Jason_SegelSo check this out, at 56 seconds past 12:34 tomorrow, it will be 12:34:56 07-08-09
I'm getting cool date-number tweets from Jason Segel. cool.
Also neat is that it's already happened... happens twice today.
Wednesday, July 8
Wednesday, June 24
Gooooooooal!
USA beat Spain.
Sounds small. One game. What's the biggie? Understanding the circumstances that it took to get us there... and the Goliath crushing power that even Brazil and Italy bowed down to makes this the biggest soccer story of my life. Or at least bigger than any event on the international soccer stage that I've gleaned from the scarce soccer coverage and despite my undulating interest.
First, how did USA get there? Having already beaten teams from tiny countries, we qualified early to play in the World Cup next year. This was expected to happen, but we're always on our toes because the USA team is finicky and can lose to anyone at any point. Round two we got placed in the most ridiculous group: USA, Brazil, Italy, Egypt. Only two teams advance, so we can basically play hard, let Brazil and Italy go forward and admit that we were out-matched with our heads up looking forward to a more fortunate grouping in the World Cup. As expected, Brazil killed us and so did Italy. In fact, in both games we spent the major part of the clock with a man down due to red cards/ejections. Way to go US, real classy. On the bright side, we gave Egypt a beating. Basically, beating up the little kid allowed us to pass along the pain to a smaller and weaker team. This beat down actually turned out to be useful...
Because the impossible happened. You must first understand that, to any American, soccer tournament rules are confusing and verge on outright ridiculousness. So when Italy got beat in a surprising upset against Egypt with a large point differential, the United States magically moved to second place in our group ahead of Italy. Even though Italy had beaten us Head-to-Head! We had lost to our opponents by few points than Italy, and since the three teams besides Brazil, who was 3-0, were tied with a record of 1-2, we won the point differential tie breaker and eeked into the next round.
Only to play in the Semis against unbeatable Spain-- This is a team that had not lost their last 35 games and is undefeated against the US for a long, long time. In the last couple years, Spain has gained the reputation of being the powerhouse that even Brazil and Italy could not match up to.
And we beat them!!! We weren't even supposed to have made it to this round... it should have been Italy vs. Spain... but we were there and we beat them!!! Finals here we come!!!
Sounds small. One game. What's the biggie? Understanding the circumstances that it took to get us there... and the Goliath crushing power that even Brazil and Italy bowed down to makes this the biggest soccer story of my life. Or at least bigger than any event on the international soccer stage that I've gleaned from the scarce soccer coverage and despite my undulating interest.
First, how did USA get there? Having already beaten teams from tiny countries, we qualified early to play in the World Cup next year. This was expected to happen, but we're always on our toes because the USA team is finicky and can lose to anyone at any point. Round two we got placed in the most ridiculous group: USA, Brazil, Italy, Egypt. Only two teams advance, so we can basically play hard, let Brazil and Italy go forward and admit that we were out-matched with our heads up looking forward to a more fortunate grouping in the World Cup. As expected, Brazil killed us and so did Italy. In fact, in both games we spent the major part of the clock with a man down due to red cards/ejections. Way to go US, real classy. On the bright side, we gave Egypt a beating. Basically, beating up the little kid allowed us to pass along the pain to a smaller and weaker team. This beat down actually turned out to be useful...
Because the impossible happened. You must first understand that, to any American, soccer tournament rules are confusing and verge on outright ridiculousness. So when Italy got beat in a surprising upset against Egypt with a large point differential, the United States magically moved to second place in our group ahead of Italy. Even though Italy had beaten us Head-to-Head! We had lost to our opponents by few points than Italy, and since the three teams besides Brazil, who was 3-0, were tied with a record of 1-2, we won the point differential tie breaker and eeked into the next round.
Only to play in the Semis against unbeatable Spain-- This is a team that had not lost their last 35 games and is undefeated against the US for a long, long time. In the last couple years, Spain has gained the reputation of being the powerhouse that even Brazil and Italy could not match up to.
And we beat them!!! We weren't even supposed to have made it to this round... it should have been Italy vs. Spain... but we were there and we beat them!!! Finals here we come!!!
Monday, June 15
Shout out
This blog goes out to my mom. Trainer, Jillian Michaels, challenges you to perform high intensity workouts combings your arms, legs, and abs for twenty long, shirt-drenching minutes. Jillian's video is the 30 Day Shred that Jess found and one Jess has us do-- and it whips my butt into a higher gear than anything I ever do at the gym. My mom did something I never even considered doing because it sounds so painful and hard-- She took Jillian up on the challenge to do her high intensity workout for 30 days in a row. No breaks. No days off. No resting tired, achy muscles. Today, my mom completed her 9th day, and is rocking it. I'm insanely proud of her and in awe.
Just wanted to throw out this shout out. I feel like she's in the middle of a long race... or more like a multi-day event-- like the tour de france. Gooo mooom!
Just wanted to throw out this shout out. I feel like she's in the middle of a long race... or more like a multi-day event-- like the tour de france. Gooo mooom!
Wednesday, June 10
Reading Speed
You've gotta try Zap Reader. This site lets you paste text into its window, and then presents the article you've copied at an adjustable a) number of words per minute b) number of letters at a time c) and probably other cool stuff in settings I haven't checked out yet.
On the surface it's just cool to get a sense of what speed you're comfortable with. Beyond that, I began to wonder how useful it is as a teaching tool to improve reading speed.
Here's what I've found:
After using Zap, when I was reading a slate article I was less enticed to look back at previous words, which I know is a major lag on reading speed. I also found myself focusing on words more closely-- and noticing spelling more-- than what I usually do (generally I glance at word clusters). Now, I'm not certain that's a good thing, because people read by sudden saccades capturing word clusters. One would think the wider the spacing between saccades, the fast you'd read.
Let me pause here and say, I was using Zap on 4 words at a time... various word presentations could have a very different training effect.
So, to sum up, looking back at previous text less is an improvement, and looking more closely at words may be a good thing, but maybe not. The third, and ultimate effect, which is something I've been working on doing but failing-- after using Zap I found myself internally vocalizing the words LESS. Not saying the words as you read is supposed to be the ultimate source of quick comprehension of a passage.
I find all this stuff both very interesting, and also very confusing. That said-- reading is so ubiquitous... for fun, for work, for tests... that it's definitely worth thinking about. Plus I'm always curious about teaching methods, and when I happened upon this site, I was like, Damn-- this could teach kids to read reeeeal goooood. Not sure why my education just dipped there, but it did.
Or just play around with Zap. It's cool (though it's super-version 1.0... I wish google would do this and have it be way less clunky-- like copying slate articles in is a pain in the butt-o cause of all the inserted ads and crap).
On the surface it's just cool to get a sense of what speed you're comfortable with. Beyond that, I began to wonder how useful it is as a teaching tool to improve reading speed.
Here's what I've found:
After using Zap, when I was reading a slate article I was less enticed to look back at previous words, which I know is a major lag on reading speed. I also found myself focusing on words more closely-- and noticing spelling more-- than what I usually do (generally I glance at word clusters). Now, I'm not certain that's a good thing, because people read by sudden saccades capturing word clusters. One would think the wider the spacing between saccades, the fast you'd read.
Let me pause here and say, I was using Zap on 4 words at a time... various word presentations could have a very different training effect.
So, to sum up, looking back at previous text less is an improvement, and looking more closely at words may be a good thing, but maybe not. The third, and ultimate effect, which is something I've been working on doing but failing-- after using Zap I found myself internally vocalizing the words LESS. Not saying the words as you read is supposed to be the ultimate source of quick comprehension of a passage.
I find all this stuff both very interesting, and also very confusing. That said-- reading is so ubiquitous... for fun, for work, for tests... that it's definitely worth thinking about. Plus I'm always curious about teaching methods, and when I happened upon this site, I was like, Damn-- this could teach kids to read reeeeal goooood. Not sure why my education just dipped there, but it did.
Or just play around with Zap. It's cool (though it's super-version 1.0... I wish google would do this and have it be way less clunky-- like copying slate articles in is a pain in the butt-o cause of all the inserted ads and crap).
Monday, June 8
Need a hobby
Over the next 2 1/2 months, I'll find myself with a lot of time. My work responsibilities will decline until my last day on June 26... From there I'll be a free man. Travels will include a family bike trip in Tahoe, a road trip from Boston to KC and back from KC to Pitt. Several trips
to DC including most likely one with a UHaul and lots of stuff. I'll be selling furniture and possibly buying some too. And I have plans for friends to visit and hopefully I'll visit some as well. Still... all this does not 2 1/2 months make (how profound).
With all this time I'll have before the big plunge, what should I do... One can only
plan to move for so long or work on wedding planning for so many hours. I'll be without my buddy and permanent companion for most of the weeks and some weekends next year- So too much traveling really defeats what I'm going to miss the most: endless time with Jess. Some ideas are: finish every NY times from now until the start of school (sounds awesome)... Read lots of books, work out like a stud. Is there more? Cook. What else? If you had the time, what
would you do? What will I wish I had done when I start school. Definitely seeing friends and family, because I already feel guilty for when I'm going to have to answer the phone and say I'd call people back in 2-3 days...humph.
I'll edit this post as I generate and revise ideas:
a)Watch the following movies:
watch every conan episode!
Indiana Jones trilogy with Jess
b)Read the following books and papers/mags/journals:
Washington D.C. Gore Vidal
c)Be able to do the following:
*25 pull-ups
*100 push-ups
*run 13.1 miles
*wall-squat 3 minutes
*pike 2 minutes
e)Go to: Planned: KC, San Fran/Tahoe, DC
Not planned, but planning on it: Chicago, Philly, NYC,
Not Planned but hey, it could happen: Denver, LA
Wish I could: Japan, Belgium, Paris, Portland/Seattle
f) in DC see: Brickskeller, Amsterdam falafel...
g) hiking sounds cool. Dave's been doing that a lot... Todd and Nithin might be hiking in Yosemite....
h) Play Braid
to DC including most likely one with a UHaul and lots of stuff. I'll be selling furniture and possibly buying some too. And I have plans for friends to visit and hopefully I'll visit some as well. Still... all this does not 2 1/2 months make (how profound).
With all this time I'll have before the big plunge, what should I do... One can only
plan to move for so long or work on wedding planning for so many hours. I'll be without my buddy and permanent companion for most of the weeks and some weekends next year- So too much traveling really defeats what I'm going to miss the most: endless time with Jess. Some ideas are: finish every NY times from now until the start of school (sounds awesome)... Read lots of books, work out like a stud. Is there more? Cook. What else? If you had the time, what
would you do? What will I wish I had done when I start school. Definitely seeing friends and family, because I already feel guilty for when I'm going to have to answer the phone and say I'd call people back in 2-3 days...humph.
I'll edit this post as I generate and revise ideas:
a)Watch the following movies:
watch every conan episode!
Indiana Jones trilogy with Jess
b)Read the following books and papers/mags/journals:
Washington D.C. Gore Vidal
c)Be able to do the following:
*25 pull-ups
*100 push-ups
*run 13.1 miles
*wall-squat 3 minutes
*pike 2 minutes
e)Go to: Planned: KC, San Fran/Tahoe, DC
Not planned, but planning on it: Chicago, Philly, NYC,
Not Planned but hey, it could happen: Denver, LA
Wish I could: Japan, Belgium, Paris, Portland/Seattle
f) in DC see: Brickskeller, Amsterdam falafel...
g) hiking sounds cool. Dave's been doing that a lot... Todd and Nithin might be hiking in Yosemite....
h) Play Braid
Wednesday, May 20
Scrubs
The Scrubs Finale was sooooo satisfying. It was a long goodbye that at times felt like when Harry and friends were camping out in the woods... but along similar lines to HP7, the end was never as good as the start, but saying goodbye reminded me of the lifetime of memories poured into what came before the ending. Walking down the hallway actually surprised me at how many faces I knew, and how many I had forgotten.... and the epilogue to both Scrubs and HP7 seemed thrown together, but still a nice touch to soften the ending point.
And then there's going to be season 9!??!?!?
And then there's going to be season 9!??!?!?
Saturday, April 25
Iced Tea
I, like my brother, have recently discovered the joys of making my own iced tea. Such a freaking delight... I drink it like water. Having some right now-- yummm.
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