The Copasetic Lounge

Lakers at Magic or it could have been called Kobe vs. Matt Barnes.  Those two definitely do not get along.  Technical fouls for both, jawing at each other, getting chippy, etc.  The game was physical, contentious, heated, and well-played on both sides even in the face of some terrible officiating that hurt both teams in different ways.  Barnes’ tete-a-tetes with Bryant were so engaging and energetic that the journeyman forward’s name began trending worldwide on Twitter.  Barnes got in Bryant’s face after a play, later threw an elbow at him, got in his face again, and even faked throwing the inbound pass in Kobe’s face as seen here:

Bryant didn’t even flinch.  Magic should have won easily but they couldn’t seem to put the Lakers away for some reason.  Barnes, though, had the final laugh. With Orlando clinging to a three-point lead and 1:29 to play, Bryant tried to take Barnes one-on-one and attempted a dagger three-pointer for the tie. It missed badly. Carter grabbed the rebound and dished to Jameer Nelson, who pushed the tempo. L.A.’s transition defense scrambled, and Bryant lost track of Barnes, who spotted up on the right wing and drilled a crucial three-pointer to boost Orlando’s lead to 6.

Barnes had defended Bryant all game, had watched him score 34 points and now was left alone on the Lakers’ guard with Orlando holding a 96-94 lead with 9.7 seconds left.   Bryant pulled up for a 20-foot jumper for the tie that missed as time expired.

Lakers have now lost three straight games in a row (first time that’s happened since they picked up Paul Gasol couple years ago).  And the Magic have now won 5 straight.  15 of the last 19, I believe.

Hopefully, we’ll meet up with these pricks again in the NBA Finals…get a little revenge.  that would be nice.

Kobe Bryant scores 34 points but misses a last-second jumper that would have tied the game. (AP)

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See Ben, bad shit comes out of the darkness… from:  LiveScience Dim lights can make it seem as if no one is watching, triggering moral transgressions in many people, a new study suggests. Past research has shown that when people are concealed from view by others, say when they are wearing hoods, these individuals will be more likely to commit criminal acts and other bad behaviors.  But what about times when we’re not actually anonymous - people can see us - yet we feel like we’re hidden? The researchers of the new study describe it as the adult version of hide-and-seek: Kids often believe no one can see them when they cover their eyes even though they are hiding in plain sight. Turns out, a dark room can have a similar psychological effect on adults. The results could play out in real-life office behavior, the researchers say. “Imagine that a person who is alone in a closed room is deciding whether to lie to a total stranger in an e-mail. Clearly, whether the room is well lit would not affect the person’s actual level of anonymity,” Chen-Bo Zhong of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and colleagues write in a recent issue of the journal Psychological Science. In one experiment, 84 college students were placed in a dimly or well-lit room and were given two envelopes - one containing $10 and the other empty. Participants then had five minutes to complete a test in which they had to pick out two numbers that added up to 10 from each of 20 matrices. For each pair of numbers correctly identified participants could keep $0.50 from their money supply. The catch: Participants scored their own work, and they figured out how much money they got to keep, and transfer to the empty envelope, at the end of the experiment. They all fared the same on the tests, though participants in the dim room cheated more than their counterparts. While those in the well-lit room reported an average of 7.8 correctly solved matrices, the dim-room students indicated an average of 11.5 correct responses. That resulted in a $1.85 difference in payout. In another experiment students wore sunglasses or clear glasses while playing a money game in which they had to allocate some portion of $6 to a random stranger. Those wearing shades acted more selfishly, giving significantly less to partners, an average of $1.81, than did those with clear glasses who gave about $2.71 to partners. Another round of this game with a different group of students showed that participants with sunglasses felt a greater sense of anonymity than those with clear glasses. For instance, the sunglass wearers were more likely to agree on average with statements such as: I was anonymous during the study; my choice went unnoticed during the study. And they were more likely to disagree with: I was watched during the study; and others were paying attention to my behavior during the study. See, Ben.  its those damn dark clubs you spend all of yer free time in.  spend time in the outdoors, the sunlight…do you a world of good, plus think of the money you’ll save on lawyers fees!

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(note: these are not the whores in question, just random garden-variety party whores...)

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault by a woman in Georgia.

The alleged incident occured Thursday at a night club in Georgia. The woman told police that Roethlisberger entered the women’s restroom and assaulted her. She was treated at a local hospital and released.  Roethlisberger has already been interviewed by the police in Milledgeville.

(whaaa??? rape? again?)

Roethlisberger is currently engaged in a lawsuit with a former casino employee in Reno who claimed that the Steelers quarterback sexually assaulted her in his hotel room. No criminal charges were ever filed in that case.

(Roethlisberger enjoying a Red Bull and Vodka with has-beens Carson Daly and Mario Lopez. Big Ben looks like Ogre from “Revenge of the Nerds” in this photo)

I don’t know if these charges are true or not, but obviously this signals that the dude has a problem with hanging out in clubs too much and with the wrong kinds of people (see Carson Daly, etc.).  Somebody in the Steelers organization needs to babysit him or something.  that or keep him out of bars.  Sad, really…he’s a grown damn man…

I think Tony Moss of Sports Network, says it best here:

Whether you believe the second allegation of sexual misconduct against Roethlisberger in an eight-month span or you don’t, what is not worthy of debate is the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback’s profound stupidity. While Andrea McNulty’s civil case over a 2008 rape allegation against Roethlisberger was still ongoing, he apparently made the wonderful choice of pointing himself, with his entourage and a host of college-age females, to the otherwise unattended back room of a dance club in Milledgeville, GA. It was there that a 20-year-old coed charges the quarterback assaulted her in a women’s restroom early Friday morning.

The fact that Roethlisberger would place himself in such a position, so soon after he was pointing his finger and warning us to believe him while calling McNulty a liar last summer, should have exhausted all of his credibility with thinking people.

To many of us, McNulty’s claims - which were made more than a year after the alleged incident and never included a criminal complaint - looked spurious. Now, anyone with the ability to complete a connect-the-dots puzzle intended for a four-year-old is open to revisiting, and perhaps revising, their skepticism over McNulty’s truthfulness.

But whether the case results in criminal charges, an NFL suspension or anything else, hopefully this latest incident helps us arrive at a firm conclusion, which can be put simply: Ben Roethlisberger is not a good guy.

Should that really be a revelation in our post-Kobe Bryant, post-Tiger Woods, and post-Michael Vick world? Of course not, but unlike any of the above three shamed athletes, Roethlisberger has always worn his self-righteous Godliness on his sleeve. Like so many athletes who trot out the point-at-the-sky, postgame- prayer-circle bollocks, it’s all an affectation that is not to be taken seriously.

It’s also an affront to anyone who uses faith and virtue as something other than the shallow veneer that it is for Roethlisberger, to all the good Christians and genuinely upstanding folks of all religions who actually live by their principles, rather than just making a show of them for TV cameras, as Roethlisberger does, before boozing it up with drunken college girls.

Jesus is not, in fact, Roethlisberger’s co-pilot. Or maybe the Son of man just had the night off in Milledgeville.

or this from ESPN’S Jemele Hill:

Roethlisberger is the subject of sexual assault allegations for the second time in eight months: Why is a 28-year-old quarterback with a $100 million contract putting himself at risk by socializing and drinking in a club with college kids? …He nearly killed himself in a motorcycle accident in June 2006 because he wasn’t wearing a helmet, which his then-coach Bill Cowher had insisted he do. Roethlisberger didn’t even have a valid Pennsylvania motorcycle license at the time.  Even with so much to lose, Roethlisberger has continued to behave too much like a frat boy and not enough like the face of his organization.  He has a reputation in Pittsburgh for trying to skip out on his restaurant tabs.

Interesting stuff.  When the first ‘alleged’ raped girl came out, I actually believed her.  then as the reliability of her nature came out slowly, it looked like she was a liar.  this second girl now adds viability to the first girl’s account.

Ben has been consistently bad with his decision-making.  that much I’ll give him.  As far as the running out on restaurants tabs, that’s just bush-league.

The whole thing with faith and sports is true.  it’s all about how you live your life, not just thanking God because you just scored a touchdown.  all the more reasons for kids not to have athletes as role models.  Hmm…maybe Charles Barkley was right bout something after all…

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Excellent.  Can see why it won Best Picture in 2008.  It’s a story about the timeless battle between good verses evil.  As a writer myself, I can really appreciate the writing here.  It’s based on the Cormac McCarthy novel and what I’ve read its incredibly faithful to that novel.

For those of you though, that like closure, this movie, like life itself sometimes,  lacks it.  its not totally without closure, but let’s just say the fates of two of these characters seen above are left unwritten.

other than that small, small issue, it is a violent dark comedy/drama/action flick, which I greatly enjoyed.

4 and a half **** 1/2  out of 5 *****

Don't go in that room! Oh well...Viya Con Dios...

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Did you know there’s a monkey on the loose?

In Florida.

he weighs 45 pounds and stands 3 feet tall.

yet, authorities cannot get the lil’ bastard…

He was last seen in Clearwater.  It has eluded capture in the Tampa Bay area for more than a year and has again escaped from Florida wildlife officials.  The current effort to track the primate has been going on since Tuesday afternoon, but it managed to evade a bucket truck and tranquilizer dart.“I saw it last night,” resident Dawnmaria Bonfessuto said when asked about the monkey, “Someone told me it was a raccoon. And I’m like, that doesn’t look like a raccoon to me!”

It was twice hit with tranquilizer darts, but still got away by ducking behind a drug store and a church.  Wildlife rehabilitator Vernon Yates told The Tampa Tribune that the tranquilizers don’t appear to affect the animal, though officials have increased the dosage each time they’ve used the drug on the monkey.  “What we’re really doing is turning him into a drug addict,” Yates says, ‘the monkey is smart, even stopping to check traffic before crossing a busy street’.

Officials didn’t say how the monkey got loose.

The monkey is not considered dangerous…for now…

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I’ll admit it.  I’m a little freaked-out by tomorrow.  2 major tests and turning in a take-home Bible Lit. mid-term tend to do that to me.  Oh and the first test, the Poetry test is just 30% of my grade.  that’s all.  and its mostly on meter.  I freakin’ hate meter.  meter is why I hate poetry.

so, yeah, it goes like this tomorrow…

• up at 6am
• school by 8
• study til 9:30
• Poetry test
• study for 2nd test
• turn in Bible Lit. midterm
• quiz I think…not sure
• Brit. Lit. test
• freedom=spring Break til next, next Tuesday!

Although most likely, my view will NOT be this...

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1. The wait…til someone behind the counter actually asks you why you’re there.
2. the jargon-they throw out there all kinds of made up kinda parts you need fixed.  my garappel fixtures are blown?  that’s dangerous?  um, ok…fix them too, I suppose.
3. the salespitch-’hey, you really need to get our card today and save $10.00 off yer purchase, otherwise you’re a moron’.
4. the waiting room-Always the same…always.  TV.  Four chairs near it.  really old magazines on table near it.  coffee.  restroom.  water fountain.
5. the lack of urgency-no one there is ever in a rush.  especially the mechanics who act like they’re doing this as a favor to you in their driveway on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
6. the salespitch, part two-I go in for a simple $20.00 oil change and they come back with 25 other things they think you need to get fixed as well.  I don’t need you to change out my back tail light for a hundred bucks, thanks.
7. underestimating how long it will actually take- I won’t get mad at you.  be honest for once and tell me the truth.  I respect honesty, even if it’s not something I want to hear that day.
8. dirty hands-why does everyone there have to have the most filthy, greasy, cut up/nicked up fingers on earth?  gross to think about them eating with those disgusting paws.

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got a haircut finally so that was a positive…

Been since last September I believe but for whatever reason couldn’t seem to get into a barbershop.

Some observations from the ’shop:

• Went to the place with my step-son (we’ll call him Hector) and I ask but one question before agreeing to get my haircut at this place:  are there men cutting hair here?  No, he says…only females.  Yep, we go in, 2 chicks cutting hair, gay guy receptionist.  we wait, chick calls to us:  ‘OK, who wants to go first?’ before I have a chance to open my mouth, Hector jumps up.  Then, like a hellish nightmare, the homosexual dude says to me: ‘I can take you’.  I told him I was waiting for the chick.  As they two ’stylists’ talk it over, I convince Hector to switch ’stylists’ with me.   Screw him.  I refuse to get my head massaged and hair cut by some homo.  Call me a homophobe if you want.  I don’t care.
• My ’stylist’ said she’s been cutting hair for ten years.  My question is…why?  Do little girls growing up nowadays saying; ‘what I want to do for a living is…cut hair!’  Not astronaut, not President, nope.  Hair stylist. That makes me sad to think someone likes doing that for a living.
• why does it cost $20 bucks (including the $5 tip) to get yer hair cut?  Its not that complicated or time-exhaustive.
• is it a requirement by the State to hire a least one homosexual per salon?  and if you are a homosexual, is a salon the only place you can work or?  No, that’s right, yer my waiter whenever I go out to eat.  lucky me.
• I hate small talk.  Barbers (sorry but that stylist tag is retarded) are like bartenders with the small talk and pointless drivel minus the good part…the alcohol.  its always the same drivel too like; “have you seen Avatar, yet?  No, honey, I haven’t but who cares really anyway?  You don’t.  Yer just filling time.  What’s wrong with time occurring without chatter.  I say absolutely nothing.
• I think it’s awkward when the person who cut yer hair is the same person checking you out at the end.  It’s like in a restaurant when the waiter brings you back the check for you to sign and just stands there while you calculate how much you wanna tip this ass.

so yes, yesterday I was with Hector, because I had to bring the wife’s car in to the mechanic.  Something bout ball joints or something.  I think they’re made up, but whatever…

6 AM up.  Drove her to work, dropped off dry-cleaning, dropped off car at mechanics.  I wait forty friggin’ minutes on the curb because the wife forgot to call Hector to come pick me up.  He, of course, just sat at home, never calling her, well, because he’s a kid and they’re lazy.

then the haircut, that was fun.

Back of my hair...decided on 'the Edge from U2'.

then went to Target for misc. crap, then home.  On the way home, I say to him: ‘hey, you want lunch, my treat?’.  he says no.  10 minutes after we get home, he tells me he’s going to Taco Bell.  I said; ‘hey, can you grab me something?’  he said no.  nice kid.

so I did some homework, misc. crap around the house, waiting til the place notified me the car was ready.  I dropped it off at 9 AM, mind you.  At 4 PM, after not hearing from them all day (they told me it would take four hours), I call them up.  they tell me it’ll be another hour.  the wife was not happy.  she was stranded at work.  finally, at 5:45 PM, I got the car back and headed to pick her up in rush hour traffic.  more fun.

burgers for dinner.  shower.  watched 24.  sleep, sweet, sweet sleep…

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A week or so ago, Pardon the Interruption (a sports show on ESPN) suspended one of its hosts Tony Kornheiser for criticizing Hannah Storm’s Sportscenter outfit:

Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today. She’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.” [She's 47.] “She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing? … She’s what I would call a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point.”

For this, he was suspended.   ESPN, lighten the F up.  He was joking, he does that.  Remember?  you pay him to do that.

As far as her wardrobe goes, I mean, its no Hooters outfit.  I guess it falls under business/sexy?  I dunno.  Its not like I tune into Sportscenter to see what she’s wearing anyway.  its a sports show…she’s just a host.

too sexy...for her boots?

Watch out, Sage Steele…yer next!

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There’s this workout product called the ShakeWeight.  Have you seen this product?  First time I saw it I thought it was a gag or something.  Nope, it’s real.

The jist is you grip this dumbbell thing and it goes back in forth in your hands.  Watch the videos here:

sexually suggestive

the gay version

Ellen super gay version

Yes, even Ellen’s a fan.  What ever happened to truth in advertising?  Look in the mirror ShakeWeight…your product imitates handjobs.  there I said it.  Just rename it ShakeJobs, you’ll be fine…

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