Sounds Inside My Head

Without a doubt, the best thing about the newer versions of itunes is the top 25 most played list it keeps track of for you. I monitor that thing like the Billboard Top 40... you know, if I cared about the Billboard Top 40. Anyways, here is the current top 25.

1. SexyBack- Justin Timberlake (only cause I think it's hilarious...don't worry)
2. Train In Vain- The Clash
3. Diamonds And Guns- Transplants
4. Precious Declaration- Collective Soul
5. Ballroom Blitz- Sweet
6. One Week- Barenaked Ladies
7. Cochise- Audioslave
8. Rocket- El Presidente
9. Superman- Goldfinger
10. Cold Hard Bitch- Jet
11. Snow- Red Hot Chili Peppers
12. Uptight- Stevie Wonder
13. Cobra Style- Teddybears Stockholm
14. Playmate Of The Year- Zebrahead
15. Playa Hatin' Niggas- 2 Live Crew
16. Pump It- Black Eyed Peas
17. Green Onions- Booker T and the MG's
18. Tell Me Baby- Red Hot Chili Peppers
19. Afternoon Delight- Ron Burgundy
20. Should I Stay Or Should I Go- The Clash
21. This Lonely Place- Goldfinger
22. Goin' In The Right Direction- Robert Randolph
23. You And I- Rick James
24. Goodbye Horses- Q Lazzurus
25. Just A Friend- Biz Markie

NBA Preview

I know it's a little bit late, but whatever. Lay off.

Eastern Conference:

1. Miami: Not any better, but rest of East isn't either. They can coast 'til May.
2. Chicago: Backcourt is one more year away from serious title consideration.
3. Cleveland: With Larry Hughes healthy, they take the next step.
4. New Jersey: Vince Carter is in contract year, so he will actually try.
5. Washington: As Arenas's craziness grows, so does his game.
6. Detroit: Miss Big Ben more than they admit.
7. Orlando: Beginning of an era for Howard, Nelson, Darko.
8. Indiana: Will find a way to squeak in like they always do.

9. Toronto: Improved, but no playoffs yet.
10. New York: If the track isn't finished yet, you can change engineers, but the train is still gonna crash.
11. Philadelphia: 2nd half fade from Iverson, C-Webb.
12. Milwaukee: Still don't know how they got in last year.
13. Boston: No real identity. Oh yeah, Danny Ainge is their GM. Weird.
14. Atlanta: Could be a really, really good team if they allowed draft do-overs.
15. Charlotte: NCAA All-Stars 2004-2006.

Western Conference:

1. San Antonio: I know everyone's saying it, but it's true: don't underestimate a hungry Duncan. Take away a ridiculous Derek Fisher shot and a stupid Ginobli foul and they would be going for a 5-peat this year.
2. L.A. Clippers: Are you excited for the Shaun Livingston show? I know I am.
3. Dallas: Still a great team, but probably missed their chance last year.
4. Houston: If they stay healthy, they could win the title. If they don't, they will be in the lotttery.
5. Phoenix: Another team that probably missed their boat. I'm waiting for Nash's spine to collapse in the middle of a fast break.
6. L.A. Lakers: A playoffs without Kobe to cheer against wouldn't be a playoffs at all. The Hating Kobe Era is getting me through the Knicks Sucking Era.
7. Denver: Talent=playoffs. No heart=first round playoff loss.
8. New Orleans/OK City: Six teams have a legitimate shot at getting swept by the Spurs in the first round. I'll give it to N.O. cause they deserve the playoffs.

9. Utah: Solid on paper, but West is loaded.
10. Minnesota: If they were in the East, they'd probably go to the East finals.
11. Sacramento: Are you seeing a theme here?
12. Golden State: If you're hoping Don Nelson will be your savior, you're hoping too much.
13. Memphis: Wayyyyyy too many question marks for this conference.
14. Seattle: Fun to watch...
15. Portland: Fun to laugh at.

MVP: Bron-Bron. It's his league now. Lay back and enjoy it.

ROY: Brandon Roy. I called this before his senior year of college, gotta stick with it now. Rookie Flop: Shelden Williams. Rookie Sleeper: Rajon Rondo.

Coach of year: Mike Dunleavy. Didn't think I'd ever say that ten years ago. Worst coach of year: George Karl. No one does less with more.

Most Improved: Tyson Chandler. Most improved starting 5: Chandler, Deron Williams, Jameer Nelson, Luke Walton, Marvin Williams.

Most Declined: Rasheed Wallace. Refs will help this along. Most declined starting 5: Wallace, Eddie Jones, Antoine Walker, Chris Webber, Steve Francis.

6th Man: Does Amare count? If not, then Andres Nocioni.

All-underrated team: David Lee, Shane Battier, David West, Mehmet Okur, Gerald Wallace.

All-overrated team: Wally Szczerbiak, Brendan Haywood, Kenyon Martin, Mike James, Baron Davis.

Clever People Make Me Happy, Stupid People Make Me Mad

Working in a restaurant, the vast, vast majority of encounters I have with strangers that deserve a story are only story-worthy because of how much the aforementioned strangers suck at life. However, every once in a while I came away from one of these encounters laughing my ass off, mostly at how the person recognized the potential for a funny moment and capitalized. One of these occured today.

A man came up and paid for his food with a credit card. We usually don't i.d., but I happened to glance at the card and saw an interesting name: William Wallace. I glance at the guy, back at the card, and kind of laugh to myself. The man saw my look of disbelief and decided to take it a step further. He slammed his hand down on the counter, and in his best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) Scottish accent, exclaimed, "I AM William Wallace!!!" I think the only time a customer has made me laugh harder was when two tables of college kids sitting by one another flawlessly pulled off the C-Bass scene from Dumb & Dumber, word-for-word.

On a completely unrelated topic, after hearing Kanye West go off (again) at an awards show in Europe when he didn't win video of the year, I think personally that I am at the point where if I didn't hear Kanye talk besides in his songs, I would be totally OK with it. I don't know if I have ever had such a discrepancy between how much I like an artist's music and how much I dislike the artist as a person. I don't hate all black people (like Bush apparently does) but I sure hate you.,