Just Some Stuff.

I’ve said the worst words in the English language come in twos. Sometimes I think the most inspiring ones – for me – come in twos too.

Everyday epiphany, infinite possibility, necessary angel [one of my favorite quotes that talks about writing], so ambitious…Sometimes I have thoughts of getting a small tattoo on my arm. Nothing huge. Just small enough so I can cover it with a watch.

latenightwisdom: “Life’s not meant to be lived in a straight line.”
latenightwisdom: “A woman’s fury is like a storm – it too, shall pass.”

Quick Thoughts on the NFL Draft.

Winners from yesterday’s first round [yes, I'm aware it takes 3 years to fully grade a draft class]:
Niners – baffling for them to move up 2 slots and grab a guy that likely would’ve been available to them anyway, but they got two prospects who look to massively overhaul our offensive line, which was like a sieve last year. Very happy. Fantasy implications: Frank Gore [REALLY up], Alex Smith [up], Michael Crabtree/Josh Morgan/Vernon Davis [up].

Jets – their offseason moves have been extremely aggressive; picking up Holmes and Marshall, and Jason Taylor, as well as moving for Cromartie. Now, with the addition of Kyle Wilson [who I love], they have a deadly nickel package, and potentially a shut down guy in a few years to pair alongside Revis. Either way, I’m pegging them for an AFCCG. Maybe a Super Bowl appearance. Colts better watch out. Fantasy implications: Every offensive team playing against the Jets [down].

Packers – Got great value with one of the highest ranked OTs in the draft falling to them at 23. Should help out massively, as Aaron Rodgers took the most sacks in the NFL last year…and in a division that now boasts Ndamukong Suh, Julius Peppers, and Jared Allen/Ray Edwards…that can only be good. Fantasy implications: Aaron Rodgers [about even. Best fantasy QB in the league last year. Can't get any better than that.], Packers passing game [up], Ryan Grant [slightly up].

Lions – Ndamukong Suh. What more is there to say on this guy? Possibly the best player available in the draft, just a dominant freak that plays defensive tackle. Should help. Perhaps more interestingly, they moved back into the first round to grab Jahvid Best, as well. Is he perhaps injury prone? Yeah, but I think he’s healthy now, and he’s a really explosive gamebreaker that they can pair with Megatron. Fantasy implications: Best [average. I'd target him first out of any offensive rookie this year, though...Ryan Mathews has no line - seriously, the Charger run game sucks...and CJ Spiller has nothing to work with in Buffalol. So, Best is gonna get carries. Trust on that.]
-Note: I see the Lions winning four games this year.

Seahawks – new OT to replace Walter Jones, and a player I’m very high on in Earl Thomas. Both look to be starters for a long time. Good work up there by Carroll.

Losers:
What the hell is going on in Denver? Josh McDaniels has gotten rid of Marshall [fine, he's a cancer, I get that, wants to get paid, all that good stuff.]…and replaced him with a guy from a triple option offense. He traded down three times, and then back up a fourth time last night. Now, I can subscribe to the philosophy of stockpiling picks, sure. But you’re not the Patriots West, Josh…Belicheck has Tom Brady. You have Neckbeard. That’s the difference. He’s a winner. You are not. Most baffling was the decision to reach for Tim Tebow, an obvious project, at 25. Sure, Tebow won’t start for a few years – maybe not ever. Sure, he’s a Wildcat option and all that good stuff. But you could’ve easily gotten him in the second, maybe even third round. If you wanted a real QB, Clausen – and even McCoy – would’ve gone here. In short, I am not sure what he’s planning. Outside of an okay Knowshon Moreno [978 on 3.8YPC], I don’t see many weapons there. Eddie Royal’s gone M.I.A. Scheffler is gone.

So what the hell are you doing? I have yet to figure out. Oh well. You’re not getting past the Chargers. And I haven’t forgotten how your team melted down last year, either. Playoff position right into 8-8.

Jaguars – massive reach for Tyson Alualu. I love Cal players. I loved Tyson Alualu. But he would’ve been available in the second, most likely. They don’t exactly have the best luck with DL prospects, either…See: Derrick Harvey/Quentin Groves.

Buffalol – CJ Spiller enters a 3 headed back situation with Fred Jackson [who I thought had a solid lock on becoming the starter after last year], and Marshawn Lynch, who they invested a first rounder in too. Not gonna get that many touches, probably not much of a factor this year. Maybe an X-factor in the return game…but unless Lynch moves, I don’t think Spiller’s gonna rock anyone’s world next year. I thought they really could’ve used a QB – I had Clausen here. But they wanna roll with Fitzgerald, fine by me.

Dallas – I know Dez Bryant is a tremendous talent, I’m just baffled as to why they would pick him. They have TONS of weapons – Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Jason Witten, Roy E. Williams [who is rumored to be coming to an end], Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton.. – not enough footballs to go around. Probably going to turn into a winner pick in a few years, I just don’t know how it’s gonna work out.

As far as my Eagles go…I was so excited to see them move up…I thought it was going to be Earl Thomas. I had visions of our safeties finally being able to tackle, finally not chasing Miles Austin or Jason Witten down from behind. It was Brandon Graham. I have no problem with him personally – and I see the logic behind the pick – they don’t think Ju’qua is gonna cut it, fine…I just felt that safety help would be more important. Still, Nate Allen and Taylor Mays are on the board… [I really hope it's not Taylor Mays...and maybe even Myron Rolle...? <3]. Offensive line help [particularly at guard] would be nice too.

The Niners for later today: I just really don't want to see Jimmy Clausen. It'd be a nice value pick here, but we've handed the keys to Alex Smith. Let him keep them. No, I think safety help would be nice too. Or a corner. Though I'm not sure any top flight corners are left…I wouldn't mind Sergio Kindle, either.

Yeah, that's it from me.

Another Month Already?!

Eric tells me that if I’m not blogging, it means I’m happy and have nothing to complain about. He may be right, since most of my non-complainy articles are in the summer, when I actually have time to write.

So, here we are at the midway of the semester. How do I feel?

One Month In [AKA, Post #75]

I love Berkeley. I honestly do. The atmosphere, the people, the clubs, the learning…all of it. The last thing to really fall into play for me was the academics. As I’ve detailed before, I didn’t think I was smart enough to be here – but I got a real surprise on my first paper for English. My GSI told me that it was a B+/A- level, and that I have a very good ear for syntax, flow and grammar. Extremely surprising, and more than I could’ve hoped for. What’s even more surprising is how well Barrett has prepared me for college.

Spencer’s main comments were that I didn’t open up the issue enough.
Barrett always wrote on my papers that I need to “follow through”, or open the issue up MORE.

The workshop’s lecture on thesis building is identical to Barrett’s. Right down to “So what?”

Honestly I think I’ve been really lucky to been given all these tools for success. [Thank you too, Miss Maroun, for helping me discover how subtle - and infinitely useful - syntax is.] Now, I’m not about to get complacent or anything…but it’s encouraging to know that I’m at least not at the wrong school. LOL. That paper was ungraded though, so the real thing starts this Friday.

I’ve been working all week on Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, trying to write my paper on proving the secret of the book [which Blanton alludes to] is more about art than it is homosexuality. Coming along pretty well, I think. Right now I’m taking a break to update my blog.

What’s happened since the last time I wrote?

Right. Super Bowl. Colts lost that game when they refused to put pressure on Brees, letting him pick them apart. A bigger commitment to the run game in the second half would’ve helped. Had a really great time with my boys, singing and watching the game. Thumbs down for Extreme Pizza, which cost me 100 bucks for 3 XL pizzas. Goddamn. Poor Peyton…you had a chance to move into the top 3 of all time [which, you still will be at the end of your career], but you blew it. You could’ve been the greatest of all time. But now, it’s clear – you are only an average QB. Better than anyone in the regular season [seriously, 7 come from behinds this year?] but can’t get it done during the Big One. Sorry, man. That doubly sucks, because I really think you’re a funny dude.

The aforementioned Rock the Block concert was so dope. You couldn’t understand the artists too well, but there’s just this massive energy at hip-hop concerts. I LOVE S4HH. They make my Tuesday nights, really.

Magic is easy, but I’m too shy to hang out or play with other people. Mostly I sit there by myself and do the homework for the next week. Speaking of which, they thought my decklist for week one was excellent. This week’s assignment? Make a deck with 5 of the worst 100 cards in Magic. I did it reanimator style, though this assignment really sucked ass. I was not happy with how the deck piloted at all [but that's probably because I'm not a black player].

Italian Studies? I probably couldn’t tell you what’s happening, I’m asleep half the time…And I have that paper due Wednesday. Woot, way to go, massively behind. Hahahahahaha.

While the day to day details of my life aren’t quite as interesting, let me take a moment out to rail on some phenomena in my life. I touched on this with my last post, but why is it that you can give everything to people, not get a thing back but backstabs and heart break, and still somehow YOU’RE wrong? Are you fucking kidding me? Fuck ungrateful ass friends and people who don’t put the effort in.

The view from Free Speech Movement cafe is really nice. Definitely date material worthy.

Ended up buying GTA 4 and NBA Street Homecourt. Homecourt is fun, but a little too easy [at least on medium]. I picked it up fairly well, but I haven’t been able to play either GTA or Dead Space yet. I may not be able to for a while, with school picking up and stuff.

Hope all you guys had a good Valentine’s Day/Lunar New Year. I gotta jet though. Magic awaits. Also, my laptop battery is dying.

I love Cal.

“Philosophical and Stuff”

My friends moved in recently to Berkeley. And now, now it’s starting to feel…real. That I’ve waited 11 years of my life to be here. To finally reach this place, to make it to the school of my dreams. Am I excited? Absolutely. I knew it from the first time I ever stepped foot on campus – this is the place I want to be. The perfect place for me.

Am I terrified? You bet your ass.

See, on top of everything about school and my skill level and everything…the thing that scares me the most is finally testing my Keep in Touches. What’s that mean? In my entire life, only one friend has actually made the jump with me after graduating. Everybody else seems to fall by the way side. So here I am, going through it again. Waiting to see if everything comes crashing down again, if all those well wishes and promises are fake. Hahaha.

You might think I’m lucky to have two of my best friends come with me this time. Well, I certainly hope so.

I’m just afraid of this – Sometimes you build things up in your head, only to be let down when they actually happen.

2010

I’ve taken to naming the years of my life lately.
2007: Lucky
2008: Revival
2009: On the Precipice of Great Changes

So, what would I like 2010 to be called?

Just My Thoughts

-That New Lupe Fiasco mixtape (Enemy of the State) has something weird going on with his flow, but it’s definitely interesting. Very solid piece of work overall. His lyricism is actually on FIRE. Unlike Jay-Z [who, is fittingly mentioned later this post], you literally have to pore over the text – not listening, but visually. Yeah, it’s like a bloody novel, just to catch how clever some of the things he says are. Kid is killin’ it with the lyrics.

-I added a new tag for the site – “My Writing”, which differs from my standard blogging voice. There’s a big difference. As always, more thoughts below.

On: Iraq

Pretty happy with what I turned in for my Middle East class, considering that I did it all in a day.

Prompt: How has oil affected the political developments in the Middle East? How has economics and oil affected the relationships between countries of the region with the West? Briefly describe the U.S. relationship with at least one oil producing country in the region.

Hit the jump to read the essay.

“Two Words”

The following post inspired by Taeyang. Real random, maybe not coherent at all. Check for another edition of “my thoughts”, this weekend.

All my friends have gone crazy over this dude. And so, I finally took the time to watch one of his videos. “Wedding Dress.” I was reminded of a phenomenon that I’ve noticed.

Have you ever noticed that the worst words in the English language come in pairs?
“Technical difficulties.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“I do.”
“Fuck you.”
“Shut up.”
“Break up.”
“Good bye.”
“Not anymore.”

Obviously there are way more examples than what I’ve listed.
“Too late.” – this is the one that I thought of when I watched the video. Too late. I feel like those are the words I’ve had hanging around my life lately. Too late. I’m tired of being “too late”. I know something – no, everything – is going to change next year. The first year I’m really going to try to fix everything in my life. I suppose that’s the part of this post he’s inspired.

As far as his actual work goes, I’m not a fan of music in any other language besides English. Emotion alone can translate feeling across barriers, but the key in music for me is the words…which I couldn’t really understand.

For a good seven months now, when you open my phone, there’s a picture of my away jersey, and “Two Words”, written at the top. For me, I guess they take on a little more significance than just “the worst words in the English language.”

I keep “Two Words” because they remind me of…so almost everything important in my life. “Infinite Possibility”. “Four Loves. [hip-hop, cinema, literature, cuisine]“. “No regrets.” “Super Nam.” Two words…two simple words. Hahaha.

More Thoughts

You know what’s fucking adorable? When girls wear their boyfriend’s jerseys and clothes. Ladies, take note.

[More thoughts attached below]