2006 September | Citizen Jake

Monthly Archive for September, 2006

NFL Week Three Picks

Published

on September 23, 2006

. 2 Comments

Its that time of the week again, time to make awful NFL picks that are almost definitely guaranteed to lose you money just like they've lost me money. Actually thats not entirely true but things aren't going as well as I'd hoped. I keep letting my heart get in the way of my head (see: Redskins, Washington) and that in turn is affecting my wallet. Anyway last week I went 8-8 against the spread, just like the week before, and 11-5 picking outright winners. I should stick to just picking the winners but I can't help myself. So we'll give it another shot this week. Here are my picks, with more money then I can afford to bet riding on several of these picks. Lines from Sportsbook.com as of 4:00 pm on Saturday.

Home teams in CAPS

Jets (+5.5) over BILLS

Bengals (+1.5) over STEELERS

Jaguars (+7) over COLTS

DOLPHINS (-10.5) over Titans

Redskins (-4) over TEXANS (I know, I know)

Bears (-3.5) over VIKINGS

Panthers (-3) over BUCS

Packers (+7) over LIONS

Ravens (-6.5) over BROWNS

Rams (+4.5) over CARDINALS

Giants (+3.5) over SEAHAWKS

Eagles (-6) over 49ERS

Broncos (+6.5) over PATRIOTS

Falcons (-3.5) over SAINTS

And the outright winners will be: Jets, Bengals, Colts, Dolphins, Redskins, Bears, Panthers, Lions, Ravens, Cardinals, Seahawks, Eagles, Patriots, Falcons

Season to date:

Outright winneers: 23-9

Against the spread: 16-16

Free the Birds

Published

Jake

on September 23, 2006

in Sports

. 0 Comments

I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this but last Thursday a Baltimore radio station organized a mass protest by Orioles fans. They got people to buy the cheapest tickets possible, then at 5:08 pm ('5' being Brooks Robinson's number and '8' being, of course, Cal Ripken's number) all the protesters got up from their seats, walked around the lower deck concourse and left the stadium.

I myself was not at the game but my Dad was and he reports that the whole thing was fairly impressive. Now admittedly for the first four innings when the protesters were up in the upper deck chanting and what not my Dad thought they were just really happy Tigers fans but he got the drift when they did their whole walk out thing. Dad didn't walk out, of course; he stayed to enjoy a rare O's victory. I don't know if I would have walked out either, to be honest. While I appreciate the spirit of the gesture, it seems some what pointless. Yeah they got some nice media coverage but does anyone think this is suddenly going to inspire Angelos to change his ways or, even better, sell the team? Of course not. Another, very important, reason I wouldn't have left is that I'm sure my Dad would have stayed, leaving me to twiddle my thumbs by the car for a couple of hours.

Its this quote from Angelos that makes me think the whole protest was nice in theory but will accomplish nothing:

"Whoever joins that protest has no comprehension of what it costs to run a baseball team," Angelos said in a telephone interview from his law office in Baltimore. "When you get down to facts, putting together a team that can compete in the AL East means having a payroll between $100 million-$110 million. That money comes from the consumer, and I have chosen to keep ticket prices to a minimum.

"Our payroll is $75 million, and our ticket prices average $22. Some of the teams we compete against charge an average of $45," Angelos said. "We're going to have to match the competition. How to do that is a decision I will make in the future."

Um, Mr. Angelos? How about the Twins, the Marlins, and the A's? They are winning teams that are spending a lot less on payroll then you are. The problem isn't how much you spend (though lets be honest, you could spend more), its how you spend it.

So yeah, I'm an O's fan who hates what Angelos has done to my beloved team. Would I have walked out? Probably not but I applaud those who did. I don't think they made a difference but I'd be glad if they did. Now if they could just figure out a way to get Cabrera to stop walking people.

The end of an era?

Published

Jake

on September 20, 2006

in D.C, Family, Food and Personal

. 3 Comments

DCist is reporting a tip that Yenching Palace, the Chinese restaurant on Connecticut Avenue, might be sold and turned into a Walgreens. How the hell does shit like that happen? I love Yenching Palace, when I was a kid we used to to go there all the time. The place has been around for 51 years; its an institution. Hell, the DCist says that the solution to the Cuban Missile Crisis was hammered out in the Palace. Not to mention that 7-Eleven on the corner would get wiped out by a Walgreens. I can't count the number of doughnuts I've gotten at that 7-Eleven.

A personal story if I may: A long time ago my family and I were eating at the Palace and I was sucking down Shirley Temples (you got a problem with that? They are delicious) like it was my job. You know those little plastic swords they put in drinks, the one they put the cherries on? Well, being younger, I was screwing around with them, doing little imaginary sword fights and generally having a lovely time. My mom, seeing the potential for danger, warned me to be careful. Almost literally right after the words were out of her mouth I managed to stab myself with one of those stupid little swords right in my left eye. In my freakin' eye!

After that it was a trip to the emergency room…during flu season. It was a real joy, waiting hours on end, thinking I'd managed to blind myself in one eye. That's my best Yenching Palace moment. I haven't been there in a while but I love the place. Here's hoping it'll be sticking around for a long time still.

Welcome back Mr. Gammons

Published

Jake

on September 20, 2006

in Sports

. 0 Comments

Good news for sports fans in general and baseball fans specifically: Peter Gammons is back at work. Mr. Gammons, recovering for the past three months from a brain aneurysm, will appear on Wednesday's Baseball Tonight and has a new column up on ESPN.com. ESPN.com was kind enough to take off the Insider restrictions so everyone can enjoy it. It's great to have Mr. Gammons, for my money the best baseball writer in the world, back. Here's the column, do read it, it's a good one.

Week Two NFL Picks

Published

Jake

on September 15, 2006

in Sports

. 0 Comments

Here we go, week two of the NFL season. Last week wasn't so bad from a gambling stand point, I went 8-8 against the spread and 12-4 picking outright winners. Not to shabby. Highlights include picking both the Ravens and the Falcons outcomes, low lights would be the fucking Redskins loss (I don't want to talk about it). Here's this weeks selections, with the spreads coming from Sportsbook.com as of 1:35 pm Friday.

Home team in CAPS

RAVENS (-12.5) over Raiders

COLTS (-13.5) over Texans

BENGALS (-10.5) over Browns

Bills (+6) over DOLPHINS

Lions (+9) over BEARS

VIKINGS (+1) over Panthers

EAGLES (-3) over Giants

Bucs (+5.5) over FALCONS

Saints (-2.5) over PACKERS

Rams (-3) over 49ERS

Cardinals (+7) over SEAHAWKS

JETS (+6) over Patriots

Titans (+12) over CHARGERS

Chiefs (+11) over BRONCOS

Redskins (+6) over COWBOYS

JAGUARS (+2) over Steelers

There's some really big lines out there as clearly the oddsmakers aren't exactly sure who's what at this stage in the game. I'm looking for a couple of home teams to win big and a couple of road teams to keep it closer then expected. Here's the outright winners for the week: Ravens, Colts, Bengals, Dolphins, Bears, Vikings, Eagles, Falcons, Saints, Rams, Cardinals, Patriots, Chargers, Broncos, Redskins, Jaguars. Happy gambling.

Recently Reviewed Movies

Published

Jake

on September 14, 2006

in Reviews

. 0 Comments

Sort list by: title ↑ | rating | view date

21 (2008) 4/5
2008-04-11 22:10

Very enjoyable. Plot wasn't much and didn't stay true to the book but liked it nonetheless.
0.3
21 Grams (2003) 3/5
2007-06-08 23:53

A weird movie and not just because of the flashbacks/flashforwards. Acting was great but the plot wasn't. The type of movie that is probably more enjoyable the second time around but not enjoyable enough the first time to make you want to see it again.
0.3
28 Weeks Later (2007) 0.5/5
2008-05-05 00:00

An awful sequel to a good movie. They try to make up for a complete absence of a plot with over the top, unnecessarily graphic violence. Also, an awful job "setting" up a potential 3rd movie.
0.3
300 (2006) 4/5
2007-03-14 21:00

Plot is some what lacking but movie looks great (and I'm not referring to the almost nude, very fit men running around). Definitely makes you want to join a gym/kick someones ass.
0.3
3:10 to Yuma (2007) 4/5
2007-09-22 20:22

Very good. Big Christian Bale fan, he's tremendously underrated. Best western made recently.
0.3
4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) 1/5
2008-05-04 22:00

Easily the worst of the recent comic book adaptations.
0.3
A Lot Like Love (2005) 4.5/5
2006-12-03 22:00

Cute movie. I'm a sucker for romantic comedies though. Pretty good soundtrack too.
0.3
Accepted (2006) 4/5
2008-01-26 12:00

Funnier then I thought it would be. Justin Long (the Apple guy) is good, Jonah Hill is hysterical as always.
0.3
American History X (1998) 5/5
2006-09-14 02:45

A powerful movie. A jacked Ed Norton is fantastic and the black and white shooting adds to the overall impact. One of the best movies with regards to race I've ever seen. Caution: very graphic at times.
0.3
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) 5/5
2006-09-05 15:30

Not much to say here other then this is one of the greatest movies ever made. Must see anytime it's on; seen it probably over a hundred times. Great cast.
0.3
Any Given Sunday (1999) 4.5/5
2006-12-05 20:00

Great, great sports movie. Al Pacino is great, the whole cast is actually pretty great (Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, etc.). I forgot Terrell Owens plays himself as well, though he's only in it for a brief while. The only thing holding me back from giving this a 5 is that it's all fake teams/uniforms. I hate that. This movie is so brutal/great that the NFL would never have licensed it, so oh well. A must see.
0.3
Because I Said So (2007) 1.5/5
2007-02-18 14:50

Not a good movie at all. Was dragged to this against my will. Diane Keaton painfully overacts, Mandy Moore gives nothing and the time line of the plot is at times confusing. Pass.
0.3
Blades of Glory (2007) 3.5/5
2008-05-06 22:00

Decent but didn't live up to its potential.
0.3
Blood Diamond (2006) 4/5
2007-04-11 21:25

Leo's great, Djimon Hounsou fantastic and Jennifer Connelly...anytime you want to get married Jennifer I'm ready. Movie does a good job of using the stunning African landscape as a backdrop. The brutality in several parts of the film is breathtaking. Not sure how I feel about the ending. Also, this is a movie with a social message but I wonder how many people actually did anything after seeing it?
0.3
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for... 5/5
2006-11-05 22:10

Great movie, haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time. Very anti-semetic, shockingly so.
0.3
Braveheart (1995) 4/5
2008-05-10 22:00

After having seen bits and pieces over the years, finally made it through the whole thing and it was well worth it. Really gets the blood flowing.
0.3
Breach (2007) 4/5
2008-02-09 11:00

Chris Cooper does a pretty damn good job.
0.3
Charlie Bartlett (2007) 3/5
2008-02-24 19:45

Disappointingly average. Darker then I was expecting and not as funny.
0.3
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) 5/5
2007-12-24 14:00

Pretty great movie. Goes very quickly, no dull moments, some pretty funny ones. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the best of the best.
0.3
Children of Men (2006) 4.5/5
2007-01-24 19:45

Quite powerful vision of the future. The plot was some what simplistic but the scenes/background/filming were excellent. Clive Owen gives a great performance, as does a loopy Michael Caine. Some very powerful scenes that will make you think, though at times the attempts to tie in our current world were a little ham-handed.
0.3
Derailed (2005/I) 3.5/5
2006-12-06 22:02

Some interesting plot twists, most of which were well done. The end in particular was skillful. Something was off though because I generally love Clive Owens but this reason didn't click as well for me as some of his other films.
0.3
Domino (2005) 2/5
2007-01-15 21:30

I like director Tony Scott's style but unlike his "Man on Fire" this movie just didn't do it for me. Despite the compelling story of the real Domino Harvey the plot just wasn't there. Also Keira Knightly doesn't have the chops to pull off this roll.
0.3
Eastern Promises (2007) 3.5/5
2007-10-02 19:00

Very graphic violence, not to mention some male frontal nudity thrown in for good measure. Plot isn't bad but it ends abruptly.
0.3
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) 3/5
2008-02-08 12:30

Keeping in mind I saw it on a plane, on a small screen...eh. Whats the big deal?
0.3
Elizabethtown (2005) 3.5/5
2008-01-14 14:30

I am the target audience for a Cameron Crowe movie...and yet this one didn't really do it for me. Not a bad movie, just not as good as I would have hoped.
0.3
Four Brothers (2005) 3.5/5
2007-01-28 23:30

It probably says more about me then the movie but I enjoyed this film perhaps more then I should. Unbelievably violent, completely unrealistic at times and yet strangely quite enjoyable. Also a fairly impressive cast of role players, even though they aren't utilized well enough. Interesting to me: the some what bizarre (and oft-repeated) pro-union message.
0.3
Fracture (2007) 4/5
2007-08-18 09:59

Interesting movie. Anthony Hopkins is, per usual, excellent. I like Ryan Gosling a lot. Did not like Rosamund Pike's role at all, didn't understand it and didn't understand the way she played it either. The ending was not as good as it should have been.
0.3
Friday Night Lights (2004) 4.5/5
2006-09-11 03:15

One of my favorite sports movies. Very well done, perhaps because its based off an excellent book. Cast does a good job and the football scenes are realistic. I'm not going to lie, I wish at times high school sports had been taken this seriously at my school. Also I may have, um, "teared up" at the end. But thats how I roll.
0.3
Gangs of New York (2002) 4/5
0000-00-00 00:00

There are two types of movies: ones made by Martin Scorsese and ones made by someone else. Not as good as Good Fellas but still quite good. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an Oscar-worthy preformance. Not sure how I feel about the ending though.
0.3
Gone Baby Gone (2007) 4.5/5
2008-02-15 23:45

Great movie. Loved it. Some holes in the plot sure but Casey Affleck was great.
0.3
Grandma's Boy (2006) 4.5/5
2007-01-02 13:50

Much better/funnier then I thought it was going to be. My former college roommates forced me to watch it and it's actually quite funny, several parts are even hysterical (especially the DDR part).
0.3
Havoc (2005) 2/5
2006-08-31 01:25

What were you thinking Anne Hathaway? This is not a role you should be playing. White, rich kids pretending to be gangsta, with some what predictable results. The acting is way over the top.
0.3
I Am Legend (2007) 3/5
2008-01-02 20:00

Didn't really do much for me to be honest. Went in with big expectations but they weren't met.
0.3
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007) 3.5/5
2007-07-29 22:30

Actually much funnier then I thought it would be. Also, wildly pro-gay, which I'm cool with but was still surprising. Also, Jessica Biel, whenever you're ready, I'd like to get married. Thanksbye.
0.3
Juno (2007) 5/5
2007-12-15 19:05

Hysterical and cute. Loved it.
0.3
Knocked Up (2006) 4/5
2007-06-15 14:55

Very funny, better then 40 Year-Old Virgin even. I could watch Paul Rudd in anything.
0.3
Little Children (2006) 2.5/5
2007-07-04 13:58

Very weird movie with two different plot lines that only slightly match up. Features one of the creepiest scenes I've ever seen in a movie (Ronnie's date).
0.3
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) 4.5/5
2006-08-15 20:15

A very well done movie; hysterically funny and touching at the same time. Anyone with a dysfunctional family will love this movie. Maybe that's why my whole family loved it.
0.3
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) 5/5
2006-09-07 03:20

One of my favorite movies. This and Snatch are Guy Ritchie at his best. Just a great movie, can't say enough about it.
0.3
Martian Child (2007) 2/5
2008-02-17 22:43

Only movie option on a plane but still pretty awful. thought John Cusack was good though, despite the plot. Why would Amanda Peet ever take this role?
0.3
Matchstick Men (2003) 2.5/5
2007-01-22 00:00

I like this movie...until the end and the plot twist. Then I didn't like it at all. Then I was pissed that they screwed with my emotions like that.
0.3
Michael Clayton (2007) 4/5
2008-02-07 14:00

Enjoyable. If you looked up "movie star" in the dictionary you'd see a picture of George Clooney. Plot was interesting, though with some holes.
0.3
Munich (2005) 4/5
2007-01-21 23:00

A good movie based off a powerful/tragic event. Didn't quite live up to all the hype but still quite good.
0.3
Music and Lyrics (2007) 2/5
2008-01-12 08:00

A parody of an awful chick-flick. Except its not a parody.
0.3
Next (2007) 2/5
2007-08-18 10:02

An awful movie. I don't understand how people read these scripts and then decide to make these things. Why Jessica Biel, why?
0.3
Ocean's Thirteen (2007) 3/5
2008-05-07 00:20

Felt flat. Plot was lacking, at best. Far, far too much going on, even for this type of movie. Lacking much of the snap and wit of the previous two.
0.3
Payback (1999/I) 4/5
2006-12-02 13:00

Very, very violent. Its a little weird watching Mel Gibson though, given how he feels about my people.
0.3
Reign Over Me (2007) 4/5
2007-03-26 19:45

Don Cheadle is great, Adam Sandler good in this sad but funny movie. Sandler's voice sometimes inappropriately recalls Happy Gilmore/Billy Madison but he's still able to properly convey the right level of seriousness. Great music throughout.
0.3
Rent (2005) 4/5
2006-09-14 02:20

I'm not going to lie, I'm a sucker for musicals. I've seen it as a play and while the movie doesn't hold a candle to that experience, its still very good. They brought the original cast (for the most part) back together and they do a pretty good job. I may have "teared up" at the end. Also "Seasons of Love" is permentently stuck in my head; I randomly start singing it with no real idea why.
0.3
Run Fatboy Run (2007) 3/5
2008-04-05 14:30

First half is very slow. Picks up a bit at the end.
0.3
Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic (2005) 5/5
2007-02-27 21:15

I can't remember when I've laughed harder in my life. Maybe I have, I just can't remember. The stand up is the best part, some of the in-between stuff is just weird. Sarah Silverman will say anything and its funny as shit.
0.3
Spider-Man 3 (2007) 3.5/5
2007-08-04 09:55

By far the worst of the Spiderman movies so far. Way too long. Pales in comparison to the 2nd movie.
0.3
Stranger Than Fiction (2006) 4/5
2006-11-11 22:06

Some what odd movie but Will Ferrell shows his acting range and Dustin Hoffman steals every scene he's in. Those seeing the name "Will Ferrell" and expecting an "Anchorman" or "Talladega Nights" are going to be disapointed.
0.3
Sunset Park (1996) 3/5
2006-09-05 14:20

When I first saw this movie 10 years ago, a stunning thought in of itself, I thought it was tight. Seeing it again now, its a little less tight. Rhea Perlman as a basketball coach is a little unconvincing. The soundtrack is good though. This is also one of Terrance Howard's first movies and you can see signs of future stardom. I should also point out that after seeing this movie the first time I foolishly tried to get people to refer to me as "Shorty" like the main character. Call it the mistakes of youth.
0.3
Superbad (2007) 4.5/5
2007-07-25 19:05

No plot, very funny. Slightly longer review here.
0.3
Superman Returns (2006) 2.5/5
2006-07-18 19:00

A mediocre movie that was too long and, even worse, felt longer then it really was. Plot made no sense, Kevin Spacey was off his game and the guy playing Superman was dull. Kate Bosworth is kinda hot though.
0.3
The Bourne Supremacy (2004) 4/5
2006-09-14 02:45

A good action movie. Somewhat irratating that they completely changed the plot from the book it's based on, a really good book in fact. Matt Damon's good though, as is Joan Allen. Sticking to the original story would have been better though.
0.3
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) 4/5
2008-04-30 20:55

This is what an action movie is supposed to be. Having said that though, the plot has no resemblance to the book its based off and that is very much not a good thing.
0.3
The Cable Guy (1996) 3.5/5
2006-09-06 02:40

Had a lot of potential but just wasn't as funny as I expected it to be. Jim Carrey, Matthew Broderick, even Jack Black and Owen Wilson, and with Ben Stiller directing and yet it left me wanting. A lot darker then I thought it would be.
0.3
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the... 4/5
2006-12-02 15:00

I really liked this movie. Fairly good adaptation from the book, the whole thing came off well. I might just be oblivious but the Christian overtones never really came through to me.
0.3
The Departed (2006) 4/5
2007-08-05 09:57

Quality all around but not as good as Good Fellas. Alec Baldwin is great, so is Mark Wahlberg. Leo was good and Matt Damon solid. Not sure how I felt about Jack Nicholson.
0.3
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) 2/5
2008-04-28 10:40

Not "unwatchable" but I'd never watch it again. Good to remind me how stupid and shallow I think the fashion industry is. Pretty worthless business, in my humble opinion.
0.3
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) 2.5/5
2008-02-09 15:00

More a video game then a movie. Nothing else was on, give me a break.
0.3
The Great Debaters (2007) 3.5/5
2007-12-25 19:00

Solid, heartwarming movie.
0.3
The Guardian (2006/I) 3/5
2007-06-17 22:04

Entirely formulaic movie, I knew everything that was going to happen before it happened. Despite that, some what entertaining. The problem is, as discussed some what in the movie, the Coast Guard just isn't as sexy as the Navy and so I really couldnt get in to all the "intense" swimming scenes.
0.3
The Kingdom (2007) 4/5
2008-01-14 21:00