We Don't Walk Slow

About Tom Stortz

Enjoying my last few responsibility free years left.

Never Famous

I’m sure Sam will post something about this movie but I was watching it with him and took two quotes that I really like.

“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we’re uncool.” – I really like the bankrupt world aspect of this because most people believe the idea that currency is money and that having money makes you rich. By saying the only TRUE currency essentially dismisses any other superficial means like dollars. The idea of sharing your thoughts and ideas with other people is what makes you, you. Which is hopefully what I try to accomplish at times with this blog. The final statement of when we’re uncool is how most “real” people feel. Staying in and doing nothing seems to be the how you are in your realest form. You are yourself.

“Be honest, and unmerciful.” – This was the advice from Lester Bangs to William in how to write his article about the band. I think audiences want this more than any other fabricated piece of crap. Whether it be a blog, a newspaper article, or the cover of the Rolling Stone, unmerciful truth is the most compelling part. I’m going to really start to try to take this advice when writing these posts in the future.

By Tom Stortz|2012-08-07T00:06:42-04:00August 7th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

Olympic Freaks

Has anyone else noticed that to be the best you have to have freakish attributes. Missy Franklin has size 13 feet. Phelps is 6-4 with a 6-7 wing span, double jointed elbows and knees, flipper hands and size 14 feet. Usain bolt is 6-6 and just not your typical build of a sprinter. These athletes all have something that makes them uniquely different and not surprisingly, this gives them advantages that most of us don’t have. The cardinal rule of you can be anything you want is complete bullshit. I don’t care how hard you work, unless you have something that gives you some competitive edge, you’re screwed. Gabby Douglas got a huge dome, probably great for balance.

By Tom Stortz|2012-08-06T19:32:37-04:00August 6th, 2012|Sports|0 Comments

Boop!

By Tom Stortz|2016-11-03T15:32:26-04:00August 4th, 2012|Videos|0 Comments

Olympic Thoughts

Does anyone else love Bob Costas? I just look at him and think consummate professional. And yes I looked up consummate to make sure it was used correctly. Anything this man speaks I just nod my head and agree. Bob Costas doesn’t give false information. He has these notes that have size 3 font and he just never misses a beat. His speech is perfect and the guy just honestly owns announcing.

Moving on, does anyone else wonder how a country of 300 million is at the top of the leader board next to a country that is 4 times its size? Although I suppose shear size has nothing to do with it as India has no skill. My point though is that the USA is a melting pot of information and talent. We have Asian coaches, Black swimmers, and Cuban gymnasts. It’s just a really impressive display of why the United States is as worthy as we are. Aside from our financial ineptitude, they really shine at the Olympics.

A final thought, does anyone else get pissed off that the female volleyball players slap hands after every point? It’s just like, chill, you got a point, keep playing. It’s not like it’s the last point you are going to get of your career. It reminds me of the way NBA players slap hands after foul shots. Stop celebrating and play the goddamn game.

By Tom Stortz|2016-10-29T13:37:14-04:00August 2nd, 2012|Sports|1 Comment

Ratings For Breaking Bad Are Breaking Bad

2.9 million people watched the premiere of Breaking Bad on AMC and 2.3 tuned in for the 2nd episode. Does anyone know how pathetic those numbers are? Here’s a look at the top 20 programs for Cable television. The first 3 are from TNT which I barely even knew existed let alone knew that so many people watch these shows. I might just watch one just to see if they deserve to be watched by this many people. WWE holds two slots because of redneck hillbillies. Storage Wars holds two spots which is pretty impressive for how worn out the show is. 3 Re-Runs of Family guy on Adult Swim garner this many views????? These shows can’t hold a candle to Breaking Bad.

BREAKING BAD CAN’T FIND THIS LIST?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!? I honestly don’t get how a show that I feel is probably one of the top 5 TV shows of all time isn’t even close to a top 20 program in terms of views. The only thing I can think of is that it’s just not that well known. People just don’t have a clue about how good it is. They’d rather watch crappy TNT and USA programming than a show that’s unbelievable. I will be perfectly honest and say I didn’t know it existed for the first 3 seasons due to being unaware. People still don’t know the show exists as proof by the numbers. I’m sure there are better reasons for this occurrence but it truly just boggles my mind this show doesn’t get more notoriety.

By Tom Stortz|2016-10-29T13:35:27-04:00August 1st, 2012|Tv|0 Comments

Sports Radio Opinions

My dad and I have been driving into work together as of late and we sometimes listen to sports radio. I’m more of a music guy because I get tired of hearing about the same old topics. That being said, after listening to it more recently, I have a few more thoughts on the matter.

I want information more than I want their attempted humor. There’s a difference between being funny and staging trying to be funny. I really like the Mike and Mike show in the morning. They have knowledgeable guests who are mostly ESPN reporters and know what they are talking about. Mike and Mike take stances on topics which I’m always in favor of compared to objective reporting. It’s a non BS show. Compare that to Angelo in the morning and you have my point. Angelo really is the only reason the show works because he has an opinion and a personality. Al, Rhea, and Keith just sort of make unfunny jokes in the background. The guests are usually “jokish” guests in terms their validity like Conklin, Mayor Rendell and Arlen Specter. Yesterday, G Cobb is telling me that the Eagles are going to win over 11 games this season. This is such a homer answer that I just don’t want my news from these guys. They went 8-8 last year and won their last 5 meaningless games to accomplish that .500 record. I’ve met tons of fanboys over my life and I’ve learned to never trust a fanboy. WIP is just that.

The other obvious difference is that local sports get local callers and this is another part of the show which is pretty hit or miss. Yesterday there was a 19 year old who called in and Missinelli asked him if he was blazed? The kid was like “what’s that”, in this high nasally voice. It was actually pretty funny. However, most of the time you just have idiots from South Philly making ridiculous points of how the Phillies should get Justin Upton for Mayberry. The other problem is the monotony of slow sports times like these summer days. With the Olympics going on it gives them another topic to talk about but previously it was brutal. Comparing the 92′ Dream Team to today’s team isn’t a week long debate. They get stuck on topics too easily.

I don’t mind listening to sports talk but I can only take it in small doses. Hearing Mike Golic give his opinion on anything non-Football related makes me cringe. I want to hear my information from experts who have played the game. Not biased hosts who are just trying to make a show. Info over humor.

By Tom Stortz|2012-08-01T08:47:52-04:00August 1st, 2012|My Brain|0 Comments

Jordyn “Cry Baby” Wieber

Jordyn Wieber is not crying because she didn’t move on to the finals for all around medal. She’s crying because her hair is pulled so freaking tight that her brain is ready to explode. Plus look at her coach, she doesn’t give a qua. She’s like, yeah you got a 4th place score and for some insane reason each country is only allowed to send 2 gymnasts even though you are obviously more skilled than every other country. For that reason, perhaps it is cry worthy. However, this is the Olympics. You’ve spent 4 years preparing for this and I think it has to be understood that you might not win 8 gold medals like 99% of the athletes there. How about we be happy for our teammate, our captain. I like individual awards as much as the next person but I don’t see it.

A congratulations to Aly Raisman who I watched for all but 3 seconds. She is a non nonsense, get nail that shit and move on type of woman. Her demeanor was seriously bad ass. Plus her parents are completely ape shit. Watching them is a show on its own. It’s funny because you watch these teenage girls and after they start flipping around for a while and you see how strong they are, you think, “hey they look pretty decent.”

By Tom Stortz|2012-07-31T11:08:15-04:00July 30th, 2012|Sports|0 Comments

True Legends

Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix, 1969

Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood

Muhammad Ali and The Beatles, 1964

Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis Jr.

MLK and Marlon Brando

Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates

Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Warren Harding, Harvey Firestone, 1921

Ian Fleming and Sean Connery

James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor

Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein

Charlie Chaplin and Gandhi

Johnny Cash and Ray Charles

Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris

Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald

Christopher Reeve and Danny DeVito

Elvis Presley and Tom Jones

By Tom Stortz|2016-10-29T13:35:59-04:00July 26th, 2012|Celeb|0 Comments

James Holmes Case

Just read this. Beat me to it.

“To the best of our knowledge, we did everything we should have done,” the statement read.” – The Univ of Colorado

So James Holmes sent a notebook to the Univ. of Colorado detailing his murder spree. This is the above quote they had after being asked if they had “knew” of anything. My thought is that this was probably delivered, they wrote it off, it happened and now they are covering it up. In 2012, this seems more likely with this kind of statement.

By Tom Stortz|2016-10-29T13:36:11-04:00July 25th, 2012|My Brain|0 Comments

Adapting

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change. – Charles Darwin

The older I get, the more I agree with this statement. I read in one of Malcolm Gladwell’s book that a few IQ points don’t make a difference once you reach a certain level. Don’t get me wrong when I say that we are all similar in intelligence because that would be far from the truth, but the point is that you don’t have to be the smartest person in the world to excel in something. The key to almost everything lies in the quote above. Whether it be business, personal relationships, or leisure activities, the key is adapting.

You could be the smartest person in the world but if you are stubborn and always think your way is the best, most likely you’ll be overtaken at some point. The year 2012 is much different than even the year 2002. What worked back then might not work now. The information that was paramount then could have changed 10 times already. That’s why it’s important to never let any one thought dominate the way you go about things. My golf game is a great example. I constantly ask people who are better than me for tips or information on how I can improve. I explain my problems and than hear their answers. This doesn’t mean that what they say is the gospel because it might be the way they look at it and that might now correlate with how I think about things. Constantly having an open mind though and listening and trying and working are the keys to getting better. It’s not me saying, “this is how I taught myself so this is how I do it.” That might work for Lebron but most of us aren’t fortunate to be have his skills.

Also, just because it was working, doesn’t mean it will still work. Companies see this all the time. They create something new and groundbreaking only to find that at a certain point down the road things can change overnight. If you can’t adapt (Kodak, Blockbuster, Blackberry), you will sink. Don’t forget, it’s not just adapting but maintaining. Some people do something stupid, try to learn from it, and then just revert right back to where they were. I think most of us are guilty of this because it’s easier for us. The best equipped people on this Earth are the ones who think on their feet and do their best to work with all their information and go about it with a good attitude.

By Tom Stortz|2012-07-24T08:55:03-04:00July 24th, 2012|My Life|1 Comment