Shut Your Mouth

If you're going to talk to the talk don't get beat twice on long pass plays. Idiot.

The outcome was about what I expected because the Patriots are really good, I mean really good. The Steelers have effectively a two game lead with three to play, still a halfway decent season. I just hope Peyton can beat the Patriots in a month or so but we'll see.

Blowout

I just hope it isn't a Patriots blowout. Being a Steelers fan we can get a little spoiled. Sure they have their bad years but not many of them, the are .500 or better almost every year. I believe in my 31 years they've only had a losing season 6 or 7 times. Sure I can look it up but I'm not going to. With that I don't into many games expecting the Steelers lose. This is the first game since the 2005 playoffs vs. the Colts that expect them to lose. I guess 9-4 isn't that bad.

Before you think I'm selling them out completely, I think the Steelers can win. The Steelers are pretty good and New England isn't quite as good as people think. That being said, the Steelers are only fourth or fifth best team in the NFL and the Patriots are very clearly the best team. Better teams usually win in the NFL, especially at home.

We Miss You Troy

Come back Polamalu, I know the Steelers are going to need you tomorrow.

December 7, 1941

When I was about 13 or 14 my mom bought a brand new card, the first new car I can remember her buying. I remember her being very happy and exciting about her new car. The biggest thing I remember about the car however was how upset my grandfather was at her buying that car. He hated that her daughters would buy a Japanese car. My aunt had already owned an RX-7. To me it was just a car and we'd owned a Volvo before so I know my grandfather didn't preach Buy American as his reasoning. He made sure his computer was an Apple and his TV was a Zenith. I got a Sony stereo when I was 12 I think and he was upset over it.

When I was 17 my US History teacher was a little weird, in a good teacher kind of way. She wanted our papers on 20th century history to involve actual research and reporting, not just books. Her theory was there was still people alive to talk about it, go talk to them. I decided to do a paper on World War 2 and its affect on people in the United States. Obviously I talked to my grandparents.

My grandfather was a very outspoken person, talking to him about World War 2 was interesting. It was the first time I really got to understand his hatred of all things Japanese. He lost friends and people he knew at the attack on Pearl Harbor and then throughout the war in the Pacific. He talked to me about standing in line for four hours to join the Navy. He talked about being upset he was that he wasn't allowed to serve. He talked about how in 1941 America didn't care about the rest the world and no one understood how some island nation decided to attack us. He sure didn't understand. He never forgave them for it either.

A lot of people died on December 7th 1941 and the many days afterwards of World War 2. I reflect upon it and think how tragic it is. I also feel very guilty. On Pearl Harbor Day I usually just get sad thinking about my grandfather and our hours of conversations instead of remembering the people who died. I was very close to my grandfather and miss him a lot and it is odd that my brain decides this day as a day to think about him.

I do honor the servicemen who paid the ultimate price but I really do miss my grandfather.

We don't bet on the Steelers

Someone at work was going to give me 20 points if I'd bet with him on the Steelers/Patriots game. I didn't take it and then had to deal with my boss giving me shit over and over again. My family doesn't bet on the Steelers, I think it is bred into us. Here is an actual exchange with my uncle this year in June. He is telling me a story about him and his neighbor and last year's Dolphins/Steelers game. The won that opened the season after they won the Super Bowl. My uncle is a 45 year old construction worker who does like his beer and lives a little north of Miami. Here is how the story went.

His neighbor wanted him to bet $100 on the Steelers.

Neighbor - "TMacs Uncle, come on bet me $100 that your Steelers win"
TMacs Uncle - "I don't bet on the Steelers"
N - "What, you don't like your team enough to wager $100 on them"
TU - "I don't bet on the Steelers"
N - "Come on, it just a $100"
TU - "We don't fucking bet on the Steelers in my family"
N - "Wimps, come on bet"
TU - We don't fucking bet on the Steelers!"

I'm sure it went back and forth but that is what it is like. We don't fucking bet on the Steelers. Bad enough I have to pick their game every week. To my boss that wouldn't leave me alone, "WE DON'T FUCKING BET ON THE STEELERS", just leave me alone. I don't pick on you about liking the Seahawks. Well okay, I do but it is the Seahawks.

I did finally shut him up by asking him if he had a Seahawks Super Bowl 40 t-shirt. Man he wouldn't leave me alone.

Dumb Ass

Anthony Smith is one helluva safety in the NFL, well he is going to be. He does have attitude issues which is really stands out on the Steelers where you don't have many players who act like an idiot. Now Smith went and talked like an idiot. Dumb ass.

Take the Pats and the points

The average line opened up at -14 for the Pats and is now -11.5 for the Pats. The reason for the change is that 89% of the bets are going for the Steelers. Man we Steelers fans are a crazy, dedicated bunch. After two off weeks I fully expect a motivated Patriots team to crush my Steelers. This does mean I don't care about superstitions as much this week since I know my team will lose.

Color Blind

Most times I can fake it in the world of color, I really can. I actually see most reds and greens just fine, other times not so much. I guess it is okay the Christmas chain The Little One and I made is okay being green and pink instead of green and red. She didn't seem to mind.

Killed

The Steelers are going to get killed, we all know it. The only hope I'm holding out is that the Steelers are better than the Ravens and Eagles. Both of those almost beat the Patriots so there is a little hope. Still I expect the Steelers to get destroyed by the Patriots. Stupid NFL.

Patriots vs. Ravens

It is tough, a very hard game for me. On one hand I really don't want the Patriots to win and go undefeated. On the other hand I can't ever root for the Ravens. Plus if the Patriots lose tonight they sure as hell won't lose next week. Granted I don't think they are going to lose next week either way. Stupid NFL.

Four Games

That is four games in a row they haven't looked very good, at least on offense. That defense looks really good, I mean really good. The second half of the game was just shitty for both sides, not good for either. Hopefully Willie got the fumbles out of his system. Of course they will be 17 to 20 point underdogs next week and rightfully so. Stupid Patriots.

More Second Quarter, Less First Quarter

Man the Steelers are lucky they have a great defense because their offense really blew chunks in the first quarter. The second quarter was a lot better though. They just a little bit more like the second quarter and a lot less of playing like they did in the first quarter.

Division Games

Man are division games tough. The Steelers are much better than the Bengals but that doesn't really matter since it is a division game. The Steelers have played like shit the last two weeks but at least they've finished 2-1 in those games. A win tonight would give the Steelers a two game lead over the Browns in the division. Plus the Steelers hold the tie-breaker. So essentially a three game lead with four games to play. I just hope the homefield advantage will help tonight, that mixed with the Steelers actually being better than the Bengals.

All they have to do is remember how to pass block and things should be good.

Good Stuff

About the best thing outside of a Steelers win happened today, a Browns loss. Thanks Crimson Herbivores.

Die Hard

Just like Love, Actually, Die Hard is one of our annual Christmas movies. Still good after all of these years. Alan Rickman is just incredible in this movie.

Brett Favre

I stopped watching some of last night's game and then I come back to see Aaron Rodgers running the Packers offense. I immediately decided that was enough of this game. Of course Rodgers did a pretty good job but 38 years old or not, you watch the Packers to see Brett Favre. The real bad thing is now the Cowboys fans will be insufferable.

Shatner, The Shaman

Not near as cool as Mr. T but still cool.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

With the fifth Harry Potter movie coming to DVD and me finally finishing the seventh novel I was in a Harry Potter mood. I of course decided to start with the first one. I haven't watched the two Chris Columbus ones in a few years. I think he set the right tone for the franchise but I really think they aren't as good as the next three movies.

Get Some Nuts

A little more Mr. T for everyone out there. Man he is funny.

Mr. T, Computer Hacker

GI Jane

Yes, I like the movie, kill me. I think Viggo is really cool and I like military movies. Consider it one of my guilty pleasures.

3-0

In tonight's game the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Florida Marlins 3-0. That was a fucked up game. A win is a win but good lord.

0-0

WTF kinda first half is that. At least they aren't losing.

0-10

The Steelers should totally crush an 0-10 team. It is the NFL and anything can happen but if the Dolphins win then the Steelers season is over. With two division games, the Patriots and Jags still on the schedule I doubt they make the playoffs if they lose to the 'Fins. Come on boys, play fired up.

Sean Taylor

I hope that Sean Taylor recovers from his gunshot wound, I really do. However if you would have asked me yesterday to name five players in the NFL that were most likely to be shot Sean Taylor would be on that list. I do hope he recovers, maybe this will cause him to change his circle of friends.

A week later

It has been a whole week and I'm still pissed over the Steelers losing to the Jets. Hopefully the Steelers are even more pissed.

Game of the Week

The Steelers vs. Bengals game is the Sunday Night game next week. I'm pretty sure the Steelers have never won on Sunday night since NBC took over the broadcast. In addition the Steelers usually split the series with the Bengals, I'm not happy.

Xbox 360

Yes my Xbox had the 'red ring of death'. No it hasn't made me feel bad about buying a 360 over a PS3. I had a first generation 360 which has a failure rate of about 40%. The newer generation ones have a much lower rate, still appalling at about 15%. Microsoft should be ashamed that their product has a failure rate so high, it is pathetic. However they offer a 3 year warranty so mine will be fixed and I'll be good to go. Still pathetic but at least I won't be out any money.

I worked at Toys R Us when the Saturn and the first Playstation came out. A huge amount of both systems were just duds, they didn't fail they just never worked. Ever after that the PS too many parts made out of plastic and not enough cooling so the failure rate was very high. Sony did change things so latter generation systems didn't fail so bad. However they did nothing to help their current customers after the 90 warranty was used up.

I'm not defending or slamming MS or Sony. We'll probably get a PS3 as soon as there is a game or two I have to own. I'm just used to video game systems failing. You use them so much more than a DVD player and companies use cheap parts in them to cut costs. A mid-level DVD player is made much better than a video game system. They are just bound to fail. MS does need to figure out why the 360 is so much higher than it should be though.

And they need to hurry up, I really want to pick up Mass Effect.

Battlestar Galactica: Razor

I'm not typically a huge fan of back story and this double episode was all back story. They handled the gaps in the story really well. It was cool to see the old school Cylons as well. I'm always impressed when a storyteller is able to make you sympathetic for a character you're supposed to morally despise. Too bad we have to wait until March (or longer) for more episodes.

One other thing, it is great that DirecTV added a bunch of HD channels starting this summer. We have SciFi in HD and man did BSG look good.

Love, Actually

Love actually is all around. Pretty Bird and I love this movie. It is our holiday movie of choice and we watch at least once every holiday season.

Madden 2008

With the 360 on the 60-Day DL (MS says it will be four to six weeks, stupid MS) I decided to trade Madden for the 360 in for Madden on the PS2. When I first upgraded to the 360 I didn't realize how much better the graphics are compared. You throw in the upgrade to HD and it is night and day. With two years of Madden on the 360 I have forgotten the lack of presentation features compared to the PS2 version. It is just painful how many corners they've cut on the current generation of systems on Madden. I'll suffer through the bad graphics with better presentation so I can get the Football Gods back in my favor.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours. Hope you don't eat too much turkey.

I can't drive...85

When cruising down the interstate I really have to be careful with the Mustang. It does 80mph at about 2100 rpms. I really must set the cruise control or I end up doing 90+ without thinking about it and that is a little fast to fly down the road in a bright red car.

Still Pissed

It is two days later and I'm still pissed they lost to the Jets. Man I hope they play fired up against the Dolphins. They might have to play fired up since they will be without Polamalu and Santonio. Stupid NFL.

Still Can't

I still can't believe they lost to the one-win Jets. Damn it!

Well Damn

I'd like to blame the loss on any of my dozen or so superstitious things but the Steelers just played like crap. With their pass protection and special teams issues I've been telling everyone that talks to me about the Steelers that they aren't 'elite'. Well 7 sacks and a key punt return by the Jets later and it looks like I'm right. Having an almost elite team is tough, you think you're supposed to win every week. But you're not good enough to win every week so you don't, tough to watch every week.

Stupid NFL

About ten of my normal weekly, Steelers win routines are all messed up this week. A celebrity who picks them didn't pick them to cover, my Xbox is on the DL so I can't play the preview game, and Pretty Bird is not working today (they are 7-0 when she works that day, 0-2 when she doesn't). They haven't won two in a row on the road, they haven't won more than three in a row total, both of which would change today.

Hopefully none of that matters since they are playing the Jets. They need to not play down to their competition and play like the good NFL team they are. It will be hard to stay focused over the next few weeks but hopefully the Steelers can do it.

Older and Oldest

It is odd that Old Man Favre is not the oldest starting QB in the league. What is even weirder is that Old Man Favre is not even the oldest starting QB in his own stadium today. Timeless, Color-blind Testaverde is starting for the Panthers. Gotta love the NFL.

Beginning to look a lot like Chirtsmas

Around here it is. We put up the tree, stated putting on the ornaments, got the lights ready to go, all of the usual things. Even the tacky snowmen my mom likes to buy the Little One are out. One thing I really enjoy putting up the Christmas stuff is how it is a time capsule. To see an ornament with a picture from our first Christmas together or The Little One's ornament. Both of us have ornaments from when we were younger and living at home. There are ones we bought together or ones we bought for each other. It is just a good time remembering our lives through ornaments. One of the best parts of every year.

Lethal Weapon 2

A few months ago I watched the first Lethal Weapon. I always remember thinking that I liked the second one better than the first so this week I decided to watch the second one. After all this time I still think I like the second one better than the first. I actually enjoy all four of them, pure'80s-style action movie, I love it.

Christmas Decorations

Christmas is our favorite time of year, all three of us have a great time with it. We're going away for Christmas for the first time ever so we're going to put up our Christmas decorations up a little early this year. We normally start them, like most people, the weekend after Thanksgiving. This gives the Little One good month+ of enjoying the lights, tree, singing snowman, whatever. Now she'll have the same basic amount of time. Of course then she'll get a week of seeing the over the top Disney decorations.

Poor Bonds

If you follow sports at all you've heard the Bonds is indicted for perjury. I know because I'm trying to watch PTI and can't because it is all Bonds, all the time. Other than missing Tony and Wilbon I have a pretty big issue with the coverage. They keep brining up over and over that he isn't guilty of anything. Hold on, hold on. As it relates to criminal charges, correct he isn't guilty of anything. However in the terms of the sports world he's been guilty for a long time.

The indictment is for perjury and obstruction of justice from testimony from four years ago. In that testimony Bonds says that he didn't knowingly take steroids, that is the lying part. He didn't knowingly take the cream or the clear or whatever random other name they had for designer drugs that gave Barry a size 11 hat. He didn't knowingly...

In that same testimony he admits that he took steroids. Knowledge of what it was or not, he admits to taking steroids. That is my issue with the Bonds defenders. The leaked testimony has been out there for a few years. In that testimony he says he used steroids, he just didn't know what it was. How do only a few people get that?

You can debate all of the implications of steroids, if it is really that helpful or really that big a deal. You can say that 75% of people used steroids so it wasn't a big deal. Whatever you want, it isn't a big deal but that is a different discussion. The Bonds supporters say he didn't do anything yet for two years now we know he did use them. But that keeps getting overlooked and I really don't understand why.

The Bourne Supremacy

After watching the Bourne Identity I had to follow it up with the Bourne Supremacy. Like I wrote before I really enjoyed all three of the movies. I do think is the weakest of the three however. I understand the need to kill major characters when telling a story I just think killing the love interest in this story don't really do anything to the main character. It isn't need to advance the story. I still think Matt Damon is great in all three and if you haven't seen them and like I action movies I highly recommend them.

Get Back to Work

I work for a game company. A lot of my friends work for a game company. While there are days that are pretty stressful and plenty of days could be better, we don't have a real job. We're not curing cancer or pulling people out of a fire or teaching the next generation of gamers. There are plenty of great things games offer to people but as I tell myself when I'm having a bad day "at least I don't dig holes for a living". My dad worked construction for most of his life and many a day actually did dig holes for a living.

My company has a bonus structure. I get something like 10% if the company makes X million in profit. There are only two owners and some 25 employees total in the company. The owners own plenty of other things and typically leave us alone. The X million is more than 1 million and less than 10 million. Let's say all 25 employees make 50k a year (some make much less, others much more) and we make our X million. That is 10% of 25 people x 50k a year or .10(25x50,000), so $125,000. So two owners make multiple seven figures and the 25 make $5,000. When you explain it like that it seems like we're getting shafted but I agreed on my salary without a bonus. An extra 10% would be nice. Plus again I get to do what I like to do for a living. Sure the accounting people or production people or whoever aren't doing their hobby for a job but you get to go to free NFL games and cool NASCAR stuff. I bet working in our customer service department sure beats digging holes for a living.

I agree the Hollywood writers are getting shafted, they are more in the right the billion dollar corporations. But the writers get to do what they love to do. They get to write. I write an article each week and write a few hundred cards every few months, I know writing is work. People who read this blog realize there are days my writing is on par with a 5 year old so I realize it involves skill. But it isn't digging holes or pulling people out of a fire or asking people if they want fries with that.

You agreed to your salary, you thought it was fair. You get to write for David Letterman or The Daily Show or Heroes or whatever. You get paid well for it. Now you're keeping the hundreds of other people on your show from working and getting paid. I know, I know, the big evil corporations get all of your profits. So you get paid to write Friday Night Lights and FNL loses NBC money. NBC might fire you eventually but they don't ask for the money back they paid you. Hell the West Wing lost NBC money and it went on for seven years and won 1435451 Emmys. They fired people but they didn't take money back from Aaron Sorkin or Rob Lowe. The big evil corporation is the one shouldering the risk, they are the ones that get the rewards, that is how it works. Don't like it then be like George Lucas and fund your own projects.

Get your ass back to work.

Oh the health insurance issue you say. Almost half of the WGA don't earn enough money to qualify for health insurance through the WGA. The WGA has close to 13,000 members and over 6,000 of them are below the minimum. The minimum for health insurance provided by the WGA is I think $32,000 a year. If you are educated and you aren't making $32,000 a year then you probably need to do something else. I know laborers for the DOT make $16 an hour with a good bit of OT/double time, turns out you can make $32,000+ a year digging holes. You don't want to dig holes, you want to write. You want to keep with it and maybe make it big as a writer. You're willing to deal with those early sacrifices to make it big. Well those sacrifices include no money and lack of health insurance but you knew that going into it.

I like what I do but I like feeding my family more. If I was single I'd do what I like at risk of things like money and insurance if it was what I like. I'm not single and I'm fortunate to make a good wage, have health insurance, and get to work in a field I really enjoy. If I couldn't work in this field I'd have no problem getting a job to pay the bills. Either way I wouldn't want or ask for your sympathy. I sure as hell wouldn't ask for your sympathy when I'm keeping thousands of other people from working.

Get back to work.

Veteran's Day

On the anniversary of the end of the War to End All Wars we remember our veterans. (Veteran's Day is actually the 11th but we Americans need our holidays to be on a Friday or Monday.) I am the proud son of a veteran. To every veteran out there thanks, To the ones who didn't come home you are remembered.

End reflection, enter political rant.

Now if we can pull the 150,000+ men and women (I should say boys and girls since most of them are younger than I am) out of Iraq and let them come home. I am not 'opposed' to war, well I'm opposed in the sense that I think it is stupid. I however live in the real world and realize there are times it is necessary. This insurgency into Iraq, even if it had the beginnings of validity years ago, is not necessary. No clear mission, no goals, out proper outcome and men and women are just dying. Completely unacceptable. Let's bring them home and have more of them in parades celebrating Veteran's Day 2007 and less in coffins remembering their sacrifice.

Another Year

Yes this is another year where the Steelers will have a winning record vs. teams from Ohio. With the victory over the Browns yesterday they are now 3-0 this year vs. the Bengals and Browns. Since 2000 the Steelers have only not had a winning season against Ohio once in 2003 when they went 2-2. They've twice swept the season series in that same span and have a chance to do so this year.

Hey at least Ohio State is #1...oh wait.

Ben for President

Man was Ben awesome in the second half. He is having some kinda year. It says a lot when you're having your best season and your career already includes a 15-0 regular season start and a Super Bowl win. Now I just hope they can keep focused in the next two weeks vs. two awful teams. Good teams beat the teams they're supposed to and the Steelers are supposed to be the Jets and Dolphins.

More effort

It is going to take a lot more effort to beat the Browns than the Steelers have put forth so far. Granted 14 of the points are off huge Steelers mistakes so if they eliminate mistakes then they should do better. They really need to come out in the second half and stop the mistakes.

Undefeated

That's right, since Ben came into the league the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't lost to the Browns. That means they eventually must lose to them but it also means he has their number. Even if the Browns do beat the Steelers the Steelers will own the tie vs. the Browns and be the division leaders. I would prefer if they just beat them and had a two game lead plus the head to head tie-breaker. The Browns have two things the Steelers historically have trouble against, a big physical wide receiver and a TE that can catch the ball. I think the Browns will put up a much bigger fight than the 9 point line suggests but I think the Steelers are a better team. Plus losing to Cleveland is just wrong.

The Bourne Identity

After I watched the Bourne Ultimatum I had an itch to watch the first one. I really like the first one, I Identity is easily the best. I still like all three of the movies but the first is the best. I remember watching it the first time when the girls went and saw some cartoon or another. I do like that the Bourne movies, which were influenced by Bond obviously, heavily influenced the Bond relaunch with Casino Royale.

Stupid Browns

It is much more fun when they just stink. Now I actually have to be worried that the Steelers will lose to the Browns. Hopefully the 'good defense beats good offense' saying holds out this Sunday.

Really weird

It is really weird to be at game 9 of the season with Browns coming in town for a shot at first place. Is this bizarro NFL? I really don't know what to say other than maybe Baltimore and Cincinnati stink, who knows. Their offense is playing incredibly well but their defense is awful. Hopefully the NFL proverb "Good defense beats good offense" holds true this week. Go Steelers!

TMac's Mid-Season All Pros

TMac’s Mid-Season All Pros

All the cool kids are doing it, well all of the sports sites at least. I want to be a cool kid so I figure I should do it as well. Plus I like to waste a little time at work and write about football. My All Pro team will run a two TE (no FB) offense and a 3-4 defense, pretty much like the Steelers. The Steelers have a FB but they run the two TE set much more often. Where you need backups I will list them.

QB – Tom Brady (s, real easy choice)
QB – Ben Roethlisberger
RB – Adrian Peterson (s)
RB – Brian Westbrook
WR – Randy Moss (s)
WR – Braylon Edwards (s, oh the pain)
WR – Reggie Wayne
WR – Greg Jennings
TE – Jason Witten (s)
TE – Heath Miller (s)
TE – Antonio Gates
OL – I have no idea how to rate offensive linemen so I’ll just take the Patriots line. The reason Brady and the Patriots are silly this year is because Brady doesn’t get touched. Watch a Patriots game and pay attention to how little a defensive player even gets to Brady. The press should be all over the O-Line and not Moss, Welker, and Stallworth.

DE – Ose Umenyiora (s)
DE – Aaron Kampman (s)
DE – Elvis Dumervil
DT – Kevin Williams (s)
DT – Casey Hampton
OLB – James Harrison (s)
OLB – Mike Vrabel (s)
OLB – DeMarcus Ware
ILB – DeMarco Ryans (s)
ILB – James Farrior (s)
ILB – EJ Henderson
CB – Asante Samual (s)
CB – Charles Woodson (s)
CB – Antonio Cromartie
CB – Ike Taylor
FS – Sean Taylor (s)
FS – Ed Reed
SS – Bob Sanders (s)
SS – Troy Polamalu

KR – Devin Hester
PK – Nick Folk
P – Daniel Sepulveda

A day late

I realized earlier that I forgot to write about the last few Heroes. When I have more time I will definitely write about the last few episodes. I was a day late watching last night's episode because of the Steelers ass kicking of Old Cleveland. The episode last night was pretty damn good, I liked it a lot. Now I just hope the writers get back to work so I can get my 22 episodes or so this year.

35-7

Well that is about as good as it gets for a half. Man what a game Ben and James Harrison are having. Go Steelers!

Old Cleveland

If there is a team I hate it is Old Cleveland, man do I hate them. I hate Steve McNair and his 14-4 or whatever record against the Steelers. I hate Ray Lewis and his big mouth. I hate their four game winning streak against the Steelers. I hate that they are actually only a game behind the Steelers. Man a lot to hate. Before the season started I wrote this game down as a home loss but now I'm not sure. The Steelers are better, it is the 75th anniversary thing, all sorts of things. The Ravens do bring out the worst in the Steelers though or so it seems. Hopefully the Steelers being better actually matters this game. F U Old Cleveland.

Friendly Poker

We finally got enough people for a try at a regular poker game this past week. We were supposed to have eight players but we ended up with only six, still enough for a decent game or two. With most people either on the "too many bills" or "not good enough at poker" our format is a sit-n-go tournament style with a $10 buy in. Second place gets their money back and winner gets the rest. We usually have enough time to finish two or even three games, this week we were able to play three. A bad night and you only end up down $30, not bad. Of course it means people can tend to play like idiots.

Our first regular game in almost a year and I am down $30. I'd like to say it was due to bad luck and partially it was but it was also due to me thinking I'm better than the others at the table. Well I still think I'm better than the others at the table but I shouldn't have got cocky. I should have played the game like I was at a crazy tourist filled game in Vegas and only played the cards.

Session One. I finished third. I was able to knock out two of the five other players. Once with top two pair, he was very short stacked. The other one I had the K high nut straight and he had the bottom end. I lost most of my chips to the other Steelers fan in the office. Great guy, not a great poker player. He is the play one face card or any two matching suit players. Normally I should beat that player but Friday he was lucky heads up against me. There are only three players left and I have 33, the flop is K37, one heart. I bet, he raises me 3x the pot and I put him all-in. I figure he has a K or maybe even two pair. He calls with A9 of hearts and everyone knows the story is two more hearts. I end up going out with KQs vs. AT. Flop is two spades but I didn't get the third.

Session Two. I remember being in pretty good position. I also figure I've figured all the players out save one, I still am not sure about Chaz. I have KQc. Flop is two clubs, giving me three clubs and also three to the straight. The flop is checked around, there was decent betting preflop. The turn gives me four to the flush and four to the straight. I'm one off the button, all of them check and so do I, button bets about 1/2 the pot. All fold to me and I go all-in. It was a horrible idea however I was trying to play the player. He was very afraid of flushes and talked about it a few times. He also said he doesn't bet the best hand it usually costs him money. I figure he doesn't have anything and is just trying to steal the pot. I constantly complain about people who risk too much and overbet which is what I did on my check-raise. Well I read him correctly, he had A7 for a pair of 7s which end up holding up. No idea why he made the call with that but I shouldn't have bet all-in either.

Session Three. Third hand I get AA and I'm the BB. I'm trying to decide how much I can raise and still get a caller. The small blind doubles the blind and I double that. The only caller, Steelers fan who plays any two goes all-in. I call even before button can act, sorry about that JDub, I'm usually not bad. My AA vs. 88 and he hits an 8. I actually hold on okay but go out on AT suited.

Other than thinking I'm better than them I had a weird night of cards. I had AA, KK, and 4x 33 for my only pairs. KK I didn't win much because it was two to the flush on the flop and I wanted to end it there. I was 50% with 33. But I got plenty of playable hands, only 1 AK but plenty of AQ, AJ, AT, KQ but they rarely if at all hit. With friendly poker they usually call everything and this was no different. I couldn't steal any blinds with my two over cards and they just didn't hit. Still if I play just a little better I think win session 2.

Well shit

I really thought Peyton and his boys were going to pull it out, they almost did. Stupid Patriots.

Big game?

I've been watching ESPN all week and I can't figure out what the big game of the week is going to be. All of the coverage has been over the Browns vs. Seahawks and Texans vs. Raiders. Sports media has really dropped the ball this week, I don't know what the big game is going to be.

What is Troz?

Zort backwards of course.

Two Years Later

It has been two years and I still don't really have anything useful to say. Blogging is a nice release for ranting and rambling though.

Happy Halloween

I hope you get enough candy.

Free Taco Day!

Don't forget to get your free taco between 2 and 5 today.

5-2

Not a bad way to start the season. Ben does like playing in Ohio, 9-0 as a professional. Man I do like beating the Bengals.

8-0 so far

Ben is 8-0 as a professional player in the state of Ohio. The Steelers have won 6 games in a row at Cincinnati. Both of those streaks eventually have to end but hopefully it can keep going with this game. Like every other game they've played this year the Steelers are better than the team they are playing, at least on paper. On paper in the NFL means nothing, absolutely nothing. After last week's loss because of the lack of running the ball I think the Steelers are going to run a little bit more. The nice thing is the Bengals can't stop the run very well. I always worry about a team that has really good WR since the Steelers' corners aren't actually very good in coverage. That mixed with the Bengals wanting to get a little revenge for the Steelers ending their season two years in a row, I'm even more worried. I think the Steelers have a great shot to win but in the crazy NFL where emotion plays a huge part who knows.

9 Days Off

I guess 9 days off does hurt your chances to win a World Series. Either that or the American League is so much better than the National League. Naw, it must be the layoff, that makes for better TV.

Last Half Day

Today is our last half day for 2007. I don't mind half days as much as I used to because I haven't been to many shows in the past two months so I've been able to enjoy them. I will like working an hour less everyday though, more sleep makes me happy.

Jack is Back

Well at least he is coming back in January. So are a few regulars, another Robocop alum, and a rumor appears to be true. Good times.

http://www.24trailer.com

12345.6

Today on the way to work the odometer on my Mustang hit 12345.6. What can I say, weird things like that are fun. We bought the car with 2400 miles on it and have owned it 10 months next week. Averaging 1000 miles a month is pretty good. It is actually much less than that if you take the tons of trips to Atlanta and back.

Free Tacos for Everyone!

That is right, the Red Sox stole a base in the World Series and we call get a free taco.

October 30 from 2pm to 5pm you can get your free taco. Good times for all!

Pirate Movie

Talk about flashing back to a different part of my life. My buddy's family had two VCRs (which was weird in 1984/85) and knew how to copy movies so they had a quite a few movies dubbed from the local video store. Pirate Movie was one of those movies and my buddy, his brother, and I watched to hell out of this movie. We must have seen it 30 times one summer but I don't think I've seen it since then. Pretty Bird had never seen the movie and recorded it for her to watch and I decided to watch it as well. I can't believe after not seeing the movie for probably 20 years that I remembered almost the entire thing. I also can't believe how awful my 10 year old tastes were, that movie is really bad.

This just in...

The Rockies have had 9 days off between games. I can't believe the sports outlets haven't reported this yet.

JDub joked to me about it yesterday, today I watched PTI and Sports Center and it was brought up a few times, even before you talked about the Rockies team.

True Lies

Pretty Bird and I absolutely love this movie yet for some reason don't own it. It was on Fox Movie Channel a few weeks ago and we Tivo'ed it. FMC shows their movies unedited and without commercials so it was good stuff. The movie was just as fun as it was the first dozen or so times I've seen it. I really wish James Cameron would get back to making real movies, he is so good.

Sick

The only time in your life want to be sick is to trade places with your sick child. It is so tough to watch her be sick. She is close to getting better though.

As Jack Bauer would say...

Damn it!

So close yet so far away. Too much time left, too big a hole to come back from. The main thing that pissed me off was the sloppy play on the final drive. Lapses in coverage, penalties, come on now. Now they are 1-2 on the road and 3-0 at home. Hopefully they can play a little better on the road over the next ten games.

Halftime Report

Man they look like absolute shit in the first half. I've told my buddy at work who is a Steelers fan as well that their pass blocking is not very good and this game has showed that. As bad as they've played they are only down by two scores, it is still possible to come back. Hopefully they will remember to run the ball some.

Week 7

A bunch of really annoying games to watch today. The ones that appeared interesting quickly turned into blowouts. At least I have a game to look forward to tonight.

The Steelers enter the tough part of their schedule or at least what looked to be difficult before the season started. They will probably be favored until they play the Patriots in New England. My biggest fear is they look past opponents and get sucked into the dreaded 'trap' game. I'm fairly certain they will lose one of the two against Cincy and Baltimore, they do every year. There are a few others that can be troublesome.

Denver tonight is really tough. The Steelers are better than the Broncos but they are playing in Denver. Pittsburgh historically doesn't play well in Denver and Shanahan has his team play really well after a bye. I think the Steelers will pull out a win but I'm a little worried. The thing that keeps me going is the Steelers run well and the Broncos don't stop the run well.

Transformers

We picked up Transformers this week, like you guys didn't expect that to happen. Pretty Bird had to work today so The Little One and I watched it. The movie still isn't very good but I enjoyed it a lot just like the first time I watched it. The Little One enjoyed it as well, Bumblebee is her favorite.

Dr. Eomer McCoy

Karl Urban as Bones? I'm not really sure that is the rout I would have taken but we'll have to see.

Five of Eleven

Five out of the Steelers remaining eleven games are on prime time. It kinda makes Sunday Ticket anti-climatic.

Schools

There is an upcoming vote on a bond to increase property taxes to give a good bit of money to the county's schools. From what I've read it is a pretty good amount of money for not a huge percentage increase in taxes. Schools need more money, period. The education system needs reform as well but that is a long term problem, short term they need money. The opponents spout back that by 2012 it could increase my property taxes, based on my house value, by $76 a year. Well I guess that is one less video game I'll have to buy in 2012.

Ready for normal days

Half days on Fridays are nice but I'm really ready to go back to regular work days and a decent time to get up everyday. Just crazy that our summer hours are now going to match daylight savings time. I want normal hours.

Back

It looks like I'm done traveling for work until next year. I like traveling but the last few trips have been tough for whatever reason.

The Bourne Ultimatum

I know I saw The Bourne Ultimatum and I know I liked it. It has been the only first release movie I've seen in a few months, at least until We Own The Night. I don't really remember anything specific about it other than it was very similar to the second one. I also know I enjoyed it more than the second one but still not as good as the first one. When I buy it on DVD I write more about it because I'll remember more.

Lethal Weapon

After I posted about Eva Mendes and her incredible self pleasuring I realized I haven't written about the movies I've seen in a few months. Pretty Bird and I watched Lethal Weapon a few months ago. I'm not sure why we watched it, I think we wanted something with mindless action. Lethal Weapon sure fits the mindless action/violence description. We do own and love all four the Lethal Weapon movies but they are all pure '80s action movies.

Football?

I heard a rumor they still play NFL games when the Steelers have a bye. This seems incredibly odd to me, who exactly watches these games?

We Own The Night

You'd think a movie starts off with a scene of Eva Mendes masturbating topless would be a great movie. It turns out it wasn't. I think the problem was starting out with such a great scene. Overall the movie just wasn't good but we had to waste some time in Ft. Wayne. If you go see make sure you aren't late, you'll miss the best part.

Whoa

A bunch of college women track and field teams arriving at the same time you do in Indy. Sure baggage claim took a little longer but the view was good.

Off to Indiana...Again

This will mark the 3rd time this year I will travel to Indiana, not exactly a tourist stop. At least it should be a productive trip. I will try and blog some while I'm on the road.

9 Years and Counting

I mentioned yesterday is Pretty Bird and my 9th wedding anniversary. In one moment it can seem like it was just yesterday and no time has passed and a split second later it feels like it has been 50 years. I wouldn't trade any of it for anything though. I love her very much and wish to spend the rest of my life with her. Happy Anniversary Julie.

This day...

Nine years ago I was a little nervous, just a little. I was on the eve of the thing I've wanted most in my life, ever. It turns out I wanted something else more but I didn't know it until she was born.

From about two weeks after we started dating I knew I wanted it and it hasn't changed today, on the eve of our 9th anniversary. Because of our Disney trip I'm not allowed to buy her anything big, at least according to her. We'll have to see about that.

Overrated

There are two perennially overrated teams in the NFL. Here are the records for three NFL teams over the past few years.

Team 1
8-8
8-8
8-8
2-14

Team 2
9-7
9-7
10-6
7-9

Team 3
8-8
9-7
5-11
6-10

I removed the best year out of all three teams. Team One is six games under .500, Team Two is one game over .500, and Team Three is four games under .500. None of those records are spectacular or even good. They all have one really good year but nothing other than that illustrates that they are a perennial contender for the Lombardi Trophy.

Here are two winning teams over the last five years, with their off year removed.

Team 4
12-4
10-6
14-2
14-2

Team 5
13-3
10-6
10-6
9-7

Now if either of these teams had an off year they wouldn't suddenly be considered bad. Team 4 is 18 games over .500 and Team 5 is 10 games over .500. Both teams went 9-7 and missed the playoffs in their off year. Even with an off year and missing the playoffs Team 4 and Team 5 would still be considered perennial playoff contenders. Why aren't Teams 1, 2, and 3 considered average?

Team 1 has missed the playoffs in all four years except their on year at 11-5. Team 2 has actually made the playoffs most years but still didn't perform incredibly in regular season, they had a really nice on year though. Team 3 is underrated compared to Team 1 and 2, they had a good on year like the other teams and made the playoffs. To my recollection Team 3 hasn't been a 'Super Bowl Contender' like Team 1 and 2. Team 1 and 2 aren't Super Bowl contenders either. Well Team 2 is a contender to get to the Super Bowl, just not win it because they play in the NFC.

Team 1 - Cincinnati Bengals (11-5 on year)
Team 2 - Seattle Seahawks (13-3 on year)
Team 3 - Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4 on year)
Team 4 - New England Patriots
Team 5 - Denver Broncos

Why is Cincy and Seattle perennial Super Bowl contenders according to the expects but Jacksonville isn't? Well because the Seahawks and Bengals are teams that rely on flashy offenses and adequate defenses and Jaguars have a good defense and an adequate offense. It is better to root and pick the flashy offense, better ratings. Too bad apparently 'good defense beats good offense in the playoffs.' Actually I believe you need both but let's look at the defense.

Super Bowl Winners Points Against Defense
'06 - 23rd
'05 - 3rd
'04 - 2nd
'03 - 1st
'02 - 1st

Seattle
'06 - 19th
'05 - 7th
'04 - 22nd
'03 - 16th
'02 - 24th

Cincinnati
'06 - 17th
'05 - 22nd
'04 - 21st
'03 - 28th
'02 - 32nd

The silly Colts and their incredible playoff defense ruins my theory but you get the point. Before you Seattle or Cincinnati fans make Super Bowl reservations this year Cincy is 26th in defense and Seattle is 8th. Well actually Seattle is doing pretty well but they are making that up by slipping to 21st in offense. I know it seems like I am picking on Seattle lately but I'm not. I'm mainly picking on the media. I still think Cincinnati and Seattle are overrated and have been for years.

Wow, what an ending

Man, last night's MNF game had an incredible last few minutes, very intense. I should have not got involved because I'll be dragging all day but the game was very enjoyable. Good times. Too bad the Cowboys had to win.

Suck It Bitches

21-0
As great as the final score was here are some other numbers I like.

40:45/19:15 Time of possession

19/8 First Downs

342/144 Total Yards

163/38 Rushing Yards

DOMINATION! The Steelers kicked the snot out of the Seahawks. I didn't mind the Seahawks until their legion of whiny fans came out of the woodwork before and after the Super Bowl. "Why are we 7 point underdogs in the Super Bowl", "Why are we 6.5 underdogs when we're both 3-1". Well you lost by a combined total of 42-10, I think Vegas got it right. And stop being so whiny, one good year does not mean you get the respect of the NFL, its fans, or its media. You're entire franchise has had one good year, ever, and you want to be a top 10 team.

The Steelers were down their three best players, both their starting WR, and the keys to stopping a running game. They still only allowed you to have the ball 5 minutes in the second half. In a four wide set with a TE, #3, #4, and #5 WR you allowed them to convert three 3rd and 10+ conversions on the 110 yard drive. Hopefully you will stop complaining about how everyone hates your beloved Seahawks. Nobody hates the Seahawks we just can't stand the bitching.

So again I say...

Suck it Bitches

Kindred

For the first time since Heroes started last year this was the first episode I didn't really enjoy. There aren't much I enjoyed about the episode, except, well nothing. Even bringing back Sylar was pretty lame. I guess maybe the Hiro storyline was pretty good if predictable.

Please drop the Wonder Twins storyline or have a major payoff.

It was cool to see Uhura, now we just need Kirk and Spock. Well I guess we already have Spock.

Lizards

I didn't write about last week's Heroes because I wasn't blogging for whatever reason. Anyway it was a pretty good episode, better than the first.

I still hate the Wonder Twins storyline.

I think Claire's toe would have bled more.

Where exactly do you get scissors that sharp? Not that I've tried to cut off my own toe but I think it would be a tad bit tougher than that.

Peter is still a bad ass but do we really have to suffer another "Peter is lost and needs to find himself" storyline. Lame.

I'm sure Hiro and the other storylines were good but I don't remember too many details.

Steelers vs. Seahawks

I want to say the Steelers will win today, I really do. I'd love to say they are a better team, going to play hard after their first loss, and the Seahawks are focusing on the wrong things. But the combination of injuries to the Steelers and the fact this means more to Seattle is just tough. Hines Ward is out, Bryan McFadden is out (the 3rd corner) for sure. Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu, their two best players on defense are probably out. Ward, Hampton, and Polamalu are the Steelers three best players and they are all out. Not good. I think the Steelers can win but it will be really tough.

Fans are dumb

This week I've had trash talking from Cardinals fans. As weird as it is that there actually are Cardinals fans, these same people talked to me before the game. None of those fans trash talked before the game, in fact they were very humble and saying the Steelers would win. Now the Steelers lay an egg and the Cardinals play well and they defeat the Steelers. Now the fans want to trash talk, weird. I guess even trash talking hindsight is 20/20.

Then I spend time with some Seahawks fans giving me shit, which I don't mind. This just in guys, if you win today you don't get the Lombardi Trophy from two years ago. So I've had to relive the complaining that Seattle actually beat Pittsburgh but the refs took it away. Um, really. The Steelers only had three good offensive plays, all game. With only three good players you still lose by 11 points. Did the refs cause you to miss two field goals, give you the worst clock management in the history of the Super Bowl, cause you to not even come close to talking Willie or Hines, cause you to allow Ben to complete a 3rd and 25, or the inability for you to convert a 3rd down. All of those penalties were valid save the Hasslebeck penalty on the interception. Get over it, move on, and try to win this game.

Silly Desert

I traveled to the desert and saw my beloved Steelers lose to the Crimson Herbivores. I had a feeling all week that they were going to lose on their trip to Arizona. It was a tough feeling to explain since I had no real evidence to back it up. The Steelers are a better team than the Cardinals, in almost all aspects in which you can compare a team. All aspects save desire to win the game. The Cards just wanted to win it more than the Steelers. That is almost all that matters in the NFL, who wants it more. Talent means a lot when you're the Patriots or Colts but for the other 30 teams in the NFL emotion plays a big part and the Steelers just didn't have that. Hopefully we can win the Super Bowl XL rematch.

Still Around

Sure I've taken over a week off but I have an excuse. Well I don't really have an excuse, I just didn't use my computer at home all week. I was out sick for a day and out of commission. That mixed with being out of town for a few days meant I wanted to spend time with the Little One at night, so I did. But have no fear, your daily useless facts about the Steelers, Braves, TV, or some dumb thing I find interesting is back!