Brooklyn Nets

 A few things to know about the Brooklyn Nets:

1. The team used to be called the New Jersey Nets. Prior to this, the team was also once the New York Nets as well as the New Jersey Americans. Yeah, because none of the other teams in the National Basketball Association can also claim to be American. Original.

2. Along with being the first season that the Brooklyn Nets are the Brooklyn Nets, the 2012-2013 season is the first season that the team is playing at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The Barclays Center is pretty nice, but then again, Jay-Z likes it. Whatever Jay-Z likes is cool in my book.

3. Though previous team mascots included Sly the Silver Fox and Duncan the Dragon, the team's move to Brooklyn brought about a new mascot, the "BrooklyKnight." Personally, I'm not sure why they ever got rid of Duncan the Dragon.

4. Among the current players sporting the Brooklyn jersey is Mr. Kardashian himself, Kris Humphries. That's all I've got for you. I'd consider a joke along the lines of "the Nets have been playing in Brooklyn longer than his marriage to Kim," but that's overdone (and I haven't done the math but not sure if they've even reached that yet).

5. As of today, the firing of Avery Johnson leaves the head coaching position vacant. May I suggest the team replace him from their own coaching staff? Perhaps assistant coach Popeye Jones?

6. The Brooklyn Nets have an assistant coach, and former power forward in the NBA, named Popeye Jones.

"Paris vs. New York"

When thinking upon my favorite cities, I have often desired some sort of formal documentation that compares and contrasts the places near and dear to my heart. Well, throw any city in Wisconsin against pretty much any other city, and my guess is that sales potential is limited. What about New York City and Paris? Yeah, that will work too.

I have seen previous reviews about this book, in which it is referred to as a "love letter" to these great places. While I am familiar with the two title cities, I imagine that it's less like a letter and more like a note you'd pass on to your high school crush, in which you use a significant number of inside jokes. 

Yes, there are many icons universally known to both cities (example below: Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower), but beyond that, it is a lovely collection of images best appreciated by those familiar with The Big Apple and The City of Light. Ever taken a ride on the Metro or the Subway? If not, then the images of public transportation maps and tickets will have much less meaning. 

The book isn't really something you read but more something you admire and leave on a coffee table in your home for others to admire and think highly of you for being so worldly (just assuming that's what they would think).

Source: The Cut

Classic Christmas Music

As my family opened Christmas gifts, I introduced them to the joys of "Christmas Radio" on Pandora. However, as the day progressed, a few songs were absent from the playlist. These songs also happen to be accompanied by exceptional music videos. Our loss* is your gain. I now bring you two of my Christmas favorites.

"Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" - *N Sync

"Last Christmas" - Wham!

*It wasn't really a loss, because I made my family listen to/watch both songs on YouTube after all the presents had been opened. Not everybody was as excited about this vintage music as I was.

Chimay Brewery

While recently examining a local restaurant's extensive beer menu, assistance was requested to help out with a friend's selection. The waitress suggested a Chimay and began to explain that it was an exclusive beer from a monastery in Belgium, easily noted on the menu with small pictures of a passed out monk (actually not that easy to spot but really entertaining once you do... it really IS a a little drunk monk).

I had never heard of this before, but apparently I'm missing out. Another friend began to explain it as, "yeah, the monks were going out of business, so they started selling beer." While I cannot find a source to add credit to that story, it's a good place to start when discussing Chimay. In the Trappist monastery of Scourmont Abbey in Belgium, four beers are made, three of which are distributed in limited quantities. And this beer is GOOD.  

Source: Wikipedia

The French equivalents of Red, White, and Blue (Chimay Rouge, Blanche, and Bleue) are available for purchase in a select number of locations, but the exclusive "Doree" is the only one available at the monastery itself and is the beer the monks themselves choose to drink. In other words, who's up for a road trip to Belgium? And by "road trip, I mean whatever mode of transportation will get us there, because there are no roads from America to Europe...

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

For a Saturday night, I'd consider a trip to the movie theater to definitely be an unexpected journey. However, that's not the point of this post, because while my harrowing trek to the cinema was very much a real journey, I'm sure people are more interested in hearing my thoughts on the classic, though very much fictional, prequel to Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. It also happens to be, first and foremost, a screen translation from the pages of J.R.R. Tolkien. Yes, it was also a book. Just wanted to make sure I reinforce that point.

Okay, back to the movie. I grew up reading the classic books and also grew up in a household of Star Wars fans, which I somehow parallel to Lord of the Rings (there are fans of both franchises that I definitely just offended with that comparison, so I want to quickly just send out a sweeping apology). I enjoyed the acting of Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom. I even thought that guy from The Matrix was pretty awesome. I was a fan.

Bring in another movie to the franchise, and I was ready for it. Here's what I've got for you. Though a lengthy film, the plot was at least somewhat engaging though not as good as the other films, the special effects were realistic enough for non-realistic situations (but not as cool as the other films), and that guy from The Matrix was still pretty awesome.

"Birth of an Icon: DURACELL"

This video, courtesy of Procter & Gamble, really says it all. The Duracell battery is an icon. Now before you start rolling your eyes, let me just give you a little preview. Duracell batteries landed on the moon with NASA astronauts. Not a big deal or anything... 

And in true P&G fashion, they select the most sentimental music possible. Heartwarming. 

The "Fiscal Cliff"

With all of these talks regarding the "fiscal cliff," I naturally had to get in on the action. Considering the majority of my blog posts contain an abundance of nonsense and sarcasm, you may not have expected me to choose this topic (I did post a video of a dancing dog yesterday, after all). Surprise! Let's talk about the fiscal cliff!

Before I lose most of you at the thought of politics, I've decided to make this a "choose your adventure" kind of deal. You are presented with an option of two cliffs between which to decide...

Source: AP

(A) The first cliff puts our country's financial future in jeopardy! Budget cuts, tax rate increases, and bipartisan collaboration, oh my! (Let's allow this photo gallery from Forbes do the talking. It would do a much better job at explaining the situation than I would anyways..) Interesting, right? Nothing screams "cool blog post topic" like national debt-to-GDP ratios!

(B) Even if you didn't want to read about the fiscal cliff, you probably had to skim the above paragraph, meaning you were just tricked. As consolation, I'll give you the second cliff anyways. And if you read the above article, this will be your reward!

Puppy Chow

Among the many time honored holiday traditions I hold near and dear to my heart, puppy chow is possibly the least "holiday specific" but certainly among the most delicious. Crispy cereal, peanut butter, vanilla extract (yes, vanilla extract), and powdered sugar. What more could a person want in a dessert item?

I wanted to look up a video on how to make puppy chow, so as to enable you all to go out there and make this a holiday tradition of your own... but when this video, titled "Dancing Chow Puppy," appeared near the top of the search list on YouTube, I decided that you're all smart people. You can go out and search for a puppy chow recipe on your own. In the mean time, enjoy this video of a chow puppy dancing.

Holiday Greeting Cards

Use these as inspiration for a good holiday greeting card (at least in my opinion). That's all.

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta: Where Are They Now?

I'm letting this one speak for itself. The song is called "I Think You Might Like It," which is really selling it short. I'm going to tell you that I know you will like it (or at least find it highly entertaining to watch an older version of Danny and Sandy two-step in a low budget holiday song).

Barry Alvarez

One of the most difficult transitions one must make when moving out of the Midwest and into the remote lands of the "East Coast" is the removal of St. Nick's Day from your life.

And as a true Midwesterner from the heart of America's Dairyland, the recent events surrounding my alma mater's football program were enough to nearly derail my stocking hanging and holiday celebration. But don't worry about me, because the greatest St. Nick's gift of them all is the fact that even though now-former head coach Bret Bielema decided to turn his back on the Badgers with only a month to the Rose Bowl, Wisconsin Athletic Director/former head football coach and Rose Bowl Hall-of-Famer Barry Alvarez is taking over. The Badgers are probably better off.

Need another example of why this is such great news, and you're either (a) not a Wisconsin fan or (b) not Facebook friends with any Wisconsin fans, most of whom all posted the following quote from Barry's press conference today?

"We aren't going to screw around, we're going to go out there and win." 

Source: Sconnie Nation

(This is a tee-shirt design. It will only run you $16.99 and would probably make a great St. Nick's gift.)

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Every year, Victoria's Secret is able to lure us in and convince us that we're watching a fashion show and not a one hour commercial for their stores. And every year, I end out that hour thinking that maybe this year, I'll actually go to a Victoria's Secret location near me and buy something when it ISN'T the Semi-Annual sale. 

I would just like to say that last night's show did not do any better at (1) getting a non-discounted purchase out of me or (2) convincing me that models are normal people just like you and me. While it's cute to hear the background stories of a few select "Angels," this isn't the Olympics. The stories aren't really inspiring or motivational when success follows being singled out at a mall somewhere and carted off to New York to toss your hair around and make faces at a camera. I digress..

Long story short, the people in the Victoria's Secret marketing department are brilliant, and even though I bitterly rant against it year after year, I still watch and still clearly love watching the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?

In addition, I might now be obsessed with this playlist from the screening party for this year's show.. and all of the other Victoria's Secret themed playlists on this site..

Kate Middleton Pregnancy Headlines

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby. You probably know that at this point, so I'm a little behind the times. However, my delayed reaction to the news is by design. I wanted to wait in order to bring you my favorite headlines and news stories related to the announcement. No further explanation necessary.

Source: Getty Images

"Queen of the Yummy Mummies and her tiny trendsetter"

 (Queen? Don't you mean Duchess?)

"Stylish maternity clothes are in Duchess of Cambridge's future"

(Maternity clothes will probably become stylish, regardless of pregnancy.)

"Prince William vows to protect wife and child"

(I'd certainly hope so.)

"Is this what royal baby could look like?"

(Somebody had fun with Photoshop.)

"Snooki gives Kate Middleton motherhood advice"

Secret Santa Gift Exchanges

Either I'm really feeling the holiday spirit or I'm simply enraptured by the mystery of the always traditional, always entertaining, always slightly awkward office Secret Santa gift exchange.

From the drawing of the names, during which nobody ever seems to get a person for whom they'd like to buy while everybody prays that fate won't allow "that guy (or girl)" to select their name, to the first gifts and theories on the unknown present providers, I'm all about it.

People lurk around areas of the office in which they'd normally only visit if pressing business matters led them there, and when you complain about that bar of soap or pair of hearing aid batteries you received (don't forget, I work at Duracell), you hope to yourself that the person to whom you express distaste isn't the one who carefully chose that gift for you.

But to the co-worker that purchased a goofy-faced pizza slicer for me (pictured below for reference) to fulfill the first day's low spend gift obligation, you either know me very well or took quite a successful shot in the dark. I actually needed a pizza slicer, so without any hint of sarcasm, I say thank you. And without any hint of shame, I also say that I think this pizza slicer is a little ridiculous but entirely awesome.

Source: Amazon (Kitch Gadgets)

Whiskey Advent Calendar

The holidays continue to bear down upon us and advertisers continue to do the same, though slightly more forcefully, and it seems you're constantly confronted with finding the "right gift for that special someone."

Look no further. This is the gift that's perfect for everyone (unless they don't drunk alcohol, either by choice or by recommended legal obligation). Gone are the days of subjecting yourself to the cardboard Christmas countdown calendars filled with frail chocolate squares that taste of plastic. Say hello to the whiskey advent calendar and replace the not-so-sweet-tasting sweets with a carefully curated selection of whiskey samples.

The month has already started, but that only means catching up with the days you missed will be even more fun! The price tag is a little steep, but you're not buying one gift so much as you're buying 25 really awesome gifts.

Source: Uncrate

Walt Disney World House Hunters

As Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida prepares to open the new Fantasyland expansion in the Magic Kingdom park next week, they've gotten pretty clever with their promotional content.

Okay, let's rewind a little. Walt Disney World is EXPANDING Fantasyland. The place that brought us "It's a Small World," "Snow White's Scary Adventure," and that fancy Cinderella carousel will have even more to offer than ever before! More attractions, more rides, more characters, and more food. Yes, more food. Who wouldn't be excited about a restaurant themed to look like the ballroom from "Beauty and the Beast?" No guarantee on the talking dishes, but as someone who spent part of their childhood thinking they were pretty much going to grow up to be Belle, the "Be Our Guest" restaurant sounds fantastic. What's even more fantastic? The fact that they gave Belle and Beast a chance to get on the House Hunters International train.

And now that I'm thinking about it, does Beast have a real name?