Breaking Bad: "To'hajiilee"

Let's start with the obvious, To'hajiilee, is the Navajo Indian Reservation where the money is buried, the initial cook was, and the huge gunfight took place. I know that obscure reference is what everyone was talking about after that episode. And by the way, the next episode is called Ozymandias after a Percy Shelley poem.

I actually want to wait a second before I discuss the heart-pounding climax because there's another point I want to make. I touched on this briefly last week: everyone else is taking on Walt's traits, and he is losing them.

Last week everyone wanted to kill someone, except Walt who wanted to spare Jesse. Usually it is Walt who comes up with the genius schemes to get out of sticky situations (the gas in the very first episode, the Tuco explosion, the Hector bomb and many more) but this time it was Hank using the "brains" to manipulate Huell, and then using the info from Huell to concoct a scheme to get Walt to lead them to the money. And it is Walt who failed to consider all the options, acted rashly and got himself in trouble.

Now we know through 5 seasons that the hallmark of the show if for characters to get themselves into and out of trouble. And usually their escapes are organic and clever not cheesy, contrived or ridiculous. If that holds, Hank and Gomey have to die. There is just no way they could survive being as outgunned as they are. And I don't see any way the Aryans simply back off at Walt's urging. Jesse would likely have to die as well, were there any realism at play, but I can totally see him making a run for it and in the confusion, escaping into the desert.

And Walt will have three episodes to chase him, perhaps with the series ending on a final confrontation. Maybe Jesse kills Walt. He called him Walt for the first time all series, a clear sign he has lost all respect for his former mentor.

I have the feeling this is the episode where Walt finally goes on the run, answering those questions about the diner breakfast on his 52nd birthday, the New Hampshire ID, the defaced house and whether his cancer is really back (we do see him with a full head of hair and a beard).

This may very well be one of the best cliffhangers in TV history, hopefully it ends better than "who shot JR?"

0 Words

I have no words for mistakes this stupid, this egregious, this public, that many people had and should have had the opportunity to correct.

Song of the Week

"Right Above It" - Lil Wayne featuring Drake
I don't post a lot of rap on this blog but this one has one of the best beats I've heard in a while.

Funny or Douchey?

At Syracuse University half of the guys in broadcast journalism want to be local sports anchors, at least to start their careers. Adam Lefkoe, class of 2008, is living the dream at WHAS11 in Louisville. For his Sunday evening sportscast he turned it into a Seinfeldcast. He took suggestions via Twitter and worked in as many references as he could. He hit 41, including the graphics.



I think it's a cool idea, but I'm not sold on the execution. Of the 41 references, 10 were natural, 20 (including those) were funny, 20 others were forced and awkward and 1 went over my head. It took me several minutes to remember Jack Clompus told Jerry to "take the pen."

I'm very torn on funny or douchey for this one, which is why I need your help, Poopheads.

The NFL is Poop - Week 1

So Peyton Manning is Good
An absolutely legendary performance by one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. That third quarter was incredibly fun to watch as he was completely dominant. I got my picks in just under the wire and selected Denver to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. I don't want to overreact to one game but I certainly feel good about that performance. As for the Ravens, I wouldn't give up on them yet, but I would remember that they were the 5th seed last year, and lost a lot of players, hard to imagine they could improve off that.

Dumb Move of the Week I
The Broncos were leading 42-17 in the 4th quarter when Danny Trevathan picked off Joe Flacco and returned it 30 yards for an easy touchdown. But wait, the idiot dropped the ball on the one yard, clearly before crossing the plane of the end zone. It was like Leon Lett, except no one stripped him, he dropped it on his own. Lucky for him, the Broncos were winning comfortably and held onto that lead.

Dumb Move of the Week II
Lavonte David wasn't so lucky, his dumb play cost his team the game. Geno Smith ran out of bounds at the ECP's 45-yard-line with 7 seconds left in the game. Not close enough to attempt a game-winning field goal, maybe one last heave. But as Smith stepped out of bounds he was pushed, lightly, by Lavonte David, drawing a 15-yard penalty, pushing the Jets to the 30 and setting up a 48-yard attempt from Nick Folk, a kick he made to win the game 18-17. David said he thought Smith was still in bounds but replays showed Smith's foot touched down on the white line, just before David hit him, a clear penalty. I don't want to hear any defense of David, this was clearly idiotic, there was no way Geno could have gotten in bounds for any more yards, he just couldn't separate himself from the kill the quarterback mentality for even a second, to play it cautiously, and it cost his team the game.

But if I were a Jets fan I wouldn't be too excited about this 1-0 start. There is still a lot of evidence pointing to a very horrible season, but at least Geno Smith played well enough to win, and to hopefully preclude Mark Sanchez from ever playing for the Jets again.

Game of the Week
San Francisco 49ers 34 Green Bay Packers 28
It doesn't always happen that the game we think will be great going in, actually is. Both Rodgers and Kaepernick where throwing the ball all over the field. I'm actually surprised it wasn't even higher scoring.
There was a huge controversial play in this game which very well may have affected the outcome. Second quarter, tied at 7, 49ers have the ball 3rd and 6 from the 10. Kaepernick scrambles and gets taken out by Clay Matthews, clearly out of bounds, and clearly excessively rough. Joe Staley comes in to defend his quarterback and each player is charged with a 15-yard personal foul penalty. The flags offset, but since the fouls occurred after the play, the play should have stood, resulting in a 4th and 2 from the 6. Instead, the referees called for the down to be replayed, and Kaepernick threw a touchdown.
But that should not take away from the 49ers victory or the brilliant performance by Kaepernick. I am so impressed by him. He can run, he can throw, he usually makes the right decisions. He is the reason so many people including myself picked the 49ers to win the Super Bowl this year.

Game of Next Week
Denver Broncos at New York Giants
The Manning Bowl! A full week full of joke about Archie Manning's sperm! These teams combined to score 80 points this week so this should definitely be a shootout, fun to watch.

A Brief Rant About the Redskins
Quite possibly one of the ten worst games any NFL team has ever played (in the first 3 quarters at least).

Cheerleader of the Week
Tara Battiato of the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders
This popular feature is back for this week because of the ass shot everyone is talking about. Perhaps unknowingly Tara bent down and showed her booty (and almost her pussy too) to the NBC camera.

Tara has been on the squad for 5 years thinks to her employer who is understanding about her schedule. Commercial realtor by day, cheerleader by night. She went to Boise State, and is thankful for her education, which was surely important in her landing both of her jobs. She likes Coach K and Michelle Obama and kickball.

Picture of the Week
The Carolina Panthers walk through the tunnel before their game against the Seahawks.

If the Super Bowl Were Played Today
San Francisco 49ers 31 Denver Broncos 27
I picked this matchup before the season and I have no reason to change my mind now. Both teams pulled off good wins over teams we think are going to be good. Kaepernick and Manning could be a passing of the torch and the dawn of a new type of mobile, but stilling passing, quarterback.

Weekly Picks

A new season a new chance at glory, or more likely to fall victim once again to the unpredictable nature of the NFL.

tampa bay -3 NEW YORK JETS
I think the ExpensiveCornPrices could be good this year but this pick is much more about the Jets sucking than the ECPs being any good.

ST. LOUIS -5 arizona
The Cardinals are another team I think could have a very bad year. I don't have much faith in Carson Palmer to be healthy or good, and I kind of like the Rams to be a frisky playoff contender this year.

cincinnati +3 CHICAGO
Maybe I like Hard Knocks too much, and am looking to hard at an underdog, but I like Andy Dalton and I like the Bengals defense.

kansas city -3 1/2 JACKSONVILLE
I'm not as sold as a lot of people seem to be that the Chiefs will be a good team this year, but I know the Jaguars are going to suck. And I know Alex Smith is a lot better than anyone they've had recently.

BEST BET
SAN FRANCISCO -4 1/2 green bay
The 49ers are probably going to be the best team in the league this year, and though Green Bay is good, they have a lot of holes. I just don't seem them pulling off this upset on the road in Week 1.