So Deal or No Deal is on NBC right before Heroes, and I usually leave the TV on the channel of the show I'm going to watch next while I play Gemstone, but leave the TV on mute. It was hilarious to watch that show with no sound. I look up and see this guy doing a completely idiotic dance because he found a box with $1 in it.
Now, I don't know the rules to Deal or No Deal (and really don't want to, so please don't inform me), but I think I had more fun making up the rules for myself. I do have to wonder what could possibly make one those those box holding girls want to do that for a living though. They all looked to me like they were in pain, and all seemed to have trouble opening their box when picked. I'm reminded of the 3% rule, and have to wonder how much intelligent it would take to beat a metal box at the 3% rule. Not much, I'm guessing.
But, somebody from Bakersfield won something from the show tonight, which was exciting (okay, I'm lying, it wasn't exciting).
Monday, October 23, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006
A story...
Thursday was Katherine Hepburn night on TCM. It was great. They showed Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story in one night. I didn't know what to do with myself, so I watched one and taped the other.
In a movie full of great characters, I think Elizabeth Embry is my favorite, although not the most entertaining. Which is why Dexter's character is my second favorite, because he is the most entertaining. And I'd go into why those are my favorite, but why give away a great movie for those of you who haven't seen it. And if you're one of those, you should see it right away.
In a movie full of great characters, I think Elizabeth Embry is my favorite, although not the most entertaining. Which is why Dexter's character is my second favorite, because he is the most entertaining. And I'd go into why those are my favorite, but why give away a great movie for those of you who haven't seen it. And if you're one of those, you should see it right away.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Oh goodie, something new and different for us.
I would like to say that I hate the new Veronica Mars' theme song. Well, I guess it's not technically new, but merely a remix of the original. Not only is the new song horrible, but the original was great.
Coaches always amuse me. I find them hilarious, most of the time, whether I'm coaching against them or reffing a game for them. Some, of course, give me more amusment than others. Highest on the list are the coaches that are just clueless. Now, at the high school level there aren't all that many of these out there, but there are a few (and I encounted plenty that I've coached against). They have no idea what's going on, have no clue what the rules are, and really have no idea about anything regarding strategy. There is one high school coach like this who's games I always look forward to reffing, or watching if they're playing BHS. This coach (and her school) shall remain nameless, but I always have to stop myself from laughing out loud when I hear what she says on the sideline to her players. I would explain what she tells her players that is so stupid, but nobody would understand, so there's no need. Just believe me that it's hilarious.
The next type of coach that cracks me up are those that scream and yell at the ref, and when that doesn't work (or gets them kicked out), they fall back on making wannabe-sarcastic comments about the ref and/or the other team. Invaribly, the "ref wants us to lose," and "we would have won if it wasn't for the ref," even though the team was far less technically skilled than the other (in fact, it's very common that the first and second types of coaches are embodied in one person, so usually the lack of skill is the coach's fault).
See, I know that while refs may suck, they usually don't want one team or the other to win or lose (there are exceptions to this, I know), so when a ref makes horrible calls, it's because they suck, not because they're biased. So instead of getting angry at them, I just sit back and laugh at them. And keep on laughing, because otherwise dealing with horrible refs (and lets face it, most of them suck) would just get lame. So intead, I get a good laugh out of those games, even if they are frustrating.
Coaches always amuse me. I find them hilarious, most of the time, whether I'm coaching against them or reffing a game for them. Some, of course, give me more amusment than others. Highest on the list are the coaches that are just clueless. Now, at the high school level there aren't all that many of these out there, but there are a few (and I encounted plenty that I've coached against). They have no idea what's going on, have no clue what the rules are, and really have no idea about anything regarding strategy. There is one high school coach like this who's games I always look forward to reffing, or watching if they're playing BHS. This coach (and her school) shall remain nameless, but I always have to stop myself from laughing out loud when I hear what she says on the sideline to her players. I would explain what she tells her players that is so stupid, but nobody would understand, so there's no need. Just believe me that it's hilarious.
The next type of coach that cracks me up are those that scream and yell at the ref, and when that doesn't work (or gets them kicked out), they fall back on making wannabe-sarcastic comments about the ref and/or the other team. Invaribly, the "ref wants us to lose," and "we would have won if it wasn't for the ref," even though the team was far less technically skilled than the other (in fact, it's very common that the first and second types of coaches are embodied in one person, so usually the lack of skill is the coach's fault).
See, I know that while refs may suck, they usually don't want one team or the other to win or lose (there are exceptions to this, I know), so when a ref makes horrible calls, it's because they suck, not because they're biased. So instead of getting angry at them, I just sit back and laugh at them. And keep on laughing, because otherwise dealing with horrible refs (and lets face it, most of them suck) would just get lame. So intead, I get a good laugh out of those games, even if they are frustrating.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Happiness...
So, the car I drive used to be my grandmother's. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, she takes good care of cars and stuff like that. The only thing is that it came with a license plate holder which I haven't yet replaced. It says, "Happiness is being a grandparent."
Now, I'm sure it is (especially if you get to be my grandparent), I just wouldn't really know yet.
Luckily the holder is on the front of my car, so most people don't see it.
See, the thing is, I just don't know where you find good license plate holder. Anybody got suggestions?
Oh, and frisbee this weekend. If you're going to be in town, you're required to attend. Saturday afternoon, I'll tell everybody the exact time later.
Because, really, happiness is playing ultimate frisbee.
Now, I'm sure it is (especially if you get to be my grandparent), I just wouldn't really know yet.
Luckily the holder is on the front of my car, so most people don't see it.
See, the thing is, I just don't know where you find good license plate holder. Anybody got suggestions?
Oh, and frisbee this weekend. If you're going to be in town, you're required to attend. Saturday afternoon, I'll tell everybody the exact time later.
Because, really, happiness is playing ultimate frisbee.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
That's epic.
Going back to my earlier topic of books and movies (from a couple posts ago), I'd like to talk about epics today. There's nothing else in the world that can satisfy like a good epic, either in book or movie form. Most people don't agree, but most people are stupid, so I can live with them disagreeing with me.
I really don't have much to say about epics, except that they rock, and I've been watching them recently. I started with Star Wars (because the Lego video game made me want to watch the movies) and now I've moved on to the Lord of the Rings. I'm currently watching Fellowship, and I think I'll watch the rest then move on to the books. Because as good as the movies are (and they're great) they can't compare to the books.
And it makes me sad that practically none of my friends have read those books. Sure, some have read the Hobbit, but it's so different from the trilogy (or, if we're being specific, the six books) that it really doesn't count. I won't name any names, but you know who you are. And you really should read them. I won't even make you read the Silmarillion, just the main ones.
I also think the phrase, "That's epic," should become new slang for, "That's amazing," and plain "Epic," can be the new sweet.
Who's with me?
I really don't have much to say about epics, except that they rock, and I've been watching them recently. I started with Star Wars (because the Lego video game made me want to watch the movies) and now I've moved on to the Lord of the Rings. I'm currently watching Fellowship, and I think I'll watch the rest then move on to the books. Because as good as the movies are (and they're great) they can't compare to the books.
And it makes me sad that practically none of my friends have read those books. Sure, some have read the Hobbit, but it's so different from the trilogy (or, if we're being specific, the six books) that it really doesn't count. I won't name any names, but you know who you are. And you really should read them. I won't even make you read the Silmarillion, just the main ones.
I also think the phrase, "That's epic," should become new slang for, "That's amazing," and plain "Epic," can be the new sweet.
Who's with me?
Monday, October 09, 2006
Victory
Growing up playing soccer, I got used to not winning. It's not that my teams weren't necessarily good, it's that you get used to there always being a better team than you somewhere out there. Then high school came along, and I always went into a game expecting to win. It's just something that you do when you play for BHS. Especially if you play for the BHS soccer team.
Now, this isn't to say that I always expect to be the best team out there (okay, to be honest, I usually expect this, and usually did in high school), but there's just something about my team (or perhaps my coach) that knew how to win when it came down to it. There were games when we would admit that we weren't the better team. But we won. We wouldn't always win the unimportant games (like pre-season), but when it came down to playoffs, we always managed to pull it off, even if pulling it off meant playing for a tie and knowing that our goalkeeper was better than theirs.
Now, in my adult league, we expect to always win - there just isn't the competition to make us doubt ourselves. But tournaments are a different story. We still go in expecting to win, but sometimes get a wake-up call. We'll become complacent about passes and going to the ball because we've become used to our usual competition. So it's fun and refreshing to have to play your heart out just to tie a team that is obviously better than you, and then beat them in a shoot-out. (As much as I think shoot-outs are a horrible way to decide a soccer game, I have to admit that they've usually gone in my favor). There's just something sweet about being able to say, "Yeah, you're probably better. But we beat you when it counted." (Even if you would prefer to both be better and beat the other team). And I got to say that this past weekend.
Now, this isn't to say that I always expect to be the best team out there (okay, to be honest, I usually expect this, and usually did in high school), but there's just something about my team (or perhaps my coach) that knew how to win when it came down to it. There were games when we would admit that we weren't the better team. But we won. We wouldn't always win the unimportant games (like pre-season), but when it came down to playoffs, we always managed to pull it off, even if pulling it off meant playing for a tie and knowing that our goalkeeper was better than theirs.
Now, in my adult league, we expect to always win - there just isn't the competition to make us doubt ourselves. But tournaments are a different story. We still go in expecting to win, but sometimes get a wake-up call. We'll become complacent about passes and going to the ball because we've become used to our usual competition. So it's fun and refreshing to have to play your heart out just to tie a team that is obviously better than you, and then beat them in a shoot-out. (As much as I think shoot-outs are a horrible way to decide a soccer game, I have to admit that they've usually gone in my favor). There's just something sweet about being able to say, "Yeah, you're probably better. But we beat you when it counted." (Even if you would prefer to both be better and beat the other team). And I got to say that this past weekend.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
And then what happens?
For all the things I love about movies, there are a few things I don't like about them. Two of the huge ones are beginnings and endings. Now, that might seem a little strange, but let me explain. When good (meaning interesting and well developed, not necessarily morally good) characters are involved, I always want to know what happened before we're introduced, and what happens after we leave them.
Why is probably why, as much as I love movies, I'll always love books more. And the books that I especially love are the ones that keep going. Usually, this is a bad thing, but not always. See, sometimes, an author thinks that just making the initial storyline drag on and on is the same thing as keeping us interested in the characters. Not true. We need differing plots to keep us interested, otherwise more books is just annoying. (For an example of annoyingness, see Robert Jordan's books).
But in a few great instances, the author keeps us interested by coming up with enough things for the characters to do. This is great, and these authors generally become my favorites. For examples of this, see David Eddings, and in some ways, Orson Scott Card.
But the best is the Star Wars books. Now, initially, they were all disjoined, with authors creating their own characters, and using the main characters however they wanted. The great authors shone through, but there were some not so great ones thrown in the mix. But recently, Lucas and his team of whatever have realized what potential there is in the books, and grabbed the better authors (and some great new ones) to create books where the plotline is planned out in advance. Then the authors are allowed to use the characters they previously created in the best way possible.
Of course, Luke, Leia, Han, and the rest are getting on in years, so this is going to have to come to an end soon, but there is my hope that the new characters who are just as interesting as the old favorites (and are usually their children) could continue the tradition of fun battles and mysteries of the force. That is, if the authors can come up with enough enemies for them to battle. There comes a point where you think, "Hasn't this battle already been faught before?" But so far they've done a good job, so I have my hopes.
More to come on the reasons I like the books I do later, because I feel like talking about books. And maybe a little about movies, too.
Why is probably why, as much as I love movies, I'll always love books more. And the books that I especially love are the ones that keep going. Usually, this is a bad thing, but not always. See, sometimes, an author thinks that just making the initial storyline drag on and on is the same thing as keeping us interested in the characters. Not true. We need differing plots to keep us interested, otherwise more books is just annoying. (For an example of annoyingness, see Robert Jordan's books).
But in a few great instances, the author keeps us interested by coming up with enough things for the characters to do. This is great, and these authors generally become my favorites. For examples of this, see David Eddings, and in some ways, Orson Scott Card.
But the best is the Star Wars books. Now, initially, they were all disjoined, with authors creating their own characters, and using the main characters however they wanted. The great authors shone through, but there were some not so great ones thrown in the mix. But recently, Lucas and his team of whatever have realized what potential there is in the books, and grabbed the better authors (and some great new ones) to create books where the plotline is planned out in advance. Then the authors are allowed to use the characters they previously created in the best way possible.
Of course, Luke, Leia, Han, and the rest are getting on in years, so this is going to have to come to an end soon, but there is my hope that the new characters who are just as interesting as the old favorites (and are usually their children) could continue the tradition of fun battles and mysteries of the force. That is, if the authors can come up with enough enemies for them to battle. There comes a point where you think, "Hasn't this battle already been faught before?" But so far they've done a good job, so I have my hopes.
More to come on the reasons I like the books I do later, because I feel like talking about books. And maybe a little about movies, too.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Interesting...
So I'm going to be in SB (Santa Barbara for all of you not in the know) next weekend for a soccer tournament. Anybody interested in, say, taking off Friday and doing a little wine tasting?
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