Three’s company
I run this joint. Don’t know where to start? Let me show you around:
With a new decade upon us, the lemonade salesman in me is thinking about adding brownies to the menu. That is, I’m ready for my next big move, having already established myself as a new media tycoon.
So help me out, folks. Help me brainstorm and identify the next big thing. You know, a “Google killer.” I’m looking for a real win-win, here. Some ideas to get the juices flowing: Continue reading…
In the 1920s, U.S. soccer proponents were clamoring for a rule change, according to Soccer in a Football World. Said advocates wanted to “Americanize” the game. Specifically, they thought it was ridiculous that substitutions weren’t allowed, even for injured players. So the U.S. Soccer Federation rightfully changed the rule to allow for substitutions—long before either FIFA or the English Premiership did the same.
“This was an innovation which had come very late in relation to other American sports,” writes author David Wangerin on page 67, “though it was not until 1965 that the [English Premiership] allowed substitutes and another five years before they were seen at the World Cup.”
Fancy that. It’s unclear what other countries (if any) were also calling for substitutions at the time. But it’s obvious “Americanization” was on the right side of the argument, despite what purists may have argued. And it’s a clear reminder that changes to the game are sometimes a good thing.
Admittedly, soccer is a wonderfully climatic sport. You wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t agree. But you’re thick if you don’t think it can benefit from innovations like those found in other sports. You’re wrong if you think it’s a perfect game.
I don’t care so much for the hearts, but the expression is solid.
In the wake of my previous covers of Phoenix’s 1901 and U2’s Stay, I also recorded the greatest ’80s one-hit wonder this month: The Promise by When in Rome. Hope you enjoy it!
After rediscovering them again during this year’s Winter Olympics, my respect for downhillers soared. Reading this 30 year old piece on the history of the event makes me respect the sport all the more. From the article:
“I can say that the ideal downhiller must be a little uppity, a little arrogant,” Downhill Charlie says. “I love that type. He has to have guts, and he should always be plenty nervous before the start. And then, too, it doesn’t hurt if he is born poor, because when a skier’s born poor it is in his nature to want to get ahead. Yes, take the poor ones—Klammer, Moser-Pröll, Nadig, Wirnsberger—they all came from tiny villages, from poor parents, and they wanted to prove they were someone through performances on the mountain.” Continue reading…
Excluding blog posts and short news articles:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3IArJTfUy8[/youtube]
Although I think BMWs handle better, this Audi commercial entitled “Breaking the spell” is brilliant from a branding perspective. Love it. The black cars are pretty hot too.
Although gimmicky, Reebok Pump became such a phenomenon in the early ’90s, that even Nike released pressurized knock-offs for a while. That being the case, the above documentary of Pump technology is well worth 22 minutes of your time. Featuring the inventor of the shoe, Dee Brown, Michael Chang, and urban collectors.
True to chain letter form, Lindsey emailed me the following “friend survey” today. With exception to nos. 23 and 41, her responses made me proud to call her my wife—especially with Valentine’s around the corner. They also make me look chivalrous, which is always a good thing.
Warning: some of her answers are a little sappy. But this is my blog—not yours. You can get lost if you have a problem with that! Continue reading…
I like Shirley Temples. A lot.
So imagine my frustration this weekend, when I was told by eight different grocers, including one floor manager, that they didn’t know what it was or if they even had it. “You might want to try a liquor store,” one lady incredulously advised me, as if I haven’t purchased at least two dozen bottles of the delicious red syrup at other grocers over the years.
Most upsetting, though, was not a single worker said, “I’m not sure if we sell that, but I will find out.” Not a single one.
Like Click To Flash or Flash Block, Caffeine is a must for portable Mac users. With this tiny program installed, your monitor won’t dim unless you say so by clicking an icon on the menu bar. First discovered in December (thanks, Matt!), it’s just the shot my portable video needed to stay awake. There’s also a PC version.
After a five year hiatus, I rediscovered multi-track recording this month. Here is my first new mp3 production, an “unplugged” cover of Phoenix’s 1901.
It was recorded in Garage Band with a cheap headset and USB guitar cable connected to my Epiphone acoustic/electric.
It’s good to be in the studio again. Enjoy the mp3.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tjYoKCBYag&videos=WLGC6CrDHT8&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1[/youtube]
… At any age even.
I despise Flash. It slows down your computer, starts without being asked, and crashes my Internets. So until YouTube finally abandons Flash, as does the rest of the web with media-rich HTML 5, here are two easy plugins I use to grab life by the horns:
Both programs are free and make it so you dictate when a Flash file is played, as opposed to it taking over. Now that’s browsing with power!
In an effort to avoid having to finish her lunch yesterday, my four-year old casually lied to her mother, claiming to have had a headache and, therefore, would be unable to finish her meal. Playing along, my wife ask, “How long have you had it?”
“14 days,” came the reply. Upon hearing this from the adjacent room, I did a double take and replied, “That is one massive headache.” Laughter ensured. Kids Say the Darnedest Things now up to 16,470,002.
Before you chase ’em with milk (a given), what’s your technique?
What’s the best way to eat an Oreo?(surveys)
See also: Off-brand alternatives I won’t buy
UPDATE: I stand corrected. As of 2011, I’m fully converted to digital books now.
As much as I love Amazon (it’s my favorite website), they’re lovely e-reader, the Kindle, will be as popular as Segways. Like the product that was suppose to render walking obsolete, e-readers like Kindle are the latest gadget that’s over-hyped, impressive, but impractical.
The no. 1 reason: printed books aren’t broken. In fact, they provide a far better experience than any e-reader on the market. Here’s why: Continue reading…
After much mental torment, I’ve decided to name the best new bands of the last decade. For one to qualify, they must have met the following criteria: 1) be awesome; and 2) formed in the year 2000 or beyond (which excludes Spoon, Muse, and The Strokes for example).
With the power vested in me, I hereby announce the winners. Continue reading…
Stuff White People Like is the sharpest satire of pretentious, leftist, and faker white lifestyles ever written. Out of 100+ entries so far, these are my favorites:
“Soccer is often mocked for its low scores, but precisely because goals are so scarce, the release of joy is greater than in other sports.” Soccernomics, page 295.
Of all the reasons to watch soccer, this is probably the most compelling. Admittedly, a tough football game, grinding tennis match, or nine nail-biting innings of baseball is more engaging than 90 minutes of soccer.
But provided there are goals, I can’t think of a sport that crescendos better than soccer. (Fascinating book, by the way—like a mix between Moneyball and Freakonomics).
A lot of cool things were released this decade. But no other personal technology influenced society more in the last 10 years than the following—in order of impact, because I said so.
I’d probably put digital video recorders at no. 11. Am I missing anything?
Excluding reports, blog posts, and short-news articles:
As the father of two girls, with another on the way, I’ll take all the help I can get concerning their well-being and development. And although it could have been written using fewer words, the 197-page Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters was an enlightening wake-up call to some of the challenges my daughters will likely face. After reading it, I felt empowered and reassured of the fathering techniques I already held to be true.
Written by Meg Meeker, a child psychiatrist and mother of four, the book is peppered with personal stories and alarming statistics. The stated “10 secrets” aren’t really secrets as much as their are good advice. To summarize, they are as follows: Continue reading…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsghn7OKvg8[/youtube]
When used properly, I think iPhones are nifty devices. Like all Apple hardware, including my two Macs, they have an impressive interface. Still, iPhones are probably the most overstated status device of the decade. Case in point: Apple’s latest “Did you get my email?” commercial (shown), which attempts to embellish and sell three bad behaviors “without ever leaving a call.” Let me tear ’em down for you, may I? Continue reading…
Source: One of many email forwards sent by my dear Mother
Q: Who was the first Nobel Peace Prize winner to order 30,000 additional troops to war only two months after winning the award?
Remember, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in part “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for the abolition or reduction of standing armies.”
Before anyone freaks out, I disagree with but like our president. It’s just that I like irony more.
Not sure if you knew, but some cheap-looking infomercial has discovered the secret to making steady profits in the stock market, and they’re hosting sales seminars in your area this weekend! Major brokerages don’t even know about the system! And unlike every other financial reward in life, you don’t have to know anything about financial markets to get rich off this ambiguously “proven program”!
This is great news for people like me and you! What’s that saying again? “If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe I just got super lucky and stumbled into a fortune.” Yeah, that’s the one! *facepalm*
Behold—my obligatory Thanksgiving post. In honesty, I actually write these for myself, as they’re fun to look back on. But most importantly, they make me feel blessed. And who doesn’t like to feel blessed?! Continue reading…
As if Major Leauge Soccer didn’t have enough credibility challenges, the two opposing teams playing in this weekend’s championship will be outfitted by two suspect companies—as they have been all year.
In one corner, you have the LA Galaxy sponsored by Herbalife, a multi-level marketing company out of Los Angeles that sells magic herbs. In the other corner, you have Real Salt Lake sponsored by XanGo, a multi-level marketing company out of Utah that sells super juice. (Match preview here.)
For their patriotism, big sound, and classically-inspired writing, I adore national anthems. Every time I hear a good one, I feel like saluting someone. Every time I hear one of these, I feel like dying for a cause. They are the best-sounding national anthems ever. Does your favorite make the list? Continue reading…
Here’s a nice summary written by Newsweek’s Daniel Lyons on how the Internet “ruined” newspapers, movies, television, music, and even Microsoft in the last decade. Why waste time reading 1,000 articles on the subject when this does all the heavy lifting for you? Get that.
