Random Thoughts That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread Go Here

[Ksyrup]

As much as I hate golf, it's pretty easy to stay away from most of the year. But then there are times like now when the Masters is going, and it's pretty hard to ignore. And I think the thing I hate the most about the sport isn't so much the game (although I've never played and never want to), but the coverage of the game. It's the way the media treats the game and the arrogance that shines through, like the game is somehow more majestic and special than anything on the planet, best signified by Jim Nantz's BS.

Case in point - ESPN.com has a blog for Masters-related posts. They are calling it "Letters from Augusta." Give me a fucking break. It's a blog.

[molson]

I've known of a lot of you guys (read your posts, interacted), in some cases for almost a decade. That is f'n weird.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I know I probably type this once every other week, but Joe Posnanski has to be the best writer on the planet right now.


Honesty



A lot has happened to Nick Charles since I wrote a back page column about him at Sports Illustrated. HBO had him broadcast one more fight. CNN spent a couple of days with him and wrote this beautiful and heartbreaking story about him. I understand that Dr. Sanjay Gupta had an intimate conversation that will be broadcast soon. Nick and his wife Cory are beginning a charity to fight child labor in the Philippines ... more on that soon.

Also, thousands and thousands of people have written to him to say they are thinking about him, they care about him, they are praying for him.



I was talking with another friend about Nick and why it is that his story so moves us. You might know that Nick has Stage 4 bladder cancer, and he will die in the next few months. If that sounds overly blunt, well, that's how Nick Charles wants it. He has no illusions. He wants no illusions. He tried hard for a long time to beat the cancer. But, he says, sometimes you have to know when the fight is over.

Of course, there's the touching part of the story. So many people remember Nick from his days as sports anchor during the early days of CNN. So many people know him from his boxing work the last few years. Television, probably more than any other medium, brings us close to people, makes us feel like we know them in deeper ways. There is no doubt that part of it is just the feeling that something terrible has happened to a friend.

There is something more, though. There is something about honesty that I think touches us in places few other things reach. Nick Charles is an honest man. He is honest about his death. And his honest about his life too. "I have made a lot of mistakes," he told me. "But I never wanted to hurt people. I know that. I know that I never wanted to hurt anyone."

We were talking about this sort of honesty, this friend and I, and I told him a story from my college days ... a story that, for no obvious reason, I have told three or four times in the last couple of weeks. It's funny what sticks with you from school. It's funny what lessons stand out of all the classes and all the lectures and all the friendships and relationships and everything else.

"Have you ever written that story?" the friend asked.

"No," I said.

"I can't believe you've never written that story," he said.

So, here is that story: I took a film class in college. The teacher, and sadly I don't even remember his name, was a Vietnam veteran, and he was in a wheelchair. I mention this because it becomes an important part of the story.

The class was amazing, one of my favorites ... while so much of college is now a blur, that class still seems impossibly clear to me. I remember the way we broke down Citizen Kane ... and Time Bandits ... the way we talked about the copout that was the ending of The Color Of Money ... I remember a lot of things from that class, and almost nothing at all from most of my others. I know this was because of the professor.

Most of all, I remember watching The Stunt Man. There's a scene in The Stunt Man, and I will forget the particulars, where the stunt man is running through a battlefield, and a thousand bullets are chasing him, but, of course, none ever hit him. Only the scene is so long, and there are so many bullets and missiles and bombs, that after a while it becomes clear that the absurdity is exactly what is being emphasized. It gets funny after a while. And so, there was laughter in the room.

The professor stopped the movie then, and told us a story. He said that as absurd as that might seem, he'd actually seen it in real life. He had never talked to us about Vietnam, not that I recall, but in that moment he told us this story of a Vietnamese soldier running through a field, and everyone fired at him, but nobody could hit him. The man just kept running and running, bullets whizzing by him, and it seemed utterly impossible, but there it was, the power of fortune in war, the extraordinary authority of chance over everyone's lives, a man somehow running through bullets.

And then we started watching the movie again and didn't think much more of it.

The next class, the professor began like this: A couple of days ago, I told you the story about the man running through the field. I have always promised myself, ever since I got back from Vietnam, that I would never lie about the war. That was the deal I made with myself. That was how I was going to keep myself sane. I would always tell the truth.

He paused here, and I remember that the room felt airless, suffocating.

What I told you the other day was true. There was a man. And there was a field. He ran through the field, and everyone fired at him, and nobody could hit him. He ran and ran, and nobody could hit him. I have never seen anything like it. Nobody could hit him.

He paused again. His voice was strong. It did not crack.

And he said this: And then, the part I left out: I shot him, and I killed him.

I don't think I've gone a month without thinking about that moment. There is not another moment from college or high school that I remember as vividly. I remember the shock. I remember the pain. I remember the confusion.

I'm still not sure I know the lesson. It changes on me all the time. Sometimes I think it's about the horror of war. Sometimes I think it's about the deals we have to make with ourselves. Sometimes I think it's about the daily terror and outrage and sadness people must endure while nobody notices.

Now, though, I think it's about something else. I have not seen that professor even one time in almost 25 years, but I thought about him again and again as I talked with Nick Charles about what to do when you know you are going to die. "I want to feel everything," he told me, and I thought I knew what he meant. I thought he meant that he wants to breathe in the mountain air, and really taste the calamari, and take in every reaction from his beautiful little daughter Giovanna. And I know he did mean all those things and more.

But I also think he means he wants to feel EVERYTHING. He does not want to lie to himself. He wonders if he has spent too much time lying to himself. He does not want to withdraw even for moment. He knows that people are watching, and they can be inspired. He knows that his wife and daughter are with him, and every moment is precious. He knows that he has so few good days left, and as he told me: "I don't have time for the BS. I just don't. I'm dying."

And if we are honest with ourselves, truly and devastatingly honest, maybe we should ask: Is it really so different for any of us?

That's a great story (the Vietnam part, although all around it's a great article).

[Ksyrup]

Anyone follow MarylandMudflap on Twitter? Damn that guy's funny:

"Just the word "Kardashian" makes me picture a vagina that looks like a beef burrito hitting a windshield at 70 MPH"

"Glen Beck seems like the kind of guy who holds his hand still and moves his body to masturbate."

[Pumpy Tudors]

sure wish this board has a place to post pictures of boobs because i can't find boobs anywhere on this board

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

sure wish this board has a place to post pictures of boobs because i can't find boobs anywhere on this board

Check out the what do you look like thread.

[JediKooter]

Is it Caturday yet?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

Check out the what do you look like thread.

It's just pictures of me... oh, I see what you did there.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

Is it Caturday yet?

No it's butt hurt Friday.

[JediKooter]

I HATE that day.

[DataKing]

It's better than "my penis itches" Tuesday...

[JediKooter]

Hopefully they won't combine the two days like they did for Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays.

[sterlingice]

JK, I have to admit I found that line funnier than I should have

SI

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

JK, I have to admit I found that line funnier than I should have

SI

Haha! I think it's one of those that kind of sneaks up on you.

[terpkristin]

Ok, I have to rant about something at work, so I'm going to do it here. All you need to know about my job is that each program has a Program Manager, a person in Job A, and a person in Job B. The person in Job B reports to the person in Job A, and both report to the PM. Job A and Job B are technical leadership roles. In my program, I'm in Job B.

So, there is a part in our design that I think can be removed. I talked about it with the person in Job A on my program and he agreed and asked me to put together a package for the uber-upper-technical management people to review. If they approve, we'll put it in front of the customer and see if we get buy-off. The package took me maybe 10 minutes to put together, and most of that was wordsmith'ing. Basically, if you know our design and read a report that was distributed, anybody in my job (Job B) should be able to put this package together quickly. Actually, if you're in on the design at all, it's easy to figure out why this design change is probably OK.

So on Tuesday, Mr. T, who is in Job B for another program, emails me and asks me if I can send him the package so his program can use it too (apparently he thinks it's a good idea but isn't smart enough to come up with it on his own). I tell him that I'll be happy to share, but right now it's under review, and I can't release it until the review is done.

On Wednesday, the PM for Mr. T's program stops by my office and says he heard that I put together a package and asks if I will share it. I say of course, once it's gone through review. Truthfully, if my customer doesn't buy off on this design change, it's unlikely others will. And if the uber-technical-management doesn't, there's no way it gets in front of my customer to begin with.

On Thursday, Mr. T emails me AGAIN and asks for the package and I tell him it's still under review and AGAIN let him know that once it's reviewed, I'll pass it along.

I just got an email from Mr. J, who is in Job A for the program with Mr. T. He has heard that I've put together a package on this topic and wants to know if I'll share.

A) WHY THE HECK can't Mr. T, Mr. J, and their PM talk to each other?
B) Seriously, are Mr. T and Mr. J qualified for their job? As I said, it's pretty straight forward about why this design change is justified and probably OK to do.

I'm tempted to not share the package I put together, out of sheer annoyance. GRRR.

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

Maybe they really really want it now (for some project they're close to finished on) and they figure if they all ask you eventually you'll break the rules?

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

Maybe they really really want it now (for some project they're close to finished on) and they figure if they all ask you eventually you'll break the rules?

Their project is behind mine in flow. At least 6 months behind mine.

/tk

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Ok, I have to rant about something at work, so I'm going to do it here.

/tk

Sounds like Office Space!

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

Is it Caturday yet?

My dog sure hopes so. He can't resist the taste!

[MJ4H]

So is Kate Upton pretty much the hottest chick on the planet now or what?

[MJ4H]

hXXp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnEAiuo6E64&feature=player_embedded

EVIDENCE: 3:08, 3:42

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

So is Kate Upton pretty much the hottest chick on the planet now or what?

who is she and why should i know her

[MJ4H]

#3730 plz

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

who is she

Good question.

why should i know her

That, on the other hand, should be kind of obvious (assuming her hotness is as described).

[MJ4H]

3:08 and 3:42 in that video are so stunning they could physically knock you to the floor.

[Pumpy Tudors]

oh

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

So is Kate Upton pretty much the hottest chick on the planet now or what?

Pretty much.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

who is she

University student and model. Probably most famous for her Sports Illustrated swimsuit appearance, although she's also done some Victoria's Secret work.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

who is she and why should i know her

Don't know why you should know her. But this is her.



Or if you are a fan of In-n-Out

[Radii]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

So is Kate Upton pretty much the hottest chick on the planet now or what?

nope.

[Suicane75]

This board is horny.

[Pumpy Tudors]

thanks for the info guys i never heard of the bitch before but cool

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I just woke up from a dream where I was roommates with several former Detroit Lions backups like Eric Lynch and US Senator Al Franken. Arianna Huffington called, so I told her that I'd give him the message a giant bear named Arianna called.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Ok, I have to rant about something at work, so I'm going to do it here. All you need to know about my job is that each program has a Program Manager, a person in Job A, and a person in Job B. The person in Job B reports to the person in Job A, and both report to the PM. Job A and Job B are technical leadership roles. In my program, I'm in Job B.

So, there is a part in our design that I think can be removed. I talked about it with the person in Job A on my program and he agreed and asked me to put together a package for the uber-upper-technical management people to review. If they approve, we'll put it in front of the customer and see if we get buy-off. The package took me maybe 10 minutes to put together, and most of that was wordsmith'ing. Basically, if you know our design and read a report that was distributed, anybody in my job (Job B) should be able to put this package together quickly. Actually, if you're in on the design at all, it's easy to figure out why this design change is probably OK.

So on Tuesday, Mr. T, who is in Job B for another program, emails me and asks me if I can send him the package so his program can use it too (apparently he thinks it's a good idea but isn't smart enough to come up with it on his own). I tell him that I'll be happy to share, but right now it's under review, and I can't release it until the review is done.

On Wednesday, the PM for Mr. T's program stops by my office and says he heard that I put together a package and asks if I will share it. I say of course, once it's gone through review. Truthfully, if my customer doesn't buy off on this design change, it's unlikely others will. And if the uber-technical-management doesn't, there's no way it gets in front of my customer to begin with.

On Thursday, Mr. T emails me AGAIN and asks for the package and I tell him it's still under review and AGAIN let him know that once it's reviewed, I'll pass it along.

I just got an email from Mr. J, who is in Job A for the program with Mr. T. He has heard that I've put together a package on this topic and wants to know if I'll share.

A) WHY THE HECK can't Mr. T, Mr. J, and their PM talk to each other?
B) Seriously, are Mr. T and Mr. J qualified for their job? As I said, it's pretty straight forward about why this design change is justified and probably OK to do.

I'm tempted to not share the package I put together, out of sheer annoyance. GRRR.

/tk

I have to think the answer for question A) is because he pity the fool.

[cuervo72]

That self-aggrandizing Oprah needs to stop slow-reading damned Jeopardy! categories.

[Suicane75]

They have a fucking tv show about using coupons now? Life is no longer lived, it's performed.

[stevew]

I figure the fucking coupon show will eventually lead to "Extreme Food Hoarders!"

[Suicane75]

"Fat fucks. Next on TLC".

Of course they already have that show with that big girl that I thought was about chronicling her weight loss. Then I saw the preview for season 2 and she's like "I don't know how I gained 60 pounds!"

Really? I have a vague idea how you gained 60 pounds, it's probably from EATING TOO MUCH.

[stevew]

"extreme FUPA, next on TLC".

[MJ4H]

Apparently there is a new student at the school where I teach. His name is Logan and he is in a wheelchair. He is approximately the same age as my son was and has a very similar affliction.

Logan has made my day much more difficult to get through. He is unloaded from the bus right by my room every morning. I don't know how this is going to work.

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Ok, I have to rant about something at work, so I'm going to do it here. All you need to know about my job is that each program has a Program Manager, a person in Job A, and a person in Job B. The person in Job B reports to the person in Job A, and both report to the PM. Job A and Job B are technical leadership roles. In my program, I'm in Job B.

So, there is a part in our design that I think can be removed. I talked about it with the person in Job A on my program and he agreed and asked me to put together a package for the uber-upper-technical management people to review. If they approve, we'll put it in front of the customer and see if we get buy-off. The package took me maybe 10 minutes to put together, and most of that was wordsmith'ing. Basically, if you know our design and read a report that was distributed, anybody in my job (Job B) should be able to put this package together quickly. Actually, if you're in on the design at all, it's easy to figure out why this design change is probably OK.

So on Tuesday, Mr. T, who is in Job B for another program, emails me and asks me if I can send him the package so his program can use it too (apparently he thinks it's a good idea but isn't smart enough to come up with it on his own). I tell him that I'll be happy to share, but right now it's under review, and I can't release it until the review is done.

On Wednesday, the PM for Mr. T's program stops by my office and says he heard that I put together a package and asks if I will share it. I say of course, once it's gone through review. Truthfully, if my customer doesn't buy off on this design change, it's unlikely others will. And if the uber-technical-management doesn't, there's no way it gets in front of my customer to begin with.

On Thursday, Mr. T emails me AGAIN and asks for the package and I tell him it's still under review and AGAIN let him know that once it's reviewed, I'll pass it along.

I just got an email from Mr. J, who is in Job A for the program with Mr. T. He has heard that I've put together a package on this topic and wants to know if I'll share.

A) WHY THE HECK can't Mr. T, Mr. J, and their PM talk to each other?
B) Seriously, are Mr. T and Mr. J qualified for their job? As I said, it's pretty straight forward about why this design change is justified and probably OK to do.

I'm tempted to not share the package I put together, out of sheer annoyance. GRRR.

/tk

Did you 'Reply All'?

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

My dog sure hopes so. He can't resist the taste!

There's a joke in there somewhere.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

Apparently there is a new student at the school where I teach. His name is Logan and he is in a wheelchair. He is approximately the same age as my son was and has a very similar affliction.

Logan has made my day much more difficult to get through. He is unloaded from the bus right by my room every morning. I don't know how this is going to work.

Man - that's tough. Seriously.

Not sure what to tell you - whether it makes more sense to try to like...ignore it (I don't think anyone would begrudge you at this point, especially if you mentioned it to the administration/other teachers) or to try to embrace it and engage with him.

I just dunno.

[DaddyTorgo]

No fair!!!

My mother's cousin-in-law is a chef. She works for Bertoli (she's one of the chefs who devises the recipes you see on their packages and stuff).

She met Anthony Bourdain a couple months back, and she just posted on FB that she's up in Toronto right now and she just met Susur Lee and he's amazing!!!!

I'M SO DAMN JEALOUS!!!!!!!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Of course they already have that show with that big girl that I thought was about chronicling her weight loss. Then I saw the preview for season 2 and she's like "I don't know how I gained 60 pounds!" Really? I have a vague idea how you gained 60 pounds, it's probably from EATING TOO MUCH.

It's actually Season 4 for Ruby.

While I find her personality a bit hard to take for anything other than very small doses, I think there's actually a decent mini-story (no pun intended) in her weight gain.

It seems very connected to the increasingly unhealthy relationship she's been in, and she's already lost half the weight she had regained (she'd lost over 400 pounds from her peak weight over 700). As a cautionary tale of how losing focus can quickly reverse your gains, it's probably better than the moral of the average reality show story.

Yeah, this one is among the many reality shows that my wife watches, you pick up stuff almost by osmosis in my house.

[stevew]

Axemen is really bad. I can't imagine how awful it is trying to find footage suitable for the show. I find myself attracted to the show because it makes me feel intellectually superior.

[Pumpy Tudors]

It's 3:05am and I'm still awake. I need to wake up at 8:00 at the latest. Ideally, I should wake up at 7:30. I don't want to go to bed because my wife has had a horrendously violent cough for several days now, and I'm afraid of jostling her when I get into bed. If I wake her up, she will start coughing again, and frankly, the sound of her cough is starting to gross me out. It's one thing to hear it from three rooms away. It's yet another to hear it from less than a foot away.

I have no idea when I'll go to bed. I'm sleepy because I only got about 3 hours of sleep last night. I'm irritated because I bowled poorly tonight. I'm thirsty, but I don't want to drink water, and the only other thing I have is Mountain Dew. I think I'm also hungry, but if I eat this late, it'll just give me indigestion.

Eventually, I'll have to get into bed and probably wake her up. Then I'll still be awake due to all of the coughing, but I'll be lying in bed with nothing to do. At least if I'm awake now, I can play on the computer. I wish I could just fall asleep in my chair right now, but the chair ain't that comfy.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Dola

I just went into the bedroom, and it turns out she's awake. She's watching TV. She saw me, said hello, and then started coughing again. Urgh. I really think she has no idea just how horrible it sounds. She insists that she's fine aside from the cough, but it really does sound vile.

[Logan]

She's probably allergic to you.

[B & B]

Shes allergic to bad bowling.


Cowboy up.