tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56876379615908847552024-03-05T02:02:02.284-07:00In The City<i>"One day, one night, one moment... This way became my journey."</i>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-79979483673448090352014-12-09T23:37:00.000-07:002014-12-14T14:37:17.799-07:00Debunking the College Football Playoff Rankings<img src="http://www.statefansnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/playoff-bracket.jpg" width="405" /><br />
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If there’s one topic that could compel me to resurrect my blog after a two-year hiatus, it’s college football!<br />
<br />
So let’s get straight to it. I'd like to address the main concerns that people have had with the final playoff rankings.<br />
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<h3>
TCU shouldn’t have fallen from No. 3 to No. 6</h3>
The biggest issue that most everyone has is with how TCU, despite crushing Iowa State in the final weekend of play, fell from third place to sixth. Didn’t the Horned Frogs’ dominance against a Big 12 bottom-feeder make them a lock for the playoff?<br />
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Maybe in the BCS, but not in the CFP system, which evaluates teams on more factors than just plain old wins and losses. It's clear that this new, dynamic method of analysis will take a few seasons to sink in for a lot of people. Remember: The CFP rankings don't function like traditional rankings that we've all grown accustomed to—simply winning doesn't necessarily hold your position from week to week. It's a fluid situation.<br />
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But still, how did TCU drop three spots after winning by such a big margin?<br />
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As committee chairman Jeff Long explained, it wasn't about what TCU did or didn't do—it was more about Ohio State (more on that below).<br />
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Although everyone is hung up on TCU falling from 3 to 6, it's not that hard to make sense of. But it requires us to look at how TCU got to be No. 3 in the first place. All we need to do is flash back to the previous week (Week 14; Week 15 in the CFP rankings). The committee had the teams ranked in the order shown below, and I've added each game result from that week:<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Alabama</b>: Got revenge on in-state enemy and No. 15 Auburn, 55-44, to retain the No. 1 spot.</li>
<li><b>Oregon</b>: Won the Civil War against Oregon State, 47-19, to retain the No. 2 spot.</li>
<li><b>Florida State</b>: Looked like themselves in nearly losing another game to a lesser team, hanging on against 6-5 Florida, 24-19. Jameis Winston had one of his worst performances, throwing a game-high four interceptions. As a result, the Seminoles dropped a spot to No. 4.</li>
<li><b>Mississippi State</b>: Lost 31-17 to archrival Ole Miss, dropping them to No. 10 and 10-2 on the season.</li>
<li><b>TCU</b>: In a game in which Texas had become the trendy upset pick, TCU ran away with a decisive 48-10 road victory against the Longhorns on Thanksgiving night.</li>
<li><b>Ohio State</b>: Ohio State’s 42-28 win over archnemesis Michigan was enough to bump them up one spot to No. 5, but the Buckeyes were only winning by a touchdown heading into the final frame (28-21). A typically inept Wolverines offense ended up finishing the game with 376 yards and their second-highest point total against Power Five competition this season.</li>
<li><b>Baylor</b>: Somehow, people forgot that Baylor gave up over 700 yards this week to Texas Tech freshman QB Patrick Mahomes in a 48-46 loss. Bears star quarterback Bryce Petty left the game in the third quarter with a concussion when his team was up 35-17, but note that Petty does not play defense for Baylor. Despite the near-defeat as a 25-point favorite, Baylor moved up from No. 7 to No. 6 once Mississippi State fell to No. 10.</li>
</ol>
So, to recap how TCU got to No. 3 in the first place: (1) Florida State looked bad in victory, (2) Mississippi State lost their second game of the season, (3) Baylor almost lost as a heavy favorite, and (4) TCU handled Texas. It all adds up when you look at it beyond a surface level.<br />
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But the question remains: How does TCU fall from 3 to 6 in the final rankings? Let's take a look:<br />
<ul>
<li>First, the committee moved Florida State from 4 to 3 after surviving a good Georgia Tech team in the ACC Championship Game and finishing their season undefeated. Even though the Seminoles may have been most deserving of the fourth spot, the committee reserved a spot for them at No. 3 because they knew that they couldn't leave out an undefeated team. So that drops TCU to 4.</li>
<li>Then, with Baylor beating No. 9 Kansas State 38-27, the Bears closed with a strong win in the final weekend to finish with an identical 11-1 record as TCU, where their 61-58 head-to-head win over the Horned Frogs could no longer be ignored. At this point, Baylor is now 4 and TCU is 5.</li>
<li>And then you have what Ohio State did. Being a small underdog to Wisconsin in the B1G Championship Game, the Buckeyes looked nothing of the part and shocked the college football world by manhandling No. 13 Wisconsin to the tune of 59-0—with a third-string quarterback making his first career start, no less. Ohio State’s dominance in a conference championship game had to be weighed accordingly, and it didn’t hurt that putting the Buckeyes at fourth also resolved the Baylor/TCU conundrum as justifiably as possible.</li>
</ul>
So there you have it. TCU’s fall from 3 to 6 all adds up, especially if you take chairman Jeff Long at his word when he said that the committee felt that all three teams were separated by a “razor-thin” margin: “I know it looks like a long drop from three to six, but they were really 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D," he said. "I mean, they were that close.”<br />
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He's right. But people getting so superficially hung up on the 3-to-6 drop has led them to declare that the prior weekly rankings were a showbiz sham and the final rankings are the only ones that mattered. The latter is a true statement in a pure sense of finality with playoff pairings, but as I’ve shown above, not in the case of TCU or with learning how the committee was dynamically evaluating teams in their first year. Not when you really look at it.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Baylor suffered because of their nonconference schedule</h3>
Let’s be clear: Baylor’s nonconference schedule (SMU, Northwestern State, and Buffalo) certainly didn’t do them any favors, but I don’t believe it hurt them as much as analysts would have you believe. Because when compared to TCU’s nonconference schedule (Samford, Minnesota, and SMU), the only real difference is Minnesota, which is a good (but not great) out-of-conference win.<br />
<br />
My beef is that when critics have compared TCU and Baylor’s resumés, they fail to discern that Baylor would probably have beaten Minnesota by a similar score as TCU (30-7 in Fort Worth), so the whole Minnesota factor should have been relatively moot. Baylor’s real issues stemmed from its league, which did not declare them outright Big 12 champions or have a conference championship game that would have allowed for that possibility.<br />
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So all that's to say: Let’s forget about the Golden Gophers.<br />
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Now, when comparing Baylor to the other playoff contenders, there’s no doubt that having a key nonconference victory over, say, UCLA or Michigan State, would have helped their case in claiming the fourth spot, especially as TCU remained the eye-test favorite in the weeks following their close road loss to the Bears. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Ohio State was the most deserving team for the fourth spot</h3>
Alabama vs. Ohio State is a beautiful matchup on paper. But the Sugar Bowl’s biggest storyline being Urban Meyer vs. Nick Saban is indicative of why the Buckeyes may not be the best choice for No. 4: Their third-string QB is making his second career start against Alabama’s defense. <i>That's</i> the matchup that doesn’t sound so good on paper. Sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones may have gone 12/17 with 3 TDs against a sound Wisconsin defense, but it's one that hadn’t seen the caliber of athletes as Ohio State’s all year. Linesmakers agree with my sentiment, as the Buckeyes currently stand as 9-point underdogs, one of the biggest spreads among all bowl games.<br />
<br />
However, that’s not to say that Jones and the Buckeyes don’t have a chance. Alabama gave up long touchdown passes to Auburn and Missouri in their last two games, so there is hope for Ohio State. But to think that Jones—with his one-game body of work—has better odds of leading Ohio State to victory over Baylor’s Bryce Petty or TCU’s Trevone Boykin is a hard sell for me, but apparently not with the committee. Hence, the conspiracy theory that the committee chose the bigger name brand among the three.<br />
<br />
To add more credence that Ohio State isn't as deserving of the fourth spot as Baylor or TCU, sports-betting analyst Danny Sheridan told ESPNU's <i>College Football Daily</i> on December 12th that both Baylor and TCU would be favored over Ohio State by 4–7 points on a neutral field. <br />
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(And so much for the season-long perception that the Big Ten was the nation's most inferior Power Five conference.)<br />
<br />
<h3>
Between Ohio State, Baylor, and TCU, Ohio State had the worst loss</h3>
This is true—but only superficially. In the final week of the season, it amazed me to still hear some critics argue that Ohio State should be excluded from the playoff based on their 35-21 home loss in Week 2 to an eventual 6-6 Virginia Tech team, without qualifying it with the obvious—it was freshman quarterback JT Barrett’s <i>second college football game ever</i>, and only after learning he’d be taking over for Braxton Miller about three weeks prior. In the weeks that followed, Barrett made a huge turnaround, leading the Scarlet & Gray to a big road upset of Michigan State, setting multiple school records, and putting his name up for Heisman Trophy contention before a season-ending ankle injury against Michigan.<br />
<br />
So by the end of the season, it should’ve been clear to everyone that Week 14 JT Barrett would have handled the Hokies with ease had he existed in Week 2. Remember, the CFP doesn't just evaluate how a team played early in the season, but more importantly how they're playing at the <i>end of it</i> as a finished—or at least current—product.<br />
<br />
As for TCU, their lone loss was on a last-second field goal at Baylor, made possible by two questionable pass interference calls on the previous two drives. But as critics scratched their heads about why TCU was ranked higher than Baylor for all but the last week, one of the obvious factors that they kept overlooking was who Baylor lost to: West Virginia, 41-27, the week after the miraculous comeback against TCU.<br />
<br />
Sure, the Bears probably had little left in the tank after that emotional victory, but the point here is that TCU beat the Mountaineers in Morgantown in Week 10, 31-30, on a last-second field goal. I never understood why it took people so long to realize that Baylor had the worse loss of the two, especially as West Virginia tumbled down the stretch to finish at 7-5.<br />
<br />
But even though TCU seemed like they were the better team at the end of the season, the committee absolved themselves from any further controversy by finally moving Baylor one spot ahead of TCU in the final rankings (for what it's worth).<br />
<br />
Controversy was inevitable, but the path the committee took was the least controversial possible.<br />
<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-90168575995546480342012-11-20T01:01:00.000-07:002013-01-30T22:18:49.979-07:00'The Walking Dead' So Far: Ghosts, Warriors, and Woodbury Weirdness<img src="http://cdn.rickey.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/walking-dead-walk-with-me.jpg" width="405"/><br />
The biggest criticism of <i>The Walking Dead's</i> second season is that little happens in the first six episodes. But with all the action and character dynamics in play throughout the first half-dozen episodes of Season 3, no one will be able to fault the show for treading narrative water this time. Because after two seasons of mostly setup, it's clear that Season 3 is all about payoffs.<br />
<br />
So much has happened since <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-walking-dead-so-far-from-dog-food.html" target=_blank>the last time I wrote</a>. This season's fourth episode, "Killer Within," was maybe the most devastating to date. Prisoner Andrew, who we all assumed was as good as dead when Rick trapped him in a courtyard with a handful of walkers (and who we now know was the one surveilling the prison from the woods), ended up escaping. Then, in giving new meaning to the expression "paybacks are hell," he lured more walkers into the prison and waited for the shit to hit the fan. When it did, T-Dog unexpectedly and disappointingly bit the dust (so much for having a bigger role this season), Carol was presumed dead, and Lori didn't survive childbirth while hiding from a horde inside the prison.<br />
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How's that for karma?<br />
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"Man, can't we just have one good day?" asked Glenn before all hell broke loose. On <i>The Walking Dead</i>, the answer is no. But the bigger message the show is reminding us of early on? No one's safe, no matter where they are.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3>A Bad Day for the Grimes Family</h3><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NiQTn68Fg2o/UKtGzLu4oZI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/V7JOgloK68M/s480/wd_carl_rick_sobbing.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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I don't know if it gets any crazier than the negation of negation in "Killer Within," when Carl witnesses his half-naked mother give birth under zombie duress, helps deliver his baby sister, and then shoots his mom in the head. He seems to be taking it as good as anyone could, but you hope for Carl's sake that there are some psychiatrists still left in the world.<br />
<br />
Rick is someone else who could use some mental help. After his initial grief-turned-rampage pushed him into madness, the big question is: Did he imagine those four phone calls, or did they really come <a href="http://paranormal.about.com/od/trueghoststories/a/Freaky-Phone-Calls.htm" target=_blank> from beyond</a> (the spirits of Lori and first-season casualties Amy, Jim, and Jacqui)? It's a fair question. Because aside from Hershel's reference to his phantom phalanges, there was another mention of actual ghosts from prisoner Axel in "Killer Within":<blockquote><i>"We can't live in that place another minute, you follow me? All the bodies, people we know. Blood, brains everywhere. There's ghosts."</i></blockquote>It'll be interesting to see if <i>The Walking Dead</i> adds a true supernatural element to its survival story. No wonder I've been telling myself that <i>The Walking Dead</i> is my new <i>Lost</i>.<br />
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<img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/W6vl80O76CgeG1JOM3Vi.A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9NjQwO2R4PTA7ZHk9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD0zNTU7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/video/video.cbstv.com/2303860021_ls_comedy_mitt_zombie_640x360_2303860916.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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It's clear that the compromised prison ("It's not safe enough.") is a metaphor for Rick's mental state ("We're dyin' here."). In a matter of days, his so-called "perfect" safe haven became vulnerable, making evacuation the next best option in his mind. In reality, without any lurking saboteurs, the prison couldn't be a safer, more secure place. But I'm sure something will uproot them by the end of the season.<br />
<br />
Part of me thinks that the phone calls to Rick were real because of how Lori picked Rick up in the final conversation and urged him to take care of Carl and his baby girl—which may be the only way he keeps his head on straight. Rick picking up his daughter for the first time and seeing the tears forming in his eyes was one of the more beautiful moments in this series. I'm looking forward to the scene where Rick and/or Carl names her.<br />
<br />
Give credit to director Guy Ferland for the scene's dramatic framing, and to Andrew Lincoln (Rick) for turning in an absolutely heartbreaking performance when he saw Carl and the baby, but no Lori. Also terrific was Lauren Cohan (Maggie), whose lips were trembling so uncontrollably that her non-response to Rick said everything about Lori's fate.<br />
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And Rick, when you think of Lori, think of this last look the two of you shared:<br />
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<img src="http://allnewmoviereviews.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Killer-Within-Lori.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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<h3>Welcome to Woodbury—Mayberry, But Not</h3><img src="http://www.fastcocreate.com/multisite_files/cocreate/imagecache/inline-large/inline/2012/10/1681711-inline-twd-gp-303-0607-0049.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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In the third episode, "Walk with Me," we were introduced to Season 3's main antagonist, the Governor (real name: Philip), and the picture-perfect town of Woodbury that he runs. Played by British actor David Morrissey with steady Southern charm, the Governor starts out as a seeming good guy who does his best to provide a return to normalcy for Woodbury's inhabitants. "I'm just a guy trying to do right by the people I care about," he says. But it doesn't take long to see that it's all a front for something much larger and potentially sinister.<br />
<br />
It's still a little murky to me why the Governor murdered the helicopter pilot's fellow soldiers. Did he feel threatened that the military would take control over Woodbury? Was he eager to commandeer their weapons and supplies? Did he need some more human trophies for his aquariums? Or all of the above?<br />
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<img src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/kkcb.com/files/2012/10/walkingdeadgovernor.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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Given his golf-ball scene with Merle, we know the Governor's a control freak who loves the community he's created in Woodbury maybe even more than his old life, enough to where he would die to save his creation. But under Woodbury's facade, there's an agenda dark enough for him to manipulate and insulate his people from. It's his world and his cult, and I'm anxious to see what sacrifices he makes to protect his beloved town—or his walker daughter, Penny.<br />
<br />
Speaking of, how creepy was it to see him forcibly combing her hair as she fought to bite him? Like Hershel and his barn full of family walkers, the Governor's holding out hope that one day there'll be a cure, which I believe will be the ultimate endgame of <i>The Walking Dead</i>:<blockquote><i>"Do you think they remember anything? The person they once were?... Milton believes there might be a trace of the person they were still trapped inside."</i></blockquote>On a related note, I'm curious to know when the show will reveal what caused the outbreak in the first place, and by what universal mechanism (sunshine, the water supply?) the virus was spread to all humanity. I'm thinking the answer's revealed in the penultimate season, leaving the final season to finding and obtaining the cure. <br />
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<h3>Enter the Warrior</h3><img src="http://i1.cdnds.net/12/46/618x406/ustv_walking_dead_s03_e05_2.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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One person the Governor has no answer for is Michonne. Her trademark kitana and quiet warrior mentality is already one of the highlights of this season. Though I have to say that I think actress Danai Gurira probably overplayed Michonne's intense suspicion and unchanging scowl around Woodbury, and she may have seen through everything—the Governor, the firefight with the soldiers, and the captive walkers—about as fast as she offed her longtime walker slaves. "This place is <i>not</i> what they say it is," she warns Andrea, who you know instantly flashed back to this line when she witnessed the bizarre Woodbury Fight Night. But here's one clue to Michonne's Spidey sense, and it's from the sword-wielding heroine herself: "My shit never stopped being together."<br />
<br />
In the sixth episode, "Hounded," I love Michonne's <a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCk2j_u9M1wHQLSobxMqcnvtyMqdQF6N_4WMdhFSrvqM1TypPv59QgrBkj" target=_blank>Arnold Schwarzenegger/<i>Predator</i></a> moment, when she realizes that zombie guts make for <a href="http://shaniohilton.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/episode-2-glenn-rick-guts-760.jpg" target=_blank>great camouflage</a>. And this leads to an incredible closing scene, with Rick approaching the perimeter of the prison with a puzzled look on his face. Beyond the approaching gaggle of walkers is Michonne in tow, and for the first time, we see her with a genuine "help me" look and need for others. It's another one of those special <i>Lost</i>-like moments where we witness the beginning of great characters crossing paths and forming new alliances in a topsy-turvy world. But my favorite part is how Michonne brought along the basket of baby formula. It says so much.<br />
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<img src="http://brandnewcool.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/hounded-michonne.gif" width="405"/><br />
<br />
With Michonne joining Rick's group and Merle taking Glenn and Maggie hostage, boy oh boy is there a war coming. Throw in complications with the Andrea and Darryl's loyalty between members of the two groups, and my only thought is: How awesome are the next few episodes going to be to close out the first half of Season 3?<br />
<br />
<h3>The Stream of Bullets and Arrows:</h3><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s4Ur7ToYptA/UKtGz8ZOw7I/AAAAAAAAAZY/Pp0VziwJdYw/s640/wd_darryl.jpg" width="405"/><ul><li>I'm still wondering about the military chopper that crashed at the beginning of the third episode. Did it go down due to malfunction (as the pilot Welles implied), or did the Governor's people shoot it down? What sounds like a gunshot can be heard just before the whirlybird spins out of control.<br />
<li>Am I the only one who thinks that Milton (the Governor's nerdy right-hand man) could be up to something with his special tea, like some sort of brainwashing or conditioning agent?<br />
<li>Do all the slashes in the Governor's journal represent days gone by or biter kills? Or something else?<br />
<li>Andrea may not have been big on Woodbury's "brutality for fun" entertainment, but as we've seen with Rick and Michonne, human culture is gradually changing to treating walker slaying like its own sport. Look no further than the satisfaction that washed over Andrea's face when she jumped Woodbury's wall to take down an approaching biter. "You don’t have to be ashamed about liking the fight or fightin' the fight," says the Governor. "I love it. It's not the only thing, but nowadays it’s part of being alive. Really alive."<br />
<li>Oscar, you've proven your loyalty by shooting your fellow inmate Andrew in the head instead of Rick. Welcome to the family. Axel—you too, bro.<br />
<li>Carol, welcome back to the land of the living! And who better to carry you off to safety than Darryl?<br />
<li>For me the most likable character on the show continues to be Darryl, a tough guy with a soft side (how about those baby-daddy skills?). He's become a solid second-in-command to Rick, which only makes his long-impending reunion with Merle all the more conflicting in advance. The <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/goldenglobes/la-en-norman-reedus-walking-dead-20121129,0,6369052.story" target=_blank><i>Los Angeles Times</i></a> is a Darryl fan, too.<br />
<li>I loved the tense dynamic in the scene where Merle threatens Glenn and Maggie as Michonne looks on in hiding. As a viewer, you wanted Michonne to intervene, but there was probably no way she could have done it without giving Merle an advantage.<br />
<li>I get the feeling that the Governor didn't quite buy that Merle killed Michonne but wasn't able to produce her head and sword because he "got caught in a crowd." Keep an eye on that.<br />
<li>Bitergram – <i>The Walking Dead</i>'s first meme?</ul><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-44376290530204328022012-10-27T17:16:00.000-06:002012-11-18T22:46:27.945-07:00'The Walking Dead' So Far: From Dog Food to Canned Cans<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuC6Z4bkMs-_iihL1n3mclixpwF50UW_gPS4jUL5lEOQkmP265PyQNwR_twYz2Mumd1hkOj1hzKMYKd1NLJKKRHxMs6yBg1-F645c4CoaWg3B6cbChUBtPTnPZeGPc0bQaEjTeuPKFmUQ/s1600/twds3pic1.jpeg" width="405"/><br />
<br />
If you were wondering what the survivors in <i>The Walking Dead</i> have been up to since we last saw them sitting anxiously around a campfire seven months ago, the wordless five-minute opening scene in "Seed," the Season 3 premiere, says it all. No longer inexperienced and insulated from danger, the survivors have become a well-oiled army of zombie killers and marksmen who efficiently scavenge and quietly secure premises in a matter of minutes. They've become good at this, but their nomadic lifestyle has them looking more haggard and hungrier than ever as they continue looking for a more permanent safe haven. Worse, time's running out to find a proper place where Lori can give birth to Rick (or Shane's) baby.<br />
<br />
Enter the prison, whose relative proximity as it appeared in the closing shot of Season 2 made it seem like an imminent discovery, but was somehow overlooked all winter when the survivors were going in circles trying to find a way out of the immediate area.<br />
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<h3>One Man's Prison Is Another Man's Goldmine</h3><img src="http://www.tvequals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/The-Walking-Dead-Season-3-Premiere-Seed-2012-15.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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In any case, the prison is the new farm, and it's not just a key set piece, but an imposing character that feels true to the texture of this grim post-apocalyptic reality. But just when you think the survivors have finally found true security inside its steel confines, there are actual living prisoners to deal with.<br />
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<img src="http://www.seat42f.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/The-Walking-Dead-Season-3-Episode-2-Sick-26.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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One of the best scenes in the second episode, "Sick," came from the perspective of five convicts who've been awaiting rescue from the prison's pantry for the past 10 months. Without any idea that walkers have overrun the country during their lockdown, the survivors' stark world-gone-mad reality check reminded us as viewers just how hopeless things are—no hospitals, no cellphones, no rescue—"it's all gone." Which sets up a great irony for these prisoners, who are quick to have second thoughts about their newfound and long-sought freedom: "We're moving back into our cell block." As Rick says, they're the lucky ones for being incarcerated this whole time. Looks like their crimes were worth going to jail after all.<br />
<br />
It didn't take long to see Season 3's tagline of "Fight the dead, fear the living" in action. Tomas, the alpha of the prisoner group, got territorial with Rick from the start, and with his increasingly obvious attempts to take out Rick, it was only a matter of time till there was one man left standing. "Shit happens"—that's right, amigo.<br />
<br />
(And yes, as the most popular show on cable TV right now, AMC has apparently granted <i>The Walking Dead</i> a free pass on profanity. It's more true to the show's dialogue, but it still catches me off-guard when I hear curse words on broadcast television.)<br />
<br />
On another note, how funny was it to see the Walker 101 crash course go straight out the window when the prisoners instantly bum-rushed the first zombie they saw? The look of disapproval from Darryl, Rick, and T-Dog was a nice touch.<br />
<br />
Speaking of ignoring invaluable life-saving zombie tips, why did Big Tiny decide to back off and break rank from the group while clearing out his group's cell block? The only answer I can think of is to move the plot forward by establishing Tomas as a merciless murderer, thus making Rick's decision to tomahawk him a little easier. Seems like an obvious plot beat, but in any case—Big Tiny, it was nice knowin' ya.<br />
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<h3>Some People Say There's a Woman to Blame...</h3><img src="http://www.cinemablend.com/images/sections/47417/_1348705902.jpg" width="405"/><br />
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While the group has come together under Rick's leadership, his relationship with Lori is a shell of its former self. The last time we saw the married couple, Lori pushed Rick away after learning that he and her son both killed Shane (once as a person, once as a walker), a situation she herself was inadvertently responsible for. Now, months later, she’s taken responsibility for the tragedy and concedes to being a bad wife who won't be up for any Mother of the Year awards. But given Rick's despondency and many empty looks toward her, I feel like we're still missing something here—another wrench in their relationship on the level of "he hates me." But I'm not sure there is one.<br />
<br />
Whereas viewers were upset with Lori's treatment of Rick at the end of the Season 2 finale, Rick now looks like the bad spouse by not making an effort to talk things out with Lori, who remains open to reconciling. Not even their heroics with saving Hershel's life can fully bring them together—the best Rick can muster is a no-look touch on Lori's shoulder to thank her—on behalf of the group—for saving Hershel.<br />
<br />
Kudos to the directors, actors, and editors for capturing the subtle moments of tension and despair in this crumbling relationship, which isn't so much a marriage now, but a partnership of obligation held together by an impending pregnancy.<br />
<br />
<h3>Not a Killer?</h3><img src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50857835/turbine/la-et-st-the-walking-dead-recap-come-at-me-bro-001/600" width="405"/><br />
<br />
<i>"I need you to know that not for one second do I think there's malice in your heart. You're not a killer, and I know that... So do whatever you gotta do to keep this crib safe. And do it with a clear conscience."</i><br />
<br />
After watching the first two episodes, I'm not so sure Lori's completely right about her assessment of Rick. With his remorseless but righteous execution of Tomas, gone is his hesitation to kill anyone who stands in his way—and even those who don't. Prisoner Andrew ran for his life, only for Rick to trap him outside and leave him for dead with lingering walkers. His friendly advice? "You better run."<br />
<br />
As Andrew proceeded to get torn to shreds, Rick took a moment to mentally pay his penance, but you know he's not going to lose any sleep over it like the old Rick would have. The old Rick we knew at the beginning of last season was democratic, and inclined to take prisoners first while giving people the benefit of the doubt. But this is the new Rick: all business all the time, where the ends have never justified the means more than they do now. <br />
<br />
Rick is still among the living, but he's more alone than ever. And inside, he's beginning to resemble more of a walker. Aside from finding the prison, his only joy that's come is in the form of sniping walkers atop a guard tower at the prison.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://cdn.wegotthiscovered.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Walking-Dead-2.jpg" width="405"/><br />
<br />
<h3>The Stream of Bullets and Arrows:</h3><ul><li>It's interesting that, to my knowledge, the word "zombie" has ever been spoken in any episode of <i>The Walking Dead</i>.<br />
<li>With success comes money, and with money comes a higher body count. With each passing eye gouge, headshot, and decapitation, I become increasingly curious about how they're pulling off these impressive special effects.<br />
<li>And with a bigger budget, it's clear that AMC's investment in the show has quickly paid off: 10.9 million people watched the Season 3 premiere, making it the most-watched episode for a drama series in basic-cable history.<br />
<li>I loved seeing the glow on Rick's face and the wheels turning inside his head when he first laid eyes on the prison. By the end of the season we'll see if he still thinks "it's perfect."<br />
<li>You have to wonder about the psychological toll that living in a walker world takes on the survivors, as the memory of an easier life seems like a pipe dream. But Beth's rendition of "Parting Glass" was a rare glimmer of humanity from a world long gone.<br />
<li>It looks like the writers are finally responding to criticism by giving T-Dog more of a role this season. In the first two episodes alone, it seems like he's had just as many speaking lines than in the previous 19 episodes combined.<br />
<li>Also looking to have a bigger role is "Kickback" Carol, who, in another plot beat, whisked Glenn away in potentially untimely fashion for some C-section practice.<br />
<li>As if his sheriff's hat wasn't enough of a reminder, Carl has become an apt deputy as Rick Jr., even stealing one of his dad's retorts to Lori: "Then get off my back!" Carl's also becoming a man—literally—as his adolescence gets more obvious between seasons. This is <a href="http://www.zap2it.com/media/photo/2012-02/101173600-21075534.jpg" target=_blank>the same problem</a> they had with Walt on <i>Lost</i>, and he only lasted two full seasons before his growth spurts became incongruous with the story. Although the timeline in <i>The Walking Dead</i> is much different, it'll be interesting to see how they handle this situation with Carl in future seasons.<br />
<li>Speaking of puberty and hormones, it looks like Carl has a thing for Beth, but don't expect them to shack up as long as Hershel's around. And we now know that Carol definitely has eyes for Darryl. Now with the privacy that only an abandoned prison can provide, maybe we'll see the emergence of Carryl before season's end.<br />
<li>Now that we our prisoner lavatory question has been answered, we can give kudos to the writers for anticipating all mission-uncritical fan questions in advance. The scene was shot convincingly enough to actually recall that lovely Porta Potty scent.<br />
<li>Lori's fear of her stillborn zombie baby tearing her apart from inside the womb is one of the most terrifying thoughts this show has produced to date.<br />
<li>Almost as gut-wrenching was Rick's quick decision to amputate Hershel's walker-bitten foot. Kind of reminds me of <a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080613183839/24/images/a/ae/JackChaseHand.jpg" target=_blank>a decision that Jack Bauer made once</a>.<br />
<li>Just as his Maggie was assuming the worst for Hershel, I was happy to see him reanimate as a human, which felt like the right outcome. But his momentary awakening and headlock he put Lori into made for a frightful little twist.<br />
<li>Now that Hershel has survived the farm attack and this prison episode, I get the feeling they'll at least keep him around till the end of the season—as long as he's not in a <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/hershel-from-the-walking-dead-got-arrested-for-d" target=_blank>real jail</a>.<br />
<li>And lastly, who could be surveilling the prison from the woods? This thing's just getting started.</ul><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-87570268232789688372012-05-12T18:50:00.001-06:002014-07-05T19:41:50.692-06:00Nothing But Heart<img src="http://joedonatelli.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/friday_night_lights.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<i>"Five years is something that you have to pay attention to... A five-year contract—that's not something that comes along every day."</i><br />
<br />
2010 was a year that saw some remarkable television shows say goodbye. I've already written about the epic swan song of <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/06/fantastic-journey.html" target="_blank"><i>Lost</i></a> and the overdue conclusion of <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/06/seconds-out.html" target="_blank"><i>24</i></a>, but I haven't gotten around to blogging about NBC's beloved high school football drama, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_Night_Lights_%28TV_series%29" target="_blank"><i>Friday Night Lights</i></a>. Although most fans didn't watch the show's fifth and final season until it aired on NBC in 2011, the series wrapped in 2010, with Season 5 airing exclusively on DirecTV that Fall. So, technically speaking, three of my favorite shows—three that are considered the decade's best—saw themselves to the door in 2010.<br />
<br />
I didn't start watching <i>Friday Night Lights</i> until the Spring of 2008 when the show was in its second season. A female co-worker had recommended it and lent me the Season 1 DVDs. I have to admit that I hadn't paid much attention to the series up to that point. Even though I liked the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_Night_Lights_%28film%29" target="_blank">2004 film</a> (then an adaptation of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_Night_Lights:_A_Town,_a_Team,_and_a_Dream" target="_blank">1990 book</a> by H.G. Bissinger), I wondered if a more drawn-out TV adaptation was really necessary, and if it could really be better than the movie.<br />
<br />
That doubt of mine was quickly quelled after watching a few episodes on DVD. It didn't take long before I preferred the TV series to its silver-screen counterpart, even though it's never fair to compare apples to oranges. If anything, the difference between the two mediums speaks more about the inherent advantage television shows have in getting far more time to develop stories and characters. As it turns out, this was the primary reason why Peter Berg, who directed the film version of <i>Friday Night Lights</i>, wanted to delve deeper into the world with the TV edition, since he had to leave so much out of the book in making the movie.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3>
Keeping It Real</h3>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGwGe0qE4GHzFs-0V6RpDhAKJmDrrdKaqkQmXiU9vEA2ipYm462iy32Nn-vqyqh-Yv74nlGr5ekBuU81PhCmTs93hhKvGe8xtRGWWYTqCiJ9MXfhnmvqgzZn3zZvou26d_xQ3MfBYq8Y/s1600/tyra.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
When I think about what made <i>Friday Night Lights</i> so great, one thought keeps coming to mind: It felt real. Its authentic depiction of small-town Texas's obsession with high school football. Its close-to-home portrayal of Middle America. Its earnest, moving storytelling and heartwarming charisma. Its deeply personal exploration of its characters. Its organic sense of humor. Even its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_Night_Lights_%28TV_series%29#Performances" target="_blank">unrehearsed, in-your-face style of shooting</a>:<br />
<blockquote>
"...the vocabulary of how we shot really allowed us as an audience to really get inside this world in a way that sometimes you don't. Sometimes a lot of filmmaking doesn't allow you to be as intimately there in the space with these characters as our show did... They were able to exist in the moment and not have to think about the artifice of what they were doing."<br />
–<a href="http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/interview-friday-night-lights-showrunner-jason-katims-post-mortems-the-series-finale" target="_blank">Head writer Jason Katims</a></blockquote>
Oh, and the drama. Although at times the writers laid it on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZgDvuq2mKo" target="_blank">a little too thick</a>, there's no doubt that they were master-crafters of conflict, conflict that could feel a bit overwhelming as a viewer because you were smack-dab in the middle of it. And the longer the show went on, football became more of a backdrop as larger themes emerged. Big issues—drugs, broken homes, homosexuality, crime, teen pregnancy, marital struggles, and racial tensions—were tackled without sugarcoating.<br />
<br />
If <i>Friday Night Lights</i> was about anything, it was about life.<br />
<br />
The flip side of all the drama set up several uplifting scenes teeming with triumph around the growth of its characters, who tended to learn life's lessons the hard way. Most importantly, <i>FNL</i> captured the love in these mutual moments through the journeys of such original characters whose names themselves are already classic in <i>FNL</i> lore: Tim Riggins, Smash Williams, Jason Street, Buddy Garrity, and coach Eric Taylor. The raw spirit of the show lied in the hearts of its likeable characters. We cheered for them, fell in love with them, and bled with them. In this way, <i>FNL</i> transcended typical high school dramas with original coming-of-age stories that were cleverly conceived and resonated deeply through quality writing and acting.<br />
<blockquote>
"There's a level of honest, raw humanity in <i>Friday Night Lights</i> that few TV dramas have ever achieved. Over and over and over, the show and its characters wore their hearts on their sleeves, in a way that somehow made them more solid than characters on other series of comparable quality."<br />
<a href="http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/friday-night-lights-a-look-back-at-its-greatness-and-its-greatest-moments" target="_blank">–Alan Sepinwall, HITFIX</a></blockquote>
<h3>
The Best Married Couple on TV</h3>
<img src="http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/02/07/14/553744/6/628x471.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
A fixture in <i>FNL</i>'s success was the marriage of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Taylor_%28Friday_Night_Lights%29" target="_blank">Eric</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tami_Taylor" target="_blank">Tami Taylor</a>. Although their lovey-dovey relationship was often interrupted by family disagreements and old-married-couple spats, their sweet treatment of each other and partnership as committed parents demonstrated a genuine chemistry between actors Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. As <i>Hollywood Reporter</i>'s Tim Goodman <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/friday-night-lights-finale-fans-177433" target="_blank">wrote</a>, "They became the best portrayal of a husband and wife on television in decades—maybe ever." Maureeen Ryan, TV critic for the <i>Huffington Post</i>, had <a href="http://www.aoltv.com/2011/02/09/friday-night-lights/" target="_blank">this to say</a>:<br />
<blockquote>
"For five seasons, it was tremendous pleasure to see realistic married life, with all of its challenges and victories, depicted on the small screen. It helped that Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler gave such truthful, nuanced and well-calibrated performances, but the real lesson here is that viewers will wholeheartedly embrace characters who are deeply in love if the relationship is approached with subtlety, intelligence and a sense of humor."</blockquote>
<h3>
Fighting the Good Fight</h3>
<img src="http://www.nbc.com/sites/nbcunbc/files/files/styles/nbc_gallery_slide/public/scet/photos/52/8146/FNL_302.JPG?itok=8NmoYiLF" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Despite receiving critical praise from the start, <i>Friday Night Lights</i> was a true underdog in its perennial off-season struggle to get renewed for more episodes. The ratings were never flattering, but the show had a cult following that included critics and a fanbase as rabid as high school football fans in Texas.<br />
<br />
Even after bravely and successfully reinventing itself for its fourth season, <i>FNL</i> simply couldn't stop the clock from running out after five seasons. Maybe it was the fact that it aired on the ratings cellar of Friday nights, or that it was mistakenly marketed purely as a high school football drama. Whatever the reason, it was sad to see <i>FNL</i> go, but it departed with dignity and without wearing out its welcome, much like the self-termination of <i>Lost</i>. And if we're lucky, we may even see an <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/mike-leach-plotline-could-anchor-friday-night-lights-201714823.html" target="_blank"><i>FNL</i> film</a> in the future.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Texas Forever</h3>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglayXZa4YSmRG9U14IuKU9iHKkjijAOywoNb50JYlmDg7iiZwErxaiueolG3TWqG00oX3hZsdq3_UnaqSl5gKDLeJ22HoH-7dTvbDu32ECn7Y_dDD1crd-dgJ9qVgJ316X6ZVlejv4FM4/s1600/riggins.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<blockquote>
"If the [first] season is anything like the pilot, this new drama about high school football could be great—and not just television great, but great in the way of a poem or painting."<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/arts/television/03heff.html" target="_blank">–Virginia Heffernan, <i>New York Times</i></a></blockquote>
The artistic aura of the show that Heffernan refers to is captured in the opening montage (not posted on YouTube for some reason) with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_LRqd5qt5I" target="_blank">music by Explosions in the Sky</a>. Before I went to watch each episode, my inclination was to fast-forward through the opening credits. But every time, I ended up stopping to absorb the magic of the powerful images matched brilliantly with the radiant music.<br />
<br />
How many shows can you say that about? And I'm not the only one who did this:<br />
<blockquote>
"<i>Friday Night Lights</i> is the only show I never fast forwarded through the theme song. Thank you Explosions in the Sky, and it got a little dusty in the Norrie house during your last intro."<br />
<a href="http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Friday-Night-Lights-Series-Finale-Watch-Always-33525.html" target="_blank">–Doug Norrie, <i>Television Blend</i></a></blockquote>
Perhaps <i>FNL</i> should be thankful for its brief but brilliant career that helped crown itself a champion while creating a luminous legacy. In the eyes of critics and fans, <i>FNL</i> will be fondly remembered as not just one of the best shows in the past decade, but in television history.<br />
<blockquote>
"Story line after story line on <i>FNL</i> is about having responsibility for someone else. We meet players who care for a grandmother with dementia or a mother with a drug habit, who have to bail out a brother in trouble with the law or miss classes to help run a family farm. The underlying theme is, we need each other. Everyone, even a teenager, is part of a web of dependence."<br />
<a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2046052,00.html#ixzz1uh53VHij" target="_blank">–James Poniewozik, <i>Time</i></a></blockquote>
There probably isn’t a truer message in life. But there are other words—unforgettable ones—that the show taught us to live by:<br />
<br />
"Clear eyes, full hearts—can't lose."<br />
<br />
If you've seen <i>Friday Night Lights</i>, you know it's true, no matter where in life you apply it.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/dryedmangoez/0211/FNL513-00070.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<b>Behind the Scenes</b>: <a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6766070/clear-eyes-full-hearts-lose" target="_blank">Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Couldn't Lose: An oral history of <i>Friday Night Lights</i></a><br />
<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-50860802060515328352012-01-15T14:28:00.011-07:002012-09-02T13:52:26.865-06:00Swing Your Sword<img src="http://www.scoresreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Mike-Leach.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<p>During his time at Texas Tech, I really grew to love Mike Leach and his "Air Raid" offense. Having grown accustomed to Ohio State eking out cardiac-arresting wins with its conservative <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2009/09/inside-job.html" target="_blank">Tresselball</a> offense, Texas Tech's aggressive spread attack was quite the antithesis. And as college football offenses evolved in more creative, wide-open ways in the mid-2000s, I only grew to appreciate it more.<br />
<br />
I've always been envious that Ohio State hasn't had an offensively minded coach like Leach who could strategically create mismatches and make teams pay. <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2008/09/o-h-oh-no.html" target="_blank">Too many times</a> throughout Tressel's tenure, OSU either lost close, winnable games, or won games that shouldn't have been so tight by allowing lesser teams to hang around. Either way, the conservative approach has handicapped Ohio State for years, with the players having to rely on their athletic ability to compensate for the poor position the coaches put them in. With an offensive philosophy like Leach's, there would have been higher scores, more wins, and much fewer palpitations.<br />
<br />
Leach has had success everywhere he's coached. The before-and-after statistics at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech are dramatic. He's developed ordinary players into stars, whether it's once walk-on Wes Welker or quarterbacks Josh Heupel and Tim Couch, both Heisman Trophy finalists. And even though his <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/11070145" target="_blank">oddly named quarterbacks at Texas Tech</a> have earned reputations as system QBs, you can't ignore their success, throwing anywhere from 3,000 to over 6,000 yards a season. If those are system QBs, those are QBs I want in my system.<br />
<br />
Leach's recently published biography, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Swing-Your-Sword-Leading-Football/dp/0983337195" target="_blank"><i>Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life</i></a>, gives great insight into his coaching philosophies. I've never played organized football, but if I coached it, the armchair quarterback in me would adopt many of them. What follows are the excerpts from Leach's book that I identified with the most.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3>A Balanced Offense</h3><blockquote><i>To me, a balanced offense is one where each skill position touches the ball, and every position contributes to the offensive output. There is nothing balanced about running it 50% of the time and throwing it 50% of the time if you are only utilizing two or three offensive skill positions and only attacking part of the field. A good offense has the ability to attack as much of the field as possible with as many people as possible. You want to put as much pressure on the defense as you can while utilizing all of the space and personnel that you have.</i></blockquote><h3>Attacking the Field</h3><blockquote><i>I'd always been surprised at how little most teams threw the ball and how even fewer offenses seemed committed to attacking the </i>entire<i> field. We did a lot of things that most other teams on our schedule wouldn't dream of trying. We ran a no-huddle offense. We believed if you gave the defense less time in between plays to get refocused, they'd get frazzled. Plus, the pace would tire them out faster. The no-huddle would drain them as much mentally as it would physically.<br />
<br />
The other programs we faced had their offensive linemen wedged together, shoulder to shoulder. We wanted our guys to have wider splits with a three-foot gap between each man. It was an approach we'd seen BYU use successfully. If that was working, we'd widen out the gaps even more. Most people assumed those gaps left your quarterback more vulnerable. For us, it actually did the opposite. It forced the defensive line to stretch so that their defensive ends, who are their best pass rushers, would begin the play even further away from our QB than normal. The wider splits created running lanes and throwing lanes, reducing that glut of traffic you typically have in the middle of the line of scrimmage. And it made it harder for the defense to run stunts that would have otherwise lured our offensive linemen into picking up the wrong man once the ball was snapped.<br />
<br />
We were changing the geometry of the game.<br />
<br />
We didn't approach the offense with some bunker mentality, "Oh, they're doing this, we have to protect ourselves!" Instead, it was about how we could best attack them: "OK, they're blitzing from our left side. Good, good. Then let's throw a slant right behind it."<br />
<br />
We knew that would give our team the flexibility to attack instantly. There's a blitzkrieg quality to it.</i></blockquote><h3>Going for It</h3><p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUlPMew-DZ958iDWHW-Q8-xRlkg1sq3er5g2Z-vsNuBsql-2Wy4mEo0qEdhI3pftWX6oKiqhsk2SwvuY4uu1ULhVhpixmQPJa1BY3HohVdL8gMXCDPYHQE6R6AGfhubwhiFYRqOxl5m4/s1600/leach_mumme.jpg" width="400"/><br />
<blockquote><i>About 10 years into my coaching career, I was the offensive coordinator for the University of Kentucky. We'd go for it on fourth down about 40 times a year. That's nearly double the amount of everyone else in the SEC. Statistically, the times we picked up that first down led to touchdowns between two and three times more often than our opponent's touchdown rate if they took the ball over on downs.<br />
<br />
The aggressive attitude that you're stroking within your players is key, especially if you're coaching at a program where most of the recruits have repeatedly heard how they're not as talented as their opponents. When we're going for it, we're making a statement: You have to stop us. The team philosophy becomes, "We're going for it." The guys take a lot of pride in that spirit. They also know that if they're unsuccessful too many times, you're not going to keep giving them the chance. Almost every player wants to go for it. They don't want the privilege taken away from them. In their minds, they know that if they don't make it, they're responsible. They're determined to find a way to make it work.<br />
<br />
Certainly any decision needs to be evaluated, but just because "conventional wisdom" suggests something is too risky doesn't make it so. You think it through, and if you believe the benefit outweighs the risk, then you need to do it.</i></blockquote><h3>Running Up the Score</h3><blockquote><i>I've been accused a time or two of running up the score. People say "Well, the game's already been decided. Just kneel on the ball and call it a day." Screw that. I don't want the guys I send into the game thinking that way. Next year those third-team guys might be my starters. Heck, if we have an injury or two, they might become our starters next week. Running a team is an ongoing process. Even if it's the last game of the year, you still have another one next season. Regardless of the score, you've spent a long time teaching technique and lifting weights, and if there's some number-three left guard in the game out there yucking it up, I will rip him.</i></blockquote>This last one I especially like from a player's perspective. Because after all the blood, sweat and tears a team puts in year-round, they only get to play a dozen games or so. So if you're winning by a large margin, why not give those third-stringers some snaps? If you're getting blown out, why not run your two-minute drill, cut the deficit down a bit with a late TD, and end on an up note? Game time should never be taken for granted. Win or lose, finish it out.<br />
<br />
<b>Never Give Up</b><br />
All of these philosophies led Leach to some great victories. I'll never forget checking the score of the 2006 Insight Bowl, in which Minnesota was crushing Texas Tech 35-7 at halftime. But Leach lit a fire under his team in the locker room and the Red Raiders rallied in the second half en route to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ad83jBB08c&NR=1" target="_blank">the biggest comeback in NCAA Division 1 bowl history</a>. The final score: Texas Tech 44, Minnesota 41 (overtime).<br />
<br />
And don't forget <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqmlVLUBvbw" target="_blank">one of the best atmospheres and endings to a college football game ever</a>, as Texas Teach upset No. 1 Texas on a last-second play in 2008.<br />
<br />
<b>Crime Without Punishment</b><br />
It wasn't until I read Leach's book that I realized how much Texas Tech <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb4HIf599cE&NR=1" target="_blank">screwed him out of a job</a>, despite all the success he brought them. The appendix at the end even has all of the e-mails between university officials and third parties who conspired to oust Leach for allegedly mistreating player Adam James, even though James later confessed that he wasn't mistreated. In fact, he found the whole situation kind of funny. What's more, there are damning depositions that debunk what the media has reported while exposing the smear campaign from a PR agency hired by father Craig James.<br />
<br />
Most people were happy to see James leave his college football post at ESPN to <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Craig-James-is-running-for-Senate-Yes-that-Cra?urn=ncaaf-wp11450" target="_blank">run as a Texas senator</a>. Politics couldn't have been a more befitting choice.<br />
<br />
Leach has proved his innocence in court, but has not been able to win a settlement due to a clause in his contract that prevents him from successfully suing Tech. How convenient.<br />
<br />
<b>Moving On</b><br />
<p><img src="http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mike-leach-wash-st.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<p>Leach enjoyed a two-year break from coaching, living in Key West and having a radio show with CBS. But being out of the game left him unfulfilled, and with the coaching carousel spinning wildly toward the end of this past season, it was only a matter of time before he returned to his love.<br />
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In November he took the head coaching job at cellar dweller Washington State. While I think he'll be a good fit there, I was hoping he'd land at a more prominent program. But SI.com writer Stewart Mandel <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/11/30/mike.leach.washington.state/index.html" target="_blank">explains</a> why he thinks the two were a good match:<blockquote><i>The Cougars just scored their biggest win in years... Just as he did more than a decade ago at Texas Tech, Leach will give fans a reason to pay attention to Washington State football. He will produce high-scoring offenses and 5,000-yard passers, put fans in the stands, keep reporters busy, and, if history repeats itself, graduate players, reversing a problem that helped sink the Cougars several years back.<br />
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He's not going to fit at a place where the fans and media demand a more polished, traditional coach. That's why he's a perfect fit in Pullman. The coach that led the Cougars to two Rose Bowls (in 1997 and 2003) was a certifiable oddball (and that was before his infamous strip-club visit at Alabama). It worked out just fine. While no coach operates in anonymity anymore in the age of YouTube and Twitter, there aren't a zillion reporters and cameras camped out at Washington State news conferences. Leach will be free to be himself.<br />
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And he'll win... For the first time in eight years, fans beyond the West Coast will tune in to Cougars games. When they do, they'll probably see a revved-up crowd (start stocking up on pirate gear, school bookstore) enjoying another 48-45 shootout. If any of those viewers happen to be fans themselves of struggling midlevel programs, they'll probably ask themselves: Why didn't our athletic director hire him first?</i></blockquote>Wazzu a Pac-12/Rose Bowl contender? With Leach at the helm, it's entirely possible. And it all starts with helping the Cougars <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBxe3cprocQ" target="_blank">find their inner pirate</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/story/2012-08-29/Mike-Leach-Washington-State-Swing-Your-Sword/57417842/1" target="_blank"><i>The Pirate hits Pullman: Mike Leach back on the sideline</i></a>.<br />
<p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-75016855208817281572011-12-18T18:10:00.007-07:002012-09-01T19:33:21.638-06:00The Emerald Isle<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1rAT74JxxMo/Tu0HZZiPCrI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rSu75bacCPo/s800/01_mountains.jpg" width="400"/><br />
<br />
It's been over four months since I got married, so I figure it's about time I write something about the honeymoon.<br />
<br />
We chose Ireland because of our Irish roots, and at least in my mind, because it wasn't where everyone else goes on their honeymoon. On advice from an NYC friend who has Irish citizenship, the plan was to fly in to Dublin and drive a rental car along the west coast, then down south, and eventually back to Dublin.<br />
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That was the plan, anyway. Let's just say that our honeymoon didn't get off to the best start. Because our flight from Green Bay to Chicago was delayed, we ended up missing our connecting flights, the last of which was to Dublin. So, option 1 was to rough it overnight in the Toronto airport, take an evening flight to Dublin the next day, and lose a day in Ireland. Option 2 involved taking a red eye into London that night and connecting to Belfast earlier the next day, which would be our new final destination. After being assured that Belfast, being in Northern Ireland, was indeed safe these days, we chose the second option because it would keep us on schedule, even though it meant a longer drive to our first hotel in Galway.<br />
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At this point, we were already <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/08/26/travel/why-airlines-lose-luggage-bt/index.html?hpt=hp_bn12" target=_blank>without our checked luggage</a> because we changed our connecting flight to Toronto, which was on a different airline. To make a long story short about my dogged pursuit of our luggage over the telephone with BMI Airlines for the good part of our honeymoon: Erin received her suitcase about four days later, when we were in Ennis.<br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UeocQBbAi-A/Tu0HagS-jHI/AAAAAAAAATg/7oztFLwejlA/s800/02_erin_suitcase.jpg" width="400"/><br />
<br />
Shocked and upset that my suitcase was somehow separated from hers, I ended up <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4eEm2Ay8AHA/Tu6fV1VxKEI/AAAAAAAAAXc/tTnOoe5UGqg/s640/finally.jpg" target=_blank>receiving mine</a> five days later, which was a mere two days before we returned to the states. Moreover, it seemed that the only reason my luggage turned up was because of my initiative. In any case, I've already written a long letter to BMI and received compensation. At the time, I was just glad my belongings weren't lost forever. But if you notice me wearing the same clothing in most of our honeymoon pics, now you know why.<br />
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<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bIvyvdSfors/Tu0HZug9lxI/AAAAAAAAATU/RnMsEhNTtQQ/s800/03_ken_car.JPG" width="400"/><br />
<br />
More challenges awaited us after arriving in Belfast: serious jet lag and inexperience with driving on the left side of the road. Suffice it to say that it's a lot harder than it sounds. Driving in the states is just one of those automatic things you do without thinking too much about it. But in Ireland, having your driving orientation reversed affects you more than you'd think (a left turn is a right turn, and vice versa) and makes it difficult to judge your car's position on the passenger (now left) side. Erin was always on edge because she thought I was about to drive off the road. But it wasn't easy! Especially when you throw in narrow streets, poor visibility, a million roundabouts, and the fact that nothing is familiar. It was a challenge, especially when you're ready to pass out and the <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bjAnLKiBhUw/Tu6fVlrNzLI/AAAAAAAAAXM/QBKUIfbvet8/s800/pasture_lands.jpg" target=_blank>shining sun</a> makes your eyelids even heavier.<br />
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<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AGXLay84P2A/Tv4vBaRwUmI/AAAAAAAAAYU/RzP9fj5sYYo/s800/driving.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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The good news is that by the end of our trip, the accident count held at 0, though there were some close brushes. All I can say, it was a relief to return to normal, "mindless" driving in the states on the right side of the road. The right side is the right side, the right side is the right side, the right side is the right side....<br />
<br />
Here are the first of many pints of Guinness we consumed...<br />
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cuiK7GIZbqw/Tu0HbH5VVFI/AAAAAAAAATo/05uaAXroj04/s800/04_first_guinness.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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Our tense, arduous 3½-hour drive from Belfast finally ended when we reached Galway around 10 p.m. on Monday, August 8th. We checked in and then headed down to the hotel bar for a late dinner. Almost immediately, two girls at the bar struck up a conversation with me. They were excited to meet an American, especially one with the last name Devine. "Devine?! We know Devines!" one exclaimed. (Her name was Linda.) She and her friend Michelle were from Roscommon, a small town about an hour's drive northeast. In a rapid display of Irish hospitality, they urged us to have dinner at their place the following evening. They said they'd even take us to a local bar formerly called "Devine's", which was one of the goals on my trip. But while we didn't discount their kindness, we knew it was the alcohol talking, and figured they'd regret their invitation whenever the buzz wore off. So we politely declined.<br />
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qiMsTeA_F6M/Tu0HbVKQTCI/AAAAAAAAATs/hcjDLciaUfQ/s800/05_irish_friends.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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That night, Erin and I <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S8aUG36iero/Tu6eRNX2uiI/AAAAAAAAAWw/YCLpDKEFZ0s/s800/sleep.jpg" target=_blank>slept 14 hours</a>, well into Tuesday. When we finally awoke, Erin was hellbent on updating our Facebook statuses to "Married", no matter how stubborn and horribly unresponsive the faulty hotel-room "computers" were.<br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wh6PJE_rWqE/Tu0Hci22RJI/AAAAAAAAAT8/qTsj9sFLtqc/s800/06_erin_facebook.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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A few nights later, we enjoyed a fun medieval dinner party at Bunratty Castle, where we met Veronica and Alessandro, a nice Italian couple. <br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FFy2lBnhAHc/Tu0HbvqeAbI/AAAAAAAAAT4/LrvAU2SX45o/s912/07_bunratty_friends.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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Oh, and check out what I think is a ghostly orb in this picture I took outside the castle, and perhaps my first encounter with the spirit world. At first I thought it might be because of something on the lens, but the picture I snapped right after that had no anomalies in it. So it makes me wonder....<br />
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Coj3YO7F7ac/Tu0Hc82qXQI/AAAAAAAAAUI/erkTvm4WMxM/s800/08_bunratty_orb.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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When we returned to our hotel bar in Ennis later that evening, we ran into Rochelle, an Ohio native and fellow Buckeye fan. They're everywhere, I tell ya.<br />
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k-YWzh82Ekw/Tu0Hd3euMXI/AAAAAAAAAUM/byjai2_s0DQ/s800/09_rochelle.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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Maybe my favorite part of the trip was our drive through the mountains in Kenmare and Killarney en route to <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y83dWFmmmlo/Tu0HmfW3gmI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/nnpa7fB5x2w/s800/sheen_falls.jpg" target=_blank>Sheen Falls Lodge</a>. It looked like <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A7PwiXIFBOM/Tu0Hn4iRD3I/AAAAAAAAAVY/olzr_HsZB0U/s640/waterfall_kiss.jpg" target=_blank>we were in Hawaii</a>, and it was hard to keep my eyes on the road as we wound our way up the <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wN5EiumOnDc/Tu6kus496HI/AAAAAAAAAYM/lWOysGbp7g0/s800/mountainside.jpg" target=_blank>mountainside</a>. This was one of the fewer days where the sun was out. I didn't realize that most of the time in Ireland, it rains.<br />
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<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iQicKKCu4ls/Tv4vBsSQDhI/AAAAAAAAAYY/RTr9QfbG_Oc/s800/distraction.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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Our five-star hotel was memorable for a few reasons. Erin loved the <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GN6t4t34uk0/Tu6ktdmK-2I/AAAAAAAAAYE/UIPOdaM0e3Y/s800/rose_petals.jpg" target=_blank>rose petals</a> strewn on our bed. We went <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4aHP9KDwyEU/Tu0HpjzRnPI/AAAAAAAAAVo/56m5u5_Nnr8/s800/ken_horse.jpg" target=_blank>horseback riding</a> in the pretty Killarney countryside. And on Saturday night, we met the real-life <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Carr:_Chatty_Man" target=_blank>Chatty Man</a> in Irishman Pat Hurley. He and his friends had gathered around the piano and were singing all kinds of popular songs. They started talking to Erin and before we knew it, I was up talking with Pat and his wife till 6:30 in the morning.<br />
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PkHoxL9G7jY/Tu0HkDwRYhI/AAAAAAAAAU4/lR-PtR-VsZI/s800/11_piano_dancing.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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I hate to admit it, but while I enjoyed all the Irish food we ate over there, I did cave in for some American staples a few times. The first was when I made a run to <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SOxPSfZK1rs/Tu6fV7yP-eI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/skamhRfUzLU/s800/mcdonald%252527s.jpg" target=_blank>McDonald's</a> in Cork. And the second was when we wolfed down <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-08dJ7TrEe54/Tu0Hp2ynx5I/AAAAAAAAAVs/2LfqGPVZqdg/s800/papa_john%252527s.jpg" target=_blank>a hot, fresh Papa John's pizza</a> on <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qiCTbrjmbrg/Tu0Hkbk1lMI/AAAAAAAAAU8/EttQqwtQpDw/s800/dublin.jpg" target=_blank>our last night in Dublin</a>.<br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WW3g1eZ2Yiw/Tu0HfLE0HGI/AAAAAAAAAUY/gHdeIVZxqY8/s640/12_guinness_factory.jpg" height="500" width="400"/><br />
<br />
One of the best stops on our trip was the Guinness Factory. It's big, educational, and fun to tour. Plus you get free beer. But after being in Ireland even just a few days and seeing how ingrained Guinness is in the culture, you have to wonder what kind of identity Ireland would have without it.<br />
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iDedPaxW-as/Tu0HkXwQ8WI/AAAAAAAAAVE/kN_aYrU2s2c/s800/13_toilets.jpg" width="400"/><br />
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My international travel experience is limited, but having been to Europe once before, going to Ireland immediately reminded me how eye-opening it is to see how different countries do things. Here are my observations:<ul><li>Every single bar in the country has Guinness on tap. And most bars feature the <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R3Jm-fHBjuE/Tu6eSVQhqfI/AAAAAAAAAW0/srJ3Vm37F4I/s800/taps.jpg" target=_blank>same array of taps</a>.<br />
<li>Bed and breakfasts are just as ubiquitous as Guinness.<br />
<li>Everyone says "cheers" and "thanks a million." <br />
<li>Irish people don't pronounce their "th"s. So, phonetically, "Thanks a million" becomes "Tanks a million." And "Is that your third drink?" becomes "Is that your turd drink?" It sounds uneducated at first, but endearing thereafter.<br />
<li>Most streetlights and signs aren't above the street—they're to the side. Not always intuitive or helpful.<br />
<li>On an <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoN2WPQP0K5eKT_IfzhjTTvMQ-WWN3jEPuGOgA0s_CSDUfZrcipN0K_kfvdgG4em55FimlZ3gt_0PTwp1fbus2yo_inDXooOeBVwvt5Kl_Zdziv2SRy-P0eyw_NNStoZfXngAT0RvAEcn0/s400/UKIre.gif" target=_blank>Irish keyboard</a>, the @ character trades places with the " character. That threw me a few times.<br />
<li>"Tires" is spelled "Tyres".<br />
<li>There is no placing an order "to go" or "for carryout"—in Ireland it's "take away".<br />
<li>Public bathrooms aren't labeled as "bathrooms"—they're "toilets". Some of the hotel toilets had two buttons that both seemed to flush, but in different ways. It was nowhere near as unconventional as using <a href="http://cache.thisorth.at/blog-images/00000/00012/058.jpg" target=_blank>the three seashells</a>, but it was a little unclear.<br />
<li>The hotels wisely conserve energy by requiring your keycard to be inserted into a slot to power the lights in your room. Also, there were no clocks in the rooms (kind of like being in a casino).<br />
<li>Ireland runs mostly on military time, and instead of saying "8:30", they say usually say "half 8", which requires a little translation.</ul>You can see videos and more pictures of our honeymoon <a href="http://devineirelandhoneymoon.shutterfly.com/pictures" target=_blank>here</a>. And yes, I feel like I should submit the one I took below to a stock photography website.
<p><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OcaPhskh-wc/Tu0HgESYdLI/AAAAAAAAAUo/lWVyRbXXimw/s800/14_pasture_lands.jpg" width="400"/> <p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-43592903177066739782011-10-30T20:25:00.010-06:002023-01-17T09:07:03.737-07:00Warm Feet<img src="http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/c24.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<font size="-2"><i>Photo by <a href="http://www.ardentphoto.com" target="_blank">Ardent Photography</a></i>.</font><br />
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I have a confession to make: For most of my life, I was afraid to get married.<br />
<br />
Actually, it wasn't really marriage that scared me—it was the wedding itself. For years I'd built up the possibility of my own wedding as the biggest event in my life. There were all kinds of things to worry about—the hundreds of people watching me; pressure to not screw up or say the wrong thing; dancing.<br />
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My fear was rooted in being the center of attention, a place I've always shied away from. And if there was ever a time when all eyes would be on me, this was it. But being single for the better part of my life allowed me to put these worries on the back burner. We'd just cross that bridge when we got there.<br />
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That's why it's amazing for me to sit here and say that not only have I crossed that bridge, but I had a great time doing it. My wedding was a blast, and in the months leading up to it, I expected it to be.<br />
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So what changed?<br />
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The fear of the unknown was gone. For the longest time, I had no idea who I was going to marry. But once it <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2011/09/one.html" target="_blank">became clear</a>, there wasn't so much to worry about.<br />
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What also helped me was going second—my brother Chris walked down the aisle last October, so we'd just had a family wedding in the bag.<br />
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At his rehearsal dinner, my dad said something that affected me. He stood up to thank everyone for coming, and he closed by reminding everyone to let loose and have fun, for this was a party. It was that simple, but I think the notion had escaped me because I was focused more on my role in the wedding party as one of the best men, a first for me.<br />
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But he was right—this was a party, and what better way to celebrate than with people we know and love? And it was exactly that concept that made me feel comfortable while looking forward to my wedding.<br />
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Having our wedding in Wisconsin was key. I liked that it was on Erin's turf for a few reasons. For one, I knew it would be a little cooler up north in August than most places. Moreover, there was intrigue in having it in the North Country, a place that nobody on my side had really ventured to. August 6th, 2011 in Wisconsin felt right. Plus, we made sure the date didn't interfere with football season, so we were guaranteed a good turnout from at least her side of the family. (Remember, this is Packerland we're talking about.)<br />
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It wasn't until we met with the key wedding coordinators in April that I started to get excited about the celebration, because it all became a lot easier to envision. Everything was conveniently located at <a href="http://www.foxhillsresort.com/weddings/" target="_blank">Fox Hills Resort</a>, a place with a golf course that was both nice and comfortable. Our <a href="http://ardentphoto.com" target="_blank">photographer</a> was dynamite. The priest was a super-warm guy with a booming voice and a thick Wisconsin accent. We booked an <a href="http://www.leahysluck.com" target="_blank">Irish band</a> for the ceremony, and they agreed to play <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho9myf_ZW-0" target="_blank"> my favorite musical piece from <i>Lost</i></a>. For our reception, we got the DJ to play entrance music from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5st74nVAsI" target="_blank"><i>Tron: Legacy</i></a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsF45oe6d5o" target="_blank"><i>Kill Bill</i></a>. And they would bring in one of my favorite beers, <a href="http://www.smithwicks.ie/landing.html" target="_blank">Smithwick's</a>, for the reception. Erin did the majority of the wedding planning, but it felt good to make some of the celebration my own.<br />
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The life-changing appointment didn't start to feel real to me until the last month or so leading up to the wedding. You just spend so much time planning it that you forget it's actually going to happen. In the days before, a lot of people asked me if I was nervous. I wasn't—I was just looking forward to finally having the experience that we'd been edging closer to for the better part of a year. And so when it finally happened, I really just tried to enjoy the process—the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, the pictures—because as everyone knows, it all flies by fast.<br />
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<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/294571_10100185610561796_5502264_48351668_2554225_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<p>There were two immediate changes I noticed that marriage brought. The first was getting used to calling Erin my wife instead of my fiancée. I still call her "Girlfriend", though—"wife" makes her sound old!<br />
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The second was wearing a ring. As a guy who doesn't even like the feel of a watch or necklace on my skin, it was oddly surreal waking up the next morning to see this silver foreign object on my finger, and what it signified. Powerful stuff.</p><p align="center">***</p>As a postscript, I wanted to include the song list that I painstakingly assembled for our rehearsal dinner. I know I spent way too much time on it, but hey, music is a huge part of my life. After countless hours of combing through hundreds of CDs and thousands of mp3s, I'd be remiss if I didn't give a nod to my efforts here.<br />
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<b>Disc 1</b><ol><li>Foreigner - Feels Like The First Time<br />
</li><li>George Harrison - What Is Life<br />
</li><li>Rod Stewart - Day After Day<br />
</li><li>Eddie Money - Two Tickets To Paradise<br />
</li><li>Ingram Hill - Solsbury Hill<br />
</li><li>Heart - Straight On<br />
</li><li>Bob Seger - Night Moves<br />
</li><li>Dire Straits - Walk Of Life [Live]<br />
</li><li>Blue Öyster Cult - In Thee<br />
</li><li>Blue Rodeo - Hasn't Hit Me Yet<br />
</li><li>David Byrne & Brian Eno - Life Is Long<br />
</li><li>Brett Walker - Everything I Want To Do<br />
</li><li>Jars Of Clay - Show You Love<br />
</li><li>Coldplay - Lovers In Japan<br />
</li><li>Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life Again<br />
</li><li>The Elms - Come To Me<br />
</li><li>Train - I Wish You Would<br />
</li><li>The Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care<br />
</li><li>The National - So Far Around The Bend</li></ol><b>Disc 2</b><ol><li>Coldplay - Life In Technicolor ii<br />
</li><li>John Mellencamp - I Need A Lover<br />
</li><li>Barenaked Ladies - Falling For The First Time<br />
</li><li>The Corrs - Toss The Feathers<br />
</li><li>Chris Isaak - Cool Love<br />
</li><li>Ray LaMontagne - Hold You In My Arms<br />
</li><li>Feel - Under The Radar<br />
</li><li>Guster - Ramona<br />
</li><li>Jewel - Two Become One [Country Version]<br />
</li><li>Jimmy Buffett - Brown Eyed Girl<br />
</li><li>John Lennon - Stand By Me<br />
</li><li>The Monkees - I'm A Believer<br />
</li><li>Mick Jagger - Joy<br />
</li><li>Ray LaMontagne - Three More Days<br />
</li><li>David Gray - Real Love<br />
</li><li>Cyndi Lauper & Sarah McLachlan - Time After Time<br />
</li><li>The Verve - One Day<br />
</li><li>Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Angel Dream No. 4<br />
</li><li>Wilco - You And I<br />
</li><li>Elton John - Look Ma, No Hands</li></ol><b>Disc 3</b><ol><li>The BoDeans - Good Things<br />
</li><li>The Rolling Stones - Love Is Strong<br />
</li><li>Roy Orbison - You Got It<br />
</li><li>Jimmy Page & Robert Plant - Thank You [Unledded]<br />
</li><li>Counting Crows - Sullivan Street [Live]<br />
</li><li>The Corrs - Joy Of Life/Trout In The Bath [Live]<br />
</li><li>Five For Fighting - Something About You<br />
</li><li>Tonic - Waltz With Me<br />
</li><li>Fleetwood Mac - Bleed To Love Her [Live]<br />
</li><li>Peter Frampton - Something's Happening<br />
</li><li>Howie Day - Undressed<br />
</li><li>The Lemonheads - Into Your Arms<br />
</li><li>Tom Petty - You And Me<br />
</li><li>R.E.M. - Strange Currencies<br />
</li><li>Tonic - Jump Jimmy (Stronger Than Mine)<br />
</li><li>John Mellencamp - Lonely Ol' Night<br />
</li><li>Crowded House - Something So Strong<br />
</li><li>The Beach Boys - God Only Knows<br />
</li><li>Tom Petty - House In The Woods<br />
</li><li>Elton John - Someone Saved My Life Tonight</li></ol><p></p><p></p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-52551978490859121572011-09-26T19:25:00.006-06:002012-06-15T21:51:07.928-06:00The One<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/321275_2186763383000_1064492646_2458904_1380345618_n.jpg" width="400"/><br />
<p>Well, somehow I got married last month.<br />
<br />
I say that not because I didn't know it was coming for a year prior—indeed, it was hardly a shotgun wedding or an elopement in Vegas. I say it simply because after 31½ years of being single, it's strange to think that it actually happened.<br />
<br />
During my college days in Oxford, Ohio, I spent more Saturday nights in my dorm room than I care to recall. I remember being confused as I walked around campus seeing how many guys had girlfriends. It seemed so easy for them, but impossible for me. It was harder because I wasn't as social back then, but it was still frustrating because I knew I had a lot to offer a girl. It was sort of like a job search that wasn't going well—I was more than qualified, but no woman was hiring.<br />
<br />
Fast-forward a few years later to my post-college life in Nashville. I was still girlfriend-less in life, and at this point it was starting to feel like a curse. I often wondered if something was wrong with me. Suffice it to say that I had a girlfriend complex. But then I finally learned why it was so hard for someone like me: my personality type.<br />
<br />
According to the <a href="http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp" target=_blank>Myers-Briggs personality test</a>, most INFPs (Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Perceiving) are very selective when it comes to choosing their partners, and tend to only pursue long-lasting relationships. The test revealed many more truths about all facets of my life that were eerily right on the money, but that was the gist of it as far as relationships go. For anyone who's never taken the assessment, it honestly feels like someone's been spying on you as you read about your type because the test seems to know everything about what makes you tick. For anyone looking to gain knowledge and self-awareness far beyond relationships, this test is essential because it can be life-changing. It was for me.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Jump ahead to early 2009 in New York City. Erin had just started working at TheLadders a few months earlier, and we'd been talking more and more at the office. There was an automatic connection there because we were both from the Midwest, something that was uncommon at TheLadders, even though there was a fair amount of Midwesterners in NYC. We were also tall, which is uncommon to the East Coast. But more than anything, there was a natural chemistry that made for a comfortable, easy courtship. So much so that within a few months of dating, I knew I was in love with her, and that she was the one.<br />
<br />
After all the years of sensing that the girl for me was out there somewhere, but not knowing if I'd ever find her, suddenly there she was—amid a gaggle of 8 million New Yorkers; a needle in a haystack. And despite the times when it seemed like the odds were stacked against me and things were never going to change, I finally realized the simple hope of it all: It only takes one.<br />
<br />
No matter how hard it seems, it only takes one person and one connection. It's not always easy to find, but I think focusing on the aspect of one is the best way to look at it. Because you could spend most of your life being single, and then with one chance encounter when you least expect it, everything can change. So in the end, it just takes one.<br />
<br />
When I was a kid, I remember asking my mom how you know who the right person is to marry. She responded with, "You just know," which is what her dad had told her when she was younger. At the time I remember thinking that it was kind of vague and unhelpful advice, and she thought the same thing when she heard it. But once I knew with Erin, I thought back to this quote and realized how true it was, despite its simplicity. Sometimes the greatest truths are that way.<br />
<br />
So why do I love Erin? Let me count the ways:<ul><li>I love that she's from the Midwest, but not from a state I'm from.<br />
<li>I love the fact that we both have Irish roots.<br />
<li>I love that she's tall, but not too tall (which is taller than me : ) <br />
<li>I love it when she puts her hair up in a ponytail, even though she thinks it looks scrubby.<br />
<li>I love that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eREiQhBDIk" target=_blank><i>Falling Down</i></a>—the 1993 dark comedy (as I classify it; watch the clip) starring Michael Douglas—is partly responsible for bringing us together. Watching it put her in the right frame of mind to break up with her boyfriend two months before we started dating.<br />
<li>I love the fact that she likes beer and appreciates food as much as I do, even though she can't eat very much, and she gets drunk after two drinks—like at the courthouse when we got our marriage license.<br />
<li>I love how she balances the thrill of hunting and eating meat with her girly shows, like <i>House Hunters</i> and <i>Say Yes to the Dress</i>.<br />
<li>I love the fact that we can watch football together. More so, I love the fact that she planned our wedding around the NFL preseason.<br />
<li>I love that she's cool with going to Hooters.<br />
<li>I love how she sits mesmerized in front of the TV, even when it's just commercials that are on. The fact that she didn't have cable growing up couldn't be more obvious.<br />
<li>I love her outbursts of laughter, and the way she constantly cracks herself up when she's telling me something. And when she starts laughing uncontrollably at things when no one else understands what's so funny.<br />
<li>I love being entertained with her crazy, unconscious gibberish that she spouts off randomly while dreaming at night—and that which she has absolutely no recall.<br />
<li>I love her sweet nature, her childlike innocence, and general goofiness. <br />
<li>I love her ambition, drive, and "get 'er done" mentality. She's gonna make a great nurse someday soon.<br />
<li>I love the road we've traveled, and the adventure that lies ahead.</ul>I'd like to finish with a line <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-man-speech.html" target=_blank>I said</a> at my best friend Shawn's wedding last December: "There's no better feeling than knowing where you're supposed to be in life and who you're supposed to be spending it with." With our marriage, honeymoon, and exciting new life in Denver, nothing could be closer to the truth. <p><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/311937_2189860100416_1064492646_2462008_600474358_n.jpg" width="400"/> <p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-33573417229133779672011-06-25T21:06:00.025-06:002012-10-29T22:36:14.069-06:00Closer to the SkyNY → NJ → PA → OH → IN → IL → MO → KS → CO<br />
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<img src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/242645_1886167028279_8058196_o.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<i>"You're so far around the bend... There is no leaving New York."</i><br />
<br />
Six weeks ago, I embarked on an epic trek and relocation to Denver. But when it began, New York City wasn't ready to let me go.<br />
<br />
I had a 10-hour drive ahead of me on Friday, May 13th, so an early departure was necessary. Unfortunately, the entire morning was eaten up by getting the rental car, picking up my hockey equipment, and retrieving some of Erin's belongings in Brooklyn. I figured it wouldn't take anymore than two hours.<br />
<br />
It took four. When it comes to moving, <a hr="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2009/06/do-not-attempt.html" href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2009/06/do-not-attempt.html" target="_blank">underestimation</a> seems to be my Achilles' heel.<br />
<br />
I finally experienced the hell that is driving in New York City. Suffice it to say that both Manhattan and Brooklyn were complete and utter parking lots, with one bottleneck, traffic jam, and construction zone after another. Newfound respect for cabbies, I have.<br />
<br />
There was a lot of cursing, frustration, and aggressive driving. There was me going down a forbidden street that came to a dead end, and having to turn around and face the wrath of the construction worker I disobeyed (as well as my girlfriend's).<br />
<br />
One thing there wasn't a lot of: turn signals.<br />
<br />
But there was something else. Something that will stick in my memory just as much.<br />
<br />
There was a New York that I'd never seen before.<br />
<br />
As I maneuvered my way through the concrete grid on that cool May morning, there were moments, like when I was making my way around Columbus Circle, or driving near the Hudson in lower Manhattan, where the city was bright and fresh. It was almost as if a veil had been lifted, and all notions of cramped, dirty city living were replaced with a sheen of cool and clean. I chalked it up to New York's last-ditch ploy in preventing me from leaving.<br />
<br />
But leave I did—but not before running the hypertension-inducing gauntlet that is Midtown at lunch hour. All I can say is, TGINHTDINYCEA (Thank God I'll Never Have To Drive In New York City Ever Again.)<br />
<br />
What follows is my travelogue for the journey.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 1: New York to Dayton (10 hours)</h3>Below is a series of Twitter-like thoughts that I had along the rest of the day, once I'd escaped the clutches of the Concrete Jungle.<br />
<ul><li>Best Worst City Name: Krumsville, PA</li>
<li>Forgotten Restaurant of the '90s (and for Good Reason): TIE – Long John Silver's/Perkins.</li>
<li>Note to future self: XM22 - Pearl Jam Radio.</li>
<li>Wait—free laundry <i>and</i> tennis from now on??</li>
<li>Garbage disposals!</li>
<li>Billy Squier: underrated driving music</li>
<li>A joke: What's the capital of Pennsylvania? Answer: Harrisburg.</li>
<li>3:25 p.m.: I become an uncle for the first time.</li>
<li>If Jack Bauer can do it, so can I.</li>
<li>What the sign should say: "GAS GOUGING – 1 MILE"</li>
<li>Just before Dunningsville, PA, I do a double-take as I see one horse mounting another in the field to my left. A close runner-up for highlight of the day, next to finally making it home hours later.</li>
<li>An abandoned rest stop: The spooky scene that should open Season 2 of <i>The Walking Dead</i>.</li>
<li>Yup, the Spin Doctors still get played.</li>
<li>Two words: cruise control.</li>
<li>Not afraid to admit that Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" is a great piece of songwriting.</li>
<li>Tragedy strikes as yet another country song is ruined by a heavy male drawl.</li>
</ul>I pulled into the ol' driveway just before 11 p.m. My awesome parents were hospitable and accommodating enough to not only cook my requested steak dinner, but to actually wait to sit down and eat with me hours after it was prepared. I blame NYC again for my tardiness.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 2: Dayton to Kansas City (10 hours)</h3><img src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/255174_1895697386532_7305738_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">No road trip can begin without Bill's Donuts.</span><br />
<br />
Day 2 almost gets off to a bad start. There was a slight scare with me being charged for another day with the rental car despite the fact that we were returning it within the hour. But seeing how far I'd come, the Budget guy was cool enough to waive the late fee.<br />
<br />
With more rest and a copilot in my brother Ben, I know the sailing is going to be a lot smoother than Day 1. We think it's a good sign when Bob Seger's "Turn The Page" greets us as I turn the ignition. "Well here I go—<i>ON THE ROAD AGAIN</i>..." Sadly, my brother Ryan's "Coloroado" mix CD doesn't play for some reason, even though it played fine in the rental car. An early casualty.<br />
<br />
It's after 11 in the morning, and it's not surprising that we're shoving off later than originally planned. So instead of getting on the road and making up for lost time, we go straight to Bill's Donuts.<br />
<br />
Not long into our drive, we place bets on Ben's bathroom tally for the trip. Ben has a woman's bladder, so I predict that he'll have to go nine times during transit. Ben chooses seven. In the end, Ben goes exactly five times. So I guess we both lose. (And yes, I realize it's a flawed game to begin with.) Outside of Bill's, the log indicates that Ben went in Bumfuck, Illinois; Boondock, Missouri; El Buttfuckerosa, Kansas; and Pike Shit, Kansas—if that paints any picture of civilization along I-70.<br />
<br />
In eastern Indiana, we for the first time see the actual sign for <a href="http://www.tomraper.com/" target="_blank">Tom Raper RVs</a>, "where fun begins." If you lived in the tri-state area, you'd understand the significance of the occasion. All our lives we've seen Tom Raper's commercials and been puzzled how a man with that name has stayed in business for decades. Laughs abound.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/251155_1942090146322_6618087_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I think I know why he likes RVs.</span><br />
<br />
Somewhere in Illinois, I have Ben hand me the turkey sandwich he made for me the night before. Only, this is no ordinary turkey sandwich. As a person notorious for mixing my food, this new creation of mine may take the cake: a turkey sandwich topped with a generous layer of <i>BROCCOLI SOUFFLÉ</i>. Getting to eat it only once the night before wasn't nearly enough.<br />
<br />
The verdict? Best turkey sandwich I ever had. And I think it's safe to say it's never been attempted before.<br />
<br />
Ben and I end up splitting driving duty in half, and between good music and conversation about life's many mysteries, we're in Kansas City before we know it. I still pride myself on lowballing Priceline for a $40 room at Holiday Inn. The first time, and certainly not the last.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/252826_1895697746541_3227621_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ben appearing to take a leak at our cheap hotel in Kansas City.</span><br />
<br />
Thanks to what proved to be a great recommendation from a Denver friend who'd done the drive before, that night we feast like kings at Jack Stack, probably the best barbecue I've ever had. I'm also reintroduced to Fat Tire beer, an instant favorite.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/252507_1895702906670_7034292_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Best barbecue ever. Big props to John Campbell for his invaluable tip.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>Day 3: Kansas City to Denver (10 hours)</h3>The day begins with the realization that we left our turkey sandwiches in the car for the night (as if sitting unrefrigerated for the entire previous day wasn't unsanitary enough). Desperate for justification not to toss the sandwiches (remember, mine was a special one), my thoughts quickly turn to the temperature, which is cold and was all night. <i>But wait!</i> I tell Ben. "It was cold all night—and the air—and the temperature—it was like a fridge!" <i>Yeah, yeah!</i> exclaims Ben, immediately seeing where I'm going with this.<br />
<br />
The real test comes a few hours later when my stomach starts growling. Trying to ignore the universal fact that unrefrigerated mayonnaise goes bad, I go to work on the turkey soufflé. Somehow, it's just as good as it was 24 hours earlier. I thank the iron stomach for that one.<br />
<br />
Ben opts to eat the day-old donuts before his sandwich. I already had some for breakfast. This shouldn't come to any surprise to Centervillians, but day-old Bill's Donuts <i>still</i> tops Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kreme any day of the week. Hell, maybe even two-day-old's. No contest.<br />
<br />
As many warned me, Kansas is the worst part of the trip; a type of terrestrial cockblock obstructing your path to Colorado. It just goes on forever. But the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Hills_Wind_Farm" target="_blank">Smoky Hilly Wind Farm</a> was a sight to behold.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://roadtrips.ithemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/wind.farm_.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Just two of hundreds on the farm.</span><br />
<br />
We're in west Kansas, and it's time to stop for gas. Thinking it'll be cheaper in the boondocks, I get off the highway only to find no gas station in sight. Was it wiped out by a tornado? No. Turns out, it's just a few miles down some country roads. We get there to see the price: $4.03⅓.<br />
<br />
Opting to get the hell out of Dodge, we get back on the highway and find a less isolated station a few miles down the road. Except this one has been abandoned by personnel. Ben seizes the opportunity and takes piss No. 5 on the back wall of the complex, since the door's locked. I'm also tempted to mark my territory, but I feel like we're being watched.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/254450_1895698506560_7010607_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
It seems like it would never happen, but we finally leave Kansas for good and cross the Colorado border. On the brink of a big, symbolic moment that we'd been anticipating from the start of our journey, we envision a few things. A huge "COLORADO WELCOMES YOU" sign. Ensuing honks and cheers. The gleam of a dream in our eyes. Instead, we get this:<br />
<br />
<img src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/255058_1895698626563_6676659_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
So much for that.<br />
<br />
A few hours later, with the ultra-cool <i>Tron: Legacy</i> score playing, we ride into Denver. Ben's desperately looking for the mountains to reveal themselves, and eventually he can make them out. I tweet: "Mountains beyond mountains! Journey complete."<br />
<br />
As we finish our epic 1,260-mile run on I-70 and head up S.R. 36, we debate where to celebrate the toils of our quest. We end up at Rock Bottom Brewery in Westminster, not far from our final destination. When I step out of the car, I get instant confirmation of feeling at home: an ice arena is just a few hundred yards away.<br />
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<img src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/254830_1895697946546_7581705_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<h3>Closer to the Sky</h3>As I sit here over a month later, the hustle and bustle of the transition to a new life has subsided, and I've been able to catch up with reality. My mind is reconciling the different worlds I've traversed in a short period of time, and I'm getting used to the fact that this is my new home, with NYC now in my rear view.<br />
<br />
When I stop and revel at it all, I'm left with one thought:<br />
<br />
<i>I did it</i>. Three simple words loaded with celebratory success.<br />
<br />
Erin and I have had Denver on our minds for a while now. With our wedding on the heels of our NYC lease that's up on July 1st, we came to realize two things. One: We didn't want to spend another year in New York. And two: Even if we moved to another city we liked, Denver would still be in the back of our minds.<br />
<br />
So the mission became clear: Denver or bust. Sure, it was going to make an already busy year filled with wedding planning even more hectic. Our plan was dubious to some, but we knew what we wanted, and doing it sooner rather than later was the lesser of two evils. We could move to our destination city, make a clean break with the lease, and return from our honeymoon to a new, exciting home to begin a new chapter in our lives.<br />
<br />
But why Denver?<br />
<br />
We were drawn to the landscape and the cool vibe of the Mile High City. We liked the idea of being able to settle down in the western region of the country, territory that was comfortable but personally uncharted. We like the laid-back attitude and the opportunities with the outdoors. We love the microbrews.<br />
<br />
In short, Denver felt like home.<br />
<br />
This is the third time I've changed my living situation for the better and set myself up for new experiences. And as I look back, I'm proud to say I've lived in Nashville and New York, two of the best cities in the U.S. But sometimes it just takes a few years to figure out where you're supposed to be.<br />
<br />
I have no regrets about living in New York. I had unique, unforgettable experiences there that I couldn't have had anywhere else. But after 3½ years, it was just time to move on. In my experience, there's no other personal act that's as incredibly liberating and empowering as a big life change in moving to a different state <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2008/01/timing.html" target="_blank">"just as I'd wanted, and almost as if I'd willed it."</a><br />
<br />
So here I am again in a new place, taking in the sights and asking myself how in the hell I got here. These are the times when I enjoy this surreal, exhilarating phase of newness before it gradually fades.<br />
<br />
But for now, I smile every time I gaze into the face of the Front Range.<br />
<br />
Many years from now, I hope to still be pinching myself.<br />
<br />
<i>"It's easier to leave than to be left behind... Leaving was never my proud... <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/84-million-new-yorkers-suddenly-realize-new-york-c,18003/" target="_blank">Leaving New York</a>, never easy. I saw the light <a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/city-brains/" target="_blank">fading out</a>."</i><br />
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<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/255774_1939362198125_1064492646_2195931_5795204_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Road Warriors 2011</span>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-3226441368232042602011-05-19T21:59:00.005-06:002021-06-14T17:53:20.917-06:00Wake-up Time<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMufW_MfFeH5D48FurO-Plr9KpZ96gGHxM0XMMXy4usK6OftYg1QLLv68vk1hGFot6Y9GVdnKAgDlYeJlMX1Xp7LHBwheeGj1a6mEWzfo8ePuDJgJqPblxaDdoQoPqnh069yaDhz00sMI/s288/wis+042.jpg" /><div><br /></div><div>I got published in <i>Rolling Stone</i> for the second time. I know it's so <a href="https://m1.buysub.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10951&storeId=10951&productId=1000446&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=348688&topCategoryId=10085
" target="_blank">last month</a>, but I wanted to file this for posterity's sake.</div><div><br /></div><div>My letter was in response to <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/talk-radios-alex-jones-the-most-paranoid-man-in-america-20110302" target="_blank">this article</a>.
<i>See also</i>: <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/03/big-leagues.html" target="_blank">The Big Leagues</a>
<p></p></div>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-17597987337053930772011-03-20T20:38:00.010-06:002011-04-13T19:27:52.084-06:00Hard To Say He's Sorry<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGF6JV61j4k/TXeED-b1z1I/AAAAAAAADXw/34GoVxiauRg/s1600/jim-tressel-front-presswire.jpg" width="400"/><br />Apologizing for a big mistake is one of the hardest things to do, especially if you're Jim Tressel.<br /><br />After a few non-apologies for covering up a scandal and then lying about it to the NCAA, the Vest finally owned up to his actions on Thursday, requesting that his two-game suspension be increased to five games for the 2011 season—the same of his suspended players.<br /><br />"Throughout this entire situation, my players and I have committed ourselves to facing our mistakes and growing from them. We can only successfully do this together," he said in a statement.<br /><br />Since Tressel was busted on March 8th, this was actually just the second time he admitted wrongdoing without equivocation. The first was two days earlier at Cardington-Lincoln High School when he said "I've made a mistake that I'm very sorry for."<br /><br />Before that, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on March 14th, Tressel was in dire need of a dictionary.<blockquote><i>"I sincerely apologize for what we've been through. I apologize for the fact I wasn't able to find the ones to partner with to handle our difficult and complex situation. I also apologize because I'm going to have some sanctions."</i></blockquote>This doesn't sound bad on the first read. But take another look. Here's what peeved me:<ul><li>Tressel's curious choice of words. He didn't apologize for what <i>he</i> did, which was hiding the possibility that five of his players sold OSU memorabilia to a local tattoo artist. Instead, he apologized for "what <i>we've</i> been through." He doesn't express remorse for lying to the NCAA about the situation—just that he's sorry he'll be punished for getting caught.<br /><br /><li>Tressel apologized for not being able to "find the ones to partner with" to deal with the matter, which is interesting considering that the only action he apparently took was keeping the scandal buried. After he received the first e-mail from attorney Christopher Cicero on April 2nd, 2010, he responded with "Thanks. I will get on it ASAP."<br /><br />But instead, Tressel actually got off it. Two weeks later he responded to Cicero's follow-up e-mail—which included a longer laundry list of probable violations—with "Thanks for your help...keep me posted as to what I need to do if anything."<br /><br />"Keep me posted"—hardly an active stance, and hardly one Tressel should take after learning about serious allegations that he'd later tell the media were "a tremendous concern to me."</ul>It gets worse.<blockquote><i>As part of the school-imposed penalties announced last week, Tressel was publicly reprimanded and required to make a public apology. During a news conference last week in Columbus, Tressel never offered any such apology. So, before he was whisked off following the event, Tressel was asked if this speech served as his public repentance. He looked puzzled.<br /><br />"I've tried to apologize all along," he said.</i></blockquote>This is where a dictionary would serve Tressel well, because how else do you explain his confusion with contrition? It's times like these and after <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2009/09/inside-job.html" target=_blank>big losses</a> where the man is just out of touch with reality. That or he thinks he can continue to slide by on his hitherto squeaky-clean image and by saying the right things, however <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/03/08/ohio.state.jim.tressel.sanctions/index.html" target=_blank>untrue</a>, dodgy, or disingenuous.<br /><br />And that's what troubles me the most—that, during his 10 years at Ohio State, Tressel has seemed to fool everyone on <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4655798&sportCat=ncf" target=_blank>persona</a> alone: his ultra-conservative, Midwestern style; his buttoned-down, businesslike demeanor; his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=jim+tressel&x=0&y=0" target=_blank>generic, too-perfect book titles</a>; and his post-game lexicon that includes G-rated words like "neat" and "gosh".<br /><br />Along with owning Michigan, it's this do-no-wrong public face that's given him a politician-like following and made him unimpeachable in the eyes of most Buckeye fans—not to mention the university itself. So it's not shocking that in the immediate wake of this scandal, Tressel's job was never in jeopardy—never mind that his contract merits termination in such a situation.<br /><br />But it is disturbing, especially when trust somehow endures.<blockquote><i>"Wherever we end up, Jim Tressel is our football coach," said Athletic director Gene Smith. "He is our coach, and we trust him implicitly."<br /><br />Asked if he ever considered firing Tressel, OSU President Gordon Gee gave an emphatic "no," saying, "Are you kidding me? Let me be clear: I just hope the coach doesn't dismiss me."</i></blockquote>But the truth is that Tressel's perceived integrity belies the fact that under the same circumstances, he's just just like any other college football coach—or politician—who breaks the rules in order to pursue his best interests.<br /><br />And with unconditional loyalty bestowed upon him by the Buckeye faithful, it'll take a lot more than one apology from the Senator to lose his seat in the Horseshoe.<br /><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-32596169391454808452011-02-28T07:16:00.009-07:002016-05-03T16:25:16.521-06:00Let Down<img src="http://timbretantrum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Radiohead-The-King-of-Limbs-screenshot.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Just as I was getting ready to dive into Radiohead's newest album, <i>The King Of Limbs</i>, the eight-track, 37-minute EP-LP hybrid started to grow on me. But the main point I wanted to express didn't change. Which is: I really miss the Radiohead of old.<br />
<br />
You know, back when they were a rock band.<br />
<br />
Take <i>Limbs</i>' opening track, "Bloom." The song starts out nice enough, with a pleasant Eno-like bed of ambient electronics. 15 seconds later, a cacophonic clusterfuck of disparate snare splices and radio-staticky blips completely sabotage the song.<br />
<br />
The only good part is that, five minutes later, it ends.<br />
<br />
"Feral" is another instant throwaway. Only this time the cut-and-paste drum loop and lo-fi radio static start immediately. What follows is essentially an instrumental with random synth touches and Thom Yorke's slurred murmurs fluctuating in and out amid a wash of reverb.<br />
<blockquote>
<i>"Songs like 'Bloom' and 'Feral' are the type of nerve-shredders Brian Eno used to compose in his sleep. Only underneath the random sounds of chaos, Eno also offered a melody, that on its own, could sometimes break your heart." <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sal-nunziato/radiohead-wont-you-please_b_826177.html" target="_blank">—Sal Nunziato</a></i></blockquote>
I'd like to believe that studio gremlins—and not the band itself—ruined one-fourth of the songs on Radiohead's new album, but it's unlikely.<br />
<br />
"Morning Mr. Magpie" is the other song I don't care for, and it's not because of poor production. It's because the song, driven almost solely by a scratch-guitar loop on acid, goes nowhere. And on <i>Limbs</i>, this is too often the case.<br />
<blockquote>
<i>"I could use a little less aversion to melody. </i>The King Of Limbs<i> is typically (albeit beautifully) long on experimentation and frustratingly short on old-fashioned songs." <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shawn-amos/play-skip-this-weeks-new_b_826819.html" target="_blank">—Shawn Amos</a></i></blockquote>
It took the world's greatest rock(?) band three years to come up with eight new songs, three of which are demo-quality cuts that would be lucky to be called B-sides? Maybe that explains the band's unheralded, oh-by-the-way announcement on February 14th that their new album would be coming out just five days later.<br />
<br />
The remainder of <i>Limbs</i> is listenable with more traditional song structures, and outside of the doleful "Codex," mostly lighter temperaments. Overall though, my biggest complaint is that there are no moments of transcendence—just steady songs defined by funky drum beats, casual guitar noodling, and eerie background noises that we've come to expect from Radiohead.<br />
<br />
I doubt the absence of payoffs is a coincidence, considering that the power of the guitars and real drum-playing that defined Radiohead in their prime (1995's <i>The Bends</i> and 1997's <i>OK Computer</i>) have been muzzled in favor of Radiohead lite—an intentionally mellow, lo-fi brand of arty minimalism that's appreciated most by music snobs and the 3 a.m. stoner crowd. This mood music can be heard throughout their catalogue, but was cemented by 2007's <i>In Rainbows</i>.<br />
<br />
<i>Limbs</i>' shortcomings don't change the fact that Radiohead are the truest of artists, uncompromising nonconformists who make music for themselves before anyone else. But what bothers me is the notion that the band could one day mock the very pedestal that critics and fans have put them on by intentionally putting out a shit record, and no one would have the balls to say it sucked.<br />
<br />
Much worse, it would be called "art."<br />
<br />
On the album's last track, "Separator," Yorke cries, "I'm a fish now out of water... Wake me up." I'd like to think it's an acknowledgment of the musical limbo Radiohead's in, but I'm not holding my breath for another <i>Bends</i>. Because the truth is that Radiohead was once a rock band with electronic tendencies, but now they're an electronic outfit with rock stylings. And I keep wondering how drummer Phil Selway feels about splitting time with his computerized counterpart.<br />
<br />
My hope is that one day they'll return to form, but not by mimicking <i>The Bends</i>—just without the restraint of <i>Limbs</i>, and without being challenging for the sake of being challenging.<br />
<br />
<center>
***</center>
<br />
<b><i>Right on</i></b>: In response to <i>Rolling Stone</i>'s <a href="http://www.rollingstoneme.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1481" target="_blank">"Radiohead Reconnect"</a> article in its May 3rd, 2012 issue, reader Jason Squier of St. Ansgar, Iowa had this to say:<br />
<blockquote>
"When I learned that Radiohead 'learned to rock again,' I got my hopes up that they finally gave up on the experimental samples and beeps. I guess they still feel it's uncool to create songs with a guitar and amp. I hope next time they reinvent themselves, they make music the fans want to hear. I wish it were 1997 again."</blockquote>
Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-41851032705906583972011-01-17T19:20:00.000-07:002011-01-17T19:20:12.124-07:00Celebrity Sighting #9<img src="http://images.tvrage.com/people/38/111413.jpg"/><br /><br /><a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2008/09/celebrity-sighting-5.html" target=_blank>Rachel Dratch</a> isn't the only celebrity who rides the subway.<br /><br />After the 4 train pulled into Grand Central on the Friday morning commute, I almost didn't see him. But I couldn't miss that brilliant white ponytail just a few feet to my right.<br /><br />In a second I was pretty sure it was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Godard" target=_blank>Joel Godard</a>, the former announcer for <i>Late Night with Conan O'Brien</i>. And in the next, I could <i>hear</i> it was him.<br /><br />"Getting off... <i>Getting off</i>" boomed the unmistakable radio voice as he pushed his way through the middle of the train before the doors closed on him.<br /><br />Gotta admit: Would have loved to see the rage in the old man had he not made it out in time.<br /><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-27274431033534577492011-01-06T18:44:00.017-07:002012-03-25T20:25:12.017-06:00Conspiracy theorists blame shadow government for return of ABC's 'V'<img src="http://l.yimg.com/l/tv/us/img/site/33/97/0000073397_20101217095602.jpg" width="400"/><br /><br /><i>By Ken Devine</i><br /><br />Blasted by critics and despised by television viewers everywhere, only one possible explanation exists for the return of ABC's lame alien-invasion series, <i>V</i>: its importance in <a href="http://www.disclosureproject.org/" target=_blank>disclosure</a>, a clandestinely coordinated effort planned for decades by top-secret government officials to eventually reveal the truth about extraterrestrials to humanity.<br /><br />That's according to Edward Tussel, spokesperson of the Disclosure Project.<br /><br />"The concept of disclosure is nothing new," he said. "But the government's desperation has gotten to the point of ensuring that a cheesy B-grade serial with cheap special effects and throwaway characters stays on the air, even though it has no business doing so."<br /><br />The second-season premiere of <i>V</i> was met by a tough crowd on Tuesday night. Despite heavy promotions by ABC, the episode averaged only a 2.20 rating—60% lower than the series debut last year.<br /><br />Tussel emphasized the peculiarity of <i>V</i>'s renewal in contrast with ABC's cancellation of another flawed 2009 serial, <i>FlashForward</i>, which performed only slightly worse in the ratings but was actually halfway decent.<br /><br />"At least we could rely on FlashForward for repeated laughs from Joe Fiennes' overacting and his character’s inevitable relapse into alcoholism that ruined his marriage," he said. "Better yet was his hilarious revelation about why his flash-forward was blurry.<br /><br />"You listening? Check this out, I've got it down..."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij-t5_Gvogs" target=_blank><i>"BECAUSE I WAS LOADED, OK?!"</i></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FksmW7_Ek2o" target=_blank><i>"OK?!"</i></a><br /><br />Once his laughter subsided, Tussel sat back down and sighed.<br /><br />"But, FlashForward's not coming back."<br /><br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TSZvjL7v-0I/AAAAAAAAASA/6eoprwEDpP4/mark_benford.jpg" width="400"/><br /><br />Robert Covell from the Mutual UFO Network said that the agenda behind NBC's <i>The Event</i> is even more transparent than <i>V</i>, considering that the pilot centers around a black president wanting to announce the truth about aliens to the American people.<br /><br />"Like humanity, these TV shows are by no means alone," he said, citing just a few recent movies like <i>Skyline</i>, and <i>Megamind</i>, and <i>District 9</i>, and <i>The Fourth Kind</i>. And <i>Race to Witch Mountain</i>, and <i>Cloverfield</i>, and <i>The Day the Earth Stood Still</i>.<br /><br />But that's far from all. At least five upcoming films that center around the human-alien conflict are also in production: <i>Battle: Los Angeles</i>, <i>Super 8</i>, <i>Cowboys & Aliens</i>, <i>Men in Black III</i>, and <i>Under the Skin</i>.<br /><br />"Aliens are in vogue these days," he said. "Whoever's funding these projects really wants to prepare us for some huge, intergalactic space battle that may usher in the apocalypse."<br /><br />"But what if the aliens that eventually come are actually peaceful?" he pondered.<br /><br />Covell also noted that TNT is getting into the mix with <i>Falling Skies</i>, an upcoming miniseries about—you guessed it—an alien invasion. Steven Spielberg is executive producer. <br /><br />Covell questions the motives of the legendary director simply because of his otherworldly track record, which suspiciously includes <i>E.T.</i>, <i>Men in Black</i>, <i>A.I. Artificial Intelligence</i>, <i>War of the Worlds</i>, <i>Super 8</i>, and <i>Cowboys & Aliens</i>.<br /><br />Covell even went as far as to say that Spielberg himself is probably an <a href="http://silverscreensaucers.blogspot.com/2011/06/spielbergs-ufo-movies-from-regular-8-to.html" target=_blank>alien</a>.<br /><br />"Or at least a hybrid of some sort," he clarified. "Man, that would make a great movie."<br /><br />ABC, NBC, TNT, and especially Spielberg all declined to comment on this story.<ul><li><a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/31/v-second-season-finale/" target=_blank><b><i>Hellbent</b></a>: "V producers aren’t letting modest ratings hold them back: The upcoming second season finale is going to finish with a major cliffhanger, sources say. The story decision is crucial as it suggests the producers have some degree of confidence that the series will land a third season..."</i><br /><br /><li><b><i>Justice</i></b>: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/criticscorner/2011-03-14-critics-corner_N.htm" target=_blank>'V' bows out quietly on ABC</a><br /><br /><li><b><i>Two for the road</i></b>: <a href="http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/the-event-season-two-19910/#comments" target=_blank>NBC Cancels 'The Event'; No Season Two</a><br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/IyMGrDfOeSw&hl=en_US" target=_blank><b>David Wilcock Talks <i>The Event</i>, <i>V</i></b></a></ul><br /><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-26540875316539697302010-12-19T19:08:00.003-07:002010-12-23T11:45:48.889-07:00The Best Man Speech<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/danielrwatson/NikiAndShawnWeddingShannonSPhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCMycr-vsycL7mQE&feat=directlink#" target=_blank><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TQ65NM_DrmI/AAAAAAAAARg/TFcGWfufbWE/s720/shawn.jpg" width="400"/></a><br /><i>For Shawn Smith<br />December 11th, 2010<br />Smyrna, Tennessee</i><br /><br />Hi there. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Ken Devine, and it's an honor to be Shawn's Best Man. And now for a story.<br /><br />About seven years ago, two guys were looking for girls in Nashville on New Year's Eve. These guys spent most of their evening at a local bar, but instead of trying to pick up girls, they just ended up watching college football. So after an uneventful evening, they decided to pack it up and head home a few hours into the new year. But that's when things got really desperate. <br /><br />So, these guys made it back to the apartment complex where they lived. But despite not having talked to one girl the entire night, they weren't about to call it quits. So in a last-ditch effort, they drove around the apartment complex, just patrolling the streets and combing for any sign of life. And in particular, any female who might have been walking around by herself at 3 in the morning.<br /><br />As if that wasn't pathetic enough, things sunk to a new low when they rolled down their windows and started screaming things like "WHERE ARE YOU?" and "COME OUT OF THERE!" To no one's surprise, no girl actually took the bait.<br /><br />Shawn and I came up empty-handed that night, but we never stopped in our pursuit of women. Over the years, we had some success here and there, but never really found the girl we were supposed to be with.<br /><br />About five years later, it was early 2009, and that's when Shawn met Niki. In the beginning they were friends who worked together at State Farm, and later discovered that they lived in the same apartment complex. And much like me and Shawn, Shawn and Niki quickly bonded over a love for Pearl Jam and rock music and college football.<br /><br />Now, at the time I was actually living in New York, but I kept hearing from Shawn about this new girl he was hanging out with, and how cool and attractive she was. And I just remember thinking that it wouldn't be long before their friendship developed into something more. And that's exactly what happened.<br /><br />I didn't actually meet Niki until I was in town for Shawn's bachelor party a few months ago. But when I finally did, my first impression of her didn't change at all. Niki is passionate, energetic, and extremely hard-working. She's smart, strong-minded, and beautiful. And she just has this great, magnetic spirit to her. Niki's just somebody you want to be around.<br /><br />Now, Shawn on the other hand... No, Shawn's a great guy. To me, Shawn is the most honest, loyal, kind, and understanding person I know. He's my best friend. And in his relationship with Niki, he's grown to not only be this incredible selfless partner, but also a loving father to a child whose now his. And if that doesn't speak volumes about his level of commitment to both Niki and Aidan, then I don't know what does, because that's what love's all about.<br /><br />But, I think one of the best things about Shawn is that he's a believer. Through all of the ups and downs in his life—whether it's Ole Miss's upset of Florida in the Swamp in 2008, or the really dangerous car accident that he was lucky to survive about five years ago—Shawn's always believed in God's plan. And it's not just something that you learn in church. For Shawn, it's more of a natural sense of God's purpose in his life, and an understanding that no matter what happens, God's always in control. And it's this purpose—this direction—that's led him directly to Niki and Aidan, whom he'll continue to love and bless just as deeply as God has loved and blessed him.<br /><br />Now, being single for the better part of your life isn't easy. I can attest to just how hard it can be. But what makes me happy is knowing that despite all the loneliness, and after all the dead ends and times of wondering if things were ever gonna change, the best guy I know married the best girl for him. And there's no better feeling than knowing where you're supposed to be in life and who you're supposed to be spending it with. So, while that search is finally over for Niki and Shawn, a great new adventure is about to begin.<br /><br />All that's to say that with Shawn now officially off the market, and me getting married next year, I think it's safe to say that our days of creeping on girls in apartment complexes at 3 in the morning are over. But that's probably a good thing.<br /><br />So, with that, I just want to say congratulations to the bride and groom. Niki and Shawn, I also want to thank you for being such great people, such wonderful friends, and for positively affecting the lives of each and every person in this room. It's why we're here for you now, and why we'll always be there for you.<br /><br />I love you guys.<br /><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-49244626566460023442010-09-28T19:20:00.007-06:002011-05-10T20:51:09.378-06:00One Little Victory<a href="http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20100928/1/21/" target=_blank><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TKKSA9pLquI/AAAAAAAAANk/wJFmC-7dqvs/s912/nyc_metro_9-28-2010.png" width="400"/></a><br /><br />And even Stephen Abraham <a href="http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20100929/1/23/" target=_blank>agrees</a> with me.<br /><br />"Truth is so hard to tell, it sometimes needs <a href="http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20100924/1/4/" target=_blank>fiction to make it plausible</a>."<br /><i>—Francis Bacon</i><br /><br />• <b>And another</b>: <a href="http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20110506/1/26/" target=_blank>"The perfect excuse for war"</a><br />• <b>Filth? Ha!</b>: <a href="http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20110509/1/25/" target=_blank>"Shame on all the skeptics"</a><br />• <b>Rebuttal</b>: <a href="http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20110510/1/20/" target=_blank>"Shame on all the skeptics"</a><br /><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-8945364618473986542010-09-05T14:50:00.013-06:002021-06-14T18:06:13.115-06:00On The Night<img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBULqXDaPQ6TmRVd58f7uHxUWR7PjElzSJcwK6Vtd73PdJFElc5eSer3bPqpUuCwgoj7pZExw98RIwOr9P9vV-i00gfy_Kjv7hd4unKhAu6v2wNph4RgGk4XjYM2dFwV8vVQngz1jzNxF/s400/Dire_Straits-On_The_Night-Frontal.jpg.jpg" /><br />
<br />
One of the best things about music is the discovery process, because by and large, music is a constant pursuit. This explains why we tend to like music more that we find ourselves.<br />
<br />
Last month I discovered <i>On The Night</i>, a gem of a live album by classic rock outfit Dire Straits. This was a treasured find for two reasons. One, because Dire Straits' already great songs sound greater live, where the band has room to explore their unique sonic textures. And two, because I can't help but feel that this album was overlooked when it was released in 1993, lost in the shuffle of grunge's heyday and the twilight of a career.<br />
<br />
Fronted by Mark Knopfler, one of the most masterful finger-picking guitarists of our time, Dire Straits made music that was always a little left of center. The British quartet emerged in the post-punk era of the late 1970s to play what was decidedly not post-punk. Actually, their body of work makes for an interesting study, given the melding of roots rock, blues-jazz stylings, MTV-made singles and slow-burning ruminations. And even as their sound grew to incorporate some of the cheesier earmarks of the '80s, Dire Straits maintained a pop sensibility while never losing their mature edge.<br />
<blockquote>
<i>"The band's music was offset by Knopfler's lyrics, which approximated the winding, stream-of-conscious narratives of Bob Dylan." —<a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:difpxqe5ldhe~T1" target="_blank">Allmusic</a></i></blockquote>
<i>On The Night</i> works so well because it does what any live album should do, which is capture a band at its peak with the intangible energy that can't be felt from a studio recording. As evidence: the exuberant buildup of the already happy-go-lucky <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqOSR7KX_ik" target="_blank">"Walk Of Life"</a>; the realization of arena-rock power on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNUbNZcZr-g" target="_blank">"Heavy Fuel"</a>; the dark intrigue and palpable eeriness of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD1APGofTSk" target="_blank">"Private Investigations"</a>; and the simple romantic beauty of the three-note licks on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64vvX6-d_JY" target="_blank">"Romeo And Juliet."</a> Although some of these musical moments are represented in their studio counterparts, they really <i>feel</i> different and come alive here on this album, which was culled from two European performances in May 1992.<div><br />
Another success of <i>On The Night</i> is the transcendence of the songs themselves, over half of which are augmented with more progressive arrangements. With the free reign of the live setting, songs like opener <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJii3ACoqDc" target="_blank">"Calling Elvis"</a> and closer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2rx3IAEISA" target="_blank">"Brothers In Arms"</a> expand gracefully without overstaying their welcome. Moreover, most of the 10 tracks here are jazzed up and countrified with liberal use of saxophone and pedal steel guitar, which provides a warm richness that plays to their advantage.<br />
<br />
<i>On The Night</i> provides a snapshot of an underappreciated band in their prime, not long before they hung up the guitars for good. While it includes most of the hits, the setlist plays naturally, without the obligation to include <i>all</i> the hits — "Sultans Of Swing" and "So Far Away" are notably absent, but not terribly missed when looking at the whole.<br />
<br />
Even though Dire Straits is long gone from the modern zeitgeist, on this night, we can all look back and savor the moment with a fond sense of retroactive nostalgia.</div>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-70392672978342591222010-08-08T12:57:00.003-06:002010-08-08T14:18:47.750-06:00Less for More<img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/images/smorgasboard20090525.jpg" width="400"/><br />A few months ago, I dined at <a href="http://www.spuntothincrust.com/" target=_blank>Spunto</a> in Soho for lunch, and I think it's time I said something about it. Because after all these years, my long-feared suspicions have been confirmed: The thin-crust pizza market is a racket.<br /><br />Does it taste good? Sure. Is it worth the price you pay? Not unless it's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion%27s_Piazza" target=_blank>Marion's</a>.<br /><br />Just look at the <a href="http://www.spuntothincrust.com/inhousemenu.html" target=_blank>menu</a>: $13 for a large pie without any toppings. Since plain-cheese pizza sort of defeats the purpose of eating pizza in the first place, an additional layer of toppings will cost you five more bucks. I'd be tempted to try one of Spunto's house specialty pizzas if it didn't put me out $24.<br /><br />I realize that some people are okay with paying whatever for thin-crust pizza because they prefer that to thicker crusts. Honestly, I wouldn't be opposed to the prices if I didn't get hungry an hour or two later.<br /><br />So if anyone else's experience is anything like mine, thin-crust pizza ultimately serves as a snack, but you end up paying a full meal's price for it. This isn't right, especially at chains that charge the same for thicker crusts.<br /><br />Preference is one thing; principle is another.<br /><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-10986653510899016422010-08-02T20:34:00.013-06:002012-05-25T13:01:33.400-06:00One Ring To Bind Her<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TFdsxpI92-I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/aVMGuUvEwPg/s912/eng%20007.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
How to propose to your girlfriend in 13 steps:<br />
<ol><li>Create a <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TFd07sDxllI/AAAAAAAAAKs/i6mh9KrKl1s/s640/eng%20001.jpg" target="_blank">relationship crossword puzzle</a>. Include inside jokes, pet names, common likes, and references to relationship history.<br />
</li>
<br />
<li>Leave crossword puzzle for girlfriend to find when she comes home.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TFdsxERmy8I/AAAAAAAAAKI/4JQ1HICaGuQ/s800/eng%20005.jpg" width="360" /><br />
</li>
<br />
<li>Wait for girlfriend to meet you at the secret location revealed by unscrambling certain letters on the crossword. One location could be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belvedere_Castle" target="_blank">Belvedere Castle</a> in Central Park.<br />
</li>
<li>Give girlfriend a big hug and kiss when she does finally find you off to the side of the castle, away from all the tourists.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.bigappleweddings.co.uk/images/belvedere.png" width="360" /><br />
</li>
<li>Present her a single rose. Then say, "Well, I guess we can head back home now." Make sure she knows you're not serious.<br />
</li>
<li>Pull out <a href="http://zales.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pZALE1-7094792t400.jpg" target="_blank">the ring</a> and say "Do I even have to ask?" with a knowing smile. But follow up with "Will you marry me?" just to be sure.<br />
</li>
<li>Take <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/album.php?aid=2061118&id=1064492646" target="_blank">pictures</a>.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TFdsxXLrCLI/AAAAAAAAAKM/c71nz195-jg/s912/eng%20006.jpg" width="360" /><br />
</li>
<li>Appreciate the complete randomness and coincidental timing of a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/rushy16?ref=ts" target="_blank">former hockey teammate</a> running into you moments after popping the big one...<blockquote>"I was strolling through central park on Saturday afternoon with a lovely coed. As we ascended to the platform of the castle that resides off the southwest edge of the Great Lawn, I glanced to my left and saw a very familiar towering god-like figure. So familiar, after a quick double take I zoned in and got closer, it was no other than the one the only Kenny <a href="http://www.marqueeny.com/main.html" target="_blank">"Marquee"</a> Devine. Not only was the sighting out of left field, couple it with the fact that literally moments earlier in that exact spot with his princess in hand, he asked the lady of his life that eternal question.....and she graciously accepted. Hearts across America broke this weekend. Kenny, congrats big guy...From every last member of the Tea Time community, we wish you nothing but the best....salud"</blockquote></li>
<li>Take more pictures.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TFd8bY9evoI/AAAAAAAAALg/1QN7IsAl1ls/s912/eng%20018.jpg" width="360" /><br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Accept the fact that, yes, Billy Squier's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWZ2WCbLaUw" target="_blank">"Love Is The Hero"</a> is indeed playing in your head. But it's cool.<br />
</li>
<li>Dine at a <a href="http://www.smithandwollensky.com/new_york.htm" target="_blank">great steakhouse</a>.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TFd8bsjvVlI/AAAAAAAAALk/JqOItVsdwNY/s800/eng%20022.jpg" width="360" /><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.theknot.com/profiles/eahendri/myknot/mybio" target="_blank">Tell</a> the world.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TFd8bdT4pdI/AAAAAAAAALc/yW_Ah44Hvnk/facebook_engaged.png" width="360" /><br />
</li>
<li>Feast on a celebratory breakfast the next morning, with whipped cream symbolizing your sentiment.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TFd7Pdt3NxI/AAAAAAAAALM/N4l6mDgWKVU/s800/eng%20024.jpg" width="360" /></li>
</ol>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-79156122243181807442010-07-21T18:57:00.008-06:002013-02-10T11:52:00.183-07:00Rest in Peace<img src="http://www.svas.com/computers/dell_xps_t550.jpg" height="350"/><br />
NEW YORK—Shortly after 9:30 p.m EDT on Monday, July 19th, Dell computer <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2009/08/white-lightning.html" target=_blank>White Lightning</a> was officially pronounced dead from owner decommissioning. Lightning, a Dell Dimension XPS T550 purchased for around $3,200 in July 1999, was just days away from what would have been its eleventh birthday. <br />
<br />
During White Lightning's 10-year tenure, Bill Clinton was impeached, MySpace blew up, the Red Sox won the World Series, and owner Ken Devine got a girlfriend.<br />
<br />
Devine maintains that Lightning had a great run, but he's alone in that sentiment. Every other person who has come into contact with the mainstay machine insists that it was a painstakingly slow death over the course of a decade where computer technology advanced by several leaps and bounds. In fact, family members attest that Devine's stubborn refusal to even consider replacing the sluggish dinosaur bordered on cruelty—more so, perhaps, to himself.<br />
<br />
Yet critics agree that the 550 MHz has-been had a short stint of glory in its first year of existence, when 16-megabyte video cards ruled the personal-computing frontier, and 20 gigs of hard-drive space was much more than anyone would ever need. <br />
<br />
Yes—people really lived like this.<br />
<br />
No one's sure how, but White Lightning managed to run on the Windows 98 Second Edition operating system all the way until late 2006, when a freak system-file deletion wouldn't allow Devine to re-enter Windows. A tech-savvy co-worker came to the rescue and bypassed Lightning's hard drive by adding a second one running Windows XP—an operating system already half a decade old.<br />
<br />
Devine enjoyed the much-more-stable XP, but had his first realization that Lighting was behind the times when he received an iPod for Christmas in 2007. The portable music device was a fraction of the size of his computer, but at 80 gigs, had the storage capacity of four times more than his once-super computer.<br />
<br />
After months of contemplation, Devine reluctantly decided on Monday that it was time to replace White Lightning with Black Thunder, a far-superior Dell machine configured by a pair of former co-workers who felt sympathy for Devine's situation. The duo was compelled to end the years of neglect after learning of Devine's surprising contentment with his long-running personal-computing history. Oddly enough, the speedy PC now adored by Devine sat in his closet for the past 15 months, just waiting for its chance.<br />
<br />
"I just felt like it was time," said Devine on retiring his old friend. "Whitey was taking longer naps, and he just sort of gave up when I tried to watch videos on YouTube. I only saw a new frame like once every 15 seconds."<br />
<br />
Devine revealed that the key to preserving such an antiquated computing device was a steady diet of program management and maintenance, particularly with <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5940176/is-it-bad-to-shutdown-my-computer-regularly-or-leave-it-on-all-the-time" target=_blank>nightly shutdowns</a>.<br />
<br />
But more than anything, an unprecedented level of patience.<br />
<br />
"The good news is now I don't have to put my clothes away or make a sandwich while my computer is booting up," he said. "But I think this whole experience built a lot of character, both for me and White."<br />
<br />
"I wouldn't change a thing," he added. <br />
<br />
Lightning is survived by PC siblings Blue Bronco and Black Stealth, the latter of which has been in a coma for the past several months. Brother Red Bull passed away quietly in 2007.<br />
<p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-22147880310482764312010-07-05T16:41:00.011-06:002013-11-06T13:20:22.428-07:00Why Soccer Still Sucks<img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01667/Disallowed_goal_1667647c.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Four years after writing about <a href="http://kennyd1980.livejournal.com/42218.html" target="_blank">the issues I have with soccer</a>, I have to say I've enjoyed watching the latest World Cup, and my interest in the game—with its finesse, chess-match strategy, and surprising level of physicality—has increased.<br />
<br />
But the more I try to appreciate the sport, the more it frustrates me. Soccer's still got some issues to work out, particularly with unfairness...<br />
<br />
<h3>
#1: Ghana's a Goner</h3>
The latest exhibit: Ghana falling in penalty kicks to Uruguay on Friday. I really have a problem with the intentional handball by defender Luis Suarez to prevent Uruguay’s instant death in the final minutes of extra time.<br />
<br />
Would I have a problem if Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan had converted on the ensuing penalty shot to clinch the contest (which he should have)? Not with the outcome, no.<br />
<br />
Do I blame Suarez for reacting in a manner that would deny a game-winning goal? Not at all. It was a natural act of last resort and self-preservation.<br />
<br />
The problem I have is with the rulebook, namely the black-and-white nature of the handball infraction. There's a big difference between an unintentional handball at midfield and a deliberate handball at the goal line to prevent the ball from going into the net. The fact that the handball rule does not distinguish between these two situations that carry very different implications is a serious flaw, because it allows for cheating.<br />
<br />
And that's what happened Friday—Uruguay cheated. Okay, technically they didn't "<a href="http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/angry-tabarez-denies-uruguay-were-handed-semi--fbintl_reu-worlduruguayhandball_pix.html" target="_blank">cheat</a>" within the laws of the game, but it was cheating at its core. From a legal perspective, you could say the handball was a smart move because it was the only option to stay alive. But if the rule was truly fair, this option shouldn't have existed at all—the goal should have been awarded instantly on account of goaltending (one thing <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/03/why-basketball-sucks-redux.html" target="_blank">basketball</a> <i>does</i> get right). I'm astonished by the lack of challenge and outrage with this rule, especially from Ghana. But writer <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/world-cup-2010/wires/07/03/2010.ap.soc.wcup.john.leicester.030710/index.html" target="_blank">John Leicester</a> is with me:<br />
<blockquote>
"Suarez knew what he was doing. He took a calculated risk... He knew that the punishment for handling would be a penalty for Ghana. But that had to be better for Uruguay than losing to a last-gasp goal."</blockquote>
In a small measure of consolation, Suarez will sit out the semifinal match against the Netherlands, but will return for the finals if Uruguay advances. FIFA found Suarez guilty of "denying the opposite team a clear goal-scoring opportunity."<br />
<br />
That's a nice way of putting it.<br />
<br />
In a just world, the Ghanaians would be the ones preparing for the Netherlands on Tuesday. It didn't matter what happened on their penalty shot—the game should have already been over.<br />
<br />
For more evidence that the handball rule enables cheating, look no further than Suarez himself, who instantly celebrated from the sidelines when Gyan booted his penalty shot off the crossbar. Much worse, he <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/world-cup-2010/wires/07/03/2010.ap.soc.wcup.suarez.disciplinary/index.html#ixzz0spkvJDJa" target="_blank">openly expressed</a> zero contrition with his decision, claiming the punishment of being ejected from a World Cup game is "complicated."<br />
<br />
"The way in which I was sent off—truth is, it was worth it," he said. "I think I made the best save of the World Cup."<br />
<br />
<h3>
#2: No Instant Replay</h3>
The USA, England, Mexico, and Portugal were all victims of poor officiating. If there was instant replay, who would be playing Tuesday and Wednesday? The 2014 World Cup has to get the officiating system right. With the level of international outrage that only soccer can present, I'm hopeful.<br />
<br />
<h3>
#3: Low Scoring</h3>
Out of all the games I've watched this World Cup, the one thing that continually irks me is the lack of scoring opportunities. This is the biggest thing holding the sport back; the main reason why most of us play soccer when we're young but only catch it once every four years.<br />
<br />
It's an accepted truth that you tend to like things you grew up with, the only things you knew. Thus, many non-American "football" fans have no problem with low-scoring matches because they didn't grow up with the NFL, NBA, or NHL, where scoring is frequent and gratification instant. The disparity in the popularity of the game outside the United States can be explained by cultural expectations.<br />
<br />
But as I've watched these matches, I've thought about ways to balance the sport and improve the game so that it's less restrictive and more interesting to watch. Here are a few suggestions that will never be adopted, but whose implications are interesting nonetheless:<br />
<ol><b>
<li>No offsides</li>
</b>. Is there any justification to leave offsides in the game other than the fact that it's always been there? Like hockey's riddance of the two-line pass, eliminating offsides would be the easiest way to improve the game without fundamentally changing it. As in hockey, forwards would actually be rewarded for slipping behind their defenders. Scoring opportunities would increase, saves would be made, and overall interest would heighten. Offsides could even be redefined to be when a player advances into the penalty area before the ball has entered it (again, similar to hockey, the sport it most resembles).<br /><br /><b>
<li>Fewer players</li>
</b>. Reducing each side from 10 players to eight would be a pretty radical change, but I can't help but get excited about the passing and shooting lanes that would open up, and the faster pace of the game overall. One of the main reasons shots are so low in soccer is simply because there are too many players that clog up the area in front of the goal.<br /><br /><b>
<li>Penalty-kick distance</li>
</b>. Everyone knows that relying on penalty kicks has never been a great way to determine the winner of a match. So why not keep the kicks but move the shot placement back to the top of the penalty area? You know, to give goalies a higher probability of stopping the shots than Stevie Wonder.<br /><br />And while we're speaking of overtime, why is there no sudden death in the extra-time period (<a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-nfl-sucks.html" target="_blank">the opposite problem the NFL has</a>)? Isn't the point of overtime to fairly determine a victor in a timely fashion?<br /><br />Here's what it's like in the current system: Two teams battle to a tie over the course of 90-plus minutes. One scores a huge go-ahead goal in the extra session, but not so fast—the game isn't over. They've got to continue on in the hopes of not allowing their opponent to tie the score again for the remainder of the 30 minutes. Apparently, people love seeing penalty kicks.</ol>
If you're a purist against these rules, consider these stats through July 1st from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-greener/why-americans-dont-like-s_b_632880.html" target="_blank">novelist Richard Greener</a>:<br />
<ul>
<li>The Group winners in the 2010 World Cup (Uruguay, Argentina, United States, Germany, Netherlands, Paraguay, Brazil and Spain) averaged 656 touches per game, with only 6.3 shots on goal in a 90-minute contest.<br /></li>
<li>Argentina, the most aggressive offensive team, attempted a shot on goal 1.28% of the time it touched the ball. They've averaged 2.3 goals per game.<br /></li>
<li>The worst teams, Honduras and New Zealand, averaged only 1 shot on goal per game. Honduras played their entire schedule of games without making a single goal.</li>
</ul>
<br />
In the absence of alterations to the game, I have to agree with Greener's prediction that American interest in soccer will remain largely unchanged in the years to come, unfortunately:<br />
<blockquote>
"Here, unlike other places, we look for sustained action and the ever-present opportunity to put points on the board. Finding neither in soccer, interest in the United States will remain limited to events like the World Cup, with fan interest created by the marketing of false patriotism for a few weeks every four years."</blockquote>
<hr />
<b>Guess I'm not alone after all</b>: <a href="http://exiledonline.com/why-soccer-sucks-the-antidote-to-world-cup-idiocy/" target="_blank">Why Soccer Sucks: The Antidote To World Cup Idiocy</a>.Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-60306097471591115192010-06-17T20:22:00.016-06:002011-07-04T13:50:54.590-06:00Seconds Out<img src="http://static.tvguide.com/MediaBin/Galleries/Shows/Numbers/24/season7/redemption/24-redemption14.jpg" width="400"/><br /><br />Sometimes things don't end the way you want them to.<br /><br />After headlining serial television through most of the 2000s, <i>24</i> finally bid farewell to TV on May 24th (fittingly), capping off eight adrenaline-pumping seasons. But compared to its groundbreaking genesis that reinvented how stories could be told on TV, <i>24</i> went out with more of a whimper than a bang.<br /><br />The invincible Jack Bauer was once again betrayed by the country he's saved so many times from total annihilation, and is once again on the lam. There was a tender scene with him and Chloe as the final seconds ticked away, but it wasn't the particularly affecting conclusion that <i>24</i> deserved—at least, at one point in time.<blockquote>"<i>24</i> came onto the air in 2001 as a form-breaking serial that looked strikingly different from anything else on TV. As all successful insurgents do over time, though, it became another institution, with its own familiar forms, tropes and patterns. And last night, <i>24</i> said goodbye—to TV anyway—with a closing that was much more like just another season finale than a series finale." <a href="http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2010/05/25/the-morning-after-24-stops-or-pauses-the-clock/" target=_blank>—James Poniewozik</a></blockquote>The major impediment with <i>24</i>'s finale was that, after all this talk about this being the end, it wasn't—the last episode just served as a setup for the forthcoming movie that's been in the works for months. And it didn't help that <i>24</i> had an impossible act to follow, with most of America still reeling from the <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/06/fantastic-journey.html" target=_blank>fever-pitch finale of <i>Lost</i></a> the night before.<blockquote>"I know these last few months have been difficult ones. It must be hard to look at the brass-band sendoff for <i>Lost</i>, whose serialized story was made possible by your success, and not compare it to your own less-glorious finish." <a href="http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/review/2010/05/25/24_season_finale/index.html" target=_blank>—Sam Adams</a></blockquote><img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01236/jackbauer2_1236415c.jpg" width="400"/><br />It's interesting to juxtapose the two serial thrillers, because for me, <i>Lost</i> was always second to <i>24</i>—<a href="http://kennyd1980.livejournal.com/49564.html" target=_blank>at least for a while</a>. And in terms of where <i>24</i> stood, there was no clearer marker in the sand than when I called <a href="http://www.professorthoms.com/" target=_blank>Professor Thom's</a> in January about when the next Bauer Hour would be. The NYC bar had held <i>24</i> viewing parties for years, handing out free shots of Jack Daniels every time Jack killed someone. But when I spoke to the owner, he said that they had canceled the Bauer Hour this year due to lack of interest. However, still on the schedule was <i>Lost</i>, whose viewing parties continued to be marked by long lines and sitting-room-only crowds.<br /><br />In the end, <i>24</i> could have learned from <i>Lost</i>. Plotting a show's demise in its prime is never easy or sensible in today's philosophy of goldmine entertainment, but <i>24</i>'s atrophy was self-inflicted, opting to exhaust itself over the course of 192 episodes rather than go out on top. Even as a die-hard fan from the very first hour, I was hoping that the producers would end the series after three or four seasons (circa 2005), having Jack die a hero's death in the final seconds (the only truly fitting ending). Because even though <i>24</i> suspended reality from the start, it was still grounded enough where there was no way someone could have as many bad, sleepless days as Jack Bauer, right?<br /><br />But as it turned out, 2005 was right around the time when Jack Bauer became a household name. With the <i>24</i> epidemic spreading, I can't completely blame FOX for keeping the juggernaut rolling, but they had to know that the longer they dragged it out, the more preposterous it would get and the less serious people would take the show. As <i>Lost</i> taught us, a serial is a different animal that has the potential for huge payoffs. The caveat: You've got to end it at the right time, on your own terms. Compromise, and you'll have a price to pay, as well as a far dimmer legacy.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TBrNFf0EZfI/AAAAAAAAAJU/LNxbLpeHVhY/tony_jack.jpg" width="400"/><br />That's not to say <i>24</i> didn't have some good seasons in the latter part of its run. Seasons 5 and 7 are actually two of the stronger ones, continuing to push boundaries and execute impossible twists despite waning originality. But there was an aura from the first few seasons that was gone.<blockquote>"Those were heady times, when everything seemed new. People went nuts for your continuity-driven concept, which seemed to flout every canard about TV's dwindling viewership. Rather than chase after an audience's attention, you demanded it, and promised to reward it as well. The heedless momentum of your real-time rush turned the rules of television inside-out. Rather than returning to the status-quo ante at the end of every episode, you promised that things would change, and keep changing. There was no going back." <a href="http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/review/2010/05/25/24_season_finale/index.html" target=_blank>—Sam Adams</a></blockquote>With the show's rigid structure and the act of resetting of the clock each season, the writers had little wiggle room in the corners they were forced into. But you have to give them credit for surprising us more than you thought they could for eight entire seasons, because most shows couldn't have survived that long with a gimmicky plot conceit. Even when you thought it was just another mole inside CTU or a seemingly benign subplot, there was usually something else in play. Our jaws dropped less, but the turns weren't all predictable.<br /><br />"I know they get incredibly burnt and bent," <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-03-29-kiefer29_ST_N.htm" target=_blank>Sutherland said</a> of the show's writers. "The more you do it, the more you paint yourself into a corner, and I think, 'How many times have I played the same moment over and over?'"<br /><br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TBrNFFaWy0I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/9rfK8NTap_w/nina_myers.jpg"/><br />One of the biggest corners was limiting the counterterrorist operation to Los Angeles for most of the show's run. Aside from a stint in Mexico during Season 3, it's a shame that it took <i>24</i> six seasons to get out of LA, because the last two seasons (set in Washington D.C. and New York City) added a much-needed freshness. But it was too little too late.<br /><br />Executive Producer Howard Gordon said he called it quits because he couldn't see another season in the cards.<br /> <br />"The real-time aspect was one of the propulsive devices, but it was very restrictive, even with the absurdities, the license we allowed ourselves."<br /><br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TBrNEz693VI/AAAAAAAAAJM/T65zFpbpzIQ/jack_hospital.jpg" width="400"/><br />But no matter how implausible the twists were, the backbone of the show—Kiefer Sutherland—was consistently remarkable. His unceasingly intense portrayal of Jack Bauer as hero/antihero was the one thing that was always believable. Even when the quality of the show <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20402674_2,00.html" target=_blank>dipped</a>, Sutherland was a class act that compelled us to watch from week to week, season to season, to see how much saving the world several days over could torture one man's soul.<blockquote>"There are many moments in television that are simply unforgettable, and the moment Jack was told that Renee has been killed ranks among the most gripping I've ever seen. There seemed to be so many emotions bottled up in his eyes. For all the things he's seen, all the predicaments he's lived through, and all the bullets that have whizzed past him, THIS moment seems beyond his comprehension. It was a finely tuned, well-oiled moment of epic drama." <a href="http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/13/five-reasons-we-loved-this-weeks-episode-of-24/?hpt=Sbin" target=_blank>—Dereyck Moore</a></blockquote><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TBrZhCKFAAI/AAAAAAAAAJw/p4wdL8JwD2Y/s800/season1.jpg" width="400"/><br />One thing <i>24</i> will be remembered for was its uncanny ability of being a step ahead of real life, with its 9/11-style attacks, means-to-an-end torture tactics, government conspiracies, and an honorable black president. Not to mention viewing habits.<blockquote>"If nothing else, <i>24</i>, you helped changed television forever, pushing the networks towards uninterrupted seasons and redefining the way the industry used DVDs to market their shows. Every time someone devours a complete season to prepare for the next one, they have you to thank." <a href="http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/review/2010/05/25/24_season_finale/index.html" target=_blank>—Sam Adams</a></blockquote><a href="http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/05/25/24-series-finale-burning-questions/" target=_blank>When asked</a> if he would have rather had <i>24</i> end a year apart from <i>Lost</i> (which would have happened if not for the writer's strike in 2008), Gordon was both humble and <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2009/04/so-subliminal.html" target=_blank>cognizant</a>.<br /><br />"All I can say is, I hope we will be missed as much as <i>Lost</i>. I hope we will both be missed."<br /><br /><i>Lost</i> may be my favorite TV series, but there was none more addicting or instantly gratifying than <i>24</i>. I reminisce on getting hooked on the show during my latter days in college, watching it week to week in dorm rooms while the rest of the world was somewhere else. That's what I miss the most.<br /><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-17171331233462217532010-06-02T20:56:00.014-06:002013-02-02T14:23:30.635-07:00Fantastic Journey<i>"You're going home... Find yourself a suitcase. If there's anything in this life you want, pack it in there. Because you're never coming back."</i><br />
<br />
<img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAW0NVqui7I/AAAAAAAAAIs/n0NEeWDSU6Q/lost_fantastic_journey.jpg" width="400"/><br />
<i>SPOILER ALERT: If you ever plan on watching </i>Lost<i>, stop reading here. 121 episodes from now, you'll understand.</i><br />
<br />
On Sunday, May 23rd, an incredible journey ended for millions of people around the world, and a golden era of serialized television came to a close.<br />
<br />
On that same evening, people who had never seen <i>Lost</i> couldn't have not felt the effects of its conclusion. The magnitude of the hype had built to monumental levels in the weeks leading up to the finale. <a href="http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/04/ff_lost/" target=_blank>Retrospectives</a>, <a href="http://www.paleycenter.org/2010-spring-the-last-lost-weekend-a-celebration-ny/" target=_blank>panel discussions</a>, and predictions for the last episode were everywhere you looked. <a href="http://www.fathomevents.com/originalprograms/event/timestalks_lost.aspx" target=_blank>Interviews</a> with the creators and actors were hard to miss. Hollywood figures and famous fans like <a href="http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/05/lost-gets-a-letter-from-george-lucas.html" target=_blank>George Lucas</a> expressed their love for the sci-fi saga.<br />
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For anyone not stranded on a deserted island, exposure to <i>Lost</i> was inescapable.<br />
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For <i>Lost</i> fans everywhere, the 2½-hour series finale on Sunday night was the Super Bowl, a finale to end all finales. When the date of the last broadcast was announced months ago, people cleared their schedules, rebooked vacations, and balked at attending weddings (as well as work the next day). <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAQGBO_ALNI/AAAAAAAAAHs/C5lrsi_vU0Q/lost_prof_thom%27s.jpg" target=_blank>Bars</a>, <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FMKRLO0.htm" target=_blank>restaurants</a>, and <a href="http://www.laorpheum.com/gallery.html" target=_blank>movie theaters</a> sold out tickets for viewing parties nationwide. ABC was relentless in plugging and promoting the show every second they could, and even made sure that the finale was simulcast with the West Coast broadcast throughout Europe. Their fee for a 30-second commercial during the finale? $900,000.<br />
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Yes, May 23rd was the television broadcast event of the year. For <i>Lost</i> fans, it was better than the Super Bowl—it was a chance to be a part of history. And I made sure I didn't miss it for the world.<br />
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<h3>Planning a Funeral</h3><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAW0NsBtcQI/AAAAAAAAAIw/aku7gtWMPGM/l_planning_a_funeral.jpg" width="400"/><br />
Three years ago I made a <a href="http://kennyd1980.livejournal.com/49564.html" target=_blank>bold prediction</a>. <i>Lost</i> had just catapulted itself to another level with an already legendary, game-changing flash-forward at the end of its third year. And shortly before the season finale aired, ABC agreed with the producers that the franchise's sixth season in 2010 would be its last—a completely unprecedented move for a popular series that was only halfway to the finish line.<br />
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At the time, my statement struck me as a bit extreme as I typed it, but I couldn't shake the sense that it was too off-base. Here's what I said:<blockquote><i>"After watching the landmark Season 3 finale with an end in sight, it's not hard to foresee the epic buildup that will result in the final seasons, or get the sense that <i>Lost</i> could go down as the best TV drama of all time."</i></blockquote>Three years later, I stand by what I wrote. ABC <a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8670609/alan-sepinwall-origins-lost" target=_blank>believed in this show</a>, trusted the producer's plan, and honored the story by promising not to run it into the ground like so many TV shows before it.<br />
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Best of all, ABC's atypical choice allowed them to reap huge dividends in the end. Because on Sunday night, <i>Lost</i> made a profound statement to the world about what a TV show can accomplish. Perhaps more importantly, it served as a cautionary tale for TV executives everywhere...<br />
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<i>This is the reward you get for not selling out and mining every dollar.<br />
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This is the payoff you earn for respecting your viewers and preserving narrative integrity.<br />
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This is what you can share with the world when a creative concept isn't exhausted.</i><br />
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This is what happens when you do the right thing: You get the best TV drama of all time.<br />
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All that's to say that I was beyond proud to be a <i>Lost</i> fan on Sunday night. Game on.<br />
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<h3>The Circle Closes</h3><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAWz1Acbb7I/AAAAAAAAAIg/qaf3wErhbVs/s912/lost_the_circle_closes.jpg" width="400"/><br />
Reactions to the metaphysical finale were mixed, but I found it enormously satisfying. Despite certain ambiguities, I thought it was surprisingly direct and clear, absent of any WTF?-type bones for us to chew on for the rest of eternity. Of course, it wouldn't be <i>Lost</i> if they didn't leave us a few scattered seeds or make us rethink a few theories. But months and years from now, I think we'll have a good idea what it all meant.<br />
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"The End" was one of the few episodes of <i>Lost</i> that actually felt long to me, and in a good way. Clocking in at 103 minutes, the mammoth conclusion was loaded with everything that <i>Lost</i> does best: climactic confrontations, mind-tripping mysticism, poignant character dynamics, and romantic reunions. Different aspects recalled different movies for me: <i>Indiana Jones</i>, <i>The Mummy</i>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passengers_(film)" target=_blank><i>Passengers</i></a> (check out the eerily similar plot in this one), and yes, even the final scene from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN_OmyAUrSU" target=_blank><i>Titanic</i></a>.<br />
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Speaking of final scenes, <i>Lost</i>'s closing seconds have got to rank among the best ever put to film: Lasting, unforgettable images that represent the greatness that is <i>Lost</i>, and immediately recall the wave of emotions we all felt as the book finally closed in the most perfect way possible.<br />
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The evocative images: a wounded Jack clutching his side and trudging through the bamboo forest on a slow, solo funeral procession to what will be his final resting place. Vincent running up and laying loyally at Jack's side, instantly creating the sweetest and most sentimental moment out of all 121 episodes.<br />
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And best of all: Jack seeing the Ajira plane flying overhead, then smiling in ultimate triumph just before closing his eyes for the last time and dying a heroic death.<br />
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<i>"It worked."</i><br />
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Combined with the Sideways shots and Michael Giacchino's stirring musical accompaniment, only the heartless couldn't have been moved during this sequence. My heart was deep in my throat.<br />
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Re-watching the episode by myself the next day, I had a similar reaction to when I watched the end of <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-lies-beneath.html" target=_blank><i>Six Feet Under</i></a>, weeping for the death of someone I'd known for six years, emoting purely on a soul level while marveling at the sheer, rapturous beauty of it all. It will remain one of the most powerful and cathartic moments I've ever experienced.<br />
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<h3>Deus Ex Machina?</h3><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAWz0zU25-I/AAAAAAAAAIY/NyNBWPVwy6c/s912/lost_deus_ex_machina.jpg" width="400"/><br />
It's a fair criticism that the effusively spiritual conclusion of the Sideways world wrapped up a little too perfectly, and maybe a little out of left field. But I don't think it's right to call it a cop-out.<br />
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Think back for a minute and recall the endless hardship that the castaways suffered for six seasons: all the deaths, abductions, flaming arrows, and fish biscuits—not to mention the single, traumatizing act of surviving a plane crash, which is enough to keep anyone in the psychiatrist's office for years.<br />
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They went through <i>hell</i> on the island, with their faith and resolve continually tested around unexplainable, supernatural events. Along the way, the one thing that kept them going was the love that they all expressed for each other, in the bonds of friendship, romance, and simple alliance. And decades later, when they were finally able to move on together, their souls found salvation in a heavenly afterlife.<br />
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From the perspective of yin and yang, this narrative duality and ultimate redemption through love is the fairest, most organic resolution <i>Lost</i> could ever have. After all they'd been through, a down ending wouldn't have been right.<br />
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Still, what purpose did the Sideways world serve beyond <a href="http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2010/05/27/the-lost-finale-and-season-6-reconsidered/" target=_blank>"setting up an emotional ending, creating misdirection, and filling time"</a>? Could we have done without it? Would you have felt differently about the religious emphasis had the final scenes taken place outside of a church?<br />
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Technically, the main storyline could have been resolved without the Sideways story. But would you have wanted the final season of <i>Lost</i> to be an eight-episode miniseries? What about the connection between the light on the island and outside the church? Are some of the implications of the once-alternate universe no longer true?<br />
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Current detractors may have been OK without the Sideways, but it inevitably would have disappointed the thumbs-up crowd, upset that after all the inexplicable connections these people had to each other, there wasn't some larger meaning to it all.<br />
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It always ends the same.<br />
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<h3>Fans of Science, Fans of Faith</h3><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAWz1CPQPiI/AAAAAAAAAIc/3o9OEWMdVt4/s912/lost_fans_of_faith.jpg" width="400"/><br />
Of course, there was no way that everyone was going to love the ending of <i>Lost</i>. Aside from <a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/05/26/lost-final-scenes-wreckage/" target=_blank>gross misinterpretation</a> whose reconciliation I'll never fully understand, how you received it is something of a Rorschach test. How spiritual of a person are you? Do you tend to side with faith or reason? Were you prepared that the producers weren't going to tie up every loose end?<br />
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But most of all, how cynical of a person are you?<br />
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The last episode left my emotions so exercised that by the time it was over, I didn't really care about not knowing all the answers, because they didn't matter so much. Further, I couldn't really think of any burning mysteries that I absolutely had to know, although it turns out there are many more <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1936291" target=_blank>unanswered questions</a> than I thought.<br />
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Would I have minded if we were Dharma-dropped a few more morsels? Of course not, though in a few months <a href="http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b183093_lost_epilogue_with_hurley_ben_revealed.html" target=_blank>we'll get some</a>. In the end we have to accept that out of all the stories about the island that the producers could tell, this is the one they chose, and this is how they told it.<br />
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From what I can gather, people who generally disliked <i>Lost</i> wanted the story to be told their way, in a manner that was comfortable and familiar to them. But those of us who stood by <i>Lost</i> did so on the faith we held in the ultimate vision of the show. The plots twisted and turned, the answers didn't come easy, and we were unsure where we were being led. But we succumbed to the <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/03/big-leagues.html" target=_blank>brilliant insanity</a> of it all and kept riding the polar bear.<br />
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<i>"You can believe whatever you want—that's the truth. But you're so close, James. It would be such a shame to turn back now."</i><br />
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The truth is that on <i>Lost</i>, the science was never <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-0522-lost-20100522,0,7937796.story" target=_blank>"real" science</a>, and the show's conceit was style over substance; more poetry than prose. And at times we realized that some questions were a little better when they went unanswered.<br />
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"The power of the show is the air of mystery that it always preserves," said <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703957904575252492097673442.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines#dummy" target=_blank>Craig Detweiler</a>, director of Pepperdine University's Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture.<br />
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It's so true.<br />
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But blogger <a href="http://nomaddeplume.blogspot.com/2010/05/across-wine-dark-sea-epic-poem-for-our.html" target=_blank>Marjorie Sweeney</a> summed it up best when she compared <i>Lost</i> to mythic folklore passed down from generation to generation:<blockquote>"<i>Lost</i> has never been a tightly scripted, contemporary sci-fi narrative—it's much more like the sprawling epics composed by ancient bards riffing by the firelight as they swigged from their wineskins. Like classic poetry passed down through oral tradition, there are all kinds of detours and dead ends, standalone stories and evolving mythic themes that ebb and flow through the episodes—as well as the ongoing stories of our heroes and heroines. Maybe there's no way it can all add up, but so what?"</blockquote><h3>What We Lived For</h3><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAWz1WMFBJI/AAAAAAAAAIk/qE9WV1bDPsU/s912/lost_what_we_lived_for.jpg" width="400"/><br />
One thing that most of us can agree on is that there will never be another <i>Lost</i>. Sure, great shows will come and go, but it's unlikely that we'll ever experience anything like the cultural phenomenon that <i>Lost</i> was, especially on network TV, which is dominated by family sitcoms and police dramas. This is especially apparent when you see would-be franchises like <a href="http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/05/27/flashforward-finale-did-advance-planning-do-more-harm-than-good-for-show/" target=_blank><i>FlashForward</i></a> try to emulate <i>Lost</i>'s formula, only to face-plant in their first season.<br />
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"The next <i>Lost</i> won't resemble <i>Lost</i> at all," said <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-05-13-1Alost13_CV_N.htm" target=_blank>Stephen McPherson</a>, president of ABC Entertainment Group. "The next <i>Lost</i> will be something completely different, something that is ambitious and takes incredible risks and surprises people."<br />
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<i>Lost</i> was a storyteller's dream; magical, escapist entertainment that captured our imaginations, challenged our ways of thinking, tugged at our hearts, and rewarded our pursuits all at the same time.<br />
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It's the one show whose episodes were worth watching twice. Aside from solidifying the general plot in our minds, we were compelled to spot Easter eggs and dissect the puzzle pieces in order to solve the elaborate mystery that the world was trying to crack. And this is where <i>Lost</i> became another animal entirely: <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?section=news&id=7457521&photo=1" target=_blank>with the fans</a>.<br />
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<i>Lost</i> spawned a global cult following <a href="http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/04/11/lost_at_tufts/" target=_blank>unlike any other</a>. As hard as it was to wait eight months between seasons or even a week between episodes, this is exactly what cemented the <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/lost-possibly-still-airing-in-parallel-dimension-d,17485/" target=_blank>obsessive community</a> of the show. But aside from all the <i>Lost</i> mania that swept the Internet, the best part about <i>Lost</i> was simply talking about it. At the office it was the ultimate water-cooler conversation that spun all kinds of theories and interpretations. When you learned that a co-worker watched <i>Lost</i>, you pulled them into <a href="http://keninthecity.blogspot.com/2010/01/state-of-union-address-postponed-after.html" target=_blank>the circle</a>. For those who didn't watch, you couldn't help but televangelize the show in a "you'll thank me later" kind of way.<br />
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Why did we watch <i>Lost</i>? Because we identified with the flawed characters seeking redemption, and felt connected to their humanity. We saw something of ourselves in them, and formed inextricable bonds as we watched them live, die, and love for six seasons. We watched because we, too, may have also been looking for answers, whether we realized it or not.<br />
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We loved <i>Lost</i> because it changed our lives, and we saw how it changed others. We were moved by its heart and soul. And we'll never forget the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fantastic_Journey" target=_blank>fantastic journey</a> it took us on as <i>Lost</i> <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/podcasts/stewart_mandel/index5.html" target=_blank>transcended</a> television to become something bigger than us all.<br />
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<h3>Life After <i>Lost</i></h3><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAQFxpCI7RI/AAAAAAAAAHk/CfH2a0nnuGY/s912/lost_life_after_lost.jpg" width="400"/><br />
As we learned, letting go isn't easy. But we all have to move on.<br />
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I'm happy to say that although I'll miss <i>Lost</i>, I haven't had any kind of postmortem depression with the show being over, as silly as it sounds. Really, it's a truth that's not far off, because for many of us, <i>Lost</i> was the constant for the past six years of our lives. It spoon-fed us long enough where its mysteries were never far from our minds. <i>Lost</i> was an institution that we turned to, and will forever remain an icon in our minds.<br />
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The good news is that when one journey ends, another can begin.<br />
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"I'm going to have to go back to civilization and see what my <a href="http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/18/getting-lost-in-hawaii/?hpt=Sbin" target=_blank>next adventure</a> is," said Jorge Garcia, who played Hurley.<br />
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Me too, dude. Me too.<br />
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<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xAn1md3irmg/TAWz04eXs5I/AAAAAAAAAIU/YA-Z-N1S8Z4/s912/lost_ajira_plane.jpg" width="400"/><ul><li>One year later: <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20313460_20498633,00.html" target=_blank>Looking back at religion in the <i>Lost</i> finale</a><br />
<li>Revisiting <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/lost-the-constant,66980/" target=_blank>"The Constant"</a><br />
<li><a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8670609/alan-sepinwall-origins-lost" target=_blank>'I Pretty Much Wanted to Die': The Origins of 'Lost'</a></ul><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-30315139718985935462010-05-13T19:58:00.007-06:002021-06-14T17:52:25.090-06:00Local couple resolves argument using telephone<i>By Ken Devine</i><div><br /></div><div>SEATTLE — Rick Montgomery and Sarah DeMarcos, a couple of three years, recently abandoned typical text messaging to save their relationship from certain doom.<div><br /></div><div>Sarah, 27, called off their engagement after she'd reached her breaking point with Rick's control freak tendencies. Minutes earlier, she learned that Rick had gone behind her back to contact her mother about mailing the remote control for Sarah's 12" excuse of a TV – a controller that's been sitting idly at her mom's home for months.</div><div><br /></div><div>You know, just sitting there, collecting dust.</div><div><br /></div><div>Furious, Sarah immediately sent a disapproving text message to Rick that initiated an interminable, back-and-forth texting argument that carried over past midnight, with no resolution in sight.</div><div><br /></div><div>But shortly after receiving a text from Sarah that said "IT'S OVER. GOODBYE", Rick decided to pick up the phone.</div><div><br /></div><div>"I kind of forgot that I can call people on my phone," he said, using hand quotes and motioning to his cellphone’s keypad. "You just press this green button, and it calls someone."</div><div><br /></div><div>"See, like this," he demonstrated.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Honestly, it was kind of an accident when I pressed it," he later admitted. "But once it started dialing, I was like, 'What the hell?' You know, just let it go."</div><div><br /></div><div>According to DeMarcos, the whole thing was a big misunderstanding, and the couple was able to resolve their relationship-threatening argument within mere minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Best of all, the engagement is back on — for now.
<p></p></div></div>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687637961590884755.post-4016791463899909152010-05-09T12:16:00.003-06:002010-05-09T13:26:50.305-06:00Celebrity Sighting #8<img src="http://img5.allocine.fr/acmedia/rsz/434/x/x/x/medias/nmedia/18/64/69/67/19067742.jpg" width="400"/><br />One good thing about walking around Midtown on Saturday night? Crossing paths with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Goldwyn" target=_blank>Tony Goldwyn</a> (a.k.a. the bad guy from <i>Ghost</i>).<br /><br />Tony was walking arm in arm with his wife around 46th Street. I noticed him immediately as my brother and I walked by him. But just to be sure, we doubled back and creepily followed him for a few blocks to get the confirmation.<br /><br />You may be wondering what Tony's been up to since having his viscera serrated by a broken-glass window in 1990. Although the angry ape reapers proceeded to drag him off to Hell, Tony resurfaced for a few notable films in the next 10 years or so:<br /><br />• <i>Kuffs</i> (1991)<br />• <i>The Pelican Brief</i> (1993)<br />• <i>Nixon</i> (1995)<br />• <i>Kiss the Girls</i> (1997)<br />• <i>Bounce</i> (2000)<br />• <i>The Last Samurai</i> (2003)<br /><br />I'd actually completely forgotten about Tony until I saw <i>The Last Kiss</i> in 2006, a film that he directed. The movie has a cool opening that features Snow Patrol's awesome "Chocolate".<br /><br />According to IMDb, Tony had a less prominent film debut in 1986, in which he played the role of Darren in <i>Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI</i>.<br /><br />"I got skewered through the chest after uttering about three words," he said.<br /><p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564285901144613583noreply@blogger.com0