Moon Over My Hammy

Will The Real Vince Young Please Stand Up?

I have to give it to the kid - he sure makes following the Titans iinteresting.  Of course, interesting is not always good.  Lots of things are interesting.  It's interesting when you blow a tire going 75 mph down the interstate in rush hour traffic.  That doesn't make it desirable.  When two passenger trains collide because some dumb ass forgot to switch the tracks that is interesting.  The Vince Young era has been a complete roller coaster ride.  Actually, more than that.  On a roller coaster ride, you can be scared as hell, but you always are able to tell yourself "this ride is safe.  They wouldn't have opened the thing and let people on it if it wasn't safe."  With the Titans, at least this year, it hasn't felt safe.  It feels like everyone has been asleep at the switch.  And with Vince Young you never feel safe.

But Vince Young has done something I honestly never thought he would do again in this league.  Play smart, efficient football and win games.

So who is Vince Young?  Is he a guy with an erratic personality and erratic style, who is always going to be up and down, and hurt his team as much as he helps his team?  Think Aaron Brooks, Part II.

Is he a kid whose psyche is so fragile and shattered at this point that it is only a matter of time before he implodes again?

Is he a guy who had a temporary emotional breakdown, but has now gotten over it, but whose upside will always be limited by his lack of preparation and dedication to his craft?

Or is he a guy who really has matured, who has put his issues behind him, who has grown up and learned what it means to be a professional in the league, and who really is the natural born leader he seemed to be his rookie year?

I don't think anyone knows at this point.

I think 8 more games will be enough to figure it out.  The NFL is a tough, unforgiving league.  If Vince still has huge flaws that will prevent him from ever being a long term starting QB in the league, 10 total games should be enough to expose that.

It's a huge issue.  I was ready to flush the toilet on Vince's career, but man, if the guy can be salvaged, and, more importantly, if the Titans can rely on him, it sure solves alot of problems. 

Two games in to Vince Young v 3.0, and so far, so good.

8 more games to find out who this kid really is.

Will the real Vince Young please stand up?

My I-Tunes Is Kicking Ass Today

You never realize how many truly crappy songs are out there until you take almost 16,000 song/75 GB of music (look at me!) and put it on shuffle.  And sometimes my i-tunes just gets in a rut.

But man it has been totally kicking ass today.  Just awesome tune after tune.  Of course it probably has alot to do with me recently adding about 10 GB of good tunes, and deleting a corresponding 10 GB of crap.

By the way, maybe I just haven't been paying attention to music the last few years but 2009 has to be just a banner year for new music.  I have now purchased/acquired tons of 2009 music, and I can say that at least 15 albums worth of music I have gotten are very very good.

Tom McCarver Makes The World Series Unwatchable

I had planned not to watch any of the World Series this year.  I hate the Phillies only slightly less than I hate the Yankees.  Ok, alot less, because my hate for the Yankees burns pretty hot.

But when the Phillies took game one in New York, iot picqued my interest.  Now I had something to care about - the Yankees getting embarassed in their brand new billion dollar stadium.

So I tuned into Game 2 last night.  And was greeted by the Grade A asshole, Tim McCarver.

It's like Tim McCarver doesn't want to appeal to the fans.  He insists on being a smug, asshole whenever he commentates.  And he is pretty much an idiot.  Yes, he understands the game, but at least once per inning he makes one of those "what the HELL is he talking about" comments.  The rest of the time he is telling us totally obvious shit, like "if you pitch to Ryan Howard you don't want to leave the ball right out over the middle of the plate, because Howard has alot of power."  Thanks for that, McCarver.

It's like if you took John Madden, took away all his charm, made him a complete asshole, locked him in a room for a year where the only people he talked to did nothing but tell him how awesome he was all day long, then gave him a terrible speaking voice, and stuck him on TV.  If you did that, that guy would still be better than Tim McCarver.

And what's the deal with sticking him with Joe Buck?  Joe Buck can be tolerable if he is paired with an "every man's" kind of commentator.  I mean, talking about smug assholes, Joe Buck is one of the biggest self-satisfied jerks on the planet.  Again, stick him in the booth with a common man, Joe six-pack type of former player, and Joe Buck isn't so bad.  And I guess that's what they think they have in Tim McCarver.  They are wrong.

Seriously, does anyone know anyone who likes Tim McCarver?  Exactly which segment of the population is he appealing to?  Grumpy old men, maybe?  Is there anyone in the all-important 18-35 y/o demographic that would put up with Tim McCarver?

Anyway, I gave it a shot, and tried to get into the World Series, but I couldn't.  Maybe if the Phillies get up by a  couple more games I will give it another go, but baseball lost a viewer for this series.  Nice work, Fox!

Thanksgiving Question: I'm Going To Need A Ruling On This

I am likely going to be the only one at our Thanksgiving get together (me, Ash, Hadley and in-laws) that will be drinking.

My question is, are you "drinking alone" if you are together with loved ones enjoying a good time, even though you are the only one drinking?

Alabama Is The Best Team In The Country

While I don't like the Gators, I am a big Urban Meyer fan.  I admit it.  Actually, to be honest, I want to see the Gators do well for one reason: pure spite.

This all started years ago, when Meyer was still at Utah.  I told all the idiot Utah bandwagon fans that you were lucky to have Urban Meyer, that any years you got out of him were an absolute gift, and that you should just accept it, be glad you got a coach like that to elevate the program, and wish him well WHEN (not if) he left.  Several of these morons disagreed with me.

Then, when the big schools came calling, I had several people telling me "Urban Meyer is going to Notre Dame, no doubt."  And I told them, listen Urban Meyer is a big time coach destined for great things.  He wants to make his mark.  Why in the hell would he go to Notre Dame over a place like Florida.  He is 10 times closer to a national championship if he goes to Florida.  Of course all the non-SEC types told me I was crazy.

Then when he went to Florida all the old-school SEC guys told me "Urban Meyer's Micky Mouse system will never work in the SEC."  I argued with them, and tole them "Just wait."

Then I saw the recruits Meyer started pulling in.  I didn't know he could coach AND recruit like that.  And I started telling SEC guys they better get ready, because Florida is about to go on a run much like USC did.  I'm talking multiple national championships.

Again, I was told I was crazy.

So, out of pure spite, I want Florida to win one more National Championship.  One more fat explanation on the "I told you so" to all those guys I have argued with over the years.  I mean, I feel like I have proven my point already with two National Championships, but three would really seal the deal.  And EuTee and Georgia fans all hate Florida, so Florida being good gives me extra benefit there.

Now, all that being said, Alabama is the best team in the country this year.

The scary thing about Alabama is they still haven't quite put it all together.  This McElroy kid can throw the ball, and if they ever get the passing game going with that dominant rushing game, combined with their stellar defense and special teams, Alabama looks unstoppable.

And, I really want to believe that Mississippi State hands Florida their ass, once again, in Starkville this weekend.  I really want to believe that.  But I just don't see Urban Meyer, the master, losing to the student, Dan Mullen.  I think State is fully capable of pulling off the upset, but no way I see Urban Meyer letting that happen.  Florida got a wake up call last week when the refs gave them the game over Arkansas.  Meyer will have those kids ready to play this week.  The game won't be a blow out, but I think a decisive, two TD win by Florida is more likelly than a wiin by Mississippi State.

I Know I'm A Little Late To The Party Here, But I Am Old And I Have A Life

Now shut up and get on my horse:

Balloon Boy Lolz

Fire Jeff fisher. NOW

I can take the 0-6 record.

I can take the 59-0 embarassment.

I can take the terrible hiring of Cecil as DC.

But THIS is unforgivable.  Apparently, Fisher thinks it's funny at some conference to take off his jacket, revealing a Peyton Manning jersey, and saying "now I know what it feels like to be a winner" or something.  Just seeing him in this god awful jersey made throw up in my mouth.

Vandy And The Titans Hit New Lows

It's shaping up to not only be bad seasons for my two favorite teams, but historically bad.  Laughably bad.  Embarassingly bad.  "Time to break out the paper bags" bad.

Vandy reached its new low last week when it lost to Army, the shittiest of the service academies.  I like the army and all, but this was a terrible loss.  Vandy's offense may be the worst offense to be fielded in SEC history.  Perhaps the history of Division I.  Our QB has lost all confidence.  He was a young guy to begin with, and combine that with a beat-up, porous offensive line, and terrible WRs, and the results are predictable.  And when I say bad WRs, I am talking about two white kids and a guy from Africa.  Not exactly murderer's row there.

Then the Titans set their new low this week with the absolute roll over against the Patriots.  There is no where to go but up for the Titans.  I am not a knee-jerk kind of guy when it comes to coaches, but I really feel like it is time to move on from the Jeff Fisher regime.  Just re-boot the whole thing, clean house, and start over with a new everything.  There comes a time when it is time to make a change if nothing more than for the sake of change.  That time is now in Nashville.  The players are tired of Fisher, the fans are tired of Fisher, and Fisher looks like he is burned out.

The good news is I can just sit back and wattch football now, without all the angst of last season when Vandy and the Titans were both shooting for something special.  Of course, that's what makes sports interesting, but oh well.  At least I can still pull for the Saints.

WHO DAT?

Louisiana Justice Of The Peace Refuses To Marry Interracial Couples

Sometimes you just have to laugh at stories like this.

I remember when I lived in New Orleans it seemed like once every few months a story like this would come out about some backwards ass shit in Louisiana and you'd be like "man, where the hell do I live?"  It's funny because New Orleans is so urban and liberal compared to the rest of the south.  It really isn't like the south in alot of ways.  It almost makes you forget that the rest of Louisiana is the DEEP, DEEP south.

The funny thing is this happened in Hammond, Louisiana, which is definitely not a major metropolis, but it is practically a suburb of New Orleans.  It's not like this is way out in the boonies or something.

Unreal.

Giant Attack Squirrels Loose On Mercer's Campus - Pictures Included!

This is an e-mail my wife received from one of the other Mercer Medical School professors in her department:

Dear all,

Oh, how I wish this was a prank!  But it isn't.  When the medical school parking lot was being painted, I found a nice, shady spot to park my car - one of the four angled-parking spaces at the side of the med school, just before you turn right up into the large lot where HR is.  I was very pleased, as my car didn't heat up to 1,000 degrees, as has happened during high summer in Macon.  So, even after the med school lot was re-opened, I continued to park in the shade.  Now I understand why those spots were available.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the hood to my 2005 Hyundai Elantra for its 20K maintenance, and found this damage to my firewall (see attached pictures)!  I had honestly never seen anything like that.  The dealership told me that this was common here, due to squirrels trying to find bedding to build nests for the winter.  Who knew?  The car was fine when I had the oil changed, and have parked it inside a garage at night since then, so I am pointing the "J'accuse" finger at the plentiful Mercer squirrels.  Anyway, let my odyssey be a lesson to you, and please check your cars for damage.
 
I still can't believe this actually happens.  
 
Pictures of the damage can be seen here.  Click on the thumbnails for larger pics.

Sandwich - UPDATE

It has been called to my attention that apparently there is something wrong with shopping at the Fresh Market.

Now, it could be that, on one of my ill-advised rants years ago, I railed against the Fresh MArket.  I rail against alot of things, so it's kind of hard to keep up sometimes.

If I did, though, I just want to say I was wrong ecause the Fresh Market is actually pretty damn awesome.

My worry initially in shopping there was that it would be too expensive.  Turns out I think you save money going there.

Kroger puts alot of crap on sale, but then jacks up the other prices.  But the way Kroger really makes its money on all the non-food items in the store.  The combination of Fresh Market for food, and then Walmart or Dollar General or something for toothpaste, toilet paper and crap like that is defiitely a money saver, and it's not even close.

Really, the only thing that is more expensive at Fresh Market is their meat, but the meat is so far superior to the shit they have at Kroger it's not even funny.

Probably the best thing about Fresh Market is the store is like a third of the size of Kroger, if that.  You are in and out in probably half the time.

They always have awsome free coffee, and I am a huge fan of free coffee.  The other day we went and they had free fresh squeezed orange juice and some cookies.  If I wanted to I could skip breakfast every morning and go hang out a the Fresh Market and get a pretty nutrituous meal for nothing.  Probably someone would catch on eventually but now that I think about it that's not a half bad idea.  It is on my way to Hadley's school, on the right side of the road, so it wouldn't take me anytime at all to stop in there with Hadley and get ourselves some orange juice and a cookie or something.

Finally, the odds of eating healthy go way up shopping there.  Mostly because they don't sell alot of junk food.  With a 5 year old that likes to eat that's a big plus.  You can't buy what they don't have on the shelf.

If I was ever against Fresh Market, I am officially a convert.

Sandwich

This weekend I made the most super awesomest sandwich in the world, and I thought I would share it with you.

Meat:  hot calabrese, pepper salame, hot capocollo, two slices each

Cheese: gourmet raw milk white cheddar

Bread: fresh baked loaf of multigrain

Dressing:  lettuce, fresh tomato, a touch of mayo, and a touch of balsamic vinegar.

All items purchased at the Fresh Market here in Macon.

This was the best sandwich in the history of everything.  I should have taken a picture.

Chicago Is A Joke - UPDATE!

Apparently, I am not the only one who believes Chicago is a sewer and an utter embarassment.  This guy goes into a bit more detail about all the reasons Chicago sucks.  You know, apart from the rampant corruption that has defined it as a city.

Another thing I forgot to mention about Chicago when discussing the corruption is the shady back-room shenanigans that goes along with recruiting an inner-city Chicago kid to come play basketball at a college.  Wasn't there a documentary made years ago exposing this?

I know that seems like piling on, but it just popped into my head so I thought I would post it here.

The Olympics In Chicago? What Were We Thinking?

Man, I totally support Obama and think he is doing a fine job, overall, running the country but man what in the hell were we thinking in pushing Chicago as a legitimate contender for the Olympics.  I mean, Chicago?

What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think Chicago?  The first word?  Unless it is all the fat asses slurping up all that Chicago food, likely your first thought was corruption.  Corruption of all shapes and forms.  I mean this is the city that is utterly INFAMOUS for multiple, high-level corruption.  Dead people voting for JFK.  The Chicago machine.  The freaking Chicago Black Socks THREW a world series years ago because they were bought off.  Not to mention the mafia ties and history that goes way back.

What else comes to mind?  The great Chicago fire?  The curse that is on the Chicago Cubs?  Polish sausage?

I mean Chicago, seriously?  The place is a sewer.  I laughed when New Orleans thought about making an Olympic bid years ago, but first of all no one actually took it seriously, and at least New Orleans is an international destination and knows how to throw a party. 

And of course what is going on right when we are submitting the Olympic bid?  High school kids being killed in the streets of Chicago.

It is hard to imagine a level on which Chicago isn't a complete and utter failure as a city.  The Bears won a Super Bowl, I guess. 

I like Obama, and I am a big fan of Jay Cutler, but other than that I find nothing redeeming about Chicago.  Perhaps I am a bit biased by my bad experiences there.  But seriously, Chicago is an utter embarassment.