Ranking Van Halen albums

I've got my juices flowing (ewww) about VH, so here are some random rankings:

Best Album



1.) 5150 - Great first album for Sammy. Revitalized the group. Sammy singing at his best.
Songs to enjoy: Summer Nights, Get Up, Best of Both Worlds

2.) 1984 - DLR peaked in this album, but he also went LSD (Lead Singer Disease) on the band. That's according to Eddie at least. Leaps up a notch or two for the Hot For Teacher video.
Songs to enjoy: Drop Dead Legs, Top Jimmy

3a.) Women and Children First - Really underrated and commercially unsuccessful. See 3b.
Songs to enjoy: Everybody Wants Some, In a Simple Rhyme
3b.) Fair Warning - So, VH made this album right after WaCF, and when I bought the tape (!) they were packaged together, making that tape a killer. These two albums together are #1. Not only did I wear the tape out, but I got in a car wreck listening to it.
Songs to Enjoy: Dirty Movies, So This is Love

4.) Van Halen - Very successful debut album and Eruption was groundbreaking. This album peaked at #19. Can you believe that?
Songs to Enjoy: Atomic Punk, Ice Cream Man

5.) OU812 - Van Halen's response to DLR's Eat 'em and Smile. This album was really hot during my prime high school years, so I listened to it quite a bit, doesn't quite hold up as well.
Songs to enjoy: Cabo Wabo, Black and Blue, A.F.U.

6.) Diver Down - VH had a ton of covers on this album, but man there were some cool songs on this album.
Songs to Enjoy: Cathedral, Little Guitars, and Big Bad Bill (of course)

7.) Van Halen II - Eddie is really good on this album. Pretty dark album for the guys, overall not great.
Songs to enjoy: Somebody Get Me A Doctor, Spanish Fly

8.) For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge - Not much to say about this album, other than Right Now was kinda a phenomenon and a great track for the Delt video.
Songs to enjoy: Poundcake, 316

9.) Balance - whew, too much crappy instrumental. I did not like this album at all. I hardly listen to anything on this album anymore.
Song to enjoy: Amsterdam

10.) Van Halen III - I really shouldn't acknowledge this album, but I did buy it hoping for something. I really liked Extreme and thought Gary Cherone could hang with the band. He couldn't. For god's sake, Eddie sang on it.
Song to enjoy: Without You

Well, I guess the Cowboy haters were right

Man, its tough to be a Dallas fan.

First, the Mavs kill us two years in a row and now the Boys too.

Its been 11 years since the Cowboys have won a playoff game (a Wildcard game to boot) and after six losses, they just can't get that monkey off their back.

Tim, other things I'm looking forward to

Thanks Tim, now I know you and Molly have read my site. Yeah!

Yes, I am absolutely looking forward to the concert. Just ask Tami. However, I can't start ramping up until a month before the concert when I will break out the old CDs and listen to them nonstop until right before the concert. It's my fourth time seeing VH, but my first with DLR.

NEW ORLEANS!

What may become an annual trip, (doubtful) Tami and I will be making a birthday trip to the Big Easy. I love the food, the drinks, the atmosphere, and Cat's Meow . Make sure to check the live webcam to see if you can pick us out of the stumbling crowd.

CAMPING!

I'm also pumped about the Carr boys going camping at Possum Kingdom. I'm looking forward to building a campfire large enough to counter the forecast. Friday low: 28, Saturday low: 34. Woohoo!

Things I'm angry about today

1.) COWBOYS HATERS

I am so frustrated with everybody's upset pick, the Giants. I know I hated on the Boys earlier, but now I'm pissed at sports announcers everywhere. 5 of 10 ESPN "experts" pick the Giants. Are you kidding? The Cowboys beat them twice this year, (by double-digits both times), they're playing at home and are rested.

Here is an interesting article from FOX Sports.

"The Divisional Playoff round of the NFL postseason has produced the most lopsided scores as the teams that have earned the right to rest through the Wildcard round have owned their visiting foes. In fact, the average margin of victory in this round has been 13.9 PPG."

"Since ’93, only four NFC road teams have won straight up in the divisional round against 24 losses."

"5th and 6th seeds in the NFC are just 1-10 (straight up) & 3-8 (against the spread) in their last 11 games in this round. "

At least Madden '08 simulation has them winning 31-10.

2.) SFA LUMBERJACKS

I was so excited to see the Lumberjacks basketball team off to a great start. They were 11-1 and have wins over SMU and Oklahoma (!). I was so excited that I put that thing on the side of the page. Well, since then, they are now 0-1 in conference with a loss to Nicholls St (6-10, 1-0) and my dreams of a first-ever tournament bid are severely damaged. Aww damn.

Shooting fish in a barrel

On Saturday's "Sunday NFL Countdown"??? , when talking about the Patriots legacy, our favorite announcing whipping boy shorted the '72 Dolphins, twice.

Since when were they 16-0? I suppose they were before the Superbowl, but I doubt that's what he wanted to say.

I grew up in Dallas, but I can't take it anymore. How much can ESPN take? Emmitt, they talk to you maybe five times in the show to make a point. Collect your thoughts before they throw to you and stop making me hate you. It's just comical now.

Things I'm looking forward to

MOVIES

National Treasure
Cloverfield

TV

Bret Michaels Rock of Love II
Lost (Jan. 31)
Reno 911


This long night being over. (Thanks BCS and FOX)

The Cowboys now

So, now they're 13-3, #1 seed, and sputtering to the playoffs. Everyone thinks they will stink against the Giants, but I think they'll smoke 'em.

Why am I not interested in the Cowboys?

Maybe its work and the Cowboys overlaod I get from our "Super Season" (their words not mine)coverage. Maybe its because I have to work every Sunday, but the games arent that much fun to watch.

Very sad....

Thoughts on the NFL

So, the Cowboys are 9-1 and playing a horrible Jets team. The last time they were 9-1 was 1983. So what happened that year? They finished the stretch by going 3-3 and lost in the wildcard game. Enjoy the ride, but lets not get too excited. Even if they make the Superbowl, they're not going to beat the Pats.

Why do so many NFL players have dreads?

Emmitt, you're dead to me

I loved you Emmitt, now get off of my TV. Emmitt you gave us 12 glorious years with the Cowboys. 17,162 rushing yards with the Boys and three titles. You were the king. Now since then:

Staying on too long and hurting your team to break the NFL rushing record
2 years with the ARIZONA CARDINALS!
Dancing with the Stars

Almost forgivable.

But you suck at TV. Mixed metaphors, Theismann-like comments, stumbling through your words, its just embarrassing. You were always a me-first, stat-hungry player and now your an awful "commentator".

Maybe you should just go run a Ford dealership, but just go away. Give me the Playmaker any day.

The job hunt

Well, it's been an interesting couple of days in this regard. About four months ago, I applied for a management position in the company. After what felt like a cursory interview, I was in talking with the news director and found an ally. She told me she would speak with the VP of Engineering on my behalf and put in a good word for me. She also suggested I put together a proposal, which I have. We'll see where this goes!

I hate HP

Why do service companies force you to give up half of a day in order to meet with them. Can you imagine if the news was like that? Well, I think we'll have enough news around the middle of the afternoon, so why don't you watch Channel 4 between noon and 5pm and we'll try and get that news to ya! How do people with real jobs deal with this? I had to have three separate companies come out last week, and it took up a lot of time.

Now on to those idiots at HP...They did decide to give me a hard time...5-6pm on a Friday evening. A little back story: My TV is one year and one month old, and guess how long my warranty is. Well, my TV has been squiggling every time a white flash hits the screen. HP has sent out a tech twice before and made the problem worse, and now this ass-clown they sent out Friday has officially destroyed my beautiful new TV. Won't even turn on. And this took him three hours to accomplish. So, to recap:

Friday, 6pm - my TV is broken but I can still watch it
Friday, 9pm - No picture, no TV and Friday night ruined

Where's my new TV?

Thanks HP, you jerk

wow

Stepped on the scale today and was 192!?@! WTF? I'll take it.

The boy

I suppose its time to post a picture of the boy. Buckley came to us at the first of the year, and he is a pain in the ass. But he make a funny noise when he scratches his ears, he constantly runs wind sprints around the house, he does fetch (when HE wants to) and the best thing about him is that he always wants to be close to us.

He's named after LuAnn's boyfriend on King of the Hill, so you have to call him Buckalee.

Weight update

I'm going to officially weigh in at 198 lbs. Went to the grocery store last night and got better food. Also went to the gym this morning.

My weight loss goal is 23 pounds. Since 23 is my lucky number, perhaps that is a good sign.

I have a purpose

Well, I've decided that one of my purposes for this blog is to chronicle my weight loss.

Of course, as I'm typing this, I'm chewing on a Twix and Mountain Dew, two things I normally eat. But I've been eating like crap lately, and it shows.

I'll post an official weight tomorrow, but I think I can use this blog as a motivational tool. I think I need to lose about 25-30 pounds. Perhaps I can use the gym membership that I've been paying for.

I also really want to start playing golf. But it really seems like I never have the time.

My Fantasy Football Hell

So, I have started Fantasy Football again after a one-year absence and I'm not happy. Guys that suck all year that I bench all of the sudden have a huge game and I'm sick of it. I'm quitting on my team. I hope they go 0-16. Good luck to them.

Here's some links

The Big Lead, Deadspin - What the Sports Guy once was to me, these are my goto links everyday. Nice blend of pop culture and sports.

Unclebarky - Great source for all things DFW TV News.

I have a definitive Lost site. This is for hardcore fans only. Great screencaps, easter eggs, spoilers and rumors.

I'm not a good dancer, but I have a signature move which I stole from the Fresh Prince of all people.

Leenks (NSFW) - Great link site for any crap you want to see on the web. I enjoy their Leenks Pictures of the Week.

Here are two other sports blogs sites:

Awful Announcing (you guys still owe me a Natrone Means jersey)

Fire Joe Morgan (this guy really doesn't like him)

Enjoy!

More TV (and a radio) shows I enjoy

The Office (NBC) - I can't believe that NBC has a show I enjoy and I can't believe that I left this off my original list. Dwight and Jim crack me up and Michael is bigger than life. That's what she said. Looking forward to the new season and being able to use my Schrute Bucks.

Futurama (Adult Swim) - This show is slowly growing on me. Its similar to where the Simpsons were once upon a time.

Dallas Cowboys football - Is it wrong of me to enjoy football this much? I love sports as much as the next guy, but I REALLY love the Cowboys. I feel ill when I miss the game, and I'll Tivo a game I already know the outcome to. I'm devastated after a loss and absolutely giddy after a win. And I have a Tony Romo mancrush.

Tiffani Amber-Theissen Division

Fastlane (TV One) - Maybe my all-time favorite show...It was good enough for me to buy it illegally on eBay. It lasted on year on FOX and left on a nasty cliffhanger, but Tiffani is my girl.

90210 (SoapNet) - Between you and me, I shouldn't still be watching this. Actually, I've never should have watched this show. Brandon's hair is one of my great heroes.

Saved by the Bell (Everywhere) - Friends Forever by the Zach Attack, Screech melting down in real life, Slater's mullet and unnecessary wrestling subplots, The College Years, and of course my girl.

BaD Radio (1310 The Ticket) - Sure I'll listen to The Musers and the Hardline, but those shows are mailing it in these days. This show was good enough to pull me away from DP before he left. We just seem like we're on the same wavelength.

Bill's Top 5 current TV shows

1. Rescue Me (FX) - I'd like to think that I like this show for it's gripping drama, but it comes down to good action, interesting characters and they can say shit on cable TV. Everytime I watch it, I feel like they are getting away with something. It shows Irish families drinking and fighting, realistic busting of people's balls and other random highjinks. The show just seems real to me. Must see TiVO (the only way to watch TV these days).

2. Family Guy (FOX) - Although I believe this show has peaked, and the best shows now run on Adult Swim, this show can deliver from time to time. The Peter-Chicken fued, Quagmire, Cleveland, and the Stewie-Brian relationship works for me. The fact that Brian is Todd McFarlane's real voice cracks me up everytime he's interviewed.

3. King of the Hill (FOX) - This show has definately peaked. But Hank Hill is my dad. I think I appreciated this show much more when I didn't live in Texas. From the panic over snow flurries to seeing the Mexican flag things from Panchos (there will be a post on Panchos in the future) it really captures the essence of Texas and Texans. The episode where Hank finds out he is not a native Texan captures the show.

4. Making News: Texas Style (TV Guide) - What a train wreck, and that's why I love it. My business is a screwed up business and I appreciate it having started in a similar station (except for their facilities, staffing and the fact the station is in a mall). I love the fact that an entire show didn't air, their live shots keep crashing and the 10pm producer working more than 100 straight days really hits on what its like to start in the business.

5. List shows (VH1 mostly) - My love for pop culture is the overwhelming reason. It overrides any disappointment I have in why Citizen Kane continues to be the #1 movie of all time (and other various slights).

Special mention: Lost - This show will be my favorite once it actually comes back on air. I love that you can watch the show on different levels. My wife loves the show too, but she only sees the on-air show and doesn't scour the internet looking for screen grabs.

OK...Now I'm pissed

Lohan Update: Reports from TMZ.com say that Lindsay Lohan will probably escape real jail time for her 2nd DUI and cocaine possesion. WHAT THE ??? It really pisses me off that stars can get preferential treatment while us schlubs on the street have to do real time. Not that I've done any hard time, but that really sucks.

Spears Update: So she is turning down a chance to perform with JT. What a train wreck. I'm actually looking forward to her next meltdown. Very exciting