Another good week. My clothes are definitely getting looser. Still no weight, but that may change this week.
I cheated a little on Friday night, I went out with some friends and had three glasses of beer. Then I cheated a little tonight and had a Coke with dinner.
But I'm not putting any pressure on myself to be perfect, so it's all good...no guilt.
I may be having a strange aallergic reaction to the generic Crystal Light though..so I'm going to stick to straight water for a day or two to see.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
TBL? Update 4/5/08
I went the whole week without soda...in fact without sugar. I had some caffiene headaches, but nothing I haven't had to deal with before. Diet food like Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine still tastes like cardboard to me....I may simply go on Atkins again.
Thursday night we worked at McDonald's for three hours to raise money for my school. I spent three hours in front of the fryers. I can't believe I used to do that stuff for a living once. When I got home that night I drank 4 quarts of generic Crystal Light.
The lady at the DO never got back to me about weighing in...so who knows. My clothes continue to get looser though.
Thursday night we worked at McDonald's for three hours to raise money for my school. I spent three hours in front of the fryers. I can't believe I used to do that stuff for a living once. When I got home that night I drank 4 quarts of generic Crystal Light.
The lady at the DO never got back to me about weighing in...so who knows. My clothes continue to get looser though.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
I Am The Champion!
I just won the IrishTrojan's NIT pool for the second year in a row. I came in second two years ago. Go me.
The Biggest Loser?
Well, I was nagged into joining a weight loss competition out at work. The big problem? They can't weigh me. The scales only go up to 350, and I peg it there. Someone from the district is supposed to call me this week to let me know where to go to get weighed.
I had already decided to try and lose 6 inches by the end of the school year. At one point last year I was at 68 inches, right now I am at 66, I want to get to 60 by the time school is out. So even if I end up not being in the competition, I have my own goal to meet.
The big thing, that will make a big difference, is cutting out soda. It's tough for me, and that's where my empty calories are. I can drink 4 liters of Mountain Dew in a day, easy. I figure I can drop at least 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day just by finally not drinking soda. It's been two days so far...so far so good.
To be honest, I really don't know how I got to be this big. Pyschologically I don't think of myself as this big. Two inches here, two inches there, and the next thing you know you can only buy clothes at the big guys store.
Well, Mom and dad have both lost a lot of weight in their 50's and 60's so it can be done.
One day I hope to be able to say I'm half the man I used to be.
I had already decided to try and lose 6 inches by the end of the school year. At one point last year I was at 68 inches, right now I am at 66, I want to get to 60 by the time school is out. So even if I end up not being in the competition, I have my own goal to meet.
The big thing, that will make a big difference, is cutting out soda. It's tough for me, and that's where my empty calories are. I can drink 4 liters of Mountain Dew in a day, easy. I figure I can drop at least 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day just by finally not drinking soda. It's been two days so far...so far so good.
To be honest, I really don't know how I got to be this big. Pyschologically I don't think of myself as this big. Two inches here, two inches there, and the next thing you know you can only buy clothes at the big guys store.
Well, Mom and dad have both lost a lot of weight in their 50's and 60's so it can be done.
One day I hope to be able to say I'm half the man I used to be.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Clinically Wild Alaska
I have been watching a lot of the Animal Planet channel lately. There's one show called Clinically Wild Alaska. There is something about the female vet on that show, especially her eyes that I find incredibly attractive.
Am I alone here?
Update: Her name is actually Dr. Shannon Kesting
Am I alone here?
Update: Her name is actually Dr. Shannon Kesting
Valentine's Day For Men
Technically, Valentine's Day is supposed to be for men and women, but for a myriad of reasons has devolved into "treat women ronmantically day". So, in order to restore balance to the universe, there is a proposal to make March 14 a companion holiday for men.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Generic Blog topic #2,090,897,456,001
What are the ten greatest songs that were better as covers than the version sung by the person who wrote them?
To keep the list kosher, we'll confine the list of possible songs to those written by people who have had at least one song sung by them make it to the top ten. The song also must have been released in some form by the writer as well as been sung by someone else.
The first two people that come to my mind immediately are Carole King and Bob Dylan. I'm not a big fan of either of their voices, but they both wrote some great songs.
To keep the list kosher, we'll confine the list of possible songs to those written by people who have had at least one song sung by them make it to the top ten. The song also must have been released in some form by the writer as well as been sung by someone else.
The first two people that come to my mind immediately are Carole King and Bob Dylan. I'm not a big fan of either of their voices, but they both wrote some great songs.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Behavioral Skills and Expectations
Here is an argument I am participating in on an education blog called joannejacobs.com. The beginning quote is from someone on the otherside of the argument. The discussion began with a post about disruptive students filming "out of control" teachers on their cellphones and posting them on youtube.
"I have a big problem believing that teachers who know how to teach reading and arithmetic can’t figure out how to teach behavioral skills and expectations."
Really? Why?
When did it become the role of teachers to teach behavioral skills and expectations instead of parents? Not too long ago, it was expected that students would already have behavioral skills and expectations before they entered school, and the results were rewarded and punished at home.
We used to teach behavioral skills and enforce expectations by having concrete consequences, and enforcing them uniformly and immediately. This enforcement included corporal punishment, public embarassment, and meaningful expulsion.
Then the 1960's came along and brought us the self-esteem movement and dangerous kooks like Dr. Spock.
Every animal on the planet that raises and teaches it's young uses negative reinforcement to do so. There's a reason for that...it works. We now have a society in which not only can't educators use corporal punishment, but parents are afraid to do so also, for fear of being reported for abuse. The second most effective form of negative reinforcement, shame, is also out of bounds. I have parents who have actually filed complaints on me for embarassing or shaming their child. When I explain to them their child's behavior deserved shame and embarassment they look at me like I am crazy. Shame and embarrsment have also gotten much less effective as popular culture has glorified and celebrated behavior that was once deemed shameful. There literally is no sense of guilt anymore...maybe a little chagrin at getting caught. The most popular kids at school aren't the athletes or cheerleaders, they are the thugs. The ruder and more out of control you behave, the more popular you are. Academic success and good behavior is ridiculed (school boy, acting white). Politeness is seen as weakness.
There are problems with positive reinforcement also. Praise has been completely devalued, because these students have been receiving false praise for poor performance and effort for years. Rewards are ineffective because the students feel entitled to them regardless of performance or behavior. In my experience positive reinforcement doesn't motivate those who don't earn it to try harder, it motivates them to belittle and deride positive reinforcers. As for the students who earn positive reinforcement, they tend to be the students who are going to behave and succeed anyway.
Children are not civilized beings who can be reasoned with. You cannot get children to behave by explaining to them that it is the right thing to do. Children are barbarians. They must be civilized. How do you civilize barbarians? By making the price of barbarity too high to pay, and civilization a more attractive alternative. We are refusing to punish barbarity, and instead glorify it in our popular culture.
So what are we left with? Calling home? About half of the time, the parents side with the students indiscriminately. Much of the rest of the time, the parents have no control over their kids. (This year I have had literally half a dozen parents ask me how to get their child committed to Juvenile Hall) A significant number of parents are simply unreachable. Time outs, detentions? My students either ignore them or simply see them as the cost of doing business. Suspensions? 50% of my referrals to the admin are ignored. When students are eventually suspended, they stay home for a couple of days and watch TV and play video games. (I have students who if they were literate enough would be taunting me with "go ahead and throw me in the briar patch") Expulsions? The district simply refuses to expel students. If they do, they immediately suspend the expulsion, and move the student to a different school instead. I currently have a student who has been expelled twice already this year. (once by a different district with a much better reputation who actually enforced their expulsion)
So, I have 5 classes with 35 students that I see for one hour a day, five days a week. At least half of them see no value in an education and expect (and fell entitled) for society to provide for them. They have no sense of shame or guilt, and no fear of corporal punishment. They know the worst thing that will happen to them is that eventually they will get a couple of days vacation at home.
For the sake of arguement, let's grant that I am responsible for teaching them behavioral skills and expectations? How am I supposed to do that? And if I do try to do that, when am I supposed to teach them the subject matter material?
"I have a big problem believing that teachers who know how to teach reading and arithmetic can’t figure out how to teach behavioral skills and expectations."
Really? Why?
When did it become the role of teachers to teach behavioral skills and expectations instead of parents? Not too long ago, it was expected that students would already have behavioral skills and expectations before they entered school, and the results were rewarded and punished at home.
We used to teach behavioral skills and enforce expectations by having concrete consequences, and enforcing them uniformly and immediately. This enforcement included corporal punishment, public embarassment, and meaningful expulsion.
Then the 1960's came along and brought us the self-esteem movement and dangerous kooks like Dr. Spock.
Every animal on the planet that raises and teaches it's young uses negative reinforcement to do so. There's a reason for that...it works. We now have a society in which not only can't educators use corporal punishment, but parents are afraid to do so also, for fear of being reported for abuse. The second most effective form of negative reinforcement, shame, is also out of bounds. I have parents who have actually filed complaints on me for embarassing or shaming their child. When I explain to them their child's behavior deserved shame and embarassment they look at me like I am crazy. Shame and embarrsment have also gotten much less effective as popular culture has glorified and celebrated behavior that was once deemed shameful. There literally is no sense of guilt anymore...maybe a little chagrin at getting caught. The most popular kids at school aren't the athletes or cheerleaders, they are the thugs. The ruder and more out of control you behave, the more popular you are. Academic success and good behavior is ridiculed (school boy, acting white). Politeness is seen as weakness.
There are problems with positive reinforcement also. Praise has been completely devalued, because these students have been receiving false praise for poor performance and effort for years. Rewards are ineffective because the students feel entitled to them regardless of performance or behavior. In my experience positive reinforcement doesn't motivate those who don't earn it to try harder, it motivates them to belittle and deride positive reinforcers. As for the students who earn positive reinforcement, they tend to be the students who are going to behave and succeed anyway.
Children are not civilized beings who can be reasoned with. You cannot get children to behave by explaining to them that it is the right thing to do. Children are barbarians. They must be civilized. How do you civilize barbarians? By making the price of barbarity too high to pay, and civilization a more attractive alternative. We are refusing to punish barbarity, and instead glorify it in our popular culture.
So what are we left with? Calling home? About half of the time, the parents side with the students indiscriminately. Much of the rest of the time, the parents have no control over their kids. (This year I have had literally half a dozen parents ask me how to get their child committed to Juvenile Hall) A significant number of parents are simply unreachable. Time outs, detentions? My students either ignore them or simply see them as the cost of doing business. Suspensions? 50% of my referrals to the admin are ignored. When students are eventually suspended, they stay home for a couple of days and watch TV and play video games. (I have students who if they were literate enough would be taunting me with "go ahead and throw me in the briar patch") Expulsions? The district simply refuses to expel students. If they do, they immediately suspend the expulsion, and move the student to a different school instead. I currently have a student who has been expelled twice already this year. (once by a different district with a much better reputation who actually enforced their expulsion)
So, I have 5 classes with 35 students that I see for one hour a day, five days a week. At least half of them see no value in an education and expect (and fell entitled) for society to provide for them. They have no sense of shame or guilt, and no fear of corporal punishment. They know the worst thing that will happen to them is that eventually they will get a couple of days vacation at home.
For the sake of arguement, let's grant that I am responsible for teaching them behavioral skills and expectations? How am I supposed to do that? And if I do try to do that, when am I supposed to teach them the subject matter material?
Sunday, March 09, 2008
What the @#&*% Is Going On With TV? Pt. 2
Did I really just see Ana Marie Cox on CNN's reliable sources on a panel discussing journalistic ethics?
Does no one have a sense of irony?
Does no one have a sense of irony?
Bill Murray Is America's Greatest Living Actor
One of the HD channels was running a mini movie marathon tonight, and I suddenly realized just how many great movies Bill Murray has starred in.
Most people start with Caddyshack, but don't over look The Rutles (Spinal Tap before there was a Spinal Tap) done by a Monty Python/SNL hybrid cast. Next comes Meatballs, a pretty decent summercamp movie. Compare it to the modern versions, say the American Pie version. Which would you rather watch with your kids? Notable also because this is the beginning of the Ivan Reitman/Bill Murray partnership that is going to work so well together in the future (Stripes, Ghostbusters).
He follows this up with Where The Buffalo Roam (he plays Hunter S. Thompson) This movie doesn't get the respect it deserves. Should be a cult classic.
Next comes the part that broke him wide open...Caddyshack. A great role in a great movie. Sadly, younger audiences don't seem to get it...but how many thousands of boys have memorized his "on the green" monologue? This begins his partnership with Harold Ramis (Stripes, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day).
Stripes quickly follows, another comedy classic. The definitive military comedy for at least two generations.
He has a supporting role in Tootsie, which was very popular at the time. But in 1984 along comes Ghostbusters. If you weren't around at the time, it's hard to imagine the impact this film had. The theme song was a hit, the movie was a hit and it was just good, clean fun.
He has a small, but classic role in Little Shop of Horrors as a masochistic dental patient.
Next is one of his best, in my opinion an all time classic, Scrooged. This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time, hands down. If you haven't seen it, you are in for a treat.
Ghostbuster II was an obvious attempt to cash in on the success of Ghostbusters. About the only notable thing about it is the fact that the writers, director and major cast all returned for it. Quick Change and What About Bob were funny, but nothing special.
However now we get to a true classic, an all time great. Definitely in my top ten favorite movies. Groundhog Day. Fittingly, I can watch this movie over and over..there is a surprising amount of depth in it.
His work since Groundhog day has been a little uneven, good stuff like Ed Wood and Rushmore, but also commercial roles in Charlie's Angels and the Garfield movies. I'm hoping he decides to take on some more serious roles, perhaps character acting stuff. I'd like to see him do a reverse Leslie Neilsen.
Most people start with Caddyshack, but don't over look The Rutles (Spinal Tap before there was a Spinal Tap) done by a Monty Python/SNL hybrid cast. Next comes Meatballs, a pretty decent summercamp movie. Compare it to the modern versions, say the American Pie version. Which would you rather watch with your kids? Notable also because this is the beginning of the Ivan Reitman/Bill Murray partnership that is going to work so well together in the future (Stripes, Ghostbusters).
He follows this up with Where The Buffalo Roam (he plays Hunter S. Thompson) This movie doesn't get the respect it deserves. Should be a cult classic.
Next comes the part that broke him wide open...Caddyshack. A great role in a great movie. Sadly, younger audiences don't seem to get it...but how many thousands of boys have memorized his "on the green" monologue? This begins his partnership with Harold Ramis (Stripes, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day).
Stripes quickly follows, another comedy classic. The definitive military comedy for at least two generations.
He has a supporting role in Tootsie, which was very popular at the time. But in 1984 along comes Ghostbusters. If you weren't around at the time, it's hard to imagine the impact this film had. The theme song was a hit, the movie was a hit and it was just good, clean fun.
He has a small, but classic role in Little Shop of Horrors as a masochistic dental patient.
Next is one of his best, in my opinion an all time classic, Scrooged. This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time, hands down. If you haven't seen it, you are in for a treat.
Ghostbuster II was an obvious attempt to cash in on the success of Ghostbusters. About the only notable thing about it is the fact that the writers, director and major cast all returned for it. Quick Change and What About Bob were funny, but nothing special.
However now we get to a true classic, an all time great. Definitely in my top ten favorite movies. Groundhog Day. Fittingly, I can watch this movie over and over..there is a surprising amount of depth in it.
His work since Groundhog day has been a little uneven, good stuff like Ed Wood and Rushmore, but also commercial roles in Charlie's Angels and the Garfield movies. I'm hoping he decides to take on some more serious roles, perhaps character acting stuff. I'd like to see him do a reverse Leslie Neilsen.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
What The %@*# Is Going On With TV?
Let's see last night I saw a commercial for a movie that featured a pearl necklace joke, a prime time sitcom with a thinly veiled blowjob joke and just now on Fox News an anchor used the phrase "piss off".
How far we have come from the days when Lucy and Ricky shared separate beds, and they couldn't use the word "pregnant".
How far we have come from the days when Lucy and Ricky shared separate beds, and they couldn't use the word "pregnant".
Why all the Favregasms?
Brett Favre retired. Finally. Why is everyone acting like the world came to an end? Why are people calling him the greatest of all time? That's simply ridiculous!
Yes he has lots of numbers. He played a long time in an era and a scheme that allowed him to. He's the Bill Ripkin of football, not the Babe Ruth. Most of those records he broke were held by Dan Marino, another quarterback who played a long time in a scheme that allowed him to throw a lot.
Is he better than Elway, Bradshaw, Montana, Young or Staubach? Seriously? Among current players is he better than Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?
Supposedly (I don't know him) he's a great guy and a great teammate. OK. Fine. But one of the greatest?
Favre was a good player, not a great player. Let's give him his Hall of Fame membership and stop the deification.
Yes he has lots of numbers. He played a long time in an era and a scheme that allowed him to. He's the Bill Ripkin of football, not the Babe Ruth. Most of those records he broke were held by Dan Marino, another quarterback who played a long time in a scheme that allowed him to throw a lot.
Is he better than Elway, Bradshaw, Montana, Young or Staubach? Seriously? Among current players is he better than Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?
Supposedly (I don't know him) he's a great guy and a great teammate. OK. Fine. But one of the greatest?
Favre was a good player, not a great player. Let's give him his Hall of Fame membership and stop the deification.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sudden Revelation About Education
I was involved in a discussion about Math on an education website. One of the commenters wrote the following:
Every lesson was memorizing and practicing a new algorithm. I had the right
answer every time, but I can’t tell you the underlying purpose for even one.There needs to be some balance between memorization and understanding.
This is my response:
Here is the basis of the problem for almost every problem with modern education.
Modern education is based on curriculum written by education professionals, that is people who have been trained and educated in understanding underlying purposes and principles.
What most of them fail to understand, or have forgotten, is that the vast majority of people will never need, and do not desire, to understand the underlying purposes and principles. They just need to be able to get the right answer.
Elementary, Middle and High school students only need to learn how to get the right answers and memorize the basic facts. For something like 75% of the people, that is all they will ever need.
People who need to understand the underlying purposes and principles can go to college to learn them.
Every lesson was memorizing and practicing a new algorithm. I had the right
answer every time, but I can’t tell you the underlying purpose for even one.There needs to be some balance between memorization and understanding.
This is my response:
Here is the basis of the problem for almost every problem with modern education.
Modern education is based on curriculum written by education professionals, that is people who have been trained and educated in understanding underlying purposes and principles.
What most of them fail to understand, or have forgotten, is that the vast majority of people will never need, and do not desire, to understand the underlying purposes and principles. They just need to be able to get the right answer.
Elementary, Middle and High school students only need to learn how to get the right answers and memorize the basic facts. For something like 75% of the people, that is all they will ever need.
People who need to understand the underlying purposes and principles can go to college to learn them.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Anybody Got An Answer?
How come nobody has ever made a good movie about the War of 1812?
There are some great plotlines:
Dolley Madison saving the contents of the White House as the British invade and burn down our capital
Francis Scott Key writing the Star Spangled Banner
The naval battles of the Great Lakes
The Indian fighting in the mid west
Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans
The U.S.S. Constitution and the naval battles on the Atlantic
There are some great plotlines:
Dolley Madison saving the contents of the White House as the British invade and burn down our capital
Francis Scott Key writing the Star Spangled Banner
The naval battles of the Great Lakes
The Indian fighting in the mid west
Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans
The U.S.S. Constitution and the naval battles on the Atlantic
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Superbowl XLII (live blog)
3:20 P.M.- A fairly decent performance of the national anthem. Nothing new in the commercials except a Prison Break commercial.
3:24 - Jason Taylor gets the Walter Payton award for community service. Steve Walsh's family and some of his players participate in the coing toss...Lott (fight on) tosses the coin. Giants win and will receive. More Fox and NFL commercials.
3:28 - Interview with Ted Bruschi. (it's his 5th Superbowl) Ford commercial, Fox Promo.
3:30 - Kick off!...into the endzone..Giants bring it out past the twenty. First play hand off left for a three yard gain.
3:33 - 3rd and 6...Manning to Burriss, first down. (nice blitz pick up by the running back) First down, play action pass to the fullback in the flat.
3:35 - another 3rd and 6...first down to Steve Smith (fight on). Pretty funny Audi commercial with a Godfather homage.
3:39 - 3rd and inches. First down carry and more. This is a nice drive so far. The Giants are moving the ball and the clock..the best defese there is against Brady. Manning's first incomplete, a dropped ball.
3:42 - 3rd and 7......another first down throw to Steve Smith. (fight on) First down throw into the end zone to Burriss. Nice defense.
3:44 - 3rd and 10 inside the red zone. Complete to Smith (fight on) short of the first down.
3:45 - Tynes hits a 32 yd field goal...3-0 Giants. 9:59 opening drive. Pretty good Pepsi Max commercial with a A Night at the Roxbury homage.
3:47 - Kick off to the end zone, Maroney brings it out past the 40.
3:50 - First Patriots play a fake reverse into a screen, ball dropped and Brady nearly got sacked. Second play a nine yd run. 3rd down run for a first down.
3:52 - A first down pass, incomplete. 2nd down a completion to Stallworth. 3rd and 3 a first down by Welker.
3:56 - Inside the Giants red zone. First down incomplete pass. 2nd down dropped ball by Faulk. 3rd and 10......pass interference in the end zone. First down on the one. Maroney to the left, stopped on the last play of the 1st Quarter.
3:59 - A pretty good Bridgestone commercial. Fox put some effort into their cross promotional commercials this year.
4:01 - Maroney to the right for a touchdown on the first play of the quarter. Patriots 7-3.
4:04 - Great Go Daddy.Com commercial.
4:04: Patriots kick off out of bounds..Giants start on the 40.
4:06 - A good Fed Ex commercial. A good Tide commercial.
4:09 - 3rd and 7......nice blitz pick up...bomb to Toomer for 38 yards....inside the red zone
4:11 - delay of game.
4:13 - 3rd and 6........ tipped by Smith (fight on) and intercepted by Hobbs. Great Budweiser commercial. Morton Downey Jr as IronMan?
4:16 - 3rd and 1 for the Patriots. Maroney stuffed in the backfield. First punt. Caught at the 19, brought out to the 37.
4:19 - OK Toyota commercial. A commercial for a movie called Leatherheads...looks amusing.
4:20 - Manning sacked on first down.
4:21 - fumble on the hand off. Giants keep the ball. (it's pretty clear that Bradshaw steals it back in the pile)
4:22 - Manning throws the ball into the ground on a failed screen. Punt to the 15..returned by Welker.
4:26 - Brady sacked on 2nd and 9.
4:27 - 3rd and 17.......Brady sacked again. Great defensive series by the Giants. Giants get great field position.
4:31 - nice 2nd down run by Bradshaw.
4:33 - Nice 2nd down run by Jacobs.
4:34 - 3rd and 4....Manning fumbles...Smith recovers for a first down, flag down. Illegal bat. 10 yd penalty.
4:37 - 3rd and 18. Incomplete, nearly intercepted.
4:38 - Great Planters commercial.
4:40 - Giants punt.......fair catch at the 11. 1:47 left in the half, Patriots have all three time outs.
4:42 - a Doritos commercial I'm ashamed to say I laughed at.
4:43 - Patriots attempt a bomb, Brady gets hit as he throws, incomplete. Maroney stopped in the backfield on 2nd. Giants call time out with 1:35 to go.
4:44 - 3rd and 13 from inside their 10.......screen to Stallworth for a first down.
4:45 - Another try for a bomb, Brady hit again, incomplete.
4:46 - a run for a first, 10 yd holding call, 2nd and 12 with :59 left.....Patriots time out.
4:48 - 2nd and 12.......another screen to the left, 3rd and 4.......throw to Faulk for the first. Patriots second time out, 28 seconds left
4:50 - long throw to Moss, his first catch.
4:50- ball knocked from Brady's hand...Giants recober...:10 left. Giants got good pressure on Brady in the first half.
4:52 - Moss on the field on defense for the Patriots. Patriots third time out.
4:53 - Hail Mary into the end zone..incomplete.
3:24 - Jason Taylor gets the Walter Payton award for community service. Steve Walsh's family and some of his players participate in the coing toss...Lott (fight on) tosses the coin. Giants win and will receive. More Fox and NFL commercials.
3:28 - Interview with Ted Bruschi. (it's his 5th Superbowl) Ford commercial, Fox Promo.
3:30 - Kick off!...into the endzone..Giants bring it out past the twenty. First play hand off left for a three yard gain.
3:33 - 3rd and 6...Manning to Burriss, first down. (nice blitz pick up by the running back) First down, play action pass to the fullback in the flat.
3:35 - another 3rd and 6...first down to Steve Smith (fight on). Pretty funny Audi commercial with a Godfather homage.
3:39 - 3rd and inches. First down carry and more. This is a nice drive so far. The Giants are moving the ball and the clock..the best defese there is against Brady. Manning's first incomplete, a dropped ball.
3:42 - 3rd and 7......another first down throw to Steve Smith. (fight on) First down throw into the end zone to Burriss. Nice defense.
3:44 - 3rd and 10 inside the red zone. Complete to Smith (fight on) short of the first down.
3:45 - Tynes hits a 32 yd field goal...3-0 Giants. 9:59 opening drive. Pretty good Pepsi Max commercial with a A Night at the Roxbury homage.
3:47 - Kick off to the end zone, Maroney brings it out past the 40.
3:50 - First Patriots play a fake reverse into a screen, ball dropped and Brady nearly got sacked. Second play a nine yd run. 3rd down run for a first down.
3:52 - A first down pass, incomplete. 2nd down a completion to Stallworth. 3rd and 3 a first down by Welker.
3:56 - Inside the Giants red zone. First down incomplete pass. 2nd down dropped ball by Faulk. 3rd and 10......pass interference in the end zone. First down on the one. Maroney to the left, stopped on the last play of the 1st Quarter.
End of the First Quarter - Giants 3-0
3:59 - A pretty good Bridgestone commercial. Fox put some effort into their cross promotional commercials this year.
4:01 - Maroney to the right for a touchdown on the first play of the quarter. Patriots 7-3.
4:04 - Great Go Daddy.Com commercial.
4:04: Patriots kick off out of bounds..Giants start on the 40.
4:06 - A good Fed Ex commercial. A good Tide commercial.
4:09 - 3rd and 7......nice blitz pick up...bomb to Toomer for 38 yards....inside the red zone
4:11 - delay of game.
4:13 - 3rd and 6........ tipped by Smith (fight on) and intercepted by Hobbs. Great Budweiser commercial. Morton Downey Jr as IronMan?
4:16 - 3rd and 1 for the Patriots. Maroney stuffed in the backfield. First punt. Caught at the 19, brought out to the 37.
4:19 - OK Toyota commercial. A commercial for a movie called Leatherheads...looks amusing.
4:20 - Manning sacked on first down.
4:21 - fumble on the hand off. Giants keep the ball. (it's pretty clear that Bradshaw steals it back in the pile)
4:22 - Manning throws the ball into the ground on a failed screen. Punt to the 15..returned by Welker.
4:26 - Brady sacked on 2nd and 9.
4:27 - 3rd and 17.......Brady sacked again. Great defensive series by the Giants. Giants get great field position.
4:31 - nice 2nd down run by Bradshaw.
4:33 - Nice 2nd down run by Jacobs.
4:34 - 3rd and 4....Manning fumbles...Smith recovers for a first down, flag down. Illegal bat. 10 yd penalty.
4:37 - 3rd and 18. Incomplete, nearly intercepted.
4:38 - Great Planters commercial.
4:40 - Giants punt.......fair catch at the 11. 1:47 left in the half, Patriots have all three time outs.
4:42 - a Doritos commercial I'm ashamed to say I laughed at.
4:43 - Patriots attempt a bomb, Brady gets hit as he throws, incomplete. Maroney stopped in the backfield on 2nd. Giants call time out with 1:35 to go.
4:44 - 3rd and 13 from inside their 10.......screen to Stallworth for a first down.
4:45 - Another try for a bomb, Brady hit again, incomplete.
4:46 - a run for a first, 10 yd holding call, 2nd and 12 with :59 left.....Patriots time out.
4:48 - 2nd and 12.......another screen to the left, 3rd and 4.......throw to Faulk for the first. Patriots second time out, 28 seconds left
4:50 - long throw to Moss, his first catch.
4:50- ball knocked from Brady's hand...Giants recober...:10 left. Giants got good pressure on Brady in the first half.
4:52 - Moss on the field on defense for the Patriots. Patriots third time out.
4:53 - Hail Mary into the end zone..incomplete.
Halftime Patiots 7-3
5:16 - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers did a good job with the halftime show.
5:25 - second half kick off. Patriots start from the 21. First down pass to Welker for 15 yards
5:26 - nice first down run by Maroney for 7 yards.
5:27 - 3rd and 3......dump to Faulk for the first. Brady takes another hit.
5:28 - Maroney stopped in the backfield
5:29 - 3rd and 5....stopped short......Giants force a punt.
5:32 - Anyone else think the sales genie ads are faintly racist? They're certainly not PC.
5:34 - Patriots challenging ...Giants may have had twelve men on the field for the punt....it would give the Patriots a first down.
5:36 - another good Bridgestone ad. CareerBuilder.com has had a couple of good ads.
5:37 - Patriots win the challenge.
5:39 - another screen. The Patriots are throwing a lot of them. Giants are handling them well.
5:40 - 3rd and 13...the defender gave the patriots the first down during the tackle.
5:41 - Brady now has the record for most completions all time in the Superbowl.
5:42 - 3rd and 7......Sack by Strahan.
5:43 - 4th and 14 ...Patriots go for it, Patriots incomplete in the end zone. Moss still only has one catch. Giants take over on downs.
5:46 - looks like Faulk pulled up lame on that 4th down play for the Patriots.
5:49 - Manning throws a long bomb to Burriss...he was triple covered at the end....
5:50 - 3rd and 6.......dropped by Burriss. Punt. Patriots take over at the 10.
5:54 - false start...1st and 15 from the 5 for the Patriots.
5:55 - Brady nearly sacked in the end zone. The Giants are living in the Patriot's backfield. Brady throws to Welker for a first down on second down. Welker is huge for the Patriots so far.
5:57 - Welker across the middle again for 19 yards.
5:59 - Another false start. 2nd and 15......Brady deep for Moss but way off target.
6:00 - 3rd and 15........another screen, talked short
End of Third Quarter Patriots 7-3
6:04 - Punt into the end zone. Giants will start from the 20.
6:07 - nice catch and run by Boss for 45 yards.
6:09 - 3rd and 4....first down for Smith (fight on) at the 12. Giants inside the red zone....nice first down run by Bradshaw.
6:11 - TD pass to Tyree over the middle. Giants 10-7 after an 80 yard drive.
6:12 - an OK Coke commercial with Carville and Frist. It would have been better with Rove or Buchanan.....
6:14 - Giants kick off......Maroney with a good return, but a holding call kills it.....
6:16 - Patriots start from their 11..1st and 10......Throw to Moss for a first down and his second catch....
6:18 - another screen..the Giants stop it for three..Brady overthrows Moss on second down
6:19 - 3rd and 7...... incomplete.. Brady under pressure and should have been sacked
6:20 - Giants take over on their 29 with 9:20 left...that decision by the Patriots to go for it on that fourth down instead of kicking a field goal starts to loom large...
6:23 - Manning spins out of a sack...and then overthrows a wide open Burriss in the flat...
6:24 - 3rd and 9... completion to Toomer 1 yd short of a first...Giants punt
6:26 - Patriots take over on their 20....Giants take only a little over 1 minute off the clock...not a good possession.
6:29 - Moss gets his third catchon a short completion
6:30 - 9 yard run by Maroney, another catch for Welker across the middle, his 10th. The Giants defense has to be getting tired. Patriots are making a methodical drive...
6:32 - Welker across the middle again! Nice run after catch
6:33 - Moss catches across the middle short. Patriots are in the red zone.
6:34 - Faulk a catch and run across the middle for 12...the Patriots have found a weakness and are exploiting it...
6:35 - Patriots have a first and goal at the 7 with 3:12 left...
6:36 - Brady overthrows an open Moss in the end zone..
6:37 - Brady misses Welker across the middle...3rd and goal from the 7 coming up
6:39 - Brady to Moss for a TD. Patriots 14-10 with 2:42 left.
6:41 - Giants will start from their 17.
6:44 - 2 minute warning. The Giants have a 3rd and 10.
6:47 - 4th and inches...Giants are going for it....Jacobs gets the first...1:28 left
6:49 - Manning scrambles for 5..ground causes a fumble..Manning recovers..Giants take their first time out.
6:51 - 3rd and 5.......Manning escapes a sack and makes a long completion to Tyree at the Patriot 24 with :59 left. Giants time out..1 left
6:53 - Manning tackled for a 1 yd loss...Patriots are blitzing on every down and getting pressure..
6:54 - dropped by Tyree..could have been intercepted...a wounded duck of a throw..
6:55 - 3rd and 11... throw to Steve Smith (fight on) first down and out of bounds...inside the red zone
6:56 - TD throw to a wide open Burriss with 35 seconds left...Giants up 17-14. Manning has played a hell of a game. If the Giants hold on, he's the MVP.
6:58 - Patriots start from their 25 with :29 and 3 time outs.. a filed goal ties
6:59 - Brady throws a bomb...could have been intercepted, no receiver close
7:00 - Brady sacked hard! Patriots time out :19 left, 3rd and 20.....
7:01 - Brady long to Moss...he's doubled covered...Moss beat the defenders but had to wait for the ball...Patriots time out.....The only thing I hate about this is how happy the 1972 Dolphins will be.
7:03 - 4th and 20........Brady long to Moss again...broken up...Giants take over with 1 sec left...congratulations Giants.....I called the result; came close on the margin; blew the score. (I picked Giants 35-31.)
7:06 - Belichick shows his ass....
7:28 - Manning got the MVP like he deserved. A great game, both teams played well...
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead
In a bit of ironic justice, she came back to LA to die. Why couldn't you have taken Al Davis with you?
If there is any justice in the world, Steve Rosenbloom will get the team....but don't hold your breath.
Update 4/20/08 8:10 P.M.: The woman left the team to her children. At least one of them was a Rosenbloom.
If there is any justice in the world, Steve Rosenbloom will get the team....but don't hold your breath.
Update 4/20/08 8:10 P.M.: The woman left the team to her children. At least one of them was a Rosenbloom.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Hi Ho, Hi Ho........
....It's back to work I go........
I go back to work tomorrow after two weeks off. This is a screwy trimester. We go one week, then we're off for four weeks, then back for four weeks, then off for two weeks, then back.......
I'm of mixed minds right now. I can't wait to see most of the kids again, and I'm teaching fun stuff in both grade levels. ( The Constitution in 8th grade and Feudal Japan in 7th grade) It will also be good to see my colleagues again.
On the other hand, there are my problem children. I have never had so many kids at one time that have stopped even pretending that school is important. I've got dozens of kids who can't even be bothered to cheat. I found myself hoping this morning that some of my least favorite students will have moved away during the break..... which is sad.
I go back to work tomorrow after two weeks off. This is a screwy trimester. We go one week, then we're off for four weeks, then back for four weeks, then off for two weeks, then back.......
I'm of mixed minds right now. I can't wait to see most of the kids again, and I'm teaching fun stuff in both grade levels. ( The Constitution in 8th grade and Feudal Japan in 7th grade) It will also be good to see my colleagues again.
On the other hand, there are my problem children. I have never had so many kids at one time that have stopped even pretending that school is important. I've got dozens of kids who can't even be bothered to cheat. I found myself hoping this morning that some of my least favorite students will have moved away during the break..... which is sad.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Things That Make You Go Hmmmm.....
Article 1:
"There is no tally of the number of illegal immigrants who have already left the United States, many of whom simply head south over the border with their belongings packed into a car during the annual Christmas exodus, or board scheduled flights for other destinations.
Mexican consular sources in Phoenix say they are seeing a spike in the number of immigrants applying for Mexican citizenship for their U.S.-born children, which will allow them to enroll in schools in Mexico.
They are also seeing a rise in requests for papers enabling families to carry household belongings back to Mexico, free of import duties."
1) It's interesting that Mexican officials consider Mexican illegal immigrants in the U.S. returning to Mexico, to be immigrants to Mexico.
2) It's also interesting to note that the U.S.-born children of Mexican citizens need to apply for citizenship to attend Mexican schools.
Article 2:
"Every day along the 1,952-mile border, children from Mexico cross into the United States and attend public schools. No one keeps statistics on how many.
Citizenship isn't the issue for school officials; district residency is.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled illegal immigrants have a right to an education, so schools don't ask about immigration status. But citizens and illegal immigrants alike can't falsely claim residency in a school district. "
"Calexico's rapid growth outstripped school resources, resulting in overcrowding and prompting demands that Mexican interlopers be ousted. Taxpayers complained their children were bused across town because neighborhood schools were full, even after Calexico voters approved a $30 million construction measure in 2004. Portable classrooms proliferated. "
1) I wonder what would happen if children from the United States crossed the border into Mexico and tried to attend school there?
2) Calexico is currently facing the same problems that the rest of California began to face 10 to 15 years ago. Looks to me like Calexico has handled it better.
"There is no tally of the number of illegal immigrants who have already left the United States, many of whom simply head south over the border with their belongings packed into a car during the annual Christmas exodus, or board scheduled flights for other destinations.
Mexican consular sources in Phoenix say they are seeing a spike in the number of immigrants applying for Mexican citizenship for their U.S.-born children, which will allow them to enroll in schools in Mexico.
They are also seeing a rise in requests for papers enabling families to carry household belongings back to Mexico, free of import duties."
1) It's interesting that Mexican officials consider Mexican illegal immigrants in the U.S. returning to Mexico, to be immigrants to Mexico.
2) It's also interesting to note that the U.S.-born children of Mexican citizens need to apply for citizenship to attend Mexican schools.
Article 2:
"Every day along the 1,952-mile border, children from Mexico cross into the United States and attend public schools. No one keeps statistics on how many.
Citizenship isn't the issue for school officials; district residency is.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled illegal immigrants have a right to an education, so schools don't ask about immigration status. But citizens and illegal immigrants alike can't falsely claim residency in a school district. "
"Calexico's rapid growth outstripped school resources, resulting in overcrowding and prompting demands that Mexican interlopers be ousted. Taxpayers complained their children were bused across town because neighborhood schools were full, even after Calexico voters approved a $30 million construction measure in 2004. Portable classrooms proliferated. "
1) I wonder what would happen if children from the United States crossed the border into Mexico and tried to attend school there?
2) Calexico is currently facing the same problems that the rest of California began to face 10 to 15 years ago. Looks to me like Calexico has handled it better.
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