This year I'm finding it hard to generate that "christmas buzz" - that feeling of expectancy before Christmas, that eagerness for the day ... It's taking a while to get fired up about it all. Now don't get me wrong - Christmas is great - the big dinners, the public holidays, the significance/importance of Jesus' birthday - but I just feel like it's missing some spark this time round.
Maybe it's weariness from a long year, tiredness from working too hard, spent-ness from too many high kicks in this year's Christmas concert .. :) I don't know what it is, but hopefully the buzz hits me soon. You see, the spirit of giving hasn't hit me yet either, and not being a guy that enjoys walking around shops, I'm finding it very difficult to get presents for those around me. Can't we just get everyone an xbox for Christmas? Five days to go and the Christmas tree is bare ...
Wk 13 scores:
Mushi: 9-6-1
Nasde: 9-6-1
SC: 7-8-1
Gobbo: 6-9-1
(no tips entered - given one less than the lowest person)
Wk 14 scores:
Nasde: 8-8-0
Gobbo: 8-8-0 (and entered without checking any spreads!)
Sc: 8-8-0
Mushi: 5-11-0
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Balance restored to the force
Just when I thought all was lost, a bounce back week! The addition of Gobbo as our guest tipster has resulted in the NFL tips falling to form and the margin between mushie and myself shortening! Interestingly enough Arizona has lost the last two weeks - hehehehe! The "Rod Tidwell theory" appears to have run its course!
Wk 11 finished:
Gobs: 10-5-1
Nasde: 9-6-1
Sportsline: 8-7-1
Mushi: 6-9-1
Wk 12 finished:
Gobs: 8-8-0
Sportsline: 8-8-0
Nasde: 7-9-0
Mushi: 7-9-0
[Stumbled upon some interesting (for me anyway) Star Wars trivia re: Which character is referred to as bringing balance to the force. Star Wars scholars insist that contrary to common belief it was not Luke's birth and life that restored the balance (even though he is referred to as the New Hope). It was infact Anakin/Vader - in the sense that he threw the Emperor down the shaft (SHAFTED!) in Ep6 and died at the same time - thus, eliminating the Sith. So yes Gobbo, that makes u Darth Vader ...!]
Wk 11 finished:
Gobs: 10-5-1
Nasde: 9-6-1
Sportsline: 8-7-1
Mushi: 6-9-1
Wk 12 finished:
Gobs: 8-8-0
Sportsline: 8-8-0
Nasde: 7-9-0
Mushi: 7-9-0
[Stumbled upon some interesting (for me anyway) Star Wars trivia re: Which character is referred to as bringing balance to the force. Star Wars scholars insist that contrary to common belief it was not Luke's birth and life that restored the balance (even though he is referred to as the New Hope). It was infact Anakin/Vader - in the sense that he threw the Emperor down the shaft (SHAFTED!) in Ep6 and died at the same time - thus, eliminating the Sith. So yes Gobbo, that makes u Darth Vader ...!]
Are u happy?
I read an article in the Reader's Digest about Happiness a few weeks ago. It had found in a survey of hundreds of people that various factors influenced how happy you were. They ranged from social life, being married/single, pay rates; but the two factors i found most interesting were that:
1. Higher paying jobs
2. Higher scores on IQ tests
were two factors that were "risk factors" for unhappiness.
The reasons it cited for factor 1 were the usual things you always hear - people working in high management positions, highly stressed out, hence too busy to have a balanced social/family life. The reasoning for no 2 being smarter and less happy - they linked back to no1; that you smarter you are thus you get the better jobs.
It made me think though:
1. If we all know that getting paid more and working longer hours often makes our lives less fulfilling why do we still pursue those ambitions?
2. Surely the more "intelligent" you are, the more you should realise this fact?
3. Most of my friends (and myself included) I would classify as SMART and working in higher paid jobs - having the two most classic risk factors. Are they happy? or are we all quietly going through our own quarter life crises ?
I do think that people I know are generally happy - but we all go through down patches ... so my solution for you today if you are going throuhg one of those patches is:
* Be less smart - hence you can be happier (according to the Reader's Digest)- and this you could achieve through copious amounts of alcohol ... hehehehe! Which might get u fired, hence less responsiblity with ur job! WOot!
* Be content in what you have, friends! It's in wanting less and being thankful for what we have that balances out the need for more. (having a wife that does not want to spend money on $20,000 LV handbags helps too!)
* Let God do his thing cause he is in charge
And if none of that works ... (but seriously how can alcohol not help??! Okay maybe only temporary relief) errr ... tune in for the next installment?? :)
1. Higher paying jobs
2. Higher scores on IQ tests
were two factors that were "risk factors" for unhappiness.
The reasons it cited for factor 1 were the usual things you always hear - people working in high management positions, highly stressed out, hence too busy to have a balanced social/family life. The reasoning for no 2 being smarter and less happy - they linked back to no1; that you smarter you are thus you get the better jobs.
It made me think though:
1. If we all know that getting paid more and working longer hours often makes our lives less fulfilling why do we still pursue those ambitions?
2. Surely the more "intelligent" you are, the more you should realise this fact?
3. Most of my friends (and myself included) I would classify as SMART and working in higher paid jobs - having the two most classic risk factors. Are they happy? or are we all quietly going through our own quarter life crises ?
I do think that people I know are generally happy - but we all go through down patches ... so my solution for you today if you are going throuhg one of those patches is:
* Be less smart - hence you can be happier (according to the Reader's Digest)- and this you could achieve through copious amounts of alcohol ... hehehehe! Which might get u fired, hence less responsiblity with ur job! WOot!
* Be content in what you have, friends! It's in wanting less and being thankful for what we have that balances out the need for more. (having a wife that does not want to spend money on $20,000 LV handbags helps too!)
* Let God do his thing cause he is in charge
And if none of that works ... (but seriously how can alcohol not help??! Okay maybe only temporary relief) errr ... tune in for the next installment?? :)
Sunday, November 21, 2004
A fresh start??
When I was growing up, we played a lot of sports at home. Being a family with 3 boys and one sis, a big back yard and an age where there was no such thing as the xbox or the internet meant we'd make up games. My brother was awesome at thinking up games to play. We'd have a tennis ball and we could've played about a dozen different games.
Now some of these games we made up didn't really make sense, but since he was the eldest, and had devised the rules, we had to put up with them. One of the games I have vivid memories of was his version of dominoes. We bunkered down on opposite sides of the room, hiding behind tables or pillows and we threw dominoes at each other. There wasn't many rules, but I remember he had all the dominoes.
Now I don't know if it was a rule that I wasn't allowed to throw them back, or wether I didn't fancy abandoning my protection to gather the ammunition lying around, but I would get hammered. But don't worry about me, I remember getting my own back through biting or pushing Sean off the top bunk - Such fond childhood memories ...
Anyway, my point is - as I've got older, I've learnt my lessons well. Now I know the beauty of organising games - I GET TO SET THE RULES! And just like a backyard cricket rule that states: "Over the fence is six and out; but not for that last ball I smashed cause that was crap-house bowling", I propose this one: "NFL tipster scores shall be reset when a new tipper is introduced, in order for everyone to start on an even baseline." Oh, and Gobbo is joining our tipping ranks from this week. So that means Wk 11 begins with everyone at 0-0-0. Any objections? Anyone ...
Even though they are now irrelevant - I will post last week's scores:
Mushi: 6-8-0
Sportsline: 6-8-0
Nasde: 4-10-0
Now some of these games we made up didn't really make sense, but since he was the eldest, and had devised the rules, we had to put up with them. One of the games I have vivid memories of was his version of dominoes. We bunkered down on opposite sides of the room, hiding behind tables or pillows and we threw dominoes at each other. There wasn't many rules, but I remember he had all the dominoes.
Now I don't know if it was a rule that I wasn't allowed to throw them back, or wether I didn't fancy abandoning my protection to gather the ammunition lying around, but I would get hammered. But don't worry about me, I remember getting my own back through biting or pushing Sean off the top bunk - Such fond childhood memories ...
Anyway, my point is - as I've got older, I've learnt my lessons well. Now I know the beauty of organising games - I GET TO SET THE RULES! And just like a backyard cricket rule that states: "Over the fence is six and out; but not for that last ball I smashed cause that was crap-house bowling", I propose this one: "NFL tipster scores shall be reset when a new tipper is introduced, in order for everyone to start on an even baseline." Oh, and Gobbo is joining our tipping ranks from this week. So that means Wk 11 begins with everyone at 0-0-0. Any objections? Anyone ...
Even though they are now irrelevant - I will post last week's scores:
Mushi: 6-8-0
Sportsline: 6-8-0
Nasde: 4-10-0
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Kostya Tzuyu returns to the ring
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Mushiejc takes an early lead ...
As time ticked away on Sunday night, the tipster pores over the previous weeks results. He compares win-loss records, absorbs stats on defensive rankings, offensive rankings, yards made on the ground, yards made in the air. He looks for trends in the team's histories against one another, home records, away records and weighs up the importance of injuries on a team. He attempts to take in to account the Steiner effect (that is, that a team will lose after about 6 Wins in a row or Win after 6 losses in a row) and the effect of the bye. Finally as the night turns into early morning, and the weariness from a weekend that involved an awesome thai dinner (go Dao Tao!), rock climbing (and a flash of Jack High), a night club birthday party asian style (though no cage action for me!), early start for church, and a dinner and taboo (where the guys beat the chicks! ha!) the picks start to form. A few bets are hastily made, and the tipster slips into bed being careful not to stir the sleeping beauty ;)
In the meantime, the mushi has picked her teams (picking the Arizona cardinals - stating her reasons were that Rod Tidwell plays for them) in record time and retired to some well earned snooze time esp after much sweating it up at Not another Asian dance party. And here's just a quick Woot Woot! out to lil for her drinking efforts on the night, and Addy with her impressive effort at walking down stairs later in the night hehehe
Round 2 finishes:
Nasde - 7-7-0
Mushie - 11-3-0 (and yes, Arizona did win despite not having Rod Tidwell)
Sportsline average - 7-7-0
The tipping Gods are not impressed! Flukes like this will not continue!
Note to self: do not leave tips till Sunday night.
In the meantime, the mushi has picked her teams (picking the Arizona cardinals - stating her reasons were that Rod Tidwell plays for them) in record time and retired to some well earned snooze time esp after much sweating it up at Not another Asian dance party. And here's just a quick Woot Woot! out to lil for her drinking efforts on the night, and Addy with her impressive effort at walking down stairs later in the night hehehe
Round 2 finishes:
Nasde - 7-7-0
Mushie - 11-3-0 (and yes, Arizona did win despite not having Rod Tidwell)
Sportsline average - 7-7-0
The tipping Gods are not impressed! Flukes like this will not continue!
Note to self: do not leave tips till Sunday night.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Round 1 of the Tipsters
The NFL season has reached wk 8 - just about half way through the season. There are quite a few surprises this season as the NY Jets and Jax Jags have emerged as solid contenders for the NFL title, while the NE patriots and Philly eagles continue their strong play from last year - currently standing unbeaten. Pittsburgh (in the AFC North) and Jacksonville (in the AFC South) are my outside picks to top their respective conferences.
Sportsline.com has many hosts who follow the game closely and make regular tips each week. I thought it would be great to put my tips up against those of the mushi for the rest of the season. Lets see if those many hours poring over stats tables, win/loss columns and scouring NFL websites for tidbits of information adds up to tipping brilliance!
So without further ado here goes for Wk 8:
(game, followed by Des tips then Jen tips; following the US style that includes the points spread)
Bal v Phi -7.5 Phi Phi
Ari V Buf -3 Ari Ari
NYG v Min -6.5 NYG Min
Cin v Ten -3 Cin Ten
Ind V KC +1 KC KC
Det v Dal -3 Det Det
Jax V Hou -1 Jax Jax
Atl v Den -7 Den Den
Car v Sea -8 Sea Sea
NE v Pit +3 NE NE
Oak v SD -6 SD Oak
SF v Chi -2 SF CHi
GB v Was +1.5 GB GB
Mia V NYJ -7 Mia Mia
Will keep u posted on the results!
And finally cheers to the Boston Red Sox who swept the St Louis Cardinals to win the World Series! They came back from an impossible position of 0-3 in the conference championship vs the NY Yankees - a feat that no team has ever done before in the 80 something year history of baseball!
The Yankees (with all the class and money) vs the proverbial underdogs in the Boston Red Sox (who hadn't won the world series since 1918 - and jinxed by the "Curse of the Bambino" - a supposed hex against the team since their failure to win the world series since trading away Babe Ruth) was always going to be a great series and it didn't disappoint.
The Sports Guy is a big fan of Red Sox - check his articles out here and here to get an idea of how much baseball means to these sports-crazy americans!
Don't u love sport! :)
Sportsline.com has many hosts who follow the game closely and make regular tips each week. I thought it would be great to put my tips up against those of the mushi for the rest of the season. Lets see if those many hours poring over stats tables, win/loss columns and scouring NFL websites for tidbits of information adds up to tipping brilliance!
So without further ado here goes for Wk 8:
(game, followed by Des tips then Jen tips; following the US style that includes the points spread)
Bal v Phi -7.5 Phi Phi
Ari V Buf -3 Ari Ari
NYG v Min -6.5 NYG Min
Cin v Ten -3 Cin Ten
Ind V KC +1 KC KC
Det v Dal -3 Det Det
Jax V Hou -1 Jax Jax
Atl v Den -7 Den Den
Car v Sea -8 Sea Sea
NE v Pit +3 NE NE
Oak v SD -6 SD Oak
SF v Chi -2 SF CHi
GB v Was +1.5 GB GB
Mia V NYJ -7 Mia Mia
Will keep u posted on the results!
And finally cheers to the Boston Red Sox who swept the St Louis Cardinals to win the World Series! They came back from an impossible position of 0-3 in the conference championship vs the NY Yankees - a feat that no team has ever done before in the 80 something year history of baseball!
The Yankees (with all the class and money) vs the proverbial underdogs in the Boston Red Sox (who hadn't won the world series since 1918 - and jinxed by the "Curse of the Bambino" - a supposed hex against the team since their failure to win the world series since trading away Babe Ruth) was always going to be a great series and it didn't disappoint.
The Sports Guy is a big fan of Red Sox - check his articles out here and here to get an idea of how much baseball means to these sports-crazy americans!
Don't u love sport! :)
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
A tribute to no 33
6 nba championships. 7 time all Star. 8 time All Defensive team. 2nd all time in playoff games played. One of the 50 Greatest players in NBA history.
Scottie Pippen retired on Oct 5, 2004 after 17 seasons in the league.
Often labelled Michael Jordan's "sidekick" and part of the Chicago Bulls "supporting cast", Pippen consistently showed that he was more than that. His ability to read the game, shut down his opposition and their offence and his ability to finish above the rim are things that I'll remember about Pips. So many highlights - how about that dunk by Pippen in 96 with 2 secs to push Chicago past Washington after MJ had the ball stripped by Mitchell Butler? or that time he dunked over Ewing in 94? or how he shut down the Utah offence, playing at guard, forward and centre?
Hopefully Pippen will be remebered for more than just being the teammate of the best basketball player of all time. When asked at his retirement: "A lot of people suggest that you wouldn’t have accomplished everything you did without Michael Jordan. How do you react to that?" He responded “I’ve heard that numerous times. But as I stand here and as I look back, I don’t think Michael had any championship trophies without me."
What a legend!
SI article on Pippen
[Edit: Sportsguy just posted an article on Pippen! The Other '33' ]
Scottie Pippen retired on Oct 5, 2004 after 17 seasons in the league.
Often labelled Michael Jordan's "sidekick" and part of the Chicago Bulls "supporting cast", Pippen consistently showed that he was more than that. His ability to read the game, shut down his opposition and their offence and his ability to finish above the rim are things that I'll remember about Pips. So many highlights - how about that dunk by Pippen in 96 with 2 secs to push Chicago past Washington after MJ had the ball stripped by Mitchell Butler? or that time he dunked over Ewing in 94? or how he shut down the Utah offence, playing at guard, forward and centre?
Hopefully Pippen will be remebered for more than just being the teammate of the best basketball player of all time. When asked at his retirement: "A lot of people suggest that you wouldn’t have accomplished everything you did without Michael Jordan. How do you react to that?" He responded “I’ve heard that numerous times. But as I stand here and as I look back, I don’t think Michael had any championship trophies without me."
What a legend!
SI article on Pippen
[Edit: Sportsguy just posted an article on Pippen! The Other '33' ]
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Day 2
I'm back ....
ok, maybe i'm starting to sorta like this whole thing with the blogger business. I admit it is kinda fun having this blog even if no-one has the address yet ...
I've decided that my blog will be dedicated to all the things i like:
* NFL
* American Sports
* Sports Betting
* Rock Climbing
* Girls
* Touch footy
* Physio journals
And other topical issues such as is who is a better NFL tipster - Nasde T or MushieJC? Who will win the ALCS Game 7 between the Red Sox and the Yankees?
Other than that I can see that my blog will be completely filled with links!
Fun Fun ! :)
ok, maybe i'm starting to sorta like this whole thing with the blogger business. I admit it is kinda fun having this blog even if no-one has the address yet ...
I've decided that my blog will be dedicated to all the things i like:
* NFL
* American Sports
* Sports Betting
* Rock Climbing
* Girls
* Touch footy
* Physio journals
And other topical issues such as is who is a better NFL tipster - Nasde T or MushieJC? Who will win the ALCS Game 7 between the Red Sox and the Yankees?
Other than that I can see that my blog will be completely filled with links!
Fun Fun ! :)
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
A new blogger is born ...
Oh ... Wassup!
What started as a gentle stroll down the lane to post a comment on someones bloggie has somehow led to a blog called "Mmm Tasty" being created ... very bizarre.
Always wondered what it'd be like to have my own blog ... would I tell people? would it be for myself? What would I write about? Would people enjoy what I write??
So here goes I spose - the blog's mission statement is:
* To serve as a place to store random thoughts - that may seem quite philospohical
* To be for me (whatever that means)
* To be about stuff that I like
oh well - stay tuned ... we'll see what turns up!
What started as a gentle stroll down the lane to post a comment on someones bloggie has somehow led to a blog called "Mmm Tasty" being created ... very bizarre.
Always wondered what it'd be like to have my own blog ... would I tell people? would it be for myself? What would I write about? Would people enjoy what I write??
So here goes I spose - the blog's mission statement is:
* To serve as a place to store random thoughts - that may seem quite philospohical
* To be for me (whatever that means)
* To be about stuff that I like
oh well - stay tuned ... we'll see what turns up!
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