Planet Earth

Well, I finally jumped on the Planet Earth bandwagon. Though it came out a few years ago, I finally made the purchase of the DVD set. I watched the first episode "Pole to Pole" last night, and I must say, I am in love with it. I have seen severally episodes on television, but having the ability to pause and rewind and see the majestic images again is an incredible idea that I look forward to doing. I love documentaries, and Planet Earth just tickles my fancy.

M's: Reason to believe?

I think I like Chone Figgins at second base and Jose Lopez at third base. Why? Figgins provides that range needed at second base and Lopez is built much more like a corner infielder.

>I am digging the fact that Figgins is batting behind Ichiro too. Ichiro is arguably the best lead-off man in the game. Figgins can draw walks advancing one of the fastest guys in the American League to second base, if he is on-base that is, is not the worst thing ever...I hope this combination of OBP players creates more opportunities as the season advances.

Doug Fister. Phenomenal so far this season to say the least. Well, as a fifth starter that is. I have really enjoyed watching this kid develop. This season he battled for the fifth starting spot and that battle rages on. Cliff Lee will be joining the Mariners on Friday. His debut for the Mariners will take either Jason Vargas or Doug Fister out of the starting rotation. I hope Fister gets a bid from Don Wakamatsu to stay in the starting five. His ERA is lower than any other Mariner starter, at 1.67, as of April 28. I like this guy and I hope to see him continue to throw strikes from the confines of the first inning.

Deleting Facebook!

Facebook Logo
Originally uploaded by maxkalehhoff

I have seemed to lost track of when I deleted my Facebook. Roughly two weeks ago I made the conscious decision to delete an infection in my life. Do I regret it? I don't think so. I have been able to spend a lot more time off the internet and doing other things with my time. With my internet time I have done more "productive" things, such as really starting to write in this blog.
What really gets me is this common trend in people to constantly check their facebook...Facebook is seen as a substitute for actual human contact. To many people it is human contact.


I feel much more accomplished if I talk to somebody on the phone or in person rather than via Facebook Chat or text message. Instead of spending time "Facebook Stalking" people I could spend time actually getting to know the people around me better? I could take the time to make friends, better friends. Lo and behold, I have time to do other unproductive things too, like play my video games. I still feel more accomplished after playing them then a good ol' Facebook session.

The one thing I certainly don't miss is that gosh darn like feature. When you would like somebodies status and then people would comment on it for days, leaving you with notifications.

Why leave Facebook? Why not just not go onto it?

It completely gets rid of the temptation. Facebook is a great tool to reconnect with people, stay in touch with people, and other various activities. But, so is the modern telephone. It is even easier now to stay in contact with folks with voice messaging systems, mobile devices, annnnnnnnnnnnd the fact that most people have the ability to be contacted rather easily.

Avatar, the mind of James Cameron

Let me just say, I am one of the few people who didn't see Avatar in theaters. I watched it yesterday and I was thoroughly surprised that I could be entertained for 2 1/2 hours straight. But, then again it did come from the mind of James Cameron, who seems to know what he is doing when he writes a script. I went into this experience trying not to like it because everyone I have talked to has said what a great movie it is.

(Photo from Amazon.com)

I am contemplating on buying this DVD just because I sincerely enjoyed it. I feel like this is going to be the trilogy of the next decade. (James Cameron is supposedly working on two sequels.) It will be the Pirates of the Caribbean of the 10's. Much like Pirates dominated the box-office even though the films scripts may not have been as good as the first, they still sold tickets. Avatar, has outsold any Pirate of the Caribbean movie's box office revenue, I speculate.

The only way a sequel will not be successful is if Cameron takes too long to produce it. Which is entirely likely, since it took him nearly fifteen years for Avatar to be put in theaters from the original concepts that Cameron had. All in all this movie is going to go down as one of the most watched films in America.

Why I ought to work my muscles out more...

Nuff said.

Seahawks Draft Picks....Time will be telling factor...

These three pics are the guys that I think will add the most value to the Seattle Seahawks. Aside from Russell Okung, Earl Thomas and Golden Tate, these are the guys that will be fighting for playing time and I think are going to make excellent additions to the Seattle Seahawks.


Anthony McCoy, TE, from USC
6th Round (185th Overall)
Why I like him: John Carlson aside, a big tight end such as McCoy is always nice to have. Adding McCoy will give the Seahawks another strong blocker to protect Matthew Hasselbeck or Charles Whitehurst, as well as be an option as a receiver to. According to CBSSports.com, McCoy fell deep into the draft most likely due to the fact that he tested positive for use of marijuana at the NFL Combine.


E.J. Wilson, DE, from North Carolina
4th Round (127th Overall)
Why I like him: This Tar-Heel brings a good strong run defensive strength to the Seahawks. He only had four sacks his senior year, but had a career high 49 tackles, including 12 for a loss. (tarheelblue.cstv.com) The Seahawks have struggled in recent years with preventing explosive running. I think that Wilson can have a very positive impact on that statistic given the playing time.


Dexter Davis, DE, from Arizona State
7th Round (236th Overall pick)
Why I like him: This is a Pete Carroll pick. Reason being: Davis is from the Pac10. Carroll knows what this guy is capable of because he has spent years planning how to avoid his pass rush. I think that Davis gives the Seahawks another valuable pass rusher. He finished his collegiate career with 31 sacks! Let that translate to the NFL, (Please Please Please!)

Your rights as a blogger,

When I enter my thoughts into my blogging area I obviously want my thoughts to be read, digested and hopefully reverberated. What confuses me is when somebody puts an entity on the World Wide Web, why they feel like they feel like they have control of who uses that entity in a commentary or opinion based piece. When I post something on the World Wide Web I want people to view it as much as possible. That is the beauty of this mass communication device. I can see how somebody would be upset if their entity was claimed to be the work of another person, then they have every right to become upset. But somebody simply putting a photograph in a blog and then citing it should not be able to be sued. I have done some digging into the Fair Use Act of 2007 and here is what I have found.

This following piece is taken form the U.S. Copyright Office. I believe that I have the right to use this, because I am making commentary on it, and possibly for an educational purpose, thus I feel like I have fulfilled to requirements set forth by the following document.

"

Where the document came from...

Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Section 107 also sets out four factors to be considered in determining whether or not a particular use is fair:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
2. The nature of the copyrighted work
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work

The distinction between fair use and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission.

"

Section 107, something that I hope I never have to consult, but at the same time it is comforting to know that such an act has been passed to protect what I am allowed to replicate here on the web.

This video does an excellent describing the paradigm that exists between copyright and reproducing material.



When reproducing material, there is always the gray zone. However, if you are always in the gray zone I think you should look at what you are posting or reproducing. Gray zones should be avoided at all costs because if you really have to question whether or not you should be allowed to post something, then you probably should not be posting it.

2010 NFL Draft + Seahawks Redemption

Three days, 255 picks, 32 teams: All in one NFL Draft. If football was a religion, such as Christianity, then this is the draft is Easter. Thursday marks the first day of the draft and the first 32 picks.

The NFL has recently switched to the three day format, (Round one on Thursday, Rounds two & three on Friday and four through seven on Saturday.) This is really an attempt to turn the draft into a bigger event. Without a doubt, the Super Bowl is the NFL's biggest event, but it appears that they are trying to make the draft the second biggest. I wonder if companies will spend millions on ad space like they do for the Super Bowl. I hope not.

SEATTLE:I am a Seattle fan. The Seahawks have made many moves that have made me cringe in recent years. I am on board with the idea of Pete Carroll being the coach for Seattle. I just don't think that we should expect much from him during his first year in the league. I mean, college coaching is as much as about recruiting players as it is coaching them. So, let's hope that Carroll can make the adjustment to the NFL that Seattle needs him to make. I like having Carroll helping making decisions in the Draft will help Seattle immensely. Seattle has the #6 and 14 overall picks. Where does Seattle need help...Better question: Where doesn't Seattle need help...? We need some offensive linemen that will mimic the mid-2000's teams'.

There are a number of good choices that Seattle can make in that department: Russell Okung(above,) OT, from Oklahoma State would be an excellent choice if he is still around for the Seahawks to pick at #6. Bryan Bugala, OT, Iowa would also bring some force to the line. Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma would be another excellent choice. All three of these guys are first rounders for sure...but the question is, are they top 10 worthy.

With the Seahawks second pick on day on, I would like to see them go with either a RB or QB. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas is my favorite for the Seahawks to take, but I doubt they will take him in the first round. McCoy is probably not first round worthy. If he is available in the second round for the Seahawks to take, I really hope they grab him. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame would also be an interesting choice. I think Clausen might be the Seahawks pick...but again, is he first round worthy? C.J. Spiller(above,) RB, Clemson is bar none the best back in this draft. The more pressing question is... Will he be around for the Seahawks to draft at #14. If he is then the Seahawks have to grab him.

KG introduces his elbows

Kevin Garnett has started his downfall of respectable tyrant of the game of basketball. He introduced his elbows to Quinton Richardson's jaw on Sunday. Here is that video.




According to ESPN.com Garnett received a one-game suspension for this altercation. I am happy to see that David Stern did not let Garnett go with a simple fine. But still, Garnett is beginning to remind of another infamous player, Karl Malone. To me, Malone always served as a villain. Not because he was a bad guy, but because of his style of play, and who he was playing. Malone was commonly known for the elbows he would throw during games. More times than not, he would get away with it too.





Kevin Garnett is now becoming the villain that Karl Malone once was for me.

The wonders of Woot

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite websites: Woot.com. A deal a day. Their concept for a business model is indeed an interesting one. Wouldn't it make logical sense to have multiple products at a time? But, this is why I really enjoy this site. It gets me to come back every 24 hours to see if what they are selling is something I would like to like to own. Many of their products are computer or entertainment related. Oftentimes the products they are selling are cheaper than they would be anywhere else. Products may be refurbished or no longer state of the art, but I think that this is an opportunity for a great deal. I don't need the top of the line gear, I need reliable gear. One of my favorite aspects of the woot site is their spin-off site. shirt.woot.com. This site is neat because they have one shirt every day for 10 bucks, and it is designed by the people for the people. Well this is my little speech on why I like woot.

NBA playoffs

The playoffs this year look more hopeful than they have been in years. The Charlotte Bobcats and the Oklahoma City Thunder are in the playoffs for this first time in since they were created. While the Seattle Sonics were last in the playoffs in 2005, Clay Bennett and company stole the Sonics away for Seattle. Thus, the Oklahoma City team has earned its first playoff berth since the theft. This to me is why it is interesting.

A lot of new faces in the playoffs make for an interesting scenario. Kevin Durant, the scoring champion this year, will look to lead Thunder to their first playoff win...but they have to beat the Lakers...which I don't see happening. Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant are looking to repeat their championship, and their vast experience will make it probably impossible for the Thunder to beat them. The Cavs look considerably better this with their addition of Shaq. Last year, the Cavs fizzled late in the playoffs because they lacked depth. Shaq will add that extra layer of depth that the Cavs needed. So many good series's are taking place. The battle for Texas will surely be a good matchup, I predict the Spurs will win this one. After this year, I don't think that the Spurs stand much of a chance to win any playoff games...Sorry Spurs fans... They are just getting too old, but I still feel like they have a shot to beat Dirk and the Mavs.

Boston's superstar lineup is running out of time to make a move towards a second title, but their younger group of guys look to be a thriving bunch in the next few years. I hope the Blazers can muster a win without Brandon Roy. Roy's injury against the Lakers on April 11th will require him to have surgery and thus miss the first series. However, the Suns are one of the hottest teams in basketball right now. Magic v. Bobcats will result in a Magic domination.

The Hawks look to outlast the Bucks. Both these teams are inexperienced in the playoffs thus I predict it will be a extended playoff series due to both teams young players. The Bucks will show why they are one of the most exciting teams in basketball in this series. Jazz v. Nuggets will result in a Nuggets win. Carmello Anthony is hungry for playoff experience and will battle Deron Williams for the second round. Well, I will blog more on this as the games progress. Good luck to all teams.