Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
9 Baseball Moments More Wretched Than Steroids
Mention the word "steroid," and baseball fans slam the doors to their glass houses. But, the truth is that America's pastime has long been associated with abominable behavior. Baseball history reads like the script of the greatest reality television show ever produced. | Cracked
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Pearl Jam Booked for Conan O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” Debut
Conan O’Brien has recruited Pearl Jam for his first-ever episode as host of The Tonight Show on June 1st, the band revealed on their official Website. According to the post, Eddie Vedder and company will perform songs — plural theirs, not ours — from their upcoming studio album on O’Brien’s inaugural episode, which airs exactly two weeks from today. | Rolling Stone
Free Bottle Opener from Blue Moon Brewing
Become a Brewery Insider by joining the Blue Moon Crew and receive a free bottle opener. | Blue Moon Brewing Company via | Freebie Finder
Monday, May 25, 2009
Top 5 hardest NES games
msnbc.com has an article running down the top 5 hardest NES games. The list is pretty good, but Mega Man, Ghosts N' Goblins, Castlevania, and Gradius have to at least get a mention in a list like this. I don't know anyone who could easily get past the first few levels of those games. Contra and Punch-Out were hard, but they were beatable. And of course there were a ton of ransom NES games that were impossible mainly just because they were so bad, like Section Z and Karate Champ.-Matt
Link: msnbc.com
Sunday, May 24, 2009
More on ARod Tipping Pitches
The New York Times has a good article about a study done using a statistical tool called Leverage Index to see if there is any sign that ARod was tipping pitches, as claimed by Selena Roberts in her book.
Did Tipping Pitches Help Rodriguez and Others? Numbers Say No. | NYTimes via ShysterBall
If a tipping conspiracy were in place, one would expect that Rodriguez and rival middle infielders in games he played to have hit better in low-leverage situations than in high-leverage ones. Using a fairly loose definition of high leverage as a L.I. above 1.5 and low leverage as below 0.7, the data provide a resounding answer: either no tipping was going on or it was pathetically ineffective.
-Matt
See Also:
Selena Roberts' ARod Book | mattmaison
Did Tipping Pitches Help Rodriguez and Others? Numbers Say No. | NYTimes via ShysterBall
If a tipping conspiracy were in place, one would expect that Rodriguez and rival middle infielders in games he played to have hit better in low-leverage situations than in high-leverage ones. Using a fairly loose definition of high leverage as a L.I. above 1.5 and low leverage as below 0.7, the data provide a resounding answer: either no tipping was going on or it was pathetically ineffective.
-Matt
See Also:
Selena Roberts' ARod Book | mattmaison
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Selena Roberts' ARod Book
Here's a good and quick review of Selena Roberts's book about Alex Rodriguez:
The Selena Roberts book is about what you’d expect. | ShysterBall
After a brief detour to deal with Manny-mania, I finally finished the Selena Roberts/A-Rod book over the weekend. I originally had thoughts of dissecting the sucker, but upon its completion I realized that, despite all of the hype (to which I helped contribute, I'll admit), writing a highly-detailed takedown would represent a massively disproportionate response to a book that is lighter than air and dumber than a bag of hammers.
-Matt
See Also:
Selena Roberts Slurs Innocent Duke Lacrosse Players, Again | TimesWatch
Two Years Later, Selena Roberts Still Can't Admit She Was Wrong About Duke Lacrosse | FanHouse
Selena Roberts Has No Shame | City Journal
The Selena Roberts book is about what you’d expect. | ShysterBall
After a brief detour to deal with Manny-mania, I finally finished the Selena Roberts/A-Rod book over the weekend. I originally had thoughts of dissecting the sucker, but upon its completion I realized that, despite all of the hype (to which I helped contribute, I'll admit), writing a highly-detailed takedown would represent a massively disproportionate response to a book that is lighter than air and dumber than a bag of hammers.
-Matt
See Also:
Selena Roberts Slurs Innocent Duke Lacrosse Players, Again | TimesWatch
Two Years Later, Selena Roberts Still Can't Admit She Was Wrong About Duke Lacrosse | FanHouse
Selena Roberts Has No Shame | City Journal
Friday, May 15, 2009
Free Coldplay Album
Download Coldplay's new live album "Left, Right, Left, Right, Left" for FREE at coldplay.com.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Daily Show Visits Arizona State
Arizona State University sparked a bit of controversy recently for refusing to bestow President Obama with an honorary degree at commencement ceremonies later today, so Jason Jones went down to investigate. Hilarity then ensued.
Via: Gawker
Via: Gawker
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus
Sweet Jesus I hope this movie will be in IMAX when it hits theaters.
That's right, your eyes weren't playing tricks on you, that was Debbie Gibson.
-Matt
That's right, your eyes weren't playing tricks on you, that was Debbie Gibson.
-Matt
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Parasitic twin erupts from 30-year-old man's belly button
I'm going to have nightmares tonight because of this...
"Gavin Hyatt of Witney, Oxfordshire went to the hospital with a bleeding belly button. The doctor said "It was like something from Alien. I didn’t believe Gavin when he said something was coming out of his belly button until I saw him." That something was a 4cm parasitic twin that had been stuck inside Hyatt for the last 30 years."
-Matt
Link: Boing Boing
"Gavin Hyatt of Witney, Oxfordshire went to the hospital with a bleeding belly button. The doctor said "It was like something from Alien. I didn’t believe Gavin when he said something was coming out of his belly button until I saw him." That something was a 4cm parasitic twin that had been stuck inside Hyatt for the last 30 years."
-Matt
Link: Boing Boing
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Quiz: Baseball Brainteasers
Baseball’s rules can be quite quirky and difficult to figure out. So, with the help of Hal Lebovitz’s awesome book “Ask Hal,” we put together ten brainteasers based on baseball’s confusing rules. Get all ten right and you might actually be able to say that you could call the game better than the ump. | mental_floss
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Manny Quote of the Day
"Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant Thursday evening to you, wherever you may be. The Dodgers and the city of Los Angeles and all of California and for that matter, all of baseball, still shocked and stunned over the suspension of Manny Ramirez. We'll have more to say about that a little bit later on -- but no one man stops baseball ..."
-Vin Scully
-Vin Scully
Manny's suspension: Good for baseball
From Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports:
"I hope that everyone who is about to come out of the woodwork to demonize Manny Ramirez and baseball stops to realize that each time a new player -- especially a superstar -- is pushed out of the PED closet, it means that the era in which we've been living is, ironically, less illegitimate than we previously believed. Why? Because the more players who are found to have used PEDs, the less accurate it is to say that anyone truly had an unfair advantage. Sure, on a matchup-by-matchup basis there were users facing non-users, but the caricature of a small group of cheaters ruining it for everyone else in the game grows more ridiculous as each new name surfaces. Many, many ballplayers have used PEDs in recent years. So many, I'd guess, that a blanket of soft presumption of PED use should be in order for the players of our age. Instead of judging these guys as harshly as we have been, perhaps we should simply grade their characters and accomplishment on a curve just like we do from players in the pre-integration age and pitchers from the deadball era. Different, lamentable, but not illegitimate or evil."
Link: Manny's suspension: Good for baseball
"I hope that everyone who is about to come out of the woodwork to demonize Manny Ramirez and baseball stops to realize that each time a new player -- especially a superstar -- is pushed out of the PED closet, it means that the era in which we've been living is, ironically, less illegitimate than we previously believed. Why? Because the more players who are found to have used PEDs, the less accurate it is to say that anyone truly had an unfair advantage. Sure, on a matchup-by-matchup basis there were users facing non-users, but the caricature of a small group of cheaters ruining it for everyone else in the game grows more ridiculous as each new name surfaces. Many, many ballplayers have used PEDs in recent years. So many, I'd guess, that a blanket of soft presumption of PED use should be in order for the players of our age. Instead of judging these guys as harshly as we have been, perhaps we should simply grade their characters and accomplishment on a curve just like we do from players in the pre-integration age and pitchers from the deadball era. Different, lamentable, but not illegitimate or evil."
Link: Manny's suspension: Good for baseball
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Gallant Man Extremely Concerned About Drunk Woman's Welfare
FORT WAYNE, IN—Derek Kriesel, 22, who shall heretofore be known far and wide as the stately prince of Shooters Sports Pub & Grub, gallantly rushed to the aid of an inebriated maiden Tuesday when he noticed she was too drunk to make rational decisions. "A noble one was he who, as the valiant knights of yore, attended to her every whim, and yet she did not have to ask, or even glance in his direction," bartender Nate Bogen said of the modern-day Lancelot, who from his own pocket purchased many a drink for the woman after she fumbled just once for her purse. "He is truly a man among men, for ne'er did his eyes stray from her." According to sources, the noble hero also escorted the fair lady to her quarters, fingered her while she vomited, and slipped off before dawn without waking her or her parents. | The Onion
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video
"The Cleveland Tourism Board gave me 14 million dollars about 8 months ago to make a promotional video to bring people to Cleveland. As usual, I waited till the last minute and I ended up having to shoot and edit it in about an hour yesterday afternoon. I probably should have invested more time."
Link: YouTube - Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video
Link: YouTube - Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video
Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video: 2nd Attempt
"So The Cleveland Board of Tourism was not happy with the first video that I turned in. In fact, they said that upon viewing it, three of the board members moved away. They insisted that I turn in a proper Cleveland tourism video, otherwise they will pursue litigation.
So I was really planning on buckling down and giving it my all this time, but there was a "Rock of Love" marathon on VH1 last night that I didn't want to miss, so I cranked this video out in even less time than the first one. Roughly 35 minutes total. Despite this, I'm rather pleased with how it turned out, and I think they will be too."
Link: YouTube - Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video: 2nd Attempt
So I was really planning on buckling down and giving it my all this time, but there was a "Rock of Love" marathon on VH1 last night that I didn't want to miss, so I cranked this video out in even less time than the first one. Roughly 35 minutes total. Despite this, I'm rather pleased with how it turned out, and I think they will be too."
Link: YouTube - Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video: 2nd Attempt
Monday, May 4, 2009
20 Mexican Dishes
Before you start quaffing margaritas tomorrow, it might be a good idea to have a full belly, no? Sunset has a slideshow of 20 great Mexican meals, and there are some off-the-beaten-path alternatives to the usual stuff. | Sunset via The Kitchn
Antarctic ice is growing, not melting away
Ice is expanding in much of Antarctica, contrary to the widespread public belief that global warming is melting the continental ice cap. The results of ice-core drilling and sea ice monitoring indicate there is no large-scale melting of ice over most of Antarctica. | news.com.au
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Phoenix
the band, not the city...
Phoenix - "1901" (MP3)
Uninspired SNL At Least Yields Extra Phoenix | stereogum
I suspect only the French synth-rockers' overtime was born of a lack of air-able sketches. Which is not to say the closing credits performance of nine-year-old soundtrack hit "Too Young" wasn't delightful. But it was hardly worth having to sit through another interminable Obama open. From the new album Phoenix did "Lisztomania" and "1901," both excellent tunes. I like how they dress like hip English TAs.
Saturday Night Live: Phoenix performs "Lisztomania" | Hulu
Phoenix Announce North American Tour | Stereogum
Amazing Baby supports. It'll be in the service of their forthcoming fourth album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. You bet you'll hear the synthesized single "1901," so might as well use it as your soundtrack while you mull over the itinerary.
Progress Report: Phoenix | stereogum
"Fast and intense" is how Phoenix's lead singer Thomas Mars describes the band's next record. The Paris-based foursome are men of few words, or maybe few English words and more French ones. Either way, though they've just completed their followup to 2006's It's Never Been Like That, they're not giving away details in any language. But if the record is "fast and intense," then it sounds like it travels further down the same path as It's Never Been Like That, a rougher LP for a band whose discography was all rounded edges and glossy textures.
Phoenix - "1901" (MP3)
Uninspired SNL At Least Yields Extra Phoenix | stereogum
I suspect only the French synth-rockers' overtime was born of a lack of air-able sketches. Which is not to say the closing credits performance of nine-year-old soundtrack hit "Too Young" wasn't delightful. But it was hardly worth having to sit through another interminable Obama open. From the new album Phoenix did "Lisztomania" and "1901," both excellent tunes. I like how they dress like hip English TAs.
Saturday Night Live: Phoenix performs "Lisztomania" | Hulu
Phoenix Announce North American Tour | Stereogum
Amazing Baby supports. It'll be in the service of their forthcoming fourth album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. You bet you'll hear the synthesized single "1901," so might as well use it as your soundtrack while you mull over the itinerary.
Progress Report: Phoenix | stereogum
"Fast and intense" is how Phoenix's lead singer Thomas Mars describes the band's next record. The Paris-based foursome are men of few words, or maybe few English words and more French ones. Either way, though they've just completed their followup to 2006's It's Never Been Like That, they're not giving away details in any language. But if the record is "fast and intense," then it sounds like it travels further down the same path as It's Never Been Like That, a rougher LP for a band whose discography was all rounded edges and glossy textures.
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