By Scott Ryan
With six weeks to go before reunion weekend, weve decided to double our fun. In addition to the Saturday party, were arranging a pre-party mixer the night before at a restaurant. Its a good way to give people a second option, and we can include some people from neighboring classes. Its also a chance to raise more money. Were asking for contributionsnot a set amount, just whatever people feel like chipping in. A bonus is that the restaurant is run by one of our classmates.
He was a kind, gentle man, an amazing brother, husband and father, Joanne_S_L wrote. His loss leaves a profound hole in our lives and hearts. We will always remember him as Mr. Fun Guy. I love you little brother!
Hangout Festival: Get Ready For Fun, Fun, Fun In The Sun
With a gorgeous set-up on the beach, Hangout promises three days of sand jams from Macklemore, Kings of Leon and Kendrick Lamar.
By Gil Kaufman
NBA
NBA Playoffs Short-Attention-Span Power Rankings: Fun While It Lasted
By Grantand Staff on
A survey of the players and teams making moves in last nights NBA action.
1. Stephen Curry, Point Guard?
(All GIFs by @HeyBelinda)
Chris Ryan: With about nine minutes left in the third quarter and the Spurs holding on to a slipping six-point lead over the Warriors, Stephen Curry raced up the court off an Andrew Bogut rebound. Curry is not a normal point guard, so the normal rules of playing the position dont apply to him. This of course, is part of the fun of watching Stephen Curry over the last couple of weeks. He played like … Stephen Curry, showing off a skill set so unique, on a pair of ankles so brittle, it felt like you were watching some endangered species. Like you sat down in your living room and boom, what in the shit, there was an Iberian lynx.
At that moment, though, in the third quarter, our wonder, and Currys deep belief in his own abilities to knock a hummingbird out of the air at 100 feet, should have been put aside. Curry probably should have done the boring thing, and pulled back to wait for his teammates. He should have done the savvy thing, and realized Danny Green was closing in on him from behind. He should have done the Chris Paul thing, and stuck out his butt to shield the ball. Instead, he did the Steph Curry thing, and looked for either a one-handed Hollywood pass or a shot with an absurd level of difficulty.
Im not saying that play lost the Warriors the game, or the series. Im saying the very thing that made the Warriors special, that made their appearance in the Western Conference semifinals, might have also had something to do with why they werent going to go any further. On a couple of occasions during last nights game, the Warriors needed a point guard. They had Stephen Curry. Most nights thats more than enough; just not last night.
2. Tony Parker Face
3. The Dust Bowl of Basketball
netw3rk: The Western Conference playoffs are like Call of Duty; the Eastern Conference playoffs are like rolling a wooden circle with a stick. Pacers-Knicks was a game you watched because you were invested as a fan or perhaps because of some bizarre wager. It was ghastly.
Halftime saw the Pacers trailing by only six, despite shooting 29 percent, thanks to a 16-7 free throw advantage and the Knicks 37 percent shooting display. Heres the majestic display of basketball that ended the first half: Carmelo Anthony hit an 18-foot jumper with 2.8 seconds left. The Pacers inbounded to Lance Stephenson, who was immediately body checked by Tyson Chandler, who was going for a steal (or perhaps having a seizure). Free throws. Lance hit the first; missed the second, which he attempted to rebound before the ball hit the rim. Free throw violation. Time out, 2.4 seconds left. Ray Felton inbounded to JR Smith at 28 feet. JR was promptly and inexplicably fouled by Sam Young, who is a 6-foot-6 human basketball player embodiment of an egg salad sandwich rotting in the sun. JR — who, as Rihanna knows, is nothing if not an escalating series of desperate attempts to score — heaved the ball toward the rim, and the refs awarded three free throws, which he hit. At 0.9 on the clock, Pacers inbounded to DJ Augustin, who hurled a 70-footer that dropped 10 feet short. The final 2.4 seconds of the half took five minutes and had all the atmosphere of a conversation with a halitosis-plagued stranger in an elevator.
The most important event actually happened in Game 4, when Tyson Chandlers elbow concussed George Hill as Hill was fighting over a screen.
Let us never speak of this game again.
3. Jerry Sloan
Andrew Sharp: Ernie Johnson and TNT cut into the first half of Pacers-Knicks to cite David Aldridges report that Jerry Sloan will not join the Milwaukee Bucks, and … OK, hold on.
When I first heard about Jerry Sloan and the Bucks on Thursday afternoon, it was on Twitter, and I figured people were just joking about the most miserable places in the NBA where Jerry Sloan could possibly coach. (Please imagine Sloan coaching Monta + Brandon Jennings last year. There would have been a murder.) But apparently this was serious! Jerry Sloan coaching the Milwaukee Bucks almost actually happened. And apparently Sloan is serious about getting back into coaching, even if its not with the Bucks. Two years ago he sold off 68 of his tractors, and I guess its time to buy more.
All of which is to say, good for Jerry Sloan.
Because itd be great to have him back in coaching one of these days, but more importantly, for Gods sake, nobody should have to coach the Bucks.
4. Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry
Robert Mays: Early in the new year, when the Warriors were winning a bunch of basketball games but Steph Curry hadnt yet transitioned into a superstar, one of the commonly noted differences about this years club was the quiet additions of Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry. These are the sorts of players, people said, that populate the benches of winning teams. As Golden State again caught fire in the playoffs, any praise for general manager Bob Myers and the Warriors front office (rightfully) shifted to Currys cheap deal and tanking lucking into the emerging Harrison Barnes, but the point about both Jack and Landry — especially after watching them down the stretch last night — stands.
In Jack, Golden State got a one-year rental of a top-level backup point guard if Curry could stay healthy, and an adequate fill-in if he could not. Curry played almost the entire season, and Jack provided both a steady hand off the bench and an additional ball handler if the Warriors wanted to use Curry off the ball. As Kirk Goldsberry pointed out yesterday, Jack has been excellent all postseason with his uniquely effective midrange game, and even as the Warriors fell short against San Antonio, he was one of those players for whom the moment never felt too big. Landry — signed this offseason for just $4 million a season — is a similar story. Off the bench, he was an interior-scoring punch that any team could use, and if necessary, he could log a starters minutes while holding his own.
Both may be gone after this season — Jack is a free agent and Landry has a player option for next year — but even if they exit, their time with Golden State is almost as indicative of the franchises jump as Currys, Barness, or Klay Thompsons. Smart basketball teams have rosters full of players who look like they belong. Jack and Landry always did.
5. Not Worrying About Instagram
Sharp: Best quote of the NBA playoffs thus far:
JR Smith: Im not worried about Instagram. Im worried about the playoffs.
Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 17, 2013
Because only JR Smith would have to clarify this …
How did we get here? It all started with Rihanna, of course. (All Instagram controversies somehow come back to Rihanna.) There have been rumors that she and JR were dating, so responding to a commenter on Instagram who accused her of ruining JR Smith, Rihanna said, F*** you and your wack ass team! Nobody dont want that desert thirsty ass *****!! He f***in up because his ass be hungover from clubbing every night during the playoffs!!
EVERYTHING IS GREAT. Even TNT enjoyed the story.
You notice how TNT played a Rihanna track during those JR Smith highlights?
chris palmer (@ESPNChrisPalmer) May 17, 2013
A few thoughts here:
bull; Rihannas not necessarily the most credible source, but it stands to reason that JR Smith is absolutely the thirstiest player in the NBA.
bull; Her theory on his clubbing and hangovers is certainly a popular one, but keep in mind, JR Smith was probably clubbing every night during the season and it worked great all year. Everyone needs a routine.
bull; Really, JRs struggles go back to Jason Terry. We know this.
bull; A+ work from TNTs production team.
bull; Rihanna, keep being you, girl.
Stay thirsty, everyone. AND GO KNICKS.
6. San Antonios Coaches
Brett Koremenos: To most casual fans, and even most of the diehards, assistant coaches in the NBA are just a collection of nameless faces hanging out in suits on the bench, occasionally shouting instructions or high-fiving a player as he walks off the court. They may seem like theyre not a very integral part of the process (and some, sadly, arent) but the great assistants have a huge impact on a teams success. After another stellar performance by Kawhi Leonard, one of the leagues better assistants, Chip Engelland of the Spurs, finally got some love on national TV from fellow coach (turned announcer) Jeff Van Gundy.
Engelland has been credited with helping refine a number of Spurs jumpers over the years. Hes best known for his work with Tony Parker, Richard Jefferson, and, of course, Leonard. The second-year forward is perhaps the most remarkable student Engelland has had. Coming out of San Diego State, Leonard was a middling shooter with some ugly shooting mechanics (I remember watching a pre-draft workout of Leonard and thinking about how unlikely it was hed ever develop into an outside shooter). These days the emerging young forward is a sniper from the corners, hitting a number of clutch shots to help his team prevail in a tight series against Golden State.
From the Engelland-Leonard relationship to head coach Gregg Popovich being able to bench his longtime star, Tim Duncan, in an audacious act of logic over loyalty during the final minutes of a closeout game, the Spurs show they actually embody all the attributes — like savvy, professionalism, and humility — that most other teams spew out as nothing more than just empty platitudes.
7. Tyson Chandler
Sharp: Reasons this was great: (1) Lance Stephenson is so fearless and insane to even try this; (2) the hard foul from Tyson, protecting the rim and reminding all the Lance Stephensons out there why they should have a healthy fear of attacking his rim; (3) the refs refusing to call it flagrant, possibly because its Lance Stephenson and they figured he deserved it (this is my working theory); and (4) Tyson Chandler has been a shell of himself for the past six weeks, and it was just great to remember he exists, and that hes still awesome sometimes. But then …
8. God Hates the Knicks
Sharp: Either this was karma taking its toll or Tyson Chandler just being old and perpetually injured. Either way its a total bummer.
Well always have that Stephenson foul, though.
Que viva punk!
Celebrities embraced the theme and managed to have a little fun at Monday night#x2019;s Met gala, the fundraiser at NYC#x2019;s Metropolitan Museum of Art. But Beyonce, the event#x2019;s honorary chairwoman, seemed the girl on fire on the red carpet that might rival the Oscars in celebrity wattage.
Wearing a flame-motif gown with long gloves and train by Givenchy#x2019;s Riccardo Tisci, Bey was one of the last arrivals, following in the studded heel footsteps of Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Lopez.
Many stars embraced the Costume Institute exhibit they were there to celebrate: #x201C;Punk: From Chaos to Couture.#x201D;
Beyonce#x2019;s co-chairs for the event included Tisci, who escorted Rooney Mara, in a white lace gown with exaggerated shoulders and a heavy-hardware zip front.
Tisci also dressed Kim Kardashian, in a flattering (believe it) floral-print, high-neck gown.
Sarah Jessica Parker donned an oversized feather mohawk by Philip Treacy that complemented her graffiti-splashed and slashed gown by Giles Deacon, which she also paired with thigh-high, tartan-plaid Christian Louboutin boots.
Cameron Diaz and Anne Hathaway both said they were influenced by the punk scene #x2014; especially the music. Diaz came with Kristen Stewart and Stella McCartney, who designed both of their outfits. Diaz#x2019;s cobalt-colored cape dress had a severe studded belt.
Hathaway showed off a blond hairdo, not dissimilar to Miley Cyrus#x2019; and a vintage burned-out Valentino gown. Hathaway said her inspiration for the outfit was Debbie Harry, who was just a few steps ahead in a studded blazer by Tommy Hilfiger. Katie Holmes, in a molded gown with a metal halter neckline by Calvin Klein#x2019;s Francisco Costa, also gave a nod to Harry.
Madonna said she was a fan of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen #x201C;and that whole era.#x201D; Still, she added, she didn#x2019;t want her plaid jacket, netted top and stockings to be too literal. #x201C;I wanted to do my own thing.#x201D;
The Met gala is largely orchestrated by Anna Wintour, Vogue#x2019;s editor-in-chief. She wore a pink floral Chanel gown, which she said is a color that symbolizes the movement: #x201C;I think [punk] is so eclectic and so original and maybe it sort of represents what#x2019;s very fearless about fashion.#x201D;
Reality shingle Good Clean Fun has hired Matthew Wrablik as veep of development.
Wrabliks background in unscripted includes posts at Mark Burnett Prods., Merv Griffin Entertainment and ITV Studios. Most recently, he served as vp of development and production at Smart Dog Media.
At Good Clean Fun, Wrablik will be tasked with developing characters and formats for reality shows. Shingle is responsible for shows including Styles Tia amp; Tamera, (pictured) We TVs Glam amp; Gold and Nat Geos Mountain Movers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matt to the Good Clean Fun family. With his strong roots in the alternative community, Matt is the perfect person to help Good Clean Fun as we move into our next stage of growth,” said Jason Carbone, CEO and founder of Good Clean Fun.
Seven Not-So-Fun Facts About the Costs of Public Education
posted at 4:39 pm on April 22, 2013 by Mike Antonucci
When your automotive wants and needs conflict, finding a fun-to-drive vehicle without overextending the fuel budget can be a daunting task. After scouring the EPAs official fuel economy site, though, weve picked two fun-to-drive vehicles in five combined mileage rangesfrom some of the least efficient vehicles available today to some of the greenest. Most categories include one car and one truck or SUV where available, and all price restrictions have been removed.
Here are our picks for the top 10 most fun-to-drive 2013 and 2014 model year vehicles by combined mpg for every fuel budget:
EPA Combined Rating: Up to 15 mpg
Ferrari 458 Italia – 14 mpg combined (15 mpg if equipped with stop-start), 13/17 mpg city/highway:
With 557 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque, the Ferrari 458 Italia is the most powerful car on the list (though not the quickest in a straight line). But the Italian stallion is about more than just speed. In our 2011 Best Drivers Car competition, the 458 Italia came in first out of 11 contenders for its balance of power and handling.
Professional race car driver Randy Pobst had this to say about the 458 Italia: The Ferrari is an extremely well-balanced car. Steering is super-accurate. The car has so much grip under power that I didnt get used to it enough, waiting long enough before I went to power…Its unbelievable.
LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) – Manchester United defender Patrice Evra wasted no time in poking fun at Luis Suarez for his latest misdemeanour, pretending to chomp on a fake dismembered arm after his side clinched a 20th English title by beating Aston Villa on Monday.
The day before, Liverpools Uruguay striker Suarez had bitten Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a 2-2 draw at Anfield – a moment of madness for which he faces a lengthy ban from the Football Association.
Suarez has been widely condemned for the bite, the second such incident of his career, and he was getting no sympathy from Evra who was embroiled in a racism storm with the Uruguayan in 2011.
Suarez was banned for eight games for calling Evra negro and when they next met on a soccer field he added to the bad feeling by refusing to shake the Frenchmans hand.
Evras stunt has already lit up Twitter, with some Liverpool fans calling on the FA to take action.
Suarez, who has apologised for biting Ivanovic, has been fined by Liverpool and was charged by the FA with violent conduct on Monday.
The 26-year-old has until later on Tuesday to respond to the charge. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Clare Fallon)
Photo by Scott Rudd
Every year MoMA hosts their annual Party In The Garden and its always really splendid and much more interesting than staring at some lady sleeping in a glass box. No offense to Tilda, but this is a party in a garden inside one of the most iconic museums in New York City open bar!
This year MoMA has announced that the party will honor Mayor Bloomberg, the City of New York, and artists Ellsworth Kelly and Cindy Sherman, as well as feature a set by the band Fun. (Previous years included sets from Santigold, Solange Knowles (DJ set), and Kanye West.) And, again, also featured is the all you can drink top shelf hooch for three whole hours.
The partyheld inside the gorgeous Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Gardencosts $200 and lasts from 9 pm to just around midnight (with an open bar that entire time, did we mention?). But dont get your hopes up on protecting your stomach with a layer of sobering and absorbant foodthe dinner, which Bloomberg will likely attend, costs $2,500 for a single ticket (and up to $100,000 for a table). Then again, maybe $2,500 is doable for you? If so, congratulations to you on managing to earn and save money so you can spend it on stufflets talk about how you did this on May 21st, near Joan Mirós Moonbird… say, around 9:30 pm?