-Ni Howdy-

The NBA

2009-11-29T16:05:00.003+08:00

Full disclaimer: I have not watched an entire NBA game on TV in years. The sport generally bores me as the superior athletes have taken it from a "How'd he make that pass?" league to an isolation league with minimal passing (with a few notable exceptions). However, it is still the best sport to see live because of those same superior athletes. TV just doesn't capture the skills these people have.

Even to the sports haters (Ponce), if you get the chance to sit in the third row of an NBA game, take it. There are no fat slobs playing in the NBA (sorry golf and football), the action is quick (sorry baseball), it does not settle its champion by having everyone line up and make free throws (sorry soccer), and despite some dodgy officiating from the Fabulous Forum it is generally real (sorry wrestling). The only sport that can match its intensity live is (believe it or not) tennis, but until the ball girls start looking and dressing like the Laker Girls, I'll cast my vote for the NBA.*

Oh, and Kevin Durant? He's a man.

*I'm aware there is a sport played on the tundras north of the border, but it doesn't even allow girls in the arena to my knowledge. Get some puck girls and I'll reconsider.

Random Thoughts

2009-11-23T14:24:00.005+08:00

Spent the weekend in Vegas:

When you are hot in a game, stay with it. Whenever I hit the Bacarat table I won, whenever I played anything else I lost. I finished the weekend up $900 (enough to cover my expenses, including airfare, plus a little extra), but would have been much better off if I had played only Bacarat. Up about $2K on that game alone...Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, slots and poker machines were not so kind.

When playing Bacarat, do not bet against a streak. Just roll with it. $500 dollars made at one point on a nine hand streak for the Bank. Woo-hoo!

Did win $300 on the Horns. Placed the bet when I got there with a line of 27 1/2, watched it go down to 26 and then had to sweat out a 31 point victory.

New York New York is a maze (a maze which is made worse by geometrical shapes in the carpet). Getting to the room after a bout of boozing is not a pleasant experience and I will not stay there again. Whenever I did get back to the room, I just wanted to vomit.

The hotel room did have a hot tub. I won't do that again -- it's not worth the extra money since you are never there.

Old downtown is still worth the trip over for a night, but stay away from the $8.99 prime rib dinners. Plenty tasty, but the next day is hell.

Wayne Newton still plays. Tom Jones, too. We opted for neither.

Other things:

Assuming Montana and Richmond win their opening round games, they will play each other in two weeks in a rematch of last year's title game. If it happens it will be in Missoula. Hopefully it will be cold and snowy, otherwise the Spiders' speed will get us. Dean, we shall have a bet on this game I presume. First two drinks next time we meet?

Driving to Durango, Colorado for Turkey day. A friend got tickets to the Jazz-Thunder matchup on Tuesday night (Salt Lake is on the way for the geographically impaired), third row behind the Thunder bench. If I do not get arrested for stalking Kevin Durant to sign my Sonics jersey it will be a small miracle.

Will commence studying for the bar exam in a couple of weeks. Ugh. Check in every now and then to ensure I am still kicking.

Pollution in China - Pictorial

2009-11-14T10:55:00.001+08:00

pictorial

Warning: Towards the end they start showing people who have been disfigured or disabled by pollution. Its not a pretty sight.

The Tonka XXIII issue, vol 22

2009-11-13T16:26:00.003+08:00

Built to last......

Rouse! Rouse!

Remembrance Day Undead

2009-11-12T18:58:00.003+08:00

Grandmother to Burl: Those red flowers are called poppies. They're so we can remember the soldiers who fought in the war.

Burl: Oh?

G: Your great grandfather fought in the war.

B: Is he dead?

G: Yes, he's dead now.

B: Maybe he a zombie.

I-Pod Nano

2009-11-12T15:08:00.002+08:00

My Ipod Nano went through the washing machine. The laundry place was quite sorry about that and returned it to me. I did not blame them - its really small and I missed it too.

Well, I powered it up - and it still worked! The files were even still there.

Either flash memory does not get fried when wet, or there is one hell of an o-ring inside the Ipod Nano.

Transporter 11

2009-11-11T11:05:00.003+08:00

Kep th'em doggies movin.......
Til the end ov our ridddddde........

Luftwaffe

Dylan Doesn't Disappoint

2009-11-10T11:33:00.004+08:00

When I was young, I explored all types of music. By about grade ten, I owned just about every Neil Young album I could afford. A huge Rush fan, countless hours of Pink Floyd but I couldn't ever relate to my father's fav......Bob Dylan.
This past Saturday night I had a chance to go and see my father's idol, with my father. Standing behind his organ Dylan played the songs I have only recently learned to appreciate. A collection of songs off the new album Together Through Life , a few off of Modern Times and Time Out of Mind along with a few of his greats. Dylan has really changed his sound and if you are familiar with any of these albums, you know what I'm talking about. This was really evident with the revamped song Highway 61 Revisited which blew me away! If this song isn't evidence of times they are a changing I don't know what is.
I wasn't really going to see the Bob Dylan of old but rather the musician he has evolved to be today. In reality I walked away understanding why he is the legend he will always be. Two thumbs up and then some.

D o n g g u a n I I I

2009-11-09T17:50:00.005+08:00

National Day celebrating the big 60!

Carter

One Too Many

2009-11-08T12:23:00.001+08:00

Poker Report

2009-11-08T10:06:00.002+08:00

First, not worth the hangover. Then, Omaha or Spit. Next,the piles were forever being pulled around the table. Finally, it was a "friendly gentlman's game", it is not "ha ha fun " social. "Learn the rules, then learn to play".

Blow Here

2009-11-08T08:42:00.003+08:00

Dumbass in breathalyzer costume gets busted for drunk driving.

*order your own here

L i R i v e r

2009-11-03T07:01:00.015+08:00

Home of the artwork on the back of a 20 RMB note......

Can u name the locations pictured on the back of a 10, 50 & 100 rmb note?

Heroes

Christmas is around the Corner

2009-11-02T14:42:00.004+08:00

Here are some suggestions for the person who has everything:

Confederate Flag Fabric Shower Curtain Rebel Dixie

ships FOB New York City.

"Cassidy" Hot Sexy Stripper Pole Dancer Statue Figure

"Suggestion" Tattoo Statue Nude Woman Fetish Statue

a tasteful gift for your female friend that suggests the gift you would like in return.

U.S. Air Force Human Skull Money Bank Piggy USAF
"Now made with 10% real Taliban skulls!"

Cuba Flag Western Rodeo Belt Buckle Cuban
Just in case you know a Cuban communist cowboy who needs a rodeo belt buckle.

If you're married to a Taiwanese lady, show your solidarity to her country by getting one of these:

What? It shows that I like Taiwan and naked ladies in silhouette!

Sundays

2009-10-28T22:46:00.003+08:00

Hole lot a sinnin goin on......
but it is hump day, so it's ok.

13

Humpday

2009-10-28T15:05:00.002+08:00

I figure everyone needs something to motivate them on Humpday.

Lingerie Football League

"Honey, I'm going to see a football game with the guys..."

Last night D-wayne said next week was Philly at New York...

Philadelphia Passion vs. New York Majesty 10.30 at Reading, PA

Texas Police Very Prescient

2009-10-23T17:29:00.003+08:00

Now we know why they stopped the J-hole from trying to steal branches from the park to make an Indian sweat lodge.

They weren't being dicks. They were saving lives.

No wonder that was a felony offense.

p.s. Jhole, did one of those cops look like Jean-Claude Van Damne?

TIME COPS - SENT FROM THE FUTURE TO PROTECT THE PAST.

China just got a big break on its Carbon Bill

2009-10-23T12:14:00.002+08:00

Apparently, we should eat our dogs because they can create a carbon footprint as large as driving a Toyota Land Cruiser around. (Ed. - next time use Land Rover for the doggy pun.)

Cantonese people are eager to start selling offsets to angst-ridden German utility executives.

"Send us your beloved hundchen and we will give you an official carbon offset certificate along with a tasteful photo of the banquet platter."

p.s. Should it be "Carbon Pawprint?"

p.s.s. Eskimo with a sled team is equivalent of driving like 12 cars at once.

p.s.s.s. That crazy cat lady owns like 50 cars!

Funeral Update

2009-10-21T18:08:00.003+08:00

I am only doing this because I need closure. I know, its boring and creepy.

Last night they erected a massive tent outside the normal funeral area, blocking half the street. (This is right next to my local 7-11, which is maybe why I am paying such close attention.)

Today the professional monks came and did their chanting and bell ringing. Very nice.

It should be over soon. The stacks of Mr. Brown Coffee and Heysong are on the tables.

I asked some coworkers about the length of these things, and they said its due to choosing an auspicious date. So maybe that's why it is an especially long funeral. You get a long dry spell of bad days and they have to hold off on the ceremonies.

Now, my wife chose a C-section birth for our child because that way the date of birth would be certain to be an auspicious date rather than taking your chances with a natural birth.

I wonder if elective euthanasia would become popular with Chinese culture for similar reasons?

UPDATE

2009-10-20T12:00:00.002+08:00

Funeral still there. No chanting.

But jackhammers are now going on full force - ahhhh, back to normality.

I also have noticed that every morning there is some weirdly muffled music with a catchy fast beat being played in the environs of my mancave. I can sort of feel it more than hear it.

Today I figured it out. There is a printer a couple of doors down. Its their massive 4 color process printer thumping out the beat. Or I am hungover and its my head throbbing.

Question about Buddhist Funeral

2009-10-19T11:40:00.003+08:00

Do they normally keep going on for weeks?

I swear I have never seen one last for more than a week or so.

This one by my house has been there for 2 weeks + now.

The chanting has stopped though.

Oh, but then a Buddhist sound truck came by this morning to make sure I got my daily ration of Buddhist chanting.

I really don't mind this, except it clashes with the idyllic Buddhism in my mind...silent meditation in a mountain temple...maybe the occasional deep "BONG" of a bell ringing.

I also don't like those "GO VEG. SAVE THE PLANET" bumper stickers.

We all know that the diet best suited to saving the most animals actually is a beef, dairy, and vegetable diet.

EAT STEAK. SAVE THE PLANET.

G u i l i n

2009-10-15T12:00:00.003+08:00

Not a bad rainy day vacation........

Schultz

Where have you gone Captain Lou?

2009-10-15T05:37:00.004+08:00

Captain Lou Albano has shocked the world once again. The rubber band ornamenting, Cyndi Lauper siring heavyweight has become the first wrestler to die of natural causes since Gorgeous George. Small obit available here.

Re: 2012

2009-10-14T05:12:00.003+08:00

I've got some students who are refusing to do any work because of coming apocalypse in 2012.

I'm thinking about showing some kind of documentary that offers a balanced overview of the science (or lack thereof) behind it. Any recommendations?

That trailer's not gonna cut it.

Transporter 10

2009-10-10T10:50:00.003+08:00

More than meets the eye......

Kinch