Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Golf Fan Politely Throws Hot Dog at Tiger Woods, Amicably Arrested By Respectful Security Guards



Golf people crack me up. I mean, even rushing the field this guy is polite. He couldn't have tossed that hot dog more than 3 feet in Tiger's direction, if anything he was just seeing if Tiger was hungry. Probably overheard him talking to his caddy at the prior hole about how famished he was and he wanted to resolve it for him.

Compare this to baseball fans who storm the field running around like lunatics, refusing to give in to security guards and the difference is striking...This guy tried to get the hot dog to him, when he couldn't he raised his hands and went to the ground. Security politely took him away, no body slams, no de-cleaters. Probably just had him chill out at a concession stand until the end of the day instead of throwing him in the slammer. 

Netflix Ditching Qwikster...In Other News, Netflix Executives Voted Worst Executives EVER



(CNN) -- Angry Netflix mobs aren't putting away the pitchforks yet. The company said Monday that it would kill its spinoff, Qwikster, only a month after it was announced. That did little to placate consumers who are still fuming about price increases the company announced in July and who are starting to see Netflix as a once-innovative service that's lost its way. "Netflix does more flip-flopping than a fish on a hot dock," a Twitter user named Steve Harrison wrote. "Netflix's approval rating is so low right now it could run for president," another said. The company's public relations nightmare began in July, when Netflix announced that it would stop offering free streaming video services to households that paid for its DVD-by-mail service. That raised monthly prices by 60% for some customers, without any improvement in the service. Then Netflix said in September that it was spitting its DVD and streaming services into two companies: Qwikster and Netflix. That incensed some already-angry customers, since they now would have to deal with two corporations instead of one. And, finally, on Monday the company pulled a 180-degree-turn.

Guys, this is pretty simple, no one gives a flying fuck what you call the company, they just don’t want to pay 60% more. It’s obvious. These guys have to be the worst executives in the history of horrendous executives. 

Netflix: There is just no way to justify a 60% increase in price, overnight. None. Your costs didn’t just increase 60%. If they did you’d be pissed of and making just as big of a stink about it as your consumers are about your rising costs.And you're certainly not providing 60% more value. The newest streaming options on Netflix tend to be an embarrassing collection of movies that are years old that they've just now gotten the right to stream. And TV shows? Yea there's a handful of desirable shows that are available for streaming shortly after the episode airs, but for the most part its second rate shows or shows that are off air or previous seasons, it's nothing compared to Hulu.

Again, this is really easy…if you want to raise costs 60%, do it over the course of a few years. Raise it 12% for five years…You know why people aren’t revolting against cable companies (I mean we don’t like them but we aren’t exactly threatening to burn them down and goafter the execs with pitchforks), its because they raise our prices incrementally, like .30 cents per month. Before I even notice I’m paying like $12 a month more and still don’t have the NFL network. But I just shrug and say “eh, what are ya gonna do,” because its already happened. It may be sneaky, they may not tell you in advance, but it works.

Boston PD to Occupy Boston: Stop Messing With the Greenway, You're Making CW Upset




BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The Boston Police Department is not happy with Occupy Boston. The group has moved from their original Dewey Square campsite to another park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway that recently underwent $150,000 in renovations. The BPD took to Twitter to tell Occupy Boston why they wanted them to move back to their original site.

BPD requesting protestors return 2 original @Occupy_Boston site on Greenway to continue peaceful protest. Thank you 4 ur cooperation.

BPD seeks to curtail additional damage to newly developed green space at second site. Please adhere @Occupy_Boston. Thank you.

#occupyboston the Greenway Conservancy recently invested over 150k in new plantings 4 all to enjoy @ 2nd site. Pls return to original.

BPD requesting protestors return 2 original #occupyboston site on Greenway to continue peaceful protest. Thank you 4 ur cooperation

@Occupy_Boston Please ask your group to return to original site where you can continue your peaceful protest. Thank you.
I personally think the BPD is being a little too nice, but whatever, as long as they got my back. Because if they mess up one of those $150k of flowers, I'll start a public out cry to out do their public outcry.  

I haven't thought of a catch Occupy _____ yet, but I'm working on it.  First thoughts, Occupy College Quads Producing Fake Activists, or Occupy Your Mom's Basement Where You'll Live While you Continue to Complain Instead of Trying to Actually Get a Job and Fix the Problem.   Those are just rough drafts, I might have to cut it down to an acronym of some sort. Either way, it'll be a hell of a protest.

And who's tweeting for the Boston Police anyway? Did they hire a high school girl to head up @Boston_Police? Come on guys, you're the police don't use "2" and "4" for "to" and "for". And certainly don't use "ur" for your. Gotta be more authoritarian than that.

Someone Ate Christina Aguilera




AHHH, GET IT OFF ME. 

Dude, what the fuck? Did that thing eat Christina? And before any females go all “blahblah, she’s not that big, she’s a normal size now…blah, blah.” So what, I’m not holding her to average girl standards. She was a pop idol, average girl standards make you a bloated blimp in Hollywood.

I do however find it ironic that all three of the sexy pop stars of my younger years all went through a bloated water balloon stage in their later years. Hollywood can be so derivative sometimes.

Come back Christina, we need more of this.

Police Officer Tossed from Van Die Hard Style


Getting Tossed Out Of A Van Like A Boss - Watch more Funny Videos

Maybe the diehard movies were plausible after all? I always thought an NYPD officer and black man getting along to solve crimes was a bit far fetched, nevermind all the crazy stunts they pulled, but this has me questioning that logic…Except for the part where Bruce Willis took down a fighter jet from the back of a 18 Wheeler. That was Die Hard's jumping the shark moment.


Monday, October 10, 2011

Latest Sign of the Recession: Little House on the Prairie Trailer Homes


Fox News - Evan and Gabby Coulson have always loved the idea of just living with what you need, and nothing more. The two of them now live at Camp Ondessonk in Illinois, where Evan works. While they already had a very sustainable lifestyle, about a year ago Gabby was inspired by a story about tiny homes she read on Tumbleweed Tiny Homes. The story stuck with her, and she decided that she wanted to downsize dramatically. At about 117 square feet, the home has everything they need — and nothing more. After they finish their home, Evan and Gabby will register it as a custom-built RV. Since it's on wheels and was built to be adaptable to an RV park or even a friend's backyard, it's completely portable.

Let me go on record as saying I think this house is actually pretty awesome, the interior is really cool, and looks like something I'd totally be into...when I was 10 and wanted a clubhouse in my backyard.

Guys, it's looks really nice, but at the end of the day, you made a Ski Chalet of a trailer. A really nice one, will definitely be the best in the trailer park, but its a trailer all the same. It can be pulled on wheels and has no foundation.  No need to sell it to me as anything else. It's not a little house, its a little house on wheels. End of story.

And have you guys fully thought this through? Who gets this when you end up divorced in 6 months? You both spent a lot of time and effort building this, it'll be a shame to see you guys try and split it up...and you will split it up.  I need more than 117 sq feet just to brush my teeth in the morning (I require a lot of elbow room), can't imagine living with someone on top of you 24-7. That's insane.  Just picture the first time you're both trying to cook, she's elbowing you, you just hit her in the head with a cabinet door (by accident *wink)...now extrapolate that to every day for a few months.  Miserable, right? You guys are either ordering out every night or ending in a murder-suicide. 

But hey, great work on the trailer, looks really nice.

TSA to Fire Bouncers, Purchase Millions on New ID Scanning Tools

Man: Don't you want to see my license? Agent: Nope, just drop trow, I'll figure it out down here.


Fox News - The Transportation Security Administration this week announced that it will be testing another new technology that it says will increase security and improve the airline screening process. Called Credential Authentication Technology - Boarding Pass Scanning Systems, or CAT-BPSS the machines will help agents spot fake documents, at a time where fraudulent ids are becoming increasingly sophisticated. TSA will spend $3.2 million on the new system that will be tested at select airports in 2012--although it hasn't been announced exactly where yet. The Washington Post reports that TSA is planning to buy 30 CAT-BPSS scanners from three different vendors, and will eliminate an agent's bouncer- like identification check, where a special light is used on the security features of a person's license or passport. 

Wait, what? 3.2 million on some fancy new ID scanning tools? How is it possible a federally funded security agency can't figure out how to scan a license for less than $1 million dollars when every local Joe Tough Guy police officer can scan the bar code on my license in a matter of seconds? 
What is costing 3.2 million dollars? I've been in liquor stores where they've been able to read the bar code on my ID, what hell are  you guys doing down there at the TSA? It's almost as if you have no law enforcement or security training at all, I just don't get it sometimes.  

Plus, this is something that should have been addressed about years ago, you know, instead of that entry level worker, probably making barely above minimum wage, looking at my ID and eyeballing my face to make sure I am who I say I am, I'm sure he's a trained expert.  No one thought of ID reading tools before? Really?

The TSA: We'll make you take your belt and shoes off, but we still can't figure out how to properly identify people.

The Toppsfield Fair: More Than Just Lucky Rabbits Feet?

Went to the Toppsfield Fair this weekend, expecting all the amusement of an afternoon spent pumpkin picking, and was pleasantly shocked. I went in basing my expectations from memories as a child (the last time I went was probably the 3rd or 4th grade) when we took educational trips to the fair as kids, or as I like to think of them, days when teachers were too lazy to prepare lesson plans so we all got on a bus and went somewhere under the guise of education. 

This means I was expecting Elephant rides, goats, guinea pigs and rabbits as far as the eyes can see, a few prize winning hogs, honey sticks and gigantic horse dongs to amuse my childish friends and I...Don't get me wrong, all that was still there, and I still cracked a couple gigantic horse dick jokes, but there was so much more there that I have no memory of, it makes me feel like my school was concealing all the fun we could have been having, like I was robbed of a part of my childhood in a way.

There were unsafe rides for people to throw up on, cheesy haunted houses where not one person popped out to scare you (legit, we walked through the entire thing, no one popped out once), swindling carnies and their fixed games (which I still think I can beat despite ample knowledge that I can't), hilarious people watching as far as the eyes can see, and a Mike Posner concert that brought out teenage hoochies to this patch of farmland from miles away. Never before would I have imagined I'd see so many underrage girls in bedazzled shirts, skirts way to short, and to top off the fashion statement, a nice pair of uggs. Ladies, you're at a farm that smells like Cow shit, there are horses taking pisses 20 feet behind the stands for the concert, maybe tone it down a bit?

All in all though, it was fun, despite the fact that I didn't remember to buy another lucky rabbits foot.

Note to All Offense Oriented Football Teams: To be a Superbowl Champion, Defense is Necessary

While increasingly undervalued in today's NFL, defense is an essential component of any  Superbowl Winner

            During one of my many browsing sessions through the endless realms of sports related internet content when I stumbled upon this quote from Greg EasterBrook:

The New England coach is nothing if not analytical, and realized -- especially with the past decade of rule changes intended to favor offense -- that defense-oriented teams sometimes win but high-scoring teams almost always win. There are coaches who strategize to come out ahead in a low-scoring defensive struggle. For the past five years, Belichick has been strategizing to spin the scoreboard. The Patriots under Belichick are now 62-3 when scoring at least 30 points. A high-scoring team almost always wins, so Belichick has undergone a religious conversion, from defense to offense

From a purely observational standpoint, I say this is complete and utter bullshit.  Not the bit about Belichick being analytical and adjusting as the situation warrants.  But I do have massive problems with the statement that “Offense always wins.”  That statement should be re-defined to “Offense almost always wins during the regular season, but relying on it entirely will not work in the postseason.” My beloved Patriots, who have enjoyed immense success for the past decade, recently have delved into the realm of post season futility, losing their last three “second season” games.  Underlying theme of those games?  Patriots offensive prowess was limited to 14 points, 14 points, and 21 points in those matchups.  You know why?  Despite the shift towards making sure the offense is a well oiled machine, a good defense, especially when points are so crucial in the playoffs, is absolutely necessary is you want to bring home the Lombardi.  Instead of relying on my potentially biased New England homer opinions, it’s time to bring some validation to my assertions in the form of “Statistics”
Here are the offensive/defensive stats per game during the regular season of the last 10 Super Bowl Winners just to ensure we cover the gamut of this alleged “Offense Wins” era football.

2010 Green Bay Packers
Offense: 9th overall, 24.2 pts/gm, 358 yds/gm, 3rd down % -.42, T/O diff. +10
Defense: 5th overall, 15.0 pts/gm, 309.1 yds/gm, 3rd down %, 36, Int/Fum rec=24/8, Sacks= 47

2009 New Orleans Saints
Offense: 1st overall, 31.9 pts/gm, 403.8 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .45, T/O Diff. +11
Defense:25th overall, 21.3 pts/gm/ 357 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .38, Int/Fum rec. 26/13, Sacks= 35

2008 Pittsburgh Steelers
Offense:  22nd overall, 21.7 pts/gm, 311.9 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .41, T/O Diff. +4
Defense: 1st overall, 13.9 pts/gm, 237.2 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .31, Int/Fum Rec. 20/9, Sacks=51


2007 New York Giants (Fuck, that is still painful to write)
Offense:  16th overall, 23.3 pts/gm, 331.4 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .42, T/O Diff. -9
Defense: 7h overall, 21.9 pts/gm, 305 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .35, Int/Fum Rec. 15/10, Sacks=53

2006 Indianapolis Colts (One of the rare instances a shitty defensive team actually wins it all)
Offense:  3rd overall, 26.7 pts/gm, 379.4 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .56, T/O Diff. +7
Defense: 21st overall, 22.5 pts/gm, 332.2 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .47,Int/Fum Rec. 15/11,Sacks=25

2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Offense:  15th overall, 24.3 pts/gm, 321.8 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .35, T/O Diff. +7
Defense: 4th overall, 16.1 pts/gm, 284 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .40, Int/Fum Rec. 15/11, Sacks=47

2004 New England Patriots
Offense:  7th overall, 27.3 pts/gm, 357.6 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .45, T/O Diff. +9
Defense: 9th overall, 16.2 pts/gm, 310.8 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .39, Int/Fum Rec. 20/16, Sacks=45

2003 New England Patriots
Offense:  17th overall, 21.8 pts/gm, 314.9 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .37, T/O Diff. +17
Defense:7th overall,14.9 pts/gm, 291.6 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .34, Int/Fum Rec. 29/12, Sacks=41

2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offense: 24th overall, 21.6 pts/gm, 312.6 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .36, T/O Diff. +17
Defense: 1st overall, 12.2 pts/gm, 258.2 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .34, Int/Fum Rec. 31/7, Sacks=43

2001 New England Patriots
Offense:  19th overall, 23.2 pts/gm, 305.1 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .41, T/O Diff. +7
Defense: 24th overall, 17 pts/gm, 334.5 yds/gm, 3rd down %= .37, Int/Fum Rec. 22/13, Sacks=41

The trends I noticed? Despite the fact Superbowl winning teams have very good to superior offenses, it was essential to have a defense that EXCELLED in a particular aspect. Those teams that had the entire package (’05 Packers, ’02 Bucs) offset their limited offenses with absolutely insane defensive metrics by forcing a ridiculous number of turnovers and generating consistent pressure on the quarterback with each having 43+ sacks.  With the exception of the 2006 Colts, every single Superbowl Winning team in the “Era of Offense” NFL, has had one or two dimensions to their defense that excelled at what they did.  Maybe they gave up a lot of yards, or weren’t able to get off the field on third down, but the 2007 Giants had a DOMINANT pass rush and the 2009 New Orleans Saints had a very opportunistic, turnover generating defense that gave their dominant offense additional opportunities on the field.
            By no means am I saying having a great offense is something to be ignored or discounted.  What I am saying as that the overemphasis on that side of the ball often leads to massive deficiencies on defense, an ESSENTIAL component if you want your hometeam to bring home the hardware in February.  It may serve a number of teams (This years Patriots, Bills, and Raiders) to note that a reduced focus on your offense in order to shore up your defense, while perhaps forgoing present success, would ultimately serve your franchise well when it comes time to perform in the playoffs.