A co-worker of mine directed me to this site, Flip Flop Fly Ball. Created by Craig Robinson, the site his a happy merger two of his personal interests – baseball and data visualization. While most all of the infographics are baseball focused, there was at least one dedicated to basketball. Along with a clear illustration the game’s evolution, I think he really captured essence of Bird and Anthony here.
Besides the infographics, there is also a collection of pixel portraits depicting some of his favorite players. He calls them “minipops.”
I’m partial to the A’s era Barry Zito (second row, five from the right).
As I scanned the New York Times Magazine last night I noticed this piece about the bearded comedian Zach Galifianakis sandwiched in between the Bill Clinton Article and the design review. Galifianakis’ eccentric, absurdest comedic style has made him somewhat of a YouTube celeb – which he’s now taking it to big screen, co-staring in the movie ”The Hangover.”
So what is this clip above? Galifianakis along with collaborators Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim were commissioned by Absolut Vodka to make some web shorts. From the looks of it, the team had some serious creative freedom.
Of all the Galifianakis clips, gags and sketches currently in Internet orbit, none have done more to cement his reputation as a leader of the comic avant-garde, curiously enough, than a series of three ads in 2008 for Absolut vodka. “This advertising firm from Sweden called me out of the blue and asked me to do an ad,” Galifianakis said. “The one request they had was to not make it look too ’80s, since Absolut is perceived as kind of an ’80s brand.” He paused there for a moment, clearly savoring the memory. “That’s what gave us the idea to make the skits a kind of homage to ‘The Golden Girls.’ ”
Gd.
Make the jump for installment two and three. Read More »
A couple of weeks ago, before I got crazy busy, I asked our friend in Portland for one last look back at the season. So, we did a little question and answer about the team that I had hoped would rise above the physicality of Houston and go deep into the playoffs. Here’s the back and forth. Thanks to The Mole and hopefully next year will see a more mature team get a better matchup in the first round. And make a little more noise on the big stage. But that is neither here nor there at the moment. Here’s what The Mole had to say.
FTB: You’ve seen what? Every single home game this year?
The Mole: Yessir! All 41 games, plus the first two home playoff games. I had a bet going with one of my season ticket holders that if I missed a game I would pay him half my day’s wages if I missed a game. Talk about motivation, especially in this economy.
FTB: Nice bounce back from a game one that hurt me personally. Your thoughts?
The Mole: Total change in the two games. It was actually a microcosm of the Blazers’ season. Have a terrible run in one game and come back to look like a team that actually is pretty damn good. It is a Jekyll and Hyde complex with this team, and it usually all revolves with how they play in first quarter. Now, in both games they didn’t play terribly in the first quarter. Yao got hot, got the benefit of some whistles due to his aggressiveness, and obliterated any hope we had of competing in the first game. In the second game, Artest was feeling himself to the tune of 15 first quarter points, but didn’t do anything after that. The difference between the two games was the Blazers intensity and will to be aggressive. This team can play, as seen in their run to end the season, but the consistency of bringing it nightly against upper-echelon teams is still not there in my eyes. But the team is getting a crash course in it now and will be better for it next year.
FTB: It’s been a great season, by the way. And the team has performed in the face of fairly high expectations—not a given for a young team. What has been the most revealing thing that you’ve seen?
The Mole: The team’s resolve and the fact that they don’t get credit for being as tough as they are. Joel played 82 games for the first time in his career while having to back up Oden who got the rookie treatment from the referees (some good calls, other rather questionable) and taking the task of getting charges and guarding the paint. Aldridge slapped the perpetual mouth that is Kevin Garnett in a testy December ballgame. Roy has been playing with a torn tendon in his pinky, just like Kobe, but you don’t hear the press questioning why he is delaying surgery or even talking about the fact that he is injured. I mean I could go on and on. This Blazers team is the hardest working team that I have had the pleasure of watching evolve. No matter what the ailment is they play and give it their best. If they are soft, then I don’t see it. As for the resolve, I believe the win over the Spurs puts a cap on it. 18 comeback victories from 10 or more points is unheard of, especially for the 2nd youngest team in the league. Read More »
This cut right here, “Who Is He?”, is a rich, autobiographical journey. The track boasts an infectious hook – partially re-purposed from Mike’s first first hit single, “Rumors” – you may remember it. The song twists and turns as he chronicles some of his toughest life lessons. No punches are pulled, no skeletons dismissed. But don’t be sad. Our boy Meezy is just fine. Married, kids, making music and thrivin’. Right here in the Bay.
And, you gotta’ love the A’s cap with ear warmers. Classic.
Gd.
Oh, and look out for what might be this Summer’s anthem, “Drinks R on Me“, featuring E40 and Mistah FAB.
Sorry, I meant, Influenza A virus, subtype H1N1. I wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea and see the price of pork bellies fall any further.
Anyway, I’ve been traveling quite a bit these days (most recently to the lovely state of Michigan) and I can’t believe how many people I’ve seen wearing those protective masks with the little rubber bands wrapped around their ears. Frankly, I think it’s all a bit ridiculous. I mean, haven’t they been following the news? It’s just the friggin’ flu. Seriously, get yourself some CleanWell and stock up on Emergen-C if your really worried.
Regardless, thanks to industrious designers, like Irina Block here, perhaps a few of the hysterical germaphobes will don a mask with a big piggy snout, gigantic kissy lips, or even a manly, fearsome beard.
At least that way the rest of us can have a good laugh.
It’s that time of year. That’s right, you guessed it, the Basketblog Header Playoffs. Sixteen sweet basketball blogs, one prize. So who’s graphic banner will reign supreme? It’s your call.
The brackets have been set and our friends at Pete Marasmitch put Fear the Beard as the number one seed in the “The Grimes Conference” (aka. the independent blog conference). Being the number one seed can be a lot of pressure. But we can handle it. We’ve been training for this moment since we launched this itch.
Here’s the first round match ups in the Grimes:
(1) Fear The Beard vs. (8) The Puns Are Starting to Bore Me
(2) Need4Sheed vs. (7) Both Teams Played Hard
(3) Blaze of Love vs. (6) Red’s Army
(4) Empty The Bench vs. (5) Basketbawful
In the end, there can only be one, so go cast your vote. Polls close on Thursday, April 16, before midnight ET.
Meet Chuck, aka The SEO Rapper. He raps about design and coding. A couple of things my compadres and I here at FTB know a little something about.
The Houston native specializes in SEO (that’s Search Engine Optimization), SEM (that’s Search Engine Marketing) and Social Media. All critical aspects of any corporate online strategy. If that wasn’t enough, Chuck also runs Mo Serious Entertainment, his own independent record label on which he is the premier artist.
Look, you could spend years and tens of thousands of dollars learning the online marketing trade, or just sit back, relax, and let the “Poetic Prophet” spit knowledge:
Your site design is the first thing people see
It should be reflective of you and the industry
Easy to look at with a nice navigation
When you can’t find what you want it causes frustration
A clear call to action to increase the temptation
Use appealing graphics they create motivation
If you have animation use with moderation
Cause search engines can’t index the information
I took the day off to hang with my boy on his 10th Birthday. In the morning, Griffin opened his presents — Pro Evolution Soccer for his Playstation and an official AC Milan jersey and shorts. Ronaldinho of course. He put it on immediately (he’s still wearing it today).
After a few games of PES and some light soccer in the park we headed into San Francisco. First stop, Japantown for lunch and a visit to Fatlace and Super7.
Afterward we rolled through Hayes Valley then over to the Mission. Being 72° and sunny, our roll was slow. We sauntered into Density to say hi to the extended family. A few minutes later Marco Bellinelli and a few of his buddies also sauntered in. A leisurely day of shopping in SF seemed to be on everyone’s agenda.
“Hey Marco Belinelli” I said, “Nice to see you. Welcome to Density.”
Just as I approached to shake his hand, one of guys in his entourage pointed a finger just over my shoulder and exclaimed “Hey!”
I turned to see that he was pointing at Griffin, who was standing by the cash register like a deer in headlights. Then he added, “AC Milan! Number 80. Ronaldinho! He’s a gooda football player. Now, that’s a smarta boy.”
Well, I’m pretty biased, but I had to agree. I told the crew that we had indeed spend some time that morning using the digital version of AC Milan to womp on the élite teams in the English Premier League. They fully approved.
After some more mutual appreciation, a good browse around the shop and our photo op, Macro and friends, as well as Griffin and I departed.
It was bittersweet seeing BD last night. My ticket benefactor, Yuri, and I kept remarking that during timeouts Boom Dizzle was walking over to the wrong bench. At least it looked like the wrong bench to us.
After what was apparently a warm reception, the crowd took to booing (or perhaps they were yelling “booooom”) every time Baron had the ball in his hands. Frankly, I thought all of the booing was silly. Al got it too when he was here, but I think he earned his a bit more, asking publicly to be traded.
But Baron, he wanted to stay. He loved being loved in the Bay. Even worked on his karma to get his contract matters in order. But the Warriors just couldn’t come correct.
At one point I turned to a neighbor who was booing loudly during some Baron Davis free throws and asked, “What are you booing at? Yourself”? That’s kinda’ how I interpreted it. Self hate.
In the end, the Dubs won the game. Handily. Both Monta and Baron had banner games, with almost identical box scores. 29 points, 5 rebounds and 6 and 7 assists. I just kept thinking they should be playing together. That was the plan, Right? The best back court in the NBA since, well, Baron and JR. Certainly it would have been better then “oil and water”. Blah!
Enough of this. Let’s discuss the picture above. The image, snapped by Yuri at the halftime shoot around, is most auspicious. Baron sauntered over to a couple of well-to-do silver hair gentleman sitting courtside and engaged in a few minutes of lively banter. All while displaying various dribbling techniques. I quickly dubbed the duo “CEO of this.com and Chairman of that.com”.
“It’s definitely like a homecoming,” Davis said last week, anticipating his return to Oakland. “A lot of memories are there, and the adrenaline is going to be circulating. It’ll be good to see a lot of familiar faces in the stands.”
Familiar faces indeed. Yuri and I’s conjecture was that Baron (or as he’s known in Scrilla-con Valley, “iBoom”) was getting a little business advice form his NorCal tech-savvy brethren. Perhaps he was even lining up the next round of VC funding for his own social network play, IBeatYou.com.
With not much else going his way in Oakland last night, I certainly hope so.
If you can’t find something to hate about this, well, you’re just not trying.
Somewhere 213 or 310 area code I’m sure you’ll find the televangelist Don Vincent (aka Reverend X, aka God). He’s probably still videotaping his show, “The Spirit of Truth” and looking for a cable access channel to run it.
If you’ve seen the clips on YouTube (they’ve been widely circulated), then you’ll probably understand why our man is worthy of some of our Tuesday hate. It goes something like this: preach, dance, swear, rap, swear, repeat.
Apparently his special sermons have even gotten him an invitation to Howard Stern. But I wouldn’t be knowing, because in this day and age, who pays for radio access?
