Thought for the Day: Every so often
January 29, 2007

First things first:
Today's theme is "Bullseye"

Every so often, Family Guy manages to amuse me to no end with one of its pop culture subreferences. The fact that you can see the genius in the shot for shot restaging in the footage below was what did it for me last night...


On a more serious note, after Senator Jim Webb gave the Democratic response on Tuesday evening, someone suggested that a great insight into him, in addition to several other major political players, could be found in The Nightingale's Song by Robert Timberg. Having received it on Friday, I began reading, and well, it's very intense and very real. And while I like that, it's also completely got me freaking out about John McCain. 31 months in solitary, battered, beaten, bruised, broken, and yet, somehow, he manages, in many way, to appear to be similar to the same maverick sort of personality he was before he crashed in that lake in the center of Hanoi back in 1967. (I also did not know, but probably should have, that McCain was at the center of the Forrestal incident back in 1967 shortly before he was shot down.) It's one thing to know that McCain was a POW, that he was in the Hanoi Hilton, and all of those things, but it's another thing to sit there and read the vivid descriptions of the layers and levels of torture (and yes, I probably should have read Faith of My Fathers). Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes when we finally get to Iran-Contra.

That's all for today, until the next time,
I am Craig Barker, back in that reading mode.

Thought for the Day: Life on Display
January 23, 2007

First things first:
Today's theme is "Self-Awareness"

I had been thinking, "I really need to post something to TFTD soon", but what struck me was the realization that, no, I didn't. Part of it is that I've come to realize once more that things one says on one's blog can and will be used against one in the court of public opinion, and part of it is simply I really haven't had anything I've direly wanted to say to everyone. When there is, I'll be sure to let you all know, it's not like you don't know where to find me.

That's all for today, until whenever,
I am Craig Barker, not worrying about it.

Thought for the Day: I think I see bottom...
January 11, 2007

First things first:
Today's theme is "Cleaning Out The Closet"

I've had dozens of small ideas running around I've wanted to talk about, but, well, I've been a little busy with you know what. But now that we, knock on wood, look to be in the clear, I thought I would get these things down on paper. No amazing revelations, mostly just cleaning out the closet. Any inclusion here should not be taken as a hint, implied or inferred, that said topic is included or excluded from the ABD. Honestly, I've looked at so many questions in the past two weeks that I don't remember what is all in there anyway. So seriously, if you're gaming this for clues, go do a Masterplots walkabout for all the good it would do you.

• Bruce Campbell's Old Spice ad.


Like many of you, I am an avowed fan of the genius of Bruce Campbell, and during the NFL playoff games on Saturday and Sunday I had to stop what I was doing to watch this ad when it came on, in part because I was on the one TV in the house that doesn't have a DVR on it and couldn't rewind it. It's genius on so many levels. It's clearly meant to be a viral, it's confusing, there's a hilarious Gary Larson-esque take on a sloop or some other ship of the line in the background, and the first time you see it, you're so taken in by it that you're just utterly confused that it's a commercial for Old Spice. The whistle reset at the end is a wonderful touch as well. All it needs is a boomstick over the mantle.


• Tim Horton's "Secret Ingredient" ad
  I swore, until this morning, that they were claiming that 50 million Canadians couldn't be wrong. And while I'm loathe to disagree with the good people of my neighbor to the Southeast, I was very confused, because the last time I checked, there were only 32.3 million Canadians, roughly. Well, it turns out they were claiming 15 million Canadians can't be wrong. And well, that's so much the better, because now they're only claiming slightly less then half of Canada agrees with them, which is so very Canadian.
  
  
• The BCS National Championship Game
  Florida smacked Ohio State, which makes not talking about the past much easier, even if it's still depressing. And, well, as much as I am still not happy that Urban Meyer was rewarded for his campaigning, but I don't know, Buckenfreude just feels right.
  
  Oh, and is pointing out that Florida is the first D-I school to simultaneously hold the men's basketball and football national championships at the same time a bit like the Tiger Slam? I mean, if Florida does it again this year, all praises to the Gators, but they were done in two different school years.
  
  
• Tony Gwynn
  As many of you know or as people have accused me of, I tend to be quite parochial in my sporting love and my favorite athletes do tend to be either Michigan alums or people who have plied their trade in Detroit. I won't deny this. However, I did want to send out my congratulations to Tony Gwynn for his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first try. Gwynn is probably my favorite non-Tiger baseball player, just because he seemed so meticulous and thorough in his approach and probably hit so well in part because he out thought the competition. It's the same reason I like Greg Maddux, well, in reverse. Though I question who the 13 people are who thought that a 15 time All-Star, a career .338 hitter with 3,141 hits wasn't worthy of the Hall of Fame, I think this is more of the idiotic concept that the writers feel that no one can go into the Hall of Fame unanimously, but...
  
  
• C-Webb: Piston?
  There are rumblings that the recently bought out Chris Webber may be looking to land in his hometown of Detroit, playing with the Pistons. I have really mixed feelings about this. Ignoring the whether or not C-Webb can still ball, I'm not sure how I feel about Chris Webber coming home looking for redemption. I don't know if I want to forgive him, or if I can forgive him. (No, this is not about the time out.) His decision to take money from Ed Martin basically erased a significant part of my youth from official history, it also killed the Michigan basketball program (or at least, for the moment.) While Michigan has been and will for the foreseeable future be a football school, and while I'd still rather go to a Michigan hockey game, a Michigan basketball team in the tournament, able to make some noise in the tournament, would be a nice thing to see. And Webber helped kill this. And then he lied about it, under oath. (An aside: I do not harbor the same ill will toward Jalen Rose, because he was not a part of the scandal in part because he had a relationship with Ed Martin that pre-dated ninth grade. Plus, the man writes a very funny blog and is looking to launch something called the Jalen Rose Messenger Toolbar, which I need to research further.) I don't know that Webber has ever really apologized for what he did, and maybe that's what bothers me most. If he felt some kind of remorse, showed that he made a mistake and hurt not just himself, but other people as well, then I would perhaps feel differently. But for right now, C-Webb, to my knowledge and research, has not done so, and so, in not doing shot, should not be forgiven if he's not asking for it.
  
  If he can help the Pistons, I'm for it, but I really don't have to like it.

That's all for today, until the next time,
I am Craig Barker, seeing some of you Sunday.

Thought for the Day: Same as it ever was...
January 2, 2007

First things first:
Today's theme is "Nothing Changes on New Year's Day"

It's worth realizing, as Michigan fans, we're a little too used to this. It's not just a Lloyd thing, it was a Bo thing too. 11-2 is still a great season. Onward to 2007. Eastern Michigan at the Big House, September 1.

---

Cut-Throat 2006: Week 17 and Final Results
Here it is, and your winner is: Jason Zuffranieri of Albuquerque, New Mexico! Jason won one of the closest competitions ever, so our congratulations to him, as he joins the Pantheon of previous winners:

Cut-Throat Winners:
2002: Lauren Arestie and Mike Burger (55 points)
2003: Brian Hight (63 points)
2004: Adam Kittle (57 points)
2005: Tim Young (66 points)
2006: Jason Zuffranieri (59 points)

Final 2006 Standings:

1 Jason Zuffranieri Albuquerque, NM 59

2 Mark Urciuolo Alexandria, VA 58

3 Phil Castagna Philadelphia, PA 57
3 Tim Young Baltimore, MD 57
3 Geoff Zmyslowski Grand Rapids, MI 57

6 David Wallace South Lyon,. MI 56

7 James Quintong Leonardo, NJ 55

8 David Bykowski Ellicott City, MD 54
8 Mike Philpy McLean, VA 54
8 Chris Rodgers Columbia, SC 54
8 Stephen Zmyslowski GP Woods, MI 54

12 James Dinan Atlanta, GA 53
12 Joel Gluskin New York, NY 53
12 Rob Long Sterling Heights, MI 53

15 Jon Couture New Bedford, MA 52
15 Nick Ellies East Lansing, MI 52
15 Greg Long Lincoln Park, MI 52

18 Craig D. Barker Northville, MI 51
18 Matt Bruce Alameda, CA 51

20 Gordon Berman Ithaca, NY 50
20 Ray Mencio Wolcott, CT 50

22 Eric Bell Norman, OK 49
22 Robert Flaxman Chicago, IL 49
22 Gregory House Princeton, NJ 49

25 Chris Roberts Livonia, MI 48

26 Rocky Barker Commerce Twp., MI 47
26 John Haveman Cave Creek, AZ 47
26 Brian Long Redford, MI 47

29 Jessie Bykowski Ellicott City, MD 46
29 Tyler Johnson Bryan, TX 46
29 Joe Wright Ann Arbor, MI 46

32 Shawn DeVeau Boston, MA 45
32 Jason Keller Piscataway, NJ 45
32 Dwight Kidder Bridgeville, PA 45
32 Adam Kittle East Liverpool, OH 45
32 Joel Quintong Stamford, CT 45

37 Delano Barnes Manchester, CT 44
37 Ryan Blay Chicago, IL 44
37 Mike Burger Ann Arbor, MI 44

40 Michael Nathan W. Bloomfield, MI 43
40 Kevin Olmstead Ann Arbor, MI 43

42 Mark Coen Beverly, MA 42

43 James LeDoux Ithaca, NY 41

44 Tim Kulhanek Croswell, MI 38
44 Paper Clippy Redmond, WA 38

46 Tim Woodward Salem, NH 37

47 Brian Hight Brookfield, WI 36
47 Brigid Laurie Alexandria, VA 36

49 Noel Erinjeri Haslett, MI 31

50 Bryan Dunphy-Culp Lexington, MA 26


http://www.collegequizbowl.org/extras/cutthroat.xls
It is also linked in the sidebar.

That's all for today, until the next time,
I am Craig Barker, same as he ever was.