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You are here: Home / Sports / Kill Me Now

Kill Me Now

by John Cole|  December 5, 201010:52 pm| 204 Comments

This post is in: Sports

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STOP TRYING TO RUN IT UP THE MIDDLE TOMLIN.

Also, it is only an illegal hit when the Steelers do it. They’ll probably fine Harrison for that hit on Heath Miller because Harrison was in the general area.

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Previous Post: « Open Thread: Generation Coolhunterz
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Reader Interactions

204Comments

  1. 1.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    December 5, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    Meh, I’m sure they’ll fine the Raven. Sorry they didn’t stop the game and fine him right then and there and make him pay up on the spot.

  2. 2.

    The Dangerman

    December 5, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    STOP TRYING TO RUN IT UP THE MIDDLE TOMLIN.

    It’s a center-right offense.

  3. 3.

    robertdsc-PowerBook

    December 5, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    LOL at Stealers fans whining about the officiating.

  4. 4.

    Tim F.

    December 5, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    Haha Tomlin did that just to spite you.

  5. 5.

    John - A Motley Moose

    December 5, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    Yeah, yeah, we get it. Poor Harrison got screwed. I’m a Lions fan. Do your really want to compare officiating complaints?

  6. 6.

    fasteddie9318

    December 5, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    Bruce Arians can fuck his own team over better than any other coordinator in the NFL.

  7. 7.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 5, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    @The Dangerman: Dammit, I was trying to think of a joke along those lines, and you beat me there.

    Tomlin just wants to reach out to his opponents to find common ground!

  8. 8.

    The Dangerman

    December 5, 2010 at 11:04 pm

    @John – A Motley Moose:

    I’m a Lions fan.

    Been watching the Lions this year from a distance; I thought Suh was going to be a stud. Looks like I got one right for the first time in a while.

    Lions have been in every game this year I’ve checked; shitty luck along with shitty officiating. They got boned in Week 1 on the winning catch; I’ll presume it hasn’t gotten better.

  9. 9.

    Stillwater

    December 5, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: Tomlin just wants to reach out to his opponents to find common ground!

    Never run the ball beyond the neutral zone?

  10. 10.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    O/T, so bite me.

    I’m trying to think of the best modern Christmas/holiday/winter songs. “Happy Xmas”, of course. “Fairytale of New York” and “Oi! to the World”, for sure. “It’s Christmastime for My Penis” is a dark horse. “Valley Winter Song” always makes me smile.

    Any other suggestions?

  11. 11.

    bergo

    December 5, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    Also, it is only an illegal hit when the Steelers do it.

    Quit your whining, you sound like a Ravens Fan.

  12. 12.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    Damnit. Moderation purgatory.

    O/T, so bite me.

    I’m trying to think of the best modern Christmas/holiday/winter songs. “Happy Xmas”, of course. “Fairytale of New York” and “Oi! to the World”, for sure. “It’s Christmastime for My Peeeee nis” is a dark horse. “Valley Winter Song” always makes me smile.

    Any other suggestions?

  13. 13.

    Corner Stone

    December 5, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    Waah waah waah waaaaaaaaahhh.

  14. 14.

    Corner Stone

    December 5, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    @suzanne: What the hell is your target audience?

  15. 15.

    Comrade Luke

    December 5, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    So wadddayathink? Long drive, field goal, onside kick, field goal to win it?

    poke, poke…

  16. 16.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    I don’t even mind so much that Harrison got tagged as many times as he did (I’m sure his accountant disagrees), but c’mon, N.F.L. That kind of hit is the *worst* *thing* *evar*, and a theoretically competent reffing crew never even sees it???

    Maybe the calls on Harrison were legit, but it sure sounds like *no one else* is getting that kind of attention…

  17. 17.

    The Dangerman

    December 5, 2010 at 11:14 pm

    @suzanne:

    I’m trying to think of the best modern Christmas/holiday/winter songs.

    New or old, only one gets me: Happy Xmas, War is over.

  18. 18.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:14 pm

    Oy! Ravens’ special teams have been _realllly_ “special” this year. Thank goodness the punter putzed up.

  19. 19.

    Yutsano

    December 5, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    @suzanne: “Song For a Winter’s Night” by Sarah McLachlan. A little overproduced but a nice modernization of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

    And there’s always “Christmas at Ground Zero” by Weird Al. If you wanna get goofy.

  20. 20.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    Fuck me. Twenty yards free.

  21. 21.

    Pavlov's Dog

    December 5, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    Call Cole the waaambulance stat.

  22. 22.

    The Dangerman

    December 5, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    Also, “River”, though that may even be older than Happy Xmas.

  23. 23.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Oh, poo! Drat that Polamolu!

  24. 24.

    Stillwater

    December 5, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Stillers!!!

  25. 25.

    Corner Stone

    December 5, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Oh, fuck

  26. 26.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    FUM-BULLLL ! ! ! !

    /Keith Jackson

  27. 27.

    Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle

    December 5, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Happy now Cole??!! ;-)

  28. 28.

    jeffreyw

    December 5, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    Bah, humfuckinbug

  29. 29.

    Stillwater

    December 5, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    Suggs is a monster. Ben is monsterer.

  30. 30.

    burnspbesq

    December 5, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    @suzanne:

    Wasn’t there a Paul McCartney holiday song sometime in the 70s, something about “we’re simply having a wonderful Christmastime?” Catchy tune, and it won’t offend older relatives.

    Anything on Bruce Cockburn’s Christmas record.

  31. 31.

    burnspbesq

    December 5, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    In honor of Steelerdammerung, I’m listening to Wagner.

  32. 32.

    Comrade Luke

    December 5, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    Ben might be a fucktard off the field, but on the field there are few better.

    Also, too, imo he’s perfect as a Steeler.

  33. 33.

    Corner Stone

    December 5, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    @Stillwater: That was the definition of “nasty”.

  34. 34.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    Waiter! More Pepto!

    Cracrapcrapcrapcrap

    Why couldn’t that drunk girl have broken both Ben’s feet?

  35. 35.

    BruceFromOhio

    December 5, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    Holy crap, tap-dancing boot boy follows his nose and throws it away with Suggs trying steal his jersey. They can’t live with three, they got to go for it.

  36. 36.

    Corner Stone

    December 5, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    How the hell did that happen?

  37. 37.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    Redman,
    you are the SHIT ! ! ! !

  38. 38.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    Redman,
    you are the SHIT ! ! ! !

  39. 39.

    sherifffruitfly

    December 5, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    yaaaaaay GO STILLERS! ! ! ! ! !

  40. 40.

    Yutsano

    December 5, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    @burnspbesq: Apparently the Liefenstal thing affected you deeper than I had anticipated. Speaking as a lover of Carl Orff, however I really shouldn’t criticize too harshly.

  41. 41.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 5, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    @burnspbesq: Oh, man, that may be the worst single ever recorded, and I’m a McCartneybot who thinks Lennon is spectacularly overrated and kind of a dick.

  42. 42.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    Oh, Sanders…YES!

  43. 43.

    You Don't Say

    December 5, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    Polamalu is a fucking stud!

  44. 44.

    John - A Motley Moose

    December 5, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    @The Dangerman: It hasn’t gotten any better. At least, when you factor in the injuries. Suh got a bad call today. It happened on the Bears’ go-ahead touchdown drive. It wasn’t the deciding factor in the game, but it was just one more thing to complain about for Lions fans. As if we needed anything else. I watch sports to get away from politics and end up listening to Lions fans sound just like the left blogosphere.

    The Lions lost to a better team today. They led most of the game and couldn’t close it out in the second half. That’s been a recurrent theme all year. The only saving grace is that they haven’t given up yet. They are still in there fighting every game. Well, every game, except that 2 game stretch after the loss to the Bills.

    They’ll get a good draft pick in the next draft. Maybe they can trade it for a top-caliber offensive lineman. It would be nice to see a Lions quarterback make it through a game without losing body parts.

  45. 45.

    Corner Stone

    December 5, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    Dude, Stillers just want this game more.

  46. 46.

    The Dangerman

    December 5, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    OK, it was outside the pocket AND a forward pass, but how is that not grounding? Shouldn’t there be a “I’m calling bullshit” clause in that rule?

  47. 47.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    And that should be that. Phooey and double phooey. Oh, well – it was a good fight.

  48. 48.

    Corner Stone

    December 5, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    Bully Pulpit!!

  49. 49.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:27 pm

    @JohnR:

    But wait! There’s more! Now, how much would you pay?

  50. 50.

    jeffreyw

    December 5, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    I am flabberghasted, and confuzzled by this scene. I think we have entered the Twilight zone…dum dum dum dum…dum dum dum dum…

  51. 51.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    The first time I saw Flacco play, I KNEW he was going to drive Steeler fans crazy.

  52. 52.

    Stillwater

    December 5, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    @JohnR: Ya inverse-jinxed em.

  53. 53.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    @Stillwater:

    hehehe

  54. 54.

    John Cole

    December 5, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    Breathing exercises.

  55. 55.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    NMcFadden! Again!

    What a man! Give him a bonus!

  56. 56.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    December 5, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    @FlipYrWhig:

    and I’m a McCartneybot who thinks Lennon is spectacularly overrated and kind of a dick.

    Did you really say that out loud?

  57. 57.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    What the hell is your target audience?

    Me. (Essentially good-hearted, more than slightly bent, with zero tolerance for schmaltzy crap.)

    @The Dangerman: “Happy Xmas” is my favorite Christmas song ever. First on my list, if you noticed. Paul McCartney earned himself some bad karma with “Wonderful Christmastime”, though. Like getting in a fender-bender or getting hosed for sixty million dollars by his ex-wife or something.

    @Yutsano: Of COURSE I want to get goofy! Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? I listed this, for Christ’s sake!

  58. 58.

    jeffreyw

    December 5, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    And to all a good night. Drugs kickin in.

  59. 59.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    Uncatchable? ? Gee ya THINK? ? ?

  60. 60.

    Zach

    December 5, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    It’s too bad Ben didn’t rape Chris Collinsworth; I think he’d like it… he’s even enamored with big Ben’s big shoe. This game is great. I feel bad for the 8th string tackles and tight ends having to stop Suggs, though.

    This game shows why Rice gets more snaps than McGahee… Flacco’d be way worse off than a broken nose without him even if he’s missed a couple blocks.

  61. 61.

    Yutsano

    December 5, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: Absolutely technically he typed it. But it’s out there now. Fame is fleeting, but the Internet is forever. Until the sun goes nova anyway.

  62. 62.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    @Zach:
    Rice runs better, too. Another shot of pepto!

    Almoooooooooost.

  63. 63.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    What the hell is your target audience?

    Me. (Essentially good-hearted, more than slightly bent, with zero tolerance for schmaltzy crap.)

    @The Dangerman: “Happy Xmas” is my favorite Christmas song ever. First on my list, if you noticed. Paul McCartney earned himself some bad karma with “Wonderful Christmastime”, though. Like getting in a fender-bender or getting hosed for sixty million dollars by his ex-wife or something.

    @Yutsano: Of COURSE I want to get goofy! Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? I listed this, for Christ’s sake!

  64. 64.

    burnspbesq

    December 5, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    @Yutsano:

    “O Fortuna” may be eerily appropriate now that the Steelers have taken the lead.

    Statu variabilis this, Ravens fans.

  65. 65.

    Zach

    December 5, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    I’m in Baltimore and there’s no way I’d kick into this wind. My dog won’t even go out in it and he hates staying inside.

  66. 66.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    YEEEEESSSSS ! ! ! !

  67. 67.

    Corner Stone

    December 5, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    Alligator arms

  68. 68.

    jaywillie

    December 5, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    what a stupid call by Harbaught go for it. No timeouts, under 40 seconds, fourth down…you have to kick it.

  69. 69.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    God. WHY am I in moderation?!

  70. 70.

    Captain Goto

    December 5, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    Whooo.

  71. 71.

    sherifffruitfly

    December 5, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    wtf was wrong with flaco on that last pass? Shoulda been easy-breezy.

    Damn good game by both teams though. And the good guys won. woot!

  72. 72.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    December 5, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    Great game. Sucks to lose at home but ya gotta hand it to the Steelers D for coming up big.

  73. 73.

    BruceFromOhio

    December 5, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    Stillers notch a win on fvckups, blood and concussions. Ah, AFC North.

  74. 74.

    asiangrrlMN

    December 5, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    Yawn. So, apparently I missed Cole opening a second Stillers thread. I will repeat. I saw Ben’s broken nose over and over again. Then, I snoozed, only to wake up in time to see Troy Polamalu’s strip and the subsequent Stillers TD. In other words, I saw everything important!

    @JohnR: Polamalu is BETTER than Lewis. Harrumph.

  75. 75.

    You Don't Say

    December 5, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    Great game. Phew!

  76. 76.

    The Dangerman

    December 5, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    @jaywillie:

    …you have to kick it.

    Unless he’s got money on the game, you HAVE to kick that ball. Unbelievable.

  77. 77.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Well, Ben’s a hell of a QB. And Polamolu is almost as good as Ray. Course Ray is a few years older…
    And so, off to bed.

  78. 78.

    Zach

    December 5, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Nice touch. Oh well, looking forward to the next match-up. Hopefully we’ll figure out how to not let blitzers run untouched to the quarterback if this is repeated in the playoffs… Flacco’s fumble could’ve easily happened on two or three other plays.

  79. 79.

    Kdrtoona

    December 5, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Ahem….
    Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
    That is all….

  80. 80.

    JohnR

    December 5, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    @suzanne:

    Bad taste in music?

  81. 81.

    Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle

    December 5, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    @Zach: Have you seen Cundiff’s kick-offs? He’s been booting them out of the back of the end zone? He has the leg.

  82. 82.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    @JohnR:

    Bad taste in music?

    Hey. Step off.

  83. 83.

    Yutsano

    December 5, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    @suzanne: I am now advising all my female friends for situations that warrant it: aim for the balls. Hitting a man’s jewels is the single best way of taking him down, with the added plus that it’s humiliating.

  84. 84.

    J.W. Hamner

    December 5, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    Grudging gratz to the Steelers. Painful loss at home.

    Not really sure how Flacco managed to miss that pass… and I’m totally fine with Harbaugh going for it.

  85. 85.

    jaywillie

    December 5, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    @The Dangerman: It was what? A 52-yd attempt? I know they had the wind going against them, but Cundiff has leg power and is accurate…I just don’t understand that call at all. Harbaugh’s in for a rough week in Baltimore I think.

    And Polamalu…again, steps up, makes a play late, and gives the Steelers a chance to win.

  86. 86.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 5, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: Meh, I like pop better than boundary-pushing. Late Lennon grates on me, and then you add to that his reputation for being so thoughtful and intellectual. Of course McCartney has been declining for decades. But in terms of Beatles and post-Beatles, I definitely prefer McCartney’s low points to Lennon’s low points. Lennon has a few very high highs, but McCartney has more, lower highs, if that makes sense.

    Actually the guy who’s underappreciated is Harrison, but everyone says that.

  87. 87.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    @Yutsano:

    I am now advising all my female friends for situations that warrant it: aim for the balls.

    Sweetie, I grew up in New York. I know. :)

  88. 88.

    Comrade Luke

    December 5, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    This fucking playoff change talk is ridiculous. I can totally get behind (maybe) reseeding based on records, but I don’t care about the team’s record if they win their division – they should be in the playoffs.

    All it is is a bunch of fucking whining over an issue that happens…when has it ever happened before this year? Ever?

  89. 89.

    The Dangerman

    December 5, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    @jaywillie:

    It was what? A 52-yd attempt?

    Just looked it up; he had a long of 62 in college. Even with wind, ya gotta take the shot at it.

    Only concern I might have is there were 35 or so seconds on the clock; with BR’s habit of pulling winning drives out of his ass, I’d factor that in … and still kick the fucking ball.

    No clue on the spread, but if it was a Pick ‘Em, I’m sending Harbaugh a stocking of coal.

  90. 90.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 5, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    @sherifffruitfly:

    wtf was wrong with flaco on that last pass? Shoulda been easy-breezy.

    Looked like he changed his motion so he wouldn’t throw it into the oncoming rusher’s hands. Floop.

  91. 91.

    Martin

    December 5, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    Heh, now that the game is over, I wonder if Cole will realize that the kids have spent the last 3 hours in the basement of ABLs thread fucking the livestock.

  92. 92.

    Bnut

    December 5, 2010 at 11:49 pm

    The NFL went for parity. Instead they got parody. I didn’t write that line, but eh 49ers make it true.

  93. 93.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    December 5, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @FlipYrWhig:

    Meh, I like pop better than boundary-pushing.

    You’d love my new jukebox. Over the years, I’ve collected every Top 40 hit from 1955 to 1989.

  94. 94.

    Zach

    December 5, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle: This is like the Colts/Pats game. Common wisdom says kick/punt but not if you look at the stats. Cundiff is capable of kicking it far, but only if it’s low. He has a miserable record on 50+ yard field goals (4/13; never made one in Baltimore) and that was 49 yards with winds gusting 30 or 40mph assuming the weather’s similar a mile and a half from here. I’d give him favorable odds of making it but not much over 50%. Then you’ve got a 50% chance of winning in overtime. If there’s a 50% chance of making it on 4th down, a 20% chance of scoring a touchdown from the 30, and a 70% chance of making a field goal from the 30, the odds for each choice are about identical.

  95. 95.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: In my comment that is apparently so raunchy that a grown-up needs to give it the A-OK, I said that McCartney earned himself some seriously bad karma with that damn Christmas track of his. I think that’s why his ex-wife took sixty million of his dollars. All in all, though, I love Paul, and I think he’s great. But one must atone.

    I concur with you on Harrison, though. This song is so damn great.

  96. 96.

    Comrade Luke

    December 5, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @Martin:

    (briefly takes a look at the ABL thread).

    Wow, the inmates took over the asylum over there. And all while I’m over here complaining about the NFL :)

  97. 97.

    Yutsano

    December 5, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    @Bnut: The things you wish you had thought of first eh?

    @suzanne: Duly noted, and I now feel sorry for your husband when your labor hits. Might I suggest him NOT being in the room when the space alien comes out?

  98. 98.

    burnspbesq

    December 5, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    OT, but the extent to which Boise State got hosed by the bowl powers that be is truly mind-boggling. The Las Vegas Bowl? Before Christmas? Unpossible. And Kellen Moore is going to get hosed by the Heisman voters as well (albeit not nearly as much as Andrew Luck is going to get hosed).

  99. 99.

    jwb

    December 5, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    @Martin: Yes, John came over and told us to get off his lawn.

  100. 100.

    suzanne

    December 5, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    @Yutsano:

    Might I suggest him NOT being in the room when the space alien comes out?

    Oh, he’s not in any danger. Last time, though, I needed to be restrained from slapping the anesthesiologist. I ended up just shouting swear words and referring to him as “Dr. Mengele”.

  101. 101.

    Comrade Luke

    December 5, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    I was going to mention that. Just completely insulting to Boise St, and it just has the ring of a bunch of privileged fucks getting together to screw over the little guy.

    ETA: So far I haven’t seen any articles talking about this either. Very annoying.

  102. 102.

    Yutsano

    December 5, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    @burnspbesq: We call that sports life west of the Mississippi. There’s an up and coming sophomore quarterback at Washington State that will light up the fucking field by the time he’s a senior that I bet you’ll never hear of again.

  103. 103.

    JWL

    December 5, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    You should charge Tomlin for your advice, Cole.

  104. 104.

    sherifffruitfly

    December 5, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    To some degree I agree with you about bcs hosing bsu, but on the other hand, bsu was only 1-and-1 versus decent teams (both of whom were clearly not as good as bsu). So I can kinda see both sides.

  105. 105.

    Seebach

    December 6, 2010 at 12:00 am

    Apparently, the government was stupid enough to list all facilities vital to US security in a fucking list:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11923766

    I hate everyone.

  106. 106.

    arguingwithsignposts

    December 6, 2010 at 12:00 am

    @suzanne: late but what the hell. My fav. christmas song (robert earl keen style!)

  107. 107.

    JWL

    December 6, 2010 at 12:03 am

    “Mets general manager Sandy Alderson seemed to think Werth got the better end of the deal”.

    That noted, after the Washington Nationals drove a dump truck onto free agent Werth’s front lawn, and emptied $126 million dollars onto the outfielder’s lawn.

  108. 108.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 12:04 am

    @Yutsano:

    The things you wish you had thought of first eh?

    Chapstick, toilet paper and Four Loko.

  109. 109.

    burnspbesq

    December 6, 2010 at 12:05 am

    @JWL:

    Scott Boras could teach Bradley Manning a thing or two about stealing and not getting caught.

  110. 110.

    The Dangerman

    December 6, 2010 at 12:05 am

    @burnspbesq:

    And Kellen Moore is going to get hosed by the Heisman voters as well…

    Wouldn’t worry much about that; Newton has a dead solid lock on it.

  111. 111.

    jwb

    December 6, 2010 at 12:06 am

    @Seebach: Cue Matoko_Chan…

  112. 112.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 12:08 am

    @jwb: I know, cuz AQ is going to blow up trans-oceanic comm lines and defense systems factories. Sounds more like a job for anarchists, or the CIA.

  113. 113.

    burnspbesq

    December 6, 2010 at 12:10 am

    @The Dangerman:

    One one level, I’m not troubled by that. There is a decent argument for Newton being the best player in college football this year. But I think there is a real possibility that at the next level, he’s going to be the second coming of Ryan Leaf, while Luck will have a long and distinguished career (second-best Stanford QB, behind Elway and ahead of Plunkett?), and Moore will cash a lot of decent checks as a backup.

  114. 114.

    suzanne

    December 6, 2010 at 12:11 am

    @jwb:

    Cue Matoko_Chan…

    dose stupid cudlips r teh SUXXORZZZZZ.

    Sorry. I can’t do it.

  115. 115.

    arguingwithsignposts

    December 6, 2010 at 12:12 am

    @jwb:
    i hate you with the heat of a thousand suns if she shows up, cudlip.

  116. 116.

    freelancer

    December 6, 2010 at 12:14 am

    @suzanne:

    It takes practice. And I’m a helluva mimic, in real life as well.

  117. 117.

    MoeLarryAndJesus

    December 6, 2010 at 12:15 am

    The Steelers/Ravens game was epic, but I’d just like to report that the Patriots beat both of them already this year.

    And tonight the Jets will be added to that list.

  118. 118.

    jwb

    December 6, 2010 at 12:16 am

    @Bnut: I’m amused by her ability to spin every ridiculous aspect of the Wikileaks stuff into a harbinger of the coming revolution. And if I have to watch disasters unfold, I find Wikileaks more bearable to contemplate than Congress.

  119. 119.

    Darkrose

    December 6, 2010 at 12:17 am

    @suzanne: @suzanne: Dick in a Box!

  120. 120.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 12:17 am

    @suzanne: You really shouldn’t do things like that to your brain. It doesn’t make for a happy marriage or a happy parenthood.

    @burnspbesq:

    But I think there is a real possibility that at the next level, he’s going to be the second coming of Ryan Leaf, while Luck will have a long and distinguished career (second-best Stanford QB, behind Elway and ahead of Plunkett?), and Moore will cash a lot of decent checks as a backup.

    The Heisman, technically, isn’t supposed to be about that. But they really should take character into account before giving out the award. Reggie Bush was forced to give his back after all the crap he got away with at USC (and yes I know the biggest enabler of all that now coaches the Seachickens, do NOT get me started!) and I get the feeling Newton may not totally be in the clear with all his shenanigans. I’m fully aware I can’t make the Heisman voters see sense, but ar least a few of them have to wonder if they’re handing out a trophy they’ll just have to take back later.

    And I’d go with Luck over Moore in your scenario, as much as that kills me to say. He’s just a better overall game manager.

  121. 121.

    suzanne

    December 6, 2010 at 12:19 am

    @Darkrose: Hot damn, how did I forget that one?!

    “Merry F—ing Christmas” from “South Park” is also fabulous.

  122. 122.

    burnspbesq

    December 6, 2010 at 12:22 am

    @MoeLarryAndJesus:

    And tonight the Jets will be added to that list.

    There are drugs that your doctor can prescribe that will cure your delusions.

  123. 123.

    suzanne

    December 6, 2010 at 12:22 am

    @freelancer: My mom was an English teacher. If I even attempt to mimic matoko’s verbal vomit, I hear my mom’s voice screaming at me, “That’s not even A WORD!!!”

  124. 124.

    jwb

    December 6, 2010 at 12:25 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: You know she’s coming:

    If the system killer works, the closed US system collapses. Assange is field testing a closed information system killer. This is why Wikileaks drips out the cables one an hour. The US is keystone cops. They are using 20 year old technology. Assange is a cyber-insurgent, the Crown Prince of Hacktivism and his system killer is the New Paradigm. He has just released his fifth column.

  125. 125.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:25 am

    @JWL: Can you imagine?
    What a clusterfuck of a deal for the rest of the league.
    More power to Werth though.

  126. 126.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:27 am

    @jwb: She’s actually not wrong.

  127. 127.

    JWL

    December 6, 2010 at 12:29 am

    @MoeLarryAndJesus:

    M.L.&Jesus: I’m no gambler. A once-in-a-blue moon twenty dollar bet looms large with me. And there has yet to be the game played in which I’d bet against Tom Brady.

    But I predict the Jets will whip the Pats tomorrow night. Youth and hunger will be served.

  128. 128.

    arguingwithsignposts

    December 6, 2010 at 12:29 am

    @Corner Stone:
    She’s partly wrong because she thinks /b/ is the way the world should run. What is so hard to understand about that, cudlip?

  129. 129.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 12:30 am

    @Corner Stone: You’ll forgive me if I don’t declare Assagne the 21st Century cyber-Messiah. In fact, I’m going with my theory he’s just a big douchebag with a chip on his shoulder regarding the US.

  130. 130.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 6, 2010 at 12:30 am

    @Corner Stone: Reminds me of that huge Carlos Beltran deal. Werth strikes me as the kind of guy who’s going to keep getting hurt as he ages.

  131. 131.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:32 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: Ooooh. Ouch.

  132. 132.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:33 am

    @Yutsano: No I won’t forgive you. Because that will reveal a bias that doesn’t comport with reality.
    If you’re not clear on what is happening here it has nothing to do with M_C’s ability to use standard English.

  133. 133.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 12:35 am

    @Corner Stone: I’d be happy if I agreed with you. I think releasing the fail safe doc he does now (which has business stuff in it) would be a better way to start the revolt. But it won’t. I’m trying to imagine a detail he could release that would be game changer.

  134. 134.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:35 am

    @FlipYrWhig: Now you’re wounding me. Because Beltran left my Stro’s to go to NYM.
    Dude was so silky smooth in the OF, and had easy power to spare.
    Great arm, etc.

  135. 135.

    burnspbesq

    December 6, 2010 at 12:35 am

    Heavy rain in Adelaide. Looks like another draw. The Ashes is going to be a best-of-three series.

  136. 136.

    MikeBoyScout

    December 6, 2010 at 12:37 am

    Thanks to the intertubes am listening to the Stiller post game on DVE.

    John, u’r a smart man but u ain’t as smart as Tomlin is in managing a game.

    The Stillers are 9-3 not because they are more talented, but because of their leadership.

    Obama should do a week’s internship with Coach Tomllin and Coach Dad.

  137. 137.

    burnspbesq

    December 6, 2010 at 12:37 am

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Ya gotta love someone whose entire world-view is derived from bad science fiction books.

  138. 138.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 6, 2010 at 12:38 am

    @Corner Stone: I saw Beltran play in single-A. Wilmington Blue Rocks vs. Lynchburg Hillcats, Wilmington DE. Lynchburg’s 3B was Aramis Ramirez. Neither Beltran nor Ramirez did anything of note in the game. I was there to see a new pitching pheenom who everyone agreed would be one of the best of the next few years: Kris Benson. That didn’t work out according to plan.

  139. 139.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:38 am

    @Bnut: The game changer has already happened.
    I don’t know why I have to keep pointing this out to people on the intertubes.
    Are we all Ted Stevens now?

  140. 140.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 12:38 am

    @Corner Stone: I didn’t even mention her. And I could give a shit about her English abilities or her chosen distortions, pedantic tendencies that I have. I don’t see Assange as some great noble David fighting the American Goliath here. He is wanting some as of yet unknown selfish benefit, and without knowing his exact motivation I’m going with douchebag. And no his rantings don’t cut it.

    @FlipYrWhig: Well played good sir. Well played.

  141. 141.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 6, 2010 at 12:39 am

    @burnspbesq:

    Ya gotta love someone whose entire world-view is derived from bad science fiction books.

    She’s a Scientologist?

  142. 142.

    The Dangerman

    December 6, 2010 at 12:39 am

    @burnspbesq:

    …he’s going to be the second coming of Ryan Leaf.

    Leaf, now there was a waste; million dollar arm, vacuum in the head, possibly induced through Roid Rage. Newton’s dirty along with his Dad … and I’d laugh if he busts in the League and/or has to give back the Heisman.

  143. 143.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 12:39 am

    @burnspbesq: Tim Nielsen is an awesome coach. The Aussies have it. I hope.

  144. 144.

    jaywillie

    December 6, 2010 at 12:39 am

    @The Dangerman: @The Dangerman: It would have been 49 yards, so I was off by 3…still, he seems to have the leg strength to kick it, even in that wind (good info on his college longest).

    After the game Harbaugh said he picked the play that gave him the highest percentage chance to win. Even if you make the pass, it looked like it would only be about a five yard gain, plus you run at least ten seconds off the clock getting back to the line and spiking the ball. Maybe that improves your chances somewhat, but it doesn’t seem worth the risk of an incomplete pass or turnover. If it’s incomplete, you have no chance of scoring; but even if you kick, with the wind as a factor, you have a guaranteed chance of scoring. Gotta think kicking is the higher percentage play there. Maybe Cundiff told Harbaugh he didn’t think he could make it from 49, but he seemed to be booming kickoffs all night, even against the wind.

  145. 145.

    jwb

    December 6, 2010 at 12:41 am

    @Corner Stone: We’ll see. I remain skeptical, but I watch with interest. If she’s right, it won’t be pretty, and we will get to experience the unleashing of full crazy.

  146. 146.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:41 am

    @FlipYrWhig: Can’t comment on A ball. But man that kid could fly in the OF, so easy like Griffey JR in his prime. Like he wasn’t even thinking about getting to the ball.
    And at the plate he would turn on a ball. Damn.
    Oh well.

  147. 147.

    Chuck Butcher

    December 6, 2010 at 12:42 am

    I’m pretty pleased, came off my cold snowy/icy roof to find Browns 13 – Dolphins 10 and the miserable Ravens beaten. Maybe post Xmas I’ll get a present in Browns v cRavens.

  148. 148.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:43 am

    @Yutsano: That’s fine. I’m ok with letting this hash itself out.

  149. 149.

    burnspbesq

    December 6, 2010 at 12:43 am

    @Bnut:

    The fucking Poms have looked awfully good so far.

  150. 150.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 12:44 am

    @Corner Stone: You are pointing it out on Balloon Juice is the problem. You want to hold some signs, lock some arms and protest? You got em in spades my friend. But there is no draft, that is the game changer.

  151. 151.

    freelancer

    December 6, 2010 at 12:44 am

    @FlipYrWhig:

    Heh. But also decent pop science fiction.

    It gets ridiculous, after a fashion, when she doesn’t made a distinction that the narratives are about ideas, and the fiction of them is disregarded. This is how Serenity’s Mr. Universe becomes identical to Julian Assange in her mind. Everything fiction is relegated to the gravity of prophecy; she has no suspension of disbelief.

  152. 152.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 12:44 am

    @Corner Stone: We’ll leave it there then.

    And I hope you got to see Griffey live when he could still hustle. Dear Allah he was amazing.

  153. 153.

    The Dangerman

    December 6, 2010 at 12:46 am

    @Corner Stone:

    Can’t comment on A ball. But man that kid could fly in the OF, so easy like Griffey JR in his prime.

    Interesting you should say that; I saw Griffey Jr in A ball. Just a kid but had greatness written all over him. It was with the San Bernardino Spirit; shittiest stadium ever, it was well before some of these really nice Minor League parks.

  154. 154.

    Chuck Butcher

    December 6, 2010 at 12:46 am

    @JWL: Let’s see, both teams beat the Browns who beat the Pats… heh

    can I have that finger back from that eye now?

  155. 155.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 12:49 am

    @burnspbesq: Fucking lobsterbacks couldn’t bowl if Christ himself was playing.

  156. 156.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:49 am

    @Yutsano: That’s why I used Griffey as a goalpost. Dude was silk. Made everything seem like he just recently thought about catching that fly ball.

  157. 157.

    RadioOne

    December 6, 2010 at 12:49 am

    @MoeLarryAndJesus Naw, as a huge Pats fan, I’m not buying this, not with so many division games being played out during this season like they were playoff games, and not with the Pats D playing as dismal as it has this season. The Jets have also had the last month and a half to think about the new Pats offense sans Moss. I think Monday night is going to be a really hard game for the Pats to win.

  158. 158.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 12:50 am

    @The Dangerman: He made the pros when he was like 20. IIRC

  159. 159.

    Comrade Luke

    December 6, 2010 at 12:51 am

    @The Dangerman:

    I think a better comparison than Ryan Leaf is Vince Young when talking about Newton. Young had more talent, but less upstairs. I read somewhere that he had the lowest Wunderlick score ever posted. It’ll be interesting to see how Newton does on that.

  160. 160.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 12:53 am

    @Corner Stone: Griffey makes me so sad. If he wasn’t made of glass…..

  161. 161.

    The Dangerman

    December 6, 2010 at 12:57 am

    @Corner Stone:

    He made the pros when he was like 20.

    Young enough so he and his Pops could hit HR’s in the same game; I sat in the Kingdome a few times watching him (I have family in Seattle and spent a few years there). That family connection was how I ended up seeing him in A ball; Sister and BIL are bigtime Mariner fans and wanted to see Junior in San Bernardino. He wasn’t in town very long;-)

    I don’t recall much of Jr.’s game other than he was a purebred, but I do recall seeing Ichiro in a game at the new San Bernardino (CA) stadium (much more recently, obviously). Put on one of the best BP performances I’ve ever seen as to HR’s (I mean, LONG HR’s; Dude has some pop if he wants it).

  162. 162.

    Bob Loblaw

    December 6, 2010 at 12:59 am

    @Yutsano:

    He is wanting some as of yet unknown selfish benefit, and without knowing his exact motivation I’m going with douchebag.

    That’s just silly. What, is he in it for the money? Because there isn’t any. Is he just looking to become a global celebrity and get laid all the time? It would be irresponsible not to speculate…

    You’re being patriotic, fine. You don’t like seeing the US get humiliated when other superpowers deserve it just as much. But if wikileaks made Russia its special project instead of the US, just admit that you wouldn’t care one whit about what it turned up, and would simultaneously have absolutely nothing to say about its largely-irrelevant founder or his character.

  163. 163.

    Martin

    December 6, 2010 at 1:01 am

    @Corner Stone: Yeah, could be a game changer. That outcome hasn’t been written yet, though. They need to leak non-US intel. They need to put corporate leaks out there. They need to do it even when they’re being squeezed.

    They need to show that this is sustainable over time and under pressure.

    If not them, someone else will manage it, but it might be a while. I don’t think what they’ve done so far is enough to have any structural impact. It’s not the damage or volume of the intel, but the variety of sources that will matter in the end.

    And MC is still an idiot.

  164. 164.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 6, 2010 at 1:02 am

    @Comrade Luke: JaMarcus Russell says hello. And Tim Tebow. These hybrid QBs don’t pan out very well. Then again, I’m shocked that Michael Vick has had the year he’s had.

  165. 165.

    suzanne

    December 6, 2010 at 1:03 am

    @freelancer:

    Everything fiction is relegated to the gravity of prophecy; she has no suspension of disbelief.

    Her histrionics are what I find alternately hilarious and pathetic. Every disagreement is a personal attack, and every event serves only to burnish her ego. I’ve never seen someone who purports to be so smart who is so uninterested in learning about anything. It’s really amusing, though I suppose I should feel badly for constantly sniping at someone so obviously insecure.

    But I’m really an eleven-year-old boy trapped in a 30-year-old chick’s body. So I keep taunting.

  166. 166.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 1:07 am

    @Martin: Agreed. Put out the shit about corporations. I think people are much more likely to throw concrete chunks at those who take their money as opposed to their e-mail. Granted, both deserve a dented skull, but priorities people!

  167. 167.

    The Dangerman

    December 6, 2010 at 1:08 am

    @suzanne:

    But I’m really an eleven-year-old boy trapped in a 30-year-old chick’s body.

    At 11 years old, I would … oh, nevermind.

  168. 168.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 1:10 am

    @The Dangerman:

    At 11 years old, I would … oh, nevermind.

    Narfled the garthok?

  169. 169.

    Comrade Luke

    December 6, 2010 at 1:11 am

    @FlipYrWhig:

    Vick might not make it the whole season, considering how much he’s getting hit. He’s clearly the best of the bunch, but…yea, I know what you mean. I have to deal with people talking up Jake Locker on a daily basis.

  170. 170.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 1:12 am

    @Bob Loblaw:

    You’re being patriotic, fine.

    Mmm, not so much. But thanks for attributing a motive I don’t have.

    You don’t like seeing the US get humiliated when other superpowers deserve it just as much.

    The worst humiliation is in the ease of access of sensitive information. If anything, Assagne is doing the US a favor here. As far as the information itself being humiliating, only to the diplomats who now have harder jobs to do. But they’ll adjust.

    But if wikileaks made Russia its special project instead of the US, just admit that you wouldn’t care one whit about what it turned up, and would simultaneously have absolutely nothing to say about its largely-irrelevant founder or his character.

    My reaction probably wouldn’t change all that much. If I saw someone single-mindedly going after the Chinese or the Indians, I would question their motives as well. It could be Assagne is trying to be some weird revolutionary against a country he is not a citizen of and really has no true understanding of. Or he’s getting a massive load of kicks out of throwing the US State Department into chaos just because he can. It says more about you that you assume I’m a rah-rah gung ho America First Fuck Yeah!! type just because I find Assange and Wikileaks suspicious. But that’s fine. It just shows you don’t know dick about me and you’re militantly superior in your own mind.

  171. 171.

    Jay in Oregon

    December 6, 2010 at 1:17 am

    @suzanne:

    Of COURSE I want to get goofy! Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? I listed this, for Christ’s sake!

    I can’t believe…

    …that I’ve heard this song before!

  172. 172.

    Comrade Luke

    December 6, 2010 at 1:19 am

    @Yutsano:

    Couldn’t it also be something as simple as: the only information he’s being given is coming from people in the US?

  173. 173.

    The Dangerman

    December 6, 2010 at 1:22 am

    @The Dangerman:

    He wasn’t in town very long;-)

    Had to look it up (these things drive me crazy; yes, I’m a bit A/R and obsessive compulsive):

    Griffey played 58 games for the Spirit. Surprised it was that many….

  174. 174.

    suzanne

    December 6, 2010 at 1:29 am

    I personally am ambivalent about Assange… on the one hand, I generically support greater transparency; on the other, I have doubts about the value of the information he shared having what I would consider a positive effect. However, I do believe wholeheartedly that, in the endgame, what he’s done will diminish transparency in the future—build a better mousetrap, et cetera.

    And, unfortunately, I believe that the majority of the American public is too apathetic for what he’s got to be too much of a game-changer. I mean, this latest release is pretty much just a punchline for Dave Letterman, as far as 98% of the population is concerned. Same as it ever was.

  175. 175.

    Martin

    December 6, 2010 at 1:29 am

    @Comrade Luke: Well, I don’t think that’s the case (if you take him at his word), but you have to start somewhere. I would also argue (over the protestations of quite a few) that starting with the US has a twofold benefit:

    1) It’s just good marketing. If you want be noticed, punch the big kid first.
    2) The US, for its many faults, doesn’t generally go after people like Assange. Yeah, they’ll hassle him, but unless he pulls out something *really* important, I think we’ll leave him be. He’s got access to the NYT now. He’ll likely get other media benefactors. I think he’s safer now than before people knew who he was. Won’t stop Israel or China from popping him though.

  176. 176.

    Corner Stone

    December 6, 2010 at 1:30 am

    @Martin: Why? Why do any of your parameters set the baseline for this event?

  177. 177.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 1:30 am

    @Comrade Luke: This is true as far as the released diplomatic cables are concerned since they are traceable to a single source (Manning, talk about stupid things to do when you’re young) so unless Assagne and Wikileaks are just sitting on a fuck ton more information you could be right here. But it was my understanding they collected what they could then decided what should and should not go out.

  178. 178.

    Bob Loblaw

    December 6, 2010 at 1:34 am

    @Comrade Luke:

    Of course not, Comrade, that would be ridiculous.

    It’s far more likely that Assange is taking the thousands and thousands of Nigerian leaker contributions and throwing them in the trash, right alongside the insider documents from within the PRC’s inner sanctum. Because clearly it’s really super easy to find online sources in autocratic countries with underdeveloped data networks and infrastructures, and not bloated Western nations instead…

    @Yutsano:

    really has no true understanding of.

    Ah yes, you totally have no nationalistic motivations here. Indeed.

    Just for kicks, what pray tell, is Assange guilty of “not understanding” about the US?

  179. 179.

    Morbo

    December 6, 2010 at 1:36 am

    Also, it is only an illegal hit when the Steelers do it.

    Q: What’s the thing Cole misses the most about being a Republican?

    A: Trick question, thanks to his Steelers fandom he didn’t have to give up the persecution complex.

  180. 180.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 1:37 am

    @Morbo: Ouch. I winced and LOLed at the same time.

  181. 181.

    Ross Hershberger

    December 6, 2010 at 1:39 am

    Book recommendation. For the last month I’ve only been able to get to sleep thanks to String Theory and particle physics. But after 458 pages I’m done. Re-reading the part about Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle bought be a couple more nights of early slumber. I’m afraid if I don’t have something dull to look at at bedtime I’ll never sleep again.
    It’s 1:40 am and I’m a little scared.

  182. 182.

    Comrade Luke

    December 6, 2010 at 1:40 am

    @Bob Loblaw:

    I see, so there’s the US on the one hand, and Nigeria on the other. No in between.

    Gotcha.

  183. 183.

    freelancer

    December 6, 2010 at 1:42 am

    @suzanne:

    I do think her approach to the inarticulate is a badge of honor she wears in order to be above the fray. Cudlips adhere to grammar. The New Order of human thinking is raw, and the encryption is inherent in the message. Couple that with the self-important Delusions of Grandeur WRT to the scifi allusions, and you have a young person who does possess intelligence, and who knows, her grasp of higher end science may be daunting, but is going about the art of communication all wrong.

    Here’s the thing. Especially with this site. It is filled to the brim with what anyone might/should call expertise. Cole is an ABD. Tom Levenson is a novelist with a large background in science. Tim F and anti-Obot polemic WyldPirate are no-shit actual scientists. DougJ works in the field as well, but I’m not sure of his professional background, and that’s the whole point.

    We don’t talk about it, because we aren’t here to measure dicksize vis a vis our resume’s or CV’s. Here is a place that, even intelligent, reasonable, well-rounded folks can mix it up without regard how we look on paper, so long as we act as intelligent, reasonable, well-minded human beings.

  184. 184.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 1:42 am

    @Ross Hershberger: Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard. Not only will you appreciate just how fucking bad of a writer he was, you’ll be bored out of your mind. Plus it’s 1200 pages long. He refused to ever have it edited. It shows. And yes I did. How my brain survived intact is one of the mysteries of the universe.

  185. 185.

    Bob Loblaw

    December 6, 2010 at 1:43 am

    @Comrade Luke:

    I have no idea what your concern is here. Your post is inexplicable.

  186. 186.

    Bnut

    December 6, 2010 at 1:46 am

    @Ross Hershberger: Anything having to do with the Krebs cyle or the Air Force.

  187. 187.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 1:48 am

    @freelancer:

    We don’t talk about it, because we aren’t here to measure dicksize vis a vis our resume’s or CV’s. Here is a place that, even intelligent, reasonable, well-rounded folks can mix it up without regard how we look on paper, so long as we act as intelligent, reasonable, well-minded human beings.

    It’s been said before, but it’s definitely worth saying again: this blog is fucking Cheers. We’re a place that folks go to at the end of the day to relax and hang out and unwind and bitch and all that. Some of us like each other more than others, but we all contribute to the fabric of this place. It’s why the massive emo of the last week hasn’t bugged me: we’ve been down this road before, and we’ll go down there again. And we’ll still have the damn bar at the end.

    @Bnut: No interservice wars please. And Hanukkah Samayach BTW.

  188. 188.

    Jay in Oregon

    December 6, 2010 at 1:48 am

    @Yutsano:

    Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard. Not only will you appreciate just how fucking bad of a writer he was, you’ll be bored out of your mind. Plus it’s 1200 pages long. He refused to ever have it edited. It shows. And yes I did. How my brain survived intact is one of the mysteries of the universe.

    Pfft. I see your Battlefield Earth and raise you ALL TEN VOLUMES of Mission: Earth

  189. 189.

    suzanne

    December 6, 2010 at 1:54 am

    @freelancer:

    Here’s the thing. Especially with this site. It is filled to the brim with what anyone might/should call expertise. Cole is an ABD. Tom Levenson is a novelist with a large background in science. Tim F and anti-Obot polemic WyldPirate are no-shit actual scientists. DougJ works in the field as well, but I’m not sure of his professional background, and that’s the whole point.

    Absolutely. The vast majority of commenters here are intelligent and articulate and witty, and have respect for each other’s specific arenas of knowledge. Which is what makes it enjoyable and stimulating.

    I’ve never met someone I considered truly intelligent who wasn’t also humble. Ive found an inverse relationship between how intelligent someone genuinely is with how much they try to convince me of same.

  190. 190.

    Martin

    December 6, 2010 at 1:56 am

    @Corner Stone: They don’t. But I work in one of these bureaucratic agencies, so I’ll profess some expertise on how they think.

    Their focus won’t be on what gets published. There’s nothing they can do about that and they know it. Their focus will be on the leaks. If this is one leak, they’ll chalk it up as an anecdotal event, not worthy of much change in operating procedure. Their worry will be that with an outlet for this information, that will motivate more leaks. And with so many people with access to information, there’s going to be takers. But evidence of that dynamic will need to surface for anything meaningful to change.

    Though I guess it all depends on what everyone thinks the goal should be. Whether the goal is to change the nature of the security state or the goal is to just get info out there and keep it out there. I think the goal is (and should be) the former while minimizing the latter.

  191. 191.

    Ross Hershberger

    December 6, 2010 at 1:57 am

    @Yutsano:
    I actually read Battlefield Earth a long time ago. Hubbard would just piss me off now, which is not conducive to sleep. I have a thing for long books. Gravity’s Rainbow, The Baroque Cycle, Infinite Jest, Atlas Shrugged, Mason & Dixon.
    I could not get through Against the Day. Way too fragmented even for a masochist like me.
    I have some algebra I need to get through for a project. maybe tha twill see me off to slumberland.

  192. 192.

    suzanne

    December 6, 2010 at 2:01 am

    @Ross Hershberger: Try Underworld by DeLillo, and Ulysses, of course.

  193. 193.

    Martin

    December 6, 2010 at 2:02 am

    @Ross Hershberger: Take a lap through Gravitation sometime. If general relativity and differential geometry doesn’t put you out, few things will.

  194. 194.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 2:05 am

    @Ross Hershberger: I read Gone with the Wind when I was in high school. To be honest it really isn’t all that terrible. But there are parts especially in the first half that drag out forever. and Vivien Leigh does really do Scarlett justice, she really was that much of a bitch.

  195. 195.

    Anne Laurie

    December 6, 2010 at 2:23 am

    @suzanne: __

    I’ve found an inverse relationship between how intelligent someone genuinely is with how much they try to convince me of same.

    Lady, you have never been to a science fiction / popcult / comix convention, have you? If it weren’t for the Stanford-Binet version of dickmeasuring, a lot of the people I knew when I was in my 20s would have had no conversational topics whatsoever. And some of them have grown up to be actual rocket scientists. That’s the thing — we all do stuff when we’re young that we should have the grace to be ashamed of later, assuming our boneheadedness doesn’t get us killed first.

  196. 196.

    Yutsano

    December 6, 2010 at 2:29 am

    @Anne Laurie:

    That’s the thing—we all do stuff when we’re young that we should have the grace to be ashamed of later, assuming our boneheadedness doesn’t get us killed first.

    And there are those who SHOULD be dead because of their boneheadedness but still manage to be existing on this mortal coil. It’s the sort of thing that furthers my belief in something keeping an eye out for us. You being an animist you define it how your heart and soul tells you, my religion actually doesn’t consider the FSM heretical per se (since the exact nature of God is unknowable so any theory could conceivably be correct) so the FSM is as good as anything. But yeah, there are lots of folks I look at and wonder how the fuck they’re still breathing.

  197. 197.

    freelancer (itouch)

    December 6, 2010 at 2:30 am

    @Anne Laurie:

    That’s the thing—we all do stuff when we’re young that we should have the grace to be ashamed of later, assuming our boneheadedness doesn’t get us killed first.

    Or an op-ed position at the Washington Post.

  198. 198.

    Martin

    December 6, 2010 at 2:40 am

    Californians should be aware that Brown will be holding a budget event on Wed. Sounds like he’s gonna tell us exactly how fucked we are and lay out a first budget pass. Word is he’s going for cuts so deep in the hopes that the public will support some targeted tax increases in a special election early next year.

  199. 199.

    Chuck Butcher

    December 6, 2010 at 3:27 am

    @Yutsano: I have no excuses, I figured I had a pretty good eye for the edge of the earth. I really didn’t. I probably get too close yet and think I’m not. Ah well, something will get you one way or another, just don’t make the invitation too open.

  200. 200.

    THE

    December 6, 2010 at 3:43 am

    @Martin:

    Gravitation? Misner Thorne & Wheeler?

    If I ever hold public office, I will ask to take the oath of office on it.

  201. 201.

    JWL

    December 6, 2010 at 4:20 am

    At long last, Cole, shut the fuck up about how put upon the Steelers are. You’re beginning to sound like the whiniest of the whiny Raiders fan.

    Go Niners….

  202. 202.

    Ross Hershberger

    December 6, 2010 at 9:16 am

    Thx for the book recommendations. Someone over @ Tomasky recommended Lethem’s Chronic City and I loved that. Maybe I’ll try DeLillo next. All I’ve read by him is The Body Artist, which is short.

  203. 203.

    frostys

    December 6, 2010 at 9:38 am

    @Ross Hershberger: If you like long books, try Cyteen, by CJ Cherryh.

    I read Gravity’s Rainbow 5 times when it came out. Picked it up a year ago and couldn’t get started. Looks like the attention span has disappeared.

  204. 204.

    JohnR

    December 6, 2010 at 9:51 am

    @Ross Hershberger:

    Why are you looking for ‘long and dull’? Isn’t that what booze is for?
    As for me, I would avoid RonH; like that self-absorbed imbecile Rand, he tends to make me want to throw the book, and irritation and physical exercise are what you _don’t_ want in that situation.
    Try War and Peace. Or Dickens. The classics are always best. Personally, I just go for books I like, but have read many times. Relaxing, familiar and they don’t get upset if I nod off while they’re talking…

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