The Worst Beer in the World

While Budweiser may be going to desperate lengths to remind beer drinkers it exists, it can rest easy in the fact that it's not the world's worst beer -- at least according to a poll on RateBeer.com.

That label goes to the 3.2% ABW version of Olde English 800, which scored a .96 out of 5 on the site. The standard version of O.E. fared somewhat better; its 1.35 score was enough to merit a ranking of 41st worst beer in the world.

Taking second place on the craptastic list was another malt liquor that's a favorite of penny-pinching teenagers, Natural Ice with a score of 1.03. That beverage's non-malt counterpart, Natural Light, had an identical score but must have lost a tie-breaker to end up in third place.

Here is the full top 10:
1. Olde English 800 3.2 (0.96)
2. Natural Ice (1.03)
3. Natural Light (1.03)
4. Milwaukees Best (1.05)
5. Michelob Ultra (1.06)
6. Sleeman Clear (1.08)
7. Budweiser Select 55 (1.09)
8. Coors Aspen Edge (1.11)
9. Bud Light Chelada (1.13)
10. Busch Ice (1.13)

Check out the entire rankings at RateBeer.com

Got My GK Diploma Level 1 & 2, and the Bruises to Prove It

Had a little 1 on 1 action Saturday morning and these are my battle wounds. Came out against striker Andrew Wright for a 1 v 1 battle and the ground took the position of victor on this go round. I played the whole damn weekend with this annoying scrape. The lighter pictures are from Sunday night, the scabbed photos are from this morning. Burns like all hell.

Goalkeeping Diploma Course

This past weekend I attended the local Level 1 & Level 2 Goalkeeping Diploma Course held here at CSC hosted by the amazing, the magnificent Colin Gilmartin (more on him later). It was a great success. I have been a goalkeeper my entire life and I learned more in this past weekend than I have in all my time. That is primarily because I had no formal training as goalkeeper growing up. The weekend went off without a hitch with an attendance from the likes of FC Gold Pride Women's Professional Soccer GK Brittany Cameron attending, striker Andrew Wright from the Baton Rouge Capitals who also played pro in Brazil for some time and is a graduate of Wake Forest, DOC from the Chicago Fire Program in New Orleans Saul Martinez and Javier Pastor. We also had a gentlemen Daniele Zangolli from Canada, and Josh Guay from Alaska. Another outstanding individual was Aaron Avila from Laurel, Mississippi. Others attending were Bret Malone of BRSA, Chris Ireson from Alexandria, Brandon Lewis of Houston, Tx; Arms Brown of Shreveport, John Carriere of CSC, Greg Comeaux of CSC, myself, and Don Smith from Mississippi.

I have plans on attending the Level 3 GK Diploma Course in San Jose, CA with Brittany Cameron in December. It will be an experience of a lifetime. I wish all of my colleagues could've been there. For those who attended, I cannot express my gratitude enough. You guys made this weekend worth every minute. There is no doubt in my mind that we evolved from Players, to coaches, to friends in a short time with the commonality being soccer, and by the end of the weekend we spoke of everything but...lol. This course was priceless, the magnitude of character that was represented by the individuals we were able to interact with was most satisfying. Thank you all again and I hope to see you all soon in the future.

Stormtroopers of Death - Ballad of Jimi Hendrix

Another classic, had a very nostalgic day at work.

Anti Procrastination Song by Stormtroopers of Death 1985

This is an actual song from their 1985 album Speak English or Die. Very morbidly hilarious album from members of Anthrax.

Is It Racist?

David Vitter may possibly have the most racist ad campaign video of the year. Charlie Melancon is a good guy, and this shows how maniacal good people can be in the face of politics. Total rubbish.

Another Great Dilbert

It's more so funny when you think back to meetings where conversations like this actually took place. I was in one recently.

I was looking at photos of Eden last night and began to awe at how big and intelligent she is getting. She has learned how to format her own opinions of the things around her and how she thinks things should be/operate. This morning I was reading The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, an amazing book of poetry if you haven't read it, I recommend it. There is an iPhone app for it if that's your thing. The chapter on children is as follows:

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Danny Macaskill

I am a fan of any man or woman that masters an art. This young man has done just that. Enjoy!

Don't like white potatoes, heaven forbid we don't want to enjoy the ambrosial sapidity of our ground grown carb loaded friends. Well the Scottish have found your solution. Far be it from me to judge whether or not they found the compound analysis of this crop in a sober state, only that they found it, and for that we thank them. The crop has been being grown all year, and plans for a big Holloween potato are already in the books. You can read the full article here.

Conversation

This a conversation I overheard outside my door today at work between the Vice President of our company, and our second in command manager of the facility of which I work:

VP: Man, we just got a huge opportunity to bid 28 platforms in Pennsylvania, need guys. (Chuckling)

Manager: Wait, offshore Pennsylvania?

VP: What? No, offshore? there's no offshore in Pennsylvania, these are on land platforms.

Manager: Oh, I thought Pennsylvania was on the coast.

Alberto Contador, Tour De France Winner, Tested Positive for Banned Steroids...

...I knew it, I never liked this guy. His arrogance and boisterous attitude would always lead to his eventual demise. He has lashed out against former teammate Lance Armstrong, even when they were on the same team. His actions on Team Astana in 2009 were selfish and irresponsible. He finally got his dues.

The article including all evidence to his accusations can be found here.

Romano Martegani's Retired

Romano Martegani is a representation of the epitome of luxury. Although not displayed here in these shoes, the history and quality of this 1891 Italian shoe company is second to none. I own 4 pair of these amazing shoes, each more beautiful than the next. However, these particular shoes have seen a good bit of the world. From American to China, China to Russia, Russia to Tibet and then to Vietnam and Thailand - in that order. The acquisition of a pair of shoes by Mr. Martegani is no more effortless than seeing Frank Camalo at F. Camalo's in the oil center.

Be that as it may, these shoes have seen there last. I will be posting what they are being replaced by soon. An exquisite combo of both black and brown Marting Dingman loafers. Another note worthy fabricant de chaussures of our era.

Takashi Watanabe is at it Again...

I've been a fan of Takashi Watanabe's music for sometime. He has been the mastermind behind most of the Japanime cartoons around the world. His attention to detail and creativity is second to none. This is a brilliant video.

Premature Celebrate Goal Keeper At It Again....

Apparently Khalid Askri is getting great play from the mainstream media. Here he is again, well, being himself I suppose. Not a good season for him thus far. My U-17 squad had a similar showing this past weekend in New Orleans.

Music by Dub FX

I found this song on Fark.com, a clever website introduced to me by Pele1410. I love music and love originality. I have always enjoyed the musical postings of wilablog on bladesofblue.blogspot.com, so I thought it would be cool to do one as well. Hope you guys enjoy this street scene.

Weekend Run

I am training for the 1/2 Marathon in San Antonio in November. I am bib #577 for the race and have been a very strict run regime to accomplish a sub 2 hr half. This past sunday I ran 9.2 miles ( I was only scheduled to run 8 but my GPS was a little confused by my route I guess) and my times were as follows:

Mile 1 - 8:52
Mile 2 - 8:45
Mile 3 - 10:17 (hills)
Mile 4 - 11:38 (more hills)
Mile 5 - 10:09 (exiting hills)
Mile 6 - 11:26
Mile 7 - 10:24 (back in the hills)
Mile 8 - 7:59
Mile 9 - 8:15

I was pretty impressed with the times I posted. The unfortunate reality to this is I was in excruciating pain when I was done. Monday was a rest day and when I went out for a 5 mile run today for lunch, I made it .5 miles away and had to call someone to come get me. I my calves are so inflamed right now that it hurts to stand. I will take a couple days off and back to the grind this weekend. I will keep the run times posted as I accomplish them.

Schedule for this week is:
Monday: Rest/XT
Tuesday: 5 miles/10:30 split
Wednesday: 4 miles with 2 miles at HMP (half marathon pace) 9:09
Thursday: Rest/xt
Friday: 5 Miles/10:30
Saturday: Rest/XT
Sunday: 9 Miles 10:24 split

See you on the run.

My National D License

It's finally here. After two painfully hot and exhausting weekends under the rule of Colin Gilmartin from LSA, I have attained what I set out to achieve. I was fairly confident in my passing of this class in the beginning, but after a phone call I received from a fellow classmate whom I was confident was getting his told me he failed the National D and only received his State D, I was well concerned. Upon arrival home I opened the mail box with caution (as though an irate raccoon would jump out at me had I not). I saw the large manila envelope and thought, "well, they wouldn't put a rejection letter in an envelope that big" but my fears refused to subside. Well, it turned out ok in the end. I am an officially certified National D License Coach. I don't really know what that translates to but I can get my National C now and really improve my resume.

Guess What Happens Next?

So this guy is going to ollie his skateboard up the side of the curb, can you guess what happens next? If you guessed a moonwalking man being pushed by a truck you're doing better than me.

Teko Socks, The New Running Sock of Tomorrow...Today

About 2 months ago I purchased a pair of Teko socks as per the advice of Runner's World Magazine's best running sock of 2010. I was instantly in love. Organic, chlorine-free tekoMERINO™ wool wicks moisture. Seamless toes, arch brace, articulated Y-heel. Strike-zone cushioning in foot bed. Comfort-stretch zones. tekoMERINO™ Wool: From Argentine farms that have been practicing environmentally-sound techniques for hundreds of years. The wool is shrink resistant and dyed with non-toxic dyes. tekoPOLY™ Recycled Polyester reinforced heel and toe for durability. Content: 55% tekoMERINO Organic Wool, 28% Nylon, 16% tekoPOLY recycled polyester, 1% Lycra spandex. Anti-welt double cuff for comfort and fit, Pull tab to prevent slippage, Lycra holding rib for superior comfort and support, Reinforced toe and Y-heel for durability, Air vents for breath ability, Lycra holding rib for superior comfort and support, Light terry cushion from heel to toe.

I run an average of 4-6 miles per run in these socks and they are never sweaty or smelly. By far the best pair of socks I have ever owned, and if you think a pair of socks can't change the dynamics of a run, try these on for size and then tell me that again. But bring atleast $20 for a pair bc they are very proud of these organic habiliments.