Okay, I need to take a little liberty with the word "books." In that, I will include significant works if there is not one "book" by a particular author.
But enough hedging:
1. The Bible/Koran. Not that these are interchangable, but each are the foundation of the two religions representing >50% of the world's population. (The next largest category is "non-religious.") There were two other religious works that I considered. The first, "Summa Theologica" by Saint Thomas Aquinas, which compiles the rationale for Christian thought, and "The 95 Theses" by Martin Luther, which represented the founding of Protestantism.
2. "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Like several other works, I also considered "successor" works like "On War" by von Clausewitz, which is a more complete work of strategy, but it all begins with Sun Tzu.
3. "The Dialogues" by Plato. These formed the basis of the Socratic Method. 'Nuff said.
4. "Discourse on the Method" by Rene Descartes. WTF? Cogito Ergo Sum, I think therefore I am. Okay, this is a shout out to three individuals who founded the Scientific Revolution: Galileo, Copernicus and Descartes. While I would suggest that Galileo and Copernicus were more influential, though not through a book per se, Descartes has an extraordinarily impressive resume.
5. The Works of Shakespeare. If pressed, I would choose Hamlet, but it terms of influential fiction, I don't think anyone comes close.
6. "The Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin. "Evolution" and "natural selection" represented a colossal conflict with the religious establishment.
7. "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith. By an "invisible hand," pin makers have never been more important.
8. "The Communist Manifesto" by Marx and Engels. I had considered "The Social Contract" by Rousseau because it is a broader statement of political philosophy and is the philosophical foundation of socialism and communism, but, unlike von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu, I do not believe Marx or Engels gave much credit to Rousseau. Of course, I do not believe any single work has resulted in more deaths the TCM. Between Stalin, Mao, the Khmer Rouge and their comrades we are talking, according to one estimate, something like 95 million people.
9. "The Interpretation of Dreams" by Sigmund Freud. Much of what Freud thought was true has been questioned, but The Interpretation of Dreams is the groundbreaking work in the field of psychoanalysis.
10. "Free to Choose" by Milton & Rose Friedman. While Wealth of Nations introduced modern capitalism as a force for mutual benefit, Free to Choose expands the free market principle to all aspects of life. In particular, the Friedmans point out that government fixes often exacerbate the problem rather then solve it. I expect this will be considered as seminal a work as Wealth of Nations 50 years hence.
There are several other books that nearly made the list, including books like Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (inadvertently led to 1 million unnecessary child deaths) and Unsafe at Any Speed by Ralph Nader as the ancestors of environmental or safety activism. Further, works of fiction such as War and Peace, The Great Gatsby and even Valley of the Dolls warranted serious consideration for various reasons. The sex genre (Kama Sutra and The Joy of Sex) seemed a little too trite for me, but I think there is a strong argument for SOMETHING like that.
Anyway, have at it Thew.
8.13.2007
Welcome Back Tilam
Tiger celebrated your return from a family weekend by winning his 13th Major Championship. That boy can play...
The Yankees are now an anorexic FOUR game behind the Sawx in the AL East. I don't know how this will turn out, but I do take some solid smack as I remember stating to the Sawx nation "talk to me in September". Maybe the Yankees won't overtake Boston, but just a short time ago they were 14 1/2 game out...
My 16 year old spent some time at the house (she splits time between Thew and the X-Mrs Thew's house) simply devouring the latest Harry Potter book. Talk about a book with a much anticipated release and capturing the minds of people, young and old alike.
Which brings me to today's musing question for Tilam: what, in your opinion, are the 10 most influential books in history?
The Yankees are now an anorexic FOUR game behind the Sawx in the AL East. I don't know how this will turn out, but I do take some solid smack as I remember stating to the Sawx nation "talk to me in September". Maybe the Yankees won't overtake Boston, but just a short time ago they were 14 1/2 game out...
My 16 year old spent some time at the house (she splits time between Thew and the X-Mrs Thew's house) simply devouring the latest Harry Potter book. Talk about a book with a much anticipated release and capturing the minds of people, young and old alike.
Which brings me to today's musing question for Tilam: what, in your opinion, are the 10 most influential books in history?
OMG!
Speed Racer will be a movie!
And in what will be the ultimate movie news for Thew...Thor is coming to the big screen.
And in what will be the ultimate movie news for Thew...Thor is coming to the big screen.
Myth Busters
I love the show Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel. I bring this up only because one of the recent show was dedicated to baseball myths. Of interest is whether the humidity of the ball affects the length of a hit. They were looking at the Colorado Rockies and noted that the balls are now kept in a humidor to add humidity for more consistent play.
The answer: Sure as hell does. By 14%. A baseball at a humidity of 10% will fly 14% farther then a baseball at a humidity of 90%. For a ball hit 300 feet, that is an astonishing 40 additional feet for a dry ball.
The point is that, like Thew, I have given Bonds more slack. There are too many variables - field size, pitchers, dry balls - to say Bonds would not be the home run king regardless. You can also wonder how many he would have hit had he had a Manny or A-Rod batting behind him. It all evens out.
Thirty years from now nobody will give a shit.
The answer: Sure as hell does. By 14%. A baseball at a humidity of 10% will fly 14% farther then a baseball at a humidity of 90%. For a ball hit 300 feet, that is an astonishing 40 additional feet for a dry ball.
The point is that, like Thew, I have given Bonds more slack. There are too many variables - field size, pitchers, dry balls - to say Bonds would not be the home run king regardless. You can also wonder how many he would have hit had he had a Manny or A-Rod batting behind him. It all evens out.
Thirty years from now nobody will give a shit.
8.09.2007
The Last Bonds post...
OK, now that it's over, the pressure is over, the scrutiny about 756 is over, watch Bonds relax and start hitting 'em a little back on his normal pace - as evidenced by hitting #757 last night.
We had a long conversation about Bonds yesterday, and I really think this: if you look at Bonds, he was a quality player, had good power, and won a few MVP awards before his supposed steroid use. He won MVP awards in 1990, 1992, 1993, was the 1994 Outstanding Baseball Player and Male Athlete of the Year for the ESPY's. So him playing high quality baseball is nothing new. I think that what steroids did (or MIGHT have done, let's speculate here) is allow him to CONTINUE to play at the high level he has already established in his career; steroids didn't all of a sudden make Bonds an MVP caliber player. ALSO, let me re-examine Mark McGwire's HR career - from his rookie record of 49 in 1987 until 1996, when he clouted 52 HR's, he never got above 42; as a matter of fact, through injuries and such, he had the following totals: 32, 33, 39, 22, 42, 9, 9, 39 then went for the 52. Sound familiar? Bonds actually had similar totals for those same years: 24, 19, 33, 25, 34, 46, 37, 33, then went for 42 when Mac hit 52. Add 'em up people: Big Mac 225, Barry 251. Truing up Mac's totals by adding projected totals of 34 (average) for those 2 injury years, and you get another 50ish HR's. So Mac 275, Barry 251. An average of a measely THREE HR's a year. BAM, Mac goes for 52 then 70. So why do we vilify Barry and not Mac? Look in the mirror and answer that question...
Also, we started talking about "warning-track shots" becoming HR's, but Tilam brought up a good point of the Stadiums today. Shorter in many cases, especially down the right field lines - what was a 330 warning track 10 years ago is now a 320 warning track today. 10 feet less maybe combined with 5 feet more carry? Home run. And what is the difference between anyone hitting the ball 315 feet versus 330 feet? Perhaps a millimeter on the barrel of the bat? At most? Look at the physics people, there are factors WAY more impacting here than steroids, in my HUMBLE opinion. Look at the polo grounds - less than 300 at the poles (both of them) yet like 450+ down the center - shaped like a frikkin tear drop? How many long homeruns went to center field to completely die as a long out or underachieve as a double or extra base hit? Too much to consider...I challenge anyone to give me specific empirical proof that steroids MADE Bonds a HR hitter.
Do I think he did 'em? Yeah, I think he did.
Do I think they helped? Yeah, I think they did.
Do I think they made him the HR king? No, I'm not so sure anymore. I think they would have allowed him to continue to perform at a high level, but he didn't wake up one day and become an MVP and HR hitter, sorry folks.
Do I think there are other factors to consider that mitigate this? Yeah, I do. The physics of round ball hitting round bat, lesser quality pitching (which we really haven't mentioned), ballpark dimensions, and a few others.
Bottom Line...I find myself cutting Barry a little more slack. Tilam brings up some fantastic points about asterisks in his prior post, I think they are extremely valid to consider. Barry still needs to clean up his lousy anti-media attitude, but with the comments made by Butthead Selig this past week, how can he NOT be defensive.
We had a long conversation about Bonds yesterday, and I really think this: if you look at Bonds, he was a quality player, had good power, and won a few MVP awards before his supposed steroid use. He won MVP awards in 1990, 1992, 1993, was the 1994 Outstanding Baseball Player and Male Athlete of the Year for the ESPY's. So him playing high quality baseball is nothing new. I think that what steroids did (or MIGHT have done, let's speculate here) is allow him to CONTINUE to play at the high level he has already established in his career; steroids didn't all of a sudden make Bonds an MVP caliber player. ALSO, let me re-examine Mark McGwire's HR career - from his rookie record of 49 in 1987 until 1996, when he clouted 52 HR's, he never got above 42; as a matter of fact, through injuries and such, he had the following totals: 32, 33, 39, 22, 42, 9, 9, 39 then went for the 52. Sound familiar? Bonds actually had similar totals for those same years: 24, 19, 33, 25, 34, 46, 37, 33, then went for 42 when Mac hit 52. Add 'em up people: Big Mac 225, Barry 251. Truing up Mac's totals by adding projected totals of 34 (average) for those 2 injury years, and you get another 50ish HR's. So Mac 275, Barry 251. An average of a measely THREE HR's a year. BAM, Mac goes for 52 then 70. So why do we vilify Barry and not Mac? Look in the mirror and answer that question...
Also, we started talking about "warning-track shots" becoming HR's, but Tilam brought up a good point of the Stadiums today. Shorter in many cases, especially down the right field lines - what was a 330 warning track 10 years ago is now a 320 warning track today. 10 feet less maybe combined with 5 feet more carry? Home run. And what is the difference between anyone hitting the ball 315 feet versus 330 feet? Perhaps a millimeter on the barrel of the bat? At most? Look at the physics people, there are factors WAY more impacting here than steroids, in my HUMBLE opinion. Look at the polo grounds - less than 300 at the poles (both of them) yet like 450+ down the center - shaped like a frikkin tear drop? How many long homeruns went to center field to completely die as a long out or underachieve as a double or extra base hit? Too much to consider...I challenge anyone to give me specific empirical proof that steroids MADE Bonds a HR hitter.
Do I think he did 'em? Yeah, I think he did.
Do I think they helped? Yeah, I think they did.
Do I think they made him the HR king? No, I'm not so sure anymore. I think they would have allowed him to continue to perform at a high level, but he didn't wake up one day and become an MVP and HR hitter, sorry folks.
Do I think there are other factors to consider that mitigate this? Yeah, I do. The physics of round ball hitting round bat, lesser quality pitching (which we really haven't mentioned), ballpark dimensions, and a few others.
Bottom Line...I find myself cutting Barry a little more slack. Tilam brings up some fantastic points about asterisks in his prior post, I think they are extremely valid to consider. Barry still needs to clean up his lousy anti-media attitude, but with the comments made by Butthead Selig this past week, how can he NOT be defensive.
8.08.2007
Bonds Three
No one in this sad episode comes out smelling nice. It would be nice if someone acted classy. (Correction: Hank Aaron did - with a classy video congratulations.)
MLB looked like assholes with Bud Selig not being there. They represent the game and this is a milestone in the game. Let the fans decide its lasting importance to them. I may not like it, but it is my personal opinion...if I were the Commissioner, I have to be all smiles and laughs.
One other point about Selig is that if Selig felt steriods were THAT big of a deal, he should have suspended Bonds pending a final outcome. Instead, he just whines about it.
Did Maris get pegged with an * for hitting 61 in a 162 game season? Ford Frick, the Bud Selig of his time, vowed that the record would have an asterisk next to it if Maris did not hit 61 in 154 games. Classy guy. Did not happen.
Babe Ruth played at a time when some of the best athletes, who happened to be black, could not play in the league. Asterisk? Nope.
It is Bonds' fault, but he is also suffering (if he were Tony Gwynn, imagine the fanfare), deprived of the unfettered adoration of the baseball public. Maybe he does not care, maybe he does.
One last aside, Bonds was asked about the ball caught by Matt Murphy. Bonds responded that he hoped the guy did not get hurt and he had no interest in the ball. He said, "I've never believed a home run ball belonged to the player. If he caught it, it's his." Classy response...just when you thought you hated a guy...
MLB looked like assholes with Bud Selig not being there. They represent the game and this is a milestone in the game. Let the fans decide its lasting importance to them. I may not like it, but it is my personal opinion...if I were the Commissioner, I have to be all smiles and laughs.
One other point about Selig is that if Selig felt steriods were THAT big of a deal, he should have suspended Bonds pending a final outcome. Instead, he just whines about it.
Did Maris get pegged with an * for hitting 61 in a 162 game season? Ford Frick, the Bud Selig of his time, vowed that the record would have an asterisk next to it if Maris did not hit 61 in 154 games. Classy guy. Did not happen.
Babe Ruth played at a time when some of the best athletes, who happened to be black, could not play in the league. Asterisk? Nope.
It is Bonds' fault, but he is also suffering (if he were Tony Gwynn, imagine the fanfare), deprived of the unfettered adoration of the baseball public. Maybe he does not care, maybe he does.
One last aside, Bonds was asked about the ball caught by Matt Murphy. Bonds responded that he hoped the guy did not get hurt and he had no interest in the ball. He said, "I've never believed a home run ball belonged to the player. If he caught it, it's his." Classy response...just when you thought you hated a guy...
Bonds part deux
So it's happened. Like Tilam, I wish I felt more elation and excitement, but the cloud of speculation hangs over this event like a morning fog in Scotland. My opinion of this event, frankly, vascilates between high and low.
However, I need to say this: I was looking at some of the highlights in Bonds' career, and some of his older home runs, and frankly, even when he was "smaller", he still had a sweet swing and could still smack the ball a ways. It leads me to think that while they provided him with more bulk and power, ultimately they didn't improve his ability to hit the baseball, and maybe didn't have as much impact to his home run totals as we might think...maybe. Making a home run LONGER is still starting with a home run - making warning track shots homers is becoming a smaller effect in my mind.
Let's look at a couple of figures of note:
- since age 35, Bonds has hit 311 home runs, over 40% of his career total (41% actually). At a time when most power hitters experience a drop off in totals, that is significant. Okay, point taken...
- HOWEVER, and I think this is also noteworthy, over that time frame he's hit only 66 more home runs than Aaron did. Look at it this way: Aaron retired in 1976, he turned 35 in 1969 - so that's 7 years. Bonds is 43, so that's 8 years since age 35. So, in 1 more year of playing after age 35, Bonds hit 66 more home runs (66 HR's over 8 years?). That's an average of 8 more HR's per year, which really isn't significant in my opinion, frankly.- aside from the single season record year of 73 (okay, that IS an aberration), he's never hit more than 49. Could THAT be the steroid effect? Maybe. Look at 1993, he his 46 HR's as a "skinny Bonds". 1996 & 1997 he hit 42 & 40, respectively, as a "skinny Bonds".
Somehow, I might be convincing myself that aside from the monumentous 73 he hit in 2001, the HR's he hit in 2000/2002/2003/2004, all in the 40's, might not be as much of an exception as some people might think.
Steroids or not, ya still gotta hit a moving baseball, still IMO the hardest achievement in sports.
Bud Selig is an asshole for once AGAIN, introducing the steroid allegations into his congratulatory press release. Leave it to Mitchell to handle that, Butt, stop being a dick.
However, I need to say this: I was looking at some of the highlights in Bonds' career, and some of his older home runs, and frankly, even when he was "smaller", he still had a sweet swing and could still smack the ball a ways. It leads me to think that while they provided him with more bulk and power, ultimately they didn't improve his ability to hit the baseball, and maybe didn't have as much impact to his home run totals as we might think...maybe. Making a home run LONGER is still starting with a home run - making warning track shots homers is becoming a smaller effect in my mind.
Let's look at a couple of figures of note:
- since age 35, Bonds has hit 311 home runs, over 40% of his career total (41% actually). At a time when most power hitters experience a drop off in totals, that is significant. Okay, point taken...
- HOWEVER, and I think this is also noteworthy, over that time frame he's hit only 66 more home runs than Aaron did. Look at it this way: Aaron retired in 1976, he turned 35 in 1969 - so that's 7 years. Bonds is 43, so that's 8 years since age 35. So, in 1 more year of playing after age 35, Bonds hit 66 more home runs (66 HR's over 8 years?). That's an average of 8 more HR's per year, which really isn't significant in my opinion, frankly.- aside from the single season record year of 73 (okay, that IS an aberration), he's never hit more than 49. Could THAT be the steroid effect? Maybe. Look at 1993, he his 46 HR's as a "skinny Bonds". 1996 & 1997 he hit 42 & 40, respectively, as a "skinny Bonds".
Somehow, I might be convincing myself that aside from the monumentous 73 he hit in 2001, the HR's he hit in 2000/2002/2003/2004, all in the 40's, might not be as much of an exception as some people might think.
Steroids or not, ya still gotta hit a moving baseball, still IMO the hardest achievement in sports.
Bud Selig is an asshole for once AGAIN, introducing the steroid allegations into his congratulatory press release. Leave it to Mitchell to handle that, Butt, stop being a dick.
Bonds
Barry Bonds passed Hank Aaron last night. Congratulations. I wish I felt more joy for this record performance, but I don't.
Unfortunately, this is a total mess.
Unfortunately, this is a total mess.
8.07.2007
Tomorrowland
I will go with Thew's flow here. It was not the approach I was thinking about, but hey, it works fine. So taking his topics and adding or deleting, this is what I see.
But before I go forward there is one item Thew did not mention that I believe is critical to EVERYTHING.
Batteries - The next 30 years will see a huge revolution in batteries. And without this revolution much of what we are talking about will be inhibited. The efficiency of using electricity in devices will go up (mitigating somewhat the advancements in batteries required), but soon we will see the power in a car battery being stored in a 9-volt size battery.
Personal Communication - I do agree that "form factor" advances will dictate and we will have variations of "faster, smaller, cheaper." Form factor is interesting in the sense that as forms become compact, HOW a person uses things becomes important. In other words, we all are hardwired to do things in a certain way and each of us has a different way we are comfortable (generally, think men v. women, teenagers v. adults). When a form factor becomes compact, it limits the "how" - often severely.
Personal Transportation - I actually do not see us getting away from people on wheels. What I do see is a big change in the organization of highways. With a combination of GPS, positioning makers and super cruise control, drivers will "log into" the highway system and relinquish control of the car. The car will then chauffeur the passengers to or near to their intended destination. This system is impractical on back roads, but will speed up travel and alleviate congestion.
Long Distance Travel - I expect travel to finally become comfortable. That would be enough of an advance for me.
Space Travel - Vacation plans in space will happen, but I also think we will plan (if not launch) a manned space mission to Mars. Further, I do expect a larger, permanent manned presence in space, either in a new and improve ISS or a manned facility on the Moon.
Genetics - Growing new organs is promising and should be common place. Identifying genetic defects or negative propensities (high blood pressure) will also become available. I think we will wrestle with moral questions on this. Is a defect enough to abort a baby? These are difficult moral questions.
We will see very targeted killer agents, either organic or inorganic (nanobots). We will not eliminate cancer, but the ability to successfully treat the disease will increase and the side effects of treatment will drastically diminish.
I also predict we will see one substantial plague or other biological disaster in the next 90 years. This will either be by accident or through warfare.
Energy - By the end of this century, oil will not be the dominant source of energy. In fact, the era of big, centralized energy production is about to end. Photovoltaics and pyroelectrics will allow builders to create homes that generate enough electricity to significantly reduce or eliminate drawing power from the grid. I also believe that we will harness naturally occurring static electricity (think lightning) where conditions allow it.
Bots - I am skipping "Bionics" to talk Bots. Whether you are talking about nanobots or the more garden variety (think ASIMO or P3 from Honda), robot will emerge as significant aide to many of the things we do. Nanobots are fascinating in the variety of things that are possible, but most are thought experiments in the sense that building useful THINGS are still quite a ways away.
ID Improvements - I view this as a convenience thing that consumers will adapt as they get comfortable with any real or perceived complications. My dog has a chip in him right now in case he gets lost. You will have a chip in you at some point, because THEY ARE HERE! The benefits are plenty, but people do believe that the risk of "loss of privacy" is too great. I say, "bunk!" I would love to have a tracking chip in my children. LoJack tor Tilam Jr. and his siblings! (I am sure Mrs. Tilam would approve of a tracking chip for me!)
The Singularity - Of course, whether technological singularity will happen in the way Vinge thought it would is open to debate, but few people thought Moore's Law would continue either. My basic disagreement with the concept of singularity is that I am unconvinced that AI can show enough creativity to guide technology development. Understand that practical technology development is a very, very small subset of what technological development is possible. For instance, a computer can develop a automobile for a twelve handed creature. Advanced? Certainly. Practical. Not so much.
As an aside, for this reason, I am unafraid of Asimov's "I, Robot" problem. Self-awareness is required (and assumed) for any of the robotic doomsday predictions. (One of my favorites is Colossus: the Forbin Project.) But self-awareness is not universal. It has been found in humans, apes, dolphins and elephants (and I assume that it will be found in other vertebrates), but I question whether it can be programed.
Okay, I am done.
But before I go forward there is one item Thew did not mention that I believe is critical to EVERYTHING.
Batteries - The next 30 years will see a huge revolution in batteries. And without this revolution much of what we are talking about will be inhibited. The efficiency of using electricity in devices will go up (mitigating somewhat the advancements in batteries required), but soon we will see the power in a car battery being stored in a 9-volt size battery.
Personal Communication - I do agree that "form factor" advances will dictate and we will have variations of "faster, smaller, cheaper." Form factor is interesting in the sense that as forms become compact, HOW a person uses things becomes important. In other words, we all are hardwired to do things in a certain way and each of us has a different way we are comfortable (generally, think men v. women, teenagers v. adults). When a form factor becomes compact, it limits the "how" - often severely.
Personal Transportation - I actually do not see us getting away from people on wheels. What I do see is a big change in the organization of highways. With a combination of GPS, positioning makers and super cruise control, drivers will "log into" the highway system and relinquish control of the car. The car will then chauffeur the passengers to or near to their intended destination. This system is impractical on back roads, but will speed up travel and alleviate congestion.
Long Distance Travel - I expect travel to finally become comfortable. That would be enough of an advance for me.
Space Travel - Vacation plans in space will happen, but I also think we will plan (if not launch) a manned space mission to Mars. Further, I do expect a larger, permanent manned presence in space, either in a new and improve ISS or a manned facility on the Moon.
Genetics - Growing new organs is promising and should be common place. Identifying genetic defects or negative propensities (high blood pressure) will also become available. I think we will wrestle with moral questions on this. Is a defect enough to abort a baby? These are difficult moral questions.
We will see very targeted killer agents, either organic or inorganic (nanobots). We will not eliminate cancer, but the ability to successfully treat the disease will increase and the side effects of treatment will drastically diminish.
I also predict we will see one substantial plague or other biological disaster in the next 90 years. This will either be by accident or through warfare.
Energy - By the end of this century, oil will not be the dominant source of energy. In fact, the era of big, centralized energy production is about to end. Photovoltaics and pyroelectrics will allow builders to create homes that generate enough electricity to significantly reduce or eliminate drawing power from the grid. I also believe that we will harness naturally occurring static electricity (think lightning) where conditions allow it.
Bots - I am skipping "Bionics" to talk Bots. Whether you are talking about nanobots or the more garden variety (think ASIMO or P3 from Honda), robot will emerge as significant aide to many of the things we do. Nanobots are fascinating in the variety of things that are possible, but most are thought experiments in the sense that building useful THINGS are still quite a ways away.
ID Improvements - I view this as a convenience thing that consumers will adapt as they get comfortable with any real or perceived complications. My dog has a chip in him right now in case he gets lost. You will have a chip in you at some point, because THEY ARE HERE! The benefits are plenty, but people do believe that the risk of "loss of privacy" is too great. I say, "bunk!" I would love to have a tracking chip in my children. LoJack tor Tilam Jr. and his siblings! (I am sure Mrs. Tilam would approve of a tracking chip for me!)
The Singularity - Of course, whether technological singularity will happen in the way Vinge thought it would is open to debate, but few people thought Moore's Law would continue either. My basic disagreement with the concept of singularity is that I am unconvinced that AI can show enough creativity to guide technology development. Understand that practical technology development is a very, very small subset of what technological development is possible. For instance, a computer can develop a automobile for a twelve handed creature. Advanced? Certainly. Practical. Not so much.
As an aside, for this reason, I am unafraid of Asimov's "I, Robot" problem. Self-awareness is required (and assumed) for any of the robotic doomsday predictions. (One of my favorites is Colossus: the Forbin Project.) But self-awareness is not universal. It has been found in humans, apes, dolphins and elephants (and I assume that it will be found in other vertebrates), but I question whether it can be programed.
Okay, I am done.
8.06.2007
Looking into my crystal ball...
TILAM's challenge is a difficult one for me, probably for you too oh gentle readers. It is difficult to speculate about specific inventions that have yet to be thought out and made, it's a bit easier to think of things that will be improved significantly. And if you scout out for "new inventions" on the web for ideas, you find millions upon millions of links and such, which is totally useless to me, I don't have time to search for all that nonsense.
So, to take the coward's way out, I will not list 10 specific inventions, but list 10 areas where I think life changing and significant improvements will be made in the next 100 years (hell, probably 50 years, maybe even 25)...
Personal Communication - we are already having streaming video, texting, etc being lumped into a personal device. I'm thinking that the personal mobile phone, internet, email, etc will be combined into a single micro unit contained in, say, a pair of sunglasses. We already see this with mp3 players (Oakley), I expect the gizmo's added to the glasses to expand.
Personal Transportation - hover cars, "in air" highways where we drive these hover cars in vertical lanes not horizontal, no more traffic jams, WOO!.
Long Distance Travel - forget human transporters (disassemble here and assemble there), I don't think that is going to happen. But high speed travel, either via tubes or something else, will be revolutionary. I'm talking inTER-continental and inTRA-continental.
Casual Space Travel - Vacation Destinations above the stratosphere will be offered for a small fee to those beautiful people who can afford them.
Medicinal Cures - Cancer, Leukemia, even the common cold will be come passe, the only thing stopping us from living long enough to annoy the hell outta our kids will be that great equalizer, old age - or getting hit by a bus.
Genetics - we'll be able to "manufacture" solid and healthy gene strands, using this to fix problems that might occur in people while they are in cell form - and to take it even further, transplants (or curing, like the earlier item) will become a matter of manipulating genetic material in order to manufacture or fix unhealthy or broken organs.
Energy - at some point OPEC will go broke, due to our final decision to become completely independent from fossil fuels - and screw those bastards anyway. Solar, Wind, not sure which one, but Energy use will become cheap and easy. Perhaps recycling waste?
Bionics - no, not the $6million dollar man, but prosthetic/artificial limbs (and from one inventor, chips to enhance brain capabilities) will have significant improvements.
ID Improvements - I really don't see this as a "omg big brother is watching you", but personal identification chips/codes/implants of some sort. I see the upside of this, not the downside. Monitoring criminals, checking in at the local airport, voting, anything that requires an ID will be improved. Consumer Purchasing via scanners tied to your personal identification device; linked to the banking system, no more need for credit cards or debit cards or atm cards - BAM, instant ID and cash/goods.
Leisure Activities - virtual reality chambers will present a variety of activities from playing in a rock band in concert to role playing games to sports to, well, probably sex. The personal leisure device will offer anything and everything to the paying customer - we'll never have to leave the house!
8.03.2007
Hope for Michael Vick
This is very funny.
So if you are a Congressman or woman, you are 40% LESS popular than a guy who kills dogs for the fun of it!
So if you are a Congressman or woman, you are 40% LESS popular than a guy who kills dogs for the fun of it!
8.02.2007
Hmmmm, Interesting Pattern
Thew, you seem to have a distinctly "modern" flavor to your invention list. The oldest was invented in 1460, the next oldest, the steam engine, in 1689. I am through half the list before I hit the steam engine at #6. This is not a critique as much as an observation.
So, the next List is what are the Top Inventions of the 21st Century. That is, you are writing in the year 2110 (my, you look mahvalous for 145) and looking back at the greatest modern inventions.
The bone I will throw to both of us is that you the technology does not have to exist today, but needs to be technically feasible at a reasonable cost. That is, I would call BS on a Space Elevator not because it is not possible, but the cost would be prohibitive under any reasonable set of circumstances.
UPDATE: There is an estimate that the Space Elevator could cost as little as $40 billion. This is pure, unvarnished fantasy. The Big Dig was thought to cost $5 billion and ended up over $15 billion. That the total distance was (maybe) 7 miles. On earth.
And no Fusion-o-Matic....
So, the next List is what are the Top Inventions of the 21st Century. That is, you are writing in the year 2110 (my, you look mahvalous for 145) and looking back at the greatest modern inventions.
The bone I will throw to both of us is that you the technology does not have to exist today, but needs to be technically feasible at a reasonable cost. That is, I would call BS on a Space Elevator not because it is not possible, but the cost would be prohibitive under any reasonable set of circumstances.
UPDATE: There is an estimate that the Space Elevator could cost as little as $40 billion. This is pure, unvarnished fantasy. The Big Dig was thought to cost $5 billion and ended up over $15 billion. That the total distance was (maybe) 7 miles. On earth.
And no Fusion-o-Matic....
Why did they invent a game and call it "golf"?
Cuz by that time, the word "fucked" was already taken! HaHaHa
Tilam comes up with some TRULY insightful points here. I would have never considered the astrolabe/sextant (I would have thought sextant was one step beyond menage a trois, frankly) in my list, which is a great item for Tilam to include. Same with a couple of others, although Metallurgy is a double edged sword (pardon the pun), while gunpowder is a "woowee for fireworks" it's also a "INCOMING Ordnance" argument - pretty sure the Chinese intended the former, everyone else decided to add the latter as a quality use for the compound. So as I run through my own list, I actually found that I had a few granular categories into which I could lump my choices:
Communications
The Telephone
The telephone is an instrument that converts voice and sound signals into electrical impulses for transmission by wire to a different location, where another telephone receives the electrical impulses and turns them back into recognizable sounds.
The Computer
There are many major milestones in the history of computers, starting with 1936, when Konrad Zuse built the first freely programmable computer. Kudos to Al Gore for inventing peer to peer communication via a large network; the internet is for porn!
Television
In 1884, Paul Nipkow sent images over wires using a rotating metal disk technology with 18 lines of resolution. Television then evolved along two paths, mechanical based on Nipkow's rotating disks, and electronic based on the cathode ray tube. American Charles Jenkins and Scotsman John Baird followed the mechanical model while Philo Farnsworth, working independently in San Francisco, and Russian émigré Vladimir Zworkin, working for Westinghouse and later RCA, advanced the electronic model.
The Printing Press
The printing press was the first one of many communication mediums, changing how information was collected, stored, retrieved, criticized, discovered, and promoted. It has been implicated in the Reformation, the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. Centerfolds sure would be hard to pull off without it. Mmm, centerfolds...
Transportation
The Automobile
In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was invented by French mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. However, it was a steam-powered model. In 1885, Karl Benz designed and built the world's first practical automobile to be powered by an internal-combustion engine. In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler took the internal combustion engine a step further and patented what is generally recognized as the prototype of the modern gas engine and later built the world's first four-wheeled motor vehicle.
Da Plane, Da Plane
Bicycle manufacturers, the Wright brothers, accomplished the first motorized flight in 1903 while British engineer Frank Whittle filed the first patent for a jet engine in 1930. Parallel tests in Germany made that country the first to fly a jet-powered plane, the Heinkel He 178, in 1939. Thirty years later, the Boeing 747 Jumbo jet made international air travel fast, comfortable and affordable -- just don't tell that to the passengers of the Concorde.
The Steam Engine
Thomas Savery was an English military engineer and inventor who in 1698, patented the first crude steam engine. Thomas Newcomen invented the atmospheric steam engine in 1712. James Watt improved Newcomen's design and invented what is considered the first modern steam engine in 1765. Normally I'd say "big whoop" on this, but the impact to current and future transportation simply cannot be discounted.
Quality of Life
The Laser
Forty years after Einstein drew up the concept of the stimulation of light waves, a doctoral student earned a patent on Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) and the resulting beam to cut, heat and measure. Consumers love lasers thanks to CD players and laser printers. Doctors love lasers because they simplify and quicken cosmetic and eye surgery. Scientists love lasers for their precision and power. We love lasers because of faster lines at the beer store.
The Light Bulb
Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Alva Edison didn't "invent" the light bulb, but rather he improved upon a 50-year-old idea. In 1809, Humphry Davy, an English chemist, invented the first electric light. In 1878, Sir Joseph Wilson Swan, an English physicist, was the first person to invent a practical and longer-lasting electic lightbulb (13.5 hours) with a carbon fiber filament. In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison invented a carbon filament that burned for forty hours.
Penicillin
Not truly an "invention" but a discovery, I thought I'd include it by using a little poetic license. Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. Andrew Moyer patented the first method of industrial production of penicillin in 1948.
Honorable Mentions
The radio (who can forget "fireside chats" with the president)
Velcro (don't even ask)
The cotton gin (HUGE impact to life)
The distllation process (without this, Tilam could never pay me the victory beer he inevitably owes me after we play golf)
The post-it note (how else would Mrs Thew remind me of my Honey-Do's?)
The microwave (for when I'm in the doghouse and need to re-heat dinner)
Lingerie (WOO for sexi undi's)
The use of electricity (again, not an invention but a harnessing, but still, where would we be without it?)
Indoor Plumbing (and considering that I roomed with Tilam at one point, the bathroom fan)
And in homage to sexist male chauvanistic males all around the world, as I browsed the internet for nominees I found, listed in the top 10 inventions of all time on AskMen.com. The Pill:
This mixture of two hormones that suppress ovulation unleashed a sexual and social revolution. Overnight, women gained effective control over their fertility, smashing constraints on women's sexual freedom. We love the Pill.
Tilam comes up with some TRULY insightful points here. I would have never considered the astrolabe/sextant (I would have thought sextant was one step beyond menage a trois, frankly) in my list, which is a great item for Tilam to include. Same with a couple of others, although Metallurgy is a double edged sword (pardon the pun), while gunpowder is a "woowee for fireworks" it's also a "INCOMING Ordnance" argument - pretty sure the Chinese intended the former, everyone else decided to add the latter as a quality use for the compound. So as I run through my own list, I actually found that I had a few granular categories into which I could lump my choices:
Communications
The Telephone
The telephone is an instrument that converts voice and sound signals into electrical impulses for transmission by wire to a different location, where another telephone receives the electrical impulses and turns them back into recognizable sounds.
The Computer
There are many major milestones in the history of computers, starting with 1936, when Konrad Zuse built the first freely programmable computer. Kudos to Al Gore for inventing peer to peer communication via a large network; the internet is for porn!
Television
In 1884, Paul Nipkow sent images over wires using a rotating metal disk technology with 18 lines of resolution. Television then evolved along two paths, mechanical based on Nipkow's rotating disks, and electronic based on the cathode ray tube. American Charles Jenkins and Scotsman John Baird followed the mechanical model while Philo Farnsworth, working independently in San Francisco, and Russian émigré Vladimir Zworkin, working for Westinghouse and later RCA, advanced the electronic model.
The Printing Press
The printing press was the first one of many communication mediums, changing how information was collected, stored, retrieved, criticized, discovered, and promoted. It has been implicated in the Reformation, the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. Centerfolds sure would be hard to pull off without it. Mmm, centerfolds...
Transportation
The Automobile
In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was invented by French mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. However, it was a steam-powered model. In 1885, Karl Benz designed and built the world's first practical automobile to be powered by an internal-combustion engine. In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler took the internal combustion engine a step further and patented what is generally recognized as the prototype of the modern gas engine and later built the world's first four-wheeled motor vehicle.
Da Plane, Da Plane
Bicycle manufacturers, the Wright brothers, accomplished the first motorized flight in 1903 while British engineer Frank Whittle filed the first patent for a jet engine in 1930. Parallel tests in Germany made that country the first to fly a jet-powered plane, the Heinkel He 178, in 1939. Thirty years later, the Boeing 747 Jumbo jet made international air travel fast, comfortable and affordable -- just don't tell that to the passengers of the Concorde.
The Steam Engine
Thomas Savery was an English military engineer and inventor who in 1698, patented the first crude steam engine. Thomas Newcomen invented the atmospheric steam engine in 1712. James Watt improved Newcomen's design and invented what is considered the first modern steam engine in 1765. Normally I'd say "big whoop" on this, but the impact to current and future transportation simply cannot be discounted.
Quality of Life
The Laser
Forty years after Einstein drew up the concept of the stimulation of light waves, a doctoral student earned a patent on Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) and the resulting beam to cut, heat and measure. Consumers love lasers thanks to CD players and laser printers. Doctors love lasers because they simplify and quicken cosmetic and eye surgery. Scientists love lasers for their precision and power. We love lasers because of faster lines at the beer store.
The Light Bulb
Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Alva Edison didn't "invent" the light bulb, but rather he improved upon a 50-year-old idea. In 1809, Humphry Davy, an English chemist, invented the first electric light. In 1878, Sir Joseph Wilson Swan, an English physicist, was the first person to invent a practical and longer-lasting electic lightbulb (13.5 hours) with a carbon fiber filament. In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison invented a carbon filament that burned for forty hours.
Penicillin
Not truly an "invention" but a discovery, I thought I'd include it by using a little poetic license. Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. Andrew Moyer patented the first method of industrial production of penicillin in 1948.
Honorable Mentions
The radio (who can forget "fireside chats" with the president)
Velcro (don't even ask)
The cotton gin (HUGE impact to life)
The distllation process (without this, Tilam could never pay me the victory beer he inevitably owes me after we play golf)
The post-it note (how else would Mrs Thew remind me of my Honey-Do's?)
The microwave (for when I'm in the doghouse and need to re-heat dinner)
Lingerie (WOO for sexi undi's)
The use of electricity (again, not an invention but a harnessing, but still, where would we be without it?)
Indoor Plumbing (and considering that I roomed with Tilam at one point, the bathroom fan)
And in homage to sexist male chauvanistic males all around the world, as I browsed the internet for nominees I found, listed in the top 10 inventions of all time on AskMen.com. The Pill:
This mixture of two hormones that suppress ovulation unleashed a sexual and social revolution. Overnight, women gained effective control over their fertility, smashing constraints on women's sexual freedom. We love the Pill.
Greatest Inventions
Wow. I thought of 20 very fast. Moved several in and out of the list, but it comes down to "what criteria defines greatest invention." So I used the following:
-Originality. Something from nothing. That is, adapting a natural process into a mechanical process is adaption, not invention.
-Impact. Did the invention fundamentally change human affairs? How quickly did it do so?
-Thing Not a System. I discarded "Banking" and "Plumbing" as systems, not things.
These are arguably too restrictive, but, hey, argue with me. Without further ado...
1) Metallurgy (40,000 BC [gold] and 3,000 BC [bronze]). The ability to consistently create bronze (copper and tin) led to the first great age of advancement in human history.
2) Astrolabe (Hipparchus 150 BC). The astrolabe guided seafarers for over a thousand years before the sextant improved on the basic concept. But the ability to navigate accurately without reference to land enabled brave souls to explore beyond the horizon.
3) Gunpowder (China 800 AD). Oh my. The start of technology based arms race. "You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can get with just a kind word." - Al Capone. Upside - fireworks!
4) The Printing Press (Gutenberg 1450). "What gunpowder did for war, the printing press has done for the mind.” - Wendall Phillips. I don't consider this the single greatest invention, but the impact of cheaply distributing the printed word can not be underestimated.
5) Calculus (Newton/Leibnitz 1680). Greek philosopher Zeno saw an arrow fly and wondered: If at any instant in time, an arrow travelling through space is in a fixed position, so how do you explain "movement"? By infinite series. Derivatives and integrals gave me fits in school, but form the basis of all modern engineering and applied science.
6) Steam Engine (Newcomen 1712). I am giving Newcomen credit, though many others can claim credit, because his steam engine was the first widespread practical industrial engine. And it is really the "industrial" part I am focusing on.
7) Cotton Gin (Whitney 1793). I have been torn on what I would call agricultural inventions. You could argue the Plow was a great invention, though I would argue the Combine, which allowed farmers to produce a surplus of grain, had a bigger impact. But the combine owes its basis to the cotton gin, which mechanized the production of cotton fiber. The downside is that the cotton gin (gin, BTW, is short for "engine") was so successful in advancing cotton production that it prolonged slavery.
8) Radio (Tesla 1893). Next time you access WiFi at Starbucks remember Nicola Tesla. Until wireless communication there needed to be a physical connection (cable or sight) between communicating parties. Radio was the first step in drastically shrinking our world.
9) Penicillin (Fleming 1928). This was a coin toss with Vaccines, Anesthesia and Pasteurization. But the impact of Penicillin to basic health has been miraculous.
10) Transistor (1947 Bardeen/Brittian/Shockley). The movement from pure conductors (say copper wire) to semi-conductive material initiated the Electronic Age, the Information Age and all things beyond.
So some of the items that did not make the list, but could have: Alphabet, the Lightbulb, the Battery, the Zipper (don't laugh) and Atomic Bomb.
-Originality. Something from nothing. That is, adapting a natural process into a mechanical process is adaption, not invention.
-Impact. Did the invention fundamentally change human affairs? How quickly did it do so?
-Thing Not a System. I discarded "Banking" and "Plumbing" as systems, not things.
These are arguably too restrictive, but, hey, argue with me. Without further ado...
1) Metallurgy (40,000 BC [gold] and 3,000 BC [bronze]). The ability to consistently create bronze (copper and tin) led to the first great age of advancement in human history.
2) Astrolabe (Hipparchus 150 BC). The astrolabe guided seafarers for over a thousand years before the sextant improved on the basic concept. But the ability to navigate accurately without reference to land enabled brave souls to explore beyond the horizon.
3) Gunpowder (China 800 AD). Oh my. The start of technology based arms race. "You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can get with just a kind word." - Al Capone. Upside - fireworks!
4) The Printing Press (Gutenberg 1450). "What gunpowder did for war, the printing press has done for the mind.” - Wendall Phillips. I don't consider this the single greatest invention, but the impact of cheaply distributing the printed word can not be underestimated.
5) Calculus (Newton/Leibnitz 1680). Greek philosopher Zeno saw an arrow fly and wondered: If at any instant in time, an arrow travelling through space is in a fixed position, so how do you explain "movement"? By infinite series. Derivatives and integrals gave me fits in school, but form the basis of all modern engineering and applied science.
6) Steam Engine (Newcomen 1712). I am giving Newcomen credit, though many others can claim credit, because his steam engine was the first widespread practical industrial engine. And it is really the "industrial" part I am focusing on.
7) Cotton Gin (Whitney 1793). I have been torn on what I would call agricultural inventions. You could argue the Plow was a great invention, though I would argue the Combine, which allowed farmers to produce a surplus of grain, had a bigger impact. But the combine owes its basis to the cotton gin, which mechanized the production of cotton fiber. The downside is that the cotton gin (gin, BTW, is short for "engine") was so successful in advancing cotton production that it prolonged slavery.
8) Radio (Tesla 1893). Next time you access WiFi at Starbucks remember Nicola Tesla. Until wireless communication there needed to be a physical connection (cable or sight) between communicating parties. Radio was the first step in drastically shrinking our world.
9) Penicillin (Fleming 1928). This was a coin toss with Vaccines, Anesthesia and Pasteurization. But the impact of Penicillin to basic health has been miraculous.
10) Transistor (1947 Bardeen/Brittian/Shockley). The movement from pure conductors (say copper wire) to semi-conductive material initiated the Electronic Age, the Information Age and all things beyond.
So some of the items that did not make the list, but could have: Alphabet, the Lightbulb, the Battery, the Zipper (don't laugh) and Atomic Bomb.
Kill All the Lawyers
Eric over at Classical Values (quickly becoming a daily read for me) has a really good post on creating wealth vs. redistributing wealth. As an attorney and having practiced in the "real world" I will say that the vast majority of lawyers I knew were good people trying to help clients.
But I am a creator of wealth by nature which is why I found lawyering professionally unsatisfying.
What struck me about the post, though, is that as I look at and back upon my professional career my closest professional friendships have been creators and my worst professional enemies have been thieves...er, redistributors.
Furthermore, it seems to crystallize my political views also. I care less whether a person had an "-R" or "-D" after their name then whether they are out to tax me more and/or squander my money. Ted Stevens is taking our tax dollars and funnelling it to his family...that is thievery. I don't give a shit that he is Republican. This entitlement attitude of Congress is the one area of real bipartisanship and proof we need term limits.
Finally, EXCELLENT challenge. I will post on this later today.
But I am a creator of wealth by nature which is why I found lawyering professionally unsatisfying.
What struck me about the post, though, is that as I look at and back upon my professional career my closest professional friendships have been creators and my worst professional enemies have been thieves...er, redistributors.
Furthermore, it seems to crystallize my political views also. I care less whether a person had an "-R" or "-D" after their name then whether they are out to tax me more and/or squander my money. Ted Stevens is taking our tax dollars and funnelling it to his family...that is thievery. I don't give a shit that he is Republican. This entitlement attitude of Congress is the one area of real bipartisanship and proof we need term limits.
Finally, EXCELLENT challenge. I will post on this later today.
8.01.2007
Opinions are like rectums...
I was speaking with a client during the normal course of business, and it came up as a sidebar the sport of golf. The corporate sport, wheeling and dealing on the golf course, etc etc etc.
The question was posed to me about my golf game, and when I responded that I was a lower single digit handicapper, the response was "whoa, you must play good golf all the time". I wish. I have my days, and as a joke, I responded with "well, most of the time - but I could have a breakdown and then it's ugly." I'm sure I have invented new swear words on a truly bad hole, especially if said breakdown causes me to lose a match to Tilam.
But this conversation got me thinking...since I have seen fit to invent new ways of cursing a golf ball, golf course, the greenskeeper, and my caddie, I also wondered aloud today's challenge...
What would you consider the top 10 inventions of all time?
The question was posed to me about my golf game, and when I responded that I was a lower single digit handicapper, the response was "whoa, you must play good golf all the time". I wish. I have my days, and as a joke, I responded with "well, most of the time - but I could have a breakdown and then it's ugly." I'm sure I have invented new swear words on a truly bad hole, especially if said breakdown causes me to lose a match to Tilam.
But this conversation got me thinking...since I have seen fit to invent new ways of cursing a golf ball, golf course, the greenskeeper, and my caddie, I also wondered aloud today's challenge...
What would you consider the top 10 inventions of all time?
Ouch
Of course, I COULD talk some grammatical smack talk "he was not think" should really probably be "he was not thinkING", but in the end, I f**ked up royally with my history memory.
The pain of Tilam's laughing voicemail will haunt me forever.
The pain of Tilam's laughing voicemail will haunt me forever.
Bluto Blutarsky View of WWII
Bluto: "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"
Otter: "Germans?"
Boon: "Forget it, he's rolling."
FDR was not thinking at all when the Bomb was dropped...he was dead. Truman decided to drop the Bomb.
Nonetheless, FDR is a very worthy dinner guest for all sorts of reasons.
UPDATE: Doh! "Think" has been corrected...
Otter: "Germans?"
Boon: "Forget it, he's rolling."
FDR was not thinking at all when the Bomb was dropped...he was dead. Truman decided to drop the Bomb.
Nonetheless, FDR is a very worthy dinner guest for all sorts of reasons.
UPDATE: Doh! "Think" has been corrected...
Good List
Well, we are thinking somewhat alike. My Top 5 are:
Jesus Christ. #1 by a long shot. Fraught with risk, but, as a Christian, talking to the Son of God would be spectacular.
John Adams. Thew's comment on the Founding Fathers is dead on...my choice is Adams. I read David McCollough's book and was hooked. Few people realize that Adams defended the soldiers who shot the protesters at the Boston Massacre.
Socrates. The ultimate conversationalist.
Admiral Lord Nelson. I would love to spend time with him on the HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar. Oddly, of all the military leaders to talk to, Nelson is my top guy.
Jacques deMolay. Who??? The last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Burned at the stake because he refuse the corrupt King Philip and Pope Clement demand to confess to heresey. Cursed his accusers who both died that same year. But I really want to know where is the Holy Grail.
The last few people to be dropped from the invite list were Cleopatra, Sun Tzu, Shakespeare and Saladin.
Next challenge Thew???
Jesus Christ. #1 by a long shot. Fraught with risk, but, as a Christian, talking to the Son of God would be spectacular.
John Adams. Thew's comment on the Founding Fathers is dead on...my choice is Adams. I read David McCollough's book and was hooked. Few people realize that Adams defended the soldiers who shot the protesters at the Boston Massacre.
Socrates. The ultimate conversationalist.
Admiral Lord Nelson. I would love to spend time with him on the HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar. Oddly, of all the military leaders to talk to, Nelson is my top guy.
Jacques deMolay. Who??? The last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Burned at the stake because he refuse the corrupt King Philip and Pope Clement demand to confess to heresey. Cursed his accusers who both died that same year. But I really want to know where is the Holy Grail.
The last few people to be dropped from the invite list were Cleopatra, Sun Tzu, Shakespeare and Saladin.
Next challenge Thew???
Like missing a 2 footer for birdie...
Hmm, it does seem I screwed up. Augusta was on my original list, not sure where it got deleted when I made the post. Take off the TPC @ Sawgrass and replace it. Thew records a double bogey with this omission.
Clarification: I played Oakmont East. Not THE Oakmont, otherwise known as Oakmont West. Beat Oakmont East into submission, but that's a hollow victory at best.
Onward...
**********
Wow, what a tough question! Thoughful and insightful, something not normally evident during conversations with Tilam.
FDR - I'd very VERY interested in the process this man went through when deciding to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.
Da Vinci - this man was a creative thinker and artist decades ahead of his time, to be able to chat with him about his thoughts and how they pertain to the world while he was alive would be fascinating to me
Albert Einstein - just to pick his brain about the universe, the theory of relativity, and all the science stuff would be a neat thing
Benjamin Franklin - really any of the Founding Fathers would be an excellent conversation about liberty, revolution, and plans for a new nation (Jefferson, Washington, Madison, Adams, Hamilton, Hancock, and et al)
God - cuz I want answers about Life, the Universe, and Everything
Other notable people who would be an excellent dinner conversation:
King Arthur
Julius Caesar
Winston Churchill
Karl Marx
Cortes
Confucious
Buddha
Atilla the Hun
Ramses II
Christopher Columbus
Charles Darwin
**********
Kudos to the Bravo's for making some excellent MLB trades. Do you think that acquiring Eric Gagne was more about Boston NOT letting the Yankees get him? Nice to see that Kevin McHale still plays for the Celtics - anyone who knows even a smattering about the NBA will look at his trading of Kevin Garnett to Boston for a bunch of shitheads and scrubs as the stupid GM move of the NBA season. I hope whoever blew McHale swallowed too.
Well, Gary Player was right. Alessandro Pissilli was found guilty of using a banned substance. The bad news is that he is facing a 2 year ban from Italian Professional Golf. The good news is that he's already qualified for the Tour de France next year.
Thew out...
Clarification: I played Oakmont East. Not THE Oakmont, otherwise known as Oakmont West. Beat Oakmont East into submission, but that's a hollow victory at best.
Onward...
**********
Wow, what a tough question! Thoughful and insightful, something not normally evident during conversations with Tilam.
FDR - I'd very VERY interested in the process this man went through when deciding to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.
Da Vinci - this man was a creative thinker and artist decades ahead of his time, to be able to chat with him about his thoughts and how they pertain to the world while he was alive would be fascinating to me
Albert Einstein - just to pick his brain about the universe, the theory of relativity, and all the science stuff would be a neat thing
Benjamin Franklin - really any of the Founding Fathers would be an excellent conversation about liberty, revolution, and plans for a new nation (Jefferson, Washington, Madison, Adams, Hamilton, Hancock, and et al)
God - cuz I want answers about Life, the Universe, and Everything
Other notable people who would be an excellent dinner conversation:
King Arthur
Julius Caesar
Winston Churchill
Karl Marx
Cortes
Confucious
Buddha
Atilla the Hun
Ramses II
Christopher Columbus
Charles Darwin
**********
Kudos to the Bravo's for making some excellent MLB trades. Do you think that acquiring Eric Gagne was more about Boston NOT letting the Yankees get him? Nice to see that Kevin McHale still plays for the Celtics - anyone who knows even a smattering about the NBA will look at his trading of Kevin Garnett to Boston for a bunch of shitheads and scrubs as the stupid GM move of the NBA season. I hope whoever blew McHale swallowed too.
Well, Gary Player was right. Alessandro Pissilli was found guilty of using a banned substance. The bad news is that he is facing a 2 year ban from Italian Professional Golf. The good news is that he's already qualified for the Tour de France next year.
Thew out...
7.31.2007
Retort and Challenge
No Augusta? I am a bit surprised, but a solid list and also rans are all worthy. But I thought you played Oakmont...
Okay, the next challenge is something completely different. You have a time machine that will take you to any time and any place in the past. (It gives you the give of tongues, also.) You have five trips.
Who are the five people you would visit in history? Why? Feel free to describe what you might say or do.
Rules: you can't alter the space-time continuum, so any attempt to kill Hitler will not succeed.
Okay, the next challenge is something completely different. You have a time machine that will take you to any time and any place in the past. (It gives you the give of tongues, also.) You have five trips.
Who are the five people you would visit in history? Why? Feel free to describe what you might say or do.
Rules: you can't alter the space-time continuum, so any attempt to kill Hitler will not succeed.
Winter Rules Everywhere!
Interesting list. Actually, we don't have very many in common, looking at them. I live near Pacific/Bandon Dunes here in the pacific NW, I'm dying to play there, I've heard people fawning all over themselves to compliment this course. Medinah would have been on my list had I a month to live, but alas, not if it's only a week. An old girlfriend told me to kiss her where it smells, so I drove to New Jersey and planted one; no interest in Pine Valley. The only thing that would drag me back to New Jersey is a Bon Jovi concert (mostly because Mrs Thew would be soupy at seeing Jon strut his stuff). Anyway, here ya go, my last week on earth golfing:
Sunday - Oakmont - maybe if I land in the CHURCH pews I'd get a diving reprieve?
Monday - Pinehurst
Tuesday - Winged Foot
Wednesday - Bethpage Black
Thursday - TPC @ Sawgrass
Friday - Pebble Beach
Saturday - St. Andrews
Professional courses I've actually played:
Oak Hill in Rochester, NY. Made a decent enough accounting of myself, shot an 81.
Kapalua (since I've already played this gorgeous gem, I will not play it again before I die) in Maui. Windy yes, but the slick greens are the big monster at this place. Shot an 82.
Couer d' Alene in Idaho (1994 Andersen Championships for those of you "out of the loop") could not withstand my assault, a solid 76 at this Pac NW Gem. Got to play a 19th hole that night too. *grin*
The Monster @ the Concord Resort in Lake Kiamesha, NY? I have played there before, it's a really angry course. My best score is in the mid to high-80's (last time I played there was age 16?) after a stellar 40 on the front started my round off nicely. I know I'd do WAY better at 42 than anything prior to 30.
Tilam, your turn to choose topic?
Sunday - Oakmont - maybe if I land in the CHURCH pews I'd get a diving reprieve?
Monday - Pinehurst
Tuesday - Winged Foot
Wednesday - Bethpage Black
Thursday - TPC @ Sawgrass
Friday - Pebble Beach
Saturday - St. Andrews
Professional courses I've actually played:
Oak Hill in Rochester, NY. Made a decent enough accounting of myself, shot an 81.
Kapalua (since I've already played this gorgeous gem, I will not play it again before I die) in Maui. Windy yes, but the slick greens are the big monster at this place. Shot an 82.
Couer d' Alene in Idaho (1994 Andersen Championships for those of you "out of the loop") could not withstand my assault, a solid 76 at this Pac NW Gem. Got to play a 19th hole that night too. *grin*
The Monster @ the Concord Resort in Lake Kiamesha, NY? I have played there before, it's a really angry course. My best score is in the mid to high-80's (last time I played there was age 16?) after a stellar 40 on the front started my round off nicely. I know I'd do WAY better at 42 than anything prior to 30.
Tilam, your turn to choose topic?
Fore! I Mean My Top 7 Courses...
One week. Shall I assume that "private" courses have a terminal illness clause? One other caveat: I have played The Country Club, so I have been able to strike that from the list and .
Sunday: Augusta - I just want to make sure I get this round in.
Monday: Pebble Beach - Seeing it so many times on the tube makes it seem like a neighborhood course.
Tuesday: Pacific Dunes - And its neighbor, Bandon Dunes, become instant classics.
Wednesday: Kapalua - I hate windy courses, but I am dying in a few days anyway...how much worse could my mood get?
Thursday: Medinah - A diamond in the Midwest.
Friday: Pine Valley - The only nice thing in NJ.
Saturday: The Monster - Sentimental reasons. Let's see if I do any better at 44 then at 14.
Back at you...*croak*
Sunday: Augusta - I just want to make sure I get this round in.
Monday: Pebble Beach - Seeing it so many times on the tube makes it seem like a neighborhood course.
Tuesday: Pacific Dunes - And its neighbor, Bandon Dunes, become instant classics.
Wednesday: Kapalua - I hate windy courses, but I am dying in a few days anyway...how much worse could my mood get?
Thursday: Medinah - A diamond in the Midwest.
Friday: Pine Valley - The only nice thing in NJ.
Saturday: The Monster - Sentimental reasons. Let's see if I do any better at 44 then at 14.
Back at you...*croak*
7.30.2007
When Silver Equals Gold
So the 49ers were famous for their activities in and surrounding the gold rush - but many will remember Bill Walsh's striking SILVER when hoisting the Lombardi trophy as the NFL Super Bowl champion. His legacy will live on long beyond his passing - the sport has lost a real pioneer.
One of Michael Vick's co-defendents is pleading guilty and stating that he will cooperate fully with the federal government and that this is NOT a deal to bury Vick. Seems like friendship for mah homie only goes so far...
Okay, back to the debate:
TILAM, you have 1 week to live, and you can play golf on ONE course per day. Pick 'em...
One of Michael Vick's co-defendents is pleading guilty and stating that he will cooperate fully with the federal government and that this is NOT a deal to bury Vick. Seems like friendship for mah homie only goes so far...
Okay, back to the debate:
TILAM, you have 1 week to live, and you can play golf on ONE course per day. Pick 'em...
Then Miner, 49er, Soon Began to Peak and Pine
Bill Walsh has died. Most people forget that the success of the NFL is a 20-25 year phenomenon. After the Bradshaw/Noll Steelers and Staubach/Landry Cowboys peaked the public's interest, along came a quarterback named Montana and a classy Coach by the name of Bill Walsh. On January 10, 1982, Dwight Clark caught a pass which became know as The Catch and the Niners beat the Cowboys in the NFC Championships and the torch was passed. Walsh leaves behind an impressive legacy of proteges.
With the Michael Vick saga grabbing the front page, it is important to remember the Class Acts in the sport.
Requiescat in Pace
With the Michael Vick saga grabbing the front page, it is important to remember the Class Acts in the sport.
Requiescat in Pace
Hmmmmm, Not Quite What I was Expecting
We do agree, as it turns out, on more than a few of these. I have a few to add, though I am guessing that these are a bit obscure. But first a story...
When I was a Little Tilam, my folks went out to eat and left my younger brother, my younger cousin and me at home with our much older cousin babysitting. That night we were watching a horror flick called "The Crawling Eye." I was probably 8 or 9 and the other two were 6 or 7. We were on the couch scared out of our minds watching this thing when my cousin went to the bathroom. As a joke, she let out a blood curdling scream. I have never been more scared in my life. At that age, there were Crawling Eyes and it definitely had just eaten our cousin.
Horror movies suck you in and make you believe.
The ones we agree:
Psycho. Hitchcock at his horrible best. I still get scared.
Alien. Classic haunted house genre done perfectly. Deleted scenes too much for even jaded audiences.
Exorcist. The grandpappy of the "possession" thrillers, so Rosemary's Baby and The Omen don't make it.
Jaws. "You're gonna need a bigger boat," to knock out this movie.
The Shining. "Here's Johnny!" Nicholson at his creepy best.
Caveat: I have not seen Saw, but more then Thew place it in the Top 10...
The next five:
The Sixth Sense. Loved it and the final twist just made the movie.
Manhunter. The much better prequel to Silence of the Lambs. Dark and disturbing.
Halloween. The original slasher is still the best.
The Other. The movie was just as scary as the book. Several plot twist keep you guessing.
The Changeling. George C. Scott overlooked pants pisser. Makes a rubber ball bouncing down the stairs terrifying.
There several honorable mentions. I loved Poltergeist. In particular the use of kids to create the suspense got to me. I need to tip my hat to Willard. Another 70s throwback that scared the shit out of me (and everyone else). I also loved Se7en with Brad and Gweneth, and thought the end was great. Kudos also to Jurassic Park which managed to peg the "oh, shit" meter a few times.
Here is another perspective from the Boston Globe.
Finally, I would be remiss in not mentioning Resident Evil. No, not the movie, but the game. The music, the undead, CLASSIC!
When I was a Little Tilam, my folks went out to eat and left my younger brother, my younger cousin and me at home with our much older cousin babysitting. That night we were watching a horror flick called "The Crawling Eye." I was probably 8 or 9 and the other two were 6 or 7. We were on the couch scared out of our minds watching this thing when my cousin went to the bathroom. As a joke, she let out a blood curdling scream. I have never been more scared in my life. At that age, there were Crawling Eyes and it definitely had just eaten our cousin.
Horror movies suck you in and make you believe.
The ones we agree:
Psycho. Hitchcock at his horrible best. I still get scared.
Alien. Classic haunted house genre done perfectly. Deleted scenes too much for even jaded audiences.
Exorcist. The grandpappy of the "possession" thrillers, so Rosemary's Baby and The Omen don't make it.
Jaws. "You're gonna need a bigger boat," to knock out this movie.
The Shining. "Here's Johnny!" Nicholson at his creepy best.
Caveat: I have not seen Saw, but more then Thew place it in the Top 10...
The next five:
The Sixth Sense. Loved it and the final twist just made the movie.
Manhunter. The much better prequel to Silence of the Lambs. Dark and disturbing.
Halloween. The original slasher is still the best.
The Other. The movie was just as scary as the book. Several plot twist keep you guessing.
The Changeling. George C. Scott overlooked pants pisser. Makes a rubber ball bouncing down the stairs terrifying.
There several honorable mentions. I loved Poltergeist. In particular the use of kids to create the suspense got to me. I need to tip my hat to Willard. Another 70s throwback that scared the shit out of me (and everyone else). I also loved Se7en with Brad and Gweneth, and thought the end was great. Kudos also to Jurassic Park which managed to peg the "oh, shit" meter a few times.
Here is another perspective from the Boston Globe.
Finally, I would be remiss in not mentioning Resident Evil. No, not the movie, but the game. The music, the undead, CLASSIC!
Oh, the horror!
For my money, if it's a horror flick, and no one dies in the first 5 minutes, it's not worth the money. But as Tilam says, good horror flicks are not about blood, gore, entrails, and nakes co-eds (well, maybe naked co-eds), good horror flicks affect your mind, not your eyes. Splatterfests with flying karo syrup and body parts, drooling nasties feasting on the innards of poor women, these were de facto for a long time. Now we see a change back to the psychological horror movies, movies that scare the shit outta you with suspense, not with boogeymen leaping out of the close and cutting you up with a meat cleaver (which, btw, can be kinda cool looking).
So, in response to Tilam's conversational segue, I present Thew's top 10 horror flicks:
Psycho
Jaws
Carrie
Saw
The Exorcist
Alien
the Hitcher Rutger Hauer is AWESOME
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Omen
The Shining
Honorable mention goes to a few others, in my opinion. Bram Stoker's Dracula is a great movie just because of Gary Oldman's portrayal of the Count, at least in the earlier part of the movie - he brings a power and, well, sexiness to the character never before seen. Also props to the "big three" of the 80's (or so), Halloween with a young hottie named Jamie Lee Curtis, Friday the 13th with a young Kevin Bacon, and Nightmare of Elm Street with a young Johnny Depp. The Sixth Sense was not so much of a "psychological horror flick" but was a great suspense movie and kudos for a GREAT ending twist. The Amityville Horror probably should make it on the list, but I'm kinda "so so" about it - oooo, spooky spooky, but ultimately not as much of an impact as I'd like. I'm going to get slammed for not including Silence of the Lambs, but I don't see it as a "horror flick", it's more of a crime drama. But based on Anthony Hopkins' creepy joi de verve in playing Hannibal the Cannibal, it must be mentioned. I'd give some props to Salem's Lot but ultimately have a real difficult time praising a HORROR moving starring Hutch and Lance Kerwin, one of the boy toys of the 70's.
So, in response to Tilam's conversational segue, I present Thew's top 10 horror flicks:
Psycho
Jaws
Carrie
Saw
The Exorcist
Alien
the Hitcher Rutger Hauer is AWESOME
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Omen
The Shining
Honorable mention goes to a few others, in my opinion. Bram Stoker's Dracula is a great movie just because of Gary Oldman's portrayal of the Count, at least in the earlier part of the movie - he brings a power and, well, sexiness to the character never before seen. Also props to the "big three" of the 80's (or so), Halloween with a young hottie named Jamie Lee Curtis, Friday the 13th with a young Kevin Bacon, and Nightmare of Elm Street with a young Johnny Depp. The Sixth Sense was not so much of a "psychological horror flick" but was a great suspense movie and kudos for a GREAT ending twist. The Amityville Horror probably should make it on the list, but I'm kinda "so so" about it - oooo, spooky spooky, but ultimately not as much of an impact as I'd like. I'm going to get slammed for not including Silence of the Lambs, but I don't see it as a "horror flick", it's more of a crime drama. But based on Anthony Hopkins' creepy joi de verve in playing Hannibal the Cannibal, it must be mentioned. I'd give some props to Salem's Lot but ultimately have a real difficult time praising a HORROR moving starring Hutch and Lance Kerwin, one of the boy toys of the 70's.
The Cooler King
C'mon. Give me a hard question.
Kudos to Animal House, which I should have considered more seriously and bumped Fletch. Same with Bachelor Party, which certainly deserves a mention, though is not Top 10 material.
The seems to be an Ahnold bias with both Terminator and Predator in the Thew Top 10. Oddly, I was torn about including an Ahnold flick, but my favorite Schwarzenegger movie is Total Recall. Terminator is a close second.
But the fact is that there at least 20 Top 10 Guy Movies. I just don't think you can narrow it down to a "definitive" 10.
Now, I pass the leadership hat back to Thew and ask for his Top 10 Horror Films. Caveat, we do not measure "horror" by the amount of blood, we measure "horror" by the minutes of sleep lost and the number of heart attacks during the movie.
Kudos to Animal House, which I should have considered more seriously and bumped Fletch. Same with Bachelor Party, which certainly deserves a mention, though is not Top 10 material.
The seems to be an Ahnold bias with both Terminator and Predator in the Thew Top 10. Oddly, I was torn about including an Ahnold flick, but my favorite Schwarzenegger movie is Total Recall. Terminator is a close second.
But the fact is that there at least 20 Top 10 Guy Movies. I just don't think you can narrow it down to a "definitive" 10.
Now, I pass the leadership hat back to Thew and ask for his Top 10 Horror Films. Caveat, we do not measure "horror" by the amount of blood, we measure "horror" by the minutes of sleep lost and the number of heart attacks during the movie.
7.27.2007
Firing the Movie Critic Bullitt(s)
I wouldn't say "screwed up", I'd merely offer different points and theatrical fodder.
"Stand by Me" is a movie for guys...who are just entering puberty. It's not a movie I'd throw in the DVD player and watch with a bunch of men, scratching burping farting and oogling. "Die Hard" is a great flick, but it's still off my radar, mostly because of Bonnie Bedelia's cocaine snorting dickhead co-worker. But "yippie ki yay mother f*****r" is a great line to repeat when you have the chance. I've never seen "the Magnificent Seven" so I cannot comment on that movie - although it must have been good to have a movie "Seven Samurai" branched from it - or is that the other way around? "Fletch" is a great movie, Chevy Chase was great, but I'd still pick "National Lampoon's Vacation" over this one. "Ben Hur" is awesome, but it's way too long to hold the attention of "guys"...
Okay, you're right, you screwed up badly with "Stand by Me".
So without further adieu, I offer THEW's Top 10 GUY movies...
Tombstone "You die first, get it? Your friends might get me in a rush, but not before I turn your head into a canoe."
Terminator "I'll be back"
Gladiator "Stick a sword into a man's flesh, and they will applaud your for it"
Scarface "Say hello to my little frien'!"
Rollerball "Jonathan!"
Predator "Get to duh choppah!"
Animal House "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid "What do you mean you can't swim - the fall will probably kill ya!"
The Blues Brothers "We're on a mission from God"
Dirty Harry "Do ya feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?"
But since *I* feel there are so many quality movies, here are my honorable mentions.
Troy Heads the list of "conflict" movies - containing battles, wars, fights, as the primary setting or storyline. Next comes Apocalype Now, The Great Escape (TILAM! What was Steve McQueen's nickname in the movie?!), and The Dirty Dozen. Lest we forget our neighbors from down unda, Mad Max also deserves a footnote.
Comedies are well represented above, and with some quality near misses: Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of the best, and who can not be moved to tears by the Bachelor Party scene at the end of the movie ("Hi, come on in. Drugs to the right, hookers to the left."). Rodney Dangerfield is hilarious in Back to School, never count this classic movie out either.
Deliverance I don't really see as a guy movie, mostly because of the rampant inbreeding insinuations as well and Ned Beatty taking it up the ass ("Squeal like a pig!").
Speaking of that, Raging Bull is a near miss (and I mean NEAR) in addition to having one of the great all-time smackdown lines - "You punch like you take it up the ass". THAT is Oscar material folks. But men beating the hell out of each other can be a common theme in this list, thus an honorable mention to Fight Club.
There has to be some cheese in here as a near miss, Top Gun takes this spot. And even though it's a great movie, a guy movie, and cannot be ignored, Rocky is still slightly cheesy.
Organized crime enters the zip code with a couple of classic movies, old AND new: The Godfather always makes us an offer we can't refuse when asked to watch, while Goodfellas is always asking "Do I amuse you?".
Amazon Mars Babes, Wild Sorority Girls from the Planet Playtex, Wild Things, Debbie Does Dallas, Behind the Green Door, the Devil in Miss Jones, and Deepthroat also cum to mind, but I think that category is sort of ... well, out there.
"Stand by Me" is a movie for guys...who are just entering puberty. It's not a movie I'd throw in the DVD player and watch with a bunch of men, scratching burping farting and oogling. "Die Hard" is a great flick, but it's still off my radar, mostly because of Bonnie Bedelia's cocaine snorting dickhead co-worker. But "yippie ki yay mother f*****r" is a great line to repeat when you have the chance. I've never seen "the Magnificent Seven" so I cannot comment on that movie - although it must have been good to have a movie "Seven Samurai" branched from it - or is that the other way around? "Fletch" is a great movie, Chevy Chase was great, but I'd still pick "National Lampoon's Vacation" over this one. "Ben Hur" is awesome, but it's way too long to hold the attention of "guys"...
Okay, you're right, you screwed up badly with "Stand by Me".
So without further adieu, I offer THEW's Top 10 GUY movies...
Tombstone "You die first, get it? Your friends might get me in a rush, but not before I turn your head into a canoe."
Terminator "I'll be back"
Gladiator "Stick a sword into a man's flesh, and they will applaud your for it"
Scarface "Say hello to my little frien'!"
Rollerball "Jonathan!"
Predator "Get to duh choppah!"
Animal House "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid "What do you mean you can't swim - the fall will probably kill ya!"
The Blues Brothers "We're on a mission from God"
Dirty Harry "Do ya feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?"
But since *I* feel there are so many quality movies, here are my honorable mentions.
Troy Heads the list of "conflict" movies - containing battles, wars, fights, as the primary setting or storyline. Next comes Apocalype Now, The Great Escape (TILAM! What was Steve McQueen's nickname in the movie?!), and The Dirty Dozen. Lest we forget our neighbors from down unda, Mad Max also deserves a footnote.
Comedies are well represented above, and with some quality near misses: Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of the best, and who can not be moved to tears by the Bachelor Party scene at the end of the movie ("Hi, come on in. Drugs to the right, hookers to the left."). Rodney Dangerfield is hilarious in Back to School, never count this classic movie out either.
Deliverance I don't really see as a guy movie, mostly because of the rampant inbreeding insinuations as well and Ned Beatty taking it up the ass ("Squeal like a pig!").
Speaking of that, Raging Bull is a near miss (and I mean NEAR) in addition to having one of the great all-time smackdown lines - "You punch like you take it up the ass". THAT is Oscar material folks. But men beating the hell out of each other can be a common theme in this list, thus an honorable mention to Fight Club.
There has to be some cheese in here as a near miss, Top Gun takes this spot. And even though it's a great movie, a guy movie, and cannot be ignored, Rocky is still slightly cheesy.
Organized crime enters the zip code with a couple of classic movies, old AND new: The Godfather always makes us an offer we can't refuse when asked to watch, while Goodfellas is always asking "Do I amuse you?".
Amazon Mars Babes, Wild Sorority Girls from the Planet Playtex, Wild Things, Debbie Does Dallas, Behind the Green Door, the Devil in Miss Jones, and Deepthroat also cum to mind, but I think that category is sort of ... well, out there.
Top Ten Guy Movies
You know to be fair to Thew, it is easy to sit back and criticize a pioneer. So I thought I would take the liberty and post the next list first. That way he can say something like, "Tilam, that jerk, how could he forget the BEST GUY MOVIE EVER!!!"
I would offer some criteria, while there is nothing more most guys would like to do then watch Neve Campbell and Denise Richards kiss, Wild Things is not a guy movie. Now part of the indication of it being a guy movie may be your wife/girl friend/date says, "Ugh! No way," but that is merely one positive contributing factor.
Okay, so here it goes:
- Stand By Me. This is definitely the definitive guy move for the late-Boomers.
- Deliverance. Dueling banjos. Burt Reynolds (who narrowly missed the last list). Total suspense. It also allows me to grudgingly not put Smokey and the Bandit on the list.
- Dirty Harry. With all the Clint Eastwood movies there have been, especially The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, it is really hard to choose.
- Die Hard. Yippee Ki Yay. Love it the 10th time.
- The Godfather. My homage to James Caan, not Marlon Brando.
- The Great Escape. Beats out some outstanding war movies like Apocalypse Now, The Longest
Day, Saving Private Ryan, Midway and To Hell and Back. There are a bunch more great war flicks, including my sleeper favorite, Rambo II.
- Gladiator. Beats out Ben Hur and 300 in the same genre. Leaving Charlton Heston off the list is just hard.
- The Magnificent Seven. This is freakin' heart-breaking because it means I leave Gary Cooper (High Noon) and John Wayne (The Alamo, True Grit, Rio Lobo) off the list. Something is not right.
- Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. "Who are those guys?" And Katharine Ross, too.
- Fletch. Sorry, I have to respect the guy comedy...and Caddyshack was on the other list.
Other I thought really hard about are The French Connection, and Bullitt, but there so many more. This was much tougher then the last category.
Thew, I am anxious to hear where I screwed up...
I would offer some criteria, while there is nothing more most guys would like to do then watch Neve Campbell and Denise Richards kiss, Wild Things is not a guy movie. Now part of the indication of it being a guy movie may be your wife/girl friend/date says, "Ugh! No way," but that is merely one positive contributing factor.
Okay, so here it goes:
- Stand By Me. This is definitely the definitive guy move for the late-Boomers.
- Deliverance. Dueling banjos. Burt Reynolds (who narrowly missed the last list). Total suspense. It also allows me to grudgingly not put Smokey and the Bandit on the list.
- Dirty Harry. With all the Clint Eastwood movies there have been, especially The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, it is really hard to choose.
- Die Hard. Yippee Ki Yay. Love it the 10th time.
- The Godfather. My homage to James Caan, not Marlon Brando.
- The Great Escape. Beats out some outstanding war movies like Apocalypse Now, The Longest
Day, Saving Private Ryan, Midway and To Hell and Back. There are a bunch more great war flicks, including my sleeper favorite, Rambo II.
- Gladiator. Beats out Ben Hur and 300 in the same genre. Leaving Charlton Heston off the list is just hard.
- The Magnificent Seven. This is freakin' heart-breaking because it means I leave Gary Cooper (High Noon) and John Wayne (The Alamo, True Grit, Rio Lobo) off the list. Something is not right.
- Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. "Who are those guys?" And Katharine Ross, too.
- Fletch. Sorry, I have to respect the guy comedy...and Caddyshack was on the other list.
Other I thought really hard about are The French Connection, and Bullitt, but there so many more. This was much tougher then the last category.
Thew, I am anxious to hear where I screwed up...
Whoa! Now for Some Serious Debate and a Major Sports Movie Gaff
Okay, some quick thoughts on the movie list. There are a few omissions in the consideration category at least. And he did not even THINK about the GREATEST SPORTS MOVIE EVER!
But without further delay...
I agree with:
Raging Bull
Hoosiers
Caddyshack
I did not see (gasp!!):
Friday Night Lights
Remember the Titans
Million Dollar Baby
Would have in my Top 10 no matter what:
Breaking Away
The Rookie
Miracle
So some other point one should consider. First, Bull Durham is not even Kevin Costner's best baseball movie...it is second behind For the Love of the Game and in front of Field of Dreams.
I would also look at Glory Road, Invincible and The Longest Yard (original).
He is also not considering two soccer movies: Goal and The Game of Their Lives.
Of the comedies, I would only have Caddyshack in my Top 10. Overall, I have a preference for "feel good" come from behind types of sports movies. I loved Slap Shot and Major League.
But I am shock, nay beyond shock, that he did not even call out the best, I mean THE BEST, sports movie ever.
The Pride of the Yankees. OMG, High Noon in Pinstripes.
All the others...well, I just don't think they cut it. So my Top 10 are:
The Pride of the Yankees
Breaking Away
Hoosiers
Miracle
The Rookie
Raging Bull
For the Love of the Game
Invincible
Glory Road
Caddyshack
The only caveat is to swap out the movies I did not see at some future date.
And I would swap out Jennifer Garner for Ashley Judd in a heartbeat...
And on September 21, Faith Hill for Jody Foster
Oh, and Kate Hudson for Jessica Simpson...
Oh, and Mrs. Tilam for all of the above.
But without further delay...
I agree with:
Raging Bull
Hoosiers
Caddyshack
I did not see (gasp!!):
Friday Night Lights
Remember the Titans
Million Dollar Baby
Would have in my Top 10 no matter what:
Breaking Away
The Rookie
Miracle
So some other point one should consider. First, Bull Durham is not even Kevin Costner's best baseball movie...it is second behind For the Love of the Game and in front of Field of Dreams.
I would also look at Glory Road, Invincible and The Longest Yard (original).
He is also not considering two soccer movies: Goal and The Game of Their Lives.
Of the comedies, I would only have Caddyshack in my Top 10. Overall, I have a preference for "feel good" come from behind types of sports movies. I loved Slap Shot and Major League.
But I am shock, nay beyond shock, that he did not even call out the best, I mean THE BEST, sports movie ever.
The Pride of the Yankees. OMG, High Noon in Pinstripes.
All the others...well, I just don't think they cut it. So my Top 10 are:
The Pride of the Yankees
Breaking Away
Hoosiers
Miracle
The Rookie
Raging Bull
For the Love of the Game
Invincible
Glory Road
Caddyshack
The only caveat is to swap out the movies I did not see at some future date.
And I would swap out Jennifer Garner for Ashley Judd in a heartbeat...
And on September 21, Faith Hill for Jody Foster
Oh, and Kate Hudson for Jessica Simpson...
Oh, and Mrs. Tilam for all of the above.
A Flurry of Guy Opinions
Political Candidates, Sports Idiots, Bombs in the Middle East, when will all the BS end? Not sure, but here's a good opportunity for a break and points for discussion - Thew's Top 10 Sports Movies!
Not in any specific order.
Hoosiers
Caddyshack
Friday Night Lights
Remember the Titans
Bull Durham
Slap Shot (I still have my Hanson #17 jersey!)
Major League
Pumping Iron
Million Dollar Baby
Raging Bull
No, Happy Gilmore didn't make it.
Neither did A League of their Own, which was a good movie but not top 10 material.
The Natural was too schlocky for me.
Brian's Song was a good movie, but ultimately missed the cut.
Rocky? An easy choice, but Raging Bull is more visceral, and DeNiro is head and shoulders above Sly as an actor.
Cinderalla Man was THIS close, but Million Dollar Baby was ultimate more enjoyable and kept my attention better.
Tin Cup was a fun movie, but Caddyshack ("big hitter da lama") is the "cinderella story outta nowhere", and is the classic golf movie.
Dead Solid Perfect is another good movie, enjoyed with popcorn and beer at Tilam's casa so many years ago, but it was too dull at times.
*************
Not to be outdone by the Sports World, since we're talking about favorite guy things, here is a list of my top hotties (by age group!):
Top 5 under 30
Jessica Alba
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Biel built and in shape - woof woof
Jennifer Love-Hewitt
Kate Beckinsale
Top 5 30-40
Rebecca Romijn
Jennifer Anniston
Jennifer Garner
Penelope Cruz Kudos for dumping Cruise
Evangeline Lilly I'd like to be LOST with her on an island
Top 5 40+
Diane Lane
Jody Foster
Rachel Hunter (2 words: Stacy's Mom!)
Renee Russo (you might forget she played Mel Gibson's ass kicking girlfriend in Lethal Weapon 14)
Demi Moore
Not in any specific order.
Hoosiers
Caddyshack
Friday Night Lights
Remember the Titans
Bull Durham
Slap Shot (I still have my Hanson #17 jersey!)
Major League
Pumping Iron
Million Dollar Baby
Raging Bull
No, Happy Gilmore didn't make it.
Neither did A League of their Own, which was a good movie but not top 10 material.
The Natural was too schlocky for me.
Brian's Song was a good movie, but ultimately missed the cut.
Rocky? An easy choice, but Raging Bull is more visceral, and DeNiro is head and shoulders above Sly as an actor.
Cinderalla Man was THIS close, but Million Dollar Baby was ultimate more enjoyable and kept my attention better.
Tin Cup was a fun movie, but Caddyshack ("big hitter da lama") is the "cinderella story outta nowhere", and is the classic golf movie.
Dead Solid Perfect is another good movie, enjoyed with popcorn and beer at Tilam's casa so many years ago, but it was too dull at times.
*************
Not to be outdone by the Sports World, since we're talking about favorite guy things, here is a list of my top hotties (by age group!):
Top 5 under 30
Jessica Alba
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Biel built and in shape - woof woof
Jennifer Love-Hewitt
Kate Beckinsale
Top 5 30-40
Rebecca Romijn
Jennifer Anniston
Jennifer Garner
Penelope Cruz Kudos for dumping Cruise
Evangeline Lilly I'd like to be LOST with her on an island
Top 5 40+
Diane Lane
Jody Foster
Rachel Hunter (2 words: Stacy's Mom!)
Renee Russo (you might forget she played Mel Gibson's ass kicking girlfriend in Lethal Weapon 14)
Demi Moore
7.26.2007
Around the Political Horn
Now that sports are done (for now), let's see what is going on in the political world. (The answer is, alot, but these are the things that interest me, and allow me another excuse to show a picture of a congressional staffer.)
Democrat Candidates. Like it or not, Hillary is lapping the field. Obama v1.0 is showing his inexperience with answers like, "Of course, I will meet (and legitimize) every petty despot in the world." Now I believe in diplomacy as well as the next guy, but you really need a negotiating partner who makes a good faith effort to come to terms and honor its agreement. Obama, I have two words for you: Neville Chamberlain. Don't be fooled.
John Kerry. Has there been a more disgraceful representative of the Commonwealth? While most analyst agree that the bloodshed in Iraq will get significantly worse if the US leaves, the great Senator compares those forecasts with the concern with about pulling out of Vietnam: "We heard that argument over and over again about the bloodbath that would engulf the entire Southeast Asia, and it didn't happen."
It didn't happen. 1-2 million Cambodians dead at the hands of Pol Pot, 100Ks of Vietnamese and Laotians shipped to "reeducation" camps. All Neo-Con propaganda. Nope. Did. Not. Happen. I think we are seeing the Democrats strategy for the aftermath of a US withdrawal.
Eliot Spitzer. To any objective observer, the guy has been a total shithead thug for years. Bullying innocent, but high profile, targets to extort ransom from their corporations. Did he ever land a big fish? Usually, his vehicle of choice were anonymous leaks of exagerated claims or outright lies. Now, he has been caught. Freud called this behavior "projection."
Fred Thompson. Readers know I am a Thompson fan, but enough already. Shit or get off the pot. Declare or say no. Fred, you are starting to look like an ego-maniac more concerned with the attention then service.
Democratic Congress. After riding into town on a wave of public discontent with the way Republicans were behaving, they proceed to take this as an indictaor that the public wants them to behave even worse. More pandering to special interests, MORE pork (I hardly thought that possible), more socialized Medicine (the lesson of HillaryCare: keep things secret!) and more anti-Bush rhetoric. Governing? Let's see...nope, to paraphrase Senator Kerry, it ain't gonna happen.
The result: lower approval ratings then the President! I hardly thought THAT possible!
Work calls...
Democrat Candidates. Like it or not, Hillary is lapping the field. Obama v1.0 is showing his inexperience with answers like, "Of course, I will meet (and legitimize) every petty despot in the world." Now I believe in diplomacy as well as the next guy, but you really need a negotiating partner who makes a good faith effort to come to terms and honor its agreement. Obama, I have two words for you: Neville Chamberlain. Don't be fooled.
John Kerry. Has there been a more disgraceful representative of the Commonwealth? While most analyst agree that the bloodshed in Iraq will get significantly worse if the US leaves, the great Senator compares those forecasts with the concern with about pulling out of Vietnam: "We heard that argument over and over again about the bloodbath that would engulf the entire Southeast Asia, and it didn't happen."
It didn't happen. 1-2 million Cambodians dead at the hands of Pol Pot, 100Ks of Vietnamese and Laotians shipped to "reeducation" camps. All Neo-Con propaganda. Nope. Did. Not. Happen. I think we are seeing the Democrats strategy for the aftermath of a US withdrawal.
Eliot Spitzer. To any objective observer, the guy has been a total shithead thug for years. Bullying innocent, but high profile, targets to extort ransom from their corporations. Did he ever land a big fish? Usually, his vehicle of choice were anonymous leaks of exagerated claims or outright lies. Now, he has been caught. Freud called this behavior "projection."
Fred Thompson. Readers know I am a Thompson fan, but enough already. Shit or get off the pot. Declare or say no. Fred, you are starting to look like an ego-maniac more concerned with the attention then service.
Democratic Congress. After riding into town on a wave of public discontent with the way Republicans were behaving, they proceed to take this as an indictaor that the public wants them to behave even worse. More pandering to special interests, MORE pork (I hardly thought that possible), more socialized Medicine (the lesson of HillaryCare: keep things secret!) and more anti-Bush rhetoric. Governing? Let's see...nope, to paraphrase Senator Kerry, it ain't gonna happen.
The result: lower approval ratings then the President! I hardly thought THAT possible!
Work calls...
7.25.2007
The Zombie Watch
Posting has been incredibly lite for both of us for the last month. For me, it was a surprise as summer is normally a slower time at work...but not necessarily this summer.
Anyway, regarding some of Thew's points:
I can't imagine a worse Baseball Commish then Selig. At least in the sense that I just don't think he gives a rat's ass about the average fan. And, as Thew has said, he does not respect the Game. Finally, though, someone has bitch-slapped some sense into him. That said, the Brew Crew has got to be one of the "feel good" stories in the MLB.
The NBA...Nothing But Assholes. When is the NCAA season starting?
My favorite soccer story is not Beckham right now, but the Asian Cup. After beating the South Koreans in PKs, the Iraqis play the Saudis, who beat Japan. Politics aside, this has got to be a tremendous boost to the people of Iraq. (The terrorists expressed their displeasure.) I think its time that the European clubs will take a flyer on a few players.
Any word on Michelle Wie?
In other sports news, Ben Rothisnvhvhnzcm is dating Missy Peregrym of Heroes and Stick It fame. Which is just an excuse to add a picture of her.
Anyway, Yankees are creeping up and the fact that the Red Sox are beating the Indians, leaders for the AL Wildcard, makes the Sox-Tribe series a win-win for the Yankees. They do have a tough stretch coming up though, which will make or break the season. 4 games against Detroit (in NY), travel for 3 against the Angels, 4 more at Detroit after which they come home and play 3 against the Red Sox. 14 straight games against division leaders.
In other sports news, I have a nasty taste in my mouth after my girls' soccer season. No, not because we lost, but we only placed one player on the 2007-08 Select (All Star) Squad. Now let me get this straight: the team mops the floor with the opposition, only has 1 or 2 close games and one ONE All-star Selection? A bitter, bitter pill. I take total blame, of course. They took the team concept to a very high level and did not cut it as individuals in the try-outs.
Well, work calls....
Anyway, regarding some of Thew's points:
I can't imagine a worse Baseball Commish then Selig. At least in the sense that I just don't think he gives a rat's ass about the average fan. And, as Thew has said, he does not respect the Game. Finally, though, someone has bitch-slapped some sense into him. That said, the Brew Crew has got to be one of the "feel good" stories in the MLB.
The NBA...Nothing But Assholes. When is the NCAA season starting?
My favorite soccer story is not Beckham right now, but the Asian Cup. After beating the South Koreans in PKs, the Iraqis play the Saudis, who beat Japan. Politics aside, this has got to be a tremendous boost to the people of Iraq. (The terrorists expressed their displeasure.) I think its time that the European clubs will take a flyer on a few players.
Any word on Michelle Wie?
In other sports news, Ben Rothisnvhvhnzcm is dating Missy Peregrym of Heroes and Stick It fame. Which is just an excuse to add a picture of her.
Anyway, Yankees are creeping up and the fact that the Red Sox are beating the Indians, leaders for the AL Wildcard, makes the Sox-Tribe series a win-win for the Yankees. They do have a tough stretch coming up though, which will make or break the season. 4 games against Detroit (in NY), travel for 3 against the Angels, 4 more at Detroit after which they come home and play 3 against the Red Sox. 14 straight games against division leaders.
In other sports news, I have a nasty taste in my mouth after my girls' soccer season. No, not because we lost, but we only placed one player on the 2007-08 Select (All Star) Squad. Now let me get this straight: the team mops the floor with the opposition, only has 1 or 2 close games and one ONE All-star Selection? A bitter, bitter pill. I take total blame, of course. They took the team concept to a very high level and did not cut it as individuals in the try-outs.
Well, work calls....
7.24.2007
Back from the Dead
Okay, musings into the world of sports, after an extended period of, well, amusement at the travesty of people in the sports world today...
Does ANYONE give a damm about the Tour de France after yet ANOTHER doping incident?! When will this sport go away? You think steroids in baseball or football are out of control?!
Speaking of steroids in baseball - SHAME ON YOU Bud Selig for avoiding the inevitable breaking of the career Home Run record. Yes, it's Barry Bonds. Yes, the circumstantial evidence to indicate he took steroids is off the charts. But this is AMERICA, where you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and he owes it to the GAME to be there when the record is broken. Not doing do, not making at least some mention and ceremony about it, means that in his mind he's already convicted Bonds of using performance enhancing drugs without due process. Did Bonds use 'em? Probably, hard to imagine he didn't. But "imagining" and "having definitive proof" are two different things, and say what you want, Selig needs to be there. Well, in any event, regardless of this, I think he's an asshole anyway...never like the guy, he's got a major Napoleonic complex.
And in the "holy shit I thought the athletes were assholes!" department, we present Tim Donaghy. Almost makes the asshole punk ghetto thugs in the NBA seem like stand up guys...well, almost...
Here comes the Yankees? Several weeks ago, in the middle of an 11 game winning streak, I said "looks like they are making their charge". I was wrong then. I might be wrong now. They certainly are a Jeckyll and Hyde team this year. But the Sawx can hear footsteps behind them now, a once near insurmountable 14 game lead is now down to 7 1/2 games. The Yankees are playing with a fair amount of confidence now, I wonder what is going through the minds of the Boston players.
Becks, we hardly see ya mate! Your much ballyhoo'd inagural appearance in MLS was a late game substitution, and now you're out of action with that ligament injury. Here's to hoping you begin what I hope to be a successful career in the US.
Do I need to add anything to the Michael Vick story than you've probably been overloaded with at this point? Are they targeting him because he's high profile? Maybe a little. But to bring down a hydra like this you have to chop off the heads. The fact that he IS high profile makes this a fundamentally different case and message - it provides a platform to get a MAJOR player in the dogfighting subculture, and a chance to show other people that fame means nothing - if you are committing a FEDERAL crime, we will get you. If this were Bill Gates, Andrew Young, it'd still be the same. This might also show that you cannot lie and say "I didn't know what was going on with my homies". Frankly, judging from the rampant stupidity displayed by his younger brother, Marcus, Michael's idiocy isn't particularly surprising.
Is there a sadder story of an old out-of-the-spotlight athlete trying to get his face into the public issues than Gary Player? Had anyone seen Jason Gore? Phil Mickelson? Hell, John Daly?! The guys on the tour don't have any of the physiques that would indicate that they took steroids at all - well, except maybe for *GASP* Tiger Woods. Tiger is a workout freak, that is known, but steroids? He's not hitting it any longer than he used to - matter of fact, I think he lost some distance. Also, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Camillo Villegas - young, in shape, slim men who probably haven't tried a day in their life to bulk up. HEAR IT NOW - If ANYONE in the PGA has done steroids, based on the players' builds, they have failed miserably! *lol* The only guy who made a real significant change in his physique is Bill Glasson, and his was probably 10 or so years ago. I'm not sure what Gary Player is trying to accomplish here, but if he is trying to bring attention to the "best bodies" in golf, you need only look at the #1 player in the world. Is this a veiled accusation? Hmmm. Gene W has an interesting article on Gary's vague statements, calling him to the carpet...
Speaking of Sergio, what a whiner! Hitch up your big boy britches and admit you played a lousy 18 holes on the final day of the British Open and lost the tournament. Don't piss and moan about your "fate" and the "bad breaks". "I didn't miss a shot in the playoff and hit unbelievable putts. But they just didn't go in." Umm, if you hit unbelievable putts, they would have dropped. Unbelievable putts don't miss, they go straight in the clown's mouth! After a birdie at the third hole gave him a four-shot lead, he made bogeys at the fifth, seventh and eighth holes to let the world back into the tournament. Were all those bogeys bad luck? Don't think so. What about other golfers? Wonder how Andres Romero feels about his second shot on the 17th hole that barely missed clearing the burn, but somehow ricocheted directly to the right and out of bounds? Or what about Harrington, whose tee shot at the home hole narrowly missed bouncing across a bridge to safety only to find the burn? Or Ernie Els, who missed a playoff by two strokes and is wondering how a couple of back-nine putts stayed out of the hole? PUHLEEZE! It is a game of bad breaks, of cruel bounces, of putts that spin out of the cup. Sergio should know that. Stop hiding behind the excuse of "bad luck" and admit that you didn't close the deal - then go back out, settle down, and win one of 'em.
Does ANYONE give a damm about the Tour de France after yet ANOTHER doping incident?! When will this sport go away? You think steroids in baseball or football are out of control?!
Speaking of steroids in baseball - SHAME ON YOU Bud Selig for avoiding the inevitable breaking of the career Home Run record. Yes, it's Barry Bonds. Yes, the circumstantial evidence to indicate he took steroids is off the charts. But this is AMERICA, where you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and he owes it to the GAME to be there when the record is broken. Not doing do, not making at least some mention and ceremony about it, means that in his mind he's already convicted Bonds of using performance enhancing drugs without due process. Did Bonds use 'em? Probably, hard to imagine he didn't. But "imagining" and "having definitive proof" are two different things, and say what you want, Selig needs to be there. Well, in any event, regardless of this, I think he's an asshole anyway...never like the guy, he's got a major Napoleonic complex.
And in the "holy shit I thought the athletes were assholes!" department, we present Tim Donaghy. Almost makes the asshole punk ghetto thugs in the NBA seem like stand up guys...well, almost...
Here comes the Yankees? Several weeks ago, in the middle of an 11 game winning streak, I said "looks like they are making their charge". I was wrong then. I might be wrong now. They certainly are a Jeckyll and Hyde team this year. But the Sawx can hear footsteps behind them now, a once near insurmountable 14 game lead is now down to 7 1/2 games. The Yankees are playing with a fair amount of confidence now, I wonder what is going through the minds of the Boston players.
Becks, we hardly see ya mate! Your much ballyhoo'd inagural appearance in MLS was a late game substitution, and now you're out of action with that ligament injury. Here's to hoping you begin what I hope to be a successful career in the US.
Do I need to add anything to the Michael Vick story than you've probably been overloaded with at this point? Are they targeting him because he's high profile? Maybe a little. But to bring down a hydra like this you have to chop off the heads. The fact that he IS high profile makes this a fundamentally different case and message - it provides a platform to get a MAJOR player in the dogfighting subculture, and a chance to show other people that fame means nothing - if you are committing a FEDERAL crime, we will get you. If this were Bill Gates, Andrew Young, it'd still be the same. This might also show that you cannot lie and say "I didn't know what was going on with my homies". Frankly, judging from the rampant stupidity displayed by his younger brother, Marcus, Michael's idiocy isn't particularly surprising.
Is there a sadder story of an old out-of-the-spotlight athlete trying to get his face into the public issues than Gary Player? Had anyone seen Jason Gore? Phil Mickelson? Hell, John Daly?! The guys on the tour don't have any of the physiques that would indicate that they took steroids at all - well, except maybe for *GASP* Tiger Woods. Tiger is a workout freak, that is known, but steroids? He's not hitting it any longer than he used to - matter of fact, I think he lost some distance. Also, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Camillo Villegas - young, in shape, slim men who probably haven't tried a day in their life to bulk up. HEAR IT NOW - If ANYONE in the PGA has done steroids, based on the players' builds, they have failed miserably! *lol* The only guy who made a real significant change in his physique is Bill Glasson, and his was probably 10 or so years ago. I'm not sure what Gary Player is trying to accomplish here, but if he is trying to bring attention to the "best bodies" in golf, you need only look at the #1 player in the world. Is this a veiled accusation? Hmmm. Gene W has an interesting article on Gary's vague statements, calling him to the carpet...
Speaking of Sergio, what a whiner! Hitch up your big boy britches and admit you played a lousy 18 holes on the final day of the British Open and lost the tournament. Don't piss and moan about your "fate" and the "bad breaks". "I didn't miss a shot in the playoff and hit unbelievable putts. But they just didn't go in." Umm, if you hit unbelievable putts, they would have dropped. Unbelievable putts don't miss, they go straight in the clown's mouth! After a birdie at the third hole gave him a four-shot lead, he made bogeys at the fifth, seventh and eighth holes to let the world back into the tournament. Were all those bogeys bad luck? Don't think so. What about other golfers? Wonder how Andres Romero feels about his second shot on the 17th hole that barely missed clearing the burn, but somehow ricocheted directly to the right and out of bounds? Or what about Harrington, whose tee shot at the home hole narrowly missed bouncing across a bridge to safety only to find the burn? Or Ernie Els, who missed a playoff by two strokes and is wondering how a couple of back-nine putts stayed out of the hole? PUHLEEZE! It is a game of bad breaks, of cruel bounces, of putts that spin out of the cup. Sergio should know that. Stop hiding behind the excuse of "bad luck" and admit that you didn't close the deal - then go back out, settle down, and win one of 'em.
6.15.2007
Luciano Watch Out...
In contrast, here is a phenomenally inspirational video. I love this guy!
And he is on to the finals. Go Paul!
Now, okay, he is not quite the "shower singer" bumpkin and has performed opera on stage, but, dude, he does sell car phones for a living!
And quite frankly, anyone who can make Amanda Holden weep twice is mensch in my book.
And he is on to the finals. Go Paul!
Now, okay, he is not quite the "shower singer" bumpkin and has performed opera on stage, but, dude, he does sell car phones for a living!
And quite frankly, anyone who can make Amanda Holden weep twice is mensch in my book.
Who's Responsible?
Okay, I am tremendously conflicted on this. Six teenagers hit a stalled train and the four in the back seat were killed. The father of one of the victims is very upset in the video. (He lost a niece also.)
How can I be conflicted? The drivers were 15, the victims were 14. It was 3:30 am. The vehicle was stolen.
I really feel for the guy's loss (nice Father's Day, huh), but he goes off on how the grade crossing was dangerous. Well, yes. ALL grade crossing are dangerous. The train was stalled, there were no lights; it was an accident waiting to happen.
But what the hell is his 14 year old doing out at 3:30 am? What prompted her to participate in the theft of a vehicle?
This was a tragedy of parenting as well as a tragic loss of life.
How can I be conflicted? The drivers were 15, the victims were 14. It was 3:30 am. The vehicle was stolen.
I really feel for the guy's loss (nice Father's Day, huh), but he goes off on how the grade crossing was dangerous. Well, yes. ALL grade crossing are dangerous. The train was stalled, there were no lights; it was an accident waiting to happen.
But what the hell is his 14 year old doing out at 3:30 am? What prompted her to participate in the theft of a vehicle?
This was a tragedy of parenting as well as a tragic loss of life.
6.14.2007
No Brotherhood Afterall
From Captain's Quarters:
"'They're firing at us, firing RPGs, firing mortars. We're not Jews,' the brother of Jamal Abu Jediyan, a Fatah commander, pleaded during a live telephone conversation with a Palestinian radio station.
Minutes later both men were dragged into the streets and riddled with bullets."
This no surprise. Nor will it clarify the problem (Islamists addiction to violence) to those who have not understood this yet. The most prevalent motivation in the Middle East for centuries is "hate." You cannot build anything on hate. You can only destroy.
But at least they are destrying each other.
"'They're firing at us, firing RPGs, firing mortars. We're not Jews,' the brother of Jamal Abu Jediyan, a Fatah commander, pleaded during a live telephone conversation with a Palestinian radio station.
Minutes later both men were dragged into the streets and riddled with bullets."
This no surprise. Nor will it clarify the problem (Islamists addiction to violence) to those who have not understood this yet. The most prevalent motivation in the Middle East for centuries is "hate." You cannot build anything on hate. You can only destroy.
But at least they are destrying each other.
6.06.2007
The Candidates
One other comment of the GOP field. It is a truly deep field. Mike Huckabee from Arkansas and Duncan Hunter from California have neither the name recognition or the money to be a viable candidate, but would make excellent presidients as well. With the exception of Ron Paul (TX) and Tom Tancredo (CO) who are, IMHO, niche candidates the rest of the field has the chops to be president.
This may be because I do not know enough about, say, Tommy Thompson to dislike him, but I don't think so.
This may be because I do not know enough about, say, Tommy Thompson to dislike him, but I don't think so.
In Bed with Fred
No, this is not a sordid follow-on to Thew's Porky's problems. While I happen to support Mitt Romney in the current field of Republican candidates, I do support the phantom candidacy of Fred Thompson. (See Donation Box on lower left.) I find I don't agree with him only a few issues (tort reform and campaign finance), but think he represents a different set of perspectives - perspectives needed in the GOP field.
The good news for the GOP is that all the front-runners - Giuliani, McCain and Romney - would make fine presidents, while only two Democrats - Clinton and Biden - would have that potential. (While I would not support Hillary, my gut feel is that she would do the right thing once she has no need to pander to the Far Left and would ultimately be a better president then Bill.)
The bad news is that the GOP I love stands for freedom (personal and economic) and SMALL government. None of the current Big Three has come out for decisively reducing the size of government. Fred has.
Of course, the last actor turned president didn't do half bad.
The good news for the GOP is that all the front-runners - Giuliani, McCain and Romney - would make fine presidents, while only two Democrats - Clinton and Biden - would have that potential. (While I would not support Hillary, my gut feel is that she would do the right thing once she has no need to pander to the Far Left and would ultimately be a better president then Bill.)
The bad news is that the GOP I love stands for freedom (personal and economic) and SMALL government. None of the current Big Three has come out for decisively reducing the size of government. Fred has.
Of course, the last actor turned president didn't do half bad.
Whoa, Trigger
I guess my response is "I don't care." I am just saying that having broken down in the travel lane, it is reasonable to assume that someone might be coming and take extra care. Late at night, it is possible that the person might be impaired. What precautions (flares, reflectors, etc.), if any, the tow truck driver took are important to understand before you say he is off the hook.
6.05.2007
Location Location Location
A car is stalled in the travel lane. Where is the tow truck SUPPOSED to park? Haven't you ever been in a traffic jam caused by an accident or a stall? To get the vehicle on the flatbed you have to usually pull it on the truck bed using a winch of some sort - you can't do that from the side unless you have the ability like that of the cranes they use to life indy cars off the track. WTF dood?
Doesn't matter whether I was the Porkee or Porker, it's still rude and inconsiderate and perpetuates a stereotype of the "horny fag on the prowl leering at anyone and everyone". I don't appreciate it in the damm men's locker room.
Doesn't matter whether I was the Porkee or Porker, it's still rude and inconsiderate and perpetuates a stereotype of the "horny fag on the prowl leering at anyone and everyone". I don't appreciate it in the damm men's locker room.
Hold on a Sec
Wait, while I do not agree with the "sue the world" approach and believe Josh Hancock was responsible for his drinking, I understand the towing truck was in the travel lane, not off to the side. I think the towing service has some 'splaining to do.
As for your other "issue", dude, you just got Porky'd. It sucks being a sex object...
As for your other "issue", dude, you just got Porky'd. It sucks being a sex object...
6.04.2007
More Victims of Stupidity
Now, let me first say that this is a TRADGEDY, the kind that snuffs out a life prematurely, a child/husband dead, the family left grieving. My sympathies and prayers go out to the family of Josh Hancock, tragically killed in an automobile accident.
HOWEVER. It appears you CAN put a price on life. His father is suing everyone and their grandmother, saying that THEY are the cause of his death, not Josh himself.
Let's break down the list of defendents:
Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is being held liable because, as the father claims, "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink."
Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Eddie's Towing driver Jacob Hargrove. The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.
Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle after stopping to assist with the stalled vehicle of Tolar. The report said he told officers he was there five to seven minutes before his truck was hit by Hancock's SUV, although Hancock's lawyer says "it might have been there up to 15 minutes".
Officially: Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding and using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, police chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident.
I'm sorry Dean Hancock, but your son is dead because he was stupid. HE got his own ass into these circumstances, HE could have said "NO" to any offered drink, HE could have worn a seatbelt, HE might have been a little high. FREE CHOICE, he wasn't forced to drink, and he CHOSE to not wear his seatbelt. I'm sorry your son is dead, but to hold those people responsible is playing the victim, trying to profit from your son's accident. I mourn the passing of a good baseball player, but I hope this case gets tossed out of court.
EDIT: yay for some common sense.
**********
TIME FOR AN ANTI-GAY RANT:
KEEP IT PRIVATE! PLEASE. I work out at the gym every day, and of course, I endeavor to make myself pleasant afterward so that my fellow employees don't say "whoa that Thew, he's tough to be around..."
But I found something disturbing in the men's shower. There are holes cut into the plastic curtains at eye level, obviously meant for someone to either look out (or *gasp*, IN?!) at another person in the shower.
This is BULLSHIT. You want respect, respect others. You want people to accept your homosexuality, stop pulling this kinda shit; stuff that makes people like me (i.e., straight men) pissed off at your being intrusive. Do I really think you're gazing at another gay man? Nope, you're gazing at ANY naked man who strolls into the shower area, all the while probably polishing the bishop behind the curtain. It's despicable and instrusive, and creates negative feelings towards "rabid horny gay" men and perpetuates anti-gay sentiment. Do men masturbate to Playboy? Of course. Do gay men masturbate to Playgirl? I'd think so. But keep it in the privacy of your own home; too damm bad, shit like this just pisses off ANY person - hell, I've known gay men who think this is so lame, they are ashamed to be on the same team as these people.
Like I said, you want respect, respect others. You want consideration, consider the feelings of others. You want to pull this kind of shit, prepare to be vilified; by both gay and straight men. You'll never get accepted into "the mainstream of society" while you piss off that same group of people.
**********
2 of 3 for the Yanks against the Sawx. Here's to hoping they will turn it around after what should be a real confidence building series. Dominated 'em in game 1, lost the lead in game 2 to get beat badly, lost a 4 run lead in ONE INNING but hung on, clawed back, and won it in the top of the ninth. Come on boys, time to play!
HOWEVER. It appears you CAN put a price on life. His father is suing everyone and their grandmother, saying that THEY are the cause of his death, not Josh himself.
Let's break down the list of defendents:
Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is being held liable because, as the father claims, "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink."
Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Eddie's Towing driver Jacob Hargrove. The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.
Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle after stopping to assist with the stalled vehicle of Tolar. The report said he told officers he was there five to seven minutes before his truck was hit by Hancock's SUV, although Hancock's lawyer says "it might have been there up to 15 minutes".
Officially: Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding and using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, police chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident.
I'm sorry Dean Hancock, but your son is dead because he was stupid. HE got his own ass into these circumstances, HE could have said "NO" to any offered drink, HE could have worn a seatbelt, HE might have been a little high. FREE CHOICE, he wasn't forced to drink, and he CHOSE to not wear his seatbelt. I'm sorry your son is dead, but to hold those people responsible is playing the victim, trying to profit from your son's accident. I mourn the passing of a good baseball player, but I hope this case gets tossed out of court.
EDIT: yay for some common sense.
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TIME FOR AN ANTI-GAY RANT:
KEEP IT PRIVATE! PLEASE. I work out at the gym every day, and of course, I endeavor to make myself pleasant afterward so that my fellow employees don't say "whoa that Thew, he's tough to be around..."
But I found something disturbing in the men's shower. There are holes cut into the plastic curtains at eye level, obviously meant for someone to either look out (or *gasp*, IN?!) at another person in the shower.
This is BULLSHIT. You want respect, respect others. You want people to accept your homosexuality, stop pulling this kinda shit; stuff that makes people like me (i.e., straight men) pissed off at your being intrusive. Do I really think you're gazing at another gay man? Nope, you're gazing at ANY naked man who strolls into the shower area, all the while probably polishing the bishop behind the curtain. It's despicable and instrusive, and creates negative feelings towards "rabid horny gay" men and perpetuates anti-gay sentiment. Do men masturbate to Playboy? Of course. Do gay men masturbate to Playgirl? I'd think so. But keep it in the privacy of your own home; too damm bad, shit like this just pisses off ANY person - hell, I've known gay men who think this is so lame, they are ashamed to be on the same team as these people.
Like I said, you want respect, respect others. You want consideration, consider the feelings of others. You want to pull this kind of shit, prepare to be vilified; by both gay and straight men. You'll never get accepted into "the mainstream of society" while you piss off that same group of people.
**********
2 of 3 for the Yanks against the Sawx. Here's to hoping they will turn it around after what should be a real confidence building series. Dominated 'em in game 1, lost the lead in game 2 to get beat badly, lost a 4 run lead in ONE INNING but hung on, clawed back, and won it in the top of the ninth. Come on boys, time to play!
Stupidity, Yes, But Whose?
Thew asks an interesting question: is there liability there? I will put aside the issue for now as to WHO is liable, because Speaker claims he was told traveling was fine.
First off, to be liable, someone has had to suffer damages. It is not enough to be anxious you might have caught TB, but you must have caught it. (That said, if one could prove demonstrable suffering based on the incident, it MIGHT be compensable.)
But even if someone catches TB and dies, I am unclear if the law will award damages. One could claim civil assault (an intentional act which causes a reasonable and imminent apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact which is unconsented), but the "intention" has to be there. (Battery of assault & battery fame is the physical contact part.) In addition, I don't know how much time can pass before "reasonable and imminent" is no longer applicable. (Someone shoots an arrow at you, but misses...you do not notice, but find out later. Assault?) Here you would have to argue that "imminent" extends through the phase of being tested and cleared of TB...a logical position.
Now "intention" can also be a disregard for safety so reckless that any reasonable man (that term, again) would have understood the action to pose a threat. But on the facts as I know them...I am not sure that is the case. The tests did not come back showing the drug resistant strain until he was in Europe. So anyone on the flights until that point he can't be accused of reckless endangerment.
But I would also point out that this is a very slippery slope. Suing someone you catch a cold from? That forces you out of your hourly job for three days? I am just not sure we want to go there.
First off, to be liable, someone has had to suffer damages. It is not enough to be anxious you might have caught TB, but you must have caught it. (That said, if one could prove demonstrable suffering based on the incident, it MIGHT be compensable.)
But even if someone catches TB and dies, I am unclear if the law will award damages. One could claim civil assault (an intentional act which causes a reasonable and imminent apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact which is unconsented), but the "intention" has to be there. (Battery of assault & battery fame is the physical contact part.) In addition, I don't know how much time can pass before "reasonable and imminent" is no longer applicable. (Someone shoots an arrow at you, but misses...you do not notice, but find out later. Assault?) Here you would have to argue that "imminent" extends through the phase of being tested and cleared of TB...a logical position.
Now "intention" can also be a disregard for safety so reckless that any reasonable man (that term, again) would have understood the action to pose a threat. But on the facts as I know them...I am not sure that is the case. The tests did not come back showing the drug resistant strain until he was in Europe. So anyone on the flights until that point he can't be accused of reckless endangerment.
But I would also point out that this is a very slippery slope. Suing someone you catch a cold from? That forces you out of your hourly job for three days? I am just not sure we want to go there.
6.01.2007
ProBono Work
So Tilam, any legal ramifications from Andrew Speaker's stupidity?
Reckless Endangerment? Is there a crime or lawsuit possibility if no one gets sick? What's the scoop?
Reckless Endangerment? Is there a crime or lawsuit possibility if no one gets sick? What's the scoop?
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