Wake up the echoes

      1 Comment on Wake up the echoes

IMG_0490

Wow, it’s been more than two weeks since I blogged anything?!? Not counting my November 2008-June 2009 hiatus, that has to be a record dating back to 2002, no? Anyway, sorry, I’ve been really busy, and what free time I’ve had for the Interwebs has been going toward Twitter instead.

But look! A pretty picture of Notre Dame Stadium at night! (And here’s a panorama!) This past weekend, as a 30th birthday present from the Best. Wife. Ever., I returned to Notre Dame for the first time since graduation, and attended the USC-ND night game (sitting in the USC section this time). It was a glorious weekend in all respects. And despite the perhaps slightly inflammatory t-shirt I wore to the game…

IMG_0475

IMG_9023

…I was otherwise on my best behavior, and more than anything else, spent the weekend (aside from tailgating and the game) soaking in Notre Dame, indeed posting so many #LoveTheeNotreDame tweets that David felt compelled to express some #PANIC and to remind me who I was rooting for. Heh. He needn’t have worried; my rooting interest was never in doubt. But I do love Notre Dame, and it was wonderful to be back, if only for a couple of days. It’s hard to express this sentiment adequately without sounding like a complete sap, but it’s a very special place, and I missed it more than I realized.

IMG_9074

IMG_9076

The trip “woke up the echoes” of what almost feels like a completely different life, even though it ended only 4 1/2 years ago, because upon leaving Notre Dame, I not only entered the “real world” but also promptly started having kids, such that my time under the Dome is now something akin to a distant, long-ago dream. Being back was almost like an out-of-body experience. (It also made me really, really look forward to the day — in 3 or 4 years, perhaps — when we go back for a game, not against USC, with all three girls, and do the whole “Notre Dame football weekend” thing as a family. Can’t. Wait.)

Oh, and also, I stopped in Chicago on Thursday night, crashed at Kyle Whelliston‘s place, and met the original Bally. So there was that.

IMG_8905

So anyway, back to the Notre Dame part of my trip. As you may have heard, USC, which came in as a 9-point underdog, won the game. So that was awesome. Fight On!

Go Irish, Beat Navy! Fight On Trojans, Beat the Farm Drunken Trees!

Pac-12 Power Rankings: Week 7

      3 Comments on Pac-12 Power Rankings: Week 7

The rankings are going to be a little different from here on out. The split format hasn’t been all that interesting given only 6 teams in each division and limited movement between groups of teams. I’m going to start doing a 1-12 ranking from here on out, divisional rankings are easy to draw from that and I think this will give more to discuss/disagree about. So without further ado:

1. Stanford (6-0, 4-0 Pac-12)
LW: 1 North
A bit of a slow start for the Cardinals against an improved Washington State team, but it was a blowout by games end. Stanford becomes the first bowl eligible team for the Pac-12. Expect Oregon to join them this weekend, and Washington and ASU the following week.

2. Oregon (5-1, 3-0)
LW: 2 North
Not only were the Ducks ok without star running back LaMichael James, turns out they didn’t need starting QB Darron Thomas either, who was injured in the early second half of the game on Saturday. True freshman back up Bryan Bennett led the Ducks on four scoring drives from that point on to secure the 41-27 win. Maybe that money they’ve been playing to steer recruits to Eugene has been worth it after all!

3. Washington (5-1, 3-0)
LW: 3 North
The score for the Huskies win over Colorado was an impressive 52-24 and it could easily have been a lot bigger after head coach Stever Sarkisian and the Huskies coasted to the finish for an entire quarter, with backup QB Nick Montana in starting with the last drive of the 3rd quarter. Washington has become a bit of a dark horse candidate to take the Pac-12 North. If they can upset Stanford on the road this weekend don’t be surprised if they don’t run the table from here on out. Thats a big if though.

4. ASU (5-2, 3-1)
LW: 1 South
Arizona State had a chance to make a statement against Oregon on Saturday but fell far short. The second half defensive collapse against a depleted (but still potent) Oregon offense showed that the power in the Pac-12 is in the North this year. The Sun Devil’s continue to be their own worst enemy with sloppy play and unneccesary and ill-timed penalties killing game changing opportunities. ASU may have used its agressive, contentious style to get where it is but its not going to get much further without cleaning up its act.

5. USC (5-1, 3-1)
LW: 2 South
USC rolled over Cal in this one, holding the Bears scoreless in the first half and to only 9 points for the whole game. Expect a better game from the opponent this week in the annual match up against Notre Dame. Despite comments by USC AD Pat Haden that the players don’t treat this rivalry as important as in years past, players have come out to claim they do indeed feel the intensity. We’ll see if they can bring it this weekend and #OccupyNotreDameStadium.

6. Utah (3-3, 0-3)
LW: 4 South
I’m jumping the Utes back over the Bruins based on a quality win at Pittsburgh and the fact that the Utes three conference losses come against the 3rd, 4th, and 5th ranked teams above. The Utes could easily go 6-0 over the remaining schedule since they don’t play Oregon or Stanford. Barring a complete collapse I expect the Ute’s to be bowl eligible by seasons end, probably much sooner. That said I think the next four teams are largely interchangeable at this point.

7. UCLA (3-3, 2-1)
LW: 3 South
A must win game for the Bruins tonight against a reeling Arizona. Lose this one and Rick Neuheisal almost certainly finds himself in the unemployment line alongside former Wildcats head coach Mike Stoops. Win and the Bruins have a real shot at making a bowl game and keep Slick Rick around for another year. I’m picking fUCLA for the win tonight.

8. Washington State (3-3, 1-2)
LW: 5 North
WSU continues to show improvement, hanging with Stanford for a half is impressive, but they have a long way to go as evidenced by the second half performance. A must (and should) win for the Cougs against Oregon State this weekend, they have a much tougher road to the post-season than either Utah or UCLA. Oregon, ASU, Washington, and Utah are all still to come, even Cal might not be a win for the Cougs. That last minute loss to UCLA really hurt.

9. Cal (3-3, 0-3)
LW: 4 North
I continue to wonder how long Jeff Tedford will hang on to his job. Yes he showed some success with the Bears in the past, but that good will has to be wearing thin, especially after the woeful performance last Thursday. Five turnovers and a non-existent running game had the Bears looking more like Cubs. A win against newcomer Utah would certainly help things for the Bears who have a very winable slate over the next four weeks, but given their play of late it looks pretty loseable too.

10. Oregon State (1-5, 1-2)
LW: 6 North
There is a pretty clear line between the top 5 and the middle 4 in the Pac, and another clear line between the middle 4 and the bottom 3. For now, Oregon with their one conference win sits precariously atop this bottom trio. A huge missed opportunity at home versus BYU. Perhaps 1 or 2 more wins on the schedule for the Beavers but a 1-11 season looms large for the current Pac-12 North doormats.

11. Colorado (1-6, 0-3)
LW: 5 South
Following a pounding by Stanford the Buffs headed to Seattle where they suffered another big defeat at the hands of fellow Rick Nueheisal abuse victims Washington. As I said last week the Buffs will be 1-9 when Arizona comes to town for the fight for the bottom of the Pac-12 South.

12. Arizona (1-5, 0-4)
LW: 6 South
The good news for the Wildcats? They didn’t lose last week. The bad news? Its only because they didn’t play. Nick Foles is about the only positive you’ll find on this team and his skill probably won’t be enough to will Arizona to victory tonight, even against a mediocre UCLA team.

My latest meta-political tweet-rant

      15 Comments on My latest meta-political tweet-rant

Last night, inspired by the generally unsatisfying, incomplete, and often vacuous nature of the tweets I keep seeing from both Left and Right about the “Occupy Wall Street” movement and the ongoing economic calamity — and also by this National Review article, among other big-picture economic pieces I’ve read recently — I went on another one of my extended Twitter monologues of political pessimism and #PANIC. Before it disappears into the nothingness of Twitter’s terrible archive system, I thought I’d post it here for posterity. Warning: some profanity.

Ken Gardner (@kesgardner): America is exceptional and I cherish the system that makes us so: capitalism. I like working hard and being rewarded for it. #iamthe53

Me: Do you like the stagnation in real wages since 1973? #iamconcerned MT @kesgardner: I like working hard and being rewarded for it. #iamthe53

How did we collectively fail to notice that, economically, the American Dream has been moribund for decades? #IAmStagnantRealWagesSince1973

I am not the 99. I am not the 53. I am sick of rigid ideological perspectives that obscure what matters. #IAmStagnantRealWagesSince1973

I am not a number. I am worried about my girls inheriting a crappier America than mine. I am angry at failed leadership & failed ideologies.

I am angry that a broken political system, a worthless press, demagoguery, ignorance & fairy tales prevent America from fixing its problems.

I am sick of a politics dominated by rigid ideologues, Left & Right, whose misplaced self-confidence is exceeded only by their utter myopia.

I hate the inadequacy of our politics AND the sniveling self-regarding Bloombergian vacuousness of many who posture against that inadequacy.

It’s not that we need to be more “bipartisan.” Pitched battles are fine, when informed by facts & reason. The problem is WE NEED TO SOLVE SHIT.

For DECADES we’ve had an energy crisis, a health care crisis, a debt crisis… crisis after crisis. WTF happened to us? We won 2 world wars!

The American Dream was a thing once. Now it’s not, but we pretend it is. Our “leaders” tell us fairy tales while leaving our crises unsolved.

In the end, the problem isn’t Obama, or Bush, or Congress (though they all suck). The problem is us. All of us. Not Left, not Right. Us.

Or maybe the problems of the modern world are just too complex to solve. But again I go back to, DAMMIT WE WON TWO WORLD WARS.

#TeaParty and #OccupyWallStreet have more in common than they’ll ever know. They see a tiny sliver of the truth & think it’s the whole truth.

Why does our binary political system force us to choose who’s f**ing everything up, government or the private sector? What if THEY BOTH ARE?

I have three daughters. I fear they will inherit from my generation a poorer, crappier America, in decline. For this, I blame everyone.

I boldfaced that “more in common than they’ll ever know” tweet because I particularly like it. I really think that’s true. The Tea Party isn’t wrong about our unsustainable debt; they’re just wrong in their myopic focus on that one crisis among many, and in their blind adherence to rigid conservative ideology in seeking solutions to our many problems. Likewise, Occupy Wall Street isn’t wrong about financial sector greed and malfeasance and how it’s screwed us over; they’re just wrong in their myopic focus on that one cause among many for the current mess we’re in, and in their blind adherence to rigid liberal ideology in seeking solutions to our many problems.

Continue reading →

Dear Steve Jobs

      15 Comments on Dear Steve Jobs

I can’t remember exactly how old I was when my dad brought home the first computer I would ever use, a Mac Classic I believe, for summer from the high school where he worked. My first memory of using a computer was playing the black and white version of The Oregon Trail. Fast forward a few years and I was in school, always the first to finish my classwork so I could play Word Munchers or Number Munchers on the Apple IIe we had. I was already hooked. For the rest of my life, computers would be one of my biggest passions. I convinced my parents to get our first home computer (a lowly Performa 475) and then later to upgrade (a Performa 630). I had a subscription to MacWorld and MacAddict. I was a member of Guy Kawasaki’s Evangelist mailing list. For my 17th birthday I asked for (and got) a copy of MacOS 8 for our home computer. Even in those dark years when you were away from the company, I was an Apple fan. Thanks for coming back by the way, it got SO MUCH BETTER!

My passion followed me to college, where I had MY first Mac, a PowerMacintosh G3 tower. I even had a couple Apple posters on the walls in my dorm room. Two years later when my brother went to college he got my G3 and I upgraded to a shiny new G4 tower. From there it kept going. A G4 iMac, a G5 iMac, and my current iMac a Core2 Duo machine. I’ve owned every model of iPhone since the first one, and I use my iPad more than my desktop computer. I’ve followed the keynotes, watched the videos, and truly enjoyed using your products, so many of them ground breaking, over the years.

But I think my favorite moment relating to Apple technology happened just this summer. Earlier this spring my nephew was born, the first in a new generation of our family. He and his parents were living in Chicago at the time so it was hard for the whole family to get to see him in person, especially my elderly grandparents, whose health isn’t what it used to be. While visiting them in California this summer, someone, I can’t recall who, remarked that it was too bad we didn’t have a fast enough computer or internet connection (they still only have dial up!) to do a video chat so they could see and interact with their great grandson for the first time in something other than pictures. At that moment it hit me, we DID have a way to do it. I had my iPhone 4, and a healthy 3G connection at their house! We made the arrangements and one afternoon we got Grandma and Grandpa together in the kitchen together, made the call and then I handed them my iPhone. It was, as you would say, a truly magical moment. The joy on their faces as they saw their great grandson in action for the first time, as they talked to him, listened to him make those cute noises babies make, and saw him moving around, it was like the weight of their age lifted off their shoulders for those few minutes.

So for inspiring me to a life of passion about computers I thank you, but my biggest thanks is for helping to enable moments like the ones my grandparents were able to share with my nephew. That story and millions of others like it are the legacy you have left behind. Today we lost a true visionary, your family lost a loved one, and we all mourn for that loss, but we also celebrate the creations you have helped usher in that have changed and enriched our lives. I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet you, but even without that personal connection you have touched my life and so many others. Thank you Steve. Rest in peace.

R.I.P., Steve Jobs

      3 Comments on R.I.P., Steve Jobs

Apple co-founder, chairman and (until very recently) CEO Steve Jobs, whose inventions repeatedly changed the world as we know it, died today of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 56.

His death prompted massive news coverage (totally overshadowing Sarah Palin’s decision not to run for president) and an overwhelming outpouring of public grief more typical of a head of state’s death than a corporate CEO’s. But of course, Jobs was no ordinary CEO. He was — well, I’ll let President Obama say it:

Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.

By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.

On that last point, I am one of the many who learned of Jobs’s death on an Apple device. The above screenshot was taken with my iPhone a few minutes later, but here’s a shot of the actual breaking-news moment — a push notification from my CNBC app, superimposed over the Mandel Initiative podcast, which I was listening to on my drive home:

;(

One more reaction for you, from none other than Bill Gates:

I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.

Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives. The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.

For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.

R.I.P., Steve Jobs.

P.S. Above, a more personal reflection by David K.

Pac-12 Power Rankings week 4

      4 Comments on Pac-12 Power Rankings week 4

The situation in the North is exactly where we left it a week ago. In the South, there has been some shuffling between the two trios of teams, but the gap between the two divisions looms larger than ever. This week, we get a slate of 5 conference match ups, while Oregon and Cal enjoy a bye week to prepare for a Thursday night matchup on the 6th.

Continue reading →

On an epic night of baseball, Boston’s worst 5 minutes since Bill Buckner complete historic collapse

      4 Comments on On an epic night of baseball, Boston’s worst 5 minutes since Bill Buckner complete historic collapse

The final night of Major League Baseball’s regular season was ridiculous, absurd, impossible, unbelievable, indescribable.

Thanks to a win earlier in the evening by the St. Louis Cardinals, the Atlanta Braves needed a win to force a one-game playoff for the NL wild card that they once seemed certain to win (having led by 10 1/2 games in late August). The Braves came within one out of the needed victory — only to lose in 13 innings, ending their season. And that was the undercard.

Over in the American League, the Boston Red Sox, trying to prevent the ignominy of possibly the worst September collapse in baseball history, led the lowly Orioles 3-2 heading into a 90-minute seventh-inning rain delay in Baltimore, while the Sox’s wild-card competition, the Tampa Bay Rays, trailed the mighty Yankees 7-0 in the eighth at home. Tampa and Boston had been tied for the AL wild card heading into the day, so with a Rays loss appearing all but certain, it looked like the Sox could clinch the wild card by holding on for the win, or at worst, lose and face a one-game playoff.

Then, well, several things happened.

Tampa rallied in the bottom of the eighth, scoring six runs to pull within 7-6. Then, down to their last strike in the bottom of the ninth, the Rays tied the game on a pinch-hit home run by Dan Johnson, sending the game to extra innings.

Around the same time, the Boston game resumed, with the Red Sox suddenly in a much more precarious position thanks to Tampa’s comeback. But they clung to their 3-2 lead, and got closer Jonathan Papelbon in, hoping to close it out in the bottom of the ninth. Boston, mind you, was 77-0 this season when leading after eight innings. And at first, it looked like this would be no exception. Papelbon struck out the first two batters, then allowed a double. But then he had the Orioles — stop me if this sounds familiar — down to their last strike before giving up a game-tying ground-rule double by Nolan Reimold to tie the game… followed promptly by Robert Andino’s game-winning single. 4-3, Baltimore, final.

And then, literally 3 or 4 minutes later, in Tampa… BOOM.

Unbelievable.

The Rays go to the playoffs. The Red Sox go home. As it should be, frankly. Boston didn’t deserve a playoff spot after its September choke job. And fate was clearly on Tampa’s side tonight. But man, what an unbelievably epic, horrible, wonderful, incredible, ridiculous way for it all to go down.

Obama visits Colorado, apparently thinks he’s in Wyoming

      6 Comments on Obama visits Colorado, apparently thinks he’s in Wyoming

President Obama is in Denver today to give a speech about his jobs plan, but apparently he — or at least his press office — are slightly confused about which rectangular-shaped state Denver is located in:

t1larg.badge

AAAH-HAHAHAHA. Hey, cut the man a break. It’s hard to keep all 57 states straight!

Pac-12 Power Rankings week 3 last minute edition

      Comments Off on Pac-12 Power Rankings week 3 last minute edition

Apologies for the late post, in all the excitement over the latest Confrencegeddon flare up I forgot I hadn’t posted yet. Things have settled down and it looks like I won’t have to start doing Pac-16 rankings anytime soon. On to this weeks soon to be out dated rankings.

NORTH
1. Stanford (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12)
LW 1
Stanford continues pummeling weak opponents, although Arizona put up more of a fight than either of the first two. Andrew Luck continues to pad his stats against weaker teams, something that he’ll get to do for another 3 weeks as the Cardinal take on UCLA, Colorado, and Washington State.

2. Oregon (2-1, 0-0)
LW 2
For a brief period there was some panic in Eugene. Did lowly Missouri State really just score on the might Ducks (pun intended)? How can we be losing to a team like that? Sadly for the Bears it was but a brief glimmer of hope as Oregon quickly asserted itself by scoring the final 56 points of the game unanswered. Running back and Heisman hopeful LaMichael James didn’t go easy on the Bears, posting a 200+ yard rushing game for the fourth time in his career.

3. Washington (2-1, 0-0)
LW 3
For 3 out of 4 quarters Washington was Nebraska’s equal. The 3rd quarter however, everything seemed to fall apart. Perhaps the Huskies were unnerved by a pair of terrible calls by officials, both on punts that helped swing the game back in Nebraska’s favor. Perhaps they were just worn out. Regardless it was a game that got away from the Dawgs. Offense hasn’t been a problem for the Dawgs who posted their 3rd 30+ point performance, but the defense continues to be a concern.

4. Cal (3-0, 0-0)
LW 4
Cal is 3-0, so why aren’t they ranked above Washington? Well the near miss against Colorado last week coupled with what Seattle Time’s Bob Condotta called a glorified scrimmage in this weeks game against Big South cellar dweller Presbyterian doesn’t give a lot of reason to be confident in the Bears. Washington’s performance against Nebraska, despite the loss was more impressive than most expected. Luckily we’ll have a more definitive answer after next weeks matchup between the two north schools in Seattle.

5. Washington State (2-1, 0-0)
LW 5
It felt like old times again this week as WSU Coug’d it in their game against San Diego State. For awhile it looked like they must might pull it off. However a 24-14 lead early in the 4th quarter quickly evaporated as the Aztecs scored an unanswered 28 points to secure a 42-24 victory. Still, the Cougs have the chance to get back on track with games against Colorado and UCLA in coming weeks before hitting the brick wall that is Stanford.

6. Oregon State (0-2, 0-0)
LW 6
The Beavers had a bye this week, which is fortunate since their first two games were embarrassing. Still my money is on Oregon State in this weekends Pac-12 pillow fight against UCLA.

SOUTH
1. USC (3-0, 1-0)
LW 2
The Trojans seemed to have little problems with the visiting Orange wrapping up a favorable home slate before their first road test against the Sun Devils. USC looked much better in this game then the previous two weeks and should have a good shot at a 4-0 start.

2. Utah (2-1, 0-1)
LW 3
Utah’s victory was so one sided that not even the angel Moroni himself could have helped BYU in this one. Utah’s defense took the ball away from the Cougars seven times. Meanwhile Utah’s offense was prolific scoring a shocking 47 unanswered points. If the Utes can continue this type of performance throughout the season they can still contend for the Pac-12 south title.

3. ASU (2-1, 0-0)
LW 1
Arizona State’s sloppy football finally caught up to them in Champaign Illinois. 3 turnovers and nearly 100 yards worth of penalties hurt the Sun Devil’s chances in this game. They will have to clean up their game if they hope to beat the visiting Trojan’s and position themselves strongly for a Pac-12 South title run.

4. Arizona (1-2, 0-1)
LW 4
Another big loss for the Wildcats as they reach the halfway point of a brutal 4 game stretch against ranked opponents. Stanford led the entire way. Arizona is looking at a losing season if it can’t pull a few upsets along the way at this point.

5. Colorado (1-2, 0-0)
LW 6
After a rough first two games the Buffalos finally earned a win against in state rival Colorado State. If they can put in another solid performance there is a real possibility of an upset win over an Ohio State team that struggled against Toledo and lost to Miami in the past two weeks.

6. UCLA (1-2, 0-0)
LW 5
Almost nothing could make this Trojan Husky happier than seeing Slick Rick’s Bruins drop into the bottom spot. A blow out loss at home to Texas in front of few fans can’t be making the hot seat any cooler for Neuheisal. On top of that the Bruin’s benched starting QB Keith Prince after he threw 3 interceptions in the first quarter. Looks like former starter Richard Brehaut will have the ball again for now.