Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Obama and the BCS
President-Elect Obama is not a fan of the current structure of the BCS and wants a playoff system- thus gratifying most of America- and he's a serious hoops fan, which is pretty cool as well...
I think the problem people have the playoff system is the Bowl system. I know that seems kind of counter-productive, but people like the Bowls. People want their teams to get to a Bowl. And a playoff system would undermine that a bit- but there's a solution:
1. Detach all the bowls from any future playoff system- but make the national title game a bowl- have it rotate around like it does now.
2. Make it an Elite 8- that way you don't get bogged down with like 20 teams. You could still take into account things like strength of schedule and conference and not totally disenfranchise sports pundits everywhere. (So that way sports writers won't be asking Congress for a bailout.)
3. Leave the rest of the Bowls alone. This allows teams to still have the rewards of a seriously good season. Say you're a team like Minnesota or Northwestern- and maybe you're not going to make it into the Big Dance because your non-conference schedule is easy cheese, but you still have a kick-ass season. I think you should get to go to a bowl. Easy as pie.
It's kind of weird, but it keeps the traditions of the Bowl system, the elitism of the current BCS system (with Step #2) and keeps everyone happy. That's my take on it, anyway.
I think the problem people have the playoff system is the Bowl system. I know that seems kind of counter-productive, but people like the Bowls. People want their teams to get to a Bowl. And a playoff system would undermine that a bit- but there's a solution:
1. Detach all the bowls from any future playoff system- but make the national title game a bowl- have it rotate around like it does now.
2. Make it an Elite 8- that way you don't get bogged down with like 20 teams. You could still take into account things like strength of schedule and conference and not totally disenfranchise sports pundits everywhere. (So that way sports writers won't be asking Congress for a bailout.)
3. Leave the rest of the Bowls alone. This allows teams to still have the rewards of a seriously good season. Say you're a team like Minnesota or Northwestern- and maybe you're not going to make it into the Big Dance because your non-conference schedule is easy cheese, but you still have a kick-ass season. I think you should get to go to a bowl. Easy as pie.
It's kind of weird, but it keeps the traditions of the Bowl system, the elitism of the current BCS system (with Step #2) and keeps everyone happy. That's my take on it, anyway.
Eagles and Cardinals?
Wow. Hope no one put too much money on the NFC. Crazily enough, Arizona has advanced to the NFC Title Game and Philly beat the Giants to join them. This, I would not have predicted at all.
50 Years Later
The Day the Music Died, 50 years later- and the DM Register has special coverage. Iowa and rock n'roll apparently don't mix all that well. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper all died here (a fact that makes driving past Clear Lake somewhat interesting.) Manfred Mann had a song called 'Stranded in Iowa' and I think Slipknot hails from Iowa, but I could be totally wrong.
But in short, we're hardly a rock n'roll mecca here in the Tall Corn State- but I like to think that we do OK.
But in short, we're hardly a rock n'roll mecca here in the Tall Corn State- but I like to think that we do OK.
First Puppy Pick is Closer
The Obamas have it narrowed down to a Labradoodle or a Portuguese Water Hound...
Just so people can have an idea- I'm going to assume people have a vague idea of what a Labradoodle looks like- but if you don't, check here. And as for a Portuguese Water Hound, I've never heard of it. So check this out, here.
Just so people can have an idea- I'm going to assume people have a vague idea of what a Labradoodle looks like- but if you don't, check here. And as for a Portuguese Water Hound, I've never heard of it. So check this out, here.
Street Fighter IV...
Some preview video of Street Fighter IV. I have good memories of this game from back in the day- one of the few I was actually half-way decent at, not having grown up with a gaming system like most of my friends. I was especially annoying because as Chun-Li I was fairly successful in doing her weird, super kick thing. As E. Honda, I'd just do the slap and as Blanka I could do a bunch of things.
But this is recognizable and looks damn good- nice to see a new video game of an old classic looking like it's worth playing. I've heard the new Prince of Persia is crap. (And apparently you can't die. What's up with that?)
But this is recognizable and looks damn good- nice to see a new video game of an old classic looking like it's worth playing. I've heard the new Prince of Persia is crap. (And apparently you can't die. What's up with that?)
Column #2: Back In Town
If you ever want to view things in a totally different, life-altering kind of way, I recommend moving to Minnesota for two years. One of two things will happen if you do this: either you’ll discover the joys of hot dish, bars and hockey and you’ll never leave, or the climate will drive you back south, and during the slow process of thawing your brain and acclimating to warmer weather, you’ll discover that everything looks completely different.
At least- that’s what happened to me. Roughly two and a half years ago, I moved away from Iowa City firm in my belief that I couldn’t get away from the place fast enough. Now, two and a half years later, I find myself driving down familiar streets, past familiar sights- things that should be so familiar it should inspire nausea- yet, everything looks and feels new- and I like that. It makes coming back to your hometown feel like moving to a whole new city.
My life feels like a Thin Lizzy song. The lines and contours of every building seem sharper- the weather is certainly warmer- not tropical by any stretch of the imagination, but there’s a palpable difference between the mild hills of Eastern Iowa and the flat openness of Southern Minnesota.
In the week and a half since I’ve moved back, I’ve seen more Subarus on the streets that I have in the past three years. They’re everywhere in Iowa City- either because of the aging children of Aquarius that settled here in Iowa City and never left or because the rumors are really true- lesbians do drive more Subarus- but even I refuse to believe that there are that many lesbians in Iowa City. (Interestingly enough, the whole ‘lesbians and Subarus’ thing isn’t just a tiresome old stereotype- Subaru has been remarkably laudable in its outreach and targeting of LGBT consumers.)
I’ve seen the inside of a Moffat home, and liked what I saw: Moffat was a prominent Iowa City builder back in the late 40s, who littered the east side of town with little cottages and bungalows. They’re small, distinctive and each seems to have their own unique personality.
I took my parents to the Foxhead (one of Iowa City’s best bars- certainly a place where one can enjoy a great beer free of loud, thumping bass lines, sweat and college students dancing.) They were impressed, the beer was good and despite the smoking ban, decades of cigarette smoke still lingered in the air. And I hope that it never fully goes away.
The Coralville Strip seems twice as long as it used to be. Especially when you’re running late to work at your hourly starter job at the obscenely large Wal-Mart Supercenter that’s as far away from anything as it’s possible to be in this town. But there’s a Sonic now. And tater-tots have never tasted so good.
Jefferson Street still looks strange, two years after the tornado tore through Iowa City. Denuded of trees, every time I drive down it, it feels like something’s just a little off- something I can’t quite place my finger on.
Slowly but sure, the areas that were left devastated by the floods of this past summer are re-emerging. Open doors and open business- signs of life everywhere amidst the cold. With the New Year, a new job, a new place to live and new possibilities springing up everywhere, it’s safe to say that a new chapter has begun. What it’ll bring, has yet to be determined- but it’s exciting.
I’m back in town- and it’s never looked better.
At least- that’s what happened to me. Roughly two and a half years ago, I moved away from Iowa City firm in my belief that I couldn’t get away from the place fast enough. Now, two and a half years later, I find myself driving down familiar streets, past familiar sights- things that should be so familiar it should inspire nausea- yet, everything looks and feels new- and I like that. It makes coming back to your hometown feel like moving to a whole new city.
My life feels like a Thin Lizzy song. The lines and contours of every building seem sharper- the weather is certainly warmer- not tropical by any stretch of the imagination, but there’s a palpable difference between the mild hills of Eastern Iowa and the flat openness of Southern Minnesota.
In the week and a half since I’ve moved back, I’ve seen more Subarus on the streets that I have in the past three years. They’re everywhere in Iowa City- either because of the aging children of Aquarius that settled here in Iowa City and never left or because the rumors are really true- lesbians do drive more Subarus- but even I refuse to believe that there are that many lesbians in Iowa City. (Interestingly enough, the whole ‘lesbians and Subarus’ thing isn’t just a tiresome old stereotype- Subaru has been remarkably laudable in its outreach and targeting of LGBT consumers.)
I’ve seen the inside of a Moffat home, and liked what I saw: Moffat was a prominent Iowa City builder back in the late 40s, who littered the east side of town with little cottages and bungalows. They’re small, distinctive and each seems to have their own unique personality.
I took my parents to the Foxhead (one of Iowa City’s best bars- certainly a place where one can enjoy a great beer free of loud, thumping bass lines, sweat and college students dancing.) They were impressed, the beer was good and despite the smoking ban, decades of cigarette smoke still lingered in the air. And I hope that it never fully goes away.
The Coralville Strip seems twice as long as it used to be. Especially when you’re running late to work at your hourly starter job at the obscenely large Wal-Mart Supercenter that’s as far away from anything as it’s possible to be in this town. But there’s a Sonic now. And tater-tots have never tasted so good.
Jefferson Street still looks strange, two years after the tornado tore through Iowa City. Denuded of trees, every time I drive down it, it feels like something’s just a little off- something I can’t quite place my finger on.
Slowly but sure, the areas that were left devastated by the floods of this past summer are re-emerging. Open doors and open business- signs of life everywhere amidst the cold. With the New Year, a new job, a new place to live and new possibilities springing up everywhere, it’s safe to say that a new chapter has begun. What it’ll bring, has yet to be determined- but it’s exciting.
I’m back in town- and it’s never looked better.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Untold Heroes of the Flood
From the Press-Citizen, some unsung heroes of the past summer's flooding.
Glass Ceiling Broken in Ghana
Via Feministing, Joyce Bamford Addo was just named Speaker of the Parliament in Ghana- becoming the third most powerful person in Ghana- and joining Nancy Pelosi of the United states and Betty Boothroyd of the United Kingdom as becoming Speakers of a Legislature.
Another glass ceiling falls! Kick ass!
Another glass ceiling falls! Kick ass!
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