WHY!!!!

Posted by bert at 03:17 PM on May 1, 2006 in ME.

why is everyone getting married.

1.)  they're too young

2.)  I don't want to buy so many gifts...

3 spoke it

ok.. back to immigrants

Posted by bert at 03:29 PM on May 1, 2006 in ME.

hey

just in case you are still in your closet.  please come out of the closet...

but.. immigrants are marching and protesting and banging drums.. in regards to their right to paint buildings, or do construction, or just get paid.

now what i don't get is that if you were the government.. and you wanted to rid the country of illegal immigrants... wouldn't you think these protests would be a good place to start looking?

and then there's something about disorderly public conduct as grounds...

yeah.. i know it's mean, but...........

/devil's advocate

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NBA Playoffs

Posted by bert at 09:47 AM on May 4, 2006 in ME.

it's always amazing to watch a team come together and just start to gel.  I got to see it when i was growing up in Chicago back in the late 80's (has it been this long?).

I was introduced to basketball by watching the 1984 slam dunk competition with my best friend at the time, and the only black kid my age in the remote area, Jerome.  Man.. i wonder where he is these days.. he moved to alabama and that was it. 

anyway.. we witnessed Jordan go from a dominant scorer to making his entire team play better, by being tougher, taking tough hits from the Pistons, and never complaining about it.   He was there for the growth of Scottie Pippen, who became mr. versatility and a lockdown defensive player that was uber agile and had a transitional fast break game to boot.   When he (scottie) added a 3-point shot, he became All-NBA first team.  Doug Collins brought in craig hodges (and already had John Paxson) who became the guy who people would rotate off to double MJ.   Hodges/Paxson only stroked 3-pointers at a 40-45% clip.  (this later became Steve Kerr.. and soon to be the JJ Redick mode).   No true dominant big man, but they had hard-nosed tough defensive presences to guard the paint.  Horace Grant and Bill Cartwright.  later it was Dennis Rodman and the most random tall white boy collection known to man.

point is.. Jordan realized that he couldn't do it himself day in and day out.  He needed better teammates, and teammates that could hit the clutch shot (like Steve Kerr's huge 3).  Scottie Pippen was perfectly happy playing second fiddle to MJ, and clamped down defensively.  Both passed out of double teams, both led the floor, and both involved all their teammates and Phil Jackson conned all the supporting cast to play hard, play smart, and most importantly play great defense.

 they won 6 championships.  not bad.

now lets look at today.

Kobe is a scorer.  he's freakishly atheletic, and can jump out of anything.   His development is a little behind MJ, in that he was spoiled having Shaq around.

But look closer at teh Lakers..  Lamar Odom is playing 2nd fiddle, and is providing the ultra atheletic small forward that gives mismatch headaches to other coaches (only two players comparable in the league to this.. Garnett and Marion).   Lamar is completely outplaying Marion (he's all hustle anyway).  Lamar is playing amazing D, and is passing and doing all the small things.  He's got all hustle, team orientated Luke Walton to hit a clutch shot, slash an open lane, do whatever it takes to win.  (plays great team defense).   and now kwame brown that's actually playing weakside defense and make a physical presence on all rebounds.  

Kobe is deferring more situations to his teammates.. and his teammates are responding by playing harder, and being more involved.  The team defense is amazing, oh and look.  The series is a physical one.  Kobe is taking his shots and reveling in them.  they are gelling.. and maybe not this year.. but within the next 4 or 5.. (when Bynam gets a body and maybe turns 20?),  they will win a championship.  No doubt about it..  watch out if JJ Redick slips to them, because that is really all they are missing.

and who's coaching?  Phil.  This guy is a friggen genius.  and you know what?  Watching them play like this..  it's amazing.. I love watching this style of ball. it's beautiful, and everyone else should enjoy it too.

the only team more fun to watch right now?   The current Chicago Bulls, who are just so untalented that they don't know they are, and they just keep winning despite not having any of the greatest players of their time.  Just hardnosed and tenacious.  I LOVE the BULLS now.

but.. the Lakers are looking to be a great great team.  and it hurts to say.. but if kobe keeps playing like this, I'll root for him too.

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Cinco de Mayo

Posted by bert at 10:22 AM on May 5, 2006 in ME.

....

so at work right now.. there's a marriachi band.

 we have an important telecon going on.. and the friggen band is blasting..  our customer, the government is not happy.   becuase they're hearing it over teh phone lines too.  and..

well.. ok.. we know its mexican celebration day.. but i don't remember getting chinese serenades for Chinese New Years.

 hell just give me labor day off next year.

3 spoke it

I'm jealous of Michelle Wie...

Posted by bert at 04:27 PM on May 5, 2006 in ME.

ok stop laughing.. i'm bored silly at work, reading random news on google and read.. "michelle wie makes mens cut."

so seriously?  how old is this chick?  like 15?  and she's kicking the crap out of GROWN MEN?  in golf?   she already makes significantly more money than me?  has a better stroke than me?  and i'll be she could prolly bench more than me too.  (not to mention she's actually somewhat and yes... creepily attractive.)

but jeez.. she's a FREAK!

how can she do all of this at her age.  (she'll prolly get into Stanford if she wanted too...  on second thought she won't go because Nike already pays her $129380912873901283081209312803812093812987598127012 dollars to wear their crap)

 yeah.. she has her own wardrobe line from Nike too..  i have one singular dri-fit shirt that I have to wash since i might want to wear it again.  why does she get free nike crap? so unfair.. she already has enough money to buy it.. yet still gets nothing but free crap.  

 ok...  yeha..so i'm jealous of a 16 yr old girl.. this is so sad...

 

1 spoke it

NC State has a coach!!!

Posted by bert at 03:55 PM on May 6, 2006 in ME.

read this.. can't take credit for it.. but it's the funniest thing i read this week.

The monthlong search by N.C. State for a men's basketball coach has prompted officials from the Jimmy V Foundation to offer the school use of their tag line, "Don't Give Up. Don't Ever Give Up."

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and in today's news

Posted by bert at 09:50 AM on May 8, 2006 in ME.

David Blaine is a nutjob =)  what scarey hands..  if you were a girl, would you want him to touch you with those monsters?

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Stafford loan

Posted by bert at 04:14 PM on May 10, 2006 in ME.

so i got approved for my stafford loan today.

no big news along the KFBS front.

just ready for summer school *gasp* (huh?!?) to start.  july 5th it begins.

 

things planned in anticipation.

May 26th - 28th:  Vegas going away bash.  a party with my 20 closest Cali friends.  

June 1-11th:  Tokyo, Japan.   Party with luke is the asian economic capital. If you have any specific requests get them in now.  

June 24th - 29th:  The dream.   WSOP weekend will be gamblefest 2006, leading into playing the $1500 buyin (event #2 at the WSOP) NL holdem event.   Gotta prune my game into survivorship mode.

June 29th - July 3rd:  The drive.   Mr. Ly's place in the desert, followed by the taste of chicago (can i really go from phoenix to chitown in one day?), to the big apple (that'll suck), to NC.  well.. that's the plan.

and props to the asia-bound sister of mine.  Enjoy, and don't bring back avian flus and what not.

3 spoke it

yay for idiots

Posted by bert at 09:05 AM on May 11, 2006 in ME.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2440983

 

surely he had something better to do with his time?

1 spoke it

the KROQ weenie roast

Posted by bert at 11:09 AM on May 14, 2006.

We went to the weenie roast yesterday (me, jess, denny, christine).  to watch one heck of a bill board

notables include .  Damien Marley, HIM, Taking back Sunday, Panic at the Disco, Dashboard Confessionals, Rob Zombie, Angels and Airwaves (one of my favorite new bands), AFI, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

 Definitely worth th $60 ticket we bought.

AVA was sick.  a bit preachy but SICK,

AFI always good live.

but... hot damn.. if the highlight of the night wasn't the act immediately after AFI.

Special Guest.. Dave Grohl.

 

so the set changes and we see a completely empty set... and theres some white dude on a chair with a guitar.  and he's just sitting there... we're looking at him and saying.. "that's not matisyahu" and all of a sudden he starts strumming the intro chords to Everlong.. and everyone is going nuts.  he goes on to perform My Hero, Best of You, and a few others..  talking about his wife giving birth to his first kid... and buying crazy harmonica stuff..  it was insanity.. and what could follow that?

that was worth the price of admission by itself

 

oh yeah.. and matisyahu just plain sucks.

1 spoke it

UNC stuff

Posted by bert at 10:24 PM on May 15, 2006 in Kenan-Flagler.

i paid my asw deposit ($2450) this is summer school.

and then i got my onyen (why the heck do you people call it that.. it sounds like a friggen ONION.  who wants anything to be called after a veggie that makes you cry?)

and now i have an e-mail address (gasp) -  bktong@unc.edu.

omg..  i've branded my UNC life already (i mean.. whats next? update my friendster?  what? no.. no.. will refuse to join that....)

I have my stafford loan =P  Yay for 18k loan that is tax deferred for 2 years  Lord knows what i would do with that... maybe i'd be smart to buy into blackboard since it's god-awful it's bound to succeed

i wonder how many people want watch grey's anatomy with me next year at UNC.   i know of 3 already =P

Anyone in the area want to see Angels and Airwaves June 9th in Charlotte?  Taking back sunday is playing with them too.

Need people to run pickup games with.

6 more weeks till sweet tea.

hehe..  ok...   now.. where am i finding another $18k for my 1st tuition.

 

 

1 spoke it

Mocking the idiots

Posted by bert at 10:59 AM on May 16, 2006.

i wish i was in a place where i could mock the idiots too..

http://altoonacurve.com/news/?id=5227 

 

just too funny.

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Davinci code outrage

Posted by bert at 03:28 PM on May 16, 2006 in ME.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/16/film.davinci.protests.ap/index.html

ok so. i get that religious groups are a little annoyed that this doesn't portray the current christian sentiment of what Jesus is like and what not.  I don't think Dan Brown is going out of his way saying that Mary and Jesus were married and have kids that are a part of the Merovingian bloodlines, etc.

But seriously folks.. WTF?  why are you protesting a movie/book that is just meant for entertainment sakes.   Go protest useful stuff.. like...  the poor hungry folk in Africa.  or the poor hungry people in Lousiana.  Or the poor hungry people in Indonesia.  Or... i can keep going forever.

Look.. it's a movie.. that takes some biblical stories and then some biblical conspiracies, and spins a tale that is VERY INTERESTING and FUN to read into a story about hunting after the Holy Grail.  

oh yeah.. and in case they forgot.. when they picked up their copy of Davinci code to read.. they too bought it from the FICTION side of Barnes and Nobles.

where were the scottish/brittish protests about Braveheart and its historical inaccuracies?

or Christian protests against any devil movie for exaggerating the look of the devil in stupid movies like...  oh.. all stupid movies that portray the devil.

Or cartoons for drawing a frumpy looking God?

Or ex-presidents who claim to live Christian (catholic neh?) lives and then get blowjobs from interns that are uglier than sin?

Or presidents that lie about reasons to attack Iraq

Or death metal bands

Or R&B singers who sing about getting laid left and right

Or Britney Spears whose popping out babies like it's in fashion

Or Brad Pitt for divorcing his wife so he could trade up for an Angelie.

Or Catholic priests for.. ok too easy.

Or just their own plain sinful lives that they all beg forgiveness for because just like EVERYONE ELSE... they are not perfect and need the sacrifice of Christ to gain salvation.

um.. ok.. i'm ranting again.

anyway.. DaVinci Code will do a few things.  It will get people (a lot of kids) into doing things after reading it.  which by itself is an establishment. 

1. IT WILL MAKE MORE PEOPLE READ!
2. Those interested will start to look into some of the 'facts' and come to their own conclusion, teaching those people how to do historical research of one form or shape.
3. it will make people discuss the bible/Jesus more.  more discussion about Jesus in this world certainly can't hurt.
4. did i mention it gives people more opportunity to read?

 

wow.. ok no more ranting.

5 spoke it

Angels and Airwaves

Posted by bert at 02:37 AM on May 22, 2006 in ME.

it's been over a week now since I saw them live....

and about 3 or 4 weeks prior to that since i've downloaded their new CD.   and i'm still listening to the whole thing on repeat....   a lot....  I really like their sound. 

 anyway.. i'm promoting their record, "We Don't Need To Whisper"

which comes out tomorrow.  anyway.. get it.. or download it.  or something.. ok.. enjoy

Currently listening to: Angels and Airwaves - A little's enough

2 spoke it

moving update

Posted by bert at 10:28 AM on May 23, 2006 in ME.

just broke the 10k barrier in costs...

with $5k japan trip, moving van, car moving, and opening parlay of tuition to come...

 *sigh* 20k comes at end of the month.

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GO WOLFPACK!!!

Posted by bert at 03:36 PM on May 23, 2006 in ME.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/ncaa/05/23/bc.fbc.immigrationraid.ap/index.html/

of course..  NC State is the forefront of social issues yet again. =P

 

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recaps and such

Posted by bert at 11:12 PM on May 29, 2006 in ME.

the final vegas trip is now said and done.

clubbing was a blast.  we ended up going to Body English (instead of Tao), but thats ok I guess.  dropped $40 to get in, and another 90'ish on drinks.  But music couldn't be much better (well.. they could have not played that Kelly Clarkson song.)   I love a club that will mix in the random 80's rock song to string together dance beats.   and i still maintain that there is no better club sing along than Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer.   

gambling:  yeah, not my weekend.  never got a run going anywhere on any game.  Down 4 digits =\.

girls:  picked up a girl.  hahha.. jk.  nope.. just let my friends beleive it.  I ran in to Globug (from seattle) around 4 a.m.  at the cafe in the trop.  How random.  Wish I ran into her sooner so we could have danced together at Body English (they were there too.) 

pool:  sucked.  it was cold and windy.  but that means...  HOT TUB!.  gotta love LV Hottubs =P

Food:  i got to eat my Wynn Champagne brunch again, so I'm happy

people:  I love my friends.  What am I going to do in NC without them.  oh God... i'm goign to miss Cali...

celebs:  Kevin James is a lot fatter in RL than he looks on TV =P.  he plays high limit 3 card poker.  like shaq.  only shaq is funny cuz his wife is the one who plays $1k chips, while he's still playing $5 a hand.  Gotta love Shaq.

6 spoke it

And I bid thee farewell....

Posted by bert at 12:02 AM on May 31, 2006 in ME.

tomorrow night i head to LA to stay with my buddy steve.   Thursday morning, mad early in the morning, I hop a beautiful Air Korea (huh? i'm a chink flying to japan on air korea... go figure...)  flight to Narita to hang out with whats left with Luke (from duke).  

So.  basically here's the checklist of crap to do.

• Sony Tower
• AKIHABARA
• Mt. Fuji
• Osaka
• Shinjuku shopping
• Shibuya
• Ginza (can't afford anything here right?)
• Roppongi (and roppongi hills)
• Kyoto
• oh and partying
• and sushi
• and tebanyaki
• sukiyaki
• udon
• yakitori
• yes.. i love food
• basically i want to make sasabune look bad.
• which leads me to....
• Puffer Fish!!!
• and...
• La Rochelle

i gave up on links

 

oh yeah...  and that means one thing...

i officially have less than 2 weeks left in Beautiful SoCAL =(....  who's for dinner at Yardhouse June 16th.

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