Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Weekly Picks
I went with all the underdogs last week and that didn't work out so well. This is probably a good week to go with underdogs again because of those extra half points on the spreads.
NEW ORLEANS -3 1/2 minnesota
Both teams have great offenses, exciting running backs and quarterbacks playing very well right now. I think this game will come down to turnovers. Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson seem more turnover prone than Drew Brees and the Saints.
BEST BET
INDIANAPOLIS -7 1/2 new york jets
The Jets have had a fine run but it ends here. You can't confuse Peyton Manning and you can't keep up with him by running the ball alone. And if the Jets open it up with a little more pssing, Mark Sanchez will kill them. They just don't have the weapons to beat the Colts.
Last week: 1-3 (0 points)
Season: 39-54 (36 points)
Best Bets: 0-1 (8-11)
Home Favorites: 0-0 (8-14)
Home Underdogs: 0-0 (1-2)
Road Favorites: 0-0 (16-16)
Road Underdogs: 1-3 (14-21)
Road Pickem: 0-0 (0-1)
NEW ORLEANS -3 1/2 minnesota
Both teams have great offenses, exciting running backs and quarterbacks playing very well right now. I think this game will come down to turnovers. Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson seem more turnover prone than Drew Brees and the Saints.
BEST BET
INDIANAPOLIS -7 1/2 new york jets
The Jets have had a fine run but it ends here. You can't confuse Peyton Manning and you can't keep up with him by running the ball alone. And if the Jets open it up with a little more pssing, Mark Sanchez will kill them. They just don't have the weapons to beat the Colts.
Last week: 1-3 (0 points)
Season: 39-54 (36 points)
Best Bets: 0-1 (8-11)
Home Favorites: 0-0 (8-14)
Home Underdogs: 0-0 (1-2)
Road Favorites: 0-0 (16-16)
Road Underdogs: 1-3 (14-21)
Road Pickem: 0-0 (0-1)
Is This Getting a Little Creepy Now?
Senator-Elect Scott Brown was criticized by whiny liberal babies upset they lost the Senate seat and the chance to shove health care reform down the throats of the American people for "pimping out" his daughters in his acceptance speech, by saying they were "available."
Now they have some new evidence to support their claims.
This picture surfacing of Scott Brown and his daughters Ayla and Arianna.
It's obvious they are at some Hawaii-themed party which can sort of explain the seashell bikinis. But still some people might think it's a little weird to wear that in front of your father and pose for a picture with -- making him look like the second-coming of Joe Pimpson.
I'm not really sure what to think of this so I asked around and a lot of girls said they'd be around their father while wearing a regular bikini, but that seashell bra is a little too much for paternal eyes.
By the way, check out the Would You Bang? Ayla Brown. Looks like none is needed for Arianna because she looks good enough to be the cream of the crop at Faegan's at 1:45 am. For those who don't know, Arianna is pre-med at Syracuse and Faegan's is the bar where the rich kids hang out.
Now they have some new evidence to support their claims.
This picture surfacing of Scott Brown and his daughters Ayla and Arianna.
It's obvious they are at some Hawaii-themed party which can sort of explain the seashell bikinis. But still some people might think it's a little weird to wear that in front of your father and pose for a picture with -- making him look like the second-coming of Joe Pimpson.
I'm not really sure what to think of this so I asked around and a lot of girls said they'd be around their father while wearing a regular bikini, but that seashell bra is a little too much for paternal eyes.
By the way, check out the Would You Bang? Ayla Brown. Looks like none is needed for Arianna because she looks good enough to be the cream of the crop at Faegan's at 1:45 am. For those who don't know, Arianna is pre-med at Syracuse and Faegan's is the bar where the rich kids hang out.
I Want to Give Conan a Best Friend Hug
Ed Helms stopped by "The Tonight Show" go give Conan O'Brien a special send-off with a personalized version of Stu's Song.
And here's the original Stu's Song from the Hangover.
And here's the original Stu's Song from the Hangover.
Mrs. Poop's Hate List
Normally when you read something on this blog attributed to Mrs. Poop I took some innocent comment of hers and completely distorted it and then she got angry. But there is one case where she totally stands behind the mean thing I made come out of her mouth. Asked to form Mrs. Poop's Hate List there is only one name on it: Frank DeFord. That's right the aging sportswriter aggravates Mrs. Poop so much that she openly admits to hating him. Every month when "Real Sports" is on I save it on the DVR to show her whatever kind of ridiculous outfit DeFord is wearing. But the 2009 year-end roundtable took the cake. DeFord was wearing purple socks, and quite possibly even purple shoes (that seemed to be the implication from the conversation but it's hard to see in the pictures).
This set Mrs. Poop off. In fact I sent her an e-mail asking her to come up with the five things she hates most about him and this was her response:
"His hair
His clothes
His moustache
His teeth
The way he talks"
In case you're not familiar with DeFord he's a legendary sports writer but he's balding and slicks his hair back on the top and it poofs out on the sides. Even though he is a huge man, his clothes are often too big, and even more often they're purple. He has a pencil-thin moustache and crooked teeth. And he always talks as if he has just run five miles. And it is so funny to get Mrs. Poop riled up about him.
This set Mrs. Poop off. In fact I sent her an e-mail asking her to come up with the five things she hates most about him and this was her response:
"His hair
His clothes
His moustache
His teeth
The way he talks"
In case you're not familiar with DeFord he's a legendary sports writer but he's balding and slicks his hair back on the top and it poofs out on the sides. Even though he is a huge man, his clothes are often too big, and even more often they're purple. He has a pencil-thin moustache and crooked teeth. And he always talks as if he has just run five miles. And it is so funny to get Mrs. Poop riled up about him.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Best Beer Slogan Ever
A Scottish brewery called BrewDog is getting some attention for its Toyko beer which authorities want to ban because of its 18.2% alcohol content and its label which contains the best beer slogan ever:
"Everything in moderation, including moderation itself. What logically follows is that you must, from time to time, have excess."
"Everything in moderation, including moderation itself. What logically follows is that you must, from time to time, have excess."
God Is In The Details
In the Jets-chargers playoff game everyone is breaking down two coaching decisions: Norv Turner going for an onside kick with a little more than 2 minutes to go and Rex Ryan going for it on 4th and 1 in field goal range.
Ryan's team made the yard, Turner's team didn't recover the kick. And the reactionary press is praising Rex and killing Norv.
I would have chosen the opposite in both cases. But the point is an argument can be made on both sides.
But one decision for which there is no defense is getting very little attention because it turned out to have little or no impact on the game.
Norv Turner saving his final time out until after the 2-minute warning, a indefensible move that could have cost his team valuable seconds.
Sports Illustrated's Joe Posnanski (who is fast becoming my favorite sports writer not named Peter King) uses the Turner timeout as an example of a larger trend plaguing the leage's coaches: they are horrible at clock management.
Coaches in the NFL have no idea how to use the clock.
This is astounding to me. As you no doubt know, football coaches will spend hundreds of hours every week studying film to get the tiniest advantage in a game. They will look for almost imperceptible flaws -- a lineman looking down at specific moments, a linebacker who tends to get overaggressive on reverses, a quarterback who drops his arm on certain throws, a receiver who does not run out his routes on running plays. They are looking for any edge, even an edge that, 99 percent of the time, will not matter. Coaches coach for that one percent of the time.
And yet: They treat the clock like college students treat their alarm clock. If there was a snooze button on an NFL clock, coaches would hit it repeatedly.
Papa Poop and I have often had the same discussion about the 2-point conversion. We fail to understand why coaches still don't know how (and more importantly, when) to utilize it, because it can play such an important role in deciding a game. And its so simple.
I can't understand why guys who work 18 hours a day don't devote 15 minutes one time to understanding the simple but important concepts of timeout management and the correct use of the 2-point conversion.
I recommend reading Posnanski's entire article and his detailed analysis of the best players in baseball from 1970 until now. You will gain a new appreciation for Ken Singleton, Will Clark and OPS+.
Ryan's team made the yard, Turner's team didn't recover the kick. And the reactionary press is praising Rex and killing Norv.
I would have chosen the opposite in both cases. But the point is an argument can be made on both sides.
But one decision for which there is no defense is getting very little attention because it turned out to have little or no impact on the game.
Norv Turner saving his final time out until after the 2-minute warning, a indefensible move that could have cost his team valuable seconds.
Sports Illustrated's Joe Posnanski (who is fast becoming my favorite sports writer not named Peter King) uses the Turner timeout as an example of a larger trend plaguing the leage's coaches: they are horrible at clock management.
Coaches in the NFL have no idea how to use the clock.
This is astounding to me. As you no doubt know, football coaches will spend hundreds of hours every week studying film to get the tiniest advantage in a game. They will look for almost imperceptible flaws -- a lineman looking down at specific moments, a linebacker who tends to get overaggressive on reverses, a quarterback who drops his arm on certain throws, a receiver who does not run out his routes on running plays. They are looking for any edge, even an edge that, 99 percent of the time, will not matter. Coaches coach for that one percent of the time.
And yet: They treat the clock like college students treat their alarm clock. If there was a snooze button on an NFL clock, coaches would hit it repeatedly.
Papa Poop and I have often had the same discussion about the 2-point conversion. We fail to understand why coaches still don't know how (and more importantly, when) to utilize it, because it can play such an important role in deciding a game. And its so simple.
I can't understand why guys who work 18 hours a day don't devote 15 minutes one time to understanding the simple but important concepts of timeout management and the correct use of the 2-point conversion.
I recommend reading Posnanski's entire article and his detailed analysis of the best players in baseball from 1970 until now. You will gain a new appreciation for Ken Singleton, Will Clark and OPS+.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Master Bates and Papa Poop Are in Trouble
The IRS plans to require tax preparers to pass a test and register with the government to better police a largely unregulated industry used by most taxpayers.
The Internal Revenue Service says there could be more than a million people offering tax preparation services. Most offer sound advice, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman says, but many don't and the agency knows little about them.
The new regulations, announced Monday, won't be in effect for the current filing season -- individual tax returns are due April 15. But Shulman said tax preparers will be held to higher standards in future years as the IRS steps up its oversight to help reduce fraud and errors.
"Taxpayers will get improved service and enhanced standards from tax preparers, and they'll have less risk that they'll get bad advice," Shulman told reporters. "The tax preparation industry will get more consistency and a level playing field."
Shulman said he hopes to have all paid tax preparers registered by the 2011 filing season. Preparers will be given about three years to meet competency requirements, though there is much work to be done to develop standards and tests.
Eventually, tax preparers will be required to complete annual training and will be subject to penalties for unethical conduct, Shulman said. Taxpayers will be able to check the credentials of preparers on a public IRS database.
The Internal Revenue Service says there could be more than a million people offering tax preparation services. Most offer sound advice, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman says, but many don't and the agency knows little about them.
The new regulations, announced Monday, won't be in effect for the current filing season -- individual tax returns are due April 15. But Shulman said tax preparers will be held to higher standards in future years as the IRS steps up its oversight to help reduce fraud and errors.
"Taxpayers will get improved service and enhanced standards from tax preparers, and they'll have less risk that they'll get bad advice," Shulman told reporters. "The tax preparation industry will get more consistency and a level playing field."
Shulman said he hopes to have all paid tax preparers registered by the 2011 filing season. Preparers will be given about three years to meet competency requirements, though there is much work to be done to develop standards and tests.
Eventually, tax preparers will be required to complete annual training and will be subject to penalties for unethical conduct, Shulman said. Taxpayers will be able to check the credentials of preparers on a public IRS database.
Song of the Week
"Back in the Day" - Ahmad
“I miss those days so I pout like a grown jerk
Wishing all I had to do now was finish homework”
I think about that line a lot because I was awful about doing my homework, but had I realized how easy homework was compared to the real life problems I face now I probably would have been a little less difficult about it.
You may notice this song samples from Teddy Pendergrass's "Love TKO."
“I miss those days so I pout like a grown jerk
Wishing all I had to do now was finish homework”
I think about that line a lot because I was awful about doing my homework, but had I realized how easy homework was compared to the real life problems I face now I probably would have been a little less difficult about it.
You may notice this song samples from Teddy Pendergrass's "Love TKO."
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Great Excuse for a Loss
The Knicks were afraid, very afraid. And it had nothing to do with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For two days, several players had trouble sleeping because they were convinced that their downtown hotel is haunted.
"I definitely believe it," Jared Jeffries said. "The place is haunted. It's scary."
Eddy Curry claims he slept for only two hours Sunday night because he couldn't stop thinking about ghosts roaming the hotel.
For years, guests staying at the Skirvin Hilton have reported ghost sightings and strange noises. Legend has it that sometime in the 1930s, a woman jumped to her death while holding her baby in her hands.
"They said it happened on the 10th floor and I'm the only one staying on the 10th floor," Curry said. "That's why I spent most of my time in (Nate Robinson's) room. I definitely believe there are ghosts in that hotel."
Assistant coach Herb Williams teased Jeffries and Curry for believing that the Skirvin is haunted, but Curry wasn't laughing.
"There are too many stories," Curry said. "Something is going on there."
For two days, several players had trouble sleeping because they were convinced that their downtown hotel is haunted.
"I definitely believe it," Jared Jeffries said. "The place is haunted. It's scary."
Eddy Curry claims he slept for only two hours Sunday night because he couldn't stop thinking about ghosts roaming the hotel.
For years, guests staying at the Skirvin Hilton have reported ghost sightings and strange noises. Legend has it that sometime in the 1930s, a woman jumped to her death while holding her baby in her hands.
"They said it happened on the 10th floor and I'm the only one staying on the 10th floor," Curry said. "That's why I spent most of my time in (Nate Robinson's) room. I definitely believe there are ghosts in that hotel."
Assistant coach Herb Williams teased Jeffries and Curry for believing that the Skirvin is haunted, but Curry wasn't laughing.
"There are too many stories," Curry said. "Something is going on there."
The Future of the Free World Depends on the Outcome of the Massachusetts Senate Race
If you are listening to the news or reading the papers today's special election in Massachusetts will decide the fate of our nation.
If Republican Scott Brown wins the election to replace the late Ted Kennedy, Republicans will have 41 seats in the Senate and the ability to block a final vote on a compromise health care bill.
If Martha Coakley wins, health care passes. Coakley once had a huge lead, not surprising in a very liberal state. But latest polls show that lead shrinking considerably with Brown leading in some polls. President Obama was in Massachusetts on Sunday stumping for Coakley, a move that didn't work so well for Jon Corzine.
But I don't really care about the serious side of politics, I only care about the horse race aspect and the silly things candidates do and say, like when Martha Coakley said Curt Schilling was a Yankees fan:
Or when Scott Brown was in Cosmo:
You may remember Brown's daughter Ayla as a contestant on American Idol Season 5:
If Brown wins this election (and prevents health insurance reform from passing) it could be seen as karmic payback for Ted Kennedy. His death would be the only thing preventing his lifelong dream from becoming reality.
If Republican Scott Brown wins the election to replace the late Ted Kennedy, Republicans will have 41 seats in the Senate and the ability to block a final vote on a compromise health care bill.
If Martha Coakley wins, health care passes. Coakley once had a huge lead, not surprising in a very liberal state. But latest polls show that lead shrinking considerably with Brown leading in some polls. President Obama was in Massachusetts on Sunday stumping for Coakley, a move that didn't work so well for Jon Corzine.
But I don't really care about the serious side of politics, I only care about the horse race aspect and the silly things candidates do and say, like when Martha Coakley said Curt Schilling was a Yankees fan:
Or when Scott Brown was in Cosmo:
You may remember Brown's daughter Ayla as a contestant on American Idol Season 5:
If Brown wins this election (and prevents health insurance reform from passing) it could be seen as karmic payback for Ted Kennedy. His death would be the only thing preventing his lifelong dream from becoming reality.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Pants on the Ground
The breakthrough star of the last relevant season of "American Idol" (before Simon leaves) is General Larry Platt. Not a military general, he earned that mythical title during his battles in the civil rights movement.
His now famous "Pants on the Ground" was inspired three years ago when he saw a guy walking down a downtown Atlanta street with a baby in his arm and his pants slipping below his hips. “He had his underwear showing,” Platt recalled. The song came to him spontaneously. He started chanting the chorus to “Pants on the Ground.” “He was being disrespectful so I wanted to embarrass him,” Platt said. “He rolled his eyes and pulled his pants up a little bit.”
The song sure is catchy, and a 62-year-old trying out for Idol is a little goofy as is the song itself. But not lost in the goofiness is the social message in the song. Young African-American men won't be taken seriously in society so long as they are "walking downtown with [their] pants on the ground."
As is always the case on the internet the song has created numerous copycats, starting with Jimmy Fallon's version as Neil Young:
Then there was Brett Favre singing it in the Vikings locker room after beating the Cowboys.
His now famous "Pants on the Ground" was inspired three years ago when he saw a guy walking down a downtown Atlanta street with a baby in his arm and his pants slipping below his hips. “He had his underwear showing,” Platt recalled. The song came to him spontaneously. He started chanting the chorus to “Pants on the Ground.” “He was being disrespectful so I wanted to embarrass him,” Platt said. “He rolled his eyes and pulled his pants up a little bit.”
The song sure is catchy, and a 62-year-old trying out for Idol is a little goofy as is the song itself. But not lost in the goofiness is the social message in the song. Young African-American men won't be taken seriously in society so long as they are "walking downtown with [their] pants on the ground."
As is always the case on the internet the song has created numerous copycats, starting with Jimmy Fallon's version as Neil Young:
Then there was Brett Favre singing it in the Vikings locker room after beating the Cowboys.
A Big Ass is the Key to a Healthy Life
The kind of fat found in the hips and buttocks may actually help fight diabetes, a result that surprised Harvard doctors performing the research that produced the finding. Although belly fat is known to raise the risk of diabetes, subcutaneous fat injected into the abdomens of mice actually increased their sensitivity to insulin and even helped them lose weight, Reuters reports.
"We actually found it had a beneficial effect, and it was especially true when you put it inside the abdomen," the study's lead doctor said, referring to the subcutaneous fat. "It's an important result because not only does it say that not all fat is bad, but I think it points to a special aspect of fat where we need to do more research."
Here's a partial list of woman at no risk for diabetes:
"We actually found it had a beneficial effect, and it was especially true when you put it inside the abdomen," the study's lead doctor said, referring to the subcutaneous fat. "It's an important result because not only does it say that not all fat is bad, but I think it points to a special aspect of fat where we need to do more research."
Here's a partial list of woman at no risk for diabetes:
Friday, January 15, 2010
Weekly Picks
I went 2-2 last week which isn’t so bad but of course I lost my best bet when Tom Brady had the worst game of his life. One thing I don’t like about this week, the games are being played in three domes and San Diego. I want winter weather. I want snow, I want cold. Either way, I feel confident about this week and I’m about to do something I never do – so let’s get to the picks.
arizona +7 NEW ORLEANS
I think the Cardinals offense is too good to get this many points. I can definitely see them winning this game because Warner and Fitzgerald can win them too. The Saints are very good too but they haven’t played a good game in two months, and haven’t played any game at all in one month.
baltimore +6 INDIANAPOLIS
This game will be another referendum on how teams with big division leads should handle their late season games. I have a lot of confidence in Peyton Manning but against Baltimore’s defense I can’t shake the feeling that the Colts will have another early round disappointment. I’m not convinced the Ravens will win but I definitely think they will keep it close.
new york jets +7 SAN DIEGO
I am sticking with my position that the Chargers will win the Super Bowl, and by extension, win this game. But I have noticed a couple things. The Jets have a great passing defense. The San Diego Chargers are a great passing team. The Chargers don’t have much of a running game, and the Jets rush defense is not a strong suit. The Jets will try to run the ball, and the Chargers allow 4.5 yards a carry. And the Jets have a better than average running game which means they should be able to gain near five yards a carry which would take a lot of pressure off Mark Sanchez. If football is a game of matchups you could make a strong case for the Jets in this one.
BEST BET
dallas +3 MINNESOTA
I think Dallas is going to win this game outright. They’re playing really well right now and the Vikings aren’t. When the Vikings got Brett Favre I never liked their Super Bowl chances because I thought he would submarine them with one bad game at the wrong time. I think this will be that game. The Cowboys will be able to put a lot of pressure on Favre and surprisingly Adrian Peterson won’t be able to help him.
Last week: 2-2 (1 point)
Season: 38-51 (36 points)
Best Bets: 0-1 (8-10)
Home Favorites: 1-1 (8-14)
Home Underdogs: 0-0 (1-2)
Road Favorites: 0-0 (16-16)
Road Underdogs: 1-1 (13-18)
Road Pickem: 0-0 (0-1)
arizona +7 NEW ORLEANS
I think the Cardinals offense is too good to get this many points. I can definitely see them winning this game because Warner and Fitzgerald can win them too. The Saints are very good too but they haven’t played a good game in two months, and haven’t played any game at all in one month.
baltimore +6 INDIANAPOLIS
This game will be another referendum on how teams with big division leads should handle their late season games. I have a lot of confidence in Peyton Manning but against Baltimore’s defense I can’t shake the feeling that the Colts will have another early round disappointment. I’m not convinced the Ravens will win but I definitely think they will keep it close.
new york jets +7 SAN DIEGO
I am sticking with my position that the Chargers will win the Super Bowl, and by extension, win this game. But I have noticed a couple things. The Jets have a great passing defense. The San Diego Chargers are a great passing team. The Chargers don’t have much of a running game, and the Jets rush defense is not a strong suit. The Jets will try to run the ball, and the Chargers allow 4.5 yards a carry. And the Jets have a better than average running game which means they should be able to gain near five yards a carry which would take a lot of pressure off Mark Sanchez. If football is a game of matchups you could make a strong case for the Jets in this one.
BEST BET
dallas +3 MINNESOTA
I think Dallas is going to win this game outright. They’re playing really well right now and the Vikings aren’t. When the Vikings got Brett Favre I never liked their Super Bowl chances because I thought he would submarine them with one bad game at the wrong time. I think this will be that game. The Cowboys will be able to put a lot of pressure on Favre and surprisingly Adrian Peterson won’t be able to help him.
Last week: 2-2 (1 point)
Season: 38-51 (36 points)
Best Bets: 0-1 (8-10)
Home Favorites: 1-1 (8-14)
Home Underdogs: 0-0 (1-2)
Road Favorites: 0-0 (16-16)
Road Underdogs: 1-1 (13-18)
Road Pickem: 0-0 (0-1)
Amanda Cicchini is Fucking a Benchwarmer?
Amanda Cicchini the smoking hot West Virginia University soccer player who gained fame on the internet for being smoking hot and always taking pictures with her ass pointed at the camera.
It's no surprise she is banging someone on West Virginia's top ranked basketball team. That's what hot college girls do, they fuck athletes. But usually good athletes. According to Amanda's Facebook page she is in a relationship with Cameron Payne who has played only 19 minutes this year. scoring only 5 points.
Hopefully when SU comes to town this weekend they will blow out the Mountaineers by 50 so the luckiest guy in college can get some playing time.
Or maybe Andy Rautins can show her what it's like to fuck a good player.
It's no surprise she is banging someone on West Virginia's top ranked basketball team. That's what hot college girls do, they fuck athletes. But usually good athletes. According to Amanda's Facebook page she is in a relationship with Cameron Payne who has played only 19 minutes this year. scoring only 5 points.
Hopefully when SU comes to town this weekend they will blow out the Mountaineers by 50 so the luckiest guy in college can get some playing time.
Or maybe Andy Rautins can show her what it's like to fuck a good player.
In Case You Are Freaking Out About Facebook
It seems amazing to me that people would use Facebook, friend everyone they've ever met in a weird kind of popularity race, post pictures of themselves drunk or in their underpants or both --- then complain Facebook is violating your privacy.
Facebook is not going to make money selling a picture of you going apple-picking.
But since my picture of Chase appears on Google, and Georgia Derek recently tracked me down, I thought I would share these Facebook privacy tips with a particular emphasis on #10 (which was not part of the AP article, I threw it in because I like round numbers).
Facebook has been nudging its users -- first gently, then firmly -- to review and update their privacy settings.
You may have procrastinated by hitting "skip for now," but Facebook eventually took away that button and forced you to update your settings before continuing to use the site.
After finally accepting Facebook's recommendations or tweaking the privacy settings yourself, though, you might have made more information about you public than what you had intended.
At the same time, Facebook has given users many granular controls over their privacy, more than what's available on other major social networks.
So if you want to stay out of people's view, but still want to be on Facebook, here are some things to look out for as you take another look at your settings.
1. Some of your information is viewable by everyone.
Everyone can see your name, your profile photo and the names of work and school networks you're part of. Ditto for pages you are a fan of. If you are worried about a potential employer finding out about a quirky fetish or unorthodox political leaning, avoid becoming a Facebook fan of such groups. You can't tell Facebook you don't want those publicly listed. Your gender and current city are also available, if you choose to specify them. You can uncheck "Show my sex in my profile" when you edit your profile if you don't want it listed, and you can leave "Current City" blank.
2. Your list of friends may also be public.
Facebook also considers your friends list publicly available information. Privacy advocates worry that much can be gleaned from a person's list of friends -- even sexual orientation, according to one MIT study. But there is a way to hide the list. Go to your profile page and click on the little blue pencil icon on the top right of your box of friends. Uncheck "Show Friend List to everyone." Either way, those you are already friends with can always see your full list.
3. You can hide yourself from Web searches.
There is a section for "Search" under Facebook's privacy settings page, which is accessible from the top right corner of the Web site under "Settings." If you click the "Allow" box next to "Public Search Results," the information that Facebook deems publicly available (such as photo, fan pages and list of friends), along with anything else you have made available to everyone, will show up when someone looks up your name on a search engine such as Google. The stuff you've limited access to in your profile will not show up.
This is useful if you want people you've lost touch with, or potential work contacts, to be able to find your Facebook page. If you'd rather not be found, uncheck this box.
A second setting, controlling searches within Facebook, lets you refine who can find you once that person has logged on. Limit searches to friends only if you think you have all the friends you need and don't want anyone to find you when they type in your name to Facebook.
4. Beware of third-party applications.
Quizzes and games are fun, but each time you take one, you first authorize it to access your profile information, even if you have made that available only to your friends. You're also letting the app access some information on your friends.
Under "Application Settings," Facebook lists all the apps you have opened your profile up to. If you no longer want to authorize access to "Which Golden Girl Are You?" you can always remove it by clicking on the "X" next to its name. Apps you use regularly, such as Facebook for Android if you update your status from your mobile phone, should stay.
Next, by clicking on "Applications and Websites" on the privacy settings page, you can edit whether your friends can share your birthday, photos and other specific information. Remember that applications can access your "publicly available information" no matter what.
The security firm Sophos recommends users set their privacy settings for two of Facebook's own popular applications, notes and photos, to friends only.
5. Go over your list of friends.
The average Facebook user has 130 friends. But many people interact with a much smaller group when commenting on status updates, photos and links. So it doesn't hurt to occasionally review your list of your friends to get an idea of just who can view your status posts, vacation photos and funny links you've shared over the years. Don't feel obligated to add anyone as a friend, even if that person adds you first. For professional acquaintance you don't want to snub, send them to a LinkedIn profile you can set up. Some workplaces and schools have rules about Facebook interactions between bosses and employees or students and teachers.
6. Create custom friends groups.
If you have friended a lot of people, sort them. Think of the groups you interact with in real life -- co-workers, college buddies, girlfriends, grandma and grandpa -- and organize your Facebook friends in these groups, too. Go to "All Friends" under the "Friends" button up top, click on "Create New List" and fire away. Then decide what aspects of your profile, and which status posts and photos, these people will have access to. Or, simply create a "limited" list for acquaintances or distant relatives and limit their access.
7. Customize your status posts.
Type "I'm hungry" into your status update box. Click on the little lock icon. You'll see a range of privacy controls pop up, letting you either allow or limit access to the post. If you want, you can even hide it from everyone by clicking "Only Me" under the custom settings. Click on "Save Setting." Repeat with each post, or create a default setting for most updates and increase or decrease privacy as you see fit.
8. Let your friends know you have boundaries -- in person.
Many of us have woken up on a Sunday morning to find that an overzealous friend has posted dozens of photos from that wild party we barely remembered -- the good, the bad and the hideous. Chances are, they didn't do this to embarrass you, though if they did you have bigger problems. Rather, they probably don't know that you don't want these photos posted. Sure, tweak your photo privacy settings on Facebook. But if someone starts snapping pictures of you at a party, ask them to check with you before posting it anywhere.
9. Never assume complete privacy.
Even for the most tech-savvy person, unflattering photos, incriminating text messages or angry status posts about work have a way of worming their way out in the open. Just saying.
10. If you are that worried about your privacy -- DON'T JOIN FACEBOOK IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! This one has been mastered by Mem. She doesn't want everyone seeing what she is up to, so she never joined Facebook. Ok, she did join Facebook, but she used a fake name not realizing no one would friend her and she wouldn't be able to see anything but a tiny thumbnail of that person and now Mrs. Poop and I constantly get Facebook suggestion recommending her pseudonym as a friend. But all that aside, she's worried about her privacy, so she doesn't join Facebook, simple.
Facebook is not going to make money selling a picture of you going apple-picking.
But since my picture of Chase appears on Google, and Georgia Derek recently tracked me down, I thought I would share these Facebook privacy tips with a particular emphasis on #10 (which was not part of the AP article, I threw it in because I like round numbers).
Facebook has been nudging its users -- first gently, then firmly -- to review and update their privacy settings.
You may have procrastinated by hitting "skip for now," but Facebook eventually took away that button and forced you to update your settings before continuing to use the site.
After finally accepting Facebook's recommendations or tweaking the privacy settings yourself, though, you might have made more information about you public than what you had intended.
At the same time, Facebook has given users many granular controls over their privacy, more than what's available on other major social networks.
So if you want to stay out of people's view, but still want to be on Facebook, here are some things to look out for as you take another look at your settings.
1. Some of your information is viewable by everyone.
Everyone can see your name, your profile photo and the names of work and school networks you're part of. Ditto for pages you are a fan of. If you are worried about a potential employer finding out about a quirky fetish or unorthodox political leaning, avoid becoming a Facebook fan of such groups. You can't tell Facebook you don't want those publicly listed. Your gender and current city are also available, if you choose to specify them. You can uncheck "Show my sex in my profile" when you edit your profile if you don't want it listed, and you can leave "Current City" blank.
2. Your list of friends may also be public.
Facebook also considers your friends list publicly available information. Privacy advocates worry that much can be gleaned from a person's list of friends -- even sexual orientation, according to one MIT study. But there is a way to hide the list. Go to your profile page and click on the little blue pencil icon on the top right of your box of friends. Uncheck "Show Friend List to everyone." Either way, those you are already friends with can always see your full list.
3. You can hide yourself from Web searches.
There is a section for "Search" under Facebook's privacy settings page, which is accessible from the top right corner of the Web site under "Settings." If you click the "Allow" box next to "Public Search Results," the information that Facebook deems publicly available (such as photo, fan pages and list of friends), along with anything else you have made available to everyone, will show up when someone looks up your name on a search engine such as Google. The stuff you've limited access to in your profile will not show up.
This is useful if you want people you've lost touch with, or potential work contacts, to be able to find your Facebook page. If you'd rather not be found, uncheck this box.
A second setting, controlling searches within Facebook, lets you refine who can find you once that person has logged on. Limit searches to friends only if you think you have all the friends you need and don't want anyone to find you when they type in your name to Facebook.
4. Beware of third-party applications.
Quizzes and games are fun, but each time you take one, you first authorize it to access your profile information, even if you have made that available only to your friends. You're also letting the app access some information on your friends.
Under "Application Settings," Facebook lists all the apps you have opened your profile up to. If you no longer want to authorize access to "Which Golden Girl Are You?" you can always remove it by clicking on the "X" next to its name. Apps you use regularly, such as Facebook for Android if you update your status from your mobile phone, should stay.
Next, by clicking on "Applications and Websites" on the privacy settings page, you can edit whether your friends can share your birthday, photos and other specific information. Remember that applications can access your "publicly available information" no matter what.
The security firm Sophos recommends users set their privacy settings for two of Facebook's own popular applications, notes and photos, to friends only.
5. Go over your list of friends.
The average Facebook user has 130 friends. But many people interact with a much smaller group when commenting on status updates, photos and links. So it doesn't hurt to occasionally review your list of your friends to get an idea of just who can view your status posts, vacation photos and funny links you've shared over the years. Don't feel obligated to add anyone as a friend, even if that person adds you first. For professional acquaintance you don't want to snub, send them to a LinkedIn profile you can set up. Some workplaces and schools have rules about Facebook interactions between bosses and employees or students and teachers.
6. Create custom friends groups.
If you have friended a lot of people, sort them. Think of the groups you interact with in real life -- co-workers, college buddies, girlfriends, grandma and grandpa -- and organize your Facebook friends in these groups, too. Go to "All Friends" under the "Friends" button up top, click on "Create New List" and fire away. Then decide what aspects of your profile, and which status posts and photos, these people will have access to. Or, simply create a "limited" list for acquaintances or distant relatives and limit their access.
7. Customize your status posts.
Type "I'm hungry" into your status update box. Click on the little lock icon. You'll see a range of privacy controls pop up, letting you either allow or limit access to the post. If you want, you can even hide it from everyone by clicking "Only Me" under the custom settings. Click on "Save Setting." Repeat with each post, or create a default setting for most updates and increase or decrease privacy as you see fit.
8. Let your friends know you have boundaries -- in person.
Many of us have woken up on a Sunday morning to find that an overzealous friend has posted dozens of photos from that wild party we barely remembered -- the good, the bad and the hideous. Chances are, they didn't do this to embarrass you, though if they did you have bigger problems. Rather, they probably don't know that you don't want these photos posted. Sure, tweak your photo privacy settings on Facebook. But if someone starts snapping pictures of you at a party, ask them to check with you before posting it anywhere.
9. Never assume complete privacy.
Even for the most tech-savvy person, unflattering photos, incriminating text messages or angry status posts about work have a way of worming their way out in the open. Just saying.
10. If you are that worried about your privacy -- DON'T JOIN FACEBOOK IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! This one has been mastered by Mem. She doesn't want everyone seeing what she is up to, so she never joined Facebook. Ok, she did join Facebook, but she used a fake name not realizing no one would friend her and she wouldn't be able to see anything but a tiny thumbnail of that person and now Mrs. Poop and I constantly get Facebook suggestion recommending her pseudonym as a friend. But all that aside, she's worried about her privacy, so she doesn't join Facebook, simple.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Dumb Wheel of Fortune Guess
Self-potato? At least she immediately realized how dumb her answer was. Still funny though.
Just Another Celebrity TKO
Teddy Pendergrass, who became R&B's reigning sex symbol in the 1970s and '80s with his forceful, masculine voice and passionate love ballads and later became an inspirational figure after suffering a devastating car accident that left him paralyzed, died Wednesday at age 59.
The singer's son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said his father died at a hospital in suburban Philadelphia. The singer underwent colon cancer surgery eight months ago and had "a difficult recovery," his son said.
"To all his fans who loved his music, thank you," his son said. "He will live on through his music."
Pendergrass, who was born in Philadelphia on March 26, 1950, gained popularity first as a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.
In 1971, the group signed a record deal with the legendary writer/producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The group released its first single, "I Miss You," in 1972 and then released "If You Don't Know Me by Now," which was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Pendergrass quit the group in 1975 and embarked on a solo career in 1976. It was his solo hits that brought him his greatest fame. With songs such as "Love T.K.O.," "Close the Door" and "I Don't Love You Anymore," he came to define a new era of black male singers with his powerful, aggressive vocals that spoke to virility, not vulnerability.
His lyrics were never coarse, as those of later male R&B stars would be, but they had a sensual nature that bordered on erotic without being explicit.
"Turn Off the Lights" was a tune that perhaps best represented the many moods of Pendergrass - tender and coaxing yet strong as the song reached its climax.
Pendergrass, the first black male singer to record five consecutive multi-platinum albums, made women swoon with each note, and his concerts were a testament to that adulation, with infamous stories of women throwing their underwear on stage for his affection.
Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the waist down in the 1982 car accident.
Pendergrass later founded the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, an organization whose mission is to encourage and help people with spinal cord injuries achieve their maximum potential in education, employment, housing, productivity and independence, according to its Web site.
Pendergrass is survived by his son, two daughters, his wife, his mother and nine grandchildren.
The singer's son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said his father died at a hospital in suburban Philadelphia. The singer underwent colon cancer surgery eight months ago and had "a difficult recovery," his son said.
"To all his fans who loved his music, thank you," his son said. "He will live on through his music."
Pendergrass, who was born in Philadelphia on March 26, 1950, gained popularity first as a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.
In 1971, the group signed a record deal with the legendary writer/producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The group released its first single, "I Miss You," in 1972 and then released "If You Don't Know Me by Now," which was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Pendergrass quit the group in 1975 and embarked on a solo career in 1976. It was his solo hits that brought him his greatest fame. With songs such as "Love T.K.O.," "Close the Door" and "I Don't Love You Anymore," he came to define a new era of black male singers with his powerful, aggressive vocals that spoke to virility, not vulnerability.
His lyrics were never coarse, as those of later male R&B stars would be, but they had a sensual nature that bordered on erotic without being explicit.
"Turn Off the Lights" was a tune that perhaps best represented the many moods of Pendergrass - tender and coaxing yet strong as the song reached its climax.
Pendergrass, the first black male singer to record five consecutive multi-platinum albums, made women swoon with each note, and his concerts were a testament to that adulation, with infamous stories of women throwing their underwear on stage for his affection.
Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the waist down in the 1982 car accident.
Pendergrass later founded the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, an organization whose mission is to encourage and help people with spinal cord injuries achieve their maximum potential in education, employment, housing, productivity and independence, according to its Web site.
Pendergrass is survived by his son, two daughters, his wife, his mother and nine grandchildren.
Don't Believe the Hype
The 100th episode of "How I Met Your Mother" was a disappointment on a couple levels.
First, I wasn't thrilled with the show's ballyhooed musical number "Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit."
Note: for some reason the normally youtube friendly HIMYM producers didn't put the full song and dance on the web. All the versions I could find were mirrored. So check out the writing on the newspaper dispenser. You may want to watch this while holding your computer up to a mirror.
Second, I was hopeful Rachel Bilson would be my mother. I fell in love with her on "The O.C." when everyone else was going gaga over heroin-chic Mischa Barton. But that got shot down pretty early on.
That brings me to the conundrum about my mother. It seems clear to me now that they never plan to reveal my mother until they have an end date for the series. She'll either be introduced in the final episode (a typical network trick) or early in the final season which would give them so many great opprtunities for fast forwards until 2030 (which I think would make the final season legend -- wait for it -- dary!)
I don't have a problem with them waiting because I don't watch the show to find out who my mother is. That's not the point. I watch it because it's funny regardless of the plotline hanging above the show like The Sword of Damocles.
But I actually wouldn't mind if the outed my mother sooner rather than later because I trust them to do smart and funny courtship and maybe even marriage episodes.
After all, these are the same people who cast Stacy Keibler as the hot bartender.
Someone actually told me she didn't think Stacy Keibler has big enough boobs to play the part of a bartender with big boobs. That may be true but she's got a GREAT ASS!
In another bit of inspired casting Carrie Underwood makes her acting debut in a HIMYM episode set to air in March.
First, I wasn't thrilled with the show's ballyhooed musical number "Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit."
Note: for some reason the normally youtube friendly HIMYM producers didn't put the full song and dance on the web. All the versions I could find were mirrored. So check out the writing on the newspaper dispenser. You may want to watch this while holding your computer up to a mirror.
Second, I was hopeful Rachel Bilson would be my mother. I fell in love with her on "The O.C." when everyone else was going gaga over heroin-chic Mischa Barton. But that got shot down pretty early on.
That brings me to the conundrum about my mother. It seems clear to me now that they never plan to reveal my mother until they have an end date for the series. She'll either be introduced in the final episode (a typical network trick) or early in the final season which would give them so many great opprtunities for fast forwards until 2030 (which I think would make the final season legend -- wait for it -- dary!)
I don't have a problem with them waiting because I don't watch the show to find out who my mother is. That's not the point. I watch it because it's funny regardless of the plotline hanging above the show like The Sword of Damocles.
But I actually wouldn't mind if the outed my mother sooner rather than later because I trust them to do smart and funny courtship and maybe even marriage episodes.
After all, these are the same people who cast Stacy Keibler as the hot bartender.
Someone actually told me she didn't think Stacy Keibler has big enough boobs to play the part of a bartender with big boobs. That may be true but she's got a GREAT ASS!
In another bit of inspired casting Carrie Underwood makes her acting debut in a HIMYM episode set to air in March.
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