Dallas will look for another win in Cleveland on Sunday
The Dallas Cowboys will play the Cleveland Browns this Sunday at 1 PM ET at Cowboys Stadium. Dallas enters the game with a 4-5 record while the Browns come to town with just a 2-7 mark. The Cowboys are in desperate need of a win and are playing a team they should beat. A loss could all but end their season as they try to stay afloat in the NFC East and are in the hunt for a playoff spot. They still have plenty of work to do if they plan on making that happen, but a win Sunday could help propel them further.
Dallas will have to defeat a Browns team that, although has lost most of their games, stays in contest and has proved to be a play away from several victories. Cleveland is also coming of their Bye week and should be healthy and refreshed after a much needed break. Rookie running back sensation Trent Richardson could prove to be a big factor in the game as his ribs should be near 100 percent healthy. Cleveland will have to contend with an old friend Sunday, however, in the form of Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Ryan had previously coached the Browns defense before leaving for Dallas two seasons ago.
Dallas comes into the game after a 38-23 win against the Eagles in Philadelphia last week. The Cowboys are still underperforming due to everyone’s always inflated expectations for the team. They may have done just enough so far to give themselves a chance down the stretch however.
Running in the sand
Koh Rong island in southern Cambodia is an interesting place. Though it has the makings to become an incredibly horrible tourist destination, with beautiful secluded beaches adulterated by snobby, upscale resorts, it is still in phase where locals and budget travelers live in a blissful bubble. Though sand flies and trash drifting in from sea take away from the ambiance, the island itself is pretty special.
For those whom enjoy running and paradise alike, Koh Rong isn’t a bad place to stay. With multiple beaches and a few short, but beautiful, jungle trails, running on this small island doesn’t have to be monotonous.
To start, runners should spend their first day on paradise beach. This small stretch of beach is laden with a few bungalows and restaurants, and is home to the pier where visitors are dropped off. Though high tides sometimes engulf the beach, when the weather is cooling, and the sun is setting, this 600 m stretch of sand is great for a few laps in the evening. High season may see you avoiding docked boats and sun worshipers while running.
After exhausting Paradise beach, head south on the island towards Pura Vida area. This beach doesn’t have a name specifically, but is designated by the Italian owned bungalows, comprising the only sight other than sand. This stretch is around 800 m long and secluded. The only pitfall, though, is that it is completely covered with garbage being washed up by the waves. If you feel philanthropically inclined, mixing your run with a beach clean up day would do the island well.
Finally, the Mecca of beach running in southern Cambodia has to be Long Beach on the east side of the island. Long Beach is 7 km long, completely secluded, and worlds away from the trash-laden southern side of the island. With only one bungalow on this side, and very few tourists actually taking the initiative to visit, the beach is yours to explore.
To get to Long Beach, one must either indulge in a decently difficult, hour-long jungle trek (make sure to follow the red marks on the trail!) or pay for a boat from the other side. Though this purist believes that able-bodied people should have to walk, boats there and back cost around eight dollars per person. The trail is decently runable for most of the way, but the last haul before actually getting to Long Beach involves climbing down rocks on your hands and knees.
Enjoy your run in Koh Rong, and make sure to take part in other beach activities besides exercise.
The Who perform 'Quadrophenia' straight through
Anyone who was fortunate enough to be in the Barclays Center on Wednesday night should count themselves among the most fortunate rock music fans ever. Why? The Who performed their renowned, revered rock opera Quadrophenia in it's entirety. Anyone curious about how it sounded? Apparently, awesome, start to finish.
I found at least one pretty solid video that gives us a good idea of what the show was like. Behold, The Who performing "5:15":
Wow. Just wow. I can only hope that we'll all get to see The Who tour this time out.
The decision to play Quadrophenia was made, at least in part, to celebrate The Who's 48th anniversary. And last year, a special deluxe addition of the album was released. In case you were wondering, according to Rolling Stone, The Who reproduced Quadrophenia exactly, right down to the sound effects.
Apparently The Who decided to forego the over-the-top drama that marred similar performances twice before (1973 and 1997). Good for them for realizing that sometimes, a truly outstanding opus needs to stand on it's own, without all the gobbledy gook. Quadrophenia is amazing, and I'm heartened to hear that the third attempt was the charm.
Quadrophenia is probably one of my top 10 favorite rock albums ever, so the very idea that maybe, just maybe, I'll get to see this performed on the upcoming Who tour blows my mind. The band is playing a lot of U.S. cities, so be sure to check and see if they're coming your way. At the moment, I'm not sure I'll be able to travel to see the band, but you can bet I'm going to try!
Review: Dexter - “Chemistry”
Dexter, our beloved serial killer, seems to have a bad habit of making the worst decisions whenever he becomes involved with a girl. The only exception to that rule (depending on your point of view) would be Luman from season 5. At least with her he was doing what he does best - hunting down and killing the bad guys. But given his growing relationship with Hannah, Dex may have bitten off more than he can chew.
This time around, Dexter brings us a series of complications revolving mostly around that growing relationship between Dex and Hannah. Dex has taken to lying to sister, falsifying evidence to protect his new lady and even plotting against those who threaten her well-being. All this is going on even as Deb lies to LaGuerta in order to protect her brother, compromising her own morals and ideals for family.
Hannah is, for her part, truly a killer of the sort that Dexter normally deals with in very “final” ways. She poisons whoever gets in her way, including poor Sal Price, the writer who is looking into her connections to the various murders. To give her credit, she does do it partially in order to protect Dexter, whose blood work fiddling was threatened to be revealed by Price. Even as she kills off the offender, Dex sneaks into his apartment and removes all traces of his book, ensuring that the pair are protected.
In the meanwhile, Quinn gets himself in more hot water as the Russian mafia attempts to get even more out of him. Isaak manages to get out of prison because of Quinn’s involvement and pays Dexter a little visit so they can have a chat. And Deborah begins to fall for Price, a short-lived relationship destined to end in tragedy. In the end, Deb gets to the breaking point and asks Dex to take care of a certain killer in “his” way, although it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to carry through on the request for personal reasons.
This episode, in conjunction with previous parts of the season, is beginning to show Dexter in a new light. Instead of the usual story arcs where he tries to understand more about his killer nature and how to deal with it, he’s now transforming into something much darker. Whether he will recover from this downward spiral or ride it to the bitter end remains to be seen, although I’m guessing that Hannah’s presence in his life isn’t likely to fade away by season’s end.
So far, still the best season of Dexter yet. The coming week promises more Isaak and a growing schism between Dexter and his sister, especially once she’s found out exactly who he happens to be dating lately. With more than half the season down, the rest promises to be tense and the endings are unlikely to be happy ones.
Indigenous Peoples 3 - Canadian Dene peoples and uranium mining
From the days of the Hudson Bay Company, the indigenous peoples in what became the country of Canada have been move off ancestral lands, exploited for their resources, their cultures deliberately destroyed and their health, well-being and environments undermined.
Deline is a small village of Dene people on the shore of Great Bear Lake in the North West Territories. Radium was mined on the shore of the lake from 1934 to 1939 and a uranium mine was opened in 1943 that operated until 1962. Most of the workers in the mine were men from the Dene tribe who carried bags of radioactive uranium ore up out of the mine. Radioactive tailings from the mining operation were dumped directly into the lake and were also used as landfill without regard to the health of the Dene or impact on the environment.
The uranium mine was opened under emergency War regulation which make retroactive compensation and mitigation very difficult to achieve in court. The mine was operated by a Canadian Crown corporation and the refined uranium was exported to the United States for the Manhattan Project. Once again, the miners were given no warnings about the dangers of handling these toxic radioactive ores so they took no precautions with respect to their water and food.
In 1975, young miners from Deline were recruited to work on a government training program. They were not given gas masks to protect them from the threat of radon gas exposure. In 1997, ten young men from Deline were recruited to help clean up some hot spots of radioactive soil in Sawmill Bay, a community in the area. They were not told of the dangers of the work but what they have learned since has them fearing serious contamination of land, water and animals in their area which threaten their health and survival.
Deline is known as the “village of widows” because most of the men who worked as laborers in the mines have died of some form of cancer. The women were left to raise their children without their husbands and fathers to bring support the families. This has resulted in them becoming dependent on welfare. The children are raised without access to the wisdom and traditional knowledge of their missing male elders. This is destroying their ability to understand and continue their ancestral ways.
In 1998, the Dene First Nation went to the Canadian government with a demand for compensation and mitigation. After a five-year study, the government concluded that there was insufficient evidence that the radioactivity from the mine was responsible for the high level of cancer deaths in the village. In other similar situations with uranium mines on indigenous peoples lands, there is evidence that economic considerations have been influencing government denials of health and environmental dangers of uranium mine in spite of mounting scientific validation of such dangers.
This is not just a historical question of redressing old injuries to indigenous peoples in Canada. There are plans to expand uranium mining on tribal lands.
Commuting by bus in Mexico
Choosing the best seat is important for a 40-minute commute in Toluca, this mid-sized city in Mexico where I live. The buses are different from in the United States: they're a third shorter, with the boxy dimensions of a large passenger van. Most are beat up inside and out.
Old advertisements peeled off the outer walls of the vehicle left streaks and scratches. Fenders are beaten to a pockmarked pulp, or are nonexistent. The seats inside are worn down to the underlying fabric, torn or completely open, exposing dark grey foam. They might be disconnected from the metal bracings. This is your worst seat.
In fairness, there are a lot of new buses. They are sparkling clean and more spacious. They have the government slogan on the walls. When a different political party takes charge, they repaint the buses and garbage trucks and put up promotional signs. Right now the slogans are variations on “Piensa en Grande:” Think Big.
Mexican roads are full of speed bumps. Often an impatient bus driver will get his front tires over it gently, only to speed up and hit the back tires hard. So if you are in the back half of the bus you will bounce up in the air like if you did back in elementary school while singing that awful song. How did it go again?
But don’t sit in the front seats. An old woman or pregnant lady is bound to get on, and as a gentlemen (or woman) you are bound to offer her the seat.
So you are best off somewhere in the middle. But which side? The sun can blaze pretty hard through the windows on a smoggy street.
I take the same route every day, but at different times. Most days I can’t remember and end up surprised. Sometimes it is nice to get that sun. Usually the shade is nicer. But nothing beats getting off that bus and getting your land legs back.
Review: Walking Dead - “Say the Word”
As the latest episode of The Walking Dead begins, poor Rick has gone a little bit mad from the death of his beloved wife, Lori. While many who watch the show rejoiced when she finally bit the dust, apparently Rick had some sort of feelings for her and is having a few problems dealing with his grief. So he goes on a zombie-killing rampage, marching his way through the prison and slaughtering all in his path.
While the leader is away being crazy, the rest of the gang is left to deal with his newborn baby. Since there’s no longer a mother and formula isn’t something that prisons regularly stock up on, Daryl and Maggie must make a run into town to find something suitable for the baby to eat. The rest of the crew hangs back, doing very little in the overall story. The two prisoners at least have now been accepted into the group, so the party has made up for its two losses with (arguably) two much better replacements.
Meanwhile, in the other side of the story, Andrea and Michonne continue to debate the pros and cons of staying in Woodbury versus leaving safety behind and hitting the road. Michonne pokes her nose around a bit more, finding out some things about The Governor that he’d no doubt like to keep as secrets. For his part, he doesn’t just have her killed but instead tries to give her many chances to see his point of view and decide that being a part of the Woodbury community is in the best interests of all involved.
Eventually, however, Michonne chooses to take a walk, leaving Andrea behind to exist in whatever strange world The Governor has constructed. After the aforementioned exit, Andrea finds her own reasons to have beef with Woodbury, particularly their chief form of recreational entertainment - zombie ring-fighting.
With Michonne running out on a person we already know to be dangerous and willing to kill innocents for his own reasons, we have to wonder at what her fate may become in the next episode. Will she wander off to live a life on the road? Unlikely. It’s far more probable that The Governor will send someone to hunt her down or round her back up, depending on his whims. Andrea will be forced to deal with the situation she’s gotten herself into without any back-up. And the prison gang had best just hope for some peace and quiet after such an eventful few days.
Still running strong, the story of The Walking Dead is coming together nicely. The balance of zombie action and character development is maintained well. With only three more episodes to go, I have to wonder at where they will leave this one off. Will the prison group end up in Woodbury, or will there be a confrontation first? With a new baby, they’ve got to have better access to certain types of facilities and I’m guessing that’s what will be the catalyst to their moving. Only two-and-a-half more weeks to go!
Essential beach to-do list for backpackers on a budget
Ah, the beach life. Isn’t it great? Doesn’t it just warm your heart, and make you never want to return to the “real world?” Well, for this guy, it definitely makes the idea of sitting behind a desk seem really difficult. But like any journey, visiting a certain destination comes with the small responsibility of having a must-see or must-do list. Below you will find Mulv Jones’ Essential Beach To-Do List for Backpackers on a Budget.
Join locals in a beach game: This is a must. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s an easy way of keeping yourself in peak, pristine, backpacker beach body shape (which is normally round or emaciated due to lack of food). Be humble, approach calmly and be prepared to get spanked in whatever game you join.
Drink beer or fruity drinks for breakfast: Though some backpackers may have this on their to-do list everyday, a breakfast for champions with a little extra aloha is a great way to fully enjoy your time at the beach. Don’t feel bad, you don’t do this normally. And, if you find a good local joint, the drinks are probably the same price as water or caffeine.
Pay a little extra for a room on the beach: I know, I know, your budget! How can I ask a backpacker to give up on their budget? Because I can can can! I normally am not one to compare prices of a country I’m visiting to those back home (you end up spending way more than you should) but this is one occasion where I break that rule. In the developing world, backpackers have the chance to stay in some places they may never experience anywhere else in the world. Paying and extra $5 or $10 to hear the waves crash while you sleep is a must, at least for a night or two. Maybe you can even split the cost with someone, leading to my next item…
Beach romance: Do it. It’s that simple. Everyone loves the beach and, in turn, to make barf noises at those annoying couples who look so GD happy. Well, if you can’t beat them, join ‘em. You are young, beautiful and free, so find someone else in the same mindset and make paradise that much sweeter.
Backpackers earn extra points for marking every item off of the list. Enjoy your time on the beach, you lucky sonunva gun.
Ariel Winter's legal drama is messy and sad
Ariel Winter is fantastic on ABC's Modern Family, but her own modern family situation is anything but great. In fact, it's turning into a nightmare for the young actress. Winter's mom and sister are now fighting for who gets custody of her, since she at 14 is still very much a minor. To say the mudslinging in this case has been plentiful is an understatement.
Hopefully things will be resolved in court, so Ariel and her family can move on. This young lady has such a bright future ahead of her, and it would be a shame to see this situation drag out indefinitely.
Summarizing what's happening in the Ariel Winter family drama is a tall order, but I'm going to try. In a nutshell, there's a ton of finger pointing and blame going around. A lawyer for Ariel's older sister, Shannon Gray, claims that Ariel's mom, Chrisoula Workman, is abusive.
She's dressing the girl up to look like a Hollywood vixen and even refusing to feed her. But the most serious allegation involves alleged physical abuse. The attorney, Michael Kretzmer, told a judge, "The child is, apparently, slapped, hit, pushed – not so as to leave marks." He added, "Mother is smart enough not to do that."
In contrast, Chrisoula Workman claims that Ariel Winter made up the abuse claims because she was furious with her mother for not letting her date an older teen, actor Cameron Palatas. Workman claims she discovered the two in bed together. Palatas' mom told People magazine the "allegation is unfounded."
What a mess, right? So, who is telling the truth? Mom claims that her daughter is merely acting when she alleges she's being abused. Daughter thinks mom is out of her mind. Sister wants custody. Again, hopefully the Ariel Winter court drama will end well for all concerned. This kind of attention is most definitely not the kind that an up-and-coming young Hollywood actress needs!
Koh Rong Island, Cambodia
To continue in beach week fashion, as much as I would have liked to lived the rest of my life watching days melt into weeks, months, then years on Koh Russei, I decided to visit another island in the southern portion of Cambodia. After a beautiful boat ride back to the mainland, and spending as little time as possible in the sleazy, overcrowded, attempt at a beach resort town known as Sihanoukville, I found myself headed to the largest island in the area, Koh Rong.
To get to Koh Rong, one must book a boat from any hotel in the area. The boat trip, plus bus ride to the pier, costs $10 each way, and if you leave in the morning, comes with a free breakfast (a croissant out of a box on the bus!). The boat trip takes nearly two hours, and can be quite rocky depending on the tide. The ride is nice, though, setting off from a cargo pier near victory beach.
Visitors arrive on one of the piers on Paradise Beach, and to much surprise, are greeted with a warm-hearted introduction of the island, its accommodation, as well as its activities. Hotel and restaurant owners don’t try and haggle you while you are trying to disembark, and the entire atmosphere, in stark contrast to much of Southeast Asia, is very laid back.
Paradise Beach is around 600 m long, and offers an array of bungalows, dorms, and guesthouses for accommodation. The three piers offer the cheapest accommodation, but for the lucky ones, the small stretch of sand to the left of the pier has a few rooms that locals offer above their stores.
Though the piers mark the obvious barrier between locals and tourists, those brave enough to venture to the local side enjoy cheap food and accommodation, as well as some great company. Koh Rong is becoming a popular destination for diving. With its clear water, and close proximity to some great spots, many travelers are beginning to flock here for underwater adventures.
For those not interested in getting their merman or mermaid on, Koh Rong offers four beautiful beaches, snorkeling, mountain biking and jungle trekking. Along with the obvious beauty of the island, foodies can also enjoy amazing sea food and Khmer dishes to their heart’s content. There are also western options, and even two Italian restaurants. For the best prices ($2-$3 for mains) and arguably best food in town, head to Nam Nam Restaurant near the pier. You won't be disappointed.
Though Kon Rong is beautiful, it does have some unfortunate setbacks. Be prepared to be bombarded by sand flies, and share certain beaches with washed up trash from the sea. Also, during rainy periods, pools of still water can build up near restaurants and obstruct the beautiful beach. If you can look past these few flaws, though, you’ll get to experience an island paradise on a backpacker’s budget.