Chop Legos

Another fine home movie on YouTube. Someone took the little Lego dudes that have become popular doing the Star Wars skits and turned them into System Of A Down singing Chop Suey. Cool Stuff.

Gut Telling Me The Chin Is Gone

As much as I used to think the Steelers needed Bill Cowher to be successful, I now think they will be OK when he retires sometime next week. That's not saying I want him to retire - I would be content if he stayed another 10 years because the Rooneys have figured out that continuity is every bit as important as talent - but it's no longer the end of the world scenario that some Cowher fans would like you to believe. I really think Russ Grimm or Ken Whisenhunt can step right in and keep this ball rolling for the next several years. If I had to pick the next coach, I'd lean towards Russ Grimm because he's local and as a former outstanding lineman - he's going to keep the tradition of pounding the ball. The only thing I think would keep Bill Cowher stalking the Pittsburgh sidelines is the fact that this season left a bad taste in his mouth. I think when the extension didn't get done in the off-season, it could have been because he saw this team repeating and then walking off into the sunset as a Saint of the city. If he leaves now, people (including myself) are going to wonder if his mind was made up in training camp and that's why we didn't see the amount of passion that we're used to seeing from the man this season when things went south. Joey Porter had no fear of being yanked this year as he had several costly personal foul penalties called against him at crucial points this season. I remember coach Cowher ripping into Josh Miller for only punting the ball 30 yards - now Santonio Holmes can fumble a game away and Cowher is left standing on the sidelines with a glossy look in his eyes. Yes, he brought us another championship - but in reality - I think we had the best team in the NFL 3 or 4 years during his reign. I'm really torn on this subject as I think if he returns to coach next season, he will be more aggressive with his team and not allow veterans to slide or get too comfortable. WIth or without him, they have a legitimate shot to win it all next year as the talent level is still very high. Without the turnovers, they are very hard to beat. Do I want him to go? I'm not sure. Do I think he's going to go? Yes, I do. Russ Grimm has the experience and temperament for the job. I don't think things would change much if Russ took over, and that's the way the Rooneys play the game.

Sheehan To Appear On American Idol

Attention seeking Cindy Sheehan will appear this season on Fox's American Idol according to our sources. After failing to cause more than a few local reporters to show up for her latest "stunt", Sheehan has been looking for other avenues to get her message across. During a taping of episode II, she belted out "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" which Simon Cowell called "the single worst performance ever on the show." She did not get a golden ticket to Hollywood leaving her distressed and almost broken. Asked what her future plans are, she is trying to get in the cast for The Surreal Life next season and hopes to hook up with Flavor Flav - extending her 15 minutes of fame to 16 or possibly 17 minutes. We're tired of you, Cindy. Go home.

Saddam Hussein Dead

No picture, no story. It just feels good to type it and say it.

Small Is The New Big?

As I was helping my daughter pick out a "skin" for her new iPod Nano, it hit me as to just how small the thing really is. I just think it's really funny how in these times, personal music players and cell phones are judged mostly on size - the smaller the better. Yet, not all that long ago, personal music players were judged on how LARGE they were. It was nothing to see someone walking down the street carrying a radio that was bigger than a St. Bernard. We've gone from Walk-Mans and CD-Mans to something that holds 500 songs that's about half the size of a credit card. I remember in 1995 I bought a 250 mb hard drive to add to my PC which only had a 40 mb drive. I paid roughly $1 a meg which was pretty standard in those days. I just dropped a 1 gig micro sd flash card into my Razor phone and it's literally the size of a toddler's pinky nail...and it cost $25. Insane! In 11 years we've gone from $1 a meg to this and that's for micro sd. Regular sd can be had for half of that. I can't wait to see what's next. We'll have iPods built into our shoe lace tips!

It Can't Just Be Me

You know what? I no longer trust stores to tally my items correctly when I purchase something. I'm convinced they display one price and charge another at the register. Only people that are paying attention don't get suckered into this plot. It's happened to me 3 times since Saturday! I went to Toys-R-Us to "check out" the guitars to let Santa know which one to bring my budding Hannah Montana. A full rack of little acoustic jobbies were labeled on-sale for $19.99. I grabbed one that had a star design on it. I needed to pick up one other item for one of my nephews and while looking for that I saw something else that my daughter wanted - a Doodle Doll, which is different than the Doodle Monster, which is different than the Doodle Bear (which she already has) which is different than the Doodle Mat (which she also already has)! It was marked down to $12.99 and I called Mrs. Claus while staring at the sign to make sure it was a smart purchase. It was. So I had 3 items. When I got to the register - the guitar was $29.99. I stopped the girl and told her about the sign. After 10 minutes of looking through the sales paper and talking to the girl at the service desk, I was told the one I picked out was different because it was labeled "Designer Series" and only the plain wood ones were $19.99. Fine. Maybe you want to add that to the sign since they are all toghter....but whatever. I went back and got the brown one because I knew it would end up covered in stickers anyway. The Doodle Doll then scanned at $14.99! I stopped her AGAIN. Another 10 minutes and a manager came over to tell the girl I was right and she changed the price in the regsiter for that item. I asked her how many other people already bought one that day for $14.99 and she blew me off. I think it's planned! Price Switching Is Us! Today I bought a pair of sunglasses to just keep in my wife's car. The pair I have in there have a bad mark on them and I see three of everything....which isn't cool driving at 80 mph! I got to the checkout and was charged $21 something when the price tag was clearly marked $15.50. She said all the other ones were $19.50 which signaled to me she didn't even scan it or look at it. When I see people walking around with 20 items in their carts, I wonder how on Earth they keep track and remember the prices as the person checks them out? I wouldn't be one bit surprised if every person in every store averages a few dollars of "mistake" pricing per visit! Bah Humbug!!!!!

Christmas Leary Style

From Dennis Leary's Comedy Central Christmas Special. If you like Rankin/Bass, you'll LOVE this intro.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a great one!

Christmas Turkey

Well, the Steelers were the Christmas turkey today. After winning 5 of 6 and looking pretty darn good for the past 3 weeks, the Steelers from the first 8 weeks showed up today and got pummeled by the Ravens, ending their playoff hopes for good. In a way, I'm glad they lost to get knocked out of the playoffs. It's easier to accept than being 9-7 and losing out on a tie-breaker or something. That being said, Denver won and Jacksonville lost, meaning the stage was partially set for us to return to the playoffs. Everything that needed to happen - happened. I said all along the hardest part of our path to the playoffs was us winning out. Fumbles and picks, fumbles and picks, fumbles and picks. The game essentially ended on Willie Parker's fumble in the red zone. I need a few days to let this marinate before I reflect on the entire season.

Silent Night, Holy Night

All is calm....BAM!....Bin Laden's Buddy Dead <----- Read It. Guess we won't have to worry about Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani anymore.

Merry Christmas Bin Laden

A Christmas Story from Still A Dad:

Little Rebecca comes home from first grade and tells her father that they learned about the history of Christmas. "Since Christmas is for Christians and we're Jewish," she asks, "will God get mad at me for giving someone a Christmas card?

Rebecca's father thinks! a bit, then says, "No, I don't think God would get mad. Who do you want to give a Christmas card to?"

"Osama Bin Laden," she says.

"Why Osama Bin Laden," her father asks in shock?

"Well", she says, "I thought that if a little American Jewish girl could have enough love to give Osama a card, he might start to think that maybe we're not all bad, and maybe start loving people a little bit. And if other kids saw what I did and sent cards to Osama, he'd love everyone a lot. And then he'd start going all over the place to tell everyone how much he loved them and how he didn't hate anyone anymore."

Her father's heart swells and he looks at his daughter with newfound pride.
Rebecca, that's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard."

"I know," Rebecca says, "and once that gets him out in the open, the Marines could blow the shit out of him and send him back to hell where he belongs!"

Girl Gone Wild - Katie Rees Miss Nevada (NeBADa)

Wow. Ok, while talking about Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, I jokingly said I wish "Girls Gone Wild" had been there. Well, for Miss Nevada Katie Rees - It looks like they were! I can't even post one of the pictures here they are so graphic. There are about 20 photos, and every one is questionable! Now - I would LOVE to post one here......but I also like sleeping in my bed at night, so I'll just link to the article and the photos. Enter if you wish. NAFWBALS (Not Appropriate For Work By A LONG Shot).

Miss Teen USA and Miss USA - Hiccup?

So Miss USA, Tara Conner (left) and Miss Teen USA, Katie Blair (right) were out partying in new York Clubs. What's the big deal? Conner just turned 21 but was photographed there before her birthday and Blair is 18 - old enough to serve in the Army, but not have a Cosmopolitan. It must be a really slow week for news. In my opinion, the only bad thing about this story is that "Girls Gone Wild" cameras weren't around and rolling.....I mean LOOK at them! All this "controversy" did was create bigger names for both of them. Remember, the most successful Miss America of all time was probably Vanessa Williams who had nude photos taken with another woman before she won. How many other past winners can you remember? If these two little hotties go on to model, sing, act or appear on reality TV shows - they might be the next contest winner we remember. Donald Trump's press conference with Conner was nothing but a publicity stunt. Now MADD has come out and said they are cutting ties with Blair. I guess having an 18-year-old that has a few drinks isn't the best candidate to preach about drunk driving, but they are fooling themselves if they think 18-year-olds aren't drinking all across the country. In my humble opinion, they could have made it into a more realistic life lesson for teenagers had they attempted to find out how she was escorted around town that night. If she used cabs or a limo service, they could have spun it into at least she didn't drink and get behind the wheel. From what I've read about this non-story, neither was close to being loud, obnoxious or intoxicated. They were having a few drinks. Big deal. Now, had Blair been sloppy drunk, hopped up on a bar, whipped her top off and screamed "Look at THESE!".....then, we'd have a problem. But for two young people between 18-21 to simply have a few drinks and it turns into a media event is hilarious in my mind. Same thing when it happened to the Bush girls....having a few cocktails when you are at or near college age is a right of passage. It always has been and it always will be. Nobody should be throwing a rock at that glass house because I'd be willing to bet something like 98% of all Americans have had a taste of alcohol before their 21st birthday. Should I find a beer bottle cap in my daughter's pocket when she is 18 (much like Still A. Dad's revelation that I was having a few Silver Bullets before my 21st) I'll give her the same speech he gave me. "If you come home in my car and I smell alcohol on your breath - you're done driving." Simple. Concise. Practical. He didn't flip out. He didn't tell me not to have a few beers with my friends. He simply gave me "the look" that meant I knew he was serious. I don't know if I'm a fan of lowering the drinking age to 18, but it sure seems silly that you can go fight a war in Iraq and not be able to have 2-3 beers while watching a football game. As long as Tara Conner doesn't turn into Tara Reid - she can be my Miss USA.

Peter King Going Where No Pundit Has Gone Before

Like I've stated many times before, the guy has lost all credibility with me this year. However, it's still fun to read his columns to see what he's going to come up with next. This week, in his Offensive Player Of The Week award - he's giving it to Mark Brunell - who didn't play a single down. That's right ladies and gentlemen, not one single down. What did he do that was so great? One of Washington's coaches told Peter that he played Drew Brees on the scout team really well. I'll let you go back and read that sentence one more time to let it sink in. I think Peter gets so caught up talking about his Iraq buddy, his daughter, Rutgers, Tom Brady, Bill Belichek, coffee, baristas, airplanes, hotel gyms - did I mention Tom Brady - Drew Brees, did you hear there was a hurricane in New Orleans last year, House......he forgets why he has the audience he has. Football. He's becoming one of the idiots that talks in soundbites and opinions and never really backs anything up. Ok, Peter, go back and look at all the offensive performances again and then explain to me how Mark Brunell can be offensive player of the week. I just named your article the dumbest "football" article of the week.

Slanted Listmania 3 - Christmas Specials

So, you know I'm a big kid at heart. I like the Christmas Specials on TV more than my daughter does. Even if we own the special on VHS or DVD, I still try to make it a special occasion by anticipating it and sitting down and watching it with her when it's on TV - and reminding her that I used to watch the same shows when I was her age. These aren't movies, I'll save that for later. Here are my favorites and a few reasons why:

5. Santa Claus is Coming To Town - I like the dude that rules the town, Burgermeister Meisterburger. He cracks me up. Also, Jessica is a BABE! And I was NOT afraid of the wizard when I was young.

4. A Charlie Brown Christmas - How could you not love the special that brought us the music of the Vince Guaraldi Trio? It's one of my favorite Christmas albums (and I realize I'm dating myself by calling it an album) of all-time. My favorite parts? When Snoopy gets embarrassed dancing on Schroeder's piano, when Snoopy cries after Lucy flips on him over the smooch and the dance scene at the practice.

3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Some great characters! Another Rankin & Bass slam dunk. I love Yukon COrnelius and not just because he reminds me of Bill Cowher! I love the scene where the elf boss makes everyone sing. In fact, I think the elf boss is my favorite character in the entire show and they don't even name him! And how genius is the island of misfit toys? I must say "I'm a Charlie-in-the-box" 20 times a year. And WHAT IS wrong with the little girl on the island?

2. Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas - "He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore"....sounds like me trying to balance my checkbook! I'll tell you one thing - Seuss's family made a HUGE mistake when they let Ron Howard make this film. It SUCKED. Only one person could have made it right - and that person is Tim Burton. But then, Johnny Depp would have been the Grinch and he's far too slight.....well, nevermind.....

1. The Year Without A Santa Claus - Not even close. The Miser brothers bring this one home. I just realized Big Bad Voodoo Daddy covered their song and dubbed it Mr. Heat Miser. I heard it while walking around a bookstore on Saturday. Someone posted the dance on YouTube cut to the new song. Cool. The mayor is good here as well.

Steelers Playoff Scenarios

Wow. Still A. Oregon hooked me up today. Thanks, man. I was going to compute all of this out after talking with the Dog via email yesterday as he didn't pay much attention to the other 7-7 teams. The work was done for me and I'm glad to share. It's not impossible. I put our chances right at 10%. If we can just get Jax to implode! Here is what will get us back to the playoffs, and trust me - the way they're playing - not many teams will be happy to see them. especially the #3 seed who will get them first. I still think the hardest part of this is us winning out. If we don't make it, I hope it's because we're 8-8. I don't want to sit home because of a tie-breaker.

• Steelers (7-7) need to win out to finish 9-7.
• Cin (8-6) lose to Den and Pit to finish 8-8. steelers would lose tie breaker to cin at 9-7 based on conference record.
• Den therefore get 1st wild card based on finishing 9-7 or 10-6 and beating steelers on conference record tie breaker.
• Jax (8-6) lose to NE and KC to finish 8-8. steelers would lose tie breaker to jax due to head-to-head record.
• NYJ (8-6) lose to Mia and / or Oak to finish 9-7 or 8-8. steelers would win tie breaker based on record against common opponents (jax, cle, mia, and oak).
• TEN (7-7) remaining games against Buf and NE. steelers would win tie breaker based on record against common opponents (sd, mia, jax, and bal) so doesn't matter what happens.
• BUF (7-7) lose to Ten and / or Bal to finish 8-8 or 7-9. steelers would lose tie breaker to buf based on conference record.
• KC (7-7) remaining games against Oak and Jax. steelers would win tie breaker but we need KC to beat Jax last weekend.
• Week 16:
• Here's what is absolutely necessary this week to remain alive... wins by Pit (Bal), Den (Cin), NE (Jax).
• Here is what we would like from the rest for this week... wins by Mia (NYJ), Ten (Buf).
• Week 17:
• If still alive we'll need wins by Pit (Cin), KC (Jax) and losses by NYJ and Buf if they win in week 16.

Makes Me Want To Quit Playing

Check this little dude out!

Steelers Playing Sick

Well, it's really too bad there aren't 20 games in the regular season, because if there were, I think we'd be going to the playoffs. The Steelers have now won 5 out of their last 6 and the last 3 by a combined score of 84-13. It really makes you angry now to go back and think about some of the ways they lost earlier games. Some random thoughts from the game: Brett Keisel in his 5th year is showing that maybe he should have been starting 2 years ago instead of just now. Kimo always played the position well, but never had the sack numbers Brett is putting up. I was almost mad at Cowher for putting Holmes back out on the field after his fumble - now I'm glad he did. What a return. The other thing that surprised me about that return was the reception Santonio got when he came to the sidelines after the return. He must be well liked on the team because EVERYONE came over to him and the score was already a blowout. That told me something and it made me glad to see how the team responded to him after all the trouble he had at the beginning of the season. I've never thought of DeShaun Foster as a power back and to see him run over Anthony Smith and bounce off DeShea Townsend like a pinball was weird....especially after seeing Smith lay the wood to numerous players this year. How about that Kuhn? I was lobbying hard for him in the beginning of the year to make the team. He looks like a player. Davenport is very inconsistent as the big man in our rushing attack. On one play he looks like he can't be brought down and on another, he goes down easily in the backfield. I haven't quite figured him out yet. Not sure if the DumpTruck is the answer to the Bus yet. Will update playoff scenarios after tomorrow night's game between the Bungles and Indy.

The Tipping Point

I just finished another outstanding book. I needed to finish it before Christmas because I'm getting another book by the same author that morning (at least I asked for it). This is a book I enjoyed almost as much as Freakonomics. Malcolm Gladwell has a curious mind and raises some very interesting points. I don't want to go into too much detail, but here is a sampling of some of the parts I enjoyed. The crime wave in NYC was cleaned up using the broken window methodology. Meaning, fix the small stuff first because people seeing broken windows signals something deep inside them that allows them to think that area isn't cared for - and if there are broken windows and grafitti everywhere - crime takes place there. He goes into talking about how social epidemics spread - like how did Hush Puppies come back into fashion after almost being forced out of business. He talks about what he calls the Stickiness factor and how people remember things. He uses examples I'm very familiar with - Sesame Street and Blue's Clues scripts. The information I took from this is way cool. They actually watch toddlers watching the show and they know which bits work and which ones do not. A simple tweak can make all the difference and to hear what some of them were throughout history is amazing because I remember a lot of examples they gave. He also talks about social connections and tells the story of the other rider besides Paul Revere who went out that night in a different direction to warn that the British were coming and why he never became known for the same act. It's a very practical book and what I took from it was - the next time I'm faced with a problem at home or at work - whether it's engineering a new project with the house or dealing with a software problem at the office - sometimes you can't overthink things. Sometimes, one very small decision or just talking to the right person is enough to arrive at a "tipping point". I recommend reading it. At the very least, it's good conversation filler.

First Good Joke In A Long Time

I get a lot of jokes passed my way online. Most of them are either old or not funny. This one from Still A. Dad made me laugh out loud when I read both punchlines.

A man and a woman, who have never met before, but are both married to other people, found themselves assigned to the same sleeping room on a transcontinental train. Though initially embarrassed and uneasy over sharing a room, they were both very tired and fell asleep quickly... he in the upper bunk and she in the lower. At 1:00 AM, the man leaned over and gently woke the woman saying, "Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be willing to reach into the closet to get me a second blanket? I'm awfully cold." "I have a better idea," she replied. "Just for tonight, let's pretend that we're married." Wow! That's a great idea!" he exclaimed. "Good," she replied. "Get your own f*@%ing blanket!" After a moment of silence ... he farted.