Dropping My Daily Stool Sample

No Plugs
I am busy putting the finishing touches on a couple of things, but within the next week or two expect a few new webcomics, some new poetry perhaps, and some new fiction.

You are listening too . .
A request from my kids, Underground from Tom Waits.  More specifically the 4 year old daughter.  Huh?  Well, Malach took all the Xmas music out of the stereo, and put non Xmas music in there yesterday.  The girl decided to play along with the music with her new Barbie Guitar (Wow, $120 at Amazon?  Was only $40 at Toys-R-Us) and announced she was going to be a “girl rock star” when she grew up.  We first played rock band to this song, the the random mixer put up Underground.  She and the boy who had just joined us, started screaming like Beatlemania as this song appear in Robots.  They immediately put the DVD on and pretend rock band was over.

Last Night
So, Murk, myself, and the Angry Piper got together and played Arkham Horrorwhile watching the Pats.  What can I say about Arkham Horror?  If you like complicated boardgames like Avalon Hill’s stuff, Axis and Allies, or Heroscape, you will love Arkham Horror.  If you are a fan of the Cthulhu Mythos you love Arkham Horror.  If your are into pen and paper RPG’s, Arkham Horror is a fun side session when you don’t have you usual groups or need a small break.

Again, complicated game mechanics, but if you like that, this one is one of the best.  It is also not a easy game for the players (who are basically a team) to win, but the three of us did in this 4 hours game session.  Luckily the Elder Being we raised at the end was one of the weakest . . .

The Patriots
Ok, first the typical email from Dad after the game:

I am glad the hoopla of the undefeated regular season is over with. It was at least a motivating factor that kept the Patriots focused all season on the march to the Playoffs. The media played it for all it was worth. If the Pats won big they were pouring it on. If the game was close they were lucky to pull out a victory. They exposed themselves as a very beatable team and surely gave there next opponent a “blueprint” to knock them off. Somehow those “blueprints” never worked out.

The fact of the matter is that The Patriots will have to start out next season 6-0 to break their existing 21 game regular season record that they already hold. That would surely quiet the nay sayers on this whole regular season thing.

The real deal is about to begin and there is no other team out there better prepared to win there next game than these Patriots. Their unique ability to prepare for their next opponent is nothing less than amazing. Every other team in the league is flawed in some aspect of their game. Belichick’s ability to break down the next opponent and expose their soft underbelly is uncanny. The Giants are a good case on point. Stop their run game and make Eli beat you worked to (excuse the pun) perfection last night. When the game was on the line the Defense stepped up and got the crucial three and out when needed. On that sequence Eli fumbled the snap on 1st down, nearly got picked off by Thomas on 2nd down and on 3rd down, after calling a strategy time out, Eli threw a 2 yard flanker screen. That possession defines the Patriots 4th quarter defense. The inevitable interception was almost expected. Like dessert after diner. Just like that the Pats are up 2 scores with 4.30 left on the clock. At that point the game is over. The defense lets the Giants run out the clock for them and the out come is sealed with the onside kick recovery by Vrabel. Classic Belichick fourth quarter clock management.

So here we go with season #2 in two weeks. If all goes as planned, season #3 will start in three weeks. I am sure you know the rest.

Go Celtics, 

Dad

Yes, it is interesting.  All these team get hyped up to knock off the Pats, guys like Eli Manning have the best games of their career, but the Pats do what they have done for tha past 7 years.  Play your game better than you do, get a lead, and then eat the clock.  Also, everyone who plays them seems to lose whatever modicum of clock management skills they have.  Case in point, the Giants down by 10 with six minutes left, the proceed to drive down the field running the ball, which of course the Pats are basically giving them, when they do finally score, there is barely 2 minutes left, and they need a onside kick for any chance to win.  Another great case in point is the 2004 Superbowl, the Eagles had no clock management what so ever in the final 6 minutes.  I got to give the Giants a lot of credit for playing the whole game since the last 6 opponents of the Pats have not only lost the next week, but been blown out.

I can honestly say I have never seen a Bellichick coached team ever run out of time, they always seem to have the ball in the last two minutes when they need it.  I expected another Super Bowl from them, Indy has the best shot of knocking them off, but a few things.  Indy must do it in New England, and I think Indy has to play their absolute best in that game.  Especially if you compare last year AFC Championship to this years.

Speaking of the Celtics
They played a similar game to the Pats last night vs. a very good Utah (Am I the only one who has a problem with the Utah “Jazz”, what the Hell does Utah have to do with Jazz?)team.  They were down pretty much the entire game only to pull it out in the last 10 minutes.  Quality win on a 4 game in 5 days roadtrip, where do far they are 3 - 0.  Got the old school rival Lakers tonight, but even if they lose this was a very successful road trip.

Juicedpart Duex
Gotta love Jose, the best selling author.

Chuck Liddell
Well, I guess Chuck was not ready to retire, it will be interesting to see what the UFC does with him after his brutal match with Vanderlai.

See, a modern day JFK Assassination
See, I told you there are too many cameras in the world, and I am sure there will be more still to come out. 

So, how sad are we, the Piper, Murk, and I had a discussion about whether or not Bhutto was hot.  Murk and I voted yes, the Piper no, which surprised me and Murk.

Hey Jamie Lynn Spears
I hope you learn something from your sister.

Malach’s Video of the Day


I am Malach and I bring you the dirt