YAaaaaaaaawwwwww!!!!

SOmeone at work told me about this. I was crying I laughed so hard. It's a little dated, but damn is it funny!!!

Is that Peyton Manning or Uncle Rico?

I love this commercial. It cracks me up. Peyton Manning looks like a cross between Uncle Rico and Jeff Hostetler from the Raiders.

Wow

Madden Initial Thouhts

This will be brief...

Not overly impressed with the '07 version of Madden. I actually think the '06 version on the regular XBOX was better.

The graphics are good, but not great. The graphics on NBA 2K6 are great, on Madden they were ok. You actually see a lot of "jaggies" (jagged edges) on some of the players. On NBA 2K6 the graphics were much smoother and polished looking.

The one feature I really like is the new blocking feature. It adds a new element to the game. It takes a little getting used to, but you can open some nice holes for your running back to sprint through. But it almost seems like rushing is too easy. I've only played on Pro difficulty so far. Maybe its more challenging on all pro, Im not sure. But on pro difficulty, I routinely pick up 5 yards a carry, and have broken a number of big runs where I run the ball in from 40 yards out.

The new animations are pretty cool. When guys get hit, get tackled and fall, it looks a lot more realistic. In some of the older versions the players fell kind of lazily and clumsily. It just didnt look right.

The game is fun, but I think EA having the exclusive licensing for the NFL is hurting things. EA seemed to be more on their toes and aiming to please when 2K sports was around. People rave about how great NCAA 2007 is. So maybe in 2008 I will do away with Madden for a while and dive into NCAA football.

Happy Maddenoliday!!!!

Happy Maddenoliday happy maddenoliday happy maddenoliday HAAAAAppy Madden-ol-iday!!!

Rachel is picking up my copy of Madden on her way home from work. I told her not to come home without it ;-). I've heard mixed reviews. Some of the hardcore gamers complain that the game is too arcadish and not a true football simulation. I think of the problems with sports games is that people want a lot of action. A real football game typically takes about 3 hours. Teams typically score 21-35 points. Most gamers dont want to play a game for 3 hours. So they usually play a football game with 5 or 6 minute quarters. But they still want their running back to run for 100 yards, their QB to throw 4 td's and their team to score 35 points. So I guess its a fine line. I lean towards more of the arcade style gaming, where I can rush for 150 yards with Tiki Barber. The way I look at it, who draws more viewers? An offensive powerhouse like Payton Manning and the Colts or a defensive geared team like the Bears and Brian Urlacher? People want to see offense for the most part, with a few bone jarring hits and sacks now and again.

You know how once in a while, in a great while, you have that night of sleep where you pretty much wake up in the same position you went to sleep in? Where you sleep so soundly, and so deeply that you don't remember waking up at any point during the night? A typical night for me is falling asleep hard from like midnight to 2AM. Then I usually wake up for a few minutes every 90 minutes or so. Last night I had one of those rare nights where I slept like a baby. I normally dont set an alarm. If I know I have to be up by 6:45, I set my "internal" alarm and I usually wake up around 6:30 and lay in bed for a few more minutes. This morning, I was so asleep that my internal alarm didnt wake me. In fact, Rachel's alarm clock went off at 7:15 and I didnt wake up with that either. Rachel shook me a few times and I finally woke up. Looked at the clock and sprang up. I hate being late. Made it to work about 20 minutes late.

Im glad to see that southern sweet tea is catching on. I saw a commercial that McDonalds is now selling sweet tea. Im sure if it comes from McDonalds it's probbaly loaded with sugar and is really bad for you. But I'll probably give it a try. I prefer making my own, but I like trying sweet tea at different restaurants when we go out. I don't like mine super sweet. The key is drinking it with lots and lots of ice. Room temperature or slightly cold sweet tea. Sweet tea compliments just about any meal. Man I could go for some right now.

Monday Update...

Wow, has the Yankees-Red Sox series been exciting. At the beginning of last week, the Yankees looked red hot. They were getting lots of hits, scoring a good amount of runs and getting good pitching. Then the wheels fell off for them on Thursday against the Orioles. So I wasn't very optimistic for them going into the series with Boston. Especially since they are playing in a hostile environment like Fenway Park.

The series feels like an ALCS more than just a series in August. But the season is far from over. The Yankees have a tough week ahead. After five grueling games against Boston, they fly to Seattle for three games against Seattle and a tough series against Anaheim who have been their nemesis the past 4 or 5 years. Then they come back east and play the Tigers who have the best record in baseball. So while a 5 1/2 game lead is great, it could vanish really quickly (as the Red Sox have shown).

I'm really not a fan of "DR. Z". Maybe it's not Dr. Z himself, maybe it's just the volume of commercials. There seems to be tons of Dodge commercials on TV, especially during sporting events like golf, baseball and pre-season football. Then on the radio, Dr. Z's voice is everywhere. Geesh!!!

Im pumped up for the premier of Prison Break tonight. Rachel and I really enjoyed the show last year. Im surprised the show did as well as it did going up against Monday Night Football, but I guess with so many people having Tivo's and DVR's, it's not really an issue anymore. That's right you silly bitches at ABC, I don't have to watch Prison Break at 9PM on Monday nights. I can watch it at 1AM if I want to!!!!

I believe next week, the new season of House starts as well. Of course, I think Fox also has the World Series and the rest of the MLB playoffs. So they will probably tickle our asses with a feather with 4 or 5 new episodes, then they go on a 4 or 5 week hiatus. I read that ABC is doing something similar with Lost. One of the complaints last season with Lost was that there were too many gaps in the season. They would show 2 new episodes, then you would get a month of repeats. SO what ABC is doing this season, is starting the season in later than usual in October. I believe they are showing 4-6 new episodes. Then they are going on a 12 week break, and when they return, they will air the rest of the seasons episodes 16 weeks in a row. AWESOME!!!

Squilky circa 1976

When I was at my moms, I came across this picture of myself around the age of 3. It cracks me up, so I thought I would share. That's one handsome looking shirt Im wearing!!!

I feel better now...

I saw this picture of Val Kilmer and it made me feel really good about myself...

Why the Redskins Suck...

Everyone is saying (at least in the DC area), that the Redskins are going to the Super Bowl this year. Well I saw this picture of Full Back/Tight End Chris Cooley at training camp, and this is exactly why the Redskins will not win the Super Bowl. How do you expect to win when your tough as nails FB/TE shaves his legs and wears short shorts? Notice how the other players behind him are wearing shorts down to their calves. That is the proper length for grown men. Hell, I dont think the Redskins cheerleaders wear shorts as short as Chris Cooley.

Crying Wrestling Guy

This is an older clip, but I still find it hysterical...
I love how the women in the lower left (wearing pink) looks back and starts laughing at the guy. Who takes wrestling this seriously? This guy does!!!!

Weekend in a Nutshell...

Had a pretty good weekend. A rare weekend where Rachel had some time off. Was nice spending some quality time with her. Audra, Mike, the kids and Rachel's aunt, uncle and little cousin were all in town. So there was lots of wacky pool activities, kids flying off rafts, splashing, diving and of course pool basketball. Watching two kids in a pool is tough. Watching three is crazy. Two four year olds and a two year old. Yikes.
But it was fun.

Saturday we played golf. It was hot out there, but 92 felt a lot cooler than 102. So it actually felt like there was a slight breeze and a little bit of coolness. I didnt play particularly well, but I had a great moment on the 1st hole. My tee shot went into the woods on the right. So I took a penalty stroke and punched an 8 iron to about 30 yards off the green just outside of the bunker. I walk up to my ball and decide to try a nice chip with my 56 degree wedge. I chip the ball up, it lands, rolls about 3 feet and goes in the cup!!! PAR BABY!!! PAR!!! I was so pumped. 2nd hole, I was full of confidence on the par 5. I bombed a drive, my second shot came up a little short, I chipped on, three putted for a bogey 6. Not bad. +1 after two holes. Third hole, I ended up with a bogey 5. Still not bad. +2 after three holes. Then on the 4th hole it was just bad shot after bad shot. I ended up with a 7, followed by a 6, and another 7. After that I was just all over the place. I seemed to get my "stroke back" around the 15th hole. The 15th hole is a 215 yard par 3. I hit my tee shot way short. I was still like 50 yards out. I did a bump and run with an 8 iron and landed the ball about 2 feet from the cup, 1 putted for par. Par!!!! I ended up playing the last 4 holes only 3 over par. But I finished with a 102. My worst score in a while.

We watched the movie the Bench Warmers on Saturday night. The movie was ridiculous, inaccurate, and did I mention ridiculous, but somehow I managed to still enjoy it. I guess I just really like those SNL guys like Lovitz, Spade and Sneider. It's a short movie, which was probably a good thing. There's a scene where they drive around with Reggie Jackson smashing mailboxes. I almost fell off the couch when David Spade smashed a mailbox. Man was that funny. And the kid who's Napolean Dynamite, was Napolean Dynamite with a bike helmet in this movie. But hey Bill Murray and Will Smith are the same characters in a lot of their movies, and they've done ok.

Yesterday we met everyone for lunch before they headed back home. After lunch we worked on updating Rachel's resume, Rachel did some laundry, we watched the Yankees game, relaxed a while, then mowed the grass and some other stuff around the house.

I read that Mets shortstop Jose Rejes set the Mets record for homeruns by a shortstop with a 1 1 home runs. 11? I know the Mets haven't had a lot of success in the past, but 11 home runs is a record? WOW. But I wont try to steal the Mets thunder. They are having a pretty great season. Just doesnt seem fair that the Yankees have a better record and they may not even make the playoffs, while the Mets have a double digit lead.

Celebrity Fit Club did not disapoint. I couldn't believe some of the statistics for some of the "celebrities". One of the celebs, I think it was Carnie Wilson had a body fat percentage of like 48%. 48%!!! I think seals and walruses have less body fat. One of the other celebs is a rapper. I can't think of his name right now, but he weighed in at around 470 pounds. But he's amazingly quick and agile for a guy his size. They showed him playing basketball and he had some movies.

15 days till Madden!!!!

Celebrity Fit Club

I saw a preview for the next season of Celebrity Fit Club. I think it debuts this Sunday. And they said 4 words which instantly had me hooked... Big Pussy and Ted Lange. I can't imagine Isaac from the Love Boat being chubby. Ill tune in just to see that. And I think Big Pussy will try to "wack" his personal trainer when he demands that he perform some crunches.

QB Coddling

I was laying in bed last night, and I was having trouble falling asleep. For some reason, football popped into my head. And I started thinking about how good college QB's are so babied once they make it into the NFL. A few QB's names popped into mind. Jake Delholme, Joey Harrington, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick. How did Delholme, Brady and Roethlesberger make their debuts in the NFL? They came in as replacements for starting QB's who got hurt. They were "thrown to the wolves" with little expected of them. I'm sure when Drew Bledsone got hurt, and some kid named Tom Brady came in as his replacement, everyone in New England thought the Patriots season was over. But the three of them made the most of the situation and lead their teams to the Super Bowl. They exceeded everyones expectations. They had nothing to lose really. But when you take a NCAA star QB, who was perceived as a god on campus, and you make them wait, and wait, it seems like it just adds a ton more pressure.

Now lets look at Joey Harrington and Michael Vick. They both sat on the sidelines, calling in plays, and "learning the system" for a year or two before they were given the strarting jobs. I think its fair to say Vick and Harrington are NFL dispointments. The Giants also coddled Eli Manning, and the verdict is still out on him.

So maybe this year the Titans should just let Vince Young start at QB, Arizona should let Matt Leinert play, and maybe the Jets should forget about Pennington and Boehlinger and let Kelen Clemens start at QB. Chances are the Jets won't be very good with Pennington, Ramsey or Boelinger. Maybe if they throw a fresh armed QB in there, good things will happen and turn things around for them.


This coddeling isn't really done at any other position. Rookies don't always getting start spots, but they also dont sit on the sidelines for 2 years. They play on special teams, and they come in when starters get winded. You think the Saints are going to say to Reggie Bush, we know you are a Heisman Trophy winner and all, but we're gonna make you watch Deuce McCallister for the next two seasons. You'll get to start in 2008. It just seems ridiculous. So why is it so widely accepted when it comes to QB's? I know being a QB is a little more difficult, but whats to say someone is going to be any better at it when they are 24 then when they are 22?


So I say if you have a halfway descent offensive line, who can protect your young gunslinger, put them in there. Obviously, if you can't protect your QB effectively, you don't want to get them sacked a dozen times each game. They'll either get physically injured or mentally shaken. So who knows what will happen this year. The next hall of famer could be riding the pine, waiting for the big name starting QB to get injured.

Big FU$!ING Bugs!!!

So folks, is it hot enough for you!?!?!

So yesterday me and my boss were walking to the cafeteria (home of the devils sandwich), and I spotted an ENORMOUS bug. A bug like you see in National Gegraphic or on Buggin With Rudd



So we snapped a photo of the bug with his camera phone. The big was approximately 4-5 inches long and sort of the same color as a moth. I've never seen anything like it. It was just freaky. Anyone know what it is?

Last night I was watching this show on Discovery HD called the Baby Human. They do all these different psychological experiments on babies and toddlers. It was pretty fascinating, but seemed a bit cruel at times.
At one point they were trying to determine when babies develope the sense of embarassment and become self conscious. So that sat the baby in front of a mirror and let them look at themselves. Then they took them away, smudged red lipstick on their noses and placed them in front of the mirror to see how they would react. Or they would point at the kids and repeat their name over and over again till the kids became embrassed. Crazy stuff.

The other day there was this guy on the Don and Mike show. He was with some group called something like the "Freeballers of America". The guy said one of the funniest/disturbing things I've ever heard. He said he wanted to take casual friday in the work place to a whole new level. He wanted to introduce "Free ballin' friday". Where people show up to work on friday, but their underwear stays at home. I almost drove off the side of the road when he said that. The thought of me in a conference room full of pantiless women is kind of hot. But the reality of things is that I will be in the conference room with 350 pound boxerless Jeremy, and Steve who just had a biggie sized Chili from Wendys. Disgusting. And chances are if I did this, I would need a whole lot of Gold Bond powder if you know what Im saying. See...Chafing. Ouch!!!