Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
The Dantonio Regime Begins: An Overview of Spartan Football
Mark Dantonio was announced as the 24th head coach of the Michigan State University football program yesterday. Finally, Michigan State has hired the right coach. Dantonio has worked at State and understands the inane politics behind the university athletic director and board of trustees. More importantly, he also has collegiate head coaching experience in a BCS conference (all be it a weak BCS conference).
Dantonio was an assistant under Nick Saban from 1995-2000 and was the defensive back’s coach. He then was promoted to associate head coach under Bobby Williams in 2001. In 2002 he left for the Ohio State University where he helped orchestrate a National Championship. He left the Buckeyes in 2003 when he was hired as the head coach at Cincinnati.
This year at Cincinnati he led a youthful team to a 7-5 record, with four of those losses coming to West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville and the Ohio State. Those teams have a combined record of 41 wins, 5 losses. Dantonio led the upset over then number six Rutgers in a 30-11 romp as well as a 23-6 stomping of an under-rated 8-4 South Florida. South Florida just beat West Virginia in Morgantown this past weekend.
I received a voicemail from someone who was very close to the Michigan State football program in the mid to late nineties and here’s what he said, “If it’s the Dantonio that was there under Saban, then he was the defensive backs coach with the safeties and cornerbacks. He’s a douche bag. We’re in for a long three to four years.”
I don’t hold the same pessimism. Dantonio is a defensive minded coach who fits into a similar mold of his mentors, Nick Saban and Jim Tressel. Michigan State has the talent to go to a bowl game every year, but is not quite at the level to compete for Big Ten Championships. As a head coach, Dantonio can get the Spartans to that next level, but here’s what he needs to do.
Recruiting
Hit the trail hard and keep the current recruits. John L. Smith’s staff did a great job assembling a solid recruiting class for 2007. In order to keep some of these recruits Dantonio needs to keep some of John L.’s coaches, namely quarterbacks coach, Dan Enos, and strength and conditioning coach, Jeff Stoutland. Keith Nichol, an Elite Eleven quarterback, committed to Michigan State in the summer of 2005. He is a dual threat quarterback and loved the spread offense John L. employed. He also had a very close relationship with Enos. If Enos isn’t hired, expect Nichol to jump ship and head to Oklahoma. Jack Cornell Jr., a highly rated offensive lineman out of Ohio, is on the verge of decommitting from State and committing to Nebraska. Jeff Stoutland was Cornell’s primary recruiter. Dantonio must keep these two coaches to maintain the strength of this class. He needs to bolster the secondary, particularly the corner position, as well as the defensive line. On offense he must rebuild the depth at running back. Michigan State has the facilities and intangibles to sign top recruits and Dantonio should plan on going after the top recruits in the mid-west.
Offense
If Nichol signs with State, the quarterback position is in good shape for quite some time. Michigan State has a talented corps of wide receivers and the offensive line is a big strength, especially if the current class of 2007 all sign. The running back position is thin. There is talent, but not a lot of depth. Dantonio should talk to his mentor Tressel about running a similar spread offense. Tressel’s offense has been nearly impossible to slow down this year and although Michigan State does not have a Troy Smith quarterback, the receivers are comparable…if properly coached. Dantonio has stated he would like to run the ball because it shows toughness, but currently State is built for a spread and that must be utilized to be successful.
Defense
Dantonio knows defense. Think back to the late nineties and the durable DB’s State had: Reynaldo Hill, Amp Campbell, Sori Kanu and Aric Morris. The strong safety position was always strength for Michigan State and just last year Dantonio’s last State recruit, Eric Smith, graduated after a solid career as a Spartan. Dantonio won’t run the stupid and ineffective 4-2-5-shell defense. He should consider running a 3-4 defense with “tweeners” like Brandon Long and Ervin, G-Ball, Baldwin. Baldwin is a little larger and is better as a down lineman, but he is athletic enough to drop in coverage in zone blitzes. Long is 6’4’’ and has put on significant weight since entering college. He can play as an outside linebacker or rush end. A 3-4 offers the diversity to run complex blitz packages as well as stuff eight guys in the box to slow the run. Dantonio should also take advantage of the athleticism of SirDarrean Adams and Otis Wiley. Nehemiah Warrick and Travis Key are play-making safeties and a healthy Ross Weaver will and Dantnio’s expertise in the defensive backfield will eliminate many of the blown coverages seen over the last three years. The players are there and it will be interesting to see if Dantonio puts them in position to make plays.
Special Teams
The Spartans lose a Big Ten first team punter in Brandon Fields, but place-kicker Brett Swenson will return after an outstanding freshman year. Michigan State has always been able to play well in the special teams department and Dantonio does not need to do a whole lot to maintain solid special teams play. Javon Ringer, if healthy, is a speedster who is dangerous as a returner. Dantonio could also turn to David Williams, a red shirt freshman, for kick returning duties.
There is a lot of work to be done, but recruiting is the biggest aspect right now. Michigan State has the players, facilities and now the personnel to be successful next year and if Dantonio can have a couple of winning seasons and land some blue-chip recruits the Spartans will be able to contend for a Big Ten title in the near future. That is of course if he doesn't wear a sweater vest.
Dantonio was an assistant under Nick Saban from 1995-2000 and was the defensive back’s coach. He then was promoted to associate head coach under Bobby Williams in 2001. In 2002 he left for the Ohio State University where he helped orchestrate a National Championship. He left the Buckeyes in 2003 when he was hired as the head coach at Cincinnati.
This year at Cincinnati he led a youthful team to a 7-5 record, with four of those losses coming to West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville and the Ohio State. Those teams have a combined record of 41 wins, 5 losses. Dantonio led the upset over then number six Rutgers in a 30-11 romp as well as a 23-6 stomping of an under-rated 8-4 South Florida. South Florida just beat West Virginia in Morgantown this past weekend.
I received a voicemail from someone who was very close to the Michigan State football program in the mid to late nineties and here’s what he said, “If it’s the Dantonio that was there under Saban, then he was the defensive backs coach with the safeties and cornerbacks. He’s a douche bag. We’re in for a long three to four years.”
I don’t hold the same pessimism. Dantonio is a defensive minded coach who fits into a similar mold of his mentors, Nick Saban and Jim Tressel. Michigan State has the talent to go to a bowl game every year, but is not quite at the level to compete for Big Ten Championships. As a head coach, Dantonio can get the Spartans to that next level, but here’s what he needs to do.
Recruiting
Hit the trail hard and keep the current recruits. John L. Smith’s staff did a great job assembling a solid recruiting class for 2007. In order to keep some of these recruits Dantonio needs to keep some of John L.’s coaches, namely quarterbacks coach, Dan Enos, and strength and conditioning coach, Jeff Stoutland. Keith Nichol, an Elite Eleven quarterback, committed to Michigan State in the summer of 2005. He is a dual threat quarterback and loved the spread offense John L. employed. He also had a very close relationship with Enos. If Enos isn’t hired, expect Nichol to jump ship and head to Oklahoma. Jack Cornell Jr., a highly rated offensive lineman out of Ohio, is on the verge of decommitting from State and committing to Nebraska. Jeff Stoutland was Cornell’s primary recruiter. Dantonio must keep these two coaches to maintain the strength of this class. He needs to bolster the secondary, particularly the corner position, as well as the defensive line. On offense he must rebuild the depth at running back. Michigan State has the facilities and intangibles to sign top recruits and Dantonio should plan on going after the top recruits in the mid-west.
Offense
If Nichol signs with State, the quarterback position is in good shape for quite some time. Michigan State has a talented corps of wide receivers and the offensive line is a big strength, especially if the current class of 2007 all sign. The running back position is thin. There is talent, but not a lot of depth. Dantonio should talk to his mentor Tressel about running a similar spread offense. Tressel’s offense has been nearly impossible to slow down this year and although Michigan State does not have a Troy Smith quarterback, the receivers are comparable…if properly coached. Dantonio has stated he would like to run the ball because it shows toughness, but currently State is built for a spread and that must be utilized to be successful.
Defense
Dantonio knows defense. Think back to the late nineties and the durable DB’s State had: Reynaldo Hill, Amp Campbell, Sori Kanu and Aric Morris. The strong safety position was always strength for Michigan State and just last year Dantonio’s last State recruit, Eric Smith, graduated after a solid career as a Spartan. Dantonio won’t run the stupid and ineffective 4-2-5-shell defense. He should consider running a 3-4 defense with “tweeners” like Brandon Long and Ervin, G-Ball, Baldwin. Baldwin is a little larger and is better as a down lineman, but he is athletic enough to drop in coverage in zone blitzes. Long is 6’4’’ and has put on significant weight since entering college. He can play as an outside linebacker or rush end. A 3-4 offers the diversity to run complex blitz packages as well as stuff eight guys in the box to slow the run. Dantonio should also take advantage of the athleticism of SirDarrean Adams and Otis Wiley. Nehemiah Warrick and Travis Key are play-making safeties and a healthy Ross Weaver will and Dantnio’s expertise in the defensive backfield will eliminate many of the blown coverages seen over the last three years. The players are there and it will be interesting to see if Dantonio puts them in position to make plays.
Special Teams
The Spartans lose a Big Ten first team punter in Brandon Fields, but place-kicker Brett Swenson will return after an outstanding freshman year. Michigan State has always been able to play well in the special teams department and Dantonio does not need to do a whole lot to maintain solid special teams play. Javon Ringer, if healthy, is a speedster who is dangerous as a returner. Dantonio could also turn to David Williams, a red shirt freshman, for kick returning duties.
There is a lot of work to be done, but recruiting is the biggest aspect right now. Michigan State has the players, facilities and now the personnel to be successful next year and if Dantonio can have a couple of winning seasons and land some blue-chip recruits the Spartans will be able to contend for a Big Ten title in the near future. That is of course if he doesn't wear a sweater vest.
Title Withheld
A little while back, I dedicated a post to Raymar Morgan. I thought the Spartans would make the top 10, after a win over Texas (who is still ranked after two losses) and a strong showing and a shot-clock violation away from having a chance at overtime, or a win, against Maryland. Still, two polls later, the 6-1 Spartans are unranked. I am happy about it though. This proves to the young team that hard work is what it is going to take to make it this year. The Spartans aren't cruising early through the season on reputation alone, as I feel they did for the past few years.
Anyways.....
Today was a short day. I went down to my favorite old Italian restaurant Da Nico this afternoon for some lunch. You know what that means? A short jaunt through Chinatown. Now, I think Chinatown is interesting, and don't get me wrong, but I think it is also the dirtiest and smelliest place on earth. It simply disgusts me. Regardless, I walk into the Italian haven that is Da Nico and realize that this wasn't the Da Nico I remember. The whole place has been remodeled to give it a more upscale and classy decorum. This absolutely pissed me off. Da Nico was one of the most charming (in its own right) and comfortable dining atmospheres I know of. They had signed pictures on the wall of a vast spectrum of celebrities that enjoyed the restaurant.
One of my favorite nights of my life was in Da Nico. This was years and years ago. I met Dan in NYC for a few days. We caught up with Bettina who was living out there, and Mary Ann, who was interning out there. We all, including roomates and friends, went to Da Nico for the most fantabulous dinner. Wine, bruschetta, pasta, port, and best of all tiramisu. Oscar kept us entertained for a good long while. It was the best meal, company included, I have ever had in my life.
Today was much different, because I was alone. The place seemed odd to me. Oscar was still my waiter, but he was not his usual jovial and quirky way. The food was fantastic, and the tiramisu to die for. It just wasn't the same. It made me tremendously miss old friends and old times.
Now I am full, and ready for a nap.
Anyways.....
Today was a short day. I went down to my favorite old Italian restaurant Da Nico this afternoon for some lunch. You know what that means? A short jaunt through Chinatown. Now, I think Chinatown is interesting, and don't get me wrong, but I think it is also the dirtiest and smelliest place on earth. It simply disgusts me. Regardless, I walk into the Italian haven that is Da Nico and realize that this wasn't the Da Nico I remember. The whole place has been remodeled to give it a more upscale and classy decorum. This absolutely pissed me off. Da Nico was one of the most charming (in its own right) and comfortable dining atmospheres I know of. They had signed pictures on the wall of a vast spectrum of celebrities that enjoyed the restaurant.
One of my favorite nights of my life was in Da Nico. This was years and years ago. I met Dan in NYC for a few days. We caught up with Bettina who was living out there, and Mary Ann, who was interning out there. We all, including roomates and friends, went to Da Nico for the most fantabulous dinner. Wine, bruschetta, pasta, port, and best of all tiramisu. Oscar kept us entertained for a good long while. It was the best meal, company included, I have ever had in my life.
Today was much different, because I was alone. The place seemed odd to me. Oscar was still my waiter, but he was not his usual jovial and quirky way. The food was fantastic, and the tiramisu to die for. It just wasn't the same. It made me tremendously miss old friends and old times.
Now I am full, and ready for a nap.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Dantonio: New Michigan State Football Coach
Mark Dantonio, Cincinnati Bearcats’ head coach and former Michigan State and the Ohio State University assistant coach, is expected to be named the next Michigan State University head coach for the football program. Although this move is not officially confirmed, reports out of East Lansing and Cincinnati, have stated Dantonio will be announced as the new Spartan head coach.
Cleveland Brown’s defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, was apparently offered the job, but declined the offer and withdrew his name from the head coach list. Brian Kelly also withdrew from the coaching search and accepted a job at Iowa State. Shortly after this Michigan State officials met with Dantonio and offered him the open spot.
Dantonio was at Michigan State for six years, 1995-2000, as cornerback’s coach under Nick Saban and then associate head coach under Bobby Williams. Then he left for the Ohio State University where he was the defensive coordinator for the 2002 National Championship. Dantonio finally landed at Cincinnati as a head coach in 2003 and established a 18-17 record over the last three seasons and upset the Rutgers Scarlet Nights earlier this year.
The Blog Alliance will have more on Mark Dantonio later.
EDIT: (From ESPN - 12:32am)
Michigan State has a scheduled a 1 p.m. ET news conference related to its football program, the university said in a statement late Sunday night.
Dantonio, a former defensive coordinator at Ohio State and at one time an assistant to Nick Saban in East Lansing, has shepherded the Bearcats into the Big East Conference with success. His three-year record at Cincinnati is 18-17, including a 7-5 record this season against a difficult schedule.
Four of the five Bearcats' losses have been to teams ranked in the current top 15, and they also knocked Rutgers from the unbeaten ranks on Nov. 18. Dantonio is known as a disciplinarian who teaches hard-nosed football, qualities that ranked high at Michigan State in its search to replace John L. Smith.
Stupid Male Observation
There are a lot of beautiful girls in NYC. Ok, in the world for that matter.
The new trend of wearing tights under skirts with or without long boots is just hideous to me. I don't know where it came from but I hope that stops soon!
What is wrong with leaving your legs bare? Afterall, I really like them.
The new trend of wearing tights under skirts with or without long boots is just hideous to me. I don't know where it came from but I hope that stops soon!
What is wrong with leaving your legs bare? Afterall, I really like them.
Dear Dr. Z
Dear Dr. Z,
I have a few medical issues for you. What do I do if I have two separate kinds of eating disorders? I can go forever without eating and then when I do, I binge and purge. (I don't really purge, but think that I should). What do I do with an underactive thyroid? What do I do to fix the fat kid anomoly in my brain, where I do not get full, and thus overeat? Am I destined for a life of unhappiness due to the above?
Thanks for your feedback,
JC
I have a few medical issues for you. What do I do if I have two separate kinds of eating disorders? I can go forever without eating and then when I do, I binge and purge. (I don't really purge, but think that I should). What do I do with an underactive thyroid? What do I do to fix the fat kid anomoly in my brain, where I do not get full, and thus overeat? Am I destined for a life of unhappiness due to the above?
Thanks for your feedback,
JC
People are douches
If you know me, you know how much I think certain people are douches. Get me drunk enough, and there will be an incident of me calling someone a douche. It may be a fun scenario, such as the U-M v. Arizona basketball game. (By the way, none of us are classless) There have been other instances where bedlam came very close to insuing. I think a majority of these were directly related to instigation by Sammy V. Regardless, I think it is a lovely adjective, and a lovely phrase. (Not so much a lovely verb).
Last night, I was at the ESPN Zone to enjoy some overpriced drinks, foot, and the USC v. Notre Dame game. There were four guys who were Notre Dame fans sitting around me. We started talking to me and it was OK. Then something hit me. I sensed a twinge of doucheyness. I thought they were friendly enough, until they had two beers. Then they started making fun of me for my MSU shirt I had on. Um, last time I checked, you got your asses kicked, and then pulled some kind of miracle out of your TD Jesus. Oh, and by the way, coming back to beat MSU does NOT make you special. Check out our track record. Then, I bring up Michigan. They got destroyed. Then you add to the fact that they barely beat Georgia Tech, MSU, and UCLA, they were clearly overrated. At this point it was like talking to four brick walls. For the cherry on top, even with all of the interceptions and turnovers that could have made last night's game close, the Irish still fell by 20. So much for that one.
Now, I was a Notre Dame fan when I was young. I wanted to go there, but the application process was so hard that I dropped it. I can only imagine what the school would have been like. I can only imagine what these four douchebags, who went to IUPUI, and were Notre Dame fans by association got out of school, and in the future in life.
Oh by the way, New York is fun.
Last night, I was at the ESPN Zone to enjoy some overpriced drinks, foot, and the USC v. Notre Dame game. There were four guys who were Notre Dame fans sitting around me. We started talking to me and it was OK. Then something hit me. I sensed a twinge of doucheyness. I thought they were friendly enough, until they had two beers. Then they started making fun of me for my MSU shirt I had on. Um, last time I checked, you got your asses kicked, and then pulled some kind of miracle out of your TD Jesus. Oh, and by the way, coming back to beat MSU does NOT make you special. Check out our track record. Then, I bring up Michigan. They got destroyed. Then you add to the fact that they barely beat Georgia Tech, MSU, and UCLA, they were clearly overrated. At this point it was like talking to four brick walls. For the cherry on top, even with all of the interceptions and turnovers that could have made last night's game close, the Irish still fell by 20. So much for that one.
Now, I was a Notre Dame fan when I was young. I wanted to go there, but the application process was so hard that I dropped it. I can only imagine what the school would have been like. I can only imagine what these four douchebags, who went to IUPUI, and were Notre Dame fans by association got out of school, and in the future in life.
Oh by the way, New York is fun.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Help! Diet Mountain Dew Destroyed My Phone
So I dropped my cell phone in Diet Mountain Dew. It was ruined.
Now I have a new phone, but no numbers.
Could anyone who reads this, send me their number? Chances are I had it before.
If you’re counting this is my sixth cell phone. I’m not very careful.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving! / A Lions Blog
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
I am over the Detroit Lions, but I am going to dedicate the next few hours to them. It is a lot more intriguing to me, because of their opponent. The Lions host the Miami Dolphins. This means that Nick Saban is in town. It also means that Joey Harrington is in town. Here we go!
This is the first opening drive TD in 17 games. A 40-yd kickoff return and a 41 yard Roy Williams reception gets results. I think the Lions want to prove a point to Joey and make it appear like he was the offensive problem. Now it is Joey's turn to expose the Detroit Lions' defense for what they are.
Joey looked rattled, with just a little bit of pressure.
A 52 yard FG, puts Detroit up 10-0 early. They look like they want to win. I am sure they will find a way to slow it down and blow it. The game plan is to use one of the three top draft picks in the last three years to attach Miami. I like it.
Apparently it is the Roy Williams, Marty Booker show. Lions 10-7. My next prediction, Detroit three and out.
What a sweet grab by Roy Williams to finish the first quarter. He snatched it out of Renaldo Hill's hands, who was playing defense like he did when he was at MSU. (You are shit up a creek without a Sori Kanu)
Nevermind my previous Renaldo Hill comment. He just got an interception and almost ran it back for a pick six. He forgot how to run, and tripped over the ground though. This game bored me for a while. I almost fell asleep.
Halftime - Detroit 10, Miami 14
Here are my halftime observations. The Lions mirror Michigan State. A quick start then collapse. It looks like I am going to have to swallow my pride and admit that Andy is right. Joey Harrington just may be a good player, who can't finish drives. There were three dropped passes, all on third down to end drives. That is not his fault, but a bad interception in the end zone definately is. Jon Kitna started the game going 7/8 and ended the half 12/22 with a TD and INT.
The Lions have NO, and I mean NO running game. Cason and Harris have a combined 11 yards. After an early roll with Roy Williams, the Dolphins are locking in on him. Jon Kitna needs to find holes and throw the ball efficiently. Joey's confidence may be shaken a bit, after throwing the late interception. I think Miami should have kicked the field goal and put a few more points on the board.
I hate to be overly negative (but if you think this is overly negative, you are nuts) but, the Lions are going to be in trouble in the second half.
I am over the Detroit Lions, but I am going to dedicate the next few hours to them. It is a lot more intriguing to me, because of their opponent. The Lions host the Miami Dolphins. This means that Nick Saban is in town. It also means that Joey Harrington is in town. Here we go!
This is the first opening drive TD in 17 games. A 40-yd kickoff return and a 41 yard Roy Williams reception gets results. I think the Lions want to prove a point to Joey and make it appear like he was the offensive problem. Now it is Joey's turn to expose the Detroit Lions' defense for what they are.
Joey looked rattled, with just a little bit of pressure.
A 52 yard FG, puts Detroit up 10-0 early. They look like they want to win. I am sure they will find a way to slow it down and blow it. The game plan is to use one of the three top draft picks in the last three years to attach Miami. I like it.
Apparently it is the Roy Williams, Marty Booker show. Lions 10-7. My next prediction, Detroit three and out.
What a sweet grab by Roy Williams to finish the first quarter. He snatched it out of Renaldo Hill's hands, who was playing defense like he did when he was at MSU. (You are shit up a creek without a Sori Kanu)
Nevermind my previous Renaldo Hill comment. He just got an interception and almost ran it back for a pick six. He forgot how to run, and tripped over the ground though. This game bored me for a while. I almost fell asleep.
Halftime - Detroit 10, Miami 14
Here are my halftime observations. The Lions mirror Michigan State. A quick start then collapse. It looks like I am going to have to swallow my pride and admit that Andy is right. Joey Harrington just may be a good player, who can't finish drives. There were three dropped passes, all on third down to end drives. That is not his fault, but a bad interception in the end zone definately is. Jon Kitna started the game going 7/8 and ended the half 12/22 with a TD and INT.
The Lions have NO, and I mean NO running game. Cason and Harris have a combined 11 yards. After an early roll with Roy Williams, the Dolphins are locking in on him. Jon Kitna needs to find holes and throw the ball efficiently. Joey's confidence may be shaken a bit, after throwing the late interception. I think Miami should have kicked the field goal and put a few more points on the board.
I hate to be overly negative (but if you think this is overly negative, you are nuts) but, the Lions are going to be in trouble in the second half.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Already? Thanksgiving Eve is Here
It all depends, on your small group of friends.
Yesterday PBS and the New York Times discussed a new study released in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concerning herniated disks. I have not read the study, but from what I gathered from the two news sources it concluded both medical and surgical management are equally effective means of treatment and an informed patient should choose the type of treatment they would prefer for a herniation of the nucleus propulsus impinging on a nerve root. I’m a medicine guy and would promote non-surgical interventions until conservative management has failed. However, surgery can be very effective in the presence of a radicular pain pattern as well.
I was happy PBS reported roughly one out of four people imaged with MRI will have a herniated disk. Only a small portion of those disks are symptomatic though.
Similarly, roughly 25% of the population will have a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The PFO is retained from the embryological development of the circulatory system, which is vastly different during fetal gestation. PFO’s will cause a holosystolic heart murmur and most generally dissipate during life, but a small portion can progress to a right-to-left shunt and emboli can be thrown into the cerebral circulation causing a cryptogenic stroke. Those patients need surgery to close the PFO.
Enough medicine. It’s Thanksgiving Eve. Fun times. A lot has changed over the last year; some tragic events intertwined with wonderful occasions. It will be nice to see everyone tonight and I know it will be fun.
The Pistons are playing better basketball. That’s nice to see.
My cousin brought up a great point when we were eating dinner on Sunday. He said he thinks individuals who bombard us with their crap advertisements should run “thank you for voting” spots after the election. That may be too classy for a politician, but it’s a very good idea.
I’ve never seen or read a Harry Potter book. Does that mean I’m less of an American? Maybe, but it really means I’ll be awful at Harry Potter Scene It.
What is the Seether? I believe Veruca Salt was the sexiest female band of the nineties.
Oh yeah, the Seether is Louise.
Tom Izzo as a football coach? Thank god that was just a misunderstanding from a rumor.
I hope everyone has an outstanding Thanksgiving and enjoys the time with friends and family.
Yesterday PBS and the New York Times discussed a new study released in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concerning herniated disks. I have not read the study, but from what I gathered from the two news sources it concluded both medical and surgical management are equally effective means of treatment and an informed patient should choose the type of treatment they would prefer for a herniation of the nucleus propulsus impinging on a nerve root. I’m a medicine guy and would promote non-surgical interventions until conservative management has failed. However, surgery can be very effective in the presence of a radicular pain pattern as well.
I was happy PBS reported roughly one out of four people imaged with MRI will have a herniated disk. Only a small portion of those disks are symptomatic though.
Similarly, roughly 25% of the population will have a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The PFO is retained from the embryological development of the circulatory system, which is vastly different during fetal gestation. PFO’s will cause a holosystolic heart murmur and most generally dissipate during life, but a small portion can progress to a right-to-left shunt and emboli can be thrown into the cerebral circulation causing a cryptogenic stroke. Those patients need surgery to close the PFO.
Enough medicine. It’s Thanksgiving Eve. Fun times. A lot has changed over the last year; some tragic events intertwined with wonderful occasions. It will be nice to see everyone tonight and I know it will be fun.
The Pistons are playing better basketball. That’s nice to see.
My cousin brought up a great point when we were eating dinner on Sunday. He said he thinks individuals who bombard us with their crap advertisements should run “thank you for voting” spots after the election. That may be too classy for a politician, but it’s a very good idea.
I’ve never seen or read a Harry Potter book. Does that mean I’m less of an American? Maybe, but it really means I’ll be awful at Harry Potter Scene It.
What is the Seether? I believe Veruca Salt was the sexiest female band of the nineties.
Oh yeah, the Seether is Louise.
Tom Izzo as a football coach? Thank god that was just a misunderstanding from a rumor.
I hope everyone has an outstanding Thanksgiving and enjoys the time with friends and family.
Brooke, This Post is for You!
Sorry Brooke and the other few people who read this. I have taken a few personal days off of the Blog Alliance. But, have no fear, for I am back.
I lied, the Spartans did not make the Top 25. I think it has something to do with shot-clock violations.
The C to the Lib and I went to see the Spartans of Michigan State play some bball last night. They won by 20. That may sound like it was a good game for MSU, with some tempo and flow. If it sounds like that, it sounds wrong.
The first half was a good half. Drew Neitzel was on. He was 4 of 5 from 3 point land, hitting his 4 threes in a row. The pace was nice, and all looked good in Spartanland. Then something happened......Halftime.
The second half was the worst half of basketball that I honestly have ever seen in my life. Other than the three quick baskets to start, drawing the lead to 26, it was bad. There was no flow, no hustle, three missed dunks, a plethora of turnovers and travelling calls, no rebounding, and no excitement. The lead was cut to 16 until Drew Neitzel hit 3 more threes. He ended with a career high of 26 points (which I think he could do on a nightly basis) and 8 rebounds.
I couldn't agree more.
On a more positive note, Raymar Morgan continued his streak of career games in double digit scoring. Free throws did the trick, since Raymar went 2-10 from the field.
Naymick looked solid at times.
Anyways, it is almost Turkey Day. So, Happy Thanksgiving to all of The Alliances' friends. I look forward to seeing you on here tomorrow, for the interactive Detroit Lions vs. that piano playing panzy Joey Harrington. (sorry, I am just joking to rile AZ up).
I lied, the Spartans did not make the Top 25. I think it has something to do with shot-clock violations.
The C to the Lib and I went to see the Spartans of Michigan State play some bball last night. They won by 20. That may sound like it was a good game for MSU, with some tempo and flow. If it sounds like that, it sounds wrong.
The first half was a good half. Drew Neitzel was on. He was 4 of 5 from 3 point land, hitting his 4 threes in a row. The pace was nice, and all looked good in Spartanland. Then something happened......Halftime.
The second half was the worst half of basketball that I honestly have ever seen in my life. Other than the three quick baskets to start, drawing the lead to 26, it was bad. There was no flow, no hustle, three missed dunks, a plethora of turnovers and travelling calls, no rebounding, and no excitement. The lead was cut to 16 until Drew Neitzel hit 3 more threes. He ended with a career high of 26 points (which I think he could do on a nightly basis) and 8 rebounds.
Izzo said of the performance, "I think we showed our immaturity and inexperience. That's not going to cut it."
I couldn't agree more.
On a more positive note, Raymar Morgan continued his streak of career games in double digit scoring. Free throws did the trick, since Raymar went 2-10 from the field.
Naymick looked solid at times.
Anyways, it is almost Turkey Day. So, Happy Thanksgiving to all of The Alliances' friends. I look forward to seeing you on here tomorrow, for the interactive Detroit Lions vs. that piano playing panzy Joey Harrington. (sorry, I am just joking to rile AZ up).
Friday, November 17, 2006
Welcome
Welcome Raymar Morgan to the top 25. You will see a lot of it through your career, but I wanted to be the first to welcome you there.
In a thrilling (oh how would I know? Sorry Andy and Chris, for being a tired, old, fat, worn out vag) last second drive, Drew Neitzel layed it in, to put the Spartans on top of #18 Texas. Raymar Morgan led the way for the Spartans with a career high 18, on 8-15 shooting. Neitzel and Joseph were solid, contributing 15 and 12 respectively. Goran Suton led the way with 5 turnovers.
I would like to see Michigan State rebound a little better and cut out some of the bonehead turnovers. I would also like to see Marquise Gray and Suton score.
Next up for the Spartans is the finals of the Coaches v. Cancer Classic versus Maryland (who beat St. Johns by 32) tonight.
It is another 9:00 game, so my geriatric ass will probably struggle to watch the whole thing. I couldn't sleep on Wednesday night, so that probably contributed to my pansy-assedness, but I don't want to make excuses for myself.
Sorry, I like pictures on the blog. Go Green.
In a thrilling (oh how would I know? Sorry Andy and Chris, for being a tired, old, fat, worn out vag) last second drive, Drew Neitzel layed it in, to put the Spartans on top of #18 Texas. Raymar Morgan led the way for the Spartans with a career high 18, on 8-15 shooting. Neitzel and Joseph were solid, contributing 15 and 12 respectively. Goran Suton led the way with 5 turnovers.
I would like to see Michigan State rebound a little better and cut out some of the bonehead turnovers. I would also like to see Marquise Gray and Suton score.
Next up for the Spartans is the finals of the Coaches v. Cancer Classic versus Maryland (who beat St. Johns by 32) tonight.
It is another 9:00 game, so my geriatric ass will probably struggle to watch the whole thing. I couldn't sleep on Wednesday night, so that probably contributed to my pansy-assedness, but I don't want to make excuses for myself.
Sorry, I like pictures on the blog. Go Green.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Better Late Than Never
I was back in Dallas last weekend. My parents came down, so my mom could see my old hood. She never got a chance to in the year that I lived down there.
Anyways, we had a really good time. My dad and I enjoyed some Starbucks (not as much as the Coffee Bean and Tree Leaf though) as my mom perused books in Sundance Square. We ate at my old favorites, Sonny Bryan's (sorry AZ, I forgot to bring you back some sauce - you can chastise me later), The Blue Goose Cantina, Hoffbrau, and Two Rows Brewery. It was just like old times. I could stop here, with the moral of the story being: I love brisket, I love salsa, I love jalapenos, I love mango margaritas, I love heffeweizen, I love steak, and I love foreign hostesses.
But.....I will continue.
After I intorduced my parents to Jamba Juice, my mom asked me about the South Fork Ranch. I told her I had no idea what I was talking about. She was like, you know, the TV show Dallas. I said I didn't. I did however remember that they were going to do a remake of the show, with Jessica Simpson possibly playing a leading role. Boo to that! Anyways, I looked it up on my handy cell phone and we were off, GPS style. My mom apparently wasn't too into the show, but wanted to see the famous arches featured in the show's intro. We found it, and much to our surprised, it was a huge tourist destination. There were cars all over the place. Anyways, none of this really appealed to me, as I had never seen the show before. Nonetheless, my dad payed the $9 per person to take the full tour.
Although it was interesting, it was still a little crazy to me. I have since seen lots of pictures on the internet and even watched a few clips. It made the place make more sense to me. All in all, it was pretty neat.
The true moral of the story is that one of the characters, Lucy Ewing was kind of a sex pot, for the late 70's and early 80's.
Nein Lost, ein Problem; Congrats Pinckney Pirates
Ladies is pimps too, go on brush your shoulder off. Ooh ITunes mixing it up with some Jay Z. Nice.
Kohler has left the building. Building = Monroe. We’ll see you soon Kohler. Thanksgiving Eve is one week away. I suggest people prepare this weekend with some light drinking so they are ready for the level of intoxication the following Wednesday. It’s always good to be prepared.
It seems as if almost every discussion concerning sports has a negative tone. I’m not immune to this. I would wager close to 90% of my sporting discussions are negative, i.e., It Does Not Matter, the Lions are No Good. However, today I’m going to talk (really write) about a positive sporting event: Pinckney Cross County. The LP Michigan State Cross Country meet was held November 4th, and the Pinckney High School Pirates crushed an eighteen-year-old record held by Monroe High School. In 1988, a year after Todd Williams the future Olympian graduated, the Trojans placed 1, 2, 6, 7, and 23 accumulating 39 points and ran away with the state title. Pinckney smashed this once thought unbeatable record as their top five runners went 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 totaling 27 points. Monroe runner, Cole Sanseverino, split up the Pinckney group placing third and the Trojans finished a respectable eleventh in the state. Monroe returns three of their top seven runners, but Pinckney returns five of their top seven and four of their top five. I never thought Monroe’s record would be beaten, but it looks like the only team that may beat Pinckney’s score will be the 2007 Pirates team. Congratulations Pinckney High School Cross Country team.
Speaking of running. Last Saturday I ran in a pair of running shorts with built-in underwear. I didn’t think it was cold enough to double-up with regular underwear, but it was cold enough. Certain anatomical areas were not pleased with my under-dressing for the occasion.
Speaking of shrinkage. I love Seinfeld. What Seinfeld episode is better, the Shrinkage episode, the Contest or the Marine Biologist? Here are some memorable quotes from the three:
Shrinkage Episode
Elaine: It shrinks?
Jerry: Like a frightened turtle.
Elaine: Why does it shrink?
George: I don’t know, it just does.
Contest Episode
Jerry: Men have to do it. It’s like shaving.
Elaine: Oh bologna. I shave my legs.
Kramer: Not every day.
Marine Biologist Episode
George: The sea was angry that day my friends…I looked into the eye of the great fish.
Jerry: Mammal.
George: Whatever.
I guess I like the Contest, but my heart is with the Marine Biologist. I don’t think it really matters because they’re all great.
Bleach is my favorite Nirvana album.
Es ist Mittwoch und Lost ist on dem Tele nicht. Sheiβe!
Kohler has left the building. Building = Monroe. We’ll see you soon Kohler. Thanksgiving Eve is one week away. I suggest people prepare this weekend with some light drinking so they are ready for the level of intoxication the following Wednesday. It’s always good to be prepared.
It seems as if almost every discussion concerning sports has a negative tone. I’m not immune to this. I would wager close to 90% of my sporting discussions are negative, i.e., It Does Not Matter, the Lions are No Good. However, today I’m going to talk (really write) about a positive sporting event: Pinckney Cross County. The LP Michigan State Cross Country meet was held November 4th, and the Pinckney High School Pirates crushed an eighteen-year-old record held by Monroe High School. In 1988, a year after Todd Williams the future Olympian graduated, the Trojans placed 1, 2, 6, 7, and 23 accumulating 39 points and ran away with the state title. Pinckney smashed this once thought unbeatable record as their top five runners went 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 totaling 27 points. Monroe runner, Cole Sanseverino, split up the Pinckney group placing third and the Trojans finished a respectable eleventh in the state. Monroe returns three of their top seven runners, but Pinckney returns five of their top seven and four of their top five. I never thought Monroe’s record would be beaten, but it looks like the only team that may beat Pinckney’s score will be the 2007 Pirates team. Congratulations Pinckney High School Cross Country team.
Speaking of running. Last Saturday I ran in a pair of running shorts with built-in underwear. I didn’t think it was cold enough to double-up with regular underwear, but it was cold enough. Certain anatomical areas were not pleased with my under-dressing for the occasion.
Speaking of shrinkage. I love Seinfeld. What Seinfeld episode is better, the Shrinkage episode, the Contest or the Marine Biologist? Here are some memorable quotes from the three:
Shrinkage Episode
Elaine: It shrinks?
Jerry: Like a frightened turtle.
Elaine: Why does it shrink?
George: I don’t know, it just does.
Contest Episode
Jerry: Men have to do it. It’s like shaving.
Elaine: Oh bologna. I shave my legs.
Kramer: Not every day.
Marine Biologist Episode
George: The sea was angry that day my friends…I looked into the eye of the great fish.
Jerry: Mammal.
George: Whatever.
I guess I like the Contest, but my heart is with the Marine Biologist. I don’t think it really matters because they’re all great.
Bleach is my favorite Nirvana album.
Es ist Mittwoch und Lost ist on dem Tele nicht. Sheiβe!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
It Does Not Matter, the Lions Are No Good
The quarterback has thrown ten touchdowns and eleven interceptions. He has had costly turnovers at key points in games. Today he threw an interception while his team was driving with a chance to take the lead and win the game. And more importantly his team is 2-7 and hardly showing promise of improvement.
Damn, Joey Harrington sucks. Oops, John Kitna is the quarterback for the Lions this year.
Make no mistake; Harrington is not an All-Pro quarterback. He throws bad passes and is turnover prone. However, he was skewered in Detroit from being an overrated draft pick after a stellar college career to questions concerning his sexuality.
Kitna was tagged as a tough, much needed replacement; a player who would rally the Lions to the play-offs and give the quarterback position the toughness Joey could not provide.
The truth is, it does not matter who the quarterback is for the Lions. Chuck Long, Rodney Peete, Andre Ware, Erik Kramer, Scott Mitchell, Charlie Batch. It does not matter. The organization is pathetic. The players are pathetic. Dre Bly was beat several times today and the Detroit Lions defense could not stop Frank Gore in the first half as he set a 49ers record for most rushing yards in the a half. Bly was the man who called out Harrington last year in a cowardly fashion on the NFL Network and this year he has been an excellent example of an over-hyped player who is hurting his team.
John Kitna is not the answer and has not produced any different results than the last quarterback who was here. That quarterback was trashed to the point where most individuals would have had a psychiatric breakdown. Today the defense was awful, but the game was in Kitna’s hands and he could not deliver. The Lions lost to the offensively challenged 49ers 19-10.
It is time for the Detroit Lions organization to make some drastic changes. And the fans must face the reality: Kitna is no good, the organization is no good and the Lions are nowhere near reaching any form that could be called a decent team.
Damn, Joey Harrington sucks. Oops, John Kitna is the quarterback for the Lions this year.
Make no mistake; Harrington is not an All-Pro quarterback. He throws bad passes and is turnover prone. However, he was skewered in Detroit from being an overrated draft pick after a stellar college career to questions concerning his sexuality.
Kitna was tagged as a tough, much needed replacement; a player who would rally the Lions to the play-offs and give the quarterback position the toughness Joey could not provide.
The truth is, it does not matter who the quarterback is for the Lions. Chuck Long, Rodney Peete, Andre Ware, Erik Kramer, Scott Mitchell, Charlie Batch. It does not matter. The organization is pathetic. The players are pathetic. Dre Bly was beat several times today and the Detroit Lions defense could not stop Frank Gore in the first half as he set a 49ers record for most rushing yards in the a half. Bly was the man who called out Harrington last year in a cowardly fashion on the NFL Network and this year he has been an excellent example of an over-hyped player who is hurting his team.
John Kitna is not the answer and has not produced any different results than the last quarterback who was here. That quarterback was trashed to the point where most individuals would have had a psychiatric breakdown. Today the defense was awful, but the game was in Kitna’s hands and he could not deliver. The Lions lost to the offensively challenged 49ers 19-10.
It is time for the Detroit Lions organization to make some drastic changes. And the fans must face the reality: Kitna is no good, the organization is no good and the Lions are nowhere near reaching any form that could be called a decent team.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Gosh Darn Mother Effing Tigers
The Detroit Tigers' front office is more eager than a seventeen year old boy on prom night.
Yes, an offensive threat was on top of the list of needs. Gary Sheffield, unfortunately for Tigers fans, was not. Excuse me if I am being harsh, but don't we already have one over-the-hill, post-steroid failure on our team in Pudge Rodriguez? Let's add another to the lineup and watch the steady decline of Sheffield's numbers as well.
Dave Dombrowski should have waited a bit and thought this through. You got to the World Series with fine young pitching. So, instead of spending money, you give away three young minor league prospects. I will admit that I do not know a lot about Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett. I do know that Humberto Sanchez was touted by many as the next big thing in Detroit pitching. I would have liked to see that come to fruition. If we were in the market for a big bat who thought he could still play outfield, we should have fancied the idea of Barry Bonds as a Tiger.
The only way that we make this right is by going out and paying cash, yes cash, for another big time player to fill the gaps. Since we are going to throw away part of our pitching future out the door for an old and declining former superstar, something more needs to happen. My number one dream scenario, that will keep me in Michigan for years to come would be the acquisition of Alfonso Soriano. If this happened, I would go out and buy an Alfonso Soriano jersey and wear it to bed every night. I would also buy an Alfonso Soriano doll and tuck him into bed next to me every day. Ha, certainly this would quash the whole girlfriend thing, but honestly, I wouldn't care.
Alfonso Soriano is one of the most talented hitters in the game. He can be a little streaky, but that does not damper the overall upside of the star. He gets a solid A on base running and stealing bases. That is something the Tigers desperately need as well. He is a career .280 hitter with 208 homers and 560 RBI through 6 full seasons. this included 46 homers last and 95 RBI. He can play solid second base and solid outfield for you. A versitile hitter = complete package.
So, to the Detroit Tigers, I urge you to spend some cash, in addition to dealing prospects and really go for the gold this off-season. You have the core of an excellent team left. You need to enhance it. Please do it. I went to 11 games this year. I spent a lot of money on concessions, parking, and tickets. Use some of this revenue to fund a player who could possibly put us over the top and catapult the Tigers to a championship. Please.
Yes, an offensive threat was on top of the list of needs. Gary Sheffield, unfortunately for Tigers fans, was not. Excuse me if I am being harsh, but don't we already have one over-the-hill, post-steroid failure on our team in Pudge Rodriguez? Let's add another to the lineup and watch the steady decline of Sheffield's numbers as well.
Dave Dombrowski should have waited a bit and thought this through. You got to the World Series with fine young pitching. So, instead of spending money, you give away three young minor league prospects. I will admit that I do not know a lot about Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett. I do know that Humberto Sanchez was touted by many as the next big thing in Detroit pitching. I would have liked to see that come to fruition. If we were in the market for a big bat who thought he could still play outfield, we should have fancied the idea of Barry Bonds as a Tiger.
The only way that we make this right is by going out and paying cash, yes cash, for another big time player to fill the gaps. Since we are going to throw away part of our pitching future out the door for an old and declining former superstar, something more needs to happen. My number one dream scenario, that will keep me in Michigan for years to come would be the acquisition of Alfonso Soriano. If this happened, I would go out and buy an Alfonso Soriano jersey and wear it to bed every night. I would also buy an Alfonso Soriano doll and tuck him into bed next to me every day. Ha, certainly this would quash the whole girlfriend thing, but honestly, I wouldn't care.
Alfonso Soriano is one of the most talented hitters in the game. He can be a little streaky, but that does not damper the overall upside of the star. He gets a solid A on base running and stealing bases. That is something the Tigers desperately need as well. He is a career .280 hitter with 208 homers and 560 RBI through 6 full seasons. this included 46 homers last and 95 RBI. He can play solid second base and solid outfield for you. A versitile hitter = complete package.
So, to the Detroit Tigers, I urge you to spend some cash, in addition to dealing prospects and really go for the gold this off-season. You have the core of an excellent team left. You need to enhance it. Please do it. I went to 11 games this year. I spent a lot of money on concessions, parking, and tickets. Use some of this revenue to fund a player who could possibly put us over the top and catapult the Tigers to a championship. Please.
Those Snaky Rat Bastards!
I have only been a Verizon customer for a few months. Each month, I have went slightly over my allowable minutes, despite many people I know being "IN". Regardless, it has only been 10 to 20 minutes over, so no biggie.
Every month, I am realizing that the reason that I am going over is because of a little nuiance, or loophole, that Verizon takes advantage of. This month, I discovered that when you use one of their "free" services, such as #BAL or #MIN, to check your useage, you are being charged a minute of airtime. So much for the "free" service. Maybe I am just stupid and should have known this, but ironically, I have used this "free" service many times when it comes to the end of my billing cycle to see how close I am to using all of my minutes. Ironically, each time I do, I come closer and closer to going over. Those slimy rat bastards.
I will go ahead and say that the service and customer support for TMobile far surpass that of Verizon. As a TMboile customer for many years who made the switch because most of my friends whom I talk to most were "IN" the network. It hasn't saved me any money. A big Eff-You to Verizon this morning!
By the way, I have broken my own personal record. I used 1596 text messages in the last month. That seems like a ridiculous number. It only amounts to 53 a day though. That is keeping in mind that two of the three people whom I used to text frequently, I no longer communicate with. That is pretty crazy! So much for the old fashioned phone call. I should refrain from that anyways, since I am always over my minutes.
The moral of the story is that I should probably shut the hell up. The money that I am saving from the text messaging alone, far surpasses the extra money I am paying Verizon for using their "free" service. Regardless, my stance on them being slimy rat bastards stands.
Every month, I am realizing that the reason that I am going over is because of a little nuiance, or loophole, that Verizon takes advantage of. This month, I discovered that when you use one of their "free" services, such as #BAL or #MIN, to check your useage, you are being charged a minute of airtime. So much for the "free" service. Maybe I am just stupid and should have known this, but ironically, I have used this "free" service many times when it comes to the end of my billing cycle to see how close I am to using all of my minutes. Ironically, each time I do, I come closer and closer to going over. Those slimy rat bastards.
I will go ahead and say that the service and customer support for TMobile far surpass that of Verizon. As a TMboile customer for many years who made the switch because most of my friends whom I talk to most were "IN" the network. It hasn't saved me any money. A big Eff-You to Verizon this morning!
By the way, I have broken my own personal record. I used 1596 text messages in the last month. That seems like a ridiculous number. It only amounts to 53 a day though. That is keeping in mind that two of the three people whom I used to text frequently, I no longer communicate with. That is pretty crazy! So much for the old fashioned phone call. I should refrain from that anyways, since I am always over my minutes.
The moral of the story is that I should probably shut the hell up. The money that I am saving from the text messaging alone, far surpasses the extra money I am paying Verizon for using their "free" service. Regardless, my stance on them being slimy rat bastards stands.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Serotonin - Medicine's Favorite Neurotransmitter
A new study released in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported findings that supported the hypothesis that a medullary neurotransmitter, serotonin, may play a role in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The study was done in San Diego over the course of eight years, 1997-2005, and reviewed 31 cases of SIDS vs. ten control cases of neonatal death (one death was due to asphyxiation via a plastic bag…in other words some how a plastic bag was placed over a baby's head until the baby stopped breathing. Wow.)
There were statistically significant differences in regards to 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT, or serotonin, neuron levels and 5-HT1a receptor-binding capacities in infants who passed due to SIDS vs. the control group. In the SIDS group, the infants had a larger amount of 5-HT neurons in the medulla oblongata, the brainstem center of the respiratory drive, and a lower 5-HT1a receptor binding capacity. The exact pathogenesis of how this contributes to SIDS has not been verified in the scientific literature and this study did not offer any exact pathological mechanism.
SIDS is certainly a topic in which people will listen and pay attention, but this study should not influence one to believe 5-HT is the cause of SIDS. Although this study supports 5-HT’s role in SIDS, the sample size was very small and the control group was far too low for accurate comparisons. The authors noted these limitations, as well as other more minute limitations, but nonetheless a study like this is important to drive future research on the relation between 5-HT and SIDS.
What the authors do suggest is a triple theory in which environmental stressors (lying in the prone position, on the baby’s belly, or bed-sharing), underlying vulnerabilities (5-HT abnormalities in the brainstem) and being less than six months old all contribute in the pathogenesis of SIDS. This study appears to support this “triple theory.”
Serotonin, or 5-HT, is an extremely popular neurotransmitter in medicine and modulating its function has become a mainstay of treatment for several diverse disease processes. Here is a brief review of some of them:
1. Depression – everyone has seen the commercial for sertraline (Zoloft), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), where the gloomy cloud refers to depression as a chemical imbalance in the brain due to serotonin deficiencies. SSRI’s are now one of the mainstays of depression treatment (with significant side-effects) and work by decreasing pre-synaptic reuptake of serotonin. The logic here is more 5-HT in the synaptic cleft, the area between two neurons, will lead to more stimulation in certain areas of the brain and elevate mood.
2. Schizophrenia – schizophrenics have what are called positive symptoms, i.e. hallucinations, and negative symptoms, i.e. depressed affect/mood. Older medications, referred to as typical neuroleptics, focused only on dopamine receptors and although they decreased the hallucination frequency, they had huge and life-threatening side-effect profiles and did not alleviate any of the depressive symptoms. The new class termed atypical neuroleptics is reported to have lower side-effect profiles (they really don’t) and work on both dopamine (D2) receptors as well as serotonin receptors (5-HT2a), thus theoretically erasing both positive and negative symptoms.
3. Migraine – the new standard of treatment for migrainous headaches revolve around prophylactic treatments, often with a beta-blocker or a tricyclic anti-depressant, and abortive therapies, such as the “tripitans”, i.e., sumatriptan (Imitrex). “Triptans” work on 5-HT2b and 5-HT2d receptors and cause vasoconstriction and decrease the vasodilatory effects, which elicit the pain during migraines.
4. Nausea/Vomiting – ondansetron (Zofran) is a drug that inhibits 5-HT3 receptors in the area postrema, an area of the brain involved in the vomiting reflex. These drugs are especially effective in decreasing vomiting after chemotherapy.
Those are the four that come to me without having to think. I am sure there are many more and serotonin will most likely be associated with other conditions.
The study was done in San Diego over the course of eight years, 1997-2005, and reviewed 31 cases of SIDS vs. ten control cases of neonatal death (one death was due to asphyxiation via a plastic bag…in other words some how a plastic bag was placed over a baby's head until the baby stopped breathing. Wow.)
There were statistically significant differences in regards to 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT, or serotonin, neuron levels and 5-HT1a receptor-binding capacities in infants who passed due to SIDS vs. the control group. In the SIDS group, the infants had a larger amount of 5-HT neurons in the medulla oblongata, the brainstem center of the respiratory drive, and a lower 5-HT1a receptor binding capacity. The exact pathogenesis of how this contributes to SIDS has not been verified in the scientific literature and this study did not offer any exact pathological mechanism.
SIDS is certainly a topic in which people will listen and pay attention, but this study should not influence one to believe 5-HT is the cause of SIDS. Although this study supports 5-HT’s role in SIDS, the sample size was very small and the control group was far too low for accurate comparisons. The authors noted these limitations, as well as other more minute limitations, but nonetheless a study like this is important to drive future research on the relation between 5-HT and SIDS.
What the authors do suggest is a triple theory in which environmental stressors (lying in the prone position, on the baby’s belly, or bed-sharing), underlying vulnerabilities (5-HT abnormalities in the brainstem) and being less than six months old all contribute in the pathogenesis of SIDS. This study appears to support this “triple theory.”
Serotonin, or 5-HT, is an extremely popular neurotransmitter in medicine and modulating its function has become a mainstay of treatment for several diverse disease processes. Here is a brief review of some of them:
1. Depression – everyone has seen the commercial for sertraline (Zoloft), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), where the gloomy cloud refers to depression as a chemical imbalance in the brain due to serotonin deficiencies. SSRI’s are now one of the mainstays of depression treatment (with significant side-effects) and work by decreasing pre-synaptic reuptake of serotonin. The logic here is more 5-HT in the synaptic cleft, the area between two neurons, will lead to more stimulation in certain areas of the brain and elevate mood.
2. Schizophrenia – schizophrenics have what are called positive symptoms, i.e. hallucinations, and negative symptoms, i.e. depressed affect/mood. Older medications, referred to as typical neuroleptics, focused only on dopamine receptors and although they decreased the hallucination frequency, they had huge and life-threatening side-effect profiles and did not alleviate any of the depressive symptoms. The new class termed atypical neuroleptics is reported to have lower side-effect profiles (they really don’t) and work on both dopamine (D2) receptors as well as serotonin receptors (5-HT2a), thus theoretically erasing both positive and negative symptoms.
3. Migraine – the new standard of treatment for migrainous headaches revolve around prophylactic treatments, often with a beta-blocker or a tricyclic anti-depressant, and abortive therapies, such as the “tripitans”, i.e., sumatriptan (Imitrex). “Triptans” work on 5-HT2b and 5-HT2d receptors and cause vasoconstriction and decrease the vasodilatory effects, which elicit the pain during migraines.
4. Nausea/Vomiting – ondansetron (Zofran) is a drug that inhibits 5-HT3 receptors in the area postrema, an area of the brain involved in the vomiting reflex. These drugs are especially effective in decreasing vomiting after chemotherapy.
Those are the four that come to me without having to think. I am sure there are many more and serotonin will most likely be associated with other conditions.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Liquor Racism - This Post is Bad, Don't Waste Your Time
What can I say, that you can’t say better? What can I tell you?
The Big Ten preview has gotten more attention than I thought it would or it deserves. I don’t know who left all the fraudulent comments pretending to be other coaches, but the Tom Izzo comment was pretty good.
At the Eastern Michigan/Michigan State football game earlier this year, Brooke, Jon, my dad and I debated the use of a contraceptive for men instead. The New York Times had an article yesterday discussing this topic. The author reported studies have shown men are willing to take a type of contraceptive. My argument to the party at the State game was it is easier to regulate the female ovulatory cycle because it has so many areas to regulate. A contraceptive for men is an intriguing idea, but until an effective, and reversible, manner to do so is verified in clinical trials women and men will just have to accept the current methods. Also, birth control is a great way to regulate a woman’s cycle. I recommend birth control for all women of reproductive age for this purpose alone.
The New York Times also reported a study from a British medical journal that stated different types of alcohol could cause worse hangovers. The theory behind this finding is alcohol with more impurities lead to increase methanol levels in the body and is more toxic. Apparently darker alcohol, such as brandy, whiskey and rum are worse than lighter color alcohol like vodka. I think that’s just liquor racism.
Speaking of racism, prop 2 passed. It’s about time white people had some advantages in this state and country. There are also a lot of folks who are a little too upset about prop 3 and not being able to kill morning doves. Prop 1 passed so parks get to save money and prop 5, which would give money to public schools, failed. So in Michigan, people want parks to keep money, schools to not get money, morning doves to expire naturally and white folks to take the power back.
Thanksgiving Eve is right around the corner. JC will make an appearance. Mattress will be there. It would be nice if Dave could make it back. The other usual suspects should be in attendance. It should be fun. I don’t drink much any more, but I’m hoping to stay out and have a good time.
The Dems actually won several elections. President Bush said he had a lot of “political capital” to use after Republicans beat the hell out of the Democrats in 2004. What does this mean now that Republicans just got smacked around? Is he now in political debt?
The Pistons don’t rebound or play defense anymore. I think that’s more Flip than Ben.
This post pretty much sucked. Sorry.
The Big Ten preview has gotten more attention than I thought it would or it deserves. I don’t know who left all the fraudulent comments pretending to be other coaches, but the Tom Izzo comment was pretty good.
At the Eastern Michigan/Michigan State football game earlier this year, Brooke, Jon, my dad and I debated the use of a contraceptive for men instead. The New York Times had an article yesterday discussing this topic. The author reported studies have shown men are willing to take a type of contraceptive. My argument to the party at the State game was it is easier to regulate the female ovulatory cycle because it has so many areas to regulate. A contraceptive for men is an intriguing idea, but until an effective, and reversible, manner to do so is verified in clinical trials women and men will just have to accept the current methods. Also, birth control is a great way to regulate a woman’s cycle. I recommend birth control for all women of reproductive age for this purpose alone.
The New York Times also reported a study from a British medical journal that stated different types of alcohol could cause worse hangovers. The theory behind this finding is alcohol with more impurities lead to increase methanol levels in the body and is more toxic. Apparently darker alcohol, such as brandy, whiskey and rum are worse than lighter color alcohol like vodka. I think that’s just liquor racism.
Speaking of racism, prop 2 passed. It’s about time white people had some advantages in this state and country. There are also a lot of folks who are a little too upset about prop 3 and not being able to kill morning doves. Prop 1 passed so parks get to save money and prop 5, which would give money to public schools, failed. So in Michigan, people want parks to keep money, schools to not get money, morning doves to expire naturally and white folks to take the power back.
Thanksgiving Eve is right around the corner. JC will make an appearance. Mattress will be there. It would be nice if Dave could make it back. The other usual suspects should be in attendance. It should be fun. I don’t drink much any more, but I’m hoping to stay out and have a good time.
The Dems actually won several elections. President Bush said he had a lot of “political capital” to use after Republicans beat the hell out of the Democrats in 2004. What does this mean now that Republicans just got smacked around? Is he now in political debt?
The Pistons don’t rebound or play defense anymore. I think that’s more Flip than Ben.
This post pretty much sucked. Sorry.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Breaking News
From the desk of the Alliance's breaking news department:
Britney Spears has filed for divorce from the one and only K-Fed. The washed-up, used-up, just plain hit-up former pop-tartlet, cited irreconcilable differences. This was done only because realizing you married a f*cking loser is not a valid reason for divorce.
The Britster is seeking full legal and physical custody of both children. This shouldn't be a problem, since she was the breadwinner. The pseudo-rapper just released his highly criticized album, and just announced a book deal. He was planning on having a book penned about his life before Spears, in an attempt to shed some light on why he shouldn't be referred to as "Mr. Britney Spears".
In a surprising turn of events, he has already landed a second book deal. It is a work in progress of his life after Spears. He is planning on chronicling how he intends to continue spending Britney's money after the divorce settlement.
That is a joke, since it is rumored that Spears had a rock-solid prenup. She is going to waive spousal support and even go as far as asking the judge to make each party pay their own respective attorney's fees. Looks like K-Fed Efed up.
Britney Spears has filed for divorce from the one and only K-Fed. The washed-up, used-up, just plain hit-up former pop-tartlet, cited irreconcilable differences. This was done only because realizing you married a f*cking loser is not a valid reason for divorce.
The Britster is seeking full legal and physical custody of both children. This shouldn't be a problem, since she was the breadwinner. The pseudo-rapper just released his highly criticized album, and just announced a book deal. He was planning on having a book penned about his life before Spears, in an attempt to shed some light on why he shouldn't be referred to as "Mr. Britney Spears".
In a surprising turn of events, he has already landed a second book deal. It is a work in progress of his life after Spears. He is planning on chronicling how he intends to continue spending Britney's money after the divorce settlement.
That is a joke, since it is rumored that Spears had a rock-solid prenup. She is going to waive spousal support and even go as far as asking the judge to make each party pay their own respective attorney's fees. Looks like K-Fed Efed up.
Big Ten Basketball 2006-2007
College basketball is back. This is good news if you are a Michigan State fan and if you are an Ohio State fan, you’ve probably just started rooting for the Buckeyes.
The Big Ten is down, but there is a plethora of talented freshman entering the conference. None of my predictions have ever been even remotely close to correct, but I like doing it so back off. Without further ado, the 2006-2007 Big Ten Preview.
1. Michigan State – just joking.
1. Wisconsin – I don’t like the Badgers and I hate Bo Ryan. However, he has one of his best teams in his career at Wisconsin. Kammron Taylor is the best point guard in the Big Ten and Alando Tucker is a can-do-it-all forward. Brian Butch needs to become more consistent, but the Tucker/Taylor one/two punch should carry the Badgers to a very successful season. Prediction: 14-2, Sweet Sixteen
2. The Ohio State – How Thad Mata has been able to hall in these recruits is beyond me. The Buckeyes don’t have much recent success in which to hang their program, but they are loaded for their next two classes. Greg Oden will be a very good freshman and it will be interesting to see how open the perimeter with him in the post. Thad’s teams love to jack-up the three. Remember the Thad Five are freshman and will struggle at times with Big Ten player’s size and speed. David Lighty and Daequan Cook will have solid freshman campaigns, but Mike Conley is over-rated and will face problems with tougher guards in the Big Ten. Prediction: 13-3, Elite Eight
3. Michigan – Hello NCAA Tournament. Lester Abram is back for his 32nd year as a Wolverine and Courtney Sims will provide solid frontcourt play. DeShawn Sims is as talented a player U of M has had in recent years, but he loses focus at times. He will be sporadic, but still contribute. Jarrett Smith does not instill a lot of confidence at the point, but Dion Harris has shown he can fill that role and with Ron Coleman on the wing scoring should not be a problem for the Wolverines. Prediction: 11-5, Second Round of NCAA Tournament
4. Illinois – I will never bet against a coach like Bruce Weber. He does not have the proven firepower at the guard positions this year, but Jamar Smith and Calvin Brock will be ready to step-up and try to fill the void. Shawn Pruitt is more athletic than James Augustine, but is not nearly as polished. Look for Brian Carlwell to provide some steady play in the post. Prediction: 10-6, Second Round of NCAA Tournament
5. Indiana – Kelvin Sampson has not been in the Big Ten too long and he is already pissing off the other coaches. He recently stole a Bruce Weber recruit for the class of 2007 (star point guard, Eric Gordon) and he is complaining about his recruiting restrictions. A new coach will invigorate the Hoosiers and if DJ White stays healthy he will be tough to beat in the post. The Hoosiers aren’t deep, but they will sneak out some wins this season. Prediction: 9-7
6. Michigan State – The Spartans could surprise some people this year. Remember last year’s National Champion was a team that lost their top three scorers and returned a solid group of sophomores and juniors. Michigan State is in that same boat, but they won’t win a championship of any sort this year. Raymar Morgan will be mentioned as freshman of the year in the Big Ten and Goran Suton is a forward who can shoot from the outside. State has not had that luxury in recent years, but pulling other teams bigs out to the perimeter should open Marquise Gray on the block and room for dribble-drive penetrations. Drew Neitzel will play the two a lot this year and will flourish while Travis Walton holds down point guard duties. Prediction: 9-7, Sweet Sixteen
7. Iowa – Adam Haluska won’t have the privilege of playing with the other two parts of his Caucasian triad (Jeff Horner and Greg Brunner). The Hawkeyes are young and not very athletic. They may steal a win or two at home, but will not fair too well on the road. Prediction: 7-9, NIT
8. Minnesota – Without Vincent Grier, the Gophers do not have an explosive wing player. Freshman Bryce Webster is a large body power forward who may be able to partner up with center Spencer Tollackson for decent frontcourt play. Minnesota always has a home court advantage and that should help, but not too much. Prediction: 6-10, No postseason
9. Purdue – Carl Landry is back. That’s good news. Who will get him the ball? That’s bad news. Who else will score for the Boilermakers? That’s more bad news. Purdue will play solid defense, but without another true scorer and sufficient depth won’t make a push for post-season play this year. Prediction: 6-10, No postseason
10. Penn State – The Nittany Lions are starting to look better on the court, but do not have the talent to compete in the Big Ten. They do have the talent to be better than Northwestern. Prediction: 6-10, No postseason
11. Northwestern – The Princeton offense is cute and effective. The Wildcats will hang in there in some games. They won’t win a lot though. Prediction: 5-11, No postseason
The Big Ten is down, but there is a plethora of talented freshman entering the conference. None of my predictions have ever been even remotely close to correct, but I like doing it so back off. Without further ado, the 2006-2007 Big Ten Preview.
1. Michigan State – just joking.
1. Wisconsin – I don’t like the Badgers and I hate Bo Ryan. However, he has one of his best teams in his career at Wisconsin. Kammron Taylor is the best point guard in the Big Ten and Alando Tucker is a can-do-it-all forward. Brian Butch needs to become more consistent, but the Tucker/Taylor one/two punch should carry the Badgers to a very successful season. Prediction: 14-2, Sweet Sixteen
2. The Ohio State – How Thad Mata has been able to hall in these recruits is beyond me. The Buckeyes don’t have much recent success in which to hang their program, but they are loaded for their next two classes. Greg Oden will be a very good freshman and it will be interesting to see how open the perimeter with him in the post. Thad’s teams love to jack-up the three. Remember the Thad Five are freshman and will struggle at times with Big Ten player’s size and speed. David Lighty and Daequan Cook will have solid freshman campaigns, but Mike Conley is over-rated and will face problems with tougher guards in the Big Ten. Prediction: 13-3, Elite Eight
3. Michigan – Hello NCAA Tournament. Lester Abram is back for his 32nd year as a Wolverine and Courtney Sims will provide solid frontcourt play. DeShawn Sims is as talented a player U of M has had in recent years, but he loses focus at times. He will be sporadic, but still contribute. Jarrett Smith does not instill a lot of confidence at the point, but Dion Harris has shown he can fill that role and with Ron Coleman on the wing scoring should not be a problem for the Wolverines. Prediction: 11-5, Second Round of NCAA Tournament
4. Illinois – I will never bet against a coach like Bruce Weber. He does not have the proven firepower at the guard positions this year, but Jamar Smith and Calvin Brock will be ready to step-up and try to fill the void. Shawn Pruitt is more athletic than James Augustine, but is not nearly as polished. Look for Brian Carlwell to provide some steady play in the post. Prediction: 10-6, Second Round of NCAA Tournament
5. Indiana – Kelvin Sampson has not been in the Big Ten too long and he is already pissing off the other coaches. He recently stole a Bruce Weber recruit for the class of 2007 (star point guard, Eric Gordon) and he is complaining about his recruiting restrictions. A new coach will invigorate the Hoosiers and if DJ White stays healthy he will be tough to beat in the post. The Hoosiers aren’t deep, but they will sneak out some wins this season. Prediction: 9-7
6. Michigan State – The Spartans could surprise some people this year. Remember last year’s National Champion was a team that lost their top three scorers and returned a solid group of sophomores and juniors. Michigan State is in that same boat, but they won’t win a championship of any sort this year. Raymar Morgan will be mentioned as freshman of the year in the Big Ten and Goran Suton is a forward who can shoot from the outside. State has not had that luxury in recent years, but pulling other teams bigs out to the perimeter should open Marquise Gray on the block and room for dribble-drive penetrations. Drew Neitzel will play the two a lot this year and will flourish while Travis Walton holds down point guard duties. Prediction: 9-7, Sweet Sixteen
7. Iowa – Adam Haluska won’t have the privilege of playing with the other two parts of his Caucasian triad (Jeff Horner and Greg Brunner). The Hawkeyes are young and not very athletic. They may steal a win or two at home, but will not fair too well on the road. Prediction: 7-9, NIT
8. Minnesota – Without Vincent Grier, the Gophers do not have an explosive wing player. Freshman Bryce Webster is a large body power forward who may be able to partner up with center Spencer Tollackson for decent frontcourt play. Minnesota always has a home court advantage and that should help, but not too much. Prediction: 6-10, No postseason
9. Purdue – Carl Landry is back. That’s good news. Who will get him the ball? That’s bad news. Who else will score for the Boilermakers? That’s more bad news. Purdue will play solid defense, but without another true scorer and sufficient depth won’t make a push for post-season play this year. Prediction: 6-10, No postseason
10. Penn State – The Nittany Lions are starting to look better on the court, but do not have the talent to compete in the Big Ten. They do have the talent to be better than Northwestern. Prediction: 6-10, No postseason
11. Northwestern – The Princeton offense is cute and effective. The Wildcats will hang in there in some games. They won’t win a lot though. Prediction: 5-11, No postseason
What Does it all Mean? (Have I used this title before)?
Every time I come to Houston there are issues. This time, there were severe storms there in the morning, so my plane was nearly two hours late. This was real late, not the fake kind of late that happened in California to facilitate the Jeni surprise. The last time, there was serious flooding and I was closer to four hours late. Again this time, I missed my first appointment. Work hates me.
When your plane is going to be late, it is always better for you to be delayed on the ground. That way you don't have the following situation happen to you:
A flight that is usually 2 1/2 hours becomes 4 1/2 hours. In sitting on the plane, you can feel your shoulders tense up. You start to get a headache. You think at first that it is just from stree and travel. You take a couple of Advil that are stowed in your bag. They do nothing. You think maybe it is because you are dehydrated, so you drink a lot of water. This makes you have to pee, which you are really afraid to do on a plane for some weird reason. You get on the ground finally, finding your bags and calling your appointment that you missed to apologize. They understand. In carrying your computer over your shoulder, (same said shoudler that was very tense above) to catch the rental car shuttle, your headache worsens. You get your car and set off to go to your missed appointment to at least talk to them and pick up the information that you need to do your job. The headache becomes down right scornful. You make it through your meeting, with a cold clamminess overtaking your body. The pain is down right numbing. (Which is better than before) You check into your hotel, really wishing that you could eat dinner and fall asleep. Food would probably help at this time. Once entering your hotel room, the thought of food or doing anything else becomes nauseating. You vomit. Vomiting makes your head hurt worse. The pain from vomiting makes you vomit again. You almost pass out. You want to kill yourself. You are thankful, as you are lying on the floor in a pool of your own sweat that there is a phone in the bathroom. You call downstairs and ask them if they have any Advil, Tylenol, or any pain killers at all. You also ask for something to help you sleep. They send someone up. I crawl to the door (literally) and stagger to my feet. The gentleman at the door is surprised to see me in my state. He asks me if I need him to call me a doctor. My eyes are watering badly, due to the pain and the exertion of myself to get to my feet. I tell him no. He asks me if I need to go to a hospital. I say no, I will be fine. He questions me. I want to tell him that arguing with him makes me want to vomit on him, but I refrained. He gives me four advil, two single packs. I ask for four more. He obliges. He also brought me some Tylenol PM. I gladly accepted. He asked me if I was sure I was ok. I said indeed. Indeed I was not. I shut the door and collapsed on the floor. I crawled into the bathroom again and vomited again. I took two of the Advil, as kind of a test run to see if I would vomit them up. I waited fifteen minutes. Fifteen agonizing minutes. I did not throw up. I took the rest of my over the counter meds, all at once. I took my shoes off and crawled into bed. I replied to a few text messages as I fell into a state of numbness. Eventually sleep overtook me. At the time I didn't want to wake up. It was terrible.
I woke up. My headache is gone. I feel good.
I dreamt that all of my teeth crumbled and fell out. I have had this dream before.
Alas, it is another new day.
When your plane is going to be late, it is always better for you to be delayed on the ground. That way you don't have the following situation happen to you:
A flight that is usually 2 1/2 hours becomes 4 1/2 hours. In sitting on the plane, you can feel your shoulders tense up. You start to get a headache. You think at first that it is just from stree and travel. You take a couple of Advil that are stowed in your bag. They do nothing. You think maybe it is because you are dehydrated, so you drink a lot of water. This makes you have to pee, which you are really afraid to do on a plane for some weird reason. You get on the ground finally, finding your bags and calling your appointment that you missed to apologize. They understand. In carrying your computer over your shoulder, (same said shoudler that was very tense above) to catch the rental car shuttle, your headache worsens. You get your car and set off to go to your missed appointment to at least talk to them and pick up the information that you need to do your job. The headache becomes down right scornful. You make it through your meeting, with a cold clamminess overtaking your body. The pain is down right numbing. (Which is better than before) You check into your hotel, really wishing that you could eat dinner and fall asleep. Food would probably help at this time. Once entering your hotel room, the thought of food or doing anything else becomes nauseating. You vomit. Vomiting makes your head hurt worse. The pain from vomiting makes you vomit again. You almost pass out. You want to kill yourself. You are thankful, as you are lying on the floor in a pool of your own sweat that there is a phone in the bathroom. You call downstairs and ask them if they have any Advil, Tylenol, or any pain killers at all. You also ask for something to help you sleep. They send someone up. I crawl to the door (literally) and stagger to my feet. The gentleman at the door is surprised to see me in my state. He asks me if I need him to call me a doctor. My eyes are watering badly, due to the pain and the exertion of myself to get to my feet. I tell him no. He asks me if I need to go to a hospital. I say no, I will be fine. He questions me. I want to tell him that arguing with him makes me want to vomit on him, but I refrained. He gives me four advil, two single packs. I ask for four more. He obliges. He also brought me some Tylenol PM. I gladly accepted. He asked me if I was sure I was ok. I said indeed. Indeed I was not. I shut the door and collapsed on the floor. I crawled into the bathroom again and vomited again. I took two of the Advil, as kind of a test run to see if I would vomit them up. I waited fifteen minutes. Fifteen agonizing minutes. I did not throw up. I took the rest of my over the counter meds, all at once. I took my shoes off and crawled into bed. I replied to a few text messages as I fell into a state of numbness. Eventually sleep overtook me. At the time I didn't want to wake up. It was terrible.
I woke up. My headache is gone. I feel good.
I dreamt that all of my teeth crumbled and fell out. I have had this dream before.
Alas, it is another new day.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Off Again
Ahh, a 36 hour turnaround in Lansing. Can't be beat. Oh wait, yes it can.
Thanks to Dave, Mary, Rachel, and Jeni for good California times. Thanks to Andy, Emily, and Brooke for good E.L. times. Now, I am sitting in the Lansing airport waiting, exhausted.
Travelling is fun, but I have been gone for three out of the last four weeks. I hardly feel like I have slept enough. I feel like I am depressed and want to just quit my job and relax for a minute. Since that can't happen, I guess I will press on.
After a rather lengthy hiatus, I have eaten El Azteco three times in 9 days. I wonder why I am fat.
AZ and I saw some MSU basketball, and although it is early, I am already excited to see a sports team with a winning record.
I really have nothing to say. Sorry for wasting the time of all three of you.
EDIT:
The Detroit Lions won yesterday, pushing their season record to 2-6. Speaking of 2-6, Joey Harrington led the Miami Dolphins to victory over the previously undefeated Chicago Bears. Good for Joey you say. I say it was still a dismal effort. Harrington went 16-32 for only 137 yards, 3 TDs and 2 Interceptions. Good for you Joey. Good for you.
Thanks to Dave, Mary, Rachel, and Jeni for good California times. Thanks to Andy, Emily, and Brooke for good E.L. times. Now, I am sitting in the Lansing airport waiting, exhausted.
Travelling is fun, but I have been gone for three out of the last four weeks. I hardly feel like I have slept enough. I feel like I am depressed and want to just quit my job and relax for a minute. Since that can't happen, I guess I will press on.
After a rather lengthy hiatus, I have eaten El Azteco three times in 9 days. I wonder why I am fat.
AZ and I saw some MSU basketball, and although it is early, I am already excited to see a sports team with a winning record.
I really have nothing to say. Sorry for wasting the time of all three of you.
EDIT:
The Detroit Lions won yesterday, pushing their season record to 2-6. Speaking of 2-6, Joey Harrington led the Miami Dolphins to victory over the previously undefeated Chicago Bears. Good for Joey you say. I say it was still a dismal effort. Harrington went 16-32 for only 137 yards, 3 TDs and 2 Interceptions. Good for you Joey. Good for you.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
A Quick Lesson in Humanity
Keeping still in the emptiness, where you break and betray me.
Conversations in real life, in the real world.
Background: There are three characters in this little skit. There is a tall professional looking head of security. He is clean cut with a general regard for the public's well being. There is also a drunken bum, who lives in a wheelchair. This is not because he can not walk, I am convinced. Rounding out the cast, there is an angry young African American girl. The setting is on an LA subway train.
Security Man: (holding train door open) "This man just made a motorcyclist crash on Sunset Blvd. He is upstairs bleeding to death, we need the police".
Train Conductor: "please let go of the door, we have a schedule to keep".
Security Man: (still holding door) "This man needs to be arrested, he just almost killed someone upstairs".
girl: (very upset) "Let go of the f*cking door. We need to go"!
Security Man: (still holding door) "Calm down"!
girl: (growing more upset) "F*ck you! You calm down. I need to get home"!
Bum: (drunk as f*ck) "I didn't do anything, I am in a wheelchair. How could a guy in a wheelchair do anything wrong"?
Security Man: (getting annoyed) "This man caused an accident and left the scene. It needs to be taken care of).
girl: (still upset) "f*ck you. Let the f*ucking door go".
Security Man: (losing his cool) "f*uck me. f*ck you. How would you feel if it was your dad up there bleeding to death on the street".
girl: (more upset) "I wouldn't give a f*ck. I need to get home"!
bum: (to conductor) "This man is attacking me. We need the police. I just got assulted by this man".
Security Man: (letting go of the door) "This is impossible".
At this point, the narrator and his compadre jump off the train to go all CSI:LA. We went in search of the motorcyclist on Sunset Blvd. To our disbelief, there was none. Was this just a big Halloween practical joke? I think not. Do girls dress as slutty as possible for Halloween? Yes. Is it slowly becoming my favorit holiday for this reason? Yes.
OK, back to the story. Some other stuff happened and some other stuff happened. We were late for dinner, and bought the wrong Champagne. No one was too visibly upset though, and Dave and I reestablished dominance over women in the game of Euchre.
Conversations in real life, in the real world.
Background: There are three characters in this little skit. There is a tall professional looking head of security. He is clean cut with a general regard for the public's well being. There is also a drunken bum, who lives in a wheelchair. This is not because he can not walk, I am convinced. Rounding out the cast, there is an angry young African American girl. The setting is on an LA subway train.
Security Man: (holding train door open) "This man just made a motorcyclist crash on Sunset Blvd. He is upstairs bleeding to death, we need the police".
Train Conductor: "please let go of the door, we have a schedule to keep".
Security Man: (still holding door) "This man needs to be arrested, he just almost killed someone upstairs".
girl: (very upset) "Let go of the f*cking door. We need to go"!
Security Man: (still holding door) "Calm down"!
girl: (growing more upset) "F*ck you! You calm down. I need to get home"!
Bum: (drunk as f*ck) "I didn't do anything, I am in a wheelchair. How could a guy in a wheelchair do anything wrong"?
Security Man: (getting annoyed) "This man caused an accident and left the scene. It needs to be taken care of).
girl: (still upset) "f*ck you. Let the f*ucking door go".
Security Man: (losing his cool) "f*uck me. f*ck you. How would you feel if it was your dad up there bleeding to death on the street".
girl: (more upset) "I wouldn't give a f*ck. I need to get home"!
bum: (to conductor) "This man is attacking me. We need the police. I just got assulted by this man".
Security Man: (letting go of the door) "This is impossible".
At this point, the narrator and his compadre jump off the train to go all CSI:LA. We went in search of the motorcyclist on Sunset Blvd. To our disbelief, there was none. Was this just a big Halloween practical joke? I think not. Do girls dress as slutty as possible for Halloween? Yes. Is it slowly becoming my favorit holiday for this reason? Yes.
OK, back to the story. Some other stuff happened and some other stuff happened. We were late for dinner, and bought the wrong Champagne. No one was too visibly upset though, and Dave and I reestablished dominance over women in the game of Euchre.
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