Daily Grind...

• I need to create a twitter account where no one knows it is me. There are a lot of things that I think people would be interested to read, but in no way do I want those thoughts associated with me.
• I went to see Metallica last night. I can't tell you how happy I was to get to see them again, especially after the new album and with the new bass player.
• I also heard that one of their engineers developed this new cool way to distribute low end at a concert that is supposed to be revolutionary. I will definitely say the sound was good. There is an entire register in my hearing that isn't there this morning.
• Here is a link (warning, really technical stuff here that will bore most people).
• The show was, for lack of a better word, incredible. I can't believe that these guys can put this kind of show at their age, for having done it so long.
• Interesting story from the night: A really drunk guy behind us started putting ketchup and mustard on my buddy's hat, and my other buddy stood up for him. Turns out that they were in the wrong seat, and the AAC upgraded our seats for the trouble. So, I went from sitting in the corner up high to the 15th row, dead center. That was awesome. Thanks, drunk asshole!
• My new Sony Reader is so awesome.
• I am currently reading the Dexter series that inspired the Showtime show. I am glad it just inspired them, because I don't think the books are very good, especially compared to the show.
• I have professed my love for Michael C. Hall before on this here blog, but reading the books to Dexter makes me even more impressed at how he is able to convey emotion in the most subtle way.
• ExplosiveSon is 3-0 on his football team, and he hasn't even touched the ball yet this season. But, I love his attitude, as long as they win, he doesn't care if he does a thing.
• Baseball is really his sport, anyway. He made me proud this weekend by doing very well in his tournament. I was happy to hear him say that he was sad that they didn't get to play more games, and how he wished he was playing baseball right now.
• It has reached the age group where he has to start showing that he can hang with the big boys, and he is starting to show it. I am very happy with that development. Next year, he is eligible to play on the JV team at the high school he will be attending.

Community, Chevy Chase and movie references...

Ok, so I just got finished watching the pilot to the show Community, starring Joel McHale and the legendary Chevy Chase. It was actually pretty funny, and I am looking forward to watching the next one.

Watching the show brought up an interesting thought (or at least I think it is interesting):

Why don't people in shows recognize the people they are acting with?

Let me give you an example from the show.

In the pilot, several students of a community college get together for what they think is a study group for their Spanish class, but it really was a chance for the lead (played by McHale) to get a chance at a date with a pretty girl from class.

He is surprised when several people from class show up, including a former CEO (Chevy Chase).

There is quite a bit of 80's movie references thrown about during the episode, specifically to The Breakfast Club, but to other 80's movies like Meatballs and Stripes.

My question is, if someone in the show has such a great knowledge of 80's movies (including being able to recite perfectly a key line from The Breakfast Club), shouldn't he look over and say, "Holy Crap! You look JUST like Chevy Chase!"? I know that if I was in that room, and a guy who looked just like Chevy Chase walked into that room, that is exactly what I would say.

This has always bugged me when the TV shows and movies cross that 4th wall. If they are going to reference things that aren't supposed to exist in that universe, they need to take it all the way through.

Another example was from an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" last year where they encountered Summer Glau from Terminator:The Sarah Connor Chronicles. They instantly recognized her as someone from the TV show. Therefore, shouldn't she have instantly recognized them as the cast from "The Big Bang Theory"?

All I am saying is that that 4th wall is no longer sacred. You could cause some kind of time vortex that could doom us all.

Toys on Cars (hey, that might be a good band name)

Jurassic Park: "

People of Wal-Mart is a really neat blog. What I don't understand is how they continue to come up with these pictures of cars with toys all over them. I have never seen one of these in my life! Is it because I live in Texas and toys would melt in the sun? Or is this a localized phenomenon?

"

Rainy Grind...

• Good lord, if it doesn't stop raining soon, I think that mass suicides might start happening.
• My dog is going insane being cooped up in the house.
• Went bowling this weekend at the Brunswick lanes in North Richland Hills. When we got there, there were no less than 13 lanes that weren't being used, but we weren't allowed to use those, since they were being "readied" for birthday parties that didn't start for an hour and a half. Nice job on creating false demand for your crappy bowling lanes.
• Ok, I will admit, the Federer between the legs shot was cool...but go to any tennis tournament, no matter what level, and you will see that shot at least once. It was great and all because it was on the big stage, but most people who play tennis regularly can pull that off. I'm just sayin...
• I purchased a Sony E-Reader off of Craigslist last week, and it might be the greatest thing I have ever owned. The best part is that I can "check out" digital books from the Frisco library for 14 days. So far, I haven't spent a dime on books and I have PLENTY to read. It is awesome.
• I just finished Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Great, great read about medieval times, cathedrals, monks and Earls.
• I am currently reading the "Dexter" series, which is what the show is based upon. Good stuff.
• Man, is it great to have football back. Seriously, it might be the happiest day on my calendar to see the first Cowboys' game. (Especially if they win)
• I feel bad for the Rangers. They have done so well this season, and it looks like they are going to fall just short of the playoffs. It kills me.
• On the latest iPhone/iTunes update, you can upload Genius mixes to your phone, which is great. There is also an option that you can check that fills up the remaining space on your phone with music. Great idea, right? Not so much. Unfortunately, it fills up every inch of space, so you can't download any new apps, nothing. I think they need to add a setting so that it always leaves 50 mb or so, so this won't happen.
• I love technology (just like Kip Dynamite), but every once in a while, I am reminded how behind technology a lot of people are. I just had to teach someone how to use their new work-issued iPhone, and she looked at the thing like it had 3 heads and came from Jupiter.
• Speaking of Jupiter, I love me some Martellus Bennett, but he will only be popular if he can perform on a week to week basis. If he starts to screw up, people will be all over him for being unprofessional. Just be careful, MartyB!

X'Zavier Bloodsaw Stats, News, Photos - Texas College Steers - NCAA College Football - ESPN

X'Zavier Bloodsaw Stats, News, Photos - Texas College Steers - NCAA College Football - ESPN

Check out this guy's name: X'Zavier Bloodsaw. Seriously?

New Cowboys Stadium Grind...

I was fortunate enough to secure two tickets to the new Cowboys Stadium for Saturday's pre-season game against the SF 49ers. It was an unbelievable experience, and I am glad I got to go. Here are some quick hit, scattershooting thoughts, a la Barry Green:

• ExplosiveMom did us a HUGE favor and dropped us off and picked us up from the game. She dropped us off just East of Rangers Ballpark, and we walked from there. It was a trek, but not terrible. Luckily, we caught a break and it wasn't that hot.
• The stadium is so big, you think you are close to it. News flash: you are not close to it. Ever. You just keep thinking you are close, and you never quite seem to get there.
• If you plan on going, pay attention to your "Entry Gate". You can't just go into any door you want to, you have to go to the one they tell you. Unfortunately, Entry Gate "G" was on the farthest possible side from where we were dropped off. Fail.
• The video board is indescribable. Seriously, the English language does not have the correct words to describe this thing. It literally took my breath away.
• The floors of the stadium use that kind of coating that makes it look highly polished. It was a nice touch that really gives the stadium that extra bit of shine that make it stand out.
• Barry mentioned the "dance team" that performed just before each half. He was correct that it was like a stripper revue. I am pretty sure that their shorts were designed to encourage camel toe.
• I never would have known this if it wasn't for the video board. Again, this thing is impressive.
• There are still a LOT of problems with the game presentation, specifically that they still lack a constant scoreboard that is easy to see. I didn't find it until the third quarter. I was constantly wondering down and distance and how much was left on the game clock. That should permanently be on the video board.
• Speaking of game presentation, Jody Dean is TERRIBLE as the VOCS (Voice of Cowboys Stadium). This will warrant its own post later.
• Let me put the board into perspective. When they showed a cheerleader on the board, you could tell if she had removed her bellybutton ring. It is that big and that clear. I now know which cheerleaders have moles on which parts of their bodies.
• One of the coolest parts of the video board, obviously, is the replays. What makes it extra special is that you can see things like where Romo's eyes were looking, or you can see Wade Phillips say "dammit" after a holding penalty that costs his team a field goal.
• Lots and lots of crowd shots on the board, but they need to put a little more variety in the sections. I swear, there was one guy who probably had about ten minutes of face time on the board, because they would cut to the same section over and over.
• I am pretty sure there was one section where they wouldn't let you in unless your arm flab jiggled when you waved. They showed that one on the board a few times as well.
• Concession stand situation: Food was ok, but we didn't buy much. During halftime, we waited in line for about 20 minutes for nachos and a Dr. Pepper, while looking over at the "barbecue" concession stand with zero line. Might want to balance those out a bit in the future.
• Another weird thing that I can't decide if I like or not: While we were in line, not 20 feet from the entrance to the seats, we couldn't hear a thing from the game. No cheers, no PA announcements, nothing. Usually, when you are at a game and waiting in line, you can get a decent idea of what is going on by listening to the crowd, but you couldn't hear it at all!
• You have to make yourself watch the game action on the field. Gordo on the Ticket described it best this morning: It has a tractor beam. It keeps pulling you in, over and over again (the video board).
• You can never say again that you don't go to the game because you get a better view on television. Nope. Don't want to ever hear it again.
• However, it is perfectly acceptable to say you can't go because you can't afford it.
• Leg room was more than acceptable. I never felt uncomfortable, with my section totally full.
• One thing that is weird: Not being able to see the other side of the stadium, because of the screen. It is almost like you have that half of the stadium to yourself. It is hard to explain how it feels, but it almost feels like there is a divide and they are at a different game.
• Not one punt came close to the board in this game. I am sticking to my guns: The only way these guys are going to hit the board is if they are trying to do it, and if they are trying to do it, it is a terrible punt that they would get yelled at by their coach if they did in a game.
• They are still working out the volume levels. Music was kind of loud (but not as loud as I heard the first game was), but not overbearing. The commercials sounded pretty good, but the levels still need some work.
• There were a lot of the same complaints about the American Airlines Center when it opened, and they have worked all of those out.
• Did I mention that Jody Dean was awful?
• On our way out of the stadium (with about 4 mins left in the 4th), we were walking by one of the really, really close parking lots. There was a guy there waving us towards the sidewalks. As we were about to walk across the driveway, he stops us with his light to allow the car to go through, which I thought was really odd. Most of the time, the cars stop for the pedestrians, but not this time. I said to him, "You are making US stop? Geez!" and he said, "Hey, I don't make the rules.". So the rules are, let the car plow through pedestrians? I can understand if there was a huge stream of people, but it was me, ExplosiveWife and another couple following behind us. The car would have had to wait for 5 seconds, tops.
• The escalators up to the top sections give you serious vertigo. They are REALLY high up, and you can look over the edge into the abyss. Holding the handrails is highly recommended.

I will say this, though: This place is amazing. Flat out breathtaking. Every single detail seems to be attended to, and the 2011 Super Bowl will be so freaking cool to have here, with the Party Pass concourses and all. Kudos to the designers, architects, and workers who busted their asses getting this thing ready for the season.

Jerry Jones is going to make SO MUCH MONEY off of this thing.

Child’s Estimate of Parents’ IQ

Child’s Estimate of Parents’ IQ: "

God, if this isn't the truth. I must admit, I was guilty of this with my children, but why do all parents think that their child is the most brilliant thing of all time? I ran around telling everyone who would listen that my child's head size was in the 95th percentile. That means her head is big, so her brain is big, so she is smart! I heard a new parent the other day telling everyone that their son was in the 98th percentile in foot size! So effing what!

The new parent always amazes me, and they ALL do this. My nephew, who is the cutest kid on the planet, is suffering through a mild case of this right now with his parents, but his parents are nowhere near as bad as most parents. Just because your kid eats veggies two weeks ahead of schedule does not mean he is going to finally crack the genetic code when he gets older. Let your kid live! Just enjoy that they are there, and savor every moment.

And yes, I am a hypocrite, because I did this too. I will say, though, that it is allowed within the family. Outside of the family, I can guarantee you that no one gives a crap. :)