There is only one game left. And it’s not this weekend. They named a Pro Bowl team but did not have a Pro Bowl game which is another one of the hidden blessings that the pandemic has brought.
I’m actually serious about that.
There were many good things that came out of this crazy year. Here is my list of blessings in disguise that have occurred this year:
- Working at home – I have long been a champion of workplace flexibility and have been trying to get my work to embrace it. Unfortunately, too many workplaces feel that employees can’t be trusted. The pandemic forced us to work remotely and we have not only adapted, but thrived. At the same time, we are helping the environment by reducing pollution and relieving the stress on our over-crowded freeways
- Newfound creativity – One of my biggest pet peeves is when organizations continue to do the same old thing because “we’ve always done it that way” or “why fix it if it ain’t broke’. Sports leagues in particular have adapted out of necessity to change schedules, competition formats, and preconceived notions. We got an NHL Stanley Cup Finals in two bubbles that was thrilling to watch. I heard it referred to as “the greatest junior hockey tournament ever”. They have also changed conferences this year to an alignment that has created an all-Canadian division. That’s an amazing thing! The AFL moved fixtures on the fly and implemented bubbles so successfully that they went the entire season with only a handful of positive cases. While some of these new procedures may not exist going forward, just knowing that they can be done should encourage those in charge to think creatively to make their existing great products even better.
- Greater compassion – The pandemic has affected many people in diverse ways. Some have experienced painful losses while others have only been mildly inconvenienced. However, I have noticed that most people are much more aware of the effects of this pandemic on our fellow human beings. I have noticed people being kinder, more helpful, and more empathetic in real life. Twitter and the rest of social media, of course, don’t count.
- Re-setting of priorities – This may just be a personal one, but I feel that this pandemic has made me understand on a deeper level what is really important and what isn’t. The answer, of course, is different for everyone, but I do think that extreme events and circumstances force people to look deep inside themselves and see what’s there. I know I value certain things more than I ever have and I have made changes in how I spend my time and who I spend my time with. I don’t think I’m alone in that.
I know some of you may call me a PollyAnna (or whatever the phrase is for hopeless optimists), but I really do believe that out of anything bad, there is also something good that can come from it.
Congratulations to Dok Zymm for sorta guessing the theme? She did pretty well in identifying that it was a Wheel of Fortune Before and After type of situation and I do think she knew what it was, but she didn’t really articulate it in the comments.
For those of you prudes that don’t like cheesecake or beefcake, click HERE to skip to the music videos.
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Without further ado, here are the Top Twenty Five Pics of The Week:
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YOU’RE-A-PRUDE
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And now, for the music!
As I mentioned before, I’ve decided that I must take up the mantle that tWBS ran with and help to make this world a better place. I will do this in the one way he couldn’t: By introducing you to good music!
Today we are back to the puzzles! Enjoy these fine songs and figure out what the connection is among them. I will give up to three hints in the comments.
Song Number One:
Canción Número Dos:
Chanson Numéro Trois:
Canzone numero quattro:
Canção número cinco
Seigarren zenbakia:
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That’s all for this week, folks! Be good to each other and try to stay the fuck away from stupid people. That’s not COVID-19 advice, that’s just general good sense. See you next week!
For continuity sake I only have one thing to say:
Sunday Gravy coming yo!
Some people say this bra is padded. What say you?
I say those pants are one flimsy knot from going down.
so, finally getting around to the latest season of cobra kai, just gonna post this without context
I just realized that the spokes-hole for Fred’s or Frank’s hot sauce (“I put this **** on everything”) is actually Eli Manning. I sort of approve.
So the NFL rumor mill now the Texans are not looking to trade Deshaun Watson, which really means they are seeing what offers they can get I.e. see what the Giants said before trading Odell Beckham, Cardinals before dealing Josh Rosen, Jets before sending off Jamal Adams.
The teams with the most draft capital and cap space for the deal are the Jets and Dolphins.
The Lions are looking at deals for Stafford with the Patriots, 49ers and Texans if Watson is dealt are front runners. Now there are rumblings the the cap strap Rams are looking to deal Jared Goff to get into the Stafford sweepstakes.
The NFL is so. damn. stupid.
If it weren’t for the fact that the NFLPA is a frontrunner for shittiest union, most people would play for a year then retire.
This comment went into moderation and the only reason I can think of is that the name of the jpg file was AnnaKendrickPussyShot.jpg
https://postimg.cc/DmWxQmp0
Kitteh!!1!
The Grand Tour Mongolia special is the best fucking television show ever made in the history of Western Civilization. The cinematography is fooking brilliant on the 4K TV.
I’m behind, just started watching ep 2 of the new season and am incredibly jealous that they went to Reunion. Would have been better back when fewer species were extinct, but there’s still quite a few unique ones there.
I was very much looking forward to the Madagascar show, and enjoyed it thoroughly, watched it two or three times already. Only complaint I have was that there was a lot of the usual suffering porn, with the boys dealing with the shit conditions of the road they drove up to the treasure location, which seems to be a constant. Final shot was delicious, just needed John Cleese to guest.
Nothing makes you feel old quite like old LiveJournal entries. Fun fact, my senior year in college my most commonly used curse word was “damn” rather than the more popular “fuck” and I used it most commonly as an adjective!
Nothing makes you feel old quite like old LiveJournal entries.
Nothing makes you feel even older than not knowing what the fuck LiveJournal entries even are.
livejournal was wordpress before wordpress was a thing
before that, there was this decrepit place called angelfire
See, my response is “what the fuck is wordpress and angelfire?” I fucking hate being old.
This site is on wordpress 🙂
See how clueless I am?
Eh, that’s most people, you just happen to be in the company of an unusually large number of internet nerds
And I will remain in y’all’s company as long as y’all will put up with me.
It’s early social media. Basically reading my public diary from 15+ years ago. Like this gem from May 2003 “I’m sooo tired. I never sleep well after drinking, and last night our studying turned out to be more studying of beer than of algebra. It was damn good fun though, with a memorable moment or two thrown in.
Just got back from Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn, damn good pizza and a nice walk over the bridge to get there. I really want to climb on all the bridge bits, but I don’t as I know that injury or arrest would be the only possible outcomes. But until I fell and died or got the police after me it would be really fun. It would be neat if bridge jumping was still a fad sport like it was in the 20’s. Why don’t people do neat stuff like flagpole sitting anymore?
Anyway, back to studying.”,
I guess I also said “neat” a lot. Still do!
Neato!
My latest impulse purchase to go with the silver dollars I keep on my desk:
Man, I remember playing there!
First casino I ever entered. I had no idea what I was doing and just looked around for an hour before I played a slot machine.
The cigarette/cigar smoke was so thick you could chew it.
When you entered there was a big glass case with one million dollars cash displayed in it. I went there before they put a roof over the street and made it into a mall. Binion also started the World Series Of Poker, which began the whole poker tournament craze.
Yup. I was there before the roof and I remember seeing that million dollars too!
Across the street at the Golden Nugget (on a later trip), I put $100 into a slot machine, played a few “maximum” spins, and hit the second highest jackpot possible. A guy immediately appeared out of nowhere, had me fill out a tax form, and then payed me $5500 in $100 bills.
Wow! That’s awesome!
That’s the only big thing I ever won in Vegas. I haven’t been there since 2002. I almost went to the DFO thing, but the cab was so late they shut the gate right before I got to it. I haven’t used a taxicab since, I started using Uber.
I went so many times during the 90s, I lost count. i haven’t been there since 2006.
I’d always go to Binion’s to play $3 limit craps. Last of the big spenders, that’s me. Anyway, Binion’s was kind of seedy and made gambling feel a little more like a sin.
Cheapest craps in Vegas!
Presented without comment
Comment
Apt. GME trading over 300 isn’t helping their revenue or future prospects.
did you just reaction gif your own comment?
funny moment with my dad, who as discussed turns the big 6-0 shortly.
pops: I used to be worried about being a grandpa before age fifty….
me: and?
pops: Its looking like I’m not gonna be a grandpa before age 70.
beat
me: your fault for only having one kid
pops: touché
I prefer being an optimist to a cynic, but sympathize more with cynics. I dunno; a sour disposition makes me laugh. Eventually.
I’m not being cynical, just realistic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L28JthjYXJE
Their last album. Awesome “group.”
I made a lapse of judgement and decided to get Little Caesar’s. What can I the lure of the penny saver ad and 2 large pizzas for $11 and the fact I haven’t had Little Caesars in 28 years. Well lets just say this the last time I order anything from Little Caesars. I get home and open the and they didn’t even cut the pie. So I get the pizza cutter out the shelf and when I cut into I notice the dough wasn’t even cook through. So I had to finish cooking the pizzas and it cut it myself. Anyways you get what you pay for and support your local pizza when ever possible.
even for little Cesar’s that’s unacceptable. local place got me through college.
definitely call and make a complaint.
I’m really curious to find/try this:
It will not, repeat NOT, look as good as the picture.
Puzzle update: Scotchy is really close with his comment about Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner.
Here is your first hint: It all adds up at the end.
Groupon available for a colon hydrotherapy session. Do I partake?
Twist: it’s an open system one.
Sure, why not? Take a shower and brush your teeth after and you’ll be clean inside and out!
https://youtube.com/watch?v=MLhW9ifc1Gc&feature=youtu.be
I came for the partially clad women.
I stayed for the multi-billion dollar construction projects.*
*I’m not gonna lie-the construction projects made me cum as well.
Finished timely AND under budget, too. For public works, I thought I’d only see them on the Fantasies Museum.
The Hoover Dam was finished early and under budget. Not so, the Hoover Dam visitor center.
All the tunes are reflecting back on a relationship.
That’s not quite right, but there’s an element that works.
Cryptic, eh?
Hi everybody! I’m done staring at the $GME stock price for the week!
Rikki all week (artist’s conception)
EPS (TTM) -4.22
Market Cap of 22B?
There are going to be some winners, and a lot of losers in this.
Reminds me of the time I made a killing shorting autogyros back when I lived in Ceylon.
you know I should have paid more attention in biology. dominant side theory is a bitch.
my right foot is on fire and my left one is fine. I thought this “body breaking down” thing was supposed to be gradual
in the words of a certain peyton manning jingle..?Holy Shit does my foot hurt?
They have a fife player!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ2L2tDzpOg
1. What’s a fife?
2. Gimme the fife.
Good lad this Paolo Nutini, from…… Paisley, Scotland? Ah yes, the Nutini clan…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmbUNF1Q4R8
What’s their tartan?
He is from Paisley, definitely Burberry chav style.
Evening.
Trying to figure out the connections and realized-
Yes, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” is an extraordinary song but “Ceremony” is right there. It didn’t get the airplay but it’s gotdamn brilliant.
I think they’re all synth-pop, aka new wave, aka when post-punk got slightly less depressing but was still more depressing than emo
Johnny Marr and/or Bernard Sumner are there in every tune except for Art of Noise. Gah!
Oh you’re quite warm!!
https://youtu.be/8Ai_RhjJ9XU
“I LIVE BY THE HAN RIVER!”
Today I learned that Wuhan had a thriving punk and indie rock scene pre-pandemic, and it’s recovering nicely. If I ever take a sabbatical or a couple months between jobs I could do worse than living in Wuhan for a month or two, taking Chinese lessons by day and going to small club shows at night.
That sounds fantastic!
There’s a bar/club called Wuhan Prison and I heard an interview with the owner. The night before the lockdown they closed at 3 am as normal, and had just tapped 5 kegs. They ended up sneaking back in to drink all the beer so it wouldn’t go bad!
I think it’s time to build a bridge on the PCH in Big Sur:
They should take a page from the French.
https://www.worldhighways.com/wh10/feature/new-coastal-highway-route-reunion
I’m sure California could get that done in a reasonable 50 years for 5 billion dollars.
it cost the EU/France 1.3B Euros for 12.3 km of road. $5B seems very optimistic.
That’s just for the portion to get around this landslide.
Actually, California has pretty sophisticated road construction contracts. If the contractor comes in under budget and ahead of schedule (and there are strict inspection requirements) the contractor gets an an appropriate bonus. If the contractor goes over budget or beyond schedule, they not only don’t get paid extra they are penalized.
That’s why repairs were done so effectively at the Bay Bridge approach underpass (tanker truck explosion), the I-5/SR-14 truck tunnel near Newhall (tanker truck explosion), the SR-91/I-710 underpass (tanker truck explosion), and the demolition of the Mulholland Drive bridges across the 405 (Carmageddon!).
That’s horrible! In the 1950s-60s there was a master freeway plan for Los Angeles that called for an offshore viaduct like that from Venice to Sunset Blvd and it was shot down. It started the coastal preservation movement. The result is the little stub Marina Freeway, which is the only part that was built.
So they wanted to make an artificial barrier island? Even without hurricanes I can see some issues with this plan…
Watching the new Top Gear America on MotorTrend app, with Frito Pendejo from Idiocracy, the bald guy from Daily Show ten years ago, and some limey named Jethro. Have not passed judgment just yet. I hope they take a cool roadtrip.
Go away! ‘Batin’!
I have gotten to really like the old Top Gear America crew of Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara, and Rutledge Wood. They built a great chemistry over the seasons like the OG Top Gear guys.
I’ve never seen those, hopefully they’ll be available again with the resurrection of this series.
Check out the fyi channel on Thursdays. They run several episodes in a row in the afternoons/evenings.
My music puzzle solution this week is “A bunch of songs and artists that I have never heard of, including the first one, which I thought would be a cover of a cool CCR tune (I hate the fucking Eagles) but wasn’t.”
Dread 60, y’all. The age, that is..
.
—Resident crusty curmudgeon
“All of these bands have never sold out my kitchen?”
-V. Raza
These are roughly from the early 80’s though, so it’s probably a matter of being in a different scene, or possibly a different country at the time
Or in Viva’s case, on a different boat.
Early 80’s? Middle of the Indian Ocean. Radio reception sucked.
That’ll do it
I know some of you may call me a PollyAnna (or whatever the phrase is for hopeless optimists), but I really do believe that out of anything bad, there is also something good that can come from it.
Candy-flavored dental floss can help eradicate the taste after you finish eating that shit sandwich.
For me it thats hes slowly turning into TWBS. And there ain’t nothing wrong with that
I’m not trying to pick up on service workers.
Yet.