Sunday, February 26, 2006

Food for Thought

Food for thought from a recent conversation with a colleague of mine...
What do you do when you've read everything your favorite author has written? Do you go back and re-read the old books or hope to find someone new? To a certain extent it depends on the reader. I've read some people's opinions who claim life is too short to re-read anything. True, but sometimes a second reading can open a world of details and opportunity that were not seen on the first go-round. You may have been so absorbed in plot summary that you missed some specifics like clues or symbolism or subtle craft of dialogue. Yes, I am all for re-reading if one deems the work worthy of such merit. But I am also an English teacher, and thus I delight in such sublteties in much the same way aficionados of any craft revel in their subject.

Spent several hours tonight clicking on random blogs as they appeared on blogger.com's home page. Really amazing to see what people are producing. It's addicting too. They're like little random windows into the people's minds. Actually they're more than that. They are what people want us to see and read and experience. I've seen amzing graphic art, collections of humorous pictures, purely "random" (it's a popular title) musings, an R rated sexual escapade, outlets for venting, and a truly moving journal of one couple's quest for adopting a child.

Unlike most Olympic Games, I have not been very tuned in this year. Personally I blame it on ESPN and SI.com. I check a lot of scores and articles on their respective websites but they post the Olympic results at the top of the homepage. You can't help but not see who wins or loses. Come on! How about having them on a separate page with a link to it. It really takes the drama out of an event when you already know the outcome. At least the local news will tell you when they are about to report the results - but not the major sports outlets. No, instead they plaster an athlete's picture doning either the "thrill of victory" or the "agony of defeat." It's really unfortunate. But then again they're running a business and a competitor is showing the games. It all makes sense but it is disheartening.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Smoke

The smoke settled many days ago. And the blaring of the trumpets now are for Olympic fanfare. But to re-address that sub-Super day, all I can say is, Seattle, you had plenty of chances and blew it. Literally. How many balls did Stevens drop? How awful was your clock management at the end of the half and the end of the game? How well did you move the ball between the 20s but then fall to pieces inside the red zone? Blame the refs all you want but it still came down to your performance. Admit it, you lost. And Coach Holmgren, you admit it too. How absurd was your comment at the post game rally in Seattle, "I knew it was going to be tough going up against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn't know we were going to have to play the guys in the striped shirts as well." Come on. You're supposed to exemplify leadership, not whining. Watch the game again. Then shut your mouth and go buy some Stick-um for your tight end's hands.

The smoke has finally settled on college football's national signing day too. Did you see the final team rankings? While the usual suspect Southern Cal was once again number one, out of nowhere Florida State roared up to number three. Amazing compared to where they were just a few days before. Penn State is right up there at number six. Looks like Saint Bobby and JoePa can still recruit with the best of 'em!

Speaking of smoke, if you are in the least bit interested in cigars, I highly recommend JR's. Their website provides a wealth of information and their prices are outstanding. Worth a road trip if you live near one. Had a Belinda Black with a couple neighbors on Saturday while watching the NC State basketball game. Better yet the host served up both his porter and pilsner homebrews. Simply a wonderful afternoon. Oh, and NC State won too.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

"Super" Thoughts

My picks for the conference title games were completely wrong. And I'm probably going to be completely wrong again but here goes...

Well the day has finally arrived and I'm still not too sure who will win. As soon as I convince myself it'll be "Blitzburgh," I remember having the exact same thoughts about Carolina when they went up against Seattle. Now granted Carolina was pretty beat up and Seattle was at home, but still -- it's as if seemingly everyone tends to think they'll lose that makes me think they'll win. Remember USC v. Texas? That's what I mean.

Pittsburgh plowed through the top three teams in the AFC on the road while Seattle quietly took care of its own business. Something, maybe it's because they're in the oft-forgotten by the East Coast media bias locale of the Pacific Northwest, tells me they're much more savvy about how to successfully counter the Steelers' rush than most people tend to think. Maybe it's Coach Holmgren's experience. Maybe it's I'm NFC biased. Or maybe it's their offensive line anchored by All-Pro tackle and former Florida State Seminole Walter Jones. He along with three other former 'Noles will suit up for the Seahawks as opposed to two for the Steelers. On a side note there are more former Seminoles playing in the Super Bowl than any other college. Heck another reason could just be because they're in the coffee mecca of the US, or the fact that I like Seattle's "grunge rock" bands of the 90s like Pearl Jam. Regardless of why I feel this way, here is my pick: Seattle 31, Pittsburgh 28.

Of course no matter what happens we'll still have the ads to keep us tuned in. And after all, isn't that why we really watch?