tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65066042928525950192024-03-13T19:29:36.139-05:00Ryan CulverPolitics | Business | Economics | Life | Humor | MinnesotaRyan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comBlogger308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-12733171567466205992011-01-20T20:06:00.005-06:002011-01-20T20:12:06.693-06:00Come on ESPN<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://josrbailey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/USF_Bulls.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 151px;" src="http://josrbailey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/USF_Bulls.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Can someone tell me why ESPN simultaneously has Rutgers/South Florida on the deuce and Auburn/Florida on ESPN? Three of the four have to be the worst programs in big time conferences over the past 10 years and Florida hasn't really done itself any favors since Kim Noah and Co. departed for association riches.<br /><br />On another note, I've re-re-committed to start blogging again. It's fun, a lot of friends asked when I'd start writing again and it's fun (although I think I said that already).Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-45667150203455924592010-07-17T09:38:00.002-05:002010-07-17T09:44:55.082-05:00From one Minnesotan to another...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGTpKVTfNV42UiznZPTzzXtv0iugA25tGXf6adw-V4cAk69yzCwtLc_ATLwmwBQ09jfht9LJwg04oPYezAHhMQpqLeQ19Nsxtp2hteCEFKEVDn7Sy43KdyF9ACwb79odCvH5MfBqY8lY/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGTpKVTfNV42UiznZPTzzXtv0iugA25tGXf6adw-V4cAk69yzCwtLc_ATLwmwBQ09jfht9LJwg04oPYezAHhMQpqLeQ19Nsxtp2hteCEFKEVDn7Sy43KdyF9ACwb79odCvH5MfBqY8lY/s320/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494886168350071218" border="0" /></a><br />...thank you guys! Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for your toughness. Thank you for your heart. Thank you for your patriotism. Thank you for service.<br /><br />Pictured are 1st Lt. Christopher Goeke and Specialist Matthew Johnson. Proud Minnesotans and PROUD SOLDIERS who recently died while serving in the Afghan conflict. I never knew them, but I couldn't be prouder to be a Minnesotan.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-71733562359042176632010-07-04T21:59:00.000-05:002010-07-04T22:02:09.752-05:00His genius is hard to deny!<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f_qGcFvPyVw&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f_qGcFvPyVw&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-26112723387764094222010-06-27T21:44:00.004-05:002010-06-27T21:53:28.410-05:00Like Driving With Your Eyes Shut<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://jasonkarpf.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/general-stanley-mcchrystal.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 502px;" src="http://jasonkarpf.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/general-stanley-mcchrystal.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm a HUGE supporter of the US Military. They have protected our lifestyle, collective interests and most importantly us for some 200+ years. Here's to 200+ more! With that said I must profess my disappointment with General McChrystal and his comments revealed in the latest Rolling Stone. I'm not disappointed that he had an opinion (I prefer leaders that way). My disappointment comes with the obvious attempt at getting attention. No man of his stripes, intellect and skill would be so brazen as to make comments like that around a reporter without the hopes that they would have the exact effect that they did. He obviously felt like Washington was not listening and instead of follow the chain of command he went outside of it to get his point across. Weaksauce for a soldier. My respect for the military comes with the chain of command and the discipline that soldiers have to follow orders to the 'T' even if they wholeheartedly disagree. You're a General and you have a boss...Barack Obama. You're welcomed to disagree and even be opinionated on your disagreement but complaining to the outside in an instance as important as this is unacceptable. I totally agree with the decision the President made on this. If McChrystal pops up as a talking head in the next 18-24 months I'll know the true impetus behind this move.<br /><br />p.s. The title of this post has nothing to do with the article. I was listening to the jayhawks and thought the line sounded cool! Seriously...don't look so sad.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-31096186246873486552010-06-22T18:18:00.003-05:002010-06-22T18:22:09.429-05:00Ha!My parents have pics hidden away of me and my brother's shot at R&B fame. The Boys, PG, ABC...act like you know baby! Our problem was we couldn't sing and dancing was about an 8 on a 10 point scale...today that'd be enough for pop star famedom, but the youngsters in the late 80's and 90s brought it.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YnefCa1gFXU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YnefCa1gFXU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-10857547638486682872010-06-13T20:11:00.002-05:002010-06-13T20:13:48.955-05:00Passion PitLet this be our little secret<br />no one needs to know were feeling<br />higher and higher and higher<br />higher and higher and higher<br /><br />I heard this song today. It's pretty dope. Passion Pit is the name of the group and they did there thing. Check out the video. They fuse techno, pop, nice baselines, falsetto, drums and keyboard better than any of the other techno groups I've ever heard. They sound a little like Matt and Kim, but they keyboard is a little more dope and the feel of this video is better as well.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ScC_pi3PJ9k&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ScC_pi3PJ9k&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-34675233097669678172010-06-09T20:32:00.007-05:002010-06-09T20:48:46.730-05:00When Ordinary Failure Isn't Enough...call the DSCC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdawgownd.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/epic-fail2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 300px;" src="http://cdawgownd.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/epic-fail2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />That the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and South Carolina Democratic Party let something like this happen just speaks to incredibly gross incompetence. Maybe the front runner didn't have a chance against DeMint in November but THIS MAKES YOU LOOK APATHETIC TO A PROGRESSIVE ELECTORATE who's already got major questions about party local and national party competency. Way to go guys. Seriously if anyone of any import is reading this blog, I'm a proud progressive and I'm disheartened about my states midterms (some 1,000 miles away) because it just really looks like you guys are trying to even the score...when you're winning that is!<br /><br />Click here for the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl2500">story</a>, seriously if you're progressive click it, you won't guckin believe what you read...I'm not joking. Just remember this is a Senate seat in the United States of America.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-82599776277821804372010-05-31T19:34:00.002-05:002010-05-31T19:40:46.071-05:00My First Fight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/winner-illustration.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 292px;" src="http://www.bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/winner-illustration.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I got the win in my first match...I must admit it was exhilirating to go from sparring to actually fighting with a guy whose purpose was to knock you out. You can check out the video online if you so care.<br /><br />I'm patterning my style after Floyd and the lesser known (but equally as capable) Paul Williams. Lots of movement, shifty defense and opportunistic combinations. Here's the scouting report on me after my first fight.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pros</span><br />Quick Hands<br />Great ring movement<br />Takes very little punishment<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cons</span><br />Holds hands low (no no against quick opponents)<br />Rolls shoulder too often<br />Unbalanced Combinations<br /><br />Obviously I've got somethings to work on. I'm fighting again at the end of June and if I perform well I'll be going to a national tournament to test my skill against some guys from across the nation. It's been 8 years since I've felt truly competitive...I must admit this feels good.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-73779024982824010632010-05-23T06:27:00.002-05:002010-05-23T06:29:47.091-05:00Treat Me Fair!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/serge75/serge750808/serge75080800023/3397257.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/serge75/serge750808/serge75080800023/3397257.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Yglesias tells us what we already know...good looking people get treated better than the rest. Fair? Not really, but groups have had to deal with discrimination before, ugly people get in line.<br /><br /><a href="http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/appearance-discrimination.php">Story</a>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-82173691315503242782010-05-16T18:58:00.003-05:002010-05-16T19:06:22.469-05:00Sweet Science<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.eventsnevada.com/picts/BoxingSweetScience.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="http://www.eventsnevada.com/picts/BoxingSweetScience.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm climbing into the ring for the first time Wednesday night. I've been training pretty hard and am definitely ready for the challenge. But if I'm honest I must admit I'm a little nervous. My trainer and coach said not too worry this is a natural feeling and afflicts most boxers regardless of the level of experience.<br /><br />My doctor thinks I'm crazy and I do have concerns about taking too much damage to the head, but it's definitely something I want to do and believe it will fill the competitive void that was left when I finished my collegiate playing career 8 years ago today. I'll be videotaping the fight and will post tape as soon as it is available.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-58223988409834169262010-04-26T19:54:00.003-05:002010-04-26T19:55:49.017-05:00"...5 losses, extremely desperate, former steroid user,..."With Floyd there's no such thing as a backhanded compliment.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gr7x9iizQVs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gr7x9iizQVs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Fast forward to 3:45Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-80929095081593328202010-04-13T20:16:00.002-05:002010-04-13T20:19:37.284-05:00Awesomesauce TakedownCoatesey over at the Atlantic offers one of the better take down to this southern gubernatorial meme taking hold that the Civil War was not in fact about slavery.<br /><br />I suggest reading the whole thing <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/04/the-ghost-of-bobby-lee/38813/">here.</a>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-6210350162109076752010-04-10T23:47:00.003-05:002010-04-10T23:50:21.687-05:00UnfortuanteIt's always inappropriate for adults to ignore things like this. There is no such thing as kids being kids. Intervene, get the facts and the context and then determine whether it's minor or not. In the case of Phoebe Prince it was the latter. Way to douche it up South Hadley teens, parents and school personnel!<br /><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RorwwmXsfjc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RorwwmXsfjc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-8786064521358842242010-04-06T18:16:00.002-05:002010-04-06T18:17:03.049-05:00I Guess McDonnellMore ploys to pander to a constituency who has no idea what it wants but knows it doesn't want a left handed President.<br /><a href="http://www.governor.virginia.gov/OurCommonwealth/Proclamations/2010/ConfederateHistoryMonth.cfm"><br />Story Here</a>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-63798586413877579742010-04-04T09:52:00.002-05:002010-04-04T09:54:24.029-05:00POTUS HoopsPresident Obama is no doubt a hooper. Anyone using words like skunked (meaning you got beat and didn't score a point) or whap (which is supposed to describe the sound of an all net shot) knows there basketball. I wonder how he'll react to having to host the Dookies in the White House in the spring. Hopefully Gordie Hayward can put together a 50 point salvo and prevent such a visit, but he's tentative and a I'm not holding my breath. Watch Mr. President and Clark Kellogg from CBS shoot a little POTUS.<br /><br /><br /><embed src='http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/player-dest.swf' FlashVars='linkUrl=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6361353n&releaseURL=http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/player-dest.swf&videoId=50085812&partner=news&vert=News&si=254&autoPlayVid=false&name=cbsPlayer&allowScriptAccess=always&wmode=transparent&embedded=y&scale=noscale&rv=n&salign=tl' allowFullScreen='true' width='425' height='324' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer'></embed><br/><a href='http://www.cbsnews.com'>Watch CBS News Videos Online</a>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-3797512447307594322010-03-31T19:38:00.002-05:002010-03-31T19:40:48.939-05:00Frum - daadumdumdumAEI drops Frum. Didn't know they were run by the Tea Party. I'm not sure how the Tea Party's influence ends well for the Republicans in the mid to long run. It's going to be hard to walk that snow ball back up the hill once it's rolling full tilt.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://videos.mediaite.com/embed/player/?layout=&playlist_cid=&media_type=video&content=4W4TFC1JZPKZY4N4&widget_type_cid=svp" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" allowtransparency="true" width="420" frameborder="0" height="421" scrolling="no"></iframe>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-20024832551835191962010-03-28T17:43:00.003-05:002010-03-28T17:49:52.382-05:00Go Sparty!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0405/ncb_u_izzo01_300.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0405/ncb_u_izzo01_300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Despite my Bucky hoops allegiance that came from familial ties for the years 2003-2007, I'm Goldy through and through. But like Brett Favre in a Pack jersey I've found myself fascinated and a big supporter of Thomas Izzo over the years. Like Favre the guy is just tough as nails and that makes him hard to root against in my book. Plus he knows hoops. Seriously does anyone run better sets than this guy? Seriously. Methinks no. Anyways, I love the guys fight and it's hard to deny that over the last 15 years he has been one of the best coaches in the country. He got his job the way no one does anymore. Learning under a legend than assuming the reigns with the blessing of his mentor.<br /><br />As a huge Big Ten fan I have to admit that Sparty and sometimes Brutus (I said sometimes, I like where Matta is going but he isn't there yet) are the only reasons to get excited come March. It's really not hard to understand how he does it. He plays strong man to man and a fast paced offense that attracts the top wings and guards in the midwest. He then molds that talent and fuses it with his mental and physical toughness and voila...Final Four here we come.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-65402885087420720002010-03-23T20:39:00.002-05:002010-03-23T20:43:46.682-05:00And Obama said "Let there be Healthcare..."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blackliberal.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/healthcare.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 356px;" src="http://blackliberal.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/healthcare.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Wow. Had you asked me back in August when paid actors (and disgruntled voters who simply didn't like the fact that Obama was left handed) were pretending to hate healthcare with every fiber of their being or when Scottie "pickup truck" Brown got elected, would healthcare ever pass I would have said no. The D's were too focused on trying to make friends and the R's were too focused on trying to win (the presidency in 2012 that is) to truly focus on this major issue. But here I am some 24+ hours after healthcare passed, elated and filled with joy. Not that the D's ultimately prevailed (which is nice too), but that GOOD, HARD WORKING, HONEST AMERICANS or humble beginnings and little means will have access to basic healthcare. That's super dope.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-31136609292481071042010-03-21T12:17:00.002-05:002010-03-21T12:22:04.513-05:00Save it for a Rainy Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/niwa/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/3578127.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 372px;" src="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/niwa/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/3578127.jpeg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Apparently that's what Bill Self and the Jayhawks were doing yesterday when being down by 9-10pts all game he waited until 6 minutes left in the game to release his athletes to go after the slower, less talented Panthers from Northern Iowa. Utilizing a full court trapping, swarming press and half court in your face defense the Jayhawks cut the lead to 1 without much problem. Unfortunately by the time they struck fear in the Panthers the clock struck 12.<br /><br />Now I have to spend my sweet sixteen weekend looking at guys who look like they play at the Y on Saturday mornings (see above) instead of guys who will be playing above the rim in the NBA next year.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-68043500964851959712010-03-17T20:19:00.002-05:002010-03-17T20:21:58.929-05:00Brazen or Bereft of Strategy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://somebodystolemytwinkie.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/pirates.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 270px;" src="http://somebodystolemytwinkie.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/pirates.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm guessing it's the latter. Click through to <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100317/ap_on_re_af/piracy">read the story</a> of the 3 pirates in a speed boat who decided to attack an EU Naval Warship...yep...warship!Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-24846167530680747062010-03-14T08:42:00.001-05:002010-03-14T08:44:22.869-05:00Pac Clottey HighlightsClottey looked good, but covering up against an aggressive guy is a sure fire way to lose a decision. You have to fight. You have to throw punches. You have to be aggressive. Sorry guys this is how competitive athletics work.<br /><br /><div><object width="576" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://d.yimg.com/m/up/ypp/sports/player.swf"><param name="flashVars" value="vid=18612850&"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed allowfullscreen="true" src="http://d.yimg.com/m/up/ypp/sports/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="vid=18612850&" width="576" height="324"></embed></object></div>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-77187513246276933742010-03-11T20:55:00.002-06:002010-03-11T21:00:33.848-06:00Gov. Wendell Anderson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bobingrassia.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/11/goodlife.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 527px;" src="http://bobingrassia.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/11/goodlife.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I met this guy today! Wendell Anderson The former Governor and Senator of my illustrious state of Minnesota. He's a member at my athletic club and I thought the colleague that introduced was joking when he said he was the former governor. Governor Anderson laughed when I told him I was an 80's baby and my gubernatorial history started with Rudy Perpich. His resume was pretty impressive, he played in the 1956 Winter Olympics, played hockey at the U and served a stinted term in the senate, replacing Walter Mondale in 1976 when he won the Vice Presidency on the Carter ticket.<br /><br />For 77 this guy is in amazing shape, I thought he was 65-70 at the oldest. I fairly wonky and was embarrassed to find out a former governor was standing in front of me and I didn't know it. Anyways, he was pretty cool, told some great stories, got in nice and close and made me feel incredibly comfortable...in other words he was a natural pol.<br /><br />Pretty cool experience at least for me. I can't wait to chop it up with him about his feelings on the current state and national political milieu.<br /><br />And yes he's DFL...no doubt.Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-11415752750021165022010-03-09T19:33:00.001-06:002010-03-09T19:33:52.816-06:00Hilarious with a Captial Hilair....<object width="480" height="430"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/common/assets/onn_embed/embedded_player.swf?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theonion.com%2Fcontent%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FBULLSHIT_STORY_ARTICLE_3_5_10.jpg&videoid=101180&title=Breaking%20News%3A%20Some%20Bullshit%20Happening%20Somewhere"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/common/assets/onn_embed/embedded_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="480" height="430" flashvars="image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theonion.com%2Fcontent%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FBULLSHIT_STORY_ARTICLE_3_5_10.jpg&videoid=101180&title=Breaking%20News%3A%20Some%20Bullshit%20Happening%20Somewhere"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/video/breaking_news_some_bullshit?utm_source=videoembed">Breaking News: Some Bullshit Happening Somewhere</a>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-91998454462994585582010-03-07T06:42:00.003-06:002010-03-07T06:44:41.386-06:00Save it for Netflix<h1><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: normal;font-size:78%;" >Edward Robertson from atomictown.com echoes my sentiments more eloquently on Brooklyn's Finest.</span><br /></h1><h1 style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">'Brooklyn's Finest' lacks momentum</h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="byline"> By Edward Robertson, atomictown.com </h4> <script type="text/javascript"> var comments_story_id = 929263; </script> <div style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" id="story_body"> <p> I have a strong bias against any story or world that gets revisited too often, which explains my aversion to both 12-volume fantasy series and getting up in the morning.</p><p>This is why — despite sharing a birthday with Lewis Carroll — I have no interest in anything from <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> other than grown women in that little blue dress. It's one of those cultural krakens whose slimy tentacles pop up everywhere. I feel like I already know everything there is to know about the Queen of Hearts and her castration obsession.</p><p>-- <a href="http://www.tri-cityherald.com/movies/movie/23769.html">Local show times, theaters, trailer.</a> </p> <p> Doesn't the love of a story's weird, wild imagination start to dim by the <i>8,000th time it's made into a movie?</i> What I'm getting at is screw you, Tim Burton's <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> and your $41 million opening day. You're out there boring us in old and busted ways when we could be getting bored in slightly newer ways by cop dramas such as <i>Brooklyn's Finest</i>.</p><p><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7XfcwkjnknI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7XfcwkjnknI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></p><p>Three cops are in desperate straits: Ethan Hawke, whose family is already too big for his moldy home — and now his wife is pregnant with twins — steals cash from dealers during drug raids. Suicidal Richard Gere is about to retire from an undistinguished career in which he never went out of his way to do better.</p><p>And deep undercover Don Cheadle is ordered to set up old friend Wesley Snipes. As each policeman struggles with the hardships of the job, violence looms on the horizon.</p><p><i>Brooklyn's Finest</i> unfolds its three variations on a theme with the stately grace of a much better movie. Director Antoine Fuqua manages detail well, letting the specifics of the characters' troubles drift in from the background. It looks good and is paced with the measured step of a movie with big stuff on its mind.</p><p>But yeah, I just never really got into it.</p><p>At first, that pacing feels deliberate, the slow, steady, medal-winning kind tortoises are always lecturing you about even though they haven't won another race since, the pompous windtards. Turns out, however, <i>Brooklyn's Finest</i> limps because it has a fierce case of gout.</p><p>Thing is, its stories are weak. Hawke's might be able to stand on its own, but the others are one-note and undercooked as ground beef sashimi. The movie's interwoven structure can only disguise this so long before you start to wonder where any of it's going.</p><p>The characters aren't much stronger. You've got the guilty Catholic, the week-from-retirement alcoholic, the undercover who's spent too much time under those covers. All <i>Brooklyn's Finest</i> is missing is a hollering police sergeant and that guy who makes his mouth sound like robots and airplanes. In fairness, the script spends a lot of time trying to develop its leads, but split three ways, the picture remains blurry.</p><p>In some cases it's not just cliched, it's outright derivative. While I'm always happy to see not one but three cast members of <i>The Wire</i> populating a similar universe of cops and crime, another scene is lifted whole hog from Al Swearengen's patented <i>Blowjob Monologues</i>. Bad call, writer Michael C. Martin. Al doesn't tolerate thieving. He's not about to let a little thing like being a fictional character from the 19th century stop him from teleporting naked into your living room <i>Terminator</i>-style and knifing you in the kidneys.</p><p>For all the talent on display — the cast is great, the direction is confidently understated, the dialogue works — <i>Brooklyn's Finest</i> has the momentum of a dropped handkerchief, and its "police offers on the edge" triptych doesn't justify itself. </p><p>But it still beats <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>.</p><p><b>Grade: C</b> </p> </div>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506604292852595019.post-40560366552984958382010-03-05T06:13:00.001-06:002010-03-05T06:13:51.776-06:00Never Gets Old<table style="font: 11px arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" width="360" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(229, 229, 229);" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;" colspan="2"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-march-3-2010/anchor-management">Anchor Management</a><a></a></td></tr><tr style="height: 14px; background-color: rgb(53, 53, 53);" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; width: 360px; overflow: hidden; text-align: right;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(150, 222, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><embed style="display: block;" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:266322" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000" width="360" height="301"></embed></td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><table style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font: 10px arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes">Daily Show<br />Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font: 10px arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font: 10px arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health">Health Care Reform</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Ryan Culverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122548715472011390noreply@blogger.com