Mikey D

I love Dilbert.

And yes, Kevin, I laughed out loud. Shut up.

~Mikey D

From what I hear the Lions are interested in a cornerback in this year's draft. The secondary has been a problem for us for quite sometime, and although we've tried to address it through free agency and later picks in drafts, it's still a glaring weakness. Now although there are plenty of areas that are of weakness (offensive line, defensive line, etc.), you gotta start somewhere. I actually think picking in the middle of the first round is beneficial for Millen. I don't think he'll be tempted to take a supposed "best player available" just because he's there (a la Mike Williams or Calvin Johnson). A middle of the first round pick means you can address your team's needs without much criticism- which is perfect for the Lions.

Next year will be a pivotal year for the Lions. I'm interested to see how the QB situation will play out. I have a feeling Kitna will start the majority of the season, but when things start to turn south (and they will), we'll finally see Stanton. When we do see Stanton I will be even more curious, because I want to see if that guy can play at the NFL level. It will be interesting.

I also think this is Marinelli's make or break year. Will this team show improvement like that past two years, or will it regress to its old ways? We shall see. Also, bringing in a new offensive coordinator means having a new offensive system. Perhaps we'll see some running of the football. That'd be nice. We still have some nice weapons at receiver, so I think we'll be alright offensively. Not great, but alright- comparable to last year.

The NFL has also released schedules without the game dates. Here are the Lion's opponenets:
Home:
Chicago
Green Bay
Minnesota
Jacksonville
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
Tennessee
Washington

Road:
Chicago
Green Bay
Minnesota
Atlanta
Carolina
Houston
Indianapolis
San Francisco

Anybody else notice how unbalanced the home and road schedules are? I feel like the home schedule is absolutely brutal, with five playoff teams from last year, as well as Minnesota, Chicago, and New Orleans- no slouches. But then you look at the road schedule and we have some very winable games: Atlanta, Carolina, San Francisco, and Houston (no way in hell Indianaopolis). I'd feel more comfortable if we had some of the road games at home, because you never know what will happen when you go on the road. Of course, in today's NFL, all those teams that were bad last year be fantastic next year, while the good ones could become terrible. You just never know.

But looking at the schedule you have to think they'll have a losing record at home next year, but will win a couple games they weren't supposed to. In recent history we've been terrible on the road, so you have to figure a losing record there as well. A losing record at home + a losing record on the road = a losing season (again).

Early early early prediction: 6-10

~Mikey D

So I have decided to get my Masters of Arts in Education with a concentration in Technology and Learning. This is a big step for me as it basically commits me to the educational field for a few more years.

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: I don't want to be a teacher forever. I want to do something else, but right now I don't know what. I've been leaning heavily towards something in computer science, but I'm not sure if that's the route I want to go. So instead of investing thousands of dollars and going back to school for something I'm unsure I want to do, I'm going to give myself time to think about my next move and pursue a masters in something that will help me financially (us teachers get a nice pay bump when we get our masters) and academically (taking a few computer classes might help me decide my next path). In short, it's a good move to make for me right now.

The best part about going after this degree? It's offered through Michigan State online, which means I can take classes at State from Maryland. This is beyond ideal because I can work with people I'm familiar with (I already know a slew of professors that will be teaching the courses) with a place that will always be a part of me. It also works because I don't have to navigate unfamiliar campuses here in Maryland, enroll in night classes, and make my life hectic. Being that it is online I can do the work from my computer when I get home from school. It's a beautiful thing.

I'm just really happy right now. Doing this program will make me feel connected to State again. I will always bleed green and white, but for some reason or another, I like bleeding it while I'm still paying tuition there =).

Yesterday I had an ice day, which meant I got to stay home from school and watch the Clemens/McNamee congressional hearing. And watch I did- all 5 hours of it without missing a beat. While as pathetic as that sounds and probably is, I rathered enjoyed watching questions being shot at both men and watching them answer without having their lawyer speak for them. I mean, it kept my attention for five hours straight, so it wasn't boring.

Now I could talk about my thoughts about what Clemens/McNamee said, but I'm going to stay away from that for the most part. What I want to talk about is our government.

You hear it all the time: The government wastes tax dollars. Party lines get in the way of solving problems and getting to the bottom of important issues. Our government officials are idiots. For the most part I stay away from talk like that because I don't really know what they do on a daily basis. Could I be better informed? Sure, information is readily available for me. But to be completely honest, and I do admit this is a problem with the American public- myself included- I'm just not that interested. Because of that, I'm not going to say the government is wasting our tax dollars, party lines are getting in the way, and our elected officials are idiots.

Until now. A little bit, at least. Yesterday offered me a great insight into what a congressional hearing looks like. I listened to dozens of our congressmen speak and ask questions to Clemens and McNamee. My conclusion? I'm kind of embarrassed.

People say the government is wasting our tax dollars. Well, it's hard to argue that after they held the congressional hearing yesterday. First and foremost, they solved absolutely nothing. Did I enjoy watching it? Yeah, but in the end I didn't really come away with much. Nothing was resolved. The point of the hearing, which was to educate the youth on steroids, was completely missed despite random mentions of it by congressmen. A waste? When you hear that 2-3 million dollars was spent on this hearing, it's hard to argue that it wasn't a waste of a day, and as a tax payer, I think you have a right to be upset.

The thing I kept seeing over and over during the hearing was that Republicans seem to like Clemens, and Democrats seem to like McNamee. The rich man's party versus the common man's. It was very weird. When I sat down to watch yesterday, I cleared my mind of any feelings I had towards either McNamee or Clemens. I wanted to hear both sides speak and answer questions, then I wanted to make my judgement on their guilt. I kind of expected the congressmen to ask questions- tough questions- but leave their own feelings of guilt or innocence out of the proceedings. I wanted objectiveness. Instead I saw congressmen focus on either Clemens or McNamee, and hammer them as if they were either guilty or a slime bucket, without asking decent or fair questions. The worst was probably the congressman from Indiana, who jumped all over McNamee saying, "This is really disgusting. You sit here and tell lie after lie, and I know what I don't believe, and that's you." How do you know he's lying, sir??? In his mind, Clemens was innocent of all accusations, and without asking questions to probe and find the truth he wasted everyones time by making a fool of himself and embarrassing me and the American public.

You know, some congressmen are just out there. I won't call them idiots, because they probably have more academic accolades than I care to count. But when you are in a congressional hearing, and you tell one of the witnesses that he "is going to heaven", I have a real problem with it. When you have another congressmen using his time to talk to ask Clemens what jersey he is going in to the Hall with, I have a problem with it. When you can't even pronounce Brian McNamee or Jose Canseco's name, I have a problem with it. When you come to a congressional hearing without being prepared, I have a MAJOR problem with it. Unfortunately, that is what happened. There were more than several congressmen that showed up at this hearing without a clue. It was painful to listen to them try and ask questions about a situation and a topic they weren't prepared to speak on. And to hear things like, "Mr. Clemens, you are going to heaven," is disturbing. Was this not supposed to be a hearing on steriods? It was unfortunate to have people like that speak yesterday.

Like I said, I'm not the most educated on our U.S. government. I'm far from it. But yesterday did offer a small glimpse into the world of politics, our politicians, and our tax dollars at work, and to be quite frank, I didn't like what I saw. I'm not going to bash our government because it's not my place, but I will say that I'm extremely disappointed, and I hope to god that yesterday was an anomaly rather than a regularity.

Well, that was not very pretty. Especially the first half. We did everything a losing team should do to lose a game:
-Turn the ball over...a lot
-Miss free throws
-Get out-rebounded

I've given up trying to understand this team. It appears on paper that this team should be amazing. I mean, they were off to the school's best 21 game start, so why doesn't it feel like they are one of State's strongest teams ever? We've got senior leadership, big-men galore (with experience), playmakers (Morgan and Lucas), and a top-notch coach.

But what's wrong with the green and white??? Why can't we put it together? Perhaps it's a good thing we are not "peaking" right now. Perhaps in a month, when the tournament starts, we'll have hit our stride. Here's hoping.

I just want us to play like I know we are capable of- good. Last night was embarrassing with all the turnovers and general slopiness. Let's get it together, Spartans.

~Mikey D

Remember a few years ago when all the fast food restaurants went on a health-kick and really pushed their healthy alternatives? I do. I hated it, too. Fast food is what it is- cheap and not good for you. I'm not there for carrots, water, and yogurt. And while some probably appreciated the new menu choices, the majority of fast food eaters could probably have cared less. And because I am part of that majority, I'd much rather see a sign or commercial for a delicious Big Mac burger surrounded by hot, crispy, golden fries than a commerical for an adult Happy Meal with a free pedometer as a "toy".

The point I'm trying to make is that fast food restaurants were trying to be something they were not- good for you. While there were some foods on the menu that were somewhat healthy, there were far more choices that were terribly bad for your body. For every carrot stick, there was an onion ring, chicken fry, and french fry. And yes, it's all about offering choices, but people don't choose Burger King based on if they have carrot sticks. People choose Burger King because of its, surprise, burgers. So don't waste our time promoting carrot sticks when what we want is burgers.

Now there is a reason for that rant. I recently bought a 12-pack of Coca-Cola and was intrigued by the message written on the side of the box. It read:
"Who knew soft drinks could be hydrating?
It’s true. All beverages hydrate, including soft drinks. So if you are looking for hydration, but want the delicious and refreshing taste you get from Coca-Cola, don’t compromise — go for it! You’ll be hydrating your body with each and every sip.

We offer over 80 ways to hydrate, energize, nourish, relax or enjoy every drop of life. For more information on the benefits of hydration, go to: hydration.thecoca-colacompany.com"

Wow. Really, Coca-Cola? You actually went there?

Intrigued, I visited their website. It's basically a promotion for staying hydrated. Apparently water is good for you. Oh, and if your thirsty, you should drink something. Good must-have information for everyone there. Highly recommended.

I did a Google search, hoping to find out more about the reasoning behind this ad-campaign. Most Americans know that soft drinks only offer a quick sense of hydration. Then the sugars and caffeine take over and act as diuretics that lead to dehydration. Simply put, there are better alternatives than Coca-Cola, and we all should know it. And Coca-Cola knows it, too. Their ad-campaign and press-releases don't deny it, but they also don't say it. Their press releases say things like, and I quote:
"The Coca-Cola Company, of course, has a special interest in water. We are a hydration company. Every product we sell contains water. In fact, water, itself, is an important and growing product category. Without water, we have no business."

Shut up. Get out.

All mockery of the press release about their ad-campaign aside, it is interesting to note that their campaign through the press release talks about getting water to everyone in the world. "Matching water with people," as they like to say. It's a good cause to fight for, and I hope they can succeed in their mission.

But why the marketing on the box? Yes indeed it's hydrating, but what Coca-Cola is doing is misleading its customers. There is zero nutritional value in drinking a coke and the hydration is only temporary. Why do you want to pretend you're something you're really not, Coca-Cola?

So yes, while your marketing and facts are completing accurate and well within your rightful boundaries, you are also misleading your customers, and it's disappointing to me. Don't mislead us like the fast food giants before you. We know what you are. We know that water is better than Coca-Cola when we are thirsty. We choose coke because of it's taste, not because of its hydrating qualities. I will always enjoy the taste of a coke (especially with my Whopper), but please, and I beg you, don't use this marketing campaign to get people to drink Coca-Cola. Be who you are, and fight for a great cause, like "matching water with people" around the world.

~Mikey D

I have almost successfully gotten my entire homeroom class (about twenty kids) to no longer call me 'Mr. Dennison', but rather 'Mr. Awesome'.

Awesome indeed.

~Mikey D

~Last night's game was the best Super Bowl I've ever seen. My top three are now:
1) Giants-Patriots (Super Bowl 42)
2) Patriots-Rams (Super Bowl 36)
3) Giants- Bills (Super Bowl 25)
So any Super Bowl that involves the Patriots and/or Giants will automatically be awesome in my opinion.

~The last four Patriot Super Bowls have all been decided by three points exactly. I was convinced the Patriots were going to win yesterday by three points and get their fourth Super Bowl crown.

~Bill Bellicheck is one of the most hated men in sports right now. He is a true villain in the sports world, which made this loss in the Super Bowl all the more satisfying. This wasn't just a David versus Goliath mathup. It transcended that, and became a good versus evil. And the NFL couldn't have scripted it any better. A coach people love to hate, a QB everyone is jealous of, records falling left and right against the team everyone wrote off (including myself), led by the country boy from Mississippi and a band of rookies and seasoned vets. Just a great story and a wonderfully happy ending.

~I am ridiculously happy for Eli. He's out of the shadows now and a legit QB in the NFL. Even if he has a 5 int game next year, people can't knock him the way they used to. The title "Super Bowl Champion/MVP" will ring true forever.

~David Tyree is my feel good story. The guy caught only four balls all year, was injured, and his mother passed away during the season. Then he goes out and catches three balls, one for a TD, and the other that will be shown in NFL Films for decades and decades to come. What an awesome feeling for the guy.

~I love how into the game Peyton Manning got. How can you not like Peyton? Which begs the question: How come nobody was sitting remotely close to Peyton? Why was he shoved into a corner??? And where was Archie?????

~Plaxico Burress get the game-winning TD in the Super Bowl. GO GREEN! GO WHITE! Gotta represent.

~Why did Bellicheck not kick the field goat on 4th and 13 from the 31? That was more than within the kicker's range. I just don't understand...and Bellicheck's mumbling response about field position doesn't make sense to me either. As a Giants fan, I was happy when he brought the offense back on the field for that 4th and 13, because that is a ridiculously hard conversion, even for the Patriots. And I also don't understand Bill Simmons. He said the Patriots were passive? In what way??? Going for it on 4th and 13 screams aggressiveness to me. I thought the Giants took a page out of the Jaguars' and Chargers' books and let the Patriots have small passes to Welker and the such, which the Pats took, but that doesn't mean they were passive. The difference to me was Maroney not being able to run the football. In the two previous games, Maroney was the difference maker. This time he was shut completely down.

~Was that not the most entertaining 7-3 game through three quarters ever? Great stuff. There were hardly any penalties and turnovers, just great back and forth play between the two teams. I was rivetted.

~ I like what Sean Salisbury said on Sportscenter (yeah, never said that before, I know). I'll paraphrase: "The Giants hit the Patriots in the mouth, the Patriots hit back hard, and for the first time all season, a team got up from the Patriot's punch and hit them back even harder." It's true, too. When that Pats scored in the 4th, there was almost 3 minutes left. You just had a feeling something might happen...at least I had an inkling...that for the first time all season a team had the opportunity to lay the knock-out blow to the Patriots- and the Giants connected big time.

~Last night was also why I will always love professional football over college football. There's a finality, and the world knows it. We have a champion, and it is the New York football Giants.

~I'll end it with this: Eli Manning's scramble-David Tyree's catch. Name me a better play than that in the last five years. Seriously, that shit was amazing.

Satisified,
Mikey D

Yesterday I got to go to Medieval Times for my belated birthday gift from Grace's family. For those of you who do not know what Medieval Times is, it is basically a dinner show where they serve you dinner and have reenactments of medieval fights between knights, and there is a whole story that goes along with it. I've been wanting to go for awhile, as I really wanted to have a delicious feast while watching knights joust.

First, if you were wondering what all the 'Dungeons and Dragons' nerds did for a living, I now know. They like to dress as knights, kings, wenches, etc. and do reenactments in a fake castle that is connected to an outlet mall. Who could have known?

When you first enter the castle, you get a crown that has a color on it that indicates which knight you will be rooting for. We got the red knight, which pleased me greatly (brick red being my favorite color). Our sworn enemy was the green knight, which puzzled me because red and green just seem to go together. Like Christmas. You can't have red without the green during Christmas! Plus the green knight ended up being the evil knight, and I kind of liked the idea of rooting for the bad guy. Still, our red knight was kind of kick-ass. I might have developed a man crush (his grin...he had such a confidence about him!).

The show began with the prince of the castle being taken prisoner. After a small fight, we were introduced to the king and the princess, who whined and moaned about the prince's return. Yeah, I wanted to slap her just to shut her the hell up. But just as soon as the prince was taken captive, he was forgotten by everyone, including the king. Instead of worrying about his return we all enjoyed our delicious feast!

We got to start with vegetable soup, and there was no silverwear (just like in medieval times...clever, clever), so you had to sip it out of the metal (pretty sure it was made of lead) bowl they gave you. Then we got garlic bread, followed by half a chicken. This half of chicken was awesome. If you ever want to feel like a man, just cook yourself half a chicken, plop it down on your plate, and eat it all with your hands. Just an awesome feeling. And the chicken was damn good too...cooked to perfection. They followed that up with a piece of rib and half a baked potato. Damn good medieval times food right there. And the best part? It was served by our wench of a waitress. She even called herself a wench which I'm still laughing about. Kind of degrading to the 21st century woman, but yet still appropriate =).

Like I said, they kind of forgot about the prince. They then decided to have games between the knights. They had a mini-knight tournament, which was fun to watch. Since I enjoy fake fights (wrestling fan for life), this was right up my alley. The first fight was between the green knight and the yellow knight (who was black...did they actually have black knights back then?). Being the bad guy, everybody rooted against the green knight. Of course he won though, much to the dismay of everyone. Then the red & yellow knight beat the black & white knight in a match no one cared about, with the red & yellow winning. Then it was big red's turn. He took on the blue knight and promptly dispatched him, because the blue knight is a weak-ass bitch. Our victorious red knight then took on the red & yellow knight, and faster than you could say, "Hey, they both have red in their colors, can I root for both?" our red knight took an axe and laid the red & yellow fucker out.

Now Adam you would appreciate this next part. As the red knight was celebrating his second victory, his enemy, the evil green knight, came riding out on his horse and stabbed the red knight in the back with his jouster, killing our hero. It was straight out of the villain pages from the WWE, which means I enjoyed it greatly (except the guy we were rooting for didn't get a fair fight, but rather got murdered). That's when the prince returned, fought the green knight, killed him, and everyone was happy. Why he was captured and let go to return to his castle is beyond me. Perhaps better script writing could be done about this.

All in all I really enjoyed the experience. I really got into the fights; you can ask Grace about that. If you ever have a chance to go to one of these shows I think it's worth it. Yeah it's corny and fake, but it was still fun.

Plus you might be able to get some cool D&D knowledge nuggets. Wow, that's two posts in a row with Dungeons and Dragons references. Who am I?

~Mikey D

How I found this I don't know, but when I watched it I was reminded of Fooly Cooly. Yea, I had that same "what the fuck" reaction.



For those of you who were not priviledged, this is Fooly Cooly:



Yeah, exactly.

~Mikey D