Growing up and to this day, space exploration has fascinated me, and in perusing the news sites this morning I realized today was the fiftieth anniversary of the first time a human orbited the Earth. On February 20, 1962, the man with “The Right Stuff” John Glenn (future Senator and big time bad ass) orbited the Earth three times in Friendship 7.  It was a huge accomplishment not only for America during the Cold War and the Space Race, but for mankind in general.  It is incredible to see how far we have gone yet how far we have to go. As Buzz Lightyear (yes I know fictional…) says “to infinity and beyond!”

John Glenn's Friendship 7 Launching 2/20/62 - From FoxNews.com

MA: So Tripp, what are your thoughts on Sunday’s big game?

TH: Well Matt, I could honestly not give two cents about the game. I could care less that it is a rematch of a Super Bowl that would have made the Pats immortal…newsflash a majority of the players on BOTH sides were not playing in that game. Additionally, while I am all about football and will probably watch the game because let’s face it, it is the Super Bowl, as a Ravens and Redskins fan I 1) have no interest in the game’s outcome and 2) cannot believe that these two teams were their respective conference champions. Now I’ll give credit where it’s due, both teams have played well when it counts and the Pats have managed all season to play to their strengths and minimize their weaknesses (uh hmm defense anyone?) while the Giants learned how to play just in time for the playoffs. But watching the Giants during the regular season against the basement dwelling Redskins you’d have thought the Redskins were the best team in the league! Wacthing the Pats get beat around all day during the AFC championship makes me think Brady pulled a Tebow and had a little intervention on his side.

While I can only hope the game is a good one I’m not quite sure these are the most deserving teams (and note I’m not saying the Ravens or Skins are either!)

What are your thoughts good sir?

MA:  I just want to preface this with two admitted biases.  One: I am a Redskins fan, so I hate the Giants.  Two: I hate Mannings*.

*  I’ll admit Eli has had a good season this year, and I think we saw how much Peyton did for that team.  But never have two players been more overrated in my opinion.  Eli gets a free pass for throwing a tantrum like a petulant five year old when the Chargers drafted him, and he has underwhelmed up until this season.  Peyton is just as, if not more overrated.  He has never performed well when it counts (See 9-10 playoff record despite constantly having home field, or this play)

But all my biases aside, I have a bad feeling about this one (as someone who wants the Giants to lose).  Somehow the line on this thing had New England giving 3.5 points (generally if teams are even Vegas puts the home team -3, neutral field is a pick ‘em).  I don’t know what the line is now but I just don’t see how the Patriots are favorites.

I agree with you, neither team looked that great last week.  The question is, who shakes off that performance.  The way the Giants have been playing is not dissimilar to 2007, but the team in general is much better.  The team has gelled at the right time, which the last few years means a lot (the Packers were in almost an identical position last year, having to win the last two regular season games just to get in).  Momentum means a lot in the NFL, especially the playoffs, and it just feels like New York has had it.

What do you think about the offensive and defensive matchups?

TH:  Well, I think the offenses of both teams CAN be tremendous and put up a lot of points, especially if all the parts are clicking, which did not really happen in the championship games. I think the offenses will be clicking though, so the defense will have tall task and be the key factor in this game.

Who is your key player and do you think the special teams will be the deciding factor? Should we move to putting down some scores on this one?

MA:  It seems like worst case scenario for the Patriots every way I look at it.  Offensively, they’re biggest advantage is a big question mark.  Without Gronkowski they can’t utilize their two tight end, slot receiver set which has been lethal.  Even if he plays he will be undoubtedly hobbled and the Giants plan to jam him.  If they can bump him even a little bit, when you throw that high ankle sprain in there he is going to be slow getting to his spots, which is going to throw the rhythm of that offense off big time.  And if there is one thing we learned about the Pats last week is that when their offense is not in rhythm it is pedestrian.  The Giants defense is not that good, except for their front 4.  The secondary includes many players who are lucky to be in the league still (especially Aaron Ross, who could be in for a long day).  But like you said, if that front 4 get to Brady, like every other team the Giants have played this postseason, it won’t matter how bad the back 7 are.

On the other side of the ball, Eli must be licking his chops.  The Patriots secondary made Joe Flacco look good (yeah I went there).  If the fearsome group of Torrey Smith, Anquan Bolden, and Doug Pitta chewed up the Pats D, then Manningham, Nicks, and the plagiarist of scoring celebrations, Victor Cruz must be feeling great, especially for how they torched a great secondary in San Fran last week.  As you already pointed out Vince Wilfork is key, but he needs to stop the run to eliminate the play action.  We’ve seen that if Manning has a small window, the horseshoe in his butt will find the open man.

I think the Giants have the edge by a little in all areas, if they can keep the momentum they have had since Week 16.  But Brady and Belichick are Brady and Belichick; they will be prepared and I doubt Brady will miss as many open throws as he did in the conference championships.  So I could be overreacting, drinking the Kool-Aid, and totally underrating the combo of revenge and “nobody believe in us” for the team from New England.

I have no idea what the score could be, but if I were betting I would take the Giants getting the points.

TH:  First of all, it should be apparent to our readers that you have been following these teams (or at least did more research on this recently haha) but I think worst case scenario might be a little over the top. True, with Gronkowski injured (although apparently not walking around with a boot now?) it cannot help their chances.  I think though, that the positives and negatives on each side might just wash each other out, both teams will be bringing it, and may the best one win!

Why bother making New Year’s resolutions when we can’t even remember what they were by mid-January? For most people, the intention is good, the need is real, and the original purpose can still be accomplished. My suggestion is that, when done right, a “goal” is a better vehicle for change than a “resolution.” The distinction between the two is more than semantic. You can make a goal whenever you feel like committing to change rather than when society tells you it’s time to turn a corner in your life. It’s hard to cast goals aside as easily as last year’s calendar too.

Unlike resolutions, goals are “SMART,” which means they are Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. If you want to achieve them, they are NOT grand sweeping statements you write on the nearest bar napkin at 11:57 on December 31st. That said, I do suggest you write your goals down, and post them where you will see them at some point each day. It’s even more effective when you share you SMART goals with someone who will keep you accountable.

As an example, I can tell you my resolution was to consistently beat deadlines to avoid the stress of last minute work which impairs overall quality. I can also tell you that I quickly broke that resolution. I retooled that worthy purpose into a better goal. Now, to achieve my original intention of meeting or beating all deadlines, my goal is to add assignments and projects to my calendar as soon as they are known, add interim deliverables or milestones to the calendar, and review a seven-day week as a total package prior to taking on additional commitments. This goal includes all the SMART elements, and now the entire webiverse is on notice and can keep me accountable to meet this goal!

With the launch of a new semester, its new classes, professors, and activities, I imagine your resolutions are a distant memory like so many others’. Instead of admitting defeat again this year, why not revisit them to see whether a goal or two could get you back on track? Then, feel free to post your goals here to harness the power of the web too!

Do you like the internet? Of course! How else would you write that paper or look up random things while in class?  Visiting some of your favorite websites like imgur, Wikipedia, and Google will remind you today of how things were back in middle school when such resources were not so refined, developed, and readily available.

Do you want Congress to censor the internet and keep your free speech and others on it in check? Of course not! Congress is considering two bills called SOPA and PIPA that would have a DRAMATIC effect on the internet, and you should know about them if you haven’t heard of them yet.

Check out Google’s site on SOPA and PIPA and sign the petition to make your voice heard in only like 10 seconds here!

We also wanted to pass along our congratulations to our own News Editor Qasim Rashid for garnering yet more recognition by being recognized recently in the ABA’s Student Lawyer Magazine for receiving the DRI scholarship worth $10,000! Congrats Qasim, you are quite awesome indeed, keep it up!

Happy Holidays everyone, and enjoy your break! 

Well one week of exams down, the end of the fall semester is in sight and Christmas is almost here! Personally I like studying for exams with music, and during fall exams a lot of times that means CHRISTMAS MUSIC! One of my favorite songs is Gayla Peevey’s “I Want an Hippopotamus for Christmas,” probably because its just a unique song and classic 1950′s with the big band backing, how can you not love it?

So of course while studying I got distracted the first time that came on and decided to see if I could find out more information about the song, and did you know that 10 year old Gayla Peevey, the singer, ACTUALLY GOT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR!? Check it out, once people heard the song, a local promoter at the Oklahoma Zoo used the song to raise funds to “give her a hippopotamus” for Christmas.  Luckily for her parents and for the zoo and the public – she donated that hippo to the zoo and he lived for nearly 50 years!

Guess I should start singing that I want my school loans covered for Christmas huh?

Good luck with the rest of your exams everyone!

What that article boils down to is really poor understanding of how the world works.  Of course musicians today have better stats than the true greats of pop music.  You could have written the same piece except instead of Creed outselling Hendrix, it would be Hendrix outselling Mozart.  With technology, globalization, and the relative ease and inexpensive access to music it is no wonder more people are buying Rihanna.

It also completely ignores the fact that most popular musicians are not musicians, but entities created by record labels to sell music.  Zeppelin made music to make music.  In fact most of their contemporary critics hated them.  They didn’t care.  If Justin Bieber were to ever get a bad review (which he won’t because music critics aren’t critics) his people would somehow flip the narrative.  The writer would be scorned for attacking a boy, or Bieber would change his style so that criticism doesn’t apply anymore.

Music today is so much more of a business than it was 30 years ago.  You can’t make “Almost Famous” about a kid in love with the Jonas Brothers because the Jonas brothers aren’t musicians, they are a fabrication by the Disney Channel.  Yes they play instruments and sing, and probably even write some of their own stuff, but what gets out as far as image and sound is so carefully controlled.  Also, there is too much of a turnover.  Hannah Montana/ Miley came and went.  Britney is so 2003.  These acts today are like a military flare, the come out of nowhere burn bright as hell then are gone.  The goal is to push as many units in the brief time in the spotlight.  Where the greats truly make their name is not how many records they sell, or number one hits, or even songs that charted, its because when we go through those comparisons we find it hard to believe.  Their names last, their music lasts.  When was the last time you heard “Low” anywhere but on some sort of marketing campaign?  Now when was the last time you heard Hendrix, or REM, or Zeppelin, or Simon and Garfunkel, or Springsteen?  For me, and I’ll bet for most Americans over 23, when they turned on their iPod or iTunes.  Longevity is the mark of a great musician.  You could argue that getting out their like pop icons of today do helps their longevity, but only time will tell.  So don’t read too much into it, it is simply a product of globalization and increased access worldwide, not some sort of indictment of our beloved musicians who defined rock.

So why is Alabama, a team that theoretically got 3rd in its conference, get another shot at the belt?  Because Alabama football, and SEC football in general is traditionally good.  But this is not limited to just the title game.  The Sugar Bowl is the prime suspect for tradition and greed.  Michigan vs. Virginia Tech.  Two teams that didn’t win their conference, heck Michigan didn’t even get close.  And Tech, oh Tech, consistently overrated.  These two teams were slotted simply because traditionally, their fans travel well and will make the sponsors, the BCS and the NCAA a lot of money, forget that both have shown on the field that they are not one of the best teams in the nation.

The team that should be really made is Boise State, but heck they’re used to getting snubbed.  Boise State opened its season with a convincing win in what was practically a road game against a very good SEC runner-up Georgia.  It then continued its dominance the rest of the season save for one game against a TCU team that won the Rose Bowl last year, lost to a Heisman trophy contender week 1 by 2, and was a computer equation away from also deserving a BCS slot.  I am not saying BSU deserves a shot at the title, I’m saying they are more deserving of a BCS bid than Tech.

How can that be you ask, when Tech plays a major conference schedule and has dominated most games it has been in?  Well when you break it down BSU had a tougher schedule, won by an larger average margin, and beat more ranked teams.  BSU’s breakdown looks like this: .609 opponent winning percentage, 23.18 average point differential, 1 win against a top 20 (Saragin rankings, which are computer rankings used for the BCS) and 3 against top 4 teams.  Tech’s is as follows: .583, 12.2, 0 and 0.  In fact the only team Tech played that is currently ranked in poll right now is Clemson, who beat the pants off of them.  Twice.  Once at vaunted Lane Stadium.  By a combined score of 61-13. Oh and did I mention that VT always plays an FCS team (as in I-AA) while Boise does not.

So while you may enjoy knowing your team just has to look half-way decent and its name will carry it to a nice lucrative bowl game that is fine with me.  But until the top level of college football stops catering to the entrenched and wealthy, I will merely tune in for the occasional exciting game.  When it starts to matter on the field, then I will watch like I watch the NFL.  When teams are encouraged to schedule the Georgias instead of the Georgia Southerns (Alabama), then will we have a real system that pits the best teams against each other and they have to earn the title, not coast on the ghosts of glories past.

For further insight I recommend reading this and this

OH WAIT – It didn’t!

Beneath the recent shadows created by labor unrest of the NFL and the just now resolved labor issues of the NBA, who’s players make more than you and I can dream of in one year yet still are not satisfied (must be nice…), Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Union agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement to cement twenty-one years, that’s right 2-1, years of labor peace through December of 2016 on November 22. If you want to read more about it, check out the Sports Illustrated article here.

I love all sports, but there is just something about baseball that I love most – it can be an every man’s game. Granted, not all people could actually play baseball, but its a simple game that is just pitch, hit, catch, throw, run.  No crazy routes or bump and runs or zone coverage or power plays or time clock, and, while I realize the sound of a big hit in football or hockey is intensely gratifying, there is nothing, absolutely NOTHING like the crack of a wood bat on a ball.

I, for one, am glad that America’s past time will continue to be the game I love and not mired in squabbles over how much revenue the owners should be giving the players or what rookie salaries should be, etc. etc. Sure they make a ton of money, but it seems to me that a majority of baseball players play for the love of the game.  Why else would they subject themselves to a grueling 162 schedule, play through injuries, and face the risk of being not just cut, but demoted down the four plus levels of a club’s minor league system.

Long live sports, and long live baseball!

It began with the World Cup 2002.  Like most American school boys I played football.  I had played soccer in grade school but as soon as soon as I hit the 5th grade, soccer was too wussy and football was the only man’s sport.  I mocked my classmates who played soccer because they didn’t try to smash each other into the ground.  Then I watched the World Cup from Korea and Japan.  And the atmosphere at each game fascinated the rising 10th grader in me.  The chanting and the energy and how it coincided with the action on the pitch was a completely different world to me.  So I began to support my classmates at their soccer games, being loud and leading cheers.  But it never much amounted to anything more than an appreciation of the game.

Fast forward to Euro 2004.  I was on the continent during the tournament staying in Paris, Florence, and Barcelona.  It was in the Catalan capital where the love affair truly began.  We were there on June 20 when Iberian rivals Spain and Portugal faced off.  I sat in a bar watching as the host nation dispatched Spain out of the tournament shockingly in the group stages.  The city was electric that night, and I said to myself, if they get so excited for a loss there must be something there.  The next day I bought an FC Barcelona jersey and officially declared them my team with no knowledge of who they were, what their history was, or who even played for the team.

But that still wasn’t enough to truly kindle the fire.  I kept up with Barca every now and then, but I still didn’t understand the difference between league, cup, and Champions League.  It wasn’t until I watched the last half of the 2006 Champions League final that I committed completely to the beautiful game.

As you know Barca struggle the next two years going trophy-less.  But I checked Soccernet.com every day, reading everything I could to learn about the game not just through Barcelona but globally.  I found myself hating not only the teams that beat Barca, but specific players too (John Arne Riise for his goal at the Nou Camp that ended up putting the defending champs out of the Champions League, pretty boy Cristiano Ronaldo, etc.).  But I never really considered myself such a huge fan.

Then came 2009 and the arrival of Pep Guardiola, former Barca midfielder.  He brought a style that utilized the players’ talents, a style of possession, slick passing, and beautiful highlight reels.  I wasn’t fortunate enough to have GolTV so most of my following of FCB came through the streaming radio off the club website.  And I can point to you the exact moment that I knew I was an irrational, totally nuts fan.  I was working in a professor’s office during the second leg of the Chelsea-Barcelona tie, listening on Radio Barca.  And I was livid at how the dream of the first Spanish team to win all 3 trophies it could in one season (called a treble) was going to die.  Then came a lightning bolt off the right foot of Andre Iniesta in the 93rd minute.  And I ran around screaming.  The professor had no idea what was going on and looked at me like I had 23 heads.  But I never felt so much elation in my life.

Since then I have skipped class to watch FCB win one Champions League Final (on my birthday no less), not studied for an exam to watch them thrash bitter rivals Real Madrid 5-0.  Watched them over my favorite American football team (but who wants to watch the Redskins these days?).  And worn my Messi jersey underneath my shirt and tie at my cousins wedding this year for the Champions League Final, while keeping my phone off (which if you know me you know how hard that is) so I didn’t know who won until I watched on the DVR.

I am truly a convert.