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MassNole's Rantings
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Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
My Thoughts on Turning 30 and a Refleciton on my 20's
Posted on February 2, 2009 at 04:24 PM.
On Thursday, February 5, 2009 my 20's will officially come to an end and I will turn 30 years old. It seems as if my life is at a point where I need to grow up and start being an adult. Yes, this is probably something most people realized well before 30, but well when you go to school until you are 29 that time frame becomes skewed.

I hate becoming an adult and someone who has to grow up and have all sorts of responsibility. But I owe it to my wife, I owe it to my soon to be born child, and I owe it to myself. My practice is doing fairly well, although it could be doing better. I really need to buckle down and make some changes to grow.

Now looking back at my 20's it seems I accomplished a lot. At 22 I graduated from Saint Michael's College in Colchester, VT with a B.S. in Business Administration. My GPA was honestly pathetic, but that was because I didn't do much homework in college. But I graduated and found a job with Northwestern Mutual which sucked ***. I was basically an errand boy in a commission only job, which really, really sucked. I then went to MetLife which wasn't much better and then I had a job offer from AllState to become an agency director at just 23 years old. It was tempting but my life was at a cross road, do I take that job or pursue law school? Obviously you know the answer.

I moved to Western Massachusetts and then had a huge falling out with my best friend over his fiance. She was his high school sweetheart who repeatedly cheated on him. She was a bitch, and everyone but him and his mother realized this. I couldn't sit back and watch him ruin his life, I had had enough phone calls with him crying over her to not tell him it was a bad idea. That quickly went bad and it ruined our friendship, but this is what he did to all of his HS friends over her.

I spent one year at a local community college and got a 4.0 GPA, studied for the LSAT, and got into all but one law school I applied to (damn you Hofstra!). I finished my first year ranked 4th in my section of 48 and then switched from the part time program to the full time program. I never got below a 79 in any class and graduated in the Top 20% of my class of 150. I was selected for a Legal Services Clinic my last year and did well. I finished in December 2007 and took the February 2008 bar exam which I of course passed in May.

I graduated from schools twice in this decade, and both times it was into an economic slow down. But c'est la vie I suppose, I started my own practice, and although I'd like more structure than I have, I am happy with the decision. Take today for example, I had no morning appointments and a horrible hang over, so I didn't come in until 1:30pm. Thank god my boss is cool.

As I reach 30 I wonder how I will look back on that decade. But as I reach 30 I realize several things.

1) My alcohol tolerance is not what it was when I was a senior in college, and it isn't even close.

2) My recovery time from a hangover is not what it was when I was 22 either.

3) Knowing this, I will still be too stupid to do anything about it on my birthday party this Friday.

4) I cannot wait for my son to be born. We have a name picked out, which I will let you know when he is born in March/April.

So in conclusion, good bye 20's, you were a lot of fun.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
My Top 10 Video Game Athletes of All Time
Posted on January 22, 2009 at 08:09 PM.
#10 - Matt Williams, Sega's 1994 Baseball Game
Remember when he was a feared hitter who made a run at Roger Maris' record, pre-steroids and unfortunately came in the strike shortened season. That was shaping up to be a magical season, the Yankees were back on top for the first time in a while in the AL East, the Montreal Expos were in Montreal and called the Expos and had an amazing amount of young, soon to be well paid talent. Back then, Matt Wiliams was good and it was reflected in the game. I tried playing a season with the Giants and after 20 or so games he had 50 homeruns. He was a little too good in that game for me to finish a season, but it's safe to say he was on pace to hit around 405 homeruns for the season. When I'd play friends, he was their mortal enemy.

#9 - Emmitt Smith, Super Tecmo Bowl II, III

What couldn't he do in these games? He could run the ball, he could catch the ball, and in video game world he could return kicks. Sure he was good in the Madden series as well, but not enough for me to be held in the same regard, unlike another on this list who will crossover greatness in different games. Unfortunately for me if I used Dallas the house rule was my opponent could use Detroit and Barry Sanders who was just as good. Those games would be epic with each player giving their all. I won some, I lost some, but damn were they memordable.

#8 -Lorenzo Booker, NCAA 2003, NCAA 2004, NCAA 2006
Back when he was the #1 Recruit, EA thought he'd be pretty good down the road. Oh how a video game prompted such false hope for the career I hoped he would have. He was the first recruit to announce on ESPN and dragged us through an agonizing speach before surprising the world and choosing FSU. He was a monster for me in that game, I had a 2,000 yard season, a 3,000 yard season, and a 4,000 yard season with him. Sure, I probably should have upped the level from All American, but oh well.

As for the exceptions, NCAA 2005 sucked and he left after a 1,000 yard RS-Sophomore season behind Leon Washington, so he doesn't make the list. Then in NCAA 2007 they had realized he was a bust (although a 3rd Round pick) and it was reflected in the rating. Wow, he was in a lot of NCAA games.

#7 - Myron Rolle, NCAA Football 2007 and 2009
I didn't really play NCAA 2008, so he didn't make that game. In NCAA 2007, he was one of the highest rated freshmen EA had ever had as an 87 overall. In my dynasty be his sophomore year he was already a 99 overall and kept improving his ratings through his senior year. He never really translated in to my Madden dynasties though, but in the NCAA series he was amazing.

#6 - Al Leiter, Triple Play Baseball 98

It was his delivery in this game that made him so great. For whatever reason, is unusual motion made him an all time great. First, it was hard to pick up for the hitter, which gave you more time to switch the direction of the pitch (remember how easy it used to be). Second, his delivery was so fast that it was hard to steal based on him. And third, he was the first pitcher we ever banned from use.

#5 - T.J. Sorrentine, NCAA College Hoops, 2k3

Back in those days when Vermont had Taylor Coppenrath I used them a lot. In 2k3, Coppenrath was good, but Sorrentine was better. He too was a former Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year and this was the game before Coppenrath broke out so to speak. Behind him averaging 35 ppg I lead Vermont to the National Championship. He went into the NBA and I moved to playing online more.

#4 - Glen Rice, NBA Live 99

I don't remember if he started the game with the Lakers or not, but in updating my rosters he went to Los Angeles anyways. Teaming with Shaq, Kobe, Eddie Jones, and Dennis Rodman, this team was just unstoppable and Glen Rice was the reason why. If he had an open look from 3, it was money, Which opened up the game for Shaq inside.

#3 - Cade McNown, Madden 2001 (PS2)
Our senior year in college my roommate and I had a long running Madden Dynasty in Madden 2001 on the PS2. In that dynasty mode, Cade McNown, before the realities of the NFL set in, was destined to be great. He could do it all for you and he won me a lot of games, and even a few Super Bowls. It is amazing how diffeent video game careers will turn out from real life careers for first round picks who become busts.

#2 - Adam Singletary, NCAA Football 2006
Who in the hell is this guy? He was my prized recruit in dynasty mode. #3 overall 5* RB out of Camden, NJ (I may have made the town up, but like Myron Rolle he fled the state for Tallahassee). Remember how good Reggie Bush? This kid was better, he was a combination of Reggie Bush and Greg Jones. I used to have him return punts until I realized it was entirely to easy to return them for touchdowns, so I used him sparingly on an as a big play is needed basis. He stayed for 5 years after redshirting his freshman year behind Lorenzo Booker. Booker too was amazing, but I used him in another spot as you may have read. By the time he graduated he owned every rushing record there was to own, and no one would ever come close to touching them ever again. Had he been a real person he'd be the best football player who ever lived. But because he doesn't really exist, number one must go too.....

#1 - Bo Jackson, Tecmo Super Bowl, Tecmo Bowl, Bill Walsh College Football

A legend of this caliber deserves to be immortalized on the side of a large building. In this game, Bo Jackson was god. What makes him stand out most to me is a season I played with the Raiders. I simmed the first 6 games and then took the worst team, which so happened to be the 0-6 Los Angeles Raiders. I took them over and won my next 9 games behind him. Then in the last game of the season, needing a win to go to the playoffs I lose him on the first play of the game. With the cut scenes added to the tragedy that was watching Superman die. Fortunately I had Marcus Allen to pick up the slack as well as Tim Brown. I eventually got to the Super Bowl against the 18-0 San Francisco 49ers when Superman came back to save the day as I won a hard fought game against the 49ers, but on a last play run to Bo where he broke at least 10 tackles and scored for the 44-42 win.

His greatness in Tecmo Super Bowl over shadows his greatness in the first college football game. I don't remember his ratings, I just remember he was just as good as in Tecmo Bowl. The only thing to keep you in check was the ridulous fatigue system to prevent over use. For his spanning of multiple games and the fact he is the Pac-Man of sports video gaming, he takes the #1 spot.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It's true, it's damned true.
Posted on January 10, 2009 at 02:06 PM.
To steal a line from Kurt Angle I present the best rebuttal there is to Florida's supposed National Championship.



Utah finished 13-0 and had a legitimate schedule, this is the biggest travesty since 1994 and Penn State.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
My Thoughts on Florida State Football
Posted on January 3, 2009 at 02:43 AM.
You know how on the CFB Boards, when you say things down the road they get held against you for better or worse? Sort of like my comments about FSU's receiving corps (although to fair at the time I think was more over estimating the talents of Christian Ponder than the talent of the receiving corps, and I believe NFL futures will prove that. But here goes.

As of today, Florida State should contact Kyle Whittingham and see if he would be interested in coaching Florida State. Bobby Bowden actually has no current contract, meaning FSU is without a head coach. FSU, remember you too have an out clause for Jimbo Fisher, should we choose to accept it. If this man can take Utah to the MNC, I believe he is the man to replace Bobby Bowden. I believe that Florida State presents one with the perfect chance to establish, or well reestablish a dyansty, and damn it, I believe Kyle Whittingham is the man to do that. If he turns out to prove me wrong and suck down the road and Fisher leads FSU to greatness, well then those in charge no more than I do for a reason.

Either way I believe in my heart as a fan this man is the replacement for Bobby Bowden. Bobby Bowden is one of the best coaches in history who built an insane dynasty. Just now is USC being compared to this dynasty, and you all respect the hell out of them and he deserves to be replaced by the next big thing and that man is Kyle Wittingham.

The golden rule is something like do onto others has you have done onto yourself. So to those who question the loyalty to Jimbo Fisher if FSU were to pursue this, Fisher had no problem speaking with West Virginia days after signing his deal to become the Head Coach in waiting. Jimbo Fisher, you did onto Florida State, so it is fair for Florida State to do on to you if it is in the best interest of the program to go in that direction. As for Fisher, I believe he is an excellent option to replace Bowden as well, staying in the circle has kept UNC Basketball where they are, maybe it will work for us. At the end of the day all involved should understand as said best by the immortal Bob Sugar "It's ain's showfriends it's sho-business!", nothing pesonal Jimbo, but well it wouldn't be personal, it would be business.

I guess I will be accused of having a man-crush on Whittingham. I will be jealous of whatever program does sign him. Know that now, I will be. Just like it pains me Florida did THIS SAME DAMN THING to get Urban Meyer. This is business and that option must be explore.

As for those who question my fandom. It seems like those who do, more often than now have no more connection to the school than I do other than proximity. The truth, I had a cousin who attended the school and became a fan back around 1987-88. Yes for the start of the dynasty years it seems convenient, but I was 8-9 years old then, meaning I've been a fan for 20 plus years. Deal with it, proximity means little here. I hate when I get trashed for that.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Black Cats have a harder time being adopted
Posted on January 2, 2009 at 02:17 PM.
Link

That just breaks my heart. We have two black cats and they are wonderful, loving pets. I can't believe in the year 2008 that people are either still superstitious enough to believe they're bad luck or racist enough to hold their color against them. Our cat Chloey Diane is easily the best cat who ever lived, and she is black. Although when we got her my wife wanted the kitten that looked like a cow over her.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year!
Posted on December 31, 2008 at 09:18 PM.
May 2009 bring the OSers much happiness and joy, unless they happen to be Florida Gator fans.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Print this and use when macking on an Anti-Abortion chick
Posted on December 26, 2008 at 01:48 PM.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The longest day......
Posted on December 18, 2008 at 06:31 PM.
So I was up and wide awake at 6:30am after having a dream about a custody case I have for Monday. I laid in bed until about 7:45am not able to get it out my head when I decided to get up and go into work early (I was up until like 1am with the intention of going in at 9:30am as I had no appointments until 10:30am).

I get a call from an attorney around 8:50am, the other side isn't budging (and there is something nefarious going on, I just can't prove it, part of why I was up so early). After she insinuates I'm an idiot, I gave up (mind you I kicked her *** in Court last week).

At 9:10am I get a frazzled call from a client saying his girlfriend just called and he was supposed to be in Court at 8:30am, which was very much news to me. I called the Court, confirmed that (it was Court error that I wasn't notified). So I apologize and rush home to change and then to head over to Court. I rescheduled my 10:30am to 3pm and went to Court, where the other party didn't show up at all. I didn't go for a default, solely because her attorney gave me a very profitable referral, so it was solely out of respect towards him (and well getting future referrals). So I stayed at Court until like 11:30am (still deciding how to bill my client for that, I feel bad, but I had other work to do and rescheduled another client, I am thinking of billing for half the time). While waiting, I found a pamphlet for Mediation training, which would allow me to expand my practice even further, it will be in March and a scholarship is available. I then head back to my office to do some research.

Then at 12:30pm my wife calls, Bank of America charged us some bogus fees, I need to deal with that tomorrow. My wife was irate, but her mother calmed her down before I got back, as the same thing happened to them. Needless to say Bank of America just lost a customer, not that they care about me, but the local bank does with me being an Attorney with my IOLTA account with them.

I then had a doctor's appointment at 1:30pm to make. That went fine.

I get back around 2:45pm for my 3pm, and catch my partner up with the days events as he's heading to the library to do some research. My client shows up for his 3pm meeting, which was supposed to be a conference call at 3:30pm, the other side never called nor answered when I called. Which unfortunately for them will have some severe consequences.

I had rescheduled a 5pm meeting from last night to 5pm today, and as of 5:24pm he hasn't showed. Now we can bill for phone time, waiting time in court, and a host of other stuff, but we can't bill when we get stood up, unlike doctors and dentists. So uggh, I could be home now, relaxing, but I am giving him until 5:30pm to get here.

I cleared my schedule for tomorrow as a blizzard is coming and I feel like staying home. I only had one meeting, so not that big of a deal (I'd originally planned to take the day for Christmas shopping).

I am exhausted right now, which is obvious to the client who called at 5pm with a question. I am supposed to see him Monday, but I also may have a trial now, but he knows that, so all is good.

Add to this, my mother is supposed to come down on Sunday, but weather may prevent that.

Oh well, at least I'm busy.

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