Anyone for a Road Trip?

Jack Swarbrick unveiled the long-overdue schedules for the next 3 seasons this week. This is a preview of our future with the ACC.

I know we all love making the pilgrimage to South Bend for a game every year or two, but I look at this schedule and my eyes widen with the road games we have coming up. I wonder if anyone would consider making a road trip or two with me. Here are some that I would really love to see:

• 9/13/2014 Purdue @ Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy (Close for me and an awesome stadium)
• 9/27/2014 Syracuse @ MetLife Stadium in NY (Trip to NY anyone???)
• 11/1/2014 Navy @ FedEx Field in DC (Home game for DC folks)

• 9/12/2015 Virginia @ Charlottsville, VA (I hear this place is BEAUTIFUL)
• 10/3/2015 Clemson @ Clemson, SC (A true raucous road game)
• 10/31/2015 Temple @ Lincoln Financial Field in Philly (Home game for Philly folks)
• 11/21/2015 BC @ Fenway Park in Boston (1st football game in 45 years)

• 9/3/16 Texas @ Austin, TX (Yeah, Texas)
• 10/1/2016 Syracuse @ MetLife Stadium in NY (If it doesn't work out in 2014, another chance)

Keep it cheap, keep it simple. (With the exception being a possible NY family trip). I would also recommend we try to use our ND ticket contacts (Uncle Dan, Dr. Fox, Mr. Paulus) to get the tickets. Some of these sites will be hostile.  I would also imagine trying to buy them online will be VERY expensive. This will be the first Notre Dame visit to several of these locations, and regardless of what anyone says, these teams' fans will be dying to see us.

So anyone in???

Next?

So Breaking Bad is no more. I didn't got into it from the outset, but after being told for the 100th time that it was the best TV show ever, I downloaded the series and watched it. Yeah, it was great. Not only that, but it helped redefine television as perhaps the dominant artistic medium in entertainment. More than ever, big named actors and directors are joining TV casts, and the most interesting creative stories are being told on the small screen.

It can all be difficult to digest because there seem to be SO MANY great shows on TV right now. No normal person can watch them all. DVR helps, but on-demand and internet streaming is the key. Right now, I watch 2 or 3 shows on a weekly basis. Then, I fill in my free time (summer, show hiatus periods) with shows that I already know are good from internet streaming/download. This is great because a lot of these awesome new shows (I'm looking at you Game of Thrones) have 10 episodes seasons, and then 9 months of nothing!!!

So given the humongous success of The Walking Dead (the top rated show on all channels, not just cable), it is obvious that the next big series on my radar would get the greenlight. You should all look out for The Strain when it drops next year on FX. I actually started to read this trilogy back in 2011 on our beach vacation. It's co-authored by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. This is a fun series that was clearly written by a movie director. Never did I doubt that it would find it's way to the screen someday. I hope the suspense and amazing visuals evoked by reading these books can translate to television. It's kind of like The Walking Dead, except things actually happen, the characters do things and go places, and there is a point to their actions beyond just staying alive.

Sorry for the rant there. I've been very underwhelmed by Season 4 of The Walking Dead. 6 episodes and all they've done is get sick from a virus. Awful.

So if they can do the effects right and make a gritty, realistic series in the style of The Walking Dead, I think this could be another big TV hit. On that note, maybe give the first book a read. You'll like it a lot. The backstory on where the vampires came from and how they survived to the present is so different and unique that it's worth reading just for that. A popcorn book with great mythology and ideas.

Honest Trailers

Okay, has anyone heard of this series from Screen Junkies? I just saw the newest version for Man of Steel. Look, I loved the movie and have it in 3D Bluray at home right now. However, this thing is absolutely hilarious. Watch it and try not to laugh out loud. Having actually seen the movie might be a prerequisite though. Major spoiler alert warning on this one. I plan on spending some time watching a few more of these Honest Trailers. Priceless!

Hitchhikers

So the USWNT had some bus issues last week after practice. Their team bus broke down on the side of the road in Orlando. So what did they do? Put their thumbs up and hitched a ride back to the team hotel!!! This photo is priceless. That a young girl and her mom picked some of them up is even better! Check the link for more awesome fan shots!

Fans give a lift to Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux and others!

Of course any of us would gladly give a lift to the easy on the eyes women's team. However, it raises the question: who would you refuse to give a ride to from the USMNT players? There are a few that I'd prefer didn't make it to the game on-time!!!

I'll Bid $1

Toni Kukoc included as your personal butler!

Admit it, you watch those HGTV shows about house hunting around America and the world. It's almost impossible to switch, especially when it's a young family looking in the $500K-$1M range. You imagine yourself with all these options, but then quickly come back to realize that house hunting is a painful, merciless endeavor.

Taking that urge to the max, this is total house hunting porn! Take a look at MJ's estate. Originally listed at $29M, but clearly he's got a limited market. Now going to auction, I say we pool our spare change and put in a bid!

Guinea Pig Hero

Big media likes to throw around the term "hero" a lot these days.  However, I believe it should be reserved for true acts of heroism.  Here's to you Sooty, a true hero.

Old Spock New Spock

This is awesome:




Also, in case you were curious:

NSA has Nothing on the Internet!

Lightbeam Firefox add-on

Look, we all know it happens. Every web site you visit collects data on you, and will try to leverage that into ads and getting you to click other websites. Of course, over time this creates a profile on you. For me, I don't really care. For some, this is a pretty big deal. So for the crazies out there who won't drive a GPS-enabled car because the government can track you (I know a couple people like that) Mozilla will become your new best friend!

There is a new Firefox add-on called Lightbeam. It's a free, quick install, and it runs quietly in the background. It monitors your internet use, and shows the different 3rd party sites that are tracking you. It does it in a pretty graphic format too, that is super easy to use. I literally just installed it, and visited 2 sites, Google and Blogger. From that, 31 3rd party sites connected with me. That is absolutely insane!

Look, there is just no way around it. The internet offers literally unlimited options to learn, purchase, explore, entertain, connect to friends or whatever. For the most part it's ALL FREE! If you want this awesome tool, you have to accept that there are people trying to make a buck off you. Keep your passwords safe, use virus/webscan software, and don't visit file stealing sites or porn. You'll be fine.

In the meantime, switch to Firefox (it's the best browser anyway) and install this little add-on. It's very, very interesting.

Ender

I am a total sucker for infographics. When I saw this one which doubles as a movie poster, I immediately had to post it.  

Look, we all love the book, but I have no idea if the story will work as a movie. I have been literally holding my breath in anticipation of this one. The story has the potential to be one of the best sci-fi movies ever. It could also fall flat. I have avoided all reviews, but I see it's tracking at about 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, so there is hope. In a never before momentous event, Ali and I got a sitter and will meet Mom and Dad for dinner and a movie in glorious IMAX on Friday! I would recommend everyone see it soon. If it turns out to be awesome*, I will be forced to immediately post!

*Awesome is defined as me wiping because I "got something in my eye".

Ready for Thanksgiving!

Let all the youngin's know, tractor rides are open for business! Took the cart for a test spin yesterday around the neighborhood. It fit Ali and the girls no problem. I even have 2 bungee cords that can be fastened as makeshift seatbelts.

Still working on a fun course. I was hoping to go through the trails, but the bridges are too narrow for the tractor. It will be plenty fun and bumpy though!