Really Minneapolis? This is the best that you could do?

Vita.mn: Hotness 2010

If you have the time, check out the video, if you don’t just click next at the bottom to check out the pics and bios. While the men are ok (apparently hotness equal skinny for men these days), the women are very poorly represented. I realize that hotness can go beyond physical appearance, but these people were voted as finalists based on their looks, and I’m not sure the vita.mn judging staff spent a whole lot of time meeting with these people beforehand.

What’s worse is that the Twin Cities could do better. I’m guessing these are the people who distilled out of “who reads vita.mn, or has a friend who does, and was confident enough (or vain) to enter themselves into a hotness contest”.

In that case, I think vita.mn has some ugly readership.

In case you’ve been wondering whatever happened to good old Martin Zellar (and I have), here’s your answer:
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/82301762.html

Here’s a story (</madden>) that you probably won’t see in many US Media outlets:

Guantanamo guard reunited with ex-inmates

I tried to find this story from a US outlet and the only link I could find was the NY Times.

Now this isn’t terribly surprising since the US Media wouldn’t want to shine a spotlight on the BBC. But very few media outlets in the US would even attempt such a story.

If conservatives feel that the US has a liberal media, they must feel that the European media are all communists.

That is the question… but the answer may surprise you. A recent study, highlighted in this article via theweek.com, will probably surprise you.

Even an author/blogger on the science of parenting (I’m serious) who is against spanking has even been swayed.

The Cliffs Notes version of the study is that judicial use of spanking for children between 2 – 6 years old rendered more successful and well adjusted adults later in life.

The age range seems appropriate. At that young of an age children don’t really understand advanced concepts… like reason. I believe the last time I was spanked (by my parents at least … yow!) was around the age of 5; and I obviously turn out… um… ok, well I’m the exception that proves the rule.

wadE and Wade have teamed up to give you the most indepth analysis of the upcoming 2009 NFL Wild Card Weekend… well… the most indepth analysis you’ll find on simpleprop.com at least…

wadE: I have no idea if this is a fact or not, but since I’m posting it on the internet makes it true. Never in the history of the NFL have 3 final games of the season resulted in 3 immediate rematches the following week in the playoffs. Two of those games will even be in the same location.

Wade: I know nothing about this NFL you speak of, except that I’ve been advised against ever going on a boat ride on Lake Minnetonka with any of their players. To your point, though, knowing nothing about a topic shouldn’t preclude one from writing about it. Especially on the InterWebS.

wadE: This sets up a very interesting wild card round. Let’s take a look at the game and make some predictions we can all laugh about later.

AFC:
#5 New York Jets (9-7) @ #4 Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
wadE: These teams met last week in the final (most likely) game in Giants Stadium. Unlike the Giants the Jets actually showed up to play their final home game and destroyed the Bengals. The Bengals defense here is that they had nothing to play for, but their starters were in for much of the first half and produced nothing. Ochocinco hurt his knee before the game started, Palmer was terrible, and the defense let the Jets march up and down the field. But this game will be in Cincinatti, the Bengals will have something to play for, and they got a good look at the Jets and what they like to do. Early line of the game is Bengals with a 2.5 point spread. My prediction is that the Bengals win by 6.

Wade: The J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS waltzed into the playoffs against the B-squads of two opponents; they must know this, and can’t feel great about it. Additionally, Mark Sanchez posted the following on his Twitter account a week ago: “Memphis on Broadway… Soooooo good! Music, lyrics, choreography, costumes all great… Overall a great show.” The Bengals, on the other hand, will likely be playing inspired football after the death of wide receiver Chris Henry last month. Will that be enough to combat the potential defensive holes if Domata Peko can’t play? I think so. Also, Cincy is at home, which is really about the only thing above that will affect the outcome of the game. Bengals by 10.

#6 Baltimore Ravens (9-7) @ #3 New England Patriots (10-6)
wadE: The one match-up that is “new” for wild card weekend. These teams played each other in week 4 with the Pats winning 27-21. The Pats are favored by 3.5 points this time around and that seems right to me. They just lost Wes Welker for the year, who is like a really talented version of Wayne Chrebet; but the Patriots still have Tom Brady and Randy Moss. Their defense ranks surprisingly well even though Belichick has no faith in them. But this game is really about the Ravens. Their last win over a playoff team was their only win over a playoff team in Weed 2 against the Chargers. They are a good team but not as good as last year. The offense isn’t as good, neither is the defense, and their kicker is suspect (more than suspect, he cost them 3 games this year). Unless there is a blizzard in Foxboro, Pats by 4. And if there is a blizzard, Pats by 1.

Wade: Are you knocking Wayne “The Flashlight” Chrebet, who was really just the football version of David Eckstein? Baltimore certainly has some talented pieces in place on offense, with Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, and Derrick Mason. Their D is certainly less strong than it’s been traditionally, Ngata and Lewis notwithstanding. Talent-wise, I think they match up pretty evenly with the Pats, who are even more of a ghost of their former selves without Welker; the deciding factor in this one, though, is the fact that New England is playing this one at home. Randy Moss will have a monster game (because he’ll actually be, like, trying) and Tom Brady will do what Tom Brady does (no, I don’t mean having kids out of wedlock) and the Pats will advance. Side note: am I the only one who would become a huge Pats fan if they switched back full-time to their 1986-era throwbacks? Yeah, maybe. Pats by 6.

NFC:
6. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) @ #3 Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
wadE: The biggest game from Week 17 (and not just from the Vikings perspective) was the Eagles travelling to Jerry World (http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/Jerry-World-Has-A-NameKind-Of.html). Winner would be the NFC East champion, and in the case of the Eagles they would secure the number 2 seed. Thankfully for the Vikings, the Eagles imploded on both sides of the ball setting up a rematch 7 days later in the same spot. The Cowboys are a 4 point favorite and rightly so. This was a game the Eagles needed, not as badly as the Cowboys, but they needed the game. I don’t believe this game will be another blow out, but I do believe the Cowboys win by 6.

Wade: Isn’t the definition of insanity akin to doing something repeatedly and expecting different results, or some such nonsense? Yeah, sure, on any given Sunday and all that, but why would we expect Andy Reid to get any smarter in the past seven days? Although, to be fair, I think it’s reasonable for Wade Phillips to get dumber in the same amount of time. (His name’s Wade; he’s quirky and irrational!) I believe Wade is playing for his job, the ‘boys are confident, Marion Barber and Felix Jones are doing a good impression of the Giants’ balanced running game from 2007, and that Miles Austin guy is pretty decent at catching the ball. The Eagles peaked too early and will enter an offseason in which they ultimately trade Donovan McNabb for Terrell Owens. (I made that part up, just to sound like I’m an insider. You believed it, didn’t you?) Dallas by 10.

#5 Green Bay Packers (11-5) @ #4 Arizona Cardinals (10-6)
wadE: I was so pleased as I drove to the Vikings/Giants game last Sunday morning and heard that the Packers game was being bumped here in the Twin Cities for the Eagles/Cowboys game. One more thorn in the side of Packer fans living in MN. The Packer fans will be especially rabid next week after the 33-7 shellacking of the Cardinals. However, the Cardinals tend to have their best games of the season after their worst games of the season. Lose the first game of the season at home to lowly San Fran? Come back the next week and beat up the Jags on the road. Get crushed by the Colts? Hold on the following week to beat the Texans. Get spanked by the Panters? Come back the next week and obliterate the Bears. Lose a tight one to the Titans? Come back the next week and beat the Vikings. Lose another game to the 49ers? Play the Lions the next week. Ok, that last one doesn’t count, but the fact remains that the Cardinals haven’t lost back to back games all year long. The good news for the Packers (besides wiping the floor with the Cardinals last week) is that Arizona is 4-4 at home. The Cardinals are favored by 2.5 points, but I see the Packers winning this game by 7.

Wade: It’s funny– a decade ago there was another person named Kurt Warner who was an NFL quarterback. Great story– undrafted, former grocery bagger at the Hy Vee, kinda goofy. Odd coincidence. Wait… what? Same guy? How many concussions? You’re freaking kidding me. Packers by 8.

Stick with the video until the end to see the different angles – sweet no-look OT winner for the US over Canada in the World Juniors Gold Medal Game. Thanks to Monkey for the heads up on this one.

I don’t even drink coffee, but I’m thinking there will be riots in cubeland shortly:

Some changes to coffee and tea service in Refreshment Centers
Do you enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or tea from your Refreshment Center? If so, you will soon see changes to the selection and service that will help reduce waste and administrative expense by nearly $40,000 each year, while promoting environmentally-friendly behavior at the same time. Facilities will be changing the brand of coffee served to a lower-cost high-quality coffee [ed: we had Caribou Coffee] and will no longer offer the flavored coffee of the month or Bigelow specialty teas, with the exception of the green tea selection. Coffee will still be fresh ground, and coffee and tea will continue to be free for employees and guests.

Did you know that in 2009 we used approximately 330,000 disposable cups? That’s nearly 6,300 cups each week! To support our “reduce, recycle, reuse” efforts, disposable plastic and foam cups will no longer be provided as of Jan. 15, 2010, or sooner if we run out. Please use a reusable coffee cup or water bottle for your beverages. Disposable cups will still be offered in the Hospitality Center and Conference Center for guest.

Thank you for your support of this important waste-reduction strategy to support the financial strength of our business and our ability to provide superior service.

Quite the big day for the Vikings yesterday. 487 total yards on offense. Only 181 yards given up on defense.

These totals weren’t surprising. The Vikings played a New York Giants team that was out of the playoff picture and couldn’t even be bothered to show up in their last game at Giants Stadium ever. In a game that mattered against Carolina the Giants gave up 41 points. In a game that didn’t matter the Giants gave up 44 points, and it could have been worse.

I would have preferred worse. Viking fans will never forget the infamous 41-doughnut game on January 14th, 2001. In the third quarter of yesterday’s game, with the Vikings ahead 34-0, when Childress went for it on 4th and 1 from the 1 yard line I was shocked. Taking the field goal is the safe thing to do. Taking the field goal is the right thing to do. But every Viking fan in that stadium wanted to look up at the scoreboard and see Vikings 41, Giants 0. I can’t believe that Chilly had it in him to be such an ass. It actually makes me like him a little… very little. In comments after the game players said the coaches emphasized “having a statement game” as they headed into the playoffs. When asked about the aggressive (read: pouring it on) game plan Childress responded “just wanted to stay on the gas”.

The most fun for me though was partying before and after the game. Through a relative of a friend I was able to tailgate indoors near the stadium prior to the game. Tons of free food and booze. A big screen TV, music, and quite the interesting crowd. The highlight of which was meeting, getting a picture taken with, and partying with 100% Cheese Free. We partied before the game and after we celebrated every Dallas Cowboys touchdown that delivered the Vikings the number 2 seed they so desperately needed.

Regardless, this game doesn’t solve all the Vikings problems. As I wrote last week the number 2 seed gives them a chance in the playoffs. They still have flaws and weaknesses, and they thrashed a team that didn’t seem very interested in playing the game (13 penalties!). But an extra week of rest, a home game, and no chance of playing outdoors until the Super Bowl gives the Vikings as good a chance as any other team. Here’s to hoping I have three more games to blog about!

Skol Vikings!

29-37
20-48
34-10
14-35
7-47
34-21

Those are the final scores of the last 6 games of the 2008 season for the Arizona Cardinals. I bring this up to illustrate that all hope isn’t lost for the 2009 Vikings. Although I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I already have one foot off of the bandwagon.

Last week’s loss in Chicago wasn’t completely unexpected. At the beginning of the season I assumed the Vikings would lose in Chicago. Old Man Favre in cold weather, late in the year, hostile environment. Sounds like a recipe for a loss, maybe 17-16 with Favre throwing two or three interceptions. So what happens…? Favre throws for 321 yards, two TDs, and no picks. It turns out that the Minnesota defense lays a huge turd on the field and lets the hapless Bears and cry-baby Cutler throw for 4 TDs, with the last one coming in overtime from 39 yards out.

Now the Vikings are in danger of being the 3 seed in the playoffs. Missing a bye, and most likely seeing an outdoor game prior to the Super Bowl. I liked this team’s odds when they looked like the 2 seed. Playing a game at home and then traveling to New Orleans for the NFC Championship (playing indoors and on turf against a team they match up well against)… and if New Orleans fell (which is very possible) the Vikings would host the NFC Championship. However, going to Philadelphia will spell doom for the Vikings season. Playing outdoors is part of it. Playing against a good rushing (and overall) defense. Donovan McNabb is a Jedi. Chili facing his old team which he doesn’t “relish” doing. All of these don’t bode well for the Vikings.

I’m struggling to keep the faith. A strong showing against the Giants would help, but still won’t be enough. But I would still like to see them beat the Giants.

Skol Vikings!