So it's been a while. My excuse? The fact that I finally obtained a PS2, and between GTA: Vice City, Hitman 2, Dead To Rights, and NHL 2002, I no longer own my PS2, it owns me. I basically took a whole week off from the world, which was desperately needed following finals. Ever drive 45 minutes to your class only to find out that your final has been e-mailed to you as a take-home due to inclement weather? Not the best of times, mon ami.
Moving along.
I know I promised a rant on the televised abomination known as Friends (everyone and their cousin twice removed is bitching about The Anna Nicole Show, we all know it's bad, so I figured I'd enlighten those of you that need enlightening in regard to the fact that Friends sucks), but I've got one more piece of academic frustration to vent before moving on to more trivial bullseyes.
Y'see, I'm on this plan at grad school which states that if I maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA following my first four classes, the GMATs are waived. Sounds like a sweet deal, doesn't it? But wait, there's some fine print that we forgot to tell you about!
Bastards.
Because my GPA is evaluated following my first four courses, I cannot take a fifth or sixth course during my second trimester. Translation: I cannot take a full course load, and would ultimately have to either take summer courses, or stay aboard for an additional trimester.
I reiterate: bastards.
Now they've told me that this stipulation was outlined in the second page of my acceptance letter. Well not to make excuses, but who actually reads through their acceptance letters? Once you get past the bit where they either confirm or deny your acceptance, you toss the scraps aside and get ready to buy your books. Sound trivial? You bet it is. But it's also true. Furthermore, I went to visit the head of the MBA department twice this past summer prior to the beginning of the 2002-03 academic year. He outlined the waiving of the GMATs for me, but not once did he bring up said stipulation. No my friends, he was not forthcoming about this at all.
You gotta love the administrative bullshit that colleges and universities make you wade through. Do they not realize that you're having a tough enough time adjusting and trying to get your life in order without having to read Section B, Paragraph 36 of the college bylaws? It's even tougher for grad students, considering most of them are already in the private sector workign 9-5 jobs, then trotting over to campus for a three-hour class between 5:30 and 8:30. Talk about a shot social life (yes, this is what you all have to look forward to).
Bottom line is this, kids. My situation is what's known as a trade-off. Yeah, I could tentatively have the GMATs waived, but in return, the university demands an extra trimester's worth of pay for a measely two classes, just to up their profit margin by that much more.
I cannot emphasize this point enough: bastards.
So what does this mean for me? Basically I gotta shell out $200 and take the damn test before January 6, which I fully intend to do. So I lose out on an extra $200 and kill three hours of my life for the sake of academic testing. But on the flipside of the coin, I finish my graduate education on time and get that big fat Masters in Marketing forked over to me in May of '04. Considering the options, I really don't have much choice. It's really a stacked deck. I mean I could leech off my folks for a few more months, but I'd rather be out the house and working on sewing the seeds of a real life.
The woes of an academic hopeful.
I'm gonna call it a day, bathe, and head off to work. Probably won't get the Friends rant up tonight, possibly tomorrow. At any rate, it's on the way. Also look for my best albums of 2002 list to be posted soon (which will be compared with the best albums of 2001).
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
12/21/2002
12/09/2002
So, last night was the big season finale of The Sopranos, and to many a fan's disappointment, no one major got whacked last night. Carmine got off the hook twice, Johnny Sack is alive, albeit on thin ice, Paulie's seems to be ingratiating himself to the rest of the crew successfully, Chris is clean and sober, and Uncle Jun is a free man. About the only major thing that happened was the separation of Tony and Carmela.
Well guess what kids? That is a major thing, and it was just enough to make the entire episode pack a punch you never saw coming.
Did you ever think Tony would end up kicked out of his own home? Did you ever think Carmela would finally lose it over his flings on the side? Of course, the answer is no to both questions, because A) Tony is overloaded with old-fashioned Italian male chauvinism and pride, and B) Carmela has been more than aware of Tony's philandering for quite some time. Because of her constant tolerance, we as fans never thought she'd reach a breaking point like last night.
Apparently we were wrong.
To the naysayers who claim that last night's finale was boring and uneventful, I have two things to say to you. First off, season finales of any sort never live up to the hype. They are designed entirely to hook not only the core audience of a program, but also the casual fans who may like the show, but rarely get the chance to see it. So no matter how good The Sopranos is, it's not going to be able to live up to any sort of hype. That, my friends, needs to be kept in mind when the show reaches its end and we're served up a series finale (which, according to most sources, will be next season).
Secondly, last night's show tied up the loose ends that needed to be tied up, and opened up several new problems for next season. This is the other purpose of the season finale: to leave the viewers hungry, wanting more, waiting desperately for the next season to start up. It's like when Lois & Clark revealed that Lois knew Clark was Superman at the very end of the show, and then made you wait a whole season to figure out how she knew and where it was gonna lead. The only difference is, The Sopranos has strong, competent writers.
In this case, the major plotlines for next season look to focus on Tony being out of the house and separated. Ultimately, this is gonna fuck him up in the head, and possibly lead to some irrational decisions in his day job. Odds are he'll go back to therapy, but when has he ever been hit this close to home? His one sanctuary, the one refuge from his daily dealings (aside from the occasional federal visit), is no longer present in his life. You'd think being away from his immediate family would make it easier to focus on business, but in this case it's more likely to lead to suppressed anger, and we all know how far that gets him. If he's gone stugots, no one's safe, which brings us to...
The Revised Bookie's Odds on Next in Line to get Whacked:
Johnny Sack (Odds: 2-1)
He is not on anyone's good side right now, and chances are he'll be Tony's primary adversary next season.
Furio (Odds: 3-1)
Tony's smart, he'll put two and two together and figure out why Furio left. Might even remember that the guy tried pushing him into a helicopter rotor. If he comes back from Italy, he's done for. And if he doesn't, Tony just might pay him a visit.
Adrianna (Odds: 5-1)
She's getting a little too comfy with the feds, making her prime for a good erasing.
And there you have it. Those are the big three on the list right now, with other more negligible characters likely to get it down the line. Season 4 has been up and down for the most part, but all of the storylines that were set up have gone somewhere, and the few seams that need stitching are teasers for next year, which is likely to be the gang's swan song. Too bad, really, although you can't really blame them. With a show of this nature, there's only so far you can go and so many creative twists you can come up with before it gets stale and predictable. Better to go out on top than drag it out.
Speaking of which, stay tuned for the brutally honest opinions on Friends later this week.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
Well guess what kids? That is a major thing, and it was just enough to make the entire episode pack a punch you never saw coming.
Did you ever think Tony would end up kicked out of his own home? Did you ever think Carmela would finally lose it over his flings on the side? Of course, the answer is no to both questions, because A) Tony is overloaded with old-fashioned Italian male chauvinism and pride, and B) Carmela has been more than aware of Tony's philandering for quite some time. Because of her constant tolerance, we as fans never thought she'd reach a breaking point like last night.
Apparently we were wrong.
To the naysayers who claim that last night's finale was boring and uneventful, I have two things to say to you. First off, season finales of any sort never live up to the hype. They are designed entirely to hook not only the core audience of a program, but also the casual fans who may like the show, but rarely get the chance to see it. So no matter how good The Sopranos is, it's not going to be able to live up to any sort of hype. That, my friends, needs to be kept in mind when the show reaches its end and we're served up a series finale (which, according to most sources, will be next season).
Secondly, last night's show tied up the loose ends that needed to be tied up, and opened up several new problems for next season. This is the other purpose of the season finale: to leave the viewers hungry, wanting more, waiting desperately for the next season to start up. It's like when Lois & Clark revealed that Lois knew Clark was Superman at the very end of the show, and then made you wait a whole season to figure out how she knew and where it was gonna lead. The only difference is, The Sopranos has strong, competent writers.
In this case, the major plotlines for next season look to focus on Tony being out of the house and separated. Ultimately, this is gonna fuck him up in the head, and possibly lead to some irrational decisions in his day job. Odds are he'll go back to therapy, but when has he ever been hit this close to home? His one sanctuary, the one refuge from his daily dealings (aside from the occasional federal visit), is no longer present in his life. You'd think being away from his immediate family would make it easier to focus on business, but in this case it's more likely to lead to suppressed anger, and we all know how far that gets him. If he's gone stugots, no one's safe, which brings us to...
The Revised Bookie's Odds on Next in Line to get Whacked:
Johnny Sack (Odds: 2-1)
He is not on anyone's good side right now, and chances are he'll be Tony's primary adversary next season.
Furio (Odds: 3-1)
Tony's smart, he'll put two and two together and figure out why Furio left. Might even remember that the guy tried pushing him into a helicopter rotor. If he comes back from Italy, he's done for. And if he doesn't, Tony just might pay him a visit.
Adrianna (Odds: 5-1)
She's getting a little too comfy with the feds, making her prime for a good erasing.
And there you have it. Those are the big three on the list right now, with other more negligible characters likely to get it down the line. Season 4 has been up and down for the most part, but all of the storylines that were set up have gone somewhere, and the few seams that need stitching are teasers for next year, which is likely to be the gang's swan song. Too bad, really, although you can't really blame them. With a show of this nature, there's only so far you can go and so many creative twists you can come up with before it gets stale and predictable. Better to go out on top than drag it out.
Speaking of which, stay tuned for the brutally honest opinions on Friends later this week.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
12/06/2002
It's late, I'm tired, but I promised a post, and by God, here it is. Brief, but here.
I hate statistics. I'm not a big fan of numbers, equations, square roots, and the like. Having said that, statistics is no different. Especially in the graduate level class I am taking it at right now. This is mainly due to my professor. I have nothing against the man personally, and I can even manage to decipher his thick Chinese accent with reasonable success.
But the man cannot teach for shit.
Universities and institutes of higher education hire professorial types to teach students, not recite notes off of a projector. That's not teaching, it's barely lecturing, and it's certainly not effective. First off, if this is supposed to be Statistics for Managers, why have I not been taught any practical managerial applications yet, huh? Moreover, if all of our homework, projects, and other assignments are done strictly on Microsoft Excel, how come we have an in-class exam outside the computer lab? Don't you think some kind of take-home exam would be more appropriate? I certainly do, because shoving Excel output in my face and asking me to make heads or tails of it won't do a helluva lotta good when all you've been asking me to do all term is to plug some numbers into my computer and print them out. Do you realize that, just to understand a project that was due this past Tuesday night, I drove 45 minutes south to West Haven just to confer with this guy, lock myself in the lab until the assignment moderately resembled a finished product, and then endure a three hour class? I was in West Haven from 10:00 AM on Tuesday 'til 8:10 PM when class let out.
And I still don't get this shit, nor am I driven to make any great attempts to understand it.
Needless to say, I didn't scrawl out the most glowing review for this guy on the evaluation sheet.
I guess what I'm getting at is, there are truly great professors, professors who enlighten, inspire, and truly make differences in the lives of some people. And then there's the other side of the coin, the miserable half-teacher. The one who doesn't do his/her job for the love of his/her craft, or to try and affect students of any age in a positive manner. The one who does it because it puts food on the table, end of story.
Folks, teaching is a tough job. You put up with a heap of shit being flung at you from all angles and get very little in return for it, either in a monetary context, or in proper acknowledgement. To do this, you really have to love the educational process, and you have to be immensely tolerant. If you're just trying to pay the bills, you're slowly snuffing your will to live, along with the aspirations of your students, because the bottom line is you don't want to be there, you don't make them want to be there, you earn a rep for yourself, and get painted into the corner of your own glass house armed only with a brick and a prayer.
Look, I truly admire the teachers that have gotten me along in my academic life. Mrs. Riley in the third grade, Mr. M. and Ms. Ring in high school, and Doug Glover, Kathryn Davis, Steven Milhauser, and Christine Page in college. Those people truly adore their craft and are willing to put up with the burdens attached. For that, I respect them. Having said that, I've also put up with my fair share of jerky teachers/professors who've become so jaded by their careers that they look at class each day like they have to punch in before taking attendance. When they reach that point, their personal attitudes can't help but spill over into their professional endeavors. And we all know what happens then.
Student interest/attention drops, papers and exams get marred, tempers flare, fingers point, GPAs suffer, and evaluations sheets are filled out with ruthless enthusiasm.
And I know that the reason a lot of these people end up in the teaching world is because there's not much else they can do with their scope of knowledge. I mean, come on, how many jobs can a geologist actually perform? So fine, I can understand that they're short on options, but I don't think that's any reason to potentially injure the education of any group of individuals, be they elementary, high school, college, or graduate students.
And I can say that because I have a final exam in Statistics for Managers on Tuesday, and it's been designed by a man who knows everything about the topic, but doesn't really care about it.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
P.S., following finals, I'll be ranting on the most overrated sitcom in TV history, Friends. Stick around, it'll be fun... unless you enjoy that rubbish. Then you're likely to be offended. I can smell the hate mail already...
I hate statistics. I'm not a big fan of numbers, equations, square roots, and the like. Having said that, statistics is no different. Especially in the graduate level class I am taking it at right now. This is mainly due to my professor. I have nothing against the man personally, and I can even manage to decipher his thick Chinese accent with reasonable success.
But the man cannot teach for shit.
Universities and institutes of higher education hire professorial types to teach students, not recite notes off of a projector. That's not teaching, it's barely lecturing, and it's certainly not effective. First off, if this is supposed to be Statistics for Managers, why have I not been taught any practical managerial applications yet, huh? Moreover, if all of our homework, projects, and other assignments are done strictly on Microsoft Excel, how come we have an in-class exam outside the computer lab? Don't you think some kind of take-home exam would be more appropriate? I certainly do, because shoving Excel output in my face and asking me to make heads or tails of it won't do a helluva lotta good when all you've been asking me to do all term is to plug some numbers into my computer and print them out. Do you realize that, just to understand a project that was due this past Tuesday night, I drove 45 minutes south to West Haven just to confer with this guy, lock myself in the lab until the assignment moderately resembled a finished product, and then endure a three hour class? I was in West Haven from 10:00 AM on Tuesday 'til 8:10 PM when class let out.
And I still don't get this shit, nor am I driven to make any great attempts to understand it.
Needless to say, I didn't scrawl out the most glowing review for this guy on the evaluation sheet.
I guess what I'm getting at is, there are truly great professors, professors who enlighten, inspire, and truly make differences in the lives of some people. And then there's the other side of the coin, the miserable half-teacher. The one who doesn't do his/her job for the love of his/her craft, or to try and affect students of any age in a positive manner. The one who does it because it puts food on the table, end of story.
Folks, teaching is a tough job. You put up with a heap of shit being flung at you from all angles and get very little in return for it, either in a monetary context, or in proper acknowledgement. To do this, you really have to love the educational process, and you have to be immensely tolerant. If you're just trying to pay the bills, you're slowly snuffing your will to live, along with the aspirations of your students, because the bottom line is you don't want to be there, you don't make them want to be there, you earn a rep for yourself, and get painted into the corner of your own glass house armed only with a brick and a prayer.
Look, I truly admire the teachers that have gotten me along in my academic life. Mrs. Riley in the third grade, Mr. M. and Ms. Ring in high school, and Doug Glover, Kathryn Davis, Steven Milhauser, and Christine Page in college. Those people truly adore their craft and are willing to put up with the burdens attached. For that, I respect them. Having said that, I've also put up with my fair share of jerky teachers/professors who've become so jaded by their careers that they look at class each day like they have to punch in before taking attendance. When they reach that point, their personal attitudes can't help but spill over into their professional endeavors. And we all know what happens then.
Student interest/attention drops, papers and exams get marred, tempers flare, fingers point, GPAs suffer, and evaluations sheets are filled out with ruthless enthusiasm.
And I know that the reason a lot of these people end up in the teaching world is because there's not much else they can do with their scope of knowledge. I mean, come on, how many jobs can a geologist actually perform? So fine, I can understand that they're short on options, but I don't think that's any reason to potentially injure the education of any group of individuals, be they elementary, high school, college, or graduate students.
And I can say that because I have a final exam in Statistics for Managers on Tuesday, and it's been designed by a man who knows everything about the topic, but doesn't really care about it.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
P.S., following finals, I'll be ranting on the most overrated sitcom in TV history, Friends. Stick around, it'll be fun... unless you enjoy that rubbish. Then you're likely to be offended. I can smell the hate mail already...
12/03/2002
12/02/2002
Happy December.
Last night's episode of The Sopranos was quite good, and it left lots of doors open for next week's big season finale. What's gonna happen between the New York and New Jersey families? Will Furio return? How is Chris doing in rehab? What of Junior's trial? Will Meadow ever show some skin?
OK, sorry, but I've been waiting for that last one since first season back in '99.
But another big question looming in everyone's mind: who'll be the next person to die? One thing that the show's writers have shown us is that they're not afraid to kill off major characters. We learned that during the second season when Richie Aprile and "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero got it in back to back episodes at the end of the season. And the second we saw Ralph Cifarreto, we all knew he'd get whacked eventually. Poor Joey Pants, he just can't win. He gets beat up in The Fugitive, killed in The Matrix, and absolutely massacred in The Sorpanos. Gotta give the little shit credit, though, Ralphie knew how to fight dirty. And I must say, his last full episode was truly his opus, what with his phone call to Paulie Gualtieri's mother and all.
But getting back to the topic, you gotta believe that someone on the show is gonna die soon. With next week's big season finale looming, an episode that is certain to leave us all with some unanswered questions until next year, I present to you the bookie's odds on who's next in line to receive a visit from the reaper.
Carmine (Odds: 2-1)
With Johnny Sack trying to play both sides, Carmine is not in a good position here. Because of Johnny's skewed reports, and the lies to both Tony and Paulie, everyone in Jersey thinks Carmine's a prick. That being said, with old age on his side and some miffed Jersey boys breathing down his throat, Carmine's days are pretty much numbered. Shit's bad between the families, and there's too much animosity for someone high on the totem pole not to get whacked.
Johnny Sack (Odds: 3-1)
Ahh, Johnny Sacramoni, you bastard. This guy's been leading on Carmine, Tony, and Paulie for how long now? And now that he's clued Tony in on the fact that not only might Carmine not be around too much longer, but that business and relations would be better off without him, he's primed to take over the New York family. However, Paulie has become aware that Johnny's a two-timing fuck, and he might be resistant to any cooperation the Soprano clan lends him from here on in. Eventually, he's gonna get it. 'Cause even if Paulie can't convince his boss, T will find out one way or another. Once that happens, kiss Johnny Sack goodbye.
Paulie Walnuts (Odds: 5-1)
Paulie's odds were much better (or in this case worse) up until last night. Since getting out of prison, his loyalty to the family has been in question. His hot temper plus frequent meetings with Johnny Sack have put him in the doghouse with Tony, and he's been left out of a lot of family business lately. Plus, given his spat with Silvio last night (who ever thought that would've happened?!), his position is in question. However, as we saw last night, Paulie now intends to go outta his way to get back in good gracing with the crew. Even if it means suffocating his mom's friend and robbing her. Now that Ralphie's dead, I think Paulie's my favorite character again. (Interesting side note: Tony Sirico said he would take the role of Paulie only if he never had to be the rat. Of course, if he does become a rat, he'll die, meaning Sirico won't have to play the character anymore. Food for thought.)
The Earless Russian Guy From Last Season (Odds: 7-1)
He still owes money, has vowed revenge, and is apparently still on the loose.
Christopher Moltisanti (Odds: 9-1)
Were he not in rehab, his odds would be higher. However, there is still a high probability for relapse.
Furio (Odds: 11-1)
He just tried to kill Tony, and split without warning. If he returns from Italy anytime soon, he's gonna be in hot water. However, that could be a pretty big if. It all depends on how smart Furio really is.
Adrianna (Odds: 13-1)
They hinted early on that she was experimenting with drugs, so I thought she'd OD before anything happened to her. But with Chris in rehab and a wedding approaching, I think she'd be off that by now. However, she has been talking to the Feds, and that's not good. Pussy proved that.
Corrado "Junior" Soprano (Odds: 17-1)
Uncle Jun may be on trial, but he's also getting up there. At age 72, lots could happen. But who knows?
Another One of Paulie's Mom's Friends (Odds: 20-1)
Don't cross Paulie's mother! It might be a matter of time before another one tastes the pillow, but I don't think they'll be next in line.
Carmela Soprano (Odds: 25-1)
If Tony ever knew she's been falling for Furio, she'd be in trouble. Thankfully, he's clueless. As long as Meadow keeps her mouth shut.
Meadow Sorpano (Odds: 30-1)
She is going skiing. Lotsa trees, very bad. Lets hope she knows as much about skiing as she knows about the law and literature.
Paulie's Mom (Odds: 35-1)
As long as Paulie's around, she'll be fine. The only thing she has to worry about is old age. And early morning prank calls.
Tony Soprano (Odds: Infinity + 1-1)
Tony's the boss. The show revolves around him. When he dies, the series dies with him, end of story.
Well, there you have it. I look forward to seeing if the season finale proves me right in any way shape or form. We shall see.
Oh, and to all you uptight nimrods who think that The Sorpanos perpetuates Italian-American stereotypes, maybe you should take a look at the Gotti family and Robert "Torch" Torcelli before you say another ill word about this wonderful program. Jackasses.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
Last night's episode of The Sopranos was quite good, and it left lots of doors open for next week's big season finale. What's gonna happen between the New York and New Jersey families? Will Furio return? How is Chris doing in rehab? What of Junior's trial? Will Meadow ever show some skin?
OK, sorry, but I've been waiting for that last one since first season back in '99.
But another big question looming in everyone's mind: who'll be the next person to die? One thing that the show's writers have shown us is that they're not afraid to kill off major characters. We learned that during the second season when Richie Aprile and "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero got it in back to back episodes at the end of the season. And the second we saw Ralph Cifarreto, we all knew he'd get whacked eventually. Poor Joey Pants, he just can't win. He gets beat up in The Fugitive, killed in The Matrix, and absolutely massacred in The Sorpanos. Gotta give the little shit credit, though, Ralphie knew how to fight dirty. And I must say, his last full episode was truly his opus, what with his phone call to Paulie Gualtieri's mother and all.
But getting back to the topic, you gotta believe that someone on the show is gonna die soon. With next week's big season finale looming, an episode that is certain to leave us all with some unanswered questions until next year, I present to you the bookie's odds on who's next in line to receive a visit from the reaper.
Carmine (Odds: 2-1)
With Johnny Sack trying to play both sides, Carmine is not in a good position here. Because of Johnny's skewed reports, and the lies to both Tony and Paulie, everyone in Jersey thinks Carmine's a prick. That being said, with old age on his side and some miffed Jersey boys breathing down his throat, Carmine's days are pretty much numbered. Shit's bad between the families, and there's too much animosity for someone high on the totem pole not to get whacked.
Johnny Sack (Odds: 3-1)
Ahh, Johnny Sacramoni, you bastard. This guy's been leading on Carmine, Tony, and Paulie for how long now? And now that he's clued Tony in on the fact that not only might Carmine not be around too much longer, but that business and relations would be better off without him, he's primed to take over the New York family. However, Paulie has become aware that Johnny's a two-timing fuck, and he might be resistant to any cooperation the Soprano clan lends him from here on in. Eventually, he's gonna get it. 'Cause even if Paulie can't convince his boss, T will find out one way or another. Once that happens, kiss Johnny Sack goodbye.
Paulie Walnuts (Odds: 5-1)
Paulie's odds were much better (or in this case worse) up until last night. Since getting out of prison, his loyalty to the family has been in question. His hot temper plus frequent meetings with Johnny Sack have put him in the doghouse with Tony, and he's been left out of a lot of family business lately. Plus, given his spat with Silvio last night (who ever thought that would've happened?!), his position is in question. However, as we saw last night, Paulie now intends to go outta his way to get back in good gracing with the crew. Even if it means suffocating his mom's friend and robbing her. Now that Ralphie's dead, I think Paulie's my favorite character again. (Interesting side note: Tony Sirico said he would take the role of Paulie only if he never had to be the rat. Of course, if he does become a rat, he'll die, meaning Sirico won't have to play the character anymore. Food for thought.)
The Earless Russian Guy From Last Season (Odds: 7-1)
He still owes money, has vowed revenge, and is apparently still on the loose.
Christopher Moltisanti (Odds: 9-1)
Were he not in rehab, his odds would be higher. However, there is still a high probability for relapse.
Furio (Odds: 11-1)
He just tried to kill Tony, and split without warning. If he returns from Italy anytime soon, he's gonna be in hot water. However, that could be a pretty big if. It all depends on how smart Furio really is.
Adrianna (Odds: 13-1)
They hinted early on that she was experimenting with drugs, so I thought she'd OD before anything happened to her. But with Chris in rehab and a wedding approaching, I think she'd be off that by now. However, she has been talking to the Feds, and that's not good. Pussy proved that.
Corrado "Junior" Soprano (Odds: 17-1)
Uncle Jun may be on trial, but he's also getting up there. At age 72, lots could happen. But who knows?
Another One of Paulie's Mom's Friends (Odds: 20-1)
Don't cross Paulie's mother! It might be a matter of time before another one tastes the pillow, but I don't think they'll be next in line.
Carmela Soprano (Odds: 25-1)
If Tony ever knew she's been falling for Furio, she'd be in trouble. Thankfully, he's clueless. As long as Meadow keeps her mouth shut.
Meadow Sorpano (Odds: 30-1)
She is going skiing. Lotsa trees, very bad. Lets hope she knows as much about skiing as she knows about the law and literature.
Paulie's Mom (Odds: 35-1)
As long as Paulie's around, she'll be fine. The only thing she has to worry about is old age. And early morning prank calls.
Tony Soprano (Odds: Infinity + 1-1)
Tony's the boss. The show revolves around him. When he dies, the series dies with him, end of story.
Well, there you have it. I look forward to seeing if the season finale proves me right in any way shape or form. We shall see.
Oh, and to all you uptight nimrods who think that The Sorpanos perpetuates Italian-American stereotypes, maybe you should take a look at the Gotti family and Robert "Torch" Torcelli before you say another ill word about this wonderful program. Jackasses.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
11/28/2002
Well, not only are all systems still nominal in the southern hemisphere, but I'm proud to announce that the fire department doused that sum'bitch in no time. And now on with the post.
So, following our Thanksgiving dinner, I engaged myself in a little game called Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and something ocurred to me. I like violence. At least on a video game level.
I'm pretty much against censorship in general, so I think the notion of banning or censoring games is ridiculous to begin with, but before I go any further, let me run down the concept of Vice City.
In a ficticious Miami rip-off of a town called Vice City, you play a lowlife thug whose mission is to work your way up the pecking order in the Vice City underworld by stealing cars, killing people in creative fashion, and breaking every rule in the Megacity Book of Law. That'll show Judge Dredd. Even if he is the law, I... Sorry. Got my ficticious worlds crossed, there. I forgot, in Vice City, you drive Buicks, not dress like them.
Anyway, the point of this game is basically to steal, maim, kill, and destroy everything you possibly can without getting beat down by the cops. All this while driving stylish wheels and listening to vintage 80's music. If I may make a suggestion, tune the radio station in your vehicle of choice to VRock. Iron Maiden and Quiet Riot sound even better when driving a Corvette, trying to take out a corrupt pizza boy on a Yamaha scooter.
And you know what? I love this game. It's one of the few reasons I'm considering buying a PlayStation 2 of my own. Why do I love it? Because it's violent. I love being able to Malvo (read: kill with a sniper rifle) a guy while he's practicing his drive at a golf course. I love being able to shoot a hooker at point blank range with a shotgun. I love being able to take out the police force with a flame thrower before they get out the goddamn chopper and shoot me down. All I told them was that I smelled bacon. I can't wait to get the chainsaw and act out my deepest, darkest Scarface fantasies. And you know why? Because I'm a fairly conservative person in the real world, and I need to vent once in a while. A game like this allows me to satisfy that sadistic id deep down inside that is just aching to run that schmuck from Jersey off the road on Route 8 South.
While I'm on the topic, what is it why you Jersey people? You're not bad human beings, just bad motorists. Seriously, do you even know why there are lines on the road? Honestly now.
But y'know, I really believe that a game such as this, a game that glorifies senseless violence to an almost disgusting and inhuman level is downright therapeutic for the average joe. Fuck anger management, this is all the therapy you need right here, at your fingertips for a mere $49.99 plus sales tax. No hourly rates, no ridiculous Dr. Jennifer Melfi trying to talk about your manipulative mother and the family of mallards in your backyard and how they represent your family, just junkies, hookers, cops, dealers, a full arsenal that would make fucking Rambo jealous, and a kickass radio station blaring Quiet Riot.
Life is good. Cum on, feel the noize.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
P.S. - I have one more vote for a five month marriage between Affleck and Lopez. Keep 'em coming.
So, following our Thanksgiving dinner, I engaged myself in a little game called Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and something ocurred to me. I like violence. At least on a video game level.
I'm pretty much against censorship in general, so I think the notion of banning or censoring games is ridiculous to begin with, but before I go any further, let me run down the concept of Vice City.
In a ficticious Miami rip-off of a town called Vice City, you play a lowlife thug whose mission is to work your way up the pecking order in the Vice City underworld by stealing cars, killing people in creative fashion, and breaking every rule in the Megacity Book of Law. That'll show Judge Dredd. Even if he is the law, I... Sorry. Got my ficticious worlds crossed, there. I forgot, in Vice City, you drive Buicks, not dress like them.
Anyway, the point of this game is basically to steal, maim, kill, and destroy everything you possibly can without getting beat down by the cops. All this while driving stylish wheels and listening to vintage 80's music. If I may make a suggestion, tune the radio station in your vehicle of choice to VRock. Iron Maiden and Quiet Riot sound even better when driving a Corvette, trying to take out a corrupt pizza boy on a Yamaha scooter.
And you know what? I love this game. It's one of the few reasons I'm considering buying a PlayStation 2 of my own. Why do I love it? Because it's violent. I love being able to Malvo (read: kill with a sniper rifle) a guy while he's practicing his drive at a golf course. I love being able to shoot a hooker at point blank range with a shotgun. I love being able to take out the police force with a flame thrower before they get out the goddamn chopper and shoot me down. All I told them was that I smelled bacon. I can't wait to get the chainsaw and act out my deepest, darkest Scarface fantasies. And you know why? Because I'm a fairly conservative person in the real world, and I need to vent once in a while. A game like this allows me to satisfy that sadistic id deep down inside that is just aching to run that schmuck from Jersey off the road on Route 8 South.
While I'm on the topic, what is it why you Jersey people? You're not bad human beings, just bad motorists. Seriously, do you even know why there are lines on the road? Honestly now.
But y'know, I really believe that a game such as this, a game that glorifies senseless violence to an almost disgusting and inhuman level is downright therapeutic for the average joe. Fuck anger management, this is all the therapy you need right here, at your fingertips for a mere $49.99 plus sales tax. No hourly rates, no ridiculous Dr. Jennifer Melfi trying to talk about your manipulative mother and the family of mallards in your backyard and how they represent your family, just junkies, hookers, cops, dealers, a full arsenal that would make fucking Rambo jealous, and a kickass radio station blaring Quiet Riot.
Life is good. Cum on, feel the noize.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
P.S. - I have one more vote for a five month marriage between Affleck and Lopez. Keep 'em coming.
11/27/2002
OK, I have to speak on this.
Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley are getting divorced. My question is who really cares? Seriously, can we be bothered with this needless information? I have no stock in celebrity marriages, and it baffles me not only why some double digit IQ individuals find it news, but why the associated press themselves find it newsworthy.
Do I care about Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck? No! Lopez is a hack at acting and a joke at singing, and Affleck is a fair actor at best. OK, so he was funny in the Kevin Smith movies, but that's because Kevin Smith wrote his dialogue.
To get off topic here, who is looking forward to the upcoming Daredevil movie? It's no secret that X-Men was a fanboy's wet dream come true, and Spider-Man kicked ass by the truckload. Chances are The Hulk is gonna be another hot commodity for all them thar pimply nerd types, but the man without fear looks to be at a crossroads of sorts. Should be interesting to see.
Getting back to the topic, why do we care about celebrity marriages/divorces? Are we so bloody bored with our own lives that we feel the need to live vicariously through overblown, overexposed, overrated film stars and their short-lived unions? God, I hate Hollywood more and more every day.
Well, seeing as how Lopez and Affleck seem to be the next flavor of the month, I want to get a pool started on how long their so-called union is gonna last. $5 per person. I say five months tops, and I already have another vote for six months. Drop me a line with your numbers.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley are getting divorced. My question is who really cares? Seriously, can we be bothered with this needless information? I have no stock in celebrity marriages, and it baffles me not only why some double digit IQ individuals find it news, but why the associated press themselves find it newsworthy.
Do I care about Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck? No! Lopez is a hack at acting and a joke at singing, and Affleck is a fair actor at best. OK, so he was funny in the Kevin Smith movies, but that's because Kevin Smith wrote his dialogue.
To get off topic here, who is looking forward to the upcoming Daredevil movie? It's no secret that X-Men was a fanboy's wet dream come true, and Spider-Man kicked ass by the truckload. Chances are The Hulk is gonna be another hot commodity for all them thar pimply nerd types, but the man without fear looks to be at a crossroads of sorts. Should be interesting to see.
Getting back to the topic, why do we care about celebrity marriages/divorces? Are we so bloody bored with our own lives that we feel the need to live vicariously through overblown, overexposed, overrated film stars and their short-lived unions? God, I hate Hollywood more and more every day.
Well, seeing as how Lopez and Affleck seem to be the next flavor of the month, I want to get a pool started on how long their so-called union is gonna last. $5 per person. I say five months tops, and I already have another vote for six months. Drop me a line with your numbers.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
Well, consider this the beginnings of a great (ri-i-i-i-ight) experiment.
Y'see, since blogs are like tattoos these days (everyone has at least one), I figure I might as well once join the mainstream majority and post my twisted thoughts on the web. So sit down, grab a cold drink, and enjoy a freshly made landshark sandwich.
There shall be more to come. Whether you like it or not.
Y'see, since blogs are like tattoos these days (everyone has at least one), I figure I might as well once join the mainstream majority and post my twisted thoughts on the web. So sit down, grab a cold drink, and enjoy a freshly made landshark sandwich.
There shall be more to come. Whether you like it or not.
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