questions
-The big debate seems to be did Eragon encounter a god during the dwarves coronation? Before the book came out CP said that Eragon would meet a god. Most people seem to think the dwarf god would be the reference. I am not so sure though.
-Who or what is Angela, and for that matter Tenga? I wonder if Tenga is the god Eragon met, what if when the Gray Folk invented the ancient language they accidently trapped a god? What is the question that Tenga seeks the answer to...
Honestly, I have no idea what to think about Tenga, reminds me of Tom Bombadil from LOTR. Some very bizarre being who probably has some major power, or in this case, maybe the answer to the question that Eragon needs to ask...
-Does anyone understand what CP means at the end of the book when he says that "the Doctor can travel everywhere, even alternate realities." I get that it is some Dr. Who reference, but is there something about a lonely god that I am missing?
-And the million dollar question, who will ride the green dragon??? My bet is Merry and Pippin after they get a flagon of ale...
Friday, September 26, 2008
Girlfriend of the Week
This weeks girlfriend is Sophie Howard, who has the most amazing breasts ever. Don't believe me? Well then screw you. I think they are basically perfect.
I could not decide on
which picture to use, so I went with both.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Fantasy Football Week 3
Well after I talked smack and started to think I had a good team, the FF Gods smote me. I got absolutely decimated 138-40 by Offord's team. I cannot even think of anything positive to say.
I did trade Brandon Jacobs to Kern for Donovan McNabb, which really sucks because I know that he will get hurt and I will be screwed. Plus, I have an Eagle on my team...I made a few roster moves this week, nothing major though.
Most of my players are on a bye week, I will probably lose again.
I did trade Brandon Jacobs to Kern for Donovan McNabb, which really sucks because I know that he will get hurt and I will be screwed. Plus, I have an Eagle on my team...I made a few roster moves this week, nothing major though.
Most of my players are on a bye week, I will probably lose again.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thinking Pink. . . .
Last Thursday Alecia Moore hit #1 on the charts with her latest single, “So What.” I’ve always found the singer known as Pink to be quite intriguing. For one, she and I share the same geographic roots, both of us growing up in the Philly suburbs. But even more than that, it’s her story that’s grabbed me the most. A child of brokenness, her music has consistently reflected her battle to come to terms with her past while taking control of her present and future.
But “So What” was occasioned by even more brokenness. This time, it was her separation and divorce from motocrosser Carey Hart, the man this seemingly strong and assertive woman proposed to and eventually married in January of 2006. I spent some time watching and re-watching the clip last Thursday. Then, I took the time to write a 3D review of the song and video that we’ve posted on our site (hand it on to parents and be sure to discuss it with your kids).
I went back and read an article I had written on Pink in 2002 as she was bursting onto the music scene. Knowing her story and watching it continue to unfold is a helpful exercise in understanding today’s youth culture. She’s a map for our vulnerable young kids, telling them what to think and how to live. She’s a mirror for those of us who love and minister to kids, providing us insights into where our culture’s at, and where it’s headed.
Since watching Pink’s “So What” last week, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the map she’s drawing and the images of culture that she and her music reflect. For what it’s worth, consider these thoughts. . . .
First, brokenness runs deep and wide. Okay, so most adults will watch the video and get mad at Pink simply because she’s mad. Get over it. That’s what happens when creation and fall are experienced without going any further into redemption. Genesis 3:6 is where most people spin their wheels and live. Being broken hurts until it all gets fixed. We can’t expect the unfixed to act fixed. In reality, Pink does us a favor by putting an easily understood face on the brokenness that’s out there. We can choose to pass by on the other side, or stop and help. . . no matter what the cost to us. Remember that story?
Second, this is where our girls are going. Pink dresses raw. She speaks raw. She sings raw. She looks raw. Some would say she is raw. This is the new and evolving face of what it means to be a lady in our culture. Much of it is rooted in the brokenness they’ve experienced at the hands of the men in their lives. . . . and they’re resigned to an “I’m not taking it anymore!” approach to life. It’s increasingly taking the form of the sexy tough girl. Again, we might not like it. As a result, we might do all we can to convince our girls to act like a lady. But it’s only when the inside-stuff from which the outside-stuff flows is transformed, that the outside-stuff is an indicator of inward transformation.
Third, try as hard as we like, we can’t redeem ourselves. In a way, Pink’s no different than the rest of us. Things have fallen apart and we try hard to fix it through diversion, attitude, or just toughing it out. Reality is, it never works. When things slow down and we’re alone with ourselves, we realize the gnawing just continues.
Finally, healing is needed. Remember the old Sunday School song “Deep and Wide?” The “fountain flowing deep and wide” is the only place to go to drink of the life-giving “Living Water.” That should make us all the more eager to turn “So What” on, and then to respond with the love and grace of Christ.
But “So What” was occasioned by even more brokenness. This time, it was her separation and divorce from motocrosser Carey Hart, the man this seemingly strong and assertive woman proposed to and eventually married in January of 2006. I spent some time watching and re-watching the clip last Thursday. Then, I took the time to write a 3D review of the song and video that we’ve posted on our site (hand it on to parents and be sure to discuss it with your kids).
I went back and read an article I had written on Pink in 2002 as she was bursting onto the music scene. Knowing her story and watching it continue to unfold is a helpful exercise in understanding today’s youth culture. She’s a map for our vulnerable young kids, telling them what to think and how to live. She’s a mirror for those of us who love and minister to kids, providing us insights into where our culture’s at, and where it’s headed.
Since watching Pink’s “So What” last week, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the map she’s drawing and the images of culture that she and her music reflect. For what it’s worth, consider these thoughts. . . .
First, brokenness runs deep and wide. Okay, so most adults will watch the video and get mad at Pink simply because she’s mad. Get over it. That’s what happens when creation and fall are experienced without going any further into redemption. Genesis 3:6 is where most people spin their wheels and live. Being broken hurts until it all gets fixed. We can’t expect the unfixed to act fixed. In reality, Pink does us a favor by putting an easily understood face on the brokenness that’s out there. We can choose to pass by on the other side, or stop and help. . . no matter what the cost to us. Remember that story?
Second, this is where our girls are going. Pink dresses raw. She speaks raw. She sings raw. She looks raw. Some would say she is raw. This is the new and evolving face of what it means to be a lady in our culture. Much of it is rooted in the brokenness they’ve experienced at the hands of the men in their lives. . . . and they’re resigned to an “I’m not taking it anymore!” approach to life. It’s increasingly taking the form of the sexy tough girl. Again, we might not like it. As a result, we might do all we can to convince our girls to act like a lady. But it’s only when the inside-stuff from which the outside-stuff flows is transformed, that the outside-stuff is an indicator of inward transformation.
Third, try as hard as we like, we can’t redeem ourselves. In a way, Pink’s no different than the rest of us. Things have fallen apart and we try hard to fix it through diversion, attitude, or just toughing it out. Reality is, it never works. When things slow down and we’re alone with ourselves, we realize the gnawing just continues.
Finally, healing is needed. Remember the old Sunday School song “Deep and Wide?” The “fountain flowing deep and wide” is the only place to go to drink of the life-giving “Living Water.” That should make us all the more eager to turn “So What” on, and then to respond with the love and grace of Christ.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Heroes: "The Second Coming" and "The Butterfly Effect"
Oh god, the moment we have waited all year for or at least since the last episode aired. The two hour premiere kicked off tonight and absolutely kicked ass. Instead of doing a complete recap like I usually do, this time I will just discuss the main characters.
Nathan
At the end of last season we watched Nathan get shot just before he announced to the world his powers. We learn early on that the shooter was Peter from four years in the future. He came back to stop his brother because in the future people with powers are captured, tortured, studied, and forced to do things against their will.
As Nathan is about to die, he somehow miraculously heals, and it turns out to be because of Linderman. Nathan believes that he was saved by god, which causes the governor of NY to decide to appoint him to the US Senate.
Peter
So, future Peter keeps messing with things and it just causes the future to keep changing. He realizes the mistakes he has made, especially when trapped current Peter into a prisoner's cell and made him look like a guy named Jesse (who has some sonic scream power), now current Peter is on the run with some real bad people and hopefully being tracked by future Peter.
Parkman
Future Peter sends Parkman to Africa. After walking around for awhile and almost dying, Matt thinks a turtle talks to him, but it turns out to be a guy, who can see the future. My prediction that Parkman might be the one to become a villain, may be off base, but we shall see.
Claire
Our favorite cheerleader receives a visit from Sylar. He attacks her and opens her brain up. She asks if he will eat the part of her brain that gives her power, and he says that is disgusting. He somehow absorbs her power, and heals his knife wound. He then reattaches her scalp and tells her that she is special, unlike all the others because he cannot kill her, no one can.
Later she begs Mr.B to take her with him when he goes after the criminals because she wants to help and does not like being the victim. He says no, but says he brought someone who could watch over her, Claire's real mom.
Hiro
Hiro is now in charge of his father's company, but is bored out of his mind. He wants an adventure. He receives a DVD from his father, which talks about not opening a safe, that he must safeguard what is inside. Naturally he opens the safe, and there is a second video, his father scolds him, but then says that Hiro must not let his half of the formula fall into the wrong hands.
At that moment, a speedster named Daphne steals the formula, but Hiro freezes time. Hiro confronts her, but she can counteract his power and asks him some interesting questions, such as if he freezes time in Tokyo, but then chases her, would time still be frozen in Tokyo?
Hiro also goes into the future to see what the danger of the formula is and sees himself killed by Ando, who now has his own awesome power.
Sylar
Okay, the guy we have wanted to come back all year. Sylar goes to the facility and first kills Bob. Elle gets Mr.B out of his cell, who shoots Sylar, but watches him heal. Sylar goads him by saying that he paid Claire a little visit.
He is about to kill Elle, but she unleashes her power at full force. It frees the prisoners (including the misplaced Peter) and takes down Sylar, who is now being held there by Angela. She takes over Bob's job and immediately fires Elle. She then tells Sylar that she is his mother. If she is telling the truth, that means Peter and Sylar (and Nathan as well) are all brothers. Talk about a weird family.
Mohinder
Suresh helps good ol' Maya by isolating where the power comes from (the adrenal gland) and discovers that he could give everyone powers. He then injects himself, and gets some cool powers. Also the side effect happens to be he becomes a deusche, but that allows him to sleep with Maya, which is cool. He discovers that his body has an adverse side effect that his skin is doing some weird things.
Conclusion
I know I forgot a few things, but so much happened, it was hard to keep track of it all. I may have to watch it online again this week. Did anyone see the preview where they show Mr.B and Sylar being partnered together? That is pretty insane.
What could cause Ando to turn on Hiro? I believe once they discover what the formula does, Ando will want powers and Hiro will be against it. The formula must be the answer to how to gain powers or something.
Anyways, let me know what you thought, and what your theories for the new chapter.
True Blood: Mine
Remember how in the last episode, I said I wanted to see more of Dawn? Well we definitely got to see more of her, especially her naked and then her dead. I am pretty upset. So is Jason, since I am guessing he will be once again the prime suspect.
She left him tied up and when she got home, Jason attacks her (pretending to be a vampire), then they have sex. He starts seeing the bald vampire's face on hers and loses his erection. Dawn makes fun of him and threatens him with a gun when she will not leave. He leaves and the neighbor hears the commotion and sees him leaving.
Bill's vampire friends try to glamour her, but it does not work. They go back to their little party when Bill says that Sookie belongs to her. Apparently these vampires do not agree with coming out, they still enjoy feeding on humans. Bill threatens to go over their heads to much older vampires if they ever come back and mess with Sookie.
Sookie is natually freaked out about everything and wants to stop seeing Bill. She later has a dream about having sex with him and wakes up masturbating.
On to the big theory about Sam. Tara and Sam get drunk together and while Sam is sleeping Tara notices that he barks in his sleep. The next day he is sitting on the porch, when our mysterious dog comes up to him, Sam calls him brother...
Friday, September 19, 2008
Girlfriend of the Week
This weeks GOTW comes from the comic book realm. Power Girl takes this weeks honor, and for pretty obvious reasons...huge boobs.You want to be saved by Superman or Batman? Or do you want to be saved by this super hottie? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Beautiful Mind. . . .
If I were to ever write a memoir (and I’m not planning on it, by the way), there would be two chapters devoted to two of the most significant experiences and periods of my life.
First was my time spent working as an MHT (Mental Health Technician) on the adolescent ward of a private psychiatric hospital outside of Philadelphia. It was the mid-1970’s and the mental health profession was dangling on the tail end of its “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” period in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Patients were labeled, largely misunderstood, locked away, drugged, and monitored. I remember my time spent working with schizophrenic, manic-depressive, and psychotic teenagers as one largely void of hope. The fact that a sedated existence was the best scenario for a group of kids almost my age did a real number on me. I loved my job. I loved loving these kids. But there was no love at all between me and the reality I faced for eight hours a day in that dark place. In fact, the experience was so void of hope that during my second summer as an MHT, I spent my days fighting a growing stomach-ache that had me spending many of my hours at home doubled up in bed. My nerve and stress-induced gastritis went away when I returned to school in the fall, but the memories of what I saw and experienced have never left.
Of course, since then, new technologies have allowed scientists to map and understand the wonders and complexities of the brain, along with many of the malfunctions that the fingerprint of human depravity have left on this organ that once was all that God intended it to be. In hindsight, I know that my young friends could only be diagnosed and treated based on a limited body of knowledge. In today’s world, those same kids would have the advantage of better diagnosis and treatment. But doing the best with what was known at the time, a small army of adolescents walked back and forth in a locked ward, prisoners to their sickness. . . . with the seen and unseen “locks” of their lives serving as loud and clear cries for the Kingdom of God to come and undo what sin had done.
The second period took place a few years after my time at the psychiatric hospital. Newly married, we had moved to the north shore of Massachusetts to attend Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The combination of academic rigor and the idyllic New England setting served to help me focus on things other than people suffering from mental illness. In many ways they were forgotten. Little did I know that beneath the appearances of a seminary community intent on pursuing a deeper knowledge and understanding of God (ie. It all looked great), there were classmates and even professors who were struggling to keep it all together.
Yesterday I finished reading a brand new book that served to pull the curtain back on a reality that stood in front of us regularly in the seminary classroom, but which we never even knew existed. David Lovelace has written a compelling memoir, Scattershot: My Bipolar Family (Dutton, 2008), that chronicles the deep and debilitating battles with mental illness that four of five members of his immediate family of origin waged back then, and even up to today.
The book caught my eye not so much because of its topic, but because of one of its principal subjects, David’s father Richard. When I arrived on the Gordon-Conwell campus in 1982, Richard Lovelace was one of the most beloved professors and a well-known champion of the truth in evangelical circles. He had written one of the most widely-read and critically-acclaimed books of the late 1970s, The Dynamics of Spiritual Life. Arriving on campus, we not only looked forward to sitting in his church history classes, but it was a treat to hear the many hilarious stories regarding Dr. Lovelace’s eccentricities and absent-mindedness. Some of them were so incredibly out there that you actually wondered if they were true, or simply legendary.
Reading Scattershot served as a catalyst for the collision of two of my worlds – that suburban Philadelphia psychiatric hospital, and Gordon-Conwell seminary. While he has seemingly turned his back on the faith in response to a combination of his own bipolar battle and the fundamentalism of his childhood, David Lovelace tells the harrowing story of his family with a combination of ugly detail, ongoing love for his parents, and grace. His father is no longer just a professor who stood in front of the class or was seen walking across campus. Scattershot reveals the depth of his humanity and struggle, as David’s writing forces readers to laugh with the family when appropriate (I learned even more about Dr. Lovelace’s experiences and eccentricities), and cry with compassion over the deep darkness of mental illness, especially when viewed from the inside out.
The book features one of those stereotypical early 1970s church directory photos on the cover (can you say “Olan Mills?”). We’ve all seen them, and most of us have been in them. . . . complete with the plaid sport coat. But there was torment lying under the surface of the five smiles, and the words hidden behind the book’s cover lay it all out in ways that will open readers’ eyes to a world that while it lives in our midst, we might never know, inhabit, or even understand.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Pop Culture Fun. . . .
So I'm listening to NPR on Saturday while out in the car. A guy comes on and reports on Billboard Magazine's Fiftieth Anniversary of their Hot 100 chart and the special stuff the music rag's doing to commemorate the fact that the chart's a couple of years younger than me. The commentator proceeds to list some of the "all-time" and "most" lists that the magazine has released after tabulating musical chart-dwellers and toppers for the last 50 years. This afternoon I went to Billboard's site and found this great little list of lists!
But here's the one that really got me: It's Billboard's final tally of The All-Time Top 100 Hot Songs. Before the guy on NPR started counting down the top 20, I ran through a list in my own mind. I knew I'd never be able to guess them all, but I did think I could at least get a few. Let me just say. . . I didn't guess any of the songs that finished in the Top 10. Now pause. . . and think about what song's you guess would be up there at the top of the list. . . . and hold that thought for a minute.
Once you look at the list, you might be surprised too. Here's how Billboard describes the selection and ranking process: "The 50th Anniversary Hot 100 Song and Artist charts are based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100, since the chart's inception in August 1958 through the issue dated July 26, 2008. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least."
If you can, carve out a little time to go to the Billboard site and look through the list. The've done a great job setting it all up. You can view 10 songs at a time. Each song contains a little written descriptor, and most include a video to watch. It's fun. . . and maybe a little frustating (Are you kidding me?!?!? How did that song ever make the list?!?). Give it a look. . . and if you're feeling especially creative, put together a little quiz to share with the teenagers you know and love. They'll be as surprised as you are at the rankings.
Now just for fun. . . . before you go to the Billboard site. . . . check out this Debby Boone video. . . you know. . . the one that had loads of my college buddies vying for her hand in marriage way back when (in our dreams). . . and then venture a guess on where it finished in the Top 100 (yes, believe it or not, it's in there). Then hunt it down in the list. Stuff like this is fun! .
Now, I've got a question for you. Who would you put as your #1?
But here's the one that really got me: It's Billboard's final tally of The All-Time Top 100 Hot Songs. Before the guy on NPR started counting down the top 20, I ran through a list in my own mind. I knew I'd never be able to guess them all, but I did think I could at least get a few. Let me just say. . . I didn't guess any of the songs that finished in the Top 10. Now pause. . . and think about what song's you guess would be up there at the top of the list. . . . and hold that thought for a minute.
Once you look at the list, you might be surprised too. Here's how Billboard describes the selection and ranking process: "The 50th Anniversary Hot 100 Song and Artist charts are based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100, since the chart's inception in August 1958 through the issue dated July 26, 2008. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least."
If you can, carve out a little time to go to the Billboard site and look through the list. The've done a great job setting it all up. You can view 10 songs at a time. Each song contains a little written descriptor, and most include a video to watch. It's fun. . . and maybe a little frustating (Are you kidding me?!?!? How did that song ever make the list?!?). Give it a look. . . and if you're feeling especially creative, put together a little quiz to share with the teenagers you know and love. They'll be as surprised as you are at the rankings.
Now just for fun. . . . before you go to the Billboard site. . . . check out this Debby Boone video. . . you know. . . the one that had loads of my college buddies vying for her hand in marriage way back when (in our dreams). . . and then venture a guess on where it finished in the Top 100 (yes, believe it or not, it's in there). Then hunt it down in the list. Stuff like this is fun! .
Now, I've got a question for you. Who would you put as your #1?
True Blood: The First Taste
The second episode picked right up where the first one left off. The hillbillies are kicking the crap out of our girl Sookie. Bill comes to her rescue and saves her life by giving her some of his blood. She later tells him that she is telepathic.
They have their little date at the house, and he talks about how he fought in the Civil War, and that his family was from the area, which is why he moved back. The entire interaction between Bill and the grandmother was very cool. He looks like he is thirty, but is actually 173, he does things in an old fashioned way, which she can relate to. But, she is somewhat frightened of him.
We also saw a nice flashback of Sookie's past, and how having her power has sometimes made her life very difficult. The advantage to her power is that Bill cannot use his "glamour" power over her (basically hypnotism).
The show ends with Sookie going to Bill's house, but meeting some of his vampire friends, who do not seem to be very friendly. One of them is the vampire from the sex video in episode one.
Speaking of the sex video, Jason watches the video with the police, and we see that during sex he strangled her. As he puts his pants on and runs out the door, the girl breathes and starts laughing about how dumb Jason is. He realizes he did not kill her, but the police still think he did it. They could not find the other sex tape, and they believe he left it there to prove that he did not do it. Jason points out that he is not that smart and they let him go.
Anyways, Jason goes back to banging Dawn , who is smokin' hot. She ties him to the bed and then heads off to work. Jason noticed before that she had vampire bite marks...
Also, Michelle had an interesting theory about Sam, and after this episode I am inclined to agree with her. The dog that comes around Sookie is Sam, he is some kind of werewolf or shape-shifter. Remember, he said he would come help her with the Rattrays attacking Bill. Plus the dog tries to help her when she is attacked, and she sees later that Sam is still awake.
I look forward to the next episode, if only to see more of Dawn.
Fantasy Sports Results Part Deux
Baseball
As I mentioned last week, I was taking on Singer (who won the regular season)this week. I used his style a little bit and did a good job of picking up pitchers each day. Granted, I did not drop any of my big starters (obviously, every other player would have jumped on that move), but instead dropped a few of my lesser starters, plus my middle relievers.
The week was very weird, for both of us. So many games postponed due to the hurricane, a bunch of double headers, which caused some guys to only play one of the games, or pitchers to get bumped around. At the beginning of the week I was down, but by the end of the week, it became very close. Going into Sunday, Singer was leading 5-4, and I thought for sure I would come out ahead. Unfortunately, as usual, my hitters decided to just phone it in on Sunday. Also, for some reason all weekend, the pitchers I had started would pitch great, and their team would win, but those guys all got No Decisions. I ended up losing 7-3.
I now take on Gideon for third place, I think we did this last year...anyways, this time I will actually try to win third place, instead of giving up. Congratulations to Singer, who has taken a ton of flack over his methodology all season.
Football
I am pretty sure I have this one. My team scored 120 points. That whole Darren McFadden and Adrian Peterson combo looked pretty good, oh as did Reggie Wayne and Calvin Johnson. I wanted to start Matt Schaub, but the game was canceled so I was stuck with Derek Anderson, which I knew was bad, he was playing against the Steelers (I was right also, he only scored 2 points). Anyways, unless TO and the Dallas defense can score 61 points tonight, I am the big winner. Also, I would like to say screw you Ryan, he picked Da Fitz to beat me...
As I mentioned last week, I was taking on Singer (who won the regular season)this week. I used his style a little bit and did a good job of picking up pitchers each day. Granted, I did not drop any of my big starters (obviously, every other player would have jumped on that move), but instead dropped a few of my lesser starters, plus my middle relievers.
The week was very weird, for both of us. So many games postponed due to the hurricane, a bunch of double headers, which caused some guys to only play one of the games, or pitchers to get bumped around. At the beginning of the week I was down, but by the end of the week, it became very close. Going into Sunday, Singer was leading 5-4, and I thought for sure I would come out ahead. Unfortunately, as usual, my hitters decided to just phone it in on Sunday. Also, for some reason all weekend, the pitchers I had started would pitch great, and their team would win, but those guys all got No Decisions. I ended up losing 7-3.
I now take on Gideon for third place, I think we did this last year...anyways, this time I will actually try to win third place, instead of giving up. Congratulations to Singer, who has taken a ton of flack over his methodology all season.
Football
I am pretty sure I have this one. My team scored 120 points. That whole Darren McFadden and Adrian Peterson combo looked pretty good, oh as did Reggie Wayne and Calvin Johnson. I wanted to start Matt Schaub, but the game was canceled so I was stuck with Derek Anderson, which I knew was bad, he was playing against the Steelers (I was right also, he only scored 2 points). Anyways, unless TO and the Dallas defense can score 61 points tonight, I am the big winner. Also, I would like to say screw you Ryan, he picked Da Fitz to beat me...
Saturday, September 13, 2008
College Football
I just finished watching Penn State destroy Syracuse. I have to admit, I was very skeptical about how they would do this season, but so far I am impressed. Yes, I realize they have played absolutely no one, but they have destroyed those nobodies. The offense looks very good, and I cannot wait to see what they can do against Ohio State.
Speaking of OSU, tonight they take on USC. At first, I wanted USC to destroy the Buckeyes, but then I talked to my brother. He made a very good point: the media keeps harping on how overrated the Big Ten is, it would be nice to see them get proven wrong. After listening to talk radio, watching a few different games, reading message boards and blogs, I do agree with him. I do not understand how the Big Ten is taking such a verbal thrashing this year, yet the PAC 10 is still getting all sorts of hype.
Also, I am so tired of hearing how huge a game is, that it is the game of the year or game of the decade. Last year it happened twice in the NFL (Cowboys vs. Patriots, then Patriots vs. Colts, before that it was Ohio State vs. Michigan, or USC vs. Texas...) It is the third week of the season, as we have seen before, even if you lose this game, you can still play in the national title game. How come USC is getting this much hype? They beat Virginia. Then they were off, yet still stayed ahead of Georgia, who dropped to number two for winning? What the hell??? I realize there will never be a playoff, but c'mon NCAA, at least make sense.
Speaking of OSU, tonight they take on USC. At first, I wanted USC to destroy the Buckeyes, but then I talked to my brother. He made a very good point: the media keeps harping on how overrated the Big Ten is, it would be nice to see them get proven wrong. After listening to talk radio, watching a few different games, reading message boards and blogs, I do agree with him. I do not understand how the Big Ten is taking such a verbal thrashing this year, yet the PAC 10 is still getting all sorts of hype.
Also, I am so tired of hearing how huge a game is, that it is the game of the year or game of the decade. Last year it happened twice in the NFL (Cowboys vs. Patriots, then Patriots vs. Colts, before that it was Ohio State vs. Michigan, or USC vs. Texas...) It is the third week of the season, as we have seen before, even if you lose this game, you can still play in the national title game. How come USC is getting this much hype? They beat Virginia. Then they were off, yet still stayed ahead of Georgia, who dropped to number two for winning? What the hell??? I realize there will never be a playoff, but c'mon NCAA, at least make sense.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Girlfriend of the Week
This weeks GOTW is Mika Boorem. You might remember her from The Patriot, she was the oldest daughter in the film. Well she is all grown up now, and pretty hot if you ask me.
Palin and Culture. . . .
Are you like me? Do you feel like you know her personally already? Two weeks ago right now you could have asked me - for a million dollars - can you name the Governor of Alaska? You'd get to keep your million. You could also have asked me, "Who is Sarah Palin?" Again, I'd have a really stupid and confused look on my face. . . well, more stupid and confused than I normally look. But now a two-week media blitz that began with a well-thought-out political strategy has made Palin's face very, very familiar.
So this, today, isn't at all about politics or my political leanings. Please don't try to read between the lines to figure out if I'm an elephant or a donkey (I've been called both many times!) Rather, it's just some thoughts about Sarah Palin I've had that were prompted by a trip to the grocery store the other day to pick up some creamer for our office coffee.
While standing in line I was scanning the rack of tabloids. I consider it a guilty pleasure for someone like me who is trying to think Biblically and critically about culture. Every now and then, when nobody's looking, I will actually pull a tabloid off the rack and page through it. Because I consider myself to be a somewhat sophisticated guy, I avoid The National Enquirer and go right for my black and white favorite which is also the standard bearer for good and responsible journalism, The Weekly World News. You know, the one that continually runs articles on Bat Boy and things like the time the devil was seen escaping through the smokestacks on an offshore oil rig. That's good stuff. So the other day my eyes were drawn to the latest edition of Us Weekly. There she was on the cover. . . . Sarah Palin. She was holding her infant son, Trig. That got me thinking about what the candidacy of Sarah Palin and the response to it tell us about ourselves.
First, there's our love affair with celebrity. This might be why I increasingly can't stand election years. It's the same old stuff recycled over and over again. Everyone says they've got the cure for what ails us (isn't sin what ails us?), and given four years, they guarantee a fix. . . . the fix being redemption and security through economic prosperity and the elimination of threats to it. I was reminded of this when I watched C-Span the weekend between the two conventions. They ran a series of old nominee acceptance speeches from conventions past. Whether broadcast in black and white or color, it was all the same. Nothing's changed. The only difference is the increased dependence on PR and spin through the years. I think we're seeing that now more than ever with this election. So, since we love celebrities, those who pull the strings need to make celebrities out of the candidates, or perhaps even choose candidates based on their celebrity potential. I was surprised and not surprised to read in the paper this morning that the first magazine interview Sarah Palin granted after being named to the ticket was with People magazine. Are you serious? Don't get me wrong. I think this says more about us and what we're looking for, than it does about Sarah Palin and her advisors.
Second, we just love scandal, don't we? We've become a nation of voyuers. The cover of Us Weekly serves as Exhibit A. . . "Babies, Lies, and Scandal." The TLC reality show filmed in my neighborhood serves as Exhibit B. Everywhere I go I hear more and more people talking about their fascination with this show about nothing. What's the draw? They tell me they love watching these bickering parents and their eight children, especially when the children bicker as well. Maybe it all makes us feel better about ourselves, allowing us to look at and justify the bad things in our own lives, because, after all, it's not as bad as what the media gives us 24/7. Brett Michael's promiscuous dating life. Who cares? We do. Gene Simmons' family. Who cares? We do. Hulk Hogan. Who cares? We do. If we'd stop watching and reading this stuff, the media might offer up some more positive fare.
Third, why the fuss about the babies? Because as a culture - on both sides - we fuss about the babies. In the conservative church we've been outspoken about premarital sex. If we're going to be true to the One who's called us to come and follow, we need to challenge our culture's sexual standards. But when one of our own falls, we oftentimes resort to crucifixion rather than loving discipline, restoration, nurture. . . and rejoicing over a new life. We do the same when one who's not our own falls. . . and we gloat with a Phariseeical pride because "that's what they deserve," and then we shun them as well. Shame on us. For those of you who are theological conservatives like me, don't be surprised when Palin's political and ideological detractors point out how quickly we've embraced Bristol Palin and her parents' positive response to her pregnancy. Gracious we must be, no doubt. But I do think the grace needs to be dispensed evenly, especially to those who have yet to experience any grace from God's people. And then there's baby Trig. The Palins did what was right and just, and I'm guessing there never was question in their minds. That little boy will bring great joy to many, many people over the course of his life as he lives out the image of God that's stamped in, on, and through him. How have we ever gotten to the point where we treat pregnancies as we do cleaning out the attic. . . deciding what's worth keeping and what to discard. I love my Down's Syndrome friends. Every Sunday I get to see my little friend Andrew. His smile and joy are infectious. Last night I went and watched my friend Teddy play soccer under the lights with his Special Olympics teammates. I never in my life remember seeing a game where the players enjoyed themselves more!
Finally, we're more about image than we are about substance - and please don't think that I think Palin is all image and no substance - I don't. But I'm guessing that since more and more voters have been raised on a constant media diet, eating all that stuff will inform the foundation on which they will cast their vote. It's not so much about what a candidate believes anymore, as it is about what they look like, or how well they can communicate, or how well they can come off when the cameras are on. Perhaps nothing I've seen in the last two weeks captures this more than the online collection of shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers featuring Sarah Palin that look like they've been created and manufactured by frat boys somewhere. There's Palin's smiling face alongside the acronym, V.P.I.L.F. It's plausible that a segment of the population might wind up pulling a lever for President based not on well-thought-out convictions, but on the sex-appeal of a Vice-Presidential candidate.
Oh, one more thing. . . . you can put some of this to the test at 11:30pm eastern time on Saturday night. It's the season premier of Saturday Night Live. I'm sure alot of this same stuff will get lampooned in true SNL fashion. And I can't wait to see what they do with personality-filled little Piper Palin.
So this, today, isn't at all about politics or my political leanings. Please don't try to read between the lines to figure out if I'm an elephant or a donkey (I've been called both many times!) Rather, it's just some thoughts about Sarah Palin I've had that were prompted by a trip to the grocery store the other day to pick up some creamer for our office coffee.
While standing in line I was scanning the rack of tabloids. I consider it a guilty pleasure for someone like me who is trying to think Biblically and critically about culture. Every now and then, when nobody's looking, I will actually pull a tabloid off the rack and page through it. Because I consider myself to be a somewhat sophisticated guy, I avoid The National Enquirer and go right for my black and white favorite which is also the standard bearer for good and responsible journalism, The Weekly World News. You know, the one that continually runs articles on Bat Boy and things like the time the devil was seen escaping through the smokestacks on an offshore oil rig. That's good stuff. So the other day my eyes were drawn to the latest edition of Us Weekly. There she was on the cover. . . . Sarah Palin. She was holding her infant son, Trig. That got me thinking about what the candidacy of Sarah Palin and the response to it tell us about ourselves.
First, there's our love affair with celebrity. This might be why I increasingly can't stand election years. It's the same old stuff recycled over and over again. Everyone says they've got the cure for what ails us (isn't sin what ails us?), and given four years, they guarantee a fix. . . . the fix being redemption and security through economic prosperity and the elimination of threats to it. I was reminded of this when I watched C-Span the weekend between the two conventions. They ran a series of old nominee acceptance speeches from conventions past. Whether broadcast in black and white or color, it was all the same. Nothing's changed. The only difference is the increased dependence on PR and spin through the years. I think we're seeing that now more than ever with this election. So, since we love celebrities, those who pull the strings need to make celebrities out of the candidates, or perhaps even choose candidates based on their celebrity potential. I was surprised and not surprised to read in the paper this morning that the first magazine interview Sarah Palin granted after being named to the ticket was with People magazine. Are you serious? Don't get me wrong. I think this says more about us and what we're looking for, than it does about Sarah Palin and her advisors.
Second, we just love scandal, don't we? We've become a nation of voyuers. The cover of Us Weekly serves as Exhibit A. . . "Babies, Lies, and Scandal." The TLC reality show filmed in my neighborhood serves as Exhibit B. Everywhere I go I hear more and more people talking about their fascination with this show about nothing. What's the draw? They tell me they love watching these bickering parents and their eight children, especially when the children bicker as well. Maybe it all makes us feel better about ourselves, allowing us to look at and justify the bad things in our own lives, because, after all, it's not as bad as what the media gives us 24/7. Brett Michael's promiscuous dating life. Who cares? We do. Gene Simmons' family. Who cares? We do. Hulk Hogan. Who cares? We do. If we'd stop watching and reading this stuff, the media might offer up some more positive fare.
Third, why the fuss about the babies? Because as a culture - on both sides - we fuss about the babies. In the conservative church we've been outspoken about premarital sex. If we're going to be true to the One who's called us to come and follow, we need to challenge our culture's sexual standards. But when one of our own falls, we oftentimes resort to crucifixion rather than loving discipline, restoration, nurture. . . and rejoicing over a new life. We do the same when one who's not our own falls. . . and we gloat with a Phariseeical pride because "that's what they deserve," and then we shun them as well. Shame on us. For those of you who are theological conservatives like me, don't be surprised when Palin's political and ideological detractors point out how quickly we've embraced Bristol Palin and her parents' positive response to her pregnancy. Gracious we must be, no doubt. But I do think the grace needs to be dispensed evenly, especially to those who have yet to experience any grace from God's people. And then there's baby Trig. The Palins did what was right and just, and I'm guessing there never was question in their minds. That little boy will bring great joy to many, many people over the course of his life as he lives out the image of God that's stamped in, on, and through him. How have we ever gotten to the point where we treat pregnancies as we do cleaning out the attic. . . deciding what's worth keeping and what to discard. I love my Down's Syndrome friends. Every Sunday I get to see my little friend Andrew. His smile and joy are infectious. Last night I went and watched my friend Teddy play soccer under the lights with his Special Olympics teammates. I never in my life remember seeing a game where the players enjoyed themselves more!
Finally, we're more about image than we are about substance - and please don't think that I think Palin is all image and no substance - I don't. But I'm guessing that since more and more voters have been raised on a constant media diet, eating all that stuff will inform the foundation on which they will cast their vote. It's not so much about what a candidate believes anymore, as it is about what they look like, or how well they can communicate, or how well they can come off when the cameras are on. Perhaps nothing I've seen in the last two weeks captures this more than the online collection of shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers featuring Sarah Palin that look like they've been created and manufactured by frat boys somewhere. There's Palin's smiling face alongside the acronym, V.P.I.L.F. It's plausible that a segment of the population might wind up pulling a lever for President based not on well-thought-out convictions, but on the sex-appeal of a Vice-Presidential candidate.
Oh, one more thing. . . . you can put some of this to the test at 11:30pm eastern time on Saturday night. It's the season premier of Saturday Night Live. I'm sure alot of this same stuff will get lampooned in true SNL fashion. And I can't wait to see what they do with personality-filled little Piper Palin.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Yummy Pancake
So, I decided on a group blog name. The Yummy Pancake, which so far has four of us: myself, revanstrife (or Keebler, however you know him), Offord, and Gideon. I hope to add a few more people: my brother, Ryan, and Jason from Batman Obviously...
Anyways, do not fear, I will not stop posting on here. I have yet to decide what things will be posted where. I have also decided that all the members there have full administrator rights, so they can add or change things. It makes us all equals I guess...
So check it out, Offord has started us out with a nice Pirates post.
Anyways, do not fear, I will not stop posting on here. I have yet to decide what things will be posted where. I have also decided that all the members there have full administrator rights, so they can add or change things. It makes us all equals I guess...
So check it out, Offord has started us out with a nice Pirates post.
Fringe: Episode 101
The other night I watched the season premiere of Fringe, the new show by J.J. Abrams. The basic premise of the show is X-Files meets Lost. FBI Agent Olivia Dunham investigates cases involving fringe science, things such as mind control, teleportation, and astral projections. All these cases seem to tie together, and everything must be linked behind the evil corporation, Massive Dynamics...
Yes, the idea is pretty unoriginal. That being said, the choice to use Charlie from the Mighty Ducks was a good one. Instead of being another FBI agent, he plays super genius college dropout, whose father did most of the research with this kind of science before he went crazy. He is Scully, but not as hot (unless you are a lady, then I guess he might be).
The first episode shows how these two get teamed up as they try to save Olivia's partner/lover. By the end of the episode they save the guy, but it turns out that he was part of the problem. We learn that Massive Dynamic is probably some evil/good company that helps the world, but also experiments with extremely crazy science.
As I said in my fall TV preview, this show seems like it would be much better if it were written by Warren Ellis. Who knows, it is not too late. Brian K. Vaughn came in to save Lost, if Warren is reading this, please come make Fringe into much more than just an X-Files ripoff.
Anyways, I will keep watching it because, well why not. Let me know your thoughts on the show.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Fantasy Sports Results
With two different fantasy leagues going, I will just throw the results up this way. I would normally say that no one reads these, but last weeks results post ended up being the most commented on post of all time (sadly it had nothing to do with what I wrote, but instead what Offord wrote).
Fantasy Baseball Week 23
The first week of the playoffs had me slightly scared. My team was not playing particularly well and I just had a very bad feeling. That feeling was utterly retarded. I destroyed Lumberjacks, 9-1. Some of the hitting stats were close, but I owned pitching. 7 Wins, 2 SVs, 78 Ks, 1.75 ERA, and a .97 WHIP...wow.
This week I take on Singer, and I am trying his strategy against him. Unfortunately, if I move on, there is a chance whoever I would play in the finals could scarf up one or two of my pitchers (such as Greinke or one of my RP's that I dropped)....
Fantasy Football Week 1
Screw you Ryan. He beat me, as he told me he would at the bar. His exact words "I never look to see who I play because I know I will win." What a deuschebag...Anyways, not much to say about it, my team did okay, it is a little too early to go dropping players I think. I picked up Royal from Denver, maybe he will be that breakout player.
Fantasy Baseball Week 23
The first week of the playoffs had me slightly scared. My team was not playing particularly well and I just had a very bad feeling. That feeling was utterly retarded. I destroyed Lumberjacks, 9-1. Some of the hitting stats were close, but I owned pitching. 7 Wins, 2 SVs, 78 Ks, 1.75 ERA, and a .97 WHIP...wow.
This week I take on Singer, and I am trying his strategy against him. Unfortunately, if I move on, there is a chance whoever I would play in the finals could scarf up one or two of my pitchers (such as Greinke or one of my RP's that I dropped)....
Fantasy Football Week 1
Screw you Ryan. He beat me, as he told me he would at the bar. His exact words "I never look to see who I play because I know I will win." What a deuschebag...Anyways, not much to say about it, my team did okay, it is a little too early to go dropping players I think. I picked up Royal from Denver, maybe he will be that breakout player.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Random thoughts on the VMAs. . . Britney's Back . . . What did you think?
So what did MTV have up its VMA sleeve this year? . . especially after last year’s experiment in format change? I watched, as I hope you did too, looking to see what I could see in the map and mirror of the 25th Anniversary version of the VMAs as the show offers a peek into where the map of youth culture is sending our kids telling them the way the world should be, and what the mirror can tell us about what the world is and how to bring the light of God’s Word to bear on the reality of where our kids are at.
This year we sent out a reminder to watch along with a list of questions to get you thinking about and processing the show and what we can learn that might further our understanding of kids, touchpoints for communicating the truths of the Gospel, and even thoughts on how to best do ministry to kids. I hope you’ll use the comment area of this blog and the discussion spot on our CPYU Facebook page to post your thoughts. We’d love you to share your insights. We’re depending on you.
Here are some of my random initial observations and thoughts regarding this year’s VMAs. . . in no particular order.
The format change from last years roving Las Vegas party set the show in a more intimate theater setting – a theater set up in Paramount studios - with a smaller live audience than in previous years. The relatively minimalist staging and presentation made it sound and look like a stand-up set. MTV was going for that more intimate feel that they went for last year. The set and the show’s general feel seemed to be an attempt at authenticity (valued by the emerging generations), from the smaller venue, to the amount of live – not lip-synched (sans Christina Aguilera) – performances. Even Rihanna’s more theatrical opener was sung live, unlike many past VMA performances. Extending several performances out to the sets on the studio’s backlots captured the place that music video now holds in pop culture as a form of film that tells stories.
Notoriously absent was the usual pit of screaming "regular people" and fans, as was the balcony or gallery seats loaded with screaming young adolescents who would keep the shrieks of adoration coming regularly throught the broadcast. Instead, a deliberate effort was made by MTV to cater to young viewers with the choice of presenters and performers. . . . including everyone from the cast of High Shool Musical, to Miley Cyrus, to the Jonas Brothers, to Jordin Sparks. With so many media choices facing our kids, MTV knows they've got to get 'em young.
The show kicked off with a little sketch featuring a healthy and happy-looking Britney Spears. She didn't sing or dance (remember last year's fiasco?). She was, however, "there." Was it to be a sign of things to come later in the evening?
The tone of the show was set when host Russell Brand, an English comedian, took the stage and performed a monologue that combined political and sexual humor lambasting George W. Bush, the Republican Party, and the Jonas brothers who are outspoken about their Christian commitment and intent to stay sexually chaste until marriage. All media promotes a worldview, teaching impressionable young viewers the values, attitudes, and behaviors they should adopt, live, and celebrate. Brand's comments set the agenda and the tone for an evening where worldviews would collide.
I was especially struck by how so many of the commercials were visually embedded in textual promos reminding viewers to hang in there and keep watching for what’s “coming up in 5 minutes. . . .”, quizzes, teasers, etc. Even MTV is battling to hold the attention of a generation that’s been so media-blitzed they’re having a hard time focusing. I seriously wonder if our ministry attempts to draw them in by providing more entertaining stimulus is a good thing. I don’t think it is. We need to teach kids how to “be still” to listen, hear, and know God.
During the entire show I tried to envision what audience the show was designed to primarily cater to. If you look over the list of nominees and performers, it was weighted heavily on the side of the younger, pop/dance music loving audience. This is the music that’s heavily marketed to the late elementary and middle school screamers. These kids are very, very impressionable. They buy lots and lots of music, and they more easily buy into the message of that music. MTV really went after the Disney Channel crowd.
Lil’ Wayne. . . . I must really be getting old. There’s an entire generation of grandmothers out there who were once mothers themselves. When they were mothers themselves they were constantly telling their boys to “pull up your pants” and “stop scratching yourself in public.” Oh how I hope they weren’t watching!
While all the performers have talent that they’ve been given by God, we have to use a Biblically faithful sense of discernment to evaluate whether or not those who thank God (and there were lots of them this year!) are living a life that is consistently integrated and glorifying to Him. (What did you think when the Pussycat Dolls thanked God so eagerly and sincerely after getting the VMA for Best Dancing In A Video?) Considering that so many of this year’s nominees and performers have found their popularity and success with an increasingly younger and younger music-loving audience, how do the performers’ lifestyles, lyrics, videos, and verbal attributions of thanks to God combine to define the shape of Christian faith for our kids? And you wonder where Christian Smith’s “Moralistic, therapeutic, deism” comes from. Sure, there are a variety of sources. You got to see a big one on the VMAs. On the other hand, there are bands like Paramore and the Jonas Brothers who seem to be succeeding at integration . . . . so far.
Unlike past VMAs, this show didn’t present a one-sided message on sexuality. . . . although it looked like it might from the beginning. Between Russell Brand’s mocking commentary on the Jonas Brothers and their Promise Rings, to the overt visual and lyrical titillation of many performances, a do-anything culture was promoted (Kid Rock singing about his own adolescence in northern Michigan). But then there was my favorite moment of the night. . . Jordin Sparks. . . and her brief, unscripted, to the point commentary on Promise Rings and sexuality. Gutsy and great! Our kids desperately need voices that speak God’s wonderful life-giving sexual ethic into the culture. I found it interesting that Russell Brand came out soon after and, well sort-of, issued an apology.
Objectification. . . . that’s what we’re doing with our girls. Modesty was largely absent. Female outfits definitely promoted the stereotype of the boy toy (exhibit A: Pink’s costume; exhibit B: Lindsay Lohan's halter).
The return of Britney, and she’s being reinvented. She was the biggest winner of the night and who would’ve thought it?!? On a personal level, it’s nice to see her at least appearing to be getting her life together. On a PR/marketing level, Britney’s spots on the VMAs were more reminiscent of the relatively innocent 16 year-old version of ten years ago, than the rapidly unfolding trainwreck that’s been getting progressively worse over the years. She came off as one of the most staid, mature, and humble members of the lineup.
Finally, ego and celebrity. . . it drives so many performers and as a result, it’s what so many of our kids aspire to. (Ever see the audition lines for American Idol?). Kanye West has always embodied that. . . . perhaps no more than anyone else who was on the show. Still, I think it was fitting that West and his ego closed out the VMAs.
So, what did you pick up on?
True Blood: Strange Love
Tonight was the premiere of True Blood, the HBO series by Alan Ball (creator of Six Feet Under). The premise is that two years ago vampires admit their existence to the world. Down in Louisiana, a young waitress at a small town bar encounters her first vampire and hijinx ensue.
Anyways, on to the first episode.
Story
The opening episode sees Sookie saving the vampire Bill's life. Her brother is accused of killing a woman who he had some crazy sex with. The episode was pretty cool, some of the parts were kind of predictable, such as the hillbilly turning out to be the vampire at the beginning and not the store clerk all dressed in black.
Characters
-Sookie-definitely the most interesting character. She can read minds, yet cannot read Bill's. She throws a chain around a guy's neck and for some reason he can not get it off. Bill even questions her as to whether or not she is truly human.
-Bill-during their first meeting, he tries to come off cool and suave. Then his next visit to the bar, he asks if "he can call her." Which kind of gives away that he is from a different era. He also tells Sookie that he cares what the people of the town think of him while they stare at the two of them at the bar because he wants to make the town his new home and be part of the community.
-Jason-Sookie's hornball brother. He seems very anti-vampire and he knows about Sookie's ability. She tries to read his mind to see if he killed the girl, and he yells at her not to read his mind. When she first probes his mind, his thought was "how could I lose control like that..." Did he kill the girl, or does he mean lose control in the sense that he realized she probably video taped their sex and that the cops would find that and make him a suspect?
-Tara-Sookie's best friend. She is very funny, says whatever she wants to customers at the bar. Also very distrustful of vampires, which Sookie uses against her for being close-minded.
Comedy
Some very funny scenes during the show, especially the ones involving Sookie's grandmother. She asks Sookie if Bill would speak to a Civil War history group. Sookie points out that he would have troubles making it at noon. Also, Tara's interactions with people crack me up. Also, the very gay Lafayette was amusing with his somewhat disturbing comments. In fact, the scene with the fat guy at the bar was very funny. Sookie also loves to make little jokes about her lack of sex life, which makes me sad because I would definitely umm, do something dirty to her.
Mythology
When discussing any kind of vampire movie, show, or book, you need to look at the mythology surrounding it. So far, we see that they drink synthetic blood, that if they feed off a human that does not turn the victim into a vampire. Silver hurts them, which Sookie makes a joke about thinking that only works on werewolves, which obviously do not exist. From some of the previews, crosses do not work against them, nor does garlic. Sunlight does, but they do not apparently burst into flames, more like slow-burn.
Anyways, the premiere was cool, the ending very good with Sookie getting jumped and the crap kicked out of her. I cannot wait until next week to see what happens next.
On a sidenote, if anyone tuned in right after the episode, you probably read the worst review ever, which made me angry. I deleted it and then rewrote it. I hope this is much better.
Group Blog
I noticed in the comments section, there seems to be a decent amount of support for a group blog. I need the people who are interested in it to send me an email, preferably with some names for it. joshcroyle@gmail.com
Friday, September 5, 2008
Girlfriend of the Week
I have decided to start something new. Every Friday I will post a picture of a hot girl, and she will be the girlfriend of the week, which is a huge honor. Sometimes it will be a girl I know, sometimes a celebrity, hell maybe sometimes just a random girl walking down the street.
This week, the GOTW is: Kacie McClintic
She is and always will be someone very near and dear to my heart. Yes, I could have found a better picture, but c'mon, a good drunk picture is where it is at!
This week, the GOTW is: Kacie McClintic
She is and always will be someone very near and dear to my heart. Yes, I could have found a better picture, but c'mon, a good drunk picture is where it is at!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
What Geeks
I just wanted to point out to my faithful fans that there is a very good discussion going on here and here. It is odd that the two very geeky sports conversations are sandwiched around a post with a hot girl, that no one makes a comment about...
Anyways, I will put these two posts over in my favorites section because of the fact that they have some very good debate, plus Offord almost became the first guest writer. If anyone ever wants me to post something, just email it to me.
Speaking of which, I would like to start a group blog. I have no idea what it would be about, but just something I am pondering. Anyone interested?
Anyways, I will put these two posts over in my favorites section because of the fact that they have some very good debate, plus Offord almost became the first guest writer. If anyone ever wants me to post something, just email it to me.
Speaking of which, I would like to start a group blog. I have no idea what it would be about, but just something I am pondering. Anyone interested?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Football Predictions for 2008-2009
Well my last year picks turned out really craptastic. Let us see if I can match my stupidity, or if Gideon can predict the Super Bowl again...
AFC East
Patriots
Jets
Bills
Dolphins
AFC North
Browns
Steelers
Ravens
Bengals
AFC South
Colts
Jaguars
Texans
Titans
AFC West
Chargers
Broncos
Raiders
Chiefs
Wild Cards: Jaguars & Steelers
NFC East
Cowboys
Giants
Eagles
Redskins
NFC North
Vikings
Packers
Lions
Bears
NFC South
Panthers
Saints
Buccaneers
Falcons
NFC West
Cardinals
Seahawks
49ers
Rams
Wild Cards: Giants & Saints
AFC Championship: Chargers over Patriots
NFC Championship: Cowboys over Vikings
Superbowl: Chargers over Cowboys
I know all you Steeler fans are about to freak out on me, but hear me out. The Steelers have the toughest schedule this year, and they will lose some of those games. There is a chance they do not make the playoffs at all, or a chance they are tied with the Browns.
Anyways, as you can clearly see, I have no idea who will win, and 90% of these picks will be wrong. Give me yours, so we can look back and see who was at all close.
AFC East
Patriots
Jets
Bills
Dolphins
AFC North
Browns
Steelers
Ravens
Bengals
AFC South
Colts
Jaguars
Texans
Titans
AFC West
Chargers
Broncos
Raiders
Chiefs
Wild Cards: Jaguars & Steelers
NFC East
Cowboys
Giants
Eagles
Redskins
NFC North
Vikings
Packers
Lions
Bears
NFC South
Panthers
Saints
Buccaneers
Falcons
NFC West
Cardinals
Seahawks
49ers
Rams
Wild Cards: Giants & Saints
AFC Championship: Chargers over Patriots
NFC Championship: Cowboys over Vikings
Superbowl: Chargers over Cowboys
I know all you Steeler fans are about to freak out on me, but hear me out. The Steelers have the toughest schedule this year, and they will lose some of those games. There is a chance they do not make the playoffs at all, or a chance they are tied with the Browns.
Anyways, as you can clearly see, I have no idea who will win, and 90% of these picks will be wrong. Give me yours, so we can look back and see who was at all close.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Pressure Off. Pressure On.
I thought I'd pass on some brief thoughts on kids and pressure. . . . both of them prompted over the weekend. The first thought was one of many that came during my annual trip to the mall. I don't go to the mall much anymore. Labor Day weekend, however, is another story. With summer's end and the start of my travel season fast approaching, I usually go pick up a new pair or two khaki pants, a couple of shirts, and a new pair of shoes.
Just when I was getting a little tired of being victimized by all the appeals to my wallet and for my allegiance, I started a ride up an escalator that was dumping me off on the second floor of a regional department store known as The Bon-Ton. Don't ask. I have no idea how they came to that name nor do I know what it means. It's just one of those local phrases that becomes so much a part of your vocabulary that there's nothing odd sounding about it at all. . . . until you hear it through the bewildered ears of someone who doesn't live around here at all.
As I got off the escalator I found myself in the department that caters to late elementary and middle-school-aged kids. I was taken back and then pleasantly surprised by what I saw. The Bon-Ton has enlisted the help of a small army of mannequins that are - dare I say - refreshingly and unrealistically. . . . weird. In other words, I don't think there's a kid in the world who would look at these plastic people and feel any pressure at all to conform to what they're seeing. In fact, one look at these things and it doesn't matter who you are. . . . you're thanking God for making you the way He did. So the "pressure's off" award goes to The Bon-Ton. Kids already have enough appearance pressure hammering them from all sides. But that's not happening at the top of the escalator at the Park City Mall!
Kids and pressure Part II. . . . again prompted by something this weekend. This time it's the overwhelming attention given to Sarah Palin's teenage daughter Bristol and her unmarried pregnancy. Yes, these things are worth noticing and talking about. There's a trend afoot that must be addressed. I'm sure Sarah Palin would agree. I wouldn't be surprised if she addresses the trend sometime very, very soon. But it's a shame that the news media is moving beyond using the story solely as a launching point to discuss positive and helpful ways to deal with the crisis of teenage sexuality and pregnancy. Instead, there's a seventeen-year-old-girl getting dragged into the wrestling ring of partisan politics by a media machine that could wind up destroying the poor kid. We need to address the social problem. Not attack the girl. Kudos to Barack Obama for stepping in and asking people to leave her alone. I wonder what Bristol Palin thought about when she went to bed last night? Just four days earlier she was virtually unknown in America. Now, she's a household name and the topic of conversations everywhere. It sounds to me like she's going to get all the support she needs from her family. Let's hope that the pressure put on by the media doesn't do irreparable damage to Bristol Palin.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Labor Day
Personally I believe that every business should be closed down on Labor Day. No restaurants, gas stations, hospitals, anything where people work. If places want to be open, they must be staffed by volunteers. Yes I am bitter, I had to work all weekend and then today as well.
If it is not a day to honor the people who go out and work everyday, why not call it "Generic Day Off For 90% of the People"? That would be much better I think, catchy. Anyways, after a very fun weekend full of reading (reviews of those books coming soon) and working, I came home today to find a very great movie on HBO: 300. Yes I own the DVD, but still it is fun to catch it on TV.
As I watched the movie for the umpteenth (spell checker says this is a word? hmm that is odd...) time, I noticed how attractive the girl who plays the oracle is, so I decided to look her up. Her name is Kelly Craig, and I believe I am in love. I went to her Myspace page and discovered that she has a very quirky cuteness. She looks like she would be fun to get drunk with and talk about how awesome the movie was.
Her Myspace page has a few pictures and all the ones I have found on Google are mostly modeling pictures, which are usually very odd, but I like this one for some reason.
So, Miss Craig, if you are reading this and want to come to Pittsburgh and hang out, let me know. I will definitely be free that weekend...
If it is not a day to honor the people who go out and work everyday, why not call it "Generic Day Off For 90% of the People"? That would be much better I think, catchy. Anyways, after a very fun weekend full of reading (reviews of those books coming soon) and working, I came home today to find a very great movie on HBO: 300. Yes I own the DVD, but still it is fun to catch it on TV.
As I watched the movie for the umpteenth (spell checker says this is a word? hmm that is odd...) time, I noticed how attractive the girl who plays the oracle is, so I decided to look her up. Her name is Kelly Craig, and I believe I am in love. I went to her Myspace page and discovered that she has a very quirky cuteness. She looks like she would be fun to get drunk with and talk about how awesome the movie was.
Her Myspace page has a few pictures and all the ones I have found on Google are mostly modeling pictures, which are usually very odd, but I like this one for some reason.
So, Miss Craig, if you are reading this and want to come to Pittsburgh and hang out, let me know. I will definitely be free that weekend...
Fantasy Baseball Weeks 21 & 22
Sorry that I have not updated my results. Mostly because week 21 sucked. I did not lose, nor did I win. Imler and I tied at five apiece. He beat me in pitching, except strikeouts. I would like to mention that his team only recorded 16 Ks, which makes it easy to win that one...
Anyways, the day that Cole Hamels pitched I forgot to start him. He picked up a win, and had a very low WHIP, which would have tied us in wins and probably gave me WHIP (he beat my .02.) I know this is a lot of maybes, and I am not making excuses. Part of the fantasy atmosphere is making sure you always start the right players. My mistake, so instead of winning the week 6-3-1, we tied.
This week I beat Miley Cyrus and Me 6-4. This one was too close for my liking. My team played okay, but nothing fantastic. The pitching was superb, but the hitting slacked off a bit at the beginning of the week and was in a hole that became very hard to dig out of.
Anyways, this week begins the playoff. The regular season saw me finish in forth place with a record of 101-104-15. Singer, Ryan, and Gideon were all above me, by a very large margin. They all had over 116 wins.
The playoffs are looking pretty grim. This week I play Lumberjacks, who beat me 3-5 early in the year, but I beat him 7-3 a few weeks ago. If I make it out of the first round, I then take on Singer, who pounded me 8-1 and 7-3. I have come to the conclusion that to beat him that week, I may need to adopt his strategy. If only to hopefully pick up the better pitchers and leave him with pond scum. I am already at a huge disadvantage not getting saves, I might as well try to rack up the wins.
Anyways, good luck to everyone in the playoffs!
Anyways, the day that Cole Hamels pitched I forgot to start him. He picked up a win, and had a very low WHIP, which would have tied us in wins and probably gave me WHIP (he beat my .02.) I know this is a lot of maybes, and I am not making excuses. Part of the fantasy atmosphere is making sure you always start the right players. My mistake, so instead of winning the week 6-3-1, we tied.
This week I beat Miley Cyrus and Me 6-4. This one was too close for my liking. My team played okay, but nothing fantastic. The pitching was superb, but the hitting slacked off a bit at the beginning of the week and was in a hole that became very hard to dig out of.
Anyways, this week begins the playoff. The regular season saw me finish in forth place with a record of 101-104-15. Singer, Ryan, and Gideon were all above me, by a very large margin. They all had over 116 wins.
The playoffs are looking pretty grim. This week I play Lumberjacks, who beat me 3-5 early in the year, but I beat him 7-3 a few weeks ago. If I make it out of the first round, I then take on Singer, who pounded me 8-1 and 7-3. I have come to the conclusion that to beat him that week, I may need to adopt his strategy. If only to hopefully pick up the better pitchers and leave him with pond scum. I am already at a huge disadvantage not getting saves, I might as well try to rack up the wins.
Anyways, good luck to everyone in the playoffs!