Just to remind you that I picked Saints 38, Colts 35.
I (and Dave) picked the playoffs at 5-5 and sit at .500. A win today and we have a winning playoff pick record. A loss means a losing record.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Lost: LA X Review
So hopefully every week I'll be reviewing an episode of Lost with four categories - Summary, Reactions, Themes, and Speculations. Let's start it off with 6.01 and 6.02 - LA X.
Summary:
The bomb reset everything, and also didn't. In reset-land, the plane lands after Charlie nearly chokes to death on his drugs. Shannon didn't come with Boone, Locke still can't walk, Oceanic misplaced Christian's body, Kate escapes the marshall and jumps in a cab with Claire, Hurley claims to be super duper lucky, and Sayid kicks in a door. Oh, and Jack offers Locke a free consult, and seems to recognize when Desmond (!) sits next to him on the plane.
In blast-land, the castaways are blasted to 2007, where Juliet dies in Sawyers arms. Everyone else heads to the temple (as instructed to Hurley by Jacob) to try to save Sayid. At the temple, some new others and old others (Cindy and the kids!) drown Sayid in a pool to try and save him, which doesn't work. Hurley tells the others that Jacob is dead, and they prepare to defend against "Him." Just as another confrontation starts to break out between Jack and the others, Sayid comes back to life.
In foot-land, Bram and some other of Jacob's bodyguards go into the foot to shoot at Locke/Esau/Man in Black, who promptly summons/becomes the smoke monster and kills them all, including Bram, who thought he would be protected by a circle of Ash. The ash prevented the smoke from getting him, but did not prevent the smoke from throwing a rock at him. Evil Locke leaves the foot, beats up Richard, and then carries him off into the jungle.
Reaction:
Themes:
Speculation:
Summary:
The bomb reset everything, and also didn't. In reset-land, the plane lands after Charlie nearly chokes to death on his drugs. Shannon didn't come with Boone, Locke still can't walk, Oceanic misplaced Christian's body, Kate escapes the marshall and jumps in a cab with Claire, Hurley claims to be super duper lucky, and Sayid kicks in a door. Oh, and Jack offers Locke a free consult, and seems to recognize when Desmond (!) sits next to him on the plane.
In blast-land, the castaways are blasted to 2007, where Juliet dies in Sawyers arms. Everyone else heads to the temple (as instructed to Hurley by Jacob) to try to save Sayid. At the temple, some new others and old others (Cindy and the kids!) drown Sayid in a pool to try and save him, which doesn't work. Hurley tells the others that Jacob is dead, and they prepare to defend against "Him." Just as another confrontation starts to break out between Jack and the others, Sayid comes back to life.
In foot-land, Bram and some other of Jacob's bodyguards go into the foot to shoot at Locke/Esau/Man in Black, who promptly summons/becomes the smoke monster and kills them all, including Bram, who thought he would be protected by a circle of Ash. The ash prevented the smoke from getting him, but did not prevent the smoke from throwing a rock at him. Evil Locke leaves the foot, beats up Richard, and then carries him off into the jungle.
Reaction:
Holy cow, where to start? First off, the bomb worked... but didn't? And also... Evil Locke is awesome. I loved him making fun of poor confused Locke. Also loved Sawyer immediately kicking Jack in the face. Best thing ever.
About the Alt - what's different, and why should we care at this point? Will it end up mattering?That being said, I loved it - and seeing long dead or long lost characters was great. Boone and Charlie are both great.
Temple - looks sweet. I'm ready for the Temple/Smokey confrontation. Should be epic.
Richard - looked absolutely terrified all episode. Great job. And when was he in chains?
Was that the Dharma Shark underwater? And did the bomb going off in the reset push the island underwater?
About the Alt - what's different, and why should we care at this point? Will it end up mattering?That being said, I loved it - and seeing long dead or long lost characters was great. Boone and Charlie are both great.
Temple - looks sweet. I'm ready for the Temple/Smokey confrontation. Should be epic.
Richard - looked absolutely terrified all episode. Great job. And when was he in chains?
Was that the Dharma Shark underwater? And did the bomb going off in the reset push the island underwater?
Themes:
Whatever happened, happened takes a big hit in this episode. Did what happened happen? Or did free will make an impact? Or both? I loved that the first thing that Sayid says when he 'resurrects' is "What happened?" - Did whatever happen, happen? What happened? AAAH.
The idea of punishment/purgatory makes an appearance in this episode - Sawyer wants Jack to suffer on this island, just like the rest of them.
Anyone else notice any other recurring themes? Dead apparently isn't dead, as Sayid comes back to life (and Charlie?)...
The idea of punishment/purgatory makes an appearance in this episode - Sawyer wants Jack to suffer on this island, just like the rest of them.
Anyone else notice any other recurring themes? Dead apparently isn't dead, as Sayid comes back to life (and Charlie?)...
Speculation:
Here's my first idea - Juliet exploded a hydrogen bomb in pretty much the same location that Desmond, thirty years later, turned the failsafe key. Is she now special in the same way as Desmond? Togetherly unique? Maybe her last words to Sawyer (alive words and dead words through Miles) were her in another timeline/alternate universe - and she can go through them, like Desmond. Is that why Desmond was on the plane so briefly?
Did Locke really go on the walkabout in the alternate world? Did Boone ever sleep with his sister?
Charlie's words "Am I alive? I was supposed to die." Bleeding through from the other timeline?
Remember when I joked about a flashback about Jack's tattoos? What if we get a flashback about Jack's random cut/bruise/mark on his neck?
That's it for today. What do you think?
Did Locke really go on the walkabout in the alternate world? Did Boone ever sleep with his sister?
Charlie's words "Am I alive? I was supposed to die." Bleeding through from the other timeline?
Remember when I joked about a flashback about Jack's tattoos? What if we get a flashback about Jack's random cut/bruise/mark on his neck?
That's it for today. What do you think?
Friday, January 29, 2010
Lost... in Review
Lost will have its traditional review clip show guy ahead of the two hour premiere (ON TUESDAY!!!). I thought I would do my own thing, as I frantically try to pick up ABC on my brand new digital converter box. So here's looking back at Lost (massive spoilers, if you haven't seen the series, in which case you are a moron).
4 Holy Crap Moments
1. In "Walkabout", we spend the episode wondering why John Locke is different - only to discover that before the crash he was paralyzed from the waiste down.
2. In "Exodus", the raft, carrying Michael, Walt, Jin, and Sawyer, isrescued by a bearded group of fishermen attacked by others, who menacingly promise "We're gonna have to take the boy," which they promptly do, after shooting Sawyer and blowing up the Raft (henceforth no longer christened as "Lucky" the Raft).
3. Michael returns from screaming "WWWAAALLLTTT!!!" in "Two For The Road," and promises to shoot Henry Gale, a captured other. Michael takes the gun and instead shoots Ana Lucia (Yay!), Libby (No!!!), and then himself (um...).
4. "Through the Looking Glass" spends it's flashbacks focusing on the one character who we're sick of hearing about - Jack Shepherd, obsessive doctor. We learn about a time in Jack's past where he is abusing drugs, abusing beards, and contemplating suicide, and then Kate drives up, and we realize that this is the freaking future, and my brain explodes.
8 Spine Tinglingly Good Acting Jobs
1. Sawyer realizes that Locke has locked (ha) him in with Anthony Cooper who, besides being Locke's daddy, is the real Sawyer, who is responsible for James Ford having a reason to write a letter entitled "Dear Mr Sawyer..."
2. Henry Gale messes with Locke and Jack throughout his entire time in the hatch. In particular, when he tells them what he would do if he was actually an other, as opposed to just being suspected of being an other, in "The Whole Truth."
3. One of my favorite moments is when the Raft 1.0 gets set on fire in "... In Translation." Besides being a great plot point, the sheer anguish on Michaels face and in his voice is astounding.
4. Desmond in "The Constant" is nothing short of spectacular, trying to contact Penny, and the look on his face when he does...
5. Charlie in "Greatest Hits" confronts his destiny, and chooses to embrace it for the sake of LURV.
6. Hurley in "The Beginning of the End" as the force that ultimately split the camp in two (only took three full seasons!)
7/8. Locke and Eko, two of the most awesome characters, meet with a simple 'Hello,' in "Collision."
15 of my Favorite episodes, in no particular order:
Walkabout
Exodus
Through The Looking Glass
The Constant
The Incident
The Man From Tallahasse
The Brig
The Hunting Party
All The Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues
Deus Ex Machina
Because You Left
The Shape Of Things To Come
Lockedown
Live Together, Die Alone
Enter 77
16 nights of Lost left
23 word long sentence describing Lost:
The best television show ever- five, and soon to be six, seasons of a perfect balancing act between character drama and action-filled suspense.
42 dollars I spent on an antenna and digital converter box just to watch Lost, which, in order to pick up ABC, means I need to rearrange my bedroom
4 Holy Crap Moments
1. In "Walkabout", we spend the episode wondering why John Locke is different - only to discover that before the crash he was paralyzed from the waiste down.
2. In "Exodus", the raft, carrying Michael, Walt, Jin, and Sawyer, is
3. Michael returns from screaming "WWWAAALLLTTT!!!" in "Two For The Road," and promises to shoot Henry Gale, a captured other. Michael takes the gun and instead shoots Ana Lucia (Yay!), Libby (No!!!), and then himself (um...).
4. "Through the Looking Glass" spends it's flashbacks focusing on the one character who we're sick of hearing about - Jack Shepherd, obsessive doctor. We learn about a time in Jack's past where he is abusing drugs, abusing beards, and contemplating suicide, and then Kate drives up, and we realize that this is the freaking future, and my brain explodes.
8 Spine Tinglingly Good Acting Jobs
1. Sawyer realizes that Locke has locked (ha) him in with Anthony Cooper who, besides being Locke's daddy, is the real Sawyer, who is responsible for James Ford having a reason to write a letter entitled "Dear Mr Sawyer..."
2. Henry Gale messes with Locke and Jack throughout his entire time in the hatch. In particular, when he tells them what he would do if he was actually an other, as opposed to just being suspected of being an other, in "The Whole Truth."
3. One of my favorite moments is when the Raft 1.0 gets set on fire in "... In Translation." Besides being a great plot point, the sheer anguish on Michaels face and in his voice is astounding.
4. Desmond in "The Constant" is nothing short of spectacular, trying to contact Penny, and the look on his face when he does...
5. Charlie in "Greatest Hits" confronts his destiny, and chooses to embrace it for the sake of LURV.
6. Hurley in "The Beginning of the End" as the force that ultimately split the camp in two (only took three full seasons!)
7/8. Locke and Eko, two of the most awesome characters, meet with a simple 'Hello,' in "Collision."
15 of my Favorite episodes, in no particular order:
Walkabout
Exodus
Through The Looking Glass
The Constant
The Incident
The Man From Tallahasse
The Brig
The Hunting Party
All The Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues
Deus Ex Machina
Because You Left
The Shape Of Things To Come
Lockedown
Live Together, Die Alone
Enter 77
16 nights of Lost left
23 word long sentence describing Lost:
The best television show ever- five, and soon to be six, seasons of a perfect balancing act between character drama and action-filled suspense.
42 dollars I spent on an antenna and digital converter box just to watch Lost, which, in order to pick up ABC, means I need to rearrange my bedroom
Monday, January 25, 2010
Superbowl Pick
Gotta hurry up and get my pick out before Dave usurps me.
Thoughts on last week:
I came pretty close with the scores, didn't I?
Predicted Colts 31, Jets 10
Actual? Colts 30, Jets 17
Predicted Saints 35, Vikings 27
Actual? Saints 31, Vikings 28
For a total offage in points of 13. Not bad.
So next week its the Saints and the Colts. What a dream matchup.
Here are my thoughts:
Colts haven't played a high octane offense in quite awhile. Meanwhile, the Saints have played two hall of fame quarterbacks in a row.
Colts have precision on their side; New Orleans has luck. And you can't beat luck.
Can you imagine the outrage if the Colts did win, and didn't get the 19-0? We'd never not hear about it... But also, can you imagine the looting if New Orleans were to lose?
New Orleans 38, Indianapolis 35, and the best Super Bowl we've seen in several years.
Thoughts on last week:
I came pretty close with the scores, didn't I?
Predicted Colts 31, Jets 10
Actual? Colts 30, Jets 17
Predicted Saints 35, Vikings 27
Actual? Saints 31, Vikings 28
For a total offage in points of 13. Not bad.
So next week its the Saints and the Colts. What a dream matchup.
Here are my thoughts:
Colts haven't played a high octane offense in quite awhile. Meanwhile, the Saints have played two hall of fame quarterbacks in a row.
Colts have precision on their side; New Orleans has luck. And you can't beat luck.
Can you imagine the outrage if the Colts did win, and didn't get the 19-0? We'd never not hear about it... But also, can you imagine the looting if New Orleans were to lose?
New Orleans 38, Indianapolis 35, and the best Super Bowl we've seen in several years.
Friday, January 22, 2010
NFL Conference Picks
3-1 last week, to move to 3-5 overall. Can I pull it out and take a winning record?
No rules for conference round. Mainly because my rules have done much of nothing (other than Dallas being way overhyped!). Also, my rules would lead to me picking the JETS JETS JETS, and I refuse to believe that Mark Sanchez could lead a team to the Superbowl.
So first picks - NY JETS at Indianapolis Colts...
Karma game? Nope. This is the game that will piss off Colts fans forever - because Peyton and the first string will demolish the Jets, and lead to endless soul searching about the loss of 19-0.
Colts 31, Jets 10.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
This is a Karmic revenge game. Brett Favre running up the score late in a game against America's team? America's New Team is going to break him. Minnesota seemed to use last week to prove themselves - New Orleans used their time to shake off some rust. Now it's New Orleans turn to prove themselves. Should be a thrilling game, and will lead to six more months of Brett Favre Retirement Mania.
New Orleans 35, Minnesota 27
No rules for conference round. Mainly because my rules have done much of nothing (other than Dallas being way overhyped!). Also, my rules would lead to me picking the JETS JETS JETS, and I refuse to believe that Mark Sanchez could lead a team to the Superbowl.
So first picks - NY JETS at Indianapolis Colts...
Karma game? Nope. This is the game that will piss off Colts fans forever - because Peyton and the first string will demolish the Jets, and lead to endless soul searching about the loss of 19-0.
Colts 31, Jets 10.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
This is a Karmic revenge game. Brett Favre running up the score late in a game against America's team? America's New Team is going to break him. Minnesota seemed to use last week to prove themselves - New Orleans used their time to shake off some rust. Now it's New Orleans turn to prove themselves. Should be a thrilling game, and will lead to six more months of Brett Favre Retirement Mania.
New Orleans 35, Minnesota 27
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
NFL Divisional Round Picks
Before the picks, some further thoughts from yesterday:
1. When typing out the possible quarterback matchups, I mistakenly inserted Carson Palmer and didn't have Brett Favre, in my first draft. Simply because I still can't wrap my head around a) Green Bay losing, yet Brett Favre plays on and b) Mark Sanchez won a playoff game.
2. My original picks were made on January 4. Dave's picks and Bill Simmon's picks were made on January 8th. We all picked the same four teams. We are all 0-4. I just wanted to vindicate myself - I made my own crappy picks, and didn't follow anyone else. (Why do I need to vindicate 0-4?)
3. Destiny... overlooked? To end the season, the Jets beat the Indianapolis and Cincinatti Bengals in weeks 16 and 17, respectively. Last weekend, they beat the Bengals first team... This weekend? They play Indianapolis. Do you think if Indianapolis loses this weekend they want to rewind and leave Manning in for 4 quarters against NY?
Okay. On to picks. Here are my divisional round rules, with how I think they might react this round.
1. At least one bye team is upset.
I could see this going anywhere. That's exciting. The definition of upset seems to point towards Baltimore or New York; Arizona and Dallas aren't radical underdogs. Also, I really want to just pick all the home teams this year, because I can see all of them being better than any of the other teams.
2. There's one team that everyone didn't pick first round, and everyone radically overreacts and takes the second round.
This award goes to... New York! or Dallas! Or both!
3. There's one team (or in the case of this season, one player) that hates me, personally.
In 2007, I had my best year picking playoff games. I went 7-4. All four of my incorrect picks were against the NY Giants, the eventual Super Bowl Champions. Last year, I went 6-5, and three of those incorrect picks were against Arizona. So who's doing it this year? Well, that goes back to Fantasy Football - and the answer is Joe Flacco. I don't know if it's because I lived with a rabid ravens fan a year or two ago and watched entirely too much of Senor Brow, but this year... He hated me! Every game I benched him in Fantasy he would through 8 touchdowns and a thousand yards, and when I started him he would have a negative passer rating. Then in the first round, the Ravens upset the Pats and I'm 0-4. He hates me.
Arizona at New Orleans - This game doesn't seem to me to invoke any of my rules, so I'll take the safe bet and say New Orleans wins; Arizona is gassed from a long and fast game with Green Bay. New Orleans by 7.
Dallas at Minnesota - Dallas is the radical overreaction. So Minnesota wins by 14; because they won't roll over and die like Donovan McNabb.
New York at Indianapolis - New York has some ooomph to them now. Indy is going to start flat. But can you really say that MARK FREAKING SANCHEZ will beat Peyton Manning in the playoffs? This is my hardest prediction, and I hate it - but I'm going to say yes. Manning only has one superbowl ring, and before he had that, he was known (not nicely) as a playoff choke. Jets by 10, and Manning throws more picks than TD's.
Baltimore at San Diego - No matter what I do here, Flacco will kill me. If I pick San Diego, Flacco will throw for 6 TD's and then run for four more; all the while kicking bombasticly placed punts. (Bombastic is a word I vow to use more often). If I pick Baltimore, Flacco throws 5 interceptions. I'm screwed. Jamison right now is jumping up and down, screaming for me to take San Diego. Eh, San Diego by 12.
EDIT
Oops. Baltimore is playing Indy, and San Diego gets the Jets. I thought the Jets were the 6 seed? Eh. I'll take San Diego over the Jets, and Colts over Baltimore. Forget the upset!
1. When typing out the possible quarterback matchups, I mistakenly inserted Carson Palmer and didn't have Brett Favre, in my first draft. Simply because I still can't wrap my head around a) Green Bay losing, yet Brett Favre plays on and b) Mark Sanchez won a playoff game.
2. My original picks were made on January 4. Dave's picks and Bill Simmon's picks were made on January 8th. We all picked the same four teams. We are all 0-4. I just wanted to vindicate myself - I made my own crappy picks, and didn't follow anyone else. (Why do I need to vindicate 0-4?)
3. Destiny... overlooked? To end the season, the Jets beat the Indianapolis and Cincinatti Bengals in weeks 16 and 17, respectively. Last weekend, they beat the Bengals first team... This weekend? They play Indianapolis. Do you think if Indianapolis loses this weekend they want to rewind and leave Manning in for 4 quarters against NY?
Okay. On to picks. Here are my divisional round rules, with how I think they might react this round.
1. At least one bye team is upset.
I could see this going anywhere. That's exciting. The definition of upset seems to point towards Baltimore or New York; Arizona and Dallas aren't radical underdogs. Also, I really want to just pick all the home teams this year, because I can see all of them being better than any of the other teams.
2. There's one team that everyone didn't pick first round, and everyone radically overreacts and takes the second round.
This award goes to... New York! or Dallas! Or both!
3. There's one team (or in the case of this season, one player) that hates me, personally.
In 2007, I had my best year picking playoff games. I went 7-4. All four of my incorrect picks were against the NY Giants, the eventual Super Bowl Champions. Last year, I went 6-5, and three of those incorrect picks were against Arizona. So who's doing it this year? Well, that goes back to Fantasy Football - and the answer is Joe Flacco. I don't know if it's because I lived with a rabid ravens fan a year or two ago and watched entirely too much of Senor Brow, but this year... He hated me! Every game I benched him in Fantasy he would through 8 touchdowns and a thousand yards, and when I started him he would have a negative passer rating. Then in the first round, the Ravens upset the Pats and I'm 0-4. He hates me.
Arizona at New Orleans - This game doesn't seem to me to invoke any of my rules, so I'll take the safe bet and say New Orleans wins; Arizona is gassed from a long and fast game with Green Bay. New Orleans by 7.
Dallas at Minnesota - Dallas is the radical overreaction. So Minnesota wins by 14; because they won't roll over and die like Donovan McNabb.
New York at Indianapolis - New York has some ooomph to them now. Indy is going to start flat. But can you really say that MARK FREAKING SANCHEZ will beat Peyton Manning in the playoffs? This is my hardest prediction, and I hate it - but I'm going to say yes. Manning only has one superbowl ring, and before he had that, he was known (not nicely) as a playoff choke. Jets by 10, and Manning throws more picks than TD's.
Baltimore at San Diego - No matter what I do here, Flacco will kill me. If I pick San Diego, Flacco will throw for 6 TD's and then run for four more; all the while kicking bombasticly placed punts. (Bombastic is a word I vow to use more often). If I pick Baltimore, Flacco throws 5 interceptions. I'm screwed. Jamison right now is jumping up and down, screaming for me to take San Diego. Eh, San Diego by 12.
EDIT
Oops. Baltimore is playing Indy, and San Diego gets the Jets. I thought the Jets were the 6 seed? Eh. I'll take San Diego over the Jets, and Colts over Baltimore. Forget the upset!
Monday, January 11, 2010
OUCH, my spleen!
Worst weekend picking NFL Games ? Ever?
Maybe.
I went 0-4. That's right. A big old goose egg.
Let's review the rules:
Momentum Matters - Okay. So the Jets win, and the Cowboys, arguably the momentum teams. But the Packers lose, who had way more momentum than anyone else on the first round. Pats/Ravens is a wash in this category.
One team is overhyped, one is underhyped. Perhaps the Packers were the overhyped team, and the Ravens underhyped?
When in doubt, take the home team. But always pick one road team. 2 road teams won this weekend - Jets and Ravens. Have no idea what to say here.
Destiny exists in the NFL - No Packs/Vikes III. No Pats/Colts II (as Bill Simmons called them: "Pats/Colts: Fourth and two... again! and Packers/Favre III: Apocalypse Now). So what does that leave for destiny? Old timer Bowl - Favre vs Warner? Battle of the No Rings - Brees vs Rivers? UnSuper Bowl - Romo vs Sanchez?
I don't know anymore. My head hurts.
More picks tomorrow.
Maybe.
I went 0-4. That's right. A big old goose egg.
Let's review the rules:
Momentum Matters - Okay. So the Jets win, and the Cowboys, arguably the momentum teams. But the Packers lose, who had way more momentum than anyone else on the first round. Pats/Ravens is a wash in this category.
One team is overhyped, one is underhyped. Perhaps the Packers were the overhyped team, and the Ravens underhyped?
When in doubt, take the home team. But always pick one road team. 2 road teams won this weekend - Jets and Ravens. Have no idea what to say here.
Destiny exists in the NFL - No Packs/Vikes III. No Pats/Colts II (as Bill Simmons called them: "Pats/Colts: Fourth and two... again! and Packers/Favre III: Apocalypse Now). So what does that leave for destiny? Old timer Bowl - Favre vs Warner? Battle of the No Rings - Brees vs Rivers? UnSuper Bowl - Romo vs Sanchez?
I don't know anymore. My head hurts.
More picks tomorrow.
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