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Post by Mr. Atari on Feb 5, 2013 23:37:23 GMT -5
Well, I got the pick right, but that was totally defensive holding on 4th down. If it's a penalty in the first quarter, it's a penalty there. The 49ers dug their own hole in the first half, and they had terrible play calling on that last series, but they got jobbed on that call.
And not to turn this into Observer's Brain, but I was flabbergasted when Ray Lewis tried to affirm his innocence in the Atlanta stabbings with his Christianity by saying "God doesn't use murderers." Apparently, he's never heard of Moses...or David...or Paul...sheesh. I don't think I've ever wanted a player to lose so badly that wasn't in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 25, 2013 12:41:20 GMT -5
Today's a Black Crowes day. Not the mellow, weed-based jamming Black Crowes. The ripping blues Black Crowes:
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 24, 2013 18:12:22 GMT -5
How did I end up on the conservative side of an argument? Heh heh. The student has finally become the master. I wonder if having this conversation here instead of Observer's Brain will suck more people into our vortex of shame. But I can't shake the feeling that we've done all of this before.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 24, 2013 17:36:23 GMT -5
And criticising, disagreeing with, or joking about someone's choices in life (politics, religion) is different from making fun of their ethnicity/race/sexuality. That's your grid, and I salute you for it. But it's still a double standard. As a proponent of a particular religion, whose views are mocked and insulted with increasing and uninformed stereotyping (both in and out of comedy settings), should my offense be less because it's not a matter of ethnicity? I like to think that I'm a reasonable fellow and that I can engage in productive discussion about beliefs and choices, but that doesn't mean mine are any less valuable to me or any less my identity than the color of my skin. And if we're going to single out Mike as an extemist for an interview he gave years ago, has anyone been following Frank's Twitter feed? There is a wide swath of political leanings among the Brains, and I think it's foolish of us to assume who wrote what joke, or which comment proves what about whom.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 24, 2013 13:15:42 GMT -5
Yeah, i knew Mike was a wingnut. Truly saddened me I don't like to enter conversations about any of this because who can tell anyone else what they should or shouldn't be offended by? I know what offends me, and I know what people tell me should offend me. Sometimes they're the same, sometimes they're not. Then again, I'm a straight, white, male, and I admit I need some good influence on what other people go through so I can be more sensitive to it, which is why I've been thinking about this thread a lot. I think there's something to be said for the South Park model of humor: If you can mock one group, you should be able to mock every group. Otherwise there will be a double standard somewhere. Who gets to decide what group is fair game? It's wrong to make jokes about African-Americans, but it's okay to make jokes about Creationists. It's wrong to make jokes about Muslims, but okay to make jokes about Mormons. It's wrong to make jokes about gay people, but it's okay to call republicans "wingnuts".* I'm not trying to justify missteps MST or Rifftrax or CT might have made in their humor, I'm just saying all of us have our pet offenses and saying one is okay and another is not creates an inescapable double standard. And this is definitely becoming Observer's Brain material. *I tried to randomize those connections.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 24, 2013 12:51:34 GMT -5
I can't believe it, but I actually convinced Mrs. Atari to join me for this tonight.
It's quite a coup.
I've been preparing her for the night by telling her it's like we're going to a comedy club, not a movie. She's not buying it. She's seen Manos before.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 22, 2013 20:06:01 GMT -5
Tip of the cap to the Ravens and Harbaugh though, they played to win and at times we played not to lose. Ravens were the better team. Exactly how I felt when they took us down. Flacco's been very impressive. Their defense is clicking well, too. They held Brady to one TD, and the Broncos needed 2 return TDs just to keep it close. I think they have a very good chance of bottling up Kaepernick. I'm totally cheering for S.F. on this one, but I think I'd put betting money on Baltimore.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 22, 2013 2:27:03 GMT -5
As a manager, he was one of the best. As a salty old cuss, he was unparalleled. As a ranting interviewee, exploding with expletives, I'll give him second place: just above Tommy Lasorda and just below Lee Elia.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 22, 2013 2:01:34 GMT -5
Skeeziest? Maybe. I'll agree that they're terribly pointless and that sideline reporters are the dumbest part of NFL telecasts. But it's part of the job, part of the agreement between the NFL and the networks that pay them a billion dollars, and part of being a good sport. Sharpe's point (which I think is a good one) is that no one wants to do a dumb on-field interview with lame questions right after a tough loss, but every other coach steps up and does it-- because it's their job, and because losing with class is the grown-up and professional thing to do. Not so for Hoodie Bill, apparently. So yes, I think it does add credence to the jerk label.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 21, 2013 22:29:38 GMT -5
Hard to argue with that, sky. Even Shannon Sharpe (of all people) was unusually clear and convincing on that point.* Although, how Bernard Pollard keeps showing up to devastate the Patriots is uncanny. He's Belichick & Brady's kryptonite. That fumble hit was simultaneously terrifying and unsurprising; not to mention that it sealed the game. I've never liked the Ravens (the Broncos always lose to them), and I have zero respect for Ray Lewis. But they beat Manning and Brady on the road in January. I gotta say they deserve their ticket to New Orleans. *Here's a transcript for those who don't want to watch the video:
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 20, 2013 22:59:40 GMT -5
I had great respect for Stan the Man. One of the most overlooked all-time greats. I'm sad that he's gone, but he was the only Cardinal I even slightly liked. Now my hatred for that franchise can be uncompromised.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 18, 2013 17:06:07 GMT -5
Bumping this because Mrs. Atari got me the book series for Christmas. I'm through the first two books and I'm catching up on the show, as well. My goal is to be all caught up with the books and the show before the season 3 premiere in March.
I've found myself alternately engrossed and frustrated with Martin's plots and twists. Those same descriptions are apt for my feelings about the show.
I'll admit I was totally confused about the Reek/Ramsey Snow/Theon switcheroo at Winterfell in the second book. I had to look on Wikipedia and assorted online helps to finally understand what happened there. Even after I got the gist of it, I went back and re-read the pertinent chapters and still missed it. So it's nice to see the above comments hinting that I'll learn more about Reek in subsequent books.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 13, 2013 16:50:50 GMT -5
So much of Manning's game is rhythm. It seemed like every 3 plays, there was a stoppage for a measurement or a cheap flag or a review or a referee conference. They couldn't get any flow going at all, and it was almost completely the officials' doing.
I also wonder if there was something physically wrong with Manning. I don't think he even attempted a throw longer than 15 yards. Flacco was stretching the field early and often (and successfully), whereas Manning just played the dink and dump all day.
I'm a little bummed that Seattle lost this afternoon. When they scored the go-ahead touchdown with a minute left, my son said, "They scored too soon." I assured him not to worry and that there's no way they'd make the same dumb secondary mistakes the Broncos made yesterday. And then they did. Boo.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 12, 2013 21:05:41 GMT -5
With apologies to the Super Bowl XL Seahawks, that was the worst officiated game I've ever seen. For both teams. I'm not whining just because the Broncos lost, but those were some awful penalty calls, terrible review decisions, and complete ineptitude by the zebras for 4 quarters and 2 overtimes.
Still, Denver would have lost that game all on their own. Champ Bailey got beat deep 3 different times? Manning threw that pass in overtime? Von Miller & Elvis Dumervil made no difference? That play with 31 seconds left in regulation? Terrible. Just terrible. Even if we had pulled it out in the end, New England would have beaten us by 50 next week.
It's a good thing I have 37 years of being a Cubs fan to prepare me for days like this.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 12, 2013 3:09:19 GMT -5
How awesome is that?!
Just curious- did she send it to the Brains' P.O. Box from the show? I'd be amazed if that's even still open. Or did you or your wife track down more current mail options?
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