Games

I've been meaning to share these games since Christmas.

The first is a spore game that gets challenging half-way through.
nano war

The other is a fun game for the engineer in all of us.
fantastic contraption

Freshest Move

From a group called Utah Saints

What a Deal

I've been watching tons of t.v. lately and never before have I paid so much attention to commercials and the promises they make - some of which seem too good to be true. A classic case in point is Cash4Gold.com's promise to exchange COLD HARD CASH for my unwanted gold (as if I was a post A-team Mr. T with tons of chains collecting dust).

My first impression a few weeks ago was that sending gold by mail wasn't a good idea. I've always thought sending cash was bad, let alone a bulging white envelope labeled "Cash 4 Gold." They have increased in the amount of air time lately which means it must be working. So I decided to stop mocking the money pit to review the company, and its promises of riches



*COLD HARD CASH - Nope. You receive a mailed check or direct deposit.
*Gold highest value in decades - Yes. While Yahoo finance only let me see the trend since 2002, it doesn't mean selling now would maximize its value.
*Top dollar - Nope. I checked the website to understand the exchange rate for weight and karats and found an interesting disclaimer from the CEO regarding alternative options for those seeking to sell gold:

"Pawnshop: they can offer the option of buying it for resale. This may in certain cases provide the consumer with a higher value for your material.
Local Jeweler: They can buy for resale or trade in for a new item. In certain cases, this may provide consumers with a higher value for the material.
Cash4Gold: Cash4Gold, America's #1 Gold Buyer, buys all gold and other precious metals strictly for its melt value (not resale). This offers a completely anonymous transaction along with a 100% guarantee if not satisfied within 10 days of your
posted invoice."

[Maybe instead of saying "Top Dollar" it should revise its claim to appeal to those who prefer an anonymous transaction for it's melt value rather than the higher value of resale dealers.]

*Safe, Reliable, Insured: Technically, yes. While visiting the company website I read their terms and conditions (something I would not have done several months ago. Lame, I know) which limits their liability to the LEAST of these three sums:
1. The value they appraise the materials to be
2. 1/3 of previously professionally appraised value
3. $100

Which means even if you send the handful of gold bracelets like those shown on the commercial, you are insured up to a maximum of $100. If you do receive the check for your gold, you have 10 days from the date printed on the check to receive a refund. If you opted for the next day COLD HARD CASH option of direct deposit, you forfeit the right to dissatisfied with the amount you received. "This time limitation cannot be waived for any reason." Thanks for playing.

So, the upshot is since you have no idea what value they place on your to be melted gold, and anonymous service makes it hard to follow-up with complaints, it's doubtful the business will deliver the COLD HARD CASH you might expect.

This won't stop me from ... talking ... like ... the ... lady at the 18 second mark, or inserting other random things I could sell from previous marriages like the lady who was obviously reading the TelePrompter at the 35 second mark.

Ready the Musselman Resume

There's been some good stuff written on True Hoop the past two days.

Ryan, remember when I was wondering aloud why teams fire the head coach only to replace him with the assistant coach. It doesn't rally the troops, it only turns out to be a joke. If you really want a philosophy change, maybe you should hire a new coach instead of replacing him with someone remarkably similar?

This article points out that the interim coaches aren't doing so hot. I'm more in favor of what the T-Wolves did in pushing the G.M. downstairs to work with the players he put together. At least it makes it a matter of accountability. I watched some of the Knicks and Kings game the other night. The Knicks scored 49 in the first quarter without seeing a single defensive rotation. So while the firing of the coach from Hangtime didn't surprise me, maybe the Kings should fire the G.M. instead.


What would it be like to work in a cubicle next to Kevin Garnett? This is a good read. Add this to the list of the differences between our workplaces and theirs.

No Mo

Mo Cheeks was fired today by the Sixers. He's a good guy that was the victim of unrealistic expectations, but the post is just an excuse to show one of my favorite clips.

Make Room for King James

I've been following the Knicks this year for several reasons. First, they hired a coach in D'Antoni that has brought a fun Euro spread offense to the NBA. Second, the Stephon Marbury saga should happen more often. Third, the local media coverage is great. And, finally, they are playing for 2010 in 2008, and they are not apologetic.

I thought the Knicks had a lot of talent last year, but Isaiah was a disaster, and the team had no direction. For anyone who thinks coaching in the NBA doesn't matter, this season may be hard to explain. While they have taken advantage of a soft schedule, the philosophy, energy, and results are completely different than the dud they were last year. Coaches in the NBA are enablers, whether it leads to better or worse play.

Not that I like the undue attention an overpaid Loser gets, but too many teams are hijacked by bloated player contracts in a players league. It's about time a team makes a decision based on heart and not expenditures. Marbury quit on D'Antoni in Phoenix, which has not been forgotten. Word on the street in New York is that Stephon may be more talented than Duhon, but he is a ball-hog loser. He'll be moved or rot on the bench before he stifles the offense, and infects the whole team with me-itis.

I've got both the New York Times and Daily News on my quick links list, and their guys are as good as it gets.

Last night the team traded its leading scorer, second best scorer, and best rebounder in exchange for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley ... and it was a great move. While Harrington and Thomas fit the run-and-gun style, the reason for the trade was to clear space under the cap for the 2010 free agent class that includes Wade, Bosh and King James. Screamin' A reported last night that the space available would be enough to sign two max contracts! I don't know much about the cap, but that would make the Garden rock again.

Side Notes:

Go Blue

How do the Utah/BYU alums watch the game if it's on the mtn network. Is that even broadcast in California?

First Blood

I'm writing this post in response to the Donovan Mcnabb overtime mishap. Overtime is a vexing issue in both college and pro football. At the pro level, a win or loss comes down to the flip of the coin, rather than athletic ability and intelligence. At the college level, the game is given a botched face-lift and transformed into some demented form of football. Think old Kenny Rogers turning into new Kenny Rogers.

So how should football solve this problem? I have an idea.

Allow me to introduce First Blood, a balanced system of college and pro football overtime that also retains the element of murder in the title and reinvigorates Sylvester Stallone's career. The worst part about Sudden Death overtime, is just that--it's sudden, and it's over before the other team gets a chance. In the First Blood format, you play the entire 15 minutes, more points wins, but in the event of an overtime tie, whichever team scored first (or draws first blood) wins. No ties. No cointoss victories. No 50/50 soccer-style penalty kicks. (If nobody scores in OT, whoever drew first blood in regulation wins. Another incentive for intense play.)

So, the First Blood format provides huge motivation not only to score first, but in the event of falling behind early, there is huge motivation to catch up fast and take the lead. Imagine the offensive innovation...imagine the defensive intensity. And you thought Ray Lewis hit hard now...

The closest link I can make with First Blood is with soccer. Any soccer fan knows that the most action-packed part of the match occurs when a team is down a goal or tied in the last few minutes. For five-plus riotous minutes, all 11 players are sprinting, passing, and shooting like there's no tomorrow, because for some, there ain't. And not only do the players pick it up, the fans are on the verge of hooligan head explosions for all five minutes. Now, transfer that intensity to a football field and make it rain, so to speak.

It also makes sense from a business perspective (more minutes = more commercials = more money), but to me it makes sense from a football perspective. Today's fan sits at the kiddy table of the Thanksgiving dinner of modern sports; this might get us closer to the grown-ups.