North Texas Mescan

Privacy and an awesome article about it

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:44:00 +0000

Via Lifehacker -- Privacy is not Dead

I always use the eye test, what my professor calls the face test, to determine if something makes sense. This is not a very good way to do it (he would say the worst), but it is one of our favorite tools to use as humans. So with that warning, what this chick says makes a whole lot of sense.

In fact, that is why I stay somewhat anonymous. You can see my incoherent ramblings on the topic here. I figure (rightly or wrongly is up for discussion) that by using my Batman persona(s): aztecskin, ntm, etc, that I can do some very public things that I like to do like blog, or tweet, or post on forums about how I am awesome, without hurting or putting in danger those I love. In reality, I am pretty much the same guy you know and hate on here in real life. My thoughts are measured. I know the risks. Still, I don't want something I said when I was 20 effecting me or my family disproportionately when I am 30. I know you don't want everything that you did or said, or wanted to do or say, to become the topic of discussion all of a sudden during an important meeting or some shit.

That was what was the most fascinating portion of this chick's argument. The whole 'having things be public vs publicizing things'. It's an 'Shitballs! Yeah! That is what I mean about privacy!" -type moment. It's true. You go into a situation and determine as best you can, the risks and rules of the situation. I can talk about my stupid boss here freely, oh crap! There he is! Hey, uh, about those Mean Green Eagles ....(nervous laughter) ... So when those rules are changed drastically you feel violated. It's what she calls privacy FAIL. That, and we are still trying to figure out how to deal with unusual phenomena of the Internet. You know, stuff like how that drunken post about Obama you wrote is still up there on Ihateeveryonepost.org. Our brains aren't built to handle that shit yet. I mean, sometimes, the fact that you look back at your life through rose-colored glasses means that you can deal with your life a little easier ya know? Again, I am all for transparency and accountability, but like with everything else, it needs to be balanced with discretion and forgiveness.

Enjoy the read. It is fascinating.

Texas Board tries to Conservatize history

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:43:00 +0000

Via Yahoo---

History is written by the victors. So it continues to be. Whatever bullcrap the Texas Board of Education recommends won't change the fact that education is always in the hands of the individual.

So people, don't accept what is told to you at face value. Do some research and figure out if it is so to the best of your knowledge.

It is what Socrates (or Plato talking like it was Socrates) meant by examining your life, homie. All those things you believe? How do you know if they are so?

So don't worry about them crazy country-music loving, hip-hop excluding, Latino culture reducing, McCarthy-lovin', civil rights hatin', word-changing sons o' bitches. Fuck 'em.

Another Lazy Link Post! ... Featuring Mike Fucking Leach!

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:20:00 +0000

Getting dunked on is embarrassing. Getting dunked over is worse. Still when you are arguably six feet tall you get some slack. Via SLAM ONLINE

First woman's football coach: Blog

Like anyone else, I hope she get's judged by the quality of her coaching and not anything else. Having said that, I wonder how much being a coach is being looked up to by your players, fans, parents of players etc. Will that be her biggest hurdle?

So this is the big deal? Shit. It's like he was reading off a Tech message board after a loss. It also was pretty damn motivating. As for the F-bombs: well I like cussing. Fuckin' love it. I don't mind it at all. On his coaching style and whether or not to cuss or yell etc: those are all decisions that have consequences (you may alienate some people) and doing the opposite also has consequences (you have trouble reaching those who like emotion). What the fuck ever. My only quibble is probably that for such a smart dude, (and the speech's concepts were solid) he is pretty in-eloquent. He kind of rambles and halfway through sounded like he got distracted by some other thought.

Still though, the thing that makes me call for change the most here, is the fact that it is fucking recorded. Can't anyone say anything without it being fucking digitally documented anymore? Not even in the fucking locker room. Shitballs.

Note: if for some reason you cannot watch this, go HERE and you can read DoubleTnation's transcript of the videos.

On the Ideal Internet and Newspapers

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:05:00 +0000

Hey, remember when you weren't so cynical? Remember back when people thought the internet could be used for more awesome things than watching porn or cats do stuff?

This is that awesome. This guy got fired from his beat writer job and decided to keep doing it.

He got donations from readers and used the money to cover the Nationals' spring training. Cool. Shit.

This is local 'zine type stuff. Life is for the enterprising. Although I feel for all theses guys that are getting canned and have families to support, I can't really do much about it. That kind of stuff happens to most industries eventually. It is just basic animal-kingdom type stuff. This dude didn't spend his time writing woe-is-me columns or get a crappy job to fill time (although he may have thought of that--who knows). Instead he goes out and does something. Gotta love that.

When I start to think about it, it seems like the answer to the problem plaguing the newspaper industry doesn't it? For a century now, newspapers' value has been timely, quality news and information. It has two customers: the advertisers and the readers. It attracts the readers with its content, and the advertisers with the readers. Somewhere along the line they figured out that the advertisers would pay to tell them who to attract. And thus was born bias. (Not really of course but its my blog and I can do that)

I suppose one reason why I think what this guy is doing is so awesome is because it is so pure. He wants to cover these things and the people reading want to read what he covers. He has the time and skill, they have the money. They trade. Boom. Blogness time. Its beautiful. Its capitalism.

It makes me see the inefficiencies in the paper industry more clearly. They kept trying to feed my the whole Lunchable when all I wanted was the crackers. Or the Ham. Or the dessert. See what I mean? I would guess the percentage of people who read the entire paper is small. Is it beneficial? Sure. If you did would you have the breadth of knowledge that you otherwise wouldn't? Of course. Is sticking to that idea screwing the industry? Yep.

Over the last few years, papers have tried charging differently for the product. They changed it. Made it smaller, or less colorful, with less writers, with more local, with less local, with more sports, with less sports, with local sports, with national sports, etc. The whole time there were entities that did each thing better. Sports? ESPN. Gossip? TMZ. News? The Internet. Local news? Ah. there you go. They should have (and still should) have split the thing up. There isn't as much money to be made. But its not like they are rolling in the dough right now is it?

That would be nigh impossible though. There was and is too much attachment to the old-way. It would be too weird for too many. Old people would complain. Poor people without internet would complain. So we are going to end up with an even bigger collection of conglomo-papers. We'll read the NYTimes-Dallas.

Unless ...

Some of these young journalists do something like this. There are people out there that really care stuff like local politics on the reporting side and on the reading side. Its a lot less expensive to pay for a guy to go to city-hall meetings etc. They could reasonably afford to be news-patrons. It is freaking brilliant. The best part is that there would be more reporting and less advertiser-appealing.

Having said all that, there would be problems, ranging from laziness, to outright libel. Still, its would be fun to see and I would definitely support it. Shoot, if I had any journalism skills I would turn meangreennation.com and mgnation.ning.com into that kind of thing. I don't so I won't. Also, no one really gives a crap about it.

Still, all you guys on gmg.com, would you be willing to (collectively) fork over 70-80 grand per year to support Vito as full-time MG Beat Writer?

Makes you think.

Links:

Nats Insider

ESPN story on the blogger

/via Deadspin

OK Go is awesome

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:30:00 +0000

Depression and the like.

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:57:00 +0000

I read this fascinating article in the NYTimes the other day. Definitely a must-read. It has elicited some opposite reaction. It is to be expected however, given the sensitivity of the subject.

Its still an entertaining read.

This is a surprisingly engaging joke.

If you like football, you need to be reading this.

/end lazy.

So what this guy says:

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:49:00 +0000

Movie Night: Wolfman Review

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:08:00 +0000

This portion of the review is courtesy of my wife because she is awesome:

So my husband and I went to see The Wolfman last night.

Overall I give it 2 out of 4 jalapenos.

I think the audience had a heavy influence on my movie watching experience. This particular audience was rather annoying. The young guy next to me alternated between chewing off his nails and spitting them out, and undoing and redoing the velcro on his wrist brace. The people behind me purchased the noisiest wrapped items the concession stands sell and proceeded, somehow, to unwrap it through the entire movie.

As for the movie itself, it was decent.

**********MAJOR SPOILER ALERT************

I enjoyed how they attempted to make it feel like an old-fashioned horror movie but the ending was a little anti-climactic for me. They threw in the romance element and made it seem as though they were building up a romance between Del Toro and Blunt so that it would make sense in the end when only "true love" could change the beast. But alas, this wasn't quite what happened. The beast gets killed any way. So what was the point in all of her research of Lycanology (or whatever it's called) and seeking out the wise old gypsy woman to help save her new man?
The only way they could have made up for this dud of a romance was for him to have ripped her head off just after he purrs in submission near the end when the angry mob is fast approaching.

Oh well. I did enjoy watching him transform. It was perfectly disturbing.

It gets a B- from me.

*********** END SPOILER **********************

Do I recommend it?

No.

Why?

If you plan on seeing this, just make sure its not your last $20 bucks and/or you aren't expecting a horror flick. Don't expect to be scared.

Aztecskin Says:

I wasn't scared. I wasn't enthralled. There is a cool scene here and there. I was mostly distracted by Benicio Del Toro's hair.

Which reminded me of Uncle Fester

But it was entertaining, which is all I'm asking for when I fork out cash-ola to these people. I liked the homages to the original Wolfman --apparently Del Toro is a huge fan-- and when I kind of figured out they were going that route I adjusted my expectations and was, well, entertained.

The transformations were pretty cool. I don't think it was groundbreaking but it didn't look stupid.

(SPOILER: that A. Hopkins head roll was totally lame though. Looked totally fake. END SPOILER)

As for the story, as my lovely wife alluded, it was kind of a love story/kind of a horror flick. Those kinds of things can be done, but it was not done very well here. Really? There was very little connection aside from like a crush between these two. Not enough to love. (Pauses. Looks at screenwriter)

All in all, I think I would rather be a Wolfman than a Vampire. No really. Vamps are kind of ghey and worst of all: played out.

Do I recommend it?

Yes.

Why?

Cuz Werewolves are awesome. Wait for a half-price day or a matinee showing though. Also if you like a little gore and maybe a little Emily Blunt side-boob. Oh - and bad hair.

Snow was awesome

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:00:00 +0000

It snowed in Denton. It was awesome.

Back to frolicking.

And working.

Hurm. Makes me wonder ...

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:09:00 +0000

EA Sports: NCAA Football 10 Photo

More on UTSA... From Me.

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:51:00 +0000

Pictured: Fake Helmet

So as promised: Here is more reaction sports fans.

This ain't going to be pretty.

Here are the requirements for being an FBS school (or Division 1-A for you fogies)

FBS requirements

To earn FBS status, schools must meet five requirements (UTSA already satisfies Nos. 1 and 2):

1. Sponsor a minimum of 16 varsity intercollegiate sports, including football.

2. Annually offer a minimum of 200 athletic scholarships, or spend at least $4 million on scholarships.

3. Schedule at least 60 percent of its football games against FBS members, including five home games.

4. Average at least 15,000 fans for home games in at least one of two reclassification seasons.

5. Provide an average of at least 90 percent of the maximum number of football scholarships (85).

All the above is from the Express-News.

First off, notice how it doesn't say you have to be any kind of awesome huh? Well, other than drawing 15000 fans a game. Now do you see why the good ol' Mean Green give away student tix?

It's cool though. The U used to do the same thing. Here is a lengthy breakdown of what it all means according to the Internet scroll down to TastyGreek's post. I'll summarize here a bit because it is freakin long:

Its gonna be hard. Other schools that did it had special circumstances and still had it pretty rough. UTSA should not alienate their conference if they want to do this right.

That pretty much sums it up. Lots of examples and things in the original post however.

What intrigues me most is that UTSA's AD Lynn Hickey said this

“We have worked really hard looking at all our options,” Hickey said. “As a start-up program in a major city, with the aspirations we have, the facility we have, the head coach we have, the best thing we can do is move as quickly as we can to FBS status. And until we’re in a conference that has FBS football, we need to stay independent.”

It makes me extremely curious to see the number that she was looking at. To the average fan, San Antonio produces decent talent every now and then and the city is pretty big population wise but nothing exceptional in any other areas. So its not like they are striking an untapped gusher here. Austin is next door. UT fans permeate the city. Shit, UT-SA is part of the UT System. Of course UTSA is aspiring to be a top flight school but realistically what can we expect?

I see something like UNT. Not only do the RoadRunners have to battle for a piece of the state educational fund pie with the other public schools in the state, but also with its own mother: the beast that is the University of Texas.

Its hard to fathom that the state government will ever let UTSA be competitive athletically with the big boys. UNT has a hard enough time.

The private schools have a better chance to compete than do the smaller public schools. There are a lot less regulations to deal with and most importantly, its easier to get money.

And money is everything cousin.

Big Mike's Coffee Shop- a Mother-CENSORED Review

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:09:00 +0000

A while back I talked about the new 24 hour coffee shop opening up. Well in my desire to move quickly and write timely reviews I just went there a few days ago. At the risk of sounding like the Daily's food snobs or whatever I'll tell u a little about it.

First: I like it. One of the problems I had with the Jupiter house is that it closes. Yeah, I mean, why close? Right? I did some research (took a guess) and found that it was (probably) because of the extra cost. Well whatever it is that made them change their hours from 24/7 to closing at 2am to closing at midnite. And I went from going there to not to not.

Secondly: It's spacious. Relatively. I mean in real space it's probably 3/4 of the size of Jupiter house (square) or Banter. However each table is sittable. At Banter you have two choices: rickety table or couches that will swallow you whole. Jupiter House gives you those high ass tables. I figure they are thinking that it's kinda like a library or some shit. I figure it's an exposed position. Probably because my dad was a spy --note: there is no evidence he was but if there were he wouldn't be a very good spy would he?-- I like to sit where I cannot be spotted easily. High seats like the ones here and at Hooters just don't appeal to me. And at least Hooters has .... well, hooters. JH has maybe hipster hooters which are covered in ironical clothing from seemingly 1973. So take your pick, homie.

Where was I? Oh yeah: sittable. Plus they have booths (plural but really I think there was only one) with big ass tables which is awesomeness.

The Bad:

Well if you really love you some Coca Cola then Big Mike's is not for you. I remember strolling by when it used to be Voyager's and seeing the anti-coke propaganda. It made me chuckle. Now they have it splayed on the table brochures. Makes me chuckle still. Not that I am anti-human rights or anything. It just makes me chuckle.

Big Mike's Philosophy

So don't ask for a coke and you should be good. I am kind of a night owl so getting there at midnight etc is awesome because I avoid the crowds. If it is crowded during the daytime (probably) then I don't know about it.

Overall: A. I will be going back again.

Sent from my iPhone

UTSA aiming for FBS in five years yo.

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:34:00 +0000

Wow. As a San Antonian, I am rooting for the hometown squad. Gotta love the aggressiveness. I still have my reservations of the quality of the kids on the field n such. SA is not regarded as an extremely talent rich area. Still, being in a talent-rich area doesn't guarantee successful recruiting hauls.

Most intruguing:

Beyond any serious resistance from the Southland, Hickey and other UTSA officials are confident the school can meet the five NCAA requirements for FBS membership.
The Roadrunners already offers the requisite number of sports (16) and overall athletic scholarships (200). They’ve raised more than $2 million in donations, well on target to fund the football scholarship pool of 85. The combination of a major metro population and the Alamodome’s capacity provides an ample base to reach the rolling attendance standard of 15,000 per home game.
The biggest concern had been scheduling. But UTSA associate athletic director Ross Cobb said the response among potential FBS opponents has been “extremely favorable.”
“I’d say 95 percent have said they’d definitely be interested in a home-and-home,” he said. “This is a great city, with a great facility, and a lot of these schools recruit in Texas. It just makes sense to most of the people we talk to.”
Though no contracts have been signed, Cobb said, the school is in “serious” discussions with up to 20 FBS teams.
“I was a little apprehensive, just because there are so few teams that (play independently),” Cobb said. “But I think being in this city, with the recruiting hotbed that Texas is, if anybody has a chance to pull this off it’s us.”

More reaction from your favorite north texas mescan later.

Also coming soon on meangreennation.com: some reaction to the Canales signing. If I will be doing a dynasty on NCAA 10 with NT and if anyone wants in on any of it. Thinking of getting a dude from each member of the Belt and battling it out for supremacy.

Spurs v Headbands er Mavs

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:40:00 +0000

Well done Headband. Well done. Spurs 103 Mavericks 112.

Watching the game I had a sense that it was just not Dallas' night and the Spurs were just on. When they shoot 63% in the first half and Headband is struggling --he looked slow and indecisive-- even for Dirk, that sounds like an easy win.

But Mediocre Teams find a way- to misuse a Dr. Ian Malcolm phrase. I can't shake the thinking that this Spurs team is just not that awesome. Sure Duncan is playing like its 2001 and we have everyone seemingly healthy but Richard Jefferson is roller coasting through the season, the defense get's all matador and allows 42 points in the 4th and we can't beat anyone who knows what to do with a basketball.

We made huge gamble trading defense for offense and experience for youthful athleticism. Wait. Gamble is the wrong word. Perhaps we underestimated the immediate benefits of the new guys versus the loss of experienced 'system' guys? I don't want to second guess the front office even if its starting to sound like I am. Despite what you've read so far, I still like this team ... on paper. I don't know how you can go wrong with this group here. It is a nice mix of young and old. Youth and experience. It's just not jelling.

I've heard people calling for Bowen and more 7 footers. Don't they know he isn't (and wasn't last year) the Bowen of 2005? Dude was slow and couldn't do the one thing that they needed him to do. As for the 7 footer part? Well that is a common NBA request. I've always wanted to make a run at Camby. Before that I wanted Ben Wallace (that was even more unlikely given his contract demands and the fact that he sucks ass now). I think DeJuan Blair is perfect though. He has that Malik Rose energy and he is young and coachable.

Again, I don't think its the talent assembled, or the coaching, or the youth, or the old, or injuries. I just think its time. We need time. They have to play together. The Spurs used to play above their talent level because of their uncanny execution defensively ( and sometimes offensively). Unfortunately, I think its that simple. Boring huh?

Texas v Alabama BCS National Championship

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:34:00 +0000

What do you say? It feels incomplete. Alabama is a very good team. Texas is a very good team. Too bad they couldn't battle it out with their full complement. Ingram was gimpy and Colt barely got a taste of the game.

I think it can be argued that the last two iterations of the Texas Longhorns were the best teams that never got a chance. Texas had a very good argument to play Florida last year, and didn't get to play with their best player this year. I am not making excuses for them. It's not like Gibbert was completely incompetent and the Texas defense, for all its gutsy play when they could have packed it in, still gave up huge clock- eating runs with six minutes to go and that huge Richardson run in the first half.

As a college football fan, not seeing the best versus the best is the lamest part. For Texas, that hangs more with them than the loss. It doesn't matter that some of the other guys didn't play well or dropped passes or gave up sacks. That is part of the game. Texas would have rather lost with their leader.

Other than the Colt McCoy injury, this game was awesome. Lots of drama. Like I said on twitter, Texas sure knows how to make a BCS title game entertaining.

Notes:

- Why is Lee Corso drunk? He is mumbling and sounds incoherent, especially at halftime.
- Although Texas and its fans would have been happy, Colt McCoy will never let this go. Totally sucks fot that guy. Again, especially since he thinks he could have gave it a shot.
- How much criticism would have Mack got if he played McCoy and he played poorly? How many calls for the freshman?
- The looming spectre of that shovel-interception. I feel it was more fluke than poor calling. Its like a fumbled handoff.
- Lee Corso: wtf is wrong with you?
- Texas fans who cheered Bradford's injury are getting a little karma huh? Given the two, I think maybe I would have take then Bradford one if I were Colt. That way you get to deal with it all season and maybe rationalize it all. From a team perspective, you gotta like your chances with 3:15 left, down three, given the circumstances.

Leach

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:25:00 +0000

I thought about writing something up about Mike Leach today. This comment on Deadspin says it all though.

It's blindingly obvious that James was not placed at risk at all here. In fact, I can thing of few things less dangerous than standing in a dark room dicking around on your cell phone--not just at a football practice, but in life in general.

It wasn't supposed to be therapeutic so any judgment the doctor has of the act "deviating from the medical standard of care" is completely irrelevant. It smacks or trying a little to find an angle from which to criticize Leach.

As for this new video--doesn't it kind of work in Leach's favor? Weren't we supposed to believe that Leach is just a sadist that flew off the handle because James had the audacity to get a concussion?

I don't have a horse in this race--I barely knew who Leach was before this incident--but watching a man get crucified by the bloodthirsty media for essentially having a player go stand in the corner and think about what he's done is a little disgusting.

Idaho v Bowling Green

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:58:00 +0000

Odds are that you didn't watch the end.

It was awesome however.

Check out this guy's break down of the final play and the the last minute of action.

Mike Leach gets canned, ESPN laughs

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:06:00 +0000

Mike Leach wasn't going to last his entire five year contract.

From what I've read, they were out to get him. There really are no winners here. Mike Leach will have the stain of getting fired. Tech and Athletic Director Gerald Myers has the label of an annoying, tightwad who lets petty quarrels interfere with the best interest of the university. Adam and Craig James now have the reputation of 'entitled' and 'helicopter dad', respectively.

Luckily for the latter, he has the might of ESPN to spin it in his favor. Already on ESPNEWS, reactions from players, and quips from talking heads are decidedly spinning it in the James' family's favor at least from my perspective.

For instance, the analyist (I cannot remember his name-- a fat dude) pretty much said Leach was wrong because James could have fell down in the shed. Seriously. This is ridiculous.

When the announcement of his suspension was first publicized, I had a feeling this would happen save for some miracle repair of the relationship. There were just two possibilities in my opinion: 1. They knew something egregious happened or 2. Tech found the excuse to get out from under their obligations.

From the other perspective, if Tech really had had enough of Leach, they were in for a long period of sucking it up if it werent for these allegations. Judging by the reactions of fans to this news, it would have taken a few more subpar seasons and maybe an loss to a FCS school for them to turn on their Pirate Captain.

The administration had already made the turn, however. Leach didn't do himself any favors by flirting with Washington and Tennessee and consistently undermining the administration and Myers in particular. Still this is hardly a firing offense. Or is it?

Hello Internet

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:54:00 +0000

It sure has been a while hasn't it.

Fall Semester was a biatch to be sure. Lots of shit to do. Lots of projects to be put off. With so many Obligations vying for my precious little lot of time the chaff has to be separated and discarded. But now time has allowed me to visit my once precious chaff.

So hello chaff. We should hang out some time.

Texas doesn't lose vs Nebraska

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:21:00 +0000

Wow. How unimpressive was that? Outside of losing outright, this was the only way they could have played themselves out of the national title picture.

What did we learn?

Colt is not wining the Heisman trophy. Texas is not a shoe-in ( but they are likely in). Alabama looks like the favorite for the title.

Colt: Dude, not only were you living off last years hype, but you had it in the bag if you would have put up decent numbers. I mean surely you could have had the equivalent of a 100 yard game? 225 yards and a score would have won you a statue buddy. But no. Instead you got beat up and pantsed by Ndamukong Suh and co. but still. That WTF moment where you casually put the fate of your squad in the hands of the Booth? Wow. You had your bad game versus Oklahoma. You just needed to be average in this game and you blew it.

Texas: Again, a lot of it had to do with that monster defense that Nebraska puts on opponents. Still, you had to do better than you did. This is probably mostly for Colt, with him being the signal caller. How about at least the 31 points Tech put up on them? I don't mind the lack of yardage. Not championship caliber huh?

Bama: They kicked the Tebow's ass. Ingram ran all over that vaunted defense and made me feel a whole lot better about UNT getting shellacked earlier in the season.

To come: my dream matchups for the Mythical National Title Game, and picks for second, third and fourth place!

Boise is cool

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:11:00 +0000

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Now-you-too-can-own-a-piece-of-Boise-State?urn=ncaaf,201913

Pointless: where I try to make sense of stupids

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:06:00 +0000

I happened upon this: Dallas cops have issued 38 'no English' tickets over the last three years.

That led to me reading this.

Which led to me feeling like this.

I thought about commenting but I figured 'Hey, I am not lame and have figured out a better, more customizable outlet for my internet-rants. I'll blog it!'

And so here we are.

Now then, we all know that the English-only crowd is full of smart people. However, now and again, they say stupid things. Like in this comment thread.

To spare you, I'll summarize a little:

English Onlys-- Damn Mexicans! With their small brains and criminal tendencies! Learn some damn english if you want to be an American! I hate how they make us speak spanish or even have a spanish option in places! There is spanish tv, spanish ads, spanish on my ATMs! I once heard some Mexcians talking shit about me in Spanish, see? Don't you see how that makes them all evil?? Also, Spanish is being pushed down my throat and mescans are dumb. that is all.

Spanish is cools- Yall are racist. Sotomayor. Also, we are going to be the majority assholes! woo!

Reasoned thinkers- Tolerance.

Thrown in there is a bunch of regurgitated facts and spiels from [insert favorite talking head]. Lots of people trying to sound smart and instead sounding pitiful.

So here is the official position of the NTM: (until I decide to change it of course)

I believe that the world is a competitive place. From the plant trying to fight for sunlight to the d-bag fighting for bar-space. Limiting yourself to one set of skills is very dangerous when the rules of competition change rapidly. Thus, I think that if you only know Spanish and want to succeed past menial labor jobs here you had better improve your skill set. Like anything else, however, this is a choice and shouldn't be legislated. In fact, I encourage you to stagnate because it means a little less competition for me.

With that said, there are different levels of competition. Focusing on any one comp similarly puts you in a disadvantaged position. 'Those people' who come over and are railed against (that means those immigrants everyone hates) can surely be useful. Alas, people are afraid of change.

This really isn't about the language. Just like it wasn't about jobs, the american way, or any of the other bullshit that was spouted by congressmen --- in the 1800s --- when they were trying to hold back the Eastern Europeans.

So giving well-thought out reasons why spanish language options are in South Texas rather than say, Swahili, (because its near Mexico, where they speak Spanish not Swahili) is pointless. As is pointing out the reasons why there are Spanish entertainment options-channels and radio stations etc- (because that is what they want, and people want their money). You can tell them that it is neither good nor bad.

But they don't want to hear that. They just don't like the mescans.

And to those unreasonable fuckheads I say, ' Fuck You for hating me and people who look like me.'

And that is the end of it.

Groups

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:01:00 +0000

So I learned in organizational behavior that groups don't start really working until half-way of their alloted working time. That is pretty much what is going on with my two groups now.

That is the intelligent way of saying it. The other way is that we haven't done shit.

It's weird too because I feel that I have been swamped with shit to do. It's been a whole lot of busying myself with meetings and deadlines but I feel like we haven't accomplished shit.

Eh.

Right now one of my groups is composed of a bunch of guys who are content to let others do the heavy lifting and just want the grade.

I don't really blame them. I feel the same way.

Still, whatever part of me that is type-A wants to do the best possible.

I can't help but think I will disappoint that part of me again.

That is an annoying way of saying that although I'd like to put it the hours and effort required for getting a bad-ass grade, I think I will instead give in to my lazy inertia and settle for what I can get.

Eh.

Look at me on the internets having fun

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:03:00 +0000

I googled myself today. Not a whole lot of results for me. A few guys with my name and links to their profiles on Facebook or their website.

I googled* my other name though, and got a lot more interesting results. What's my other name you ask? Aztecskin. That one. The one I came up with for my AIM name back in high school when things like that were cool. As time went on I started using it a little more as usernames for other sites because its a lot easier to remember one or two different names for ten or twenty sites than one for each am I right?

Damn right I said googled.

With Google being as all-seeing as it is, it has kept track of my internet activities. Namely, my username activities.

Let's take a look shall we?

First hit:

What's this? Its the Official Twitter of the NT Mescan! Yes, the favorite twitter feed of annoying marketers everywhere! Actually, its more marketers that pick up words in my tweets like 'Denton' 'Fuck' etc. Oh those bots!

Second hit:

That is when I signed up for zuda comics to comment on a crappy webcomic. I hardly ever get on this but since it is incredibly popular and owned by DC it gets a lot of hits and therefore a nice pagerank. Those three friends? Those are creators who friend people who comment on their stuff. I haven't been on in forever and there were like two comics that I liked (out of fifty). They update every month and from what I hear they have really upped the quality.

Third:

This had two entries because that first one: Ate-What's aztecskin eating is a twitter thing. Not sure exactly how it works- I don't use it but it seems related to my twitter account.

The bottom result is from GMG.com. That was the link to the game I played Phil Friend in NCAA 10. Good times. I've tried to do it again but I have diminishing returns on popularity. Don't know if I ill continue that stuff. Kind of a headache to put together really.

Fourth:

This is from the IGN boards. Since all of my friends are goobers and either don't have a ps3 or just don't like sports 'all that much' (I'm looking at you Jim) to get an online dynasty going I have to turn to the Interwebz. This is that. You can see if you follow the thread, how lame it was. See all those dudes with like only 24 posts? Those are the guys that kill those things. Lame. Anyway, Online Dynasty is very overrated. Maybe if my goober friends get a ps3 already and stop mooching it will be more fun: looking at you Jay.

Fifth and sixth:

Same shit but from last year. This was not started by me but by some other dude and it too died very quickly.

Ah the Ubuntu forums. I signed up to post one thing. and it is on the second page of the results. Wow. Tells you how freakin popular that stuff is. The MGN and NTM links are from when I did the MGN vs the competition stuff. Probably because it was linked to, visited, and linked out of so many times by so many different people.

There are more. Nothing interesting, just self-indulgent comments on other blogs. You know. Standard stuff.

Eh.

Buzzwords

admin@ntmescan.com (AztecSkin) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:21:00 +0000

I also hate them. Being in business school means I hear alot of this.

Gizmodo.