Like Mary, Bill Bryson is one of my favorite authors. He writes two very distinct types of books - intellectual and travel. While the two do blend occasionally, his travel books are particularly hilarious.
My favorite two books are his autobiography - the Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - about growing up in the 1950s in Des Moines, IA and In a Sunburnt Country - about his travels in Australia. I shared these books with my wife, and she would call in tears from their humor. I would listen to the books in the car and laugh so hard that I would have to pull the car over for fear of hurting another human being.
Bryson is at his best when he can be personally involved with someone in a bar, on a walk, in a museum - or in describing the various forms of terror that run through a person's mind while traveling. My favorite story is his escape from the wild dogs in Sydney or his friends who blew up their house in the LTTK.
Bryson is a masterful writer who should be read more frequently by, well, everyone.
He does, however, rip on Omaha. But, as Mary said, that seems like the pot calling the kettle black.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Interesting Companies
I am currently sitting in a Starbucks in San Diego (Market and 4th) watching two vertically challenge women interview two homeless men. This strikes me as Big Lots worthy. Both vertically challenged women are wearing white summer dresses with bright pink Ug style boots. Both homeless guys have a significant facial hair. This is in no way intended to be a slight against any of the above - just one of the more bizarre affairs that I have ever seen.
Anyway, onto interesting companies. This is a bit of a departure for me because I am simply going to wing it. I have no ability to respond to Mary's holiday wish list - other than to say, good job getting it out early.
So, interesting companies. In my job, I have to do research into a number of interesting companies. I think that one of the most interesting companies that I have ever discovered is a company called Insurance Services Offices, Inc. This company owns a number of super cool - analytics companies that insurance companies use to measure risk. Really neat.
In addition, I am fascinated by the areas where I would expect to find more companies, but have not been able to find them - for example - who is the largest weather company-analytics, modeling, etc. It seems that this is done primarily by governments, but why? DTN does a lot of this, but I am surprised at the lack of other companies competing in the space.
I think weather, risk, spatial interface and design could be fabulously interesting areas for the next 20 years - and yet, it seems that I am simply wrong because there is not much going on here.
In addition, I look at food science and food supply transparency as a critical element of the way people will eat and understand their caloric intake over the next decade. Who does that? Nobody. So, you can find technologies but no over-arching entities that carry lots of component technologies. So, you get a Cargill or ConAgra that manage their supply chains - but they don't document that supply so that I know where my food comes from and its impact on the environment or the chemicals in my food, etc. This is a growth industry perfect for Nebraska.
Just to get close to a parallel post here, Mary once mentioned that she is interested in eating locally and she tries to buy organic. Those are two highly relevant areas for the above post.
Anyway, onto interesting companies. This is a bit of a departure for me because I am simply going to wing it. I have no ability to respond to Mary's holiday wish list - other than to say, good job getting it out early.
So, interesting companies. In my job, I have to do research into a number of interesting companies. I think that one of the most interesting companies that I have ever discovered is a company called Insurance Services Offices, Inc. This company owns a number of super cool - analytics companies that insurance companies use to measure risk. Really neat.
In addition, I am fascinated by the areas where I would expect to find more companies, but have not been able to find them - for example - who is the largest weather company-analytics, modeling, etc. It seems that this is done primarily by governments, but why? DTN does a lot of this, but I am surprised at the lack of other companies competing in the space.
I think weather, risk, spatial interface and design could be fabulously interesting areas for the next 20 years - and yet, it seems that I am simply wrong because there is not much going on here.
In addition, I look at food science and food supply transparency as a critical element of the way people will eat and understand their caloric intake over the next decade. Who does that? Nobody. So, you can find technologies but no over-arching entities that carry lots of component technologies. So, you get a Cargill or ConAgra that manage their supply chains - but they don't document that supply so that I know where my food comes from and its impact on the environment or the chemicals in my food, etc. This is a growth industry perfect for Nebraska.
Just to get close to a parallel post here, Mary once mentioned that she is interested in eating locally and she tries to buy organic. Those are two highly relevant areas for the above post.
Monday, October 26, 2009
On new things
Do you think that sports defy logic generally, or that there are particular sports that are more difficult to learn than others?
For example, I find cricket virtually impossible to understand more than at the very basest level - you get a run for this, you get an out for that. I understand not at all how cricket matches could possibly last three days. Huh?
So, here's my theory - made up almost completely on the spot. First, games with significant stops for strategy time are harder to figure out than flowing games like basketball or soccer or rugby. The flowing nature of games means that they have a natural explanation over time that makes them basically understandable if you have watched one complete game. Maybe not utter mastery - but enough that you can be dangerous. Thus, you can figure out water polo relatively easily if you watch an entire match. Second, games that resemble other games but are played with a larger court, different appendage, or with slightly modified rules are always easier if you understand where the game came from. For example, handball and lacrosse make sense in their Olympic/collegiate format if you understand soccer and/or basketball. Third, games with more players on teams are more difficult to understand. Thus, marathon running with lots of participants is easy. Twenty aside dodgeball is difficult.
Finally, the younger that you learn a game, the more logical the game appears to be.
So, if you have lots of players, with lots of stops, playing a game that does not really resemble other games, with lots of people who did not learn the game young - you get Powerder Puff Football. Impossible. Good luck coach!
For example, I find cricket virtually impossible to understand more than at the very basest level - you get a run for this, you get an out for that. I understand not at all how cricket matches could possibly last three days. Huh?
So, here's my theory - made up almost completely on the spot. First, games with significant stops for strategy time are harder to figure out than flowing games like basketball or soccer or rugby. The flowing nature of games means that they have a natural explanation over time that makes them basically understandable if you have watched one complete game. Maybe not utter mastery - but enough that you can be dangerous. Thus, you can figure out water polo relatively easily if you watch an entire match. Second, games that resemble other games but are played with a larger court, different appendage, or with slightly modified rules are always easier if you understand where the game came from. For example, handball and lacrosse make sense in their Olympic/collegiate format if you understand soccer and/or basketball. Third, games with more players on teams are more difficult to understand. Thus, marathon running with lots of participants is easy. Twenty aside dodgeball is difficult.
Finally, the younger that you learn a game, the more logical the game appears to be.
So, if you have lots of players, with lots of stops, playing a game that does not really resemble other games, with lots of people who did not learn the game young - you get Powerder Puff Football. Impossible. Good luck coach!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Triathlons
I once trained for a triathlon. I worked out hard for about four months in 1999...but I pulled one hamstring and then the other. My second pulled hamstring occurred about 4 weeks before the event, and so, I had to pull the plug on my effort. I remain disappointed.
Omaha announced its own Olympic triathlon about one month ago. The event is scheduled for next August 1. I won't commit to competing yet, but I will commit to preparing myself to compete - if someone will help me train. I don't need someone to run, swim or bike with. I need motivation and competition and team orientation.
Omaha announced its own Olympic triathlon about one month ago. The event is scheduled for next August 1. I won't commit to competing yet, but I will commit to preparing myself to compete - if someone will help me train. I don't need someone to run, swim or bike with. I need motivation and competition and team orientation.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Weather
So, it is cold in Houston...that's really too bad. We, in Omaha, feel really bad for y'all. The weather here is perfect.
I did a bit of research to determine which city has the "best" weather. This is strangely subjective because the way that you preference certain features - creates extreme rankings. For example, you may say - well, I want no rain and no cold. Fine - you win Yuma, Arizona.
You might say, well - that's not right - I want a bit of rain and a bit of cold. Good for you. You get Seattle, Washington.
I think weather is about moderation. There is nothing wrong (and many things right) about a cool fall morning and a short brisk walk to school. However, there are also a number of things wrong with the first cold weather of the year - even if five months from now, that very same weather would be a bit chilly.
Personally, I really like spring and fall. I like the moderately warm/cool weather, the smells of weather in spring (rainstorms, flowers, etc.) and the smell of crisp weather in the morning or a light jacket level football evening. I don't dislike super warmth, but don't really appreciate it anymore. I do strongly dislike cold weather (but not snow or ice). If I could get snow and ice at 28 degrees and no wind for the winter, I'd be perfectly happy. I just don't like the ball-crushing cold of a first week of February Canadian cold front that means minus fifty wind chill. Frankly, if I never had my snot freeze so hard it gave me a headache again, I would be just fine.
However, realistically, you can always complain about the weather. It will always be too cold, too hot, too rainy, too dry, too...Its about perspective. No matter where you live - it could be better (and probably worse - unless you live in Antarctica).
I did a bit of research to determine which city has the "best" weather. This is strangely subjective because the way that you preference certain features - creates extreme rankings. For example, you may say - well, I want no rain and no cold. Fine - you win Yuma, Arizona.
You might say, well - that's not right - I want a bit of rain and a bit of cold. Good for you. You get Seattle, Washington.
I think weather is about moderation. There is nothing wrong (and many things right) about a cool fall morning and a short brisk walk to school. However, there are also a number of things wrong with the first cold weather of the year - even if five months from now, that very same weather would be a bit chilly.
Personally, I really like spring and fall. I like the moderately warm/cool weather, the smells of weather in spring (rainstorms, flowers, etc.) and the smell of crisp weather in the morning or a light jacket level football evening. I don't dislike super warmth, but don't really appreciate it anymore. I do strongly dislike cold weather (but not snow or ice). If I could get snow and ice at 28 degrees and no wind for the winter, I'd be perfectly happy. I just don't like the ball-crushing cold of a first week of February Canadian cold front that means minus fifty wind chill. Frankly, if I never had my snot freeze so hard it gave me a headache again, I would be just fine.
However, realistically, you can always complain about the weather. It will always be too cold, too hot, too rainy, too dry, too...Its about perspective. No matter where you live - it could be better (and probably worse - unless you live in Antarctica).
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The only person I try to keep up with is Frank Smogas
Yes. My family went out and ding dong ditched people last night after 8pm. Yes, that is probably a horrible example that will turn my children into the Prairie Lane Street Gang. So, I am probably going to hell. But, my wife had never been...what do you do.
Anyway, we got booed at about 6pm by someone in a blue minivan. Whoever this was. They ding dong ditched us like professionals. Well done blue minivan family. They rang the doorbell, jumped in their car and all we saw were the rear view lights pulling out of the driveway. In the door, they left a bag of treats and a note that said that we have 24 hours to boo two other families.
Like most families with small children, the kids were extremely excited to do something that appeared on the edge of sanity. It was cold, rainy, dark and late. So, what the heck. We bought candy - filled up four bags and loaded up the kids in the car for some late night mischief. We let each kid pick a friend's family and we went under the cover of darkness to their house. I will tell you that we were slow and clearly this was my family's first time because we were seen by everyone except one family. This family has really small children (3 children, 4 yrs old or younger) so my wife knocked very quietly so as not to wake the kids. They may not find out they've been booed for weeks. And frankly, that family will probably never guess who it was. [I'll just say that my son Denny really respects kids with lots of Star Wars toys.] It was a completely random booing which is frankly the best kind.
So, delinquents that we are. We got home about 9pm. Put our kids in bed. Watched a movie. Stayed up too late. And we are dragging today.
By the way, I agree with sheepskin because it is sort of Greek (diploma meaning "folded paper" in Greek) and old school. But, Wikipedia is surprisingly light on the topic of why sheepskin and not leather or some other type of animal skin. I am thinking about writing a completely bogus entry into Wikipedia and posting additional bogus information on the web as a reference for this - making the reason for sheepskin even more elusive and ridiculous...Does that make me a bad person? Or am I already a bad person due to my poor parenting skills?
Anyway, we got booed at about 6pm by someone in a blue minivan. Whoever this was. They ding dong ditched us like professionals. Well done blue minivan family. They rang the doorbell, jumped in their car and all we saw were the rear view lights pulling out of the driveway. In the door, they left a bag of treats and a note that said that we have 24 hours to boo two other families.
Like most families with small children, the kids were extremely excited to do something that appeared on the edge of sanity. It was cold, rainy, dark and late. So, what the heck. We bought candy - filled up four bags and loaded up the kids in the car for some late night mischief. We let each kid pick a friend's family and we went under the cover of darkness to their house. I will tell you that we were slow and clearly this was my family's first time because we were seen by everyone except one family. This family has really small children (3 children, 4 yrs old or younger) so my wife knocked very quietly so as not to wake the kids. They may not find out they've been booed for weeks. And frankly, that family will probably never guess who it was. [I'll just say that my son Denny really respects kids with lots of Star Wars toys.] It was a completely random booing which is frankly the best kind.
So, delinquents that we are. We got home about 9pm. Put our kids in bed. Watched a movie. Stayed up too late. And we are dragging today.
By the way, I agree with sheepskin because it is sort of Greek (diploma meaning "folded paper" in Greek) and old school. But, Wikipedia is surprisingly light on the topic of why sheepskin and not leather or some other type of animal skin. I am thinking about writing a completely bogus entry into Wikipedia and posting additional bogus information on the web as a reference for this - making the reason for sheepskin even more elusive and ridiculous...Does that make me a bad person? Or am I already a bad person due to my poor parenting skills?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
On the topic of fat people wearing tights
Did you know that Houston is ugly? This is not intended to be a slight to my southern brethren. I found an interesting article from Total Beauty today (it was cross listed on CNN). The article detailed the places with the best looking guys and ugliest. [http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/p-ugly-guy-cities]
Here is the ugly list:
8. Houston
7. Philadelphia
6. Detroit
5(t). Mobile, AL
5(t). Huntington, WV
4. Greensboro, NC
3. Miami, FL
2. Hagerstown, MD
1. El Paso, TX
Okay, so I get that a girly beauty magazine sort of screwed up by having a tie and then not accounting for it in its scoring. Fine. However, I looked at their measurements, and frankly, it's a whole lot better attempt than most rankings by more prestigious magazines. They measure things like gyms per capita. number of parks, dentists per capita, etc. Moreover, if you cross list their cities with Men's Fitness' Healthiest cities (which is a very robust ranking), the two are pretty consistent. Here is that list:
Fattest Cities
1. Miami
2. Oklahoma City
3. San Antonio
4. Las Vegas
5. NYC
6. HOUSTON
7. El Paso
8. Jacksonville
9. Charlotte
10. Louisville
So, here's what I think it means. Mary should move to Omaha (which is number #9 on the Fittest Cities of Men's Fitness) lest she be forced to look at fat women (and men) in tights on a regular basis. It fits her world view much more clearly than does Houston. Simply put, Omaha is just better looking.
On a related topic, Omaha scored an "F" in the number of citizens that eat their daily allotment of fruits and vegetables. However, Omaha had very high scores in baseball and beach volleyball participation by adults. These strike me as odd considering the weather - which the magazine noted - and gave us bonus points because we had a "high" motivation score. Here's a link. Click on Omaha if you want the detail.
Which leads me to my last point. Daniel Tosh must not have read the above points because he makes fun of Nebraska and Omaha specifically. Its weird how stereotypes persist despite statistics.
Here is the ugly list:
8. Houston
7. Philadelphia
6. Detroit
5(t). Mobile, AL
5(t). Huntington, WV
4. Greensboro, NC
3. Miami, FL
2. Hagerstown, MD
1. El Paso, TX
Okay, so I get that a girly beauty magazine sort of screwed up by having a tie and then not accounting for it in its scoring. Fine. However, I looked at their measurements, and frankly, it's a whole lot better attempt than most rankings by more prestigious magazines. They measure things like gyms per capita. number of parks, dentists per capita, etc. Moreover, if you cross list their cities with Men's Fitness' Healthiest cities (which is a very robust ranking), the two are pretty consistent. Here is that list:
Fattest Cities
1. Miami
2. Oklahoma City
3. San Antonio
4. Las Vegas
5. NYC
6. HOUSTON
7. El Paso
8. Jacksonville
9. Charlotte
10. Louisville
So, here's what I think it means. Mary should move to Omaha (which is number #9 on the Fittest Cities of Men's Fitness) lest she be forced to look at fat women (and men) in tights on a regular basis. It fits her world view much more clearly than does Houston. Simply put, Omaha is just better looking.
On a related topic, Omaha scored an "F" in the number of citizens that eat their daily allotment of fruits and vegetables. However, Omaha had very high scores in baseball and beach volleyball participation by adults. These strike me as odd considering the weather - which the magazine noted - and gave us bonus points because we had a "high" motivation score. Here's a link. Click on Omaha if you want the detail.
Which leads me to my last point. Daniel Tosh must not have read the above points because he makes fun of Nebraska and Omaha specifically. Its weird how stereotypes persist despite statistics.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
You break it, you buy it
So...my preference for book stores is Barnes and Noble by a nose. Here's why:
About three months ago, my intern (Amelia) and I were holding our weekly staff meeting at the one near our office. [I know it is pathetic that two people need to go offsite to have a staff meeting. But I am a slave to my caffeine and books.] Anyway, we had a fine meeting full of much innovating and entrepreneurering and were headed out of the store.
Amelia stopped to look at a book. It was on a different table from my interests - which are pretty broad - but generally do not include fashion or "what not to wear". So, I moved on to the next table. So to set the scene, we were standing at table one and two in the middle of the store. We were just sort of idly browsing.
Anyway, a lady came up with a tray of lattes. I said, of couse I would love a pumpkin toffee cacao latte with a touch of dark chocolate trouble sauce. However, my hands were full of my meeting notes (which is a zebra patterned notebook that I got at Target for $.33 - a bit of a rip, actually - Big Lots had them for $.25). Anyway, I took my latte and were browsing. Amelia came up and asked if I was ready...and I said, ready...ha ha ha...I'm just getting started. She set her latte on a book. I looked horrified and said - "my god that is a book - the sacred holder of all things known and unknown, felt and unfelt - get that damn latte off there." Perhaps - that's a paraphrase.
Well, I proceeded to the otehr side of the table and reached down for a book. At that exact moment, I had the vision of a humingbird (or something incredibly fast) and I made a slight twitch with my left hand which was balancing my latte cup, my notebook, and my coat. This triggered a chain reaction which included me using the notebook to swat my open faced latte across about ten stacks of books on the table. Amelia laughed very loudly at the sight - drawing some unwanted attention from the Barnes and Noble toughs. I looked downright, dumbass stupified.
I dragged my sorry self to the information desk and humiliatedly related my tale. The man at the desk looked at me and said, "really, let me come and see." He came over to my ground zero - which now had a gathering of squawky young moms in track suits. He said, "Wow!" Then, he preceded to clear approximately one-half of the table because the latte like fluid had slipped down on to the table top and was spreading amongst the crevasses like the Venetian canals. Approximately 70 books were damaged requiring Roger to make about four separate trips to "restock the books" I want to note for my wife - I did not say - I'll pay for that. I simply looked as small as a man wearing a nice black suit - holding a coffee stained zebra patterened notebook and suit coat - can (while his young intern laughs her ass of about three feet behind him). He said, "Don't worry about it. This happens all the time. We'll just send it back to the publishers and tell them that we received a faulty shipment." I smiled. I laughed. I hugged the man. I told him that I was on child five - but my sixth would be named Roger. I openly wept.
Thus, Barnes and Noble is my favorite bookstore. Customer service matters - even when your customer is a clumsy dumbass with a latte all over him.
About three months ago, my intern (Amelia) and I were holding our weekly staff meeting at the one near our office. [I know it is pathetic that two people need to go offsite to have a staff meeting. But I am a slave to my caffeine and books.] Anyway, we had a fine meeting full of much innovating and entrepreneurering and were headed out of the store.
Amelia stopped to look at a book. It was on a different table from my interests - which are pretty broad - but generally do not include fashion or "what not to wear". So, I moved on to the next table. So to set the scene, we were standing at table one and two in the middle of the store. We were just sort of idly browsing.
Anyway, a lady came up with a tray of lattes. I said, of couse I would love a pumpkin toffee cacao latte with a touch of dark chocolate trouble sauce. However, my hands were full of my meeting notes (which is a zebra patterned notebook that I got at Target for $.33 - a bit of a rip, actually - Big Lots had them for $.25). Anyway, I took my latte and were browsing. Amelia came up and asked if I was ready...and I said, ready...ha ha ha...I'm just getting started. She set her latte on a book. I looked horrified and said - "my god that is a book - the sacred holder of all things known and unknown, felt and unfelt - get that damn latte off there." Perhaps - that's a paraphrase.
Well, I proceeded to the otehr side of the table and reached down for a book. At that exact moment, I had the vision of a humingbird (or something incredibly fast) and I made a slight twitch with my left hand which was balancing my latte cup, my notebook, and my coat. This triggered a chain reaction which included me using the notebook to swat my open faced latte across about ten stacks of books on the table. Amelia laughed very loudly at the sight - drawing some unwanted attention from the Barnes and Noble toughs. I looked downright, dumbass stupified.
I dragged my sorry self to the information desk and humiliatedly related my tale. The man at the desk looked at me and said, "really, let me come and see." He came over to my ground zero - which now had a gathering of squawky young moms in track suits. He said, "Wow!" Then, he preceded to clear approximately one-half of the table because the latte like fluid had slipped down on to the table top and was spreading amongst the crevasses like the Venetian canals. Approximately 70 books were damaged requiring Roger to make about four separate trips to "restock the books" I want to note for my wife - I did not say - I'll pay for that. I simply looked as small as a man wearing a nice black suit - holding a coffee stained zebra patterened notebook and suit coat - can (while his young intern laughs her ass of about three feet behind him). He said, "Don't worry about it. This happens all the time. We'll just send it back to the publishers and tell them that we received a faulty shipment." I smiled. I laughed. I hugged the man. I told him that I was on child five - but my sixth would be named Roger. I openly wept.
Thus, Barnes and Noble is my favorite bookstore. Customer service matters - even when your customer is a clumsy dumbass with a latte all over him.
Monday, October 19, 2009
See last post, first paragraph, strike that
Okay, Joey Harrington phenomenom...
Actually, did you know that Joey Harrington is actually an elite piano player having played with Blues Traveler and Third Eye Blind. Personally, I wish that more football players (even the ones that were a bit of a let down) were as respectable as Mr. Harrington. The guy does philanthropic work, plays reasonably adequate football, and can hold a regular conversation off the field. He is also my sister's favorite player - explaining the autographed picture that she keeps on her night stand.
In all seriousness, I sort of think that certain things help people excel at sports. One of those things is music. I think that being a strong pianist or guitar player helps people develop discipline and creativity which are almost always necessary as an athlete. So, I did a little research at that oft quoted fact with limited independent analysis - does piano make people smarter, better students, etc.
Here is what I found. In a 1997 article from Neurological Research, there is documented evidence to suggest that learning piano in elementary school helps kids develop certain "hard-wiring" that prepares people to be better mathematicians. Here is a quote from the summary article: "Piano instruction is thought to enhance the brain's "hard-wiring" for spatial-temporal reasoning, or the ability to visualize and transform objects in space and time, Shaw said. Music involves ratios, fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time."
As a key proviso, all of the Chapman kids were required to take piano. If we had not taken piano, would be less smart? More importantly, is it possible that we - the Chapman kids, even with musical training, could be any less musical as a raw collection of humans - was this a cause or effect or simply a genetic predisposition?
Actually, did you know that Joey Harrington is actually an elite piano player having played with Blues Traveler and Third Eye Blind. Personally, I wish that more football players (even the ones that were a bit of a let down) were as respectable as Mr. Harrington. The guy does philanthropic work, plays reasonably adequate football, and can hold a regular conversation off the field. He is also my sister's favorite player - explaining the autographed picture that she keeps on her night stand.
In all seriousness, I sort of think that certain things help people excel at sports. One of those things is music. I think that being a strong pianist or guitar player helps people develop discipline and creativity which are almost always necessary as an athlete. So, I did a little research at that oft quoted fact with limited independent analysis - does piano make people smarter, better students, etc.
Here is what I found. In a 1997 article from Neurological Research, there is documented evidence to suggest that learning piano in elementary school helps kids develop certain "hard-wiring" that prepares people to be better mathematicians. Here is a quote from the summary article: "Piano instruction is thought to enhance the brain's "hard-wiring" for spatial-temporal reasoning, or the ability to visualize and transform objects in space and time, Shaw said. Music involves ratios, fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time."
As a key proviso, all of the Chapman kids were required to take piano. If we had not taken piano, would be less smart? More importantly, is it possible that we - the Chapman kids, even with musical training, could be any less musical as a raw collection of humans - was this a cause or effect or simply a genetic predisposition?
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Beach Balls, the EPL Is Awesome
As I have said in the past, this blog is really about commenting on topics suggested by my sister Mary's blog. She appears to be setting the table nicely by talking about things that I like to talk about. One big thing lately is soccer.
So over the weekend, perhaps the most amazing thing that I have seen yet. Beach ball scores a goal for Sunderland - beating Liverpool (1-0). It has to be seen to be believed. But, even better than the goal itself was the announcers. First, the announcers said something to the effect of Darren Bent has been simply on fire. He has completely crossed up Pepe Reina (the keeper for Liverpool) with this outstanding strike. Then, after watching the replay about four times in slow motion and watching Reina get baffled by the ball bounding off the "balloon" at high speed and lunging for the balloon - the announceners basically say it 1) would have probably been a goal anyway, 2) that Reina just needs to man up and 3) that Liverpool simply isn't playing hard enough to complain. So, nothing like - "huh, that's awfully strange that ball just bounced off a beach ball." No instead it was completely and totally Liverpool's fault and no one should question the integrity of this outstanding goal by Darren Bent.
On a side note, Darren Bent was the leading scorer for another EPL team last year. Spurs. I knew this without having to look at any of his historic stats. 'arry ditched 'im this year to upgrade 'is strikers. 'e brought in Crouchy (Peter Crouch), Jermain DeFoe and kept Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko. Even with Bent having scored six goals in five games for Sunderland (who plays at the Stadium of Light - possibly the coolest stadium name ever), I think 'arry made the right choice.
The key to being an American trying to follow soccer is that you need a support group. Don't try to do this alone. I finally found someone that watches soccer in my office, and I was shocked by who it is. Othello Meadows is a big EPL fan. He likes Chelsea - particularly Didier Drogba - who frankly IS awesome - even if he does play for a Spurs rival. Why wouldn't I have guessed Othello? Because I have known him for literally twenty years, his interest is new found as well - in the last couple of years.
Finally, there is no "the" in front of Spurs. But overall, good effort Mary.
So over the weekend, perhaps the most amazing thing that I have seen yet. Beach ball scores a goal for Sunderland - beating Liverpool (1-0). It has to be seen to be believed. But, even better than the goal itself was the announcers. First, the announcers said something to the effect of Darren Bent has been simply on fire. He has completely crossed up Pepe Reina (the keeper for Liverpool) with this outstanding strike. Then, after watching the replay about four times in slow motion and watching Reina get baffled by the ball bounding off the "balloon" at high speed and lunging for the balloon - the announceners basically say it 1) would have probably been a goal anyway, 2) that Reina just needs to man up and 3) that Liverpool simply isn't playing hard enough to complain. So, nothing like - "huh, that's awfully strange that ball just bounced off a beach ball." No instead it was completely and totally Liverpool's fault and no one should question the integrity of this outstanding goal by Darren Bent.
On a side note, Darren Bent was the leading scorer for another EPL team last year. Spurs. I knew this without having to look at any of his historic stats. 'arry ditched 'im this year to upgrade 'is strikers. 'e brought in Crouchy (Peter Crouch), Jermain DeFoe and kept Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko. Even with Bent having scored six goals in five games for Sunderland (who plays at the Stadium of Light - possibly the coolest stadium name ever), I think 'arry made the right choice.
The key to being an American trying to follow soccer is that you need a support group. Don't try to do this alone. I finally found someone that watches soccer in my office, and I was shocked by who it is. Othello Meadows is a big EPL fan. He likes Chelsea - particularly Didier Drogba - who frankly IS awesome - even if he does play for a Spurs rival. Why wouldn't I have guessed Othello? Because I have known him for literally twenty years, his interest is new found as well - in the last couple of years.
Finally, there is no "the" in front of Spurs. But overall, good effort Mary.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Parallel Posting
Over the years, I have discovered that I am not terribly creative. Once given an idea, I can embellish it; I can grow it; I can destroy it; but I can't create it. [I have also discovered over the years that I cannot tell jokes; I have a good sense of humor (so people say) and I am witty and sarcastic - but I can't tell a punchline joke...but that's for a different post.]
So, I am going to follow my sister's blog - South Carolina to Santa Cruz - and attempt to provide the Tom Conversion by embellishing her story with tid-bits of information that may provide color and rounding to the very few that read my additional posts.
So, in response to the comments - encouragement is the key. I want Mary to know that we are watching and patiently experiencing her creative blogging development. Good work Mary - we're all rooting for you.
Here is the story behind the forcefield story. Force fields were actually created by a guest in our house - I believe it was Anne Stevens - although maybe it was someone else. Force fields were created because the Chapman kids would gang up on the newbie with direct sock and annie doll assaults from many different angles. In addition, as the Chapman kids were tremendous dorks - things like that's not fair or stop it you are hurting me - simply did not work. Instead, only the use of intellect (so maybe it wasn't Anne Stevens - notice the e) was able to overcome us. So, much as Denny was befuddled for many minutes by Mary's circa 2009 use of the forcefield. So were the Chapman children of lore. The Garfield and Odi additions were only added later when it was discovered that certain Chapmans (and it was certainly not me) were, I am sure inadvertently, launching sneak attacks with socks and other various projectiles after certain other Chapmans (and this really was not me) had fallen asleep. If I remember correctly, Jim woke up one morning with an entire drawer full of socks in his bed. Thereby creating a whole new need for a forcefield.
So, I am going to follow my sister's blog - South Carolina to Santa Cruz - and attempt to provide the Tom Conversion by embellishing her story with tid-bits of information that may provide color and rounding to the very few that read my additional posts.
So, in response to the comments - encouragement is the key. I want Mary to know that we are watching and patiently experiencing her creative blogging development. Good work Mary - we're all rooting for you.
Here is the story behind the forcefield story. Force fields were actually created by a guest in our house - I believe it was Anne Stevens - although maybe it was someone else. Force fields were created because the Chapman kids would gang up on the newbie with direct sock and annie doll assaults from many different angles. In addition, as the Chapman kids were tremendous dorks - things like that's not fair or stop it you are hurting me - simply did not work. Instead, only the use of intellect (so maybe it wasn't Anne Stevens - notice the e) was able to overcome us. So, much as Denny was befuddled for many minutes by Mary's circa 2009 use of the forcefield. So were the Chapman children of lore. The Garfield and Odi additions were only added later when it was discovered that certain Chapmans (and it was certainly not me) were, I am sure inadvertently, launching sneak attacks with socks and other various projectiles after certain other Chapmans (and this really was not me) had fallen asleep. If I remember correctly, Jim woke up one morning with an entire drawer full of socks in his bed. Thereby creating a whole new need for a forcefield.
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