Show Prep #30

Greetings and Salutations, people. This is the radio show that moved your cheese…This is Vertically Striped Radio. The show is brought to you today by the good folks over at VerticalyStripedSocks.com, and of course when I say the good folks over there…what I really mean is me. VerticallyStripedSocks.com…of all the websites in the world, this is one of them. So visit it, because the internet isn’t going to surf itself, people.

Today on Vertically Striped Radio, On our thirtieth edition of the show (and by the way, Holy Crap, 30 shows??!!??) One of the strangest collections in history get discovered by the cops. In honor of Chris Henry we’ll remember all the active NFL players to pass away this decade and there may be more than you remember. I’ve got a magnificent seven list of seven signs of the decline of Western Civilization as found at the Pepsi Center during an Avalanche game last week. I’ll discuss the travesty that is the current land of the fox showdown over on Dave Dameshek’s podcast. We’ll discuss a little bit about where Mike Shanahan could land, as well as where I think he SHOULD land. The Broncos are gearing up for a showdown against legendary quarterback Charlie Frye and the dynamo that is the Oakland Raiders.

There are only three weeks left until the playoffs start, so we’ll look at how that appears to be breaking down and I’ll unveil my much too early playoff projections. Plus I’m in the semi-finals of both of my fantasy football leagues, including the ESPN.com league with the guys from the Dameshek.com message board in which I’ll be facing friend of the show Jerry Fairish. We have a bet concerning our avatars which I hope to win, and I’ll be soliciting feedback as to what Jerry’s new avatar should be. Also, with Christmas coming this week, I hope to bring up the case against Jolly Ole’ Saint Nick. Yes, I’m anti-Santa. I hope to cover all of this plus if you’d like to call in and contribute to the show, I welcome your calls…


Give out the phone number - (646) 716-6831 OR 6-HOP-1-MOVE-1
Email address: radio@verticallystripedsocks.com


My office just got a new operations manager, and he’s been there for about two weeks, and yesterday in his first major move as manager, he gave everyone a copy of the book, “Who moved my cheese?”

The new guy seems like a decent sort, but this condescending drivel makes me think bad thoughts about him. I am trying my hardest not to be an arrogant jerk, but what kind of an idiot actually thinks this is a good way to motivate people.

Let’s get to the news…

(Play News Music – Clip 03)

St. Charles Parish, La. – A 44-year-old woman was booked with second-degree battery after allegedly pouring a pot of boiling grits onto her sleeping boyfriend. St. Charles Parish sheriff's deputies said Carolyn Brown caused second-degree burns on the man's face and arms. The man told deputies that he came home from work on Nov. 7, got into an argument with Brown, told her that he was breaking up with her, then went to bed.
The Times-Picayune reported Brown was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Nelson Coleman Correctional Facility.


BERLIN (Reuters) – German police arrested a man who claimed to be a "secret agent" after a high speed chase in pursuit of a car with a blue flashing light on its roof.
Police in the southern city of Fuerth caught up with the man after he raced past them, ignored signals to pull over, and ran a red light as they gave chase.
Smelling strongly of alcohol, the 44-year-old whispered only that he was "one of them," on a secret mission and belonged to the Federal Crime Office -- a body similar to the FBI -- local police said. A check revealed he had no such credentials.
"After matters were taken care of, the would-be 'Mr. Bond' was again released," police said in a statement on Thursday.
A local police spokesman said the man in reality had "a normal job" and declined to explain his nighttime sortie. He faces charges for a variety of driving offences.


LOS ANGELES - [Los Angeles Times, 11-11-09] California's Death Row: Bigger cells, better privacy, more stuff, and almost no chance of being executed!

In October in Orange County, Calif., Billy Joe Johnson, who had just been convicted of murder as a hit-man for a white supremacist gang, begged the judge and jury, in all sincerity, to sentence him to death.

Johnson knew that those on California's death row get individual cells and better telephone access, nicer contact-visit arrangements, and more personal-property privileges than ordinary inmates. The Los Angeles Times reported that the state's spending per death-row inmate is almost three times that for other inmates.

The current death-row census totals 685, but because of legal issues, only 13 have been executed since 1977 (compared to 71 death-row fatalities from other causes). In fact, Johnson was so eager to be put on death row that he tried to confess to two murders that no one yet knew about.



AMSTERDAM – A man who said he spent two decades collecting Ecstasy pills of all colors and shapes as a hobby has turned to police for help after they were stolen — because he said some of them are poisonous.
Police say the 46-year-old man, who was not identified, decided to report the theft despite the illegal nature of the collection because he was worried about the possible consequences if anybody were to swallow one of the poisoned pills.
It was not immediately clear why about 40 red-and-white pills out of the 2,400-pill-strong collection would be poisoned, but the police said they fear the drugs could be lethal if swallowed.
"That's really the main reason he came to the police," said police spokeswoman Esther Naber, adding the man "knows he's not going to get his collection back."
A report in De Volkskrant daily Thursday said the man claimed he was not a drug dealer or user.
"I've tried it before but didn't like it," the report quoted him saying. "My passion for collecting comes from the varied collection of colors, shapes and logos that are printed on the pills."
According to a police statement, the man gathered the pills over a 20 year period and carefully stored them in coin collecting folders.
The folders were allegedly taken during a break-in Wednesday at the man's home in Eerbeek, 56 miles (90 kilometers) east of Amsterdam.
Police spokesman Naber said investigators tended to believe the man's story.
"Why would you make something like this up?" she said.
Prosecutors and drug enforcement officials are still weighing whether to charge him with a crime.
"Given that the pills have disappeared, for the moment there's no evidence to support a possession charge," Naber said.
The pills' street value is estimated at euro11,000 ($16,200).




I’m Craig, and that’s the news…(Play News Music – Clip 03)


MAIN TOPIC: Espn.com Fantasy Football League – Semi-Finals against Jerry Fairish.

QB’s – Ben Roethlisberger vs. Donovan McNabb
RB’s – Ryan Grant and Darren Sproles vs. Fred Jackson and Ray Rice
WR’s – Brandon Marshall and Steve Smith (Giants) vs. Roddy White and Kenny Britt
Flex – Calvin Johnson vs. Laurence Maroney (Gametime decision, as Calvin is questionable)
TE’s – Bo Sciafe vs. Brent Celek (I had Zach Miller, but he’s out with a concussion)
Def/ST – Broncos vs. Packers
K – Jay Feeley vs. David Akers
HC – Texans coach vs. Ravens coach

I’ll know what I need early as all Jerry’s players play in the early games except for his defense.

The stakes are high – I want to win the league, but to do so I have to win the The Dave division conference championship. Not only that, but Jerry and I have placed our avatars on the line, as the winner of the game will get to select an avatar for the loser.

My ideas for Jerry’s avatar – The Red Sox logo, the Red Wings logo, the Michigan logo, the Bronco logo, The album cover for Neutral Milk Hotel’s album “The Aeroplane Over the Sea”, Larry the Cable Guy.

(Check the phone lines to see if you have any calls)


Magnificent Seven: 7 signs of the downfall of society as observed from a single night at a hockey game.

At the Avalanche game:
7. Cotton Eyed Joe
6. Jumbotron flashing, “If you came to scream your head off, you may proceed!”
5. “She thinks my tractor’s sexy” song
4. Man in bathroom using elbow to dispense paper towels, then saying, “I like trees, that’s why I use them!” and getting hailed as a comedic genius.
3. Woman behind me, “Why are they playing the ‘Here we go Rockies, here we go” song? She sounded dumb, and her friend had a Brittish accent.
2. The snuggie toss
1. Smashes and Crashes – but rather than show hockey hits, they showed car crashes





Dan LeBatard hates ties – (Clip 20) If you spend any time around me at all, you’ll know that I hate tradition for tradition sake. I hate it when people do something just because it’s the way it’s always been done. Also, I hate dressing up…which is why I found so much to enjoy in this rant from Dan LeBatard on his show this week…

Chris Henry – Sad story of a guy who screwed up a lot and had his life end as a result of bad decisions.


Name the 10 men who died this decade as active NFL players

Chris Henry (Bengals) – Fell out of a truck – Dec 17, 2009
Marquise Cooper and Corey Smith (Raiders) – Died at sea – March 2009
Sean Taylor (Redskins) – Shot by an intruder into his home – Nov 27, 2007
Marquise Hill (Patriots) – Died in a Jet Ski accident
Damien Nash (Broncos) – Died of heart failure after playing in a charity basketball tournament in Saint Louis
Darrent Williams (Broncos) – Was killed in the early hours of New Years Day when his limo was sprayed with bullets.
Thomas Herrion (49ers) – Died in Denver after a preseason game, he collapsed in the locker room and died of heart failure.
Korey Stringer (Vikings) – Died of Heat stroke in Minnesota’s training camp.
Fred Lane (Panthers) – Shot in the head and chest by his wife.

Great Moments in the history of Blog Talk Radio: Clip 21 – Mike Dell in the Summer of 2008 discussing why there is no way the Red Wings can possibly get back to the Stanley Cup Finals again…which sadly they did, although thankfully they did not win the Cup.

Zooey vs. Scarlett – No one wins if someone loses in this battle.

Mike Shanahan – spent 7 hours with the Bills and is now reportedly being courted by the Redskins. It can’t feel good to be Jim Zorn right now.

The case against Santa Claus – Yes, he’s universally loved, but here is why I’m giving Santa a lump of coal.

Broncos v Raiders – Charlie Frye








Playoff Projections:

AFC:
1. Colts
2. Chargers
3+4.Patriots-Bengals
5. Ravens
6. Broncos

NFC:
1. Saints
2. Vikings
3. Eagles
4. Cardinals
5. Packers
6. Giants

Movie reviews: “The Road” and “The Princess and The Frog”

Best Sports Stories of the Year – I’ll do the magnificent seven of the best seven sports stories of 2009 next week.

Oklahoma City Zombies – Wearing Orange shoes

Jury Duty – My mom has it, I’d rather be dipped in a vat of acid.

IPFW – Mastadons (Indiana-University Purdue-University, Fort Wayne)


(Check the phone lines to see if you have any calls)


The Vertically Striped Music Recommendation:
Radiohead – “In Rainbows”

Okay, so this album is a little weird at first. It’s pretty different from mainstream music, and if you don’t like it at first, that’s probably not altogether unusual. Stick with it. It probably takes a listen or three before you start to “get it” and it’s just remarkably brilliant music. I like music, but I can’t pretend that I understand it very well, I just know that once you start digging on this album, it really colors how you view other music. It’s good stuff. The song I’m going to play us out with today is called “Jigsaw falling into place.”

I’d like to thank (mention any callers here)

Shalom and Good Evening to you all!