Kyle Brown’s Grand Scale of Debauchery

88 Cumberland,

Um…so there are some upcoming trips and fun times to be had. Which means this space will again be used to chronicle some debauchery (well at least the PG13 version). Mr. Travis Campbell has never been to Las Vegas, and it has been in the works for well over 2 years now to try and make a big trip with the old crew. And so we have decided upon March Madness weekend.

Yup, that’s right, Dave, Will, Michael, the Redhead, and myself in Vegas for a weekend of gambling and fun. I can’t wait. Right now we’re in the arrangement and booking process, trying to get everything on the same schedule and such. (Shout out to Kit! Help the poor kid out, he NEEDS this!)

I’m also planning a mid-April trip to Palm Springs to attend the Coachella music festival. You can check out the lineup at www.coachella.com it’s pretty ridiculous. I went several times in college, but haven’t been in a few years. This time around they are allowing In and Outs during the day, which is fantastic and will lead I’m sure to some picnics and tailgates. (Oh yeah!)

I’m also planning a DC trip with my family for some time this spring. My mother has never been to the nations capital, and wants the family to go with. (I’m sure this has nothing to do with her wanting me to use my connections. *COUGH* )

Finally, I went yesterday to watch the NFC Championship at the Voodoo Lounge, a New Orleans bar in SF, and I have to say it may have been the craziest bar experience of my life. I can only imagine what Mardi Gras would be like. Here is a clip from 2 weeks ago, and trust me this was mild compared to yesterday. My ears still hurt like I sat next to the speaker at an arena rock show.

The entire place was packed to the gills, and “Who Dat Nation” was out in force. They ran out of Abita beer by the middle of the 1st quarter and people were hanging out of the windows. During every commercial creole jazz blared, people danced, and after every big score, the bar erupted into the chant “Who Dat Say Gonna Beat Dem Saints!” Needless to say I loved every second of it. Especially the part where I turned to Ben with 20 seconds left in the 4th and said, “Come on, just give me a Brett Favre special right here!” And if you wouldn’t know it, the man came through in the clutch. I am fully on board with the Saints bandwagon, and hope they crush the Colts in two weeks.

Kyle

It’s awful weather this week in CA, which means there will be snow in the mountains. While SF doesn’t get to enjoy this too much, I did have a chance to visit the snow a few days before the New Year. It was fantastic.

As the Decade comes to a close this Friday, I sit back and realize that the 00’s were the most influential decade in my development. Let’s take a quick glance, shall we?

When 2000 began I was a 16 year old HS student, watching the ball drop on TV from Chuck’s house. I do believe I was dating a girl at the time who may not have allowed me to kiss her, frankly I don’t recall. I was around 5′8 or so, weighed in at about 200 lbs, did theater in my spare time, worked at my parents company after school, and had been driving for all of two months.

Today, I am 26, living in San Francisco, still about 200 lbs, but now 6′2. I am working again for my parents company, although in a much changed, full-time, and better compensated role, and have yet to receive a single moving violation. In the gap I also…(big breath)….

- Graduated High School

- Attended College in Orange County, actually graduated on time

- Fell in love (more than once)

- Was heartbroken and listened to sad music (more than once)

- Traveled to four other continents

- Was told time and time again that my nation sucked, my President was evil, and I was an idiot

- Lived in the center of the biggest city in the country

- Spent nearly two years overseas

- Wrote a screenplay

- Got fired

- Dated a married woman

- Spent a Christmas in Africa

- Totalled a car (95 Volvo 850)

- Danced at a Luau

- Had a beach side conversation with Jim Carrey

- Protested in the streets

- Celebrated in the streets

- Watched countless hours of CNN/MSNBC to learn more about war, terrorism, tsunamis, hurricanes, HOPE

- Got held at gunpoint by Federales in Mexico

- Spent St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin

- Watched WAY too much sports, only to have none of my teams win squat

- Went to tons of concerts

- Read far too many lists

So as you can see, it was an eventful decade, where I grew by leaps and bounds, traveled around the globe, and eventually ended up back where it all started, in the Bay.

Will and I hosted a little get together the day after Christmas for some old friends of ours. Naturally the topic of the decade came up a few times in conversation. A friend insisted I do this (David Cates, here is your own shout out sir), so without further ado, I present a series of silly lists, some with explanations, others not, based around the past decade.

Top 10 Songs that When I Hear them in 2025, Screams “00’s”

1. Kelly Clarkson - Since You’ve Been Gone

2. R. Kelly - Ignition

3. Beyone - Crazy In Love

4. Outkast - Hey Ya

5. The Strokes - Last Night

6. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

7. Usher - Yeah!

8. Kanye West - Gold Digger

9. Lady Gaga - Pokerface

10. Gwen Stefani - Hollerback Girl

Top 9 “WTF is GOING ON!” (Both Personally and Nationally)

1. Katrina 2005 - This wins, because this was seemingly our fault. I was working at a bar during this, and had the bar TV glued to the news all day long. How could we let this happen to our own people? The wealthiest nation in the world was being exposed as woefully unprepared, while we spent billions on foreign wars, people were dying in our own streets, and it was all completely avoidable. This still gets me upset to this day.

2. September 11, 2001 - Everyone knows where they were when this happened. I was asleep in my dorm room when my roommate’s mother phoned us from Philly to wake us up. Mike answered the phone, “Don’t EVER call me this early! There’s a 3 hour time difference! Wait? What?…I’m sorry…NO, I’M SORRY..yeah, I’ll put it on. (click) Turn on the fucking TV, were getting attacked or something.” Two minutes later the second plane hit.

3. The Invasion of Iraq 2003- I watched the first footage of the “Shock and Awe” from my dorm cafeteria. It felt so removed, so far away, and yet we were at WAR. I went on a protest march in SF a week later, and everyone seemed just as confused as I was. Didn’t Al Queda live in Afghanistan? Didn’t the UN say repeatedly that Hussain had no means to acquire WMD’s? Why are my friends going overseas again?

4. Getting lost in Tangier  2007- I blogged about this at the time. Basically, I was lost in a foreign ghetto, with a random tour guide, who could very well have been leading me down an alley to my death, and I was completely stoked, curious, and on edge the entire time. This was the ultimate 3rd world experience for me.

5. Getting in a bar fight in TJ 2003 - Yup, I started a bar fight in Tijuana. Not my brightest hour, but also the winner of the “moment of clarity” award. I had a frat boy by the collar, arm cocked ready to go when I hear over the loudspeaker the DJ yell, “SECURITY! Break up the fight on the dance floor!” Suddenly images flashed rapidly through my mind: Jail, Tijuana Jail, Tijuana Jail Thugs, donkeys…etc. In about .5 seconds I brokered peace by yelling at my opponent, “TJ JAIL! TJ JAIL!” When the shoving subsided the first thought that came to me was, “WHAT THE F WAS THAT!”

6. Pacific Tsunami 2004 - Just trying to think of the magnitude of deaths (230,000) is enough to make your head spin. That’s like 75 9/11’s rolled into one massive wave. I can’t even come close to imagining the horror of something like that.

7. Bush Gets Elected in 2000 - It’s pointless revisionist history to even speculate on what would become of the world if Al Gore had been elected President, but any true look at the circumstances and politics surrounding the 2000 election should point the middle finger squarely at the state of American politics. This was a partisan, money grabbing, shocking display of events. It is truly amazing, more violence and civil unrest didn’t come of this. If anything to showed that heading into the 21st Century the idea of a two party system was completely flawed, and yet inexorable.

8. Bush Gets Re-Elected in 2004 - Are you kidding me? He steals the first election, leads the country into a war on false pretenses, is clearly a puppet ruler, and the people say ‘Sure, why not try another four.” I was in Australia when this happened, and was taking a politics course there. The class after the election was basically me trying to explain the American political climate to a group of 100 unbelieving Australians who couldn’t fathom that somebody so universally loathed still managed to keep his job. No matter how much Red/Blue ’splaining I did, I was tainted in those people’s eyes.

9. The Banking Collapse of 2008 - So wait, basically there is pretend money that keeps passing hands, that nobody actually has, that creates a bubble, that can’t ever be filled, and now people are losing their homes, and the guys pushing the fake money around are gonna get bailed out by the Feds, and nothing is going to really change? And to top it off everyone is panicking, Bernake says the sky is falling, and people are losing their jobs…all over fake money that didn’t exist to begin with…wait…what?

Top 5 Times I Thought “Why Do I Care About Sports. This is dumb”

1. The Jeter Tag 2001- Easily the worst day of my life. I witnessed this gem from 9 rows above the first base dugout. DJ, out of position makes an incredible back handed flip to get Jeremy Giambi at home plate. Yanks go on to win Game 3 1-0, Jermaine Dye shatters his tibia a day later and the inevitable collapse follows. I also got dumped that day, capping a truly horrible, horrible evening.

2. Dallas beats the Sharks in 4OT 2008 - After two extremely disappointing 2nd round defeats, the expectations were enormous on the Sharks. After battling through a 7 game series win in Round 1, they immediately went out and dropped the first 3 games to Dallas to fall in a 0-3 hole. Two victories followed, forcing a game 6 in Dallas. I watched the game at 3rd and Long, which stayed open, for only me, until the game finally ended sometime around 3am EST. A victory would have meant all the momentum going into a Game 7 at the tank, a loss like that, as devastating as they come. 6 full hours of heart wrenching tension, all ending on an opposition goal. Season over.

3. TO Sabotages the 2003 49ers - This was the man that made possible my favorite 49er moment of all time (The Catch II). He was the heir to my hero, the ceaselessly classy Jerry Rice. But in one ridiculous season, Terrell Owens became the TO we all know and loathe. Dropped passes, dogging plays, screaming matches with coaches, spreading rumors about the quarterback’s sexuality. He seemed capable of anything. And the worse his attitude got, the worse the team played. And before long what was a sure lock for the playoffs, became a 7-9 disaster, kicking off 7 straight non-winning seasons, which has continued until today. By far, the most frustrating season I have ever watched as a fan of anything.

4. Red Sox beat the A’s in 5 aka the Derek Lowe game 2003 - The A’s were up 2-0 in the ALDS…again…and again had dropped the next two to bring forth a game 5. Zito v. Pedro at the Coliseum. I spent what little money I had (which was none) to get a last second flight home to catch the game in person. Manny crushed a 5th inning homer off of Barry to put the Sox up but the A’s rallied to within 1, forcing the Sox to bring in D-Lowe for the save. It felt in the stadium like the A’s could actually make the comeback happen, unlike the previous 3 game 5’s they had lost. But in the 9th, a long fly ball out to the warning track ended it, Lowe and Miggy almost fought, and the best era of A’s baseball in 15 years ended without a playoff series win.

5. Mark McGwire Isn’t Here to Talk of the Past 2005 - Big Mac and Jerry Rice were my two favorite athletes growing up. I idolized them both. When Mark was traded from the A’s and broke Maris’ home run record I kept the next day’s paper. So when he basically admitted to being a cheat, but wouldn’t fully own up to it by avoiding the question, ruining his legacy in the process, I was distraught. “Come on Mark! Just say I’m sorry!” Never happened, still hasn’t.

Top 5 Time I Thought “THIS is why I love Sports”

1. Game 3 ALDS 2006 - “MARCO!! SCUTARO!!” Again sitting 9 rows up from the dugout, the A’s manage to knock off the Twins, completing the sweep that had alluded them three times previous in the decade. When Marco hit the game-breaking, bases-clearing double the Coliseum exploded and rocked more than I have ever seen it. Ben Peters commented that it was probably the happiest he had ever seen me. It was damn close.

2. Joe Thorton Scores with 7 seconds left Round 1 Game 4 2008  - Just listen to this call and tell me the hair on your neck doesn’t stand on end. Huge win, fantastic goal, and it made it seem like the tide was finally turning for Los Tiburones. I saw this one at 3rd and Long, and I did laps around the bar, high fiving anybody who would look at me.

3. Big Papi’s ALCS 2004 - Look, I hate the Red Sox almost as much as the Yanks, but you have to hand it to Big Papi and the series he had to help overcome the 0-3 deficit. As a huge baseball fan, that was the single most compelling series of the decade, and to overlook it based on the participants would be just plain wrong. This had it all, the underdog, the come from behind, the curse, the region. As obnoxious as the Sox have become, you couldn’t help but get swept up in the ‘04 run.

4. Fresno State wins the NCAA Baseball WS 2008 - The longest of long shots. This was like a 16 seed running the table in the BBall tourney only if that team had to win 6 do or die games just to make the tourney. I loved watching this team play. Nobody was destined to be a big time pro, this was simply 25 guys who played for each other and for the love of the game. Simply great.

5. The Warriors make the playoffs 2007 - The day that the Warriors clinched the 8 seed, I received a call from my oldest friend, and Warrior fanatic Ben Peters. He was crouched in the corner of a bar, giddy as hell, breaking down just what making the playoffs meant to him and the years of his life he had devoted to this heinous franchise. When they miraculously stunned the Mavs to win in Round 1 he reacted like a war survivor, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what he had just seen. To this day if you ask him what the greatest day of his life was, he will say Game 6, unless his fiance is around, in which case he’ll give a standard answer, but really, it was Game 6…

Top 5 Comedies (Movies)

1. Superbad

2. Wedding Crashers

3. Old School

4. 40 Year Old Virgin

5. Waiting…

Top 5 Reality Show Stars

1. Mike “The Situation” - Jersey Shore

2. Danny Bonaduce - Breaking Bonaduce

3. Issac - The Real World Sydney

4. Flava Flav - Flavor of Love

5. CT - The Real World Paris/RW RR Challenges

Top 10 Favorite Songs - Emotional Attachment Necessary

Okay, so these are songs that immediately illicit a strong emotional reaction. It was the only way I knew how to even think about compiling a best of list. Music at its best makes you feel something deep down in your gut. It becomes a sense memory exercise that puts you right back into a moment, however fleeting. This is my list for the 00’s. It may not be the best songs, but these were the songs that defined me over the past ten years. (Skip over this, if you don’t want wallow in the small amount of schmaltz I allow myself…)

1. The Format - If Work Permits (2006)

The song is not very well known, hell the band isn’t all that well known outside of a cult like devout following. But without question, my favorite album of the decade was Dog Problems, and this, the final track from that record my favorite song. It’s tough to sum up succinctly why this song means so much to me. But I will try.

In this decade I grew up, discovered myself, traveled, made mistakes, failed, got back up, searched, sought, fought, clawed, and at the end of the day it was the backing of my family and the love of my friends that got me through it all. This lyrics in this song represents to me the constant search for the betterment of oneself. “Sometimes when sailors are sailing/they think twice about where they are anchoring/I think I could make better use of my time on land” But when that journey ends, the thing that brings us back is the love and warmth of those people who were there all along. “Love is speaking in code/ it’s an inside joke/ love is coming home.”

2. Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness (2001)

“Are you listening? WHOA!” This song is one of my all time favorites, not just because its amazingly beautiful and fun as hell to sing, but because this song IS me moving to college. This song is me turning 18, this is me falling in love, this is me discovering myself on my own for the first time.

3. Against Me! - Even at Our Worst, We’re Still Better Than Most (2005)

I’m somewhat embarrassed by this one. But in 2005 I graduated, got my first “real” job, got fired, was broke, and decided to move home and travel. A great decision, but an emotional difficult one for myself, as I had promised to never move back in with my parents. This song is two minutes of frustration, anger, and resignation. And it matched perfectly with my mood.

4. Junior Senior - Take My Time (2005)

Finally a happy song. This one is pajama pants, breakfast burritos, Beavis and Butthead, silly dance moves, Manhattan, and Lonergans. This is my year living with Dave in NYC. I was more excited to move to New York on a whim than I was any of my travels abroad. It seemed like such a challenge, such an adventure, and was the single best decision of my life. I proved to myself I could make anything of my life if I chose to. And the perfect mesh to that optimism was this song. Pop bliss, at its finest. “Love is all you need/In the world to succeed!”

5. Dashboard Confessional - A Brilliant Dance (2001)

Oh come on. The title of this freaking section was “emotional attachment”. Did you really think you’d make it through the top 5 without a Dashboard song? Well I don’t think I really have to break this one down too much. It was 2001, I listened to this song a lot. You can figure it out. “Well this is incredible, starving, insatiable/yes this is love for the first time/ You’d like to think you were invincible once/yeah weren’t we all once?/before we felt loss for the first time”

6. Taking Back Sunday - Cute Without The “E” (Cut From The Team) (2002)

I hear this song, I get pumped. This song was film school for me. All the time spent with friends bands, all the time studying music videos, going to shows. This was the best song from that entire movement as far as I was concerned. Also this reminds me of one of my favorite concerts ever. Slim’s 2002, Rufio headlined, with openers Brand New and TBS…yeah…I know…

7. New Found Glory - Hit or Miss (2001)

This is my Senior year of High School, me losing 50 pounds, having girls notice me for the first time, graduating High School, and generally liking things for the first time in several years. This was the big song for me at the beginning of the decade, and fittingly I saw NFG play this December, and they played this song. “Have I waited too long?/Have I found that someone?”

8. Say Anything - Walk Through Hell (2002)

This is the song that sold me on one of my favorite singer/songwriters of the decade, Max Bemis. A simple love song, this was the anthem of many a college sing along and party. When I hear this song a flood of memories from my days living in the La Veta Grand Apartments come flooding back.

9. Bloc Party -Positive Tension (2005)

Boys Night Out. This was every Thursday night for an entire year. This was the debacle at the Glasshouse where we drank tall cans, tossed them in the air, and don’t remember them landing. This is Cow Bird, X, P Town, Irv, Fat Man, and Mary. This is dancing with 20,000 sweaty people at Coachella. This is the single greatest bridge of any rock song…ever…

10. The Format - The First Single (Cause A Scene) (2003)

I know this is the second song by The Format, but this HAD to be on here. Every one of my friends knows this song (probably because I forced them to listen to it). It is the Delta anthem, and no list would ever be complete without it.

Top 5 Most Ridiculous/Awesome R Kelly Singles

1. Pregnant

Saving his greatest for last. “Girl I want to get you pregnant” Oh yes, indeed.

2. Feeling On Your Bootie (2000)

-Please check out the 4:00 mark, for probably my favorite R moment of all time when he grabs an imaginary bottie while singing falcetto.

3. Trapped In The Closet (Chapter 1)

Only the greatest DVD of the decade.

4. Ignition

He actually brags in the behind the scenes how he turns his feet so smooth for the closeups of his braids…

5. I’m A Flirt

While the T-Pain verse might be the most ridiculous, you got to love those shades!

Top 5 Parties

1. Conception Day Party MacQuarie Uni - Sydney

The DORM provided free all you can drink booze starting at 6am.

2. Water Polo Party - Boulder, CO

Crowd surfing indoors to Flogging Molly

3. Spring Break 2004

If you were there, then you know. 4 days, 20 people at the delta…

4. Labor Day Orange Street Faire 2005

I had to list the only time I got ticketed for Disturbing The Peace…

5. The Pendelton Wedding

Two of my favorite people, one amazing venue, a bunch of old friends…

Top 5 Technological Innovations

1. ScoreCenter iPhone App - Serious? It sends texts to my phone everytime somebody scores? And I can follow plays, like all of them? On my phone? Anywhere I am? Even in church and stuff? AWESOME.

2. YouTube

3. GPS on Phones

4. Fast Wireless Internet on Buses/Airplanes

5. Facebook - simply for the photos

Things I Want To See In the 10’s

1. Asia

2. A Stanley Cup for the San Jose Sharks

3. The US Soccer Team in a World Cup Final

4. A cure for Hangovers

5. More Love

Enjoy 2010!!!

KB

88 Cumberland,

Oh boy, it’s that time once again, where I give out my list of music that made me smile in the past year regardless of whether anyone else considers it to be quality what so ever. This is not a list of “best” music, or even necessarily “good” music. This is a list that five years from now when I recall 2009, this is what stuck in my craw. So if you have ever liked my musical taste, feel free to try and give these a listen. You might find something special in there somewhere…

Album that would have killed on my 2008 list, had I heard it in time: Dr. Dog - Fate

This is a category I have every year. There is always one or two discs that slip through the cracks, but turn out to be complete gems. Fate sounds like some sort of cross between Beach Boy harmonies, old school blues, and chamber pop. The two vocalists nail the back and forth dynamic that expands their sonic intensity and makes for a wonderful listen. I had several people recommend this for quite some time, but I never got around to really diving into it until this past spring. Well worth the listen.

Dr. Dog Video for “The Ark”

Top Albums in a year with not very good selections….

1. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below

Ever wonder what would happen if Manson’s weird collective decided to keep having sex and taking drugs and just be happy instead of murdering people? Well, I think we have an answer. Alex Ebert, who fronts one of my favorite acts, Ima Robot, collected a bunch of Laurel Valley dropouts, went into the desert, dropped lots of acid, and made one of the coolest records I have heard in a long time. It sounds like the soundtrack to a Sergio Leonne spaghetti western, and yet modern and relevant at the same time. The 10 piece band play well off of each other, and the album managed to do something few albums this year did, which was keep me entertained throughout. Not only that, but they shot a crazy 12 part music video/film to go along with the madness. Here is one installment. Um…yeah…they’re out of their freaking minds, but I love it…

We’ll have more from them later…

2. Dillinger Four - C I V I L W A R

This probably got more spins on my ipod than anything else this year. Not a leap forward, not a grand statement, just 12 well crafted straight forward punk rock songs. The soundtrack to a good summer. It reminded me of why I love music in the first place. What more can you really ask…“Let’s sing it like we mean it/It feels like summer in October/I hope this day is never over”

3. Brand New - Daisy

This is the 3rd straight Brand New record to make a top 3 for my year end lists. The intensity in Jesse Lacey’s vocals is unreal. While not as black as The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me, Daisy kept the intensity level peaked. The distant, raging vocals, the wailing guitar, the haunting and thunderous bass lines…it creates a mood not equaled by many.

Honorable Mention:

Tegan and Sara - Sainthood

Silversun Pickups -Swoon

Fun - Aim and Ignite

Most Ridiculous Pop Songs

Oh man, there were a few songs this year that made my jaw drop in ways that weren’t always good, but were always entertaining. Here is a partial list of some songs I suggest you check out if you need a good laugh…

Black Eyed Peas - I Got A Feeling

I have to defer to Ben on this one. Right around the insane height of this track Ben attended a Jewish wedding in which they played this song immediately following the vows. I was shocked by this until Ben explained, “What other pop song has Jewish phrases in it?” Hmmm. “This thing is going to be the Jewish answer to Shout!” Mozoltov!

R Kelly - Pregnant

Um…I think I have spent more than enough space here discussing the genius of Robert…but wow. Just when I think he can’t outdo himself, he goes ahead and drops a song with a chorus: “Girl you make me want to get you pregnant.” And yes I saw R. Kelly live this year, and it was freaking awesome…

Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say

Okay, so first you use a completely out of context Imogen Heap sample that’s best known as the background to the most famous OC episode ever, then throw in the line, “I know I should have treated you better/but you and me were meant to last forever” Is this what Tiger played to Elin? I mean, this has to be the worst “I’m sorry/take me back” song ever written. The whole reasoning is that he’s awesome, and going to be famous, so she should take him back, even though he has no intention to change. But damn that hook…

But the winner of the single most over the top song of 2009 goes to…

Edubb - Whooty

“She’s a whooty/A white girl with a booty!” Holy cow. This is something special here. A black man’s ode to overweight white girl ass. I was crying the first time I saw this. I don’t think I can hear/watch this song without completely losing it. It’s that f-ing ridiculous.

Old School Record/Artist I Listened to WAY TO MUCH

In years past this has ranged from The Velvet Underground to The Cure to The Movielife. A wide range to be sure. This year, it was Mr. Tom Petty. From about January to April I listened to a ton of his later solo stuff and a whole lot of the Traveling Wilburys. The one track that got me most excited:

I Won’t Back Down

Got to love George Harrison…

TOP SONGS OF 2009

And now on to the Top 25 Songs. In reverse order. Video link when available…

25. Say Anything - I Hate Everyone

Max Bemis is older, married, somewhat normal, but he still can’t help but write songs about his favorite topic: himself. While he’s been playing this same note for years now, he still writes some fantastic tunes. This tongue in cheek anthem for disaffected youth includes what you’d expect from Mr. Bemis, calling himself out in the process. “I’m mired in hypocrisy/even though I’m down with JC/I that guess everyone includes me!” Max Bemis as a Christian…weird…

24. New Found Glory - Don’t Let Her Pull You Down

I saw NFG play twice this year, and they only reinforce why they are one of my all time favorite bands. They do what they do better than anybody. This is an old school NFG throwback, displaying the marks of their greatest hits. Also, the video incorporates Zombies and a Twilight reference as well! Jordan’s t-shirt says it best…Pop Punk’s Not Dead. Just listen to that guitar hook in the chorus!

23. AFI - Medicate

Okay, so they haven’t aged well over the years. And they probably will never top Sing The Sorrow. And they debuted this single on Guitar Hero of all things. But Jade knows how to SHRED. And this is the catchiest song they’ve had in years.

22. Fun. - Barlights

We will see more from them later on. Fun is the new project from Nate Ruess, the lead singer from the Format. His 2006 Album Dog Problems is my single favorite album of the decade, so you can bet I was very anxious to hear what his new project would sound like. Travis and I even made a trip out to Stockton of all places to catch a glimpse of them in person. If you’re not singing “And I feel alive!” for a good ten minutes after hearing this, you clearly hate gospel singers…and I feel bad for you…who hates Gospel Singers?!?!

21. Brand New - Sink

That propulsive bass drum, the soft/loud dynamics of the vocals, the feedback on the guitar. This song brings tension from its first note slowly builds it throughout. By the three minute mark, it feels like it may come completely unhinged, and yet it ends with the same intensity it began with. This song encapsulates the entire mood of Daisy.

20. Death Cab For Cutie - Little Bribes

This b-side from last year’s full length is a 3 minute ode to Las Vegas. There is a sadness that exists under every shiny corner of this bouncy diddy. Leave it to Ben Gibbard to bring in that undertone of longing for the perfect ending…Also, best video of the year…”They’re all wishing for a hope fulfilled in a desert for a dollar bill”

19. The Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It

Oh, the xylophone. Where have you been sir? This Swedish band uses percussion in amazing ways, such as the opening track from their last album. Excellent video as well. Technically I’m cheating on this one, it came out 3 years ago, but finally got a distributor in the US this year. Look, if I can only find it in the IMPORT rack for $29.99, it didn’t come out in the US. Sue me…

18. Phoenix - Lisztomania

Can we give the French a pass finally? This album was the “cool” indie album to have for everyone who aren’t big music heads. The lead singer is with Sofia Coppola, and Jason Schwartsman says they’re his favorite band. And they came out with two killer singles this year. This song also spawned a series of amazing remixes, do yourself a favor and google “phoenix remix”…trust me…

17. Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band - Big Black Nothing

This song feels like the road. I am a sucker for songs that feel like the American west, and this one certainly does. Bluegrass elements, hand claps, existential crisis…yup the kind of things that feel like a road trip. I hear this song and picture the landscape blowing by as my hair flies in the wind…

16. Owl City - Fireflies

Yup, nearly 3 million digital downloads later, this was the breakout online hit of 2009. And you know what, if Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamberello decide to never do another Postal Service album, somebody had to step up and fill the void. Also on a side note, I can’t help but hear this and think of Travis Campbell dancing around our apartment with a silly grin on his face…I mean…YOU LOOK GOOOOOOD…

15. Living With Lions - A Bottle of Charades

The video is horrible. The band sounds like they really, really want to be Face to Face, heck they’re from Canada and you know what, I could care less. These kids from Vancouver know what true punk is all about. THEY MEAN IT. There is no artifice in this, it is 100% heart on sleeve. And it comes through. “Hey ya/There’s something on my mind/I’m about to explode/I can feel it!”

14. Taking Back Sunday - Sink Into Me

While the band overall hasn’t been able to carry through on the immense potential they showed with the first two albums, Adam, Eddie, and whoever they find to fill in around them, can still write a great hook. The verses pulse forward and then the atmospheric guitar climbs into the stratosphere in the chorus. “I’d like to see our roles reversed/to watch you hang on every word/I’d like to see you have your way”

13. White Rabbits - Percussion Gun

This band knows how to write one hell of a verse, as shown on their previous album Fort NIghtly (See: The Plot). They still haven’t quite figured out the chorus aspect, nor how to sound like anything but a Walkmen/Spoon hybrid, but I digress. Listen to the drums. Listen to the passion and strain in the singer’s voice. Listen to the hand claps and feet stomps. And when the rest of the band comes in with the “oooohhhs” in the bridge, you’ll feel like the world is swirling around you too.

12. Brand New - At The Bottom

The best song from Daisy, Brand New know how to make a hauntingly beautiful and complex song that will make you think. “Some men die under the mountain just looking for gold/some die looking for a hand to hold.” A song about one’s own mortality, Jesse Lacey speaks volumes about his band and his music with the line “I think something’s dark hidden down in my heart/If I wanted to die before I got old/I should have started some years ago digging that hole”

11. Silversun Pickups - There’s No Secrets This Year

10. Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch

I couldn’t decide which song I liked better. Both are driving pulsating numbers, that wouldn’t have been out of place in the mid 90s alt scene. This band is constantly compared to the Smashing Pumpkins (singer with distinct high voice. Check. Asian member. Check. Chick bass player. Check.) and that’s even without the music, which was clearly influenced by Billy Corgan and crew. I love the fuzzy base, the way the vocals build, and the pulsating bass lines. Swoon was definitely a Top 5 record for me this year, and these are the two biggest reasons why. Their breakthrough Carnavas was no fluke…

9. Dillinger Four - Like Eye Contact In An Elevator

This one has all the elements of a great punk song. The back and forth vocals, driving snare drum, awesome melody, guitar solo that mimics said melody, and lyrics that question stupidity in society. “I’m paralyzed from the neck up!” 3 minutes of bliss…

8. Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension

Oh man, that synth! Because we have to wait one more year for another Strokes record, Julian has our dancing feet going to pass the time. This one stays with you far after the fact. What’s even more amazing, try and pick out all the individual tracks and elements, that somehow all blend seamlessly into a melodic bliss. Plus the amazing line, “I live on the frozen surface of a fireball/where cities come together to hate each other in the name of sport.”

7. Tegan & Sara - The Ocean

This is my favorite track from the Canadian sisters’ new album, because it so clearly articulates the longing that lies underneath the surface of their best work. “It’s been so long since you said/’well I know what I want/what I want’s right here with you’”

6. Das Racist (Wallpaper Remix) - Combination Pizza Hut & Taco Bell

Well, you want the formula for a good song? Take some stoned rappers from NYC, have them rap about late night munchies, give the track to two white Hipsters from Oakland, let them add some funky horns and a deep bass, and see what happens. This is the single most ridiculously stupid/awesome/catchy/WTF song I’ve heard in the last several years. I also highly recommend for dance party enthusiasts. This is guaranteed to bring the house down, although people might get really hungry afterward. And yes the lyrics really are: “I’m at the Pizza Hut/I’m at the Taco Bell/I’m at that COMBINATION Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” Ha…ha ha

5. Phoenix - 1901

Who wants to buy a car all of the sudden? Yup, this was the song that was featured in every commercial, highlight reel, montage you could find. And you know what, it’s because its a freaking awesome song. That deep fuzzy french bass, the simple guitar line, the lilty vocals. It adds up to sweetness. Not to mention the lyrics, which fit the modern era in which we live. “It’s not a miracle we needed/no I wouldn’t let you think so”

4. Fun - Benson Hedges

Damn that kid knows how to write a song. Nate Ruess has always killed me with his vocal range and lyrical depth, and this is no exception. The song starts with an epic 5 part harmony and immediately kicks into a driving guitar and bass line, letting you know it’s okay to rock out a bit with the chamber pop. And as a lot of his songs do, the lyrics eventually come back to family, with this song touching on his past, yet embracing his new band and direction. “They think I’m beautiful/for all my big mistakes”

3. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s - Zero

It’s a better hook than “Maps”, it’s more rocking than “Date with The Night” and the video is more fun than “Gold Lion”. It may be, dare I say, the best YYY’s song yet. Try listening to this just once. Nearly impossible. Bonus points for the video being shot in SF, with the band going nuts in Chinatown, North Beach, and the Trans Bay Terminal. I need to learn Karen O’s dance moves…

2. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

It’s hard to break down the best element of this song. Is it the whistle hook? Is it the trumpets? The sweet love story? This sounds like a song that should have been made in some distant past universe, but could only have been made today. “Oh home/let me come home/home is whenever I’m with you” The fact that the band is out of their freaking minds, makes the sweet honesty of this song all the more powerful. They don’t play in our universe, and they shouldn’t. It sounds better in theirs.

1. The Paper Raincoat - It All Depends

This song came out of nowhere and knocked me on my ass.  The song builds with amazing harmonies telling the story of what could be a cute first date, or the end of the relationship based on the perspective. When the piano hits in the bridge, the song jumps another level, adding in background elements, more strings, more percussion, and finally a “ooh and ahh outro” that leaves you speechless.

Sometimes there are songs that you hear and immediately feel something. There is an uncontrollable twinge, and your neck hairs stand on end, and your heart swells, and you can’t quite figure out why, but you’ve been moved. It feels cinematic. And when that happens like that it feels like a monumental occasion, like the end or beginning of something, because you’ve attained a deeper state of human existence. You don’t know yet, because it was just one moment. But it meant something more…

“It all depends/on whether we are watching it dissolve/or fade in.”

It’s funny, I realized today that of all the things that make me truly have faith in humanity, it is probably the subway that gives me the warmest feeling of all. Some of my favorite memories are of being alone on a subway car. Headphones in, observing the scene around me, taking in the faces and emotions of the other passengers. There are strangers lost in their own thoughts, yet easily coexisting with each other, people on their way to something better, something unknown. And as you emerge from that tunnel and back into the sunlight or night sky the world reappears just as you left it, but with a new perspective, ready for your embrace.

Kyle

88 Cumberland,

An eventful week of traveling last week as I returned once again to the Yellowhammer State for work. Yes, Alabama is very pretty this time of year. All kinds of browns, yellows, and reds slowly drifting through the air. I will be returning in less than a month, and hopefully some of the leaves are still there. But really that was secondary to Sunday…and Dollar Day at Golden Gate Fields.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, it was a day spent betting on the ponies! And daddy needs a new pair of shoes!!!! Golden gate Fields has a special that runs throughout the football season, where they charge $1 for the following things:

- Admission

- Parking

- Programs

- Sodas

- Hot Dogs

- Bud Light

And if you’re gambling senses weren’t tingling enough, they have all of the football games playing in a special section of the track. So let’s see…football, check. Cheap beer, check. Dressing up, check. Gratuitous gambling in a guilt free environment, check.

My roommates and I went across the bay to Berkeley to meet up with the rest of my family for the afternoon. I spent the majority of the day making small bets, mostly going with horses that were around medium odds and hoping to score a winner. Race after race I was getting nowhere, so in the 6th race I decided to hedge some bets with multiple horses to Show. One came through and I won $11, not much of anything, but enough to keep me going through a few more races.

The sun was starting to set, and the dollar stands had shut down when we were deciding to stay for the 8th race or head home. That’s when I spotted a horse name that I in good conscious could not leave without betting on: Kilkenny Creek. Yup, the Irish horse was not looking good in the odds department (20:1) but that NAME! I showed DBB who instantly declared he was going to bet a Benjamin on him. (Anyone who knows my father knows this was an outright lie the moment is came out of his mouth. He hates losing money more than Keith Olberman hates Fox News.)

I decided that I had to go make a bet and put down $5 for the guy to win, and just in case $2 for him to Show. At the post Kilkenny Creek broke out in the top pack rounding the first turn and I immediately thought “oh great, he’s gonna fade at the end”. As the horses came down the backstretch he was still hanging in there, but was in a pack with some of the big favorites. Around the final stretch the whole stadium was standing, cheering, yelling. (I was pounding my program against the railing.)

And then he inched toward the front. A nose, a head, a half length! Come on Kilkenny! Come on! Daddy needs a new pair of shoes! As they crossed the line, I lost my freaking mind! My Irish luck had come through. I started jumping up and down like a lunatic, high fiving people like Joe Thornton had just scored an OT goal. My mom turned to my father with a “please oh please tell me you made that bet!” look on her face. (Of course he didn’t.) I made $116 on the last race, bringing me to up around $80 for the day. And just like when you hit a big hand on the blackjack table, it was time for us to go.

Side note: Ben and I also beat Dave in football, the sprinkles on the Sundae if you will.

Something tells me that won’t be the last time I hit up dollar day at the track. The lesson as always, don’t mess with Irish luck!

Kyle

BART,

I am taking this opportunity sitting on the train to discuss something that has been on my mind for the past week. Something that in reality is one of the rarest and most magical times of the year. Due to Major League Baseball’s idiotic postseason scheduling, which bring the World Series into the first week of November, we have been given the sports equivelent of a solar eclipse: All four major North American Sports at 1 time.

Think about it. Here is the length and normal start of the big 4*:

NFL - September - February

MLB - April - October

NHL - October - June

NBA - November - July

*Mind this is with the 82 game schedule in the NHL/NBA with 4 rounds of playoffs. 16 game NFL schedule with the extra week before the Super Bowl. 162 Baseball with 3 rounds of playoffs.

As expansion and TV money have dictated over the past two decades, the seasons have been getting longer, the playoffs more often stretched out to accommodate prime time network TV schedules and additional teams. This means more overlap, and in the vent of the odd calendar quirk this year, we have the rare week with every major sport.

Take last Sunday for instance. I spent the morning watching the Sharks play an afternoon matinee against Carolina, switching over several times to the NFL playing on CBS and FOX. ABC had an afternoon basketball contest going on against the afternoon NFL games (Favre Bowl), and then I was able to switch back to FOX for the World Series. Oh yeah, I also watched some of the NASCAR race from Taladega.

It was ridiculous. Overload. I feel like I have nearly infinite capacity for sports consumption, and it was too much for even me. And I’m a freak. Throw in the new local 24 hour sports channels, ESPN, deadspin.com, theboglead.com, and Jim Rome on AM radio, there is nowhere to escape to. It is a sports nation and we are all helpless in its presence.

But I can’t help but think that this is not necessarily good for the sports. I, like many Americans, have only a finite amount of money I can spend trying to consume my favorite pastimes. The more they stretch out the seasons, overlap, and create more brain chaos, the less likely I am to spend money on any particular team or sport. Basically, I have to start to choose favorites.

The Sharks have got my vote. In fact, as I type this I am listening to the Sharks game in Columbus via my laptop, an internet wi-fi connection and kfox.com. I have purchased a 10-game ticket package, which gives me season ticket rights and privileges. But because I have invested this money there, I am far less likely to go purchase 49ers tickets, or Warriors tickets for that matter. (This has everything to do with the fact that I love hockey and the Sharks, and that they have nearly pulled even in my love of the A’s…no joke. Still, even if I did love the Warriors or Niners as much, I wouldn’t have any funds left over.)

I guess what I’m trying to say is, there are a ton of options available to consume sports in today’s culture. And the more that the sports continue to try to get our attention by spreading out their seasons, the more they’re really hampering their own cause, because there is only so much sports even the most ardent jock can take.

Oh, BTW, when i do arrive back in the city, I will turn on the World Series game and listen to the Sharkies at the same time….

Kyle

88 Cumberland,

Finally, a post that gets back to the core of what this blog was originally about: travel. I recently returned from a 1-week excursion to DC and NYC to visit old friends, see some things I missed before and of course, watch some hockey!

Is it coincidence that I planned my trip for the Sharks east coast road trip? Of course not. It was as calculated as long division. (Side note: Why were my math teachers always the ones that loved the really awful pun jokes? It was never the history or philosophy guys, always the math ones.) The trip broke down as follows, with a classic 5’s to follow:

Wed - Fly to DC, get drinks with Travis, Michael, Jojo, The Fry women, Liz Miller and Anthony. Stay at Travis’ new house, in which he has traded a closet for a large cutout hallway…

Thursday - Tour the American History Museum at the Smithsonian. Drinks with Travis. Meet Michael and Jojo, go to the Sharks - Capitals game at the Verizon Center. Sharks get their butts whipped. Travis = very unhappy.

Friday - National, “Take your friend from CA to work day!” Four people, four amazing tours, incredible. Drive in Ms. Courtney’s Wild Ride to NYC. Drinks with Dave and Antuan till 4am.

Saturday - Where the Wild Things Are @ 12pm. HUNG OVER. Notre Dame - USC for the 1 game all year long where you can see Michael curse in a bar. NAP. Righteous Urban BBQ for dinner. Mmmmm. Epic village bar crawl with the NYC crew (Nathaniel, Brit, Debbie, Antuan, etc) and DC crew (Courtney, the Kates, Michael) ending with dance party at Darkroom, late night diner food, and a 5:30 bedtime.

Sunday - Football. Football. Football. Mitchell came for a while as well…good kid

Monday - Visit the newly opened NYC High Line Park. A elevated railroad track in Chelsea that has been converted to a green park. UNREAL COOL. ESPNZone to watch the Yanks-Angels and get some real NYC flavor. “I hate dose f&(&king thunder sticks! What kind of laaame ass team needs to bring freaking noise maka’s into a basebaaaaal game!” Sharks - Rangers at MSG. 7-3 Sharks. F and Yes. Dinner with Kate Roberts. Sleep.

The Fives, as promised.

#1. Get this. No really, get this. What I am about to tell you took place in less than 4 hours. No joke. In 4 hours I went and toured the following, all with special personal tours from my friends who actually WORK in these places.

- Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. So Mr. Redding works at the DOJ as a “Confidential Assistant”. He has clearance. He has a suit, and oh yes, he has his own office with a nameplate on the door. When you enter said office, he’s got a mahogany desk, a high backed leather chair and framed photos and paintings. I kid you not. Dave and I asked him if we could give him framed photos of us to put up. I think he knows what he’s getting for Christmas. I’d tell you what else I saw but the FBI might then kill me. Let’s just say it was a very sterile building and I saw nothing. NOTHING.

- DNC aka, The Head of the Democratic Party. Jojo works press for the DNC. When the President comes for fundraisers (such as his one in SF this week) she coordinates with the press in those cities. Her boss is the guy who shapes the public image of the party and her office is the one where they send all those lovely and annoying e-mails you probably receive from Obama and the infamous Mitch Stewart. I also got to go where they make all of the political ads and the studio where they do voice over work. For a film geek like myself, it was awesome.

- The Capitol. I have two friends (Liz Miller and Courtney Fry) who work on the hill in prominent Democratic offices. Liz happens to work for my rep. and current house speaker Nancy Pelosi. First I met Liz in her office and she lead me through the underground tunnels under the capitol to the actual Speaker’s office. This is the big one directly behind the house floor with the amazing view of the Washington Mall. (It’s situated directly above the center of the steps where they hold the inaugurations.) Very cool. Then I was handed off to Courtney who took me on the actual floor of the house. Here I sat down in the chairs and did something I always wanted to do: Practice my “listening to the state of the union address” applause. That’s right, sit, standing O, sit for 2 seconds, standing O. Repeat. After a tour through the “break areas” it was time for the girls to get back to work and me to go.

Again. 4 hours. And I was so stoked I went and danced in front of the Supreme Court. I figured enough people stood there angry and protesting over the years, but how many people just danced?

#2. High-Line. Man this is a great idea. Take something old from the industrial revolution in an urban landscape and give a whole new life. The tracks are completely reused. The views are phenomenal of the Hudson and Jersey. And you walk past all sorts of greenery that never would have existed in its prior life. Take something past its prime and use it for good in a modern era. I highly approve.

#3. This could really be its own blog. This tripped me and Travis out to no end. We were in the American History Museum and we see a father with two young girls (approx. aged 9). It’s in the “America at War” exhibit and we are at the current Afghanistan/Iraq section. There is a particular panel showcasing 9/11 and I overhear one of the girls say, “But how did they get on the plane?” And then the Dad tried his best to answer. And this is when I realized…

We have an entire American generation that is cognizant, growing, and has no concept of the world pre-9/11. All they know is W, Obama, the War on Terror, and the fact that nobody overseas quite likes the USA. This blew our minds…

Maybe this was what it was like pre-November 23, 1963. The Kennedy Assassination was one of those moments in history where people knew exactly where they were and somehow knew that things would never be the same again. It was a momentum shift that signaled a new era nobody could quite foresee. I know that it is easily recognizable that a post 9/11 world is vastly different than before, but to watch somebody have to explain this fact was utterly crazy to us. It shook us both, and we were discussing this the rest of the evening. Has it been that much time? Are we that complacent? What will this generation think of America?

#4. I love the instant camaraderie you have with a common fan in a different city. I was at ESPNZone on Monday night and ran into a few other Sharks jerseys. We immediately shook hands. Later at the game there were head bobs, acknowledgments, fists in the air, and a common glance when the teal scored. It was great. Travis especially loved this is DC as this was his first “road game” experience.

#5. The ribs at R.U.B. Man they are fantastic, I cannot recommend enough. 23rd st between 7th and 8th Avenues. Please do yourself a favor and go if you find yourself in Manhattan.

Listening to Dillinger Four -

“It feels like summer in October/And I hope this day is never over/Time is wasting/We’re moving way too slow/Let’s go before we’re old/Time doesn’t wait for me…”

88 Cumberland,

Just when everything is going the way you hoped, Brett Favre has to show up and ruin everyone’s day. Last Sunday’s Niner-Vikes game was a brutal loss. It is right up there with the failed goal line drive and botched time last season in Arizona, and with the many Cortez missed field goals early in the ‘03 campaign. The win just seemed so close.

Right before the fateful play Ben turned to me and said, “I don’t know man, it’s still too close for comfort.” I nodded in agreement, and replied, “All I want is a classic Favre interception to ice the game.” When the ball left his hands I thought I might get my wish. But no. Not only did Favre kill my team, he now has only added more hype to his showdown on Monday night with the Pack. I hate Favre hype. I thought we were done with it on multiple occasions. He’s like freaking herpes, just when you think it’s under control, it flares up again. Damn you Brett Favre. You’re like Hepes and there are no fun commercials to make you seem manageable or fun.

In other news, I kinda enjoyed the hideous Seahawk uniforms last week. Had the Bears gone with the Orange unis we could have had the most blinding game of football ever played. I think my retinas would be scalded for life.

Dave won last week 4-2, which means that he leads the weeks 2-1 but trails in the overall category by a game. Thankfully he has been Favre’d so many times as a Bears fan he was kind enough to lay off the smack talk on Ben and I. I expect this to change this week. I also expect Dave to be rooting for some sort of spontaneous combustion on Monday night rendering all of the Vikings and Packers players out of commission for the forseeable future. Vikings-Pack games are what Dave likes to refer to as “root for injuries” games. In the case of Favre, is decapitation too much to ask? (And yes I used Favre as a verb in that last paragraph. It’s definition is: sucking the life out of anything enjoyable by being so incredible douchey and smug that normal humans behave like irrational killers. 2nd definition: Getting Peter King and John Madden so excited they have to change their pants.)

This weekend really is building toward Monday night and the inevitable hyperbole surrounding it. I will watch for sure. It is going to be fascinating. It’s one of the games where anything could happen and I wouldn’t be surprised. A close game, a blowout, a Wisconsin terrorist seeking a jihad against Favre, anything! It makes for great television. And I hate him even more for it. I am being sucked into the vortex known as Favre and I can’t even escape it. Why Brett? Why do you hate everyone else so much? I know you’re a narcissistic a-hole, but this is like a whole new level. He’s like Nero. When Lambeau field burns to the ground, you know where to look!

Okay, I must now go running and purge myself of all Favre thoughts or I just might lose it. Here are this weeks picks:

Home	Spread	Away	KB/BP	DL
Chicago	-10.5	Detroit	DET	DET
Cleveland	5.5	Cincinnati	CIN	CIN
Houston	-9.5	Oakland	OAK	OAK
Indianapolis	-6.5	Seattle	IND	IND
Jacksonville	2.5	Tennessee	TEN	TEN
Kansas City	9.5	New York Giants	KC	NYG
New England	-2.5	Baltimore	BAL	BAL
Washington	-6.5	Tampa Bay	WAS	TB
Miami	2.5	Buffalo	MIA	BUF
New Orleans	-6.5	New York Jets	NO	NYJ
Denver	3.5	Dallas	DEN	DEN
San Francisco	-9.5	St. Louis	SF	SF
Pittsburgh	-6.5	San Diego	SD	SD
Minnesota	-3.5	Green Bay	GB	GB

4 differences. I guess we’re starting to separate the good teams from the bad. I will be watching, but also attending the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival here in SF. Dr. Dog is playing, and so I might miss the end of the early games and start of the afternoon.

Good Luck All,

Kyle

88 Cumberland,

How good was Week 2? How good you ask? Cue up Benye West to truly break down how thoroughly we trounced Dave last week…

Welcome to the Good Life
Where the 9ers (1) play D
Gore won’t even get pulled over b4 2 TDs
The Good Life, let’s go on an underdog spree
Shit, wanna pick early season favorites, feel free

The Good Life, it feel like Houston (2)
It feel like AZ (3), it feel like Cincinnati (4)
If feel like NY (5), pick against Chi (6), haaaaaa
Now throw your hands up in the sky.

(The numbers represent the correct calls we made that Dave did not…)

We not only beat Dave 6-2, we went 13-3 on the weekend. 2 of our losses we missed by a combined 2 points. (MIA and CAR.) We won our CBS league, meaning we earned back all of our money for the ENTIRE season and then some. So yes, we are feeling pretty damn good heading into Week 3.

Of course with any early NFL season the media jumps on an individual game performance and blows it completely and totally out of proportion. This is what we do as a society seemingly in all aspects of life these days, and the National Football League is no exception. Last week’s hysterics revolved around Jake Delhomme’s 5 turnovers and his $20 million extension. This week’s hysterics: Brady isn’t the same guy! The Pats lost to the Jets! The Jets! Let’s think about this logically for one second.

You mean a dude in his 30s who had to completely reconstruct his entire knee in less than 1 year isn’t the same fearless gunslinger in the pocket he was 5 years prior? This should be a no brainer. Which is the angle a lot of columnist have taken, which has also led to the following reaction in the latter half of the week: Will he ever get IT back? Come on. You can never get IT back. Did Favre ever get IT back? Well yes, if you count throwing needless interceptions late in a game. It’s Week 2. Week 2! Can we please just impose a moratorium on writing people’s seasons off until at least after Week 4? Can we get through 25% of the damn schedule before hyperventilating? Thank you…moving on…

There are really only 3 legitimately exciting games on the docket, and all are in the 10am timeslot on Sunday. This means an early bar trip for me. They are:

Jets v. Titans. The Titans have to be playing for their season on this one, right? I mean they go 0-3 and regardless of the above paragraphs, it is a long and hard road to make the playoffs after starting 0-3. And the winner for the second biggest Week 2 hysterics goes to…Mark Sanchez! Oh he’s so dreamy! He dates a model! Oh god, he’s the next Joe Namath! He’s 2-0!…

Bills v. Saints. Will anybody play defense? Could this game end up being 55-51? Can we break triple digits? Whatever the line is, bet the over!

Niners v. Vikings. Gore! Peterson! Willis! Williams! Favre!…Hill…? Yes I am excited as hell for this. The biggest game for the 49ers in some time and they got a legitimate shot at it. If they pull this off, the rest of the afternoon will be gravy.

And now on to the picks…

Home	Spread	Away	KB/BP	DL
Baltimore	-13.5	Cleveland	CLE	BAL
Cincinnati	4.5	Pittsburgh	CIN	CIN
Detroit	6.5	Washington	DET	DET
Houston	-3.5	Jacksonville	HOU	HOU
Minnesota	-6.5	San Francisco	SF	SF
New England	-4.5	Atlanta	NE	ATL
Philadelphia	-9.5	Kansas City	KC	KC
St. Louis	6.5	Green Bay	GB	GB
Tampa Bay	6.5	New York Giants	NYG	NYG
Buffalo	5.5	New Orleans	BUF	NO
Seattle	2.5	Chicago	CHI	CHI
New York Jets	-2.5	Tennessee	TEN	NYJ
Oakland	-1.5	Denver	DEN	OAK
San Diego	-6.5	Miami	SD	SD
Arizona	-2.5	Indianapolis	AZ	IND
Dallas	-9.5	Carolina	CAR	CAR