Sometime in mid-August, movie theaters across America will open their doors, dim their lights, and start showing a movie called Snakes on a Plane. Which brings to mind three very important questions:
1) How the hell does somebody come up with something like this?
2) What kind of movie exec approves funding for something like this?
and
3) How the hell did they get Samuel L. Jackson to be in it?
(I'd like to add 4: Why the hell didn't I think of something like this first?)
The premise is that there's a plane, it's in the air, and snakes get loose. Insert Samuel L. Jackson, and much mayhem ensues. It all sounds pretty stupid so far. But wait, there's more! Some people got wind of the absurdity and started to talk about it. And write each other about it. And mention that the stupid title was, though stupid, actually kinda cool as well. And the more they talked, the more appealing the movie became. Studio execs were so pleased that they actually reshot some of the scenes, and added dialogue that the fans wanted in the movie. ("I want these mother---- snakes off the mother------ plane!")
You can read the CNN article here and visit the "Snakes on a Blog" site here. Be sure to check out the 'auditions' and the Subatomic Warp audio trailer.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Gee eee ay yoo ecks
GEAUX TIGERS
On Thursday night, the Mighty Tigers of LSU toppled Duke, the Great Satan. I was very happy. I still am. You would figure that with a week to prepare, Duke would be ready for LSU's scheme, tendency, and coaching strategy. And maybe they were. What they weren't ready for was LSU's players. They played tougher, harder, smarter, and looked more composed than Duke down the stretch. That rarely happens in a big game.
For three years or so, you could argue that J.J. Redick has been the most hated player in college basketball. He embodied (to some) everything about what they hate about Duke basketball. White, tough, smart, and all his shots seemed to go in. He ended his career scoring more points than anyone in ACC history and more three-point shots in NCAA history.
I don't say this to praise him, but to illustrate the greatness of the accomplishment of LSU's defense. Redick scored a season-low eleven points on 3-18 shooting. Garrett Temple was in his shirt all night long. Whenever he used a pick, they trapped him hard with two guys. Whenever he came off a screen, he had a hand in his face. Whenever he managed to get past the initial defender and went to the basket, he got bumped and banged, and LSU's shot-blockers were there to meet him. You could see frustration all over his face and in his body language. When he was taken out of the game with a few seconds to go, he was crying. Tears courtesy of LSU.
Two days later LSU followed it up with another great win over Texas. More great defense, holding the opposition's two best players--possible lottery pick LaMarcus Aldridge and Big 12 Player of the Year P.J. Tucker--to a combined 14 points on 6-25 shooting. Down early, came back, took the lead. Texas tied it off a scramble play in the last half minute or so, and into OT we go.
It couldn't have started better for LSU, as they scored the first seven points, with three coming on a dead-on three by Glen Davis. It was down to five at a point, but that was as close as Texas would get. And whaddya know? LSU is in the Final Four for the first time in twenty years. They play UCLA next Saturday, a school that's only got eleven titles or so. No problem.
A lot of attention has (deservedly) been paid to LSU's frontcourt. The 310-pound, ballerina-footed mammoth that is Glen Davis. Tyrus Thomas, who can jump out of the building (these two combined for 47 points and 22 rebounds on 21-33 shooting). And Tasmin Mitchell, who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the court to help you win. The prevailing wisdom over the last several years has been that college basketball is a guard's game. Big men worth anything leave early for the NBA, if they go to college at all. Playmaking guards are the order of the day.
LSU supposedly does it backwards. Dominating big men and serviceable guards. Total domination of the paint makes up for weaknesses elsewhere. I think this shortchanges Darrel Mitchell and Garret Temple, though they're not exactly Billups and Hamilton. They play great defense on the ball, have hit some big shots, and have done really well in late-game situations. But there's certainly no doubt that LSU's strength up front is what's carried them this far, and will continue to do so should they keep winning.
On Thursday night, the Mighty Tigers of LSU toppled Duke, the Great Satan. I was very happy. I still am. You would figure that with a week to prepare, Duke would be ready for LSU's scheme, tendency, and coaching strategy. And maybe they were. What they weren't ready for was LSU's players. They played tougher, harder, smarter, and looked more composed than Duke down the stretch. That rarely happens in a big game.
For three years or so, you could argue that J.J. Redick has been the most hated player in college basketball. He embodied (to some) everything about what they hate about Duke basketball. White, tough, smart, and all his shots seemed to go in. He ended his career scoring more points than anyone in ACC history and more three-point shots in NCAA history.
I don't say this to praise him, but to illustrate the greatness of the accomplishment of LSU's defense. Redick scored a season-low eleven points on 3-18 shooting. Garrett Temple was in his shirt all night long. Whenever he used a pick, they trapped him hard with two guys. Whenever he came off a screen, he had a hand in his face. Whenever he managed to get past the initial defender and went to the basket, he got bumped and banged, and LSU's shot-blockers were there to meet him. You could see frustration all over his face and in his body language. When he was taken out of the game with a few seconds to go, he was crying. Tears courtesy of LSU.
Two days later LSU followed it up with another great win over Texas. More great defense, holding the opposition's two best players--possible lottery pick LaMarcus Aldridge and Big 12 Player of the Year P.J. Tucker--to a combined 14 points on 6-25 shooting. Down early, came back, took the lead. Texas tied it off a scramble play in the last half minute or so, and into OT we go.
It couldn't have started better for LSU, as they scored the first seven points, with three coming on a dead-on three by Glen Davis. It was down to five at a point, but that was as close as Texas would get. And whaddya know? LSU is in the Final Four for the first time in twenty years. They play UCLA next Saturday, a school that's only got eleven titles or so. No problem.
A lot of attention has (deservedly) been paid to LSU's frontcourt. The 310-pound, ballerina-footed mammoth that is Glen Davis. Tyrus Thomas, who can jump out of the building (these two combined for 47 points and 22 rebounds on 21-33 shooting). And Tasmin Mitchell, who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the court to help you win. The prevailing wisdom over the last several years has been that college basketball is a guard's game. Big men worth anything leave early for the NBA, if they go to college at all. Playmaking guards are the order of the day.
LSU supposedly does it backwards. Dominating big men and serviceable guards. Total domination of the paint makes up for weaknesses elsewhere. I think this shortchanges Darrel Mitchell and Garret Temple, though they're not exactly Billups and Hamilton. They play great defense on the ball, have hit some big shots, and have done really well in late-game situations. But there's certainly no doubt that LSU's strength up front is what's carried them this far, and will continue to do so should they keep winning.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Link, link, and link
I've really got nothing to say, but I would like to direct your attention to a few links.
Link #1: A story in USA Today about the creators of South Park taking on Scientology. As you might have heard, South Park ran an episode poking fun at Scientology and Tom Cruise. Isaac Hayes quit the show in protest, citing "bigotry" as one of the reasons, though as the creators pointed out, Hayes didn't have trouble when they made fun of everybody else's religion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun!" the South Park creators said in a statement Friday in Daily Variety. "Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies... You have obsructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail!"
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Link #2: If you think making fun of Scientology is for you, then so is this site, with lots of kooky videos. My favorite, of course, is the Dark Side Lightning one.
QUICK NOTE: While I think that all this stuff is very, very funny, keep in mind that you're reading the words of a guy who believes in an invisible man who lives in the sky who has been around forever, is omniscient, omipotent, and omnibenevolent, and still lets bad things happen to me. Once a week I gather with other people who believe the same thing and eat the flesh and blood of His son, who has literally been to Hell and back. And since I'm Catholic, that's just the tip of the iceberg, boys and girls.
Link #3: If you're a fan of a) sabermetrics, b) savage writing, or c) bashing Joe Morgan, then the Fire Joe Morgan Blog is definitely for you. The site started as a way for a group of frustrated fans to vent about the things he said they thought were stupid. It's evolved into a site where they trash all the stupid sportswriting and analysis about (mostly) baseball that they can find. If you haven't read Moneyball, then some of their stats and arguments won't mean much. I've read it, and still have questions about some of their stuff. I recommend the book, by the way.
I used to really like Joe Morgan. Then I started paying attention. My dad always said he talked too much. I've started to notice that he contradicts himself, and then he contradicts what's happening on the field. He'll explain what just happened according to why he thinks it should have happened, instead of according to reality. And if you dare--dare--question his unquestioned knowledge of the game, then you're dead to him. As a matter of fact, you probably never existed. The FJM blog is great.
BONUS LINKS SECTION: Even if you've read it a hundred times before, it's always worth checking out the Darthside blog. One of the best fan fiction works I've ever seen.
And there's also a great online art/experiment thingy called Postsecret. People send in anonymous confessions on postcards, and some of them get posted on the site. A few are pretty funny, but many are really serious and depressing. It says something about the site that there's a link and number for the suicide hotline. But it's definitely worth checking out.
Link #1: A story in USA Today about the creators of South Park taking on Scientology. As you might have heard, South Park ran an episode poking fun at Scientology and Tom Cruise. Isaac Hayes quit the show in protest, citing "bigotry" as one of the reasons, though as the creators pointed out, Hayes didn't have trouble when they made fun of everybody else's religion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun!" the South Park creators said in a statement Friday in Daily Variety. "Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies... You have obsructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link #2: If you think making fun of Scientology is for you, then so is this site, with lots of kooky videos. My favorite, of course, is the Dark Side Lightning one.
QUICK NOTE: While I think that all this stuff is very, very funny, keep in mind that you're reading the words of a guy who believes in an invisible man who lives in the sky who has been around forever, is omniscient, omipotent, and omnibenevolent, and still lets bad things happen to me. Once a week I gather with other people who believe the same thing and eat the flesh and blood of His son, who has literally been to Hell and back. And since I'm Catholic, that's just the tip of the iceberg, boys and girls.
Link #3: If you're a fan of a) sabermetrics, b) savage writing, or c) bashing Joe Morgan, then the Fire Joe Morgan Blog is definitely for you. The site started as a way for a group of frustrated fans to vent about the things he said they thought were stupid. It's evolved into a site where they trash all the stupid sportswriting and analysis about (mostly) baseball that they can find. If you haven't read Moneyball, then some of their stats and arguments won't mean much. I've read it, and still have questions about some of their stuff. I recommend the book, by the way.
I used to really like Joe Morgan. Then I started paying attention. My dad always said he talked too much. I've started to notice that he contradicts himself, and then he contradicts what's happening on the field. He'll explain what just happened according to why he thinks it should have happened, instead of according to reality. And if you dare--dare--question his unquestioned knowledge of the game, then you're dead to him. As a matter of fact, you probably never existed. The FJM blog is great.
BONUS LINKS SECTION: Even if you've read it a hundred times before, it's always worth checking out the Darthside blog. One of the best fan fiction works I've ever seen.
And there's also a great online art/experiment thingy called Postsecret. People send in anonymous confessions on postcards, and some of them get posted on the site. A few are pretty funny, but many are really serious and depressing. It says something about the site that there's a link and number for the suicide hotline. But it's definitely worth checking out.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Big Baby vs. The Great Satan
Earlier this evening, the LSU Tigers beat Texas A&M thanks to a three point shot by Darrel Mitchell with less than four seconds left in the game. Was this a pretty game? No. But I resist the temptation to call it ugly. A&M has a way of disrupting the other team's rhythm with pressure defense and tough play. This was a great game to watch if you like blocked shots, hustle plays, and low scores.
I didn't see LSU play a game on TV until South Carolina a couple of weeks ago. Due to injury, they were without SEC Freshman of the Year Tyrus Thomas, a shot-blocking and rebounding machine. They gutted out a win. Thomas didn't play again until the first-round NCAA game against Iona. Today's game was the first time I'd seen the regular lineup together, and I thought they looked pretty impressive. Defensively, LSU is very good. They put at least three, maybe four players on the floor together than can block shots and play tight defense one-on-one. Offensively, they try to get to the basket, either by feeding Glen (Big Baby) Davis/Tyrus Thomas or driving with their guards and Tasmin Mitchell. Outside shooting and turnovers are going to kill them against somebody.
That somebody, however, will hopefully not be Duke, the Great Satan. For now, my dream of an LSU/NSU regional final remains intact, and that's good enough.
I didn't see LSU play a game on TV until South Carolina a couple of weeks ago. Due to injury, they were without SEC Freshman of the Year Tyrus Thomas, a shot-blocking and rebounding machine. They gutted out a win. Thomas didn't play again until the first-round NCAA game against Iona. Today's game was the first time I'd seen the regular lineup together, and I thought they looked pretty impressive. Defensively, LSU is very good. They put at least three, maybe four players on the floor together than can block shots and play tight defense one-on-one. Offensively, they try to get to the basket, either by feeding Glen (Big Baby) Davis/Tyrus Thomas or driving with their guards and Tasmin Mitchell. Outside shooting and turnovers are going to kill them against somebody.
That somebody, however, will hopefully not be Duke, the Great Satan. For now, my dream of an LSU/NSU regional final remains intact, and that's good enough.
Victory
VICTORY
What a great word. But what a better feeling. As you probably know by now, the Mighty Demons of NSU--alma mater of yours truly, Corey, and the transcendent Sandy--beat Iowa on Thursday afternoon thanks to a desperation three-point heave by Jermaine Wallace with half a second to play. Within seconds of the final buzzer, my email, text messaging, and cell phone were all filled up with messages. I haven't seen them all, but I probably have to agree with the people who say this is the biggest win in school history.
I'm happy. Right now, I'm happy. I don't need us to pull off another big upset against West Virginia tomorrow afternoon to feel good or vindicated or anything like that. I was happy to watch us on national TV a week ago when we beat Sam Houston State just to make the NCAAs. Beating Iowa was gravy. Really, really, really, really nice gravy. I'm happy that people are learning that NSU is in Natchitoches, and that in some cases they're actually pronouncing it correctly. 'm happy they had our logo on the screen (last week ESPN had the logo for the Northwestern Wildcats, the school in Illinois). I'm happy that Mike McConathy and Clifton Lee were on CBS this morning. Clifton Lee, as you can tell from his photo, is a very distinctive-looking young man. The high afro goes well with his gold-grilled teeth. There's a serious temptation to make assumptions about him from his appearance. I thought he came off as pretty bright. He hasn't taken elocution lessons from Dr. Poole or anything, but you could tell he's no dummy by listening to what he was saying, rather than how he was saying it.
Lee was a big part of the Demons' comeback win. We were down 17 in the second half. He hit four threes, we kept forcing turnovers and missed shots, and when the last minute of the game arrived, we were only down one. A missed FT by a Hawkeye, a missed shot from us, a rebound, and the three. Fork 'Em Demons.
NOTE: As I write this, the alma maters of everyone this blog is for are still alive in the tournament. We rock.
What a great word. But what a better feeling. As you probably know by now, the Mighty Demons of NSU--alma mater of yours truly, Corey, and the transcendent Sandy--beat Iowa on Thursday afternoon thanks to a desperation three-point heave by Jermaine Wallace with half a second to play. Within seconds of the final buzzer, my email, text messaging, and cell phone were all filled up with messages. I haven't seen them all, but I probably have to agree with the people who say this is the biggest win in school history.
I'm happy. Right now, I'm happy. I don't need us to pull off another big upset against West Virginia tomorrow afternoon to feel good or vindicated or anything like that. I was happy to watch us on national TV a week ago when we beat Sam Houston State just to make the NCAAs. Beating Iowa was gravy. Really, really, really, really nice gravy. I'm happy that people are learning that NSU is in Natchitoches, and that in some cases they're actually pronouncing it correctly. 'm happy they had our logo on the screen (last week ESPN had the logo for the Northwestern Wildcats, the school in Illinois). I'm happy that Mike McConathy and Clifton Lee were on CBS this morning. Clifton Lee, as you can tell from his photo, is a very distinctive-looking young man. The high afro goes well with his gold-grilled teeth. There's a serious temptation to make assumptions about him from his appearance. I thought he came off as pretty bright. He hasn't taken elocution lessons from Dr. Poole or anything, but you could tell he's no dummy by listening to what he was saying, rather than how he was saying it.
Lee was a big part of the Demons' comeback win. We were down 17 in the second half. He hit four threes, we kept forcing turnovers and missed shots, and when the last minute of the game arrived, we were only down one. A missed FT by a Hawkeye, a missed shot from us, a rebound, and the three. Fork 'Em Demons.
NOTE: As I write this, the alma maters of everyone this blog is for are still alive in the tournament. We rock.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
"Oh John, I don't hate you! I just hate basketball!"
Not quite the way I feel, but a fitting quote (from Meet Me in St. Louis) considering this is the season of anguish for so many sports fans. For yea, now is the time of the NCAA Basketball tournament. Millions upon millions of brackets filled out by masochistic dreamers, hoping to get it all right. Many moons ago, back when the world was young, I actually won a pool by filling out a bracket for a professor at NSU. But make no mistake, boys and girls: the Gods of College Basketball hate my living guts. Whatever bracket I fill out is doomed to fail. That sweet taste of victory years ago was just a way of setting me up for the long, long fall that was to come. Aeschylus himself couldn't have written a more gripping tale of tragedy and woe.
They say that the first four days of the tournament belong to a few surprise teams, the little guys who take down also-rans from big conferences and gut their way to the Sweet Sixteen to the delight of media and fans alike. After that, the power teams reassert themselves and bend things more to their will. We haven't really seen the makings of that so far today. Wisconsin-Milwaukee did beat Oklahoma, but W-M made the Sweet Sixteen last year, so it's not like they're doormats. Two major upsets were avoided when Tennessee got a late jumper to hold off 15 seed Winthrop, and Boston College (the institution fortunate enough to be attended by my good friend Kerrie for four years) outlasted Pacific in double overtime. BC came on strong at the end of the year, and many people have them causing significant damage in the tournament. Had they lost today, there would have been much weeping and gnashing of teeth, outside of Boston as well as within.
The Mighty Demons of NSU play Iowa early tomorrow afternoon. I checked the brackets of the people in my office, and one girl picked NSU to win. I went over to congratulate her on such a wonderful pick, and she told me how she had friends who went there and always liked the school, so she decided to pick them. I knew then that she was confusing us with the Northwestern in Illinois. I think she still thinks I went to LSU since I'm from Louisiana. I also checked the picks in another pool, and the lovely and oh-so-intelligent wife of my boy Corey has NSU making the Sweet Sixteen. What a nice girl.
Corey and I had a short exchange with the following gist: His wife does not follow college basketball or sports in general, and will end up winning the pool. Of course, I take this for granted. Bracket geeks across the country will tell horror stories of office pools won by secretaries and assistants who pick the games based on uniform color, mascots, or whether or not the cheerleaders are all the same height. (I actually doubt any of this is true, but who knows for sure?) Anyway, I made the point that we (me, Corey, basketball fans, etc) don't fill out brackets trying to beat his wife. We fill them out trying to beat each other, knowing that his wife is going to win.
You know the really sad part? I've used this blog to write about race, religion, politics, movies, sports, and a few other things, but part of me thinks that last statement is the most insightful and intelligent thing yet.
They say that the first four days of the tournament belong to a few surprise teams, the little guys who take down also-rans from big conferences and gut their way to the Sweet Sixteen to the delight of media and fans alike. After that, the power teams reassert themselves and bend things more to their will. We haven't really seen the makings of that so far today. Wisconsin-Milwaukee did beat Oklahoma, but W-M made the Sweet Sixteen last year, so it's not like they're doormats. Two major upsets were avoided when Tennessee got a late jumper to hold off 15 seed Winthrop, and Boston College (the institution fortunate enough to be attended by my good friend Kerrie for four years) outlasted Pacific in double overtime. BC came on strong at the end of the year, and many people have them causing significant damage in the tournament. Had they lost today, there would have been much weeping and gnashing of teeth, outside of Boston as well as within.
The Mighty Demons of NSU play Iowa early tomorrow afternoon. I checked the brackets of the people in my office, and one girl picked NSU to win. I went over to congratulate her on such a wonderful pick, and she told me how she had friends who went there and always liked the school, so she decided to pick them. I knew then that she was confusing us with the Northwestern in Illinois. I think she still thinks I went to LSU since I'm from Louisiana. I also checked the picks in another pool, and the lovely and oh-so-intelligent wife of my boy Corey has NSU making the Sweet Sixteen. What a nice girl.
Corey and I had a short exchange with the following gist: His wife does not follow college basketball or sports in general, and will end up winning the pool. Of course, I take this for granted. Bracket geeks across the country will tell horror stories of office pools won by secretaries and assistants who pick the games based on uniform color, mascots, or whether or not the cheerleaders are all the same height. (I actually doubt any of this is true, but who knows for sure?) Anyway, I made the point that we (me, Corey, basketball fans, etc) don't fill out brackets trying to beat his wife. We fill them out trying to beat each other, knowing that his wife is going to win.
You know the really sad part? I've used this blog to write about race, religion, politics, movies, sports, and a few other things, but part of me thinks that last statement is the most insightful and intelligent thing yet.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Lilies of the Field
"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
About thirty minutes into the movie, I thought to myself, "How on earth have I never seen this movie before?" It's fantastic, and I enjoyed it very, very much. Sidney Poitier (in an Oscar-winning performance) is proud and independent, yet still moved by his conscience to help a group of nuns build a chapel. There are several good scenes, including a great one with his character, Homer Smith (Homer Schmidt, as the German and Eastern European nuns call him) leading the nuns in a chorus of "Amen". Lilia Skala was nominated for Best Actress as Mother Superior Maria (Mutter Maria). Stanley Adams as Juan is also a fun character. Short, sweet, and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
It's also good for picking up tidbits of German here and there. "Himmlischer Vater" is "Heavenly Father", for example.
About thirty minutes into the movie, I thought to myself, "How on earth have I never seen this movie before?" It's fantastic, and I enjoyed it very, very much. Sidney Poitier (in an Oscar-winning performance) is proud and independent, yet still moved by his conscience to help a group of nuns build a chapel. There are several good scenes, including a great one with his character, Homer Smith (Homer Schmidt, as the German and Eastern European nuns call him) leading the nuns in a chorus of "Amen". Lilia Skala was nominated for Best Actress as Mother Superior Maria (Mutter Maria). Stanley Adams as Juan is also a fun character. Short, sweet, and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
It's also good for picking up tidbits of German here and there. "Himmlischer Vater" is "Heavenly Father", for example.
Greatest Picks EVER
I've never read any of Dennis Dodd's stuff on CBS Sportsline, but here's a link to the greatest NCAA Bracket I've ever seen. My alma mater vs the state school I cheer for in major college sports. He's got NSU against LSU in the Elite 8! I thought about doing that for one of the brackets I fill out, but just as a lark. Not anything millions of people are going to see. Needless to say, it would be my favorite matchup of all time. Especially since it could mean that LSU beat Duke. The only thing better would be for NSU to beat Duke to go to the Final Four. Geaux Tigers, and Fork 'Em Demons!
Monday, March 13, 2006
Routine, News, and Olds
I have heard it said that men love routine. They want to do what they do, the way they want to do it. One thing needs to follow the other like it's supposed to. Things that disrupt the routine are to be avoided. Routine allows us to settle into a comfortable groove. But how long until a groove becomes a rut? Back to that in a second.
I'm going to steal a couple of quotes from Terry Pratchett, one of my favorite writers. Both of them involve his wonderfully-written character Lord Vetinari, the Patrician of the city of Ankh-Morpork. Vetinari has taken a city of chaos and hasn't eliminated disorder, but rather arranged it along certain lines.
"The guild leaders examined their thoughts and decided that what they did not want was power. What they wanted was that tomorrow should be pretty much like today." Routine of action. Routine of events. Predictability. We can plan. We can anticipate. We can expect. No surprises. (Geneva Marney once told me that I could turn anything into a sports analogy, so I'll mention that coaches and managers--especially NFL coaches--are obsessed with routine, tendencies, and predictability. They loathe not having control over events).
"People...like to know that, say, a dog will bite a man. That is what dogs do. They don't want to know that a man bites a dog, because the world is not supposed to happen like that. In short, what people think they want is news, but what they really crave is olds." Vetinari is referring to routine of thought, rather than routine of action. The routine of thought is more dangerous than routine of action, though they may stem from the same source. Routine of thought is what leads to the ruts I mentioned before.
I like routine of action. I like routine of thought. When something unexpected presents itself, even if it's something I might enjoy or appreciate, my initial reaction is to turn away. So it is with great excitement and a bit of anxiousness that I long for May to arrive. My cousin will be staying with me over the summer. I haven't lived with anyone in over six and a half years. Every routine I have is about to be shot out of a cannon. Waking up. Getting ready. Watching TV. Going to church. Playing video games. Cooking dinner. And I say this in all honesty: I'm looking forward to every second.
I'm going to steal a couple of quotes from Terry Pratchett, one of my favorite writers. Both of them involve his wonderfully-written character Lord Vetinari, the Patrician of the city of Ankh-Morpork. Vetinari has taken a city of chaos and hasn't eliminated disorder, but rather arranged it along certain lines.
"The guild leaders examined their thoughts and decided that what they did not want was power. What they wanted was that tomorrow should be pretty much like today." Routine of action. Routine of events. Predictability. We can plan. We can anticipate. We can expect. No surprises. (Geneva Marney once told me that I could turn anything into a sports analogy, so I'll mention that coaches and managers--especially NFL coaches--are obsessed with routine, tendencies, and predictability. They loathe not having control over events).
"People...like to know that, say, a dog will bite a man. That is what dogs do. They don't want to know that a man bites a dog, because the world is not supposed to happen like that. In short, what people think they want is news, but what they really crave is olds." Vetinari is referring to routine of thought, rather than routine of action. The routine of thought is more dangerous than routine of action, though they may stem from the same source. Routine of thought is what leads to the ruts I mentioned before.
I like routine of action. I like routine of thought. When something unexpected presents itself, even if it's something I might enjoy or appreciate, my initial reaction is to turn away. So it is with great excitement and a bit of anxiousness that I long for May to arrive. My cousin will be staying with me over the summer. I haven't lived with anyone in over six and a half years. Every routine I have is about to be shot out of a cannon. Waking up. Getting ready. Watching TV. Going to church. Playing video games. Cooking dinner. And I say this in all honesty: I'm looking forward to every second.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Go Demons
Now that we've got that other stuff out of the way, let's talk about the important thing:
The Mighty Demons of NSU are going to the NCAA tournament. We beat Sam Houston State today to claim the Southland Conference Tournament title and the automatic bid that comes with it. We played a tough nonconference schedule early in the season. We beat Oregon State, Oklahoma State, and Mississippi State from "BCS" conferences, to use a football term in a basketall environment.
We play ten guys at least ten minutes a game. Ten different players have led the team in scoring. In the first half, Mike McConathy substitutes five guys at a time. We press and try to wear the other guy down. It's ugly sometimes, but it's fun. And it's really worked for us this year. This may be the best season in the history of NSU basketball. A few years ago we won the play-in game for the right to get stomped by Illinois, but that's okay. Making the tournament is usually good enough for our fans. We'll probably get a 13 or 14 seed and face somebody like BC, Florida, or UCLA. It would be really sweet if we ended up playing in the DC region so I could go.
The great joy besides making the tournament, of course, is that the game today was on ESPN2, so I could look for my family in the stands. My dad, cousins, and uncle were two rows behind the scorers table, so I was able to see my dad when the Demons went on a big run in the first half and had a key steal at the end to seal the game. He looks good.
The Mighty Demons of NSU are going to the NCAA tournament. We beat Sam Houston State today to claim the Southland Conference Tournament title and the automatic bid that comes with it. We played a tough nonconference schedule early in the season. We beat Oregon State, Oklahoma State, and Mississippi State from "BCS" conferences, to use a football term in a basketall environment.
We play ten guys at least ten minutes a game. Ten different players have led the team in scoring. In the first half, Mike McConathy substitutes five guys at a time. We press and try to wear the other guy down. It's ugly sometimes, but it's fun. And it's really worked for us this year. This may be the best season in the history of NSU basketball. A few years ago we won the play-in game for the right to get stomped by Illinois, but that's okay. Making the tournament is usually good enough for our fans. We'll probably get a 13 or 14 seed and face somebody like BC, Florida, or UCLA. It would be really sweet if we ended up playing in the DC region so I could go.
The great joy besides making the tournament, of course, is that the game today was on ESPN2, so I could look for my family in the stands. My dad, cousins, and uncle were two rows behind the scorers table, so I was able to see my dad when the Demons went on a big run in the first half and had a key steal at the end to seal the game. He looks good.
Papillon
Here's another short summary. Papillon is a good prison/exile movie. Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman are both great actors who do great acting. According to the credits, Vic Tayback (Mel from Alice) is in the movie, but I missed him. Sometimes enjoyable, sometimes tough, it's a good movie through and through.
This is the second Steve McQueen escape movie I've watched, both based on true stories, and The Great Escape is better.
I'm wondering if this movie won any makeup awards, since Hoffman and McQueen go through drastic physical changes based on time and circumstance. Espcaially McQueen.
This is the second Steve McQueen escape movie I've watched, both based on true stories, and The Great Escape is better.
I'm wondering if this movie won any makeup awards, since Hoffman and McQueen go through drastic physical changes based on time and circumstance. Espcaially McQueen.
Bringing Up Baby
Bringing Up Baby comes in at 97 on the AFI list. Made in 1938, the same year that gave us Boys Town and not much else I've ever heard of. Maybe they were saving up for 1939.
Actors you'll recognize: Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Actors you may recognize but not know: Doubtfully any.
There's a problem with Bringing Up Baby, and it's not a problem with Bringing Up Baby. Regular guy is getting ready to marry nice but boring and hard-to-like woman. Day before, ball of fire different girl crashes into his life and turns everything upside-down. It's good. It's funny. Hepburn and Grant are great. I just felt like I've seen it over and over and over already. For all I know, this was the first "romantic comedy" ever made, so it's not this movie's fault that it's been copied relentlessly. No reason to go out of your way to see it, unless you're trying to see all of Hepburn or Grant's movies.
Actors you'll recognize: Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Actors you may recognize but not know: Doubtfully any.
There's a problem with Bringing Up Baby, and it's not a problem with Bringing Up Baby. Regular guy is getting ready to marry nice but boring and hard-to-like woman. Day before, ball of fire different girl crashes into his life and turns everything upside-down. It's good. It's funny. Hepburn and Grant are great. I just felt like I've seen it over and over and over already. For all I know, this was the first "romantic comedy" ever made, so it's not this movie's fault that it's been copied relentlessly. No reason to go out of your way to see it, unless you're trying to see all of Hepburn or Grant's movies.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Pedal to the Metal
You know, you could change a couple of letters in that phrase and come up with something that sounds the same but is nicer and sweeter: Petal to the Medal. Like maybe rose petals strewn in a parade for Olympic champions. That would be nice.
Alas, I'm talking about the "don't let up" type, not the nice type.
Duke played host to North Carolina last night. Carolina won by seven. Duke's three or four best players are seniors. UNC's are freshmen and sophomores, with the exception of David Noel. It was senior night, the most emotional night of the season for Duke and the fans at Cameron Indoor Stadium. So how did UNC do it? I propose the "Pedal to the Metal" theory of competition, wherein one team plays so hard and aggressively for so long, the other team never gets a chance to relax.
The first time I really noticed this philosophy in effect was the Sugar Bowl between Illinois and LSU. LSU came out slinging the ball around and built a big lead. Once they had the big lead, they didn't switch to a grind-it-out, slow things down running game. They kept slinging it around. After all, Illinois wasn't stopping them. LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was pulling no punches the whole game. He kept his foot on the gas for four quarters, and LSU won going away, despite an Illini surge in the second half. LSU's offense and defense put pressure on them the whole game.
Last night, UNC did the same thing. They ran the entire game, and in the second half it took a huge toll on Duke's transition defense. A missed shot because of tired legs, a quick outlet, and a pass ahead to a player outrunning the exhausted Blue Devils for a layup. This helped Carolina build a 12-point lead in the second half. With maybe three minutes to go, they were still running. Yes, they would back the ball out and take time off the clock, but whenever there was an opening to drive the lane and dish or find the open guy at the rim to lay it in, they did. Keep attacking, keep building the lead, don't let them rest of defense and save their energy for offense. I was very impressed. The other way in which they attacked was to stick someone (or two someones) in JJ Redick's face the entire time. He got very few open looks after the first five minutes, and he was so tired from being hounded by multiple defenders and UNC's running game, that he had no legs for the end of the game. Playing 39 minutes didn't help, either.
Which leads me to the Scotty Williams theory that rules most of the time: "Don't be stupid." Two minutes left, a 10-point lead, and they're still throwing up jump shotswith 20 seconds left on the clock. Awful, stupid, wild jump shots. Shots that give Duke easy possession and numbers going the other way. Aggressive is good. Stupid is bad. UNC goofs gave Duke energy and opportunity to make it a 3-point game with less than a minute to go. Smarter play, tough defense, and made free throws allowed UNC to hang on.
A very impressive win, and UNC will be dangerous in the NCAA tournament. But wait till next year. The four impressive freshmen will be sophomores, there will be two senior leaders, one of the two best recruiting classes in the country, and one of the best coaches in America calling the shots for an all-out attack on the rest of the country.
The most impressive freshman was Tyler Hansbrough, who only put up 27 points and ten rebounds his first time at Cameron. He went toe-to-toe with senior Shelden Williams, who's only going to be a first-team ACC player, and maybe first-team All-American as well. He was the best player on the floor last night. Williams wasn't too shabby, either, with 18 points, 15 rebounds and I think six blocks. Shelden Williams, NOT my cousin. I wouldn't claim a Duke player if my life depended on it.
Alas, I'm talking about the "don't let up" type, not the nice type.
Duke played host to North Carolina last night. Carolina won by seven. Duke's three or four best players are seniors. UNC's are freshmen and sophomores, with the exception of David Noel. It was senior night, the most emotional night of the season for Duke and the fans at Cameron Indoor Stadium. So how did UNC do it? I propose the "Pedal to the Metal" theory of competition, wherein one team plays so hard and aggressively for so long, the other team never gets a chance to relax.
The first time I really noticed this philosophy in effect was the Sugar Bowl between Illinois and LSU. LSU came out slinging the ball around and built a big lead. Once they had the big lead, they didn't switch to a grind-it-out, slow things down running game. They kept slinging it around. After all, Illinois wasn't stopping them. LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was pulling no punches the whole game. He kept his foot on the gas for four quarters, and LSU won going away, despite an Illini surge in the second half. LSU's offense and defense put pressure on them the whole game.
Last night, UNC did the same thing. They ran the entire game, and in the second half it took a huge toll on Duke's transition defense. A missed shot because of tired legs, a quick outlet, and a pass ahead to a player outrunning the exhausted Blue Devils for a layup. This helped Carolina build a 12-point lead in the second half. With maybe three minutes to go, they were still running. Yes, they would back the ball out and take time off the clock, but whenever there was an opening to drive the lane and dish or find the open guy at the rim to lay it in, they did. Keep attacking, keep building the lead, don't let them rest of defense and save their energy for offense. I was very impressed. The other way in which they attacked was to stick someone (or two someones) in JJ Redick's face the entire time. He got very few open looks after the first five minutes, and he was so tired from being hounded by multiple defenders and UNC's running game, that he had no legs for the end of the game. Playing 39 minutes didn't help, either.
Which leads me to the Scotty Williams theory that rules most of the time: "Don't be stupid." Two minutes left, a 10-point lead, and they're still throwing up jump shotswith 20 seconds left on the clock. Awful, stupid, wild jump shots. Shots that give Duke easy possession and numbers going the other way. Aggressive is good. Stupid is bad. UNC goofs gave Duke energy and opportunity to make it a 3-point game with less than a minute to go. Smarter play, tough defense, and made free throws allowed UNC to hang on.
A very impressive win, and UNC will be dangerous in the NCAA tournament. But wait till next year. The four impressive freshmen will be sophomores, there will be two senior leaders, one of the two best recruiting classes in the country, and one of the best coaches in America calling the shots for an all-out attack on the rest of the country.
The most impressive freshman was Tyler Hansbrough, who only put up 27 points and ten rebounds his first time at Cameron. He went toe-to-toe with senior Shelden Williams, who's only going to be a first-team ACC player, and maybe first-team All-American as well. He was the best player on the floor last night. Williams wasn't too shabby, either, with 18 points, 15 rebounds and I think six blocks. Shelden Williams, NOT my cousin. I wouldn't claim a Duke player if my life depended on it.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Ashes to Ashes
Speaking of Ash Wednesday, there's an interesting article on Slate today about why so many Protestant churches are now starting to celebrate Ash Wednesday. For centuries Protestants avoiding anything "Roman" in their worship. Fancy services, statues, loopy holidays: all were out. That's changing now. Luckily for them, Lent isn't as rough as it used to be. Used to be no meat at all for 40 days and one meal a day.
The article mentions how "Catholic liturgy has appropriated pop music and hand-holding in evangelical style". Sadly, this is true. I shudder in horror every time I think about it. I went to a Sunday night service a few weeks ago and they had bongo drums. Ach! Mater Dolorosa, pray for us. The hand-holding has subsided in recent years, but not completely. All it's good for is spreading germs, in my opinion.
I almost lost it when they mentioned the "Ecumenical Miracle Rosary", a rosary for Protestants. It's the same type of necklace-thing, but with different prayers. No Hail Marys, which is just stupid. A rosary with no Hail Marys is not a rosary, boys and girls. That's the whole point, asking her for help. Meditating on events in her life and the life of Christ. Take away that, and what do you got? Nothing better than prayer beads, and even the Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims have those.
And you know what? It's also a bit dumb for me to even get upset about it. I'm frothing at the mouth that someone has taken one of our Catholic traditions and changed it around to allow them to pray to God. Oh, the horror! I should be happy that they've found another way to praise the creator, instead of griping that they're not doing it my way.
But Heaven help us if no Hail Marys and bongo drums is the wave of the future.
The article mentions how "Catholic liturgy has appropriated pop music and hand-holding in evangelical style". Sadly, this is true. I shudder in horror every time I think about it. I went to a Sunday night service a few weeks ago and they had bongo drums. Ach! Mater Dolorosa, pray for us. The hand-holding has subsided in recent years, but not completely. All it's good for is spreading germs, in my opinion.
I almost lost it when they mentioned the "Ecumenical Miracle Rosary", a rosary for Protestants. It's the same type of necklace-thing, but with different prayers. No Hail Marys, which is just stupid. A rosary with no Hail Marys is not a rosary, boys and girls. That's the whole point, asking her for help. Meditating on events in her life and the life of Christ. Take away that, and what do you got? Nothing better than prayer beads, and even the Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims have those.
And you know what? It's also a bit dumb for me to even get upset about it. I'm frothing at the mouth that someone has taken one of our Catholic traditions and changed it around to allow them to pray to God. Oh, the horror! I should be happy that they've found another way to praise the creator, instead of griping that they're not doing it my way.
But Heaven help us if no Hail Marys and bongo drums is the wave of the future.
Mardi Gras
I didn't get to go this year, but my parents went and are mailing me twenty pounds or so of beads and other goodies. I love those people.
Most of the media coverage was about how great it was that people were having fun again and that it was important as a step towards moving forward with their lives. Other people, including people who had to evacuate and are stranded in other cities now, questioned whether the city should be throwing a celebration when so many people were still without homes. This is a legitimate argument. BUT.
I would give it more weight if someone could explain to me how not having Mardi Gras would bring those people back any quicker. Or how it would rebuild houses. Or repair levees. Or give us better leadership. Name one positive that would come from canceling what's in the city's soul. And before anyone mentions the money that the city is spending that could have been used elsewhere, let me point out one teensy-weensy item: the city doesn't spend a dime on parades or floats or parties or balls or anything like that. It's all privately funded by the krewes themselves. The city pays for the police and not much else. And this year, I think they got help with that, too. The money the city takes in from taxes due to Mardi Gras dollars far exceeds anything they'll spend. And they need all they can get. I'm thrilled they had Mardi Gras this year, even if it was smaller and shorter than usual.
One reason I've always liked it is that it felt like it was our day. Louisiana's day. N.O.'s day. The whole country turns their attention to New Orleans. They think New Orleans, they don't think "Aquarium of the Americas" or "Audubon Zoo". They think of Mardi Gras. Tomorrow will be Ash Wednesday and the Church will start in on Lent. But that's tomorrow (actually, at the time I'm writing this, it's today, but you get the point), and tomorrow can wait.
Most of the media coverage was about how great it was that people were having fun again and that it was important as a step towards moving forward with their lives. Other people, including people who had to evacuate and are stranded in other cities now, questioned whether the city should be throwing a celebration when so many people were still without homes. This is a legitimate argument. BUT.
I would give it more weight if someone could explain to me how not having Mardi Gras would bring those people back any quicker. Or how it would rebuild houses. Or repair levees. Or give us better leadership. Name one positive that would come from canceling what's in the city's soul. And before anyone mentions the money that the city is spending that could have been used elsewhere, let me point out one teensy-weensy item: the city doesn't spend a dime on parades or floats or parties or balls or anything like that. It's all privately funded by the krewes themselves. The city pays for the police and not much else. And this year, I think they got help with that, too. The money the city takes in from taxes due to Mardi Gras dollars far exceeds anything they'll spend. And they need all they can get. I'm thrilled they had Mardi Gras this year, even if it was smaller and shorter than usual.
One reason I've always liked it is that it felt like it was our day. Louisiana's day. N.O.'s day. The whole country turns their attention to New Orleans. They think New Orleans, they don't think "Aquarium of the Americas" or "Audubon Zoo". They think of Mardi Gras. Tomorrow will be Ash Wednesday and the Church will start in on Lent. But that's tomorrow (actually, at the time I'm writing this, it's today, but you get the point), and tomorrow can wait.
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