After a rough night for the babies because of the time change, we went for a walk along the sea wall. The babies enjoyed it. Something in our American-themed lunch upset Candace and she ended up pooping in a garage. Luckily we were prepared for such an occasion thanks to the babies. Candace is gradually catching up to my lead in for my number of episodes of incontinence on different continents.
We also went to Family Mart and bought Japanese candies. Tali was still asleep so Candace and I took her for a walk while Abie played with the family.
The babies were better last night except Talk took a two hour break to play and eat. She is getting much better holding a pouch without squeezing it all over herself.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
DC to Okinawa
We took the babies to Okinawa. First we flew to Toronto. Nana declared her single orange to the chuckles of the custom agents. Why we need to go through customs-but not passport control- I have no idea.
Once we got to Tokyo we went to the ANA counter to Okinawa. We had quite the ordeal again. Candace's scooter was an issue again. So were the babies. So was the amount of checked luggage we had. I learned how to count to 7 in Japanese. Sometimes it's nana and sometimes it's which I. I don't know why.
The babies were great. But they were way off schedule and had a rough night.
Once we got to Tokyo we went to the ANA counter to Okinawa. We had quite the ordeal again. Candace's scooter was an issue again. So were the babies. So was the amount of checked luggage we had. I learned how to count to 7 in Japanese. Sometimes it's nana and sometimes it's which I. I don't know why.
The babies were great. But they were way off schedule and had a rough night.
Friday, January 26, 2018
Property Brothers
After a brief run, HGTV has canceled the cult classic Property Brothers. The show was undeniably a departure from the network's usual insufferable couple clamoring for a white kitchen and a walk-in closet. The premise revolved around two Rohingya Muslim brothers, rendered stateless by the Burmese government, who fled Myanmar to the hopeful shores of Thailand where they were sold into slavery. Their brutal Thai owner worked them mercilessly. The show followed the brothers' lives.
Critics of the show came from a variety of arenas. Matthew Smith, head of Fortify Rights, a human rights group that tracks abuses against the Rohingya complained, "I spend my entire life in the service of the Rohingya, learning about the horrific genocidal actions of the Burmese military. I just want to go home and watch some jackoff whine about not having a jetted tub in his en suite. I'd rather not think about man's inhumanity towards man."
TV critic Art Wise agreed. "I loved the witty banter between Drew and Jonathan Silver Scott on the original Property Brothers. But there was no witty banter between the two nameless Rohingya brothers on the latest version of the show. And the little they did say was in untranslated Rohingya. We were witnessing, as Orlando Patterson described, these men's social death. Not unlike when Jonathan tells some unfortunate couple that a load bearing wall that separates the kitchen from the living room will undoubtedly hurt their ability to entertain."
The network has also decided to pull two other shows of similar sensibility.
Famous for its tagline, "What's unique about Flip or Flop Raqqa? We're ISIS!" only the pilot episode aired. In it, the ISIS flippers captured a church, destroyed all of its scriptures and portraits of Jesus, and turned it into a dungeon for infidels replete with cages. The flippers lost money on the project.
In Fixer Upper - Yemen, Chip and Joanna Gaines battle with Saudi bombs and Houthi rebels in an attempt to rebuild the country of Yemen. The show was canceled after the couple was murdered within a week of arriving.
Critics of the show came from a variety of arenas. Matthew Smith, head of Fortify Rights, a human rights group that tracks abuses against the Rohingya complained, "I spend my entire life in the service of the Rohingya, learning about the horrific genocidal actions of the Burmese military. I just want to go home and watch some jackoff whine about not having a jetted tub in his en suite. I'd rather not think about man's inhumanity towards man."
TV critic Art Wise agreed. "I loved the witty banter between Drew and Jonathan Silver Scott on the original Property Brothers. But there was no witty banter between the two nameless Rohingya brothers on the latest version of the show. And the little they did say was in untranslated Rohingya. We were witnessing, as Orlando Patterson described, these men's social death. Not unlike when Jonathan tells some unfortunate couple that a load bearing wall that separates the kitchen from the living room will undoubtedly hurt their ability to entertain."
The network has also decided to pull two other shows of similar sensibility.
Famous for its tagline, "What's unique about Flip or Flop Raqqa? We're ISIS!" only the pilot episode aired. In it, the ISIS flippers captured a church, destroyed all of its scriptures and portraits of Jesus, and turned it into a dungeon for infidels replete with cages. The flippers lost money on the project.
In Fixer Upper - Yemen, Chip and Joanna Gaines battle with Saudi bombs and Houthi rebels in an attempt to rebuild the country of Yemen. The show was canceled after the couple was murdered within a week of arriving.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Strange Selfie Match
I tried that Google Arts and Culture selfie match. Turns out I'm a 53% match with that Danish cartoonist's racist depiction of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from 2005. I'm wondering, why is that even an option? That's fucked up Google!
Out of respect for the great and noble religion of Islam and its adherence of a ban on idolatry of the prophets, particularly in this most offensive form, I've decided not to post the match. I must say that I'm also offended that I most resemble a racist cartoon. And not even like a stereotypical depiction of my own people. I'm very offended.
Out of respect for the great and noble religion of Islam and its adherence of a ban on idolatry of the prophets, particularly in this most offensive form, I've decided not to post the match. I must say that I'm also offended that I most resemble a racist cartoon. And not even like a stereotypical depiction of my own people. I'm very offended.
Sunday, January 07, 2018
Bills Come Up Short
In their first playoff game since I was in high school and before the existence of this blog, the Buffalo Bills came up just short in a valiant 10-3 loss. Neither Jacksonville nor Buffalo could mount much offense. The Bills scored first, notching a field goal after they had it first and goal from the one. Jacksonville managed to tie the game just before the half.
The best offense for either team was the Jaguars' Blake Bortles scrambling. Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor never threw the ball down the field. He is not a risk-taker. The all-time leader in fewest interception percentage per pass, Taylor usually opts to throw short. His interception today was a fluke; a ball tipped up into the air a few times.He is a good runner and very adept at avoiding sacks. Hes willing to throw the ball away rather than take a sack or force a pass into traffic.
Taylor's steady hand is appreciated, but without the potential of a big play, Jacksonville's defense could contain Taylor's short passes. Too often,. the Bills lost yardage. Losing yards is part of the price if risk is involved, but the Bills had far too many plays in which they lost yardage for such a conservative approach.
Taylor's injury on 4th and 3 with just over a minute to go was heartbreaking. Nathan Peterman came in and picked up the first down, but soon threw an "interception" to Jalen Ramsey, who first committed an uncalled pass interference, and then trapped the ball against the ground. Instant replay has not been kind to the Bills in their last two playoff games.
Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander came up big. He was impressive.
Hopefully, the Bills don't make wholesale changes. Taylor needs better pass-catching options, but Buffalo is on the right track.
The best offense for either team was the Jaguars' Blake Bortles scrambling. Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor never threw the ball down the field. He is not a risk-taker. The all-time leader in fewest interception percentage per pass, Taylor usually opts to throw short. His interception today was a fluke; a ball tipped up into the air a few times.He is a good runner and very adept at avoiding sacks. Hes willing to throw the ball away rather than take a sack or force a pass into traffic.
Taylor's steady hand is appreciated, but without the potential of a big play, Jacksonville's defense could contain Taylor's short passes. Too often,. the Bills lost yardage. Losing yards is part of the price if risk is involved, but the Bills had far too many plays in which they lost yardage for such a conservative approach.
Taylor's injury on 4th and 3 with just over a minute to go was heartbreaking. Nathan Peterman came in and picked up the first down, but soon threw an "interception" to Jalen Ramsey, who first committed an uncalled pass interference, and then trapped the ball against the ground. Instant replay has not been kind to the Bills in their last two playoff games.
Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander came up big. He was impressive.
Hopefully, the Bills don't make wholesale changes. Taylor needs better pass-catching options, but Buffalo is on the right track.
Saturday, January 06, 2018
Boxing Fights I Want to See
Last year was a little better for boxing in terms of making the top fights everyone wants to see. Ward-Kovalev, Canelo-Govkin, Lomachenko-Rignodeax, Joshua-Klitschko, and Thurman-Garcia all fit the mold. In that same vain, here are the fights I'd like to see in 2018.
Heavyweight
Some combination of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Joseph Parker. Please stop fighting Eric Molina!
Light Heavyweight
Adonis Stevenson vs. Sergey Kovalev for the legitimate light heavyweight championship.
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol
Middleweight
Canelo-Golovkin 2
Billy Joe Saunders vs. Erislandy Lara (give me a skilled chess match any day)
Welterweights
Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence, but Keith Thurman is currently the best in the division, so let Crawford or Spence fight Thurman and the other one fight Danny Garcia before Crawford and Spence face off.
Junior Welterweights
Mikey Garcia vs Regis Prograis (I'm high on Prograis and I wonder if Garcia can take a hard-punching 140 pounder's punch)
Lightweight
Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Mikey Garcia
Junior Lightweight
Gervonta Davis vs. Gary Russell (Baltimore vs. DC)
Featherweight
Tournament
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Gary Russell
Carl Frampton vs. Abner Mares
Junior Bantamweight
Naoya Inoue vs Srisaket Sor Rungvisai-Juan Estrada winner
Heavyweight
Some combination of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Joseph Parker. Please stop fighting Eric Molina!
Light Heavyweight
Adonis Stevenson vs. Sergey Kovalev for the legitimate light heavyweight championship.
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol
Middleweight
Canelo-Golovkin 2
Billy Joe Saunders vs. Erislandy Lara (give me a skilled chess match any day)
Welterweights
Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence, but Keith Thurman is currently the best in the division, so let Crawford or Spence fight Thurman and the other one fight Danny Garcia before Crawford and Spence face off.
Junior Welterweights
Mikey Garcia vs Regis Prograis (I'm high on Prograis and I wonder if Garcia can take a hard-punching 140 pounder's punch)
Lightweight
Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Mikey Garcia
Junior Lightweight
Gervonta Davis vs. Gary Russell (Baltimore vs. DC)
Featherweight
Tournament
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Gary Russell
Carl Frampton vs. Abner Mares
Junior Bantamweight
Naoya Inoue vs Srisaket Sor Rungvisai-Juan Estrada winner
Friday, January 05, 2018
Best Boxing Referees and Judges
When these boxing referees are announced I feel confident there will be a fairly officiated fight.
Here's a list of the 6 best in alphabetical order:
Kenny Bayless
Harvey Dock
Michael Griffin
Jack Reiss
Tom Taylor
Tony Weeks
Fewer judges stand out.
Here are two that I feel the most confident in their scores:
Julie Lederman
Steve Weisfeld
Here's a list of the 6 best in alphabetical order:
Kenny Bayless
Harvey Dock
Michael Griffin
Jack Reiss
Tom Taylor
Tony Weeks
Fewer judges stand out.
Here are two that I feel the most confident in their scores:
Julie Lederman
Steve Weisfeld
Thursday, January 04, 2018
2018 NFL Playoff Predictions
AFC
Wild Card Round
6 Buffalo over 3 Jacksonville 21-10
4 Kansas City over 5 Tennessee 27-14
Divisional Round
1 New England over 6 Buffalo 24-23
2 Pittsburgh over 4 Kansas City 13-10
AFC Championship
2 Pittsburgh over 1 New England 17-13
NFC
Wild Card Round
6 Atlanta over 3 LA Rams 35-27
4 New Orleans over 5 Carolina 24-14
Divisional Round
6 Atlanta over 1 Philadelphia 28-3
4 New Orleans over 2 Minnesota 20-17
NFC Championship
4 New Orleans over 6 Atlanta 31-17
Super Bowl LII'
New Orleans over Pittsburgh 28-23
Wild Card Round
6 Buffalo over 3 Jacksonville 21-10
4 Kansas City over 5 Tennessee 27-14
Divisional Round
1 New England over 6 Buffalo 24-23
2 Pittsburgh over 4 Kansas City 13-10
AFC Championship
2 Pittsburgh over 1 New England 17-13
NFC
Wild Card Round
6 Atlanta over 3 LA Rams 35-27
4 New Orleans over 5 Carolina 24-14
Divisional Round
6 Atlanta over 1 Philadelphia 28-3
4 New Orleans over 2 Minnesota 20-17
NFC Championship
4 New Orleans over 6 Atlanta 31-17
Super Bowl LII'
New Orleans over Pittsburgh 28-23
Wednesday, January 03, 2018
New Format Final Standings
If the NFL moved back to two divisions per conference, we would get fairer and more exciting playoff games.
NFC South and East
1) Philadelphia 13-3
2) New Orleans 11-5
3) Carolina 11-5
4) Atlanta 10-6
5) Dallas 9-7
6) Washington 7-9
7) Tampa Bay 5-11
8) NY Giants 3-13
NFC North and West
1) Minnesota 13-3
2) LA Rams 11-5
3) Detroit 9-7
4) Seattle 9-7
5) Arizona 8-8
6) Green Bay 7-9
7) Chicago 5-11
8) San Francisco 6-10
The playoff seeding would look like this:
1) Phi, 2) Min, 3) LAR, 4) NO, 5) Car, 6) Atl.
In the new format, the division races wouldn't have been sewn up so quickly.
AFC North and East
1) New England 13-3
2) Pittsburgh 13-3
3) Buffalo 9-7
4) Baltimore 9-7
5) Cincinnati 7-9
6) Miami 6-10
7) NY Jets 5-11
8) Cleveland 0-16
AFC South and West
1) Jacksonville 10-6
2) Kansas City 10-6
3) Tennessee 9-7
4) LA Chargers 9-7
5) Oakland 6-10
6) Denver 5-11
7) Houston 4-12
8) Indianapolis 4-12
The playoff seeding would look like this:
1) NE, 2) Jax, 3) Pit, 4) KC, 5) Ten, 6) Buf.
The one situation in which the new format is less fair is when two teams from one division finish with the top two records. However, the new format would've made the run up to the playoffs far more exciting and competitive. NE and Pitt would jockey for the bye and so would Jacksonville and Kansas City.
NFC South and East
1) Philadelphia 13-3
2) New Orleans 11-5
3) Carolina 11-5
4) Atlanta 10-6
5) Dallas 9-7
6) Washington 7-9
7) Tampa Bay 5-11
8) NY Giants 3-13
NFC North and West
1) Minnesota 13-3
2) LA Rams 11-5
3) Detroit 9-7
4) Seattle 9-7
5) Arizona 8-8
6) Green Bay 7-9
7) Chicago 5-11
8) San Francisco 6-10
The playoff seeding would look like this:
1) Phi, 2) Min, 3) LAR, 4) NO, 5) Car, 6) Atl.
In the new format, the division races wouldn't have been sewn up so quickly.
AFC North and East
1) New England 13-3
2) Pittsburgh 13-3
3) Buffalo 9-7
4) Baltimore 9-7
5) Cincinnati 7-9
6) Miami 6-10
7) NY Jets 5-11
8) Cleveland 0-16
AFC South and West
1) Jacksonville 10-6
2) Kansas City 10-6
3) Tennessee 9-7
4) LA Chargers 9-7
5) Oakland 6-10
6) Denver 5-11
7) Houston 4-12
8) Indianapolis 4-12
The playoff seeding would look like this:
1) NE, 2) Jax, 3) Pit, 4) KC, 5) Ten, 6) Buf.
The one situation in which the new format is less fair is when two teams from one division finish with the top two records. However, the new format would've made the run up to the playoffs far more exciting and competitive. NE and Pitt would jockey for the bye and so would Jacksonville and Kansas City.
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