Monday, December 31, 2012

Thoughts on Green Bay - Minnesota


The best part of the game yesterday for Packers fans was that Green Bay did not play well. I say that because if the Vikings would have beaten the Packers with Green Bay playing at its peak, I would be very worried heading into Saturday's rematch at Lambeau. But Aaron Rodgers wasn't sharp, the defensive line didn't look great and the secondary wasn't making the plays that they usually do. Christian Ponder did indeed play very well, but it will be very interesting to see if he can replicate that performance this Saturday. It'll be his first taste of the playoffs, whereas Rodgers has been there before. I think the 8-point spread that Vegas put out is a little too high for the Packers to cover, but I do think Green Bay wins the rubber match, 27-21.

Monday, December 17, 2012

AP for MVP

I'm a huge Packers fan. There's nothing more I like seeing than their rivals lose. But as I was sitting at a bar yesterday watching Green Bay take down the Chicago Bears, I couldn't keep from glancing over at the Vikings-Rams game, for one reason and one reason only: Adrian Peterson.

Watching what I did yesterday only confirmed my belief that Peterson should the the NFL's MVP this season. The argument basically comes down to Peyton Manning vs. AP, and in my opinion, here's the tale of the tape.

-COMING OFF INJURY
I don't think you can give the edge to either here. Peyton Manning's neck injury was certainly career threatening, and continues to be to this day, but in terms of a purely football sense, AP's knee injury he suffered (still less than a year ago!) was just as devastating.

-PRODUCTIVITY
Peterson wins here. He's got 1,182 yards and is just 293 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson's all-time record. That's 147.5 yards per game over the last two. Peterson is capable of going off for 200+ any given day, much like the 212 he racked up yesterday. I think he's going to break it.

Manning on the other hand, is having a heck of a season in his own right. He's topped the 4,000-yard passing marker, has 31 touchdowns and has a passer rating of 103.5. Those numbers are impressive, but as of right now, he sits in 3rd place in TD passes, 4th in passer rating and 6th in yards.

-VALUE TO TEAM
This is the part that I feel has been overlooked in the MVP debate so far. The Broncos were a playoff team in 2011-12, and they needed a Tebow miracle, but the did still win a playoff game. They have an elite defense, talented WRs, and a running game. The Broncos would have still been good with a replacement-level quarterback.
I thought the Vikings were going to suck this year. I didn't think Adrian would be back and healthy, but he's been nothing short of spectacular in surprising us all. Without Peterson, I can comfortably say the Vikings are 4-10 right now, rather than 8-6.

In my mind, and it's hard to come to terms with defending a Vikings player, but AP is unquestionably the NFL MVP.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

UW-L men's basketball's hot start



I continue to be impressed by the balance that the UW-L men's basketball team has shown throughout its 8-1 start to the season. In nine games, the Eagles have had five different players lead the team in scoring, proving that there is no one player that opposing teams are forced to key in on. Rather, they're forced to guard the entire floor. This could come back to bite UW-L in the backside down the stretch, if one player doesn't emerge as the go-to player in key situations but then again, do they really need one? Jeff Heiden, Braden Tice and Luke Tweed all have very pure outside shooting strokes, shooting a combined 45% from 3-point land. Lucas Collom and Lucas Morrissey know their roles inside, averaging 15 rebounds a game between them. Plus, 6-8 wing Cale Zuiker adds a tough-to-guard 6th-man scoring-spark that Ken Koelbl's team will need to compete in the WIAC. With other contributors like Michael Barrett, Derek Braucht and Johnny Coenen, it's no surprise that UW-L is in the position it is at this point of the season. (Photo courtesy of the LaCrosse Tribune)

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Copyright


It was refreshing to read this article that outlines how Psy, of Gangham Style fame, was able to make a hefty profit off of his song without getting all worked up about copyright infringement. Some of the  knockoff versions/mashups are quite good, with my favorite being the Space Jam Style. The parodies only made his version more popular, allowing him to rake in $8.1 million online from YouTube royalties and iTunes downloads. Encouraging to see that when artists do something that becomes popular (whether you think the song is actually good or not is a different story), there is still a chance for them to make a profit.

THE FROZEN TUNDRA


Sunday night was an awesome experience. I had been to a few Packers games in my life, but never a night game at Lambeau where the snow was flying. It really wasn't cold either, as there wasn't a strong wind at all. Just a spectacular night in Green Bay, made even better by a Packers win.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Ah...Political Correctness

FROM: Patty Lewis, HR Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: December 1, 2012
RE: Gala Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols... feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 PM. Exchanges of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts
easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time!
Merry Christmas to you and your family,

Patty


FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: December 2, 2012

RE: Gala Holiday Party
 In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on,
we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians and to those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols will be sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.
Happy now?
Happy Holidays to you and your family,
Patty

> Company Memo

> FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: December 3, 2012
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only", you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody? And sorry, but forget about the gift exchange, no gifts are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and the executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy.

REMEMBER: NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

> Company Memo

> FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

> To: All Employees

> DATE: December 4, 2012

> RE: Generic Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work?
Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet, and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each group will have their own table.
Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men's table.

To the person asking permission to cross dress, the Grill House asks that no cross-dressing be allowed, apparently because of concerns about confusion in the restrooms. Sorry.
We will have booster seats for short people. Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet. I am sorry to report that we cannot control the amount of salt used in the food . The Grill House suggests that people with high blood pressure taste a bite first. There will be fresh "low sugar" fruits as dessert for diabetics, but the restaurant cannot supply "no sugar" desserts. Sorry!
Did I miss anything?!?!?

Patty

> Company Memo
> FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
> TO: All Fucking Employees
> DATE: December 5, 2012
> RE: The F****** Holiday Party

I've had it with you vegetarian pricks!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your ****** salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW!
The rest of you ****** wierdos can kiss my ass. I hope you all have a rotten holiday!
Drive drunk and die,

The Bitch from Hell!!!

> Company Memo

> FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director

DATE: December 6, 2012
> RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party
> I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

Happy Holidays!

Joan

Monday, December 3, 2012

LINCOLN


I went to go see "Lincoln" at the Marcus Theatres - La Crosse last night, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I knew plenty about Abraham Lincoln going into the movie, you know, everything that we all learned in history class. Was President during the Civil War, freed the slaves, got shot at Ford's Theatre. So basically, I thought that's what the movie was going to be about. While I was correct (not really a spoiler there), it was an extremely well done movie. Daniel Day-Lewis portrays Lincoln phenomenally, and the costumes and settings needed for a 1860s period piece were also spectacular. To base the plotline on Lincoln's entire life would have made the movie much much much longer than it already was, so I'm glad that Steven Spielberg chose to focus the plot on a much narrower timeline in Lincoln's life. It's extremely dialogue heavy and comes off as very authentic. Very solid movie, and I full expect to hear much more about it come Oscar time.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Cargo Shorts

Now, I'm not a huge advocate of cargo shorts. That's not to say I don't have a pair or two, and I do certainly appreciate their functionality, but stylisticly, they leave something to be desired. That being said, if Michael Jordan wants to wear a pair whilst golfing, power to him. Apparently the folks at La Croce CC in Miami Beach didn't like the fact that he was breaking dress code and asked him to change. I get it, but to risk a member of Michael Jordan's status not coming back is dumb in my opinions. And to ask him to change when he was 12 holes in? Just crazy. If he was snorting blow off a hooker's ass on the 12th hole (not totally unfathomable, but I digress), I can understand asking him to change. But over some extra pockets on his pants? Give me a break.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Franchise movies


So I went to go see Skyfall with my family this Saturday. I love the James Bond franchise and was very much looking forward to this movie. But the movie, to me, was almost too good. No spoilers here, but Javier Bardem is an excellent villian. He's very cerebral and methodical, and most of all brilliant, which to me, is the most terrifying type of villain. But here's the thing. It's a franchise movie and I'm keenly aware that the main character isn't going to die. James Bond might have a gun to his head in the first 15 minutes of the movie, but you know that it's a 2.5 hour movie, and they're not going to off the main character. Plus, considering there have been 23 Bond movies and there will likely be more, you've got a good idea that Bond won't die at any point of the movie. Not saying I didn't enjoy Skyfall, but knowing that took out a little bit of the suspense.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Hoping for more Luck of the Irish


Good news USC: Notre Dame is on the cover of SI this week. I'm not sure if I believe in the SI cover jinx, but as a Notre Dame fan, I'm convincing myself that I don't. My rationale for this is that this wasn't supposed to be Notre Dame's year. The Fighting Irish came into the season unranked (or 24 or 25th, depending on where you look, but still). They have a redshirt freshman quarterback. The lofty expectations weren't there. They have scratched and clawed (and lucked) their way to an 11-0 record, and I really enjoy watching how this team plays. They're a blue collar, hard nosed team that wins on defense and a running game. I'll be watching Saturday night with bated breath, hoping they can take down USC, the preseason #1 team, on the road, in LA. I'm hoping Irish eyes are smiling down on Notre Dame this weekend.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Mason Crosby


Not the greatest day for the Packers' kicker yesterday, but that kind of comes with the territory. If kicking field goals was easy, you and I would be doing it. Yeah, he's only 11 of 18 on the season, but 4 of those misses have come from over 50 yards. Crosby has been a good kicker in Green Bay for a long time, and he's still very valuable on kickoffs and the other aspects of being an NFL kicker. The Packers won't be cutting him this week, and I'd like to think that the insurance field goal he made at the end of yesterday's game will go a long way to bringing his confidence back. And to those that want to bring in a free agent kicker, those guys are free agents for a reason. They're re-treads who have been cut by teams in the past, and are probably no better than the very talented kicker we have now. I certainly hope the Packers stick with Mason.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Movies


I was talking with a friend yesterday that had never seen Rocky and it occurred to me that many people have "that movie they've never seen". For me, it's Pulp Fiction and I get crap from it from my friends all the time. It's almost to a point where I don't want to see it, just so I can keep that story going. I know people that haven't seen Caddyshack, Anchorman, The Godfather, Airplane, Big Lebowski and classic movies of the like. With so many movies out there, there's always one classic you haven't seen. Have you noticed this at all, or is it just me?

Monday, October 29, 2012

Tradition



I went on vacation last month to the East Coast, and one of the places I got to see was Arlington National Cemetary and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was one of the most impressive things I had ever seen, and the Changing of the Guard is something that everyone should witness at some point in their lives. This picture makes what those people do all the more impressive.


Friday, October 12, 2012

Be Proactive

It's no secret that we're reliant on technology. But it's not just that we're reliant, we're expectant that the technology will be lightning quick. I'm just as guilty as everyone else at cursing at my computer for being slow or my phone for lagging, but over the past week or so I've taken a proactive approach to help rid myself of these minor inconveniences. We should be fortunate that we have these technologies in our life. What I've done to help ensure that I can take full advantage of these luxuries is a few basic clean-ups that anyone can do. I uninstalled a half-dozen or so applications on my phone that I never use to help that run faster, and I've begun unsubscribing to junk mail that I get in my inbox rather than just immediately discarding it. I've noticed that these things take only about 30 seconds or go, and on a given day, I bet we spend more time complaining about these minor inconveniences than it would actually take to help rectify the situation.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

BEER IS NOT POLITICAL

The one thing that all Americans were supposed to have in common was our love for beer. Right or left, it is my belief that all Americans should be able to put aside their differences over a tall, cool one.  There was even the "beer summit" that President Obama called to help settle differences between a Harvard professor and Massachusetts police officer (Bud Light, Sam Adams and Blue Moon were served, respectively). Now, one of them popular internet blogamajiggers is trying to align different beers with different political affiliations. For example, here's a few from the Huffington Post:

COORS LIGHT: Conservative
NATTY LIGHT: Moderate
LEINIE'S: Conservative
CORONA LIGHT: Liberal
SIERRA NEVADA: Liberal

They are getting these numbers from a poll that associates voter turnout with political party with favorite beer. It sounds a like of hippie mumbo jumbo to me. America was founded on the ideals of separating church and state, and alcohol should be the third member of that separation group. KEEP THE BEER OUT OF THIS!!!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Calm down, Packers fans.

The second half of yesterday's game against the Colts was not great. Wasn't even good. It did seem like Indianapolis was playing some inspired football, but you'd like to think that the Packers are good enough where they could overcome something like that. Well, Sunday they didn't. It doesn't get any 
Donald says it's going to get better.
easier as the Packers head to Houston on Sunday to play the currently undefeated Texans. There;s a  very realistic chance that Green bay drops to 2-4, but even then, still don't panic. The season is progressing, but there's still plenty of season left. The Packers still have 11 games left, and they're not all that different of a team than last year. Of course, defenses have adjusted, but Mike McCarthy will make adjustments too. I think a 10-6 record will get Green Bay into the playoffs. That means going 8-3 over the last 11 games. The non-conference schedule through the end of the season, especially after Houston this week, is not especially tough. St. Louis, Jacksonville, Arizona, Tennesse and the New York Giants are left, as well as the Bears and two games against both Minnesota and Detroit. I think the Packers will be favored in 10 of those games. And with all five games coming after the bye week. I feel even better about the Packers in those games. Calm down Packers fans. It's going to be ok.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

I hate Honey Boo Boo


Honey Boo Boo is what is wrong with society. There is absolutely zero chance that she grows up to be a normal girl, right? The whole baby/toddler pageant scene just disgusts me. And TLC is  ncouraging this behavior? Not only with "Toddlers and Tiaras" but the "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" spinoff as well? AND THEY'RE GIVING THE FAMILY EVEN MORE MONEY? I've seen  enough of the show (about two minutes) to know that the family is basically exploiting their daughter to a national audience. TLC is reportedly going to increase the amount the family is paid, going from $5k/$7k to around $20k per episode. I guess good for them for making money, but they way they're doing it makes me ill.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Parade!

I don't think anyone could have asked for anything more out of Saturday's parade. It was gorgeous weather, buckets of fun, and from most accounts, people got home safe and sound. I got to see the parade from a different perspective this year, being in the parade rather than watching from the sidelines. I joined one of the "floats" from our sister station, Today's Talk 1490, on a big ol' BS Spreader heading down the parade route. We played music, had a great time and handed out can coozies to the crowd. It was awesome to see the throngs of people up and down the parade route and one thing I learned is if the crowd thinks you're having a good time, they'll have a good time with you. Jumping up and down and dancing on the float all day left me exhausted, as I went home promptly after to pass out for awhile. Thanks to all that came out to support the La Crosse Radio Group, and happy festing for the rest of Oktoberfest!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Unexpected End to My Vacation

This past week, I got to take a vacation to watch the Brewers play baseball in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. It was an awesome experience with a great friend, but what might stick with me the most is what happened at the airport as I was waiting to head back to Milwaukee.

As I was sitting in the terminal at Reagan International, a plane landed and men in green polo shirts began to wheel men in yellow jackets up the ramp. It quickly became clear to me and the other people in the terminal that these were veterans, judging from the hats that some of them wore and the verbiage on their clothing. I remember hearing about Freedom Honor Flights, and knew this had to be something similar. One by one, these veterans emerged into the terminal either in a wheelchair or with the aid of a walker. One by one, each veteran got a standing ovation from the other civilians waiting to board their planes.

I was extremely close to the doorway that the veterans were emerging from so I got an excellent view of the emotion that overwhelmed these gentlemen as they were greeted with an applause unexpected to them. Some came out beaming with smiles, some began to well up, while others remained stoic and filled with pride. But you can tell that each of the veterans were appreciative of the appreciation they were being shown.

This went on for the better part of a quarter hour, as 15 to 20 veterans were brought out. They were met with handshakes and proud looks and a chorus of thank yous, and it made me proud to be an American. And this was just at the terminal! I can't even begin to imagine what being with these veterans would be like as they head to the World War II memorial, much less what they'd be feeling when they see the monument erected in their honor.

I didn't take any pictures or get to talk to any of the veterans personally, but these men had an aura of well-deserved respect about them. I was welling up myself, seeing the veterans that were missing limbs or the ones overcome with emotion. It was truly a humbling experience and one I will not soon forget. It reminds me that we need to thank those that have defended, are defending, and will continue to defend this great country each and every day. Thank you veterans.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

You eat these things.

Unless food is prepared in Walter White's 99.1% pure meth superlab (Breaking Bad reference, anyone? Ok, I'll continue.), there is a good chance some contaminants are going to be in them. I'm of the mindset that if I turn the other way and pretend they're not there, I won't notice. Noticing would be the worst. Ugh. But apparently the US Food and Drug Administration deems these to be acceptable. I can see how they could get in there, BUT WHY PUBLICIZE IT! LET US BE NAIVE AND NOT KNOW WE'RE EATING UP TO 19 MAGGOTS PER 100 GRAMS OF CANNED MUSHROOMS! But seriously, gross.

Mushroom maggots

Monday, September 17, 2012

BREWERS

The Brewers took two of three from the Mets over the weekend, and they are playing surprisingly well without the likes of Corey Hart. It certainly helps that Ryan Braun has been on an absolute tear, hitting two home runs on Sunday to not only put him at 40 for the season but 200 for his career. He belongs either at or near the top of the MVP discussion, but there's still time left in the season. If he can help bring the Brewers back from the dead and help them clinch a playoff spot, hands down he has to be the MVP. I could not be more excited for the four games I am heading to this week. Pittsburgh Wednesday and Thursday, DC on Friday and Saturday. Who knew that when I booked the trip over the summer that there would be so much on the line? I. AM. JACKED!!!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Baseball?

Don't look now, but the Milwaukee Brewers have won 8 of their past 10 games. Seriously, don't
look. They seem to be thriving off the fact that really no one in the state of Wisconsin is paying attention to them. As of Wednesday morning, the Brew Crew sits 7.5 games out of the wild card with 27 games to play. The Brewers are essentially sixth in the playoff standings, and would need to move up to second to earn the a wild card berth. Possible? Yes. Likely? No. Over the last 27 games, Milwaukee would need to go something like 23-4, while the other teams went 15-12 to clinch a spot. Is that possible? Sure, especially given the fact that the Brewers still have a handful of games left against the Pirates (including two in Pittsburgh that I'll be at!). The Packers start up this weekend, but the recent successes of the Brewers mean that I can't check out from baseball just yet.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Trivia

One of my favorite things in the world is trivia. I know enough random crap from surfing the internet to stop a train. Combine that with a few pitcher of beers, and now you're really talking. Last night, for the first time (surprisingly) I played DJ Trivia at a local establishment, and truth be told, I'm pretty spectacular. From knowing that Teddy Roosevelt was president at the turn of the 20th century to knowing (and being the only person in the bar to know) that the ancient city of Macchu Picchu was located in Peru, it's safe to say my team dominated. I was absolutely not modest about any of it either, celebrating in a hybrid Tiger Woods fist pump/Usain Bolt lightning pose after most questions. My team walked away with that $30 gift card, and we were damn proud of it too. If you happened to be there, sorry that I'm not sorry for my actions. I love winning.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Midnight Madden-ness

I was one of the people at Wal-Mart at midnight last night to buy Madden 13. Call me crazy, but I like it. The game is relatively similar to the previous models, but the intrigue of buying the new version is the new players, and players on new teams (still have to trade T-Jax to the Bills though). I'm not a great video game player, but I enjoy Madden because of the strategy involved. Calling and running plays, and being allowed to see the game much like an NFL QB would (at least as close as a common man can) is very interesting to me the sports fan. Plus, Madden is always released when the interest in football is at the peak, right before the regular season starts. It's almost like they plan it that way.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Restaurant Conundrum


So last night I was eating dinner with some of my friends. We'll call them Phil and Stacy, because I like making up names for people. They probably won't be mentioned for the rest of the story, but I just want you to know that I don't eat alone. Moving forward, I wasn't too hungry, so I simply ordered a root beer float for dinner. It was delicious. It was 1919 Root Beer, which is pretty spectacular. I guzzled down the root beer before I could eat all the ice cream, and I was presented with a dilemma. Do I ask the waitress to top off my glass with root beer, at the risk of incurring an extra expense? Do I simple eat the rest of the ice cream and keep my mouth shut? Or do I order a second root beer float?


Is a refill of rootbeer included with the purchase of a root beer float? It's more expensive than a regular root beer drink, so I'd argue it should be. Yes, I know the cost of ice cream is factored in, but still. I ended up just eating the rest of the ice cream and not causing a scene. But it's been bugging me, not knowing whether or not I missed out on some potentially free root beer. I don't know the protocol, and whether it varies by restaurant, or even if there is a protocol. It's pretty weird to think, so I'm gonna say no.

Unrelated: I could totally go for another root beer float.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Sports Etiquette


Angry kid.jpgThere's a great column in SI recently about how to behave at live sporting events. This pertains to concerts as well, and in my opinion, most of what Steve Rushin said should be basic knowledge and common courtesy. The two that really grind my gears are the people that don't stand during the pledge of allegiance as well as people who don't give foul balls to young kids. I want to go up to people that don't stand and asks them if they are sitting down in protest of the military, and if they'd be willing to trade places with our soldiers. And people who fight for foul balls? Seriously. Home runs are one thing, but once someone gets a hold of the ball, give it to the nearest kid. It's the manly thing to do.

Fire Truck Fun


This morning I got a chance to go up in a fire truck and talk to the fire chief of the Onalaska FD, Don Don Dominick, about their charitable cause. It's caused "Fill the Boots" and it goes to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a cause near and dear to his heart. Donations can be made August 30 from 3p-7p, August 31 from 3p-7p and September 1 from 9a-12p at the intersection of Main St. and Theatre Road. You won't miss it. There will be gigantic firetrucks there.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The most daring of dare devils

Conceptually, sky diving is simple.

Jump out of airplane; pull ripcord; let parachute do the rest.

Felix Baumgartner wants to make it a little more complicated.

He wants to sky dive from 23 miles in the air!

The story is fascinating, especially the part that says that Baumgartner will hit "supersonic speeds of nearly 700 mph on his way down and, if his eyeballs don't pop and his blood doesn't boil" then he'll likely survive.

The picture to the left is 13 miles in the air. Imagine jumping from 10 miles higher than that.

Apparently the first 40 seconds are the hardest, as he can become disoriented doing two revolutions per second.

Ya think?

Just crazy. Click on the link and read the story. Hope this guy survives.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Amazon Mix-Up


08082012_gun.jpgWe've all bought stuff online, and there's a certain element of surprise as to what exactly you're going to get. You cant physically see the item you're purchasing, and if you're buying clothes and shoes, it can be a crapshoot to see if they will actually fit. This story, however, is a little different. 
Bravo to the guy for wanting to set up his pregnant wife with a new TV. I can only imagine what went through Seth's mind when he saw the boxes being delivered, and the fact that they did not resemble the shape of a TV had to be alarming. To open the box and find "a Sig Sauer SIG716, a high-caliber, semi-automatic assault weapon capable of mowing down, well, just about anything" had to be terrifying.

And as of this morning, Amazon had "declined to say what the company is doing to remedy the situation."

What can you do? We'll send you the new TV, keep the death machine at no cost?

Monday, August 20, 2012

PANDA WATCH: Washington D.C.



  Panda Watch is in full effect in Washington DC, as the local zoo is anticipating the birth of some new pandas. Mei Xiang is ready to pop out some baby pandas, and it could be one of the last pregnancies in the United States due to the apparent incompetence of the male panda, Tian Tian. The quote about the male panda, in a respected publication like the Washington Post, is absolutely hilarious.

"For his part, Tian Tian, who turns 15 next Monday, has proved to be a clueless breeder with flawed technique. In addition, his genes are not that valuable because his father has sired dozens of offspring in the captive population."

Talk about a slap in the face to old Tian Tian. Not only is his breeding style "clueless" and "flawed" but apparently even if he does manage to get the female pregnancies, his genes aren't even wanted.


Talk about a sad panda.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Loggers

This La Crosse Loggers team is really something special. I've been able to watch the team probably about 10 times this season, and have followed them closely the rest of the time. The line-up that Andy McKay can run out there any given night is just remarkable. Up and down the line-up, different guys can produce any give night. And if you look where GM Chris Goodell is getting this players from, it's not surprising. College baseball powerhouses like UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, Memphis, Arkansas, San Diego State and Princeton are all sending players to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and those guys just won their 50th game of the summer last night. In my opinion, the team has two sure fire future MLB players in Richard Prigatano and Matt Champman, with a handful of other players having the chance to work their way in. I watched online as this resilient group collected hit after hit in the 9th inning last night to come back, take the lead, and put the game away all within the same half inning. Here's hoping the Loggers can take the South Division championship tonight and head to the NWL championship series at the end of this week.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Enemy Colors

Embedded image permalinkSaturday night, I attended a Minnesota Twins game at Target Field. They played the Tampa Bay Rays, and as a fan on neither team, I was conflicted with what to wear. My friends were not keen on the idea of me wearing Milwaukee Brewers gear, so we settled on a compromise of wearing a Packers t-shirt. That was possibly the best idea ever. I got into at least a dozen different conversations throughout the night, with fellow Packers fans wanting to know if I was from Wisconsin, to a intoxicated bride-to-be who couldn't believe that I would wear that shirt into "her" bar. Football season isn't quite fully underway yet, so there wasn't the total amount of hostility that there could have been, but I very much enjoyed my decision to wear the Green Bay shirt. It was absolutely a conversation starter, and got me into a few arguments, but boy, was it entertaining. (And side note on the picture, the only reason I'm wearing a Minnesota Twins helmet is because earlier in the night, it was full of nachos.)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Beer!

One of the many things great about Wisconsin is the vast number of breweries and beers that this fine state produces. I'm a person that prefers to drink local if possible, even if it means buying a case of Old Milwaukee diesel for the weekend. I could easily run down a list of my top five favorite Wisconsin beers, without even really having to think about it. You know what? I'm going to do that right now. So in no particular order, here's my list.
Photo courtesy of WXOW.com

1. Pearl Street Brewery El Hefe
2. New Glarus Spotted Cow
3. Horny Goat Brewery Horny Blonde
4. Central Waters Honey Blonde
5. Great Dane Crop Circle Wheat

As you can tell, I'm a much bigger fan of lagers and lighter beers than a dark porter or stout. That's one of the reasons I am stoked to try the new Rubber Mills Pils that Pearl Street Brewery is rolling out. PSB, like so many other local breweries, know what they're doing when it comes to beer.

Monday, July 23, 2012

FOOTBALL!

With the Brewers out of contention for all intents and purposes, it's time to turn attention to football. Tomorrow is the annual Shareholder's meeting at Lambeau Field, a meeting I am allowed to attend, but unfortunately will not be able to. It is nice to know that my "investment" in the Packers allows me to   do something like that, and I fully intend to take advantage of that in upcoming years.
Thursday marks the start of training camp, which is crazy to think is happening already but the regular season opener against the San Francisco 49ers is just 47 days away. That's basically a month and a half. Get ready.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Spoiler-free Dark Knight Rises thoughts

I went and saw The Dark Knight Rises at midnight. The movie let out at 3:05, and I was at work by 5:30. Do the math. But, it was 100% totally worth it. The movie is fantastic. Here are a few of my thoughts on the flick, with no spoilers. I promise.

1) Anne Hathaway can rock a leather Catwoman suit. Not that that's surprising.

2) Tom Hardy is jacked, and plays Bane different than any villain I've ever seen in a movie. When he talks in the movie, pay attention. It's not the easiest to hear, but it's important to the plotline.

3) Christopher Nolan is a genius. Unlike some directors, it's not all about explosions and special effects. Each scene is planned out brilliantly.

4) Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman are the best. Absolute class.

5) Joseph-Gordon Leavitt is going to be a star.

6) I'd stack this Batman trilogy against any trilogy in cinematic history. Godfather, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, Spiderman, all six Rocky movies, Terminator, and all the other ones I can't think of. It's far and away my favorite.

7) See the first two movies before seeing Dark Knight Rises. It helps understand who Batman is, and adds to the story line of a number of other characters as well.

8) I wonder how this plot line would have differed had Heath Ledger not died.

9) I want a Batmobile.

10) Did I mention Anne Hathaway is kind of attractive?

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Fair or foul?

Saw this on reddit, and I feel compelled to share. Is this ok to do? If you're just saying "Free Beer" you're not lying.

"My bar is one of the busiest in town, and we are well known throughout our area. And the owners want to make as much money as they can during our Wednesday night special ($3 pitchers and Free Hot Wings). So around midnight or sometimes even earlier they have me switch over the kegs from BudLight and CoorsLight to Keystone Light. Since it is a lot cheaper for a keg of Keystone than it is the other two. I can understand from a business standpoint the reasoning for doing this, maximize profits yotta yotta yotta. But when I was first hired and told to do this I just felt very shady and thought that we were ripping people off. Even though we do this, no one has EVER noticed (I guess not enough beer connoisseurs where I'm working at). Everyone is too busy being drunk and having a good time, yes we give the people a very good environment to get hammered in and pick up chicks, but that doesn't mean we should be selling them alcohol other than what they think they are purchasing."

Pole-dancing prostitutes?

I'm a big fan of twitter, mainly because I love the variety of different feeds I follow that present a plethora of different information in front of me in a constantly updating stream. Most of it is pertaining to news and sports, but from time to time, I uncover a gem like this one.
Steve Allen / Getty Images
 RT @TIME How pole-dancing prostitutes are destroying Auckland street signs http://ti.me/Mwwqyv (via @TIMENewsFeed)

Pole-dancing prostitutes? Well of course I'll click! And from a reputable source like TIME magazine, I know it's not porn or something risque. 

According to the report, on any given night in New Zealand, there will be "20-30 prostitutes" lining the streets, basically causing mayhem. And as a way to stand out, some of these prosties have taken to pole dancing on the public street signs. Well, considering your average Yield sign isn't made to support a pole dancer (believe me, I know), the poles are being bent and damaged. The best line from the whole story is this quote right here: "Some of the prostitutes are big, strong people"

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

There are some iconic roles in movies and television that you can't imagine anyone else playing. Like can you really see anyone but Bruce Willis playing John McClane in Die Hard? Harrison Ford is basically perfect as Han Solo, as well as Indiana Jones (except in that fourth movie, that one sucked).

One of the best TV shows out there right now, whether you are watching it or not, is Breaking Bad. Bryan Cranston is remarkable as a chemistry teacher-turned-drug dealer, so good that he has three Emmys on his fireplace proving that fact. The fifth season premiere Sunday night was the most-watched episode of the series, drawing in 3.5 million viewers, a very impressive number for a cable channel like AMC.

The success that Cranston is having with the series make it surprising that he was not the first choice to play Walter White. Heck, he wasn't even the second choice. According to this report from the MSN, Cranston was the third choice...behind Matthew Broderick and John Cusack. Could you imagine Ferris Bueller or the guy from Say Anything really portraying the character that Walter White has become, instead of Cranston? Me neither.

Friday, July 13, 2012

C'mon Taco Bell.

I went to UW-L. The oasis that is Taco Bell is located conveniently between campus and downtown. Location, location, location. That place is always busy, and rightfully so. Not only is the food delicious (at the right time of the night), it's good for you (that's a bold face lie).

T-Bell has had some phenomenal innovations over the year. Nacho cheese chalupa, cinnamon twists, beefy 5-layer burrito, and the almighty Cheesy Gordita Crunch. For the most part, the good folks at your local neighborhood Taco Bell know what they're doing. They put a taco inside a Doritos chip, for heaven's sake. They deserve a Nobel prize.

That being said, there's a certain level of expectation when you walk in the door at Taco Bell. There's the avoidance of eye contact with anyone inside, as you simply walk up to the register, place your order, then wait patiently with your Baja Blast for your food to arrive.

You're not expecting the food to be good. The first bite will be the best thing you ever eat, and you'll be full halfway through your first burrito. Spoiler alert: you ordered four of those things, and you're going to devour each and every morsel. You're going to hate your life and feel terrible afterwards, but that's part of the experience.

So here's my question. Why ruin a good thing? Cantina Bowl? Surriously? No. If I'm going to Taco Bell, I'm resigned to my fate. I want different concoctions of terrible meat and liquid cheese packed into a tortilla, and then either grilled, steamed, deep-fried, sauteed, or cooked by sharks with laser beams attacked to their foreheads. It's what you want when you go to T-Bell. Not the illusion of something healthy.


Cantina Bowl? Leave that to the professionals. Taco Bell, you know what you're good at. Stick to your guns. And listen to one of the smartest men in the universe, Karl Welzein, who goes by the handle @DadBoner on twitter. So you know he knows his stuff.


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Dream Team vs. 2012 Olympic Team



One of the questions that's been debating in the sports universe recently is who would win a game between the 1992 Dream Team and this year's Olympic squad. My initial reaction is to side with the 2012 rendition of the team, based on just the advancements that have allowed these people to become freaks of nature athletically. But in basketball, that doesn't necessarily translate into wins. Let me break down the starting 5 of each team to show why the 1992 Dream Team would win.
Point Guard: Magic Johnson vs. Chris Paul
Johnson was not only an extremely deft passer and ball handler, he was also 6-foot-9 and was a mismatch for anyone in the post. Paul might have an edge with outside shooting, but Magic's dominance in other areas give the edge to the '92 squad.

Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant
Perhaps the two most competitive players in the history of the world, this would be a dream match-up. There's a lot of MJ in Kobe's game, especially as he's gotten older, but the 1992 version is a better player than a 35-year old Kobe.

Small Forward: Larry Bird vs. LeBron James
While Bird is one of my favorite players of all time, LeBron gets the edge here. Bird was slowing down in 1992, and LeBron is simply too fast, too strong and too good. Advantage, 2012.

Power Forward: Karl Malone vs. Kevin Durant
Both are prolific scorers, but in quite different manners. Malone is a beast in the post, while Durant uses his length to shoot over anyone. Tough call here, but I think I go with Durant, who is at the top of his game.

Center: Patrick Ewing vs. Tyson Chandler
Ewing has the definite offensive advantage, and defensively I call it a wash. Ewing and Malone combine to have a much more imposing front line than the 2012 squad, giving the advantage to the Dream Team here.

What the argument comes down to is that the Dream Team is a little bigger in the post, and they have Michael Jordan, which helps.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Home Run Derby

The home run derby is quite possibly one of the most overblown events in the sports calendar. It has so much potential, but there are things about it that I hate that make it much worse than it could be. For starters, hearing Chris Berman blabber about every homer is just atrociously unbearable. Second, injuries and the potential of the derby completely ruining players' swings is not great for the competition. There should also be a couple of mashers who should absolutely be in the derby every single year. Even though Adam Dunn is not an All-Star, I would definitely pay to watch him in the derby. Same goes for David Ortiz, Russell Branyan, Josh Hamiliton and some other players who were simply built to hit homers. Jose Bautista and Prince Fielder are very deserving of being there as well. Carlos Beltran and Mark Trumbo? Maybe not. And Andrew McCutchen and Matt Kemp are both extremely good baseball players, but maybe not the best HR derby participants. I'll probably watch with passing interest, but I think the event is extremely overrated.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Deodorizing fart pads?


Deodorizer pads sold by Colonial Medical (© Flat-D via Colonial Medical, http://aka.ms/fartpads)This is possibly the greatest or  most awkward invention in the history of mankind. For those that dealt it, now no one will have to...smelt it. It looks like the charcoal filter on my deep fryer, and I'm supposed to affix that to my butt cheeks? I suppose that makes sense. But here's the question. Do you want people to know you're wearing one? What if you get caught in a compromising position with your pants down and that thing is just chilling there on your underbritches? How good is the adhesive? Wouldn't want that thing sliding down your leg. So many questions.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Where does it stop?


 Apparently in NYC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is trying to impose regulations on the size of sugared beverages. I understand the idea behind it, but I don't agree with it one bit. This is America, land of the free and home of the brave. We can vote for who we want, pray to whatever god we choose to, or even put steak sauce on a nice filet mignon if we choose. (Tip: If I ever buy you a steak, don't put steak sauce on it. I may punch you.) But the government is going to regulate how much sugar is in our beverages? Awww hell no. If I want a 52 oz. mega buddy blue raspberry/lemon lime sugar-infested slushie, I believe it should certainly be my prerogative to rot each and every tooth out of my head with one. And if we start regulating our beverages, what's next? Regulating my freedom to wear socks with sandals? What color car I can drive? This ain't the USSR. It's America.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Vote Wisconsin

One of the many reasons that makes the La Crosse area so great is the scenic drives, ranging from gorgeous farmlands to the scenic bluffs. I've driven to many different corners of the country, and I will argue that the drive on 14/61 from La Crosse to Winona is one of the most gorgeous drives in the country. The only drive that I've been on that rivals that is Highway 77 that runs north/south through the foothills of the Appalachians in North Carolina. In this link right here, you can take some pride in Wisconsin and vote for the Great River Road as the prettiest drive in America.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Scary Baseball Moment

This play was brought to my attention this morning, having happened last night during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox. I've never seen anything like it.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7939962

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Magic Gatorade

Growing up, I hated Michael Jordan. I loved basketball, but I hated the fact that he and the Chicago Bulls were so good and dominated the 1990s. As I got older, I came to really respect his ability and what he was able to do on the basketball court, especially the "Flu Game" against the Utah Jazz. When I saw the Gatorade commercial highlighting that game a few weeks back, I thought it was a genius spot. I never thought that it was trying to claim that Gatorade had magical powers. It was just a damn good commercial. In fact, here's the spot I'm talking about.


Great commercial, which is why I think this article is a joke.
The Public Health Advocacy Institute is claiming that then spot "encourages teens to engage in dangerous behavior." So they're not supposed to play sports? Right. C'mon people.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Our Reigning MVP

In case you're not aware, the Milwaukee Brewers have a pretty special baseball player in Ryan Braun. Last night he hit three home runs, and each was different. The first homer he went with the pitch to opposite field, the second he hammered into deep left field, and the final one was a line drive. Oh yeah, then he had a triple too. Matt Kemp is the MVBP of the NL right nbow, but I have a feeling that May might be pretty nice for Mr. Braun.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_30_milmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=mil#gid=2012_04_30_milmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=video

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A-Rodge looks pretty good in Brewers blue

Ryan Braun.
Aaron Rodgers.
Jonathan Lucroy and Yovani Gallardo.

Four of my five favorite people. (And you too, Mom.)

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Chinny Chin Chin

 I'm not someone who video chats very often, but seeing how fake and superficial our society is as a whole, I'm not totally surprised by this article. I am surprised that men had chin augmentations more often than women though, as evidenced here.
"There were nearly 21,000 chin augmentations last year, a 71 percent increase from 2010, according to the release. Women had nearly 10,100 procedures, a 66 percent increase, and men had almost 10,600 procedures, a 76 percent increase."
Really dudes? Come on. Buck up and lift a weight or two. Maybe even go for a jog.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Hillary Clinton

Disagree with her politics if you'd like. I have no problem with this.


Friday, April 13, 2012

My New Hero

I hope to be half the man this guy apparently was.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The Masters

I love watching The Masters every year because of the history and the tradition, and you can tell that it just means a little bit more to the players. The days leading up to the tournament are also quite interesting, with the practice round and the par-3 tournament. It's on my sports bucket list to make it down to Augusta to watch The Masters. This video is simply incredible, but I can't tell if Martin Kaymer is that good or if he got lucky...

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

New Brewers Commerical

The new commercial is pretty good...but I'm fairly certain this would be called a balk.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Is it Friday yet?

This Friday, I will be making my first of many pilgrimages to Miller Park this season to watch the Milwaukee Brewers in action, and today I received the delightful news that Wisconsin's own Laura Kaeppeler, the current Miss America, will be throwing out the first pitch. This pleases me greatly. And judging by the looks of her, I'd say she's going to be throwing a "curve" ball.

Friday, March 30, 2012

What I would buy if I won the lottery...

I bought $5 worth of lottery tickets today, and I fully intend on taking home $640 million so if you bought a ticket, I'm sorry to say that you're just not going to win. When I win, and after I pay off my student loans and buy a house for my parents, here's what I'll be purchasing...

A house with a decked out man cave...


...an Audi R8...


...a tiger...


...a sweet helicopter...


...the Milwaukee Brewers...
...a personal chef...


...and a ski mountain. Could I get all of that for roughly $300 million? I don't see why not.

Monday, March 26, 2012

DNP-Old

In the NBA, when a player doesn't play, it's normally for a pretty decent reason. Ankle sprains, broken wrists, bereavement leave...you name it. Tim Duncan, who is universally respected as one of the greatest players of all time, recently turned 36 years old, and it appears that his longtime coach, Gregg Popovich, had some fun with him. You see, since it is a condensed season, many coaches are giving veterans the occasional night off, sometimes known as a DNP, or "Did not play". A lot of times they'll write down some b.s. excuse, like a nagging hamstring injury, but Popovich just told it like it is. Duncan's reason for not playing? DNP-Old.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

A little perky there, Donald?

Is the job worth it?

I came across this article, where some employers are asking job applicants to hand over their Facebook passwords as a part of the interview process. Apparently these employers are not content simply seeking out the Facebook page, but they want to get a look "under the hood" and read messages and check out more of what that applicant is all about. Sounds like an egregious invasion of privacy, but if your dream job came calling, would you let them have a look-see at your account?

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

What's Going to Happen to Peyton Manning?

What is it with Hall of Fame quarterbacks in the NFL? It seems that they hardly ever get to end their careers how they'd like, even if they have been some of the most popular and proficient players in the most popular league in America for over a decade. Peyton Manning's release from the Colts today is just another in the long line of QB's who have unceremoniously left the teams that they have called home thier whole career. Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Brett Favre all found new teams. Troy Aikman suffered injury and couldn't continue. And hell, even Drew Brees is struggling to get a contract from the Saints. It will be interesting to see where Peyton ends up. My money is on Dan Snyder's money in Washington.