Separated at Birth

Is it me or does Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (left) look like Anna Nicole Smith's ex-parasite Howard K. Stern (below)?



















If Cuban wasn't worth a billion dollars, do you think he'd throw his name in the bidding for custody of Anna Nicole's daughter?

OSCARS

Despite the fact that I haven't seen most of the movies up for an Oscar, I feel that with my Blockbuster.com subscription, I am more than qualified to make my own Oscar picks.




Best Picture: The Departed. Although Babel is getting all of the attention right now, I could barely make it through the trailer. The Departed kept me interested from start to finish...much like Crash last year. When everyone was picking Brokeback Mountain to win, I went with Crash. Not that it got me anywhere further in life....

Best Actor: Forest Whitaker (The Last King in Scotland). Didn't see this movie, but he was very good in ER. Plus, I always felt bad for the guy with that eye problem he has. I did see the Will Smith movie (and he was very believable in that flick), but it's hard to give it to someone whose most memorable work revolves being the Fresh Price of Bel Air with this kid. Hey....is that Mosher?

Best Actress: Helen Mirren (The Queen). She's mentioned by EVERY publication to win this award. It's almost like if I took on Shaquille O'Neal in a game of hoops. Totally overmatched.

Heck, it's almost like if I took on anyone over the age of 13 in a game of hoops. (Or under the age of 13 for that matter)

Best Foreign Language Film: Pan's Labyrinth. Muy bien! Es una pelicula que tiene....ah, I knew i should have paid attention more in spanish class. Stephen King loved this movie. I KNOW I'm getting this one right.

Antonella's No Idol

For those of you who think Antonella Barba is going to go far in American Idol...

Think again

I'm number one!

I had a belated Valentine's Day this week when E and I went to a restaurant in philadelphia called Buddakan. Everyone I spoke to about this place called it "trendy" and the description couldn't have been any more dead on. The food was unreal. The highlight was a desert called Chocolate Pagoda, which means "Legalized Crack" in Buddist or something.

I'm still shaking.

Shea a Goner

Two things I learned from this story.

1) Herm Edwards doesn't watch the Super Bowl? I mean, it's not the biggest game in the country or anything. He doesn't plan on watching the game until he's in it.

I guess you can cross that game off his viewing itinerary for the rest of his life.

2) Is Terry Shea the most fired man in the history of sports? He's been dropped more than a Rex Grossman football. And to be replace by a cat with THAT name? Dick Curl? Come on now.

Good news for Terry. I hear Somerville is looking for a coach.

An assistant coach.

Todd A No More

No large post today....I just wanted to let all the fine readers of "And What Can I Tell You" know that I will no longer be known as Todd A.

After reading the tale of the guy who changed his name to Peyton Manning following the Bears' loss in the Super Bowl, I opted to follow suit.

From now on, I will be known as The Joker.

(Fortunately, I did not have to pay court fees for this change)

While this post can't hold a jock to JP's 10 Most Overrated Bands or anything The Sandman posts, I felt it was necessary.

Editor's note: I may also be called The Educator Formerly Known as Todd A or the Male Symbol only in the color blue (I figure if Prince isn't using it, why not ride his coattails?)

Feel free to continue with your day.

Deep Thoughts.....by Todd A

A few things that popped into my dome piece:


You think Al Gore might have some trouble convincing the fine people of Redfield, New York about the Greenhut Effect?



A new study shows that the scent of male sweat can increase arousal senses in women.
Hmm.....I'm guessing my gym bag wouldn't qualify as a good Valentine's gift. I can just imagine E's reaction to that one. (Some of the things in the bag can practically walk by themselves)

Brilliant idea of the day....one of my students suggested the military should give lie detector tests to every people in Iraq and kill anyone who isn't telling the truth.

He also said "Police Academy 8: Crullers 'N Night Sticks" might be a good idea for a flick.

Are the weather people EVER right? I feel like you have to subtract 2-4 inches from any prognostication they make. Except if you live in Redfield, of course.

Researchers at the University of Calgary said monkeys may have used stone hammers as long as 4,300 years ago. Is this news? I'm thrilled monkeys knew how to bust nuts even back them, but I want to know.....how does this get us one step closer to finding the cure for cancer?

Man, I was HOPING "educator" would make this list. I guess if I can't pronounce the actual job, I wouldn't be in the running here.

Finally, if you are a fan of Star Wars (or even if you're not), check this out. Thanks to Rog2k+7 for this one.

Here comes some BAYSBOL!!!!

Less than one week until pitchers and catchers report!

This is exciting news, but there's still another 2 months until the fantasy season kicks off. TWO whole months where I am forced to actually do something productive with my life. And my thesis has given me plenty on which I can focus for the next 2 months.

Thank you to my friend JBechtMd for this clip.

Some other interesting websites I came across today...

-- When your bank says no....other banks will probably say no too. Now there's a loan site that's almost like ebay. Prosper allows people to receive loans or lend money for loans. Don't ask me why but I found this to be highly interesting. If I decide to lend money and they don't pay me back, I'm sure it won't be any different than the dozen or so kids at work who ask me for "lunch money" and never repay it on a regular basis.

-- Bents passed along these two sites: the first offers coupons to restaurants at a discount. This one throws out offers for good deals. I'm waiting for a free million dollars to pop up.

Why do I need to worry about money? I figure I'm throwing my hat in the "I Impregnated Ann Nicole Smith" ring. Everyone else is doing it, right? Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband? Are you kidding me? You KNOW that diaper-wearing astronaut is thanking her lucky stars that Anna Nicole left the building this week. It's nice to have the attention moved away from you, right Lisa? Just ask Gary Condit. As awful as this sounds, 9/11 was the perfect distraction for that guy. He went from being on the cover of Enquirer, Star, Weekly World News (or every publication my mom has a subscription to and believes is real) to falling out of the public consciousness. Has that guy even been arrested yet?

Zsa Zsa.....wasn't she the "Cuchi Cuchi" chick? No wait....that was Charo.

Same difference.

The Greatest Day of the Year

One thing I have learned about "The Big Game" (I don't want the NFL suing me for copyright infringement and taking away all $30 I have in my bank account), there's always a big surprise in store.

I don't think I have accurately picked a Super Bowl winner since the Reagan administration. So, when the Colts and Bears take to the field today, I probably will screw this one up, too.

Some quick thoughts/predictions about today:

-- The Bears defense isn't the same unit it was during the first half of the regular season. I think Manning will pick apart that Bears D.

-- The NFC sucks.

-- That Kevin Federline commercial is already old.

-- I will feel the need to buy a domain on GoDaddy.com.

-- Prince's nipples will remain covered to the delight of 90 million onlookers.

-- Joe Pendleton will break 24 hours of sobriety by having a frosty beverage.

-- Someone will mention the need to make Monday a national holiday.

-- A Bengal will be arrested.

With all of that said, I like the Colts to win and win big.....but since I'm never right, I need to go against myself and go with Bears +7. Colts 24-20.

Then again, I haven't been right in years....so what do I know?

After this game, it's a LONG 2 months until first pitch. Nothing like a thesis to keep me occupied.

For those with a Jewish background (and just because some of you like matzah with butter or sales at the mall, doesn't make you Jewish), check out this video that a friend of mine at UPenn sent me.