STeelerJosh
Poker and Motorcycle Ramblings
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Tailgate 2010
We have two Gold Lot passes and are expecting about 25 people, it is going to be a great time. I have high expectations for a Steelers win and it is with tempered excitement that I am looking forward to Ben's return to the team. I think he is a great quarterback and will help the team, but I am still appalled at his off the field behavior and demonstrated horrible decision making. From the motorcycle w/ no helmet to even being in a college bar, he just comes across as immature and lacking common sense. I hope that he has grown up during this forced absence and that the fans will welcome him back... becuase he earns it and proves his worth. This city is his oyster if he can overcome his ego and selfishness. Here is to hoping he has.
Regardless of the type of person Ben truly is, it is going to be one hell of a party tomorrow and I can't wait. Go Steelers!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
NFL Pick 'Em
Noticing that the home team went 7-7 last week (outperforming most of the picks in our pool) I wondered how the home team strategy would have done so far this season. Answer? It would be a game ahead of first place. 43-33
Before I change my strategy, I should take note that this is largely because the home team went an impressive 12-4 in week 1. After that, it is been surprisingly close to splitting.
Week 1 - 12-4
Week 2 - 8-8
Week 3 - 8-8
Week 4 - 8-6
Week 5 - 7-7
None of this analysis can overcome the fact that my wife has picked higher than me 3 out of the 5 weeks. Luckily for me, when she misses, she misses big and we are tied in the standings. I guess that is what I get for marrying a football loving lady :-)
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Time Waster
http://karkass.mybrute.com
Challenge my brute to a fight!
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
In the 'Burgh
I am hoping to get some good pics of the city.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Gettin' Geeked
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday Drive
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=42.953557,-77.663247&panoid=6vAkor2kYZz3m5_1iSkMrw&cbp=12,181.53727377395012,,0,21.75107339062427&ll=42.953463,-77.663242&spn=0.027766,0.22316&t=h&z=13
I brought it up and noticed a deer in frame. This conversation ensued:
Me: that is pretty cool
Me: but also begs the question... is streetview really necessary there?
Him: did you keep driving?
Me: no
Me: oh no
Him: oh yeah
Me: I think the next click is the sad one, it is right there along side, right before impact
Me: probably realizing... "uh oh"
Me: I thought the gvan went pretty slow..
Me: must have been moving pretty good
Update: It appears that this got Digg'd or something because it is no longer available due to high demand. I still had the start of the drive up on my screen so I snapped it. Once the demand dies down, it is worth a click (unless google removes it) I should also note that I think the van stopped.. because the street view ends 50 feet or so past the impact.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tough to argue with the logic
Friday, January 16, 2009
Baby It's Cold Outside...
With no prompting from the radio, (I was listiening to Opie and Anthony joke about the plane crash in the Hudson) I started humming it on the drive into work this morning. I could not feel my toes, this picture may explain why:
Yep. Without factoring in any wind chill, 10 minutes into my commute it was still -12. And yes, for the more observant, I have over 100k on the Honda. This month I am making my last payment on the 04 Pilot and it cracked 100k with all the Christmas driving. It has been a great vehicle and I would get another in a second if they offered a hybrid version. 21 mpg is not horrible, but it is not great either. I managed to put on all those miles despite having a motorcycle, the wife's company car, and our summer car (01 Mitsubishi Spyder Eclipse) to share the love. I get around.
Lest I complain too much about Mr. Sinatra I should consider myself lucky. Lately when it has been freezing around these parts, one of the worst songs I have ever heard will invade my brain. T-Baby's amazing hit, Its so Cold in the D.
This being my first attempt to embed a video on this blog, here is the link just in case:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aktLRiWXfqg
If you have 2 minutes of your life to completely waste check out this production and lyrical masterpiece. You will regret it and have been warned.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 08, 2008
Busted
While no one likes being compared to PHB (Pointy Haired Boss), I have a bit of a reputation for doing exactly what he did. I work on the server team at my company so my peers have elevated privileges and we should all be in the habit of locking our workstations when we leave them unattended. The penalty for failure is usually an instant message to a peer from the unsecured pc. The standard message is, "I like nekid Star Wars". It is a real conversation starter.
Although I would prefer the cash, it is nice to be noticed (and loved/loathed) enough by my team mates to have them cut out a comic that made them think of me and take the time to tape it to my (always secured) workstation. Idiot invading my perimeter be damned!
(about the ticket - the officer said he was doing me a favor by reducing my 49 in a 35 to "impeding traffic" as that carries no points. There is no fine listed on the ticket so a quick google revealed that is a relatively common thing that is good for the no points.. but carries a $20 greater fine than the real ticket. I am not sure what the points would cost, but I suppose that is a favor by the officer. I have not had a speeding ticket since I was long distance dating my future wife. Traveling between Washington, D.C. and Akron, OH resulted in two performance awards on the PA turnpike in one year. That was in 1998/1999 so I guess they have been expunged. Farmington Hill's finest said that I had no previous tickets.)
12-1 in the regular season of the office fantasy football league means nothing when you lose in the first round of the play offs. DOH. The only saving grace this weekend was the stressful victory of the Steelers over the Cowboys. I am not sure I could have taken both losses... and truthfully, if I had to chose one or the other.... I would take the Steelers victory all day. Next week is the big matchup against Baltimore. While not a must win, it is certainly a should and better win. I have a double or nothing dinner riding on it with my parents and bragging rights when I take the family home to Baltimore for Christmas. Go Steelers!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
ZOMGWTFBBQ!!1!!
My e-mail:
I don't normally bitch about the officiating.. but come on!! It was like the refs had money on San Diego or something. Sooooo many no calls on SD for holding (don't think there was one all game but I saw a ton) and calling every infraction on the Steelers. The Steelers committed 12 more penalties than the Chargers? Or did the Chargers get called 12 less? Hmmmm.
At least my boys got it done this week.... I would be fuming if they had not.
They let him have a TD...what more do you want? 100 yards? Heh, not this year.
J
-----Original Message-----
From: XXXXXX
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 6:39 PM
To: XXXXXX
Subject: Pitt
Tell pitt to ease up on ladanian....I neeed the fantasy points.......
It turns out I was incorrect about the penalties, SD was charged with 2 to Pittsburgh's 13 and I am absolutely floored about the final. I watched the game and I thought it ended 17-10. www.espn.com and www.nfl.com both have the final as 11-10. What gives? The spread was 4.5 and it seemed like the officials did everything they could to keep it in that... including taking a couple of TDs off the board. I can give them the Willie Parker TD called back for holding.. but the Polamalu one at the end of the game is pretty much ridiculous. The Steelers got the win, but it was still very frustrating to watch James Harrison get held on most plays, blatantly facemasked, and have it not called once while every infraction of the Black and Gold is flagged.
Whatever officials. I am die hard Steelers and think Football is the king of pro sports but the league is really dissapointing me this year. I think some of the responsibility lies with the commish, bitch-ass Goodell. I miss Tagliabue. I do not agree with the league "cracking" down on the hits. All of these fines that are issued after the game for plays that were legal and (correctly) not called during the game. For feck's sake, its football. Not flag football, tackle football. We all understand the business side of the game, i.e. it is bad for the business when you lose a Tom Brady for the season (but feck him and all the Pats fans too), but that is a risk that is assumed when the players suit up.
I am running out of steam and have no real intention other than venting. Summation? This season has been the most memorable in my lifetime of being a fan for bad officiating, bad leadership of the league, and frustration as a fan. Goodell and the officials GFY.
Dammit
Life has been nuts since this July and I have taken a hiatus from poker to a more +EV game (although it guarantees me to lose $14 each month). It is nice to have a rough week and then smash through stuff with my work friends on Tuesday nights. While the peaks are not as high... it lacks the troughs of poker. I am getting enough of the negative variance in real life right now.
On the odd trivia/bright side, I am now renting a townhouse that is sandwiched between two Detroit Lions players. The QB, Orlovsky, and the long snapper.... and I no longer have the care and maintenance of the grounds and driveway of our dream home. Silver linings and all that.