The MoT Top 10: The Twenty-Eighth

General Hospital is the longest running American soap opera still in production and the third-longest running American drama. Wow, what interesting facts DeMi! (sarcastic excitement). Before we continue, it should be made clear that this Top 10 is not entirely about General Hospital. More fun facts: 12,987 episodes at 42 minutes each. It would take 376 days to watch every episode; longer still since it's still running. The point of this killer intro is if the writers of GH can continually recycle plot lines and revive deceased characters for over a year's worth of material, surely DeMi can bring back the Top 10.

Here are the Top 10 Things Younger Than General Hospital:

10) The Beatles in America

9) The NASDAQ exchange

8) Assassination of John F. Kennedy

7) MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech

6) The nanosecond - You couldn't have watched GH in nanoseconds, because you wouldn't have known what a nanosecond was

5) Our moms

4) The Clean Air Act

3) Women in space

2) Zip codes

1) Hepatitis-B vaccine - If a patient at General Hospital were diagnosed with Hep-B before 1980, they would be SOL.


Just Missed the Cut
Here are a few things that have been around slightly longer than GH:

Michael Jordan

Valium

Obama

The smiley face

This is the first smiley face design introduced to popular culture. That's right, the first fucking smiley. We only have content of the highest quality here at MoT.

-DeMi

The 13th Month

I haven't done any research on this, hell I don't even own a calendar. I know there are all sorts of calendars and what not, but I would like to propose the need for a 13th month.

How many weeks do we usually approximate in a month? 4? So how many weeks are there in three months? 12? wrong! After 3 months you lose on average 7 days. The insane part is that after just a year you will lose a month. Where is this 13 month? Where does it go? Why, it's at the end of every month of course. Except February, those days are always on strike. And after all 13*28 = 364.

It really makes sense to have each month except two have 28 days. February can have its damn leap year and then the months can take turns with the extra day. So every year is a hop year, every four years is a leap hop year, and every 12 years is a double leap year! And people, including myself, will just have to adopt new birthdays. I'll gladly take Sept 1st. That'd be wild.

This will solve many problems, such as a better approximation of tides, full moons, and menstruation cycles. Also, financial schedules and other calendars would be easier to keep track of.

Ok, just looked it up. Of course someone has thought of this. Apparently Eastman Kodak adopted the international fixed calendar until 1989, or so says Wikipedia.

But like most innovators, I will take this idea as my own. I now dub it.....The Beben Calendar. Don't worry, I'm pretty humble. I eliminated my own birthday.


Keep on musing on,

-Mi


For those curious, today, the 10th of September would be the 28th of August, assuming a hop year with the hop being in January.

The 2013 Packers: Analysis and Predictions

The Packers finished with a healthy 11-5 record last year and could have done better. Many believe they threw the final game of the season against Minnesota and I find it really easy to buy into this theory. A loss to the Vikings in week 17 meant keeping the Bears out of the playoffs and avoiding another post-bye week blowout like the year before (20-37, Giants). This strategy didn't make much of a difference in the end; however, as the Packers won a playoff game they wouldn't have had to play against the Vikings the following week, then proceeded to be exposed by the Niners in the Divisional round. This means the Packers were essentially a 12-4 team, 13-3 if you consider the blown call by the replacement refs in the Seattle game. A 13-3 record with an average defense and under-performing offense........it's difficult to believe they won't have at least 13 wins this year.

The Packers have been reminded of a very important lesson these past couple of seasons; winning the Super Bowl is not about as much about talent as it is about matchups and momentum. 

Schedule

By no means do the Packers have an easy schedule. In fact, they have the 6th strongest schedule, according to NFL.com (.533 SOS rating), based on the performances of their opponents in 2012. Their opponents include the Super Bowl champion Ravens, the NFC Conference champion 49ers and, of course, 6 games in what could be the toughest division in the NFL. Yet, the Packers have one major advantage: no back-to-back road games for the first time in decades. This will help them to avoid losing streaks and maintain positive momentum.

Improved Defense
The pass rush has to be better this year. With the return of Nick Perry and the addition of Datone Jones, the upgraded front 7 should be able to take some pressure off the secondary. Perhaps the biggest question mark for the defense is their ability to stop the read-option. They should be slightly less taken aback by it this year, as they have had all of the off-season, training camp and preseason to prepare. Also, they have an abundance of film from last year on how not to stop it. Perhaps the most important variable in the Packers' formula to counter the read-option is the play of MLB Brad Jones. He is replacing Desmond Bishop, who has proven to be a stout defender, in more than one sense of the word. While he is very effective against the run, he is far too slow for the QB spy role, which is necessary against the read-option. Brad Jones is the faster linebacker and should do a better job keeping contain on mobile quarterbacks.

Balanced Offense
Last year, when Aaron Rodgers was asked about the Packers' need to improve the running game, he responded, "Do we need to? I think this is a pass happy league, so I think it's got to start with the pass with us." Lately, however, he has acknowledged the greater need for a running game, both to neutralize the pass rush of opposing defenses and provide another dimension of play-making potential. 2nd round draft pick Eddie Lacy could give the Packers' what they only had a glimpse of last season with Cedric Benson: a strong power running game.

Improved Offensive Line?
Aaron Rodgers was the most sacked QB last season, so it's hard to imagine some progress won't be made by the offensive line in 2013. But I believe there is room for a good deal more optimism. The Packers made improving the offensive line a priority during this year's draft, without sacrificing picks in the early rounds and drafting guys too early. Brian Bulaga's season ending injury, though seemingly detrimental to the offense, may have very little effect on the overall performance of the line. Despite his elite potential, Bulaga gave a very inconsistent performance in 2012, allowing too many edge rushers to beat him. Also, he only played 9 games last year due to an injury that has since been reaggravated. This season, the Packers planned to have Bulaga start at left tackle, but Bulaga's injury has allowed rookie David Bakhtiari to take over on the blind side. Bakhtiari has impressed thus far in pass protection and could be a positive difference maker for the offense. My favorite change to the O-line is the moving of Josh Sitton from right guard to left guard, which allows him to help the rookie protect against the NFL's better pass rushers.


Bold Predictions
Since I did not make my Packers' Super Bowl win prediction public before the 2010-2011 season, few believed me after the fact. So, here are all of my predictions for this season:


Packers will dominate the NFC North and go 5-1 (Not the boldest of predictions, but all the new talent in this division will prove to provide very little meaningful resistance against the Packers.

Packers will go 14-2, losing only to the 49ers and once to the Lions (in Detroit of course).

Super Bowl: Packers over Broncos in a Super Bowl XXXII rematch (Someone may have to hold Elway back to keep him off the field)

Other Predictions Around the League
The Ravens will not repeat or even win the AFC North

The Bears will again miss the playoffs despite a strong regular season performance

The Seahawks and Cowboys will make-up the NFC Wildcard picture

The Colts and Ravens will earn the AFC Wildcard spots

Division winners:

AFC East - Patriots
AFC North - Bengals
AFC South - Texans
AFC West - Broncos

NFC East - Redskins
NFC North - Packers
NFC South - Falcons
NFC West - 49ers


-De

The MoT Top 10: The Twenty-Seventh

Mr. groom to be, Frank, asked me to compile a top 10 list of songs. As that was kinda vague I made the list to be the Top 10 songs he should have on his wedding playlist. For those that don't know I was roommates with Frank for all four years in college. So I would say I know his musical tastes pretty well.

Check it.

Top 10 Songs for Frank

10) 

Time of Your Life - Green Day

I like this one because it's a classic, cliche since it came out. However, Green Day was one of the bands that I played a lot our Freshman year- the year where Frank mostly listened to classic rock. Oh how that was soon to change.

9)

Anna Sun - Walk the Moon

This is one of the songs Frank would just jam out to. Study break, or whatever this was a great stress reliever.  Lyrics probably aren't wedding appropriate, but it's upbeat and who cares.

8)

Good for Great - Matt and Kim 

Pretty simple here. Matt and Kim is one of our (De excluded, but that's not important right now) favorite bands. This intro to this songs sounds pretty amazing played loud over Frank's studio monitors. Also Frank doesn't read books, another key lyrics to this song. "for late leave sleep" - our motto

7)

Sleepyhead - Passion Pit

I think it was Sophomore year. This song was played..a lot. One time we stayed up til 5 a.m. binge writing a 10 page drama paper. This song was definitely a part of that.

6)

My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light 'Em Up) - Fall Out Boy

Senior year. If Frank didn't have this song cranked when I got back to the room something was wrong. Minor hyperbole post-alert.

5)

5 Years Time- Noah and the Whale

Another one of Frank's classic sing-along-songs. And it just leaves you feeling so happy.

4)

Magic - B.o.B.

This song was a staple. Always trying to get the rap part right. Jamming out at soccer games. This one had a long lifespan. Also pro-friend proving alert. Frank if you still have that label I made you post it to the FB group.

3)

Sail - Awolnation

Junior year spring break I spent the week at Frank's house. Going to play basketball, cruising around town, or driving 4 hours to accidentally find ourselves in South Carolina, this song was bumping

2)

Daylight- Matt and Kim

This is the song that got us hooked on Matt and Kim. Awesome piano. Awesome music video. And so much energy doe. One of the few bands Frank introduced to me...ha I kid I kid. But damn this song was just the perfect song to unwind to at the end of the day.

1)

Saturday Love - Angels and Airwaves

One of our favorite bands (De is finally included). The lyrics are really fun to sing. The feelings are real. It's AvA. I had to decide between this one and Surrender..if he didn't sing each of these a thousand times I'd be surprised. AvA was our choice of chill out/ study music, and the awesome part was that you could also crank it and sing along. 

0) Boom. Included

Thrift Shop - Macklemore

Because if it wasn't included it would be admitting to not knowing Mr. FJT. Admittedly, he was a thrift shop hipster. He showed me this song a good 4 months before it got more airplay than a good metaphor. I'll try harder next time, promise. He knew the words, and he would dance. Turn this song on and Frank (tried to) bec(o)ame Macklemore. It was quality entertainment. Especially for Taylor, right Taylor?

BONUS LIST

Top 10 Frank Verifiably Can Dance to Dance Songs 

1) Teach me how to dougie

Not actually verified

2) Party Rock Anthem 

Do the Spongebob

3) Rock That Beat - High Street Allstars

Jumpstyle

4) 2 Step

5) Walk it out 

Nope, this one's just me. Sorry.

6) Jerk

Frank told me in full confidentiality that he had a dream in which he jerked it. 

7) Moonwalk

There is a little Billy Jean in all of us.

8) Moving Like Bernie

His preferred dance move for Thrift Shop

9) Wobble

Wobble baby, wobble baby, wobble baby

10) Yes

"Let's do the fork in the garbage disposal"

Congratulations to Frank and Taylor on their marriage this September 7th! I am pretty excited for them and know that they're going to be able to finally take that third wheel off and live on their own. Though you know guys, rent is a lot cheaper with more people...

-Mi though De is here in spirit. But not dead.