The Classic Boondock MMA Highlight Films.

Some of the best fan MMA films ever.

A Matter of Pride - Gracie History + battles with the legend Kazushi Sakuraba.

Furious Angels, probably my favorite.

3rd Man, his consensus "best" film.

Last isn't a Boondock reel, but the classic Kazushi Sakuraba HL off of Sherdog. Responsible, to my wife's dismay, for me calling U2's "Beautiful Day" the 'Sakuraba Song' for all of time.

Pay Attention.

MMA - only sport worth my time.

Phenomenal highlight reel.

I miss Deadwood.

"Pain, or damage, don't end the world, or despair, or fuckin' beatin's. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, ya got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back."

21secs of geeksplosiony goodness - "SMALLVILLE: Absolute Justice Teaser Trailer."

Smallville's all over the place this season, but they seem to be slowly fading out emo/whiny Clark - hopefully the trench coat goes soon - but this preview for the 2 hour "movie" double episode in January looks straight genius. Geoff Johns can do no wrong, clearly.

Training.

AM - Atlas 1 & 6
PM - Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 23
Atlas Situps [3m] - 50
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 15
Hindu Squats [12m] - 204
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 15
Atlas Situps [3m] - 40
Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 17
Chins [1m] - 10
MILO DSR [4m] - 20/15
Bridge - 40 count

Not bad, for a canned cocktail.

Not nearly as enthused about it as this guy though.

From 2009-11-20

COMPLETELY. AWESOME.

Matt Taibbi explains modern politics.

Matt Taibbi - Taibblog – Sarah Palin, WWE Star - True/Slant:

"The really beautiful thing about the culture war, from an entertainment standpoint, is that it is fundamentally irresolvable. There isn’t a concrete set of issues involved, where in theory both sides could give in a little and find middle ground, reach some sort of compromise.

That’s because there are no issues at all. At the end of this decade what we call “politics” has devolved into a kind of ongoing, brainless soap opera about dueling cultural resentments..

It doesn’t matter what the argument is about; what’s important is that once the argument starts, the two sides will automatically coalesce around the various instant-cocoa talking points and scream at each other until they’re blue in the face, or until the next argument starts."

This looks awesome.

Building with Whole Trees

"A Klingon Christmas Carol."

A Jesus I could really get behind.

A Klingon Christmas Carol - Boing Boing:

"The Klingon New Testament begins with Jesus' humble birth in a slaughterhouse and ends with him nailing all the Romans to crosses."

One day I should really go to Burning Man.

I weep for America sometimes.

Training.

AM - Atlas 1 + Neck Mobility drills
PM - Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 23
Atlas Situps [3m] - 54
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 17
Hindu Squats [12m] - 204
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 16
Atlas Situps [3m] - 42
Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 15
Chins [1m] - 12
MILO DSR [4m] - 20/15
Bridge - 40 count

I think about stabbing somebody in the throat with a pen everytime I have to go through ridiculous and ineffective airport security.

I mean, you can kill somebody with a pen fairly easily.

...

I may also have some issues.

Demonstrating TSA futility by stabbing dead pigs with pens - Boing Boing:

"An article in The American Journal of Forensic Medical Pathology entitled 'Use of a pig model to demonstrate vulnerability of major neck vessels to inflicted trauma from common household items' describes all the ways you can stab people with stuff you're allowed to take through airport security, like pens and plastic knives."

Goddamit, The Equalizer died.

I loved that show when I was kid. Edward Woodward RIP.

Edward Woodward - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Edward Albert Arthur Woodward OBE (1 June 1930 – 16 November 2009) was an English stage and screen actor and singer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Woodward began his career on stage, and through his career he appeared in productions in both the West End in London and on Broadway in New York. He came to wider attention from 1967 in the title role of the British television spy drama Callan, earning him the 1970 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. Among his film credits, Woodward starred as Police Sergeant Neil Howie in the 1973 cult British horror film The Wicker Man, and in the title role of the noted 1980 Australian biopic Breaker Morant.

From 1985 Woodward starred as British ex-secret agent and vigilante Robert McCall in the American television series The Equalizer, earning him the 1986 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Drama Actor."

Really excellent TED speech - "Devdutt Pattanaik: East vs West -- the myths that mystify."

Sounds genius, frankly. Starts with a Ganesha story, gets better from there. And he does it all with a light touch and a deft sense of humor.

"The difference between Logos and Mythos... Stories, symbols and rituals... always indifferent to rationality... Nothing lasts forever, not even death... Groundhog's Day... the mythology of business... Binary Logic vs a comfort with Fuzzy Logic... Everything is relative, sort of. Mostly... there are many promised lands... it's not about documentation and contract it's about conversation and faith... a cyclical world view, so it's rapidly changing, highly diverse, chaotic, ambiguous, unpredictable. And people are okay with it... 'Step A. Step B. Step C. Mostly.' ...all you seek is divine empathy... Which is the better way? This way or that way? And it is a very dangerous question because it leads you to the path of fundamentalism and violence... Depending on the context, depending on the outcome, choose your paradigm. You see because both the paradigms are human constructions, they're cultural creations not natural phenomena... The next time you meet someone, understand you live in the subjective truth - and so does he."

Everything is all about the stories we tell ourselves and each other.

I used to do this in college...

...which is only noteworthy because alcohol wasn't allowed in the dorms.

Overheard in the Office | We Told You It Was the Latest Fad:

"Coworker #1: What kind of creamer is that?
Coworker #2: It's Bailey's.
Coworker #1: You put Bailey's in your coffee at work?
Coworker #2: Yeah, I always put Bailey's in my coffee. It's not that strong or anything.
Coworker #1: Can I get some of that?

Des Plaines, Illinois"

Training.

AM - Atlas 1&6; Atlas 1 + Neck Mobility drills
PM - Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 22
Atlas Situps [3m] - 52
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 16
Hindu Squats [12m] - 204
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 15
Atlas Situps [3m] - 40
Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 15
Chins [1m] - 10
MILO DSR [4m] - 20/15
Bridge - 35 count

Unbelievable.

Police officer tasers a 10-year-girl who resisted being taken to a youth center - Boing Boing:

"Welcome to Ozark, Arkansas, where police officers taser 10-year-old girls."

Theft under color of authority - SFPD cops from imaginary anti-dance-party squad steal laptops - Boing Boing:

"Autumn sez, 'DJs at local underground parties have been losing their laptops to police raids - even when they're not DJing. They're being told that they'll lose their laptops - and often their livelihood - for an indefinite period of time, with no information on when or how to get their property back."

Training.

AM - Atlas 1&6
PM - Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 22
Atlas Situps [3m] - 50
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 20
Hindu Squats [12m] - 200
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 15
Atlas Situps [3m] - 35
Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 15
MILO DSR [4m] - 20/15
Chins [1m] - 6/4
Bridge - 35 count
Neck nods 2x20 all directions

Louis CK - "God, I love being white. I really do."

Too funny.

Genesis of a story - "“What if Ringo made a wish and it went all monkey’s paw on him?”"

Not a huge Beatles fan, but this was pure awesome. Click over to read the whole thing, including the kicker ending.

Mightygodking.com » Post Topic » Scenes From An Alternate Universe Where The Beatles Accepted Lorne Michaels’ Generous Offer:

"April 24, 1976. Lorne Michaels offers the Beatles $3,000 to appear on Saturday Night Live, as a gag mocking the full-page ads taken out in the New York Times offering the Beatles millions of dollars to reunite and play in Shea Stadium. Unbeknownst to Michaels, both John Lennon and Paul McCartney are in New York City at the time, and see the sketch airing live. They consider actually going to the studio, but decide they are too tired.

May 15, 1976. Lorne Michaels does the sketch again, this time offering the Beatles $3,200 (claiming he has “sweetened the pot”). This time, again unbeknownst to Michaels, all four of the Beatles are in New York City. Lennon and McCartney again consider going down to the studio and performing, but again decide they are too tired. However, this time Ringo Starr knocks on their door at 12:15 AM with a round of coffees (”from the awful all-night Hungarian deli on Bleecker,” he would later elaborate in an interview the next day) and George Harrison in tow. Years later in an interview with Playboy, Lennon says “I’d told Ringo about it, see, and we thought it was hilarious, but figured that was it and we’d missed the shot. When Ringo saw the second sketch, he decided to force our hand...”"

Also, check out the hilarious Scenes From An Alternate Universe Where Saved By The Bell, Rather Than Law And Order, Became The Dominant Television Franchise For A Generation.

The Wire - some of the best TV ever.

Totally worth the 10m. "All in the game..."

Negative reinforcement works.

texts from last night:

"(956): Looking at the victoria's secret website makes the ice cream I'm eating taste like sadness and obesity"

"Civilization, in fact, grows more and more maudlin and hysterical..."

"...especially under democracy it tends to degenerate into a mere combat of crazes; the whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary." - H.L. Mencken

The right's nonsensical arguments against trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York. - By Dahlia Lithwick - Slate Magazine:

"Opposition to the Obama administration's plan to try alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his confederates in a federal court in New York City is hardening into two camps. One is concerned that we may be unwittingly playing into the terrorists' hands. The other is incensed that we already have. What both camps share, besides a kind of unhinged logic and complete disregard for the legal process, is an obsessive fascination with the accused."

Training.

AM - Atlas 1&6; Atlas 1
PM - Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 20
Atlas Situps [3m] - 50
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 15
Hindu Squats [12m] - 25, 15x11 [190]
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 16/6
Atlas Situps [3m] - 45
Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 10/5
MILO DSR [4m] - 20/15
Chins [1m] - 6/4
Bridge - 30 count

20m light shadowboxing
Mobility Work x10 - dislocates, facepulls, scap pushups, wall slides, hip thrusts, asomov squats

This guy is awesome.

Also note - must look for this.

Via Nonjatta: The unbearable lightness of being a whisky highball

Everyone needs more George Carlin in their life. Doug Stanhope too.

Beginning preparation for company.

From 2009-11-15

Shellfish flavored potato chips.

Japan is unstoppable.

From 2009-11-15

"Screw you tastebuds, common sense," says Japan.

Seriously? Kimchee and Cheese? Hell with it, I had some. Not bad, but I couldn't taste any cheese. Good kimchee spice though.

From 2009-11-15

English Teacher's Repast.

Celebration of the end of two weeks of open classes and test prep, an evening out for dinner and drinks. Really nice time.

From 2009-11-13

Viking/Buffet style, 2 hours all you can eat and drink, all for one low, low price. Plus a bottle of sparkling wine/champagne. Nice touch, that.

From 2009-11-13

That was a big beer.

From 2009-11-13

Yes. Double fisting. Quiet, you.

From 2009-11-13

From 2009-11-13

God bless Japan's weird food.

From 2009-11-13

From 2009-11-13

From 2009-11-13

Ho - ho - ho.

From 2009-11-13

Wandering around Hakata.

Killing time before meeting some folks for dinner.

Japan does indeed need some English education.

From 2009-11-13

"Consulting of Think Tank"

From 2009-11-13

Cold weather is coming, which mean, perplexedly, women's skirts in Japan will get shorter. Possessing the XY, I can't complain, but still... made of sterner stuff than I. I fear winter.

From 2009-11-13

Japan gets a pass on the crazy English in this one... band names in the US are equally ridiculous.

From 2009-11-13

FieLDS is the main sponsor of most of the K1 Kickboxing and DREAM MMA events in Japan. Local office I guess.

From 2009-11-13

Good smell. Good curry.

From 2009-11-13

No idea. But with a door in the shape of a giant US flag, you know it's something.

From 2009-11-13

KFC is the custom for XmMas in Japan, but there isn't one local. There is, however, a Mos Burger, so I may have found my baby-Jesus-Santa-fried chicken-solution.

From 2009-11-13

I told you KFC was the norm for Xmas. Don't you want to buy a Japanese Xmas Chicken Dinner from this man?

From 2009-11-13

The final stop in killing time - a dark cherry chocolate mocha coffee, accompanied by jazzy Xmas song standards and a good book. Surprisingly relaxing and fulfilling. Nice to just veg without anything you have to get done. I'd stayed away from sugar of late, but this stuff hitting my tongue was how I imagine a crackhead feels when he gets his first hit. Ridiculously tasty. [And precipitated a 3 day junk food spiral.]

From 2009-11-13

A bit of overzealous and paranoid signage for a Starbucks bathroom, I think.

From 2009-11-13

Training.

AM - Atlas 1&6

PM - Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 17/3
Atlas Situps [3m] - 50/5
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 15/5
Hindu Squats [12m] - 30/30/25/30/20/20/15/20 [190]
Hindu Pushups [2m] - 15/7
Atlas Situps [3m] - 25/15
Atlas III Pushups [1m] - 10
MILO DSR [4m] - 20/15
Chins [1m] - 6/4
Bridge - 20 breaths

25m light shadowboxing

Mobility Work x10 - dislocates, facepulls, scap pushups, wall slides, hip thrusts, asomov squats

Today's ode to dogs.

Warren Ellis' "Supergod" - worth reading.

Mad sci-fi, religion, cursing.

More info here.

Just run it by *one* native English speaker, would you?

"Style Free" does not mean what you think it means.

From 2009-11-15

That's some good teaching, right there.

Overheard Everywhere | Now Squint, Damn Your Eyes!:

"History professor: You know how I said that this class wouldn't have a lot of text-heavy PowerPoint slides? Sometimes I lie to you, because that's funny.

Community College
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Overheard by: i love this school"

To be disappointed by this...

...I would have to somehow continue to harbor a delusional hope that this administration would in some way be meaningfully different from the last. And I don't think I do, anymore. Still in Iraq, more troops to Afghanistan, tax money to failing corporations, Patriot Act reaffirmed/expanded, Gitmo still open, extraordinary rendition and torture continues, secret internet trade [ACTA] negotiations, DEA still busting medical marijuana in the increasingly failing "War on [some] Drug [users], civil liberties still denied to all citizens... I don't even know that I'm on board with the health care reform, but even the one thing his base wanted was a public option and they've all but abandoned that. Bah. Humbug. The only thing that can be said is that McCain/Palin still would have been worse.

SAME we can believe in - Boing Boing:

"The Obama administration has granted Defense Secty. Robert Gates new powers to block the release of 21 color photos showing prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq being abused by Americans. The ACLU sued for release of the images. Federal courts previously rejected attempts to keep them secret. ACLU: "No democracy has ever been made stronger by suppressing information about its own misconduct.""

Training.

A week of elementary school, insomnia, social obligations, poor planning, plus a 3 day junk food debacle... all combining to lay waste to my PT regimen. Did a little something every day, but in some cases very, very little. Boo, me.
11/15 - Atlas 1
11/14 - Atlas 1, 4, 5 - chins
11/13 - Atlas 1
11/12 - Atlas 1, 4, 5
11/11 - Atlas 1, 4, 5 - isometrics - scap pushups, facepulls, wall slides, dislocates, hip thrust, asomov squats
11/10 - AM - Atlas 1, 4, 5 - hindu pushups, hindu squats, bridging
PM - Atlas 1, 4, 5 - Atlas III pushups, Atlas situps, hindu squats, Atlas situps, Atlas III pushups, Milo dynamic tension - 20m MMA interval work
11/9 - AM - Atlas 1, 4, 5 - hindu pushups, hindu squats, bridge
PM - 8x8 sissy squats, ham curls, calf raise, frog situp, hip roll - scap pushup, dislocates, facepulls, wall slides, hip thrust, asomov squats - Atlas 1, 4, 5

Watched this week...

Star Trek Voyager Season 6, Bored to Death, SNL, CBS Strikeforce, Lie To Me, House, The Daily Show, Colbert Report, Castle, NCIS, V, Venture Bros, Batman The Brave and Bold, TUF, 30 Rock, Community, Parks and Recreation, It's Always Sunny in Philadephia, The Mentalist, Friday Night Lights, Misfits, The Office, Smallville, FlashForward, UFC 105

Master Sgt. Isaiah Vega is a douchebag, clearly.

How about this, paraphrased from elsewhere... how about it's my right to transport myself around however the hell I please, as long as don't harm anyone else? I guess, fundamentally, this whole "driving is a privilege" nonsense strikes me as absurd. I mean, according to whom? Seriously? Not to mention it's all pretty much bullshit revenue generation and quotas, and doesn't have a damn thing to do with safety. And don't even get me started on seizures without convictions. Thugs with guns and badges, I swear.

Police handing out tickets for air fresheners -- chicagotribune.com:

"An increasing number of drivers are being cited for windshield and window obstructions, which can include anything an officer deems to "materially obstruct" a driver's vision. The only exceptions are government-issued items such as I-PASS boxes and parking stickers.

Since 2004, the number of motorists stopped by state police for breaking the obscure law has jumped 91 percent. In 2004, about 20,000 drivers were warned or cited, most of them receiving warnings. This year, the number is expected to hit about 38,000.

Offenders can expect little sympathy from Master Sgt. Isaiah Vega of the Illinois State Police.

'Driving is a privilege, and drivers should take every precaution,' he said. Hanging anything from the rear-view-mirror 'could be a dangerous if not deadly error,' Vega said...

Chris Cosley, a defense lawyer in Rolling Meadows, said these stops can have serious consequences for law-abiding people. What happened to his client Ermir Spahiu is the epitome of what's wrong with them, he said.

Spahiu of Chicago rented a Nissan Altima at O'Hare in June and opted to get a GPS unit. The Albanian-born immigrant had been hired by a Palatine car dealer to drive to California and purchase vehicles at auction. Cosley said he was given $200,000 in cash.

A sheriff's deputy pulled him over in Colorado for his GPS unit. Thinking he had nothing to hide, Spahiu agreed to a search, and the deputy found the cash, which had been hidden in the spare tire and in a duffel bag.

Despite finding nothing illegal, the deputy confiscated the cash, which remains in custody of the Drug Enforcement Agency, Cosley said.

He speculated Spahiu's out-of-state license and immigrant profile made him a target, and the GPS provided a reason to stop him.

"It gives police the ability to pull over people they deem suspicious," he said. "He was never charged with any criminal offense.""

Via http://www.theagitator.com/2009/11/14/saturday-linksopen-thread-19/