Hey, I was hacked by the Chinese. Yep, my iTunes account was drained of the remaining total I had (pumped up by gift cards, no less) yesterday morning. I could not even access my account to change the password until this morning. It's like they took the account over for their exactly prescribed 12 hours.

I was able to change the password back, but I felt just enough pain here to get a new credit card. I didn't need that number floating about in China (not sure it really was as they negated the card on iTunes), so I opted for a new one. Not a lot of pain, as Apple is investigating, and I have already been compensated. But it's not a way I wanna spend a few hours on a day off, chasing things beyond my control.

Meal of Links

While watching some of the NFL playoffs that were blowouts this weekend, I noticed some things about the commercials:

Motorola has an airport scene where a guy is going through security. The security screen shows his phone as a PC, because it's so damn powerful. The security guy? Eddie Charles from that old Martin Tupper show, "Dream On".

When the iPad clicks on a TED lecture, that's Jamie Oliver walking across the stage.

The Sprint commercial with the injured football player and the team doctor with a Sprint phone? They must be channeling the Browns. There are three lameass "Division Winners" banners on the wall. One is from 1971-72, another in the '90s, the last one in the oughts.

Not liking the Bud Light "schmeplicate" ad. Don't like the women left behind at all in this commercial.

Borders. Tick...tick...tick. I suggest using gift cards from there quickly.

Matthew McConaughey has trouble standing.

The Horseshoe. Lego-style!

Uh-oh. I started watching "Lights Out" on FX this week. Here we go again. It's ratings-challenged at the start.

More commentary on 2010's bad movies. Ballots are here. Very funny.

Exercise Yard

Strange way to boost attendance. Lap dance contest for the mascot at a lacrosse match. Love the "boing" sound effect!

Visitor

None, on a cold Sunday.

I liked the feature on Danny Greene in the PD today. Now, let's hope these projects can match what we remember from those times.

Meal of Links

Can a matchmaker be a matchmaker, even if she dumps her fiance? I'm leaning toward no.

The five best deal-hunting sites. I swear by Dealnews.

Undoubtedly, you know they will build a mosque near Ground Zero. Before we continue to literally raise holy hell about it, check out its neighbors. Including two strip clubs.

Reminiscing with George Barris. He only made the Batmobile, K.I.T.T., the "Back to the Future" DeLorean among others.

"Smells Like Rockin' Robin" Mashup



Pop-Culture Legos.

They found a new type of monkey species. In the titi monkey family. Monkeys and titis, what can I say.

Exercise Yard

So, I'm watching the PGA. It looks like Dustin Johnson is in a playoff until a tour official says, "Not so fast, my friend." It seems he played his second shot from a bunker and grounded his club. The two-stroke penalty eliminated him from the playoff. I get all that.

But what was with the horror that CBS claimed? Clearly, on their clips of the 18th hole they were showing all week, you can see the damn bunkers on both sides of the fairway. What, they magically disappear when the people are standing in them?

Then the PGA says look at the course sheets for rulings on these bunkers. Number One on the list. Plus, it had happened in the 2004 PGA played there, for precedent.

Sure, it was unfortunate. But it was the right call and the mock horror seemed misplaced. The only thing I would question is did this happen in any of the earlier rounds when the cameras weren't around? If you fess up now, can you be assessed a penalty post-tournament or called a cheater if you didn't call it on yourself? Not sure, but maybe it did happen only once this week, when the world was watching.

Maybe golf without Tiger competing isn't so bad. Certainly the poor sister PGA was the best of the majors this year and at the start of the year with Augusta, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews on the docket, that would count as a major surprise.

Visitor

None, on another hot Sunday.

Why would anyone be upset with the Browns loss to the Lions today?

Sure, they should have won and the defense still sucks. And sure, a third down run after the 2-minute warning would have run more time off the clock. And sure, they gave up an 88-yard game-winning TD drive, riddled with bad clock management, to a rookie quarterback, helped by one of the dumbest pass interference calls ever. A penalty so obvious, the ref had to call it.

But this game was basically played for shits and giggles. By both teams. It was like they were facing their own offenses and defenses in practice, but the results counted and everyone got paid. Save it for the games that really count.

Like next week against the Bengals.

Meal of Links

Mark Bittman with the best advice for prospective Thanksgiving chefs. Calm the fuck down!

Check out this guy. Not a fan of Lego Rock Band.

Matt Taibbi with a terrific piece on the appeal of Sarah Palin. The first WWE politician.

Exercise Yard

My football fan woes continue:

My alma mater, Miami, wins one game this year.

My beloved Michigan finishes last in the Big Ten.

And, of course, the Browns losing to the Lions on the last play of the game.

Visitor

None. On a nice, sunny fall Sunday.

I guess the City Club hosted a yawner of a debate today. It was the Cleveland mayoral candidates getting together for a little confab. On one hand, you have Mayor Frank Jackson probably taking an extra seat for his war chest. Then you have three complete unknowns and former Councilman Bill Patmon also running.

For all the talk of "Voting the bums out", this is all they could come with this time around? Given the current climate around here, that is absurd. The primary is next Tuesday and the top two go on to the general in November. With this cast of characters, Jackson gets, what, 70% in the general?

Meal of Links

Portland has gone to the dogs. And some residents are not that happy.

Looks they got revenge on Roxanne. It appears her story is completely fake.

Dave Grohl stays busy. His new band, Them Crooked Vultures, hits the road. Columbus yes, Cleveland? Why that would be a no.

"The Wizard of Oz" on the big screen, in high def. Columbus yes, Cleveland yes.

Pitchfork (you can tell it's the end of the decade) has the best videos of the 2000's. This is an excellent list. The Dead Weather makes it! "Star Guitar" at Number 28 is a fave. "House of Cards" is a cool example of the art form. Of course, Kylie Minogue and her ass (hey, pick up that paper!) make it at Number 14. "Dick In A Box" is there. Can you really argue with the Top 10? You get OK Go, Fatboy Slim (Walken dancing!), Pulp, Feist, Weezer, R. Kelly and The White Stripes checking in at first with "Fell in Love With a Girl".

Thinking about this fall's TV premieres? Here is a handy dandy schedule.

The high price and dubious success of cancer drugs. No doubt a cash cow, but would you spend $3,500 a month on a drug for pancreatic that extends your life expectancy by a mere 12 days. Wow.

Here is how some of your favorite websites looked when they first launched. Some of those screenshots look barren.

Texas will execute just about anyone. But did they send an innocent man to his death? It's a lengthy read.

OK, Springsteen at the Super Bowl, I get. But a documentary of Springsteen at the Super Bowl? Oh well, the NFL Network airs it next week.

Exercise Yard

The "Eduardo Dive" from last week is getting big play in the UK. Especially, since he got a two-match ban for doing it. He was booed mercilessly at Man U last week.

BTW, it was a gem of a dive ("I think the referee's been conned there"):



Visitor

2 Down: "Star Trek" navigator (4 letters) Answer: Sulu

Hope you are enjoying the blimp shots of "our two buildings" during TNT's playoff coverage...

If LeBron didn't cement his "King" status last night, I don't know what will. Before his final shot, the Cavs were dead as dead can be. I thought the season was done. And I certainly didn't think the lob would work on the last play and wanted them to shoot a three-ball. But I had no idea LeBron would get it and then actually make the damn thing. The importance of that shot going forward is immeasurable. Orlando, at one moment, probably going to the Finals. The next, they are now back in a dogfight.

Yeah, That Was Amazing



What did the Cavs do better in Game 2? They defended Dwight Howard more. Not many points after the first quarter. But let's not kid ourselves, that's what Orlando does. Howard goes long stretches without being involved. Sure, they made him work for his points by hacking him early, but let's not hang our hats there.

Much better rebounding in Game 2, a 38-30 margin for the Cavs. And the assist total for Orlando dropped dramatically to 16. And Sasha Pavlovic rises from the ashes to get 9 points and commit a phantom foul that set up the almost game-winner for Hedo Turkoglu.

Some low points. The injured Ben Wallace is giving the Cavs nothing offensively. It's even worse than normal. In 17 minutes, he had no shot attempts, hardly any touches (why guard him?) and only two rebounds. Wally won't see much more PT in this series, either. No legs for defense. And although Mo Williams hit some big shots down the stretch, he only had a 7-for-21 shooting night. And doesn't it seem his temper is going to cost us in a major way at some point? How he escaped that ball toss at Howard last night was hard to believe.

And the Cavs still need to contest these wide open three-point attempts. They just aren't running out to defend as quickly as they need to be. And it seems each time they get in a funk offensively, there are too many breakdowns immediately at the defensive end. Orlando was like a buzzsaw cutting into that lead unbelievably quickly.

The Cavs win a game for the ages, 96-95.

Meal of Links

Time Warner Cable remains the devil. They have decided to drop the two Mark Cuban channels, HDNet and HDMovies, for Smithsonian and MAV TV. How incredibly out of touch they are. HDNet actually shows lots of MMA (which I do not watch) and HDMovies actually shows stuff in HD made before 1990, like "The Godfather" (which I do watch). Obviously, it's a money thing.

I fired off an e-mail including a dig at the lack of NFL Network, as well. I got what I thought was a condescending reply. When a major cable company says NFL Network and HDNet "have limited appeal", what alternate universe am I living in?

I'm willing to take the $5 I now pay for Universal HD, HDNet, HDMovies and MGM HD and apply that to NFL Network. Don't they get that? $5 for Universal HD, Smithsonian HD, MAV TV and MGM HD is ludicrous. They need more in that "HD Tier" or they must abolish it.

Chinese guy wants to jump off bridge and commit suicide. Bystander breaks through crowd, fakes a handshake and pushes him off. Must be Mel Gibson's cousin. Oh, and the guy lived.

Lego keeps raising the bar. Next up, Frank Lloyd Wright sets.

Pittsburgh beats us again. This time, a good thing. for Pittsburgh is America's most polluted city.

Exercise Yard

Bud Selig finds hope in this year's baseball attendance. After the Yanks and Reds show up here in the next 30 days, I'm not sure how the Indians draw fans later this season.

Visitor

28 Down: Dustin Hoffman role (10 letters) Answer: Ratso Rizzo

Well, it looks like the Kennedy family (at least some of them) have endorsed Barack Obama. I guess that's news, although I wonder how much cache that really is these days. If the young continue to vote for Obama, are they looking at Teddy Kennedy (even as he attacks "old politics") as part of the problem in the Democratic party? It's like, hey, we're happy some of the old geezers are with us, but we're carrying the day this time around.

Although, that is the difference between the parties because of the superdelegates. A politician's endorsement on the Democratic side carries much more weight than one from the Republican side. So, it is important from that standpoint. But it is also important to look at John McCain's endorsements from this angle. If the more right-leaning Republicans go his way, he may be able to convert those within the party who don't really think he is a Republican and not split the vote.

Meal of Links

It is the 50th anniversary of that favorite building block, the Lego! Here are some final products.

Since our President was talking on TV today, here are some secret societies that aren't so secret. The He-Man Women Haters Club must have too much publicity.

A couple of more Foo Fighters items. Drew informs me that Mr. T once admonished the band for not fighting foos.

And their Arcade Fire cover.

"Keep The Car Running"/Foo Fighters



Exercise Yard

Roger Clemens uses a sleep-inducing defense. Please do not read this into the Congressional Record.

Visitor

67 Across: Infamous Amin (3 letters) Answer: Idi

Randomness from today's Browns home game:

My brother Jeff, along with his uncanny Browns winning percentage, is today's special guest. Browns ("Here in Cleveland? I didn't know they still had a team!") Version 2.3 seems to think a moral victory against Pittsburgh has won them respect. Why? I have no idea. This is a week where Braylon Edwards calls out his own teammate for a legal hit and criticizes his offensive coordinator for lack of red-zone scoring. These youngsters never learn, do they? The Browns come into the game not scoring an offensive TD in their last 6 quarters. But the Bengals sport the #32 defense in the league. That's bad. The Browns appear that they should be able to at least score on offense this week.

Today's opponent: The Cincinnati "Who dey, who dey, who dey think gonna beat them Bengals?". We have had trouble containing the Bengals lately. They killed us down there earlier this year and with their no-huddle offense, pose lots of problems for our team. Rudi Johnson usually runs all over us. Each time we play them, I think of "Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash. And, of course, "Ocho Cinco" has been on fire. The Bengals defense, as I said, is crap, but the offense has been clicking lately and I do not have a good feeling going into this one.

The weather was unbelievable for a late November Sunday. Temperature was in the mid-60s with plenty of sun and no wind. A day like this, this late in the year, is stealing.

Today's giveaway: None. Not even Excedrin Migraine for the thumping we were about to witness.

Section 345 was comatose for most of this one. It appears, with the last of the division rivals present and a holiday weekend, that the season ticket holders have bailed once more. Many Bengals fans present to lower the average IQ of the crowd by at least 25 points. The crowd was so silent, in the third quarter, we heard a motorcycle revving by on the Shoreway. I kid you not.

Today's running game was abysmal. Lemme see, we dressed Reuben Droughns only to have him play special teams and to run the ball twice. Jerome Harrison was our leading rusher with (are you kidding me?) 18 yards. He ran the ball 54 feet! That won't win many games. US Bank sponsors a contest where the winner gets $5 for each yard our leading rusher gets. They paid out a whopping $90.

The game was so shitty, I swear G.E. Smith was there.

Worst Browns play: Pick any Charlie Frye interception, Browns running play or Bengals pass play where we didn't sack Carson Palmer or intercept him. It's a tie.

Best line from me (After Joshua Cribbs opening kickoff return for a TD was called back by a penalty): "I hope that's not our only highlight today." I am changing my name to the prophet Isaiah.

Best lines from randoms (In Section 345, a Browns fan threw two empty beer cups at a Bengals fan. A guy in a Corey Dillon jersey went to security to rat on the Browns fan, resulting in...): "Snitches get stitches!" "Tattletale!" "Pussy!"

Oddest Browns jersey: No question, the pet peeve of the day. Since it was warm, many Browns fans broke out their jerseys today. It is amazing how many fans still sport the jerseys of some of the most reviled names in the history of the new Browns. It is quite the amazing scene. Why, just today, I saw: 2 Couch, 5 Garcia, 17 Holcomb, 31 Green, 92 C. Brown. This is unacceptable! The topper, however, was 64 Jurkovic. Jurkovic! Let me say that again. JURKOVIC! Even Spock would be stupefied by that one.

I actually bought items at this one. Ticket: $40, Parking: Free, Pre-game Corona Lights (with lime): $6, Hot Dog: $4, Mountain Dew in a souvenir cup: $4.75, Witnessing, perhaps, the ugliest football game which forced me to leave when the score hit 30-0: A new hobby of cutting myself.

Best Browns play: Joshua Cribbs opening kickoff return for a TD. Oh, wait a minute, a penalty wiped that one out. Uh...er...mmm...next.

We saw a grandmother sporting a boa today.

Best Fan Cam feature: This may have been more maddening than the game. At halftime, Brian Colleran of Channel 3 hosts a halftime show from Legends, behind the Dawg Pound. He should be renamed "Baghdad Brian". This guy runs down highlights from the first half and you would have thought the Browns were running the Bengals out of town. They showed no Bengal TDs, a Browns sack, a pass to Dennis Northcutt, a pass to Kellen Winslow (he's a soldier, you know) and some other insignificant tripe. Then this Mensa says one of the keys to the second half is "Establish the run". My God, man, we have 5 first downs, losing 17-0, and you want us to run the ball? I begin to carve his visage into my upper arm at this point.

Worst stat: The Browns had 9 first downs.

2nd worst stat: Charlie Frye's 4 interceptions.

Most interesting stat: Although we got our ass kicked, Rudi Johnson was stopped. Only 64 yards on 25 carries.

The Bengals, with the worst defense in the league, gain their first shutout since 1989, also against the Browns. We were not close in this one, as the Browns offense has not scored in the last 10 quarters. The Browns played a game that was reminiscent of the two-year reign of Chris Palmer. May have been worse than last year's 41-0 shellacking by the Steelers, also at home. Each time I believe it can't get worse, it does. We have Braylon Edwards sniping at Charlie Frye on the sideline, while Romeo Crennel fiddles. Appropriate, because Romeo must be on the hot seat after this effort. It was mindful of John McKay as coach of the Buccaneers when, after a game, was asked: "What about your team's execution?" He replied, "I'm all for it."

Certainly, the Browns worst game of the year. And one of the worst ever in the new Stadium.

Meal of Links

Hey, "The Match Game" has its own special on GSN. That should be blankin' awesome.

If you hate Rachael Ray, join this club. I must say, I saw Friday's edition of her show. I could barely make it through 10 minutes.

The world of adult Legoists. There are some crazy designs out there.

Exercise Yard

HBO ran a great replay last night of the Pacquiao-Morales fight. Manny Pacquiao is a fave of mine, trained by Freddie Roach, and always gives 100 percent. His fight with Erik Morales was the last of a trilogy and Manny delivered a third-round KO.

Big time crowd that was absolutely insane. Most enjoyable.

Visitor

None on a beautiful Browns Sunday.