If you watch the St. Louis Rams play, you wonder how they are so successful. Managing time outs? Time of Possession? Turnovers? Rushing Yards? Defense? Special Teams? Irrelevant.
Instead, they have this unrelenting, amazing offense. A long drive is one that lasts six or seven plays. A 40+ yard pass play is pedestrian. They're so fast. According to the commentators of yesterday's game, they don't have audibles, just a ton of WR option routes.
Why do I think they have a good shot?
Minnesota, Green Bay and Atlanta rank 29, 25 and 24 in the NFL in passing defense yards. They've beaten Philly in the recent past in the championship game (2001). Their toughest game will be next week at Philly. Then they have to hit the road at Green Bay (no secondary) or at Minnesota/Atlanta (dome teams). This team has a chance.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Jets vs. Chargers - NFL Playoffs
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The Jets really had me worried for a while. Do you think the Barton hit at the end of regulation was a cheap hit? I think it was borderline, and my belief is late in games that borderline calls should be non-calls.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Mr. T Chia Head - Day 1
The first day. Let's see how well Chia Mr. T will grow. Hopefully this is not a "cold window sill" that will be too harsh.
"You will notice your first Chia sprouts within a few days."
Sunday, January 02, 2005
I Am So Smart. S-M-R-T.
On November 9th, I said about the New York Jets:
---
10-6 isn't a guarantee of a wildcard but I think it's the mark they have to expect/shoot for. They can go 11-5 if they beat AZ and Cleveland and then go .500 vs Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New England, St. Louis, Seattle and Houston. If they're really a "good" team then that's not an unreasonable expectation.
---
Stream of Consciousness Section:
How hot is Buffalo now? It doesn't look good for Gang Green heading into San Diego but this week's game proved that it would have looked worse if they had faced the Colts. Herm Edwards has a clock/game management guy, they went for two and missed in the third quarter. Hitting an extra point would have won the game in regulation. On a side note: I noticed today that New England is only 0-1 versus elite teams, obviously misleading since they can't play themselves, but still, the kind of misleading stat one could put in a tabloid newspaper sports section.
---
10-6 isn't a guarantee of a wildcard but I think it's the mark they have to expect/shoot for. They can go 11-5 if they beat AZ and Cleveland and then go .500 vs Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New England, St. Louis, Seattle and Houston. If they're really a "good" team then that's not an unreasonable expectation.
---
Stream of Consciousness Section:
How hot is Buffalo now? It doesn't look good for Gang Green heading into San Diego but this week's game proved that it would have looked worse if they had faced the Colts. Herm Edwards has a clock/game management guy, they went for two and missed in the third quarter. Hitting an extra point would have won the game in regulation. On a side note: I noticed today that New England is only 0-1 versus elite teams, obviously misleading since they can't play themselves, but still, the kind of misleading stat one could put in a tabloid newspaper sports section.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Happy 2005! Here's a Rant About Holidays!
It's New Year's Day! Don't forget to monitor how long after New Year's people are wishing you a "Happy New Year."
I thought it might be a good time to have a brief one-sided discussion of cool and not cool holidays.
New Year's Day. If you're a kid, cool. You get to drink champagne and stay up late to watch a dopey ball drop. If you're an adult, not cool. Don't you realize that for lots of people, this isn't really the "new year?" (Rosh Hoshanna and Chinese New Year come to mind). Not to mention, it's just a license for people who usually aren't drunk to go and overpay for drinks while getting totally smashed and act like fools.
Thanksgiving. The best holiday, perhaps. It's all about family and eating a lot. The only downside - traveling.
Christmas. Gift getting and decorations are a plus. The entire holiday industry is a minus. Also, as the Daily Show said, it's the day off from work where the non-Christians ponder the true meaning of "separation of church and state."
Valentine's Day. Let's face it. When you're single, it's a losing proposition because everyone in the world reminds you that you're single. When you're dating there's all this pressure to come up with some sort of "fun" or "creative" thing to do that day. Perhaps this is best when you're married.
St. Patrick's Day. Any holiday where alcohol is emphasized is a good one.
Easter. Colored eggs are sort of creepy. This is a strange one. It's so intrinsically religious yet the Easter Bunny is so absolutely secular.
Fourth of July. One of my "big three" holidays along with Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's just a big party all afternoon and then there's fireworks.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Labor Day, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Earth Day, Presidents Day. I've no quarrel with Martin Luther King Jr., Columbus, Veterans, Laborers, Mothers, Fathers, the Earth or Presidents (well, save one).
Passover. I've never been to a seder but it sort of sounds like Thanksgiving only with wine and matzah.
Halloween. Sort of like New Year's Day in that as a kid, it's great (free candy!) but as an adult sort of tired (women dress scandalously, and masked faces are somewhat unnerving). Also, another "amateur night" where those who usually don't act like idiots suddenly decide it would be a good time to.
I thought it might be a good time to have a brief one-sided discussion of cool and not cool holidays.
New Year's Day. If you're a kid, cool. You get to drink champagne and stay up late to watch a dopey ball drop. If you're an adult, not cool. Don't you realize that for lots of people, this isn't really the "new year?" (Rosh Hoshanna and Chinese New Year come to mind). Not to mention, it's just a license for people who usually aren't drunk to go and overpay for drinks while getting totally smashed and act like fools.
Thanksgiving. The best holiday, perhaps. It's all about family and eating a lot. The only downside - traveling.
Christmas. Gift getting and decorations are a plus. The entire holiday industry is a minus. Also, as the Daily Show said, it's the day off from work where the non-Christians ponder the true meaning of "separation of church and state."
Valentine's Day. Let's face it. When you're single, it's a losing proposition because everyone in the world reminds you that you're single. When you're dating there's all this pressure to come up with some sort of "fun" or "creative" thing to do that day. Perhaps this is best when you're married.
St. Patrick's Day. Any holiday where alcohol is emphasized is a good one.
Easter. Colored eggs are sort of creepy. This is a strange one. It's so intrinsically religious yet the Easter Bunny is so absolutely secular.
Fourth of July. One of my "big three" holidays along with Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's just a big party all afternoon and then there's fireworks.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Labor Day, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Earth Day, Presidents Day. I've no quarrel with Martin Luther King Jr., Columbus, Veterans, Laborers, Mothers, Fathers, the Earth or Presidents (well, save one).
Passover. I've never been to a seder but it sort of sounds like Thanksgiving only with wine and matzah.
Halloween. Sort of like New Year's Day in that as a kid, it's great (free candy!) but as an adult sort of tired (women dress scandalously, and masked faces are somewhat unnerving). Also, another "amateur night" where those who usually don't act like idiots suddenly decide it would be a good time to.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Gas Station Top Off
I was at the gas station the other day, and when the attendant (in New Jersey, all stations are full serv) topped off the tank in order to make my total a round dollar amount, I couldn't help but wonder, what if I didn't want it topped off?
What if, I was totally prepared to pay $8.17 for my gas and didn't want it rounded off to $8.50? It seems to me that gas stations have been getting away with this for ages. They're adding about 5-10% to their revenue by my calculations from topping off people's gas tanks. That's gas we didn't ask for.
Then again, for convenience sake it makes a little sense. Perhaps at the deli they should top off too. Instead of a "half pound of ham" perhaps we should ask for "five dollars worth."
What if, I was totally prepared to pay $8.17 for my gas and didn't want it rounded off to $8.50? It seems to me that gas stations have been getting away with this for ages. They're adding about 5-10% to their revenue by my calculations from topping off people's gas tanks. That's gas we didn't ask for.
Then again, for convenience sake it makes a little sense. Perhaps at the deli they should top off too. Instead of a "half pound of ham" perhaps we should ask for "five dollars worth."
Clubs Part 2
A while back, I complained about not getting into a club after some guy who was part of the group I was with backstabbed me.
Well, once again, New York City clubs didn't let me down. Two weeks ago, the first place I tried to meet my (mixed gender group of) friends at didn't let me in because I was male and "the ratio was bad." Then the place I ended up at didn't let my friends in when they tried to meet me because it was "too crowded." Fortunately, as they say, the third time was the charm and we ended up drinking at the same place. Eventually. In some ways this was pretty damn funny. In other ways, it was just pretty damn irritating.
Well, once again, New York City clubs didn't let me down. Two weeks ago, the first place I tried to meet my (mixed gender group of) friends at didn't let me in because I was male and "the ratio was bad." Then the place I ended up at didn't let my friends in when they tried to meet me because it was "too crowded." Fortunately, as they say, the third time was the charm and we ended up drinking at the same place. Eventually. In some ways this was pretty damn funny. In other ways, it was just pretty damn irritating.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Ancient Art of War
The Ancient Art of War, a PC Games series by Broderbund Software was one of the best games on the market. It's the precursor to the real-time strategy games like Warcraft or Age of Empires.
A little background - Broderbund and Sierra Games used to be the kings of PC Gaming. Broderbund had Carmen Sandiego, Ancient Art of War and Print Shop to its name. Remember Carmen Sandiego? She had a television show! (Sierra, as an aside, had several series, such as King's Quest, Police Quest, Space Quest and Leisure Suit Larry).
Ancient Art of War is due for a remake. I think it may have been ahead of its time. You would move characters from an overhead map until they confront enemy soldiers, at which point you would switch to a zoomed in version of the battle. Your opponent would be one of six historical generals, each with different characteristics (as I recall, Crazy Ivan, Napoleon, Athena and Sun Tzu were all options). Your soldiers were either archers (ranged combat), barbarians (close combat) or knights (intermediate). With retro games all the rage, this game HAS to be brought back!!!
Start Your Own Free Portal Services Company!
I've noticed a lot of similarities between all these portal service companies (ie Yahoo!, Google) and also the ISP's (AOL, MSN) so I decided to post what seems to be the essentials to starting your own!
1. Search Engine. This seems to be the fundamental element. You can disguise your search engine as a "directory" but you'll probably need something to help the average person find their "naked pictures of [insert current popular young female celebrity here]."
2. Free Web-Based Email. Get a good spam filter and a ton of storage and you're rolling!
3. Browser Toolbar Utility. Include a pop up blocker for those people not using Mozilla or Windows XP SP 2. The toolbar has to include at least a few mysterious icons and a search field. It would also be a good idea to include your logo on this toolbar.
4. Instant Messenger Service. Also known as "IM" service. Start one of these so people can communicate with each other using obscure abbreviations and smile faces. In fact, if you can design a cartoon face set of emotions to substitute for the generic ":)" you'll be that much further ahead of the competition.
5. Personalized "My" Page. This page should have as many little custom boxes as possible. Let people customize it so they can have instant access to sports scores, weather, stock prices, news items and HOROSCOPES of their choice. You can use this to connect to your other portal services as well.
Optional:
The following services are optional to your portal services company. You could do without them but it is HIGHLY recommended that you pick at least three of these five and add them to your blooming company.
1. Desktop Search Program. This is the new frontier of portal services. If you could create an all-encompassing desktop search program that also integrates with the operating system and your internet search engine, you'll be in business. Be careful!!! Make sure you have a plan to reassure users that your program isn't going to spill their computer's contents all over the internet. Then make sure that your reassurances are true.
2. Calendar. If it can sync with a PDA or Outlook, it would be better.
3. Web Hosting. You're already offering 3GB of web based email service, what's a few more GB for web sites?
4. Blogging Service. Goes hand in hand with web hosting. Censor your blogs if you like, but if that's the case, have a reassurance plan to your users. Perhaps hire the same PR people who will get you out of the "Desktop Search Program" jam.
5. Groups/Newsgroups service. Because who really knows how to use newsgroups? Make it userfriendly and the people will come.
Finally, a word about advertising. You say, "Blogman, if I'm giving all this stuff away for free, how does my portal services company make any money?" (Yes, you are giving all the above services for free). Blogman says, "Advertising. The future is advertising."
Look at every one of these portal services as an opportunity for advertising. By offering services you'll get more subscribed users. Then, you can charge advertisers higher and higher rates as your market share increases. As mentioned, the search engine is the centerpiece of this. Anytime someone uses your service, there should be ads around.
Good luck starting your own portal services company! Remember, it's a tough market out there but if you're successful enough, maybe Microsoft will try to take you down! Once you start getting hate mail from Bill Gates, you'll know you've made it. I can't believe I wrote all this for free!
1. Search Engine. This seems to be the fundamental element. You can disguise your search engine as a "directory" but you'll probably need something to help the average person find their "naked pictures of [insert current popular young female celebrity here]."
2. Free Web-Based Email. Get a good spam filter and a ton of storage and you're rolling!
3. Browser Toolbar Utility. Include a pop up blocker for those people not using Mozilla or Windows XP SP 2. The toolbar has to include at least a few mysterious icons and a search field. It would also be a good idea to include your logo on this toolbar.
4. Instant Messenger Service. Also known as "IM" service. Start one of these so people can communicate with each other using obscure abbreviations and smile faces. In fact, if you can design a cartoon face set of emotions to substitute for the generic ":)" you'll be that much further ahead of the competition.
5. Personalized "My" Page. This page should have as many little custom boxes as possible. Let people customize it so they can have instant access to sports scores, weather, stock prices, news items and HOROSCOPES of their choice. You can use this to connect to your other portal services as well.
Optional:
The following services are optional to your portal services company. You could do without them but it is HIGHLY recommended that you pick at least three of these five and add them to your blooming company.
1. Desktop Search Program. This is the new frontier of portal services. If you could create an all-encompassing desktop search program that also integrates with the operating system and your internet search engine, you'll be in business. Be careful!!! Make sure you have a plan to reassure users that your program isn't going to spill their computer's contents all over the internet. Then make sure that your reassurances are true.
2. Calendar. If it can sync with a PDA or Outlook, it would be better.
3. Web Hosting. You're already offering 3GB of web based email service, what's a few more GB for web sites?
4. Blogging Service. Goes hand in hand with web hosting. Censor your blogs if you like, but if that's the case, have a reassurance plan to your users. Perhaps hire the same PR people who will get you out of the "Desktop Search Program" jam.
5. Groups/Newsgroups service. Because who really knows how to use newsgroups? Make it userfriendly and the people will come.
Finally, a word about advertising. You say, "Blogman, if I'm giving all this stuff away for free, how does my portal services company make any money?" (Yes, you are giving all the above services for free). Blogman says, "Advertising. The future is advertising."
Look at every one of these portal services as an opportunity for advertising. By offering services you'll get more subscribed users. Then, you can charge advertisers higher and higher rates as your market share increases. As mentioned, the search engine is the centerpiece of this. Anytime someone uses your service, there should be ads around.
Good luck starting your own portal services company! Remember, it's a tough market out there but if you're successful enough, maybe Microsoft will try to take you down! Once you start getting hate mail from Bill Gates, you'll know you've made it. I can't believe I wrote all this for free!
Monday, December 27, 2004
December 26, 2004 New England Patriots "versus" New York Jets
Well, we probably could have asked for half our money back since one team didn't show up to this game. The Patriots dominated this game. In two games versus the Pats, the Jets have put up 14 points. Last week, Miami scored 29. Apparently Chad Pennington didn't get the memo until the fourth quarter -- Santana Moss and he are on the same team!!!
On sports radio the fans are berzerk. But the fans were insane to begin with. One guy is clamoring for Quincy Carter!
Look, they played their worst game of the season and they picked a bad time to do it. The team isn't that bad.
While the Jets were awful last week, this talk of "beating elite teams" is a load of crap. Nobody has beaten the elite teams, that's why they're elite. If you look at these elite teams: New England, Pittsburgh and Philly, you'll find that of the four losses that these three teams have total, two are to Pittsburgh, one to Baltimore (in week 2) and one to Miami! Look at other AFC playoff contenders versus "elite teams" - Baltimore (1-3), Indianapolis (0-1), Buffalo (0-2, Pittsburgh next wk), and Denver and San Diego haven't even played any of these teams. The term "elite team" has become a cliche in New York the last few weeks and I have no idea where it began.
One other thing, everyone is talking about the Bills. Blah, blah, blah Bills so great, etc. As I recall, a few weeks ago, the Patriots destroyed the Bills. But look at the opposite in perception - the Bills are hot, "nobody" wants to play them but the Jets are "cold" and can't beat anyone. If Buffalo gets into the playoffs you have my guarantee that they will not beat New England.
Enjoy some full color photos.
On sports radio the fans are berzerk. But the fans were insane to begin with. One guy is clamoring for Quincy Carter!
Look, they played their worst game of the season and they picked a bad time to do it. The team isn't that bad.
While the Jets were awful last week, this talk of "beating elite teams" is a load of crap. Nobody has beaten the elite teams, that's why they're elite. If you look at these elite teams: New England, Pittsburgh and Philly, you'll find that of the four losses that these three teams have total, two are to Pittsburgh, one to Baltimore (in week 2) and one to Miami! Look at other AFC playoff contenders versus "elite teams" - Baltimore (1-3), Indianapolis (0-1), Buffalo (0-2, Pittsburgh next wk), and Denver and San Diego haven't even played any of these teams. The term "elite team" has become a cliche in New York the last few weeks and I have no idea where it began.
One other thing, everyone is talking about the Bills. Blah, blah, blah Bills so great, etc. As I recall, a few weeks ago, the Patriots destroyed the Bills. But look at the opposite in perception - the Bills are hot, "nobody" wants to play them but the Jets are "cold" and can't beat anyone. If Buffalo gets into the playoffs you have my guarantee that they will not beat New England.
Enjoy some full color photos.
Friday, December 24, 2004
Thursday, December 23, 2004
December 19, 2004 - New York Jets vs. Seattle Seahawks
Some things I saw. I decided not to include images of the man standing in front of us sticking his hands down his wife's pants. It was quite gross.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
The Defense Department Discovers Mail Merge
Sort of a sad thing to say, but how personal are these letters?
Time Magazine Person of the Year
It's been announced.
This fine fellow gets to join distinguished company such as:
Adolf Hitler (1938)
Joseph Stalin (1939, 1942)
Nikita Khrushchev (1957)
Ayatullah Khomeini (1979)
The Computer (1982)
Earth (1988)
"The Two Bushes" (1989)
and himself (2000)
Looking through all the "people of the year" it seems that if you were a President, and not ever "person of the year," you stink. Also, there haven't been that many "women of the year," although back in 1975, "American Women" won the award...
This fine fellow gets to join distinguished company such as:
Adolf Hitler (1938)
Joseph Stalin (1939, 1942)
Nikita Khrushchev (1957)
Ayatullah Khomeini (1979)
The Computer (1982)
Earth (1988)
"The Two Bushes" (1989)
and himself (2000)
Looking through all the "people of the year" it seems that if you were a President, and not ever "person of the year," you stink. Also, there haven't been that many "women of the year," although back in 1975, "American Women" won the award...
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Vince Carter to the Nets
It's sort of ironic. Vince Carter wants out of lower profile Canada so he can go to the USA and be a bigger star. So what happens? He goes to New Jersey, which is lower profile to New York, across the river.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Top of (most of) the Charts
A few vanity searches reveals that this blog is #1 on Yahoo! and MSN searches for "Kitchen Fresh Blog."
But a vanity google search reveals that this is #5. Google owns Blogger, who hosts this page! Come on, show a little love!!!
(Maybe I'll post some screenshots of proof...)
But a vanity google search reveals that this is #5. Google owns Blogger, who hosts this page! Come on, show a little love!!!
(Maybe I'll post some screenshots of proof...)
This News Story Made Me Laugh
Since there's nothing going on in my life worth reporting right now, I'll just relay some things from the news.
This story says that Colin Powell has expressed support for Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, who has been under a lot of pressure lately.
I found this funny because...
...a guy who's quitting is expressing support for Kofi Annan (I wonder if that's Powell's personal opinion, or a Bush-approved opinion)
...it reminds me of when an sports team owner or GM says an embattled coach will be retained for the rest of the year and has his full support/vote of confidence. Then the coach gets fired at the end of the season. Did I mention that George Bush used to own a baseball team?
This story says that Colin Powell has expressed support for Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, who has been under a lot of pressure lately.
I found this funny because...
...a guy who's quitting is expressing support for Kofi Annan (I wonder if that's Powell's personal opinion, or a Bush-approved opinion)
...it reminds me of when an sports team owner or GM says an embattled coach will be retained for the rest of the year and has his full support/vote of confidence. Then the coach gets fired at the end of the season. Did I mention that George Bush used to own a baseball team?
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Washington Nationals No More?
Desperate to find a reason to post an image, I finally found one. If this story is true, this might be the last time you see the Washington Nationals home page for a while. Pretty embarrassing if you ask me...
And one of the reasons I don't post a lot of images is that I'm too lazy. Let's also note that this is an undoctored image of the Nationals website (http://washington.nationals.mlb.com) which I believe is © 2004 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Mets Talk
The Mets are an interesting team. For all their talk about trying to get younger, they passed up on 28 year old Vladimir Guerrero because of concerns about his back. They sign 31 year old Mike Cameron instead. This year, they're now chasing 38 year old Moises Alou. Their injury concerns? Seem to be gone, since they're after Magglio Ordonez and Richie Sexson, both who missed time to injury last year. Oh, and no problem giving Pedro Martinez and his cranky right arm a four year contract!
Mets fans have to be wondering what's going on with their team.
(Arizona fans also have to wonder what's happening out in the southwest US, since the team claims they don't have enough money to keep Randy Johnson, then go out on the free agent market to get Russ Ortiz and Troy Glaus)
Mets fans have to be wondering what's going on with their team.
(Arizona fans also have to wonder what's happening out in the southwest US, since the team claims they don't have enough money to keep Randy Johnson, then go out on the free agent market to get Russ Ortiz and Troy Glaus)
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