UND-NDSU - From The Bunker

The scene from the movie "From The Bunker" is one that shows Adolf Hitler going on an angry tirade, yelling at his top officers while others overhear the anger in the hallway. It has been 'dubbed' many times in a comical way to portray Hitler as a fan of a particular team/school that might have hit some bad times recently. Someone from this region put one together where Hitler is seen as a UND Fighting Sioux booster/alum and is unhappy about the decisions being made at UND that seem to put UND's long-time inner-state rival, NDSU, as the top athletic school in the state...

I think it is pretty funny for the situation...other videos that I have seen have the words better match Hitler's German pronunciation, but all-in-all not too bad. Because this area is ultra-conservative the video made front page news in the paper, was taken down from most places on the internet and some see it as a correlation with North Dakota universities and Nazism...they must not have a sense of humor because I think it is more funny then an attempt to align North Dakotans with Hitler...

The video has since reappeared...to be safe, I downloaded the video myself and am posting it here...enjoy.

WoWing It...

I have begun to play World Of Warcraft...yes, the online sensation, I am going to check it out and see what the 'buzz' is all about... but the reason I am starting to play now is because it is free. I do not like, nor do I think I will ever pay a monthly fee to play a game, which has been the case with WoW...at least up until now. Now, independent WoW servers are starting up allowing people to jump on and play on their server for absolutely free, which is what I needed to hear to try it out. The server, right now, doesn't have a huge online population but by all appearances that will likely change as word gets out that you can now play World Of Warcraft for free...

Black Gold In The Barren Wasteland

Prediction: The Barren Wasteland that I reside in is on the verge of becoming the wealthiest state in the union. Unless oil prices descend to pre-21st century levels North Dakota is going to be an unbelievable place to reside in for the near future...

With oil prices going through the roof, it causes everything to become more expensive...yes. But is the one commodity that everyone will purchase no matter what? Food. That's right, people need to eat and no matter the state of the economy people will continue to buy food and that is what North Dakota is all about...making food. Wheat prices are at all-time highs and a few folks I know in the 'biz' are really raking it in...for a change.

Oh sure, food prices may eventually plane out or even rescind...but they just found 2.1 billion barrels of oil in North Dakota...well, they didn't just find it, but because there was never a need to survey the Bakken formation (the name of the oil reserve) because oil was so cheap, they finally decided to see about how much oil was down there and low and behold we hit the jackpot. I am going to keep my eye on who has drilling rights out west and invest in any of those oil companies because they will be pumping oil in this state for quite some time...

North Dakota should leave the United States to form it's own country because WE'RE RICH BIATCH!!!

This state is a very conservative state...we have a budget surplus and we are nice folk....it will be interesting to see how we start throwing all this oil money around that is surely going to come our way... also, where this oil is at is in some of our poorest, least populated counties...the mid-70's had a small oil boon that injected life into those communities but that has long dried up...the boon we will likely see this time around should be more impressive and sustained...

Vikings: Super Bowl XLIII Champions

Living in a region where you are not a fan of the 'local' team is oftentimes very interesting...then you add the fact that I live in Minnesota Viking land, then it becomes even more interesting... for you see, as long as I have been alive the Minnesota Vikings have led their fans on the ultimate roller coaster ride...taking them to unbelievable highs but then come crashing down in almost an instant... 4 time Super Bowl losers with 0 wins, in 1998 the Vikes set the single season scoring record and with Daunte Culpepper and Randy Moss the Vikes looked to be unstoppable on their way to the Super Bowl but an overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship ended that dream...just to 'highlight' a couple of Viking despairs...

So a person would think that the majority of Viking fans would approach each and every season with some optimism but also with reasonable expectations...everyone can hope that their team will go to the Super Bowl but should they expect it? Absolutely not... But Viking fans are a different breed...never have I met so many fans of one team that have the same skewed expectations...and that may be due to the local media pushing a point of view but I find it hard to believe that ALL Viking fans belong to some sort of brainwashing clan...of course there are some exceptions to this rule, like my father. A lifelong Viking fan but goes into each and every NFL season with absolutely no hope of the Vikes doing good and for 30 years now has not been disappointed...his famous line to me is "Don't ever bet on the Vikes." Sure, you can bet on the Vikes and win some money, but the second you think the Vikes are the "sure thing", a total lock...they will no-doubtedly disappoint.

So the Vikes sign Jared Allen yesterday, yes a notable acquisition for the team...you then turn on the local radio stations and I was expecting hear Viking glee about Allen and how well he will improve the team...it is to be expected. But is this what I hear? No... the first thing I hear when tuning in the sports talk station is a caller discussing the trade with the talk show host...the host asks the caller "Would you be satisfied with a 14-2 season for the Vikes next year as they are now picked to do?" - well, first let me address the question itself...14-2 as they are now picked to do? Who is NOW picking the Vikes to go 14-2? Oh sure, it is probably the host of the show but are you kidding me? You already have the Vikes picked to go 14 and 2? Well, good to know you don't set the bar high at all... but here's the best part... the caller replies "Well, that would be alright and I wouldn't be TOO disappointed." Yes...that wouldn't be too disappointing for Viking fans because you see, the host actually is trying to lower the expectations of the fans of the Vikings to be 14-2 but the fans have already penciled in a perfect season for the Vikes and Super Bowl champs. Now sure, if this was just one person or an isolated incident, I would rule this as just a extreme case of homeritis. But callers continued to call in and essentially itterate that there should be no reason that the Vikes aren't the best team in the NFC if not the NFL!

Well Viking fans have the offseason to dream and prognosticate as to how well the team should be...but I don't know if there is any NFL team that I could definitively say will go 14-2 next year...nor would I even want to 'jinx' my favorite team by making such a extravagent claim...

I have talked to a couple of Viking 'realists' (as I like to refer to them) and are they pleased with the Allen signing, yes. But they are also quick to point out the last time they signed a player that was going to take them to the Super Bowl - Herschal Walker - things didn't work out so well for the Vikes but their trading partner, the Dallas Cowboys, sure liked the deal.

The thing I don't like about this deal, the most, is the benefactor of all the new talent will be the Chargers division rival the Chiefs... if this trade is the fuel for the Chiefs to dominate the AFC West in the near future it will force me to develop some hatred towards the Vikes...right now, only their fans bother me...even despite last year's embarassing Charger-Viking game I witnessed, I really haven't developed that much angst against the team itself...but that could certainly change!

WTH Is Going On?

What the hell am I up too? My blogging has really tapered off lately because I have successfully sunk into 'sloth-mode'. During the work year, my busiest time is from August through March and although I do have a few events the will occupy my time, there is no question that from August through March I am usually working almost every weekend and at times, multiple events each week. For some reason, this year, it seems that I have allowed myself to just be lazy for a while...and I have really enjoyed that. I'm trying to figure out how I can no longer work at all...working sucks! But until I can figure out how I can no longer work I will have to remain a slave to the grind... so here are a couple of just quick comments on a few topics...

- The NCAA Frozen Four, yes that was like 2 weeks ago - UND completely and were utterly embarrassed by Boston College in the semifinals. J.P. Lamireux, the UND goalie who led the nation in goal against averaged picked the wrong game to sieve out in as the Sioux went down 4-0 in the opening period and go on to lose 6-1 in a game UND was out of early. The Sioux were completely out-skated and had no answers for Boston College. It was disheartening to watch to say the least.

- In NHL playoffs, I was following the Wild-Avalanche series because I was hoping to try and get to a playoff hockey game this year...but the Wild lost their series Saturday night. After the loss on Thursday night, I was skeptical of the Wild that they could come back and force a game 7...the Avalanche looked like a better team for the entire series and the Wild were lucky to take 2 from the 'lance.

Watch Live Sports And Movies Online

Living in the barren wasteland that I do, a person finds ways to entertain themselves while...let's just say for hypocritical sake, a person was stuck working a 3 day circus event and was stuck with only their local cable television company, which is debatable the worst in the world, and the internet to kill time for, again let's just say hypothetically, 3 consecutive days. So after realizing that cable television isn't going to cut it, relatively fast, you then turn to the internet...but you really don't have time to sit and read or play or really devote your time to the internet...you are looking for the internet to entertain you.

So, I have stumbled across a couple of the greatest sites ever, yes, I mean EVER! At least until they are taken down by the internet police...

The first one is MyP2P and is your one-stop site for finding out where to watch live sports. Sure, they also feature live television and other features, but I think the most viewed and sought after sectors is the live sporting events. You can watch your favorite teams over the internet...but note, you will need to download some free 3rd-party software, like TVAnts, to view the games and there is some Asian text/scrolls in the windowed version of whatever you are watching...but the games are straight from America with all the American broadcast elements...ie: ESPN.

The other site is Watch-Movies.net. Here you can go and actually watch movies online! And not just any movie, they have the newest releases already available for viewing. Some of the quality is bootlegish, but can you really complain about quality if you aren't paying for it?

Both web sites have handy 'rate' systems that give a person an idea of how reliable the link is that you will be watching...both sites may have multiple sources to view whatever you want but some are dead while others will be working just fine, so it is very helpful to find the best, most reliable stream that you can get...

If anything, I think of how handy it will be to pull up a game that isn't being played in your viewing area on the 'ole internet and still get to follow your favorite teams(s)!

SNL - Ashton Kutcher Videos

Videos from the SNL episode hosted by Ashton Kutcher, 4/12/08. Only 3 have been released, so not much available from this episode. The SNL Digital Short was especially weak...

Cold Open: Petraeus Hearings


Ashton Kutcher monologue:


Death By Chocolate 1-3:

New PC

I've been a bit preoccupied with the new laptop I just got... it is pretty sweet, dual core 2.0, 17" screen...so I haven't been posting too much lately...but then again, nothing really has grabbed my attention lately either...

In addition to the new laptop, I quickly purchased a HDTV/NTSC USB Tuner, so anywhere I can get a television signal I'll get tv on the laptop - as well as any other pc. With digital television soon to be the norm, the picture quality is fantastic, it only makes sense. You know how handy it will be when the Stanley Cup playoffs are on and I will be at some function that would prevent me from checking on the score/game...well worry no more!

Let The Games Begin

The Olympics are this year in China and since being announced there has always been the underlying conversations regarding the amount of protests that will happen surrounding the Olympic events. Well it didn't take long, the Olympic torch couldn't even make it out of Paris before officials of the torch run put out the flame themselves amidst protesters. The Chinese government has said that there won't be any global backlash to the claims of mistreatment in Tibet and I think everyone that is cashing in on the event wanted to believe that. I am beginning to think that these Olympic Games will have more non-sports related stories then sports related stories and the potential for a huge riot very likely if things spiral out of control quickly during the games...

Winter Won't Quit

2 weeks ago all the snow from the winter had about all melted away and then the next day it snowed... a lot. Well, after 2 weeks of some nice weather the snow had all but melted away again. On Saturday, the kids and I were outside, riding bike, playing and enjoying a nice spring day. Yesterday, you could have swore we were in the middle of January in the midst of a snow-storm. The area looks like it did in the middle of December, with piles of snow everywhere and the streets covered in ice. The temperature for the area will be mild so it isn't likely that this snow will be around for very long...but come on...let's close the book on this winter season...it can rain but no more snow!

SNL - Christopher Walken Videos

Here are the videos from this past weekend's Saturday Night Live episode hosted by Christopher Walken.

Bill And Hillary Cold Open:


Surprise Party:


SNL Digital Short: Laser Cats 3


Meet The Family - Christopher Walken goes to a family reunion.


Weekend Update: Pregnant Man

You Suck At Photoshop #10

This episode is fairly dark... Donnie's life continues to suck...

Sioux Rally To Win Region

I usually make a note to let everyone know to cheer for the UND Sioux during the NCAA hockey tournament, which started last week.

The Sioux easily beat Princeton in their opening match but then faced Wisconsin, on their home ice none-the-less, for a spot in the frozen four. After the first 2 periods I was ready to have a blog entry that would have focused on how the NCAA tried to tilt the game into Wisconsin's favor...first, by letting them into the tournament with an at large bid which many have argued could/should have went to Mankato or a more deserving school and then second, conveniently putting Wisconsin in the midwest region which is being played in Wisconsin. And then as the game began, the officiating seemed to again favor the Badgers getting a charity tripping call which set up Wisconsin's first goal (just as the power play was ending). The Badger's second goal was just a bad break for the Sioux and after 2 periods the score was 2-0 Badgers. The Sioux had almost a full 2 minute power play to start out the third period and after they failed to score I was close to writing them off...and then, almost as if on cue, the bar that I was watching the game at had 1 guy, who all of sudden decided he was going to be obnoxious and start cheering for Wisconsin...really loud. Well the Sioux then quickly scored 2 goals and that was the last we saw and heard from that guy. On to overtime where Andrew Kozek made a great play to score the game winner in which the Sioux clearly outplayed the Badgers in the third period and overtime session. T.J. Oshie is freakin' good...at times it looked as if the puck was glued to his stick as he weaved in and around Badger players. Ryan Duncan had a great tournament...scoring a hat trick against Princeton and then the tying goal against the Badgers. J.P. Lamoureux was solid in net all weekend...and it will be interesting to see if Kozek starts on the Oshie-Duncan line - where he was played to start the third period on - you could clearly see the energy and speed he contributed and likely a big reason Wisconsin ended up losing...

Sioux move on to the Frozen Four for the fourth straight year and play Boston College. I saw the end of that B.C.-Miami game and B.C. just got lucky...Miami was outplaying B.C. for most of the third period and overtime but anything can happen in overtime and Boston College escapes with a victory.