OVERRATED/UNDERRATED- STEAKS
I am doing two segments this week because I missed one last week. This segment is about steaks, a little more light hearted than the past two entries. This isn’t going to be about brands of restaurants this is actual cuts of meat.
OVERRATED- SIRLOIN
Is there any steak that gets ordered more at restaurants? I hope so but it seems like every time I go out to eat there is a sirloin on the menu. Most sirloins offered are bottom sirloin which is the lesser of two different sirloins (top and bottom). This steak is incredibly tough because it gets used often by the cow, but is also lacking all natural flavor due to its low fat content. This steak is low of the lows. Yet because this steak is inexpensive, it gets ordered all the time. Put enough seasonings on it and you can make it taste any way you want it to. Pound it with a tenderizer for 30 min and it may become slightly more tender. There may be lesser cuts of meat but they have specific uses. As far as cuts of beef used mainly for “steak” the sirloin is definitely overrated.
UNDERRATED- BONE-IN RIB EYE
Ok so the rib eye is just about the most popular steak of all the “gourmet” cuts of meat, and rightfully so. The rib eye is marbled with intracellular fat that produces the most flavorful natural beef flavor of all the steaks. The fat also keeps the rib eye incredibly juicy when cooked to the right temperature and using the correct methods. It is a medium tenderness. It is comprised of two different muscles, the “cap” or the outside portion is very tender, while the “Eye” makes up the bulk of the rib eye. It is a heartier slightly leaner portion. The bone-in rib eye doesn’t get the respect it deserves. The bone and the fat lining it just help improve the flavor and moisture content of the rib eye. Having a properly cooked rib eye and a properly cooked bone-in rib eye is a different in flavor and moisture intensity. It’s like having Ice Cream and Gelato. Both are incredibly tasty and wonderful. But the gelato (because it has less air mixed in) is stonger in flavor than its ice cream counterpart. So although the rib eye is popular, the bone-in needs a little more respect and thus Underrated.
OVERRATED/UNDERRATED- Movies
A new edition of overrated/underrated. I am sure to get lots of feedback whether posititive or negative. A few ground rules- Merit is not brought into questions. It is purely on overrated and underrated not whether one movie is better than the other. Example: Citizen Kane is by all means a better longer last movie than Big Trouble In Little China but I think Citizen Kane is Overrated for what it is, and I think Big Trouble In Little China is underrated for what it is. So with that said lets just jump right into it.
OVERRATED- Little Miss Sunshine
First of all this is a good movie. I enjoyed it, I thought it was clever and funny and an all around enjoyable movie. But it was completely over hyped. I didn’t see it till it came out on video. From the time it was released in theaters to the time it came out on video, everyone and their hamster were praising how amazing the movie was. I was kicking myself for not seeing the movie in theaters. I finally watched it and wow, big let down. I recognized the good points of the movie and why people enjoyed it, but it was so horribly over hyped.
RUNNER UP- Citizen Kane
I know its a classic and it is considered by some to be the greatest film of all time. I will give credit for it being ahead of its time in technology and was a huge influence on future films. But the movie itself was just boring. It was slow, it was tiresome, and the big revealing of Rosebud was just a let down. Again I know how important this film was to the industry. As Dave just pointed out, the story was very effective at the time, but in the present, the story has not held up and I find the movie to be overrated.
UNDERRATED- Big Trouble In Little China
By all means this has “B” movie written all over it. But its pure fun. The movie is funny, exciting, great for quoting, and just goofy all around. It has a huge cult following and is well deserving of so. Like I stated before, is this movie better than Citizen Kane, no. But is Citizen Kane overrated and this movie underrated, yes. This is the one movie in the in world that at any given time of any given day I can put it in and watch it.
RUNNER UP- The Science of Sleep
The science of sleep if a wonderfully visual movie with a unique story behind it. Small dissapointments in a disjointed story and abrupt ending are overshadowed by the unique visuals and whimsical elements created by Michel Gondry. This movie is unknown by many. It is definitely worth watching for some laughs, and its beautiful visuals.
Overrated/Underrated- Bands
This week’s overrated/underrated series is over bands. I am sure there will be plently of people who disaggree but then again…doesn’t that fit into the definition of overrated? So comment back, tell me who you think is most overrated/underrated and what you think of my selections.
OVERRATED- Beastie Boys
Wow I really think I could make millions of dollars in a music career with absolutely no talent. I base this off of the Beastie Boys. There isn’t another band out there that gives me an instant head ache the second they come on the radio. There isn’t real music, there is no singing, the rapping is nothing but yelling into a mic about random things. The lyrics are just awful. I really don’t understand how this band has done so well in the past.
RUNNER UP- TIE- U2 / AC/DC
I just never saw the appeal. They have some talent and they do a little singing. But something just doesn’t click. Both are lacking in areas. First with AC/DC- some bands pull off the “guy sings with screeching high voice” I don’t think it works for AC/DC. U2- The band just doesn’t work and its only because of Bono. Bono is just plain awful. His voice sound horrible, his lyrics are bad, and when you have to sing “Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah” for filler…you’ve just become an overrated band.
UNDERRATED- The Living End
Who?…My point exactly. The Living End is an Australian Rockabily band. They are one of the top 5 rock bands in Australia and some of the most taleneted musicians around. Their lead guitarist produces some of the most talented songs while singing over it all. The bassist plays an upright bass which he uses for more than just playing music. He balances on top of it while playing. The whole band produces good rock music with just a different unique sounds to their own
OVERRATED/UNDERRATED- OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
This week’s overrated/underrated is over outdoor activities. Going out doors is great, especially with friends, but sometimes they are pointless, while other times its great fun in the sun. So chime in, give me your thoughts and let me know what the most overrated/underrated outdoor activity is.
OVERRATED- PICNIC (with help from Ted Bado)
I am the food intern. I love food. I love cooking outdoors and eating on the patio in my back yard. I do not like cooking a nice meal, wrapping it up, dirtying up a blanket, only to get to a park to eat cold food in extremely windy Oklahoma in swealtering heat that weighs on your body with humidity and with mosquitos biting me.
It makes no sense to cook something at home and then drive somewhere to eat it. It is different if you are going to do an activity and you need to make yourself a lunch for later. But when the event is doing nothing but going to some plot of land to eat your lunch after making it at home, I don’t find a point to it.
RUNNER UP- GOING FOR A RUN
If I am going to go outside to speed my heart rate, make my muscles sore, exhaust myself, be out of breath, and drenched in sweat, I am going to do something worthwhile. Play basketball, football, soccer, ultimate frisbee. Something with a point. Running from one point to another for no reason gets you in shape but is not fun. Doing one of the other activities gets you in shape, and there is a game out of it.
UNDERRATED- FRISBEE GOLF
Frisbee golf has a strong following, but there are TONS of people who have never tried it before. It is like hippy golf. It is loads of fun, a nice challenge, but one should never get angry when playing frisbee golf. If a frisbee goes somewhere you didn’t expect…oh well, just remind yourself you are playing golf with a frisbee. If you keep that in mind, then it is a wonderful leisure activity that can be enjoyed whether it is your first time and still learning, to an experience veteran using 20 different discs and 5 different throws.
RUNNER UP- DOG DAY OUT
Many animal shelters allow people to take a dog out for the afternoon. It gets the dog excersize and time out of the shelter, and people get to enjoy having a dog for the day. Most places don’t charge a thing and it is a wonderfully nice thing to do for an animal.
Overrated/Underrated- Chips
A new segment of Overrated/Underrated and this time it is over chips. Please chime in with any rebuttle and your own opinion over the most overrated and underrated chip out there.
Overrated- Basic Potato Chips
I don’t know how these things still sell. They are way too salty, have very little flavor, and are only good if you have something to dip them in. They are usually too greasy and very little effective crunch. The kettle cooked versions improve the crunch drastically but still lack in all the other areas.
Runner up- Salt and Vinegar Chips- seriously? I feel like they came into existence off of a dare. Someone bet another person he couldn’t eat a chip flavored with too much salt, and the pungent plain vinegar taste. It’s not even a good/specialty vinegar. The only reason people eat them is to “impress” other people that they can eat something disgusting
Underrated- Kettle Cooked Jalapeno Chips
First of all there is no perfect chips. While these still have the greasy aspect of the above mentioned chips, the flavor is incredible. The perfect amount of spice, a little smoky, but fantastic Jalapeno pepper flavor in it. Plus the crunch is almost too much which is perfect. So with the only draw back being the need for a napkin to eat these chips, they are truly underrated and deserve be to served at every party from here on out.
Runner up- Dorito’s Blazin’ Buffalo- Doritos are pretty tasty as is. Not real greasy, great crunch, and most of the flavors are pretty darn good. The best being Blazin Buffalo. The spice is almost too much, and I don’t know a single person who doesn’t like the flavor of Buffalo Wing Sauce. Fankly I don’t want to know a person who doesn’t like those flavors.
OVERRATED/UNDERRATED
OVERRATED/UNDERRATED- Cookie Brands
A new series that will express my opinion and encourages the reader to express his/her opinion on various matters concerning the most overrated and the most underrated subjects. Today’s subject is over cookies.
Overrated- Nilla Wafers. These cookies are dry, boring, entirely to plain. They have a faint vanilla taste. The cookies are dry and a bad crumbly and immediately suck all moisture out of your mouth. It seems the only way to make this cookie palatable is to serve it with most commonly banana pudding. Yet through all this they somehow still sell and there are always people who will argue that they are good…the definition of overrated.
Underrated- Nutter Butters. There are a lot of great cookies out there but this is asking what is the combination of best and least respected. Nutter Butters are moist cookies with enough crunch to them. The peanut butter is smooth and creamy. It exhibits the perfect ration of peanut butter to cookie allowing for a harmony of flavors that don’t overwhelm the palate. Rarely are people talking about Nutter Butters but I think it is time to give a little respect, pour a glass of milk, and enjoy some cookies. Eat Responsibly.
Now it’s your turn. Tell me what you think. Do you disagree? What do you find overrated and underrated?
Thunder Draft Possibility
First of all, guessing the NBA draft is more difficult than the NFL draft. There seems to be less emphasis on drafting within value of the pick. With that said lets have some fun.
Here are a couple of my draft scenario possibilities.
Safest Pick
With the 3rd overall pick, the Thunder take Ricky Rubio or Hasheem Thabeet depending on who is available. Rubio contributes immediately at point guard while Westbrook moves to shooting guard. Thabeet starts immediately at Center grabbing rebounds and blocking shots
Possible scenario: The Thunder draft Rubio then trade him to either L.A. or New York. If you trade to L.A. you obviously try to get Bynum. If you trade to New York, you try to get David Lee. Both would provide a presence in the paint contributing just enough points to complement the trio of Durant, Westbrook and Green. They would also become the best rebounders on the team.
Dream Pick
Obviously the Thunder trade up to get Blake Griffin. That would take a swap of the 1st and 3rd round pick, along with the Thunder’s second 1st round pick and most likely a player. That player should be Earl Watson. He has had frustrations within the Thunder organization but he is a talented player who could replace current point guards and provide assistance as Baron Davis recovers from surgery or replace him if he is traded away.
Far-Fetched but could work pick.
The Thunder need presence in the paint and a shooting guard who can shoot. Sefolosha is a defensive beast who has helped but he is more of a role player not an everyday starter. The thunder also need someone who can be physical and get rebounds in the paint.
So with the 3rd overall pick the Thunder trade down three spots with the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves swap picks to draft rubio and give up the number 15th pick in the second round.
Now with the 6th overall pick, the Thunder select James Harden. He steps in at shooting guard providing the points necessary to compliment the Trio. He is mature beyond his years and can do nothing but help the team.
The Thunder then use their 25th overall pick and their 15th pick in the second round to trade up and get DeJuan Blair. Blair is a little undersized but he is a basketball player with the physicality of a football player. He can muscle and beat up on people down low, he is physical enough to get rebounds and can keep other big men from easy baskets in the paint.
These picks provide great versatility. The starting line-up would be Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Green, and Krstic. Blair would be a backup at power forward. Depending on various scenarios, certain players would fill certain roles. Green can play PF or SF. Durant can play SF or SG. This versatility provide constant rotation of player to allow rest for everyone on the team.
