tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16407543688941254552024-03-12T22:45:40.143-05:00The Evil Twin ExperienceHere you can expect to find random thoughts, based on whatever happens to be on my mind at the moment. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, sometimes controversial, and sometimes maybe even a little sexy. Free your mind for no money down!Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-53097587651468558862010-12-11T12:02:00.002-06:002010-12-11T12:11:27.007-06:00Happy Holidays! Update on next book project...2 months since my last post...yeah, sorry about that! But if it counts for anything, I have been staying busy at work. Working 11:30 to 8pm Monday through Friday can take its toll on time for other things and if you add in getting up between 6:30 and 7 am to play taxi for kids, and again from 10-11, well that doesn't leave much time for anything.<br /><br />But that's about to change. I was informed yesterday that layoffs are coming at work. I work a seasonal job, so I knew this would happen. It's not like it's a total shock or anything. And in all likelihood I think I may get called back to work in mid to late January. Regardless though, I should have plenty of time for writing again during the layoff period.<br /><br />1st on the agenda is my next book project. Based on true events, it's the story of how a seemingly perfect marriage can fall apart. It's got sex, violence, and betrayal. People involved in the real life events went to jail. But not for something you might think. I can't really reveal any more than that so you'll just have to check out the book when it's released in early 2011. The working title is: Anatomy of a Divorce.Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-9292306719109530702010-10-08T07:57:00.003-05:002010-10-08T08:15:49.059-05:00For those following along...Really, I have to get better at posting! Just a quick update this time though...<br /><br />I have started working again! Since late July actually, but not with Wal-Mart. I am working with Lifetouch again and I am really enjoying it. It's a full-time schedule that unfortunately runs over a split shift. This does tend to eat into personal time, which in turn eats into writing time, but my next project is moving forward. Seriously...<br /><br />As for past projects, I have received some good suggestions, so thank you to those of you who have written and offered them to me. One method I may be trying is a book purchase exchange. It will be on a trial basis because financially I can't keep doing it but in a nutshell it's like a "scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" type of thing.<br /><br />Here's how it works: If you buy my book through Lulu.com, you will receive an automated thank you note from me. Cheesy yes, but what the hey. If you are an author with Lulu, simply reply to my automated email with the following information:<br /><ul><li>Tell me which of my books you bought</li><li>Tell me if it was a print version or download</li><li>Provide a link to your Lulu storefront page.</li></ul>I promise to visit your storefront and consider making a comparable purchase from you, depending on the prices of your books (and the subject matter too, of course). This will obviously cost me more than the royalties I make from selling, but it may help get word of mouth out about my books. In fact, I will take this a step further - I will make at least 3 reciprocal purchases from those authors who purchase one of my books AND I will report back here in this blog which purchases I made and give a brief review. Not a bad deal in exchange for purchasing just one of my 3 works...<br /><br />That's all I have time for today. In the immortal spirit of Heroes, Save the Authors, Save the World.Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-90585906858041655832010-07-14T09:08:00.005-05:002010-07-14T09:35:38.155-05:00So....How ya been?Forgive me if it seems like I'm whining a little bit today. I certainly don't mean to. But sometimes people just piss me off.<br /><br />Point 1: Nearly 3 weeks ago, I interviewed with and received a job offer from WalMart. I went and peed in a cup for them and was told I would be contacted soon regarding a start date. A week went by, nothing. I called them and was told they were waiting on my background check to come in. OK, fine. Another week goes by and nothing. Same story. Now it's nearly 3 weeks later and still nothing. I mean, how long should this take? Meanwhile unemployment benefits have run out as congress continues to twiddle their collective thumbs up their asses (or each others, I don't know) and I sit here broke. I interviewed with another company earlier this week and they are doing the background check before sending out for my urine. Let's hope they can move a little faster, shall we?<br /><br />Point 2: No one is buying my book. GASP! OK, I don't have a professional agent and not a lot of marketing dollars, so there really is no advertising budget. Advertising on this page (below) is just one of the few easier ways I can afford (and now available on Amazon.com as well!). But it is a good story and those who have read it (during the proofreading and editing process) agree with me. But with a facebook fan page of over 80 people not to mention a similar number of friends on facebook, one would think that a few of those people would show some interest in at least reading it via a downloaded copy. I hear from some people "I'm broke, I can't afford to go buy your book right now." Well, I can appreciate being broke, but it's not like I'm asking anyone to fork over a ton of money. Plus broke people buy cd's, dvd's, and books all the time. So what's the difference? Honestly, I'm just trying to use my creative abilities to maintain an income, legally, without scamming anybody so I can try to stay off the welfare system. Take your pick - you can support me by ordering my books and get something in return, or you can support me with your tax money on welfare. It's up to you, America.<br /><br />Point 3: I have a retirement account from my days at the University of Missouri. When you stop working for them, and if you've been there enough years to be vested in a retiremenbt plan, they tell you how much you have in your retirement account and then give you options of receiving it in a lump sum payout, leaving it invested with them until you are ready to retire, or roll it over into another IRA of some sort. Oh, but you can only receive the lump sum payout IF the amount is below a certain dollar amount. For once in my life, I actually have too much money and as a result, I can't touch it (Cue MC Hammer). At least not until I turn 55 at the earliest. Still exploring other options involving rollovers though.<br /><br />OK, that's enough of that. I haven't been able to afford my diabetes meds for a few months now, and I seriously think it's starting to have an effect on my eyes, so I may need to rest them. It sucks when collecting unemployment puts you over the income requirements to qualify for medicaid but barely gives you enough to live on. But now that unemployment benefits are exhausted I might have better luck. We'll see...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-84215128026215162272010-06-11T22:13:00.004-05:002010-06-11T22:29:38.090-05:00Notre Dame to the Big....12???I'll address that headline in a minute....and forgive me if you just spit up soda or coffee or whatever all over your monitor.<br /><br />I got to thinking tonight about all the conference realignment going on these days and how my beloved Tigers of Missouri are affected in all this. I have to say that I am both confused, annoyed, exasperated, and curious about just what the heck is going on.<br /><br />A few months ago, Missouri seemed like a logical choice for Big 10 membership, but after the events to this point, it seems less and less likely that an invite is forthcoming. All we've heard from Mizzou admins is "We are proud members of the Big 12 Conference...." yadda yadda yadda. If there was no approach from Big 10 admins, all Mizzou would have to say is there has been no approach, no application, no invite, or anything else along those lines. If Mizzou had not approached the Big 10, why can't they say so in those exact words? And why was Mizzou given an ultimatum to pledge a commitment to the Big 12 if they weren't going anywhere?<br /><br />Missouri AD Mike Alden sent out a press release today how open and honest they have been throughout the process and that something big and exciting was on the horizon. So why all the secrecy? If anything I would say Mizzou admins have been less than honest when it comes to sharing information and keeping their fans calm. They preach "Stay Calm" but please, explain to us why we should?<br /><br />While it's not over until it's over, I am beginning to think that Mizzou is leaning another direction. Maybe it's the lack of sleep, I don't know, but here's my thought: With Texas about to pull out of the conference as well, Mizzou, Kansas, K-State, Iowa State, and Baylor may seek to build a new conference, a new Big 12. Add a few up and comers, throw in Memphis from Conference USA and another big name or two and voila...instant rebirth.<br /><br />And for the sake of argument....why not add Notre Dame? The worst that could happen is they could say no. But expansion has always been and always will be about money. So if all the teams saying sayanara to the Big 12 are paying buyout fees equal to a certain percentage of their television revenue shares; and the schools with the biggest shares are the ones who are leaving (see ya Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, etc...) then therein lies a huge chunk o' change. I'm not certain of the numbers, but there are 7 schools and counting contributing to a fund that just might be used to help persuade the Fighting Irish to consider the option and tell the Big 10 that No means No.<br /><br />Hey, I never said it was a solid plan, just a possibility. And it wouldn't be the first time an administrator has had delusions of grandeur. Just don't rule it out until after the dust has settled.Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-37380929525049304022010-06-03T16:27:00.002-05:002010-06-03T16:59:04.706-05:00Holding on Tight...Do you ever have one of those days when you wake up in the morning feeling like P-Diddy....oh wait, wrong feeling....<br /><br />The feeling I meant to portray before I distracted myself was one where you wonder just why you bother to do the things you do when most of the time it doesn't really seem to matter. This post isn't meant to be a pity-party post or anything like that, but for the sake of argument, just humor me.<br /><br />I've been writing for many years. Usually just for my own entertainment and after awhile other people read them and start telling me how good the writing is and this and that and the other. It's not like I feel like I'm wasting time or anything, I enjoy writing. I like to be creative and come up with situations and scenarios that make people feel like they are right there in the middle of the action and for the most part, I feel like I have done that.<br /><br />I don't expect to see my published works go flying off the bookshelves, but seriously, it would be nice if some of those same people who tell me how much they enjoy my work would actually go online and buy a copy.<br /><br />Major publishing companies do not like to take chances on new authors, I understand that. The advent of the self-publishing companies and Print-on-Demand services have been a Godsend for people like me who want to get their work out there for the world to see. I've followed all of the marketing tips and advice and purchased what advertising I could actually afford; so the only thing that truly remains is word-of-mouth.<br /><br />I have friends in the world. No, really, I do. Some of them I would trust with my life. But how many of them do you think have taken the time to post a little something on their websites or spaceypages and facetwits and such that someone they know has accomplished this? Not many. I have one friend in particular who will send out every single email forward she gets from anywhere in the world whether it's humorous, religious, a warning, don't buy this, don't buy that, or some sentimental sap that tells us all how much they care about us. But she wouldn't put out a little blurb to let her other friends know about what this one has done.<br /><br />I need help. I can't do it alone. I never thought I could, but I did think that if I could just get the attention of the right people, then just maybe I might have the start of a new career.<br /><br />How long does one wait before they realize they are wasting time? How much effort is put forth into something before someone sits up, takes notice and tells someone - hey, you should check this out!<br /><br />I'm not at the point of giving up, but I am starting to wonder why I let myself listen to those who supposedly believed in me enough to encourage me. I would love to continue writing for years to come, but food still has to be put on the table.<br /><br />Here's my theme song today...<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0WXeIqbi4Lc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0WXeIqbi4Lc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br />If you've got a dream...hold on tight. It could be a bumpy road...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-61018398715696868822010-05-26T10:21:00.004-05:002010-05-26T10:42:24.885-05:00New Promo and Upcoming BooksYesterday, after some frustrating mishaps with various software applications, I produced my first video promotion for the book <span style="font-style: italic;">It's All Fun and Games Until Somebody Gets Murdered</span>.<br /><br />You can view it here:<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cbBBZfGme7s&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cbBBZfGme7s&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Yesterday, a thought came to me of the video I want to create to promote the erotic anthology <span style="font-style: italic;">My Lust for Anna and Other Erotic Tales</span>. Imagine the look on the faces of my girlfriend and my 17 year old son when I announced to them that I needed a webcam to create the video. Don't worry, it won't be too graphic. It has to be clean enough for YouTube, right?<br /><br />Now I just have to get myself switched back into writing gear so I can get my next book a little further off the ground. It's already been started, so at least the framework is in order for it. And I've got the next one after that in development, so as long as I can stay focused I will have what I think will be two very good reads out and on the market within the next year.<br /><br />Book number 1 has a working title: <span style="font-style: italic;">Anatomy of a Divorce</span>. It's about a couple with a seemingly perfect marriage until several little things snowball into several big things and before the couple knows it, the proverbial rug has been pulled out from beneath their feet.<br /><br />Book number 2 has no working title as of yet, but it deals with a woman who endured years of sexual abuse in her childhood and the effects such abuse has had on her life.<br /><br />If you have not yet done so, I encourage you to visit lulu.com by clicking on one of the book images at the bottom of this blog page and ordering a copy of any of my books. You will not be disappointed.<br /><br />Thanks!Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-23525750992086337302010-05-24T21:56:00.002-05:002010-05-24T22:17:05.117-05:00So Now What?Well, today the proof copies of my 3 books arrived for my approval. They look great, and I wasted no time getting online into my lulu account to approve them.<br /><br />So...where do I go from here? I've fulfilled my dream of publishing a book. 3 books, really, with 2 more in progress. But what does it mean if I can't share that dream with the world? How do I go about marketing my books in a way that does not seem intrusive? Well, advertising is an intrusive business. We are bombarded with advertisements every day - on television, the radio, in the newspaper, and on the internet. How many pop-up ads have you seen today?<br /><br />As for me, I have a few vehicles for getting the word out. I have this site here at blogger. I have my facebook profile as well as a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/pages/Its-All-Fun-Games-Until-Somebody-Gets-Murdered/114392491936187">fan page</a> also set up at facebook for the book <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/its-all-fun-and-games-until-somebody-gets-murdered/11028528?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/6">It's All Fun and Games Until Somebody Gets Murdered</a>. I have a myspace profile, and I have set up a <a href="http://scotthendricks.webs.com">promotional site</a> at webs.com for all of my published books.<br /><br />My dilemma is not so much driving traffic to my websites, but the quality of traffic to those sites. There are plenty of traffic exchange services around the internet that will get people to my pages, but I've found in the past that the traffic it generates is not the kind that translates into sales. I've tried pay per click services in the past with zero results. So perhaps the problem lies in the way my material is presented?<br /><br />I am open to suggestions regarding changes to the material and finding affordable ways to make my books appeal to those who come to check it out. Perhaps creating a video advertisement for YouTube would help? But how do you create a commercial for a book? Read a passage? Find some actors and actresses to act out a scene?<br /><br />Seriously, if anyone has any suggestions, I'm listening...and may I suggest reading the book might help spur the thought process? Just sayin.... :-)Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-71168870105258975722010-05-20T09:52:00.009-05:002010-05-20T10:12:32.392-05:00It's Out!I've done it...<br /><br />I have finally released my project of nearly 30 years in the making. After a brief debate over the title of the book, I give you....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_VNBNAxTbI/AAAAAAAAAFc/AN10wGhCJm8/s1600/It%27s+All+Fun+and+Games+front+cover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_VNBNAxTbI/AAAAAAAAAFc/AN10wGhCJm8/s400/It%27s+All+Fun+and+Games+front+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473365605206805938" border="0" /></a><br />...now available on <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/its-all-fun-and-games-until-somebody-gets-murdered/11028528?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/5">Lulu.com</a> and coming soon to Amazon!<br /><br />Of course, once I figured out how to navigate Lulu's system, I figured why stop there. I have also re-released... <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-erotic-adventures-of-steve-and-brooke/11026019?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/4">Click here for the book page</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_VNpk-kWYI/AAAAAAAAAFs/KducklF1CV4/s1600/Erotic+Adventures+Cover+-+lulu.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_VNpk-kWYI/AAAAAAAAAFs/KducklF1CV4/s400/Erotic+Adventures+Cover+-+lulu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473366298834786690" border="0" /></a><br />and....announcing for the first time anywhere....<a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/my-lust-for-anna-and-other-erotic-tales/11030179?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1">my erotic anthology</a>!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_VOGQvY5qI/AAAAAAAAAF0/tczAzQvQAVk/s1600/My+Lust+for+Anna+and+Other+Erotic+Tales+Front+Cover.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_VOGQvY5qI/AAAAAAAAAF0/tczAzQvQAVk/s400/My+Lust+for+Anna+and+Other+Erotic+Tales+Front+Cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473366791618619042" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />All three of the above books are available in paperback and download. Just visit Lulu.com!Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-28827643753476180042010-05-17T11:55:00.006-05:002010-05-17T12:11:17.156-05:00Ummm...Hi. Remember Me?Yeah, it's been awhile. But November?? Has it really been that long since my last post?<br /><br />Wow. Sorry about that. My bad.<br /><br />So what's new?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_F24yEUeQI/AAAAAAAAAFU/xxpJoNVOb6w/s1600/UoP+Seal.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 118px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_F24yEUeQI/AAAAAAAAAFU/xxpJoNVOb6w/s400/UoP+Seal.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472285740116506882" border="0" /></a><br />On my end, I have finally completed the coursework for my AAB degree with University of Phoenix. Applied for the diploma today and graduation will be in late June.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_F2Eel2u1I/AAAAAAAAAFM/k-BI7lZIOlE/s1600/DSCN1086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/S_F2Eel2u1I/AAAAAAAAAFM/k-BI7lZIOlE/s400/DSCN1086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472284841535257426" border="0" /></a><br />And my writing career is being resumed....<br /><br />What, no pic? I thought we had a pic...oh well...<br /><br />My latest book is soon to be released. It's a smart-ass comedy/romance/murder mystery of sorts called <span style="font-style: italic;">It's All Fun and Games Until Somebody Gets Murdered</span>. It's currently awaiting processing with the publisher, but if you'd like a sneak peak, just visit my <a href="http://scotthendricks.webs.com">author's page</a>. You'll find info there on both books I've written -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Erotic Adventures of Steve and Brooke</span> and the murder mystery.<br /><br />Meanwhile though I continue to search for work. I was laid off from my last job in December and have been unemployed ever since. The time was spent wisely, as I was able to concentrate on my schoolwork and various book projects.<br /><br />So that's what's going on in my world. What's going on in yours?Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-85884689827220934742009-11-08T14:09:00.003-06:002009-11-08T14:25:03.602-06:00Baylor 40, Mizzou 32Wow...didn't see that one coming.<br /><br />But then again, since the B12 conference season started, Mizzou football has been a season of surprises.<br /><br />From the 27 points surrendered to Nebraska in the 4th quarter to ZERO touchdowns scored by the Mizzou offense in the second half of any conference game this year. In the non-conference games, Mizzou was a 2nd half team. Remember the comeback against Bowling Green? Seems like a distant memory now.<br /><br />I'm thinking Mizzou is gaining a reputation as a choke artist the way they keep coughing up leads in the 2nd half of games. Baylor was not only considered a must-win, but by many it was also considered a "can't lose." At this point, MU goes into its game with conference leader kansas St next week with a 1-4 conference record. It's still possible, assuming Mizzou beats k-St, for MU to tie for the B12 north. Probably not very likely, but its possible.<br /><br />This season is starting to remind me of the 2004 squad - a year that the division as a whole was having a down year and the B12 championship was there for the taking. Mizzou went into a 5 game slide, I think it was and lost to teams they had no business losing too. Personally, I'd say that at 5-4, Mizzou needs to quit worrying about the B12 north and start focusing on becoming bowl eligible.<br /><br />At least basketball season is right around the corner....<br /><br />Save the season, save the world...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-45597834546833385262009-11-01T20:37:00.003-06:002009-11-01T21:02:32.915-06:00Mizzou 36, Colorado 17Guess those Tigers got that monkey off their backs, huh? Wanted to watch, but our satellite system doesn't carry FSM so I had to follow along with Gametracker again - which froze up with about 10 minutes to go in the first half. Glad to see the offensive breakthrough, but I would be lying if I said I hadn't been concerned about how easily the Buffaloes seemed to be scoring points in the 2nd half! But the defense held tough and Mizzou got the "W". Baylor is up next, in Columbia and with a little more luck Mizzou can start to put a little win streak together.<br /><br />Some folks are giving scenarios showing how Mizzou could wind up winning the Big 12 North again, but personally I think they lost too many games too soon. Kansas State looks strong, and Mizzou would have to win out to even have a shot at it, plus MU would need help from other teams in the league to have a shot. My thought is that one of the two kansas schools will win the B12 North this year (I think I just threw up a little typing that) but it would be nice. Doesn't really matter though, I guess because Texas will likely steamroll whoever plays them in the conference championship game.<br /><br />I missed my Sunday night cartoons this week....I am seriously in need of a fix on Family Guy (ummm, new episodes please?). I was searching for episode guide info earlier tonight and it seems the long awaited Empire Strikes Back parody has been pushed back to May, possibly a season ender? A parody of Return of the Jedi is also listed for season 8, but I don't see them running both this year.<br /><br />World Series...Seriously?? Whatever happened to tradition of day games in the Fall Classic? Why must all of the games be played at night now? And don't give me the excuse of TV ratings because you can't tell me that everyone across the country wants to watch the Yankees and Phillies. Being a fan of the NL myself I will root for Philadelphia, but I can find better uses of my time than listen to broadcasters sing the praises of the Yankee players and organization for 4 hours a night.<br /><br />Finally tonight, I want to say Happy Birthday to my son, Tom Hendricks, who turned 20 today. Another year and he can legally have a beer! Also happy birthday to my girlfriend's daughter Sarah who turned 16 today. And we've entered the home stretch for the true birthday of my first grandchild. My daughter Kaitie is due to deliver any day now...she was hoping for yesterday. Trick or Treat!!<br /><br />Save some birthday cake and Save the world...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-19811760563016811912009-10-26T20:25:00.003-05:002009-10-26T20:40:31.575-05:00Heroes UpdateAnother good show this week...I'm kinda liking the idea of not summarizing the entire episode of Heroes. It makes typing (and watching the show) much easier. Here are a few thoughts to ponder while we wait for next week...<br /><br />It appears Sylar will get to have some fun afterall as he as taken over Matt's body. Question: Is it technically cheating for Matt's wife to have sex with Sylar, even though Sylar is using Matt's body to do it?<br /><br />So I kinda got the impression Claire kinda liked that kiss. Becca's cover is blown and I'm sure Gretchen and Claire will likely pass off Claire's "injuries" as part of a joke, as she was never really injured. I just want to see Gretchen and Claire deal with what is happening without someone interrupting them...or trying to injure one of them.<br /><br />Shame about Jeremy's situation...vigilante justice could have been addressed, but it seems Samuel had the problem well in hand in the long run. And what of Samuel's attempt to draw Tracy into the carnival? Do you think she'll head there as well?<br /><br />So next week we are treated to Hiro & Charlie, part Deux. I'm looking forward to it, but I've read a few spoilers about the episode that makes me wonder how it's going to play out. Hint: Hiro kills Sylar.<br /><br />********************************<br /><br />Now to change the channel for a moment, I'll leave you with this burning question:<br /><br />Does anyone not on the east coast actually give a damn about a Yankees/Phillies world series? Discuss...<br /><br />Save my fingers, Save the world...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-84250653519914204022009-10-25T20:40:00.004-05:002009-10-25T20:59:45.501-05:00Been a while...what the hell happened?My apologies for the lack of information coming from this page! Just one of those things, I guess...<br /><br />Combining work and school are one thing and adding in some real life is another. But I digress.<br /><br />On the subject of Heroes...after the 1st week back of the new season, when I summarized the first two episodes, I began to wonder just what the heck I was setting myself up for! I don't remember last season being anywhere near as fast paced as this season has been. By the time the next week rolled around I was a bit under the weather and since then I have been doing good just to keep up with the show. So instead of summarizing, I think maybe I'll just throw in a few key thoughts and go from there. Feel free to jump into the discussion...<br /><br />So how about that kiss between Claire and Gretchen?<br /><br />Will Sylar/Gabriel be redeemed or is it time to kill him off? I think if he is not going to be redeemed a villainous character deserves to go out in a blaze of glory. Not necessarily one of those deaths or explosions where the body is never recovered, leaving us to wonder about his fate, but something more resembling the battle at the end of season 1, where all of the "good guys" took a turn in the battle. I don't think they could send him off to prison just because his abilities would never allow him to be held.<br /><br />Will Sylar turn on his new friends? If Samuel pisses him off, or if he wakes up and realizes just who he is, I think Sylar could find a smorgasboard of abilities ripe for the picking.<br /><br />How the hell is Peter going to heal Hiro? Will Peter hold on to his current ability until Hiro comes back (anxiously awaiting the scenes with Jayma Mays, aka Charlie, again!)<br /><br />And finally....it appears to me that Heroes characters don't die. They just move over to Glee on Fox (Jayma Mays, Jessalyn Gilsig, even Elle's dad "Bob" is over there now.)<br /><br />Mohinder will be back, or so I've read....<br /><br /><br />FOOTBALL --<br /><br />Well, it has been 3 games since I last blogged about Mizzou football. I really thought we had a chance to win at least 1 of the next three games, possibly two. Did we? Nope...try 0 for 3. And not just losing them, but losing them in grand fashion. I mean, I went to bed at the start of the 4th quarter of the Thursday night game with Nebraska with MU winning 12-0. I wake up the next morning and Mizzou has lost 27-12?? WTF?? Then there was Oklahoma State last week and Texas this week. Here's a tip for the MU defense. When you have the opposing quarterback (or any other opposing team member who happens to have the ball) wrapped up in your arms, PUT HIS ASS ON THE GROUND!!<br /><br />And Style Points?? Excuse me?? Seems like when Mizzou was winning the past two years by large margins, Mizzou was being unsportsmanlike. But when Oklahoma did it to people, including Mizzou, Texas did it to MU last night, it was "Style Points" and they get applauded for it. What a crock.<br /><br />So MU is now 4-3 and are still 2 wins away from being bowl eligible. I still think they can get there and honestly the next 5 games are winnable. Its' a weird season this year. I mean, Iowa State won at Nebraska? Texas A&M beat Texas Tech? I was slightly surprised to see kansas lose to Oklahoma yesterday too. With Bradford out, and Reesing at QB for the beakers, I expected a closer game. Even winless Ball State got their first win of the year yesterday. So a lot can happen still...<br /><br />Give me your thoughts, or at least something to talk about.<br /><br />Save my mind, Save the World...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-8752915411796744072009-09-26T15:16:00.002-05:002009-09-26T15:27:18.534-05:00Mizzou 31, Nevada 21As much as I wanted to plop myself down in front of the tv last night to watch this game (for FREE), I was unable to do so because I had homework to do for my math class. So, as before, I just followed along with GameTracker on the internet.<br /><br />GameTracker left me confused at times as to just what was going on, but it appeared to me that Nevada put everything they had into stopping the rushing offense of Mizzou. They pretty much succeeded in doing that as the running game was almost non-existant, minus a 42 yard run by Derrick Washington. Mizzou countered as expected with Blaine Gabbert's passing game.<br /><br />Let me repeat.<br /><br />Blaine. Gabbert's. Passing. Game.<br /><br />This dude has an arm. 414 Yards?? Are you kidding me?<br /><br />Gabbert is going to force teams to defend against the pass, and this SHOULD open some running lanes for the rushing game. I say should because through 4 games this season, I have yet to hear about many huge gains on the ground.<br /><br />But at least Mizzou did survive again and came away from a quality opponent ON THE ROAD with a win. Yes, Nevada is now 0-3, but look at who else they've played. Nevada is going to really surprise any team who takes them lightly.<br /><br />Bye week next week, then it's a Thursday night game in Columbia against Nebraska. Words that have been unable to be said for quite some time regarding these two teams can now be said with a smile: Nebraska has lost 3 straight in Columbia, and 2 straight against the Tigers. Now if Mizzou can just put together 23 more straight wins against the Huskers, I'll be a happy man. But just one more win against Nebraska will be just fine too.<br /><br />So after another undefeated non-conference season, let's ask: Is Mizzou for real? Did the Tigers truly reload instead of rebuild? The next 3 games will answer that question and I would expect MU to win 2 of the next three. What is your opinion? (only serious discussion please. Any attempts at flaming will be deleted, no questions asked.)Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-13624345519570481612009-09-21T21:04:00.000-05:002009-09-21T21:06:10.624-05:00A Double Helping of HeroesHeroes is back!<br /><br />Season 4....Volume 5 "Redemption", Ch 1 "Orientation"<br /><br /><br />It's been a long summer, filled with relocation, job searches, concerts, and college classes. Fall can mean one thing....Heroes is back!<br /><br />We open at a funeral seen in an open field; a man in a pine box is being eulogized by who we are lead to believe is his brother. He talks about being different from everyone else and we are shown scenes of Peter, Claire, Sylar, and Nathan. Tracy, Matt, and Hiro. Return to the funeral as he pulls out a compass stating that these people will soon search them out and come join their family. Tossing the compass into the grave, the man says, "Find your way home brother." Then with a lift of his arms, the earth moves in and covers the coffin. The group slowly turns and walks away, a carnival in the distance.<br /><br />Clair-Bear goes to college! Arriving in her new dorm room, she is greeted by her new roommate, Annie (Rachel Melvin, formerly Chelsea on Days of Our Lives) and the two get to know each other. Annie likes to talk apparently, and has lots to say as she demonstrates how she has her entire life all mapped out.<br /><br />Tokyo, Japan now and Hiro & Ando have formed their own company..."Dial A Hero". Business ain't exactly booming as no calls have come in. The two reminisce over a photograph from the past and Ando talks about how he fell for Hiro's sister Kimiko and how she started hating him. Enter Kimiko who isn't exactly thrilled with how Hiro & Ando spent 50 million yen on Heroes for Hire.<br /><br />Moving on to New York City, Peter is exiting a cab in a traffic jam and running between the cars. Climbing walls and staircases reminiscint of Spiderman (minus the webbing), Peter makes his way over a garbage truck to a traffic accident. Peter rips the door off of a vehicle saying to the injured man inside, "Hi. I'm here to save you."<br /><br />Clair is entering a lecture hall as an excited Annie sees her and gets her attention, waving her over. Enter the professor who introduces them to Linear Geometry, shows them a problem on a board and says they have 45 minutes to finish it. Clair is sweating as she notices a red laster on her chest....she stands to run but is suddenly shot by tranquilizer darts...then she awakes, realizing she was daydreaming and leaves, saying the class wasn't for her.<br /><br />Peter is at the hospital, learning that the pregnant woman he just brought in from the accident is going to be fine. Peter is changing clothes as his partner asks where he's going. Peter answers that he is about to cover for someone, even though he just came off a double shift. Peter's partner tells him, "Dude. There is life outside of this building."<br /><br />Hiro and Ando are on a case to save Muffin Man, a small kitten trapped up on top of a building sign. Ando bravely climbs up to save him as a little girl yells "Be careful! She doesn't like strangers!" The cat lurches and Ando falls off the building. Hiro stops time and freezes him just before Ando would have gone splat.<br /><br />Noah Bennet and Angela Petrelli are talking about the situation behind Agent Danko and Tracy Strauss. Noah is in a hurry to get to see Clair on her first day of college. Noah spies a newspaper headline in his car about a series of drowning victims when his car won't start. Suddenly water comes pouring out of the vents, filling the car up and trapping Noah inside as ice starts to form around the door frame on the outside of the car. Noah manages to break out a window in the car so the water can drain out. As Noah pulls himself out and to his feet, he looks up and sees Agent Danko, who had been responsible for breaking Noah's window. Danko says it looks like the work of Tracy Strauss. Danko wants to continue the hunt, but Noah isn't interested. Danko asks if he's back in business with the Petrellis and Noah denies it. Later after Danko leaves, Noah watches the water drain into a sewer.<br /><br />Clair is walking across campus where she meets another new friend, Gretchen. Gretchen recognizes Clair's name from the headlines in Odessa Texas a few years back and Clair just wants to forget about it.<br /><br />Angela is dreaming about meeting up with Nathan for lunch. It's Nathan's voice, but Sylar's face. She realizes its a dream and goes into the restaurant. This time Nathan approaches and Angela handles it better. She still appears shaken (obviously remembering the events from last season's finale). Nathan is soul searching, and Angela is counseling him, advising him to find a new car and a younger woman.<br /><br />Matt Parkman and his young son are playing when Angela calls him up, to tell him that she believes "Sylar" is returning. Matt tells her he is done, he is out. Angela says he can't be out, you are never "out". Matt says its not "our" problem, good luck with it.<br /><br />Nathan reaches across a desk for a coffee mug and it comes to him. He looks confused as he knows he doesn't have the ability of telekinesis. Then he looks at his hands as blue sparks come flying out and he jumps in surprise at these newfound abilities, unsure of where they came from.<br /><br />Noah and Annie are having a talk in the door room as Clair walks in. Noah explains his lateness and says Annie was just catching him up, as she excuses herself to go play Guitar Hero 3. Clair talks about how she was recognized (if in name only) as a survivor of the Odessa Homecoming Massacre.<br /><br />Back to the carnival as a woman walks into a tent, takes off her top and the man giving the eulogy from the opening of the episode says show me who he is. An image of Agent Danko appears on the girls back, as if it were a tattoo. The man tells an accomplice to find Danko and kill him. The accomplice doesn't want to do it, so the man grabs a tattoo pen and injects ink into his hand. The ink travels up his arm and forms a hand around his neck and begins to strangle him. The man finally calls off the "attack" and gets his point across.<br /><br />Noah and Tracy Strauss are meeting in a cafe. Tracy tells her side of things after she explains why she was killing people. Noah offers her his help and she is suspicious. He asks if they have a deal. Tracy says You wish it was that easy as she gets up and walks out.<br /><br />Danko and Noah are meeting in the old Bldg 26. Noah offers Danko a chance to start over, courtesy of the US Govt. Danko turns him down saying he will get what he wants. Danko turns around as his head is covered by the Haitian who then does what he does best. Noah smiles.<br /><br />Nathan is calling Peter, leaving a message on an answering machine as Nathan expresses his suspicions that something is happening to him. Peter is listening to the message as he pins up a newspaper clipping of the saved pregnant woan on the wall.<br /><br />Danko is going into his apt, as Tracy confronts him. He doesn't recognize her as she realizes "they made you forget." He walks inside the apt where he is confronted by the "accomplice" from the carnival. The man tells Danko "they want it back" and when Danko doesn't know what he is talking about, the guy starts slicing and dicing. Literally. He is moving around with super speed, swinging long blades, and when he is done, Tracy watches as Danko falls to floor, dead. The man sees Tracy and tries his abilities on her, only to discover that knives don't work too well on water. Tracy grabs his wrist and freezes the knife, shattering it before the accomplice manages to run away.<br /><br />Clair is at the rec center watching, walking in as Annie plays Guitar Hero. Clair spies her new friend Gretchen being a wallflower and goes over to talk to her, trying to explain her situation. Annie sees Clair and calls her over, Clair and Gretchen start playing Guitar Hero ("Superstition", if you really need to know!)<br /><br />Ando wheels Hiro back to the office on a 2-wheel dolly, where Hiro finally comes back to present time. Hiro notices a nose bleed and Ando thinks he should get checked out. Hiro says he already has and the news isn't good. He's dying, maybe soon. He doesn't know. Hiro reminices over the photo again, remembering when it was taken. Ando thinks they should go back and change that night, Hiro says he must never change the past. As he is talking to Ando, Hiro disappears.<br /><br />Hiro reappears 14 years in the past, at the carnival.<br /><br />The topless woman develops a new tattoo of Hiro as she explains to the boss who Hiro is. It's a little rough to blog this part because we don't really know names yet, but the boss talks to an elderly man, asking him he thinks he may have found someone who can help them change the past. He needs the man to send him back, about 14 years.<br /><br />Clair goes back to her dorm room, expecting to find Annie, but she isnt' there. The window is open, and when Clair goes to shut it, she sees Annie lying on the pavement below.<br /><br />Matt Parkman goes to check on his son, but can't find him. Instead Matt turns around to find Sylar holding his son, saying, "I want my body back."<br /><br /><br />NOTE: Previews show that next week, we can delve deeper into the world of Lydia, who apparently is the topless woman who can form tattoos of people on her skin.<br /><br />A lot of action to keep up with this week, but its a lot of new morsels that have been missing from the show for a while. If the first episode is any indication, it's going to be an exciting ride...<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh but wait...there's more! Tonight it's a 2-hour episode!!<br /><br />Chapter 2 "Jump Push Fall"<br /><br />Sylar is talking to Matt about how he wants his body back, when Janice enters the room. Little Baby Parkman is back in his crib as Matt begins to debate whether Sylar was real or not. Inside, he knows the truth.<br /><br />Noah is in his apartment, living the single life and staring at a nearly empty refrigerator. He makes a bowl of cereal and picks up his cell phone to call his ex-wife Sandra. A man answers and Noah isn't happy and hangs up. His phone rings back and its Tracy. Noah now pays a visit to Dankos apartment where Tracy says "I didn't do it."<br /><br />Hiro is at the carnival, realizing where he is. He is approached by his younger self, who hands him a camera, asking him to take a picture. He then snaps "the picture" that was obsessed over in episode 1. Hiro tries to return home, but his ability just doesn't want to cooperate. The boss (Samuel) calls out to Hiro by name, telling him he thinks they will be great friends.<br /><br />Clair is being questioned by police over Annie's apparent suicide. Clair swears the suicide note wasn't there before and the officer asks police to get the "gawkers" out of there as we see them trying to snap pictures of the room with their cell phone cameras.<br /><br />Samuel talks to Hiro and explains that he also has powers. Samuel points to young Hiro and asks if its him. Hiro explains yes, but he cannot interfere because of the Butterfly Effect. Samuel tells him he has the power to change things, he shouldn't be afraid to do that. Samuel pushes Hiro backwords where he knocks Kimiko out of the way of Ando's fallen drink. The drink lands on adult Hiro instead, and Hiro teleports back to present day and in the office wiht Ando. Kimiko enters and informs Hiro of his rent increase. Hiro leaves as Kimiko and Ando kiss. Hiro: "Yatta!"<br /><br />Tracy and Noah are talking in Danko's apartment as Tracy tries to explain what happened. Noah examines Danko's body as they wonder why Danko was killed. Revenge? they reason. No, had to be something else. Noah gets an idea and fishes around, finding a key somewhere within Danko's innards.<br /><br />Matt Parkman is getting dressed for work as the water delivery guy is playing with Matt, Jr. Matt talks to Janice about Roy the Water Boy and tells her why he is pissed about it. The two talk and get things calmed down as they kiss, Matt telling her he has things under control.<br /><br />Noah goes to Peter's apartment, wanting to talk. The two make small talk about their lives, how they've adjusted since "the company". Noah tells Peter that Danko is dead and shows him the key. Noah thinks he knows where the key goes and says he needs a partner on this, telling Peter the guy is super fast and good with knives. Peter: "How fast?"<br /><br />Clair and Sandra are at college as she introduces her mom to Gretchen. Gretchen wants to talk about Annie's death, but Sandra isn't wanting to take part, saying goodbye.<br /><br />Noah and Peter are inside a bank, with Peter posing as Danko. Noah opens a safe deposit box to find a compass and as he discusses it with Peter, there is a knock and the bank employee is standing there. Noah says they'll need a few more minutes and the employee falls to floor, his back all sliced up. Standing behind him is Danko's killer. The ban walks toward Noah where he is stopped by Peter who takes his powre. Peter and the man engage in a speed/martial arts battle with knives before the guy begins to wonder who he is up against and takes off. The bank employee is still alive and as they examine the compass, it goes crazy in Peter's hands, yet stands still in Noah's. Peter wants nothing to do with the compass.<br /><br />Back at college Gretchen arrives at the student union, carrying a stack of books and takes a seat next to Clair. They discuss the "Jump Push Fall" test and how it relates to an episode of Crossing Jordan. Gretchen wants to test the theory and see if Annie jumped, was pushed, or fell.<br /><br />Matt is in a therapy group, when Sylar bursts into the room. Of course, no one but Matt can see him. "Hi. My name is Sylar. It's been about 6 weeks since I've seen my body and I want it back!" Matt is trying to talk about how ghosts from his past keep popping up. Sylar continues to taunt Matt as other members just watch and listen to Matt. The group leader tries to get the group to move on.<br /><br />Hiro is making copies and Ando and Kimiko are making eyes at each other. Hiro brags that he made it happen. Ando talks about their first kiss on a ferris wheel. Hiro realizes that he must go back and right the wrongs he made in his life.<br /><br />Matt leaves the group session to interrogate someone. Sylar continues to taunt Matt as the prisoner is highly confused. Sylar tells Matt to just use his power, and Matt starts arguing with Sylar, resulting in a thrown chair at the wall. On the plus side, the prisoner gives up the name Matt was seeking.<br /><br />Peter and his partner wait in the ambulance enjoying some clam chowder (Peter says he knows a guy, lol) as a call comes in. Peter takes off and finds Noah lying on the ground, sliced up. Noah tells Peter, "He took the compass."<br /><br />Tracy is visiting Noah in the hospital, where Noah is recuperating. He relates the story of the compass and how he lost it to the man with the knives.<br /><br />Matt is back home where he is greeted by Roy and Janice (Roy just fixed the hot water heater). Matt decides to "convince" Roy that his services are no longer needed, as Sylar laughs silently.<br /><br />Clair gets up and walks to the window, staring out at the pavement below. Climbing up, she stands there, about to conduct her own test. Clair falls forward, going splat on the pavement, comparing her landing position to Annie's. Clair decides that maybe Annie did kill herself. Gretchen appears in the window above, looking down at Clair in shock. Clair looks up and waves.<br /><br />Samuel and his accomplice meet back up to discuss future plans. Samuel injects ink into Lydia's back and we see Peter, Sylar, and the face of a woman appear (Tracy? Clair? Sorry...I couldn't tell).<br /><br />And the credits role....<br /><br />NOTE: All in all, this looks like a much better season than we've seen the past 2 years. Sylar now exists in Matt's mind, influencing his behavior. Peter is trying to use his abilities to save lives. Hiro is using his to make things right that once went wrong (Quantum Leap, anyone?). Could there be a Tracy/Noah romance budding? And who will be Clair's "experimental game"? Can't wait to find out!Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-23255500600297687652009-09-20T21:40:00.002-05:002009-09-20T21:43:26.353-05:00Heroes Summaries Return This Week!With the start of the 4th season of Heroes, I am anxiously awaiting to see what new adventures await! Hiro's disease, Clair-bear's experimentation, Sylar's inhabiting of Nathan's body....it's going to be interesting!<br /><br />And I am going to do my best to blog episode summaries each week, so if you miss something, come on by and catch up....Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-79850653232467686232009-09-20T09:30:00.004-05:002009-09-20T09:55:06.763-05:00Mizzou 52, Furman 12Now this was the kind of game I expected Missouri to have against an overmatched team. Like last week, I did not actually watch the game, since I am too cheap to shell out $29.95 to watch on pay-per-view (we thought about it, but lower the price a bit, and we'll talk) so I followed along with the help of an occasionally slow updating Gametracker.<br /><br />Mizzou did take a few series to figure things out and apparently it was time well spent. Mizzou was up 42-0 at halftime. In the second half, I wondered how much time QB Blaine Gabbert would spend on the field. He played the 3rd quarter, while backup Jimmy Costello got the 4th.<br /><br />Mizzou managed 10 more points in the 2nd half while Furman attempted a comeback with 2 touchdowns, but missed the point-after kick both times.<br /><br />Now, here's a little bit that has bothered me the last few years. There are people around Missouri who don't like to see the Tigers run up the score on their opponents. I believe Coach Pinkel even subscribes to that notion. But how many years did we watch opponents run up the score against MU? Anyone remember the Norman Conquest? (Oklahoma 77, Missouri 0, in Norman, OK) Last season prior to the Big 12 Championship Game, the Oklahoma Sooners were PRAISED for scoring 60 points or more in so many consecutive games. Yet if Mizzou does it, people think the Tigers are unsportsmanlike? I really think that had OU not been scoring so many points, that the Texas Longhorns would have been ranked higher during all the confusion that had to decide the Big 12 South champion and would have been playing against MU instead. Not to say Mizzou would have beaten Texas, but what bothers me is the notion that the Sooners were granted "Style Points" by the pollsters which gave them the extra little push to put them in line to play for the championship. (end rant).<br /><br />So next week, Mizzou is on the road for a Friday night game at Nevada. Despite a 3-0 start for Mizzou and an 0-2 start for Nevada (losses against Notre Dame & Colorado State), this game concerns me. First, it's on the road. Second, despite the record, Nevada is a more experienced team (Anyone remember Mizzou @ Troy a few years back?). And 3rd, after this game Mizzou has a bye week before opening the conference with a home game against Nebraska. Can you spell Nevada "T-R-A-P"?? In fact, following Nebraska on the schedule are Oklahoma State (in Stillwater) and Texas (in Columbia).<br /><br />It may appear that all is well in Tiger Nation for the moment, but how well will be determined over this next stretch of 4 games. Winning 2 of these 4 is a must. Winning 3 of these 4 is possible and would be nice. Winning all 4 would spark - I don't know what. But the Tigers will definitely need to maintain their focus and take one game at a time to get through this stretch.<br /><br />Where the hell is Spider Burke when you need him?Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-67444478536841770172009-09-12T23:07:00.002-05:002009-09-12T23:28:17.242-05:00Missouri 27, Bowling Green 20I did not get to watch this game. I could have, but I chose not to shell out $29.95 for the pay-per-view broadcast. Just a thing I have, where I disagree with the concept of pay-per-view broadcasts of games against what is supposed to be inferior competition.<br /><br />I say supposed to be because Bowling Green was anything BUT inferior. I don't know if it was Mizzou believing their hype this week, or enjoying its spot in the rankings, or if Bowling Green is just that well coached and prepared but the Falcons have certainly had Mizzou's number this decade.<br /><br />I was away from home this afternoon and when I got home this evening, I had some errands to run before the game. I got back home about half an hour after the game started and when I turned on the computer to see how things were going (thank God for Gametracker!) Imagine my surprise to see Mizzou trailing 7-0, followed by a Bowling Green punt that was fielded by Mizzou, then fumbled away. The Tiger defense managed to hold the Falcons to just a field goal, but I still had hopes that it was just a fluke.<br /><br />That was late in the 1st quarter.<br /><br />Mizzou actually trailed 13-0 before they managed to put a pair of field goals on the boards to make the score 13-6 by halftime. Incidentally, is anyone going to give props to Mizzou's new field goal kicker, Grant Ressel?? Where the heck did this guy come from? He only has to replace the most prolific kicker in Mizzou history (no pressure though) and so far this season he has been money from over 40 yards out.<br /><br />In the second half, Bowling Green came out and scored another touchdown on their opening drive to make the score 20-6. Mizzou could have easily quit at that point, but I like to think that these guys saw the moment as a true gut-check and decided right then and there that they were not going to give up. They battled back and scored three unanswered touchdowns to steal the win away from the visiting team. Twice they went for it on 4th down and twice they succeeded in keeping the drives alive.<br /><br />This team may be full of youngsters, but tonight they showed that they have no quit in them. If they go down, they will go down swinging. From a fan's perspective, I would have preferred to see a blowout, but when I reflect on this game, I think what we ended up with is much more valuable. These Tigers were given a test. A chance to battle back from adversity and fight for respect. Bowling Green had aspirations of coming in to Columbia and scoring an upset on the road (much like Houston did to Oklahoma State) but it wasn't to be. These Tigers passed their test and I would venture a guess they will be better prepared for Furman next week.<br /><br />I don't think Mizzou will go undefeated this year, but I do think we are looking at something special. The start of something Mizzou fans have been dreaming of for years. Watch for good things to happen as this team begins to gel and barring early defections to the NFL, an undefeated season is certainly possible within the next two years.<br /><br />M-I-Z!!!Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-92178288169796224022009-09-05T19:34:00.002-05:002009-09-05T19:41:49.060-05:00Mizzou 37, Illinois 9I guess this should answer one burning question: Is Missouri rebuilding or reloading?<br /><br />I was pleasantly surprised with today's outcome. Count me among the doubters and those who thought it might be a long and tortuous season. I thought the more experienced Illinois team would come out and put a whoopin on old Mizzou in much the same fashion they do every December in the braggin' rights basketball game.<br /><br />However, Mizzou's young quarterback making his first collegiate start while playing in his hometown St Louis had other ideas. And so did the normally generous Mizzou defense. Bend, don't break actually held today. I was very impressed with the way they held Illinois to 3 points for most of the game before allowing a touch down in the 4th quarter.<br /><br />One concern the team might be looking at, I thought, would be rushing. I haven't looked at the box score yet, but I don't recall seeing many decent runs by the Mizzou rushers.<br /><br />Can't wait till next week! Mizzou at home vs Bowling Green....Should be fun to watch!Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-53610608905087690432009-08-22T13:14:00.003-05:002009-08-22T13:18:33.949-05:00Employed!So, it's been awhile...and in case you hadn't heard the word yet...<br /><br />I passed my state insurance exam :)<br /><br />Additionally, my application for a state insurance license was approved :)<br /><br />So now I am contracted as an insurance agent with Bankers Life & Casualty.<br /><br />So little time, so much to learn!<br /><br />Still studying via online learning modules and I have to complete all of those before I can get paid; they are certainly time consuming, so I'll be around when I get the chance.<br /><br />Hope this finds everyone doing well!<br /><br />Save the paperwork, save the world...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-39666919052646428272009-08-10T20:52:00.003-05:002009-08-10T21:04:02.497-05:00Insurance Exam UpdateI've completed everything in the insurance course, scored well on all the practice quizzes and today took the simulated exam, needing an 80% to pass before I can move on to the state exam on Wednesday.<br /><br />I took the simulated exam twice today, missing my 80% target both times.<br /><br />WTF??<br /><br />I'm not sure why this exam was kickin my ass today. Tired? Maybe. Information overload? Probably. But I'll try again tomorrow, when all the kids are gone to school (yay for 1st days!), although noise and outside disturbances weren't really a problem today. This exam has 160 questions and takes about 90 to 120 minutes to complete. The official exam on Wednesday will allow up to 3 hours to finish. But first things first.<br /><br />Attempt number 3 begins at approximately 9am tomorrow - once I get fully awake, that is. Stay tuned...<br /><br />Save my brain, save the world...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-69883547600903687762009-07-31T13:23:00.003-05:002009-07-31T13:39:55.588-05:00Time for a new chapter....I am trying not to drop down to one post a week again, if that much, but it seems there isn't much else I can do. Life since my move to Indiana has been fairly busy, despite having time on my hands. I find I don't get online a whole lot - ok, I do get on for an extended time - but online priorities have changed somewhat.<br /><br />How, you ask?<br /><br />Job searches for one. You would think that being able to apply for a job online would simplify things. They don't. I swear, sometimes I think companies use the online applications as a chance to ask for more information, sometimes even duplicating questions just to see if you'll answer the question in the same way. These things seem to take forever to fill out and out of the ones I did a few weeks ago, I still haven't heard a word. My references have all received (and completed) reference surveys about me, but still nothing.<br /><br />Not that it matters anymore though. I will be beginning a new career soon. You see, on Monday, Aug 3, I begin my next class with Univ of Phoenix (Accounting), then on Monday, Aug 10, I will start a basic math class - but that's not really important right now. On Aug 3, I also have to take my son to the local high school to get him enrolled for his junior year. But before I do that, I have another appointment.<br /><br />You see this morning, I was offered an opportunity to become an agent for an insurance company. Out of several people interviewed, I am one of two offered this chance. It means that in addition to my other classes, on Aug 3 I have to enroll in a state-required insurance course, complete it with an 80% on their exam. Then take a state exam and pass it, then get licensed, and finally get certification for long-term care policies. That whole process should take about two weeks. After that, I should be officially employed again.<br /><br />How much time that will leave for writing, blogging, and participating in some of life's more exotic and erotic pleasures (i.e. hypnosis, porn reviews, etc...) is beyond me. But keep checking in with me. Email me if you want (scottseviltwin@gmail.com), hell I'm even open to receiving your dirty pictures if you want to send them. (No? OK, well it was worth a shot...) I will keep posting updates as time allows and maybe, just maybe, it will be something entertaining.<br /><br />Save the Diet Dew, Save the WorldScott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-20169101703983179522009-07-27T08:09:00.003-05:002009-07-27T08:25:32.820-05:00Sorry for the delays - Moving Update (part deux)Yet another week has gone by and I am about 95% unpacked here in Indiana. I still have a few boxes I am not sure where its contents will go. When I moved, I gave up my computer desk (no room) and a majority of the things I have left to arrange used to sit in or on that desk.<br /><br />I attempted to get my son registered for school last week, but the guidance counselor was out and I was told to call back this week and schedule an appointment. Apparently, this is the week that all of the current students will come to get their schedules (or maybe it's next week - I forget), but the school didn't seem too concerned about having enough time to get my high schooler enrolled. I tried to tell them the folks back in Missouri may be a little slow at sending out transcripts, but it didn't bother them. So I called the school this morning to make an appointment, got voicemail, and left a message. I'm still waiting for a call back.<br /><br />The job front is....proceeding. That's about all I can say at this point. I interviewed last week for one position and have been expecting to hear something soon about another. I submitted another application with a local hospital who is attempting to fill an Insurance Verification Specialist position. I have experience with that (about 3 1/2 years worth), which I did back at MU in the late 90's. I left that position in January 2001. Not too excited about doing it again, but there are worse jobs out there.<br /><br />And we arrived here last week to learn that we also have new upstairs neighbors. They just moved to Muncie as well. From Columbia, MO. Small freakin' world, huh? But it doesn't end there...as we were getting our sodas and snacks from a convenience store in Columbia last Tuesday morning, I was talking to the cashier about the move. She is also moving - to Muncie - in a few weeks.<br /><br />Columbia, MO....taking over the world, one city at a time.<br /><br />Save the blogger, Save the world...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-40314333450532041372009-07-20T07:50:00.002-05:002009-07-20T07:56:55.182-05:00Update: It's Moving Day (Part 1)Wow, it's been a whole week already?<br /><br />Just a quick update to let you know why you haven't heard from me in so long. It's been a very long and productive week with packing and trying to get kids motivated and getting utilities taken care of here in Missouri. I haven't really had time for much of anything else.<br /><br />But today is the beginning of an end, I suppose. Today (in just a few minutes, in fact), I will be taking down my internet modem and cable box and dropping them off with Mediacom. From there, I am off to U-Haul to pick up the moving truck. Then it's back here for a fun-filled day of hoping nothing expensive gets broke! Then it's meet-with-the-landlord time and return keys and back to U-Haul to have an auto-transport unit hooked up to the truck and load my car up on it.<br /><br />Finally, tomorrow morning I am off to Indiana. So I'll be offline for a day or two while we get things loaded, transported, and unloaded. Wish me luck!Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640754368894125455.post-81524758571176126382009-07-09T08:36:00.007-05:002009-07-09T09:39:59.062-05:00Vintage vs RetroLike everyone else, I have a few minor irritants. No, not THAT kind of irritant! But rather a few things that if I really sit down and think about it, things that can really annoy me.<br /><br />Imagine driving down the road and you find a good oldies station on the radio. Yeah, songs from people like Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Temptations...all the great groups from the 50's and 60's. And then without warning, the next song you hear on that same station...Hotel California by the Eagles. Or maybe even Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. It's enough to make me want to hit the brakes and scream, "These are NOT oldies!!"<br /><br />Now, how's this for a segue...<br /><br />Did you know there is a market for vintage porn?<br /><br />It's true...while surfing recently trying to find some good porn videos, I discovered some vintage porn sites. Sites containing pictures and vids from as far back as the 1920's and 30's. If you need an example, <a href="http://vintagelovelies.com/cabinet/eroticphoto/">click here</a>. Surprisingly, I found these pictures to be quite simple really. I suppose back in those days, porn wasn't quite so easy to come by (no pun intended!) so just to see something of this nature had to be quite the shock.<br /><br />So as I'm looking through the pages there, I am reminded of what the time period was like and how people must have faced quite the scandal if word ever got out that the pretty little girl next door posed for <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">that</span> kind of picture. My own grandparents were people who threw society's standards back in it's collective face by choosing to not get married. For them, that was making quite a statement. And then as I look at a few more pics another thought crosses my mind. These pictures were taken over 70 or 80 years ago! My God, these people are grandparents and great grandparents in today's world! Who would have thought that the old couple who cut you off in the buffet line, or was driving real slow in front of you on the highway might have done something like this!<br /><br />But back to the point of this post. Annoyances. I thought I would search for more vintage porn and I found this clip for <a href="http://www.pornhub.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7ade25fd41c2ec5b81e0">vintage lesbians</a>. Go ahead, I'll wait. Just don't forget to come back and read the rest of this post...<br /><br />Damn, took you long enough! So what was I saying again? Oh yeah....THIS IS NOT VINTAGE!! Retro, maybe, but it's not vintage! Sure, it may have been made many years ago, but it's in color for Christ's sake! So let this be a lesson here...removing the audio track and showing grainy color footage of porn is just bad porn. I don't care how good the action was, if you don't get the whole picture, you are just missing out. Vintage porn is black and white and from a by-gone era. This clip <a href="http://www.pornhub.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4b5a50331c5099527ef8">here</a> is vintage. And so is <a href="http://www.pornhub.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b6bd9058e5d1f5f03a63">this one</a>. Yes, it might still be grainy...but you have to look at it with a new appreciation. Not for its face value, of course. But for the way these pioneers laid the groundwork and didn't give a damn about what some busybody might think. Well, I know what I think...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/SlX5TJpxAMI/AAAAAAAAAEg/kCHNK4_Pttc/s1600-h/vintage+painting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N_zAeFIDjHM/SlX5TJpxAMI/AAAAAAAAAEg/kCHNK4_Pttc/s400/vintage+painting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356461439231000770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Save the porn, Save the world...Scott's Evil Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836385188859633770noreply@blogger.com0