Offensive music

Not really...but I was turned onto a fairly new band out of the UK called Does It Offend You, Yeah? I have always liked new wavy-type music, and as of late there have been some bands who have incorporated it into their music. These guys do it well.

Here's a video for a song of theirs I like. Check it out. The video itself is a little odd, but the song is cool.

2008 Milwaukee Brewers

In my blogging absence, the Milwaukee Brewers managed to do something they haven't done since I was in 1st grade (incidentally my only year of Catholic school)....make the postseason!! As most know, the Brewers got bounced by the Philadelphia Phillies 3 games to 1. Of course, it's nothing new for Wisconsin-based teams to get bounced by Philly teams. 4th and 26, anyone? How about all those Bucks teams that kept running into the Sixers? I suspect that if Philly or a nearby suburb ever gets an AHL team, they would beat the Milwaukee Admirals in a playoff series (I said it this way because Milwaukee will likely never get the NHL). I think you could also throw in the Philadelphia Kixx beating the Milwaukee Wave at indoor soccer at some point.

But, the 2008 season was a good season overall except for September. The Brewers made a big move to get CC Sabathia, and their young roster came together decently for a good chunk of the season. So, I want to thank Mark Attanasio, Doug Melvin, and the Brewers team for giving me hope that postseason baseball can be played in Wisconsin. Now, let's try to get back before 2034.

Debate 2 - This time, it's person.....zzzzzzzz

My friends, last night's debate didn't change anything. We need change, and my friends, I saw nothing to indicate that there would be any change...in the electorate, anyway. Barack Obama started out ahead, and to me was ahead at the end. John McCain needed to win this debate convincingly, and I am not even sure he won it. I think the winner was Tom Brokaw. His point about time constraints and maintaining a schedule hit home. But seriously, the questions were boring and the answers were essentially talking points we have heard numerous times before. Nothing new came out of it.

Can you tell I am sick of the election?

More cowbell

My last post was several weeks ago...for some reason, a request was made for more cowbell in the comments. It wasn't the guy pictured, but hey, he puts his pants on one leg at a time just like anyone. But, when his pants are on, he makes hits. When my pants are on, I sometimes blog.

Seriously, there are a couple of reasons I have not been blogging of late. First off, I am not sure what to write. I have to find a real niche, something that is interesting to me as well as the reader. I don't think I have found it yet.

Second, the big thing to be blogging about is the election. Frankly, I don't want to write about it that much because I don't really care for anyone running, including third parties. Barack Obama is going to win convincingly. If Indiana is in play, then I know it's pretty much over. I think it's going to take video of Tony Rezko, Bill Ayers, and Barack Obama in a room plotting the demise of the United States for John McCain to win...and Obama will still get Minnesota's electoral votes. Given my disdain for McCain (McCain-Feingold to me is defecating on the Constitution), frankly I will not be disappointed when he concedes. The GOP really screwed the pooch on this one. Is Barack Obama going to be a good president? I really don't think so. But, we haven't had a good president in many years, so we ought to be used to it. I am really cynical about this whole election cycle.

Anyway, I will do my best to post more often.

Note: I started this post a couple of days before I finished it (10/8).

Yost is toast

I saw this at work today (link goes to the JSO Brewers blog), and let out a pretty audible "wow." Of all the things I thought would happen during the plunge into the middle of the division standings, I did not think they would pop a cap into Ned Yost, the now-fired Milwaukee Brewers manager. I mean, something had to be done as the Brewers were throwing their season away, but this? Hey, it's a ballsy move. I just don't know that it's going to help with only 12 games left.

I was thinking about a post expressing my disgust with the lack of hitting, horrific bullpen pitching, and inadequate starting pitching (save CC Sabathia). Changing managers won't change these things. If the Brewers are going to get their mojo back, maybe making Dale Sveum the manager will do it. But, the bottom line is the Brewers' players have to play. It's now or never. After 26 years of no playoffs, we Brewers fans deserve an October run. Like I said, firing Yost may not help. But, the Brewers braintrust has to keep throwing crap on the wall and hope something sticks.

UPDATE: I am listening to WTMJ radio in Milwaukee online, and there is a collective bemused "what?!" in the air in SE Wisconsin. This was definitely an odd move, so I understand.

Played down the middle...but not really

Read this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, and then tell me if the tone of the article isn't, "Why isn't our guy winning?!! We should be kicking their butts, but we aren't? Why?!! Why?!! Oh, it's because Americans are stupid and vote on cosmetics instead of 'the issues.'"

Packers 24, Vikings 19

Green Bay escaped with a 24-19 win that should not have been as close as it was. Aaron Rodgers had a nice debut, completing 18 of 22 passes, with 1 TD pass and 1 rushing TD. He had a solid game against a Vikings defense designed to rattle QBs. Here are other impressions:

Chad Clifton kept Jared Allen at bay all night, but the interior line was terrible. Not because they didn't block decently (that actually went well), but because they committed stupid penalties, including one that negated an outstanding Rodgers-to-Driver touchdown. They really have to work that out, or else it could cost the Packers a game or two down the line.

The defense was pretty good. I am still not sure how much of a fan I am of the scheme in the secondary. If I am gameplanning against the Packers, I go deep and expect to get some first downs on penalties. Adrian Peterson got 103 yards, but got a lot of those on one run. Lesser running backs will have a tough time against the Packers.

The communication between Rodgers and his WRs is improving. In the preseason, there were a lot of dropped passes. But, with Rodgers going 18 for 22 tells me things here will be OK going forward.

Ryan Grant got 92 yards, which is good against the top run defense in the league. He got one great run off to get a lot of those yards, but you know the Vikings defense is not happy about that.

Overall, a win is a win. A win over a division rival is always a good thing. For my sanity, a win over the Viqueens is always great. But, a lot of things need to get better if the Packers are going to go anywhere this year. They need to play cleaner football, as there were way too many penalties.