If You're Missing The NHL Playoffs, You're Missing All The Fun!

 sports  No Responses »
May 222009
 

If you're a sports fan and you haven't been watching the NHL playoffs, then you should be ashamed (especially if you've been tuned in to the boring NBA playoffs that ESPN and ABC have been repeatedly trying shove down your throats). 

This year has been one of the most enjoyable playoffs overall in any sport in a long time, and I don't just say that because my Pittsburgh Penguins have been successful.  Tight, competitive series where the stars have truly shined (heck, after tonight, each of the top three players in the game has posted a hat trick at one point in the playoffs, and two of those were even in the same game) have made this postseason the must-see event of the season.

And it is truly amazing to see the talent levels across the board.  Besides the more well-known stars, the teams remaining have scoring threats ten deep, so there are always threats on the ice.  Plus, each team has great net-minders who will make game-changing plays with the leather and pads.

Simply put, the NHL playoffs have been exhilarating, and this season should put the NHL back on the map of major sports (but probably won't since most of the games are on the not-widely-available VS. network and ESPN continues to pretend it doesn't exist.  If you can catch a game, I would highly recommend it, even if you just wait until the Stanly Cup Finals (but you're going to miss out on more great hockey if you wait!).

What's The Point Of Laws If They're Not Enforced

 culture  No Responses »
May 082009
 

One day a few weeks ago, I had the following experiences in my travels to and from work:

  • Watched a police car sitting at the front of a light across from me watch a crossing car run a light nearly 5 seconds after the light had changed, only to wave me on and ignore the blatant violator.
  • Travel with traffic on the interstate at 65 in a 55, only to be passed by a state trooper going 70+.
  • Nearly get cut off by a police car rolling through a stop sign in a residential neighborhood.  I had to slam my breaks to avoid a collision, and then the cop finally saw me and let me have the right of way.

These events just brought to a head one of the things I am regularly observing with increasing frequency: that we are a number of key laws that are simply not being enforced with any kind of consistency any more.  People are driving further and further over the speed limits, weaving in and out of traffic (usually without using any turn signals at all, a personal pet peeve of mine), and breaking laws right and left, even in the presence of law enforcement officers.

And look…I do understand that police officers can't be everywhere at all times.  And yes, there are times when more pressing matters require officers to overlook minor offenses.  However, it should be the responsibility of police officers to act when they see these clear offenses, and to uphold the letter of the law at all other times…especially when they are on duty!  I don't see that as being too much to ask as a loyal, upstanding, taxpaying citizen.  Do you?

Monthly Lyrics Challenge: May 2009

 Monthly Lyrics Challenge  No Responses »
May 052009
 

We're back at it once again with a new edition of the Monthly Lyrics Challenge.  No theme this time around…mostly because I simply haven't had time to put one together.  You're lucky you're getting this month's challenge, let me tell you!

Anyway, we've got a slightly new feature this month!  Now, each lyric is worth two points, one for the artist and one for the song.  So, if you've got the artist but can't put your finger on the song name, go ahead and at least try for partial credit.

So now with chances for double the points, good luck!

April 2009 Lyrics Challenge Winner

 Monthly Lyrics Challenge  No Responses »
May 052009
 

Well, I'm a few days late since I was out of town, but last months results are in and we have a winner.  Congratulations to Courtney, who was able to successfully name one of the ten lyrics in last month's challenge.  Yes…our winner got just one out of the ten correct.  But a winner is a winner, so congratulations!

For the rest of you who got zero out of ten, here is the answer key for April:

  1. Kanye West – Jesus Walks

    Now hear ye hear ye want to see Thee more clearly / I know he hear me when my feet get weary Cause we're the almost nearly extinct / We rappers are role models we rap we don't think

  2. Crash Test Dummies – Superman's Song
    Tarzan was king of the jungle and Lord over all the apes

  3. Flobots – Handlebars
    I can hand out a million vaccinations / Or let'em all die in exasperation
    Have'em all healed of their lacerations / Have'em all killed by assassination

  4. My Chemical Romance – Teenagers
    So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose / Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me

  5. Jane's Addiction – Been Caught Stealing

    I walk right through the door.
    Walk right through the door.
    Hey all right! If I get by, it's mine.
    Mine all mine!

  6. Genesis – In The Air Tonight

    How could I ever forget, it's the first time, the last time we ever met

  7. Dr. Dre (feat. Snoop Dogg) – Nuthin' But A “G” Thang

    You never know she could be earnin' her man and learnin' her man – and at the same time burnin' her man

  8. Pax217 – Voices

    we are all obsessed with comparing one another to eachother and it scares us

  9. Wallflowers – 6th Avenue Heartache

    And the same black line that was drawn on you / Was drawn on me

  10. Sublime – April 29, 1992 (Miami)

    Next stop we hit, it was the music shop, / It only took one brick to make the window drop
    Finally we got our own P.A. / Where do you think I got this guitar that you're hearing today?

Discovering Pittsburgh: Mineo's Pizza

 Discovering Pittsburgh, food  No Responses »
May 042009
 

One of the great things about Pittsburgh is that it's a true melting-pot of cultures, in large part thanks to the communities that had built up around the mills back in the day, and the influx of foreign students in the major universities today.  What that means is there are many non-chain options for food in almost every community, even in arenas such as pizza where the mega-chains dominate so many other regions.

One of the local pizza places that clearly rises above the rest is Mineo's Pizza House, with two locations, one of which is thankfully within walking distance of my house!  Mineo's offers up a hearty and tasty pizza, which can be a little pricey (around $17 for a large), but is well worth it.  They load you up with cheese and toppings, and we have never been disappointed.  And it goes further than you think.  A large should be able to feed 4 hungry adults, which is further than any large chain pizza will get you. 

In addition to my high praise, Mineo's has also won numerous local awards in their 50+ years in the 'burgh.  And if you can't make it to Pittsburgh, or our house for dinner, then you can always order a pizza from them to be FedEx-ed overnight so you can try it yourself.

If you're a lover of pizza, then I highly recommend trying Mineo's at least once (especially the pepperoni!).  You definately won't be disappointed.

Seven Years Ago…

 life  No Responses »
May 012009
 

So I was just curious, since I haven't done it in a while, and I searched for myself on Yahoo.  Turns out that in the top ten results, my old homepage on Hiram's CS webserver is still up and active.  Sure, the information is a little out of date now, but I'm amazed it's still even there! 

Oh, and if you do a search for me, let me go ahead and answer a question for you.  No, it was not this Greg Nilsen that was in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.  At least not that I can remember…