Seems like it was just a couple of months ago that I was predicting a Spurs/Heat final, with the Spurs emerging victorious as the NBA World Champs. Suddenly the 2007-08 season is upon us again, with some interesting storylines:
1. Will Kobe get traded?
2. Will the Celtics make a run to the Finals with their Big Three?
3. Will the Mavericks make it through the first round this time? How about T-Mac and the Rockets?
4. Will Durant live up to expectations?
5. Will Nash and the Suns finally win it all?
6. Will Kirilenko use his "yearly allowance"? *ahem*
I'd say (3) is probably the most likely to happen, unless it's the Mavs and the Rockets facing off in Round 1.
Predictions (totally random, totally unscientific. Hey, my seedings might be impossible)!
WEST:
(1) Mavs, Suns, Spurs, Jazz, Rockets, Nuggets, Warriors, Lakers
(2) Mavs, Suns, Spurs, Rockets
(3) Mavs, Spurs
(4) Spurs
EAST
(1) Bulls, Pistons, Celtics, Wizards, Heat, Magic, Nets, Cavs
(2) Bulls, Pistons, Celtics, Heat
(3) Bulls, Celtics
(4) Bulls
FINALS
(1) Spurs, Bulls
(2) Spurs
Repeat. Unless Kobe gets traded to the Bulls...then it gets interesting.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
How 'Bout Them Apple(s)
Had to post a link to this Engadget article about Apple refusing cash and gift cards to pay for an iPhone because of this comment:
"paul34@ Oct 29th 2007 1:07AM
"paul34@ Oct 29th 2007 1:07AM
CUPERTINO - Apple announced today that it would no longer be accepting purchase requests for the iPhone. "We feel the iPhone is too good for regular humans," says the Apple spokesperson. "To protect our brand image, we have decided to stop selling our product altogether to maintain a level of exclusivity unattainable by any other product currently on the market."
The spokesperson also announced they would continue advertising in order to maintain the feel of unattainability."
Then there's the Leopard BSOD. Since when did Apple start turning into Microsoft?
Friday, October 26, 2007
Five Books Everyone Should Read Before They Die
In a Straight Dope thread a reader asked the question "Which five books should everyone read before they die?" There were a lot of interesting responses, some of which I've read, but most of which are foreign to me. Of course, most of the stuff I read are in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Detective genres, with a couple of thrillers and classics thrown in.
This was hard for me to pare down (having read so many books!), but here's my list.
1. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. One ring to rule them all. Probably influenced most of the fantasy writers who came after; you can read this book, and you've read 80% of the other fantasy novels out there.
2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Revenge literature at its best.
3. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes is arguably the greatest detective who ever lived; even if you haven't read any of the short stories (although I think "The Red-Headed League" was a topic in one of my ELA classes back in Zobel) chances are you've read Hound.
4. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Together, Gaiman and Pratchett have written some of the best stories I've ever read. It's impossible for me to pick one from each without going over my limit, so I cheated and picked a classic that both of them wrote.
5. The Mote In God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. A great space opera if there was ever one. Probably the best "hard" science-fiction novel I've read.
Others that I could have interchanged are The Da Vinci Code, which is quite schlocky but is necessary reading just to find out what all the fuss was about; Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, to get a taste of one of the greatest cultural phenomenons in literature; Ten Little Indians, to sample Hercule Poirot and Dame Agatha Christie's work; Foundation, Asimov's best work; and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, because the late Douglas Adams was a genius.
What's your list?
This was hard for me to pare down (having read so many books!), but here's my list.
1. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. One ring to rule them all. Probably influenced most of the fantasy writers who came after; you can read this book, and you've read 80% of the other fantasy novels out there.
2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Revenge literature at its best.
3. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes is arguably the greatest detective who ever lived; even if you haven't read any of the short stories (although I think "The Red-Headed League" was a topic in one of my ELA classes back in Zobel) chances are you've read Hound.
4. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Together, Gaiman and Pratchett have written some of the best stories I've ever read. It's impossible for me to pick one from each without going over my limit, so I cheated and picked a classic that both of them wrote.
5. The Mote In God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. A great space opera if there was ever one. Probably the best "hard" science-fiction novel I've read.
Others that I could have interchanged are The Da Vinci Code, which is quite schlocky but is necessary reading just to find out what all the fuss was about; Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, to get a taste of one of the greatest cultural phenomenons in literature; Ten Little Indians, to sample Hercule Poirot and Dame Agatha Christie's work; Foundation, Asimov's best work; and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, because the late Douglas Adams was a genius.
What's your list?
24x7
For anyone who still cares: the trailer for the 7th season of 24 is up. After last season's debacle (where things went downhill after the nuke), there's nowhere to go but up. And man, the trailer seems like a doozy.
Also, it seems different, somehow. A lot cleaner. A lot "brighter", in terms of lighting (it doesn't seem to be as claustrophobic as the caverns of CTU, for one thing). So maybe there's hope.
Props to Kiefer as well for accepting a looong sentence so as not to shut down the filming of 24, costing people their jobs. Heck, he's gonna be in prison Christmas Day, for crying out loud!
A note about the trailer: as usual, Fox gives stuff away, including the return of someone we all know and love. So if you don't want to be spoiled, don't watch it.
Also, it seems different, somehow. A lot cleaner. A lot "brighter", in terms of lighting (it doesn't seem to be as claustrophobic as the caverns of CTU, for one thing). So maybe there's hope.
Props to Kiefer as well for accepting a looong sentence so as not to shut down the filming of 24, costing people their jobs. Heck, he's gonna be in prison Christmas Day, for crying out loud!
A note about the trailer: as usual, Fox gives stuff away, including the return of someone we all know and love. So if you don't want to be spoiled, don't watch it.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Boston Bullies
The Boston Red Sox are on the cusp of winning another World Series. The Rockies just had too long a break, giving them time to think about what they were doing (and we all know that when we think too much about something, we tend to lose focus).
Ordinarily, this would make me happy. I grew up a Boston Celtics fan (just to annoy my Lakers loving sister), and as I grew more aware of the other sports, I began to embrace all things Boston.
The Red Sox. The New England Patriots. Heck, even the Boston Bruins.
Now? I'm sick of Boston. First, the Patriots. I was deliriously happy when they beat the Oakland Raiders in the infamous "Tuck Rule" game; then they beat my favorite team at the time, the St Louis Rams to win the Super Bowl. Then they were beating up on the Colts, and their fans started becoming really obnoxious (especially after two more Super Bowls). Now? After acquiring Moss they look virtually unbeatable, and they have a chip on their shoulder because of CameraGate. Just mention that they cheated (which they did!) and their fans immediately rush to their defense. Especially Bill Simmons.
Now, the Red Sox. I was a big fan because they were lovable losers; I even predicted a Sox/Cubs World Series in 2004 (which almost came true), and was happy when they won. Then the fans became obnoxious (sense a pattern here?) and now with their second miracle comeback and impending World Series ring they've become even more annoying.
Even Boston College is getting in on the action. They're #2 in the BCS, and have an excellent chance of being in the BCS Championship. Fortunately, their fans are drowned out by the even more obnoxious SEC fans (Geaux Tigers?!? Seriously?)
Who's next, the Celtics? Kevin Garnett fell into their laps. We'll see what they'll do--the only saving grace is that it's nearly impossible that Kobe will become a Celtic; heck, Ainge and McHale made sure that Garnett would not become a Laker. But if they make it to the Finals and win watch out--their fans would be insufferable.
Maybe success does breed contempt; they have the chance to do something rare this year, a city winning two or more major championships, like the Greater Los Angeles area (Lakers/Angels). Or maybe it's just the annoying fanboys, the vocal minority who drown out the otherwise normal fans who are just happy that they have a good product in their hearts and minds.
Ordinarily, this would make me happy. I grew up a Boston Celtics fan (just to annoy my Lakers loving sister), and as I grew more aware of the other sports, I began to embrace all things Boston.
The Red Sox. The New England Patriots. Heck, even the Boston Bruins.
Now? I'm sick of Boston. First, the Patriots. I was deliriously happy when they beat the Oakland Raiders in the infamous "Tuck Rule" game; then they beat my favorite team at the time, the St Louis Rams to win the Super Bowl. Then they were beating up on the Colts, and their fans started becoming really obnoxious (especially after two more Super Bowls). Now? After acquiring Moss they look virtually unbeatable, and they have a chip on their shoulder because of CameraGate. Just mention that they cheated (which they did!) and their fans immediately rush to their defense. Especially Bill Simmons.
Now, the Red Sox. I was a big fan because they were lovable losers; I even predicted a Sox/Cubs World Series in 2004 (which almost came true), and was happy when they won. Then the fans became obnoxious (sense a pattern here?) and now with their second miracle comeback and impending World Series ring they've become even more annoying.
Even Boston College is getting in on the action. They're #2 in the BCS, and have an excellent chance of being in the BCS Championship. Fortunately, their fans are drowned out by the even more obnoxious SEC fans (Geaux Tigers?!? Seriously?)
Who's next, the Celtics? Kevin Garnett fell into their laps. We'll see what they'll do--the only saving grace is that it's nearly impossible that Kobe will become a Celtic; heck, Ainge and McHale made sure that Garnett would not become a Laker. But if they make it to the Finals and win watch out--their fans would be insufferable.
Maybe success does breed contempt; they have the chance to do something rare this year, a city winning two or more major championships, like the Greater Los Angeles area (Lakers/Angels). Or maybe it's just the annoying fanboys, the vocal minority who drown out the otherwise normal fans who are just happy that they have a good product in their hearts and minds.
Too Many Toys
I was browsing a couple of sites to find out which Justice League: Unlimited toys were coming out (I'm still hoping that they'll re-issue Blue Devil) when I came across this little statue:
Yup, Asajj Ventress, one of karlaknight's favorite Star Wars characters. "She'd love this!," I thought. Um, yeah, except maybe for the fact that it's over $200. Yikes. Better start saving those pennies.
This one's a bit cheaper ($60), but still. Why are these toys so expensive? Me, I'm happy I was able to snag a Titanium Series AT-AT Walker for $4.99 back when it was first released; now it's around $19.99.
Yup, Asajj Ventress, one of karlaknight's favorite Star Wars characters. "She'd love this!," I thought. Um, yeah, except maybe for the fact that it's over $200. Yikes. Better start saving those pennies.
This one's a bit cheaper ($60), but still. Why are these toys so expensive? Me, I'm happy I was able to snag a Titanium Series AT-AT Walker for $4.99 back when it was first released; now it's around $19.99.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Must-see TV
The Fall TV season has been chugging along steadily, and it's been mostly good. A couple of new shows, and a couple of returning ones. I'm missing Lost, 24 (both January) and Battlestar Galactica (November, yay!), though. Here's what I've been watching:
*** HERE BE SPOILERS ***
Heroes (or, "My Two SuperDads", starring Matt and Mohinder). It took a while for it to get its stride (first couple of episodes were a bit of a yawner), but once he-who-shall-not-be-named appeared, things started speeding up. The new heroes are a mixed bag; the siblings are boringly creepy (think Flowers in the Attic), one's a jerk, one has an Alias (heh), while one has the Sharingan. It's getting exciting now, as we learn more about the previous generation of heroes.
Kitchen Nightmares. You know, I used to think Gordon Ramsay was an ass, and I avoided Hell's Kitchen like it was the plague. Then we got BBC America for a couple of weeks, and I watched as much Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares as I could. Dude's actually quite a nice guy, although with a bit of a potty-mouth. It's fascinating how he tries to turn around failing restaurants in the UK; unfortunately, the American version pales in comparison. I blame Fox and their catering to the lowest common denominator (the Cops-watching crowd).
The Unit. President Palmer with a shaved head and a goatee, ala Hawk from Spenser: For Hire. Menacing. The two-part premiere was pretty cool.
Pushing Daisies. Best new series by far (although I still have Bionic Woman to go through). Reminds me a bit of a Tim Burton movie, with its darkly whimsical setting. Or maybe a Neil Gaiman novel brought to life properly.
Dancing WIth The Stars. Welcome back, Edyta's leg warmers. I can't warm up to any of the contestants, unfortunately. I mean, Mark Cuban? Seriously?
Ugly Betty. Wobbly the first two weeks (although the premiere was heartbreaking), but hit its stride by the third episode. Gotta love Amanda and her mommy issues. But enough with the Henry-Betty thing already!
Still have Journeyman and Bionic Woman to go through on my DVR. Hopefully I'll have some time soon...
*** HERE BE SPOILERS ***
Heroes (or, "My Two SuperDads", starring Matt and Mohinder). It took a while for it to get its stride (first couple of episodes were a bit of a yawner), but once he-who-shall-not-be-named appeared, things started speeding up. The new heroes are a mixed bag; the siblings are boringly creepy (think Flowers in the Attic), one's a jerk, one has an Alias (heh), while one has the Sharingan. It's getting exciting now, as we learn more about the previous generation of heroes.
Kitchen Nightmares. You know, I used to think Gordon Ramsay was an ass, and I avoided Hell's Kitchen like it was the plague. Then we got BBC America for a couple of weeks, and I watched as much Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares as I could. Dude's actually quite a nice guy, although with a bit of a potty-mouth. It's fascinating how he tries to turn around failing restaurants in the UK; unfortunately, the American version pales in comparison. I blame Fox and their catering to the lowest common denominator (the Cops-watching crowd).
The Unit. President Palmer with a shaved head and a goatee, ala Hawk from Spenser: For Hire. Menacing. The two-part premiere was pretty cool.
Pushing Daisies. Best new series by far (although I still have Bionic Woman to go through). Reminds me a bit of a Tim Burton movie, with its darkly whimsical setting. Or maybe a Neil Gaiman novel brought to life properly.
Dancing WIth The Stars. Welcome back, Edyta's leg warmers. I can't warm up to any of the contestants, unfortunately. I mean, Mark Cuban? Seriously?
Ugly Betty. Wobbly the first two weeks (although the premiere was heartbreaking), but hit its stride by the third episode. Gotta love Amanda and her mommy issues. But enough with the Henry-Betty thing already!
Still have Journeyman and Bionic Woman to go through on my DVR. Hopefully I'll have some time soon...
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door
We were visited by a vacuum cleaner salesman this past weekend. He was trying to sell Kirby vacuums, stating that this would be "the only vacuum we'd ever need" and that it would "last a lifetime". He went from room to room demo-ing the unit, showing off its cleaning and suction powers. We were suitably impressed by its suction, picking up dirt where the dying Hoover didn't.
Of course, he pulled the classic sales tricks: "How much are you willing to pay for this type of vacuum" and "Those dust mites poop 10 times their own weight!" and "Don't think of how much this costs, since there's no price tag on your health!" Once he was done cleaning, he mentioned the cost...$1,999. Ouch. No thanks.
It took forever to kick him out, as he tried lowering his price until he reached $900 (for the demo unit, which was virtually brand new). So sorry, but we're not willing to shell out that much for a vacuum.
This whole experience reminded me of that Electrolux/Euroclean guy:
I'm gonna knock on your door
Ring on your bell
Tap on your window too
Come on and open the door
So I can show you more
I'm your friendly Euroclean (Electrolux) man!!!!
Creepy.
Of course, he pulled the classic sales tricks: "How much are you willing to pay for this type of vacuum" and "Those dust mites poop 10 times their own weight!" and "Don't think of how much this costs, since there's no price tag on your health!" Once he was done cleaning, he mentioned the cost...$1,999. Ouch. No thanks.
It took forever to kick him out, as he tried lowering his price until he reached $900 (for the demo unit, which was virtually brand new). So sorry, but we're not willing to shell out that much for a vacuum.
This whole experience reminded me of that Electrolux/Euroclean guy:
I'm gonna knock on your door
Ring on your bell
Tap on your window too
Come on and open the door
So I can show you more
I'm your friendly Euroclean (Electrolux) man!!!!
Creepy.
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