The Broun Blog

Given recent weather events in Florida, I thought I'd just make a post hoping that our rather large Floridian contingent is doing well. I've heard from Will and Grant (I think the storms are the result of his leaving his job on Friday the 13th. Good move, that one), but no word from Jared and Lauren at Fort Walton Beach, nor from our occasional lurker Rebecca near Orlando. Given that Grant's fine, one would assume that Jared and Lauren are ok as well, but I just thought I'd send some well-wishes in the hope that no significant damage occured. I'm a tad more concerned about Rebecca, since Hurricane Charley apparently went right over the Orlando area with fair amounts of rain and some tornados, so hopefully everything's ok there.

From Little Fluffy Industries and its links of online games (updated daily!), I found an amusing version of Hangman, with several themed games.

I got a perfect 25 out of 25 in the "Star Wars Characters" game, on Level 1 and without spelling assistance from any book or website. I also got 97 out the 100 puzzles in the "Top 100 Rock Bands" game -- all despite the fact that not every puzzle is an actual band, the fact that I have never heard of a couple of the bands, and the fact that the list omits both Wings and Paul McCartney's other band.

There are also themed games for Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Pacino movies, and dog breeds. It's a nice, short distraction and an excuse for us to compare scores.

SI Preseason Poll

There are some interesting results. I just want to know one thing, who did we pay off?

With all of the rain that Auburn experienced today, the basement at Parker Hall was flooded. The news called the dilapidated building the "nerve center of Auburn University." Now, whether this is true or not, I can not honestly comment. However, I do know that the campus lost the use of Ethernet because of all the flooding. Personally, I think they should move all of the computers out of there, tear off the roof, and finish flooding the place. Perhaps it would improve the look of the Auburn landscape. :-)

What's this? ESPN has spawned a crazed monster!
(Insert Jimbo from South Park: IT'S COMIN' RIGHT FOR US!)

You've all seen it. You've all been curiouly scratching your heads about it. I'm talking about the "World Series" of Poker. Yeah. The one that has been replacing the ESPN Bottom Line for weeks now.

Now I've seen some pretty crazy stuff on ESPN; the kind that they show in the "Not So Top 10" every Monday on SC. You know, hot dog eating, dog surfing, that kind of stuff. But this poker thing is catchy. Virus-like, almost.

Several other networks, including Bravo (the reason we all subscribe to cable), and Fox Sports Net Channel Station Central Network, have since jumped on the bandwagon and touted their own, separately covered tournaments. Most of them shot with no tripods, I might add.

Texas Hold'Em (along with other games) is quickly and addictively becoming mainstream-popular. I'm a victim of it myself, I confess. It's a mind game - and an acting game. Books, guides, websites, and the like have been devoted to strategy and theorums on becoming a champion player. There's alot that goes in to it.

You get to play with colored little chips that go "chink".

Granted, it's still gambling, for those of you/us who have ever played with a group of friends for 5 bucks a piece. So restraint and control are 2 things in your survival kit.

Anyone else have thoughts/comments/blurbs about the overflowing of Poker coverage on TV? Will it fade into the wind like slap bracelets, beanie babies, silly dances involving ass grabbing, (and hopefully suburban assault vehicles a.k.a. SUVs, and carbohydrate diets)? Or does ESPN really have a good idea here?