Don't worry - I'm okay. I know I forgot to post something yesterday and that all of you were in dire need of an update, but other commitments beckoned. I'll provide you with a few highlights of the past two days and other things that I thought about.
Coin-flipping Champion - In a tournament of sixty-four students, I came out victorious in the lost art of flipping a coin. Do NFL teams sign coin-specialist? If so, get me my agent. My professor in my Human Evolution lecture was trying to demonstrate natural selection by using the ability to predict heads or tails as a trait - or something like that, I don't really know. The point is that I can claim the crown and there are 250 students who witnessed it. Tails never fails, baby!
Shelby-ville Invasion - After never having met someone with the name "Shelby" in my twenty years of existence, I have met four since the beginning of the semester. Am I alone in considering that name to be unique or is it more common than I realized? Is it short for something? On the plus side though, they've all been girls so at least I'm talking to females long enough to learn their name.
No Fall at All - Minnesota's most recognized commodity, the cold, is so popular that locals decided to skip an entire season in order to get it. It suddenly went from shorts and t-shirts in 80 degree weather to scrambling for mittens and long underwear in temperatures that were half that in the span of two days- and it's not even October yet! I have no idea why this state is in such a rush to get to winter, but it looks like it's here to stay with no signs of warmer weather in the next week.
Hogging All the Money - A random thought: what zoological considerations were taken into account when creating the piggy bank? It just seems like a interesting animal to pick to safeguard your hard-earned riches. Although, the threat of swine flu might protect your coinage from petty, hypochondriac thieves.
That's all I got.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
FOTOS IMPOSIBLES
Look at me go - updates for four consecutive days.
Thank my cousin Jose for this post - it's a collection of some cool photos by a guy named Erik Johannson. The music is pretty sweet too. Enjoy.
If it doesn't work, here's the link: http://www.tu.tv/videos/fotos-imposibles.
Thank my cousin Jose for this post - it's a collection of some cool photos by a guy named Erik Johannson. The music is pretty sweet too. Enjoy.
If it doesn't work, here's the link: http://www.tu.tv/videos/fotos-imposibles.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Action Fred Jackson
After outscoring fantasy stud Adrian Peterson for the second week in a row and with the risk of losing this glimpse of limelight once Marshawn “Let Me See Yo’ Grill” Lynch returns next week, I’ve decided to do profile on Fred Jackson. No, not the saxophonist but the Buffalo Bills running back.
Born in the less regarded half of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Jackson went from Lamar High School to Coe College. “Where’s Coe College?” those of you who don’t devotedly follow the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) may ask. Well, it’s right in Cedar Rapids and I think it would be safe to say that Freddy was the best football player in town during his time there.
In his final year of college, Jackson tore it up for the Kohawks. He rushed for 1,702 yards and 29 touchdowns in just ten games (that’s 170.2 yards and nearly three TDs per). Needless to say, he turned some heads in not just in the IIAC but in all of D-III, earning himself his second conference MVP and a spot on five All-American teams.
Unfortunately, beating up on the University of Dubuque and Wartburg wasn’t enough to get any love from NFL scouts and Jackson went undrafted in 2003. It’s a good thing that he grew so fond of Iowa because he was then signed by the Sioux City Bandits of the United Indoor Football League (UIF). He was named co-MVP at the end of the 2005 season after a 1,770 yard and 41 touchdown campaign. Oh, and by the way, he was making about $100 per game.
Following his impressive career with the Bandits (who would go on to retire his number), Jackson rose in the ranks of legitimate football leagues and made his way to NFL Europe to play for the Rhein Fire. While in Düsseldorf, he continued his habit of leading his team in rushing and kept the Fire competitive as they finished third overall in the league.
Someone in the Bills’ front office must’ve been a big fan of either the Kohawks, Bandits, or Fire because Jackson was invited to their training camp in 2006. He stuck around on the practice squad that season, and made the active roster the following year. It didn’t take long for Jackson to get Buffalo fans to bear the arctic elements and come watch him. During that season, against none other than the Redskins, Jackson became the first Division III running back to start an NFL game in seven years – and he did pretty well rushing for 82 yards and adding 69 more through the air with four receptions in a victorious effort.
That was the opportunity Jackson needed to let the Bills' coaching staff know that he was worthy of consistent playing time. He continued to play well when he got the chance and in December of that season, Lynch and Jackson became the first duo of Buffalo running backs to each rush for 100-yards (Jackson had more, by the way) in a game.
Fastforwarding past an ordinary season as a backup in 2008, Jackson is now forcing Dick Jauron to consider reshuffling his depth chart at the halfback position. With Lynch sitting out the first three games due to suspension, Jackson has been the starter over Xavier Oman - a man who can't help but see his initials any time he plays tic-tac-toe - with an average of 142 total yards per game, and led Buffalo in a near-upset over the Patriots in Week One. As well as helping the Bills out with his versatility out of the backfield as both a runner and receiver, he’s been a pleasant addition to my fantasy team after initially being overlooked.
Then again, it’s only appropriate that he's been overlooked yet again. You’ll get your due someday, Fred, you’ll get your due someday.
Born in the less regarded half of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Jackson went from Lamar High School to Coe College. “Where’s Coe College?” those of you who don’t devotedly follow the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) may ask. Well, it’s right in Cedar Rapids and I think it would be safe to say that Freddy was the best football player in town during his time there.
In his final year of college, Jackson tore it up for the Kohawks. He rushed for 1,702 yards and 29 touchdowns in just ten games (that’s 170.2 yards and nearly three TDs per). Needless to say, he turned some heads in not just in the IIAC but in all of D-III, earning himself his second conference MVP and a spot on five All-American teams.
Unfortunately, beating up on the University of Dubuque and Wartburg wasn’t enough to get any love from NFL scouts and Jackson went undrafted in 2003. It’s a good thing that he grew so fond of Iowa because he was then signed by the Sioux City Bandits of the United Indoor Football League (UIF). He was named co-MVP at the end of the 2005 season after a 1,770 yard and 41 touchdown campaign. Oh, and by the way, he was making about $100 per game.
Following his impressive career with the Bandits (who would go on to retire his number), Jackson rose in the ranks of legitimate football leagues and made his way to NFL Europe to play for the Rhein Fire. While in Düsseldorf, he continued his habit of leading his team in rushing and kept the Fire competitive as they finished third overall in the league.
Someone in the Bills’ front office must’ve been a big fan of either the Kohawks, Bandits, or Fire because Jackson was invited to their training camp in 2006. He stuck around on the practice squad that season, and made the active roster the following year. It didn’t take long for Jackson to get Buffalo fans to bear the arctic elements and come watch him. During that season, against none other than the Redskins, Jackson became the first Division III running back to start an NFL game in seven years – and he did pretty well rushing for 82 yards and adding 69 more through the air with four receptions in a victorious effort.
That was the opportunity Jackson needed to let the Bills' coaching staff know that he was worthy of consistent playing time. He continued to play well when he got the chance and in December of that season, Lynch and Jackson became the first duo of Buffalo running backs to each rush for 100-yards (Jackson had more, by the way) in a game.
Fastforwarding past an ordinary season as a backup in 2008, Jackson is now forcing Dick Jauron to consider reshuffling his depth chart at the halfback position. With Lynch sitting out the first three games due to suspension, Jackson has been the starter over Xavier Oman - a man who can't help but see his initials any time he plays tic-tac-toe - with an average of 142 total yards per game, and led Buffalo in a near-upset over the Patriots in Week One. As well as helping the Bills out with his versatility out of the backfield as both a runner and receiver, he’s been a pleasant addition to my fantasy team after initially being overlooked.
Then again, it’s only appropriate that he's been overlooked yet again. You’ll get your due someday, Fred, you’ll get your due someday.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Partyin' Like It's 1299
For all you that went to Potomac from 4th grade to 6th, you may remember this. For those who didn't, you're going to think I'm odder than I already am.
Since about Thursday, and I don't know why, I've had this song stuck in my head:
It's an Olde English song that the English of old would sing for May Day to welcome in the summer; "Sumer Is Icumen In" means "Summer Has Come In". Hard to believe that the language we speak nowadays came from that. There are obviously some similarities, but they also differ significantly.
I won't bore you with too much history, but this is believed to be the first song that was sung in a round (channel your elementary school music classes to remember what that is) so that's cool. Listening to this on repeat earlier today made me realize something: if you lived during that period, there's a pretty good chance that was the only song you knew outside of what you heard in Church. Kinda strange to think about. When one's life consisted of tending to the fields and barely being cleaner than your livestock, I can't imagine exposure to a variety of music was commonplace.
Maybe this is the dork in me talking, but I guess the reason that I've enjoyed this short Wessex jingle so much is while I walk down the street, humming "Sumer Is Icumen In", I'd like to think I'm sharing that experience with some simple peasant who did the very same thing eight centuries ago. While I wander past a McDonald's, he might have gone by a butcher shop instead so clearly times have changed (although the meat may be equally as questionable), we still find a sense of comfort in the joy of a brief melody that reminds us of brighter days.
Not to mention, another reason I like it is because one of the line translates to "The bullock stirs, the stag farts." Sheer poetry.
Since about Thursday, and I don't know why, I've had this song stuck in my head:
It's an Olde English song that the English of old would sing for May Day to welcome in the summer; "Sumer Is Icumen In" means "Summer Has Come In". Hard to believe that the language we speak nowadays came from that. There are obviously some similarities, but they also differ significantly.
I won't bore you with too much history, but this is believed to be the first song that was sung in a round (channel your elementary school music classes to remember what that is) so that's cool. Listening to this on repeat earlier today made me realize something: if you lived during that period, there's a pretty good chance that was the only song you knew outside of what you heard in Church. Kinda strange to think about. When one's life consisted of tending to the fields and barely being cleaner than your livestock, I can't imagine exposure to a variety of music was commonplace.
Maybe this is the dork in me talking, but I guess the reason that I've enjoyed this short Wessex jingle so much is while I walk down the street, humming "Sumer Is Icumen In", I'd like to think I'm sharing that experience with some simple peasant who did the very same thing eight centuries ago. While I wander past a McDonald's, he might have gone by a butcher shop instead so clearly times have changed (although the meat may be equally as questionable), we still find a sense of comfort in the joy of a brief melody that reminds us of brighter days.
Not to mention, another reason I like it is because one of the line translates to "The bullock stirs, the stag farts." Sheer poetry.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Well, I caved in...
So here it is – my very own blog. What am I doing here? I can’t believe it myself. This is a venue that I often mocked and ridiculed. One reserved for World of Warcraft junkies, independent music aficionados, those who do nothing but think up hypothetical MLB trades, and overly concerned toothpaste consumers.Perhaps the primary cause for suddenly creating a blog would be yet another lonely Friday night. Well, I’m not entirely alone – Conan is here, and Craig’s on his way. The night is still relatively young though so I won’t put on my pajama pants just yet, but it’s not looking too promising. I thought college was supposed to be full of never-ending revelry and stealing your rival’s mascot. Where’s John Belushi when you need him? Heck, I’d even settle for Jim at this point.
So what can my audience (all four of you) expect from this blog? Not sure. Since many of you may not have the luxury of consistent access, I guess I’ll just provide you with what goes on in this little toy brain. I’ll cover anything from important world events to my daily affairs, from mainstream media to the soapbox preacher on campus, from esteemed historical figures to the Muppets, from deep meditation to a childish joke. The title of my blog “The Best of What’s Around” is not only my favorite Dave Matthews’ song, but I feel that it’s a fitting name for what will be an anthology of just about anything; whatever’s interesting to me at the time will make it on here.
How often will I update it? Whenever I can, but hopefully that’ll be a couple of times a week so check back fr
equently. Then again, I might give up on this project faster than Friends fans gave up on Joey. Probably not though since I foresee some more lonely Friday nights in the near future so thank the lack of a social life to this blog’s success.Anyways, just as I finish off my third bowl of Lucky Charms of the night I think I’ll do the same with my first blog post. How it flew by. Stay tuned, spread the word, and feel free to make any suggestions/comments.
Oh, and take that, Kit.
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