Life Crunch: 2019

Binary Card Magic

By Alvin Aragon - November 09, 2019

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Sports

The Hammer Play and the Lakers-Mavericks Game

By Alvin Aragon - November 06, 2019

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Blog Series

FRIENDS Dictionary Project

By Alvin Aragon - November 03, 2019

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Blog Series

13 Words And Phrases You Might Have Missed On Friends (Season 1 Episodes 1-6)

By Alvin Aragon - November 02, 2019

This blog is part of my blog series FRIENDS Dictionary Project, which is an effort to create a dictionary containing all words, phrases, and popular culture references one might have missed while watching Friends. For season 1 episodes 1-6, here are the 13 words and phrases you might have missed:

1. a hump and a hairpiece

In episode 1, Chandler used this phrase to tease Monica about the guy she's dating. Their conversation goes like this:

Monica: There's nothing to tell! He's just some guy I work with!

Joey: C'mon, you're going out with the guy! There's gotta be something wrong with him!

Chandler: All right Joey, be nice. So does he have a hump? A hump and a hairpiece?

A hairpiece or a toupee is an artificial hair extension mostly used to cover baldness.

So the word hairpiece probably refers to being bald. And since the word hump refers to being a humpback, then "a hump and a hairpiece" would mean "a humpback and bald".

2. Mastodon

Mastodons are four-legged creatures that have been extinct for the last 11,000 years. They are distantly relative to elephants, along with the more popular Mammoths.

The word appears in episode 2 while Ross argues with Marsha about the configuration of a certain mannequin in the museum.

Here's the script:

Ross: No, it's good, it is good, it's just that- mm- doesn't she seem a little angry?

Marsha: Well, she has issues.

Ross: Does she.

Marsha: He's out banging other women over the head with a club, while she sits at home trying to get the mastodon smell out of the carpet!

Ross: Marsha, these are cave people. Okay? They have issues like 'Gee, that glacier's getting kinda close.' See?

3. ThighMaster

ThighMaster is a fitness product designed specifically for toning the muscles of one’s thigh. It consists of two metal loops joined by a springy hinge.

It works by clipping it between your legs and then squeezing them. It gained popularity in the 90’s but still commercially available today. You can actually still buy one in Lazada:

The word appears in episode 2 when the guys are doing their usual habit of peeping on the ugly naked guy.

Here's the script:

Chandler: (looking out the window) Ew, ew, ew, ew ew ew ew ew!

Monica: What?

Chandler: Ugly Naked Guy got a Thighmaster!

All: Eeaagh!

4. Karmic Debt

Karmic debt refers to the bad deeds you commit in your previous life that needs atonement in your current life. It assumes the concept of Karma, which is a belief based on the following concepts:

1. People reincarnate when they die.
2. People's deeds determine their fate in their next life.

The word appears in episode 3 when Phoebe complains about the extra five hundred dollars in her account. Here's the scene at 1:41:

Here's the script:

Phoebe: Okay. Okay, let's say I bought a really great pair of shoes. Do you know what I'd hear, with every step I took? 'Not-mine. Not-mine. Not-mine.' And even if I was happy, okay, and, and skipping- 'Not-not-mine, not-not-mine, not-not-mine, not-not-mine'...

Monica: We're with you. We got it.

(Chandler leans over the back of the couch out of sight.)

Phoebe: Okay. I'd- just- I'd never be able to enjoy it. It would be like this giant karmic debt.

5. Hasidic Jewelers

Hasidic Jew refers to the members of Hasidic Judaism, a Jewish religious group. Play the word with jewelers and you will have Hasidic Jewelers.

I don't know exactly what's with the play of words. But based on a few references that I've read, It seems Hasidic jews dominate the jewelry business in a certain part of the US. My guess is the Diamond District in Midtown Manhattan, New York. Since the setting of Friends is in New York, somewhere near Central Park.

The word appears in episode 3 when the gang tells their story about playing softball with Alan (Monica's dating partner).

Here's the script:

Ross: He was unbelievable. He was like that-that-that Bugs Bunny cartoon where Bugs is playing all the positions, right, but instead of Bugs it was first base-Alan, second base-Alan, third base-...
Rachel: I mean, it-it was like, it was like he made us into a team.
Chandler: Yep, we sure showed those Hasidic jewelers a thing or two about softball.

5. Filter-tipped

Filter-tip is a part of a cigarette that traps some dangerous substances while smoking. Though it filters the smoke, it doesn’t make cigarettes less unhealthy.

The word appears in episode 3 when Joey used the phrase “filter-tipped buddy” to refer to his cigarette. Here's the scene at 0:26.

Here's the script:

Monica: (shouts to Chandler) Chandler? Do you promise to be good?

(Chandler makes a 'Cross my heart' sign. It starts to rain and he taps on the window.)

Joey: You can come in, but your filter-tipped little buddy has to stay outside!

6. FICA

FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is a mandatory payroll deduction (US federal payroll tax) that funds programs for retirees, disabled, and children in the US.

The word appears in episode 4 when Rachel is wondering why FICA is getting the most of her salary. Here's the scene at 0:34.

Here's the script:

Rachel: God, isn't this exciting? I earned this. I wiped tables for it, I steamed milk for it, and it was totally—(opens envelope)—not worth it. Who's FICA? Why's he getting all my money? I mean, what- Chandler, look at that.

Chandler: (looking) Oh, this is not that bad.

Joey: Oh, you're fine, yeah, for a first job.

Ross: You can totally, totally live on this.

7. Uberweiss

Uberweiss is a fictional detergent brand. It's German for "super white". The word appears in episode 5 when Ross and Rachel are doing their laundry. I'm not sure if this is a pun of the dairy company Oberweis (just a theory 😂).

Here's the scene at 0:44.

Here's the script:

(Ross pulls out a huge box of laundry detergent.)

Rachel: What's that?

Ross: Uberweiss. It's new, it's German, it's extra-tough.

8. Belch the alphabet

The phrase appears in episode 5 when Joey is convincing Monica to go on a double date with him. Monica used this phrase to refer to Joey’s cousin being able to do alphabet sounds by just burping. A way of Joey's cousin to show off to Monica.

Here's the scene at 2:16.

Here's the script:

Joey: Monica, I'm tellin' you, this guy is perfect for you.

Monica: Forget it. Not after your cousin who could belch the alphabet.

9-10. cocktails in Appalachia, rambunctious

Appalachia is a cultural region in the US. And people living there, the Appalachian, faces a number of stereotypes throughout their history. One of these is the stereotype of them being poor.

The phrase "cocktails in Appalachia" is based on that stereotype. The phrase loosely means "I can't believe it's happening." Cause based on the stereotype, Appalachian can't afford luxury drinks like cocktails.

Rambunctious, on the other hand, is an adjective referring to uncontrollable activeness or exuberance.

Both of these appear in episode 5 when Monica found out that their supposedly double date is actually Joey’s plan to break up his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend.

Here's the scene at 3:39.

Here's the script for "cocktails in Appalachia":

(Her and Joey walk away from the table.)

Monica: Oh my god.

Joey: What?

Monica: Hello! Were we at the same table? It's like... cocktails in Appalachia.

Here's the script for rambunctious:

Joey: Come on, they're close.

Monica: Close? She's got her tongue in his ear.

Joey: Oh, like you've never gotten a little rambunctious with Ross.

11-12-13. Kook, Madcap / Ottoman

Kook and madcap are synonymous adjectives that describe one’s recklessness, craziness, or foolishness. The word appears in episode 6 where Monica is trying to defend her obsession for organizing stuff.

Ottoman, on the other hand, is a piece of furniture commonly used for resting one’s feet. Also known as a footstool. The word appears in episode 6 where Monica dislikes Rachel moving the ottoman while cleaning the apartment.

Here's the scene (ottoman at 0:30, kook and madcap at 1:33).

Here's the script for kook and madcap:

Monica: Okay, so I'm responsible, I'm organized. But hey, I can be a kook.

Ross: Alright, you madcap gal. Try to imagine this. The phone bill arrives, but you don't pay it right away.

Monica: Why not?

Ross: Because you're a kook! Instead, you wait until they send you a notice.

Monica: I could do that.

Here's the script for ottoman:

All: Very clean! It looks great! Terrific!

Monica: ...Oh! I-I see you moved the green ottoman.

All: Uh-oh...

Monica: How-how did that happen?

References:

https://fangj.github.io/friends/

https://www.wikipedia.org/

https://forum.english.best/t/meaning-of-hasidic-jewelers/7014/2

Photo:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/friends-inside-netflix-warnermedias-new-80m-streaming-deal-1166238

http://www.lifedaily.com/story/50-facts-about-the-hit-show-friends-you-never-knew-about/

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Sports

Is Durant Using the Lebron Model?

By Alvin Aragon - September 28, 2019

As great as he is as a basketball player, Kevin Durant is widely regarded as just the second-best player in the NBA. As what fictional Patrick Beverly has said to this episode of "Game of Zones" at 2:52:

"By the man who was always second best," fictional Patrick Beverly said to fictional Durant. Just second best to the man who is regarded as the best NBA player in the past 10 years -- Lebron James.

And even in this time, where people are starting to doubt Lebron's claim to the throne due to his "father time". Durant failed to be there to grab the number one spot. Not with his injury. And not with these doubters circulating in the social media:

When do you think you became better than LeBron? @KDTrey5

You know he gets compared to MJ constantly right? Do you think you belong in that same conversation???
— A.P. (@Vitricate) September 11, 2019

So when? When will Durant become the number one? Or will he ever become the number one?

The answers to these questions are probably the things Durant is probing during the early part of his career. But time moves fast. And suddenly, Durant is 27 in 2016 and still hasn't figured out the answer. Or even you know, at least get past step one: get a championship ring.

And then this sequence happened:

Durant joined the super-team Warriors in 2016.
Earned 2 rings during his three years run with the Warriors. (Finally a step closer to the goal. Hooray!)
And then this season, he joined the Brooklyn Nets.

Hmmm... Looks familiar? Cause it is... This is somewhat similar to Lebron James' quest for the ring. Here it is:

Lebron formed a super-team in Miami Heat in 2010.
Earned 2 rings during his four years run with the Heat. (Finally not a ring-less king anymore. Hooray!)
Goes back to Cleveland Cavaliers and fulfilled his promise to give them a championship.

And in both of these sequences, the idea is:

Can't get a championship? Have a taste of winning by joining or creating a super-team.
Go back and apply it to your former situation and prove that you can get a championship this time around.

This got you thinking that probably Durant is copying James' career decisions. After all, he do says that Lebron is his idol:

“That was the best moment I ever had,” Durant told me. “I made the game-winning shot in the finals against my fucking idol. Somebody that I really, really, really followed since I was a ninth-grade high schooler. I felt like he was passing the torch to me.”