Grab Bag Fridays: It's About Time!

(1 Cent): Guess Who's Bizack!

I know, I know. A week late. I'm sorry to disappoint all two of my readers. Nevertheless, I'm back for the time being, so let's get to things.

There's so much to cover, I don't even know where to begin. I've purchased about 3 or 4 new CD's ... there have been 2 or 3 games that have passed by in my fantasy league ... the "brawl" in New York between the Knicks and the Denver Nuggets ... one of the best guards of all time, Allen Iverson, being traded to the said Nuggets for an average point guard, an expiring contract player who couldn't take me one-on-one, two late first round picks in the 2007 draft, and 14 pounds of meat (okay, I made that one up, but some soccer player in Europe did get traded for 33 pounds of meat ... how do you look your wife in the eyes again? How?) ... more pet peeves that I forgot I had ... some reader's comments ... and more!

First off, I'd like to give a rough outline of what things will be starting on January 1st, 2007. Although banks and other places are closed, I will be posting on New Year's. Yes sir! Starting off the new year right! Also, since my class for school has concluded, I will have more time to write ... but am still thinking about keeping the same schedule -- 3 times a week -- and just making more quality articles. What do you think?

Remember a couple of months back when I said that I was planning to apply for graduate school? Well, yes, that was the purpose of the class that I just took as a post-bacc. So, I had concluded the class ... did decent on my final paper to turn in with the graduate application ... had two of my three professors for a recommendation ... and then yesterday I took the GRE (General Records Examination). I think they should change the acronym to Great Reaming En-yo'-arse! So, before the real thing, I took a couple of practice exams ... one I did extremely well and the others I did so-so. Well, the real thing I did yesterday didn't seem too difficult while taking it. It starts off with the writing part (a 40-minute essay and then a 30-minute critique of a statement), then has the verbal section, and then the math section. Also, what I didn't know, it had another section that was some sort of *bonus* section, where it stated the GRE people were testing out these new types of questions and it made you do them ... but if you did well (i.e., you were in the top 100) you could receive a $250 check in the mail. I love bonus rounds ... except when they're at the tail end of a 3 hour test.

Anyway, so I won't look too pitiful, let's just say that I scored 100 points higher on the math section than the verbal. Yes, that was read correctly. I scored higher on the math section than the verbal section. Other than thinking to myself, "WTF?!?!", these things sped through my mind:

-- Was there a scoring error?

-- Has this ever happened before in academic history? (A person with a degree in English scoring higher in the math section than the verbal).

-- Who's throat do I punch?

-- I didn't even study for the math section ... I haven't even done a math question since 1999 ... I guessed on the entire section and completed it in like 15 minutes ... how, in all of God's green goodness, did I score higher on the math section!?!?!

-- Don't write any of this in your blog!

-- Should I now apply to some math oriented graduate program?

-- Where's a kitten to punt off a bridge when you need one?

-- The next time I want to get boned for $130.00, I'll go to Vegas -- at least there I will have attention grabbing lights, it will last longer than 3 hours, and I'll have a smile afterwards.

-- I'm a moron!

-- Which Greek god did I piss off this time?

Of course, there were some other thoughts that went through my mind, but I'll spare you and the FCC the details. But, for real, all kidding aside ... how could this happen? Is there a parallel event that I can compare this to?

Now, I'm left to pursuing other ventures such as freelance work ... uh ... my lil' book idea (hey, if Bill Simmons can do it, then so can I) ... hmmm ... haven't really thought about it. I'm still in shock from yesterday. Pray that I'll recover from this and bounce back like Amare Stoudemire and not Vin Baker.

So, there it is. Bask in the glory of my misery ... just remember one thing: I. Did. Not. Cry.

(2 Cent): Random Rewind

Instead of trying to write a ton of columns or 'cents', I figured it would be more time efficient to just give a thought here and there in one 'cent' to the many happenings and topics that are relevant (to me) ... yes, the quality articles start in '07:

Looking back, I should have scored DMX's album a little lower than an 8. Quoting myself, "I don't know if I like it more because it X-ceeded X-pectations ...." Well, maybe that was the case. Plus, this became more clear after I heard NaS' new album Hip Hop Is Dead. I will give the review for that next week (but to give a little sample of what it will be ... it gets my vote for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year). I think we should be satisfied with a score of 7 out of 10 for X. Still above average, but not in the upper echelon.

I have a couple of pet peeves that I was reminded of because of the holiday season ... even though it will be "late" I will save it for this Thursday on January 4th, 2007. Remember to send in yours! I don't know if I have another year's worth of pet peeves in me ... or do I?

Concerning the Knicks/Nuggets NBA fight ... I don't think it was that big of a deal. The biggest thing that concerned me was Carmelo Anthony -- from the mean projects of Baltimore, MD -- after he laid down a weak haymaker punch to a Knick player, started backpedaling across the entire basketball court. Weak sauce! It seems that he tries to have this persona and say he comes from a rough neighborhood ... he's all tatted up ... he's 6'9" and pretty filled out ... and he backpedals away from Jered Jefferies? The guy he didn't even punch? C'mon, 'Melo. You lost some respect from me. Hopefully, now that Allen Iverson is there, you'll toughen up. By the way things went down, I'd take the 5'11" A.I. over you in a fight any day.

To spare you many details, just know the Busdrivers VI (fantasy basketball team) is on a nice little 3 game winning streak, while being ahead this week by the score of 326.5 to 223. We're playing one of the three teams that have a 7-1 record. Our record is now 6-2, soon to be 7-2 (yes, I count all my chickies before they hatch). Next week, we're playing the team that had the owner quit (i.e., when he found out he couldn't choose his own players because of the CBS Sportsline mishap, he just up and quit ... and left his team for dead by starting retired Keith Van Horn, injured for the year Kenyon Martin, and leaving quality center Andrew Bogut and point guard Mike Bibby on his bench). Basically, next week I could field just 7 players (instead of 10) and still win big. Maybe I'll bench Kobe and Wade just to make it interesting ....

I don't know what to think of my Lakers so far ... starting two weeks ago, we beat the San Antonio Spurs ... the next game we lose Lamar Odom to a knee injury for at least 6 weeks ... we beat the Houston Rockets twice ... give up 60 points to Gilbert Arenas and lose to the Wiz ... get embarrassed on Christmas day by the Miami Heat ... beat New Jersey and Orlando on the road ... I just don't know. I suppose I'll never know how good they can be until Odom returns AND works himself back into All-Star shape -- because that's what he was playing like before the injury. You're in my prayers, Odom!

I hate snow ... I keep "almost falling" by slipping around like I was Bambi trying to walk for the first time. Then you have to shovel it off your porch ... off your car windshield ... just not cool.

I thought I had more interesting things to say ... I swear I had some during the past three weeks ... I need to write them down as I think of them from now on. That's one of my New Year's Rez's.

(1/2 Cent): Some Reader Feedback ... Sum It All Up

A couple of you were kind enough to post a question or comment ... thanks for that. Here they are:

Q: "The Blue Bombers made a good decision signing Randy Wolf. I think he's really underrated and can flat-out dominate when healthy. I had him on a fantasy team a few years ago when he was nearly untouchable, and he racked up the wins on a really bad Phillies team. If he can stay healthy that 1-2-3 Penny/Schmidt/Wolf trifecta will be really good." -- ax9

HCP: I agree. But don't sleep on Derek Lowe, either. He's an above average pitcher, too. I think this is the most excited I've been for a Dodgers season since we had Raul Mondesi, Mike Piazza, and Eric Karros hitting 3-4-5.

Q: "Here's a link that I found interesting that talks about "slacktivism" http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/internet.htm I thought it was interesting and very poignant. In fact I feel inspired to change the way things are. If you are reading this add your signature to it and forward it to all of the people in your address book. Once we get 100,000 signatures we can submit it to congress and get a law against slacktivism passed! Down with slacktivism!" -- Crash N. Burnett

HCP: Ha ... funny comment (you'll get the humor if you read the link). It's also funny that I have never heard of "slacktivism" (maybe that's why I didn't do too hot on the verbal section of the GRE) ... but it looks like this article was written some time in 2002. I'd say that this still holds some truth today. Good comment.

So, another person posted a comment/question ... which I found interesting (I edited the names out):

Q: "Hi. My name is Eugene _______. Perhaps we have met online, but more probably you don't know me from Adam. I monitor blogs for _________, and came across your post. I'd like to welcome you to look at __________'s blog. _______ - an anonymous Israeli politician - writes extremely controversial articles about Israel, the Middle East politics, and terrorism. ______ is equally critical of Jewish and Muslim myths, and advocates political rationalism instead of moralizing. Google banned our site from the AdWords, Yahoo blocked most pages, and Amazon deleted all reviews of _____'s book, ________: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict. Nevertheless, 170,000 people from 78 countries read the book."

HCP: So, basically this was kinda weird. I don't like the part where he states that we met online, because that's a straight up lie. When am I "online"? Also, if dude was banned from Google, Yahoo, and Amazon, then obviously something was a little too extreme. I left out his blog's name too and will not link it. Why would I want to risk getting banned as well? Plus, I'm not that much of a fan of arguing about politics, the Middle East, and all that jazz. If you have read any of the articles of Two And A Half Cents, then you'd know this is no where near a political platform. So, Eugene, no offense, but I think I'm going to leave this alone.

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Well, we're two days away from the New Year ... I hope everyone will have a safe night and ring in the new year with a bang! We'll be back on the 1st of January with Spmusic Monday. Good to be back!

HCP