Blog of the Dead
Grouchy is the author of this site. He frequests the BigSoccer Crew Message board, and runs fun polls and such on the site.
He's also into Zombies.
This is a facinating blog he authored in his spare time as a story. He updates it in "real" time as though each day were happening. Almost like an old style serial that they used to run in the newspapers back in the day.
It's entertaining. I'm no writing critic, but I'm entertained. Well done Grouchy.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
A Real USA Soccer Crowd
YouTube - USA v Italy
I've said it before. it all started during the 2002 Qualifying campaign. The Internet, combined with scattered knowledgeable fans collectively decided to organize as true supporters. It had less to do with exclusive "clubs", and now had drilled down, into the masses.
The US-Mexico Qualifier in 2001 was easily the tipping point for many of us. The cold, the non stop chanting. The blow up doll with the Mexican jersey getting spanked in the North End. It was brilliant for everyone who was there.
No one travelled well to Korea. It wasn't going to happen. But Europe...that's a place we can go. And on Saturday, with the help of tons of travelling support in K-Town, we had support that drowned out the "Forza!" from the Italians.
Is there any wonder the team did so well in dominating that match? Down 10-9? None at all. Not when the opposition is trying to figure out where the fans came from.
I've said it before. it all started during the 2002 Qualifying campaign. The Internet, combined with scattered knowledgeable fans collectively decided to organize as true supporters. It had less to do with exclusive "clubs", and now had drilled down, into the masses.
The US-Mexico Qualifier in 2001 was easily the tipping point for many of us. The cold, the non stop chanting. The blow up doll with the Mexican jersey getting spanked in the North End. It was brilliant for everyone who was there.
No one travelled well to Korea. It wasn't going to happen. But Europe...that's a place we can go. And on Saturday, with the help of tons of travelling support in K-Town, we had support that drowned out the "Forza!" from the Italians.
Is there any wonder the team did so well in dominating that match? Down 10-9? None at all. Not when the opposition is trying to figure out where the fans came from.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
ESPN2HD and Time Warner
Tremendous "hearsay" discource going on the Big Soccer boards regarding Time Warner's relucatance to get ESPN2HD on the air. Or as TW would say...ESPN's reluctance to get ESPN2HD on the air:
Brilliant stuff from these posts:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8698188&postcount=65
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8704858&postcount=70
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8712684&postcount=71
They're both right....and both very very wrong.
ESPN2 and ESPN2HD should not be separate services.
However, TWC should not be charging me extra for ESPNHD or ESPN2HD. It's one of the reasons I don't subscribe to ESPNHD. It's not worth it.
Basically the whole system is f-ed up and these two nimrods can't get their head our of their collective asses to offer a product that customers actually want. ESPN wants to charge extra for an HD feed...and TWC wants to pass that cost onto me.
What a crock of crap.
Brilliant stuff from these posts:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8698188&postcount=65
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8704858&postcount=70
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8712684&postcount=71
They're both right....and both very very wrong.
ESPN2 and ESPN2HD should not be separate services.
However, TWC should not be charging me extra for ESPNHD or ESPN2HD. It's one of the reasons I don't subscribe to ESPNHD. It's not worth it.
Basically the whole system is f-ed up and these two nimrods can't get their head our of their collective asses to offer a product that customers actually want. ESPN wants to charge extra for an HD feed...and TWC wants to pass that cost onto me.
What a crock of crap.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Calling Out the Blind Agilists
Otaku, Cedric's weblog: Agile people still don't get it
Brilliant post, with even more brilliant comments.
You see, Agile in many ways is a very good thing. However, the real question is, are you going to get buy in when push comes to shove.
It's really easy to use Agile when you don't have any inflexible deadlines. You can't just say...well, it'll wait until the next work cycle, or provide an estimate based upon 40 hour weeks.
Yes, we can say that things will work out better if we had infinite time/resources/money. But we don't. So what do we do?
We take the best things from Agile that fit into your product and organization. If that means TDD, then by all means use it. If that means sprint based development, then use it.
What the agilists have become, is amazingly unagile in their ability to pick and choose. At least from a leadership position. The people who find ways to apply agile concepts to maintenance queues, or legacy COBOL application projects. Those are the folks who are truly being agile and looking for ways to get things done faster, and with higher quality.
Brilliant post, with even more brilliant comments.
You see, Agile in many ways is a very good thing. However, the real question is, are you going to get buy in when push comes to shove.
It's really easy to use Agile when you don't have any inflexible deadlines. You can't just say...well, it'll wait until the next work cycle, or provide an estimate based upon 40 hour weeks.
Yes, we can say that things will work out better if we had infinite time/resources/money. But we don't. So what do we do?
We take the best things from Agile that fit into your product and organization. If that means TDD, then by all means use it. If that means sprint based development, then use it.
What the agilists have become, is amazingly unagile in their ability to pick and choose. At least from a leadership position. The people who find ways to apply agile concepts to maintenance queues, or legacy COBOL application projects. Those are the folks who are truly being agile and looking for ways to get things done faster, and with higher quality.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Why the Germans should be hating Klinsmann
So I'm watching the Ticos Germany match replay on ESPN Classic, and I am amazed at how Germany just lets Wanchope beat the trap twice with ease.
Now, if this was a coach living in Germany, I could excuse it. But Klinsmann has to have seen a few qualifiers with the Ticos since he lives in Los Angeles. He's got Univision, Telemundo in LA and at least has ESPN on cable. He could have easily seen a match or two and noticed that the Ticos pretty much play through Wanchope and you need to mark him staight up.
But he didn't pay attention.
Not that a 4-2 victory will hurt the Germans in getting through...but they should have done much better. Letting the one man attack of Costa Rica put away two goals does not spell well for when they take on a tougher team.
Now, if this was a coach living in Germany, I could excuse it. But Klinsmann has to have seen a few qualifiers with the Ticos since he lives in Los Angeles. He's got Univision, Telemundo in LA and at least has ESPN on cable. He could have easily seen a match or two and noticed that the Ticos pretty much play through Wanchope and you need to mark him staight up.
But he didn't pay attention.
Not that a 4-2 victory will hurt the Germans in getting through...but they should have done much better. Letting the one man attack of Costa Rica put away two goals does not spell well for when they take on a tougher team.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Lala - Stumped! Well...not reall
Lala - Discover, Listen, Enjoy
Interesting site...lets you trade CDs you own for $1.50. Not bad. Apparently also to hook up with local used record stores to trade if you don't want to wait for someone to trade the music.
Sorta like BookCrossing only with money involved. Brilliant!
Anyway, I stumped it with a query for Wolfgang Parker. It found Wolf on some compilations however. It DID have Fenster however, which surprised me...although it did not have the Fenster album I own.
Interesting site...lets you trade CDs you own for $1.50. Not bad. Apparently also to hook up with local used record stores to trade if you don't want to wait for someone to trade the music.
Sorta like BookCrossing only with money involved. Brilliant!
Anyway, I stumped it with a query for Wolfgang Parker. It found Wolf on some compilations however. It DID have Fenster however, which surprised me...although it did not have the Fenster album I own.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Gatorade Hitching Itself to the National Team
Gatorade.com
Nice pic of Crew Stadium on one fine September evening in 2005. I know whwere I was, but I can't quite see myself ;)
It is amazing how much coin Gatorade is putting into this. They've been running the ad on all sorts of shows. I saw it on the Apprentice, during some NBA games. It's all over the place.
It's so Nike like...yet not Nike.
Nice pic of Crew Stadium on one fine September evening in 2005. I know whwere I was, but I can't quite see myself ;)
It is amazing how much coin Gatorade is putting into this. They've been running the ad on all sorts of shows. I saw it on the Apprentice, during some NBA games. It's all over the place.
It's so Nike like...yet not Nike.
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